What Ever Happened to the Sabbath Saturday Day of Rest?

As far back as I can remember I am brought to mind that my family and I have always observed Sunday as the Lord’s Day. I was brought up to believe that Sunday was the Sabbath and it was to be revered as the holiest day of the week by observing it in church somewhere. I find myself writing about this subject on Sunday morning at 4:00 am. It wasn’t until about eight years ago the Holy Spirit of God began to move in my heart and mind about the truth of the matter. I have discovered that if you keep asking God for the truth, sooner than later it will be revealed thru diligent study and prayer over the Bible.

I just knew in my heart that something was amiss because I kept reading for myself the account of the Bible in the Book of Genesis.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:1-3

You might be saying to yourself, but this is Law and we are not under the Law, we are under grace. No doubt, you would be correct in part of this assumption. First of all, it is God’s Law of Creation. We cannot null and void what God has placed in motion such as the Moon and the Sun and the planets in orbit, no more can you and me null and void the command of God to observe the holiest day of the week, the creation day Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. The Word of God was given to Adam and Eve and was passed down through the generations. Secondly, there is no other day of the week that was sanctified or set aside and blessed by the creator to be a Holy Day. This command of Almighty God has been in place thousands of years before the Ten Commandments were handed down to Moses on Mt. Sinai. This Holy command has never been annulled by Jehovah God, nor I doubt, will ever be.

You might be thinking just now, if this be true, who changed this Sabbath Day from Saturday to Sunday? This is a very good question to answer. It is my practice to refrain from pointing fingers, but in this circumstance of revealing the truth of matters, I will have to leave what I practice for a few moments. The truth of the matter is that the creation day command of keeping the seventh day of the week, the Holy Sabbath Day, was changed by Pope Pius V. Yes, the Roman Catholic Pope took it upon himself to be Vicar and change the Holy Command of Jehovah God. This next statement is from the Roman Catholic Counsel.

2175 Sunday is expressly distinguished from the Sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the Sabbath. In Christ's Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish Sabbath and announces man's eternal rest in God. For worship under the Law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ: 107 Those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer keeping the Sabbath, but the Lord's Day, in which our life is blessed by him and by his death.108
...
2177 The Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. "Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church."110
{Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church published by Liguori Publications, English translation copyright 1994 by the United States Catholic Conference Inc.}

So we see that the Roman Catholic Church took it upon themselves to change the times and Laws of the Creator to fit their wishes and whims. Who then are we to follow, the traditions of men, or the commands of God?

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7:25

"If every Lord's Day is to be observed joyfully by the Christians on account of the resurrection, then every Sabbath on account of the burial is detestably Jewish. In fact all the disciples of the Lord lamented on the Sabbath, bewailing the buried Lord, and the Jews exulted. But sadness reigned for the fasting apostles. In like manner we are sad, saddened by the burial of the Lord, and rejoice with them in the Lord’s resurrection. Neither in fact is it proper to feast [on the Sabbath] as the Jewish custom observed by the Jews." {Source: Cardinal Humbert quoting Pope Sylvester I (A.D. 314-335)}

The Catholics are adamant only to mention this was a tradition of the Apostles which is correct. But, upon careful study of the Book of Acts, we can surmise for ourselves that the Apostles would never break the Sabbath Day to accommodate anyone, but rather added another day, the first day of the week to the Sabbath Day of rest. We have to remember that these Apostles where Jews themselves and brought up by their families to honor and revere the Holy Sabbath Day. I am convenience that none of these men would dare go against the command of God, much less the old Law of Moses. But they found a way to proceed with the work of our Saviour with the guidance of the Holy Spirit by adding the first day of the week to commence the works of our Lord. If we would take careful notice, we could see that the Apostles always observed the Sabbath Day by teaching and preaching in the Synagogues.

“And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.” Acts 18:18-21

Upon careful study we can see that the Sabbath was always observed by the Apostles and commenced to extend the Holy Day by coming together to collect alms and offerings for the poor of other locations.

“And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” Acts 20:6-7

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality (alms and offerings) unto Jerusalem.” 1Corinthians 16:1-3

Thought the Apostles kept the Sabbath Day, the first day of the week, Sunday, was never said or expounded as a Holy Day of rest. In fact, the Apostle Paul used Sunday to commence the work of the Lord by carrying the monies collected from other fellowships which would be in violation of the Holy Sabbath Day of rest. We can also see through the help of the Scripture that the Apostles would never start out on a journey on the Holy Sabbath Day.

This excuse of the Roman Catholic Church to use the assumed approval of the Sunday as being the Lord’s Day is a violation of the Holy Command of Jehovah God. No one or no church has the authority to change the Creation Law set aside, sanctified by Almighty God. Unfortunately, this has happened and there will be judgment forth coming.

Finally, we have the example of our LORD to remember.

“For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day. And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:” Matthew 12:8-9

I encourage Christian’s everywhere to read the Scripture for yourselves and allow the Holy Spirit of God to guide you into all truth. The truth can set you free!