jesus is coming...soon! are you ready?. is the first-day the valid day of worship for christians?

Jesus is coming. . .soon! Are you ready?Jesus is coming. . .soon! Are you ready?

Is the first-day the valid day of

worship for Christians?

Is the first-day the valid day of

worship for Christians?

“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them [the

Gentiles], and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Acts 15:5

“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them [the

Gentiles], and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Acts 15:5

Bible “Evidence”?Bible “Evidence”?

“Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: but that we write unto them . . .”

“Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: but that we write unto them . . .”


“. . . that they abstain from [1] pollutions of idols, and from [2] fornication, and from [3] things strangled, and from [4] blood.”

Acts 15:19, 20

“. . . that they abstain from [1] pollutions of idols, and from [2] fornication, and from [3] things strangled, and from [4] blood.”

Acts 15:19, 20


“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”

“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”


Acts 15:10Acts 15:10

Is Sabbath “Ceremonial”?

Is Sabbath “Ceremonial”?What makes a law

“ceremonial”?What makes a law

“ceremonial”?


Is Sabbath “Ceremonial”?Ceremonial laws had to do

with the “conception of sin as uncleanness, rendering the sinner therefore unfit for the presence of God.”

Ceremonial laws had to do with the “conception of sin as uncleanness, rendering the sinner therefore unfit for the presence of God.”


Is Sabbath “Ceremonial”?They were laws intended to

“lead to a true conception of repentance, as including both the seeking of atonement through sacrifice and restitution for a wrong that was committed.”

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

They were laws intended to “lead to a true conception of repentance, as including both the seeking of atonement through sacrifice and restitution for a wrong that was committed.”



Is Sabbath “Ceremonial”?“The change from the seventh

to the first day was authorized [in the thirteenth century] by making the Sabbath a Jewish ceremony and the fourth commandment . . .”

“The change from the seventh to the first day was authorized [in the thirteenth century] by making the Sabbath a Jewish ceremony and the fourth commandment . . .”



“. . . a ceremonial law. This, however, raised the problem of a ceremonial law in the midst of the moral law.”

“. . . a ceremonial law. This, however, raised the problem of a ceremonial law in the midst of the moral law.”

Daniel Augsburger“The Sabbath and Lord’s Day During the Middle Ages”


Is Sabbath “Ceremonial”?“Sabbath, it was asserted, should

lead the Christian to think of Christ’s rest in the tomb, or the moral duty to desist from sin, and of the future blessedness in heaven. The bond with Creation had been totally lost.”

“Sabbath, it was asserted, should lead the Christian to think of Christ’s rest in the tomb, or the moral duty to desist from sin, and of the future blessedness in heaven. The bond with Creation had been totally lost.”

Daniel Augsburger“The Sabbath and Lord’s Day During the Middle Ages”


Is Sabbath “Ceremonial”?What makes a law

“moral”?What makes a law

“moral”?


Is Sabbath “Ceremonial”?Moral law reveals the will of God

as the rule for the disposition and conduct of all responsible beings toward Him and toward each other. Moral law is therefore a rule of living, conformable to righteousness.

Moral law reveals the will of God as the rule for the disposition and conduct of all responsible beings toward Him and toward each other. Moral law is therefore a rule of living, conformable to righteousness.

Webster’s Dictionary (1913 edition)

Did the Roman Catholic Church

change the official day of worship from

Seventh-day Sabbath to Sunday??




The Roman

Catholic Church

A.D.1054

The Roman

Catholic Church

A.D.1054

• Pharisees

• Gnostics

• Antinomians

• Pharisees

• Gnostics

• Antinomians

Gospel OpponentsGospel Opponents

Gnostic RootsGnostic Roots“Alexandria [was] one of the greatest university cities in the world at the beginning of the Christian Era. Here nearly every religion had its school of learning, and here the teachers and the students of these different faiths . . .”

“Alexandria [was] one of the greatest university cities in the world at the beginning of the Christian Era. Here nearly every religion had its school of learning, and here the teachers and the students of these different faiths . . .”

Gnostic RootsGnostic Roots

W.E. StrawOrigin of Sunday Observance, p. 39 (1939)


“. . .mingled and discussed their philosophies and religious ideas. As a result, they fused their beliefs into a conglomerate mass of opinions that later spread throughout the Christian church.”

“. . .mingled and discussed their philosophies and religious ideas. As a result, they fused their beliefs into a conglomerate mass of opinions that later spread throughout the Christian church.”

Gnostic RootsGnostic Roots

Albert Henry NewmanA Manual of Church History, vol. I, p. 194 (1906)

Albert Henry NewmanA Manual of Church History, vol. I, p. 194 (1906)

“In general it may be said that Gnosticism led the way in the amalgamation of Christian and pagan thought and life that was to transform the religion of Christ and His apostles into the Christianity of the third and following centuries.”

“In general it may be said that Gnosticism led the way in the amalgamation of Christian and pagan thought and life that was to transform the religion of Christ and His apostles into the Christianity of the third and following centuries.”

Gnostic RootsGnostic RootsGnosticism = “the thought and practice especially of various cults of late pre-Christian and early Christian centuries distinguished by the conviction that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis (knowing)”

Gnosticism = “the thought and practice especially of various cults of late pre-Christian and early Christian centuries distinguished by the conviction that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis (knowing)”

Gnostic RootsGnostic RootsEarly influential “Christian” teachers:

• Justin Martyr (A.D. c. 103 – 165)

• Clement of Alexandria (c.150 – c. 215 )

• Irenaeus (2nd century AD – c. 202 )

• Origen (c. 185 – 254 )

• Augustine (was a Manichean; A.D. 354 – 430)

Early influential “Christian” teachers:

• Justin Martyr (A.D. c. 103 – 165)

• Clement of Alexandria (c.150 – c. 215 )

• Irenaeus (2nd century AD – c. 202 )

• Origen (c. 185 – 254 )

• Augustine (was a Manichean; A.D. 354 – 430)

Gnostic PhilosophyGnostic Philosophy

Gnosticism didn’t completely reject the OT teachings, but reshaped and altered those teachings to their own purposes, mixing their pagan mystical ideas with the truth of the Bible.

Gnosticism didn’t completely reject the OT teachings, but reshaped and altered those teachings to their own purposes, mixing their pagan mystical ideas with the truth of the Bible.

Gnostic PhilosophyGnostic PhilosophyDualism –

• Views the physical world as essentially evil

• “Good” rests only in the mystical “spirit” realm

• “Salvation” comes through escaping the evil power of matter

Dualism –

• Views the physical world as essentially evil

• “Good” rests only in the mystical “spirit” realm

• “Salvation” comes through escaping the evil power of matter

Gnostic PhilosophyGnostic PhilosophyDocetism –

A belief in early Gnostic Christianity that Christ only seemed to have a human body and to suffer and die on the cross; Christ’s humanity was thus a mystical manifestation of “spirit”

Docetism –

A belief in early Gnostic Christianity that Christ only seemed to have a human body and to suffer and die on the cross; Christ’s humanity was thus a mystical manifestation of “spirit”

Gnostic PhilosophyGnostic PhilosophyAntinomianism –

It made no difference to the “spiritual man” whether he sinned with his body or not; breaking of the moral law to show freedom from the restrains of the Creator was considered a solemn obligation

Antinomianism –

It made no difference to the “spiritual man” whether he sinned with his body or not; breaking of the moral law to show freedom from the restrains of the Creator was considered a solemn obligation

Gnostic PhilosophyGnostic Philosophy“The Nicolaitans distorted in an antinomian sense the doctrine taught by Nicolaus, who in all probability proclaimed the liberty of the gospel, as his fellow-deacon, Stephen, did. But the liberty claimed by the Nicolaitans was liberty to sin.” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

“The Nicolaitans distorted in an antinomian sense the doctrine taught by Nicolaus, who in all probability proclaimed the liberty of the gospel, as his fellow-deacon, Stephen, did. But the liberty claimed by the Nicolaitans was liberty to sin.” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

“In the First Epistle of John there is a distinct polemical purpose. There is no book of the New Testament which is more purposeful in its attack of error. There is ‘the spirit of error’ (1 John 4:6), opposing the Spirit of truth. . . .”

“In the First Epistle of John there is a distinct polemical purpose. There is no book of the New Testament which is more purposeful in its attack of error. There is ‘the spirit of error’ (1 John 4:6), opposing the Spirit of truth. . . .”

Countering GnosticismCountering Gnosticism

“ ‘Many false prophets are gone out into the world’ (1 John 4:1), and this from the church itself, ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us’ (1 John 2:19); and these false prophets are distinctly named ‘the antichrist’ (1 John 2:22) . . .”

“ ‘Many false prophets are gone out into the world’ (1 John 4:1), and this from the church itself, ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us’ (1 John 2:19); and these false prophets are distinctly named ‘the antichrist’ (1 John 2:22) . . .”


“. . . and ‘the liar’ (same place), and ‘the deceiver and the antichrist’ (2 John 1:7). This peril, against which the apostle writes, and from which he seeks to defend the church, was Gnosticism.”


“. . . and ‘the liar’ (same place), and ‘the deceiver and the antichrist’ (2 John 1:7). This peril, against which the apostle writes, and from which he seeks to defend the church, was Gnosticism.”



“John refers to his opponents’ [the Gnostics] use of such phrases as ‘I know God,’ ‘I abide in Christ,’ ‘I am in the light.’ The apostle therefore describes these lofty claims as false, because those who made them possessed neither love nor obedience.”


“John refers to his opponents’ [the Gnostics] use of such phrases as ‘I know God,’ ‘I abide in Christ,’ ‘I am in the light.’ The apostle therefore describes these lofty claims as false, because those who made them possessed neither love nor obedience.”



Two SystemsTwo Systems“The situation in Rome and Alexandria, however, was not typical of the rest of early Christianity. In these two cities there was an evident early attempt by Christians to terminate observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. . .”

“The situation in Rome and Alexandria, however, was not typical of the rest of early Christianity. In these two cities there was an evident early attempt by Christians to terminate observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. . .”

Two SystemsTwo Systems“. . . But elsewhere throughout the Christian world Sunday observance simply arose alongside observance of Saturday. . . .The earliest direct evidence for Christian weekly worship on Sunday comes from second century Alexandria and Rome.”

“. . . But elsewhere throughout the Christian world Sunday observance simply arose alongside observance of Saturday. . . .The earliest direct evidence for Christian weekly worship on Sunday comes from second century Alexandria and Rome.”

Kenneth A. Strand“The Sabbath and Sunday From the Second Through Fifth Centuries”

Kenneth A. Strand“The Sabbath and Sunday From the Second Through Fifth Centuries”

Two SystemsTwo Systems“During the first two centuries there developed two separate and distinct types of Christian worship. The one in Syria and Asia Minor held to the old orthodox ways of life, and adhered to the Sabbath and primitive Christianity. . .”

“During the first two centuries there developed two separate and distinct types of Christian worship. The one in Syria and Asia Minor held to the old orthodox ways of life, and adhered to the Sabbath and primitive Christianity. . .”

Two SystemsTwo Systems“. . .The other from Alexandria and Egypt allowed many Gnostic and foreign sentiments to enter, and with them Sunday worship and other foreign practices unknown in the apostolic church and opposed by the early apostles.”

“. . .The other from Alexandria and Egypt allowed many Gnostic and foreign sentiments to enter, and with them Sunday worship and other foreign practices unknown in the apostolic church and opposed by the early apostles.”



Gnostic InfluenceGnostic Influence

“Their matter-despising dualism always implied an alteration of the Biblical doctrines of man, of Christ, and especially of creation. As a consequence, in these Gnostic circles [of influence]. . .”

“Their matter-despising dualism always implied an alteration of the Biblical doctrines of man, of Christ, and especially of creation. As a consequence, in these Gnostic circles [of influence]. . .”


“. . . honoring the seventh-day of creation week became not merely an option that might be dispensed with in the spirit of Christian ‘freedom’ (as often held today), but one [obligation] that must necessarily be set aside. . . .”

“. . . honoring the seventh-day of creation week became not merely an option that might be dispensed with in the spirit of Christian ‘freedom’ (as often held today), but one [obligation] that must necessarily be set aside. . . .”


“. . .The seventh-day Sabbath was for them a celebration of the despised material world, created by inferior and fallen powers.”

“. . .The seventh-day Sabbath was for them a celebration of the despised material world, created by inferior and fallen powers.”

Aecio E. Carius;“Gnostic Roots of Sunday-Keeping”


For the Gnostic Christian “the act of the highest God” was demonstrated in the production of light. “Light signified, for all Gnostic and related systems the essential nature of the true God.”

For the Gnostic Christian “the act of the highest God” was demonstrated in the production of light. “Light signified, for all Gnostic and related systems the essential nature of the true God.”


“Matter is the opaque substance that plunges the world into darkness as earth is interposed in front of the sun at dusk.”

“Matter is the opaque substance that plunges the world into darkness as earth is interposed in front of the sun at dusk.”




To observe the seventh-day Sabbath was for these Gnostics a burden to be avoided because to them it was paying tribute to the fallen supernatural powers of the universe who were responsible for the creation of evil matter.

To observe the seventh-day Sabbath was for these Gnostics a burden to be avoided because to them it was paying tribute to the fallen supernatural powers of the universe who were responsible for the creation of evil matter.


“They celebrated the Sunday of every week, not on account of its reference to the resurrection of Christ, for that would have been inconsistent with their Docetism, but as the day consecrated to the sun, which was in fact their Christ.”

“They celebrated the Sunday of every week, not on account of its reference to the resurrection of Christ, for that would have been inconsistent with their Docetism, but as the day consecrated to the sun, which was in fact their Christ.”


General History of the Christian Religion and ChurchAugust Neander, p. 194 (1851)

General History of the Christian Religion and ChurchAugust Neander, p. 194 (1851)

“The Gnostics believed that seven angel-creators – corresponding to Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury and Moon – made our world.”

Sabbath and Sunday in Early ChristianityRobert L. Odom, p. 96 (1977)

“The Gnostics believed that seven angel-creators – corresponding to Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury and Moon – made our world.”

Sabbath and Sunday in Early ChristianityRobert L. Odom, p. 96 (1977)


The earliest known rationale for Sunday worship appears in the writing of Justin Martyr. His “rationale is grounded, not in the first place on a commemoration of the Resurrection, but on a celebration of God’s creation of light . . .”

The earliest known rationale for Sunday worship appears in the writing of Justin Martyr. His “rationale is grounded, not in the first place on a commemoration of the Resurrection, but on a celebration of God’s creation of light . . .”


“. . .‘Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world.’ (First

Apology, 67).”

“. . .‘Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world.’ (First

Apology, 67).”




Gospel of Barnabas 15:9 states “We keep the eighth day with gladness, on which Jesus arose from the dead.”

Gospel of Barnabas 15:9 states “We keep the eighth day with gladness, on which Jesus arose from the dead.”


Translated by J.B. LightfootTranslated by J.B. Lightfoot

Legacy of Paganism?Legacy of

Paganism?

Origins of Weekday NamesOrigins of Weekday Names

Sun Moon Mars Mercury Jupiter Venus Saturn

Latin

dies Solis

dies Lunae

dies Martis

dies Mercurĭi

dies Jovis

dies Venĕris

dies Saturni

Spanish

domingo lunes martes miércoles jueves viernes sábado

English

Sunday Monday Tues.Tiw's daeg

Wed.Wōd’s dæg

Thurs.Thor’s daeg

FridayFrigga’s daeg

Sabbath or Saturday

Babylon

Shamash Sin Nergal Nabu Marduk Ishtar Ninurta


“This particular astrological system therefore owed its origin to four distinct nationalities. The conception of the influence of the planets was Babylonian; the mathematical working out of the order of the planets was exclusively Greek. . .”

“This particular astrological system therefore owed its origin to four distinct nationalities. The conception of the influence of the planets was Babylonian; the mathematical working out of the order of the planets was exclusively Greek. . .”


“. . .the division of the day into 24 hours was Egyptian; the free continuous 7-day week was particularly Jewish. These four influences were brought together in Alexandria [Egypt] not very long before the Christian era.”

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, p. 299

“. . .the division of the day into 24 hours was Egyptian; the free continuous 7-day week was particularly Jewish. These four influences were brought together in Alexandria [Egypt] not very long before the Christian era.”

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, p. 299


“We owe the names of the days of the week to the astrological conception of the planets as being 7 in number. Some writers have supposed that the week of 7 days owed its origin to this astrological conception . . .”

“We owe the names of the days of the week to the astrological conception of the planets as being 7 in number. Some writers have supposed that the week of 7 days owed its origin to this astrological conception . . .”


“. . .and that the 7th day – Saturn's Day – became the Sabbath, the Day of Rest, because Saturn was the planet of ill-omen and it was then unlucky to undertake any work under its sign.”

“. . .and that the 7th day – Saturn's Day – became the Sabbath, the Day of Rest, because Saturn was the planet of ill-omen and it was then unlucky to undertake any work under its sign.”

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 1, p. 299International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 1, p. 299

Astrological SymbolsAstrological Symbols


Norse goddess Freya aka Frigg inAnglo-Saxon

Norse goddess Freya aka Frigg inAnglo-Saxon

Revelation 13

What does all this history about the change of the

Sabbath have to with Revelation chapter 13?

Revelation 13

What does all this history about the change of the

Sabbath have to with Revelation chapter 13?

Biblical ProofBiblical ProofDaniel 7 Revelation 13

23 “shall devour the whole earth”

3 “power given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations”

25 “shall speak great words” against God

5 “mouth speaking great things and blasphemies”

25 “think to change times and laws”

12 cause all to worship the first beast

25 “time, times and dividing of time”

5 “continue forty and two months”

Ques.—Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?

Ans.— We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 336), transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.

Ques.—Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?

Ans.— We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 336), transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.

Changing God’s LawChanging God’s Law

Peter GeiermanThe Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (1910)

Peter GeiermanThe Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (1910)

“Q: Have you any other way of proving that the [Roman] Church has power to institute festivals?

A: Had she not such power she could not have instituted one [festival] in which all modern religionists agree with her — she could not have substituted. . .”

“Q: Have you any other way of proving that the [Roman] Church has power to institute festivals?

A: Had she not such power she could not have instituted one [festival] in which all modern religionists agree with her — she could not have substituted. . .”


“. . . the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.”

“. . . the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.”


Stephen KeenanA Doctrinal Catechism (1851)

“Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act . . . and the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things.”

“Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act . . . and the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things.”


H.F. Thomas; Chancellor of Cardinal GibbonsNovember 11, 1895

H.F. Thomas; Chancellor of Cardinal GibbonsNovember 11, 1895

Roman Catholic PositionRoman Catholic Position

“It was the Catholic Church which, by the authority of Jesus Christ, has transferred this rest to Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. . . .”

“It was the Catholic Church which, by the authority of Jesus Christ, has transferred this rest to Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection of our Lord. . . .”

Roman Catholic PositionRoman Catholic Position

“. . .Thus the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the Catholic Church.”

“. . .Thus the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the Catholic Church.”

Monsignor Louis Gaston de SégurPlain Talk About the Protestantism of Today

p. 213 (1868)

Monsignor Louis Gaston de SégurPlain Talk About the Protestantism of Today

p. 213 (1868)

The Revelat

ionof

Jesus Christ

The Revelat

ionof

Jesus Christ

jesus is coming...soon! are you ready?. is the first-day the valid day of worship for christians?

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