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Seventh  Day  Sabbath  Discussion - 2

 

 

In the ARK Forum we do not debate with one another although we may have different views on any subject, and we prefer to use the word “discussion.”  This is the continuation of a previous discussion on the Seventh Day Sabbath, but I shall be using an impersonal format of presentation.  From past experience of using someone’s objections to the Sabbath to make comments on the person’s interpretation, method or style of exegesis, is counterproductive and causes ill-feeling amongst the brethren.  We have made such mistakes before and we are making amends to our approach on handling discussions of various issues.

 

We do realize that not every subscriber in the ARK Forum is interested in reading a discussion on the Seventh Day Sabbath therefore we have created a web site for it so that only those subscribers that want to read it may do so.

 

This article takes a firm stand concerning the Sabbath issue based solely on the Word of God.  With support from the Holy Bible alone an unshakable and very strong position can be made for the Seventh Day Sabbath.  Many of the beliefs and practices that are held by opponents of the Sabbath are derived from non-canonical works after the post-apostolic period therefore have scant or no biblical support at all.  Arguments do not establish truth, they only confuse readers and lead them astray.

 

 

Objection # 1

 

The Seventh Day Sabbath is given mainly to the children of Israel and not given to the rest of mankind.

 

Response # 1

 

The Holy Bible states clearly the children of Israel were not the first people to have knowledge of the Seventh-Day Sabbath because it all began at Creation.

 

"Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." (Gen.2:1-3).

 

Since God created the world for mankind and He had established the Seventh Day Sabbath as part of His creation therefore He has surely given it to mankind. At the time when the Sabbath was first established by God there was no nation, no Israel and no Jew, so there is no biblical support that God would give the Seventh Day Sabbath only to the Children of Israel and to the Jews.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ said it very plainly, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mk. 2:27) The word “man” represents mankind. Nobody can interpret the word “man” to mean an Israelite or a Jew.

 

God chose Israel to be His people because it was the only nation that worshiped Yahweh as the One True God. All the other nations were called Gentiles (Goyim in Hebrew) and they worshiped idols. From Adam to Isaac the nation of Israel did not exist yet. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (Gen. 32:28). Israel had 12 sons and his family was the beginning of the nation of Israel. Joseph was sold by his brothers and became a slave in Egypt. Later all the children of Israel became slaves in Egypt. After more than 400 years in Egypt, God sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel out of their bondage.

 

“On the fifteenth day of the second month after they departed from the land of EgyptGod revealed to the Children of Israel the exact day of the Seventh Day Sabbath through the miracles of the manna (Ex. 16:1-22). Manna would fall for 6 days and on the seventh day there would be no manna. On the sixth day Moses said to the children of Israel, “This is what the LORD has said: Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, and holy Sabbath to the LORD. . . .” (Ex. 16:23) Then on the exact seventh day “then Moses said, ‘Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field.” (Ex. 16:25)

 

Objection # 2

 

The Seventh Day Sabbath serves only the Children of Israel and their succeeding generations and has no use for other people on earth.

 

Response # 2

 

The Almighty God created the solar system with the planets moving at precise orbits and durations that give the exact divisions of time. The day is determined by the earth’s rotation on its own axis. The moon’s orbit of the earth gives us the month, and the earth’s orbit around the sun gives us the year. The week is the only duration of time that is not caused by any planetary movement. It is because the One True God Himself created the week at the end of Creation and today the seven-day week is a universal system of keeping time in the calendar.

 

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.  And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.  Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” (Gen. 2:1-3)

 

There are three important things that the One True God did on the Seventh Day. First, He rested. Second, He blessed the Day. Third, He sanctified it.

 

The Hebrew word used for “rest” is Shabbathand this is how we get the English word “Sabbath.” The Almighty God did not rest because He was tired. “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. There is no searching of His understanding:” (Isa. 40:28) The Lord Jesus Christ said: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mk 2:27) The reason God rested is because He wanted to establish the Seventh Day Sabbath with a weekly pattern for man to follow after Him. “There remains therefore a (Sabbath) rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.” (Heb. 4:9-11)

 

The Bible does not tell us what Adam and Eve were doing on the seventh day of Creation, but that day would have been their first full day on earth. On that day they were perfect creatures made in the image of God, and in perfect relationship with the perfect God who was keeping the first Sabbath, the seventh day. Their first awareness of God would see Him as the Lord of the Sabbath. On this first Sabbath of Creation week, God was at rest to enjoy His children and His relationship with them.

 

Objection # 3

 

The Seventh Day Sabbath is not known to other people of the world, and God only made it known to the Children of Israel on Mount Sinai.

 

Response # 3

 

Some have argued that what God sanctified at Creation is only a statement. and not intended for His people to observe a weekly Seventh Day Sabbath. Hence, they teach the Sabbath was unknown and unobserved during the 2,500 years from Adam to Moses. A reading of the Fourth Commandment gives us a clear understanding of the reason for the Seventh Day Sabbath. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: . . . . For in six days the LORD made the heavens, and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” (Ex. 20:8-11) Any believer who knows the One True God will find it difficult to believe the Creator would not let the Patriarchs such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob know about His Creation and its close connection to the Seventh Day Sabbath. Why should this important universal knowledge of His Creation and the Seventh Day Sabbath be withheld for 2,500 years and be given only to the children of Israel and not to the rest of mankind?

 

Although Adam and Eve were driven “out of the Garden of Eden” there are clues to show their succeeding generations possibly continued to keep the Seventh Day Sabbath. The fact that Eve said, “I have gotten a man from the LORD is an indication she and her husband still believed in the One True God (Gen. 4:1).

 

That the children of Adam and Eve continued to regard every seventh day as a day of rest and worship is clearly implied in the story of Cain and Abel.

 

“And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. And Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering,” (Gen. 4:3, 4).

 

On this particular day, Cain was not tilling the ground, as he normally did, nor was Abel tending his sheep. On this day, they met with the LORD and brought Him their offerings.

 

And what day was that? The phrase "in process of time" is, literally, "at the end of the days" ("process" = Hebrew qets = "end"; "time" = Hebrew yamim = "days"). The day on which they brought their offerings was the day "at the end of the days," and this clearly can be nothing but the Seventh Day Sabbath, the day that God had rested, blessed and sanctified.

 

Cain and Abel’s sacrifices to the LORD indicate the first family had worshiped the One True God on the Seventh Day Sabbath which God had shown Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:1-3). “And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, ‘For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.’ And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.” (Gen. 4:25-26) The “LORD” is the same One True God who had rested, blessed and sanctified the Seventh Day Sabbath. Adam was still alive when Enosh was born and “men began to call on the name of the LORD” (Gen. 5:3-6). That generation could have also worshiped on the Seventh Day Sabbath. It is reasonable to believe the One True God reminded Adam and his descendents to worship Him on the Seventh Day Sabbath because it is His original intention for them to do so. This is the reason why He gave the Fourth Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. . .” (Ex. 20:8-11)

 

The story of Noah contains many allusions to the seven-day week. Note the following in Chapters 7 and 8 of Genesis:

 

1.              "For after seven more days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth" (7:4)

2.              "And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth" (7:10)

3.              Forty weeks later (280 days—compare 7:11; 8:3, 4, 5, 6) Noah sent forth the dove and the raven (8:7, 8)

4.              "And he waited yet another seven days; and again he sent forth the dove" (8:10)

5.              "And he waited yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove " (8:12)

6.              Noah and his family left the ark exactly 371 days, or 53 weeks, after they had entered it (compare verses 7:11; 8:3, 4; 8:14).

Whether these repeated references to actions taken every seven days imply that they all took place on God's Sabbath Day is not stated, although it does seem probable. In any case, it is clear that both God and Noah were ordering events in terms of a seven-day cycle. There is strong possibility Noah kept some primitive form of calendar consisting of days, weeks and months to mark the important events during the Flood (Gen. 8:4-5)

 

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations, Noah walked with God.” (Gen. 6:8-9) “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” (Gen. 6:22)

 

Since Noah was obedient to the One True God, he and his family could possibly have also kept the Seventh Day Sabbath.

 

God said: “Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” (Gen. 26:5) Abraham was to teach his family and descendents God's Laws and commandments so they would obey them (Gen. 18:19). If the commandments had included the Sabbath as in the Ten Commandments then Abraham would have also kept the Seventh Day Sabbath.

Jacob served Laban for two seven-year periods for his wives; and he was told by Laban regarding Leah, "Fulfill her week..." (Gen. 29. 27-28, NKJV). Apparently the week was a routine part of their measurement of time. It is very likely Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel later, who knew the seven-day week, also kept the Seventh Day Sabbath. It is significant to note that Jacob’s son Joseph “observed seven days of mourning for his father.” (Gen. 50:10)

 

Objection # 4

 

How do we know the present Seventh Day Sabbath and the one given to the Children of Israel is the correct one?

 

Response # 4

 

One month after leaving Egypt, and about two weeks before arriving at Mount Sinai God promised “to rain bread from heaven” so that the Israelites could be tested on whether or not they would obey His laws (Ex. 16:1-4). Notice that God’s Laws existed before He spoke the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Here is God’s test and the three miracles connected with the manna.

 

Miracle 1. The Israelites were told not to save manna overnight for the next working day (Ex. 16:19). Those who disobeyed, their leftovers bred worms and stank (Ex. 16:20).

 

Miracle 2. The Israelites had to gather twice the normal amount of manna on the Sixth Day [ Friday ] morning (Ex. 16:5) This double portion would be enough for both Friday and Saturday, the seventh-day Sabbath (Ex. 16:23). The manna that was saved overnight for the Sabbath did not stink and breed worms ((Ex. 16:24)

 

Miracle 3. God withheld manna from falling on the seventh day, and miraculously preserved the portions saved for the Sabbath (Ex. 16:25-26). Some of the people disbelieved Moses and disobeyed God by trying to gather manna on the Sabbath, “but they found none.” (Ex. 16:27)

 

“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? . . . . So the people rested on the seventh day.” (Ex. 16:28-30).

 

COMMENT: There are two direct statements God spoke through the mouth of Moses that identified the exact Seventh Day Sabbath. “Then he said to them, ‘This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. . . (Ex. 16:23) Then Moses said, ‘Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field.” (Ex. 16:25) The absence of manna on the seventh day identified exactly which day was the Sabbath on which the Israelites were to rest from all their labors. Thus God miraculously revealed His exact Seventh Day Sabbath day to them!

 

Notice that God performed several miracles every week to point out the exact day of the Sabbath to the Israelites. He miraculously gave the people manna on the first six days of the week, including a double portion on the sixth day. And He preserved the leftover portion of Friday’s manna so it could be eaten on the Sabbath, since there would be none to gather on the seventh day, thereby giving the people rest from working on His Holy Day.

 

Every week God clearly reminded the Israelites of His Seventh Day Sabbath. He performed these miracles week after week for forty years! (Ex. 16:35.) This means God had performed this miracle of the manna at least 2,080 times. With so many repetitive miracles it will take a very hard-hearted, close-minded or brainless person not to know which day is the exact Seventh Day Sabbath!

 

A common objection to the Sabbath is that nobody actually knows which is the exact Seventh Day so how can anyone keep it. God knows because He is the Creator of the Sabbath, and He has revealed it to Moses and the children of Israel who have kept it faithfully from that time in the wilderness until today.

 

Objection # 5

 

The Seventh Day Sabbath is a sign of a covenant between God and the Children of Israel, and it is not given to any other people on earth.

 

Objection # 5

 

An important feature of the Seventh Day Sabbath as the sign of a covenant between God and the Children of Israel is its connection and link to the Creation Sabbath. God spoke: “Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.” (Ex. 31:16-17).

 

At that time Israel was the chosen people of God because they keep God’s covenant. Here is God’s promise to them. “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Ex. 19:5-6)

 

Israel was the people of God in the Old Covenant. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are the New Covenant people of God. Here is the proof.

 

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Pet. 2:9-10)

 

Here is a clear biblical injunction for the New Covenant “people of God” who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to observe the Seventh Day Sabbath.

 

“There remains therefore a rest (Sabbatismos) for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.” (Heb. 4:9-11)

 

The “people of God” include both Jews and Gentiles who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:26-29)

 

The Early Apostolic Church was composed of both Jews and Gentile believers who have been baptized by the Spirit into a united Body of Christ.

 

“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” (1 Cor. 12:12-14)

 

Being a united body the Early Apostolic Church had Jews and Gentiles worshiping on the Sabbath day.

 

42  And when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

43  Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44  On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

 

This is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy.

 

Although the Seventh Day Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and the children of Israel, that Old Covenant is now replaced by the New Covenant which has a wider scope to include the Gentile Christians as well. Isaiah prophesied;

 

“Also the sons of foreigner who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants – Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant – Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My House of Prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, For My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all nations.” (Isa. 56:6-7)

 

This prophecy has already been fulfilled for decades even up to our present time. God had the original intention that Gentile Christians - “sons of foreigner who join themselves to the LORD - would observe the Seventh Day Sabbath and hold fast to God’s covenant. This is the evidence that God’s Church is definitely a Sabbath-keeping Church that not only consists of the children of Israel but also the Gentile believers as well, and therefore it “shall be called a House of Prayer for all nations.”

 

Objection # 6

 

Christians are now under grace and no longer under the law, therefore they no longer need to observe the Seventh Day Sabbath anymore.

 

Response # 6

 

It is true that Christians are now under grace and no longer under the law. But there are people in the New Testament time that misunderstand and abuse their liberty by saying that since they are now under grace they can do whatever they like. “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly not! What is sin? “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” (1 Jn. 3:4)

 

What has sin got to do with the Seventh Day Sabbath? God gave mankind the Ten Commandments which is called the Royal Law (Jas. 2:8-11). If you break the Fourth Commandment which is the Seventh Day Sabbath you are committing sin.

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ has declared: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” (Mt. 5:17-18)

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ has given us this warning, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Mt. 7:21-22) Those that break the Seventh Day Sabbath Commandment are practicing lawlessness. Although they may be calling Jesus “Lord, Lord” but He will be telling them; “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

 

 

May God bless you

 

Link to: Sabbath Truths that are easy to understand

 

 

This article is a presentation of Paul Wong

to the ARK Forum on November 28, 2005

 

For comments please write first to: arkpw@sbcglobal.net

 

Paul Wong is a Christian minister and the President of ARK International.
His ministry also serves as an architectural service company in
Houston.
The ARK Forum on the Internet is international and non-denominational.

 

 

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