Most Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, have been mislead into setting aside the first (1st) day of the week, Sunday as the designated day of heavenly worship and communion with our Lord.
This deliberate, ecumenical fallacy was first carefully devised by the administrative arm of the Roman Catholic System over 2000 years ago. This transference of God’s Holy Day from the seventh (7th) day of the week to the first day of the week serves as their “mark” of ecumenical authority that is designed to supplant and replace the authority of Jesus Christ.
This “mark” designates ultimate authority to the office of the pope (Papacy) and the Holy See who are the leaders of the Roman Catholic System. Along with the Jesuits, the enforcement arm, of the Roman Catholic System that runs nations, governments, banks and most systems of academia, these 3 bodies work together to propagate an internal agenda which sees Lucifer as the true son of God and not Jesus Christ. The external agenda shown to the world is one designed to operate under the veneer of Christianity, while secretly subverting humanity’s worship of God and directing this worship to Satan himself.
Through subtle and complex machinations and man-made traditions, the socio-economic and political power of the Roman Empire that now calls itself the Roman Catholic Church have bound Roman Catholic followers as as well as most protestants to a system of worship that rejects Jesus Christs’ commandments and accept an altered series of rules, sacraments and teachings that undermine, pervert and ridicule the word of God.
Chief among their teachings, is their rejection of the sanctification of God’s Holy day which was designed to be a sign and a mark of loyalty and obedience between him and his followers. A mark that reminds us that Jesus Christ not only created us, but it is he who also sustains us. Instead they changed God’s Holy day from the seventh day to the first day as as their own mark of ecumenical authority, teaching the world to reject the authority of Jesus Christ and accept the mark of the beast.
This 4th beast of prophecy is identified in both Revelations and the book of Daniel as possessing certain characteristics. There is only one entity throughout human history and in scripture that fits this description, to the last iota, and that is Rome.
A brief insight into Rome (Now the Roman Catholic System) as the 4th Beast of Prophecy
The fourth beast is explicitly described in Daniel 7:7–28, where the prophet Daniel records his vision and later seeks the interpretation from an angel. This chapter presents a vision of four beasts representing kingdoms or empires, with the fourth beast being particularly unique and terrifying.
Identifying Characteristics
Terrifying and Powerful:
“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.” (Daniel 7:7)
This beast is described as unlike any other, symbolizing an empire that would dominate and crush others with unparalleled power.
Ten Horns:
“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” (Daniel 7:24)
The ten horns represent ten kings or rulers, indicating a divided power structure within the kingdom.
A Little Horn with Great Words:
“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” (Daniel 7:8)
This little horn is a key feature of the fourth beast. It uproots three of the original ten kings and speaks arrogantly or blasphemously.
Persecution of Saints:
“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)
This ruler, symbolized by the little horn, persecutes God’s people, seeks to change divine laws, and holds power for a specific prophetic period.
Biblical and Historical Parallels
Biblical Context:
“Dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it.” (Daniel 7:7)
Historical Context:
The Roman Empire was renowned for its unparalleled military power, administrative efficiency, and the sheer scale of its conquest. Its armies crushed and assimilated nations, leaving no rival intact, symbolized by the beast’s “iron teeth.”
Rome’s dominance lasted for centuries, making it a uniquely enduring empire compared to its predecessors (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece).
Ten Horns: Divided Power Structure
Biblical Context:
“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise.” (Daniel 7:24)
Historical Context:
The Roman Empire ultimately fractured into multiple smaller kingdoms and territories, often identified as the foundations of modern Europe. These divisions align with the prophecy of the ten horns symbolizing ten kings or kingdoms.
Both Christian and indepedent scholars link the ten horns to post-Roman powers such as the Ostrogoths, Vandals, and other tribes that occupied former Roman territories.
The Little Horn: A Blasphemous and Persecuting Power
Biblical Context:
“In this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” (Daniel 7:8)
“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.” (Daniel 7:25)
Historical Context:
Most theologians and scholars interpret the “little horn” as a power emerging from the Roman Empire with both political and religious authority. This is often associated with the Papacy during the Middle Ages. The Papacy arose from the remnants of the Western Roman Empire and held significant influence over kings and nations, fulfilling the idea of a “diverse” ruler.
The “changing of times and laws” is linked to the Papal authority over religious observances, such as the Sabbath, and its role in defining church law. The persecution of “saints” is seen in historical episodes such as the Inquisition and other church-led actions against heretics and dissenters.
Biblical Context:
“And it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it.” (Daniel 7:7)
Historical Context:
The Roman Empire was distinct from previous empires due to its combination of republican and imperial systems, its legal and administrative innovations (like Roman law), and its cultural influence on Europe, which persists today.
Additionally, its transformation into the Byzantine Empire in the East and its religious evolution through Christianity further highlight its unique characteristics.
Biblical Context:
“But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” (Daniel 7:26)
Historical Context:
The Roman Empire’s decline and eventual collapse symbolize the temporary nature of earthly powers. The establishment of God’s eternal kingdom, as prophesied, contrasts with Rome’s fall.
Why Scholars Agree
Sequential Empires in Daniel’s Vision:
The prophecy in Daniel 7 closely mirrors the sequence of empires in Daniel 2 (Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a statue). The iron legs of the statue in Daniel 2 correspond to the Roman Empire, as do the ten toes (divided kingdoms). The fourth beast in Daniel 7 aligns with this sequence.
Rome’s Global Impact:
No empire before or after Rome matched its combination of military might, political structure, and cultural influence, fulfilling the prophecy of a “dreadful and terrible” kingdom.
Historical Fulfillment of Prophetic Details:
The emergence of the Papacy from the Roman Empire, its unique influence, and the persecution of dissenters align with the “little horn” prophecy. These events are historically documented and widely recognized.
Conclusion
The fourth beast’s characteristics—unparalleled power, division into ten parts, the rise of a persecuting “little horn,” and ultimate judgment—align closely with the Roman Empire’s history and its aftermath. The prophecy’s focus on a kingdom that “devours and breaks in pieces” and its later divisions points directly to Rome. The theological and historical consensus stems from these clear parallels, solidifying Rome as the fulfillment of this prophecy in both biblical and historical contexts.
A look at the Catechisms of the Catholic Chruch
The Catechism of the Council of Trent 1566
“The Church of God has thought it well to transfer the celebration and observance of the Sabbath to Sunday.” This reflects the Church’s claim of authority to change practices for the Christian community.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) references Sunday observance and the authority to set the day of worship, but it does not frame it as a “change” from the biblical Sabbath. Instead, it emphasizes the theological importance of Sunday as we can see below:
Sunday as the Day of Worship:
CCC 2174:
“Jesus rose from the dead ‘on the first day of the week.’ Because it is the ‘first day,’ the day of Christ’s Resurrection recalls the first creation. Because it is the ‘eighth day’ following the Sabbath, it symbolizes the new creation ushered in by Christ’s Resurrection.”
Authority of the Church:
CCC 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.”
The Catholic Catechisms are official manuals or summaries of Catholic doctrine, teaching, and practices. They are designed to educate believers on the faith, guiding them in understanding key theological concepts, moral teachings, sacraments, and prayers. Different catechisms have been published over time to address the needs of various eras and audiences.
There is open admittance of changing the Sabbath day by both Catholic Officials and Councils
Some Catholic Officials throughout the years have openly admitted to the enforcement and fallacy of this change., openly acknowledging that it played a role in formalizing Sunday worship through its ecclesiastical authority. Here are some notable references:
Council of Laodicea (AD 364):
Canon 29 of this council stated:
“Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday, but shall work on that day; but the Lord’s Day they shall especially honor.”
The Converts Catechism of Catholic Doctrine (1957):
A clear admission about the shift:
Q: Which is the Sabbath day?
A: Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Q: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
A: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (AD 364), transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.
Cardinal Gibbons, “The Faith of Our Fathers” (1876):
He wrote:
“You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify.”
Changing God’s Law and Commandments is a direct afront and act of rebellion to His Authority
This mark of authority that is in deliberate opposition to Jesus Christ and his word in scripture is disccused further in another article. This article focuses on another misconception held by another large sect of Christians who rightly claim that our rest is in Jesus Christ, however are misguided in their understanding of what that rest means.
As a result, this subset of Christians believe that any day can be the Sabbath day. Unknowingly, their interpretation has lead them down a path wherby they can be gods unto themselves and declare a day that is convenient to them.
This school of thought has an almost identical origin as the Sabbath transferance fallacy, being a device that was setup and propogated over 2000 years ago by the administrative arm of the Roman Catholic System, the “Holy See” and their enforcement arm known as the Jesuits.
Why the Fuss over a day and which day?
Why then is there all this fuss about which day to keep? Didn’t the apostle Paul preach that we can keep any day that satisfies our minds (Romans 14:5-6)? Didn’t Peter who Roman Catholisism claims to be the “first pope” have divine authority to transfer Sabbath observance to Christ’s ressurection day?
These lies and other carefully crafted supurious dogmas of the dragon were specifically enacted to challenge God’s authority and lead his people into false systems of worship.
The Dragon is Satan
In the book of Revelations and the book of Daniel it becomes exceedingly clear that Satan, the dragon, gives his power to the fourth and most dangerous beast of prophecy, the Roman Empire. (Revelation 13:2, NIV)
“The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.”
(Revelation 13:2, NIV)
The Dragon is identified in Revelation 12:9 as Satan or the devil while the Beast in Revelation 13 is identified as a political or religious power (linked to universal systems or empires that operate with satanic influence.) It should also be noted here that the term “Catholic” is derived from the Greek word “katholikos” (καθολικός), which means “universal” or “according to the whole.” This connection emphasizes the idea of universality in faith, doctrine, and practice within the Roman Catholic tradition, which is pervasive in ALL religious systems today.
The Roman Catholic System and its mark is “Universal”
Because of its widespread influence and power, the Roman Empire that had existed as a military power still exists as the largest socio-political and religious power in the planet and will continue to exist until Jesus’ return, as the “Roman Catholic Church”.
The Roman Catholic System is comprised of the “Holy See”which is the administrative arm, the Papacy (elected figurehead and office) and the Jesuits, the enforcement arm that controls the world’s secret societies, institutions universities and governments.
The depth of their background is discussed here to illustrate exactly why their power, influence and commandments are important, ubiquitous and widespread globally. They are given this power by the dragon, Satan and have become the entity that directly represents his grasp and agenda for the world. quote. His hold on the world and agenda promotes and continues to promote a system of worship that directly and intentionall conflicts with God and the divinity of Jesus Christ.
This system is predicated on above all things Satan’s mark of authority, sabbath trasnferance. This direct attack on God’s Holy day is elevated in importance because it is meant to erase God’s mark of authority, the Sabbath which is his sign between him and his people. Why then is the 7th day so important, and not the 6th day or the 5th day or the first day?It’s simple. Because God said so.
The Sabbath is God’s Mark of Authority
Our creator established this sign between God and man in the Garden of Eden. He rested on this day, setting it aside for Holy Communion with him and with our fellow man, who is made in his image. On this day we remember that God did not just create us but he sustains us. Jesus Christ is necessary for our life force. If we are cut off from him, we will perish.
By not celebrating God every Sabbath we continue to accept Satan’s System of Worship and Pride
By not celebrating this day, the 7th day, we display disloyalty to God and arrogance. The arrogance of thinking that we can decide which day. We succumb to the same kind of pride that Satan had and which he projects onto us. The mentality that we too can be gods. Interestingly enough this is also explicitly stated in the following catechism:
CCC 460:”The Word became flesh to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature’ (2 Pet 1:4): ‘For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God’ (St. Irenaeus). ‘For the Son of God became man so that we might become God’ (St. Athanasius).“
Briefly explained, The Roman Catholic System perverts (2 Pet 1:4). This verse speaks of humans escaping the lust and corruption of this world and tells us that we become partakers of Christ’s divine nature, meaning we experience Christ’s love and divinity and are sanctified by it when we believe in him.
It is perverted by the Roman Catholic System and used in their catechisms to instead negate the redemptive sacrifice of Christ for our past, present and future sins, and instead allude to the fact that Jesus became a man, so that we may eat his flesh and drink his blood to become God also. We must consume Jesus though a perpetual eucharist (another manufactured sacrement), so that we can become divine as well.
In the ritual that most Roman Catholics are encouraged to partake in, the communion bread and wine literally becomes the body and blood of Christ that you must continually eat and feed off to be divine like Christ. To be gods in and unto ourselves.
By keeping Christ in a perpetual state of death, Satan cunningly fools humans into continually celebrating Christ’s death and crucifixation without acknowledging the redemeptive saving grace, sancitification and victory over sin provided in his resurrection. he provides for all of mankind through his resurrection.
This may seem confusing or even far-fetched to a layman, but I assure you it is one cog in the wheel of an entire system of machinery designed to lead as many people away from Christ as possible. Satan knows scripture much better than any of us humans and knows exactly what caevats to your eternal salvation he must introduce to keep you from Christ.
Do not rely on religion, rely on the Holy Spirit!
This is why it is so important not to rely on religion to teach you about God but to rely on the Holy Spirit and do your own research. Those who seek truth will find it.
You will find in your actual genuine communion with Jesus Christ who is God and the creator of the heavens and the earth, that this day he has designated as his rest and your rest in him is a sign of loyalty between him and his people. A sign between Jesus and those that keep his commandments.
You will find that we are not only to observe, but to celebrate this day in particular, not simply because our creator said so, but because it is necessary for our sustinence. This is why the Sabbath day will also be observed in the heavens. (Isaiah 66:22–23)
Isaiah 66:22–23 (NIV):
“As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord.
The Sabbath is Eternal
The Lord Jesus created the Sabbath day for man as an eternal sign between him and his people, as a day of rest and communion with him, who not only created us but sustains us.
He blessed, sanctified and made Holy this literal seventh day, from sunset to sunset. He set it aside purposefully so that we humans remember that it is our God that sustains us and not ourselves; lest we try to be gods unto ourselves and obey the teachings of the dragon, which are the teachings of the world.
Jesus Christ, who is Lord of the Sabbath “Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, and Luke 6:5” and creator of all things ( John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:2-3, 1 Corinthians 8:6,
Genesis 1:1 (paired with John 1:1) rested on this day, not because God needs rest, but to set an example to us humans on how to enter into his rest. We do as Christ did and walk in his example, resting as Jesus rested.
[Hebrews 4:9 NIV] There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; [10] for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
The stage is
The terms sabbaths are also often used to also refer to specfic time periods outside of the 7 day week of creation. It is important always to understand the contextual narrative of all the books of the bible as well as the authors’ style and methods of communication.
The term “Sabbaths” in the Bible carries both literal and ceremonial meanings. In Hebrew (Shabbat) and Greek (Sabbaton), it refers to the seventh-day Sabbath as a day of rest and worship, but it also applies to festival days designated as Sabbaths. The context of each passage determines whether it refers to the weekly Sabbath or the ceremonial Sabbaths tied to Israel’s feasts. Both highlight God’s provision of rest and worship, with the ceremonial Sabbaths pointing forward to Christ’s redemptive workand his fullfillment of the law, whereas the 7th day Sabbaths point to Jesus Christ’s example that he set at creation and the eternal sign between him and his people.
In short, this is an extremely important distinction, because before Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and his resurrection, all cermonial Sabbaths were critical to keep in covenental relationship with God.
We sanctified our sins through ceremonies with strict rules of animal blood sacrifice. After Jesus’s death, he provided the ultimate sacrifice of all sins past, present and future. It was not the sacrifice of animals, or even humans, it was the sacrifice of the life of God himself that proved to all created beings that God was simultaneously just and merciful. Just in that a sacrifice for sin must be made, and merciful in that he took this consequence upon himself. The ultimate act of self-sacrificing love.
In this way he fullfilled the cermonial laws justifying us by faith in him and his sacrifice instead of laws that kept us in covenetal realtionship via animal blood sacrifice and strict rules based obervance.
With his sacrifice and fullfillment of this ceremonial law, he once again restored the covenant made in the garden of eden, whereby we set aside this 7th day as a day of rest and communion with our creator who sustains our very life essence. This is Jesus’ new covenant.
Let us now examine verses that are deliberately misused and often misinterpreted to encourage followers of Christ to disregard this important 4th commandment which serves as the ultimate sign of obedience between God and his people.
References to “sabbaths” in Colossians 2:16-17 and Romans 14:5-6 refer to feast days rather than the weekly Sabbath, you can see this in both biblical and historical context.
1. Biblical Pattern of Festivals and Sabbaths Together
In the Old Testament, references to “sabbaths” often include feast days, not just the weekly Sabbath. The context of Colossians 2:16 mentions festivals, new moons, and sabbaths, which is a pattern directly associated with the annual feasts of Israel.
Leviticus 23:37-38:
“These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord… besides the Sabbaths of the Lord.”
This passage shows a distinction between the weekly Sabbath (“Sabbaths of the Lord”) and the sabbaths associated with feasts. Feast-day sabbaths (e.g., the Day of Atonement, Passover, etc.) are distinct and tied to specific times.
1 Chronicles 23:31:
“And at every presentation of a burnt offering to the Lord on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts.”
The pairing of “Sabbaths” with “new moons” and “feasts” follows the same pattern as Colossians 2:16, suggesting feast-day sabbaths.
2. Feast Days Include Sabbaths
Several feast days are explicitly referred to as “sabbaths” in the Old Testament. These sabbaths were part of the ceremonial law, distinct from the moral law of the Ten Commandments.
Leviticus 23:24 (Feast of Trumpets):
“In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest.”
Leviticus 23:32 (Day of Atonement):
“It shall be to you a sabbath of solemn rest.”
Leviticus 23:39 (Feast of Tabernacles):
“On the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest.”
These feast-day sabbaths were ceremonial in nature and part of the “shadow of things to come” mentioned in Colossians 2:17, pointing to Christ’s fulfillment.
3. The Phrase “A Shadow of Things to Come”
Paul describes sabbaths in Colossians 2:16-17 as a “shadow of things to come,” meaning they symbolized future spiritual realities fulfilled in Christ.
Weekly Sabbath observance, however, is rooted in creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and is not typically described as a “shadow” since it predates sin and the Mosaic covenant.
Feast-day sabbaths, on the other hand, are explicitly ceremonial and symbolic, pointing to Christ (e.g., Passover pointing to His sacrifice).
4. Romans 14 Context is About Food and Holy Days
In Romans 14:5-6, Paul addresses disputes over “esteeming one day above another” in a context tied to dietary practices.
The context likely refers to Jewish feast days, which involved specific dietary rules (e.g., unleavened bread during Passover). Weekly Sabbath observance is not tied to food regulations.
Paul is addressing disputes between Jewish and Gentile believers about observing ceremonial aspects of the law, not the moral law (including the weekly Sabbath).
7. Jewish Terminology
In Jewish tradition, the term “sabbaths” often referred broadly to both weekly Sabbaths and ceremonial rest days. The context in passages like Colossians 2:16 and Romans 14 makes it clear Paul is addressing ceremonial observances, not the weekly Sabbath.
1. Galatians 4:9-10
“But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years.”
Truth:
Context: Paul addresses the Galatians, who were reverting to legalistic practices influenced by both pagan and Jewish rituals. These “days, months, seasons, and years” refer to man-made traditions or ceremonial observances under the Mosaic law.
Key Point: The weekly Sabbath is not a “weak and beggarly element” but was instituted at creation (Genesis 2:2-3), long before the Mosaic law. It is part of God’s moral law (Exodus 20:8-11) and reflects a timeless principle of rest and worship.
Historical Context: Many Gentile converts had previously observed pagan festivals and were being pressured by Judaizers to adopt Jewish ceremonial practices. Paul’s critique is about returning to either legalism or pagan traditions—not the weekly Sabbath.
2. Hebrews 4:9-10
“There remains therefore a 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.”
Truth:
Context: The Greek word for “rest” here is sabbatismos, which specifically refers to a “Sabbath rest.” This passage affirms the continuity of the Sabbath principle, not its abolition.
Spiritual Fulfillment: While the Sabbath rest points to spiritual rest in Christ (Matthew 11:28), it does not negate the physical observance of the weekly Sabbath. Instead, it deepens its meaning by emphasizing both physical rest and faith in Christ.
Creation Link: The reference to God resting (Genesis 2:2-3) connects the Sabbath rest to creation, not just Mosaic law, affirming its perpetual nature.
3. Acts 15:28-29
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
Truth:
Context: This passage addresses specific requirements for Gentile converts to resolve disputes over Jewish ceremonial laws. The council did not address moral laws like the Ten Commandments because they were already understood as universally binding.
Sabbath Exclusion: The omission of the Sabbath in this list does not mean it was abolished. The council was clarifying ceremonial and cultural practices, not rejecting the foundational moral laws.
4. Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Truth:
Context: Jesus is speaking about spiritual rest from the burden of sin and the heavy yoke of Pharisaic legalism. This is not a rejection of the Sabbath but an invitation to experience its deeper spiritual meaning in Him.
Spiritual Complement: Observing the Sabbath provides physical rest, which complements the spiritual rest Jesus offers.
5. Mark 2:27-28
“And He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.’”
Truth:
Affirmation of the Sabbath: Jesus reaffirms the Sabbath’s universal purpose—it was made for humanity, not just Jews. He criticizes the Pharisees’ legalistic distortion of Sabbath observance, not the Sabbath itself.
Lordship: By declaring Himself “Lord of the Sabbath,” Jesus validates its importance and His authority to teach its proper observance. This does not imply abolition but restoration of its true purpose.
6. Romans 14:5-6
“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”
Truth:
Context: Paul is addressing disputes over ceremonial days, such as feast days or fasting days, not the weekly Sabbath. The issue is personal conviction regarding optional observances, not commandments.
Sabbath Exclusion: The weekly Sabbath, rooted in creation and the moral law, is not in view here. Paul is discussing secondary matters that were dividing believers.
7. Colossians 2:16-17
“Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
Truth (as detailed earlier):
Feast Day Sabbaths: The “sabbaths” here refer to ceremonial sabbaths tied to festivals, not the weekly Sabbath. These were shadows of Christ’s work.
Weekly Sabbath: The weekly Sabbath, established at creation, is not a “shadow” because it points back to God’s creative work, not forward to redemption.
5. The Weekly Sabbath is Perpetual and Moral
The weekly Sabbath is part of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11), which are moral laws universally binding, unlike the ceremonial laws that were temporary.
The weekly Sabbath is grounded in creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and reaffirmed by Jesus (“The Sabbath was made for man” – Mark 2:27). Feast-day sabbaths, by contrast, were specific to Israel’s covenant.
- Hebrew: שַׁבָּת (Shabbat)
Literal Meaning: “To cease,” “to rest,” or “intermission.”
The root of the term is שָׁבַת (shavat), which means “to cease” or “to desist.”
The word Shabbat primarily refers to the weekly seventh-day Sabbath, instituted at creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and codified in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11).
Usage of Shabbat in the Hebrew Bible:
Seventh-Day Sabbath:
Exodus 20:8-11: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy… the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.”
Refers to the weekly day of rest, emphasizing cessation from work and worship.
Sabbath as Festivals/Feast Days:
The term Sabbath is also used to describe certain feast days, often called “High Sabbaths.” These are holy convocations during festivals when rest is commanded.
Leviticus 23:24, 32, 39:
The Feast of Trumpets (23:24): “A Sabbath rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets.”
Day of Atonement (23:32): “It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest.”
Feast of Tabernacles (23:39): “On the first day there shall be a Sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a Sabbath-rest.”
These are ceremonial Sabbaths tied to specific feasts, distinct from the weekly seventh-day Sabbath.
- Greek: σάββατον (Sabbaton)
The Greek term Sabbaton is a transliteration of the Hebrew Shabbat.
In the New Testament, it is used to refer to both the weekly Sabbath and special holy days associated with Jewish festivals.
Usage of Sabbaton in the New Testament:
Weekly Seventh-Day Sabbath:
Mark 2:27-28: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Refers to the weekly Sabbath as a day of rest and worship.
Sabbath as Festival or Feast Days:
Colossians 2:16-17: “Therefore, do not let anyone judge you… regarding a festival, a new moon, or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
The plural “Sabbaths” (σαββάτων) here likely refers to the ceremonial Sabbaths associated with Jewish feasts rather than the weekly Sabbath. These ceremonial Sabbaths were symbolic and pointed forward to Christ.
Passover and Festivals as Sabbaths:
John 19:31: “Now it was the Day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath.”
Refers to the ceremonial Sabbath of the Passover week, distinct from the regular seventh-day Sabbath.
How “Sabbaths” Can Refer to Both the Weekly and Ceremonial Sabbaths
The term Sabbaths can encompass both types because:
Seventh-Day Sabbath: A perpetual, moral commandment rooted in creation and the Decalogue (Exodus 20:8-11).
Ceremonial Sabbaths: Temporary, symbolic ordinances tied to Israel’s festivals (e.g., Passover, Day of Atonement), often called “High Sabbaths” (Leviticus 23).
Distinguishing Factors:
Weekly Sabbath:
Always refers to the seventh day of the week (Saturday).
Rooted in creation and moral law.
Universal and perpetual.
Festival Sabbaths:
Specific days within Jewish festivals.
Linked to ceremonial law.
Symbolic, fulfilled in Christ (Colossians 2:17).
Key Scriptures Using “Sabbaths”
Leviticus 23: Discusses both the weekly Sabbath and festival Sabbaths.
Colossians 2:16-17: Refers to Sabbaths as ceremonial rest days tied to festivals, distinct from the seventh-day Sabbath.
Luke 4:16: Highlights Jesus’ observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, reflecting its ongoing significance.
6. Early Christian Understanding
Early Christians like the apostle Paul regularly observed the weekly Sabbath (Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4). There is no evidence that they viewed the weekly Sabbath as obsolete.
The ceremonial sabbaths tied to festivals, however, were understood as fulfilled in Christ and not required for Christians (Hebrews 10:1).
To understand the theological context of the bible and its narrative that the ceremonial law is distinct from the moral law lets examine the following verses a bit more. Galatians 4:9-10, Hebrews 4:9-10, Acts 15:28-29, Matthew 11:28-30, Mark 2:27-28, and Romans 14:5-6 are typically used to falsely argue against observance of the weekly Sabbath. Lets examine each passage in its context and provide evidence that these verses do not negate the seventh-day Sabbath. Instead, they address different concerns, primarily related to ceremonial laws, traditions, or spiritual principles.
Wrapping it up
1. Ceremonial vs. Moral Law: Many of these passages address ceremonial laws (feast-day sabbaths, festivals, and dietary laws) that pointed to Christ and were fulfilled in Him. The weekly Sabbath, part of the moral law, is distinct.
2. Creation Ordinance: The weekly Sabbath predates sin and the Mosaic covenant, tying it to creation and making it perpetual.
3. New Testament Practice: Jesus and the apostles observed the weekly Sabbath (Luke 4:16, Acts 17:2), and there is no evidence they intended to abolish it.
By focusing on the context and distinctions between ceremonial and moral laws, you can effectively discern that these passages do not nullify the seventh-day Sabbath. Instead, they emphasize the shift from legalism and ceremonial shadows to the substance found in Christ, while the Sabbath remains a creation ordinance and moral principle.