Study video below for those who prefer to watch or listen to studies.
In this study we will trace the seventh day Sabbath through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Grab your Bible and as you follow along, I pray that you are blessed.
It all began approximately six thousand years ago in approximately 4000bc. In the beginning God had spent six days creating the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1 through 2:1), on the seventh day He rested. He not only rested but God blessed and sanctified the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). Thus began the weekly seven-day cycle that still exists today.
In approximately 1445bc during their captivity in Egypt the Israelites were unable to keep the Sabbath until Moses returned. Coming to the end of their captivity God, via Moses and Aaron, reestablished the seventh day rest which upset Pharoah who demanded that they work every day even adding to their burdens (Exodus 5:4-5). See here for reference to dates.
Approximately one month after leaving Egypt the Israelites complained as their food provisions dwindled. This is when God performed the miracle of the Manna, bread from Heaven. The rules were clear; they were to collect the Manna first thing in the morning from the first day of the week until the sixth day on which they were to collect double. Manna would not be provided on the seventh day as it was the Sabbath therefore the Israelites were to rest from collecting the Manna on that day. This not only fed the Israelites but helped them to get back into the swing of keeping the seventh day Sabbath (Exodus 16:4-5; 23-30).
Approximately two months later the Ten Commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai after God Himself wrote them on two tablets of stone. The first tablet with the first four commandments which outline how we demonstrate our love for God and the second tablet with the remaining six commandments that outlined how we demonstrate our love for our neighbours. The Sabbath is the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) and is the only commandment that begins with “remember”, we can’t remember something we haven’t forgotten and we can’t forget something that wasn’t already in existence. The fourth commandment also points us directly back to Creation where the Sabbath was instituted. It also bears the three elements that make up a seal or mark as it’s also known; the name “the LORD”, title “Creator” and jurisdiction “Heaven and Earth”. The seal of God. The commandment is reiterated in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 5:12-15).
At the same time we see the account of God establishing the Sabbath as a perpetual, holy covenant sign between God and His people, marking them as sanctified (Exodus 31:12-18). The language used is strong “cut off from among His people” meaning whoever knowingly doesn’t keep the seventh day Sabbath or who rejects it will no longer be counted as one of God’s people. It also states that those who do not keep the Sabbath shall be put to death, referring to the second death and not inheriting eternal life with God in Heaven. I will address those who have passed away only ever going to church on Sundays later, do not be discouraged, we have a good and merciful God.
In approximately 760bc Amos condemned merchants who were impatient for the Sabbath to end so they could get back to trading. They expressed a disdain for Gods holy day (Amos 8:4-6).
In approximately 600bc Jeremiah was given a final warning to the Judeans at the gates of Jerusalem before they were taken captive in Babylon and the city destroyed. The message emphasises that the continued profaning of the Sabbath would result in the destruction of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 17:19-27).
In approximately 590bc Ezekiel delivered a message to the Israelite elders exiled in Babylon expressing the importance of the Sabbath and the covenant it symbolises (Ezekiel 20:11-24).
In approximately 538bc Isaiah addresses the Judeans who hadn’t long returned from exile in Babylon, he focuses on keeping the Sabbath and holding fast to the covenant (Isaiah 56:1-7).
In approximately 444bc during a covenant renewing ceremony following the exile of the Israelites in Babylon certain of the Levites cried a prayer with a loud voice where they reacknowledged the Sabbath as a sacred trust (Nehemiah 9:13-15).
In approximately 433bc Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to find the Israelites had backslidden with their most profane error being the breaking of the Sabbath again. During his prayer Nehemiah speaks of the breaking of the Sabbath as being one of the reasons for the Israelites exile to Babylon and rebukes the leaders for breaking the perpetual covenant again (Nehemiah 13:14-22).
In the New Testament during Jesus’ ministry there are several scriptures that affirm that He Himself kept the Sabbath, the importance of the Sabbath, that it’s good to do good on Sabbath and He rebuked the Pharisees for abusing the Sabbath with their own rules. Jesus continually taught and performed healing on the Sabbath, illustrating it as a day for doing good, spiritual rejuvenation and He even expressed that the people pray that their flight to avoid the dangers of the destruction of Jerusalem didn’t happen on the Sabbath. After Jesus’ death, his women followers rested on the Sabbath day “according to the commandment,” indicating it was still binding after the cross (Mark 2:23-28, Matthew 12:12, Luke 4:16, Luke 4:31, 6:6, 13:10, Matthew 24:20, Luke 23:56).
Throughout Paul’s ministry he kept the Sabbath. In approximately 48ad Paul and his companions went to the synagogue on the Sabbath, and Gentiles asked to hear the word of God on the next Sabbath (Acts 13:14, 42-44).
In approximately 50ad Paul, Silas, and their companions went to a riverside place of prayer, as there was no synagogue, reinforcing their commitment to worship on the Sabbath (Acts 16:13).
In approximately 51ad Paul reasoned with Jews in the synagogue over three consecutive Sabbaths about Jesus as the Messiah. “As his manner was” is a clear indication that Paul continued to keep the Sabbath. In approximately 52ad during Paul’s second missionary journey when he lived and worked in Corinth for 18 months. He consistently reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath during this period (Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4).
In approximately 90ad John had his vision from Jesus which is recorded in the book of Revelation. Although the book doesn’t contain the actual word Sabbath is not used there are several scriptures that point directly to the Sabbath and keeping the Commandments.
During the vision John saw the Ark of the Covenant in Heaven, in the Ark are the tablets with the Ten Commandments written on. This shows that the commandments were not only just for the Old Testament people, that they weren’t nailed to the cross but that they’re still binding today and are eternal (Revelation 11:19).
In Revelation Gods people are described as those who keep the Commandments of God. Not some of or nine of them but all of the Commandments (Revelation 12:17, 14:12).
A component of the three angels messages to the world is the call to “worship Him who made heaven and earth” which is a direct reference to the fourth commandment thus identifying the true God by His Sabbath command (Revelation 14:7).
There are verses that refer to the Seal of God. If we look back to the fourth Commandment it bears the three elements that make up a seal the name “the LORD”, title “Creator” and the jurisdiction “Heaven and Earth” (Revelation 7:2, 9:4).
In approximately 538bc Isaiah received a prophecy from God regarding the end times leading to Jesus’ second coming with a heavy emphasis on keeping the Sabbath and the blessings that are promised for those who keep it (Isaiah 58:12-14).
Isaiah also prophesied in approximately 538bc that after Jesus’s second coming we will all be keeping the Sabbath for eternity (Isaiah 66:22-23).
I mentioned previously those who have passed away only ever going to church on Sundays. Paul makes it clear that God winks at ignorance (Acts 17:30). Those who don’t know the truth can’t be held accountable. However, there are many verses warning against rejecting the truth once it has been presented to us whether it be via Bible study, a sermon, video, blog post or any other avenue (2 Peter 3:5, Hosea 4:6, Ephesians 4:18, Romans 1:18-23, Proverbs 1:7, 2 Timothy 2:15).
We are warned in Daniel 7:25 “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.” The time he is trying to change is the Sabbath from the 7th day (Saturday) to the 1st day (Sunday) and the law he is trying to change is the 4th Commandment. “The Church is above the Bible; and this transference of Sabbath observance from Saturday to Sunday is proof positive of that fact. Deny the authority of the Church and you have no adequate or reasonable explanation or justification for the substitution of Sunday for Saturday… As the Rev. Mr. Smith rightly points out: “The Jewish Sabbath is not Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Christians are all wrong in speaking of the Sabbath as Sunday.” The Catholic Record, London, Ontario, Sept 1, 1923
The Bible is very clear, the seventh day Sabbath was established at Creation by God as a day for us to rest in Him and renew our connection with Him after six days of being polluted by the world, as a distinct sign that we follow the living God and that we will be keeping the seventh day Sabbath for all eternity. There are no scriptures telling us that Jesus changed the Sabbath from the 7th day (Saturday) to the 1st day (Sunday). There are scriptures that tell us that we will be keeping the Sabbath for eternity.
