The Seventh Day (Sabbath) A day of rest
The Seventh Day (Sabbath day of rest vs Saturday ie. Saturn’s Day)
Which is the real seventh day? Saturday (Saturn's day)? or Sunday (Son's day)? Which is it and why? All or both?
This is what I'm trying to figure out today. We seem torn between Hebraic judaic dogma, Saturn (Satan's) deception as based on the Old Testament, then there are the Koran, Torah and New Testament that modernize our insights, or the Roman Catholic calendric revision of Sunday being the day of rest. Are all of them correct? Why? Which is it?
Nowadays, many people have Sabbaths on different days. Most of the corporate culture today takes two days off mostly on the weekends. As time flowed, the observance of Sabbath adapted to changing societal dynamics, retaining its sanctity while accommodating the demands of the modern world.
'Sabbath' means celebration in unity and/or rest : ..The Seventh Day
The key to understanding the difference between the days and the time count rests in the matter that the name of the Seventh day is not Saturday (which was carved to be used in honour of the pagan God Saturn), but rather Sabbath which literally means "rest day". Christians believe that Saturday is the bastardization by Satan to change from Sabbath rest to pagan worship of Satan by saturnalia.
Original names for the Seventh day is Sabbath: Spanish - Sabado; Italian - Sabbato; Russian - Subbota; Portuguese - Sabbado; Prussian - Sabatico; Latin - Sabbatum; Arabic - Assabt; Swahili - Assabt; Assyrian - Sabata; Hebrew - Shabat, over a hundred languages of our world in which the Seventh day is called Sabbath, which literally means "rest day".
Underlying the well-known link between Saturday (Shabbat in Hebrew) and Saturn (Shabbetai in Hebrew) is the reference to Saturn as the planet in charge of the Jews. Behind the link between Saturn and Saturday is the astrological theory that assigns the seven planets in succession, beginning with the sun and following the order of their orbs, to the 24 hours of the day and to the seven days of the week. That Jewish society of the talmudic period recognized the same association is shown by the fact that the Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 156a) refers to Saturn as Shabbetai, i.e., the star of Shabbat (Saturday). Greek and Arab astrology, however, considered Saturn to be the most malignant of the seven planets; and thus the Jews, astrologically governed by Saturn, were considered to be contaminated by the planet’s wicked nature. Abraham Ibn Ezra (ca.1089-ca.1161) is the first Jewish thinker to deal with the problematic link between Saturn, Saturday, and the Jews. He addresses the astrological association, throughout his writings, both scientific and nonscientific. He removes the sting of this embarrassing linkage by stressing that Saturn is actually conducive to a Jew’s religious faith. In his long commentary on Exodus 20:13, Ibn Ezra associates Saturn with the fourth commandment, ordaining one to "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8), and explains that this correspondence allows the Jews, by not occupying themselves with everyday matters but devoting themselves solely to the fear of God on this day, to protect themselves from Saturn’s baneful influence and also to improve the quality of their religious belief. via
Jesus speaks to the Pharisees, "I am the Lord of the Sabbath". - MATTHEW 12:8 KJV via
The Sabbath is always the 7th day no matter what date is posted on any calendar. Last supper, Tuesday night. Wednesday 3 pm messiah died. Resurrected, Saturday night...Dates change, days are constant.
The seventh day is the Sabbath. Sabbath means "rest." (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:10) The Creator blessed the seventh day. (Genesis 2:3) He set apart (sanctified) the seventh day. (Exodus 20:11) The Sabbath is a memorial of creation.
If we read the Bible, God's days start at sunset. God's months start with a new moon (lunar calendar). The Jews in the O.T. & N.T. followed God's lunar calendar, based on the new moon. The seventh day, the Sabbath, was never on the same day on the lunar calendar.
Jer 52:4"...in the ninth year...in the tenth month...on the tenth day of the month
The whole Bible is full of examples like this. If you translate the Greek in Acts 20:7, it reads: "and on one of the Sabbaths..." God did not give the days names, only His seventh day that He gave a name.
In fact, any faithful Jew you meet will tell you that the Sabbath is the Seventh-day of the week, and that it falls on none other day, but our Saturday as we find on the Gregorian Calendar.
1. After working the first six days of the week in creating this earth, God rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 2:1-3; Hebrews 4:4)
2. The seventh day is the Sabbath. Sabbath means “rest.” (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:10)
3. The Creator blessed the seventh day. (Genesis 2:3)
4. He set apart (sanctified) the seventh day. (Exodus 20:11)
5. The Sabbath is a memorial of creation. Every time we rest upon the seventh day, as God did at creation, we commemorate that grand event. (Exodus 20:11) It is also a sign between God and us that He sets us apart as His special people. (Ezekiel 20:12; Revelation 12:17)
6. Jesus says Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27), that is, for the whole human race. Therefore, it was given not only to the Jew but to everyone.
7. God gave the Ten Commandments at Sinai. (Exodus 19:20) In the fourth commandment, God reminds us that He established the Sabbath thousands of years before. (Exodus 19:20; 20:8-11)
8. The week originated at creation. The Bible indicates that it continued unbroken through the centuries from creation (Genesis 2:1-3) to Sinai (Exodus 20:8-11) to apostolic times. (Acts 13:13, 44).
9. The manna miracle showed that the Sabbath was already sacred before God gave the Ten Commandments at Sinai (Exodus 16:4, 27-30).
10. The seventh-day Sabbath was commanded by the voice of God Himself. (Deuteronomy 4:12, 13)
11. God wrote these commandments on tables of stone with His own finger. (Exodus 31:18)
12. God’s commands were preserved in a sacred wooden chest (ark) in the most holy room of the sanctuary. (Deuteronomy 10:1-5)
13. God said we are to rest on the Sabbath even in extra busy times. (Exodus 34:21)
14. The Sabbath is a symbol of the contract between us and God, by which we remember that He is our God. (Ezekiel 20:12)
15. God promised that Jerusalem would stand forever if the Jews would keep the Sabbath. (Jeremiah 17:24, 25)
16. One of the reasons why God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed was Israel’s desecration of the Sabbath. (Jeremiah 17:27)
17. God sent Israel into Babylonian captivity for breaking the Sabbath. (Nehemiah 13:18)
18. God has pronounced a special blessing on all Jews and non-Jews who will keep the Sabbath. (Isaiah 56:6, 7)
19. The Lord encourages us to think of the Sabbath as a delight, honorable. (Isaiah 58:13)
20. When the Son of God came, He worshiped on the seventh day. (Luke 4:16; John 15:10)
21. The seventh day is the Lord’s day. (See Revelation 1:10; Mark 2:28; Isaiah 58:13; Exodus 20:10)
22. Jesus vindicated the Sabbath as a merciful institution designed for man’s good. (Mark 2:23-28)
23. Instead of abolishing the Sabbath, Jesus carefully taught how it should be observed. (Matthew 12:1-13)
24. Jesus admonished His disciples to pray that they would not have to flee from the coming destruction of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. (Matthew 24:20)
25. After His death, the women who were followers of Jesus “Rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:56: (Exodus 20:8-11)
26. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, called it the “Sabbath day” (Acts 13:27. Compare verses 14, 42, 44.)
27. In the great Christian council, A.D. 49, in the presence of the apostles and thousands of disciples, James calls it the “Sabbath day.” (Acts 15:21)
28. It was customary to meet for prayer upon the Sabbath day. (Acts 16:13)
29. As was his custom, Paul “Reasoned with them out of the scriptures”: on the Sabbath day. (Acts 17:2, 3)
30. The Book of Acts alone gives a record of Paul teaching and preaching on at least 84 Sabbath days.
31. The Bible never records any dispute between Christians and Jews as to which day is the Sabbath. This indicates that Christians still observe the same day as the Jews did.
32. The Sabbath is mentioned 59 times in the New Testament and always with respect. In no instance is it even implied that the Sabbath was abolished or changed.
33. There is no record in the Bible that God has ever removed His blessing or sanctification from the seventh day.
34. The Sabbath remains forever. (Hebrews 4:9; Isaiah 66:22, 23) via
The Jewish holy book is known as the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible. The word Tanakh comes from the first letters of the three different parts of the book:
• The Torah (T) which is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. The Christian Bible also begins with these books, in the part which Christians call the Old Testament.
• The Nevi'im (N) which are the books of the Jewish prophets such as Joshua and Isaiah.
• Ketuvim (K) which is a collection other important writings.
The Torah has 613 commandments which are called mitzvah. They are the rules that Jews try to follow. The most important ones are the Ten Commandments given to Moses.
Joyful observance of this holy time called Sabbath is witnessed in God’s creative and redemptive acts (Gen. 2:1-3; Exod. 20:8-11; 31:13-17; Lev. 23:32; Deut. 5:12-15; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Ezek. 20:12, 20; Matt. 12:1-12; Mark 1:32; Luke 4:16; Heb. 4:1-11.)
Secular History - The Change of the Calendar
The key to understanding the difference between the days and the time count rests in the matter that the name of the Seventh day is not Saturday (which was carved to be used in honour of the pagan God Saturn), but rather Sabbath which literally means "rest day". Saturday is the bastardization by Satan to change from Sabbath rest to pagan worship of Satan by saturnalia.
Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through 19 December. By the 1st century B.C., the celebration had been extended through 23 December, for a total of seven days of festivities. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves as it was seen as a time of liberty for both slaves and freedmen alike. A common custom was the election of a "King of the Saturnalia", who gave orders to people, which were followed and presided over the merrymaking. The gifts exchanged were usually gag gifts or small figurines made of wax or pottery known as sigillaria. The poet Catullus called it "the best of days". via
The Julian Calendar was instituted by Julius Caesar around 46 B.C., and was continuously in use for about 15 centuries. In fact, during the time of Christ, it was the Julian calendar that was utilized in reckoning the days, months and seasons in the civilized nations of the world. However, the Julian calendar had a minor problem. It was a quarter (1/4) of an hour too long in reckoning the days in the year. This discrepancy added up until by October 1582, the Julian calendar was ten days out of harmony with the solar system. So if the calendar was changed ten days, then which is now the Sabbath (seventh day of creation and rest)? Even Saturday does not fit this scenario. For the seventh is simply a count of weeks from the beginning of creation. We are caught somewhere between the customs of the ancient and Jewish calendar and the modern industrial clock time world of today.
Pope Gregory then fixed this problem in 1582, with the Julian calendar by dropping ten days out of the numbering of the calendar. This calendar change was implemented on Thursday, October 4, 1582. The next day which should have been Friday, October 5 was shifted by pope Gregory to Friday, October 15 instead; thus dropping ten days to bring the calendar back in sync with our solar system. Today, the nations of the world use the Gregorian calendar, which was named after pope Gregory.
Gregory did not affect the weekly cycle, and hence, we can be sure that our Seventh-day today is the same Seventh-day that Christ and the disciples honoured as the Sabbath of the Creator God (see Luke 4:16; Luke 23:56; Acts 16:13; Acts 17:1-2).
So in context of today, Saturday or Sunday? Does the specific day really matter?
The key to understanding the difference between the days and the time count rests in the matter that the name of the Seventh day is not Saturday (which was carved to be used in honour of the pagan God Saturn), but rather Sabbath which literally means "rest day". Saturday is the bastardization by Satan to change from Sabbath rest to pagan worship of Satan by saturnalia.
Acts 20:7 says, "On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight." 1 Corinthians 16:2 also tells us, "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come." So in that aspect, the Sabbath was on a Sunday.
But looking at the pattern of creation, God rested on the seventh last day of the week, which is now accepted to be a Saturday. Genesis 2:2 says, "And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done." The word "Sabbath" comes from the Hebrew term "shabbat," which means to cease all activities. God rested on the seventh day not because He was tired but because He wanted to enjoy His creation. And that is the essence of Sabbath-for us, God's creation, to celebrate our Creator.
It’s not just the body that needs rest. Your soul needs rest as well, and as far as rest for the soul is concerned, in Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites us, "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
1 Corinthians 16:2 also tells us, "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come."
In Luke 6:5, Jesus declares, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." The essence of the Sabbath does not lie on the day it falls under. The essence of the Sabbath is a Person, and that person is Jesus Christ.
What about other belief systems?
The Pāli word uposatha means "observance," and refers to the ancient Buddhist tradition of devoting a day to our practice, much like the Christian sabbath, which is a fine translation of the word. Uposatha (Sanskrit: Upavasatha) day is a Buddhist day of observance, in existence since the Buddha's time (600 BCE), and still being kept today by Buddhist practitioners. The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for "the cleansing of the defiled mind.” On the new-moon and full-moon uposatha, in monasteries where there are four or more bhikkhus, the local Sangha will recite the Patimokkha. Before the recitation starts, the monks will confess any violations of the disciplinary rules to another monk or to the Sangha. In a meditation monastery ..., most of their time will be spent mindfully employed - walking and seated meditation with some time given to helping the bhikkhus with their daily duties, the whole of this day and night (and enthusiastic lay people restrict their sleep) is given over to Dhamma. via
Unveiling the Meaning of Sabbath in Islam
If Muslims do not observe the Sabbath as it was only prescribed for the Bani Israel,
It is apparent from the above texts that the Sabbath was prescribed for Christians and Jews in the past, and not for the Muslims, who do not practice the Sabbath by their God Allah Ta'ala who has blessed them with the day of Friday to worship. So where do they get that variation of rest?
The concept of Sabbath is deeply embedded in Islam; it does not only refer to a day off from work, but it extends beyond that. Spiritual rejuvenation, reflection, and connection to the divine are all at the center of this season. Muslims, as one of the world’s largest religious groups, worship at this time of year, deepen their spirituality, and strengthen their relationships with family and community. Muslims find comfort and purpose in this special occasion through rituals such as prayer, recitation of the Quran, and charitable acts. The concept of a Sabbath in Islam is a universal expression of rest and reflection that can be relevant to people of all faiths and backgrounds.
This sacred practice, known as “Jumu’ah” in Arabic, offers a holistic view encompassing historical depth, divine commandments, and cultural evolution. At its core, Sabbath holds a special place as a day of rest and worship in the Islamic ethos. This tradition transcends beyond mere abstention from labor; it’s a day where Muslims gather for congregational prayers, immerse themselves in scripture, and find solace in communal unity. This unique blend of rest and devotion marks Sabbath as a cornerstone of Islamic life, fostering spiritual rejuvenation and strengthening the bonds of the Muslim community, and perhaps is parallel in nature to the Judeo-Christian communities. After all, Sabbath, is Sabbath.
The dynamic nature of Islam as a global faith whose observance of Sabbath takes on shades influenced by local customs, traditions, and historical contexts, is an intersection of faith and culture enriches the experience of Sabbath, creating a mosaic of practices that ultimately share the common thread of devotion, regardless whether it is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Sabbath is a spiritual day. Sabbath, is Sabbath guiding believers towards deeper connection, reflection, and unity encouraging self-reflection, mindfulness, and gratitude during this sacred time.
Drawing parallels between the Islamic Sabbath and similar concepts in other religions such as Judaism remind humanity of the inherent need to transcend the material world, to connect with the divine, and to find unity in shared values.
The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom. The Sabbath is God’s perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people.
.Rest and Relaxation
Science now suggests that practicing a day of rest - including time away from social media and digital devices - benefits longevity and both mental and physical health.
In 2005, National Geographic published the findings of scientists, funded in part by the U.S. National Institute on Aging, who traveled around the globe
to learn the secrets of longevity from populations that had high rates of centenarians, few deadly diseases and more healthy years of life. So regardless
of your faith or personal belief, the thing is, rest is good for us.
The science of Sabbath: How people are rediscovering rest-and claiming its benefits:
via
Happy Sabbath!
dr. π (pi)
.
Which is the real seventh day? Saturday (Saturn's day)? or Sunday (Son's day)? Which is it and why? All or both?
This is what I'm trying to figure out today. We seem torn between Hebraic judaic dogma, Saturn (Satan's) deception as based on the Old Testament, then there are the Koran, Torah and New Testament that modernize our insights, or the Roman Catholic calendric revision of Sunday being the day of rest. Are all of them correct? Why? Which is it?
Nowadays, many people have Sabbaths on different days. Most of the corporate culture today takes two days off mostly on the weekends. As time flowed, the observance of Sabbath adapted to changing societal dynamics, retaining its sanctity while accommodating the demands of the modern world.
'Sabbath' means celebration in unity and/or rest : ..The Seventh Day
The key to understanding the difference between the days and the time count rests in the matter that the name of the Seventh day is not Saturday (which was carved to be used in honour of the pagan God Saturn), but rather Sabbath which literally means "rest day". Christians believe that Saturday is the bastardization by Satan to change from Sabbath rest to pagan worship of Satan by saturnalia.
Original names for the Seventh day is Sabbath: Spanish - Sabado; Italian - Sabbato; Russian - Subbota; Portuguese - Sabbado; Prussian - Sabatico; Latin - Sabbatum; Arabic - Assabt; Swahili - Assabt; Assyrian - Sabata; Hebrew - Shabat, over a hundred languages of our world in which the Seventh day is called Sabbath, which literally means "rest day".
Underlying the well-known link between Saturday (Shabbat in Hebrew) and Saturn (Shabbetai in Hebrew) is the reference to Saturn as the planet in charge of the Jews. Behind the link between Saturn and Saturday is the astrological theory that assigns the seven planets in succession, beginning with the sun and following the order of their orbs, to the 24 hours of the day and to the seven days of the week. That Jewish society of the talmudic period recognized the same association is shown by the fact that the Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 156a) refers to Saturn as Shabbetai, i.e., the star of Shabbat (Saturday). Greek and Arab astrology, however, considered Saturn to be the most malignant of the seven planets; and thus the Jews, astrologically governed by Saturn, were considered to be contaminated by the planet’s wicked nature. Abraham Ibn Ezra (ca.1089-ca.1161) is the first Jewish thinker to deal with the problematic link between Saturn, Saturday, and the Jews. He addresses the astrological association, throughout his writings, both scientific and nonscientific. He removes the sting of this embarrassing linkage by stressing that Saturn is actually conducive to a Jew’s religious faith. In his long commentary on Exodus 20:13, Ibn Ezra associates Saturn with the fourth commandment, ordaining one to "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8), and explains that this correspondence allows the Jews, by not occupying themselves with everyday matters but devoting themselves solely to the fear of God on this day, to protect themselves from Saturn’s baneful influence and also to improve the quality of their religious belief. via
Jesus speaks to the Pharisees, "I am the Lord of the Sabbath". - MATTHEW 12:8 KJV via
The Sabbath is always the 7th day no matter what date is posted on any calendar. Last supper, Tuesday night. Wednesday 3 pm messiah died. Resurrected, Saturday night...Dates change, days are constant.
The seventh day is the Sabbath. Sabbath means "rest." (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:10) The Creator blessed the seventh day. (Genesis 2:3) He set apart (sanctified) the seventh day. (Exodus 20:11) The Sabbath is a memorial of creation.
If we read the Bible, God's days start at sunset. God's months start with a new moon (lunar calendar). The Jews in the O.T. & N.T. followed God's lunar calendar, based on the new moon. The seventh day, the Sabbath, was never on the same day on the lunar calendar.
Jer 52:4"...in the ninth year...in the tenth month...on the tenth day of the month
The whole Bible is full of examples like this. If you translate the Greek in Acts 20:7, it reads: "and on one of the Sabbaths..." God did not give the days names, only His seventh day that He gave a name.
In fact, any faithful Jew you meet will tell you that the Sabbath is the Seventh-day of the week, and that it falls on none other day, but our Saturday as we find on the Gregorian Calendar.
1. After working the first six days of the week in creating this earth, God rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 2:1-3; Hebrews 4:4)
2. The seventh day is the Sabbath. Sabbath means “rest.” (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:10)
3. The Creator blessed the seventh day. (Genesis 2:3)
4. He set apart (sanctified) the seventh day. (Exodus 20:11)
5. The Sabbath is a memorial of creation. Every time we rest upon the seventh day, as God did at creation, we commemorate that grand event. (Exodus 20:11) It is also a sign between God and us that He sets us apart as His special people. (Ezekiel 20:12; Revelation 12:17)
6. Jesus says Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27), that is, for the whole human race. Therefore, it was given not only to the Jew but to everyone.
7. God gave the Ten Commandments at Sinai. (Exodus 19:20) In the fourth commandment, God reminds us that He established the Sabbath thousands of years before. (Exodus 19:20; 20:8-11)
8. The week originated at creation. The Bible indicates that it continued unbroken through the centuries from creation (Genesis 2:1-3) to Sinai (Exodus 20:8-11) to apostolic times. (Acts 13:13, 44).
9. The manna miracle showed that the Sabbath was already sacred before God gave the Ten Commandments at Sinai (Exodus 16:4, 27-30).
10. The seventh-day Sabbath was commanded by the voice of God Himself. (Deuteronomy 4:12, 13)
11. God wrote these commandments on tables of stone with His own finger. (Exodus 31:18)
12. God’s commands were preserved in a sacred wooden chest (ark) in the most holy room of the sanctuary. (Deuteronomy 10:1-5)
13. God said we are to rest on the Sabbath even in extra busy times. (Exodus 34:21)
14. The Sabbath is a symbol of the contract between us and God, by which we remember that He is our God. (Ezekiel 20:12)
15. God promised that Jerusalem would stand forever if the Jews would keep the Sabbath. (Jeremiah 17:24, 25)
16. One of the reasons why God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed was Israel’s desecration of the Sabbath. (Jeremiah 17:27)
17. God sent Israel into Babylonian captivity for breaking the Sabbath. (Nehemiah 13:18)
18. God has pronounced a special blessing on all Jews and non-Jews who will keep the Sabbath. (Isaiah 56:6, 7)
19. The Lord encourages us to think of the Sabbath as a delight, honorable. (Isaiah 58:13)
20. When the Son of God came, He worshiped on the seventh day. (Luke 4:16; John 15:10)
21. The seventh day is the Lord’s day. (See Revelation 1:10; Mark 2:28; Isaiah 58:13; Exodus 20:10)
22. Jesus vindicated the Sabbath as a merciful institution designed for man’s good. (Mark 2:23-28)
23. Instead of abolishing the Sabbath, Jesus carefully taught how it should be observed. (Matthew 12:1-13)
24. Jesus admonished His disciples to pray that they would not have to flee from the coming destruction of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. (Matthew 24:20)
25. After His death, the women who were followers of Jesus “Rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:56: (Exodus 20:8-11)
26. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, called it the “Sabbath day” (Acts 13:27. Compare verses 14, 42, 44.)
27. In the great Christian council, A.D. 49, in the presence of the apostles and thousands of disciples, James calls it the “Sabbath day.” (Acts 15:21)
28. It was customary to meet for prayer upon the Sabbath day. (Acts 16:13)
29. As was his custom, Paul “Reasoned with them out of the scriptures”: on the Sabbath day. (Acts 17:2, 3)
30. The Book of Acts alone gives a record of Paul teaching and preaching on at least 84 Sabbath days.
31. The Bible never records any dispute between Christians and Jews as to which day is the Sabbath. This indicates that Christians still observe the same day as the Jews did.
32. The Sabbath is mentioned 59 times in the New Testament and always with respect. In no instance is it even implied that the Sabbath was abolished or changed.
33. There is no record in the Bible that God has ever removed His blessing or sanctification from the seventh day.
34. The Sabbath remains forever. (Hebrews 4:9; Isaiah 66:22, 23) via
The Jewish holy book is known as the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible. The word Tanakh comes from the first letters of the three different parts of the book:
• The Torah (T) which is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. The Christian Bible also begins with these books, in the part which Christians call the Old Testament.
• The Nevi'im (N) which are the books of the Jewish prophets such as Joshua and Isaiah.
• Ketuvim (K) which is a collection other important writings.
The Torah has 613 commandments which are called mitzvah. They are the rules that Jews try to follow. The most important ones are the Ten Commandments given to Moses.
Joyful observance of this holy time called Sabbath is witnessed in God’s creative and redemptive acts (Gen. 2:1-3; Exod. 20:8-11; 31:13-17; Lev. 23:32; Deut. 5:12-15; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Ezek. 20:12, 20; Matt. 12:1-12; Mark 1:32; Luke 4:16; Heb. 4:1-11.)
Secular History - The Change of the Calendar
The key to understanding the difference between the days and the time count rests in the matter that the name of the Seventh day is not Saturday (which was carved to be used in honour of the pagan God Saturn), but rather Sabbath which literally means "rest day". Saturday is the bastardization by Satan to change from Sabbath rest to pagan worship of Satan by saturnalia.
Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through 19 December. By the 1st century B.C., the celebration had been extended through 23 December, for a total of seven days of festivities. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves as it was seen as a time of liberty for both slaves and freedmen alike. A common custom was the election of a "King of the Saturnalia", who gave orders to people, which were followed and presided over the merrymaking. The gifts exchanged were usually gag gifts or small figurines made of wax or pottery known as sigillaria. The poet Catullus called it "the best of days". via
The Julian Calendar was instituted by Julius Caesar around 46 B.C., and was continuously in use for about 15 centuries. In fact, during the time of Christ, it was the Julian calendar that was utilized in reckoning the days, months and seasons in the civilized nations of the world. However, the Julian calendar had a minor problem. It was a quarter (1/4) of an hour too long in reckoning the days in the year. This discrepancy added up until by October 1582, the Julian calendar was ten days out of harmony with the solar system. So if the calendar was changed ten days, then which is now the Sabbath (seventh day of creation and rest)? Even Saturday does not fit this scenario. For the seventh is simply a count of weeks from the beginning of creation. We are caught somewhere between the customs of the ancient and Jewish calendar and the modern industrial clock time world of today.
Pope Gregory then fixed this problem in 1582, with the Julian calendar by dropping ten days out of the numbering of the calendar. This calendar change was implemented on Thursday, October 4, 1582. The next day which should have been Friday, October 5 was shifted by pope Gregory to Friday, October 15 instead; thus dropping ten days to bring the calendar back in sync with our solar system. Today, the nations of the world use the Gregorian calendar, which was named after pope Gregory.
Gregory did not affect the weekly cycle, and hence, we can be sure that our Seventh-day today is the same Seventh-day that Christ and the disciples honoured as the Sabbath of the Creator God (see Luke 4:16; Luke 23:56; Acts 16:13; Acts 17:1-2).
So in context of today, Saturday or Sunday? Does the specific day really matter?
The key to understanding the difference between the days and the time count rests in the matter that the name of the Seventh day is not Saturday (which was carved to be used in honour of the pagan God Saturn), but rather Sabbath which literally means "rest day". Saturday is the bastardization by Satan to change from Sabbath rest to pagan worship of Satan by saturnalia.
Acts 20:7 says, "On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight." 1 Corinthians 16:2 also tells us, "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come." So in that aspect, the Sabbath was on a Sunday.
But looking at the pattern of creation, God rested on the seventh last day of the week, which is now accepted to be a Saturday. Genesis 2:2 says, "And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done." The word "Sabbath" comes from the Hebrew term "shabbat," which means to cease all activities. God rested on the seventh day not because He was tired but because He wanted to enjoy His creation. And that is the essence of Sabbath-for us, God's creation, to celebrate our Creator.
It’s not just the body that needs rest. Your soul needs rest as well, and as far as rest for the soul is concerned, in Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites us, "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
1 Corinthians 16:2 also tells us, "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come."
In Luke 6:5, Jesus declares, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." The essence of the Sabbath does not lie on the day it falls under. The essence of the Sabbath is a Person, and that person is Jesus Christ.
What about other belief systems?
The Pāli word uposatha means "observance," and refers to the ancient Buddhist tradition of devoting a day to our practice, much like the Christian sabbath, which is a fine translation of the word. Uposatha (Sanskrit: Upavasatha) day is a Buddhist day of observance, in existence since the Buddha's time (600 BCE), and still being kept today by Buddhist practitioners. The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for "the cleansing of the defiled mind.” On the new-moon and full-moon uposatha, in monasteries where there are four or more bhikkhus, the local Sangha will recite the Patimokkha. Before the recitation starts, the monks will confess any violations of the disciplinary rules to another monk or to the Sangha. In a meditation monastery ..., most of their time will be spent mindfully employed - walking and seated meditation with some time given to helping the bhikkhus with their daily duties, the whole of this day and night (and enthusiastic lay people restrict their sleep) is given over to Dhamma. via
Unveiling the Meaning of Sabbath in Islam
If Muslims do not observe the Sabbath as it was only prescribed for the Bani Israel,
It is apparent from the above texts that the Sabbath was prescribed for Christians and Jews in the past, and not for the Muslims, who do not practice the Sabbath by their God Allah Ta'ala who has blessed them with the day of Friday to worship. So where do they get that variation of rest?
The concept of Sabbath is deeply embedded in Islam; it does not only refer to a day off from work, but it extends beyond that. Spiritual rejuvenation, reflection, and connection to the divine are all at the center of this season. Muslims, as one of the world’s largest religious groups, worship at this time of year, deepen their spirituality, and strengthen their relationships with family and community. Muslims find comfort and purpose in this special occasion through rituals such as prayer, recitation of the Quran, and charitable acts. The concept of a Sabbath in Islam is a universal expression of rest and reflection that can be relevant to people of all faiths and backgrounds.
This sacred practice, known as “Jumu’ah” in Arabic, offers a holistic view encompassing historical depth, divine commandments, and cultural evolution. At its core, Sabbath holds a special place as a day of rest and worship in the Islamic ethos. This tradition transcends beyond mere abstention from labor; it’s a day where Muslims gather for congregational prayers, immerse themselves in scripture, and find solace in communal unity. This unique blend of rest and devotion marks Sabbath as a cornerstone of Islamic life, fostering spiritual rejuvenation and strengthening the bonds of the Muslim community, and perhaps is parallel in nature to the Judeo-Christian communities. After all, Sabbath, is Sabbath.
The dynamic nature of Islam as a global faith whose observance of Sabbath takes on shades influenced by local customs, traditions, and historical contexts, is an intersection of faith and culture enriches the experience of Sabbath, creating a mosaic of practices that ultimately share the common thread of devotion, regardless whether it is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Sabbath is a spiritual day. Sabbath, is Sabbath guiding believers towards deeper connection, reflection, and unity encouraging self-reflection, mindfulness, and gratitude during this sacred time.
Drawing parallels between the Islamic Sabbath and similar concepts in other religions such as Judaism remind humanity of the inherent need to transcend the material world, to connect with the divine, and to find unity in shared values.
The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom. The Sabbath is God’s perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people.
.Rest and Relaxation
Science now suggests that practicing a day of rest - including time away from social media and digital devices - benefits longevity and both mental and physical health.
In 2005, National Geographic published the findings of scientists, funded in part by the U.S. National Institute on Aging, who traveled around the globe
to learn the secrets of longevity from populations that had high rates of centenarians, few deadly diseases and more healthy years of life. So regardless
of your faith or personal belief, the thing is, rest is good for us.
The science of Sabbath: How people are rediscovering rest-and claiming its benefits:
via
Happy Sabbath!
dr. π (pi)
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