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Was Jesus Resurrected on the FIRST DAY of the week?
In other words, was Jesus resurrected on the FIRST day of the week or was Jesus resurrected on the SEVENTH day of the week?
What DAY of the week was the Apostle John called up to heaven in the spirit, which he called the “Lord’s DAY”?
The purpose of this study in God’s word is to closely examine all the Scriptures referring to the resurrection of Jesus in order to see what the WHOLE word of God has to say concerning the DAY of the week that Jesus rose from the grave.
The Roman Catholic Church TRADITION says that Jesus was placed in the tomb on Friday just before sunset.
And thus, Jesus was not on the cross at the starting of the WEEKLY Sabbath day.
In other words, the Catholic tradition interprets John 19:31 as being the WEEKLY Sabbath instead of a YEARLY Sabbath, also called a HIGH Sabbath.
Then Jesus rose from the grave on SUNDAY, which would be the FIRST day of the week.
But most Protestant Christians argue and say that this Roman Catholic cannot be true, because the word of God also says that Jesus was to be in the heart of the earth for three FULL nights AND three FULL days.
Therefore, to Protestant Christians, it is impossible for Jesus to have been buried on a Friday AND rise from the dead on SUNDAY the FIRST day of the week.
For you see, there are NOT three full days and three full nights between Friday evening and Sunday morning.
Now, I happen to agree with this LOGIC that there are NOT three full nights and three full days between Friday evening and Sunday morning.
But before we base our faith on LOGIC only, let us examine more closely all the Scriptures that speak of the resurrection of Jesus.
We do this in order to see what the WHOLE word of God has to say on the subject of WHEN Jesus was raised from the dead.
For you see, even though there are many Christians who AGREE and believe that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday and laid in the tomb just before sunset, the Sabbath-keeping Christians do NOT believe that Jesus was resurrected on SUNDAY.
Here is what we know for sure. Jesus died on the cross on a Wednesday.
Jesus was taken down off of the cross just before sunset, the starting of a HIGH Sabbath day.
For you see, the Jewish day starts at sunset. Thus, the starting of that new day was on a Thursday, which in that year, was a HIGH Sabbath day.
Most Protestant Christians agree on this much, but there is still a debate as to whether Jesus rose from the grave on SATURDAY, the WEEKLY Sabbath, or whether Jesus rose from the dead on SUNDAY the FIRST day of the week.
In other words, Christians, who keep Saturday, the seventh day of the week as Sabbath day rest, as opposed to worshiping God on Sunday, argue and desperately try to prove that the resurrection of Jesus took place on SATURDAY.
And they make that argument the 7th day of the week being the weekly, Sabbath day, being the day Jesus was resurrected so that they can CLAIM that Saturday is the Lord’s DAY.
To say this another way, those who teach that Christians MUST keep the Sabbath day only on Saturday, the seventh day of the week, feel that if they can prove that Jesus rose from the grave on Saturday in the late afternoon just before sunset, then they can argue that the Lord’s DAY is the weekly Sabbath day.
Thus, they would have more evidence to try and prove that Christians MUST, without fail, keep the Sabbath day only on Saturday, the seventh day of the week, because it is the Lord’s Day.
That is to say, according to THEIR interpretation of the Scriptures, Saturday in the Lord’s day in THEIR eyes.
But, according to the rest of the Christians, the Lord’s Day is SUNDAY, the day God raised Jesus from the dead.
What does the WHOLE word of God teach us?
Now that you understand the controversy, let us begin this study in God's word by taking a closer look at Matthew 21:1-7 so that we can see what the word of TRUTH, the whole word of God, teaches us to be the DAY of the week in which Jesus rose from the grave.
Was it on SATURDAY, the weekly Sabbath day, or did Jesus rise from the grave on SUNDAY, the FIRST DAY of the week, commonly called by most Christians as the Lord’s DAY?
Matthew 21:1-7.
“In the END of the Sabbath, as it BEGAN to DAWN toward the FIRST day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. (Remember that Sunday BEGAN a SUNSET, the ENDING of the Sabbath day. Thus, the DAWNING of Sunday was 12 hours after SUNSET on Saturday, the END of the weekly Sabbath day)
Matthew 21:2. And, behold, there was a great EARTHQUAKE: for (Or because) the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and ROLLED BACK the STONE from the door, and sat upon it. (And just as DAWN was beginning there was a EARTHQUAKE.
So, to me, the resurrection took place AS DAWN was happening.
They witnessed an angel, just before dawn, which is again around 12 hours after the Sabbath had ENDED)
Matthew 21:3. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Matthew 21:4. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Matthew 21:5. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not you: for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Matthew 21:6. He is not here: for He is RISEN, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matthew 21:7. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that He is RISEN from the dead; and, behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see Him: lo, I have told you.”
Now those Christians, who teach that we must keep the Sabbath day according to the Law of Moses argue that Jesus was ALREADY RISEN from the dead before anyone ever arrived at the tomb on the first day of the week.
So, therefore, the Sabbath-keeping Christians reason in their minds that the tomb was empty, because Jesus must have risen from the grave on SATURDAY, the SABBATH day.
But is this what the whole word of God teaches us? The first thing that I want to point out to you, the seeker of the TRUTH, is the weekly Sabbath day, being the 7th day of the week had already ENDED.
Why would the writers of the Gospel tell us the Sabbath had ENDED if they wanted us to understand that Jesus was resurrected BEFORE the weekly Sabbath had ENDED?
Why would they ADD the words “beginning to DAWN on the FIRST day of the week” when Mary Magdalene and others came to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus.
And when they arrived at the tomb that was an EARTHQUAKE and they found that the STONE had been rolled back and Jesus had RISEN from the dead.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with when the STARTING of a new day for the Jews begins, the Bible tells us in Leviticus 23:32 that each new day began at sunset and ended at the next sunset.
Leviticus 23:32b from the English Standard Version.
“...from EVENING to EVENING shall you keep your Sabbath.”
So then, since we know that Jesus was placed in the tomb just before the start of the Sabbath day right at sunset that evening on the DAY that He was crucified.
And since we also know that Jesus was in the heart of the earth three full days and three full nights AND that there are NOT three full days and three full nights between Friday EVENING and SUNDAY morning, then we can safely conclude that Jesus did NOT die on a Friday as the Roman Catholic Church TRADITION falsely teaches.
Therefore, let us begin by using the LITERAL meaning of three days and three nights.
Thus, Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday and that on Wednesday EVENING just BEFORE the setting of the sun, which would START the new day Thursday, being a HIGH Sabbath day that particular year, Jesus was laid in the tomb and the tomb was sealed.
But how do we know that Jesus was crucified the evening before a HIGH Sabbath and that it was NOT a WEEKLY Sabbath as many falsely teach?
Please read John 19:31, which clearly and plainly teaches us that THAT DAY on which Jesus was crucified was on a PREPARATION day or the day BEFORE a HIGH DAY or a HIGH Sabbath day.
John 19:31.
“The Jews therefore, because it was the PREPARATION (The day BEFORE the Sabbath day), that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the SABBATH day, (for THAT Sabbath day was an HIGH day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”
Here is John 19:31 from the New Living Translation.
“The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the NEXT day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.”
There are seven ANNUAL feasts of the Lord that are observed by the Jews every year on time a year.
And they are ALSO called SABBATHS. One of these ANNUAL SABBATH days was PASSOVER.
Please read the study called The FEAST DAYS of the LORD!
That study will give you a deeper understanding on the feast days.
But for now, just know that the Passover LAMB was KILLED on the 14th DAY of the first month of the Jewish year.
Then the NEXT day was a yearly SABBATH day called the first day of unleavened bread.
Please read Leviticus 23:4-8.
“These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their SEASONS. (Meaning they were to be kept YEARLY at their appointed time of the year)
Leviticus 23:5. In the FOURTEENTH day of the first month at even is the LORD'S Passover. (This is the DAY on which the sacrificial LAMB was to be KILLED)
Leviticus 23:6. And on the FIFTEENTH day of the same month (Which is the very NEXT day AFTER the lamb was KILLED) is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days you must eat unleavened bread.
Leviticus 23:7. In the FIRST day you shall have an holy convocation: you shall do no servile work therein. (In other words, the very FIRST day of this seven day feast of unleavened bread was a SABBATH day, which means a day of REST)
Leviticus 23:8. But you shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the SEVENTH day is an holy convocation: you shall do no servile work therein.”
In other words, BOTH the FIRST day and the last day of unleavened bread were SABBATH days.
So then, the 15th day, the day AFTER Jesus was KILLED as the LAMB of God for the sins of the world was a YEARLY SABBATH day called a HIGH day.
Let us continue this study in God’s word assuming that Jesus was crucified on WEDNESDAY, the 14th day of the first month of the Jewish calendar.
The name of this month is called Nissan or Abib.
So then, from sunset Wednesday to sunrise on Thursday was ONE NIGHT.
And from sunrise Thursday to sunset Thursday was ONE DAY.
Then, from sunset Thursday to sunrise Friday morning was TWO NIGHTS.
And from sunrise Friday to sunset Friday was TWO DAYS.
Then, from sunset Friday to sunrise Saturday morning was THREE NIGHTS.
And from sunrise Saturday to sunset Saturday was THREE DAYS.
Please keep in mind that Jesus needed to be in the heart of the earth three FULL days and three FULL nights to fulfill the Scriptures.
Also, keep in mind that on SUNSET that Saturday being the completion of the THIRD DAY.
Therefore, in order for the three FULL nights and three FULL days to be fully COMPLETED, it is then needed for Jesus to RESURRECTED sometime AFTER sunset of the THIRD day.
And that is the BEGINNING of the FIRST day of the week just like the word of TRUTH clearly and plainly teaches us in Mark 16:19.
Mark 16:19.
“Now when Jesus was risen early the FIRST day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.”
Please notice that the word of TRUTH does NOT say that Jesus was risen LATE in the afternoon of the SEVENTH day of the week as some falsely teach.
But rather, the CLEAR, PLAIN, and SIMPLE word of Almighty God states that Jesus was risen EARLY the FIRST DAY of the week, which is SUNDAY.
Now again, some Sabbath keepers like to argue that Jesus was raised from the dead just BEFORE sunset and therefore rose from the grave on the SABBATH day.
They argue that Jesus was laid in the tomb just BEFORE sunset on Wednesday evening.
So, therefore, just BEFORE sunset on SATURDAY evening would be exactly 72 hours, which the Sabbath-keeping Christians argue is three FULL days and three FULL nights.
Yes, it is true that 72 hours does equal in TIME to be three full days and three full nights.
However, Jesus did not say that he would be in the heart of the earth 72 hours.
But rather, that he would be in the heart of the earth three full days and three full nights.
Please read Matthew 12:38-40.
“Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a SIGN from you.
Matthew 12:39. But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a SIGN; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the SIGN of the prophet Jonas:
Matthew 12:40. For as Jonas was THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS in the heart of the earth.”
This does NOT mean that we can take the last PART of the one day Wednesday just before sunset, and then SUBTRACT it to Saturday that is just short of being a FULL day.
They TWIST the Biblical understanding of the Jewish DAY and NIGHT because THEY NEED the resurrection to take place just before sunset before that Sabbath ENDS.
This is called TWISTING the Scriptures to MAKE to say what you want or NEED them to say to try and support the teaching of your church denomination.
You cannot take from one day and then add it to another day in order to MAKE it a full day just so that Jesus can be made to appear to have risen on a SATURDAY, the Sabbath day.
The word of TRUTH clearly teaches us that Jesus was resurrected on the FIRST day of the week.
So then, it is NOT a CORRECT assumption or interpretation of the word of God to CLAIM that Jesus rose from the grave on SATURDAY late in the afternoon based upon the WHOLE word of God?
The next thing I want you to notice in Matthew 28:1-7 is verses 1 and 2 together.
Matthew 28:1-7.
“In the END of the Sabbath, as it BEGAN to DAWN toward the FIRST day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
Matthew 28:2. And, behold, there was a great EARTHQUAKE: for (Or because) the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and ROLLED BACK the STONE from the door, and sat upon it.”
Again, please notice that the word of God CLEARLY and PLAINLY says that the Sabbath had ENDED and that it was DAWNING toward the FIRST day of the week that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb of Jesus.
In other words, it was just before SUNRISE on the FIRST day of the week that they came to the tomb to see Jesus, but the tomb was ALREADY empty.
Now IF this was all the word of God told us, then it could certainly be reasonably argued that Jesus MAY have risen from the dead just before MIDNIGHT the beginning of Sunday, according to the way we keep time today.
And therefore, Jesus MIGHT have risen on the 7th day of the week using the Gentile reckoning of days and nights.
However, that is NOT how the Bible ITSELF keeps time.
Remember that the new day starts at sundown.
Also please notice that the word of God goes on to say in verse 2 of Matthew 28 that there was an EARTHQUAKE.
“Matthew 28:2. And, behold, there was a great EARTHQUAKE: FOR (Or BECAUSE) the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and ROLLED BACK the STONE from the door, and sat upon it.”
And BEHOLD or look closely and SEE, there was a great EARTHQUAKE at the time Jesus ROSE from the grave, because the angel of the Lord descended from heaven to ROLL BACK the great stone that sealed the tomb.
We know without a doubt that this great earthquake occurred at the time of the resurrection of Jesus for three reasons.
First, it is recorded for us here in Matthew 28:2 as occurring just before DAWN on the FIRST day of the week.
Second, it took place as a result of the resurrection itself and the angel rolling back the heavy stone so that those coming to anoint Jesus could see that He had just risen from the dead and that the tomb was now EMPTY.
This appearance of the angel was ALSO WITNESSED by the guards who were making sure no one would steal the body of Jesus.
And thirdly, if we back up a few verses to the previous chapter we will see that at this time of this great EARTHQUAKE that not only Jesus rose from the grave but many others also rose from the dead with Jesus.
But yet, NONE of these events are mentioned in relation to the SEVENTH DAY as HAPPENING on the SEVENTH DAY.
Rather, all of these events or signs are related to the FIRST DAY of the week, which is SUNDAY, the Lord’s day of his resurrection and ascending into heaven to be GLORIFIED by his God and Father.
In other words, the FIRST day of the week is related to the FIRST Son of MAN being MADE a Lord by Almighty God to rule over the earth during the world to come.
Hence, the FIRST day of the week is called the “Lord’s DAY”, seeing that Jesus was MADE to become the FIRST and also CHIEF Lord of the TRUE Sabbath, the Millennial reign of Jesus during the world to come.
Now, to me, if the earthquake would have happened on the weekly Sabbath day, then surely the disciples would have specifically make that known to us,
But rather, they recorded the great earthquake in relation to the FIRST DAY of the week.
Please read Matthew 27:50-54 where we see an earthquake taking place when Jesus gave up the ghost and died on the cross.
AND there was another great earthquake taking place when Jesus was RESURRECTED from the dead in relation to the FIRST DAY of the week.
But NO earthquake on the Sabbath day.
Matthew 27:50-54.
“Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Matthew 27:51. And, behold , the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the EARTH did QUAKE, and the rocks rent;
Matthew 27:52. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Matthew 27:53. And came out of the graves AFTER His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Matthew 27:54. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, WATCHING Jesus, SAW the EARTHQUAKE, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.”
Now, at first, it seems that there is only one earthquake, the earthquake that took place at the moment Jesus died on the cross.
But, if this were true, then why is another earthquake mentioned just before DAWN of the FIRST day of the week, the very moment as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached the tomb where Jesus had been laid?
In verse 54, we see that the centurion that was WATCHING Jesus SAW the EARTHQUAKE and THOSE THINGS that were done and they greatly feared.
Some may try and argue that this verse is speaking of the earthquake and those things that were done at the CRUCIFIXION of Jesus when He cried out to God and DIED.
Now, while this is also true that people feared that earthquake, please keep in mind that the Jewish leaders went to Pilate and asked him to post soldiers at the tomb to WATCH Jesus so that no one would try and steal the body of Jesus and just claim that Jesus rose from the dead.
And it specifically says those WATCHING the TOMB saw the earthquake and the angel rolling away the stone.
So, THIS earthquake is NOT the SAME earthquake that occurred when Jesus gave up the ghost and DIED on the cross.
Please read Matthew 27:59-66.
“And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Matthew 27:60. And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed.
Matthew 27:61. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher.
Matthew 27:62. Now the NEXT day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Matthew 27:63. Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, AFTER three days I will rise again.
Matthew 27:64. Command therefore that the sepulcher be made SURE until the THIRD day, lest His disciples come by NIGHT, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (So then, to those Roman centurions commanded to WATCH the tomb)
Matthew 28:65. Pilate said unto them, You have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can.
Matthew 28:66. So they went, and made the sepulcher SURE, SEALING the stone, and setting a WATCH.”
Again, or as a review of what we have learned, the day of preparation was Wednesday just before the HIGH Sabbath day.
So, the NEXT day, which was on Thursday, would be the High Sabbath day.
That was the DAY when these Jewish leaders went to Pilate to have him set guards to WATCH the body of Jesus and make sure the tomb was sealed and secure until AFTER the third day had ended.
That would mean that Jesus would have been in the belly of the earth for over 12 hours BEFORE the actual THREE day WATCH was commanded.
WHY would they take a chance and GUESS when to start the THREE days?
To me, the THREE DAY WATCH over the tomb STARTED on THURSDAY and not at sunset on Friday.
Plus, the guards would NOT leave their WATCH or unseal the tomb BEFORE sunset that THIRD DAY?
In other words, neither the Jewish leaders of Pilate would have removed those guards until AFTER the THIRD DAY had ENDED.
And most likely to be safe they would have secured the tomb an extra day or at least until after SUNRISE after the weekly Sabbath had ended.
Keep in mind that they came to Pilate the NEXT day and commanded him to seal the tomb until the THIRD day.
So, the question remains, was it from that day, speaking of Thursday, the day after the preparation, that the countdown of three days BEGAN?
If so, then a WATCH would have been set until sunset on SUNDAY which would have been the starting of MONDAY the 2nd day of the week.
And if the the three day countdown started on Friday at SUNSET, they guards would have REMAINED on watch until SUNRISE on the FIRST DAY of the week, which is Sunday.
Either way, we know that there were centurions WATCHING the body of Jesus so that no one could steal the body of Jesus and falsely claim that Jesus rose from the dead.
And while these Romans soldiers were on their WATCH is WHEN the angel came to roll back the stone and the great earthquake took place.
For you see, the word of God tells us that the SOLDIERS that were WATCHING the tomb took money to spread the lie that the disciples of Jesus stole the body of Jesus.
Please read Matthew 27:11-15.
“Now when they were going, behold, some of the WATCH (Which probably included some Jews along with the soldiers provided by Pilate) came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
Matthew 27:12. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the SOLDIERS,
Matthew 27:13. Saying, Say you, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept. (Now, it is doubtful that people went to bed to sleep BEFORE sunset to be sound asleep.
Thus, they would not know if the body of Jesus was stolen or not if they were sleeping.
The word says while they slept at NIGHT.
So, it was AFTER sunset of the seventh day, which would make it the FIRST day of the week that Jesus was raised from the dead)
Matthew 27:14. And if this come to the governor's ears, (Or if Pilate hears that you fell asleep) we will persuade him, and secure you. (In other words, the GUARDS watching the tomb would NOT have fallen asleep BEFORE SUNSET on the seventh day.
And thus, if Jesus was raised from the dead on the SEVENTH DAY BEFORE SUNSET, then the guards would have been SEVERELY dealt with by Pilate.
And there would be a RECORD of that in history and in the Bible.
But there is no such record!)
Matthew 27:15. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
So then, there were SOLDIERS guarding the body of Jesus until AFTER the three FULL days and three FULL nights had PAST completely.
And they were there WHEN the great earthquake took place and they saw bodies rise from the grave with Jesus.
Again, there is no WAY that these soldiers left their post BEFORE three FULL days and three FULL nights had completely PAST.
And they certainly did NOT fall asleep BEFORE SUNSET on the seventh day.
Thus, all of the SOUND BIBLICAL evidence clearly teaches us that God raised Jesus from the dead on the FIRST DAY of the week, which is SUNDAY.
Therefore, SUNDAY is the Lord’s DAY according to the Bible ITSELF!
Also, please notice in verse 63 that Jesus said AFTER three days He would RISE from the dead.
“Matthew 27:63. Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, AFTER three days I will rise again.”
So then, AFTER three FULL days and three FULL nights would, without any doubt whatsoever, place the resurrection of Jesus on SUNDAY.
Therefore, just before SUNRISE on the FIRST day of the week, Jesus was resurrected just as the word of TRUTH clearly and plainly teaches.
Now, some may try and argue that it was ONLY the JEWS who CLAIMED that they heard Jesus say that He would rise from the dead AFTER three days.
In other words, some Sabbath Christians will argue that the word of God says that Jesus will be resurrected on the THIRD day.
Yes, there are verses that do in fact say that Jesus will rise from the dead on the THIRD day.
But again, we must interpret those verses of Scripture in the LIGHT of what the WHOLE word of God teaches us.
For you see, it was Jesus himself who did in fact teach that He would rise AFTER three days as well.
And simple logic teaches that for Jesus to be in the belly of the earth for three FULL days and three FULL nights.
Thus, the resurrection of Jesus, must without fail, be AFTER those three full days and three full nights.
Please read Mark 8:27-32, which CLEARLY and PLAINLY teaches us who are seeking the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God that Jesus taught OPENLY this saying that He would rise AFTER three days.
And that would make it IMPOSSIBLE for Jesus to have risen on Saturday, the Sabbath day, as some FALSELY teach.
Mark 8:27-32.
“And Jesus went out, and His disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way He asked His disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
Mark 8:28. And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
Mark 8:29. And he said unto them, But whom say you that I am? And Peter answers and said unto Him, You are the Christ.
Mark 8:30. And He charged them that they should tell no man of Him.
Mark 8:31. And He began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and AFTER three days rise again.
Mark 8:32. And He (Jesus) spoke THAT saying OPENLY. And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him.”
In other words, even though it is not recorded very much as being plainly stated as AFTER three days that Jesus would rise from the grave, it is made blatantly clear to us that Jesus HIMSELF spoke THAT saying OPENLY that AFTER three days He would rise from the grave.
So then, the Jews heard Jesus CORRECTLY that He would rise again from the dead AFTER three full days and three FULL nights being DEAD and buried in the tomb.
The word of God is very clear to all those seeking to know the TRUTH of the whole word of God that Jesus rose from the grave AFTER the Sabbath has PAST.
Please read Mark 16:1,2, and which clearly and plainly teaches us that Jesus rose from the grave AFTER the third day which is AFTER the Sabbath had already PAST.
Mark 16:1,2.
“And when the Sabbath was PAST, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
Mark 16:2. And very early in the morning the FIRST day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun....
Now WHEN Jesus was risen EARLY the FIRST DAY of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.”
Now, for those of you who may be wondering what does it matter on which day that Jesus rose from the grave, the important point is that He ROSE from the dead!
And I whole heartily agree that the real issue is that Jesus conquered death and the grave for us.
The reason that I am writing this study is that there are Christians, who are compelling other Christians to keep ALL the law of God contained in some 613 carnal ordinances written to the children of Israel in the Old Testament under the OLD COVENANT.
And some of these Sabbath keeping Christians are FALSELY teaching Christians that it is a matter of SALVATION that a Christian must without fail keep ALL the law of Moses in order to be saved.
And if a Christians FAIL to KEEP the Sabbath day according to the law of Moses then they will be sinning and not receive eternal life in the world to come.
So, by CLAIMING that the Lord’s day is the seventh day of the week as opposed to the FIRST day of the week they SUBVERT some Christians into keeping the SEVENTH day Sabbath rest as the Jews.
Those that teach that Christians must keep all the law of Moses REASON that if they can PROVE that Jesus rose from the grave on SATURDAY, the 7th day of the week, which would be the SABBATH day, then they could claim that the Sabbath day is the LORD'S DAY.
And thus, their MOTIVE is to TRY to prove that Christians, who worship on Sunday, are SINNING by not worshiping on the true Lord’s day.
In other words, that is what THEY CLAIM. And thus, they intimidate Christians with fear of not pleasing God so that they can SUBVERT and COMPEL Christians to keep Saturday, the SEVENTH day of the week, holy as the Jews did under the OLD Covenant.
Now, if these Sabbath Keepers were to be successful in PROVING without a doubt that Jesus rose from the grave on SATURDAY rather than on SUNDAY.
Then, that would make it possible for more Christians to be DECEIVED into TRYING to keep ALL the law of God written in the Old Testament under the OLD covenant.
For you see, Peter said that none in the Old Testament were able to keep except Jesus himself.
Peter said THEY themselves were NOT able to bear the Law of Moses.
Jesus said for us to take His yoke, for His yoke is LIGHT and EASY.
Jesus gave us just TWO commandments.
But Sabbath-keeping Christians desire to be TEACHERS of the LAW, according to the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:3-7.
This is the reason why I am going to the WHOLE word of God to teach you, the seeker of the TRUTH, that Jesus did in fact rise from the grave on SUNDAY the FIRST DAY of the week.
And this is why we as Christians call SUNDAY the Lord’s DAY.
I want you to be thoroughly rooted and grounded in the TRUTH of the whole word of God lest you be DECEIVED by FALSE teachers, who are teaching a DIFFERENT gospel whereby we must be saved.
Please read the studies called Dd-21. Sabbath-Saturday, Sunday, or NEITHER!
That study shows that the early church worshiped on Sunday.
Also, another good study is Dd-12. Why ONLY 9 of the Ten Commandments?
That study shows that only nine of the ten commandments are repeated and taught for us as Christians to keep.
Many Christians are DECEIVED when they are tripped up by knowing that we are to keep the COMMANDMENTS of God.
But then, realize that they are not worshiping God on SATURDAY.
This is one of the biggest deceptions used by the enemy to DECEIVE believers into trying to obey ALL the law written in the Old Testament contained in some 613 carnal ordinances.
It all BEGINS with the mandatory keeping of the 7th day SABBATH.
That study explains that the Sabbath was FULFILLED at the cross and now Jesus has become our REST.
But for now, let us continue this study in God's word that teaches us that Jesus was in the heart of the earth three FULL days and three FULL nights and AFTER these three days Jesus rose from the grave on the FIRST day of the week.
Please read Mark 16:1-9, which again CLEARLY and PLAINLY teaches us that Jesus rose from the grave on the FIRST day of the week, which was SUNDAY and NOT on Saturday as some FALSELY teach.
And again, there is NO INTERPRETATION needed. The word of God is CLEAR, PLAIN, and SIMPLE.
Mark 16:1-9.
“And when the SABBATH was PAST, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
Mark 16:2. And very early in the morning the FIRST day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.
Mark 16:3. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?
Mark 16:4. And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mark 16:5. And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were afraid.
Mark 16:6. And he said unto them, Be not afraid: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is RISEN; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him.
Mark 16:7. But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goes before you into Galilee: there shall you see Him, as He said unto you.
Mark 16:8. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Mark 16:9. Now WHEN Jesus was risen EARLY the FIRST day of the week, (which again is SUNDAY and NOT the Sabbath day as some FALSELY teach) he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”
Now, I did not write these words. The very Apostles of Jesus, who were eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Jesus wrote these words.
So then, the EYEWITNESSES of Jesus said, WHEN Jesus was risen EARLY the FIRST day of the week,
This is NOT someone's interpretation or opinion, but rather the disciples of Jesus stating plainly as FACT with no interpretation needed that WHEN Jesus was risen was EARLY the FIRST day of the week.
So again, in Mark 16:1,2, and 9 we clearly see that the weekly Sabbath day had ENDED and was PAST when Mary Magdalene and the others came to the tomb to find that Jesus had RISEN from the grave EARLY the FIRST DAY of the week.
Not Only had the SABBATH already PAST, but it was very NEAR SUNRISE the next day!
And that would have been 12 hours AFTER the Sabbath had ENDED when they saw the great EARTHQUAKE, while COMING to the tomb to find it EMPTY.
Mark 16:1,2,9.
“And WHEN the SABBATH was PAST, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
Mark 16:2. And very early in the morning the FIRST day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun....
Mark 16:9. Now WHEN Jesus was risen EARLY the FIRST day of the week, (which again is SUNDAY and NOT the Sabbath day as some FALSELY teach) He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.”
This means that Jesus rose from the grave AFTER the weekly Sabbath.
And that would have fulfilled not only the Scriptures saying that Jesus would be in the heart of the earth three FULL days and three FULL nights, but ALSO fulfills the Scripture where Jesus HIMSELF plainly states that He would rise again AFTER these three days.
Again, please keep in mind that the very word of God CLEARLY and PLAINLY states straight out that Jesus rose from the grave on the FIRST day of the week.
Please read Mark 16:9 again.
“Now WHEN Jesus was risen EARLY the FIRST day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.”
Again, there is absolutely NO interpretation needed to understand that, without a doubt, Jesus rose from the grave on the FIRST day of the week, which is SUNDAY.
And thus, Sunday is called the Lords DAY throughout church history from the very beginning.
Please read the QUOTES from the early church writers so that you can clearly see directly from some early church writers that they did NOT keep the WEEKLY Sabbath day as the Jews.
So, in conclusion, I myself believe that Jesus was CRUCIFIED on a WEDNESDAY and the rose from the grave on SUNDAY, the FIRST day of the week AFTER being in the heart of the earth for three FULL days and three FULL nights just like the WHOLE word of God clearly and plainly teaches.
Below are some quotes of early church writers that clearly teach us that the early church did NOT keep the Sabbath day, as in, on SATURDAY the 7th day of the week.
But rather, the early church throughout history from its beginning worshiped God on SUNDAY the 1st day of the week, which is sometimes referred to as the 8th day of the week or the day AFTER the Sabbath day. The emphasis is mine.
This study was just the TIP of the iceberg of exposing the ERRORS of interpretation made by the Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping churches, and the Sunday first day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians.
All of the studies listed below can be sent to a brother or sister caught up in the Hebrew Roots Movement or a Sabbath-keeping church by sending them this one link **Dd-0. What Is the TRUE SABBATH?**
Also read Dd-20. Did the EARLY Church KEEP the WEEKLY Sabbath DAY?
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.
For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1-In the BEGINNING, and D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
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Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
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Brother Mark.
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Here is a NON BIAS historical account found in a letter from Pliny the Younger to Trojan concerning the Christians.
Pliny was a Roman who persecuted and killed Christians, so again this is a historical UNBIASED account of WHEN Christians gathered together.
Here is what Pliny says in his letter to Trojan. The EMPHASIS and comments in parenthesis are my own:
“That they were WONT (Or as they were ACCUSTOMED and USED to do, or in the HABIT of doing), on a STATED day (Or on a CERTAIN preset day), to meet together BEFORE IT WAS LIGHT, and to sing a hymn to Christ, as to a god, alternately; and to oblige themselves by a sacrament [or oath], not to do anything that was ill: but that they would commit no theft, or pilfering, or adultery; that they would not break their promises, or deny what was deposited with them, when it was required back again; after which it was their CUSTOM to depart, AND to meet AGAIN at a common but innocent meal,
(So after they had worship service early morning beginning before daylight, they would depart and they come back together later that same day to share a common simple meal together and most likely break bread together as other early church writers give more detail) which they had left off upon that edict which I published at your command, and wherein I had forbidden any such conventicles (Or religious meetings).”
Below are some quotes of early church writers that clearly teach us that the early church did NOT keep the Sabbath day, as in, on SATURDAY, the 7th day of the week.
But rather, the early church throughout history from its very beginning worshiped God on SUNDAY the FIRST day of the week, which is sometimes referred to as the EIGHTH day of the week and the day AFTER the Sabbath day, or the LORD’S DAY.
The emphasis is mine and the COMMENTS between the quotes are mine as well in these quotes given below.
”The year AD or date is given first and then the source is given at the end followed by the quote from that historical source. Keep in mind that the Apostle John was still alive until 100 AD.
#1. 90 AD DIDACHE:
"Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day:
1. But every Lord's day do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.
2. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned.
3. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord: In every place and time offer to Me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, saith the Lord, and My name is wonderful among the nations." (Didache: The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, Chapter XIV)
#2. 100 AD BARNABAS:
"We keep the eighth day [Sunday] with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead" (The Epistle of Barnabas, 100 AD 15:6-8).
#3. 100 AD BARNABAS:
Moreover, God says to the Jews, 'Your new moons and Sabbaths I cannot endure.' You see how He says, 'The present Sabbaths are not acceptable to Me, but the Sabbath which I have made in which, when I have rested [heaven: Heb 4] from all things, I will make the beginning of the eighth day which is the beginning of another world.' Wherefore we Christians keep the eighth day for joy, on which also Jesus arose from the dead and when He appeared ascended into heaven. (15:8f, The Epistle of Barnabas, 100 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, pg. 147)
#4. 110 AD Pliny:
They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath not to (do) any wicked deeds, never to commit any fraud, theft, or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of good food—but food of an ordinary and innocent kind. (About three years after the death of Ignatius in 250, an important official communication was sent from one Pliny to Trajan the Roman emperor.
Pliny, the Roman governor of Bithynia, wrote of the Christians who had been congregating there probably from at least A.D. 62 onwards. In this remark, it is explicitly stated that these early Christians observed the substance of most of the Ten Commandments, and it is implied that they observed all ten as far as they were able to do so.
As far as they were able, for as most of the early Christians were of slave stock or from other lower classes'-, and those who had heathen masters or employers—the vast majority—would be forced to work on THEIR day of rest, which was, unfortunately, an official working day throughout the empires' until Constantine's "Sabbath" Edict in 321 A.D. gave them some measure of public protection.
Hence one reads that after meeting "on a certain FIXED day before it was light", the first century Bithynian Christians had "to separate"—many of them having to labor for their masters and/or employers from dawn to dusk—"and then reassemble to partake of . . . food". The "certain fixed day" [stato die"'] on which the Christians met, is regarded by Seventh-day Adventists as Saturday'-. Certainly, the expression would seem to indicate a regular day of the meeting, probably each week.
But Sunday is FAR more likely to have been the "certain fixed day" than Saturday. For if Pliny had been referring to the old Saturday Sabbath, as a Roman he would doubtless have referred to the "later" meeting first and only then to the morning meeting on the day after the "certain fixed day", seeing that the old Saturday Sabbath was demarcated from the evening of one day to the evening of the following day.
But Pliny makes no such reference. Instead, he mentions that the pre-dawn meeting took place first—and only afterward, the later meeting; and that both meetings took place on the SAME "certain fixed day".
This rather points to the Roman (and—more importantly!—New Testament) midnight to midnight demarcation of modern Sunday-keepers than to the evening to evening demarcation of the Jews and the Seventh-day Adventists.) (The Covenantal Sabbath, Francis Nigel Lee, Pg 242)
Also, I myself will further add to the comment of the writer above that mere common sense plainly teaches us that Pliny was clearly speaking of SUNDAY because the LAW that Constantine passed was not to mandate work on SUNDAY so that these Christians could worship God on SUNDAY.
So then, the CLAIM made by the Seventh Day Adventist Church that the fixed day of worship for Christians under the New Covenant was a Saturday is FALSE.
Otherwise, Constantine would have made it a law that employers allow Christians off for work on a Saturday rather than on a Sunday.
For you see, the early church was already meeting on Sunday long before Constantine.
And this PROVES beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Christians were ALREADY worshiping God on SUNDAY, the FIRST DAY of the week from the very beginning of the church on the day of Pentecost.
The truth of the matter is that Constantine only made it easier for Christians to worship God on Sunday without being persecuted by their employers or owners by the passing of the EDICT making it a LAW to force heathen employers to let their employees have at least some time off from work so that they could worship God on SUNDAY.
Every Sabbath keeper will AGREE that Constantine's “SABBATH” is referring to SUNDAY as the day of the week and NOT as Saturday being the REST for Christians.
Again, all that Constantine did was to pass a law making it EASIER for Christians to worship on the DAY that they had ALREADY been worshiping on since the very beginning, at the DAY of PENTECOST, which is on SUNDAY, the FIRST day of the week that Christians called the Lord’s day, the day our Lord rose from the grave.
Open your EYES my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ and read what these early church writings are teaching us about the EARLIEST believers as to which day the early church worshiped God.
SUNDAY has ALWAYS been the Sabbath or the day of REST of the early church and the church throughout its entire history.
Read the following quotes from the early church writers.
#5. 150 AD EPISTLE OF THE APOSTLES:
-I [Christ] have come into being on the eighth day which is the day of the Lord. (18)
#6. 150 AD JUSTIN.
"He then speaks of those Gentiles, namely us, who in every place offer sacrifices to Him, i.e., the bread of the Eucharist, and also the cup of the Eucharist, affirming both that we glorify His name, and that you profane [it].
The command of circumcision, again, bidding [them] always circumcise the children on the eighth day, was a type of the true circumcision, by which we are circumcised from deceit and iniquity through Him who rose from the dead on the first day AFTER the Sabbath, [namely through] our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the first day after the Sabbath, remaining the first of all the days, is called, however, the eighth, according to the number of all the days of the cycle, and [yet] remains the first." (Justin, Dialogue 41:4)
#7. 150 AD JUSTIN:
...those who have persecuted and do persecute Christ, if they do not repent, shall not inherit anything on the holy mountain. But the Gentiles, who have believed on Him, and have repented of the sins which they have committed, they shall receive the inheritance along with the patriarchs and the prophets, and the just men who are descended from Jacob, even although they neither keep the Sabbath, nor are circumcised, nor observe the feasts. Assuredly, they shall receive the holy inheritance of God. (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, page 207)
#8. 150 AD JUSTIN:
But if we do not admit this, we shall be liable to fall into foolish opinion, as if it were not the same God who existed in the times of Enoch and all the rest, who neither were circumcised after the flesh, nor observed Sabbaths, nor any other rites, seeing that Moses enjoined such observances...
For if there was no need of circumcision before Abraham, or of the observance of Sabbaths, of feasts and sacrifices, before Moses; no more need is there of them now, after that, according to the will of God, Jesus Christ the Son of God has been born without sin, of a virgin sprung from the stock of Abraham. (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, page 206)
#9. 150 AD JUSTIN:
Moreover, all those righteous men already mentioned [after mentioning Adam. Abel, Enoch, Lot, Noah, Melchizedek, and Abraham], though they kept no Sabbaths, were pleasing to God; and after them Abraham with all his descendants until Moses...
And you [fleshly Jews] were commanded to keep Sabbaths, that you might retain the memorial of God. For His word makes this announcement, saying, "That you may know that I am God who redeemed you." (Dialogue With Trypho the Jew, 150-165 AD, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, page 204)
#10. 150 AD JUSTIN.
There is no other thing for which you blame us, my friends, is there than this? That we do not live according to the Law, nor, are we circumcised in the flesh as your forefathers, nor do we observe the Sabbath as you do. (Dialogue with Trypho 10:1. In verse 3 the Jew Trypho acknowledges that Christians 'do not keep the Sabbath.')
#11. 155 AD Justin Martyr:
"[W]e too would observe the fleshly circumcision, and the Sabbaths, and in short all the feasts, if we did not know for what REASON they were enjoined [on] you--namely, on account of your transgressions and the hardness of your heart. . . . [H]ow is it, Trypho, that we would not observe those rites which do not harm us--I speak of fleshly circumcision AND Sabbaths AND feasts?... God enjoined you [Jews] to keep the Sabbath and impose on you other precepts for a sign, as I have already said, on account of your unrighteousness and that of your fathers" (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 18, 21).
#12. 180 AD ACTS OF PETER:
Paul had often contended with the Jewish teachers and had confuted them (Or refuted them completely), saying 'it is Christ on whom your fathers laid hands. He abolished their Sabbath and fasts and festivals and circumcision.' (1: I)-2
#13. 180 AD GOSPEL OF PETER:
Early in the morning when (the Sabbath dawned, a multitude from Jerusalem and the surrounding country came to see the scaled sepulcher.
In the night in which the Lord's day dawned, while the soldiers in pairs for each watch were keeping guard, a great voice came from heaven. [There follows an account of the resurrection. Early in the morning of the Lord's day Mary Magdalene, a disciple of the Lord .... came to the sepulcher. (9:34f.; 12:50f.)
#14. 190 AD CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA:
(In commenting on each of the Ten Commandments and their Christian meaning:) The seventh day is proclaimed a day of rest, PREPARING by abstention from evil FOR the Primal day, our TRUE rest. (Ibid. VII. xvi. 138.1)
I will add that the meaning of the word “Primal” means an “ARCHETYPAL” which means an original TYPE pointing to the TRUE.
So, this early church writer is saying what Paul teaches us in Scripture that the things in the OLD Testament are TYPES and SHADOWS or the TRUE which was to come.
Jesus became our SABBATH, and we have entered into our REST being in Jesus Christ.
The SABBATH was an ARCHETYPAL pointing toward our TRUE REST which was to come being FULFILLED in the ATONEMENT of Jesus.
Here are some more quotes from the early church writers.
#15. 190 AD CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA:
He does the commandment according to the Gospel and keeps the Lord's day, whenever he puts away an evil mind . . . glorifying the Lord's resurrection in himself. (Ibid. Vii.xii.76.4)
#16. 190 AD CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA:
Plato prophetically speaks of the Lord's day in the tenth book of the Republic, in these words: 'And when seven days have passed to each of them in the meadow, on the eighth they must go on." (Miscellanies V.xiv.106.2)
#17. 200 AD BARDESANES:
Wherever we are, we are all called after the one name of Christ Christians. On one day, the first of the week, we assemble ourselves together (On Fate)
#18. 200 AD TERTULLIAN:
"We solemnize the day AFTER Saturday in contradistinction to those who call this day their Sabbath" (Tertullian's Apology, Ch 16)
In other words, Tertullian is saying that we, as Christians, DISTINGUISH ourselves from the JEWS who hold Saturday as THEIR Sabbath by solemnizing or referencing the day AFTER Saturday as our day of worship and rest.
Let us continue with some more quotes.
#19. 200 AD TERTULLIAN:
It follows, accordingly, that, in so far as the abolition of carnal circumcision and of the old law is demonstrated as having been consummated at its specific times, so also the observance of the Sabbath is demonstrated to have been temporary. (An Answer to the Jews 4:1, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 3, page 155)
#20. 200 AD TERTULLIAN:
Let him who contends that the Sabbath is still to be observed a balm of salvation, and circumcision on the eighth day because of the threat of death, teach us that in earliest times righteous men kept Sabbath or practiced circumcision, and so were made friends of God. .. ...Therefore, since God originated Adam uncircumcised, and in observant of the Sabbath, consequently his offspring also, Abel, offering Him sacrifices, uncircumcised and in observant of the Sabbath, was by Him commended... Noah also, uncircumcised - yes, and in observant of the Sabbath - God freed from the deluge. For Enoch, too, most righteous man, uncircumcised and in observant of the Sabbath, He translated from this world... Melchizedek also, "the priest of most high God," uncircumcised and in observant of the Sabbath, was chosen to the priesthood of God. (An Answer to the Jews 2:10; 4:1, Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 3, page 153)
#21. 200 AD TERTULLIAN:
Others . . . suppose that the sun is the god of the Christians because it is well-known that we regard Sunday as a day of joy. (To the Nations 1: 133)
Keep in mind that this was well BEFORE Constantine SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED the day of rest and worship to Sunday as the Seventh Day Adventist Church CLAIMS.
But in TRUTH, Christians had ALREADY been worshiping God on Sunday, the FIRST day of the week that they also called the Lord’s Day, the day that our Lord and Savior Jesus rose from the dead.
So, as early as Tertullian in 200 AD there were groups of JEWS and Christian JEWS who ASSUMED or who SUPPOSED, or who FALSELY ACCUSED Christians of worshiping God on SUNDAY that they were worshiping a sun god and not the true God.
You can see from the following quote that the Sabbaths were FOREIGN to the early church.
#22. 200 AD TERTULLIAN:
To us Sabbaths are foreign. (On Idolatry, 14:6)4
#23. 220 AD ORIGEN:
"On Sunday none of the actions of the world should be done. If then, you abstain from all the works of this world and keep yourselves free for spiritual things, go to church, listen to the readings and divine homilies, meditate on heavenly things. (Homil. 23 in Numeros 4, PG 12:749)
#24. 220 AD Origen:
"Hence it is not possible that the [day of] rest after the Sabbath should have come into existence from the seventh [day] of our God. On the contrary, it is our Savior who, after the pattern of his own rest, caused us to be made in the likeness of his death, and hence also of his resurrection" (Commentary on John 2:28).
#25. 225 AD The Didascalia:
"The apostles further appointed: On the first day of the week let there be service, and the reading of the Holy Scriptures, and the oblation, because on the first day of the week our Lord rose from the place of the dead, and on the first day of the week he arose upon the world, and on the first day of the week he ascended up to heaven, and on the first day of the week he will appear at last with the angels of heaven" (Didascalia 2).
And I add further that the church BEGAN on the day of Pentecost, on a SUNDAY, the FIRST day of the week.
The early church evidence and the word of TRUTH, the Holy Bible, makes it quite clear that the early church worshiped God on SUNDAY the FIRST day of the week, called the Lord’s day and that they did NOT KEEP the Sabbath day as the JEWS.
#26. 250 AD CYPRIAN:
The eight day, that is, the first day after the Sabbath, and the Lord's Day." (Epistle 58, Sec 4)
#27. 250 AD IGNATIUS:
"If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death-whom some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith, and therefore endure, that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master-how shall we be able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves in the Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher?
And therefore He whom they rightly waited for, being come, raised them from the dead.
If, then, those who were conversant with the ancient Scriptures came to newness of hope, expecting the coming of Christ, as the Lord teaches us when He says, “If ye had believed Moses, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad; for before Abraham was, I am;” how shall we be able to live without Him?
The prophets were His servants, and foresaw Him by the Spirit, and waited for Him as their Teacher, and expected Him as their Lord and Saviour, saying, “He will come and save us.” Let us therefore no longer keep the Sabbath after the Jewish manner, and rejoice in days of idleness; for “he that does not work, let him not eat.”
For say the [holy] oracles, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy bread.” But let every one of you keep the Sabbath after a spiritual manner, rejoicing in meditation on the law, NOT in relaxation of the body, admiring the workmanship of God, and not eating things prepared the day before, nor using lukewarm drinks, and walking within a prescribed space, nor finding delight in dancing and plaudits which have no sense in them.
And after the observance of the Sabbath, let every friend of Christ keep the Lord's Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days [of the week].
Looking forward to this, the prophet declared, "To the end, for the eighth day," on which our life both sprang up again, and the victory over death was obtained in Christ, whom the children of perdition, the enemies of the Saviour, deny, "whose god is their belly, who mind earthly things," who are "lovers of pleasure, and not lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."
These make merchandise of Christ, corrupting His word, and giving up Jesus to sale: they are corrupters of women, and covetous of other men's possessions, swallowing up wealth insatiably; from whom may ye be delivered by the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ! (Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians, Chapter IX)
#28. 250 AD IGNATIUS:
"On the day of the preparation, then, at the third hour, He received the sentence from Pilate, the Father permitting that to happen; at the sixth hour
He was crucified; at the ninth hour He gave up the ghost; and before sunset He was buried. During the Sabbath He continued under the earth in the tomb in which Joseph of Arimathaea had laid Him.
At the dawning of the Lord's day He arose from the dead, according to what was spoken by Himself, "As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of man also be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. "The day of the preparation, then, comprises the passion; the Sabbath embraces the burial; the Lord's Day contains the resurrection." (The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians, chapter 9)
#29. 250 AD IGNATIUS:
If anyone fasts on the Lord's Day or on the Sabbath, except on the paschal Sabbath only, he is a murderer of Christ. (The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians, chapter 8)
#30. 250 AD IGNATIUS:
"This [custom], of not bending the knee upon Sunday, is a symbol of the resurrection, through which we have been set free, by the grace of Christ, from sins, and from death, which has been put to death under Him.
Now this custom took its rise from apostolic times, as the blessed Irenaeus, the martyr and bishop of Lyons, declares in his treatise On Easter, in which he makes mention of Pentecost also; upon which [feast] we do not bend the knee, because it is of equal significance with the Lord's day, for the reason already alleged concerning it." (Ignatius, Fragments)
#31. 300 AD Victorinus:
"The sixth day [Friday] is called parasceve, that is to say, the preparation of the kingdom. . . . On this day also, on account of the passion of the Lord Jesus Christ, we make either a station to God or a fast. On the seventh day, he rested from all his works, and blessed it, and sanctified it.
On the former day, we are accustomed to fast rigorously, that on the Lord's day we may go forth to our bread with giving of thanks.
And let the parasceve become a rigorous fast, lest we should APPEAR to observe ANY Sabbath with the Jews . . . which Sabbath he [Christ] in his body ABOLISHED" (The Creation of the World).
#32. 300 AD EUSEBIUS:
"They did not, therefore, regard circumcision, NOR observe the Sabbath NEITHER do we; ... because such things as these do NOT belong to Christians" (Ecc. Hist., Book 1, Ch. 4)
#33. 300 AD EUSEBIUS:
[The Ebionites] were accustomed to observe the Sabbath and other Jewish customs but on the Lord's days to celebrate the same practices as we in remembrance of the resurrection of the Savior. (Church History Ill.xxvii.5)”
I will also add that the Ebionites were Christians who were seduced by the Jews to keep the Jewish customs. In other words, the Ebionites were Judaized Christians.
The Ebionites also taught the need to be circumcised in the flesh in order to be saved. Some today would not even consider Ebionites as being true Christians since they went back to trusting the Law of Moses to be saved.
#34. 300 AD Eusebius of Caesarea:
"They [the pre- Mosaic saints of the Old Testament] did not care about circumcision of the body, nor did we [Christians]. They did not care about observing Sabbaths, nor do we. They did not avoid certain kinds of food, neither did they regard the other distinctions which Moses first delivered to their posterity to be observed as symbols; nor do Christians of the present day do such things" (Church History 1:4:8).
#35. 300 AD Eusebius of Caesarea:
"The day of his [Christ's] light . . . was the day of his resurrection from the dead, which they say, as being the one and only truly holy day and the Lord's day, is better than any number of days as we ordinarily understand them, and better than the days set apart by the Mosaic Law for feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths, which the Apostle [Paul] teaches are the shadow of days and not days in reality" (Proof of the Gospel 4:16:186).
#36. 345 AD Athanasius:
"The Sabbath was the end of the first creation, the Lord's day was the beginning of the second, in which he renewed and restored the old in the same way as he prescribed that they should formerly observe the Sabbath as a memorial of the end of the first things, so we honor the Lord's day as being the memorial of the new creation" (On Sabbath and Circumcision 3).
#37. 350 AD APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS:
Be not careless of yourselves, neither deprive your Saviour of His own members, neither divide His body nor disperse His members, neither prefer the occasions of this life to the word of God; but assemble yourselves together every day, morning and evening, singing psalms and praying in the Lord's house: in the morning saying the sixty-second Psalm, and in the evening the hundred and fortieth, but principally on the Sabbath-day.
And on the day of our Lord's resurrection, which is the Lord's day, meet more diligently, sending praise to God that made the universe by Jesus, and sent Him to us, and condescended to let Him suffer, and raised Him from the dead. Otherwise what apology will he make to God who does not assemble on that day to hear the saving word concerning the resurrection, on which we pray thrice standing in memory of Him who arose in three days, in which is performed the reading of the prophets, the preaching of the Gospel, the oblation of the sacrifice, the gift of the holy food? (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, book 2)
#38. 350 AD APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS:
"How We Ought to Assemble Together and to Celebrate the Festival Day of Our Saviour's Resurrection. On the day of the resurrection of the Lord, that is, the Lord's day, assemble yourselves together, without fail, giving thanks to God, and praising Him for those mercies God has bestowed upon you through Christ and has delivered you from ignorance, error, and bondage, that your sacrifice may be unspotted, and acceptable to God,..." (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, book 7)
#39. 350 AD Cyril of Jerusalem:
"Fall NOT AWAY either into the sect of the Samaritans or into Judaism, for Jesus Christ has henceforth ransomed you. Stand aloof from ALL observance of Sabbaths and from calling any indifferent meats common or unclean" (Catechetical Lectures 4:37).
#40. 360 AD Council of Laodicea:
"Christians should NOT Judaize and should NOT be idle on the Sabbath, but should work on that day; they should, however, particularly reverence the Lord's day and, if possible, not work on it, because they were Christians" (canon 29).
#41. 387 AD John Chrysostom:
"You have put on Christ, you have become a member of the Lord and been enrolled in the heavenly city, and you still grovel in the Law [of Moses]?
How is it possible for you to obtain the kingdom? Listen to Paul's words, that the observance of the Law overthrows the gospel, and learn, if you will, how this comes to pass, and tremble, and shun this pitfall. Why do you keep the Sabbath and fast with the Jews?" (Homilies on Galatians 2:17).
#42. 412 AD Augustine:
"Well, now, I should like to be told what there is in these Ten Commandments, except the observance of the Sabbath, which ought NOT to be kept by a Christian . . . Which of these commandments would anyone say that the Christian ought not to keep?
It is possible to contend that it is not the Law which was written on those two tables that the apostle [Paul] describes as 'the letter that kills' [2 Cor. 3:6], but the law of circumcision and the other sacred rites which are now abolished" (The Spirit and the Letter 24).
#43. 597 AD Gregory I:
"But after that, the grace of Almighty God, our Lord Jesus Christ, has appeared, the commandments of the Law which were spoken figuratively cannot be kept according to the letter.
For if anyone says that this about the Sabbath is to be kept, he must need to say that carnal sacrifices are to be offered. He must say too that the commandment about the circumcision of the body is still to be retained. But let him hear the apostle Paul saying in opposition to him: 'If you be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing' (Gal. 5:2)" (Letters 13:1).
Please be sure you continue to read ALL the studies concerning this subject on Sabbath TRUTH.
I have ALL the studies concerning the errors of interpretation that are made by the seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians listed with LINKS under the heading **Dd-0. What Is the TRUE SABBATH?**
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Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
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For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1-In the BEGINNING, and D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
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Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
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Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century.
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