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Article By: Bunnie Matherly ___________________________________________
The Sabbath has been a huge
topic of late, some claim it is past nailed to the cross with Jesus. Others say it is not , both sides seem to use scripture
to back up each of their belief when it comes to this subject . Lets step into the Bible and see where this all began. Turn with me to, Genesis 2 :2-3 And on the seventh
day God ended his work which he had made ; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed
the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Here we see where the Sabbath came to be from the very beginning God rested on the 7th day he
blessed this day and sanctified. Blessed means: To be made holy, to bestowing joy and bringing
happiness. Sanctified means: To make something holy: to give something
holy status. Sabbath is on a Saturday not Sunday, through all my years in
church from a little girl on up I don’t every remember hearing much about the Sabbath. It wouldn’t be untill much
later in my life, that my attention was brought to this fact about the Sabbath. It’s a funny thing how some things seem to be unimportant.
Notice that the Sabbath was blessed before there were any Jewish people. Yet one thing I have
heard and even said myself is “ Well I’m not Jewish” that was for the Jews, the fact is, the Sabbath was
established way before the Jews came into existence.
Bible Fact
here Even Adam had not been made, when the Sabbath was established. Its all in Gen chapter 2, I encourage you to read
this for yourself .
Lets flip on over to Exodus 16. Here you see Moses telling the people to gather enough food on the six day to last through the 7th day. If you read the whole chapter, it tells that even the manna
didn’t fall from the sky on the seventh day (Sabbath). There was none to be found on the seventh day, even though some
folks tried to gather it on that day, there was none. Murmurings abounded in Exodus 16, Yes, some things never change.
All through the old testament you find more about the Sabbath, and there were even more Sabbaths that the Israelites
observed besides the 7th day. Here is the list of books that speaks about the Sabbath, check
it out in each of these books you will find more on the Sabbath and the rules and regulations, which were very strict in those
days. Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus ,Numbers , Deuteronomy, 2 Kings,
1Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Hosea and Amos.
Lets look into Daniel,
Daniel chapter 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the
saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times
and the dividing of time. Notice in this verse, that Daniel talks about changing Times
and laws, that should be easy to trace in History, and it is. CONSTANTINE'S
SUNDAY LAW, Issued A.D. 321,
What most Christians follow today is the Sunday law that Constantine issued. Most do not observe
the Sabbath in today’s time. For most (Like I use to be) its Sunday for a day of rest. And yes, this is all historical
fact, if you read up on (Constantine’s Sunday Law) you will find that if the Jews observed the Sabbath, and were caught
doing so, By law, they risked losing their homes, possessions and everything they had, and through these strict laws, Many
were forced to worship on Sunday, and somewhere along the line people have forgotten, the real truth, about what really happened. All of these facts can be found online, by simply doing a google search or digging into the History
Books at your local library. Don’t take my word for it, do the search for yourself. 16 years after Constantine' first Sunday Law of A.D. 321, the Roman church he had formed, made it the official
church doctrine, by claiming it was a Jewish day. In this church doctrine they also demand all Christians to break Commandment #4 by working on Sabbath day. Now we see where the Roman church comes into this,16 years later,
and most denomination still follow that Sunday Law today.
But where
is the preaching about the Sabbath ? Where is the truth about the Sabbath ? Why are so many confused on this issue ? I just want
to give you enough evidence to peak your interest, and hope you study, and find the truth for yourself.
Now lets jump on into the New Testament, Mathew 12 tells the story of Jesus and his disciples going into the field and plucking some corn and eating it,
on the Sabbath “ Hello ” and he healed on the Sabbath, WOW. That really threw those Pharisees for
a loop and what did Jesus say : Matthew
12:8 For the Son of man is Lord
even of the Sabbath day.
This is one of the scriptures that some use to dismiss
the Sabbath. , But of course he is GOD of the Sabbath, he is God of all seven days, including the Sabbath. Lets face it folks Jesus was considered to be a rebel in his day, as kicked against the religious
rules and regulation for the Sabbath here. As we read the whole chapter of Matthew 12, we see Jesus asking, if a sheep falls into a pit/hole, will you not rescue
it on the Sabbath ?
If the Sabbath is no more why did JESUS say the following ? Mathew 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day. Chapter 24 is talking about events to come, its Jesus speaking about future events, the beginning
of sorrows, and the great tribulation that would come on the Children of GOD.
Now jump on over to Mark right from the first chapter it speaks of Jesus doing things on the Sabbath, as he healed and
taught the people. Teaching and Reading, and what did they have to read back then ? The Torah/Old Testament Bible. In Acts, the Apostle Paul taught on the Sabbath day. Acts 18 :4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greek. The Apostles’ who walked with Jesus still observed the Sabbath, and they too preached
and taught on guess what. that’s right, “the Sabbath day”. My whole point for researching this whole subject was to see for myself whether or not the Sabbath is still in
effect. And I found out that it
is one of the commandments of God, and not Moses, it’s the 4th commandment on the list of commands written by God’s
own finger (Exodus 31:18).
So how is it that everyone agrees with nine of the commands,
and not the fourth. It’s a moral
code I have heard some say, and Sadly, because of that thinking, the Blessing of the Sabbath, has been lost in history for
many folks. The Sabbath is a day of rest and its on the seventh day of the
week, and it’s a Blessed day, the Commandment its self says it is, its says the GOD Blessed it (Exodus 20:11) Rest means: the stopping of work or activity: a state or period of refreshing freedom from the
exertion of labor. Now where is the legality in that ? It sure sounds like a Blessing to be. The Sabbath was meant to be a day of rest. When I read Genesis chapter two where God rested after all he had
created, I can visualize God folding his arms, and scratching his head, as he looked at all he had made and with big smile,
being well pleased with all he had done. I want to leave you with the following scriptures,
Isaiah 66:22-23 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed
and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall
all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven
and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. So
do the research, study it out in the word, and see for yourself if, "The Sabbath is To Be or Not To Be" May this Bless you Love in Christ Bunnie Matherly
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