Does it make any difference WHICH day we observe -- or whether we keep it? Does the Bible establish SUNDAY as the LORD'S DAY? Was the Sabbath given for the Jewish people only -- while Christians are commanded to keep SUNDAY as the LORD'S DAY?
by Herbert Armstrong
CERTAINLY MOST professing Christians accept SUNDAY as the New Testament Lord's Day. Moslems observe Friday. Some religions observe no day.
But there are those who insist the seventh-day Sabbath is still binding. Failure to keep it, they claim, is SIN -- and the punishment is DEATH for eternity!
Now that is a pretty serious claim!
Few take it seriously -- but that does not disprove or dismiss the challenge. Have YOU ever seriously looked into this question?
If someone tells me my house is on fire, I'm not going to laugh at him and refuse to take it seriously. I'm going to examine, and BE SURE! If he's wrong, then at least I shall KNOW my house is safe. I learned years ago that it can be very dangerous to carelessly ASSUME, or just take for granted. It's much wiser and safer to get all the FACTS, and then decide.
And one's LIFE for eternity is much more precious than his house.
Few realize, today, but the Sabbath vs. Sunday controversy raged during the first three centuries of the Christian era. Violence and bloodshed mounted. Millions were tortured and put to death over this question.
WHO IS RIGHT?
And, after all, does it make any difference?
Changing Times
Years ago I had to face this question. My wife said she had found, in the Bible, that Christians are bound to keep the Sabbath -- Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. I was shocked, angered. To me this was rank fanaticism. I had arguments -- plenty of them!
"You can't tell me that all these churches could be wrong!" I said in confident indignation.
I was challenged to look into this question -- to GET ALL THE FACTS! I was angered into serious research. I could not ignore the question. I had this question to live with! It had invaded my home!
Immediately when this question is raised, numerous other questions flash to mind.
Don't we have to adjust our religion to the changing times? After all, wasn't the Bible completely written some 1900 years ago? We live in a different world today! That's one argument. Yet, are we free to reason out our own religion? Are we going to render the decisions on our own fates, in the final judgment? Perhaps we'd better get the TRUTH!
Some will ask, "How can this world, as it is now organized, keep the seventh-day Sabbath? The world is geared to SUNDAY."
Or, "Suppose you're traveling on an ocean liner. Would you expect them to stop the engines and cease steaming forward at sunset Friday?"
"What about public utilities in the big cities? Electricity, water, gas. Must the police departments shut down and let criminals have a holiday?"
"Suppose the nation is at war. Should our forces stop fighting at sunset on Friday? The enemy might not see it that way!"
"But hasn't TIME been lost? How can we know whether the Saturday of today is the same day of the week as it was at creation -- or in Moses' day? Hasn't the weekly cycle gotten mixed up since creation?" That question, too, will be answered with the PROOF in this booklet.
"Anyway," one may reason in conclusion, "what possible difference can it make WHICH day, or WHETHER we observe it?"
These questions -- and more -- must be answered! And will be, in this booklet.
First of all, in a world where established, organized Christianity observes Sunday, where perhaps most people do not seriously observe any day as really sacred, HOW CAN WE KNOW?
Is there any SUPREME AUTHORITY, with the power of life and death over our eternity, with POWER to declare, and ENFORCE the right answer?
By WHAT AUTHORITY do Christians observe Sunday; Moslems, Friday; Sabbatarians, Saturday; and others, no day?
Is there any authority for observing Friday, or Sunday, or Saturday? It certainly is apparent all do not recognize the same authority.
IF There Is NO GOD! Read the entire article HERE Back to Table of Contents
The Sigil of Baphomet: emblem of the Church of Satan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
