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    Solar vs. Lunar Sabbath

    Posted by Lev/Christopher on October 7, 2008 at 8:24am
    in Torah Studies

    Sabbath: Counted From the New Moon?

         Many, having come to the understanding that the Fourth Commandment was not nailed to the cross with Christ, began setting apart
    the Sabbath day for holy use. Standing in their faith, people would choose
    to lose their jobs rather than work late on Fridays and chance transgressing
    the boundary of the Sabbath at sunset that evening. However, in recent years,
    and amidst the various calendar controversies, questions have arisen in certain
    circles:  Have we been keeping the wrong day? Should the Sabbath
    count start with the sighting of the new moon?
     Apparently, some
    have answered in the affirmative.

         Followers of this reckoning provide many, many writings of men for their support (due to lack of direct Scriptural
    support).  For example:

    "All the days are styled "favourable," an expression which must indicate a pious hope, not a fact, since the words ud-khul-gal
    or umu limnu ("the evil day") are particularly applied to the
    seventh, fourteenth, nineteenth, twenty-first, and twenty-eighth days...With
    regard to the reasons which dictate the choice of the seventh, fourteenth,
    twenty-first, and twenty-eighth days, two views have been entertained. It
    has been held, in the first place, that the "evil days" were selected as
    corresponding to the moon's successive changes; hence that the seventh day
    marks the close of the earliest form of the seven-day week, a week bound
    up with the lunar phases." (Hutton Webster, Rest Days: A Study
    in Early Law and Morality
    , New York: The MacMillan Company. 1916. P.
    224)

    "Asurbanipal in the seventh century promulgated a calendar with a definite scheme of a seven-day week, a regulation of the month by
    which all men were to rest on days 7, 14, 19, 21, 28. The old menology of
    Nisan
    [1] that
    made the two days of the dark moon, 29, 30, rest-days, so that each lunar
    month had 9 rest-days, on which neither the sick could be cured nor a man
    in difficulty consult a prophet; none might travel and fasting was enforced."
    (S. Langdon, Babylonian Menologies and the Semitic Calendars,
    London: Oxford University Press, 1935, pp.86-87)

    "The association of sabbath rest with the account of creation must have been very ancient among the Hebrews, and it is noteworthy
    that no other Semitic peoples, even the Babylonians, have any tradition of
    the creation in six days. It would appear that the primitive Semites had
    four chief moondays, probably the first, eighth, fifteenth, and twenty-second
    of each month, called sabbaths from the fact that there was a tendency to
    end work before them so that they might be celebrated joyfully."
    [2]
    (The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge,
    Vol.10, p.135)

    "It is powerfully urged by the believers in a primitive Sabbath, that we find from time immemorial the knowledge of a week of 7 days
    among all nations-- Egyptians, Arabians, Indians -- in a word, all the nations
    of the East, have in all ages made use of this week of 7 days, for which
    it is difficult to account without admitting that this knowledge was derived
    from the common ancestors [Adam and Eve] of the human race. Among all early
    nations the lunar months were the readiest large divisions of time...(and
    was divided in 4 weeks), corresponding (to) the phases or the quarters of
    the moon. In order to connect the reckoning by weeks with the lunar month,
    we find that all ancient nations observed some peculiar solemnities to mark
    the day of the New Moon." (The Popular and Critical Bible
    Encyclopedia
    , Vol. 3, 1904, p.1497)

    “1. Sabbath and New Moon (Rosh Hodesh), both periodically recurring in the course of the year. The New Moon is still,
    and the Sabbath originally was, dependent upon the lunar cycle. Both date
    back to the nomadic period of Israel. Originally the New Moon was celebrated
    in the same way as the Sabbath; gradually it became less important, while
    the Sabbath became more and more a day of religion and humanity, of religious
    meditation and instruction, or peace and delight of the soul, and produced
    powerful and beneficent effects outside of Judaism.”
    (Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, p.410 ,
    “Holidays”)

         The sheer weight of all the commentaries, encyclopedias, and other such writings used by teachers of this reckoning would almost seem
    to prove this doctrine true.  But before one readily accepts it, let
    us recall the Biblical admontion to "put all things to the test, and hold
    fast to that which is good."

         As students of the Word of God, we should all be aware of the measuring stick for doctrine:

    "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
    instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly
    furnished unto all good works." (II Tim 3:16,17)

    "To the Law and to the Testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in
    them." (Isaiah 8:20)

         We should always use this plumbline to measure all things we build our spiritual house with.

         Let us begin our testing of the "Lunar Cycle Sabbath" doctrine with the introduction to the Word of God--the book of Genesis.

    Sabbath Of Creation

         What day of creation week did God rest upon, and sanctify and bless as a holy rest? Was it the first, second, third, fourth, fifth,
    sixth, or seventh day?

    "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." (Genesis
    2:2,3)

         Ok, now which of the creation days did the new moon appear on? Was it the first, second, third, fourth, fifth,
    sixth, or seventh day?

    "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs,
    and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the
    firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth': and it was so. And
    God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser
    light to rule the night: He made the stars also. And God set them
    in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule
    over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness:
    and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were
    the fourth day." (Genesis 1:14-19)

         Giving Genesis chapters 1 & 2 an overview, one can gather the following:


    Creation Week

    Day 1

    Day 2

    Day 3

    Day 4

    Day 5

    Day 6

    Day 7

    No Moon in existence yet

    No Moon in existence yet

    No Moon in existence yet

    Sun, Moon and Stars created

    2nd day of the Moon

    3rd day of the Moon

    4th day of Moon

    God rests; He sanctifies and blesses this day--the 7th day of the week

         If the Sabbath is indeed to be reckoned from the moon as "Lunar Cycle Sabbath" calendar proponents claim, then one must consider
    why we find that God rested on the 7th day of creation (which was the fourth
    day of the moon) rather than resting on the 10th day from "the
    beginning" of
    creation.[3]  Also,
    if "originally the New Moon was celebrated in the same
    way as the Sabbath,"
    as the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia claims,
    why then did God not rest on the day the moon was made? (We'll examine
    the claim that each and every New Moon day is a Sabbath momentarily.)

         The  testimony of the first witness stands against this "Lunar Cycle Sabbath" theory. But, let's have all things established
    in the mouth of at least two or three witnesses.

    The Manna And The Sabbath

    "And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai,
    on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the
    land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured
    against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said
    unto them, 'Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the
    land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat
    bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to
    kill this whole assembly with hunger.'...And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
    'I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them,
    saying, 'At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled
    with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God'.' And it
    came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and
    in the morning the dew lay round about the host. And when the dew that lay
    was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small
    round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground....And they gathered
    it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed
    hot, it melted. And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered
    twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of
    the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them, 'This is
    that
    which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy
    Sabbath unto the LORD..." (Exodus 16:1-30)

         From the above account, it can be ascertained that the 15th day of zif in the year of the exodus from Egypt occured on the
    weekly Sabbath.


    Second Month (Zif)
    9

    ------------

    ------------

    10

    ------------

    ------------

    11

    ------------

    ------------

    12

    ------------

    ------------

    13

    ------------

    ------------

    14

    ------------

    ------------

    15

    Israel camps

    Quail is sent

    16

    Manna is sent

    (day one)

    17

    Manna is sent

    (day two)

    18

    Manna is sent

    (day three)

    19

    Manna is sent

    (day four)

    20

    Manna is sent

    (day five)

    21

    Double Manna

    (day six)

    22

    Sabbath Day

    (day seven)

         We see here that the Sabbaths occured then on the 15th and 22nd--and thereby also the 8th (seven days previous) and the 29th (seven
    days thereafter).  This is at odds with some of the "prooftexts"
    used by some Lunar Cycle Sabbath Calendar proponents.  For one,
    as noted near the beginning of this article, Babylonian archealogical finds
    wherein the 7th, 14th, 19th, 21st, and 28th days are "rest days" are often
    quoted for support of the Lunar Cycle Sabbath teaching, yet we find here
    in the Scriptural account of the second month after the exodus, Sabbath days
    of the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th days of the month, and also the children
    of Israel laboring on the Babylonian "sabbaths" (at least these 19th,
    21st, and 28th days, wherein they gathered manna).

         Questions To Ponder:

         If the 14th day of
    the month is always Sabbath, why do we find Scripture declaring the 14th
    day of the first month, the month of the abib, to be a day of preparation?
    (see Matt 27:62; Mark 15:42; John 19:14, 31, 42; all of which correspond
    to the fact that there is no command in Torah to rest from labor on Passover,
    the 14th day of the abib).

         If the 15th day of the month is always a Sabbath (Hebrew: Shabbat), which
    would allow no manner of work upon it according to the commandment, why do
    we find God defining the 15th day of the abib like a shabbaton,
    and instructing Israel that certain labors may indeed be performed on it
    that are not lawful to be performed upon the 7th day Sabbath of the Fourth
    Commandment? (Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:7 "no servile
    work")

    [4]

    The Sabbath And the Full Moon

         Despite this point, some Lunar Cycle Sabbatarians may actually cite the above example from Exodus 16 and claim it is proof for
    their doctrine--because the full moon, which is believed by Lunar Sabbath
    adherents to be a sign of a Sabbath day, can occur on the 15th of the month
    as well as the 14th.  True enough, the full moon can fall on either
    day--in fact, it can occur the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, or 16th day after
    the new crescent is first seen.
    [5]

         Questions To Ponder:

         If the Sabbath is be reckoned by counting seven days after the new moon, how could there ever be a Sabbath
    on the eighth day of the month as above?

         Pause and think on this.

         Ifthe 2nd Sabbath of a month is to be based upon the full moon (the day of the full
    moon is the second Sabbath of a month, it is claimed)
    , then what
    day would be the first Sabbath of a month when the full moon occurs on the
    12th, 13th, 15th, or 16th day of the cycle?

         Again, pause and think on this.

         The weekly cycle with its culmination in the seventh day Sabbath is independent of both the lunar (monthly) and solar (yearly)
    cycles. As we saw earlier in the Genesis account, the week began before them
    both. Weeks run consecutively without "uncounted days" in between as with
    the lunar-based calendar weeks (wherein the 29th and 30th days of the lunar
    cycle are not included within the frame of any week). Note that in the Exodus
    16 account of the manna and the Sabbath, that the Israelites were commanded
    to gather an omer each day for days 1 through 5 of the week, but were instructed
    to double the amount on the sixth day to cover the Sabbath. They were never
    instructed to gather more than 2 omers for Sabbath preparation--they were
    never told to triple or quadruple the gathering amount. How would they have
    known how much manna to gather anyway, since it was unknown when the moon
    would reappear, and if the month would be 29 or 30 days? The fact is, no
    such provision was given to cover the alledged rest days of the 29th &
    30th each month. Plainly, each week consists of seven days that run back
    to back.  Note the fourth commandment itself:

    "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God:
    in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy
    manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is
    within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the
    LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Exodus 20:8-11)

         The commandment clearly shows that we have 6 days of labor in between the weekly Sabbaths--not 7 or 8 as the Lunar Cycle Sabbath
    would have occur in between the last Sabbath of a month and the first Sabbath
    of the next month. According to the Bible, each and every week consists of
    6 days of labor, followed by the 7th day of rest.

         This fact is consistant with the Scriptural criteria for determining the Feast of Firstfruits (i.e., Pentecost).

    "And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven
    Sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath
    shall ye number fifty days..." (Leviticus 23:15,16)

    "Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the
    corn. And thou shalt keep the Feast of Weeks unto the LORD thy God..."
    (Deuteronomy 16:9,10)

         The Holy Scriptures give us three main criteria for determining Pentecost
    [6] :

    1) The count is to begin on the "morrow after the Sabbath" (during the Feast of Unleavens), and end on a "morrow after the Sabbath."

    2) The count is to contain seven Sabbaths---seven complete weeks (culminating on the day after the seventh Sabbath).

    3) The count is to number 50 days.

         All three of these criteria must be met in order for Pentecost to be correctly determined in line with the Scriptural commands.
     Could they all be met utilizing the "Lunar Sabbath" calendar?  Let's
    take a look.


    First Month--Abib (Lunar Cycle Sabbath Reckoning)
    1

    New Moon

    2

    ------------

    3

    ------------

    4

    ------------

    5

    ------------

    6

    ------------

    7

    Sabbath

    8

    -----------

    ------------

    9

    ------------

    ------------

    10

    ------------

    ------------

    11

    ------------

    ------------

    12

    ------------

    ------------

    13

    ------------

    ------------

    14

    Sabbath

    Passover

    15

    Day 1 FOUB*

    ------------

    1st day of count to 50

    16

    Day 2 FOUB*

    ------------

    2nd day of count to 50

    17

    Day 3 FOUB
    COLOR="Blue">*

    ------------

    3rd day of count to 50

    18

    Day 4 FOUB
    COLOR="Blue">*

    ------------

    4th day of count to 50

    19

     Day 5 FOUB
    COLOR="Blue">*

    ------------

    5th day of count to 50

    20

    Day 6 FOUB
    COLOR="Blue">*

    ------------

    6th day of count to 50

    21

    Day 7 FOUB
    COLOR="Blue">*


    Sabbath (1st)

    7th day of count to 50

    22------------

    ------------

    8th day of count to 50

    23------------

    ------------

    9th day of count to 50

    24-----------

    ------------

    10th day of count to 50

    25------------

    ------------

    11th day of count to 50

    26------------

    ------------

    12th day of count to 50

    27------------

    ------------

    13th day of count to 50

    28

    Sabbath (2nd)

    14th day of count to 50

    29

    ------------

    15th day of count to 50

    30

    ------------

    16th day of count to 50

    *  "FOUB" denotes the Feast of Unleavened Bread


    Second Month--Zif (Lunar Cycle Sabbath Reckoning)
    1

    New Moon

    17th day of count to 50

    2

    ------------

    18th day of count to 50

    3

    ------------

    19th day of count to 50

    4

    ------------

    20th day of count to 50

    5

    ------------

    21st day of count to 50

    6

    ------------

    22nd day of count to 50

    7

    Sabbath (3rd)

    23rd day of count to 50

    8

    ------------

    24th day of count to 50

    9

    ------------

    25th day of count to 50

    10

    ------------

    26th day of count to 50

    11

    ------------

    27th day of count to 50

    12

    ------------

    28th day of count to 50

    13

    ------------

    29th day of count to 50

    14

    Sabbath (4th)

    30th day of count to 50

    15

    ------------

    31st day of count to 50

    16

    ------------

    32nd day of count to 50

    17

    ------------

    33rd day of count to 50

    18

    ------------

    34th day of count to 50

    19

    ------------

    35th day of count to 50

    20

    ------------

    36th day of count to 50

    21

    Sabbath (5th)

    37th day of count to 50

    22

    ------------

    38th day of count to 50

    23

    ------------

    39th day of count to 50

    24

    ------------

    40th day of count to 50

    25

    ------------

    41st day of count to 50

    26

    ------------

    42nd day of count to 50

    27

    ------------

    43rd day of count to 50

    28

    Sabbath (6th)

    44th day of count to 50

    29

    ------------

    45th day of count to 50


    Third Month--Sivan (Lunar Cycle Sabbath Reckoning)
    1

    New Moon

    46th day of count to 50

    2

    ------------

    47th day of count to 50

    3

    ------------

    48th day of count to 50

    4

    ------------

    49th day of count to 50

    5

    Pentecost (?)

    50th day of count to 50

    6

    <-- Count ended

    7 Sabbath Count
    continues ->

    7

    Sabbath (7th)

    8

    Pentecost(?)

    7 Sabbaths + 1

    9

    ------------

    X Xxxxxxxx X X

    10

    ------------

    X Xxxxxxxx X X

    11

    ------------

    X Xxxxxxxx X X

    12

    ------------

    X Xxxxxxxx X

    13

    ------------

    X XxxxxxxxxxX X

    14

    Sabbath

    X Xxxxxxxxx X X

         The above date charts stand to show the unScriptural nature of the "Lunar Cycle Sabbath" calendar.  The three Scriptural
    criteria are not met.  Counting seven Sabbaths yields a 53 day
    count (doesn't fit Scripture), and counting 50 days yields a day that is
    not a "morrow after the Sabbath" (likewise doesn't fit Scripture).

         One organization who keeps the "Lunar Cycle Sabbath" calendar claims that the count to Pentecost should begin on Aviv 16,
    which in 2001 occurred on April 11. Their given date for Pentecost 2001 is
    June 1 (determined by counting 7 "lunar Sabbaths" and the day after). Would
    the three criteria for correctly determining Pentecost be fullfilled counting
    from such a date in this calendar reckoning?  Let us count.

         Counting from April 11 to June 1 yields 52 days--2 days over the Scriptural criteria of 50 days.

         Another teacher of the Lunar Cycle Sabbath Calendar begins his Pentecost count (elevation sheaf day) on the 22nd of the aviv
    every year, and thus observes Pentecost on Sivan 15 every year. This year,
    the month of the aviv was 29 days and the second month was 30 days
    (thus a 53 day count). This is not the only year that this Pentecost reckoning
    is incorrect, but this will happen EVERY year. If both months were 30 days,
    you have a 54 day count, and if both consisted of 29 days, you'd have a 52
    day count--not one matching the Scriptural command. In short, the count to
    Pentecost by any Lunar Cycle Sabbath Calendar reckoning will never fulfil
    the Scriptural command of 50 days.

    Is Every New Moon Day A Sabbath?

         At the start of this article, the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia was quoted as stating, "Originally
    the New Moon was celebrated in the same way as the
    Sabbath..."
     Does this statement stand as truth when measured
    by the plumbline of Scripture?

         Let us first briefly examine Amos 8:5, for some may believe that the prophet Amos recorded such proof.

    Amos 8:5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the
    shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?

         Due to the fact that the Hebrew word translated "new moon" here (chodesh) can also mean "month," some commentators (going
    back 2000 years) have understood Amos to be referring to a harvest month:

    Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it of the month of harvest, when the poor found what to eat in the fields; when they gleaned there, and got a sufficiency
    of bread, and so had no need to buy corn; and hence these rich misers, that
    hoarded up the grain, are represented as wishing the harvest month over,
    that they might sell their grain to the poor, having had, during that month,
    no demand for it; and so the Targum renders it the month of grain. (John
    Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible, Amos 8:5 note)

         If Amos is speaking of the actual day of the New Moon, is he speaking from viewpoint of Law or tradition?

         If every New Moon Day is a Sabbath, why do we not find any command from YHVH to rest upon it
    (with the exception of Yom Teruah, the New Moon of the 7th month)?
     Shouldn't we find it listed among the Appointed Times of Leviticus
    23, since after all, as the favorite text of Lunar Sabbatarians says, "the
    moon was made for Appointed Times"? What explanation can be given to the
    fact that nowhere in Scripture has the command of God been recorded
    to cease from all labors upon the New Moon Day, or upon the 29th and 30th
    days of each month?

         If every New Moon Day is a Sabbath, why do we find God commanding labor upon the day, and labor being exacted
    upon the day?

    And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.  ...
    Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.
    And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day
    of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up. (Exodus 40:1,2,16,17
    -- read all of Exodus 40:1-33 to see how much labor was done this New
    Moon Day)

    In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel
    the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech,
    the high priest, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people
    say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.
    ... Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will
    take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. ... Then Zerubbabel
    the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with
    all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and
    the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and
    the people did fear before the LORD. (Haggai 1:1,2,8,12)

         If every New Moon Day is a Sabbath, why do we find God commanding Zerubbabel to gather wood and build upon the
    first day of the month? Recall God's judgment against the man who gathered
    wood on the Sabbath in Numbers 15:32-36.

         If every New Moon Day is a Sabbath, we should find the command to make the Sabbath offering on the New Moon Days
    as well. No such command was given. Only the daily offering was to accompany
    the New Moon offering. (Numbers 28:15)

         In correlation to the above, we will call forth again this last witness to testify further regarding the offerings. Let us overview
    the laws of offering as given in Numbers 28:

    Daily Offerings (Numbers 28:3-8): two lambs of the first year, tenth ephah of flour mingled with oil, drink offering
    (1/4 hin per lamb)

    Weekly Sabbath Offerings (Numbers 28:9,10): two lambs of the first year, 2 tenths ephah of flour mingled with oil, drink
    offering (plus the daily offerings)

    New Moon Offerings (Numbers 28:11-15): two young bulls, one ram, seven lambs of the first year, 3 tenth-measures of flour
    mingled with oil per bull, 2 tenth-measures of flour mingled with oil with
    the ram, several tenth measures of flour mingled with oil for each lamb,
    drink offerings (half hin per bull, one-third hin for ram, and one-fourth
    hin per lamb), one kid of the goats (plus the daily offerings--NOTE
    THE ABSENCE OF THE SABBATH OFFERINGS)

    Feast of Unleavens Offerings (Numbers 28:17-25): two young bulls, one ram, seven lambs of the first year, 3 tenth-measures
    of flour mingled with oil per bull, 2 tenth-measures of flour mingled with
    oil with the ram, several tenth measures of flour mingled with oil for each
    lamb, drink offerings (half hin per bull, one-third hin for ram, and one-fourth
    hin per lamb), one kid of the goats (plus the daily offerings)

    Firstfruits/Pentecost Offerings (Numbers 28:26-31): two young bulls, one ram, seven lambs of the first year,
    3 tenth-measures of flour mingled with oil per bull, 2 tenth-measures of
    flour mingled with oil with the ram, several tenth measures of flour mingled
    with oil for each lamb, drink offerings (half hin per bull, one-third hin
    for ram, and one-fourth hin per lamb), one kid of the goats (plus
    the daily offerings)

         Notice that though there is relation between the New Moon offerings and the annual Appointed Times offerings, any such relation
    between the weekly Sabbath offerings and the offerings of the New Moon is
    sorely lacking. If the Sabbath is related to the New Moon, one should expect
    the offerings to relate to one another. There is, in fact, no relation between
    the weekly Sabbath (regarding its reckoning) and the New Moon. Specifically,
    the Sabbath operates independent of the moon phases. The offerings of the
    weekly Sabbath are actually in relation to the daily offerings. It is this
    same relation that Leviticus 23 mentions: six days labor, followed
    by a seventh day of sanctified rest.

         Leviticus 23 bears witness of the timing of all the Appointed Times of the Eternal. Three of the times listed have no given relation to
    the lunar cycle and its phases. These are the weekly Sabbath, the Elevation
    Sheaf Day, and Firstfruits/Pentecost. The weekly Sabbath is simply "the seventh
    day."  There is no mention of "of the month" therein, as with the other
    Appointed Times. Likewise, both Elevation Sheaf Day and Firstfruits/Pentecost
    are to be observed "the day after the Sabbath," with again, no mention of
    any relation to the lunar cycle or its phases.

    The Historical Sabbath

    The Sabbath Of The First Century C.E.

         The general claim of lunar sabbath adherents is that the lunar sabbath understanding was discarded during the Babylonian captivity,
    and was then replaced by the Sabbath of the day of Saturn (i.e., saturday)
    at that time. Thus, lunar sabbatarians would have us to believe that the
    remnant who returned to the Land of Israel were keeping a false sabbath.
    This would then continue to be the case in the first century, when Messiah
    came in the flesh. We find, however, that Jesus kept the same Sabbath day
    holy as did His fellow Jews about Him, (Matt 12:1-12/Mark 2:23-28; Mark 1:21;
    3:1-4; 6:2; etc.), and we know that He came as one "under the Law," and that
    He never sinned (i.e., transgressed the Law). Therefore, the Sabbath kept
    by the Jews in the first centruy C.E. is the same Sabbath from creation codifed
    at Sinai.

         First century evidence provided by the New Testament yet further disproves the lunar sabbath theory. The Scriptures tell us that
    Jesus was killed on a preparation day, that is, the day before a Sabbath
    (Matt 27:62; Mark 15:42; John 19:14, 31, 42). This day was
    the Passover, the 14th day of the month of the abib--the day the lamb was
    killed (Ex 12:5,6; Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7). Now, for those who propose that
    the Sabbath is the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days, as the Babylonians, these
    Scriptures cannot be reckoned to their understanding. The 14th day of the
    abib is unequivocally called a preparation day, and said to be the day
    before the Sabbath.

          For those who hold that the Sabbath is the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th days of the month, John's gospel account contains witness
    against this lunar sabbatarian theory. John records that Jesus stood up on
    the last day of the Feast, the Great Day, and cried out to the crowd.
    This "last day, that great day" is the eighth day of the Feast of the 7th
    month and occurs on the 22nd day of Ethanim/Tishri. The next day (John 8:2),
    Jesus came again to the Temple early in the morning. After His discourse
    with the scribes and pharisees, He healed a man who was blind from birth.
    John recorded that "it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and
    open his eyes." (John 9:14). This evidence shows that the 23rd day of Ethanim
    was a Sabbath that year--yet another impossibilty for lunar sabbatarians.

         Outside of the New Testament, other first century writings testify on behalf of the Sabbath of the seventh day week. First century jew
    Philo Judaeus wrote often of the Sabbath. In his The Decalogue, he
    was careful to define the Sabbath as follows:

    “The fourth commandment has reference to the sacred seventh day, that it may be passed in a sacred and holy manner. Now some
    states keep the holy festival only once in the month, counting from the new
    moon, as a day sacred to the Almighty; but the nation of the Jews keeps
    every seventh day regularly, after each interval of six
    days
    .”
    (Philo Judaeus, The
    Decalogue
    , XX, p.526)

         Philo unequivically distinguished between the practice of others who kept a sabbath counted from the new moon, and the nation of
    the Jews, who keep every seventh day regularly, after each recurring interval
    of six days. He further noted:

     "But after this continued and uninterrupted festival which thus lasts through all time, there is another celebrated, namely, that
    of the sacred seventh day after each recurring interval of six days
    ... proclaiming a day of freedom to them also after every space of six
    days
    , ... having a relaxation every six
    days
    ..."
     (Philo Judaeus, The Special
    Laws, II
    , XV, sections 56, 66, 67; pp.574,575)

    “It (the number ‘seven’) was also greatly honoured by Moses, a man much attached to excellence of all sorts, who described
    its beauty on the most holy pillars of the law, and wrote it in the hearts
    of all those who were subject to him, commanding them at the end of each
    period of six days to keep the seventh holy;
    abstaining from all other
    works which are done in the seeking after and providing the means of life,
    devoting that day to the single object of philosophizing with a view to the
    improvement of their morals, and the examinations of their consciences.”
    (Philo Judaeus, On the Creation, XLIII, sect. 128, p.18)

    "and the miraculous nature of the sign was shown, not merely in the fact of the food being double in quantity, nor in that of its
    remaining unimpaired, contrary to the usual customs, but in both these
    circumstances taking place on the sixth day, from the day on which this food
    first began to be supplied from heaven, from which day the most sacred number
    of seven began to be counted, so that if any one reckons he will find that
    this heavenly food was given in exact correspondence with the arrangement
    instituted at the creation of the world. For God began to create the world
    on the first day of a week of six days: and he began to rain down the food
    which has just been mentioned on the same first day
    ;" (Philo Judaeus,
    On the Life of Moses II, chapter XLVIII, section 266)

    The Sabbath Amongst The Diaspora

         Groups of Jews have spread abroad from the Land at various periods in time. We see from Acts 2 alone that Jews were living in Parthia,
    Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judaea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia,
    Egypt, Libya, Rome, Crete and Arabia, in fact, in "every nation under heaven."
    (Acts 2:5). When one looks to the nations to see what day they keep
    holy, the historical fact is, every group of Jews keeps the same sequence
    of days, and the same Sabbath--the Sabbath that commences each friday evening
    and closes each saturday evening.

    "Dio Cassius [Roman historian (2nd century C.E.)]
    also speaks of the Jews having dedicated
    to their God the day called the day of saturn, 'on which, among many other
    most peculiar actions, they undertake no serious occupation'...Tacitus
    [Roman historian of the first and early
    second century]
    (Historiae, V,
    4) thinks that the Jewish Sabbath may be an observance in honour of Saturn..."
    (Hutton Webster, Rest Days: A Study in Early Law and Morality,
    New York: The MacMillan Company, 1916, p.244-245).

    The Sabbath Amongst The Nations

         First century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus made record that the Sabbath of God had been enjoined by most all nations:

    "Nay, farther, the multitude of mankind itself have had a great inclination of a long time to follow our religious observances;
    for there is not any city of the Grecians, nor any of the barbarians, nor
    any nation whatsoever, whither our custom of resting on the seventh day hath
    not come..." (Flavius Josephus, Against Apion/Antiquites of the
    Jews
    , Book 2, section 40:282)

         Williams Jones, a Seventh Day Baptist of the 19th century, collected the names of the days of the week of the various nations into a
    publication entitled A Chart Of The Week. In this chart, Jones
    documented the truth of the Sabbath being identified as the 7th day of the
    week, in over 100 languages. Some of these include: Ancient Syriac, Chaldee
    Syriac
    (Kurdistan and Urumia, Persia),
    Arabic (western Asia, northern and western
    Africa)
    , Samaritan (Nablus,
    Palestine)
    , Falashas
    (Abyssinia), Maltese
    (Malta), Ethiopic
    (Abyssinia), Coptic
    (Egypt), Tamashek (Atlas
    mountains, Africa)
    , Kabyle (North Africa,
    Ancient Numidan)
    , Hausa (Central
    Africa)
    , Hindustani (Muhammadan and
    Hindu, India)
    , Pasto
    (Afghanistan), Pahlivi
    (ancient Persian), Persian
    (Persia), Armenian
    (Armenia), Kurdish
    (Kurdistan), Brdhuiky
    (Beluchistan), Georgian
    (Caucasus), Suanian
    (Caucasus), Ingoush
    (Caucasus), Malayan
    (Malaya, Sumatra),
    Javanese (Java), Dayak
    (Borneo), Makassar
    (southern Celebes and Salayer
    islands)
    , Malagassy
    (Madagascar), Swahili
    (east equatorial Africa), Mandingo
    (west Africa, south of Senegal), Teda
    (central Africa), Bornu
    (central Africa), Fulfulde
    (central Africa), Logone
    (central Africa), Bagrimma
    (central Africa), Maba
    (central Africa), Permian
    (Russian), Votiak
    (Russian), Kazani-Tartar (east
    Russia)
    , Arabic (ancient), Osmanlian
    (Turkey), Orma (south
    of Abyssiania)
    , Congo (west equatorial
    Africa)
    , Wolof (Senegambia, west
    Africa)
    , D'oc. French (ancient and
    modern)
    , French
    (France), Latin
    (Italy), Italian
    (Italy), Spanish
    (Spain)
    , Portuguese
    (Portugal), Roman
    (Spain, Catalonia), and yet more.
    [7]

         Other researchers, historians and astronomers, testify to the veracity of the seven day cycle and its Mosaic origin in creation:

    "The division of time into weeks is a singular measure of time by periods of seven days that may be traced not only through the
    sacred history before the era of Moses, but in all ancient civilizations
    of every era, many of which could not possibly have derived their notion
    from Moses.. Among the learned of Egypt, the Brahmans of India, by Arabs,
    by Assyrians, as may be gathered from their astronomers and priests, this
    division was recognized. Hesiod (900 B.C.) declares the seventh day is holy.
    And so also Homer and Callimachus. Even in the Saxon mythology, the division
    by weeks is prominent. Nay, even among the tribes of primitive worshipers
    in Africa, we are told that a peculiar feature of their religion is a weekly
    sacred day, the violation of which by labor will incur the wrath of their
    god. Traces of a similar division of time have been noticed among the Indians
    of the American continent.
     Now, on what
    other theory are these facts explicable than upon the supposition of a divinely
    ordained Sabbath at the origin of the race?" ("The Christian Sabbath"
    tract number 271, released by the Presbyterian Board of
    Publication.)

    "One of the most striking collateral confirmations of the Mosaic history of the creation is the general adoption of the division
    of time into weeks, which extends from the Christian states of Europe to
    the remote shores of Hindustan, and has equally prevailed among the Hebrews,
    Egyptians, Chinese, Greeks, Romans, and northern Barbarians, --nations some
    of whom had little or no communication with others, and were not even known
    by name to the Hebrews." (Horne's Introduction, Volume 1,
    p.69)

         In the official League of Nations "Report on the Reform of the Calendar," published at Geneva, August 17, 1926, are the following
    representative statements by noted astronomers:

    "The week has been followed for thousands of years and therefore has been hallowed by immemorial use." (Anders Donner,
    "The Report," p.51. [Donner had been a professor of Astronomy at the University
    of Helsingfors])

    "I have always hesitated to suggest breaking the continuity of the week, which without a doubt is the most ancient scientific institution
    bequeathed to us by antiquity." (Edouard Baillaud, "The Report, p.52
    [Baillaud was Director of the Pris Observatory])

    "As to Question (1)--I can only state that in connection with the proposed simplification of the calendar, we have had occasion to
    investigate the results of the works of specialists in chronology and we
    have never found one of them that has ever had the slightest doubt the continuity
    of the weekly cycle since long before the Christian era.

    "As to Question (2) --There has been no change in our calendar in past centuries that has affected in any way the cycle of the
    week." (James Robertson, personal letter, dated March 12, 1932 [Dr.
    Robertson was Director of the American Ephemeris, Navy Department, U.S. Naval
    Observatory, Washington, D.C.])

    "As far as I know, in the various changes of the Calendar there has been no change in the seven day rota of the week, which has come
    down from very early times." (F.W. Dyson, Personal letter, dated March
    4, 1932. [Dr. Dyson was Astronomer Royal, Royal Observatory, Greenwich,
    London.])

    "Some of these (the Jews and also many Christians) accept the week as of divine institution, with which it is unlawful to tamper;
    others, without these scruples, still feel that it is useful to maintain
    a time-unit that, unlike all others, has proceeded in an absolutely invariable
    manner since what may be called the dawn of history." ("Our Astronomical
    Column," Nature, London, number 127, June 6, 1931, p.869)

    "The week of seven days has been in use ever since the days of the Mosaic dispensation, and we have no reason for supposing
    that any irregularities have existed in the succession of weeks and their
    days from that time to the present." (Dr. W.W. Campbell, Statement.
    [Dr. Campbell was Director of Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton,
    California.]
    )

    "In spite of all of our dickerings with the calendar, it is patent that the human race never lost the septenary [seven-day] sequence
    of week days and that the Sabbath of these latter times comes down to us
    from Adam, through the ages, without a single lapse." (Dr. Totten,
    Statement. [Dr. Totten of New Haven, Connecticut, was Professor of Astronomy
    at Yale University when this statement was
    made.]
    )

    "The continuity of the week has crossed the centuries and all known calendars, still intact." (Professor D. Eginitis, Statement.
    [Dr. Eginitis was Director of the Observatory of Athens,
    Greece.]
    )

    "It is a strange fact that even today there is a great deal of confusion concerning the question of so-called 'lost time.' Alterations
    that have been made to the calendar in the past have left the impression
    that time has actually been lost. In point of fact, of course, these adjustments
    were made to bring the calendar into closer agreement with the natural [solar]
    year. Now, unfortunately, this supposed 'lost time' is still being used to
    throw doubt upon the unbroken cycle of the Seventh-day Sabbath that God
    inaugurated at the Creation. I am glad I can add the witness of my scientific
    training to the irrevocable nature of the weekly cycle.

    "Having been time computer at Greenwich [England Observatory] for many years, I can testify that all our days are in God's
    absolute control--relentlessly measured by the daily rotation of the earth
    on its axis. This daily period of rotation does not vary one-thousandth part
    of a second in thousands of years. Also, the year is a very definite number
    of days. Consequently, it can be said that not a day has been lost since
    Creation, and all the calendar changes notwithstanding, there has been no
    break in the weekly cycle." (Frank Jeffries, Statement. [Dr. Jeffries
    was Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, and Research Director of the
    Royal Observatory, Greenwich, England.]
    )

    "The week is a period of seven days, having no reference whatever to the celestial motions, -- a circumstance to which it owes its
    unalterable uniformity....it has been employed from time immemorial in almost
    all eastern countries; and, as it forms neither an aliquot part of the year
    nor of the lunar month, those who reject the Mosaic recital will be at a
    loss, as Dalambre remarks, to assign it to an origin having such semblance
    of possibility."
    (Encyclopedia
    Britannica
    , 11th edition, Vol.4, p.988, article,
    "Calendar")

         The arguments for this Lunar Cycle Sabbath doctrine may seem weighty due to the amount of words put forth by the hands of men.  But
    when one actually puts their words to the test, as we just have, it
    is discerned that they are nothing to hold fast to.  The pro-Lunar
    Cycle Sabbath articles I have read contain many contradictions--not only
    to themselves, but more importantly, this whole doctrine contradicts Holy
    Scripture. Hold fast to the Word of God brethren, for the winds are
    most certainly blowing!  If you know any brethren who are teaching this
    error, or who are following it, please share the truth of God's Holy Word
    with them--gently, and in love.

    FOOTNOTES:

    1.  Don't let the mention of this month name lure you into thinking that this may be Scriptural. Please recall that "Nisan"
    was not the original name for the first month amongst the Hebrews, but rather
    it was known as the month of the aviv. "Nisan" is the name the Jews
    picked up from Babylon (along with the rest of the Calculated Rabbinical
    Calendar month names).
     BACK

    2.  Since the Babylonians have no connection between their lunar-based sabbath and creation, and their creation account
    has no indication that it consisted of seven days, is it any wonder that
    their sabbath lacks any connection to the week of Genesis 1 & 2 and its
    holy Sabbath? Is it any wonder that the Babylonian sabbath is not based on
    a continuous consecutive cycle of seven days, as the Sabbath of Sacred Scripture?

         Interestingly, although quoted by lunar sabbatarians, this same resource speaks equivocally, as do many "scholarly" writings,
    and also contests the argument advanced by Lunar Sabbath adherents:

         "The Old Testament frequently mentions the sabbath in connection with the new moon (Amos. viii. 5;  Isa. 1. 13, lxvi. 23;
     Ezek. xlvi. 1, 3;  II Kings iv. 23;   II Chron. ii. 3) and
    also in connection with both new moon and feast (Hos. ii. 13;  Ezek.
    xlv. 17;  Neh. x. 34), but in none of these passages is there the
    slightest implication that the sabbath was connected in anyway with the
    moon
    , particulary (in contradistinction to the new moon) with the full
    moon. This statement is decisively confirmed by the commandments regarding
    the sabbath (Ex. xx. 9-11, xxiii. 12, xxxiv. 21;  Deut. v. 12-15) ...
    It is now held by many that the sabbath is Babylonian in origin, though received
    by the Jews immediately from the Canaanites; while another hypothesis
    maintains that the sabbath represents a moon-feast of the nomadic ancestors
    of the Israelites
    . The Canaanitic and nomadic theories are both
    undemonstrable [i.e., cannot be demonstrated from Scripture or history]
    and unnecessary... It has also been held that the seventh, fourteenth,
    twenty-first, and twenty-eighth days of the month, designated as ill-omened,
    were the Babylonian sabbaths; but for this argument there is no evidence,
    and it must accordingly be assumed that the fifteenth day of each month was
    the sabbath of the Babylonians. This day was reckoned that of the full moon,
    but since the Hebrew sabbath was not connected with the full moon and
    was a day of gladness, not of penance, and since the Babylonians had no
    week of seven days
    , the assumption that the Hebrews borrowed the sabbath
    from the Babylonians lacks all foundation." (The
    New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge
    , Vol.10,
    p.135---boldface emphasis mine ~bh)

     BACK

    3.  Some make a claim that the sun, moon, and stars were actually created on Day One due to the fact that there was "evening
    and morning" the first three days, and thus all that happened on Day 4 is
    that these heavenly bodies 'appeared' from behind the 'clouds of vapor that
    had earlier blocked their view'. This claim however does not hold up under
    Scriptural examination. The word translated "made" in the above Scripture
    (Gen 1:16) is the Hebrew word "asah":

    asah--(Strong's 6213)--"TO LABOR, TO WORK ABOUT ANYTHING...to make, to produce by labour...to create, as heaven, earth..."
    (H.W.F. Gesenius, Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament,
    p.657).

         God thus created the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day. If God had meant that the sun, moon, and stars merely
    ‘appeared’ on Day 4, then He would have inspired Moses to use the
    same Hebrew word (ra’ah) which He inspired him to use in reference
    to when the dry land ‘appeared’ as the waters gathered in one place
    on Day 3 (Genesis 1:9).

         As Genesis 1:1-3 shows us, one of God's actions on the first day was that of creating the unformed, unfilled earth in an otherwise
    empty heaven. The whole of the earth was in darkness. God then created a
    light source that shone upon one part of the surface of the earth, while
    the other part was yet in complete darkness. We can be positive that this
    light source was not the sun, for this same Word of God states that the sun
    was not created until the fourth day (and the Bible does not contradict itself).
    We can also determine from the Hebrew that the earth was already in motion
    this first day, for the word translated "night" (layil, #3915), literally
    means "a twisting away from light." Hence, as the earth made its "24 hour"
    revolution in front of this light source, there was evening and morning.
    The earth thus made three complete revolutions before this temporary light
    source prior to God creating the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day.
    Hence, days, and their corresponding time measurement the week, are not measured
    by revolutions around the heavenly bodies, but by revolutions of the earth
    alone. BACK

    4.  See our article Distinguishing Between
    "Sabbaths"
     
    BACK

    5.  "The necessary time for full moon varies from 13.73 to 15.80 days after conjunction." (Richard A. Parker, The
    Calendars of Ancient Egypt,
    pp.6,7)
    . "The difference between
    the first days of an exact month [conjunction] and an observed
    lunar month [crescent sighting] is one or two days, or in
    exceptional cases three days." (B.L. van der Waerden, Journal of
    Hellenic Studies
    , vol. 80, 1960, p.169, article: "Greek Astronomical
    Calendars and their Relation to the Athenian Civil Calendar").
     Being that the new crescent is not seen until 14-72 hours after
    conjunction (i.e., 1-3 days), there would be even greater variability between
    new crescent and full moon than quoted above concerning conjunction and full
    moon. The precise full moon can occur anywhere from the 12th day after the
    new crescent, up until the 16th day after the new crescent.

    An example of a possible 12th day Full Moon:

    28th  Dark moon conjunction occurs at 2 a.m. (i.e., approximately 8 hours into the 28th day)

    29th  Continued dark moon

    30th  Continued dark moon

    1st  Fresh crescent seen at 7:30 p.m. (65.5 hours after dark moon conjunction)

    12th  Full moon proper occurs at approximately 8 p.m. [being 13.73 days (approx. 330 hours) from conjunction--2 hours
    into the 12th day from the fresh crescent
    ]

    An example of a possible 16th day Full Moon:

    30th  Dark moon conjunction occurs at 5:30 a.m.

    1st  Fresh crescent seen at 7:30 p.m. (14 hours after dark moon conjunction)

    16th  Full moon proper occurs at approximately 11:30 p.m. [15.8 days (approx. 378 hours) from
    conjunction--5.5 hours into the 16th day from the fresh crescent]

    ***days are reckoned sunset to sunset--the above examples being based on an approximate 6 p.m. sunset)
     BACK

    6.  See our article Determining Elevation
    Sheaf Day & Pentecost
     
    BACK

    7.  Here is some of the documentation, collected by William Jones, of the seventh day of the week being Sabbath as evidenced
    by the names given the 7th day in the weekly cycle:

    Ancient Syriac: shab-ba-tho ("Sabbath")

    Chaldee Syriac (Kurdistan and Urumia, Persia): shaptu
    ("Sabbath")

    Arabic (western Asia, northern and western Africa): as-sabt ("the Sabbath")

    Arabic (ancient): shi-yar ("chief or rejoicing day")

    Samaritan (Nablus, Palestine): shab-bath ("Sabbath")

    Falashas (Abyssinia): yini sanbat ("the Sabbath")

    Maltese (Malta): is-sibt ("the Sabbath")

    Ethiopic (Abyssinia): san-bat ("Sabbath")

    Coptic (Egypt): pi sabbaton ("the Sabbath")

    Tamashek (Atlas mountains, Africa): a-hal es-sabt ("the Sabbath")

    Kabyle (North Africa, Ancient Numidan): ghas assebt ("the Sabbath day")

    Hausa (Central Africa): assebatu ("the Sabbath)

    Hindustani (Muhammadan and Hindu, India): shamba ("Sabbath")

    Pasto (Afghanistan): shamba ("Sabbath")

    Pahlivi (ancient Persian): shambid ("pleasantest day of the week")

    Persian (Persia): shambah ("Sabbath")

    Armenian (Armenia): shapat ("Sabbath")

    Kurdish (Kurdistan): shamba ("Sabbath")

    Brdhuiky (Beluchistan): shembe ("Sabbath")

    Georgian (Caucasus): shabati ("Sabbath")

    Suanian (Caucasus): sammtyn ("Sabbath")

    Ingoush (Caucasus): shatt ("Sabbath")

    Malayan (Malaya, Sumatra): hari sabtu
    ("day Sabbath")

    Javanese (Java): saptoe or saptu ("Sabbath")

    Dayak (Borneo): sabtu ("Sabbath")

    Makassar (southern Celebes and Salayer islands): sattu ("Sabbath")

    Malagassy (Madagascar): alsabotsy ("the Sabbath")

    Swahili (east equatorial Africa): as-sabt ("the Sabbath")

    Mandingo (west Africa, south of Senegal): sibiti ("the Sabbath")

    Teda (central Africa): essebdu ("the Sabbath")

    Bornu (central Africa): sibda ("Sabbath")

    Fulfulde (central Africa): assebdu ("the Sabbath")

    Logone (central Africa): se-sibde ("the Sabbath")

    Bagrimma (central Africa): sibbedi ("the Sabbath")

    Maba (central Africa): sab ("Sabbath")

    Permian (Russian): subota ("Sabbath")

    Votiak (Russian): subbota ("Sabbath")

    Kazani-Tartar (east Russia): subbota ("Sabbath")

    Osmanlian (Turkey): yom-es-sabt ("day of the Sabbath")

    Orma (south of Abyssiania): zam-ba-da ("Sabbath")

    Congo (west equatorial Africa): sabbado or Kiansbula ("Sabbath")

    Wolof (Senegambia, west Africa): alere-asser ("last day Sabbath")

    D'oc. French (ancient and modern): dissata ("day Sabbath")

    French (France): samedi ("Sabbath day")

    Latin (Italy): sabbatum ("Sabbath")

    Italian (Italy): sabato, sabbato ("Sabbath")

    Spanish (Spain): sabado ("Sabbath")

    Portuguese (Portugal): sabbado ("Sabbath")

    Roman (Spain, Catalonia): dissapte ("day Sabbath") 
      BACK

         For more on determining which day is the seventh day Sabbath, see the article
    Has Time Been
    Lost?

    http://www.truthontheweb.org/shabbatu.htm



    HAS TIME BEEN LOST?

       Granted, the Bible says the SEVENTH day is the SABBATH OF THE LORD THY GOD.  Granted, that God did, at creation, make the seventh
    day HOLY TIME, and that He has commanded us to KEEP it holy.

    The Questions

       But how can we know, today, WHICH day is the true seventh day God blessed and made holy AT CREATION?

       Has time been lost? Has the calendar been CHANGED?  Were not ten days dropped out of it at one time?

       And how about living on a round earth? Does not one either "gain a day," or "lose a day" in traveling around the world?

       And how about JOSHUA'S LONG DAY? Did that change the weekly cycle?

       How can we know that the name, "Saturday," which is a pagan name, was placed on the seventh day of the week according to the Hebrew calendar?

       To all these questions, there is a definite answer - and many lines of POSITIVE PROOF!  God's Word says "Prove all things."  Let
    us throw out preconceived or past opinions.  Let us investigate and
    find the TRUTH.

    Past Calendar Changes

       The calendar now in use, a Roman calendar, has been changed, but that change did not break the weekly cycle.

       Prior to its change, it was called the Julian calendar, because it originated at the time of Julius Caesar: 31 B.C. - several years before
    the birth of Christ.
     The one change was ordered by Pope Gregory,
    and since then it has been called the Gregorian calendar.

       The Julian calendar was imperfect - it inserted leap years to frequently.  Back in 31 B.C. they supposed the year was exactly 365
    1/4 days long, and to take care of the extra one-fourth day each year, added
    a day to the month of February every four years.  But it was found later
    the year was 12 minutes and 14 seconds shorter than this.  Consequently,
    by the time of Pope Gregory, the calendar had drifted TEN DAYS away from
    the seasons.  The Spring equinox, consequently, fell on March 11th,
    instead of March 21st.

       To correct this, ten days were dropped from the calendar.  But they were dropped only from the number of days in the MONTH, not from the
    number of days in the WEEK.  A man named Lilius proposed the method
    which was adopted in making the change.  In the Catholic Encyclopedia,
    Vol. 9, p. 251, under article "Lilius," explaining this change, we read:
    "Thus, every imaginable proposition was made, only one idea was never mentioned,
    viz., the abandonment of the seventh- day week."

       In the Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. III, p. 740, article "Chronology," we read: "It is to be noted that in the Christian period, the
    order in the days in the week has never been interrupted.  Thus, when
    Gregory XIII reformed the calendar in 1582, Thursday, 4 October was followed
    by Friday, 15 October.  So in England, in 1752, Wednesday, 2 September
    was followed by Thursday, 14 September."

       Since the Catholics changed the calendar, the Catholic Encyclopedia is the best historic authority there is on the question, and is proof positive.

       So that the reader may clearly understand it, and SEE how it was worked out on the Calendar, we reproduce below the actual calendar.
     The change was made in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, in 1582.  Here
    is the calendar for October, 1582!


    OCTOBER        1582
     Sun.  Mon. Tues.  Wed  Thurs.   Fri.     Sat.  
       1    2    3    4   15   16
      17   18   19   20   21   22   23
      24   25   26   27   28   29   30
      31

       You will notice how ten days were dropped out.  One day was the 4th, and the very next day was the 15th of October. But the 4th was
    Thursday, and the next day was FRIDAY.

       To make it still plainer, the 29th of September that year was a Sabbath, or Saturday. The 30th was Sunday. The 1st of October was Monday,
    the 2nd was Tuesday, the 3rd was wednesday, the 4th was Thursday, and the
    next day was Friday, but it was not the 5th, it was the 15th.  And the
    following day was Saturday, the 16th.  Actually Saturday, the 16th
    was just one week of seven days after the preceding Saturday, the 29th of
    September.  There had been exactly seven days, seven sunsets, from one
    Sabbath to the next.  The change in the calendar DID NOT IN ANY WAY
    CHANGE THE SABBATH, or the succession of the DAYS OF THE WEEK.

       Now the British countries refused to change the calendar when the pope ordered it.  They continued with the old Julian calendar until
    1752.  And while their days of the month were different, yet their days
    of the week were JUST THE SAME AS IN ROME.  Those who kept the Sabbath
    in England kept the same SATURDAY that was called Saturday in Rome.  Those
    who observed Sunday observed the same day, both in Rome where the calendar
    had been changed, and in London where it had not.

       The English countries changed the calendar in 1752.  By that time it was necessary to drop out 11 days.  The change was made
    in September as follows:


    SEPTEMBER        1752
      Sun.   Mon.  Tues.  Wed. Thurs.   Fri.     Sat.  
            1     2   14   15   16
      17   18   19   20   21   22   23
      24   25   26   27   28   29   30

       Now in Russia, the calendar was never changed until just recently, IN OUR OWN LIFETIME.  Consequently, in the year 1907, the day that we
    called the 14th of August, the Russians called the 1st of August.  Our
    calendars were 13 days apart.  Yet in BOTH countries, we both called
    that same day SATURDAY.  In BOTH countries, SATURDAY fell on the same
    day of the week.  The calendar has since been changed in Russia.  And
    still their Sunday is our Sunday, their Saturday is our Saturday.  For
    reference, see above article, "Chronology," Catholic Encyclopedia.

       And so we see that the calendar that has been IN EFFECT SINCE 31 B.C. - prior to the birth of Christ, proves that there has never
    been any change in the weekly cycle from the time of Christ until now.
     The SATURDAY of today is the same Seventh day of the week as it was
    in CHRIST'S time. We can, therefore, be sure we keep the same Sabbath
    day that Christ kept,
    setting us an example - the same day He said He
    was LORD of. (Mark 2:28)

    Gaining or Losing a Day Traveling Around the World

       Next let us consider this argument that we "gain a day" or "lose a day," depending on which way we are traveling, in going around the world.

       Did you ever stop to wonder how Jonah came to be out on the wild sea, so he could be swallowed the the great fish? Jonah was commanded
    of God to perform a certain task.  But Jonah did not want to obey.  So
    he embarked on a ship, in an attempt to escape "from the presence of the
    Lord."  Read Jonah 1:1-3.  Now wasn't it siily for Jonah to think
    that by journeying away from home on a boat, he could escape from the command
    of God?

       But we have many modern Jonahs.  They try to tell us that a certain command, proclaimed by God's own voice to all His congregation,
    cannot really be obeyed if we embark on a boat and travel far away from home,
    either east or west.  It is the command which says: "Remember the Sabbath
    day to keep it holy . . . the SEVENTH DAY is the Sabbath of the Lord thy
    God."
     Did God so complicate this command that it would take an
    astronomer to tell us how to obey?

       It might seem to some, who do not stop to think very deeply, that you have lost a day if you tavel westward around the world - or gained
    a day if you travel eastward.  But this loss or gain is apparent, NOT
    REAL.

       Think what would happen if this were so.  Imagine twin brothers, one traveling westward around the world, the other traveling eastward.
     If one has really lost a day, while the other gained a day, then after
    one such journey, one becomes TWO DAYS OLDER than his twin brother.  If
    they took enough trips, one would, in time, be enough older to be the father
    of his own twin brother!  This is ridiculous, but it illustrates
    the point.

       When a person travels, his days are not of even length.  The man who travels from San Francisco to New York in one day, for him, is counted
    as only 21 hours, because the sun sets three hours earlier in New York than
    in San Francisco, and therefore there is three hours difference in time between
    these two cities.  If the man returns, also by plane, he finds his day
    on the return trip is computed as 27 hours.

       If he leaves San Francisco at 5 A.M., and arrives in New York exactly twleve hours later, his watch will register 5 P.M., but all watches
    and clocks in New york will register 8 P.M.  To compute times as others
    do there, he will have to set his watch up three hours.

       If he kept traveling around the earth, he would have to keep changing his watch, until he added 24 hours, to his watch, by the
    time he returned to San Francisco.  But did he really add a DAY to his
    life?  Of course not.  The only change is in the way men COUNT
    time.  This is merely a trick argument designed to confuse people, and
    justify them in disobeying the commands of God.  Sin is the transgression
    of the law - and the wages of sin is DEATH!

    What Is a Day?

       The correct Bible translation of a "DAY" is not 24 hours of a man-made watch, but that period of time from sunset to sunset.  A
    day is not measured by the journey of the earth PLUS our journey ON
    the earth.

       The Sabbath is to be observed "from even unto even." (Lev. 23:32)  A day ENDS, and another begins, when the sun sets. (See Mark 1:32,
    Luke 4:40, etc.)  See any encyclopedia.  History shows that it
    was always custom to end and begin days at sunset until a few hundred years
    after Christ.

       We live on a round earth.  A day is measured by the revolution of the earth on its axis, in relation to the sun.  Since the Sabbath
    day begins and ends at SUNSET, we observe it here when the sun sets HERE.
     But the sun sets three hours earlier in New York than on the Pacific
    Coast, hence Sabbath-keepers there begin their Sabbath three hours earlier
    than we on the Coast.  In London, the Sabbath begins nine hours earlier
    than on the Coast, if kept according to God's directions.

       The answer to it all is, WE KEEP THE DAY WHEN IT COMES TO US.

       Jerusalem is God's headquarters for the earth.  That is where Jesus kept the Sabbath, and we know HE had it right! Authorities
    believe it was by God's guidance that men were caused to set the international
    "date line" (where, because of a round earth turning on its axis a day must
    be dropped or added IN COMPUTATION), in the middle of the Pacific where it
    effects virtually nobody and almost exactly OPPOSITE from Jerusalem.

       As time is now computed, Sabbath-keepers the world over keep the SAME SABBATH, when it comes to them, that is and always has been
    the seventh day of the wek AT JERUSALEM.  But, for the simple reason
    that the Bible tells us to begin our Sabbath at SUNSET, and the sun does
    not set at the same time in various parts of the earth, the holy hours of
    the Sabbath begin, in China, several hours earlier than in Jerusalem - and
    likewise, in America, several hours LATER than in Jerusalem.  But, beginning
    in the middle of the Pacific, half way around the earth from Jerusalem, ALL
    EVERYWHERE ON EARTH KEEP THE SAME DAY, as that day comes to them, THAT
    IS KEPT IN JERUSALEM.  Sunday observers have no trouble figuring
    when their Sunday comes to them, anywhere on the earth. We cannot
    run away from this truth on a boat.

    That Long Day of Joshua's

       There is still another argument. The long day of Joshua when the sun stood still for "about a whole day" is figured in a around in
    a manner to show that Sunday is the seventh day of the week.

       The following account is found in Joshua 10:12-14. "Then spake Joshua to the Lord, . . . and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand
    thou still upon Gideon; and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon.  And
    the sun stood still, and the moon stayed . . . and hasted not to go down
    about a whole day."

       Based on this is an ingenious argument, accompanied by a diagram, supposed to show that today Sunday is actually the continuation of the seventh
    day from creation.  The gist of the argument is this:

       "Joshua showed that the sun and the moon were within a few minutes of going into conjunction in the position he placed them when he issued his
    command.  Thus this week contained a twenty-four hour period without
    a corresponding sunrise and sunset . . . Professor Totten has clearly
    demonstrated that the conjunction was due to occur on Tuesday at 11:13 A.M.
    . . . According to the accompanying diagram it is apparent that this particular
    week, from Sabbath day to Sabbath day, saw only six sunrises and six sunsets,
    though it contained the nominal seven times twenty-four hour periods . .
    . Numbering according to twenty-four hour periods it is seen that Saturday
    is the seventh day.  If however, we number our days according to sunsets,
    then it is clear that Sunday becomes the seventh day from creation."

       Following is a reproduction of the diagram used to present this argument:



                       
     /----------------------Week of 7 x 24 Hours----------------------\
    Sun Time    7th   1st   2nd            3rd    4th   5th   6th   7th   1st
    Days of Week    Sat   Sun   Mon

    Tues - Wed

     Thurs    Fri    Sat   Sun   Mon
    Division of 24 hours into Night and Day eve-day eve-day eve-day

               Joshua's

    eve  -      Long                      Day

    eve-day eve-day eve-day eve-day eve-day
    Order of Days    7th    1st   2nd

    3rd    -     4th

       5th    6th    7th    1st    2nd
    Hour Periods     24     24     24

    24     -      24

        24    24     24     24     24

    NOTE: If Joshua's long day had been counted as two days in actual history - "Tues." and "Wed." as labeled in this trick
    diagram, and the order of days came down to us as thus, this diagram would
    be correct.  But it was counted ONE DAY. The day labeled "Sun" above
    we call SATURDAY today, the true 7th day.

       Surely the reader can see what is WRONG with this argument, and this diagram.  First, it is stated, "according
    to the accompanying diagram, it is apparent from this particular week, from
    Sabbath day to Sabbath day, saw only six sunrises and six sunsets."  That
    is true, according to this diagram.  But NOT ACCORDING TO GOD'S
    WORD!  The diagram is in ERROR!

       What is wrong?  Simply this:  GOD SAYS, "from even to even shall ye celebrate your Sabbath."  The days of THE WEEK are
    counted from SUNSET TO SUNSET, according to the measuring of time in the
    first chapter of Genesis.  It is stated each day that the "evening and
    morning were the first day" - "the second day," and so on.  Nowhere
    does God's Word say "The first 24 hours was the first day! and the next 24
    hours was the second day," etc.  GOD DOES NOT COUNT TIME ACCORDING TO
    MAN-MADE WATCHES AND CLOCKS!  God counts DAYS according to the SETTING
    OF THE SUN.

       Now in this man-made diagram, the MAN who designed it called this long day of Joshua's, two days - Tuesday and Wednesday.  Is
    this in harmony with the BIBLE?  Does the BIBLE call this long day TWO
    DAYS?  Notice, in speaking of it, in Joshua 10:14, it distinctly says
    "And there was NO DAY like it before or after it."  The Bible calls
    it a DAY - just ONE DAY.  But in order to twist it around to conform
    to the broad and popular way of observing pagan Sunday, this one Day must
    be counted as TWO DAYS.  BUT THAT IS CONTRARY TO THE SCRIPTURES.

       Next, this argument ingeniously confuses the reader between numbering according to 24-hour periods, and numbering according to sunsets.
     The author of this argument uses 24-hour periods to make Friday appear
    to be Saturday - the actual 6th day of the week APPEAR to be Saturday the
    7th day.  Then he turns around and re-numbers these same days according
    to sunsets to make SUNDAY come out the 7th day.

       It is clever, but it is a deception.  WE CANNOT FIGURE DAYS IN TERMS OF 24-HOUR PERIODS.  God counts days from sunsets.

       Joshua's long day was approximately 48 hours of a man-made watch, but it was ONE DAY, and the Bible calls IT a DAY, and specifically says it
    was DIFFERENT from the other days - "there was no DAY" - not "days," but
    "day" - "like IT before or after IT."  The pronoun "it" is singular.
     Just ONE DAY!  God says so!!  God's week is not made of seven
    24-hour periods, but of seven days counting from sunsets.  A diagram
    showing this as it actually is, according to the Bible and God's reckoning
    of time follows:



    /----------------Week of seven days, counting from SUNSETS------------------\
    Sun Time    1st   2nd              3rd    4th    5th    6th    7th    1st   2nd
    Days of Week    Sun   Mon             Tues   Wed   Thurs    Fri    Sat    Sun   Mon
    Divisions of Night and Day Periods eve-day eve-day

                     36 Hrs.        eve -     Daylight this      
                Day

    eve-day eve-day eve-day eve-day eve-day eve-day
    Order of Days    1st    2nd

    3rd

        4th    5th    6th    7th     1st    2nd
    Hours per Day     24     24

    48

        24     24     24     24     24     24

    NOTE: Days were reckoned THEN, and down thru history to today, according to this diagram, not as in the above diagram.  Saturday is
    the TRUE 7th day from creation.

    A Trick Intended to Deceive

       Do you notice the trick employed as a means of deception in the first diagram?  "Joshua's Long Day," as it is plainly labeled in
    the diagram - a day - one single day - is marked "Tuesday" and "Wednesday"
    - as if it were two days.  At the bottom of the diagram, it is numbered
    the 3rd and 4th days of the week - TWO DAYS.  Then at the top of the
    diagram it is re-numbered a different way - as ONE DAY, the "3rd" day of
    the week.  The day labeled "Saturday" is arrived at by counting Joshua's
    Long Day as TWO DAYS.  Figuring that way, this day is made the 7th day
    of the week.  Then, in the top line by re-numbering this day as ONE
    DAY - the 3rd day of the week - the day he has called Thursday is the 4th
    day, Friday is the 5th day, and Saturday is the 6th day of the week.  This,
    of course, brings Sunday out the 7th day.

       Now this "Joshua's long Day" cannot be two days - the 3rd and the 4th days of the week - as it is numbered below, and also at the same
    time be just ONE DAY, the 3rd day, as figured in the first column.

       WHICH IS IT, the 3rd day of the week - Tuesday, or the 3rd and the 4th days - Tuesday AND Wednesday?  Since the Bible calls it "A DAY"
    and not two days, it is only ONE DAY, Tuesday, the 3rd day of the week, as
    shown in the correct diagram.

       The error in the first diagram is in calling this day one day in one place, and two days another time.  Actually it was just ONE DAY,
    Tuesday the 3rd of the week.  The day he has labeled Saturday, therefore,
    is NOT SATURDAY AT ALL, but actually Friday, the 6th day of the week.  And
    the seventh day should not be labeled Sunday as in his diagram, but Saturday,
    as in the second diagram.  And that is exactly the way it actually was
    counted
    in history!  It is surely PLAIN that this first diagram
    is a deception and a delusion.

      But now, finally, to PROVE the whole thing, let us remember this: To establish WHICH DAY is the true Sabbath - the true SEVENTH DAY from creation,
    which God MADE HOLY TIME, we need to go back no further than the time
    of Christ!

       For, if this Joshua's long day argument is true, then JESUS PROFANED THE SABBATH GOD MADE HOLY TIME, and observed the 6th, not the true
    7th day.  And if we accuse Jesus of that, we accuse Him of committing
    SIN, for sin is the transgression of the law, and no one will argue that
    the Sabbath point of the law was abolished during Jesus' lifetime!  If
    He sinned, then we are without HOPE!

       But we know Jesus knew which was the RIGHT day.  He was the Maker, and Lord of that day (Mark 2:27,28).  He kept the
    TRUE SABBATH, and the calendar record PROVES that the Saturday of today is
    the exact SAME seventh day Jesus kept.  Certainly we should want to
    keep the same day Jesus kept!

    God Revealed the Creation Sabbath to Israel

       In the days of Moses, God revealed the true creation Sabbath to all the Children of Israel, in the raining of manna from heaven.  The
    Israelites had been 400 long years in servitude and bondage in Egypt.  They
    were not permitted to have any religious worship or service during these
    many generations.  They had no Bible, no Scriptures, no written record
    of God's commands or ways.  Perhaps they had lost time, and did not
    know which was the true Sabbath.

       At the wilderness of Sin, two weeks before arriving at Sinai, they grumbled and complained from lack of  food.  The Lord said
    "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you . . . that I may prove them,
    whether they will walk in MY LAW or no."

       This has to do with whether we will keep GOD'S LAW.  To disobey is SIN.  And Moses and Aaron said to the people, "At even (sunset),
    then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:
    and in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord."

       "And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the Children of Israel, Come near before the Lord . . . and it came to pass,
    as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the Children of Israel, that
    they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared
    in the cloud . . . And it came to pass, that at even (dusk), the quails came
    up, and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay round about the
    host." (Ex. 16:4-13)

       Notice, there was a RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY on this day, and the GLORY OF THE LORD appeared.  The quail did not come up until the sun
    set.  WHY?  Because this had been a Sabbath day.  At sunset,
    when it ended, the quails came, and the people were privileged to go to work
    gathering in food to eat.

       Next morning the manna fell.  This was the FIRST DAY of the week.  If they tried to keep over any manna till the following day,
    it bred worms and stank (verse 20).  On the sixth day (verse 22), twice
    as much came from heaven and they all gathered twice as much.  Then,
    that sixth day, the Lord said, "Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath
    unto the Lord" (verse 23).  They kept it over, and on this day, it did
    not breed worms nor stink.

       However, on the seventh day some of the people must of thought TIME WAS LOST.  They were like some modern people who were not sure
    WHICH DAY was the Sabbath, or whether it makes any difference.  They
    went out to gather on the seventh day (verse 27) - AND THEY FOUND NONE!  On
    this day, God did not send any!  So, by three miracles, God showed them
    WHICH DAY was the true Creation Sabbath.

       Time could not have been mixed up or lost under the strict Mosaic regime between then and the time of Christ.  We have shown that Joshua's
    Long Day was just ONE DAY, and it did not change the reckoning of time in
    any way.  If it did, then, as pointed out, Christ kept the wrong day!
     And so we come to the time of Christ, KNOWING that time was not lost
    up to then.

    The Proof of the Jews

       Now if we are convinced that Jesus set us a RIGHT example, and that He observed the RIGHT seventh day, we need have no further difficulty.

       Notice, the day Jesus kept AS HIS CUSTOM (Luke 4:16) was the same day all the Jews kept, for they were holding their religious
    service in the synagogue - verses 17, 20.

       About 43 years after this, the Jews were driven into EVERY NATION ON EARTH.  From that time until now, they have been separated, scattered
    into all nations.  Thru the middle ages, the Jews in China had no way
    of communication with the Jews of Africa; the Jews in Europe, with those
    of other parts of the world.  Yet today, with communication restored
    over every part of the world, we do not find the Jews all mixed up.

       If time had been lost, the Jews of one part of the world would be observing one day, and the Jews of other parts, other days.  But
    everywhere - in EVERY NATION ON EARTH, we find the Jews have been keeping
    the SAME IDENTICAL DAY - the day we call SATURDAY - the true seventh day.

       The JEW is the miracle of all history - and the JEW is another proof that we have not lost the Sabbath.  Ask any orthodox Jew today
    if HE has lost HIS Sabbath.  Why, such an idea would be nonsense to
    him.  He is not in doubt.

    The Proof of the Church

       Another line of proof!  We have a history of the true Church of God thru every century from Christ until now.  It has always been
    a SABBATH-KEEPING Church.

       Thru the middle ages, just as prophesied in Rev. 12:6, this true Church had to FLEE to the wilderness, clear beyond the jurisdiction
    of the Roman Empire, dominated by the Roman Catholic Church.

       In 363 A.D., the Roman Church passed the Decree of the Council of Laodicea, pronouncing the DEATH SENTENCE upon any found to be keeping
    the Sabbath.  Mant true Christians were MARTYRED for keeping this day.
     When were willing to GIVE THEIR LIVES in order to keep God's commands,
    do you think they would lose track of the right day?

       And coming down to modern times, we find this Church, the true Christian Church, keeping the day we call Saturday - the same
    day the Jews have been keeping right down thru every year from Christ until
    now.

    The Proof of Reason

       And another line of proof.  Why should time be lost?  HOW COULD it be lost?  Stop, think!  One person might, perhaps, wake
    up some Saturday morning and think it was Friday, and thus wait until Sunday
    to keep his Sabbath.  But for time to be lost, not only ONE MAN,
    but every other person in his town or city - every person in every provnce,
    state, or county of the whole world - every peson in every nation on earth
    - would have to wake up the same morning with the same hallucination!  Do
    you think this possible?  Yet you believe this has happened if you believe
    that time has been lost!

    Astronomy Proves It

       Finally, we have the scientific proof of ASTRONOMY.  We qoute from the official government statements to the League of Nations, as
    published August 17, 1926, in an official League document.

       The government of Finland presented this observation from one of its astronomers: "The reform (calendar reform before the League) would
    break the division of the week, which has been followed for thousands
    of years,
    and therefore has been hallowed by immemorial use."

       The government of France presented the following statemnets from two of its leading astronomers: "One essential point is that of the
    continuity of the week . . . a continuity which has existed for so many
    centuries."
     "The continuity of the week  . . . is without
    doubt the most scientific institution bequeathed to us by antiquity."
     Stated Prof. D. Eginitis, director of the Observatory of Athens, a
    member of the League Committee, "The continuity of the week . . . has crossed
    the centuries, and all known calendars, still intact."

       And we could go on and on.  But this is enough.  We have presented the proof of history, the proof of the calendar, the proof
    of the Jew, the pfoof of the true Church, the proof of reason, the proof
    of science and astronomy.

       And, we might add, as positive proof as any is that of the Roman Catholic Church, which thru the centuries has preserved its Sunday
    intact, as the day FOLLOWING the seventh-day Sabbath as kept by Jesus and
    the early apostles. The Catholic priest today, is no more in doubt about
    his
    SUNDAY being the true FIRST day of the week, than the Jew
    is about God's Sabbath.

       Would God set apart a certain day, put His blessing on it (Gen 2:1-3), make it HOLY TIME, command that it be KEPT HOLY FOREVER, and then
    let that holy time become so lost, we cannot tell when to keep it?

       TIME LOST?  Then you and I are LOST SOULS, for it is SIN to profane God's Sabbath!  That is the 4th point of the Law.

       Sin is the transgression of the law (I John3:4) and if we break only ONE OF ITS POINTS - any one - we are guilty sinners. (James 2:8-11).
     The very last recorded words of Jesus say: "Blessed are they that do
    His (His Father's) Commandments, that THEY may have the right to the TREE
    OF LIFE." (Rev 22:14).

    http://www.truthontheweb.org/losttime.htm


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