The WORD “SUNDAY” in the New Testament

I am going to talk about the word “Sunday” in the New Testament but before I do, I just want to cite an important text here to proceed. Nothing I will say or you will say can change the truth. The truth is the truth no matter our position! For myself, I’d rather be wrong with the scripture.

 

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” Isaiah 28:10. What I mean by cited this text is simple. I am not trying to convince anyone not to prove anyone wrong. So please try to do the same because neither one of us is the Holy Spirit of Yahweh. Yahweh is the Only One who draws us to Him.

Many denominations as well as individuals have argued that the word “Sunday” appears in the Bible and it replaces Saturday each time it occurs.  Since word has meaning, we’re going to look at the word “Sunday” mainly in the NT (since that’s where the argument sits) and what is its meaning would be.

Our search began by searching for the word “Sunday” in the New Testament but the phrase “first day of the week” instead is found in the New Testament. It occurs in about ten places including repetition in the same chapter but to be precise, it appears 8 places. Examining these eight texts will prove insightful.

I would suggest to go back and read Genesis chapter one and take notice the structure of the days of the week. How all starts with an evening and ends with a morning. This is extremely important for this study.

Also read Yeshua’s word in John 11:9 when Jesus answered “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world.

Yeshua said there are 12 hours in a day, referring to the morning part of the day, and of course, there are 12 hours in the night part of the day to equal 24 hours. This is why he emphasis that he would be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth.

“What the word ‘Sunday’ has to do with anything?”

I am glad you asked! “Sunday” has nothing to do with anything really but some denominations as well as some individuals force it to have something to do with the sanctify day of worship—that is replacing the Seventh day to the first day. Like any other law that changed, there is an amendment explicitly denote the change and it bears the signature of the leader in charge. Conversely speaking, we must the same thing in the Bible, if the day was changed by Bible authority or by God Himself. Christians must find a biblical authorization whatsoever for replacing the Seventh Day to first day “Sunday.

Conversely speaking, we must find that authority in one of these ten places where the first day or “Sunday” mentions in our guide—the Bible.

Now for most Christians, they have no problem with the seventh days Sabbath in the Old Testament. Since non Israelites were not men, the Sabbath was not applicable to them. Most Christians would also agree that the Bible clearly establishes the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath up to the time of the crucifixion. Their argument is that at crucifixion, Yeshua nailed the Sabbath on the cross and replace it with “Sunday” or the first day of the week. Any reasonable and logical person would agree that therefore, there must be clear biblical authority for “Sunday” observance and unless we find it clearly and plainly stated in one of these then places in the New Testament. We should refute any teaching of that sort.

The first day of the week occurs only eight times in the New Testament (not to say the entire Bible). None of those occurrences mentions it as a holy day of rest or commanded worship. It never even says that Jesus rose on the first day of the week. If you can prove it using proper exegesis, I’ll you $1000.00.

1. Mat 28:1 KJV: In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
2. Mark 16:2 KJV: And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3. Mark 16:9 KJV: Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
4. Luke 24:1 KJV: Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
5. John 20:1 KJV: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.
6. John 20:19 KJV: Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
7. Acts 20:7 KJV: And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached (spoke or talked in most versions) unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8. 1 Cor 16:2 KJV: Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Just a quick note, the word sabbath appears about sixty times as compare to 8 times for the first day of the week.

 

Since Mark is said to be the first gospel, I’ll use it as the first place to find the phrase “Fist day of the week (or Sunday).

 

1. In chapter 16:1-2, And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.

Question: When did the women buy the spices?

Answer: They bought the spices after the Sabbath was passed.

Question: couldn’t they have bought the spices the day Yeshua’s crucifixion?

Answer: whether you believe Yeshua crucified on Wednesday or Friday, they could not have bought the spices on the day after.

Question: why you said that?

Answer: Simple! If it was crucified on Wednesday (the day of preparation), the next day is unleavened bread-a holy Sabbath. Neither buying nor selling is permitted. If it was crucified on Friday, Saturday is the Sabbath. Neither buying nor selling is permitted nor both day days ended with a sunset leading to the next day in question for the spices.

Question: if the women could not have bought the spices on the same day of crucifixion because it was too late and they had no clue that Yeshua was going to be crucified, they could not bought on Saturday, left alone Sunday, when then did they bought the spices?

Answer: the only day that was not a Sabbath and buying and selling were permitted was Friday which sits between the two Sabbaths-Thursday and Saturday.

Question” Which Sabbath was passed?

Answers: The annual Sabbath—the first day of unleavened bread, which fell on Thursday AD31. This high Sabbath as John puts it (verse 31 of ch.19), was indeed special because in it the lamb that take away the sins of the world is slain.

Note this, Mark tells us that the women bought the spices after the Sabbath was passed and I have demonstrated this Sabbath was on Thursday-the first day of unleavened bread. Then Luke who copied from Mark, tell us that the women came and saw where the body was lay “And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” Luke 23:56

Question: When did the women go to the tomb?

Answer: All the gospels tell us they went very early in the morning while the sun was about to rise. This statement means that the actual morning of the day was about to begin. A day starts with an evening (12 hours of darkness) and a morning (12 hours of sunlight).

Question: was Yeshua coming out of the tomb when the women arrived?

Answer: Absolutely no. See for yourself what the text says:

Verse 1 of Mark 16 says “And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. Verse 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? Verse 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

Verse 5 And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. Verse 6 And he saith unto them (the women), Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Take a look at the four gospels:

1. Mark: “he is not here; behold the place where they laid him”
2. Luke: “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning,
3. John: “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark”
4. Mathew: “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week” 

Question: I can see all the gospels say practically the same thing. Not one of the women saw Yeshua coming out of the tomb, how much more do I need to convince me that Yeshua was not resurrected on Sunday morning?

Answer: Tradition is a hard thing to break you must simply obey Yahweh’s word instead of the Catholic Church traditions, refute Friday burial and Sunday resurrection.

Question: What else these verses tell us?

These texts establish the fact the first day of the week or “Sunday” is the day after the Sabbath.  There are few things to note here from this text:

1. After resurrection, the Sabbath was still Sabbath enforces by the phrase “when the Sabbath was past.”

1. Verse one and verse two of Mark 16, report two separate events 1) in verse one, it states, “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.”

1. Now the same women were near the cross at the rush hour to get Yeshua off that T and to the grave according to John 19:25 “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”

1. This Sabbath is not the weekly Sabbath. It is the first day of unleavened bread following the Passover, which was a Thursday. There were two Sabbaths in that week. No question, they bought the species on Friday, the only non-Sabbath day between the two Sabbaths. Most bible students missed that! 2) This verse denotes another event that took place about 36-48 later upon the first day of the week “² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb.”
2. The sun was about to rise. The morning of any day is the “sunlight part of the 24hrs). When the women went to the tomb, the morning or the sunlight part of the day was not even started. Notice that, the tomb was ALREADY EMPTIED.
3. Nothing in the text established authority of any day change, even if the resurrection was “Sunday” morning.

This text, obviously, proves the same thing as Matthew 28:1. The Sabbath was still the seventh day of the week.

If you’re a true student, you must ask the questions, why the tomb was empty and if the tomb was empty, when did he actually came out of it (resurrected)? Don’t you just repeat or take what your pastors say and you should even repeat mine. Just study to show yourself approved. I am given you the “how to do list here.”

Obviously, to know when He was resurrected, you must know when He was burred. He must be resurrected 72 hours or three days later. I hope you have refuted and expelled the Friday crucifixion theory with no hassle!

2. Verse 9 of 16 contradicts verses 1 and 2. It contradicts it because all bible scholars can’t find this text in the original text. It’s a text that was added later under the authority of the Catholic Church, the Vulgate from Latin. “Now when He rose [was risen, KJV] early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.” This text, poorly translated, speaks of Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene later the same day. Compare the two texts and you’ll see the contradiction.

Question: how do you know these verses mentioned above were not in the original writing?

Answer: If you don’t know anything about Greek, You can pull the text from the Strong or any Bible study tool, or simply see if your translation places the text (vv 9-20) in parentheses or at footnote.

Nonetheless, even if it were part of the original writings, we can find nothing here endorses or demands the first day of the week as the Christian Sabbath. Nothing here endorses nor demands it to be “the Lord’s Day. “We find nothing here that sanctifies nor blessed “Sunday” or says God made it holy. This may shocks you but it’s the truth, Jesus was not even resurrected on the first day of the week or “Sunday” Nothing here commands us to observe it like the Seventh Day. Nothing here sets it apart as a memorial of the resurrection, or for any purpose. It contains no command or example of rest on this day—no authority for observing “Sunday”. Why it’s so difficult for you to see this truth?

3. Mat 28:1 KJV: In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.

4. In Luke 24:1, we read, “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.” This text reiterates the same event recorded by Matthew and Mark. It also shows that on the first day of the week these women came to do the work of a common weekday, after having rested the Sabbath day “according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56).

Not only this verse repeats Mark and Mathew’s account but also adds two points for you:

1. The women came to the tomb “bringing the spices which they had prepared.” If you recall the event of the crucifixion, the rush hour for the Passover, and everything else, you’ll know that the women could not have had any time on Wednesday before sunset to go to public market to buy species. In Jewish tradition, everything closes at 12:00 noon before any Sabbath or holy days.

Mark tells us that they bought the species and Luke tells us that they had prepared it and brought it to the tomb.

2. Luke referring to the now the Sabbath according to the commencement (Luke 23:56). This Sabbath is of the Ten Commencement and Mark Sabbath is of the 7 holy feasts. This is what you would call precept upon precept, here a little and there a little approach.

You should notice that the Holy Spirit inspired this statement. God knew the Sabbath was not abolished, and inspired Luke write this statement approximately fifty years after the establishing of the New Testament church! God inspired Luke to say that the “rest” these women took on the Sabbath day was “according to the commandment”—a statement that would not be possible had the commandment been abolished.

This text, then, establishes “Sunday” as a common workday, and that, at the time of its writing, the command to keep the Sabbath had not been abolished. So far, all three, mark, Mathew and Luke mentioned the Seventh day as Sabbath and inserted the word “rest” in their writing. I hope you can see this fact.

Note that, John’s gospel is dated to AD 90–110 and he still Passover the day of preparation and still calls the first day of unleavened bread a “special Sabbath.”

Chapter 19:31, Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.

5. John 20:1: “On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. . . .” This, written was more than seventy years after the crucifixion. This is simply John’s version, describing the same visit to the tomb by the women. Again, he confirms the facts above.

John repeats Mark, Mathew and Luke. This makes it uniform and conclusive to the fact that the tomb was empty when they arrived, thus makes it impossible to know the exact time based on these scriptures.

6. John 20:19: “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.'”

For those of you who claim this was a religious, we take a minute to examine this verse carefully if this is a service called to celebrate the resurrection. This was actually a Monday evening for the Jewish culture because each day begins with an evening.

It was Jesus’ first opportunity to appear to His disciples. For three and a half years, He had been constantly with them, on all days of the week. His meeting with them, of itself, could not establish any day as a Sabbath.

Were they meeting together to celebrate the resurrection, thus establishing Sunday as the Christian Sabbath in honor of the resurrection? The text gives the reason as to why they were together.  “For fear of the Jews”! The Jews had just taken, tried, and handed their Master over to the Romans for crucifixion. They were afraid! The doors were shut and probably bolted because of their fear. In addition, they were there because they all lived together in this upper room (Acts 1:13).

I hope you can see it conclusively—they did not assemble to celebrate the resurrection nor a church service because they did not believe Jesus was risen (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:37, 39, 41). And there was no physical church established yet.

Nothing in this text calls this day the “Sabbath,” the “Lord’s Day,” or any sacred title. Nothing here sets it apart or makes it holy. Scripture gives no authority here for changing a command of God! Can you see that?

7. Although many have decided to move the solemnity of the Sabbath rest to “Sunday” but Acts 20:7 is one of the two main texts use to support their argument. Let us explore it. “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”

Eisegesis interpretation—The common idea is that Paul was holding a Sunday worship service.

Exegesis explanation—Note that the word “day” is italicized in the King James Version, meaning it was added by translators. The phrase should properly read…

“And upon (meaning going towards)  the first of the…” The word “week” in the Greek is Sabbaton, or Sabbath, Strong’s Greek Dictionary. In Word Studies in the New Testament, “The noun Sabbath is often used after numerals in the signification of a week” (Acts 20:7 note). The Greek text behind this phrase therefore, literally reads “And upon the first of the Sabbaths.”

Ask yourself, “First for what?”

The verse refers to the first weekly Sabbath in the seven-Sabbath (seven-week) count to Pentecost. Paul was moved to give a message on this day. This occurred following a regular meal that the disciples had enjoyed on a weekly Sabbath, not “Sunday.”

Many assume to find a religious meeting on the first day of the week, but it was not a “Sunday meeting,” that is, a church service.  Notice carefully, Paul continued his speech until midnight, and verse 8 says, “There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.” It indeed occurred after sunset, before midnight, thus on the first day of the week. This meeting and Paul’s preaching—at most, it was what we would consider today a Bible study—took place during the hours we now call Saturday night.

You must ask the question, what time they started to continue until midnight. The text

Think about this, traditionally, no church service in the evening until today. Very few churches hold service in the evening on Sunday and those who do, do it mainly for different groups of people. Work schedule prevent people from attending church service, therefore, the church accommodate by having an evening service. Check it out, go around the mega to midsize churches, you won’t find service. You may find another kind of meeting but not a regular church service.

The timing of the events in Acts 20 helps us to understand more clearly. Acts 20:7-11 describe several events of one night. Since the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, counts days as beginning when the sun goes down, these events began with a meal on Saturday evening after the Sabbath, which would have been the only evening on “the first day of the week.” Several translations, including the New English Bible, Revised English Bible, Good News Bible, The New Testament in Modern English and the Complete Jewish Bible, state unequivocally that this occurred on Saturday night.

Paul planned to leave the next day for another city, so he stayed and spoke long into the night. At midnight one young man in the congregation fell asleep, tumbled from the window where he sat and was killed in the fall. Paul rushed to the young man, who miraculously came back to life. After that, the group broke bread and ate again, talking almost until dawn. Paul departed at daybreak.

Once Paul has done speaking and talking all night, Paul the next morning walked almost 20 miles to Assos (see the map) to meet the rest of the people in his group who had sailed there (Acts 20:11-14). So rather than describing a religious service on Sunday, this passage actually documents Paul walking almost 20 miles on foot on the first day of the week. This is the details we have, which made it hardly a day of rest and worship for him!

It should be clear from subsequent verses that Paul and his companions treated this first day of the week, beginning at sundown, as a normal workday. Paul’s companions sailed around a peninsula from Troas to Assos (verse 13)—a distance of fifty or sixty miles—while Paul, afoot, walked overland more than 19 miles (verses 11, 14). His companions were engaged in the labor of rowing and sailing a boat while Paul was preaching that Saturday night. Then, at the break of day Sunday morning, he set out to walk from Troas to Assos—a good hard day’s work! He would not do this except on a common workday and you should know that based on Jewish tradition.

This scripture says nothing about anything being done weekly or customarily. It simply relates the events of this one particular first day Sabbath of a weeks leading to Pentecost.

The first-century church kept the Passover Supper once each year on the Passover (I Corinthians 11:24).

That “the disciples came together to break bread” means merely that they gathered to eat a meal. This expression was commonly used to designate a meal in past times (see Luke 24:30; Acts 2:46; 27:35 for further examples of “breaking bread). Scripture interprets it only as eating a meal, not as a Communion or church service.

8. This is the other text of the two I mentioned above. 1 Corinthians 16:2: “And upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as Yahweh has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

Eisegesis interpretation—Paul is telling the brethren at Corinth to pass the collection plate at church on “Sunday, or in any religious service?”

Exegesis explanation—in reality, this passage is speaking of coming to the aid of Judean brethren who were suffering from personal distress, perhaps because of famine (see Acts 11:27-30). Notice the preceding verse, where Paul’s subject is established. He calls it a “collection for the saints,” not for “church,” and he has already given orders to the Assemblies in Galatia to help out the brethren in their plight.

He tells the Corinthians to store the gatherings (Greek logia) beginning with the first of the week (again, “day” is italicized and was added by translators). Paul wanted them to prepare the gifts beforehand “that there be no gatherings when I come.”

Take a look at verse 3, he says he will send approved men to take the goods to Jerusalem. If this were just a monetary offering, it would take no more than one man to deliver it to Jerusalem. These, however, were laborious gatherings of foodstuffs and other essentials that were to be collected and made ready on the first of the week so that Paul could dispatch it all when he arrived.

You should note that the church collection plate never was part of any religious meeting in Jewish history or in the primitive church. So you must ask the question, “where this practice came from?”

According to Christianity Today under the church history, it was added “After America ended state support of churches in the early 19^th century; the collection of “tithes and offerings” became a standard feature of Sunday morning worship.”

This verse says nothing of the sort!

 

Verse 1 tells us what kind of collection is being made: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also.” First, it is a collection—not for the preacher, evangelism, or church expenses—but “for the saints.” The members of the church in Jerusalem were suffering from drought and famine. They needed, not money, but food. To say this collection was a church service is eisegesis interpretation.

Paul gives no indication that this collection was to be taken up at a religious service. On the contrary, he tells the Corinthians, “Let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:2). These contributions were to be “laid aside” and “stored up” by “each one of you” as an individual act, not brought to a church service and collected there. To say this is an account of a collection taken up during a Sunday worship service is to read into the Bible an unwarranted personal interpretation.

Notice that Paul had given similar instruction to other churches. He tells the Romans:

But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia [where Corinth is located] to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. . . . Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. (Romans 15:25-28)

It was not money really, but fruit that was being prepared for shipment to the poor saints at Jerusalem! The Greek word can also refer to grain, wine, and other produce that can be stored a long time without spoiling.

In I Corinthians 16:2, does Paul say they should give money at a church service? Not at all! He says, “Let each one of you lay something aside, storing up. . . .” This is not church service language at all. Note this! He is telling them to put something aside for a special use, to store it—at home! Why? Because Paul did not want to wait till he got there for them to go and collect the goods, he wanted them to do before he arrived. He wanted this gift for the Jerusalem church to be ready for shipment. The bottom line is, we can’t make the text say what we want it to say. Let the text interprets itself.

With this in mind, notice this, “And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. But if it is fitting that I go also; they [more than one] will go with me” (verses 3-4). Apparently it was going to require several men to carry this collection, gathered and stored up, to Jerusalem. Conversely speaking, if it were a tithe or offering for the minister, or to spread the gospel, then Paul could have been enough to carry the money alone.

Don’t you think if it were tithe or money, there would be a collection in the church, and it were indeed a church service? But that is not what you see here, they have to “lay it aside and store it up” until Paul arrived. Collection in so called God’s church began in 19^th Century, just the other day so to speak. In fact, even in the Catholic Church-the mother church, it is not customary before the 19^th Century.

Traditionally and culturally, once again, the first day of the week is a workday for the Jews, a day for gathering fruit and food out of the orchards, fields, and gardens, and for storing it up. This labor was to be done on the first day as soon as the Sabbath was past!

Upon honest examination, not one of the texts speaking about “the first day of the week” sets it apart as a rest day. Not one makes it holy, calls it the Sabbath or by any other sacred title. In every case, the first day of the week was a common workday. In none of them was there a religious meeting and preaching service being held on the hours we now call “Sunday.” In none of them can we find a single shred of Bible authority for Sunday observance!

If you forgot everything, try to keep this in mind. The same instructions Yahweh (God) gave to man for the sanctification of the Seventh Day Sabbath, would have to be transferred entirely upon the first day week. Yahweh calls it “My Sabbath” and He “sanctifies it” and then “blesses it.” You also would see the phrase like “My Sunday” definitely!  Any effort to negate the biblical instruction for the Seventh Day in favor of “Sunday” is an error of serious magnitude.

 

“Personalized Day, doesn’t God personalized ‘Sunday’ in Revelation 1:10?”

 

Eisegesis interpretation! —The term “Lord’s day” refers to “Sunday” (and Sunday worship?). This is called biblical sacrilege! This text has nothing to do with neither Saturday nor Sunday I bring it in this study simply because you bring it to refer to “Sunday.”

Exegesis explanation—the phrases “Lord’s day” and “day of the Lord” has nothing to do with neither Saturday nor Sunday. This phrase refers specifically to the day of Yehsua’s return at the final trumpet sound announcing His Second Coming. This is a day no one knows, even Yeshua in his human knowledge didn’t know.

 

Revelation 1:10 has nothing to do with “Sunday.” Nowhere in the Bible is there any reference to “Sunday” in connection with these phrases. The only passage in the Bible where the specific term “Lord’s day” is found is here in Revelation 1:10, where it defines the day of Yeshua’s return at the trumpet sound and the awesome events that surround it.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance lists a total of 20 passages containing the words “day of the Lord.” In each of them we find reference to the dreadful, end-time day of the Savior’s return to destroy the wicked on this earth. In none of them is any mention made to “Sunday” or its worship. Unfortunately, neither Seventh Day Adventists nor Sun Day worshipers can use this text to teach a day of rest. An example is Zephaniah 1:14-15, 17: “The great day of the Yahweh (Lord) is near, it is near, and hastes greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness…And I will bring distress upon men…”

Amos 5:18 warns those who desire and look forward to the day of Yahweh (the Lord), saying that it is a day of darkness and not light. Paul writes in 1Thessalonians 5:2 that the day of Yahweh will come as a thief in the night. Joel 2:31 calls it “the great and terrible day of Yahweh.” Each instance speaks of the Second Coming of Yashua. It is the exact opposite of a day of quiet, enjoyable, Sabbath rest!

In conclusion, last thing I want to say is this and it is something for you to ponder. Just forget about me or anyone else. Take your time, use biblical tool of interpretation, invite Yahweh to sit with you though His Holy Spirit and go through each text to study them with questions and answer format. The last thing is the First Day of the Week as a biblical day of rest is Satan’s Counterfeit of the Sabbath Rest. Remember, Satan marmites everything Yahweh does.

This is a summary of the Sequence of Events

After having addressed all six specific scriptures that reference “the first day of the week” associated with the time of the Resurrection of Christ, we now present the overall timeline from Passover Day of A.D. 31, which occurred on the 4^th day of the week, or Wednesday. The following 3-day-and-3-night span of 72 hours included a high Sabbath on Thursday (the First Day of Unleavened Bread) and the 7th day weekly Sabbath, which completed the span. Be sure to write out these timeline points along with the associated scriptures:

1. Christ shared the Passover meal with His disciples on the evening before His crucifixion (Luke 22:15).
2. He was crucified on Passover Day (14 of Nisan), about the 3^rd hour (9am) (Mark 15:25).

3. Darkness prevailed from the 6^th hour (12 noon) until the 9^th hour (3:00 PM, at which time Christ died (Matt. 27:45-50). We can fairly assume a burial took place between 3-5pm before sunset. They had to take him down, wrap him in the linens and carried him to the tomb.
4. He was placed in His tomb late on Passover day (Matt. 27:57-60; Luke 23:53-54).
5. He was to be 3 days and 3 nights (entombed) in the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:39-40).
6. Passover day was followed by a “high day” or annual Sabbath (John 19:31).
7. After the high day, the women prepared spices for Christ’s burial (Luke 23:54-56 (first part).
8. After a day of preparing spices, they rested on the weekly Sabbath (Luke 23:56 (last part).
9. The next day—the 1^st day of the week—they found that Christ had already risen (Matt. 28:6).

This weekly Sabbath occurring within the days of Unleavened Bread was when Christ was resurrected according to His own words. He indicated that no sign would be given except for the sign of the prophet Jonah—that he would be entombed for 3 days and 3 nights just as Jonah was in the great fish or whale (Matt. 12:39-40).

Three days and three nights from late Passover Day on Wednesday brings us to late in the weekly Sabbath. Christ would have been resurrected according to the only sign He had promised to give to prove He was the Messiah. Do you believe Him?