Changes

==Seventh day==

==Seventh day==

Many churches observe Sunday as their day of rest and worship, and many Christians erroneously assume that Sunday is therefore the Sabbath. However, Saturday is the seventh day of the week, and Sunday is the first day of the week. The seventh day according to God's calendar is, and always has been, the Sabbath day. Despite many modifications of calendars through the centuries, the seven-day weekly cycle has remained intact throughout history. The days of the week have always remained in their proper order, with Sunday as the first day of the week and Saturday as the seventh.<ref>''Which Day Is the Sabbath?'' [http://www.ucg.org.uk/UCG_BI_Literature/booklets/SS/daysabbath.htm UCG]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref>  

Many churches observe Sunday as their day of rest and worship, and most Christians celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday. However, according to Jewish tradtion Saturday is the seventh day of the week, and Sunday is the first day of the week. Despite many modifications of calendars through the centuries, the seven-day weekly cycle has remained intact throughout history. The days of the week have always remained in their proper order, with Sunday as the first day of the week and Saturday as the seventh.<ref>''Which Day Is the Sabbath?'' [http://www.ucg.org.uk/UCG_BI_Literature/booklets/SS/daysabbath.htm UCG]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref>  

The Jewish people have observed this date for many millennia without interruption. When the [[Julian calendar]] was replaced by the [[Gregorian calendar]] in 1582 AD, ten days were deleted in order to bring the calendar in synchronism with the seasons. But the sequence of the days remained the same. Thus, 1582-OCT-4 (a Thursday) was followed by 1582-OCT-15 (a Friday), and the Sabbath of 1582-OCT-16 happened exactly 7 days after the previous Sabbath of OCT-9.<ref>''Has the Calendar been Changed?'' "Christian holy days: The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" [http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move Religuious Tolerance.org]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref>

The Jewish people have observed this date for many millennia without interruption. When the [[Julian calendar]] was replaced by the [[Gregorian calendar]] in 1582 AD, ten days were deleted in order to bring the calendar in synchronism with the seasons. But the sequence of the days remained the same. Thus, 1582-OCT-4 (a Thursday) was followed by 1582-OCT-15 (a Friday), and the Sabbath of 1582-OCT-16 happened exactly 7 days after the previous Sabbath of OCT-9.<ref>''Has the Calendar been Changed?'' "Christian holy days: The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" [http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move Religuious Tolerance.org]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref>

Even in the 21st century Judaism still observes the seventh-day as the Sabbath - from sunset (the end of the day) Friday until sunset on the end of Saturday. Some Christian denominations (usually referred to as [[Sabbatarians]]) still observe God's seventh-day Sabbath, but the majority were polluted by [[pagan]] [[Roman]] beliefs and the whims of the [[Roman Catholicism|Roman]] church. The Roman religion of [[Mithra]]ism observed Sunday as their day of religious observance. In 321 AD, while still a pagan sun-worshipper, the Emperor [[Constantine]] declared that Sunday was to be the day of rest throughout the Roman Empire:<blockquote>''On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for gain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.''<ref>''Why and When the Weekly Sabbath was Moved'' "The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" [http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move ReligiousTolerance,org]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref></blockquote>

Even in the 21st century Judaism still observes the seventh-day as the Sabbath - from sunset (the end of the day) Friday until sunset on the end of Saturday. Some Christian denominations (usually referred to as [[Sabbatarians]]) still observe God's seventh-day Sabbath, but the majority observe the tradtion of first-century Christians who celebrated the Sabbath on Sunday.  This may have been to separate themselves as a community from the Jews who were under Roman persecution after the Zealot Revolt, but it is more likely that Christians chose Sunday as it was the day of the Resurection of Christ after his cruxifiction, thereby becoming the most holy day of the week. Since the Roman religion of [[Mithra]]ism observed Sunday as their day of religious observance, converts to Christianity before the fourth century AD from that religion may have also contributed to the popularlity of a Sunday observance. In 321 AD, while still a pagan sun-worshipper, the Emperor [[Constantine]] declared that Sunday was to be the day of rest throughout the Roman Empire:<blockquote>''On the venerable day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country however persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not suitable for gain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost.''<ref>''Why and When the Weekly Sabbath was Moved'' "The weekly Sabbath: is it to be Saturday or Sunday?" [http://www.religioustolerance.org/sabbath.htm#move ReligiousTolerance,org]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref></blockquote>

James Cardinal Gibbons, [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] educator and archbishop of [[Baltimore]] in the late 1800s and early 1900s, was blunt about the change: "You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify. The Catholic Church correctly teaches that our Lord and His Apostles inculcated certain important duties of religion which are not recorded by the inspired writers... We must, therefore, conclude that the Scriptures alone cannot be a sufficient guide and rule of faith." (''The Faith of Our Fathers'', John Murphy Company, Baltimore, 1917, p. 89).<ref>quoted in ''Which Day Is the Sabbath?'' [http://www.ucg.org.uk/UCG_BI_Literature/booklets/SS/daysabbath.htm UCG]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref>  

James Cardinal Gibbons, [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] educator and archbishop of [[Baltimore]] in the late 1800s and early 1900s, was blunt about the change: "You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify. The Catholic Church correctly teaches that our Lord and His Apostles inculcated certain important duties of religion which are not recorded by the inspired writers... We must, therefore, conclude that the Scriptures alone cannot be a sufficient guide and rule of faith." (''The Faith of Our Fathers'', John Murphy Company, Baltimore, 1917, p. 89).<ref>quoted in ''Which Day Is the Sabbath?'' [http://www.ucg.org.uk/UCG_BI_Literature/booklets/SS/daysabbath.htm UCG]. Accessed 15 February 2008</ref>  

==The Sabbath and Jesus Christ==

==The Sabbath and Jesus Christ==