Is Sunday the Lord’s Day?
By T. Godfrey
I WAS in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” Rev. 1:10. It is quite evident, from the above declaration, that there is a day designated by the Scriptures as “the Lord’s day.” John declares that he was in vision upon that day, and received a revelation from Jesus Christ, to be delivered to the seven churches. John wrote the book of Revelation in the year 96 A.D., while in exile upon the Isle of Patmos, or about sixty-five years after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Up to this date, we find no record of any controversy among the professed people of God over the question of which day was “the Lord’s day.” But in these last days, we find much contention and great confusion over that question. Many believe and contend that the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, is the Lord’s day, and that it is obligatory upon all Christians in this dispensation. But what Bible evidence have we for the observance of the first day of the week?—None whatever. The first day of the week is mentioned just eight times in the New Testament, as follows: Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2. In the eight texts above cited, there is not one single instance in which the first day of the week is mentioned as “the Lord’s day,” or “the Sabbath day,” or “a holy day.” There is no record of its being blessed, sanctified, and commanded to be kept holy. Therefore the first day of the week does not exist as a Christian institution, and is not obligatory upon Christians in this dispensation. It is truly the “wild solar-holiday of all pagan times.” See Eze. 8:16. There are others who believe and contend that the seventh day, commonly called Saturday, is the Lord’s day, and that it is obligatory upon all men for all time. But what Bible evidence have we that the seventh day is the Lord’s day?—We have for it a superabundance of testimony. In the Old Testament, the weekly Sabbath is mentioned seventy-seven times. In the New Testament, the weekly Sabbath is mentioned fifty-nine times. And in every instance it is called the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made, blessed, and sanctified at creation. God worked six days, and on the seventh day He rested. Then He blessed and sanctified the seventh day. Gen. 2:2, 3. And in Ex. 20:8-11 He commanded it to be kept holy. In this connection it is called “the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” In Isa. 58:13, the Lord calls it “My holy day.” In the second chapter of Mark, Jesus says the Sabbath was made for man, and that He, the Son of Man, is Lord of the Sabbath day. Verses 27, 28. Thus the seventh-day Sabbath, according to Scripture, is the Lord’s day, and it is obligatory upon us in this dispensation.