“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10)
The term "Lord’s" is translated from the Greek word Kuriakos. Vine defines the word as “pertaining to a lord or master” Thayer says, “of or belonging to the Lord.” Thayer also states that in Revelation 1:10, the Lord’s day, is “the day devoted to the Lord, sacred to the memory of Christ’s resurrection.”
The same term is used in 1st Corinthians 11:20, regarding the Lord’s supper or communion. The church at Corinth had defiled the Lord’s supper to the point that Paul in so many words says, “You should be coming together to eat the Lord’s supper, but because you have defiled it, what you are doing when you come together can not even be called the Lord’s supper.”
Most Christians have a clear understanding of the relationship between Christ and the Lord’s supper. To separate Christ from the supper would render the supper void and useless. The connection or attachment between Christ and the communion cannot be overstated.
According to the statement made by the apostle John, (Revelation 1:10) there is also and inseparable union between Christ and one of the days of the week for it is called the Lord’s day. Lord’s day, Lord’s supper --- they are equal as far as relationship to Christ is concerned. Just as the supper pertains and belongs to the Lord so does the Lord’s day pertain to and belong to the Lord.
- “When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn?
and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat ...” (Amos 8:5).
They hoped for a time when they would not be restricted against selling or doing business on the monthly feast days and on the Sabbath. So, they asked, “When will the Sabbath and the new moon be gone.” Amos tells them that the land shall tremble for this evil. He warns that great destruction will come upon the people as a penalty for their sins. However, he also answers the question, “When will the Sabbath be gone?”
“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day,” (Amos 8:9).
When will the Sabbath be gone? When the sun goes down at noon and the earth is darkened on a clear day. Did this ever happen and if so when? The words of the prophet were fulfilled at the crucifixion of Christ
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour...” (Matthew 27:45).
The sixth hour, Jewish time, corresponds with our 12 o’clock noon. The ninth hour corresponds with our 3 p.m. Therefore, when Jesus was on the cross the sun went down at noon and the earth was darkened on a clear day. From that moment forward the Sabbath was no longer binding on God’s people, for Jesus took it out of the way and nailed it, along with the rest of the law of Moses, to his cross.
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross” (Colossians 2:14).
“I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her Sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts,” (Hosea 2:11).
Feast days, refers to yearly festivals such as the Passover, Pentecost, feast of atonement, feast of tabernacles and of the trumpets (Leveticus 23). New moons refers to the monthly observances and Sabbaths refers to the weekly Sabbaths. All these the writer
says, will “cease.”
After Paul, in Colossians 2:14, explains how that Christ took the ordinances of the law of Moses out of the way and nailed them to His cross, he went on to say:
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days,” (Colossians 2:16).
Meat and drink refers to the daily sacrifices, holiday refers to the yearly feasts, new moon the monthly feasts, and the Sabbath days to the 7th day observance.
Hosea said all these observances would cease. Paul says since Christ died on the cross, they have ceased. Since Christ nailed these ordinances to his cross no man has a right to judge a Christian because he no longer observes these old Jewish holidays.
“When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons,” (Mark 16:9--NIV).
This passage should settle the question as to what day Jesus was raised from the dead. However, since the KJV says, “Now when Jesus was risen,” some who desire to keep the 7th day claim that Jesus was already risen when the women came to the tomb and therefore, they say, He was raised from the dead on the 7th day of the week.
Luke 24 offers absolute proof that Jesus was raised on the first day. Jesus himself stated that He would be raised on the third day following His crucifixion (Luke 24:46). While walking on the road to Emmaus, Cleopas told Christ, “today is the third day,” since Jesus was delivered, condemned to death, and crucified (Luke 24:13-21). Verse 13 declares that the journey to Emmaus was on the same day the women went to the tomb. So Jesus was raised the day the women went to the tomb, the same day Cleopas went to Emmaus which was the 3rd day since Jesus had died. What day was it? Luke 24:1, says the women went to the tomb on the first day of the week. The women did not go to the tomb on the Sabbath day nor was the Sabbath the 3rd day following the death of Jesus. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, which is our Sunday.
When the Jews heard the preaching of Peter and the other apostles on the day of Pentecost, 3000 responded in repentance and baptism and the Lord added to the church such as should be saved (Acts 2:36-47). This is the first time in the new testament that the word church is used in the existing sense. Previous to this time you will find the word church mentioned in the future tense, such as; “upon this rock I will build my church,” Matthew 16:18. Upon the obedience of the penitent Jews the church was thus started.
Pentecost was one of 5 Jewish celebrations commanded in Leviticus 23. Beginning, at a specific Sabbath, the Jews were to number 7 Sabbaths complete. Seven times 7 equal 49 days. The day following the 7th Sabbath was the “fiftieth” day which is the exact meaning of the word Pentecost. Since Pentecost or the 50th day followed a Sabbath or 7th day, the day of Pentecost always fell on the fist day of the week. The church, then had its beginning on the first day of the week.
Paul commanded a collection to be taken on the first day of the week (1st. Corinthians 16:1-3) Those who practice Sabbath keeping claim this was a special collection that would not be continued after Paul came to take it to Jerusalem. Please note the passage does not say, “that there be no more collection ever again, after I come,” but says simply that they were to take a collection each first day so the funds would be ready when Paul or others arrived. Nothing is said to prove that they would not continue the first day collection every first day of the week after Paul departed Corinth for Jerusalem. The first day is distinguished by this act of giving in the assembly on each first day of the week.
A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.
If you have any comments or questions --- or would like to study the Bible on these or other topics --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please e-mail me at BibleTruths@hotmail.com or call 253-396-0290. Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor.
