Why was the Sabbath Changed to Sunday?

There is a tremendous amount of controversy as to why the Sabbath Commandment was supposedly changed or is not important anymore. And when no one can agree what the truth is, one should realize something is extremely wrong and the Sabbath Commandment that God wrote in stone does in fact matter.

Some opposing the law of God also claim the Sabbath did not originate from the beginning, which is before sin and would reveal that God did intend the Sabbath to be kept as part of His perfect plan for all eternity. (Isaiah 66:22-23) But we find the word rested in Genesis 2:3 actually means "Sabbath" and hence was so called from the beginning.

We also find that Exodus 31:16-17 informs us why we have the Sabbath. Note that it states, “It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever.” Now note also in the latter part of the verse that it tells us why we have the Sabbath day and when God first planned for this to be. It was because “...in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested [shabbath], and was refreshed.” Parentheses are added. Like Genesis 2:3 the word “rested” in Exodus 31:17 is “shabbath” in Hebrew and hence says God rested on the Sabbath after creating and was refreshed. So the Sabbath was made from the beginning and before sin for a day of rest and worship and a special sign. More on this sign later.

The first response from some is that the Sabbath was only for Israel but Paul informs that those who are the literal Israel of the flesh are not Israel anymore and that it is now only those who belong to Christ that are now Israel and the promise goes to them. Romans 2:28-29; Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 3:28-29; Isaiah 41:8. The Old and the New Covenants in fact were both only made with Israel so if we are not Israel then we are excluded from the New Covenant. Read is the Sabbath only for Israel and does the New Covenant abolish the Ten Commandments for the scripture evidence.

So why did God give us the Sabbath day? To begin with, it is a day of rest so our bodies do not burn out and become ill, and it is a day for worship and fellowship and a special sign. In Exodus 31:13, God says it is a sign that it is Him that makes us His Holy children when we keep His day Holy, and in Ezekiel 20:20, God said that the weekly Sabbath days are to be a sign between us and Him that we know that He is our Lord and God that we love, worship and belong to. How many do not want to be part of this very significant sign? Note that God calls His Sabbath “MY” Sabbath in these verses but differentiates between the sacrificial Sabbaths such as Passover by calling them “HER” Sabbaths as they were only for the Old Testament Church. (Hosea 2:11, Lamentations 1:7)

Those with a love of the truth will also note that all worship in the Church was only on the Sabbath in Biblical times and was the only day Christians are found worshipping in the Church. See Acts 20:7 for the evidence. We are also told in Leviticus 23:3 that the Sabbath is a Holy Convocation, meaning a day of gathering with others for fellowship and worship.

So now we know why we have the Sabbath and when the day was made, but why was the Sabbath changed to Sunday? James 2:10-12 says we are to be judged by the Ten Commandments, and that breaking just one Commandment such as the Sabbath is the same as breaking of them in God's eyes. (See Exodus 16 for scriptural evidence that when we do not keep His Sabbath and on the Seventh day that God says we have broken all His law.) And Hebrews 10:26-29 says there is no sacrifice to cover wilful and un-repented sin. Keeping these points in mind, what would Satan set out to do? Would he attack the law of God that defines what sin is? No one in their right mind would say no, but not many even seem to think about the fact that he would and did. And which would be the easiest Commandment for Satan to attack? If one stops and thinks about it for a moment, they can only conclude that there is one Commandment that would be very easy to attack being the fourth Commandment and scripture tells us this would happen. (Daniel 7:25)

But there is even another reason why Satan did this. Remember that Lucifer fell because of his pride. He saw himself as worthy of worship and desired to be worshipped as God. (Isaiah 14:12-14) So what better Commandment to attack then the Sabbath that is sign that it is God we love and worship. Hence Lucifer set out to institute his own day of worship and in place of God's. Now here we have the bigger issue. God does not get the worship He desires on His Holy day and Satan gets worship instead unknowingly to those keeping Sunday in ignorance. No one in their right mind of course would worship Satan and he knows this. So Satan sets up a front man by giving him his power, throne and great authority. (Revelation 13:2) See who and what is the Antichrist for detail. So when the beast power is being worshipped, who is really being worshipped? Satan! This is called worship by representation.

So we find there is a very good reason why Satan would set out to change the Sabbath to Sunday. It is extremely sad that so few stop and think about this and consider the bigger picture, and instead look for how many reasons they can come up with that even contradict each other just to avoid this one very special Commandment. Please read how the Sabbath was changed to Sunday for a brief page on the many steps used by Satan to change the Sabbath to Sunday.