i did not set out to create this post. It just kind of built itself as I was involved in my personal bible study. Apparently, GOD wanted this information put forward. I have been warning about the Noahide Laws for many years and just recently posted about the coming NOAHIDE CONGRESS IN JERUSALEM, November 2-6, 2026.
Please understand, this event should be offensive to all followers of Christ. The Noahide Laws are not from GOD. The concept was the invention of the GOD hating, Babylonian, Kabbalistic, Rabbinical Jew. They have just officially re-established the Sanhedrin as an authoritative entity in Israel. You know, the Sanhedrin, the same judicial body that killed Christ. Now, they want to kill all who oppose their laws, especially those who call upon the name of Jesus Christ/Yahushua HaMaschiah/Isa which is strictly forbidden by their Noahide Laws. Also forbidden is Sabbath rest for all non-Jews. Both crimes are punishable by death through beheading. Christ warned us this was coming and even explained why they want to kill us.
The World Hates the Followers of ChristJohn 15 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’[b] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’[c] |
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John 16
16 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. |
They are about to set their strategy in motion this November. In order for them to fully implement their scheme the Third Temple must be operational. Apparently, they are expecting that to occur soon. When combined with AI Governance and Surveilance, Digital Banking, Biometric Tattoos and the Global ID everything is in place for the Mark of the Beast. Get Ready, cause here it comes!
In this post we will be looking at the Noahide Laws and the philosophy behind them, the Sign of Joan and the Sabbath. You may think that Sabbath Observance does not affect you because you go to Church on Sunday… but you will become astutely aware that the Sabbath is truly very important for you and your relationship with God.
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Why Gentiles Must Not Keep Ritual Sabbath Rest
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Free Translation by the Ask Noah Staff of the explanation
by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson
published in the original Yiddish in Likkutei Sichos vol. 15, p. 49-57.
[clarifications in square brackets added by the Director of Ask Noah]
“Continuously, all the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter,
and day and night, shall not cease (lo yishboso).” (Genesis 8:22)
“A Gentile she’shavas [who rests], even on a weekday, [i.e.] observing that day as a Sabbath, is liable …”
(Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings, 10:9)
Synopsis of Section 1
The Rebbe cites the verse “and day and night, shall not cease (lo yishboso)” (Genesis 8.22), and the statement in the Talmud (Tractate Sanhedrin 58b) based on the Hebrew text of that verse: “A Gentile she’shavas [who observes a day as a Sabbath day of rest] is liable to death [by the Hand of Heaven], as it says, ‘and day and night, shall not cease,’ and as it says (Sanhedrin 57a), ‘A warning stated concerning them [the Gentiles] can be understood as equivalent to a statement of their liability to death.’ ”The sage Ravina states in the Talmud there (58b) that the prohibition aplies “even on Monday”, i.e. on any day of the week that a Gentile might choose to observe as his Sabbath day.
As an example of a violation of this prohibition, Rashi there (58b) mentions the “Notzrim” (see Chisronos HaShas) [1] who established Sunday as their religious Sabbath day. In footnote 4, the Rebbe mentions that the Kesef Mishneh (in its explanation of the ruling of Rambam in Laws of Kings 10:9 that this applies for all Gentiles), cites the example from Rashi about the Notzrim, and that it also applies to the Ishmaelites (who by contrast are not idolaters) who established Friday as their religious Sabbath day.
Why Rambam and Rashi explain the Talmud on two different levels:
The Rebbe reviews the Torah-law ruling of Rambam in Laws of Kings, and the commentary by Rashi (Sanhedrin 58b), as to what type of “rest”, as defined in Torah, is forbidden for all Gentiles:
Rambam in Laws of Kings 10:9 explains the general principle governing this matter: “They [the Gentiles] are not allowed to ‘originate a new religion’ (chaddeish das) nor ‘to make commandments’ (la’asot mitzvot) for themselves based on their own decisions.” In footnote 6, the Rebbe explains that the simple meaning of Rambam’s Torah-law ruling is that he holds that it is prohibited for any Gentile (i.e. Non-Jew) to observe a Sabbath day of ritual restbecause that is an example of originating a new religion [but taking a day of secular vacation from work is permitted].
In contrast, Rashi [who was a commentator on the Talmud, not a posek Rabbinical authority who states the final Torah law] explains the Talmud’s statement simply as a prohibition against any Gentile designating a day to ritually rest from work.
[Note: Throughout this section and this entire talk, the Rebbe cites the Torah law that this statement in the Talmud and this ruling of Rambam in Laws of Kings 10:9 are meant to apply to all Bnei Noah, i.e. all Gentiles.]
Synopsis of Section 2
In this section the Rebbe continues to review the explanation in the Midrashthat (a) Sabbath observance was given onlyto the Jews, and not until after they left Egypt in the exodus, and it was not given to Gentiles (see Exodus 16:29), and (b) that if a Gentile observes a Sabbath day of rest, G-d does not bestow on him Divine reward, but rather liability to death by the Hand of Heaven.
The Rebbe also explains why the prohibition of a chaddeish das (a new religion) of a Sabbath day for a Gentile extends farther than only not to ritually refrain from doing the specific 39 categories of melacha.(Those are the 39 actions that are scripturally forbidden for Jews during their Sabbath, for which a Jew can become liable to execution by an empowered Jewish Sanhedrin Court when we have the Holy Temple). [Note: This is obvious, because the Notzrim and the Ishmaelites allow many of the categories of melacha to be done on their Sabbath days, but their religious Sabbaths are included in Rambam’s ruling about what is forbidden.]
| “liable to execution by an empowered Jewish Sanhedrin Court when we have the Holy Temple” It would appear that the Jews are quite confident that the Temple will be rebuilt soon. They have officially re-established the Sanhedrin as the governing body. They have trained Noahides to fulfill their role as judges over the “goyim”. They are holding their first International Congress of Noahides in Jerusalem this year, November 2-6. The intent of the meeting is to launch their NOAHIDE world courts. These are the very courts that will order the beheading of any non-Jew who breaks the Jewish Noahide Laws. These Laws are not from GOD but from the pagan Jews who follow the Babylonian, Kabbalistic, Rabbinical Laws. | |
First International Congress of Noahides in JerusalemThe First International Congress of Noahides will take place in Jerusalem from November 2–6, 2026, bringing together leaders from six continents to formally establish the World Noahide Movement noahideworldcenter.org+1.
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Why some people naively question this difference in Torah Law for Jews and Gentiles:
In footnote 19, the Rebbe examines the question of why the Jews are required to observe the Seventh-day Sabbath, but Gentiles are strongly forbidden to observe any Sabbath. As an example of the strength of this prohibition, he cites Sefer HaChinuch, which says that Jews benefit from observing their Sabbath because it strengthens their faith that G-d created the world.
Logically, we might think that this would apply to Gentiles as well. After all, many of them also have faith in the fact that G-d created the world, and it’s worthy to strengthen that faith. In fact, that faith of the Gentiles is a basis of Rashi’s explanation of Genesis 1:1 as to why the Torah begins with G-d’s creation of the universe, our world and mankind in six days.
It is also explained in Chassidic teachings that Pious Gentiles (Chassidei Umot Ha’Olam) can achieve a faith in the fact that G-d is constantly creating everything in the universe from nothing (ex nihilo / yesh me’ayin). Nevertheless, we see that the strength of their prohibition against observing a Sabbath day overrides the benefit it could give to them in this regard.
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POMEGRANATE God’s emblem of the Body of Christ
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF GOD! Years ago when I was first filled with the Holy Spirit and GOD was revealing His Word to me, I saw that He commanded the people to decorate His Temple with Pomegranates. They were also to be placed on the hem of the Skirt of the High Priests … Click Here to Read More
Section 10
The two eras of the people – the pre-Flood era when the world was created from the “Higher Level,”and the post-Flood era when it was on its “Lower Level” – were a preface for the era of the “2000 Years of Torah” that started as a preparation for the giving of the Torah [to the Jewish people, which was] the bond between the higher and lower levels.
This is the explanation why Abraham and Sarah gave birth to Isaac in their old age (Abraham at 100, Sara at 90) [miraculously for both], because this showed the connection of the two eras. “In the days of Abraham, the years [i.e., life expectencies] were shortened,” more so than for the ten generations from Noah to Abraham, [2] because the G-dly power that was brought down then was not from the [transcendent Keter] level of “Slow to Anger” [Erech Apayim (“Slow to Anger”), one of the 13 Divine Attributes of Mercy in Exodus 34:6-7] which is above the world [i.e. beyond all the Heavenly worlds, including the highest spiritual world of Atzilut].
Rather, [it was brought down] from a level that is on the same category as the [created] world. Nevertheless, they gave birth to Isaac in their old age, as was common before the Flood when there was a G-dly power coming down from the [transcendent spiritual] level of Erech Apayim. This bond of the eras of the “highest” and “lowest” levels was revealed at Isaac’s birth – the first one born a [pre-Sinai] Jew, whose descendants would accept the Torah that would bring this bond [between the Upper and Lower Realms] into actuality.
Section 11
In order that the Jews would connect the “lower” world [the created realms] with the “higher” level of G-dliness above it [Keter, the level of God’s own Will and Pleasure], the world was created in a way that it would contain the aspect of rest from the [requirement for the] work of creation.
This is illustrated in what Rashi says about the verse, “G-d completed on the Seventh Day” [Genesis 2:2]: “The world was missing rest, so the Sabbath came, [G-d’s] rest came, and the work was finished.” The world of the Six Days of Creation was not finished without [G-d’s] resting from the work of creation. Since every week is a repeat of the same aspects as the first week of creation, therefore every Sabbath [automatically] brings into the world this aspect of [G-d’s] “rest” [so to speak].
Section 12
However, this aspect of [G-d’s] “rest” is higher than all six week days and their creation, [which is the essence of] the “existence” of the world, and therefore the world [itself] is not a vessel for [containing] this (as it is explained in many places that the Sabbath is above the [created] realm of time). Therefore, the aspect of [G-d’s] rest is brought in a revealed way only into the internal [“essence”] part of the world. But in the external aspect of the world, there cannot be any difference between the Sabbath and [any other] weekday [because the external aspect of the world is not a vessel that can contain this Higher Level].
In regards to Jews, [whose task it is to] connect the “Lower” World (i.e. the created spiritual and physical realms) with the “Higher” Level above it [Keter], the light of the Sabbath penetrates their existence in a revealed way. It is known that the extra soul [that Jews receive] on the Sabbath causes a change in the nature of their natural soul, so that [the Talmud says] “even a [Jewish] am ha’aretz [a Jewish person who is unlearned in Torah] can’t lie on the Sabbath,” and it even changes the nature of the physical body [of a Jew].
However, since in general, the [existence of the] world is connected with movement (which is the opposite of rest) [as Kabbalah and quantum mechanics explain], there can be no open revelation of the aspect of [G-d’s] rest in it [the world], for [the Sabbath] is connected to the level above time [and thus above the existence of the world].
Section 13
This is also the reason why [ritual] resting on the Sabbath is inapplicable to a Ben Noach [any Gentile] – so much so that for this reason, he is not even allowed to make a day of [ritual] rest on a weekday. The [G-dly] intent of creation is that the world, including the category of humans, should be in the natural order of “movement” – and therefore without [the state of ritual] rest – for this [“movement”] is connected with the creation of time and space of the world that was created in the Six Days of Creation.
[In terms of histalshelut (the downward chain of the spiritual worlds), this is because even the angels, who are part of the chain of creation, never rest.] In such a world, Jews must bring in the [G-dly] rest of the Sabbath that is beyond the [created] existence of the world. Therefore, when a Ben Noach encroaches on the [natural] conduct of the world of creation [that his existence is rooted in], by trying to bring an aspect of the Sabbath into the world, [G-d makes him] liable to punishment by death – he loses his [gift of] existence, for this is the opposite of the intent that he was created for.
Section 14
This is also the reason why the prohibition – that a Ben Noach [any Gentile] must not make a day into a Sabbath – comes from the words “…shall not cease” [Genesis 8:22]. This talks, on the simple level, about the cessation of the seasons and day and night (not explicitly about the Sabbath). This is because this [fact] that a Ben Noach has no connection to the Sabbath comes as a result of the unceasing six seasons [of two months each, which are listed in this verse].
Since after the Flood, G-d set in the world the power that its nature should exist in an unceasing way, the Bnai Noach cannot bring into it the unlimited aspect of the Sabbath. That is because this is in contradiction to the existence of the world [in its own right], which derives, so to speak, from G-d’s unceasing Existence.
Footnotes:
[1] The Rebbe notes Chisronos Ha’Shas [the Sages’ record of the Catholic Church’s censorship of the printed Talmud], which records the Talmud’s ruling that this applies even to Gentiles who do not worship idols; i.e., it applies to all Bnai Noach, including Chassidei Umos Ha’Olom – the Pious Gentiles who faithfully observe the Torah laws of the Noahide Code (including this one) and will thereby receive a share in the future World to Come.
[1] See Genesis 11:10-32.
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Scriptures That Say God Made the Sabbath Holy
The Bible explicitly states that God blessed and sanctified the seventh day, making it holy, in Genesis 2:2‑3, and commands Israel to keep it holy in Exodus 20:8‑11.
Key Passages
Genesis 2:2‑3 — God Sanctified the Sabbath at Creation
“By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing, so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished” Bible Hub+1.
Here, God Himself set the Sabbath apart as holy (“sanctified it”) — the first biblical basis for its holiness.
Leviticus 23:3 – Sabbath as a holy convocation
“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation… it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings” Church of the Great God.
Deuteronomy 5:12‑14 – Resting as God’s example
“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God… For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth… and rested the seventh day”
Exodus 20:8‑11 — Command to Keep the Sabbath Holy
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy… For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy” Bible Hub+2.
This is the Fourth Commandment, which ties the Sabbath’s holiness directly to God’s creative work and rest.
Exodus 31:13 — Sabbath as a Covenant Sign
“You must observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you… so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you” Bible Hub+1.
This reinforces that the Sabbath is a divinely appointed sign of God’s sanctifying power.
Exodus 31:16-17 declares that the Sabbath is a perpetual covenant for all generations.
The Bible clearly states that the Sabbath is to be observed forever as a covenant between God and the people of Israel. Exodus 31:16-17 says: “Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed” (Exodus 31:16-17 KJV) BibleGateway.com+1.
This passage emphasizes several key points:
- Perpetual Covenant: The Sabbath is not temporary but intended to be observed by every generation of Israel as a lasting agreement with God Bible Hub.
- Sign of Sanctification: It serves as a sign that God sanctifies His people and reminds them of His creation and rest on the seventh day OpenBible.info+1.
- Commanded Observance: The command includes all members of the household—sons, daughters, servants, and even livestock—highlighting its comprehensive and enduring nature OpenBible.info.
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ISAIA 2:2-4
2 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord‘s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. |
ZECHARIAH 8:20-23
20 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. 22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. 23 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew (Jesus), saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. |
 zCoffman’s Commentaries on the BibleZechariah 8:200-23 James Burton CoffmanArminian1971Restoration MovementA passage
“Yea, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek Jehovah of hosts, and to entreat the favor of Jehovah. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” This is but a continuation of the prophecy of the previous two verses regarding the worldwide multiplication of followers of Jehovah during the reign of Christ, that is, during the present times, when Christ is upon his throne in full possession of “All authority in heaven and upon earth” (Matthew 28:18-20). “In Jerusalem” “In the light of what preceded we now realize that seeking “in Jerusalem” is purely a bit of local color that states the case in the thought forms of the 01d Covenant, where all seeking the Lord was required to be done there.”(F1) Also, these words are appropriate, because it was indeed “from Jerusalem” that the word of the gospel went out to all nations, and that “Salvation is of the Jews.” “Him that is a Jew” We recognize here a reference to the Messiah himself. “How earnestly have men sought salvation! They find it in Him, a member of the Jewish race, the Saviour of the world.”(F2) Failing, absolutely, to find anything resembling even a token fulfillment of this in the period of Israel prior to Christ’s coming, and denying its application to the spread of Christianity, the premillennialists suppose that: “Here is a remarkable picture, not of world conversion in this age, but of the restoration of the Jew to the center of God’s favor. With the Davidic kingdom established, Israel will be a medium of blessing to the entire globe.”(F3) We cannot accept such a notion, because the apostle Peter, whom we believe to be inspired, stated categorically on Pentecost that the resurrection and elevation of Christ to the right hand of God in heaven was the fulfillment of the prophecy of the restoration of the Davidic kingdom. “The literal fulfillment of this prophecy (centering the kingdom of God in literal Jerusalem) is not to be looked for. This declares the future conversion of the Gentiles, and their being made one with Israel in the Church of Christ, `one fold under one Shepherd'” (John 10:16).(F4) “Ten men… out of all the languages of the nations” is a perfect number, following the Hebrew usage of numbers, standing for an infinitely greater number from all the nations, that is, the Gentiles of the world. The same number applied to the “ten horns” of Revelation’s scarlet colored beast (Revelation 13) is a similar usage standing for the numerous world powers that shall rise up simultaneously following the progression of the seven great monolithic powers identified as the seven heads. It is our conviction that we now live in the age of the “ten horns” of the beast. Higginson also pointed out this usage of the number ten: “Ten stands for an indefinitely large number.”(F5) This chapter ends the first section of Zechariah, all of the visions and direct revelations forming the overture, or prelude, for the rest of the prophecy. Just as no one expects the second movement of a symphony to follow the pattern of the first, so we should be prepared for a different type of book in the remaining six chapters. How incredible must this prophecy have seemed to the enemies of Israel. Who could have believed that a little handful of despised returnees would yet see the whole world turn to one of them for redemption and salvation? Yet it has been gloriously fulfilled. |
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This was the promise to Abraham. And God proceeded to nurture the Hebrew nation, so that in time, all peoples would learn from
Yisrael and come into a covenant with the God of heaven.
The Torah has always been applicable to anyone who chose to cling to God.
Ex 12:49 (NIV) “ The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you."
Lev 24:22 (NIV) “ You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am JEHOVAH your God."
Num 15:29 (NIV) ‘ One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether he is a native-born Israelite or
an alien.’
C. The law existed in heaven, before the Exodus, and the law is in heaven today, as we speak.
Heb 8:5 (NIV) “They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he
was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”"
(See also Exodus 25:40; Exodus 25:9; Exodus 26:30)
The ORIGINAL ark, complete with the Ten Commandments, are in heaven TODAY. The ark on the earth was a copy of the ark in heaven.
it is currently in Zedekiah’s Cave where Ron Wyatt found it.
Rev 11:19 (NIV) ‘Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came
flashes of lightning, rumblings, pearls of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.” (That is the ark)
Rev 15:5 (NIV) “ After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened.” (‘The
Testimony’ are the
‘Ten Commandments’. Ex 31:18 When JEHOVAH finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony,
the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.)
These are in heaven today, and they are the standard of judgment against which all unbelievers shall be judged.
D. The Ten Commandments are reflection of God’s character – which is LOVE. Hence the entire Torah can be summed up in two
commandments, both about
LOVE. God is LOVE. Hence His seat is the Ten Commandments. Exodus 25:22 and Exodus 30:6.
And His Government shall forever be established on the same principle of Love, the Ten Commandments. They will never be repealed,
for then, God will have to become anything else other than love.
Mark 12:30-31 (NIV) “Love JEHOVAH your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your
strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
The prophecy of Jesus Christ that in the end times, the love of many will grow cold, means directly that many will abandon the
standard of love, the Torah. Hence ‘if ye love me, keep my commandments’. John 14:15 KJV
Hebrews 3: 12-16 – The Peril of Unbelief
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart [c]that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, 15 while it is said,
“Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts, as [d]when they provoked Me.”16 For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
The Believer’s Rest
4 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word [a]they heard did not profit them, because [b]it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“As I swore in My wrath,
They shall not enter My rest,”although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying [c]through David after so long a time just as has been said before,
“Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”8 For if [d]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:8–12 and the Sabbath Rest
Hebrews 4:8–12 teaches that the “Sabbath rest” is a spiritual, eternal rest in God, fulfilled in Christ, into which believers must enter by faith, not by works, and which requires daily obedience to God’s Word.
Context and Meaning
The passage begins with Hebrews 4:8: “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.” This contrasts the physical rest Joshua brought to Israel in Canaan with a deeper, ongoing rest God still promises Bible Hub+1. The “another day” refers to the Sabbath rest mentioned in Psalm 95:11, which the writer of Hebrews applies to the gospel age Bible Hub.
Verse 9 states that “there remains a Sabbath-rest for the people of God”, meaning this rest is not the seventh-day Sabbath of the Old Testament nor the land of Canaan, but a rest of grace and holiness in the gospel state Bible Hub+1.
Verse 10 explains that entering this rest means ceasing from one’s own works, just as God rested after creation. This is rest from self-effort, trusting in Christ’s finished work Bible Hub+1.
Verse 11 urges believers to “make every effort to enter that rest” so they do not fall short through disobedience, warning that the same unbelief that kept Israel out of the land will keep others from this rest Bible Study Tools.
Verse 12 describes the Word of God as “alive and active… sharper than any double-edged sword”, penetrating to the deepest parts of the soul and judging thoughts and attitudes Bible Study Tools. This emphasizes that entering the Sabbath rest involves ongoing obedience and transformation by God’s Word.
Theological Significance
- Historical rest: Joshua’s conquest = physical, national rest.
- Prophetic rest: Psalm 95:11 = God’s promise of a greater rest still to come.
- Fulfilled rest: In Christ, who is the substance of the Sabbath, not its shadow Bible Hub.
This rest is spiritual—a confidence in Christ’s finished work, freedom from guilt, and trust in God’s care Bible Hub. It is also ongoing, requiring daily faith and obedience, as the Word of God continually shapes the believer’s heart Bible Study Tools.
Application for Believers
- Trust in Christ’s finished work — rest from self-reliance and striving.
- Live by faith — “make every effort” to enter the rest through steadfast belief, not works .
- Obey God’s Word — let it judge and transform your thoughts and attitudes.
- Celebrate the Sabbath in spirit — worship and rest in Christ as the true Sabbath Bible Hub.
In short, Hebrews 4:8–12 presents the Sabbath rest as the eternal, spiritual rest in God, available only through faith in Christ, and sustained by daily obedience to His Word.
Does Hebrews tell Christians to keep resting on the seventh-day Sabbath? How does the Sabbath rest fit the context? What does the Greek word sabbatismos mean?
Some have been puzzled as to the meaning of Hebrews 4:9, which says, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.”
The confusion generally arises over the Greek word sabbatismos, which is translated “rest” in the New King James Version of the Bible.
A number of other translations, such as the American Standard Version, New International Version, International Standard Version, Christian Standard Bible and English Standard Version, translate this word as “Sabbath rest.” The Bible in Basic English translates it “Sabbath-keeping.”
New Testament Sabbath
There are many examples in the New Testament of Jesus Christ, the apostles and the New Testament Church continuing to keep the seventh-day Sabbath as taught in the Fourth Commandment. And there are no passages in the New Testament where the Sabbath was changed or replaced. (For careful study of this subject, download our free booklet The Sabbath: A Neglected Gift From God.)
But some have pointed out that the Sabbath commandment is not repeated in the New Testament, while most or all of the other commandments are repeated.
But understanding Hebrews 4:9 in context and the meaning of the Greek word sabbatismos helps show that the seventh-day Sabbath continued to be essential to New Testament Christians.
Let’s consider the context and the different words for rest that the writer of Hebrews wove together to make his point.
Physical rest
The writer of Hebrews uses the concept of rest in several different ways in chapters 3 and 4. First, rest (from the Greek word katapausis) is spoken of in the sense of the physical rest from wandering that the ancient Israelites would receive when they entered the Promised Land (Hebrews 3:7-11).
The reason the first generation of Israelites who left Egypt did not experience this rest is because of their great rebellion against God. This rebellion—termed “the rebellion” (verses 8 and 15) and “the day of trial in the wilderness” (verse 8)—was their refusal to go into the land after 10 of the 12 men who spied out the Promised Land gave negative reports (Numbers 14:1-38).
Reflecting back on this dark time in Israel’s history, God said, “Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them” (Ezekiel 20:12-13).
An important point to note from this passage is that God included Sabbath breaking as part of this generation’s great rebellion.
Sabbath rest
The word rest (from the Greek word katapauo) is also used in this section of Scripture to describe keeping the Sabbath.
As Hebrews 4:4 says, “For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.’”
Spiritual rest
The writer of the book of Hebrews also uses the word rest (from the Greek word katapausis) in the sense of a future relationship with God saying, “We who have believed do enter that rest” (Hebrews 4:3). He further states that “it remains that some must enter” this rest (verse 6).
Recognizing this rest as a future relationship with God, some have mistakenly assumed that the rest (sabbatismos) of Hebrews 4:9 has no connection to the Sabbath. As we’ve seen, such an interpretation overlooks the author’s explicit reference to this command.
While making the point that there is a future rest Christians can have with God, the author also connects the Sabbath to this rest.
While making the point that there is a future rest Christians can have with God, the author also connects the Sabbath to this rest, noting: “For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: ‘So I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter My rest,”’ although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works’” (Hebrews 4:3-4).
Adam Clarke, in his commentary on Exodus 20:8, says regarding the Sabbath: “It typifies the rest which remains for the people of God, and in this light it evidently appears to have been understood by the apostle, Hebrews 4. …
“Some have presumptuously inferred that there is no Sabbath under the Christian dispensation. The truth is, the Sabbath is considered as a type. All types are of full force till the thing signified by them takes place. But the thing signified by the Sabbath is that rest in glory which remains for the people of God, therefore the moral obligation of the Sabbath must continue till time be swallowed up in eternity” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary).
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The meaning of sabbatismos
In his notes on Hebrews 4:9, Albert Barnes says sabbatismos means “Sabbatism” or “keeping of a Sabbath,” as it is rendered in the margin of the King James Version of the Bible. The meaning of Hebrews 4:9 then is, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (English Standard Version).
Sabbath-keeping continues for Christians today who look forward to being in God’s Kingdom. This weekly act of keeping the Sabbath reminds us of this glorious hope.
Verse 10 also infers Sabbath-keeping: “For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”
The point is that if we want to have a relationship with God, we need to imitate Him. Christ kept the Sabbath (Luke 4:16), and we are told that we ought to “walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6).
Sabbatismos in other Greek literature
Because sabbatismos is not found in any other passage in the New Testament, some have mistakenly suggested that the author of the book of Hebrews made up this word and that it has a spiritualized meaning other than keeping the Sabbath. However, secular writings of the first century confirm its usage and its meaning as noted above.
Professor Andrew T. Lincoln states, “The use of sabbatismos elsewhere in extant Greek literature gives an indication of its more exact shade of meaning. It is used in Plutarch, De Superstitione 3 (Moralia 166A) of Sabbath observance. There are also four occurrences in post canonical literature that are independent of Hebrews 4:9. They are Justin, Dialogue with Trypho 23:3; Epiphanius, Adversus Haereses 30:2:2; Martyrium Petri et Pauli 1; Apostolic Constitutions 2:36:2.
“In each of these places the term denotes the observance or celebration of the Sabbath. This usage corresponds to the Septuagint usage of the cognate verb sabbatizo (cf. Exodus 16:30; Leviticus. 23:32; 26:34; 2 Chronicles. 36:21), which also has reference to Sabbath observance. Thus the writer to the Hebrews is saying that since the time of Joshua an observance of the Sabbath rest has been outstanding” (“Sabbath, Rest and Eschatology in the New Testament,” From Sabbath to Lord’s Day, ed. D.A. Carson, 1982, p. 213).
The Sabbath in Hebrews
In his book The Sabbath in the New Testament, Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi wrote, “The Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God (4:9) is not a day of mere idleness for the author of Hebrews, but rather an opportunity renewed every week to enter God’s rest, that is, to free oneself from the cares of work in order to experience freely by faith God’s creation and redemption rest. …
“‘The Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God’ (Heb 4:9) is not only a physical cessation from work to commemorate God’s perfect creation but also a spiritual entering into God’s rest (Heb 4:10) made possible through Christ’s complete redemption. The physical act of resting becomes the vehicle through which one experiences the spiritual rest. We cease from our daily work to allow God to work in us more freely and fully” (1985, pp. 76-77).
There remains a Sabbath rest
So sabbatismos is clearly about celebrating the Sabbath. It continued as the day of rest and worship for the New Testament Church of God. “There remains, therefore, a Sabbath rest for the people of God to keep” (Hebrews 4:9, International Standard Version).
For more on the Sabbath, read the other articles in this section on “The Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day.”
God made the Sabbath on the seventh day of creation week, and it reminds us of our Creator. How does He want us to remember the Fourth Commandment today?
Link: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/10-commandments/sabbath/ 
Largely forgotten today, the Fourth Commandment is one of God’s greatest blessings to mankind. What does it mean to keep the Sabbath holy?
The Sabbath in the Bible
God recorded the Fourth Commandment in Exodus 20:8-11 (this is numbered as the Third Commandment by Catholics and Lutherans):
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” (MADE IT HOLY)
The Sabbath was made at creation
God made the Sabbath on the seventh day of the creation week, and it reminds us of our Creator: “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:1-3).
We follow God’s example and command by remembering and resting on this seventh day each week.
Unless God told us, how would we know how He wants to be worshipped? How would mortal man know what is holy time—unless God revealed it? Thankfully He has revealed it, though so few today “remember” the seventh-day Sabbath.
Sabbath: Saturday or Sunday?
Biblical scholars, whether Jewish, Catholic or Protestant, recognize that the seventh day of the week was and is Saturday. More precisely, using the biblical method of marking time, it is from Friday at sunset to Saturday at sunset.
So who changed the Sabbath? God didn’t, and neither did the apostles or early New Testament Church. Nowhere in the Bible was the Sabbath day changed to Sunday. Read more about the history of why most churches today have their services on Sunday in our article “When Did the Change From Saturday to Sunday Occur?”
Sabbath rest and freedom
The Sabbath command is repeated in Deuteronomy 5:12-15, but this time God highlighted the theme of freedom.
“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor … that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
“And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt (Egypt represents sin and we were all slaves to sin), and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”
The Israelites were given freedom from slavery under Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. This pictured, in type, the freedom we can have from Satan and sin. As the One who became Jesus Christ delivered Israel from Egypt with a mighty hand (1 Corinthians 10:4), Jesus is our Deliverer and Savior today.
Whose Sabbath is it? Jesus is “Lord of the Sabbath”
“The seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God” (Exodus 20:10). It belongs to God. Jesus said He is “Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28).
The Sabbath was made for man
But Jesus tells us His purpose for the Sabbath is for our benefit: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
The Sabbath is not a selfish day. We are to let our servants (employees) rest as well (Deuteronomy 5:14). And Jesus clarified that it is not wrong to do good on the Sabbath, giving examples of emergencies and setting the example of caring for the sick and injured (Matthew 12:10-13).
The Sabbath, the day God rested, is both the forerunner and the weekly reminder of the wonderful future rest, free from the bondage of sin.
Why did the Pharisees and religious leaders accuse Jesus and the disciples of “doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:2)?
Because they and their ancestors had learned the wrong lessons from Israel’s punishment for Sabbath breaking and other sins. They had added many human-devised rules and laws as a hedge around the Sabbath. God’s commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3), but the rules of Judaism had become a burden (Matthew 23:4).
The Sabbath now and in the future
Chapters 3 and 4 of the book of Hebrews weave together the interrelated themes of the Sabbath, entering the Promised Land and entering the Kingdom of God. Each is a type of rest, with the Promised Land an imperfect picture of the future peaceful Kingdom.
The Sabbath, the day God rested, is both the forerunner and the weekly reminder of the wonderful future rest, free from the bondage of sin (Hebrews 4:4, 9). “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9, New International Version).
In that future Kingdom, all people (Jews and gentiles) will worship before God on the Sabbath (Isaiah 66:23). The Sabbath was made for all of humanity, and God praises the gentiles “who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants—everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath” (Isaiah 56:6).
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The Sabbath command today
We are still required to work diligently for six days to meet our needs and prepare well for the Sabbath each week. This teaches us diligence, planning and priorities. God mandates a day of rest not to promote idleness, but because we need it.
But more than sleep and doing nothing, the Sabbath is a day for doing something different: refocusing on God, worshipping and fellowshipping with Christians of like mind (Hebrews 10:24-25), praying, studying the Bible and meditating.
The Sabbath is a day to bond with family, appreciate the creation and do good, perhaps visiting the widows and orphans (James 1:27). The Sabbath should be a delight, not by doing our own hobbies, interests and pleasures, but by honoring God and seeking to please Him and do His will (Isaiah 58:13-14).
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Three Days and Three Nights: Biblical Proof That Jesus Died on Wednesday, Not Good Friday
Jimmy Fortunato
April 3, 2025
The 72-Hour Truth That Changes Everything
Have you ever questioned why we call it “Good Friday” when Jesus clearly stated He would be in the heart of the earth for “three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:40)?
If Jesus died on Friday afternoon and rose Sunday morning, that’s only one full day and two nights at most—nowhere near the 72 hours He prophesied. This mathematical impossibility has troubled many Bible students, yet most churches continue teaching the Good Friday tradition without addressing this glaring discrepancy.
What if everything you’ve been taught about the crucifixion timeline is incorrect?
In this in-depth biblical study, we’ll examine clear scriptural evidence that Jesus actually died on Wednesday, not Friday, and rose exactly 72 hours later on Saturday evening—perfectly fulfilling His own prophecy and validating His claim as the Messiah.
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Good Friday Is a Lie | 3 Days & 3 Nights
Understanding Biblical Days: The Foundation of the Timeline
Before we dive into the Gospel accounts, we need to understand how “day” is defined in Scripture:
The Two Biblical Definitions of “Day”
- Daytime only (12 hours): “God called the light day, and the darkness night” (Genesis 1:5). Jesus confirmed this when He asked, “Are there not twelve hours in the day?” (John 11:9).
- Complete day-night cycle (24 hours): “The evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:5). In biblical reckoning, a full day includes both evening and morning.
The Jewish Calendar: Essential to Understanding the Timeline
In Jewish custom, days begin at sunset (approximately 6 PM) and end at the following sunset—not midnight to midnight as in our modern calendar. This is crucial to understanding the crucifixion timeline.
- Hebrew night: Begins at 6 PM, with hours counted as:
- First hour = 7 PM
- Sixth hour = Midnight (12 AM)
- Twelfth hour = 6 AM
- Hebrew day: Begins at 6 AM, with hours counted as:
- First hour = 7 AM
- Sixth hour = Noon (12 PM)
- Twelfth hour = 6 PM
Jesus Died on Passover: The Biblical Timeline Revealed
The Scriptures clearly state that “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). According to Numbers 9:1-5, Passover was observed on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) of the Jewish calendar.
Let’s examine the Gospel accounts to establish the day-by-day timeline:
Wednesday (Nisan 14): Crucifixion Day
The Gospel accounts (Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, John 18-19) all record the same sequence of events occurring on the day of crucifixion:
- Evening (6 PM, start of Wednesday): Jesus celebrates the Last Supper with disciples (Matthew 26:20, Mark 14:17)
- Night hours: Judas betrays Jesus (Matthew 26:47-50)
- Still night: Peter follows and denies Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75)
- Morning (6 AM): Jesus taken before Pilate (Matthew 27:1-2)
- Third hour (9 AM): Jesus crucified (Mark 15:25)
- Sixth to ninth hour (Noon to 3 PM): Darkness over the land (Matthew 27:45-46)
- Ninth hour (3 PM): Jesus dies (Matthew 27:46-50, Mark 15:34-37)
- Before evening (before 6 PM): Jesus buried hurriedly before the next day begins (Matthew 27:57-60)
The Gospels specifically note that Jesus’ body needed to be removed before the Sabbath began (John 19:31). But what Sabbath was this?
Thursday (Nisan 15): First Day in the Tomb – The “High Day” Sabbath
Matthew 27:62 refers to “the next day, the one after the Preparation Day.” This wasn’t the weekly Sabbath (Saturday), but the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread—a special “high day” Sabbath (John 19:31).
Leviticus 23:5-7 confirms this: “On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD’s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread...the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it.”
This explains why Jesus’ body was removed so hurriedly—not for the weekly Sabbath, but for this special Feast Sabbath that began Wednesday at sunset.
Friday (Nisan 16): Second Day in the Tomb
This was a regular workday between the special Sabbath (Thursday) and the weekly Sabbath (Saturday). Jesus remained in the tomb throughout this day—the second 24-hour period.
Saturday (Nisan 17): Third Day in the Tomb – Weekly Sabbath
This was the regular weekly Sabbath, the third full day Jesus spent in the tomb. According to Matthew 28:1, Jesus rose “in the end of the Sabbath”—not Sunday morning!
The original Greek text of Matthew 28:1 states that the resurrection occurred “late on the Sabbath” as it “drew toward the first day of the week.” This places the resurrection just before sunset on Saturday, exactly 72 hours after Jesus was buried.
Sunday Morning: Discovery of the Empty Tomb
The women came to the tomb “on the first day of the week...while it was still dark” (John 20:1) and found it already empty. They didn’t witness the resurrection—it had already happened the previous evening!
Mark 16:2 notes they arrived “very early in the morning…when the sun had risen,” but nowhere does Scripture say Jesus rose at sunrise.
Why This Matters: Implications of the Wednesday Crucifixion
Understanding the true timeline has profound implications:
- Validates Jesus’ prophecy: Jesus said He would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights (72 hours). Only a Wednesday crucifixion and Saturday evening resurrection fulfills this exactly.
- Confirms Jesus’ authority: If Jesus couldn’t fulfill His own prophecy about the timeframe of His resurrection, what else might be questioned about His claims?
- Explains early church worship: The early church gathered on “the first day of the week” (1 Corinthians 16:2) because Jesus rose just before this day began, pointing believers toward Sunday worship.
- Unmasks pagan influences: Many “sunrise services” unknowingly reenact pagan sun worship rituals rather than biblical events, as Jesus rose in the evening, not at sunrise.
The Pagan Connection to Easter Practices
The traditional Easter timeline follows the pagan calculation: “the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.” This has nothing to do with the biblical timeline and everything to do with ancient fertility and sun worship practices.
Sunrise services, while well-intended, unintentionally echo sun deity worship rather than celebrating the risen Son of God—who rose as the Sabbath ended, not as the sun rose.
Conclusion: Following Scripture Over Tradition
The evidence is clear: Jesus died on Wednesday afternoon, was buried just before 6 PM, and rose 72 hours later on Saturday evening before sunset—fulfilling His prophecy perfectly.
This understanding doesn’t diminish the significance of Christ’s resurrection—it enhances it by confirming the precise fulfillment of prophecy. The resurrection remains the cornerstone of Christian faith, proving that Jesus is who He claimed to be.
When tradition conflicts with Scripture, we must always choose Scripture. As Jesus Himself warned about human traditions: “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:6).
Your Turn to Discover Biblical Truth
Have you been following tradition without examining the Scriptures for yourself? The Bible rewards those who carefully study its words rather than simply accepting what they’ve been told.
Take time this week to read through the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection. Count the days and nights. See for yourself that only a Wednesday crucifixion accounts for the full “three days and three nights” Jesus promised.
“Test all things; hold fast what is good“ – 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Scripture References for Further Study
- Matthew 12:40 – Jesus’ prophecy of “three days and three nights”
- Matthew 26-28 – Crucifixion and resurrection account
- Mark 14-16 – Crucifixion and resurrection account
- Luke 22-24 – Crucifixion and resurrection account
- John 18-20 – Crucifixion and resurrection account
- 1 Corinthians 5:7 – “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us”
- Leviticus 23:4-8 – Explanation of Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread
- Numbers 9:1-5 – Instructions for Passover observance
Experience the Full Teaching
This blog post only scratches the surface of this powerful biblical truth. To gain a deeper understanding of the crucifixion timeline and see every Scripture reference explained in context, listen to the complete sermon:
📢 “The 72-Hour Truth: Jesus Died Wednesday, Not Friday”
Dive deeper with our full 45-minute sermon that explores:
- Complete biblical analysis – Step-by-step examination of all Gospel accounts
- Historical context – How the Hebrew calendar proves the Wednesday crucifixion
- Jesus’ fulfilled prophecy – Why exactly 72 hours in the tomb matters
- Worship implications – Understanding Sunday worship in light of this truth
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THE SIGN OF JONAH
THE MOST IMPORTANT SIGN OF THE END TIMES – Ask yourself -Why do they rail so hard against?
That is precisely the reason. God told us it would be the ONLY sign that will be given to us. But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. Matthew 12:39 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after … Click Here to Read More
TL;DR:
Jesus being dead for three days proves His death was real, His resurrection undeniable, and God’s promises completely trustworthy. The resurrection marks the turning point of history, where Jesus’ victory over death secured eternal life for all who believe.
what does the bible say?
While Scripture did not specify why Jesus was dead for exactly three days, that period fulfilled Scripture’s prophecies. Jesus Himself repeatedly predicted that He would be killed and rise on the third day (Matthew 16:21, 17:23; John 2:19-22), a detail His opponents even remembered (Matthew 27:63). He linked this timing to Jonah’s three days in the fish (Matthew 12:40). Other prophets also hinted at restoration “on the third day” (Hosea 6:2).
The three days confirm both the reality of His death and the truth of His resurrection. Jesus was buried before the Sabbath and remained in the tomb until the first day of the week, leaving no doubt that He truly died (Luke 23:54-56, 24:1-7). The delay made His rising undeniable, much like Lazarus, whose body had already begun to decay (John 11:39-44).
The timing also ties into God’s plan of salvation. Jesus died at Passover as the Lamb of God (John 19:14; 1 Corinthians 5:7) and rose on the first day, which is connected to the feast of firstfruits and the promise of new creation (John 20:1; 1 Corinthians 15:20).
from the old testament
- In the Old Testament, the third day often signals restoration after a period of loss. For example, God said, “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us, that we may live before him” (Hosea 6:2). In context, the promise referred to Israel’s return to God, yet its wording established an expectation of a third-day revival. Christians have long recognized that this hope finds its fullest meaning in the Messiah, whose resurrection secures the very life that Hosea had envisioned.
- Another Old Testament connection comes from Jonah’s descent beneath the waters. The text says, “And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:17). Jonah’s ordeal reads like a living parable of death and deliverance, after which he brought salvation to the Ninevites. In retrospect, that story served as a clear signpost for a future Servant who would pass through judgment and emerge alive for the sake of others.
- Israel’s worship calendar also provided a foundation for a three-day death. Passover focused on a spotless lamb whose blood brought rescue from death (Exodus 12:3-13). The following week included the firstfruits offering “on the day after the Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:11). In this way, the patterns of the sacrificial lamb and the firstfruits are the background that later framed Jesus’ death on Passover and rising on the first day of the week.
from the new testament
- Jesus said that He would die and “on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16:21). To help His followers make the connection with the Old Testament, He also drew on Jonah’s story, saying, “just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). By linking His death and resurrection to those earlier patterns, Jesus helped them to see that His death and resurrection was a God appointed moment of history.
- The Sabbath pause partially explains why Jesus’ resurrection was delayed until the third day. Luke recorded that Jesus’ body was laid in a rock-hewn tomb late on the day of Preparation, and that the women “rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:54-56). It was early Sunday morning, after the Sabbath ended, that they went and found the stone rolled away.
- The third day also showed that Jesus had truly died. When Jesus raised Lazarus, Martha warned, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days” (John 11:39). Jesus’ resurrection was delayed so that no one could dismiss the miracle as simply Jesus fainting (John 11:6, 11:17, 11:43-44). Being dead for three days carried persuasive weight for eyewitnesses.
- The apostles also preached that the third day confirmed the gospel. Paul said that Christ “was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). Paul was writing before the Gospels had been written, so he meant according to the Old Testament Scriptures. That is, he was saying that Jesus had to be raised on the third day to fit what had been written. This conformity to prophecy confirmed the entire message of salvation.
- The timing also carries rich meaning in the church’s worship and hope. Paul called Jesus the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) and the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Jesus died at Passover just like the Old Testament lambs were sacrificed on that day; He rose on the first day, echoing the firstfruits offering after the Sabbath that signaled the start of the resurrection harvest.
implications for today
Because Jesus truly died and rose again, as signified by Him being dead for three days, we can have eternal life in Him. His resurrection means our sins can be forgiven and that death has been defeated. The empty tomb shows that God accepted His sacrifice, so we never have to fear whether our salvation is secure.
How does this impact your life here and now? It means you can face suffering, loss, and even death with confidence. The same power that raised Jesus now gives you new life by His Spirit and promises a future bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20). Your hope is not in avoiding hardship but in belonging to a risen Savior who has overcome the grave.
If you have not yet trusted Christ, His resurrection is your invitation to do so. Jesus is the crucified and risen Lord who offers forgiveness and life that death cannot undo. Everyone who comes to Him finds hope that endures forever.
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Did Jesus or The Apostles Modify The Fourth Commandment?
If they did, we should see clear evidence of a distinct command or example of such a change. To start, let’s review the names of the weeks and their Biblical numbers. After all, the fourth commandment is about a day of the week that God proclaims as holy. God’s words are not arbitrary. He is the Creator, and He wants us to remember that!
Names and Numbers of the Week
The phrase “first day of the week” appears in the New Testament only nine (9) times in eight (8) verses. Of course, the word”Sunday” never appears because it is the pagan designation for the Sun’s day. The Bible refers to the day we now call Sunday as “the first day of the week.” The day Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Another question to consider: “Does the Bible call Sunday or the first day of the week, The Lord’s Day?” Sure, a man may make that designation, but does the Bible?
All of our English names of the days of the week are related to planetary gods of regional culture. (See the Appendix for further detail and the origin of these names)
Examples:
Tuesday: Tyr’s day.” Tyr was the Norse god of combat.
Wednesday is the day of the Woden or Odin, the father of the Gods.
The Creator God simply numbered the days of the week after the days of creation.
Example:
God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
Genesis 1:5
Although the days were number one (1) through seven (7), the seventh day was blessed by the Creator when He ended His creative work. Only this particular day was given a name with meaning. He gave it the name “Sabbath” (Hebrew word: šabāṯ), meaning rest. Our calendar shows the end of the work week to be the seventh day or the Sabbath (pagan name: Saturday Saturn’s day).
And on the seventh day, God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
Genesis 2:2
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. Exodus 20 8-10
While the Bible mentions the phrase “first day of the week” only nine (9) times in the New Testament, There are 59 verses in the New Testament about the Sabbath. Further, there is one (1) passage in Hebrews 4:4 that uses the phrase “the seventh day,” which points back to the seventh day of creation and God’s rest (Sabbath). So, there should be no doubt as to which day God designated as the Sabbath. We cannot make a day holy or proclaim any day we wish to be the Sabbath.
For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”
Hebrews 4:4
The first day of the week and the seventh day are not the same days; neither is Sunday and the Sabbath the same.
The Lord’s Day
The one phrase that stands by itself is “The Lord’s Day,” which is found only one (1) time in the Bible (Revelation 1:7)
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet” Revelation 1:10
There is no clear designation for which day of the week John refers to, but within its context or the verse and the entire eschatology of Revelation, it appears John is referring to the day of Christ’s return which is accompanied by a loud trumpet.
For the Lord, Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
While a good case could be made that the Sabbath is called the Lord’s day in the following passage, this is not the purpose of this article. I explore this in detail in the article called Patmos and the Lord’s day.
Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:28
Here Jesus proclaims to own or be the Lord of the Sabbath. Since He was the Co-Creator according to John 1: 1-13, Colossians 1: 15-17, and Hebrews 1: 8-10, He actually participated in the sanctification of the seventh day as a weekly memorial of His creatorship. Jesus claims the Sabbath day as His, for a good reason, but uses a different order of words.
But did the disciples change the First Day of the week into “the Lord’s Day” to refer to the resurrection of Christ? Let’s take a look at all the verses regarding the first day of the week (aka Sunday). On the flip side, was the Sabbath only for the Jews or stricken/changed from the ten (10) commandments? (This last question will be explored in a later article)
New Testament Passages on the First Day of The Week
Of the eight verses about the first day of the week, only three have any indication that the disciples met on the first day of the week for religious reasons. But were they really together to worship, or was it for some other reason?
Click here for all 8 verses. They are described below:
1.) Matthew 28:1 –Matthew recounts the time when the two Marys came to the tomb after the Sabbath, and early on the first day of the week. We know the rest of the story; they found an empty tomb. Jesus had risen from the dead! This resurrection of Christ is what separates the true religion of Christ from all the other false gods. Paul said it is so important that those who do not think it possible that Jesus was resurrected (that it didn’t happen), then all the preaching, including our faith, is empty, futile, and we are, of all men, the most pitiable. It would also mean that the disciples are all liars. Further, those who have died (fallen asleep) have perished.
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have [fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
Did you catch that? If Jesus was not resurrected, then here are the effects on your Christianity:
1.) All the preaching you hear is empty
2.) Your faith in Christ is empty
3.) The eyewitnesses of the resurrection (disciples) are liars (False Witnesses).
4.) Your faith in Christ is futile
5.) Your loved ones who fell asleep (died) in Christ have perished. We have no hope of seeing them again
6.) We are still in our sins. The cross would mean nothing!
7.) We are, of all men, the most pitiable.
But praise God Jesus was resurrected, and this ensures we will be resurrected when He returns:
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thess 4: 16-18
If ever there was a reason to make the First Day of the week Holy, it would be the fact of Jesus’ resurrection. But look closely, there is not indication from this verse or any verse on the resurrection that Sunday has become a holy day for worship and that the Sabbath has been done away with.
2.) Mark 16:2 They came to the tomb The next two passages are Mark’s account of the resurrection on the 1st day of the week. Again, no indication of a change or pending change of the fourth commandment. the same for #3-6 below.
3.) In Mark 16:9, Jesus appears to Mary
5.) Luke 24:1 Luke’s account of the resurrection.
6.) John 20:1 John’s Account of the resurrection
If we are going to find an example or command for the change from the Sabbath to the first day of the week, it will be clear in the only two verses remaining:
7.) John 20:19 The disciples gathered together on the first day of the week. It was not for the reason of worship at this point but because of “fear of the Jews.” In the midst of their fear gathering, Jesus appears to them. No indication of a change of the day of worship here.
8.) Acts 20:7 The disciples came together on the first day of the week to break bread. Was it a Sunday morning communion service? There is nothing to indicate it was. The breaking of bread can also refer to eating together. This they did daily.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, Acts 2:46
The reason they came together? Paul was preparing to leave the next day. This text is part of a running narrative describing various incidents of Paul’s homeward trip to Jerusalem at the close of his third missionary journey. The whole story requires two chapters.
Notice there is no holy title (Lord’s Day) given to the time they came together. Also, the Lord’s supper is the description of what we often call the communion service of eating bread and wine. This is not limited to any particular day.
“In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
1 Corinthians 11:25
No mention as a requirement of each Sunday. It is as “often” or” when”you do this. It is apparent that celebrating the Lord’s supper can be any day of the week.
As you read the verse, you see that this is a night gathering (many lights in the chambers), and Paul preached into the night (midnight). Wow! long sermon! But notice that this was the “dark part” of the first day of the week. This is important because the day (in biblical reckoning) always changed at sunset. See Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31, Leviticus 23:32
Therefore, the dark part of that “first day of the week” was what we would describe as Saturday night.” This was a Saturday night service!
Conybeare and Howson, in their authoritative work, Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul, write as follows concerning the time of the meeting:
“It was the evening which succeeded the Jewis sabbath. On the Sunday morning the vessel was about to sail”
Life and Epistles of the Apostle Paul, Page 520 (1-vol. edition)
Some translations of the Bible rightly translate this late evening meeting as Saturday night.
On Saturday evening, we gathered together for the fellowship meal. Paul spoke to the people and kept on speaking until midnight since he was going to leave the next day.
Acts 20: 7 (Good News Translation)
Notice the footnote reference in the Expanded Bible.
On the first day of the week Sunday; or perhaps Saturday night since the Jewish day began in the evening (Greeks reckoned from the morning)],
Acts 20:7 (Expanded Bible)
Whatever the time, there is no evidence that this meeting is an example of the Sabbath being rejected and the first day of the week becoming a holy day. Only one day was proclaimed holy by God Himself, the seventh day Sabbath.
9.) 1 Corinthians 16:2– Paul is instructing the Corinthian church “lay aside or store up something (offerings for the poor in Jerusalem) so that there would be no collections when Paul arrived. So they are not taking up an offering in a church service but storing it up to give to Paul whenever he arrives. This was more of a bookkeeping type of instruction rather than an act of worship. Doing this at the start of the week made since it was after the rest day of the Sabbath.
Speaking of this text, the commentator declares that, as to the practice of Christians to meet on the first day of the week, “we cannot infer it from this passage.”
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Published by the Cambridge University Press and edited by Church of England clergymen.
This follows the comment on the phrase “lay by him”
i.e. at home, not in the assembly, as is generally supposed….He (Paul) speaks of a custom in his time of placing a small box by the bedside into which an offering was to be put “whenever prayer was made”
The First Epistle to the Corinthians, edited by J. J. Lias, p. 164
So, there is no evidence that Jesus or His apostles ever changed the solemnity of the Sabbath as found in the 10 commandments in favor of a different day of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus is celebrated as the symbol of baptism and the rebirth experience:
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4
So, Who Made the Change from Sabbath to the Lord’s Day?
Pope Sylvester officially named Sunday “the Lord’s Day,” and in A.D. 338, Eusebius, the court bishop of Constantine, wrote, “All things whatsoever that it was the duty to do on the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week) we (Constantine, Eusebius, and other bishops) have transferred to the Lord’s Day (the first day of the week) as more appropriately belonging to it.”
From the Catholic Catechism of Catholic Doctrine. “We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea (336 A.D.) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday…” “The Church substituted Sunday for Saturday by the plentitude of that divine power which Jesus Christ bestowed upon her.” Rev. Peter Geiermann, C.SS.R., (1946, p. 50.
Wjo is our authority on religious matters? Tradition, Popes? Preachers? Wikipedia? Google? No! It is the infallible word of God.
Appendix
Brief description of the meaning of the names of the week:
- Sunday-Sun’s day. The Papacy didn’t like this name, so they attempted to change it to the Lord’s day.
- Monday-Monandæg, meaning “day of the Moon”
- Tuesday-Tiwesdæg, meaning “Tyr’s day.” Tyr was the Norse god of combat.
- Wednesday-Wodnesdæg means the day of the Woden or Odin, the father of the Gods.
- Thursday Þunresdæg, or Thor’s day. Thor was the Germanic and Norse god of thunder.
- Friday-Frigg, the Norse goddess of beauty Frigg
- Saturday-Saturday is the only English day of the week to retain its Roman origin. Saturday “Day of Saturn”
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