The Venerable Day of the Sun or Sabbath?
Have you ever asked yourself why majority of believers attend church on Sunday? If you were raised in a Christian home most likely you were also taught that Sunday was the day you attend church, not a Sabbath day.
In this post we’re going to address these two questions:
What is the Venerable Day of the Sun?
What is the Biblical Sabbath?
The Venerable Day of the Sun
To answer our first question What is the Venerable Day of the Sun? We must journey to Rome. If you recall reading the Gospels or the Apostolic Writings (New Testament) you will remember that Rome and its procurators ruled the land of Judea. In Rome as with our calendar today ‘Sunday’ is the first day of the week. We view it as the last day of the week, since we start our work and school week on Monday and Sunday is the end of the weekend. However, take a look at any Gregorian calendar and you will see that Sunday is first, not last.
You can read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and will find absolutely no reference about worship on the first day of the week. To find the answer to this question we must look into the pagan world. It was right about the time of Messiah, that the pagans started passing out new names for the days of the week. The day of the sun, the day of the moon, etc. to give tribute to their planetary gods. This was called the planetary week.
The Planetary Week
The planetary week was a week in which each day was ruled over by a different pagan god. However, the most important god ruled the first day of the week. “The Lord, the Sun”. It was his day, the Lord’s Day. The actual worship of the sun was not a new concept. There are historical accounts of people worshipping the solar disc (interesting to note, they referred to it as a disc and not a ball) without the use of any statue or other symbol. Abraham himself was called out of the Chaldeans where such practices took place, Ra was the Sun God in Egypt, and On (also called Heliopolis: “the City of the Sun”) was the city of Sun worship in that country. We find reference to this in Jeremiah 43:13. We also find reference to sun worship when Joshua entered Canaan.
Here are a few more:
Baal, of the Phoenicians.
Molech or Milcom, of the Ammonites.
Hadad of the Syrians and later the Persian god.
Mithras (Mirtha) – will discuss it shortly.
Shemish was an important sun god in the Middle East.
Later on in Egypt Aton was the god of the sun disc.
Lastly, the famous temple at Baalbek, was dedicated to Sun worship.
Israel Practicing Sun Worship
Israel at times fell into these same practices of Sun worship.
‘And I shall destroy your high places, and cut down your sun-pillars, and put your carcasses on the carcasses of your idols. And My being shall loathe you.
And he shall not look to the slaughter-places, the work of his hands; and he shall not see that which his own fingers made, nor the Ashĕrim nor the sun-pillars.
We find additional references when King Manasseh worshiped the Sun 2 Kings 21:3. Josiah destroyed the chariots that were dedicated to the Sun god, and then removed the horses consecrated to Sun-worship processions (2 Kings 23:5, 11-12). Incense were burned on the Sun altars on the housetops in worship on the Sun (Zeph 1:5)
The prophet Ezekiel, was shown a vision:
And He brought me into the inner court of the House of יהוה. And there, at the door of the Hĕḵal of יהוה, between the porch and the slaughter-place, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the Hĕḵal of יהוה and their faces toward the east, and they were bowing themselves eastward to the sun. 17 And He said to me, “Have you seen, O son of man? Is it a small matter to the house of Yehuḏah to do the abominations which they have done here? For they have filled the land with violence, and turn back to provoke Me. And see, they are putting the branch to My nose.
This practice has been carried out through the centuries into today. The entrance of every major cathedral in Europe faces east. This custom being borrowed from ancient paganism where the worshippers inside face the rising sun as they worship their god. In contrast the tabernacle and temple in Jerusalem faced west.
Since the days of Adam to now we are instructed to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. “Six days you labor, and shall do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of YHWH your Elohim. You do not do any 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 YHWH made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day." Therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart.
No where in the Scriptures—whether in the Torah or the Apostolic Writings (New Testament)—is Sunday identified as a holy or set-apart day. In contrast, it is essential to recognize that the first day of the week was dedicated to pagan worship of the Sun god. This day was honored as “The Venerable Day of the Sun,” highlighting its roots in ancient idolatry rather than divine significance.
Mithraism
Mirtha, also known as Mithras, was originally an ancient god of Persia, the region that is now present-day Iran. Mithras was worshiped as the god of strength and war for centuries. In the first century A.D., he was transformed into the leading sun god of the Roman Empire. The Romans renamed him “Sol Invictus,” which means “the Invincible Sun.” He became the great god of Roman soldiers, and soon after, the general population began to worship him as well.
Here are a few specifics about Mithraism:
It has a dying and rising savior god.
Their savior god’s birth and resurrection was celebrated every year on December 25th (Yes, that’s correct)
Mithraism has special religious suppers or communion services where believers took partook of their god.
Its converts had to be baptized. In their baptism converts had to stand under an iron grating, over which a bull was slaughtered.
Lastly, it had one day in the week that was sacred to its god, which was the first day of the week, “The Day of the Sun”
You may be asking the question how could a Persian god of war sound so similar to the God of the Bible? As I noted above the Romans ‘Transformed’ Mithras into the leading Sun god in the Roman empire. This was not a hijacking of another religion or a “Hey, let’s come to terms” with the people of Israel it was religious synchronism.
Religious Synchronism = the blending of different religious belief systems and practices, often resulting in a new, hybrid religious tradition.
Constantine & Christianity
There is a lot of history we will have to leave out that brings us up to speed with Constantine and the creation of ‘Christianity’. One important note is to show the gradual process into synchronism. The teachings of Mithraism were becoming popular among the teachers at the Christian Theological Seminary in Alexandria. It’s interesting to note this is in part why the Apostles established the four prohibitions in Act 15 (during the first century) was for gentile converts to make a break from the Pagan world. The people of the way and the pagan world were mixing and slowly becoming one under the disguise of Christianity.
We will tackle the topic of Christianity in another series as it deserves specific attention and greater detail. In order for us to grasp a legitimate understanding of how we arrived at Sunday, we must do some historical review.
Diocletian & Constantine
For most of the third century, Rome struggled both externally and internally, facing foreign enemies and internal coups led by rival emperors. Two emperors in particular were successful in restoring the empire and rebuilding its foundations: Diocletian (284-305) and Constantine (306-337).
Diocletian initially paid little attention to the believers of ‘The Way’, but as his reign neared its end, this would change dramatically. For more than 40 years, believers enjoyed a period of relative peace and prosperity. However, during the last quarter of the third century, the church experienced a remarkable surge in converts. This unprecedented growth in the church’s numbers surely posed a significant threat to the emperor, raising concerns about their influence and power.
During Rome’s occupation of Judea, the Jews were the only group granted an exemption from the requirement for all Roman citizens to pay homage to the Roman national gods. This exemption applied specifically to the Jews, not to the church or to believers of the way, who were viewed as a sect of Judaism but recognized as a distinct religion. Consequently, believers were perceived as neglecting their civic duties within the empire. It is reasonable to assume that Diocletian’s motivation for persecuting the believers stemmed from the belief that their existence threatened stability in the empire and could potentially provoke the anger of the gods.
Diocletian’s Edict February 303
In February 303, Diocletian unleashed a ruthless edict commanding the demolition of all church buildings and the burning of Christian sacred texts. Leaders of the Christian community were forced to surrender these cherished writings, a calculated tactic designed to undermine the authority and integrity of bishops and presbyters, branding them as traitors. This ruthless strategy aimed to render church life utterly dysfunctional.
Then, in the summer of 303, the oppression escalated with a second edict. This decree called for the arrest of bishops and heads of Christian communities, compelling them to make sacrifices to the Roman gods. Diocletian’s actions were not just assaults on faith; they were direct attacks on the very foundation of Christian leadership and community.
In 304, Galerius, Diocletian’s co-emperor, took charge of the campaign against Christians, escalating it into a brutal war. He issued a fourth edict that required all Christians to sacrifice to Roman gods or face torture and death. This decree was harshly enforced in the eastern empire and continued intermittently until 311, marking the longest and most devastating persecution the Christian church endured from the Roman Empire.
Constantine
Roman historians tell us that Constantine was the forty-eighth Roman emperor and one of the most influential men of all time. Constantine’s family was very dedicated to worshiping the sun god and as we will see he altered the course of Christianity is less then twenty-five years. In the year 306, after his father’s death, Constantine was proclaimed Augustus (supreme emperor). During his conquest, in the year 312, he reached Rome. In a famous battle at the Milvian Bridge, located just north of the city, he defeated Maxentius, the reigning Caesar of the West.
Lactanius and Eusebius, two notable Christian historians, describe a defining moment in history when Constantine had a powerful vision before the critical battle. He saw a brilliant cross of light with the words, “In this sign, conquer” (in hoc vinces). Inspired by this vision, he instructed his soldiers to mark their shields with the cross. This moment is known as “the conversion of Constantine.” While its exact significance is debated, it is clear that from that point onward, he became a fervent supporter of Christianity, proclaiming “the supreme God” and “Christ” as the guiding forces in his mission to restore the Roman Empire and bring about peace and order.
The Edict of Milan
In the year 313, Constantine and his ally in the East, Licinius, issued an edict later known as the “Edict of Milan,” which became a valid law for the entire empire. This marked a significant victory for Christianity over its persecutors. Formally, the edict placed Christianity and all other religions on equal footing. However, it is important to note that Christianity was the only religion explicitly named and favored in the edict, which also provided full restitution to the church following the period of persecutions.
Sunday Law Decree
Pope Sylvester, the Bishop of the Christian Church in Rome, urged Emperor Constantine to declare Sunday a holy day across the empire. He believed this would unite both heathens and Christians, fostering religious harmony, promoting peace, and strengthening the empire against invading pagan tribes. Consequently, on March 7, 321, Constantine issued his “Sunday Law Decree,” mandating that all citizens recognize Sunday, the day dedicated to the Sun god Mithra, as a sacred day of worship.
Importantly, Constantine himself was not a Christian. Astonishingly, just one day after the decree, he also enacted a law granting official recognition to pagan soothsayers, underlining his intent to accommodate various beliefs within the empire.
You may remember above we mentioned “religious synchronism” – the blending of different religious belief systems and practices, often resulting in a new, hybrid religious tradition.
Now, you can see through history that Rome tried to eradicate Christianity but could not. It was through religious synchronism that Constantine was finally able to defeat “The Way” be inventing Christianity along with the Roman Church.
I have referred to the believers of the way as ‘Christians’ throughout this post for the clarity and understanding to the readers. However, the religion of ‘Christianity’ did not exist until Rome and Constantine enacted these laws and customs all mixed with pagan worship of false gods. The disciples and apostles never sought to create a new religion. They in fact were a sect of of Jews (Hebrews) still seeing themselves as part of greater Israel. We see proof of this throughout the book of Acts.
Through these events Constantine went on to change dates and times for the Christians. He instituted pagan holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Lent to replace the festivals of the ‘Jews’. This is why the Christianity of today is not the set-apart way of the scriptures. We have inherited the state church of the Roman Empire and have adopted its ways. The faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our Messiah was hijacked. Much more could be said about this transition in history, but it’s proof that the Sabbath Yeshua and His Apostles observed, is NOT the Sunday Sabbath.
The same system that has been in place for centuries persists today. The late Pope Francis believed and taught that all religions ultimately worship the same God. While some may label Francis as a more liberal Pope, history demonstrates that the Catholic Church, since its foundation, has supported the notion of a one-world government and a one-world religion. According to Catholic catechisms, only the Pope and his representatives are authorized to interpret the Scriptures accurately. This religious synchronism is significant, as it will play a role in the events described in the book of Revelation, where a one-world religion will be established. There is much more to discuss regarding current events in our world, but let’s remain focused on this topic.
Some Final Evidence
While I’ve listed four quotes, there are dozens more throughout history that could be listed here.
What is the Biblical Sabbath?
Many of us raised in Christianity have been taught to view the Saturday Sabbath as exclusively Jewish. However, if historical events had unfolded differently, we would all still observe the Sabbath on Saturday, the seventh day. While we often recognize the Saturday Sabbath as a Jewish tradition, this perspective is misleading. We are all grafted into the root through the Messiah, a concept that is evident in scripture dating back to Abraham.
“And no longer is your name called Aḇram, but your name shall be Aḇraham, because I shall make you a father of many nations.”
The Sabbath that YHWH instituted during the work of creation is the 7th day Sabbath. According to your calendar observation this may fall on different days during a Gregorian week. However, we do know that the Sunday Sabbath is completely man-made. The Biblical Sabbath that YHWH instituted was a covenant sign between Him and His people.
You shall observe My Sabbaths.. for this is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever”
Notice how this is a sign between Him and the son of Israel “forever”. The Sabbath is a delight and something to look forward too. It’s not burdensome, as some would suppose. Yeshua said “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
The Sabbath was the first thing YHWH set apart as holy. He created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day because His work was complete. On the Sabbath, we cease from work to remember both the act of creation and our salvation.
Sabbath and The Apostles
The apostles teach that the Sabbath foreshadows things to come.
Let no one therefore judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths –which are a shadow of what is to come – but the Body of the Messiah.
The book of Revelation tells us that the coming of Messiah will institute a one thousand-year era. This coincides with the Peters reminder in 2 Peter 3:8
But, beloved ones, let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with YHWH one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
This one-thousand-year era resembles the Sabbath. The seventh day Sabbath represents the anticipated kingdom uniting all peoples under Messiah rule and reign. During this time at the Name of Yeshua every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Yeshua Messiah is Master, to the esteem of Elohim the Father. Philippians 2: 10-11
And it was Preparation day, and the Sabbath was approaching. And the women who had come with Him from Galil followed after, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. And having returned, they prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the command.
So, there is a lot we can say about this verse found in Luke Gospel. It’s fascinating that ever after Messiah’s death, after he declared “It is finished” His followers were still preparing for the Sabbath and still resting on the Sabbath. Why?
This needs a dedicated post to itself, but Messiah did not come to abolish the Law (Torah) or the Prophets. Christianity will teach that when he “fulfilled” it this now makes it complete. You will hear things like “He did it, so we don’t have to”. Spoiler alert! You will not find anything like this in the scriptures. You will however find the exact opposite like here in Luke’s gospel. Why were they still keeping the Sabbath, because as any good students of a rabbi He trained them to follow His example. This is what true discipleship is.
It also needs attention that His followers were serious about honoring the Sabbath and keeping the commandment. Even upon Yeshua’s death and thinking how many probably felt; sadness, confusion, what do we do now.. They still kept the Sabbath. It’s an example I’ve used before, but it reminds me of the Maccabees that in the face of death, they would not break the commandments or the Sabbath. They hid in caves just to observe the Sabbath. We can learn a lot from this type of dedication to following the way.
Sabbath and The Prophets
“And it shall be that from New Moon to New Moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” declares YHWH.
The prophets declare that when the Messiah returns, every person on earth will embrace the observance of the Sabbath.
Let’s look at two more:
“If you do turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My set-apart day, and shall call the Sabbath ‘a delight,’ the set-apart day of YHWH ‘esteemed,’ and shall esteem it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in. And I shall cause you to ride on the heights of the earth, and feed you with the inheritance of Ya‛aqoḇ your father. For the mouth of has spoken!”
Thus said YHWH, “Guard yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Yerushalayim, nor take a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work. And you shall set apart the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. “But they did not obey, or incline their ear, and they made their neck stiff not to hear and not to receive instruction. “And it shall be, if you diligently obey Me,” declares YHWH, “to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and set apart the Sabbath day, to do no work in it, then sovereigns and heads sitting on the throne of David shall enter in through the gates of this city, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their heads – the men of Yehuḏah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim. And this city shall be inhabited forever. “And they shall come from the cities of Yehuḏah and from the places around Yerushalayim, and from the land of Binyamin and from the low country, from the mountains and from the South, bringing ascending offerings and slaughterings, grain offerings and incense, bringing offerings of praise to the House of YHWH. “But if you do not obey Me to set apart the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden when entering the gates of Yerushalayim on the Sabbath day, then I shall kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall consume the palaces of Yerushalayim, and not be quenched.”
The Sabbath - Acts 20
And on day one of the week, the taught ones having gathered together to break bread, Sha’ul, intending to depart the next day, was reasoning with them and was extending the word till midnight.
Many people argue in favor of observing the Sunday Sabbath based on a verse from Acts 20, which mentions that the early Christians gathered to break bread on the first day of the week. Some in Christianity use this verse to support the idea of a Sunday Sabbath. However, we must allow scripture to speak for itself. Readers often approach the scriptures with preconceived notions shaped by their theological interpretations. This particular verse does not mention the Sabbath at all. In fact, a thorough study of the early church reveals that the Apostles frequently gathered to break bread almost daily. The act of breaking bread was an ongoing practice for table fellowship and was not solely tied to the Sabbath day.
Summary
We have identified historical evidence that the Biblical Sabbath was not on the Venerable Day of the Sun. Much of what we find today in Christianity have been formulated by man and the Roman Catholic Church; Sunday, Christmas, Easter, Lent, ETC.. All of these can easily be traced back to pagan roots. What you must decide is who do you serve? None of these observances are found in the scriptures. What you will find is that YHWH tells us to observe the seventh-day Sabbath, Passover, Shavout, Sukkot, etc.. The days are growing darker than ever before and for His people to be Salt and Light we cannot blend with the world around us. We must take a stand for our Elohim and our Messiah and resolve within ourselves to honor and glorify Him through our obedience and our love.
We must come out and be separate from these man made doctrines. We must not go the way of the nations.
“If you love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15
