THE FALLACY OF SUNDAY AS A DAY OF RESURRECTION

The Church as a depository of all truths about our Lord Jesus life and teachings leading us to salvation must always be guided by THE WORD OF GOD to extinguish false teachings that might invade the minds of believers resulting to confusion and suffer lack of discernment which is inimical to our spiritual growth. It is indispensable for every believer to review his own beliefs especially those fundamental truth of the gospel which in these last days become a battle ground for true Christians and false Christians, considering that we must stand before Christ bringing with us the truth of his gospel for our salvation to be judge by Him. As it is written, "There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day."Jn. 12:48.

It is widely accepted by most Christians; Roman Catholic, Protestants and Evangelical Churches today that Christ’s resurrection according to accepted traditions since early centuries did occur on Sunday, thus these leads to celebration of Sunday as the Lord’s day. Asserting this day to be more highly esteemed being the day of Christ’s resurrection compared to Sabbath as a day of rest. Hence, it becomes a Christian festival for hundreds of years up to present and all churches applauded it weekly by their worship and gathering every Sunday.

Now in this study, I invite everyone to judge by himself with an open mind and earnestness to learn the messages handed to us by his apostles that we may not be presumptuous in our disposition but rather a firm defender of THE WORD OF GOD as an instrument to expound all its truth for our salvation in these great conflict which is now at hand to happened among churches. It is my prayer that we stand well equipped with these truths to defend our precious life against these false teachers blindly led by their ignorance of the gospel truths.

CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS A DAY BEFORE THE SABBATH DAY OF PASSOVER

Mk 15:42-47 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

This preparation day can be either any day of the week since Passover Sabbath or first day of unleavened bread which is a holiday or Sabbath may fall any day of the week. According to the Jewish law it is forbidden to have bodies of the dead remaining unburied at the outset of any Sabbath day or feast day.
Jn. 19:31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have legs broken and the bodies taken down.
Jn.19:41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one has ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus here.
We should recognize that they count days as period from evening to evening or sunset to sunset.

Lev. 23:32 It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until following evening you are to observe your Sabbath.
Gen. 1 “...the evening (night) and the morning (day)...”
Thus Jesus was buried before sunset comes on that day.

THE DAY OF RESURRECTION

Matt. 12:40 For us Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (72 hours in the grave)
Matt. 27:63 ; Mk.8:31 “...after three days I will rise again” (after 72 hours he will rise again)

If Jesus was buried on Friday afternoon at 5 PM, after three days will fall on anytime after Monday afternoon at 5 PM. So it will not meet the testimony that Jesus was already risen early at dawn on Sunday.

If Jesus was buried on Thursday afternoon at 5 PM, after three days He must rise any time after Sunday at 5 PM. Again it will not agree to the testimony of our Lord Jesus.

If Jesus was buried on Wednesday afternoon at 5 PM, after three days He must rise any time after Saturday at 5 PM. These would fit to Jesus prophecy. Hence, He must have risen on Saturday not on Sunday as most Christian Churches claim.

If we suppose three days and three nights not to be exactly 72 hours by counting back from Sunday early morning before dawn, Sunday, Saturday, and Friday will be the three nights and Saturday, Friday and Thursday will be the three days. The remaining time on Thursday can hardly be regarded as one day if the burial occurs at 5 p.m. since it is only an hour left before evening.

If we suppose the after three days would mean day time only, not exactly twenty four hours for each day. Counting back from Saturday, Friday and Thursday still it would fall on Wednesday as day of burial.

Consider other scriptures:

Matt. 16:21; Lk. 24:7 “On the third day be raise to life...”
The third day would mean anytime during day time of the third day.
If he rise on Sunday the day would start past dawn of early morning and this would mean He was crucified on Thursday afternoon. However according to the gospel of John it was still dark that Mary went to the tomb and found that the body of Jesus was not there.

Jn. 20:1 – 2 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved (John) and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have put him!

The idea that He has risen on third day after dawn of early morning of Sunday is not consistent with the testimony of Mary which happened before dawn, instead it would be on any day time of Saturday. Hence on account of Luke it was announced to them by the angel of the Lord that Jesus had already risen from the dead. Furthermore, we should consider the testimony of John more credible since he is personally present on that early morning event with Peter and Mary Magdalene.

If he rise on Saturday the day would be anytime during day time even it is after 5 PM. And the passage that He rose from the dead on third day is still valid considering it is still day time even it is already after 72 hours (three days). Even there is no one have seen that he had already risen on that hour before evening, the prophecy fulfilled accordingly.

If we would refer third day not to mean day time only but any time after the second day, the first two days or 48 hours would end on Friday early morning and the third day would be anytime on the Thursday as a burial day which will be inconsistent to other scriptures mentioning “after three days I will rise again”.

Let us presume that he rose on Saturday evening or Sunday morning before Mary make her visit. The prophecy on the third day will end on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning respectively, making his burial on Thursday. Again this cannot meet the after three days condition of resurrection.

Let us examine Lk: 24:21 the conversation of Cleopas with Jesus.

Lk. 24:20-23 The chief priests and our rulers handed him to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning, but didn’t find his body.

In other translation it states, “...and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.”

The phrase “since all these took place” or “since these things were done” and “beside all this” refers to all events related to the crucifixion. The verses 18-20 describe the particulars of what happened referred “by all this or these things” to be Christ’s crucifixion and all things related to His burial including the setting of guards to watch over His tomb that happened on Thursday (Sabbath, 1st day of Unleavened Bread of Passover Festival).

Matt. 27:62-65 The next day, the one after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, “After three days I will rise again.” So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”

In other translation; “On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, “After three days I will rise.” Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, “He has risen from the dead. So the last deception will be worse than the first.”
It was Thursday that this happened and they are to guard the tomb from whole day Thursday with three nights of Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Considering the term is “after three days I will rise again” it must be guarded attentively on Saturday afternoon and after (referring after three days).

The discussion of resurrection happened on Sunday after the visitation of the tomb, is the third day since all this took place or where done as mentioned by Cleopas.
If we are to regard the event of burial on Thursday afternoon the guards were to secure the tomb from whole day Friday with three nights of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Making Sunday evening the most critical time should nothing happened on the first two evenings. However, early morning of Sunday Mary testified that the tomb was already empty. The testimony of Jesus as known by Pharisees did not come true should he rose not after three days if we start the counting on Thursday afternoon.
Why did Mary Magdalene brought the spices on Sunday morning?
Because it was not allowed to work during Saturday being the Sabbath rest. And perhaps the guards on Friday did not allow them because of the instruction to guard it in three days.

The earthquake and the coming of Angel.

Matt. 28:2-6 And behold there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “ Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.” “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

Jesus Christ is not there early in the morning of Sunday. The tomb was opened by the angel to show them that Jesus is already risen and not to be found inside the tomb. This event indicate that he has risen before the stone was opened.

PROPHECY OF PROPHET DANIEL WAS FULFILLED

The prophecy that the Messiah will be cut off “in the middle of the week” did happened; it was Wednesday (fourth day middle of seven days) that Jesus was crucified after his three and a half years of ministry. If we consider the biblical application of “a day for a year” (Ezek. 4:6) to be applied in the prophecy of prophet Daniel regarding the atonement of sin by the Anointed One in Dan.9:24-27.
Therefore, only Wednesday as the day of burial and Saturday as the day of resurrection of our Lord Jesus meets all the conditions of the holy scriptures. Whether we use Hebrew day counting or our present day time counting that ends at 12 evening, Saturday remains the day of resurrection.

Christian festival for resurrection must be celebrated on SATURDAY not Sunday. Saturday should be our regular day of worship in commemorating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

WHAT ARE THE BASIS OF SUNDAY WORSHIP CELEBRATION?

The gospel truths tells that “Jesus is risen” was announced by an angel on Sunday, which can also mean “the news of resurrection on Sunday.” But it is only a news of resurrection not “the day of resurrection.” Therefore there is no scriptural basis that he resurrected on Sunday. Since there is no scriptural basis for Sunday celebration it must be discarded in the Christian festivals.
If the scriptural basis of Sunday worship is uncertain, the following verses is more likely the firm grounds for its defence according to the scriptures.

PROPHECY FULFILLED ABOUT THE CHANGE OF THE LAW

Pope John Paul II on his Apostolic Letter Dies Domini writes:
In the first place, therefore, Sunday is the day of rest because it is the day “blessed” by God and “made holy” by him, set apart from the other days to be, among all of them, “the Lord’s Day”. We move from the “Sabbath” to the “first day after the Sabbath”, from the seventh day to the first day: the dies Domini becomes the dies Christi!
“Christians will naturally strive to ensure that civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy.”

Dan 7:25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and laws.

2 Thess. 2:9-12 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they may believe the lie and so all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

1 John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

Matt. 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matt. 15:8 These people honor me with their lips; but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught by man.

John 7:16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.17 If anyone choose to do God’s will he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law. Yet not one of you keeps the Law.

Rev. 19:19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.

Mal. 4:1 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.

Hos. 4:6 ...my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.


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Rev. Daniel Elixer S. Ortiz
Email address: danelix880@yahoo.com