WHICH DAY IS THE SABBATH DAY:

1/ Which day is the seventh day?
2/ Can it be any 'seventh day' that we cease from our work, and from buying or selling, (according to the 4th commandment)?

So let's look at those questions;

1/ Which day is the seventh day,

This is quite any easy question to answer.

- We can begin by looking at any calendar. You will notice that all calendars (with the rare exception), lay out the weeks having Sunday at the beginning of the row
(1st day), and Saturday at the end of the row (7th day).

- The Bible clearly tells us the 7th day is the Sabbath. But how can we be sure that the Sabbath day of ancient times, is what we today call Saturday. Synchrony is an amazing thing. As you know, at the Tower of Babel, the people were divided into different lands, due to the confusing of the languages. Many of these nations would go through centuries of time, without any contact with other nations, due to the divisions created by seas and other natural barriers.
Over subsequent centuries (and more so in recent times) these divided nations (since Babel), have now met with others of these original divided nations. An amazing phenomenon was apparent in these re-uniting countries. There was no dispute between them, as to which day was the 7th day. Within each group of people, the synchrony of the week had continued beyond Babel, right up to when the nations began to re-mingle.
There are no historical records of any dispute between any nations, as to what day of the week it was. What is more amazing, is what names the various nations had for the 7th day.
Following is a list of names for the 7th day (ie. our Saturday) from some of these countries.

********************************************************************************************************************************************** Chart of the Week (This chart is a partial reproduction of the research work of Dr. William Meade Jones, compiled in the late 1800's)

Following is a list of 160 Ancient and Modern Cultures that have had a 7 day week.
There is only one place a 7-day week comes from; God's 7-day creation week.
The list shows the name given to the seventh day by these various cultures.
108 of the 160 call the seventh day the "Sabbath Day" or "Rest Day".
Did "Jews" force all these cultures to keep the seventh day Holy?
No.
This list shows clearly that the 7th day Sabbath is not merely a Jewish institution. It existed in pre-Jewish cultures, as it still exists in many cultures today.
All of the people in all nations of the world can trace their history and their "roots" back to being dispersed from the tower of Babel, and ALL of those ancient people knew God blessed the 7th Day.
The Truth is still there in 108 cultures, many of which came to recognise the Sabbath Day through the mission work of early Christians.

Country/ Language Name of seventh day

1/ Shemitic (Hebrew Bible) "Day the sabbath"
2/ Hebrew (ancient and modern) "Shabbath (sabbath)"
3/ Targum of Onkelos (Hebrew literature) "Sabbath"
4/ Targum Dialect of Kurdistan Jews "Holy Sabbath day"
5/ Ancient Syriac "Shabbatho (Sabbath)"
6/ Chaldee Syriac "Shapta (Sabbath)"
7/ Samaritan (Palestine) "Day of the seventh, Sabbath"
8/ Babylonian (Mesopotamia) "Sabatu (Sabbath)"
9/ Assyrian (Euphrates and Tigris Valleys) "Sabatu (Sabbath)"
10/ Assyrian Planetary Names "Saturn"
11/ Arabic (very old names) "Chief or Rejoicing Day"
12/ Arabic (ancient and modern) "Assabt (The Sabbath)"
13/ Maltese (Malta) "Issibt (The Sabbath)"
14/ Ethiopic (Abyssinia) "Sanbat (Sabbath)"
15/ Tigre (Abyssinia) "Sanbat (Sabbath)"
16/ Amharic (Abyssinia) "Sanbat (Sabbath)"
17/ Falasha (Jews of Abyssinia) "Yini Sanbat (The Sabbath)"
18/ Hamitic (Old Egyptian) "Saturn"
19/ Coptic (dead Egyptian language) "Sabbaton (Sabbath)"
20/ Orms or Galla (south of Abyssinia) "Zambada (Sabbath)"
21/ Tamashek or Towurek (Africa) "Ahalessabt (Sabbath)"
22/ Kabyle or Berber (North Africa) "Ghas (Sabbath Day)"
23/ Hausa (Central Africa) "Assebatu (Sabbath)"
24/ Japhetic (Sanscrit, India) "Saturn Day"
25/ Hindi (India) "Saturn Day"
26/ Pali (India) "Saturn Day"
27/ Hindustani (India) "Shamba (Sabbath Day)"
28/ Sindhi (India) "Saturn"
29/ Sindi Mohammadan "Saturn Day"
30/ Gujarati (India) "Saturn Day"
31/ Marathi (India) "Saturn Day"
32/ Cashmere (India) "Idolator's Day"
33/ Punjabi (India) "Bar (Door or turn Day)"
34/ Punjabi Muhammadan (India) "Saturn"
35/ Bengali (India) "Saturn Day"
36/ Assamese (India) "Saturn Day"
37/ Uriya (India) "Saturn Day"
38/ Afghan (Afghanistan) "Shamba (Sabbath)"
39/ Pahiavi (Ancient Persian) "Dies Sabbati (Sabbath)"
40/ Persian "Shambtu (Holiday, Sabbath)"
41/ Mythological (Persia) "Black to Saturn"
42/ Armenian "Shapat (Sabbath)"
43/ Kurdish "Shamba (Sabbath)"
44/ Brahuiky (Beluchistan) "Shambe (Sabbath)"
45/ Tartaric "Saturn Day"
46/ Sharra (Eastern Mongolia) "Bemba (Sabbath)"
47/ Kalmuk (Western Mongolia) "Bembe (Center Day)"
48/ Turkish "Yomessabt (Day the Sabbath)"
49/ Laren (Trebizond) "Sabbatin (Sabbath)"
50/ Kazani-Tartar (East Russia) "Subbota (Sabbath)"
51/ Dravidian (India) "Saturn Day"
52/ Malayalam (India) "Saturn Day"
53/ Kodagu (Southern India) "Saturn Day"
54/ Kanarese (India) "Saturn Day"
55/ Telugu (India) "Saturn Day"
56/ Singhalese (Ceylon) "Saturn Day"
57/ Ancient Chinese "Saturn"
58/ Chinese (Catholic) "Chanlitsi (Worship-day 7)"
59/ Chinese (Protestant) "Worship-day six"
60/ Muhammadan Chinese "Saibitai (Sabbath)"
61/ Annamite "Ngay Thubay (Day in order Seven)
62/ Siamese (Siam) "Day Saturn"
63/ Kambojan "Day Saturn"
64/ Burmese (Burma) "Saturn"
65/ Ancient Peguan "T'pauh (Day Seven)"
66/ Modern Peguan "Saturn Day"
67/ Sban (Burmah) "Saturn Day"
68/ Manipuri (south of Assam) "Saturn"
69/ Khassi (east of Bengal) "Purification Day"
70/ Ancient Rong (Tibet) "Earth Planet Day"
71/ Modern Rong "Planet Saturn"
72/ Japanese "Saturn Day"
73/ Corean "Saturn"
74/ Tinetan (Tibet) "Zapenpa (Planet Seven)"
75/ Boutan (Little Tibet) "Seventh Brilliant Star"
76/ Georgian (Caucasus) "Shabati (Sabbath)"
77/ Suanian (Caucasus) "Sammtyn (Sabbath)"
78/ Ingoush (Caucasus) "Shatt (Sabbath)"
79/ Avar (Cis-Causasus) "Samatqo (Sabbath Day)"
80/ Cirassian "Morrow after Assembly"
81/ Malayan (Sumatra) "Hari Sabu (Day Sabbath)"
82/ Javanese (Java) "Saptoe (Sabbath)"
83/ Sunda (West Java) "Saptu (Sabbath)"
84/ Dayak (Borneo) "Sabtu (Sabbath)"
85/ Makssar (Salayer Islands) "Sattu (Sabbath)"
86/ Bugis "Sattu (Sabbath)"
87/ Malagassy (Madagaskar) "Alsabotsy (Sabbath)"
88/ Nuforian (New Guinea) "Ras Fiek (Day Seven)"
89/ Swahili (Africa) "Assabt (The Sabbath)"
90/ Congo (Africa) "Kiansabulu (Sabbath)"
91/ Wolof (West Africa) "Alereasser (Sabbath)"
92/ Fulah (West Africa) "Essibt (Sabbath)"
93/ Mandigo (West Africa) "Aibiti (Sabbath)"
94/ Teda (Central Africa) "Essebdu (The Sabbath)"
95/ Bornu (Central Africa) "Sibda (Sabbath)"
96/ Fulfude (Central Africa) "Assebdu (The Sabbath)"
97/ Sonyal (Central Africa) "Assebdu (The Sabbath)"
98/ Logone (Central Africa) "Sesibde (The Sabbath)"
99/ Wandala (Central Africa) "Sibda (Sabbath)"
100/ Bagrimma (Central Africa) "Sibbedt (Sabbath)"
101/ Maba (Central Africa) "Sab (Sabbath)"
102/ Norman French (10th century) "Sabbedi (Sabbath Day)"
103/ Ancient French (12th century) "Samedi (Sabbath Day)"
104/ D'oc. French (ancient and modern) "Dissata (Day Sabbath)"
105/ Ecclesiastical (Roman) "Sabbatum"
106/ Parliamentary (British) "Dies Sabbath"
107/ Astronomical "Saturn"
108/ Basque (Spain and France) "Larumbat"
109/ Finnish (Finland) "Lauvantai"
110/ Esthonian (Baltic Russia) "Laupaaw (Bath Day)"
111/ Livonian (Baltic Russia) "Puolpaava (Half Day)"
112/ Lap (Norway) "Lavardak"
113/ Morduin (Russia) "Subbota (Sabbath)"
114/ Tsheremissian (Russia) "Kukskeca (No work day)"
115/ Permian (Russia) "Subota (Sabbath)"
116/ Votiak (Russia) "Subbota (Sabbath)"
117/ Hungarian (Hungary) "Szombat (Sabbath)"
118/ Vogul (Russia) "Xatitkatel (Sixth Day)"
119/ Ostiac (Russia) "Juolynchatl (Hinder end-day)"
120/ Gaelic (Ireland) "Saturn"
121/ Welsh (Wales) "Day Saturn"
122/ Cornish (Cornwall) "Day Saturn"
123/ Breton (France) "Saturn"
124/ Greek (Greece) "Sabbath"
125/ Modern Greek "Sabbath"
126/ Albanian (Turkish Albania) "Saturn"
127/ Latin (Italy) "Sabbtum (Sabbath)"
128/ Italian (Italy) "Sabato (Sabbath)"
129/ Spanish (Spain) "Sabado (Sabbath)"
130/ Portuguese (Portugal) "Sabbado (Sabbath)"
131/ French (France) "Samedi (Sabbath Day)"
132/ Roman (Spain) "Dissapte (Day Sabbath)"
133/ Rhetian (Switzerland) "Sonda"
134/ Wallachian (Roumania) "Sambata (Sabbath)"
135/ Gothic "Viko" "(name of 7 day week)"
136/ Old High German "Sambartag (Sabbath's Day)"
137/ Old Low German "Wica (name of 7 day week)"
138/ Anglo-Saxon (England) "Saturn's Day/Saturday"
139/ Friesian (Holland) "Saterdi/Saturday"
140/ High German "Samstag (Sabbath's Day)"
141/ Low German "Sunnabend (Sunday's eve)"
142/ Dutch (Holland) "Zaturdag (Saturday)"
143/ Modern Frissian (Holland) "Sniund"
144/ English (England) "Saturday/Saturn's Day"
145/ Icelandic (Iceland) "Laugardagur (of bath day)"
146/ Swedish (Sweden) "Lordag (after Laugardagur)"
147/ Danish (Denmark) "Laverdag (after Laugardagur)"
148/ Old Slave (Bulgaria) "Subbota (Sabbath)"
149/ Russian (Russia) "Subbota (Sabbath)"
150/ Illyrian (Servia) "Sobota (Sabbath)"
151/ New Slovenian (Austria) "Sobota (Sabbath)"
152/ Bulgarian (Bulgaria) "Subbota (Sabbath)"
153/ Polish (Poland) "Sobota (Sabbath)"
154/ Bohemian (Bohemia) "Sobota (Sabbath)"
155/ Lusatian (Saxony) "Sobota (Sabbath)"
156/ Polabic (borders of the Elbe) "Subuta (Sabbath)"
157/ Lithuanian (Lithuania) "Fubata (Sabbath)"
158/ Prussian (Prussia) "Sabatico (Sabbath)"
159/ Lettish (Baltic Russia) "Sesdina (Sixth Day)"
160/ English Bible "The Seventh Day, The Sabbath"

The "Saturn Day" above is now commonly known as "Saturday", and is the result of paganism, which worked its way into many cultures. The origins of the other day names are also listed below. Many countries today still use the true "Sabbath Day" as the name for their seventh day of the week.
Eg, Russia, Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Bulgaria, Poland, Sweden, Austria.

Latin Saxon English
1/ Dies Solis Sun's Day Sunday
2/ Dies Lunae Moon's Day Monday
3/ Dies Martis Tiw's Day Tuesday
4/ Dies Mercurii Woden Day Wednesday
5/ Dies Jovis Thor's Day Thursday
6/ Dies Veneris Friga's Day Friday
7/ Dies Saturni Saturn's Day Saturday

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As you can see, this particular question probably doesn't need this much discussion. Besides this, most Christians will tell you that Saturday is the 7th day. This is why most Christians honour the next day (ie. the 1st day of the week, Sunday), because Sunday is when Jesus rose from the dead (after the Sabbath had ended).
Many Jews today still keep Sabbath (Saturday) holy. As we have already seen with other nations; even with the Jews, the synchrony of weeks has continued right down through time.

It is virtually impossible for a day to be missed. Think about the chances today, of the whole world simultaneously skipping a day by accident, or even on purpose.
It just can't happen. This is why modern Jews, still keeping Saturday Holy, have no conflict with how their day aligns with the day kept by much of the Christian world (ie. Sunday, the day after the original Jewish Sabbath; as kept by Jesus Himself, 2000 years ago).

Even the Catholic Church will tell you Saturday is the Sabbath of God. Take a look at the page from an old Catholic Catechism here: Sabbath Question (scroll part way down the page).

You will also notice that this Catholic book refers to the Sabbath as the 3rd commandment, not the 4th as given by God. This is because the Catholic system is the 'little horn' power (which followed the Roman empire), and it was prophesied that they would make these changes; (Dan 7:25).
[You can read a full study on understanding prophecy here: Understanding Prophecy ]. 

2/ Can we keep any 'seventh day' Holy.

It is an interesting concept that if we started work on a Monday; worked six days; then the 7th day could be a Sabbath to us. Or if I started my work on Friday; worked six days, then Thursday could be my Sabbath. Unfortunately, that's just what it would be, 'my Sabbath', not 'God's Sabbath'. If the concept of honouring any 7th day held any truth, we would have seen ancient Israel honouring different days according to the will of the individual. There is no evidence of this occurring in any of the Biblical writings.
When we look back to where the Sabbath originated, during creation week; God only blessed the 7th day;
(Gen 2:3) Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

This day was made as a sign between the 'true God', the creator, AND those who acknowledge His authority;
(Eze 20:12) 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.

The synchrony of the Sabbath can again be seen in the Wilderness, before Israel reached Mt Sinai. Israel didn't choose their own day, God told them the day based on the ongoing synchrony He established at creation;
(Exo 16:23) Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD has said: 'Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.' "

Again, when Jesus walked on earth, we see He kept the same Sabbath Israel had been keeping throughout their generations. Some people mistakenly think that the Sabbath was only for Jews, but Jesus said the Sabbath was made for 'Man', not Jews (Mar 2:27). Also, there was no such thing as 'Jews' when the Sabbath was given to man (Adam and Eve) at creation.
If the individual could choose what day to keep as the Sabbath, then some of Jesus words would become quite pointless. Remember when Jesus was describing the events leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem. He said that those in the city would need to flee into the mountains. He also said;
(Mat 24:20) But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

This would be a pointless statement if it was up to the individual which day to keep as Sabbath. Jesus knew that only one of the seven were Holy to God.
Another pointless statement would be the prophecy about the New Kingdom;
(Isa 66:23) And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD.
God did not say that the saved would be divided into several groups, based on personal preference, each group coming before God on successive days.
No, ALL flesh will worship before Him on His Holy day.

From a human perspective, the Sabbath seems like a pretty pointless thing. But it is all about faith. If we acknowledge God as creator, then it is by faith that we honour His Holy day established at creation. It is a sign between Him and you.

From our personal experience, we initially looked at the Sabbath as an inconvenience. We ran a 7-day business, and knew it would mean closing our business on Saturday. We knew keeping the Sabbath would involve personal sacrifice on our part. The problem is, the Sabbath is only an inconvenience, if it is being observed for the wrong reasons. What did Jesus sacrifice for us? As our Creator, isn't it a trivial thing to give the one-day He has requested, back to Him? We discovered it is all about love. Keeping the Sabbath is only a burden if not done out of love;
(Joh 14:15) "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
(1Jo 5:3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

The Sabbath is now the most wonderful day of our week, and we can see the wisdom, in why God created it in the first place. If all mankind kept the Sabbath Holy, we would never forget God, as much of the world has today.
An important lesson we have learned on our recent journey into truth is this; just because we believe something is truth; that does not make it truth. Or just because a (so-called) religious leader declares something as truth; that does not make it truth either. Jesus warned us to beware of the false doctrine of religious leaders;
(Mat 16:11-12) How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?-but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Bible is the only source of truth. God's truth will be what it is, regardless of what we choose to believe. If we choose to ignore the truth, it does not make that truth void;
(Act 17:30) Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

In our personal experience, the issue presented to us was quite clear. God's truth couldn't be denied, and we were given the clear choice to obey, or rebel against God's law. This would be wilful sin for us to ignore this issue;
(Heb 10:26-27) For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

God's word presents His will for us very clearly;
(Luk 12:47) And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

We weren't about to gamble with our salvation any longer. Especially, when we are at the point in time, being on the doorstep to eternal life. Whether out of ignorance, or wilfully, breaking this one commandment could keep us out of God's kingdom;
(Mat 7:22-23) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
(Please note that Jesus is addressing Christians here. How many non-Christians are going around doing these wonderful things in Jesus' name?)
And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

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