The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the claim the 7th-Day Sabbath is Saturday on the Gregorian calendar and has never been changed or tampered with, is false. Situations exist today that cannot be explained away by the traditional reasoning. This paper will not deal with the usual arguments and hypothetical situations that have already been made regarding the International Date Line.

Is Saturday the true 7th Day Sabbath?

Seventh Day Sabbatarians believe that the 7th-Day Sabbath always falls on Saturday, the 7th day of the planetary week, on the papal Gregorian calendar. They contend that Saturday is the seventh day of the week, and has been since the creation week, when God rested on the 7th day. Is this the case, and has it always been that way?

Saturday Sabbatarians contend that the present weekly cycle has never been altered and, to make their case, one single historical record is offered regarding the calendar change. This statement is found on the Seventh-Day Adventist website:

“A change [to the old Julian Calendar] was recommended by astronomers and made at the time that Gregory XIII was the pope, and so the corrected calendar with its 'leap year' was called the Gregorian calendar. It began to function on Friday, the 5th of October, 1582. Friday the 5th was changed to Friday the 15th. So that particular month was ten days shorter, but the length of its weeks was not affected. This is due to the simple fact that the number of days in the month or in the year has nothing to do with the number of days in the week. Thus the weekly cycle was not affected in any way.”

The Seventh-Day Adventist Website argues that their Saturday Sabbath is the true Sabbath and the same Sabbath which the Jews observed through all ages. They further argue that Jesus himself observed the Saturday Sabbath and all those before him:

“Our heavenly Father has given us more than written proof of the permanence of the Weekly Cycle and the Seventh-day Sabbath. He has given us living proof: The Jewish race…It has been 3400 years since the time that God gave them manna in the wilderness and told them to carefully keep each Seventh-day Sabbath when no manna fell. But all during those long centuries since then, they have observed God’s Sabbath, week after week, month after month, year after year, century after century. Ask any Jewish acquaintance what day is the Sabbath. He will tell you that it is Saturday, the Seventh day. Orthodox Jews scattered throughout the world have kept strict record of time. They have carefully observed the Seventh-day Sabbath throughout the ages. The existence and testimony of the Jewish race is alone enough to settle the matter. It is the most amazing and conclusive means of knowing the ancient Sabbath of Jesus and earlier times. There is no doubt that the God of heaven has carefully guarded the day that He sanctified and blessed at Creation. We have no excuse for not keeping it holy as He commanded.”

Other sources as well, make similar statements.

B. L. Cocherell in his article The Sabbath and the Calendar: Lunar or Solar makes this remarkable claim without giving evidence to substantiate his statement:

"The weekly cycle, as well as knowledge of what day is the seventh day of the week, has been preserved by Catholics, Protestants, Moslems, and Jews, without change since the time of Christ to this day. The Sabbath was indeed from Friday evening to Saturday evening (on today's calendar), both then and now.”

Claus Tondering on his Website makes the following remark concerning the 7-day weekly cycle:

“There is no record of the 7-day week cycle ever having been broken. Calendar changes and reform have never interrupted the 7-day cycles. It is very likely that the week cycles have run uninterrupted at least since the days of Moses [c. 1400 BC], and possibly even longer.”  http://www.tondering.dk/main/index.php

Yisrayl Hawkins (the chief overseer of the House of Yahweh) concludes that the weekly cycle has never been altered anywhere or at any time since the beginning of time.

In his book THE SABBATH -- Every Question Answered, on pp. 15-16 Hawkins writes:

“By the year 1582 c.e. the 'Julian Calendar' [established in 46 b.c.e.], which was still in use at this late date, had drifted TEN DAYS out of synchronization with the seasons; the spring equinox falling on March 11 instead of March 21 [as it had when the Julian Calendar was first initiated].

"It was enacted by Pope Gregory that TEN DAYS be 'DROPPED' from the Calendar. Thus, when Gregory XIII 'reformed' the Julian Calendar in 1582 -- 'THURSDAY', October 4 was immediately followed by 'FRIDAY', October 15! Even though TEN DAYS were dropped from this Calendar -- THE ORDER OF DAYS in this WEEK was NOT INTERRUPTED! No day had been lost at all -- only the 'date' had been 'changed'…Therefore 'NO TIME HAD BEEN LOST' DURING ANY OF THE CALENDAR REFORMS TO THIS DAY [Feb. 1992]. Yahweh’s Sabbath is on the SEVENTH DAY OF EACH WEEK, JUST AS IT HAS BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING.”

Hawkins, just like many other Saturday Sabbath observers, vigorously argues that the Sabbath he observes was NEVER AFFECTED BY ANY CALENDAR CHANGES AND REFORMS THROUGHOUT HISTORY. But to prove their argument they always only refer to the change and reform which took place in the Gregorian calendar. http://www.yisraylhawkins.com/

In this paper, we will clearly demonstrate and document the fact that the weekly cycle and the days of the week were actually altered and confused. This fact proves that Hawkins, Adventists, and all others who claim that the weekly cycle was never altered, are either ignorant of the true historical facts or else they are skilful deceivers.

What is the Truth?

The truth is, all of this is a smoke screen. No one seems to be able to produce the “record” that the Jews have kept, and how they have kept it. This “record” would have to have been kept for about 3500 years now, to make sure that Saturday would always be in the 7th day position on the papal Gregorian calendar, even though several different calendars have been used over the centuries. One must search calendar history much further back than a little over 400 years.

In addition, Saturday as the 7th-Day Sabbath, cannot be explained and proven from the scriptures, God’s Word. This is irrefutable and the challenge is offered to anyone to try and prove that it does.

The purpose of this paper is not to explore the history of the calendar back to the time of Moses. The purpose is to show that the calendar has been altered historically, and more recently in modern times. If this can be demonstrated, it questions the authenticity of statements that claim the 7th-day Saturday Sabbath has never been altered in any way.

Samoa and Australia

Prior to 1892 the people of Samoa observed the weekly cycle in conjunction with the people of Australia. But in 1892 the King of Samoa decreed that the weekly cycle of Samoa be changed and adjusted so that it would coincide with the weekly cycle of America.

King Malietoa Laupepa of Samoa decreed that Monday the 4th of July (US Independence Day) be the day on which the weekly cycle would be changed. Thus Monday of the 4th of July in 1892 by the imperial decree continued on the 5th of July as well so that the weekly cycle of Samoa could be adjusted and made to coincide with the weekly cycle of America.

Margaret Isabella (Balfour) Stevenson (1829-1897), the mother of the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson [1850-1894] who had settled in Samoa in 1890, described the occurrence of the “second 4th July, 1892” in her Letters From Samoa:

“…in former days communication was entirely with Australia, and it was simpler and in every way more natural to follow the Australian calendar; but now that so many vessels come from San Francisco, the powers have decided to set things right and to adopt the date that belongs to our actual geographical position. To this end, therefore, WE ARE ORDERED TO KEEP TWO MONDAYS IN THIS WEEK, which will get us straight.”

Two Mondays: The 4th of July in 1892 was Monday. The next day, the 5th, was meant to be Tuesday. But by the imperial decree of King Laupepa, the 5th of July was made to be Monday again. Thus the 6th of July became Tuesday instead of Wednesday -- as it would have been if there was no imperial intervention in the former weekly cycle.

Please note below where the Saturday Sabbath would have fallen if there was no change in the weekly cycle and where it fell after the change was implemented:

OLD WEEKLY CYCLE (in accordance with Australian computation)

NEW WEEKLY CYCLE (in accordance with the American computation)

This imperial decree of King Laupepa in 1892 clearly altered the weekly cycle and therefore the SATURDAY SABBATH for all those who observed it in Samoa. From then on they observed the Saturday Sabbath actually on FRIDAY -- since Monday was made to repeat itself in that weekly cycle. This is a historical fact. How then can Saturday Sabbatarians repeatedly say that the Saturday Sabbath and the weekly cycle was never confused anywhere? They are either ignorant of this fact or they know it but are trying to hide the facts.

Philippines
December 31st 1844 -- The Day No Filipinos Were Born

Until the early 1840’s, the Philippine Islands were observing the weekly cycle of then Spanish America. But after their trade significantly increased with China, the Malay Peninsula, the Dutch East Indies and Australia, the Philippine authorities decided to abolish the weekly cycle of the then Spanish America and instead implement the weekly cycle of Asia. This was achieved in 1844 (the very year Adventists expected Jesus to return) when Narciso Claveria, the governor general of the Philippines, issued a proclamation announcing that Monday 30th December 1844, was to be immediately followed by Wednesday, 1st January 1845.

Thus those who formerly observed their Sabbath on Saturday were from then on in fact observing their Sabbath on a Sunday. This is an irrefutable fact, since the day Tuesday was altogether dropped from the old weekly cycle. Therefore those who claim that the weekly cycle was never tampered with and that the current weekly cycle runs consecutively since the beginning of time are deluded and do not know what they are talking about.

See http://www.bibingka.com/sst/misc/1844.htm for “The Day no Filipinos Were Born.”

Alaska and Russia

Prior to 1867 Alaska belonged to Russia. Russia at that time still observed the Julian calendar which was 12 days behind the Gregorian calendar. The neighboring Canadians on the other hand observed the Gregorian calendar and the American weekly cycle. But when Alaska was sold by Russians to the Americans, the change to the American mode of time reckoning was put into effect by governmental decree.

In this case two things had to be done in order to reconcile the European week of Russia -- observing the Julian calendar -- with the weekly cycle of America. Twelve days first of all had to be dropped from the calendar and one day of the week had to repeat itself in its weekly cycle. This was accomplished on Friday the 6th October 1867. People who went to sleep the night of Friday, October 6, woke up in the morning to find out that it was then Friday, October 18. This imperial decree actually transferred the Saturday Sabbath to Friday -- since the day Friday was made to repeat itself in that weekly cycle. Thus the Sabbatarians had their Sabbath altered in the weekly cycle by a deliberate reform and the change of the week.

Kiribati

The most recent deliberate reform and the change of the weekly cycle took place in Kiribati in 1995. Kiribati is an independent nation located on islands in the central Pacific ocean. The nation gained its independence on July 12, 1979 and is a member of the British Commonwealth. Prior to 1995 the western part of the republic was always 24 hours ahead of its eastern part, and there were only four days in each week when official business could be conducted between the two parts of the republic. To put an end to this situation, Teburoro Tito, the president of Kiribati, announced on January 1, 1995 the IDL would henceforth run along the many-cornered eastern boundary of the republic. Thus the weekly cycle in Kiribati was altered and changed as recently as 1995 and therefore the Sabbatarians who now observe the Sabbath in that region keep their Sabbath on what formerly was called Friday.

Prior to 1995, the Sabbatarians in Kiribati and Hawaii observed the same Sabbath and on the same date. After the IDL was moved as far east as 150 degrees and therefore further than Honolulu, the Sabbatarians in Kiribati now observe their Sabbath a day earlier than those in Hawaii.

If these changes do not constitute the change and alteration of the weekly cycle and if they do not prove that the weekly cycle since creation was not everywhere preserved in its original form -- then I don’t know what does. Therefore all those who believe that this current 7-day planetary week was always observed by the Jews are simply deluded and gravely mistaken. Likewise, all those who insist that the weekly cycle of creation was never tampered with nor the days of the week mixed and confused are either ignorant of the true historical facts or are simply guilty of bearing false witness.

Soviet Union: Fiasco of the 5 and 6 Day Week Calendar
Will the Real 7th-Day Sabbath Stand Up?

In the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, the USSR made several changes to their calendar, attempting to facilitate better productivity from the workforce. Between 1929 and 1931, the USSR changed from the 7-day week to a 5-day week. There were 72 weeks and an additional five national holidays inserted within three of them totaling a year of 365 days.

In 1931 after the Soviet Union's 5-day week they changed to a 6-day week. Every 6th day (6th, 12th, 18th, 24th and 30th) of the Gregorian Calendar was a state rest day. The 5 additional national holidays in the earlier 5-day week remained and did not fall on the state rest day.

Because of the radical changes to the USSR calendar during the years demonstrated, this calendar example does not fit with all the date examples given. Refer to the links on the Wikipedia page to see the many calendar examples reflecting the changes. Acknowledging that this is a USSR calendar, and not the Gregorian, the question remains; where is the Saturday 7th-day Sabbath?

But as January, March, May, July, August, October and December have 31 days, the week after the state rest day of the 30th was 7 days long (31st–7th). This extra day was a working day for most or an extra holiday for others. Also as February is only 28 or 29 days, depending if a leap year or not, the 1st of March was also made a state rest day, although not every enterprise conformed to this.

To clarify, the week after the state rest day, 24/25 February to 1 March, was only 5 or 6 days long, depending if a leap year or not. The week after that, 2 to 6 March, was only 5 days long.

The calendar was abandoned on 26 June 1940 and the 7-day week reintroduced the day after.

In December 1931, the Soviets switched to a six-day week in which everyone received the same day off. Although this helped rid the country of the religious Sunday concept and allowed families to spend time together on their day off, it did not increase efficiency.

In 1940, the Soviets restored the seven-day week.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Week
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_calendar#Five-day_weeks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_calendar#Six-day_weeks

Alaska and Siberia:
A Conundrum at the International Date Line

There is clear proof that God most definitely did not count His days in accordance with the current International Date Line (IDL). The present IDL does not run in a straight vertical line but rather ZIGZAGS and DEVIATES in order to suit man’s commercial trading and money-making.

Many observers of the Saturday Sabbath observe their Sabbath on the wrong day. Take a look at the zigzag line between Siberia and the Aleutian Islands for example.

When it is Friday sunset in the Aleutian Islands it is actually Saturday sunset in Siberia. Although the Sabbatarians of both regions in fact share the same sunrise and sunset, they do not observe the same day. The DEVIATING INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE causes these Sabbatarians to observe two different days as their Sabbaths -- even though as far as God is concerned it is one and the same day -- since they share the same sunrise and sunset.

If the International Date Line ran in a vertical line -- without any deviation -- then both groups would observe the same DAY and DATE as their Sabbath. But because of this man-made deviation the Sabbatarians in these regions are now observing two different Sabbaths and, therefore, at least one group is observing the false Sabbath!

Apparently, these man-made changes to the calendar cycles and days seem to be acceptable to Jews, Adventists, and other Saturday keeping Sabbatarians. But it’s the NIMBY (not in my back yard) mentality that keeps them in denial. The attitude seems to prevail that as long as it didn’t or doesn’t happen in my neighborhood, and it doesn’t affect me, then it’s not a problem.

......And finally, The World Calendar: A Deception in Waiting

If the Babylonian system of the world has it’s way, a new World Calendar could be adopted in the very near future. The next proposed date to seamlessly implement the World Calendar is January 1, 2012. In the new calendar, there are two blank days each year, which by the middle of 2012, will begin to shift the days of the week from their current positions. The Saturday Sabbath as it is known now, will no longer be found in the 7th day of the week position. The longer the calendar is in effect, the further the day will drift from its current position.

There was a previous attempt to implement this kind of world calendar in 1954. It was vigorously opposed by Saturday Sabbath observers, including Jews, at that time, and was never implemented.

All this seems to be acceptable to the Jews, Adventists and other Sabbatarians who observe Saturday as their Sabbath, but the BLANK DAYS of the WORLD CALENDAR will create havoc in their circles.

http://www.theworldcalendar.org/

Saturday Sabbath observers may be able to keep the blinders on and stay in denial for awhile longer, but sooner or later this issue is going to rear it’s head and everyone on the planet is going to have to deal with it, one way or another. In the meantime, please don’t continue to suggest that the Saturday 7th-Day Sabbath has never been changed or tampered with.

The issue of the true 7th-Day Sabbath is at the forefront of the revival of God’s Word going on in the world right now. It’s not in the media; you won’t see it on television; it’s not being discussed much in churches, except to vehemently refute what is presented. But if you take the time to do a bit of digging on the internet, it won’t take long to see what’s happening. It is time for God’s final call to repentance. Will you be found following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth?

Credits:

www.bewaredeceptions.com
www.wikipedia.com
http://www.bibingka.com/sst/misc/1844.htm

Hope of Israel Ministries -- Proclaiming the Good News of the Soon-Coming Kingdom of YEHOVAH God On This Earth!

Hope of Israel Ministries P.O. Box 853 Azusa, CA 91702, U.S.A. www.hope-of-israel.org

Scan with your Smartphone for more information