reply to post by winterkill
The calendar given to Israel was a lunar/solar one...
...the succession of Sabbath days were determined with reference to the New Moon each lunar cycle.
The first day of the month was the day following the sighting of the New Moon...
...six work days followed this and the seventh day was a rest day or Sabbath...
...this 'seventh day' was actually day eight of the month...
...and the succession of weekly Sabbaths followed on day 15, 22, 28 and the cycle started again next New Moon.
This calendar has not been observed by Israel since about 200 AD when it was changed to reflect the Roman Julian calendar that was the basis of
commercial world.
However, I do not believe that lunar Sabbaths should necessarily be observed now...
...the determination for Israel was made using local criteria...
...and at least from a Christian viewpoint what the symbol represented has been fulfilled.
The apostle Paul said it this way...
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike.
Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 6 He that
regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.” Romans 14:5-6
...and his said to the Galatians...
"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to
be in bondage?
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." Galatians
4:9-11
...and his comments to the Colossians...
"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or
a Sabbath day.
These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17
So although the biblical Sabbaths were determined by lunar cycles...
...they are of no consequence to believers under the New Covenant...
...except as part of the Old Covenant 'shadow' whose reality was fulfilled in Christ.
I believe it would be an act of NWO authority if any day was specified as a religious necessity...
...the selection of a day to worship should only be personal and never by external law/command.