While John was on the Isle of Patmos, he was taken up in the Spirit to see the prophetic part of the plan of salvation in symbols. He was shown the church ages and what was to happen up to the end of time. He even saw the new heaven and the new earth.

He testifies, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day …” (Rev. 1: 10). Some assume the Lord’s day to be the Sabbath, others claim it is the Sunday. Both views are carnal interpretations. A twenty–four hour day could not have been in question, for John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos for a period of two years.

The Bible clearly describes the day of the Lord. It is the span of time that begins after the day of grace and salvation is over. It commences with the judgements upon all the nations, which will gather against Jerusalem, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” (Joel 3: 14–16).

The first three chapters of Revelation speak of the things that apply to the New Testament Church — the period known as the day of salvation and the day of grace. “… behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6: 2b). Just as the day of salvation began and ends with a mighty demonstration of the power of God unto salvation, so will the day of the Lord begin and end with a mighty demonstration of the power of God in victory over His enemies.

The time of grace extends until the Bride of Jesus Christ has reached perfection and is taken up into glory. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh (Ex. 31: 17). Soon 6,000 years will be completed, then the seventh day, the day of the Lord, begins. “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Pet. 3: 8).

Some people fanatically believe that anyone who worships on Sunday has the mark of the beast. Everyone must be exceedingly careful not to misconstrue the Holy Scriptures with such a fateful and disastrous assertion. Would anyone dare to say that Christ had the mark of the beast because He met with His disciples on the first day of the week? “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” (Jn. 20: 19). He reappeared a week later, when His disciples were gathered together again (v. 26). Can anyone say that the early Christians had the mark of the beast because they worshipped on Sunday? “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them.” (Acts 20: 7). Paul even had the collection for the saints laid aside on the day after the Sabbath. “… Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1 Cor. 16: 1–2).

The Jews were to commemorate the Sabbath, “Wherefore the children of Israel (not the Gentiles!) shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel (not the Gentiles) for ever” (Ex. 31: 16–17a).

Whenever the Lord Jesus Christ or the apostles preached to the Jews, it was on the Sabbath, because that was the day the Jews worshipped. The Christians, however, honoured the day of the resurrection, but were never restricted to a certain day like the Jews were. All true disciples of Jesus Christ have peace with God and entered into the true ‘Sabbath rest’. This rest does not apply to just one day of the week — no, it is an eternal rest!

History records that the papal system issued a decree stating that the Sunday was to be the only day of worship for Jews and Christians alike. The Christians had assembled themselves on that day since the time of the apostles. What a terrible repercussion this edict had upon the Jews, however, no one can imagine! The Roman church accused them to have been guilty of the death of Christ and directed this authoritative proclamation against them. As a result, they suffered persecution; they were threatened, tortured and killed. The righteous God of heaven will avenge this act of cruelty one day.

God has His way with the Jews, He also has His way with the Gentiles. The Sabbath was given to the Jews as a sign of His covenant with them, and the Gentile Church commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. God never intended for the Jews to keep the Sunday, neither were the Gentiles told to keep the Sabbath.

Some people even believe that the keeping of the Sabbath is the seal of God. This has no scriptural foundation. The Bible speaks very plainly of what the seal of God — the seal of the Holy Spirit — is. Those, who have listened to the sermons of Bro. Branham have come to a clear understanding of what the seal of God and also what the mark of the beast is.

The harvest of the New Testament Church was foreshadowed by the sheaf offering, which was waved before the Lord on the morning after the Sabbath (Lev. 23: 10–11). The day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day, also fell on the day after the Sabbath(Lev. 23: 15–16). The Sabbath will be the day of worship also during the millennium, “And it shall come to pass that, from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” (Isa. 66: 23).

Discussions and disputes over eating and drinking or the keeping of days are not upbuilding to anyone. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come …” (Col. 2: 16–17).

John was taken up in the Spirit for a far greater purpose than for us to commemorate a twenty–four hour day. He saw the whole span of time and the things of importance that were to transpire. The same great Holy Spirit, who showed these things to John, has revealed them now through the prophetic ministry.

While John was on the Isle of Patmos, he was taken up in the Spirit to see the prophetic part of the plan of salvation in symbols. He was shown the church ages and what was to happen up to the end of time. He even saw the new heaven and the new earth.

He testifies, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day …” (Rev. 1: 10). Some assume the Lord’s day to be the Sabbath, others claim it is the Sunday. Both views are carnal interpretations. A twenty–four hour day could not have been in question, for John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos for a period of two years.

The Bible clearly describes the day of the Lord. It is the span of time that begins after the day of grace and salvation is over. It commences with the judgements upon all the nations, which will gather against Jerusalem, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” (Joel 3: 14–16).

The first three chapters of Revelation speak of the things that apply to the New Testament Church — the period known as the day of salvation and the day of grace. “… behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6: 2b). Just as the day of salvation began and ends with a mighty demonstration of the power of God unto salvation, so will the day of the Lord begin and end with a mighty demonstration of the power of God in victory over His enemies.

The time of grace extends until the Bride of Jesus Christ has reached perfection and is taken up into glory. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh (Ex. 31: 17). Soon 6,000 years will be completed, then the seventh day, the day of the Lord, begins. “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Pet. 3: 8).

Some people fanatically believe that anyone who worships on Sunday has the mark of the beast. Everyone must be exceedingly careful not to misconstrue the Holy Scriptures with such a fateful and disastrous assertion. Would anyone dare to say that Christ had the mark of the beast because He met with His disciples on the first day of the week? “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” (Jn. 20: 19). He reappeared a week later, when His disciples were gathered together again (v. 26). Can anyone say that the early Christians had the mark of the beast because they worshipped on Sunday? “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them.” (Acts 20: 7). Paul even had the collection for the saints laid aside on the day after the Sabbath. “… Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1 Cor. 16: 1–2).

The Jews were to commemorate the Sabbath, “Wherefore the children of Israel (not the Gentiles!) shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel (not the Gentiles) for ever” (Ex. 31: 16–17a).

Whenever the Lord Jesus Christ or the apostles preached to the Jews, it was on the Sabbath, because that was the day the Jews worshipped. The Christians, however, honoured the day of the resurrection, but were never restricted to a certain day like the Jews were. All true disciples of Jesus Christ have peace with God and entered into the true ‘Sabbath rest’. This rest does not apply to just one day of the week — no, it is an eternal rest!

History records that the papal system issued a decree stating that the Sunday was to be the only day of worship for Jews and Christians alike. The Christians had assembled themselves on that day since the time of the apostles. What a terrible repercussion this edict had upon the Jews, however, no one can imagine! The Roman church accused them to have been guilty of the death of Christ and directed this authoritative proclamation against them. As a result, they suffered persecution; they were threatened, tortured and killed. The righteous God of heaven will avenge this act of cruelty one day.

God has His way with the Jews, He also has His way with the Gentiles. The Sabbath was given to the Jews as a sign of His covenant with them, and the Gentile Church commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. God never intended for the Jews to keep the Sunday, neither were the Gentiles told to keep the Sabbath.

Some people even believe that the keeping of the Sabbath is the seal of God. This has no scriptural foundation. The Bible speaks very plainly of what the seal of God — the seal of the Holy Spirit — is. Those, who have listened to the sermons of Bro. Branham have come to a clear understanding of what the seal of God and also what the mark of the beast is.

The harvest of the New Testament Church was foreshadowed by the sheaf offering, which was waved before the Lord on the morning after the Sabbath (Lev. 23: 10–11). The day of Pentecost, the fiftieth day, also fell on the day after the Sabbath(Lev. 23: 15–16). The Sabbath will be the day of worship also during the millennium, “And it shall come to pass that, from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” (Isa. 66: 23).

Discussions and disputes over eating and drinking or the keeping of days are not upbuilding to anyone. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come …” (Col. 2: 16–17).

John was taken up in the Spirit for a far greater purpose than for us to commemorate a twenty–four hour day. He saw the whole span of time and the things of importance that were to transpire. The same great Holy Spirit, who showed these things to John, has revealed them now through the prophetic ministry.