Sabbath Keepers!
Are You Keeping All the Commandments?

     Accepting the seventh-day Sabbath is a great blessing, and a step leading to many other Bible truths. Another wonderful truth of Scripture is that the Heavenly Father has a personal, meaning-filled name that He wants you to use when you call upon Him. But some choose to ignore His name, using the same shallow arguments against it as they do against the true Sabbath. Now learn the facts about these two vital subjects!

     If you have grown up keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, you probably are aware of the many arguments used against Sabbath keeping. If, on the other hand, you have been converted to the truth of the Sabbath, you yourself may, at one time, have used a variety of arguments against keeping the Sabbath—some of the same ones you encounter now. But did you realize that the same arguments that have been used against Sabbath-keeping have also been used against the necessity of using the Heavenly Father’s true Name?  The same logic that has been used down through history in an effort to do away with Yahweh’s true Sabbath is also used to “prove” it is not necessary to use the sacred Name, Yahweh.

“But I am not a Jew…”

    Perhaps the predominant rationale used against the Sacred Name is that using the Name, Yahweh, is unnecessary if one is not a Jew. Whether or not we speak Hebrew is not pertinent to using what has been perceived a “Jewish name.” His Name is the same in all tongues, allowing, of  course, for the accents of the various languages. Names, or proper nouns, are transliterated (sound for sound) from one language to another. It makes little difference what the language of the Bible might be.  Halleluyah, a Hebrew word meaning “praise you Yah,” is the same in most languages.

     For proof of this, you will notice that many of the Biblical patriarchs have names from the Hebrew that are the same in English. Abraham is pronounced almost the same in Hebrew as it is in English. (Even the name of Satan really should be pronounced “Saw-tawn.” This would make it exactly as it was first pronounced in the Hebrew tongue.)

      Because names are transliterated (meaning to bring the same sounds across from one language to another), we can perceive that Schmitt is German, Kawasaki is Japanese, etc. Curiously, names do not change from one language to another. Ethnic accent allows for a little variance from country to country in speaking proper nouns.

    Many people look upon the seventh-day Sabbath as “Jewish.” Because they are the most visible in their keeping of the Sabbath, Jewish people are the ones most often associated with it. The seventh-day Sabbath belongs to Yahweh, and, like His Name, is His exclusively, not commanded to just one race of people! In fact, when He spoke to Moses, He said His Name “Yahweh” was a memorial to ALL generations (Exodus 3:15). Just as we are to keep His Sabbath forever—throughout eternity—we are also to call upon His true Name.

     “What advantage then has the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of Yahweh,” (Romans 3:1-2). The Jews were a special group of people who were to keep Yahweh’s oracles and safeguard them for us. The Sabbath and the Name were given to the Jews so neither would be lost as mankind increasingly indulged in mystery worship.

 The Same Arguments Listed

     The following are popular allegations against the Name that are the same used against Sabbath keeping:

     The Sabbath was given to Moses at Sinai.  The implication is that until Sinai, the Sabbath was unknown to Yahweh’s people. It is connected with the giving of the ancient law that is now claimed to be done away in the Messiah. But this Sabbath is first mentioned in Genesis 2:2, long before Moses. Think about it!

     The Name Yahweh was given to Moses at the burning bush and was, in all likelihood, unknown before. The fact is that the Almighty emphasized His Name to Abraham (Genesis 15:7) and to Jacob (Genesis 28:13), again, long before Moses. Eve called on the Name “Yahweh” in Genesis 4:1 (Hebrew YHWH).

     The Sabbath was given to the Jews only. This implies that only the Jews are responsible for keeping the Sabbath, which has become known as the Jewish Sabbath. To keep Saturday is to be under the Mosaic law. Others can keep any day they wish, is their contention.

     Yahweh’s Name was given only to the Jews. The inference is that it is not necessary for anyone but the Jewish people to use His Name and that we can call Him anything we wish. First of all, His Name was revealed to patriarchs who preceded the Jewish nation! Secondly, He is the Almighty of both Jew and Gentile (Romans 3:29). We cannot choose to call Yahweh anything other than what He has ordained.

     Every day is the Sabbath, or we can keep every day holy. These statements are often made by well-meaning people who reject the seventh day, giving them the opportunity to observe Sunday with their friends and relatives.  But there is only one day of the week that Yahweh has blessed, and that is the seventh day.

     Yahweh has many names. This reasoning allows one to call Yahweh whatever one chooses, including the title, “God.” Many people confuse titles with names. He has only one Name. The Bible refers to “His Name” 108 times; “Thy Name” 109 times; “My Name” (note: Name is always singular) 97 times. He has but one Name—Yahweh—as carried by the letters of the Tetragrammaton—YHWH.

     The Sabbath was changed to Sunday. Man changed it. Yahweh did not change His day of worship to another day. It is still the Sabbath and will be so in the Millennium (Isaiah 66:23). Man has rebelled and changed the day on which he wishes to worship the Creator.

     Names change in each language. Names remain the same, but are transliterated from one language to another. That is, the same sound is brought across from one tongue to another. Man has rebelled against Yahweh’s Name, calling Him “God, Lord, Dios, Theos, Pan, Bog, Gott, Baal,” etc., all used for pagan deities!

     Time has been lost and no one knows which day is the Sabbath. The days of the week have never been changed. The same day known as the Sabbath to us today is the same as the one from antiquity. Certainly the Messiah knew which day was the Sabbath because He kept it (Luke 4:16).

     The true pronunciation of the Name has been lost. The Hebrew Judaica Encyclopedia says, “The pronunciation of the name, Yahweh, has never been lost.” Can you find an authoritative source that says otherwise?

     The Sabbath is not commanded in the New Testament. No command ever does away with the Sabbath in either Old or New Testaments. Yahshua the Messiah and the disciples taught from the Old (as the New Testament had not yet been written) and the Old Testament taught the keeping of the Sabbath. Paul met with both Jews and Gentiles on the Sabbath (Acts 13:42, 44).

     Yahweh’s Name does not appear in the New Testament. The Name Yahweh was rendered erroneously “Lord” in the New Testament even in verses directly quoted form the Old. This has caused much confusion in verses like Matthew 22:44, “The Lord said to my Lord,” or 1 Corinthians 1:31 where it is uncertain whether Yahweh or Yahshua is meant. In Luke 4:18-19, the Messiah Himself quoted directly from Isaiah 61 where Yahweh’s Name appears. He even declared Yahweh’s Name to His brethren (John 17:26 and Hebrews 2:14).

     Belief is all that is required because He knows who we mean. It doesn’t matter what we call Him. If we hold to this logic, He should also be satisfied with any day we choose to worship Him. But He has shown us His ordained Sabbaths and He has revealed His Holy Name so that we can have a closer walk with Him and keep Him in the forefront of our minds. He understands our efforts to praise His Holy Name. In the Millennium, all will call on Yahweh and serve Him in one accord (Zephaniah 3:9).

     The world keeps the first day of the week. There are fewer problems and confusion if we go along with it. No one said that keeping the Sabbath would be easy. But Yahweh says His day of rest was the seventh day. Hallowing the Sabbath is the sign between Yahweh and His People (Ezekiel 20:12, 20).

     We are under the grace of the Messiah, not the letter of the law, and therefore, can observe any day we choose. The correct meaning is that IF we sin, we have an advocate with the Father Who will forgive our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness. As we repent of breaking His law, we are forgiven the penalty of that broken law, which is everlasting death.We are New Testament believers; no Jewish Sabbath for us. The implication is that the New Testament did away with the seventh-day Sabbath. Yet, we know that the Messiah, His disciples and Paul (after Messiah’s death), all kept Yahweh’s holy Sabbath. This holy time is not the Jewish Sabbath, but Yahweh’s Sabbath. The New Testament did not do away with the Fourth Commandment—nor the Third!

     The Sabbath was nailed to the tree when the Messiah died and so was done away. Yet the Book of Acts has many examples of the disciples keeping the Sabbath (Acts 13:42-44). Revelation speaks of keeping Yahweh’s commandments (12:17, 14:12. There remains a keeping of the Sabbath for Yahweh’s people, now (Hebrews 4:9) and in the Kingdom (Isaiah 66:23).

     By the time Yahshua died, the world spoke Greek and we call Him by His Greek Name. Jesus is not purely a Greek name. There is no “J” sound in the Greek (nor in Hebrew). His Name was spelled “Iasua” in Greek letters because both the ia and the y have the “ee” sound. Greek has no “sh” sound as does Hebrew, German, and English...Jesus is a Greek-Latin hybrid of the Hebrew, Yahshua. In fact, there is no “J” in either the Hebrew or Greek language. There was no “J” in the English language until the 16th century!

     The Name Yahweh stems from pagan Egypt. Hebrew was the heavenly language spoken by Yahweh to Adam and Eve in the garden as well as the patriarchs. Yahweh’s Name is first found in Genesis 2:4. In every one of the first five commandments, Yahweh uses His personal Name. The Third Commandment is a direct injunction not to falsify the Name of the Eternal.

     The early believers worshipped on Sunday instead of Saturday. Reliable historians agree that the weekly Sabbath was the recognized day of worship of all True Believers until pagan converts became the majority. In the Council of Nicea, Constantine passed legislation that the day of worship be changed to Sunday in 354 C.E.

     Are you an individual who delights in the increased knowledge our Creator has given you? All of the first five commandments have Yahweh’s Name bound up in them. Surely you know that if you offend His commands in one point, you are guilty of breaking them all. By calling upon His Name, you will be keeping the First Commandment. His majesty is in His Name, which is above every name in heaven and earth. “I am Yahweh; that is My Name and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images,” (Isaiah 42:8). Thus, we keep the Second Commandment when we acknowledge the Mighty One as the Highest over all the earth.

     We bring the great Creator to degradation by referring to Him by a mere title such as “God.” The title “God” is used for Satan and his demons (1 Corinthians 4:4), as is the title “Lord” (1 Corinthians 8:5). Revelation 14:1 says that His 144,000 will be sealed with His Name in their foreheads.

     What about you? Are you keeping all the commandments? Do you hang back and try to circumvent some of them? How can you keep the Sabbath holy unless you observe it? How can you hallow His Name unless you use it? Recognize that His Name, Yahweh, means, “I will be what I will” or “I will be what I choose to be.” Yahweh means more than self-inherent life. To those with whom the great Heavenly Father has entered into a covenant relationship, He will be whatever His people need at that time. He will be their Provider, Comforter, Strengthener, Healer, Shepherd, Restorer—whatever His people need. His Name, Yahweh, thus brings Him much closer to us as He fulfills our needs on a personal level. The titles “God” and “Lord” lack this personal touch, but give the feeling of a far-off being who has no personal concern for us.

     As you set aside the seventh day for rest and spiritual renewal, take time to draw closer to your Creator by calling upon His revealed, personal Name, Yahweh. He will draw near  to you as you strive to seek and serve Him.

     If you would like to learn more about the Heavenly Father's and His Son's Name, please request or read online, our booklets, "The Heavenly Father's Great Name" and "The Missing J."



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