THE
SABBATH OF GOD THROUGH THE CENTURIES
What has been the practice of Christians keeping a Sabbath?
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century and see:
1st Century
2nd Century
3rd Century
4th Century
5th Century
6th Century
7th Century
8th Century
9th Century
10th Century
11th Century
12th Century
13th Century
14th Century
15th Century
16th Century
17th Century
18th Century
19th Century
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A
Chart by Elder J. F. Coltheart 1954
1st
Century Sabbath Observance
PREFACE AND CHARTS
PREFACE
This
chart is the result of several years research and painstaking checking of
sources on the part of the compiler. During a recent trip abroad he was able to
personally consult old manuscripts and the original sources of many of these
quotations in the libraries and museums of Europe and also in Constantinople and
the East.
In
studying this chart, one is struck by the wonderful way God preserved the
knowledge of His holy Sabbath down through the centuries since the days of
Jesus. In spite of the fact that in many cases the writings of the martyrs
were consigned to the flames or otherwise destroyed, the record of
Sabbath-keeping comes down to us either from the parts of their writings that do
remain or, as in some cases, even from the records of their enemies.
We
read of peoples like the Waldenses, who were noted for their Sabbath-keeping
for centuries. They were often called Sabbatati or Insabbati for this reason.
Sheltered in the Alps of Italy, France and Switzerland, they defied the edicts
of Rome for hundreds of years. The compiler of this chart was privileged to
visit these lovely valleys where the descendants of these people still dwell
today. Here he was shown some of their early records, as well as their monuments
and refuge places during the bitter persecutions. Again we clearly follow the
record of whole countries who faithfully clung to the Sabbath of God, like
Bohemia, or Scotland, where it was observed until the 12th Century, or
Abyssinia, whose peoples observed it until the 17th Century.
The
records of the Church of the East thrill our hearts as we see at what early
times the peoples of Persia, China, India, etc., heard and accepted the
message of the Sabbath of God. With Thomas the disciple preaching the Gospel in
India, Philip In Ethiopia, and others elsewhere, It is not difficult to believe
Paul's words about the Gospel going to every creature during his day.
Below
are just a few of the hundreds of testimonies for the Sabbath that might be
given if space permitted. But note that these are not the records of Jews
keeping their Sabbath, but of Christians in every century holding aloft the lamp
of true Sabbath-keeping.
In
Isaiah 58: 13 is brought to view a message of Sabbath reform where people are
urged to take their "foot from the Sabbath" and cease to trample it
down by dishonouring it. Rev. 14 makes it plain that this is a special last day
message before the coming of Jesus. But notice the wonderful words of the
preceding verse (Isaiah 58:12) "And they that shall be of thee shall build
the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations;
and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to
dwell in."
We,
in the last days, are called to "raise up the foundations of many
generations." Below, it is clearly shown that the Sabbath truth was one of
the great "foundations of many generations." "the breath"
mentioned in the verse is the same as the one mentioned in Ezek. 22:26,30 (dishonouring
the Sabbath of God). lsa. 58: 13, the next two verses, contain wonderful
promises to the people who will heed this last-day message of Sabbath-reform and
prepare to meet Jesus.
|
How
The Gospel was Spread in the First Centuries. |
| To
the JEWS
SAMARITANS |
Preached
by Christ and disciples.
Philip (Acts 8:5)
Acts 1:8. |
| ETHIOPIANS
(Abyssinians)
Philip. |
|
Paul
planted the seed of the gospel amongst the great branches of the world's
peoples. |
|
SYRIAN
Antioch Edssa |
Parthia
India
China
-Persia |
| From
Antioch the Gospel spread to Edessa (in modern Turkey), whose famous
college sent missionaries out to form the great Sabbath-keeping Church of
the East. |
|
CELTIC
- Galatia-France-Britain
The
Celts of Galatia were of the same family as the
Irish,
Scotch, British, Welsh and French.
|
|
GREEK
- Philippi, Athena, Corinth,
Thessalonica,
Berea. |
| LATIN
- Rome- Whole. Roman World. |
|