The Coming Sunday Law

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all
that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself
that he is God. 2Th 2:3-4

Current Day Events

From November 6 to 18, Cop 27 (Conference of the Parties) is being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The
parties are the attending countries that signed up to the original UN climate agreement in 1992 and this
is the 27th annual UN meeting on climate, hence COP 27.

Tomorrow, on Sunday November 13th, a “Chrislam” ‘Climate Repentance Ceremony’ will be held on
Mount Sinai to coincide with the COP 27 summit.

What is Chrislam?

“Chrislam is an attempt to syncretize Christianity with Islam. While it began in Nigeria in the 1980s,
Chrislamic ideas have spread throughout much of the world. The essential concept of Chrislam is that
Christianity and Islam are compatible, that one can be a Christian and a Muslim at the same time.
Chrislam is not an actual religion of its own, but a blurring of the differences and distinctions between
Christianity and Islam. Chrislam is in essence a one world religion.

Advocates of Chrislam point to facts such as Jesus being mentioned 25 times in the Qur’an, or
Christianity and Islam having similar teachings on morals and ethics, or the need for the two largest
monotheistic religions to unite to fight against the rise of atheism and alternative spirituality. Chrislam is
viewed by some as the solution for the ongoing conflict between the Western world, which is
predominantly Christian, and the Middle East, which is predominantly Muslim.

While it is undeniable that there are many similarities between Christianity and Islam (and Judaism, for
that matter), Chrislam ultimately fails because Christianity and Islam are diametrically opposed on the
most important of issues – the identity of Jesus Christ. True Christianity declares Jesus to be God
incarnate. For Christians, the deity of Christ is a non-negotiable, for without His deity, Jesus’ death on the
cross would not have been sufficient to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the entire world (1 John
2:2).

Islam adamantly rejects the deity of Christ. The Qur’an declares the idea that Jesus is God to be
blasphemy (5:17). Belief in the deity of Christ is considered shirk (“polytheism”) to Muslims. Further,
Islam denies the death of Christ on the cross (4:157–158). The most crucial doctrine of the Christian faith
is rejected in Islam. As a result, the two religions are absolutely not compatible, making Chrislam a
concept both Christians and Muslims should reject.” (gotquestions.org)

“Chrislam has positioned itself to be the driving religious force of our day, combining leaders from all the
world’s religions under the banner of the Vatican, and it is everywhere you look. Chrislam is the basis
on which the Abraham Accords were created, brought to life by the same person who sold Pope Francis’
Declaration of Human Fraternity to the Muslim world back in 2019. Now at the UN COP27 climate
conference in Sinai, Egypt later this month, Chrislam will again take center stage as interfaith leaders
unveil their ‘Climate Justice: Ten Universal Commandments’ and repent of their climate sins to Mother
Earth.” (Gospel News Network – Nov 7, 2022 – Randolph Jason)

In a Newsweek article, dated August 25, 2022, Yosef Abramowitz, describes how under the auspices of
the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development and the Elijah Interfaith Institute, a group including
himself recently came together at Mount Sinai to envision what message of hope and transformation
religions can offer to humanity as we grapple with the challenges of climate justice. One of the ideas
was returning to the 10 commandments, given at Sinai. He then went on to outline their version of the
10 commandments (plus 1). I have noted the 6th and the plus 1 (11th).
Yosef Abramowitz was Nominated by 12 African countries for the Nobel Peace Prize for pioneering solar energy on the
continent and serves as CEO of Gigawatt Global, an impact investment platform (www.gigawattglobal.com). He also serves as
an Ambassador for Israel's Climate Solution Prize

6th: “Keep the Sabbath (compatible with papal Green Sabbath)

Emissions are down 30 percent over the sabbath every week in Israel and are almost zeroed out on Yom
Kippur (the Jewish Day of Atonement, the holiest of the year). A global weekly non-carbon day of rest
could reduce emissions by a seventh, and can be observed by different faith communities on different
days.”

Although This group allows for the observance of different days by different “faith communities” the
practicality of the matter would dictate that everyone agree on a single day.

And +1 (11th): Do Not Give Up Hope or the Fight

The rise of the ancient Egyptian dynasties coincided with the rise of worship of Ra (Baal), the sun God. A
new era of renewables must shine out of Egypt this November or our civilization, like that of the ancient
Egyptians, will be doomed. When religious leaders of all faiths ascend Mount Sinai on Nov. 13, during
COP27, they will seek to touch the heart of humanity and deliver a prophetic message. Sinai power
worked once before to fuel moral revolutions; it must work again. To keep global warming to 1.5
degrees Celsius by the end of this century, we need a miracle.
It is interesting that he uses the rise of the worship of a sun god with the rise of ancient Egypt and that
he parallels that with the outcome of the COP 27 summit and this Sunday’s gathering.

Does that imply that we will “need” to see the rise of sun worship?

Isaiah 46; 9-10

9
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none
like me,
10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,
My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Given we are told that God declares the end from the beginning and that “Each of the ancient prophets
spoke less for their own time than for ours, so that their prophesying is in force for us.” {3SM 338.1)
We should be able to glean how the Sunday Law will be introduced in modern times, by looking at how
it was introduced in the past.

Constantine’s 1st Sunday Law

“Sunday actually made very little headway as a Christian day of rest until the time of Constantine in the
fourth century. Constantine was emperor of Rome from AD 306 to 337. He was a sun worshiper during
the first years of his reign. Later, he professed conversion to Christianity, but at heart remained a
devotee of the sun. Edward Gibbon says, “The Sun was universally celebrated as the invincible guide
and protector of Constantine.”i

Constantine created the earliest Sunday law known to history in AD 321 (March 7). It says this:

On the venerable Day of the sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all
workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully
continue their pursuits: because it often happens that another Day is not so suitable for grain sowing or
for vine planting: lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should
be lost.ii

Chamber’s Encyclopedia says this:

Unquestionably the first law, either ecclesiastical or civil, by which the Sabbatical observance of that Day
is known to have been ordained, is the edict of Constantine, 321 A.D.iii

Following this initial legislation, both emperors and Popes in succeeding centuries added other laws to
strengthen Sunday observance. What began as a pagan ordinance ended as a Christian regulation. Close
on the heels of the Edict of Constantine followed the Catholic Church Council of Laodicea (circa 364 AD):
Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday (Sabbath), but shall work on that Day: but the Lord’s
Day, they shall especially honour; and as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If
however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ.iv

Another reason for worship on Sunday is to celebrate Christ's resurrection.” (Constantine and the Sabbath
Change, Published April 24, 2010, Professor Walter J. Veith, PhD)

A second source, The Sabbath Sentinel, contains an article by Kelly McDonald, Jr. It has this to say about
the introduction of the Sunday law on March 7, 321 AD:

“On March 7 321 AD, Constantine approved the “day of the sun” as a day of rest for the Western Roman
Empire. It was a law enacted to honor the sun god by requiring rest for those who lived in the city.
Those in the country were exempt from it. Below I have provided an English translation of this law:

“All judges and city people and the craftsmen shall rest upon the venerable day of the sun. Country
people, however, may freely attend to the cultivation of the fields, because it frequently happens that
no other days are better adapted for planting the grain in the furrows or the vines in trenches. So that
the advantage given by heavenly providence may not for the occasion of a short time perish.” (Codex
Justinian 3.12.2 [some list as 3.12.3]; English: Ayers, pp 284-285; Latin: Krueger, p 127)

As we look at this first law, there are no references to the God of the Christians or Jesus. The Roman
Church emphasized the use of the phrase “Lord’s Day” to refer to Sunday, but it is missing from the law.
It did not force anyone to worship anything. Moreover, it contains no references to the seventh-day
Sabbath of the Bible.

In Latin, the phrase translated as “venerable day of the sun” is venerabili die solis. Constantine’s law
was based upon honoring and esteeming the celestial body we call the sun. The Mithras cult was a
favorite for Roman Emperors, especially Constantine. He minted coins as late as the 320s AD honoring
Sol Invictus, the invincible sun god (Encyclopedia Britannica “Mithras”, Cath. Encycl. “Constantine the
Great”). On some of these coins, he was crowned by Sol (see Sear, pp 363-491). We have an example of
a coin below:
On one side of the coin, you see Constantine’s face. The inscription reads IMP (short for
Imperator) Constatantius PF (short for Pius and Felix, or Pious and Happy) AVG or Augustus. On the
other side is the sun deity, Sol Invictus, with the inscription: SOL INVICTO COMITI, which means “Sol
Invictus, my companion.” There is also a cross symbol beside the sun deity. This coin was minted in 316,
which was several years before his famous Sunday law. He struck coins with Jupiter’s likeness on them
as late as the mid-320s.

Notice in Constantine’s decree that farmers were not allowed this day off of work. It applied to those
in the cities, not the country. The Biblical Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) was a day of
freedom for all people, regardless of their occupation. This extends even to farmers in their busiest
seasons (Ex. 34:21).

While Constantine’s decree did not change the Sabbath, it created a civil day of rest beside it. It also did
not force any sort of worship on his subjects. He issued another one in July of the same year that
allowed slaves to have the day off from work (CT: 2.8.1).

The Catholic Encyclopedia states: “…many of the emperors yielded to the delusion that they could unite
all their subjects in the adoration of the one sun-god who combined in himself the Father-God of the
Christians and the much-worshipped Mithras; thus the empire could be founded anew on unity of
religion. Even Constantine, for a time cherished this mistaken belief…. Many other actions of his also
have the appearance of half-measures, as if he-himself had wavered and had always held in reality to
some form of syncretistic religion…” (Article: Constantine the Great)

Constantine took other measures to impose a state-controlled religion. He passed a second law just a
few months after this which mirrors his title as Pontifex Maximus.

Long Term Outlook

While this law did not affect the Sabbath, it did set a precedent with long-term implications. About 50
years after his death, Theodosius I and later emperors enacted Sunday rest laws with added Christian
meaning. As the Roman Catholic Church gained political influence over the centuries, their leaders
pressured temporal rulers to force Sunday rest on all subjects in a municipality (such as those which
existed in ninth-century France). In modern times, blue laws still exist in some form or fashion.

One could argue that his Sunday rest laws were among the most impactful rulings made by emperors in
ancient times – as the effects are seen even today.”

Constantine’s 2nd Sunday Law (from The Sabbath Sentinel, by Kelly McDonald, Jr.)

“On July 3, 321 AD, Constantine issued his second Sunday law. It gave people freedom from most kinds
of legal business on the day. However, proceedings to free slaves was allowed. The copy of this law,
which is found in Codex Theodosianus 2.8.1, is as follows:

“Emperor Constantine Augustus to Helpidius. “Just as it appears to Us most unseemly that the Day of
the Sun, which is celebrated on account of its own veneration, should be occupied with legal
altercations and with noxious controversies of the litigation of contending parties, so it is pleasant and
fitting that those acts which are especially desired shall be accomplished on that day. 1. Therefore all
men shall have the right to emancipate and to manumit (to release from slavery) on this festive day*,
and the legal formalities thereof are not forbidden” (Pharr, 44).
*The Latin translated as festive day is “die festo.”

In the past, I and others who studied this subject have tended to view Constantine’s Sunday laws from
the perspective of Church history. Upon further review, I have found no Christian meaning in these laws.
We also cannot assume that there would be any such meaning intended. He venerated the sun in
several ways. Moreover, the Roman Church did not have a developed theology about Sunday rest in 321
AD. The first Roman Church Council to discuss Sunday rest does not occur until about 364 (Laodicea).

At the time these laws were issued, Constantine was Western Roman Emperor. He also held the title
Pontifex Maximus, which carried with it certain responsibilities that impact this subject matter.

The Romans had established religious traditions that spanned many centuries prior to his reign. For
instance, the early Roman religion employed a college of priests called pontiffs; the head of it was titled
pontifex maximus. Their duties included regulation of the sacred calendar of festivals and announce
when they occurred in the year (especially the Pontifex Maximus).

In the 40s BC, Julius Caesar wielded the title of the Pontifex Maximus in addition to having the political
titles of Consul and Dictator (church & state). Using his religious authority, he made major changes to
the calendar. The Roman Empire was established not long afterwards. Emperors followed his example of
taking on the position of Pontifex Maximus. They held the title until sometime in the 370s/380s AD.
Though they did not always follow the pontifical regulations with precision, they often used it properly
to change the length of festivals or institute new ones. (continuation of church and state)

Since Constantine held the title Pontifex Maximus, it means that he would be responsible for making
certain decisions to govern the ancient religious traditions of the Roman people. One clear instance of
this occurred on December 17, 320. He issued a law which permitted and defined the behavior of the
pagan haruspices (ancient Roman diviner); it was received on the day after his first Sunday law (March 8,
321; CT: 16.10.1). Tacitus, writing a couple of centuries earlier, mentioned that pontiffs were involved
with overseeing the haruspices (Annals, 11.15).

While the pontifical authority is important, religious tradition was also a serious concern to the Romans.
Cicero, who lived from approximately 106 to 43 BC, was a major contributor to Roman thought as a
statesman and lawyer. In his work On Law, he described special characteristics of the ancient Roman
celebrations.

“Next, our provision for holidays and festivals* ordains rest from lawsuits and controversies for free
men, and from labour and toil for slaves. Whoever plans the official year ought to arrange that these
festivals shall come at the completion of the various labours of the farm…” (idem, 2.12[29]).
*The latin reads: “feriarum festorumque dierum.” (Constantine’s 1st law is in agreement with this)

Constantine’s 321 Sunday laws matched the anticipated patterns for festivals described by Cicero and
other Roman authors. The issues of work and agricultural toils were addressed in the first law (March
7). While farmers were not granted rest on the day, their position was discussed to be consistent with
other festivals. Many annual festivals related in some way to the harvest cycle. It was logical not to allow
farmers off on Sunday since there is not a weekly crop. In the second law, most legal proceedings were
suspended and freedom for slaves were addressed (July 3). The Latin word festo was employed in this
law.

Another factor to be considered with this topic is the prevalence of sun worship. In the century leading
up to Constantine’s reign, the Empire experienced the elevation of sun worship in the entity of Sol
Invictus. At times, Sol was the highest object of worship. In the early 270s, Aurelian honored Sol with the
title ‘lord of the Empire.’ He instituted annual games to the sun that were still celebrated in
Constantine’s time (and decades afterwards). By the time Constantine became Western Emperor (312),
reverence for Sol Invictus was an imperial heritage (albeit nuanced). He honored Sol on monuments and
coins. (so although there is no forced worship, there is an aspect of worship)

When we review the information presented thus far in the article, Constantine’s Sunday laws become
better understood. The Christian influence is absent. Instead, Constantine simultaneously merged two
Roman ideals; one was older and the other newer.

He utilized the old title Pontifex Maximus to establish a festival on Sunday. Between the two laws, he
discussed the necessary subjects according to ancient custom: labor, agricultural, and courts. At the
same time, the focus of the law was the sun or Sol, which was a more recent development. This
continued the newer custom.”

Constantine’s 3rd Sunday Law

Constantine’s ecclesiastical Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. abolished both the apostolic day of rest
Sabbath and Passover. Constantine describes his motives behind such a decision:

“ it appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast (Easter) we should follow
the practice of the Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are, therefore,
deservedly afflicted with blindness of soul. … Let us then have nothing in common with the detestable
Jewish crowd; for we have received from our Savior a different way”.
Church historian Moshaim writes that fourth century superstitions gradually supplanted true piety. He
attributes the shameful transformation of Christianity into paganism to a crazy drive to blend pagan
rites with Christianity. Thus, beginning from Constantine, a new religion emerged of which “neither
Jesus nor Paul were the founding fathers”. “As a completely new religion in the Roman Empire,
Christianity came as the result of later interpretations of the original traditions about Christ’s life,
teachings, death and resurrection”. (Milan Vukomanovic, Early Christianity – from Jesus to Christ, Novi Sad: Svetovi,
1996, 19.)

Constantine built “St. Peter’s” basilica in Vatican on an ancient pagan cemetery. He died before
completing the Church of the Twelve in Constantinople, where he planned his tomb surrounded by the
tombs of the apostle. “The first Christian Emperor” dreamed to rest forever amidst the remains of the
Twelve not like one of them, but as a symbol of their leader. (William Steuart McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve
apostles, Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers Inc., 2004, 18-19.)

Ie. Constantine was placing himself in the place of Christ, a tradition taken on by the papacy.

Council of Laodicea – 364 AD (Canon 29) (from The Sabbath Sentinel, by Kelly McDonald, Jr.)

One of the goals of this council was to discourage Sabbath keeping in the Eastern Roman Empire during
this time; most Christians in the East still observed the Sabbath. The canons, or final conclusions issues
by council, confirm this detail. We have some quotes below:

“Canon 16: The Gospels are to be read on the Sabbath [i.e. Saturday], with the other Scriptures.

Canon 29: Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday, but shall work on that day; but the
Lord’s day they shall especially honour, and, as being Christians, shall if possible, do no work on that day.
If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ.

Canon 37: No one shall accept festal presents from Jews and heretics, or keep the festivals with them.”

The Pattern

1. Issues of work and agricultural toils are addressed. Affects primarily city dwellers. It does not
compel anyone to worship anything. Sabbath observance is allowed.
2. Legal proceedings are suspended (freedom from legal proceedings), except those relating to the
freeing of slaves. It does not compel anyone to worship anything. Sabbath observance is
allowed.
3. Sabbath observance is prohibited.
4. Must work on the Sabbath.
The Spirit of Prophecy

The Great Controversy – An Era of Spiritual Darkness

The spirit of concession to paganism opened the way for a still further disregard of Heaven's authority.
Satan, working through unconsecrated leaders of the church, tampered with the fourth commandment
also, and essayed to set aside the ancient Sabbath, the day which God had blessed and sanctified
(Genesis 2:2, 3), and in its stead to exalt the festival observed by the heathen as “the venerable day of
the sun.” This change was not at first attempted openly. In the first centuries the true Sabbath had been
kept by all Christians. They were jealous for the honor of God, and, believing that His law is immutable,
they zealously guarded the sacredness of its precepts. But with great subtlety Satan worked through his
agents to bring about his object. That the attention of the people might be called to the Sunday, it was
made a festival in honor of the resurrection of Christ. Religious services were held upon it; yet it was
regarded as a day of recreation, the Sabbath being still sacredly observed. GC52.1

To prepare the way for the work which he designed to accomplish, Satan had led the Jews, before the
advent of Christ, to load down the Sabbath with the most rigorous exactions, making its observance a
burden. Now, taking advantage of the false light in which he had thus caused it to be regarded, he cast
contempt upon it as a Jewish institution. While Christians generally continued to observe the Sunday as
a joyous festival, he led them, in order to show their hatred of Judaism, to make the Sabbath a fast, a
day of sadness and gloom. GC 52.2

In the early part of the fourth century the emperor Constantine issued a decree making Sunday a public
festival throughout the Roman Empire. The day of the sun was reverenced by his pagan subjects and
was honored by Christians; it was the emperor's policy to unite the conflicting interests of heathenism
and Christianity. He was urged to do this by the bishops of the church, who, inspired by ambition and
thirst for power, perceived that if the same day was observed by both Christians and heathen, it would
promote the nominal acceptance of Christianity by pagans and thus advance the power and glory of the
church. But while many God-fearing Christians were gradually led to regard Sunday as possessing a
degree of sacredness, they still held the true Sabbath as the holy of the Lord and observed it in
obedience to the fourth commandment. GC 53.1

The archdeceiver had not completed his work. He was resolved to gather the Christian world under his
banner and to exercise his power through his vicegerent, the proud pontiff who claimed to be the
representative of Christ. Through half-converted pagans, ambitious prelates, and world-loving
churchmen he accomplished his purpose. Vast councils were held from time to time, in which the
dignitaries of the church were convened from all the world. In nearly every council the Sabbath which
God had instituted was pressed down a little lower, while the Sunday was correspondingly exalted. Thus
the pagan festival came finally to be honored as a divine institution, while the Bible Sabbath was
pronounced a relic of Judaism, and its observers were declared to be accursed. GC53.2

The great apostate had succeeded in exalting himself “above all that is called God, or that is worshiped.”
2 Thessalonians 2:4. He had dared to change the only precept of the divine law that unmistakably points
all mankind to the true and living God. In the fourth commandment, God is revealed as the Creator of
the heavens and the earth, and is thereby distinguished from all false gods. It was as a memorial of the
work of creation that the seventh day was sanctified as a rest day for man. It was designed to keep the
living God ever before the minds of men as the source of being and the object of reverence and worship.
Satan strives to turn men from their allegiance to God, and from rendering obedience to His law;
therefore he directs his efforts especially against that commandment which points to God as the
Creator. GC 53.3

Protestants now urge that the resurrection of Christ on Sunday made it the Christian Sabbath. But
Scripture evidence is lacking. No such honor was given to the day by Christ or His apostles. The
observance of Sunday as a Christian institution had its origin in that “mystery of lawlessness” (2
Thessalonians 2:7, R.V.) which, even in Paul's day, had begun its work. Where and when did the Lord
adopt this child of the papacy? What valid reason can be given for a change which the Scriptures do not
sanction? GC 54.1

By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will
disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf
to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with
spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every
principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the
propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the
marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. 5T 451.1