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John says he received his “apocalypse”1 on “the Lord’s day” (10). In a book that will repeatedly portray Jesus as King (5-6), this is no coincidence.

The earliest Christians set aside the first day of the week as their Sabbath, because this was the day the Lord rose from the dead. Sabbath worship was (and is) a celebratory remembrance of Easter. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Pentecost also fell on the first day of the week.

The name for this day eventually came to be known among the early Christians as “the Lord’s Day.” In those days, the Roman Empire considered the Emperor to be semi-divine, and the first day of every month was the “Emperor’s Day”, or “Sebaste.”

So those first Christians called the first day of each week “Lord’s Day,” because there is only one Lord, one King of Kings. He gets the first day. Thus observing the Sabbath was not just worship and fellowship, and not just an opportunity to do acts of mercy. It also proclaimed the Lordship of Christ, to the state, the emperor and the nations. It proclaims his death, until he comes.

This is especially needful in our day, when the state arrogates to itself an increasingly godlike power. The state may claim more of our time, life, and attention, Monday through Saturday - but Sunday, Sunday is the Lord’s Day. Give it to Him.