Test 20: The Lord's Day Question

Phase 5: The Apostolic Era

⚠️ Note: This content is currently in review and available for public examination. While scripturally grounded, it has not yet received final establishment.

The Central Question Before Us

What is "the Lord's day" mentioned in Revelation 1:10? Does this phrase refer to Sunday, providing evidence that the apostolic church had transferred sanctity from the seventh-day Sabbath to the first day of the week?

This question addresses a phrase that has been central to the Sunday-Sabbath debate. Position A claims "the Lord's day" (Revelation 1:10) is Sunday, proving apostolic Sunday observance. Position B argues the phrase does not refer to Sunday and provides no evidence for a Sabbath change.

The evidence must be examined carefully.

⚖️ Preliminary Matter: The Single Occurrence

The applicable legal principle:

UK — Weight of Single Instances:

A term appearing only once requires careful analysis; its meaning cannot be assumed.

The phrase "the Lord's day" appears exactly ONE time in the entire Bible:

Revelation 1:10 — "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet."

This is the totality of biblical evidence for the phrase "the Lord's day."

There is no other verse that:

Defines "the Lord's day"
Identifies "the Lord's day" as Sunday
Commands observance of "the Lord's day"
Explains the origin of "the Lord's day"

Finding: The interpretation of "the Lord's day" must be derived from evidence, not assumption. The single occurrence provides minimal data.

The Two Positions Under Examination

Position A (Lord's Day = Sunday): "The Lord's day" in Revelation 1:10 refers to Sunday, the first day of the week. This phrase became the Christian designation for Sunday, commemorating Christ's resurrection. The term proves the early church worshipped on Sunday rather than Sabbath. Position B (Lord's Day ≠ Sunday, or Uncertain): "The Lord's day" does not demonstrably refer to Sunday. The phrase may refer to the seventh-day Sabbath (which Christ claimed as "Lord of"), or to the eschatological "Day of the Lord," or to some other meaning. The verse provides no clear evidence for Sunday observance.

Establishing the Burden of Proof

The applicable legal principle:

*UK — Woolmington v DPP [1935]:

The burden of proof lies on the party asserting the positive claim.
Application:
The seventh-day Sabbath was established as "the sabbath of the LORD thy God" (Exodus 20:10). Position A claims Revelation 1:10 proves a transfer to Sunday.

Position A bears the burden of proving:
"The Lord's day" means Sunday
This term indicates a day of weekly worship
This represents a change from Sabbath to Sunday

PART 1: WHAT REVELATION 1:10 DOES NOT SAY

Section 1.1: The Verse Does Not Say "Sunday"

Revelation 1:10 — "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet."
The applicable legal principle:

UK — Literal Rule — R v Judge of the City of London Court [1892]:

Words must be given their plain meaning; we cannot add to what the text says.
What the verse says: "the Lord's day" (Greek: tē kuriakē hēmera — τῇ κυριακῇ ἡμέρᾳ) What the verse does NOT say:
"Sunday"
"The first day of the week"
"The day commemorating the resurrection"
"The day that replaced the Sabbath"
The term "first day of the week" (mia tōn sabbatōn or tē mia sabbatou) is used elsewhere in Scripture (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). If John meant Sunday, he could have used that phrase.
Instead, John used a different phrase: "the Lord's day." The assumption that this means Sunday must be proven, not assumed.
Finding: Revelation 1:10 does not identify "the Lord's day" as Sunday. The identification must come from other evidence.

Section 1.2: The Verse Does Not Describe Worship

Revelation 1:10 — "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice."
The applicable legal principle:
UK — Avoiding Assumptions:

Conclusions must be based on what the text states, not on assumptions about it.
What the verse describes:
John was "in the Spirit" — a state of prophetic vision
John heard "a great voice"
The revelation of Jesus Christ began
What the verse does NOT describe:
A worship service
A congregation gathered
Any weekly observance
Any liturgical activity
John was alone, in exile on Patmos, receiving a vision. This is not a description of church worship on any particular day. Finding: Revelation 1:10 does not describe worship. Using it as evidence for weekly Sunday worship reads into the text what is not there.

Section 1.3: The Verse Does Not Command Anything
The applicable legal principle:

UK — Morgan Grenfell [2002] — Clear Statement Rule:

Commands require clear statement; implications are insufficient for obligations.
Revelation 1:10 contains:
No command to observe "the Lord's day"
No instruction about weekly worship
No statement that this day replaced the Sabbath
No explanation of why this day is significant
Compare with the fourth commandment:
Exodus 20:8-11 — "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work... For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth... and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."

The Sabbath commandment contains:
A clear command ("Remember")
Specific instructions
A stated reason ("For... wherefore")
A blessing and sanctification
"The Lord's day" in Revelation 1:10 has none of these elements.
Finding: Revelation 1:10 does not command observance of any day. It cannot establish a replacement for the explicitly commanded Sabbath.

PART 2: WHAT MIGHT "THE LORD'S DAY" MEAN?

Section 2.1: Option 1 — The Seventh-Day Sabbath
The applicable legal principle:

UK — Letang v Cooper [1965] — Noscitur a Sociis:

A phrase is understood by its associations in similar contexts.
Evidence that "the Lord's day" could mean the Sabbath:
Argument A: Christ is "Lord of the Sabbath"

Mark 2:28 — "Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

Christ explicitly claimed to be "Lord of the sabbath." If any day belongs to the Lord in a special sense, it is the Sabbath — the day He created, blessed, sanctified, and claimed as Lord.

Argument B: The Sabbath is Called "the LORD's"

Exodus 20:10 — "The seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God."

Isaiah 58:13 — "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day... and shalt honour him..."

God calls the Sabbath "my holy day." This possessive language ("the LORD's," "my") matches "the Lord's day."

Argument C: The Sabbath is the Only Day Claimed by God

In all of Scripture, only the seventh day is:
Blessed by God (Genesis 2:3)
Sanctified by God (Genesis 2:3)
Called "the sabbath of the LORD" (Exodus 20:10)
Called "my holy day" (Isaiah 58:13)
Claimed by Christ as "Lord of" (Mark 2:28)
No other day has any of these designations.
Finding: If "the Lord's day" means a day belonging to the Lord, the seventh-day Sabbath is the prime candidate — it is the only day Scripture identifies as belonging to the Lord.

Section 2.2: Option 2 — The Eschatological "Day of the Lord"
The applicable legal principle:
UK — Contextual Interpretation:

A phrase must be interpreted in light of its literary context.
The context of Revelation:
Revelation is an apocalyptic prophecy about end-time events, including "the day of the Lord" — the time of divine judgment and Christ's return.
Old Testament "Day of the Lord" references:
Isaiah 13:6 — "Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand."

Joel 2:31 — "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come."

Amos 5:18 — "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light."

Zephaniah 1:14 — "The great day of the LORD is near."

The phrase "the day of the LORD" (hē hēmera tou kuriou) appears frequently in prophetic literature referring to the time of God's judgment.

John's phrase (kuriakē hēmera) may be a variant form referring to this same eschatological "Day of the Lord" — appropriate for a book about end-time events. Finding: "The Lord's day" may refer to the eschatological Day of the Lord — fitting for a prophetic book about end-time judgment.

Section 2.3: Option 3 — Sunday (Position A's Claim)
The applicable legal principle:

UK — Woolmington — Burden of Proof:

The party making a claim must provide evidence for it.
What evidence supports "the Lord's day" = Sunday?
Claimed Evidence A: Post-biblical usage

Position A notes that later Christian writers (2nd century and beyond) used "the Lord's day" for Sunday.
Problem: Post-biblical usage does not determine biblical meaning. Later Christian practice developed over time and does not necessarily reflect apostolic understanding.
Claimed Evidence B: The resurrection occurred on Sunday

Position A argues that Christians began calling Sunday "the Lord's day" to commemorate the resurrection.
Problem: This is an assumption, not evidence. Scripture never:
Commands commemorating the resurrection weekly
Commands commemorating it on Sunday
Connects "the Lord's day" with the resurrection
Uses "the Lord's day" in connection with Sunday

Claimed Evidence C: Church tradition

Position A appeals to church tradition that identified "the Lord's day" as Sunday.
Problem: Tradition is not Scripture. The question is what the biblical term means, not what later tradition made of it. Finding: Position A's claim that "the Lord's day" = Sunday rests on assumptions and later tradition, not biblical evidence.

Section 2.4: Evaluating the Options
The applicable legal principle:

UK — Re H (Minors) [1996] — Balance of Probability:

Option	Biblical Support	Problems
Sabbath	Christ is "Lord of the sabbath"; Sabbath is "the LORD's holy day"	Later tradition favours Sunday
Day of the Lord	Fits Revelation's apocalyptic context	Not a day of the week
Sunday	Later tradition	No biblical support; assumption required

Reference	Event	Is it called "Lord's day"?
Matthew 28:1	Women at the tomb	No
Mark 16:2	Women at the tomb	No
Mark 16:9	Jesus appears to Mary	No
Luke 24:1	Women at the tomb	No
John 20:1	Mary at the tomb	No
John 20:19	Jesus appears to disciples	No
Acts 20:7	Troas meeting	No
1 Corinthians 16:2	Collection instructions	No

The most probable interpretation should be preferred.

Option Biblical Support Problems

Sabbath Christ is "Lord of the sabbath"; Sabbath is "the LORD's holy day" Later tradition favours Sunday

Day of the Lord Fits Revelation's apocalyptic context Not a day of the week

Sunday Later tradition No biblical support; assumption required

The most biblically-supported options are the Sabbath or the Day of the Lord. The Sunday interpretation relies entirely on later church tradition, not Scripture. Finding: The biblical evidence does not establish Sunday as "the Lord's day." The Sabbath or eschatological interpretations have stronger scriptural support.

PART 3: THE ABSENCE OF SUNDAY EVIDENCE

Section 3.1: No "First Day" = "Lord's Day" Connection in Scripture
The applicable legal principle:
UK — Argument from Silence:

When something would necessarily be stated if true, its absence is significant evidence.
The phrase "first day of the week" appears 8 times in the New Testament:

Reference Event Is it called "Lord's day"?

Matthew 28:1 Women at the tomb No

Mark 16:2 Women at the tomb No

Mark 16:9 Jesus appears to Mary No

Luke 24:1 Women at the tomb No

John 20:1 Mary at the tomb No

John 20:19 Jesus appears to disciples No

Acts 20:7 Troas meeting No

1 Corinthians 16:2 Collection instructions No

In none of these verses is the first day called:
"The Lord's day"
Holy
Blessed
Sanctified
A day of rest
A replacement for Sabbath
A day of required worship
If Sunday were "the Lord's day," we would expect at least ONE of these eight passages to make the connection. The complete absence is significant. Finding: Scripture never connects "the first day of the week" with "the Lord's day." The identification is an assumption, not a biblical fact.

Section 3.2: No Transfer Command in Scripture
The applicable legal principle:

UK — Morgan Grenfell [2002] — Clear Statement Rule:

Fundamental changes require clear statement.
For Position A to be correct, we would need a statement such as:
"The Sabbath is hereby changed to Sunday"
"Observe the first day as the Lord's day"
"The resurrection day replaces the Sabbath"
"Christians should worship on Sunday instead of Sabbath"
No such statement exists anywhere in Scripture.
The fourth commandment explicitly establishes the seventh day. Any change would require equally explicit authority. The absence of such authority is fatal to Position A's claim.
Finding under the Clear Statement Rule: The change from Sabbath to Sunday would require clear statement. No such statement exists. The seventh-day Sabbath remains the biblically commanded day.

Section 3.3: The Earliest Post-Biblical Evidence
The applicable legal principle:
UK — Contemporanea Expositio:

Evidence from those closest in time may illuminate meaning.
The earliest extra-biblical reference to "the Lord's day" as Sunday: The Didache (late 1st/early 2nd century), Chapter 14:
"But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving."
Problems with this evidence:
The Didache is not Scripture — it cannot define biblical terms
The Didache may be later than often claimed
Even if early, it shows only that SOME Christians used the phrase this way — not that this was universal or apostolic
The Didache also says (Chapter 8): "But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites, for they fast on the second and fifth day of the week. Rather, fast on the fourth day and the Preparation (Friday)." This shows Jewish-Christian practice continued.
Finding: Even early post-biblical evidence does not establish that "the Lord's day" universally meant Sunday or that this usage was apostolic.

PART 4: THE CATHOLIC ADMISSION

Section 4.1: The Church's Own Testimony
The applicable legal principle:
US — Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 804(b)(3) — Statement Against Interest:

A statement against one's own interest is particularly reliable.
The Catholic Church does NOT claim Scripture establishes Sunday as "the Lord's day": Cardinal Gibbons, Faith of Our Fathers:
"You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday."
The Convert's Catechism:
"Q. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?

A. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday."
The Catholic Mirror (1893):
"The Catholic Church for over one thousand years before the existence of a Protestant, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday."
The significance:
The church that claims to have made the change admits:
Scripture does not authorise Sunday
The change was made by church authority, not Scripture
The Bible does not contain "a single line" for Sunday
If Scripture established Sunday as "the Lord's day," the Catholic Church would cite Scripture. Instead, they cite church authority — implicitly admitting Scripture does not support the claim.
Finding under the admission against interest principle: The party claiming to have made the change admits Scripture does not support Sunday observance. This is powerful evidence that "the Lord's day" in Scripture does not mean Sunday.

PART 5: FINAL ASSESSMENT

The Evidence Weighed
The applicable legal principle:

UK — Re H (Minors) [1996]:

Issue	Position A (Sunday)	Position B (Sabbath/Day of Lord)
Rev 1:10 says "Sunday"	No — must be assumed	Correct — text does not say Sunday
Biblical connection	None — 8 "first day" texts never call it "Lord's day"	Sabbath called "LORD's" and Christ is "Lord of" it
Clear statement	None	Fourth commandment clearly establishes seventh day
Biblical definition	None provided	Sabbath defined as "the sabbath of the LORD"
Catholic admission	Admits Scripture doesn't authorise Sunday	Confirms biblical silence

Issue	Finding
Revelation 1:10 text	Does not say "Sunday" or "first day"
Biblical definition	None provided for "Lord's day"
Sabbath connection	Christ is "Lord of the sabbath"; Sabbath is "the LORD's holy day"
Day of the Lord	Possible reference to eschatological judgment day
Scripture's 8 "first day" references	None call it "Lord's day" or holy
Transfer command	None exists in Scripture
Catholic admission	Church admits Scripture doesn't authorise Sunday

The balance of probability — more likely than not.
Summary:

Issue Position A (Sunday) Position B (Sabbath/Day of Lord)

Rev 1:10 says "Sunday" No — must be assumed Correct — text does not say Sunday

Biblical connection None — 8 "first day" texts never call it "Lord's day" Sabbath called "LORD's" and Christ is "Lord of" it

Clear statement None Fourth commandment clearly establishes seventh day

Biblical definition None provided Sabbath defined as "the sabbath of the LORD"

Catholic admission Admits Scripture doesn't authorise Sunday Confirms biblical silence

Finding on standard of proof: Position A fails to meet its burden of proof. The identification of "the Lord's day" with Sunday is an assumption based on later tradition, not Scripture.

The Burden of Proof Revisited
Position A bore the burden of proving:
"The Lord's day" means Sunday ❌ No biblical evidence
This indicates weekly worship ❌ Revelation 1:10 describes vision, not worship
This represents a Sabbath change ❌ No transfer command exists
Position A has not discharged its burden. The single occurrence of "the Lord's day" in Revelation 1:10, without definition or explanation, cannot establish a change from the explicitly commanded seventh-day Sabbath.
# CONCLUSION AND VERDICT
Summary of Findings

Issue Finding

Revelation 1:10 text Does not say "Sunday" or "first day"

Biblical definition None provided for "Lord's day"

Sabbath connection Christ is "Lord of the sabbath"; Sabbath is "the LORD's holy day"

Day of the Lord Possible reference to eschatological judgment day

Scripture's 8 "first day" references None call it "Lord's day" or holy

Transfer command None exists in Scripture

Catholic admission Church admits Scripture doesn't authorise Sunday

The Verdict
The phrase "the Lord's day" in Revelation 1:10 cannot be proven to mean Sunday. The biblical evidence points in other directions:
The Sabbath is the only day Scripture calls "the LORD's" and of which Christ claims to be "Lord"
The Day of the Lord (eschatological) fits Revelation's apocalyptic context
Sunday has no biblical support — only later church tradition
The fourth commandment explicitly establishes the seventh day as the Sabbath of the Lord. One ambiguous phrase in Revelation, without definition or command, cannot override the explicit commandment.
The burden of proof was on Position A. It has not been met.

Mark 2:28 — "Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

Key Texts Reference

Topic Text

"The Lord's day" Revelation 1:10

Christ is Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2:28

The Sabbath is the LORD's Exodus 20:10

"My holy day" Isaiah 58:13

The Day of the LORD Isaiah 13:6; Joel 2:31

First day references Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2

Greek Terms Reference

Greek Transliteration Pronunciation Meaning

τῇ κυριακῇ ἡμέρᾳ tē kuriakē hēmera "tay koo-ree-ah-KAY hay-MEH-rah" the Lord's day

κυριακός kuriakos "koo-ree-ah-KOS" belonging to the Lord

ἡμέρα τοῦ κυρίου hēmera tou kuriou "hay-MEH-rah too koo-REE-oo" day of the Lord

μία τῶν σαββάτων mia tōn sabbatōn "MEE-ah tone sab-BAH-tone" first day of the week

σάββατον sabbaton "SAB-bah-ton" sabbath

Legal Authorities Cited

United Kingdom

Authority Citation Principle

R v Judge of the City of London Court [1892] 1 QB 273 Literal Rule

Woolmington v DPP [1935] AC 462 Burden of Proof

Letang v Cooper [1965] 1 QB 232 Noscitur a Sociis

Morgan Grenfell v Special Commissioner [2002] UKHL 21 Clear Statement Rule

Re H (Minors) [1996] AC 563 Standard of Proof

United States

Authority Citation Principle

Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 804(b)(3) — Statement Against Interest

Gregory v. Ashcroft* 501 U.S. 452 (1991) Clear Statement Rule

← Previous: Test 19

Topic	Text
"The Lord's day"	Revelation 1:10
Christ is Lord of the Sabbath	Mark 2:28
The Sabbath is the LORD's	Exodus 20:10
"My holy day"	Isaiah 58:13
The Day of the LORD	Isaiah 13:6; Joel 2:31
First day references	Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2

Greek	Transliteration	Pronunciation	Meaning
τῇ κυριακῇ ἡμέρᾳ	tē kuriakē hēmera	"tay koo-ree-ah-KAY hay-MEH-rah"	the Lord's day
κυριακός	kuriakos	"koo-ree-ah-KOS"	belonging to the Lord
ἡμέρα τοῦ κυρίου	hēmera tou kuriou	"hay-MEH-rah too koo-REE-oo"	day of the Lord
μία τῶν σαββάτων	mia tōn sabbatōn	"MEE-ah tone sab-BAH-tone"	first day of the week
σάββατον	sabbaton	"SAB-bah-ton"	sabbath

Authority	Citation	Principle
R v Judge of the City of London Court	[1892] 1 QB 273	Literal Rule
Woolmington v DPP	[1935] AC 462	Burden of Proof
Letang v Cooper	[1965] 1 QB 232	Noscitur a Sociis
Morgan Grenfell v Special Commissioner	[2002] UKHL 21	Clear Statement Rule
Re H (Minors)	[1996] AC 563	Standard of Proof

Authority	Citation	Principle
Federal Rules of Evidence, Rule 804(b)(3)	—	Statement Against Interest
Gregory v. Ashcroft*	501 U.S. 452 (1991)	Clear Statement Rule

Test 20: The Lord's Day Question

The Central Question Before Us

⚖️ Preliminary Matter: The Single Occurrence

The Two Positions Under Examination

Establishing the Burden of Proof

Section 1.1: The Verse Does Not Say "Sunday"

Section 1.2: The Verse Does Not Describe Worship

Section 1.3: The Verse Does Not Command Anything

Section 2.1: Option 1 — The Seventh-Day Sabbath

Argument A: Christ is "Lord of the Sabbath"

Argument B: The Sabbath is Called "the LORD's"

Argument C: The Sabbath is the Only Day Claimed by God

Section 2.2: Option 2 — The Eschatological "Day of the Lord"

Section 2.3: Option 3 — Sunday (Position A's Claim)

Claimed Evidence A: Post-biblical usage

Claimed Evidence B: The resurrection occurred on Sunday

Claimed Evidence C: Church tradition

Section 2.4: Evaluating the Options

Section 3.1: No "First Day" = "Lord's Day" Connection in Scripture

Section 3.2: No Transfer Command in Scripture

Section 3.3: The Earliest Post-Biblical Evidence

Section 4.1: The Church's Own Testimony

The Evidence Weighed

The Burden of Proof Revisited

Summary of Findings

The Verdict

Key Texts Reference

Greek Terms Reference

Legal Authorities Cited

United Kingdom

United States

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