Page 79 - Attractive Deception - The False Hope of the Hebrew Roots Movement

as the guardians of the people who dwelt there).

After his victories in the East, the Emperor Aurelian thoroughly reformed the Roman cult of Sol,
elevating the sun-god to one of the premier divinities of the Empire. Where previously priests of Sol
had been simply sacerdotes (clergymen) and tended to belong to lower ranks of Roman society, they
were now pontifices and members of the new college of pontifices instituted by Aurelian. Every
pontifex of Sol was a member of the senatorial elite, indicating that the priesthood of Sol was now
highly prestigious... Aurelian also built a new temple for Sol, bringing the total number of temples
for the god in Rome to (at least) four He also instituted games in honor of the sun god, held every
four years from AD 274 onwards.
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus]

It is important to note the date of this ascension of the worship of Sol. Fifty years after the Roman
Emperor Aurelian popularized the worship of the Sun/Sol, Emperor Constantine, who was also a Sun
worshiper, would give Christianity official status as a religion recognized by the Roman state. Thus,
Christianity was added to the mix of religions overseen by the College of Pontiffs at a time when the
worship of the Sun was ascendant. This explains why there is such a preponderance of symbols, rites,
and holidays relating to Solar worship in the apostatized Christianity of Rome. Constantine, although
giving Christianity imperial recognition, was not a Christian. He continued to be a devoted worshiper
of Sol Invictus, the Unconquerable Sun, throughout his life. On March 7, 321 A.D., Emperor
Constantine decreed “dies Solis” (the day of the sun), or “Sunday,” to be the official Roman day of
rest.

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 suitable for
grain-sowing or vine planting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty
of heaven should be lost.

This edict of the Roman Emperor was viewed favorably by much of the Christian church. The
writings of the early church fathers reveal that Sunday for more than a century prior to this edict had
gained a place of prominence among gentile Christians as a day of corporate worship. It was referred
to as “the Lord’s Day” in light of this being the day of the week which Yahshua rose from the grave.
In the early days of the church which was born in Jerusalem, Sunday held no special place in the
traditions of the disciples of Christ. Being Jews, they maintained the tradition of meeting on the
Jewish Sabbath, but they did not exclusively meet on this date. Luke records that the disciples of
Christ met together every day.

Acts 2:46-47
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate
their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Acts 18:4
And [Paul] was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.