Mark of the Beast – Linked to the Sabbath?

http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/cgi-bin/tw/booklets/tw-bk.cgi?category=Booklets1&item=1104414149

I’ve been introduced to the idea of the mark of the beast possibly being tied to the observance of the Sabbath.  ‘The Sabbath has been used historically as a test of faith’.  My initial reaction is that the fourth commandment exists, and there is nothing that tells me that the 4th commandment is any less of a commandment than any other.  I may be saved by grace, but obeying the commandments are still my best way of loving God.  Also, Sabbath contains the word ‘Abba’ (father), Sunday contains ‘Sun’ – what do I worship?  Additionally, it’s been raised that the idea of Sunday is actually a Catholic (man-made) idea, and not biblical at all!  Do I follow God’s law or man’s?  

I am going to investigate how I can remember and keep the Sabbath holy to best serve and honor my Lord and God.  This is an urgent research topic.

• Sabbath is actually Shabbat in Hebrew, which means ‘rest’ or ‘cessation’.  
• The day is blessed and sanctified according to Genesis 1.  
• Friday is the day of preparation for the Sabbath
• Sabbath is from Friday sun-down to Saturday sun-down
• The Sabbath was in place from the beginning (Genesis 1).  The commandment was a reminder.
• Recognizing the Sabbath is recognizing God as creator.
• The fourth commandment has more space devoted to it than any other
• "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it"
• The Sabbath points to creation – no other day of the week has been blessed by God
• The Sabbath is NOT about sacrifices, washings or ceremonial duties
• ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a SIGN between Me and you throughout your generations, THAT YOU MAY KNOW that I am the Lord who sanctifies you’" (Exodus 31:13).
• "Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a PERPETUAL covenant. It is a SIGN between Me and the children of Israel FOREVER, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed" (Exodus 31: 16-17)
• A ‘sign’ (above) is something voluntarily displayed.
• According to Paul, Gentile Christians were to be "grafted" into Israel and become spiritual Israelites (cf. Romans 11:17, 24; Galatians 3:28-29).
• "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God" (Romans 2:28-29). For these reasons, Paul called the New Testament Church the "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16)
• "Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil" (Isaiah 56:2).
• "Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants-everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant-even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for ALL NATIONS" (Isaiah 56: 6-7).
• Jesus tells us to follow Him – He is the light, yet many will argue why Sabbath keeping is not necessary
• Whoever therefore breaks one of the LEAST of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19)