OP - I too am a historicist when it comes to understanding the Bible - and I study a lot of SDA material including Veith which is fantastic in his teachings.

There was a blue law here years ago and Nothing was opened on Sunday for years and years. Then it is was taken away and now here we are. My point being nothing happened then and nothing has happened since.

JRuss is right it is the weekend, and at one time that meant people didn't work, of course now many work.

You should see the people in Israel keep the sabbath it is unbelievable. They are very strict and enforce it - it is fascinating actually to see them prepare for the sabbath. Their's is a works religion and I do not hold any ill will for their culture it is just different than ours.

In the New Testament Jesus declares Himself the Lord of the Sabbath, He is our rest. Christianity is the First worldwide faith in history. He set us free from the Law in that there are no religious rituals to perform as there is no Temple, we are the Temple, and most of the feast days have been fulfilled in Christ. We do not have any pilgramages to attend, no tithes that we must pay, etc...

If as Jesus says, He is the Lord of the Sabbath, and He says to be ready in season and out of season, I would think that no day, hour, or place should be held above another when it comes to His commandment, to preach the Word. The Good News is wherever two or more are gathered in His Name, sometimes this is on a corner of a busy street. He is our Sabbath Rest, we rest in Him fulfilling the True meaning of the Sabbath Rest. Any day or hour we are at peace with God because we are the Temple.

In the age to come, that would be a different setting as God so chooses. Blessed we are.

I would not put anything past the Catholic Church as it is a works religion and they love to ensnare and condemn those that do not believe that works or the church(catholic) saves, only Jesus saves.

And I agree, the seventh day would be the day of rest, but is going to church fulfillment of that rest which has a lot of rules as to what you can and can't do on that day? Again, it is back to works.

No one could keep the Law, God is Perfect and the Law is Perfect, we are not. Now is the age of Grace for all, not just a certain bloodline or a people of a Temple