Sabbath Thoughts 06

If something remains, it must have existed before. And if something existed before, and it remains, then it is the same thing that it was before. This should make clear, distinct sense to almost anyone, to anyone who appreciates clear, distinct sense.

There remaineth therefore

a rest to the people of God.

Hebrews 4:9

Is that clear, or not? You might be surprised, and I'm sure that not many people have shared this information with you, but the word employed here for "rest" is a fairly common one, it is Sabbath, or Shabbat, or Shabbath. From Strong's Dictionary, here is the definition:

4520 sabbatismos (sab-bat-is-mos');

from a derivative of 4521; a "sabbatism", i.e. (figuratively) the repose of Christianity (as a type of heaven):

KJV-- rest.

This word is a derivative of 4521:

4521 sabbaton (sab'-bat-on);

of Hebrew origin [7676]; the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension, a se'nnight, i.e., the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications:

KJV-- sabbath (day), week.

Here in the Book of Hebrews is clear proof of the Sabbath and its special meaning for the Christian. Here, the special rest that is found in Christ, for all eternity in heaven, is directly compared to the weekly Sabbath.

The Amplified Bible interprets this passage as:

So then, there is still

a full and complete

Sabbath-rest reserved

for the [true] people

of God.

Hebrews 4:9

The Sabbath that remains, the Sabbath that existed before, the Sabbath that was instituted at the creation of the world. The Sabbath that was memorialized at Mt. Horeb by the Finger of God. The Sabbath exists today, and it is a sign and a symbol of our eternal existence with Jesus.

For as the new heavens and the

new earth, which I will make, shall

remain before me, saith the LORD,

so shall your seed and your name

remain. And it shall come to pass,

that from one new moon to

another, and from one Sabbath to

another, shall all flesh come to

worship before me, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 66:22-23

The Sabbath, God's first gift to man, will exist forever. It existed before sin entered the world, before marriage, before the fall of mankind, and it will exist in heaven. And yet so many claim it has passed away, that it was nailed to the cross, that it was destroyed, that it was changed, that it was voted out for a more popular day, that it was only given to a certain people, that it never belonged in the Ten Commandments in the first place, which were given to all people -- a lot of things are said, and claimed, and oathed, and promised, and swore, and cursed, and whispered -- but go to God's Word, it will tell you the truth. It IS God's Word.

Hebrews Chapter 4 clearly defines the Sabbath as both a reality, not just a symbol, but also as a symbol of what is to come. Of what we have today, rest in Christ, all of us that are burdened and heavy-laden, and also what we have in eternity, what we will only have AFTER the return of Christ, after the Resurrection, something to look forward to. Hebrews 4 tells us that the Sabbath, the seventh-day Sabbath is a tiny taste of heaven to come, a break in time for us to celebrate God's first gift to us, a break in time for us to be especially wooed by the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a symbol of Christ (in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God), the Sabbath is a sign of God's grace, a pure taste of heaven that God instituted here on Earth BEFORE sin spoiled things.

So the Sabbath is a "shadow" in that it pertains to our eternal rest with Christ, in heaven, our rest long after the troubles of this world are past. It is not a "shadow" in the usual sense of the world, as "types" that reflect the price that Jesus paid on the cross -- it cannot pertain to sin, because it existed BEFORE sin (at least before sin existed on this earth, there is the distinct possibility that it existed in one rebel angel and the followers he duped into losing their own abode in heaven, that it existed long, long before the creation of this world; the Bible does not give us an actual timeline for when Lucifer chose to rebel against the Most High).

The Sabbath is a distinct "shadow" very much like "marriage," in that marriage is a type of our relationship with God, our "marriage" to God, which is the archetype. Marriage existed before sin entered the world -- do you hear many preachers screaming that we shouldn't get married anymore, because Jesus "did away with marriage at the cross?" Because the reality is Jesus? Now, we don't have to get married, because REAL marriage is between a Christian and Jesus.

Marriage is an incredible blessing from God, the making of two beings into "one flesh" is a mystery, a mystery in that it reflects our relationship with God. As a man and a woman can come together to make something different, something better than the two individual pieces, so man connecting with God is also "better," a mystery, a gift, a free choice and chance at a relationship with the Creator of the Universe.

Christ is the bridgegroom, and we are the bride. Yes, even me, I am a part of "the body," and "the body" is the "bride of Christ." It is a free gift, a blessing to us, one that we only must accept.

The same with the Sabbath, as it was a gift from God, at the creation of the world, a free gift that we only have to accept to inherit. A blessing to us -- to those that have become part of "the body," to those that are now considered by God as "His bride."

Genesis Chapter Two. If you have never read it, do so now. First you have the Sabbath, and then you have marriage. Does one stand and the other fall? Or are they both eternal? Are they both blessed of God? When God blesses something, does He withdraw that blessing?

It's logical, it's good, and it's free -- and it's from God, as a blessing, and as a Commandment:

The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.

Psalms 119:110-119

Don't let anyone trick you out of the gift that God has given to you (don't step into the snare set by "sabbath refuters," those that hate the Law of God -- don't entertain their "vain thoughts." God says: "Depart from me, ye evildoers." Instead, love His laws, for they are beautiful. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb.

Sabbath Thoughts #7

Will the Sabbath Become

an Issue in the End Times?

If ye then,

being evil,

know how

to give

good gifts

unto your

children,

how much

more shall

your Father

which is in

heaven give

good things

to them that

ask him?

Matthew 7:11

God gives us good gifts, He gave us the Sabbath, do you believe Him? Or is the Sabbath a day of dread, instead?

The Sabbath is our gift from God, the first gift in the Garden of Eden!

Do not err,

my beloved

brethren.

Every good

gift and

every

perfect gift

is from above,

and cometh

down from

the Father

of lights, with

whom is no

variableness,

neither shadow

of turning. Of

His own will

begat he us

with the Word

of Truth, that

we should be

a kind of

firstfruits

of His

creatures.

James 1:16-18

Make no mistake about it, God's Sabbath day, a gift to us, is a perfect gift, from the Father of lights, Who does not change, doesn't even hint at turning or changing!

The New Covenant:

For this is the

covenant that I

will make with

the house of

Israel after

those days,

saith the Lord;

I will put my

Laws into their

mind, and write

them in their

hearts:

and I will be to

them a God,

and they shall be

to me a people:

Hebrews 8:10

Are you a part of

the New Covenant?

Has God written

His laws, including

the Fourth Commandment,

in your heart? DId

He put His Sabbath

in your mind?

SABBATH THOUGHTS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21

Sabbath Resources

For the

Son of

man is

Lord

even

of the

Sabbath

day.

Matthew 12:8

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. Do you believe it? It is His own holy day, it is the Lord's day, the Seventh Day, blessed by God at the creation of the world!

And He said

unto them,

"The Sabbath

was made

for man, and

not man for

the Sabbath:

Therefore the

Son of man

is Lord also

of the Sabbath."

Mark 2:27-28

This is Jesus speaking about Himself. Do you believe Him? Did He really make His own holy day a gift for all mankind? Or do you prefer the "traditions of the elders?"