6) Jesus would have told us if His resurrection changed man's duty to keep the sabbath.
A thorough search of the New Testaments finds not one scripture that tells us that Jesus, His resurrection or His Apostles in any way, shape or form eliminated the seventh day sabbath commandment of God. Nor is there any scripture that authorizes the observance of any other day, especially the first day, Sunday, the "Lord's Day" as an alternate day of worship and prayer. Not one scripture.
"In the Old Testament, reference is made one hundred and twenty-six times to the Sabbath, and all these texts conspire harmoniously in voicing the will of God commanding the seventh day to be kept, because God Himself first kept it, making it obligatory on all as "a perpetual covenant....
Having secured the absolute will of God as regards the day to be kept holy, from His sacred Word, because He rested on that day, which day is confirmed to us by the practice of His chose people for thousands of years, we are naturally induced to inquire when and where God changed the day for his worship; for it is patent to the world that a change of day has taken place, and inasmuch as no indication of such change can be found within the pages of the Old Testament, nor in the practice of the Jewish people who continue for nearly nineteen centuries [Ed. note: now twenty] of Christianity obeying the written command, we must look to the exponent of the Christian dispensation; viz., the New Testament, for the command of God canceling the old Sabbath, Saturday.
We now approach a period covering little short of nineteen centuries [now twenty], and proceed to investigate whether the supplemental divine teacher – the New Testament – contains a decree canceling the mandate of the old law, and, at the same time, substituting a day for the divinely instituted Sabbath of the old law, viz., Saturday; for, inasmuch as Saturday was the day kept and ordered to be kept by God, divine authority alone, under the form of a canceling decree, could abolish the Saturday covenant, and another divine mandate, appointing by name another day to be kept 'holy,' other than Saturday, is equally necessary to satisfy the conscience of the Christian believer. The Bible being the only teacher recognized by the Biblical Christian, the Old Testament failing to point out a change of day, and yet another day than Saturday being kept 'holy' by the Biblical world, it is surely incumbent on the reformed Christian to point out in the pages of the New Testament the new divine decree repealing that of Saturday and substituting that of Sunday, kept by the Biblicals since the dawn of the Reformation. Examining the New Testament from cover to cover, critically, we find the Sabbath referred to sixty-one times. We find, too, that the Saviour invariably selected the Sabbath (Saturday) to teach in the synagogues and work miracles. The four Gospels refer to the Sabbath (Saturday) fifty-one times".
Catholic Mirror, Sept. 9, 1893, http://www.immaculateheart.com/maryonline/html/apologetics.html (pp.5 -6 of 15).
"Having proved to a demonstration that the Redeemer, in no instance, had, during theperiod of His life, deviated from the faithful observance of the Sabbath (Saturday), referred to by the four evangelists fifty-one times, although He haddesignated Himself "Lord of the Sabbath," He never having once, by command or practice, hinted at a desire on His part to change the day by the substitution of another and having called special attention to the conduct of the apostles and the holy women, the very evening of His death, securing beforehand spices and ointments to be used in embalming His body the morning after the Sabbath (Saturday), as St. Luke so clearly informs us (Luke 24:1), thereby placing beyond peradventure, the divine action and will of the Son of God during life by keeping the Sabbath steadfastly; and having called attention to the action of His living representatives after His death, as proved by St. Luke; having also placed before our readers the indisputable fact that the apostles for the following thirty years (Acts) never deviated from the practice of their divine Master in this particular, as St. Luke (Acts 18:4) assures us: 'And he [Paul] reasoned in the synagogues every Sabbath [Saturday], and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.' The Gentile converts were, as we see from the text, equally instructed with the Jews, to keep the Saturday, having been converted to Christianity on that day, 'the Jews and the Greeks' collectively.
Having also called attention to the texts of the Acts bearing on the exclusive use of the Sabbath by the Jews and Christians for thirty years after the death of the Saviour as the only day of the week observed by Christ and His apostles, which period exhausts the inspired record, we now proceed to supplement our proofs that the Sabbath (Saturday) enjoyed this exclusive privilege, by calling attention to every instance wherein the sacred record refers to the first day of the week".
Catholic Mirror, Sept. 16, 1893, p. 7 of 15.
"Having disposed of every text to be found in the New Testament referring to the Sabbath (Saturday), and to the first day of the week (Sunday); and having shown conclusively from these texts, that, so far, not a shadow of pretext can be found in the Sacred Volume for the Biblical substitution of Sunday for Saturday; it only remains for us to investigate the meaning of the expressions 'Lord's Day,' and 'day of the Lord,' to be found in the New Testament, which we propose to do in our next article..."
Id. at p. 9 of 15.
"The class of texts in the New Testament, under the title 'Sabbath,' numbering sixty-one in the Gospels, Acts, and Epistles; and the second class, in which 'the first day of the week,' or Sunday, having been critically examined (the latter class numbering nine [eight]); and having been found not to afford the slightest clue to a change of will on the part of God as to His day of worship by man...".
Catholic Mirror, Sept. 23, 1893, p. 9 of 15.
The above analysis is truth. The Word of God undeniably tells us that we are to keep His seventh day sabbath. There is not one scripture in the New Testament that tells us that Jesus,His resurrection or His Apostles in any way, shape or form eliminated the seventh day sabbath commandment of God. Nor is there any scripture authorizing the observance of any other day, e.g., the first day, Sunday, as an acceptable alternate day of worship and prayer. Not one scripture. That should be evidence enough for anyone honestly adhering to the protestant doctrine of sola Scriptura to recognize that God continues to command man's obedience to HisFourth Commandment.
Remember, Jesus is the Word of God. He wrote it. He inspired it. And in all the scripture passages Jesus gave us concerning His Father's holy sabbath day, not once did He say or imply that we, His believers and followers, do not have to observe our Father's seventh day sabbath. In the New Testament, Jesus, the Word of God, gives us example after example teaching us what we could and could not do on the sabbath, removing the manmade obstacles of the pharisees. If sabbath observance was supposed to cease because of His resurrection, why did Jesus not tell us? If the will of God, the everlasting sabbath covenant and the Fourth Commandment changed, Jesus would have told us so in scripture. Understand that Jesus is the Word of God, and He did not tell us of these changes because these changes are not of God but of man.
Did the Word of God anticipate the attempt to justify breaking God's sabbath commandment because of His resurrection? Protestants and catholics alike base their Sunday "Lord's Day" practice upon the premise that Christ's resurrection somehow changed God's commandment and man's eternal promise that we keep God's seventh day sabbath of rest. What does Jesus, the Word of God, tell us about changing the day of rest? Open your eyes and your ears.
"For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day". Heb. 4:8.
Understand that we are being told that if Jesus, by His resurrection or otherwise, had given us another day of rest other than God's seventh day sabbath (i.e., the "Lord's Day"), He would have told us. Let us review the context of this message about God's seventh day sabbath of rest. The passage reads,
"[1] Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. [2] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. [3] For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. [4] For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. [5] And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. [6] Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: [7] Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. [8] For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. [9] There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. [10]For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. [11] Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. [12] For theword of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart". Heb. 4:1-12.
Upon reading this passage for the first time, the reader may be somewhat confused. Upon close scrutiny, we find that the passage leads us to some very important truths. It is important that we analyze the passage verse by verse.
[1]"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it". Heb. 4:1.
In verse 1, we are warned not to be left short of a "promise being left us" of entering into His rest. What promise of rest have we been given? Guidance is found in the preceding passage:
"[13] Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. [13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. [14] For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; [15] While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. [16] For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. [17] But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? [18] And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? [19] So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief". Heb. 3:12-19.
Read Hebrews 4:1 again, "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it". What are we talking about? Look at Heb. 3:12-19 again: "Evil heart of unbelief", "departing from the living God", "deceitfulness of sin", "harden not your hearts", "them that had sinned", "them that believed not", and finally, "unbelief". Each of these phrases is descriptive of a person not IN Christ. Does Jesus promise us rest?
"[28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". Mt. 11:28-30.
Jesus promises "rest unto your souls". Therefore, one promise of rest made to us is salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:1 says, "Let us therefore fear...". Refer back to Hebrews 3:14, "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end". What is the "beginning of our confidence"?
"[7] The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. [8] They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. [9] He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. [10] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever". Ps. 111:7-10.
"In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. [27] The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death". Prov. 14:26-27.
Wherefore, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and strong confidence. What does Jesus tell us about fearing the Lord?
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell". Mt.10:28.
"But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him". Lk. 12:5.
Jesus is warning us to fear the Lord because judgment is forthcoming. Refer back to Hebrews 3:14, "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end". What end? Let us look to The Revelation:
"[12] Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. [13] And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them". Rev. 14:12-13 (emphasis added).
Someone is being promised "rest from their labours". Who? "They that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus". These are the blessed "dead which die in the Lord". This is important. Revelations tells us that to get the promised eternal rest, we have to meet the two requirements: 1) we have to keep the commandments of God; and 2) we have to keep the faith of Jesus.
If you care about your salvation, you need to pay close attention. Revelations 14:12-13 tells us that those that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus are the ones that "die in the Lord" and may rest from their labours. Scripture does not say that we have to keep some or most or all but one of the commandments of God. We do not get to pick and choose. If it is a commandment of God, we are told to keep it.
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it". Heb. 4:1.
What can we expect if we do not die IN Christ? What do we get if we do not heed the warning of Hebrews 4:1 and come short of the promise of eternal rest?
"[14:9] And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, [10] Thesame shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the Lamb: [11] And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name". Rev. 14:9-11 (emphasis added).
The antithesis of the eternal rest of salvation is the torment of hell. Hebrews Chapter 4, Verse 1, warns us to fear the Lord because some may fall short of the promise of eternal rest. And we only get eternal rest if we keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Whoever falls short of the promise can expect no rest day or night in the fires of hell.
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God". Heb. 10:31.
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. [14] For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil". Eccl. 12:13-14.
Let us proceed with our analysis of Hebrews 4:1-12.
[2]"For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it". Heb. 4:2
"For unto us was the gospel preached". To who, who is us? The gospel was preached to the believers in Christ. See Heb. 3:14, ("... partakers in Christ ..."); See also Heb. 4:3, ("For we which have believed..."). For unto us [the believers in Christ] "was the gospel preached as well as unto them". The gospel was also preached to them. Who is them? "Them" are the unbelievers. "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God". Heb. 3:12. "But the word preached did not profit them". Who did the word not profit? The unbelievers. What word did not profit the unbelievers? The gospel. Why did the gospel not profit the unbelievers? Because the gospel preached was "not being mixed with faith in them that heard it".
"Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit". Jer. 7:8
"O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit". Jer. 16:19.
If you are given understanding, you will see that Hebrews 4:1-12 reveals a great deception. The everlasting sabbath covenant was to have been kept by the gentiles. The seventh day sabbath as prescribed by the Fourth Commandment was to have been kept by believers by faith in Christ.
Believers and unbelievers have had the same message preached. We both read the same Bible(although versions do differ). But the word preached to the unbelievers does not profit them because it is "not mixed with faith"? What does that mean? Faith is explained in Chapter 11 of Hebrew:
"[11] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2] For by it the elders obtained a good report. [3] Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear". Heb. 11:1-3.
Believers know that the Word of God is true by faith. Believers mix the gospel message with their faith that they know the Word of God is truth. Believers believe God. And because believers believe God, they fear God. Believers know what God can and will do. And because believers fear God, believers obey God.
In summary, Hebrews 8:1 warns us not to be left short of the promise of God's eternal rest. To obtain that rest, we must die in the Lord, which requires us to keep the commandments of God, and keep the faith of Jesus. Rev.14:12-13. Verse 2 tells us that believers mix the gospel with faith that the Word of God is truth, while unbelievers trust in lying words that cannot profit.
Hebrews chapter 4 continues:
[3]"For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." Heb. 4:3.
Remember. Jesus is the Word of God. Jesus is telling us that believers do enter into rest. What rest? Is this scripture saying that believers enter into God's eternal rest or are we now talking about another rest? We have already established that to obtain the promised eternal rest, you have to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. But Hebrews 4:3 is referring to a specific kind of rest, "as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest...". The reference is to Psalm 95, which describes the banishment of the Israelites to the wilderness. Remember, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works". 2 Tim. 3:16-17. That being understood, Psalm 95 states in part:
"[1] O come, let us sing unto the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. [2] Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. [3] For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. [4] In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. [5] The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. [6] O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. [7] For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, [8] harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: [9] When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. [10] Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: [11] Unto whom I sware inmy wrath that they should not enter into my rest". Ps. 95:1-11 (emphasis added).
The Rest of the Promised Land.
God's wrath prevented the children of Israel from entering into His rest. Why? In Psalm 95, verse 10, God tells us because they erred in their heart and did not know of His ways. We will get into the particulars, but first, what specific rest did God deny the children of Israel? They were denied the rest of the promised land. To understand, let us first review God's promise of the land of Canaan made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob:
"In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: [19] The Kenites, and the Kenizites, and the Kadmonites, [20] And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims, [21] And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites". Gen. 15:18-21.
"And the LORD appeared unto him [Isaac], and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: [3] Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;". Gen. 26:2-3.
"[1] And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, ... [3] And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiplythee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; [4] And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham". Gen. 28:1, 3-4.
"And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. [3] and he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: [4] I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes". Gen. 46:2-4.
In keeping His promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their seed, God delivered the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt more than four hundred years later:
"And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of their bondage. [24] And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. [25] And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them". Ex. 2:25.
"Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. [7] And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; [8] And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites". Ex. 3:6-8.
"Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: [17] And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey". Ex. 3:16-17.
"And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: [3] and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name of JEHOVAH was I not known to them. [4] And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. [5] And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. [6] Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: [7] And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. [8] And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD". Ex. 6:3-8.
"And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest". Ex. 33:14 (emphasis added).
We now know that the rest promised to the children of Israel is the rest of the promised land.
Rest of Promised Land Denied.
"Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest". Ps. 95:11(emphasis added). We are given the details of this denial of rest in Numbers chapters 13 and 14:
"[13:1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [2] Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them". Num. 13:1-2. "[25] And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. [26] And they went and came to Moses and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all thecongregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land". Num. 13:25-26.
"[30] And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. [31] But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. [32] And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. [33] And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight". Num. 13:30-33.
"[14:1] And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. [2] And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! [3] And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt. [4] And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. [5] Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.[6] And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: [7] And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. [8] If the LORD delight in us then he will bring us into this land, and give it us, a land which floweth with milk and honey. [9] Only rebel not against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. [10] But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
[11] And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? [12] I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they". Num. 14:1-12.
"[19] Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. [20] And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: [21] But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. [22] Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten time, and have not hearkened to my voice; [23] Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: [24] But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. [25] (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
[26] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, [27] How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. [28] Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:[29] Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me. [30] Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. [31] But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. [32] But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. [33] And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. [34] After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. [35] I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die". Num. 14:19-35 (emphasis added).
True to God's word, the rest of the promised land was given to the next generation forty years later:
"[19] But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that you have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you; [20] Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you". Dt. 3:19-20 (emphasis added).
Take notice of this next passage. The promised land is described as both a "rest" and an "inheritance".
"Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. [9] For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you. [10] But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you toinherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; [11] Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there;...". Dt. 12:8-11 (emphasis added).
"[1] Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, [2] And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you: [3] Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God. [4] And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of Jordan". Josh. 22:1-4 (emphasis added).
"And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. [44] And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of alltheir enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. [45] There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass". Josh. 21:43-45 (emphasis added).
Let us return to Hebrews chapter 4, verse 3:
"For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world". Heb. 4:3.
The Works Finished From the Foundation of the World.
Hebrews chapter 4, verse 3 makes a very specific reference: "although the works were finished from the foundation of the world". What works were finished at the "foundation of the world"? What is the Word of God trying to tell us? First, this reference is to God's plan known to Him since the foundation of the world. "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world". Mt. 13:35. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear". Heb. 11:3.
Second, the reference to "[T]he works finished from the foundation of the world" in Hebrews 4:3 reminds us of God's seventh day sabbath of rest, i.e., the works finished upon creation. "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made". Gen. 2:3. And the Fourth Commandment, "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it". Ex. 20:11. As we shall see, Hebrews 4:1-12 gives us much more about the seventh day sabbath, and we will address it later in our discussion. Are we given any other scripture that helps us understand the reference in Hebrews 4:3 to "although the works were finished from the foundation of the world"? Indeed we are. We are given a critically important passage in Isaiah chapter 58 that opens a tremendous understanding for us:
"[12] And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
[13] If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: [14] Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it". Isa. 58:12-14.
Repairer of the Breach.
Recall, we gentiles are children of Israel because we too are the seed of Abraham by faith in Jesus:
"[3:26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
[4:1] Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; [2] But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. [3] Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: [4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. [6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. [7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ". Gal. 3:26 - 4:7.
We the gentiles breached the everlasting sabbath covenant,
"[16] Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant". Ex. 31:16.
And we the gentiles have been breaching this everlasting sabbath covenant for the past 1,700 years, with very few exceptions.
"[12] And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in". Isa. 58:12.
In this passage of Isaiah, the "breach" is referring to the gentiles' breach of the everlasting sabbath covenant. Now is the time to repair this breach. Be a repairer of the breach. You can do something for God. You can help restore God's holy day by keeping God's seventh day sabbath. That is what the Word of God tells us to do. Believe God. Obey God. Be a repairer of the breach.
"[25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel,until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. [26] And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: [27] For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins". Rom. 11:25-27.
Keeping the sabbath and repairing the breach of the everlasting covenant is "the fulness of the Gentiles". Israel will soon have their eyes opened and embrace Christ. It is time. And there is much to do.
Old Waste Places.
Next, Isaiah 58:12 says that they shall build "the old waste places". For understanding, let us first turn to a statement James makes in The Acts. The issue being discussed is whether it is necessary for gentiles to be circumcised in order to be saved:
"[13] And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: [14] Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. [15] And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, [16] After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: [17] That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. [18] Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world". Acts 15:13-18 (emphasis added).
James reference to the "words of the prophets", is to the following passage in the book of Amos,
"[11] In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: [12] That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. [13] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. [14] And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. [15] And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God". Amos 9:11:15.
"[61] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; [2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; [3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. [4] And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. [5] And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons ofthe alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. [6] But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of God: ye shall eat the riches of theGentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves". Isa. 61:1-6 (emphasis added); Compare Lk. 4:18-19.
Foundations of Many Generations.
Note the remarkable similarity between the phrase "all his works from the beginning of the world" in Acts 15:18, and "the works were finished from the foundation of the world" as stated in Hebrews 4:3 (which tells us we are talking about a plan of God). The above passage in Acts tells us that "heathen" are us gentiles. We call ourselves "Christ"ians", "which are called by [His] name". Amos 9:12. We are of the "people of Israel". Remember, believers by faith in Jesus are the seed of Abraham "and heirs according to the promise". Gal. 3:29. What promise? We are heirs to God's promise of the inheritance of the promised land together with Jesus Christ and our other brother Jews. Take a look:
"And I will give unto thee [Abraham], and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God". Gen.17:8 (emphasis added).
"And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. [10] And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. [11] And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; [12] And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land". Gen. 35:9-12 (emphasis added).
"And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: [3] and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name of JEHOVAH was I not known to them. [4] And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. [5] And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. [6] Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: [7] And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. [8] And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD". Ex. 6:3-8 (emphasis added).
"Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as that stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. [14] And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people". Ex.32:13-14 (emphasis added).
"Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every manwhatsoever is right in his own eyes. [9] For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you. [10] But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; [11] Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there;...". Dt. 12:8-11 (emphasis added).
Can we be absolutely certain that believers by faith in Christ Jesus will come to the rest and to the inheritance of the promised land? Yes we can, IF you believe the Word of God:
"[3:16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ". Gal. 3:16.
"[3:29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise". Gal. 3:29.
"[4:4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. [6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. [7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ". Gal. 4:4-7.
"[8:9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his". Rom. 8:9.
[8:14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. [15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: [17] And if children, heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together". Rom. 8:14-17.
We are joint heirs with Christ to the inheritance of the promised land. This is the Truth of God. We can now expand our understanding of the "foundations of many generations" in Isaiah 58:12 as including the inheritance of the promised land, in addition to meaning the seventh day sabbath from "when the works were finished at the foundation of the world", and it is all part of the grand design of God known to Him from the beginning.
In our discussion of Hebrews 4:3 wherein it states, "although the works were finished from thefoundation of the world", we are reviewing the following passage in Isaiah:
"[12] And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
[13] If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: [14] Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, andfeed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it". Isa. 58:12-14.
We have determined what is meant by, "thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations". Believers by faith in Jesus Christ are joint heirs to the inheritance of the promised land. What is meant by the "restorer of paths to dwell in" referenced in Isaiah 58:12?
"[16] Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein". Jer. 6:16 (emphasis added).
"[2:1] The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. [2] And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. [3] And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. [4] And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. [5] O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD". Isa. 2:1-5 (emphasis added).
We can not get any clearer than that. The reference Isaiah makes to "paths to dwell in" are the "old paths", "his ways" and "his paths". This encompasses far more than just keeping His seventh day sabbath, although that the sabbath is a path "to dwell in,"
"[28] And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? [29] See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place on the seventh day. [30] So the people rested on the seventh day". Ex. 16:28-30 (emphasis added).
But just the "sabbath" is much too narrow of a meaning. The term "paths to dwell in" is all encompassing. We have much to learn about the ways and paths of God. We will get to the proof, but for now assume the proposition that God denied the "rest" of the promised land to the children of Israel because they did not believe Him. God can not lie. We have to have faith thatthe Word of God is truth. If we want to obtain salvation, we have to believe God and do what He tells us to do or not to do. We have to be obedient. And we need to learn the ways and paths of God before we become involved in the great tribulation. God tells us about tribulation, the battle of Armagedon, the 1,000 year reign of Christ, the final defeat of satan, judgment day and the inheritance of new Jerusalem for ever for good reason. If you do not like to read about that stuff, tough. Your salvation depends upon believing the Word of God. We can trust nothing but the Word of God. God tells us of the events of the last days so His people can be prepared. We have to believe that the Word of God about the last days is fact. Understanding the events to come is necessary to understand the message given us in Hebrews 4:1-12.
Tribulation.
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come". 2 Tim. 3:1.
"[32] And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. [33] And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days". Dan. 11:32-33.
"[15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) [16] Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: [17] Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: [18] Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. [19] And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! [20] But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. [23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there: believe it not. [24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. [25] Behold, I have told you before. [26] Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. [27] For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall the coming of the Son of man be. [28] For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. [31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other". Mt. 24:15-31(emphasis added).
Why else would Jesus tell His faithful to pray that your flight be not in the winter, "neither on the sabbath day" (Mt. 24:20) except that the sabbath is to be kept by believers during the tribulation? It is not that keeping of the sabbath is being "re-instituted", it never went away. It just took us gentiles 1,700 years to open our eyes to this great deception. Let us read more regarding the tribulation:
"[17] And the dragon [verse 9, "The Devil, and Satan"] was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ". Rev. 12:17 (emphasis added).
Notice the war against the saints is against those which "keep the commandments of God", and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. These will be the dead "which die in the Lord". See Rev. 14:12-13. Again, we are not given the choice to keep "some", "most" or "all but one" of the commandments. Believe the Word of God. We must keep the sabbath commandment to die IN Christ. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death". Rev. 12:11. Many will be killed.
"[21] I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailedagainst them; [22] Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom". Dan. 7:21-22.
"[13:1] In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness". Zech. 13:1. "[8] And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God". Zech. 13:8-9 (emphasis added).
And what sign are we to give to tell God that we know He is the Lord our God?
"I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments and do them. [20] And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God". Ezek. 20:19-20 (emphasis added).
The Battle of Armageddon.
"[16:13] And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. [14] For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. [15] Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. [16] And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon". Rev. 16:13-16.
"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [2] For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth intocaptivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. [3] Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
[4] And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. [5] And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.". Zech. 14:1-5 (emphasis added).
"[19:11] And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. [12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. [13] Andhe was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [14] And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
[19:17] And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; [18] That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. [19] And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
[20:1] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. [2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, [3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. [4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. [5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years". Rev. 19:11 - 20:6 (emphasis added).
"[16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words". 1 Thes. 4:16-17 (emphasis added).
Who are the "dead in Christ"? We reviewed in our discussion of the promise of eternal rest. Those that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev. 14:12-13.
"[9] After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and psalms in their hands; [10] And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb". Rev. 7:9-10. [13] And one of the elders answered,saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? [14] And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [15] Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. [16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. [17] For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes". Rev. 7:13-17.
One Thousand Year Reign of Christ.
It is after the battle of Armageddon that the one thousand year reign of Christ begins:
During the 1,000 year reign of Christ, before the day of judgment, the surviving saints and those beheaded as described in Rev. 19:4 shall reign with Christ as priests of God and of Christ. And the Levite priests will teach God's people:
"And they [the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok] shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. [24] And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths". Ezek. 44:23-24 (emphasis added).
That is right. During the 1,000 year reign of Christ the saints shall hallow God's sabbath.
The Final Defeat of satan.
Once the 1,000 year reign of Christ is finished, the final defeat of satan occurs:
[7] And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, [8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. [10] And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever". Rev. 20:7-10.
The Day of Judgment.
And then the day of judgment will occur:
"[11] And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to theirworks. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire". Rev. 20:12-15.
The New Jerusalem, Heaven and Earth.
And then the final inheritance:
"[21:1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. [2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband". Rev. 21:1-2.
And through eternity, the sabbath will be kept:
"[22] For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, sayeth the LORD, so shall your seed and name remain. [23] 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. [24] And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh". Isa. 66:22-24.
Remember the promises God made to Abraham and his seed,
"And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. [8] And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God". Gen. 17:-8 (emphasis added).
"[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall their be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. [5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. [6] And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. [7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son". Rev. 21:3-7 (emphasis added).
"And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him". Dan.7:27.
"[7:18] But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess thekingdom for ever, even for ever and ever". Dan. 7:18.
"[30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. [31] And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end". Lk. 1:30-33 (emphasis added).
Let us return to our discussion of Hebrews 4:3, "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world". We continue to analyze the meaning of, "although the works were finished from the foundation of the world". Recall that we reviewed the following passage in Isaiah:
"[12] And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
[13] If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalthonour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: [14] Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it". Isa. 58:12-14.
Let us return now to our discussion of Hebrews 4:1-12.
"[1] Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. [2] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. [3] For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
[4]"For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works". Heb. 4:4.
Here, the Hebrews passage leaves no doubt that the topic is God's seventh day sabbath rest.
"[3] And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work". Gen. 2:3.
"[8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: [11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it". Ex. 20:8-11.
Here, verse 4 tells us that He, God, spoke in a certain place about His seventh day sabbath rest. What place? From where did God speak of His seventh day?
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. Ex. 20:22.
God spoke of His seventh day commandment when He delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses and the children of Israel. And where was God when he did this? God was in heaven. Open your eyes and your ears to this one:
"[29] But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. [30] When thou are in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; [31] (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. [32] For ask now of the days that are past, whichwere before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? [33] Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? [34] Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? [35] Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. [36] Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. [37] And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; [38] To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. [39] Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. [40] Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, with thy children after thee, and that thou may prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever". Dt. 4:29-40 (emphasis added).
Abba Father! Do you see the promises? Do you see the truths? Do you believe the Word of God? Moses is instructing us, the people of God, for the "tribulation", "even in the latter days". IF, IF, IF you seek God with all your heart and soul, you will find God IF, IF, IF you are obedient to His voice. Be obedient. Keeping the seventh day sabbath is being obedient to the voice of God. The Word of God tells us to keep ALL the commandments. Not some, not just the ones we like, not all but one, not the commandments of man. Keep the sabbath. IF you do these things, God promises. God does not lie. Believe God. When God says He will do something, believe it! God promises that He will not forsake you, God promises that He will not destroy you, AND God promises that He will not forget the covenant He sware to the fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the seed. Believers are the seed of Abraham. Through faith in Christ, we are heirs to the promises. God promises to be our God and that we will be His people. But what is the sign? Keep God's seventh day sabbath. If you want God to know that you know He is the Lord your God, He tells you to give keep His sabbath as the sign. Obey the voice of God. You better wantGod to know that you know He is your Lord God. Not the anti-christ, not the false prophet, not satan. He tells us what to do. Glory be to God, He tells us what to do! Verse 40, keep His statutes and His commandments given by Moses. Obey God to prolong your days upon the earth. The earth is our inheritance for ever. But we have to be obedient and do as God says. If you don't see it, pray for understanding. Read this paper. Read your Bible. Repent. Turn from your sin. Be obedient to God. God loves you. Jesus loves you. They want that no man should perish but that all might have eternal life. But you have got to do what God says. It is not what your preacher, the pope, or the man on television says. You have got to do what God says.
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