[5]"And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest". Heb. 4:5.
What happens in this place again? Look at verse 4, "For he spake". So God will speak in "this place again". What place? "Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee..." Dt. 4:36. What is the condition? If they shall enter into God's rest. Which rest? Verse 4, "And God did rest the seventh day from all his works". No doubt. God will speak His voice to instruct those that keep His seventh day sabbath. God makes the promise and He can not lie. Are we told of the punishment for breaking the everlasting sabbath covenant? Are we told why God will speak to us from heaven?
"The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." Isa. 24:5-6.
"[27] When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. [28] Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: [29] For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: [30] They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. [31] Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. [32] For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. [33] But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." Prov. 1:27-33.
"Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. [26] For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken". Prov. 3:24-25.
"[26] In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge". Ps. 14:26.
"[8] Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: [9] That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD. [10] Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us the right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: [11] Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. [12] Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: [13] Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. [14] And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. [15] For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. [16] But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursueyou be swift. [17] One thousand shall flee at therebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. [18] And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. [19] For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. [20] And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: [21] And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. [22] Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. [23] Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. [24] The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. [25] And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. [26] Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound". Isa. 30:8-26 (emphasis added).
"[1] Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. [2] Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. [3] Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. [4] For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; [5] Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. [6] Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; [7] Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. [8] The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. [9] All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest. [10] His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. [11] Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. [12] Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant". Isa. 56:1-12.
"[20] And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: [21] Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is withinyou.
And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. [23] And they shall say to you, See here; or see there: go not after them, nor follow them. [24] For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. [25] But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. [26] And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. [27] They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; [29] But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. [30] Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. [31] In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. [32] Remember Lot's wife. [33] Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. [34] I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken and the other shall be left. [35] Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [36] Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [37] And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together". Lk. 17:20-37. See also, Mt.24:28, ("For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together"); Job 39:27-30, ("[27] Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? ... [30] Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she").
"[3] And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; [4] Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. [5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel". Ex. 19:3-6.
"[103:1] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. [2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: [3] Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; [4] Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; [5] Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. [6] The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. [7] He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. [8] The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. [9] He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. [10] He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. [11] For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercytoward them that fear him. [12] As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. [13] Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. [14] For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. [15] As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. [16] For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shallknow it no more. [17] But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; [18] To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. [19] The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom shall ruleth over all. [20] Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. [21] Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. [22] Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul". Ps. 103.
"[6] The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: [7] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. [8] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
[9] O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! [10] Behold, the Lord GOD will come with a strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. [11] He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."... [21] Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?"...
[28] Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. [29] He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. [30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: [31] But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint". Isa. 40:6-11, 21, 28-31.
"[14] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [15] Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession. [16] Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. [17] Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. [18] And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. [19] And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: [20] That theymay walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. [21] but as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD". Ezek. 11:14-21.
"[12:1] And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: [2] And shebeing with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. [3] And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. [4] And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. [5] And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. [6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, and they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. [9] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [10] And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accursed them before our God day and night. [11] 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. [12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. [13] And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. [14] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, from the face of the serpent. [15] And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. [16] And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. [17] And the dragon 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. 12:1-17.
"[1] The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. [2] He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness". Isa. 57:1-2.
"[1] For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. [3]And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. [4] Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with statutes and judgments. Mal. 4:1-4.
"For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. [12] As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. [13] And I will bring themout from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. [14] I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. [15] I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. [16] I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment." Ezek. 34:11-16.
"[30:1] And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, [2] And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; [3] That then thy LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. [4] If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: [5] And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. [6] And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. [7] And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. [8] And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. [9] And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: [10] If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul". Dt. 30:1-10.
"[15:17] Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established. [18] The LORD shall reign for ever and ever". Ex. 15:17-18.
"[30] Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them,The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. [31] A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD. [32] Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. [33] And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground". Jer.25:30-33.
"[15] The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. [16] The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. [17] So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. Joel 3:15-17.
"[32] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call". Joel 2:32.
"[23:1] Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. [2] Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. [3] And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. [4] And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD. [5] Behold, the days come saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. [6] In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. [7] Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; [8] But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land". Jer. 23:1-8.
"[27] Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: [28] And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. [29] Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. [30] And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shallshew the lightning down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones". Isa. 30:27-30 (emphasis added).
"[21] And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: [22] and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: [23] Neither shall they defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. [24] And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. [25] And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. [26] Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. [27] My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [28] And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore". Ezek. 37:21-28.
"[37] He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; [38] The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; [39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. [40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. [41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them that do iniquity; [42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear". Mt. 13:37-43.
Remember, God will speak from heaven again, but ONLY to those that shall enter into His rest. Heb. 4:5. See also Heb. 12:25-26.
[6]"Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:" Heb. 4:6.
Because it remains "that some must enter therein". Verses 4 and 5 are clearly speaking about God's seventh day sabbath rest. But we also have the promise of eternal rest from our labours, and we now know that rest is the same rest of our inheritance, the promised land. See Acts 26:17; Gal. 3:29, 4:28; Heb. 6:12, 9:15, 11:16, 12:22; 2 Pet. 3:13. And to get the eternal rest, we have to keep the commandments of God. So under all scenarios, verse 6 refers to the need for some to enter into the sabbath rest.
Hebrews 4:6 continues, "and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because ofunbelief". Once again, we learn from the experiences of the children of Israel upon their deliverance from Egypt. Here is how God describes the "unbelief" of the Israelites:
"[10] [Thus saith the Lord GOD] Wherefore I caused them [Israel] to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. [11] And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. [12] Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. [13] But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatlypolluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. [14] But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. [15] Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands; [16] Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. [17] Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. [18] But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: [19] I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; 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. [21] Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. [22] Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. [23] I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; [24] Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; [26] And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD". Ezek. 20:10-26 (emphasis added).
There are many specific examples of the "disbelief" exhibited by the Israelites by either not believing God's promises or disobeying His commands. The Israelites did not believe God when He told them of the consequences for disobedience. Here are some examples of their disbelief:
"I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. [28] And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee". Ex. 23:28.
"[20] And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us. [21] Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hathsaid unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. [22] And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come. [23] And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe: [24] And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out. [25] And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us. [26] Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God: [27] And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliverus into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. [28] Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. [29] Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. [30] The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; [31] And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. [32] Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God, [33] Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day. [34] And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, [35] Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers, [36] Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD. [37] Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither. [38] But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. [39] Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. [40] But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea". Dt. 1:20-40 (emphasis added).
Even Moses was punished for failing to follow God's instructions to obtain water out of the rock at Meribah:
[12] And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." Num.20:12.
And what about us?
"[11:20] Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: [21] For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee". Rom. 11:20-21. "[23] And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again". Rom. 11:23.
Does God give us any warnings or commands that we do not believe? First example of disbelief, the "peace" agreement between Israel and Palestine,
"And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee. [32] Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. [33] They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto you". Ex. 23:31-33.
Second example of disbelief, God's seventh day sabbath,
"[22:14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city". Rev. 22:14.
"[8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy". Ex. 20:8.
Third example of disbelief, the eternal fires of hell,
"[8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death". Rev. 21:8 (emphasis added).
Do you doubt the importance of the Old Testament to the salvation of a "christian"? Do you still think that you need pay attention to only the New Testament? Look at this prophetic warning given by Jesus, the first born of the resurrection:
"[19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. [25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. [26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. [27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: [28] For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. [29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. [30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. [31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead". Lk. 16:29-31 (emphasis added).
Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear? Jesus tells us to listen to Moses and the prophets to obtain eternal salvation. He knows that if we won't listen to Moses and the prophets, we are not going to listen to Him who "rose from the dead". And if we won't listen to Moses and the prophets, the damnation of the fires of hell await us. Look at what God said to Moses before He had delivered the commandments, statutes, ordinances and judgments to Moses and the children of Israel from mount Sanai:
"[4] Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no". Ex. 16:4 (emphasis added). "[25] And Moses said, Eat that to day;; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field. [26] Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. [27] And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. [28] And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?" Ex. 16:25-28 (emphasis added).
God describes keeping His sabbath as "my law" in Exodus chapter 16, verse 4. And in Exodus 16:27, God describes keeping His sabbath as both a commandment and a law. It appears that keeping the sabbath is not only a commandment and the everlasting sabbath covenant by man to God, but a law of God as well.
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them". Ex. 24:12 (emphasis added).
"[8] Now, go, write it before them in a table, and note it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: [9] That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:" Isa. 30:8-9.
"[29] [And Moses said], The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law". Dt. 29:29.
If keeping the sabbath is God's law, it helps to explain the deception and lie about God's only holy day for the past 1,700 years. Had satan known that Jesus was the son of God to be used by God as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind that would believe in Him, satan would not have entered into the hearts of men and had Jesus crucified. Up to that point, satan's only weapon was death, and by the spilling of the blood and water of Jesus, satan was defeated. Jesus is the first born of the resurrected. If keeping the sabbath can truly be called the "law of God," God's own memorial to His creation, then it does explain why satan caused the holy sabbath to be polluted by man through lies and great deception. In Matthew 5:19, Jesus says, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven ...". Could it be that keeping God's sabbath is not the least commandment, but rather the greatest? Could it be that keeping the seventh day sabbath is the "law" written on the tables of stone as referenced in Exodus 24:12?
What we do know is that the keeping of His seventh day sabbath was the first rule of obedience given by God to the Israelites upon their deliverance from Egypt (Ex. 16:1-36) and before the ten commandments. Ex. 16:1-36. Compare Ex. 16:1, ("the fifteenth day of the secondmonthafter their departing out of the land of Egypt") with Ex. 19:1, ("In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt..."). And we also know that God gave Moses the everlasting sabbath covenant as the last rule of obedience before handing Moses the first two tables of stone to Moses. Ex. 31:16-18. Wherefore, the keeping of the seventh day sabbath is the "alpha and omega" of obedience to God.
[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 all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever". Ps. 111:7-10.
[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". Heb. 4:7.
Verse 7 is referring to Psalm 95. We are being told that we must not harden our heart as the Israelites did. We must believe the Word of God. And what does the Word of God say about God's seventh day of rest? Do you believe the Word of God? Do you keep His seventh day sabbath? Or do you still believe the lie that the resurrection of Christ eliminated the duty of man to keep God's seventh day sabbath, replacing it with the first day, Sunday, the "Lord's Day"?
Verse 6 is telling us that some must enter into the seventh day rest, and the children of Israel to whom it was first preached entered not because of unbelief. Now verse 7 says: "Again he limiteth a certain day". This is important. This again confirms for us that the passage is speaking to God's seventh day sabbath rest. We are being told that God does not give a choice of days. He limits the day to one certain day. Day for what? Verses 4 and 5 clearly speak of God's seventh day of rest, and there could be no other kind of rest that is "limiteth a certain day". Verses 6 and 7 tell us that if some still need to enter into His seventh sabbath rest, but do not because of "unbelief", then take a look at this ...
[8]"For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day". Heb. 4:8.
Open your eyes and ears again. What does this say? The catholics rationalize the replacement of God's seventh day sabbath with Sunday because they say Christ's resurrection happened on Sunday, the first day. The protestants continued this practice, also using Christ's resurrection for their justification for the change of days. Now, Hebrews 4:8 says that had Jesus given them rest, He would have afterward spoken of another day. Let us be very clear on this. "For if Jesus had given them rest". Who is "them"? Verse 6, "seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein". "Them" refers to the people not keeping God's seventh day sabbath. That is the only day referenced thus far in Hebrews 4:1-8. "Them" are the people that believe the lie of the "Lord's Day". Verse 8 says that if the Jesus changed the day of rest, He would have told us. If His resurrection changed the day of rest, He would have told us. Jesus is the Word of God. Jesus does not tell us of another day of rest. Jesus, as the Word of God, is telling us that there can be no other day of rest other than God's holy seventh day. Jesus is telling us that His resurrection did not create the "Lord's Day" to replace His Father's holy seventh day sabbath rest. Jesus is telling us that christians are still bound to keep the Fourth Commandment and the everlasting sabbath covenant.
It is so simple, and yet so many have been blinded for so long. If you do not see it, you need topray for understanding because satan has blinded you. Jesus is the Word of God. If Jesus was going to change the seventh day sabbath of rest, He would have told us. The catholics and protestants that are not keeping the seventh day sabbath are breaking a commandment of God. The practice of changing the day of worship and rest from Saturday to Sunday is a tradition of man. Just like the pharisees, catholics and protestants are teaching a commandment of man that renders the Word of God of none effect. Remember how the scribes and pharisees created a loophole around keeping God's Fifth Commandment, Honour thy Father and thy Mother, and the rebuke of Jesus. Mark 7:6-13.
In his 1998 Apostolic Letter Dies Domini, pope John Paul II states:
"22. In those early Christian times, the weekly rhythm of days was generally not part of life in the regions where the Gospel spread, and the festive days of the Greek and Roman calendars did not coincide with the Christian Sunday. For Christians, therefore, it was very difficult to observe the Lord's Day on a set day each week. This explains why the faithful had to gather before sunrise.(20)(46) Yet fidelity to the weekly rhythm became the norm, since it was based upon the New testament and was tied to Old Testament revelation. This is eagerly underscored by the Apologists and the Fathers of the Church in their writings and preaching where, in speaking of the Paschal Mystery, they use the same Scriptural texts which, according to the witness of Saint Luke (cf.24:27, 44-47),(47) the Risen Christ himself would have explained to the disciples. In the light of these texts, the celebration of the day of the Resurrection acquired a doctrinal and symbolic value capable of expressing the entire Christian mystery in all its newness". Dies Domini, p. 9 of 39, (emphasis added)(see endnote 16).
If the pope is implying that Jesus told His disciples after His resurrection to observe Sunday, the first day instead of His Father's seventh day sabbath, the pope is wrong and contrary to scripture. Hebrews 4:8 directly refutes that assertion. You can believe the pope, or you can believe scripture. Jesus Christ is the Word of God. He would know. The books of the New Testament were all written well after Christ's resurrection. Jesus, as the Word of God, would have told us afterward, after his resurrection and during the writings of the New Testament, if He had changed the day of rest. But there is not one scripture in the entire Bible that 1) eliminates the duty to keep God's seventh day sabbath; 2) authorizes the replacement of the seventh day sabbath with Sunday, the first day; or 3) authorizes Sunday as the "Lord's Day". Jesus is the Word of God. And He would have told us if a commandment of God had been eliminated, changed, amended or annulled. And He did not tell us of any changes. Not one. Therefore, christians should be keeping the seventh day sabbath, should have done so for the past 17 centuries, and have been sinning against God once every week by breaking the sabbath. Now that you know the truth, repent. That is what salvation is all about. We must admit the error of our ways before God, while there is yet still time.
[9]"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God". Heb. 4:9.
Who are the people of God? "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus". Gal. 3:26. "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". Heb. 8:10.
Wherefore, God says that he will be a God to all believers by faith in Jesus Christ. "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God", (Heb. 4:9), means that there remains a rest tobelievers in Jesus Christ. In verse 4, the Word of God specifically tells us of God's seventh day rest. Verse 8 states that if Jesus had given another day of rest, He would have said. Jesus did not say. Therefore, there remains a rest to the people of God (verse 9). And that rest is the seventh day sabbath rest, as stated in verse 4, "And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
[10]"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his". Heb. 4:10.
If you have any doubt as to which rest Hebrews 4:1-12 is speaking, verse 10 confirms that we are being instructed on God's seventh day sabbath rest. Verse 10 tells us that we that are entered into the rest of God, cease from our own works, as God did from his. How did God cease from His own works?
"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. [3] And God blessed and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made". Gen. 2:2-3.
We are being told that to enter into God's rest, we must do it as God did it. We must cease from our own works on the seventh day, as God did from His. We need to keep the sabbath rest or be denied the eternal rest in the promised land, because that is the rest God denied to all but two of the Israelites over the age of 20 that were delivered from Egypt.
[11]"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief". Heb. 4:11.
We are to labour to enter into "that rest". God's seventh day sabbath rest. And a warning is given us, "lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief". What unbelief? The unbelief of the children of Israel. And what is one specific example of their disbelief? They polluted His sabbaths. Ezek. 20:13,16, 21 and 24. Do we presently have the same problem of unbelief? How many "christians" do you know that keep God's seventh day sabbath?
And yet another warning:
[12]"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thought and intents of the heart". Heb. 4:12.
"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. 58:13-14.
"[48] He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. [49] For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. [50] And I know thathis commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak". Jn. 12:48-50 (emphasis added).
"[13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name was 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". Rev. 19:13-16.
Wherefore, we have concluded our review of Hebrews 4:1-12. Now that we have understanding, let us read the entire passage.
"[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 the word 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.
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