I often wonder why more people don't observe sabbath? I'm convinced if we were taught what it really means, more would hop on the bandwagon. I don't claim to be "right" about Sabbath, but I 'll try to share what I think it means. The day of Sabbath rest is meant to teach us something far greater than how to be"restful," I think most of us have a pretty good handle on that concept. Sabbath is meant to teach us truths, pretty deep truths actually. The bible uses physical to spiritual parallels, or prophetic shadow pictures, to teach spiritual truths. However, shadows and parallels, do not appear to be hot topics in mainstream religion. Although not often taught, the Sabbath on the SEVENTH day, as with all SEVEN annual His appointed times, are meant to teach us spiritual truths far deeper than the day itself.
From this point forward, these are my beliefs and I appreciate your taking the time to read. That being said, please do your own research and pray to the Set Apart Spirit for understanding. I believe the true meaning of Sabbath is pointing towards at least 3 spiritual truths (I'm sure there's many more):
Recognizing His authority over our lives.
Understanding and accepting YHWH's plan for the salvation of humanity.
Expressing your desire to enter His eternal rest.
1. Recognizing His Authority Over Our Lives
I will repeat this a lot, but it bears repeating. The seventh day Sabbath rest is the ONLY holy day or appointed time Our Creator participated in Himself (Gen 2:1, Exo 20:11, Exo 31:17). Sabbath rest is the sign He requires to show you are His (Exo 20:19, 31:13, 31:17 & Eze 20:19). The act of obedience is an outward expression that proves two inward beliefs:
(1) That we recognize Him as our Creator.
(2) That we have accepted His authority over our lives.
Being the Creator IS HIS SEAT OF AUTHORITY. When we observe, we are recognizing and submitting to His supreme authority in our lives as our Creator.
In ancient times, a king or ruler would put their "seal" on letters and important documents in wax. The seal included 3 elements: Name, Title, and Realm. Let me illustrate using a more recent person: Name: George Washington; Title: President; Realm: United States. Now let's illustrate in biblical context, Name: YHWH; Title: Creator; Realm: Heaven and Earth.
The Sabbath commandment is the only commandment that has His SEAL. The other nine commandments are directives only, having no reference to His authority (10 Commandments in Exodus chap 20).
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it SET APART.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the YHWH your Elohim; [in it] you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter,
your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
For in six days the YHWH made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore YHWH blessed the sabbath day and made it set apart." EXODUS 20:8-11
Only because He created us does He have the right to tell us how to live. Children inherently understand this truth. Try telling someone else's child what to do. They will probably say, you can't tell me what do, you're NOT MY MOM! Well, He is our Heavenly Father, therefore He has the right to tell us what to do.
By resting we are both submitting and humbling ourselves before Him. This act of obedience proves we recognize Him as our Creator and recognize His supreme Authority over our lives.
2. Understanding and Expressing faith in YHWH's Plan for the Salvation of Humanity
I used to think the great tribulation could be staved off if enough people turned to Him. I used to think man's depravity would "trigger" the start of the great tribulation. That it would be the escalation of man's evilness that would bring about our destruction. Sort of like a tipping point. I no longer think this is the case. I now believe the timeline for mankind was predetermined. The clock was set at creation. I could be wrong on this point for sure. Either way, let's continue.
I believe, when YHWH created the SEVEN-day week, the concept of a week and the number of days were not just by chance. Nothing He does is happenstance. The theory is: the seven-day week is a prophetic shadow picture of His 7,000 year timeline for humanity (I did not come up with this theory). Each day of the week representing 1,000 years. I believe the knowledge of this timeline has been hidden, or occulted, from humanity. However, at the time of Messiah, I believe the Hebrews were fully aware of this plan. The Apostle Peter was referring to this fact when he said, "one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day" (2 Peter 3:9).
SEVEN days of the week
SEVEN annual appointed times
SEVEN-thousand-year timeline for humanity (?)
SEVEN is the biblical representation of COMPLETENESS
If humanity has SEVEN days, where are we on that timeline? According to the bible, there are about 4,000 years before Messiah. Today we are about 2,000 year from His birth. Basic math tells us we're somewhere in the neighborhood of 6,000 years since biblical "creation." If you believe in evolution this may seem like a bridge too far. If you believe humanity has been here for millions of years, I understand. I myself did not believe the biblical account of creation and young earth without countless hours of research, convincing me the bible is actually true. To be honest, I was shocked. If you are interested in learning more, I've gathered research on creation here. We also ALL come from ONE female, known as "Mitochondrial Eve" who just may be about 6,000 years old exactly as the biblical account states, learn more here. Either way, for now, let's rely on the accuracy of the bible's reckoning of time and account for creation.
What does this mean? If the biblical reckoning of time is correct, humanity is ABOUT 6,000 years old. If we think of each 1,000 years as a day, we are around the evening of the 6th day. I don't want to get too far into this theory other than to tell you how this relates to Sabbath. In the prophetic week, 6 days, or 6,000 years, man will labor under the curse of Adam. The curse of Adam is the toil and suffering we will experience in years before Messiah returns. Below are the Creator's words to Adam after the Fall:
"Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:17-19).
According to the theory, Messiah returns on the 7th or Sabbath day of humanity. On the 7th day Messiah will rule the earth for a thousand years, or one prophetic "day." I had NEVER heard of Messiah's millennial reign and I am still learning and collecting scriptures. I'll include the scripture in Revelation that tells us of His 1,000 year reign from the last book of the New Testament, Revelation. There are many more scriptures, but I am still collecting and learning.
And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan,
and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut [it] and sealed [it] over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer,
until the thousand years were completed;
after these things he must be released for a short time.
Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them.
And I [saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Yahusha and because of the word of Elohim,
and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image,
and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand;
and they came to life and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years.
The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.
This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection;
over these the second death has no power,
but they will be priests of Elohim and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
REVELATION 20:2-6
How does this relate to Sabbath? On the SEVENTH day or approximately 6,000 - 7,000 years after creation, humanity will experience it's first REST. During that prophetic day or 1,000 year period, Satan will be bound and no longer deceive us (Rev 20:3). Messiah will reign with those who take part in the first resurrection, those who will become His priests (Rev 20:6). Humanity will REST on the 7th day in our timeline. Satan will be in prison and Messiah will be the world leader.
If your hair is blowing back, you're not alone. If you're skeptical, good! I will offer some other scripture to help support the theory. I think we can all agree that Messiah did not rule the earth in His first coming. He was killed as a young man. However, on His second coming He will rule the earth with a ROD OF IRON!
'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the [very] ends of the earth as Your possession.
'You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.'"
PSALM 2:7-9
'He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; Rev 2:27 AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received [authority] from My Father; Rev 2:28 and I will give him the morning star.
Rev 12:5 And she gave birth to a son, a male [child], who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
From His mouth comes a sharp sword,
so that with it He may strike down the nations,
and He will rule them with a rod of iron;
and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written,
"KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
REVELATION 19:15-16
The last verse is from Revelation chapter 19, we learn of His millennial reign in the next chapter, Revelation 20: 2-6. I'm not sure the prophetic statements about Messiah ruling with a rod of iron make sense applied to His first coming when He CLEARLY did not rule the earth. I'm not sure these prophetic statements about Him ruling with a rod of iron make sense within the context of the new heaven and earth either. In the new heaven and earth, He would have no reason to "strike down the nations" or to rule over them with a "rod of iron." Those whose names are found in the book of life CHOSE to be obedient. No rod of iron needed. At least I don't think.
We express our faith in YHWH's overall 7,000 year plan by resting on the 7th day of the week. Physically recognizing a Sabbath rest is putting your faith in ACTION that you believe and support His plan. By recognizing Sabbath, you are supporting HIS WILL. If you don't know about the 7,000 year timeline or think this sounds CRAZY, that's ok. So long as you rest on Sabbath. Understanding is NOT required but obedience is. We are judged not based on our understanding or belief, but what we DO (see study on deeds here).
The whole timeline thing is sort of mind bending so recap for good measure, these are my beliefs, I expect no one to believe me. I do hope you research yourself and come to your own conclusions. The seven day week at creation had prophetic meaning. Each "day" represents 1,000 years within the 7,000 year period man will live without our Creator. Messiah came at the beginning of the 4th day and is returning on or around the 7th day. The 7th day sabbath rest during the week is a prophetic shadow picture of Messiah's SECOND coming where humanity at large will experience its first rest. Satan will be bound and Messiah will rule the entire earth with a rod of iron. Think of what a world would be like with no murder, no theft, no lying. You can see why this would be a peaceful and restful time. By "resting" on the 7th day of the week, we are putting our faith in ACTION that we support the Messiah's reign and the will of our Father.
3. Expressing Your Desire To Enter His Eternal Rest
The third spiritual truth Sabbath is pointing to is His eternal rest. Paul fully understood the prophetic meaning of Sabbath when he tells us, sabbath is but a "shadow of the good things to come" (Col 2:17). The very verse people quote as the reason not to observe sabbath is the verse that's pointing us to the true nature of sabbath. How very ironic. The sabbath rest is one big, fat, giant shadow picture! The first good thing to come is Messiah's millennial reign, but that's temporary. The grand finale is pointing to YHWH's eternal kingdom where Messiah will rule as king for eternity.
This kingdom under His rule will come about after the heavens and the earth pass away (Rev 21:1). Messiah confirms when He says "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Only then will humanity tabernacle with their Creator.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying,
"Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is among men, and He will dwell among them,
and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be [any] death; there will no longer be [any] mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
REVELATION 21:3-4
Only then will the curse be lifted and we will be able to see the face of our Creator! Our Creator's NAME will be on our forehead (please think about this verse if you think what you call Him makes no difference).
There will no longer be any curse;
and the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb will be in it,
and His bondservants will serve Him;
they will see His face, and His name [will be] on their foreheads.
REVELATION 22:3-4
Those granted entrance into this kingdom will experience the rest of YHWH and Yahusha for eternity. No more curse of death, suffering and toil endured by humanity whilst living apart from their Creator. Deep I know.
You see the act of RESTING on Sabbath is so much deeper than just your personal rest. By physically resting on Sabbath, you are expressing your faith in His promise of sending the Messiah back for His Millennial reign (as already discussed). But you are ALSO expressing your faith in the ETERNAL rest for those with YHWH and Yahusha in the new heaven and new earth. We must express our faith with obedience, being doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves (Jam 1:22).
We MUST put our faith in the promise of Eternal Rest in ACTION by observing the earthy form of His Rest - Sabbath!
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