THE SABBATH REST


"Candles at the Wall" by Jewish artist Eizen.
Click the image above to go to the Israeli Poster Center.

The Sabbath is celebrated with the lighting of two Shabbat candles.

A study by Gavin Finley MD
endtimepilgrim.org - 2006

THE SABBATH:
PRESENTLY OBSERVED BY THE JEWISH HOUSE,
BUT A COMMANDMENT TO ALL 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL,
AND TO THEIR FRIENDS OUT AMONG THE NATIONS
SAVED UNDER THE ATONING BLOOD OF MESSIAH
IN THE WIDER COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL.

"Remember the sabbath day,
            and keep it holy". - Exodus 20:8
Christians today are only just beginning to see the importance of this matter of the Sabbath. It is a day of rest, reflection, and recreation in fellowship with God. It has truly been called the 'Sabbath rest'. Unfortunately we have been unaware of the commandment's relevance to us in Christendom. We have been led to believe that the seventh day Sabbath and the other holiday Sabbaths are merely a matter of "the Law of Moses". So as we see it the Sabbath rest is not our concern. We go to Church on the first day of the week, a Sunday. And we are happy to accept what we are told about this switch. We are told that this is the "Christian sabbath'.

Is the Sabbath really a Sunday for Christian believers?
Or is this phrase, "Sunday Sabbath" a self-conflicted oxymoron?
Is it possible that we have been mislead by dark angelic principalities and powers who, (because of our compromise), have infiltrated the Church?
And if so, why are unholy religious spirits hood-winking us like this?

It is true that we are not saved by the keeping of the letter of the Law. No man can do that to the holy perfection God requires. But as as matter of righteousness and salvation before God), the Old Covenant God made back at Sinai with the nation of Israel has been brought to the vital personal level and completed by the New Covenant. Yes, there is a national covenant with the nation of Israel. But God has always dealt with people personally. The prophet Jeremiah laid this out very well in Jeremiah 31:31-33. But does this mean that the Old Covenant, the covenant God made with the nation of Israel, along with all the precepts of Israel, is "done away with?

Far from it! The Old Covenant has not been displaced by the New Covenant. No, not at all. Rather, the Old Covenant YHVH-God made with the nation of Israel sees His Law lifted up and established in the hearts of individuals. These are the people who will ultimately make up His nation, His Congregation, even His Elect and Chosen people. This is not a matter of race or DNA. The national covering and citizenship of Israel does not come by their blood but rather by the blood covering of Israel's Suffering Servant, the Lamb of God. Let us make no mistake about this. The redemption of the Congregation of God came as a fulfillment of the demands of the Law. And yet Emmanuel, "God with us", brings this redemption to us personally and also nationally by His Grace. This redeeming blood of the New Covenant comes to us from God, by Grace through faith. It comes by the atoning blood of Israel's Sacrifice Lamb. This was the work of Yeshuah Hamashiach/Jesus Christ. And it was finished at the cross of Calvary.

The prophet Jeremiah spoke of this New Covenant being established personally with individuals. He spoke of YHVH-God's Law being written on tablets of flesh in the hearts of men. The New Covenant comes in with the indwelling Messiah. The personal salvation of God's Elect. saves the lost, establishes the citizenry of Israel, and restores the full sovereignty of all of its 12 tribes. Messiah does the work here, not us, and "unto Him shall the gathering of the people be". Ultimately this New Covenant will come to the aid of the Old Covenant to restore the broken state of Judah and seek out and find the lost 10 tribes thus guaranteeing Israel's ultimate national salvation. Both houses of Israel would eventually come to restoration in the New Covenant .

But that is not all! The Light of Israel also shines out beyond the land of Israel and beyond the racial DNA of Israel to embrace those God is calling to Himself among the heathen gentiles out at the ends of the earth. Thus we see the fulfillment of God's declared purpose in Isaiah 49:6. There He clearly states His intent to establish the wider Commonwealth of Israel. Oh yes, the "new creatures" in God find that they have been issued passports into a New Citizenship. The prophesied Light to the Gentiles performs this wondrous work. Both personal "born-again" salvation and national restoration in Israel will become the portion for all the many myriads that Abraham saw. Indeed the Seed of Abraham will spawn a huge company of people, as numerous as the stars of heaven.

This restoration will bring world peace. But it will come under Messiah. It will will not come from the human efforts of an ecumenical, or politically active Church. Nor will this restoration and peace come from a political or military work by Dominionist crusading men pretending to act honorably and on her behalf. God Himself will complete the Restoration of Israel. And He will do it His way. And so "all Israel will be saved". (See Romans 11)

THE SABBATH:
A PERSONAL INVITATION TO FELLOWSHIP FROM THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.
A SERENDIPITY AND A DELIGHT FOR THOSE WHO RESPOND AND ENTER IN.

The new Covenant is a serendipity. It is in the returning Messiah that Shiloh comes.
And to Him will the gathering (and the obedience) of the people be.

Six thousand years have passed since creation.
The coming one thousand years Messiah will see Messiah establish His Kingdom.
And He will bring the people of this harried sin-sick planet His Millennial.
There and then the people and the creation will begin to enter into His Sabbath Rest.

Our obedience to God in this matter of the Sabbath is not onerous or grievous. Our obedience and our following Christ, the Holy One of Israel, comes in the gentle bonds of love. Since the days of righteous Abel and Enoch good men and women and children have obeyed and walked with God. They do this not out of compulsion but because they love Him. But many in western Christendom still see the Sabbath only in the context of fulfilling and obeying the letter of the Law. They do not know God to the degree that they want to walk with Him daily. Many who call themselves Christians have still to repent of their Luciferian selfism. Christians don't seem to want to hear about the Sabbath. They are still caught up in that old blood feud over Law vs. Grace. That big spat began 2700 years ago at the Breach of Jeroboam. That epic family feud still remains to this day. It has yet to be faced up to by both parties and to be resolved. But it will. This and many other wonders and mysteries will be unveiled during the future 70th Week, the final 7 years of this age.

So when nominal Christians today hear mention of "the Sabbath" they then hear a little religious gremlin whisper in their ear.
They hear,
"Someone is telling you that you must keep the Sabbath to be saved!

The typical Christian response to this is quite predictable and understandable.
They say, "Me keep the Sabbath? No way!"

Of course they are being led astray and into a babel of confusion about the Sabbath. The Sabbath was never intended to be a means of salvation. We can never please God by our good works. Indeed the Sabbath was not established for God. The Sabbath Rest was instituted by God for man. It was meant to be an opportunity and a pathway to joy in God. The Sabbath was also set to be a sign between God and His covenant people.

Yeshua/Jesus Himself spoke this word of grace concerning the Sabbath.
He said,

"The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:"
It is entirely possible for God to walk with men.
He can and he will bring His peace and His Millennial Sabbath rest to them right here on earth.
But alas, the fourth commandment is forgotten.
The prophet Jeremiah lamented.
Jeremiah 50
6 “ My people have been lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray;
They have turned them away on the mountains.
They have gone from mountain to hill;
They have forgotten their resting place.
But the days will come when those languishing under the gargoyles of the cathedrals will step out into the Light of Israel. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah will roar. And the sons of God "will come trembling from the West", They will "ask the way to Zion" In that day they will come to know the indwelling Messiah. They will come to experience His Sabbath as a joy to be embraced by Grace and in the devotion. In those days the Prince of Peace, King of Salem/shalom will lead them into His rest.