By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 2:2-3)

These two verses are much different from those describing the preceding days in the creation account.  All of them included the phrase “it was evening and it was morning, day … “.  Not so for the seventh day.  Also the Hebrew word translated rested is Shabath (pronounced sha-BAT).  We get sabbath from this word.  It appears 71 times in the Bible, and 47 of those times it’s translated “cease”.  It only means rest 11 times.

Will This Day Ever End?

Now obviously, the seventh day had a beginning and an end just like all the days before and after it.  But the fact that there is no mention of this in the text of the creation account indicates that in a spiritual sense this day has never ended. There is no eighth day of creation. God has never taken up the work of creation again, and that’s why a word that also means ceased was used in describing His Sabbath rest.

Now don’t accuse me of promoting the “Great Watchmaker” theory of creation. That’s the one where God created the world and all that’s in it, then set it in motion, and has been just sitting there watching it run down ever since.  Let’s look at what God has been doing since He stopped creating.  We’ll begin in John’s Gospel.

So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

 

Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5:16-19)

This tells us that both the Father and the Son have so much to do that they work every day, even on the Sabbath. So what are they doing?  Matthew 11:5explains. “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

Almost as soon as the Creation was finished, it was subjected to sin.  From that day to this the Father and the Son have been battling to protect us from the effects of sin in our lives.

So they haven’t been just sitting around waiting.  They’ve both been working every day from that day to this, including the Sabbath.  But my point is, God has never again taken up the work of creation. Where the creation is concerned he has never ceased his Sabbath rest.

In Numbers 15:32-36 we read of a man who was caught gathering wood on the Sabbath.  It was a violation of the commandment, but the Israelites didn’t know what to do with him.  When they inquired of God, He told them to take him outside the camp and stone him to death. God was serious about not working on the Sabbath.

What’s External And Physical In The Old Becomes Internal And Spiritual In The New

But when we get to the New Testament we find that the commandment to rest on the Sabbath is the only one of the 10 Commandments not specifically repeated.  In fact the most frequent reference to the Sabbath commandment in the New Testament concerns the Lord’s frequent and flagrant violations of it. On six different occasions, the Lord defended working on the Sabbath, each time showing the religious leaders of the day that their rules for keeping the Sabbath were man made, arbitrary, and counter to God’s purpose. For example the priests in the Temple desecrated every Sabbath (Matt. 12:5), and the people could water their animals (Luke 13:15) or rescue them from danger (Matt. 12:11) but they couldn’t heal a person (Luke 13:14).

In Romans 14:5 Paul taught that we have the right to either consider one day holier than the others or to regard all days the same, based on our personal convictions.  And in Colossians 1:16-17 he said not to let anyone judge us in regard to a religious festival or a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.  He said that these things were only a shadow of things that were coming, that the reality was found in Christ.

Somehow the Sabbath commandment was supposed to teach us something about our relationship with Jesus.  So let’s find out what it is.  God created the Heavens and the Earth.  They didn’t do anything to help, He did it all.  At the end of six days, He rested (ceased) from His work because it was finished.  He never again took up the work of creating.  He made the seventh day, a day without end, holy.  There was no eighth day.  Then He created a memorial. From that time forward the seventh day was a day of rest where no work was permitted to remind us that when His work was finished He rested.

Since we’re trapped in the dimension of time, we can’t have any days without end.  So when God set up our calendar He made every seventh day holy, and then the calendar began again.  There’s never an eighth day.   This was to help us to see that the seventh day, the day of rest, never ends.  To underscore the importance of this, He made working on the seventh day punishable by death.

But man missed the point.  We thought it was about working on the Sabbath when it was really about resting when the work is finished.  Here’s how that relates to Jesus.

Jesus came to Earth with one job to do.  It was to die for the sins of the people so that we could be redeemed and live forever with Him (John 1:29). He was making us into a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) We didn’t do anything to help, He did it all.  When He went to the cross, His work was done.  That’s why His last words before He died were, “It is finished.”  Then He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit (John 19:30) .  He never had to do the work of redemption again, for by that one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy (Hebr. 10:14)  When He ascended into Heaven, He sat down at the right hand of the Father.  In effect, He rested. The work of our new creation was finished.

This is why some theologians refer to the Lord’s “completed work” at the cross. It’s is also why the writer of Hebrews said that going back into the Jewish sacrificial system is relegating His death to the same status as animal sacrifices and subjects Him to public disgrace. (Hebr. 6:6)  It meant that they didn’t believe the work was finished.

What Is Our Work?

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”  Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29)

When you believe that Jesus went to the cross for you, and that by His death all of the sins of your life are forgiven, you’ve done what God requires and the work of your salvation is finished.  You will inherit eternal life.  “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”  (John 6:40)  When you believe that, you have entered into your life-long seventh day, your Sabbath Rest.

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.(Hebrews 4:9-10)  Just as God never again took up the work of creation, and Jesus never again took up the work of redemption, you need never again take up the work of salvation. You’re a new creation and the work is finished.  Now you rest, as they have rested.

Please read this very carefully.  As we can see from the above, the folks who keep asking whether Saturday or Sunday is the correct Sabbath for Christians are asking the wrong question.  The question we all need to ask is whether we’re keeping the Sabbath or not.  It doesn’t matter that you say you’re born again. Any work you do to earn or keep your salvation after saying that you’ve accepted the work that Jesus did for you is evidence that you don’t believe the work is finished.  This subjects you to the penalty of the Sabbath breaker in Numbers 15.  His was a a physical death, but yours will be a spiritual one, because by continuing to work after the work is done you’re saying that Jesus didn’t finish the job so you have to complete it and save yourself.  It means you don’t believe He saved you, and that means you haven’t done the one and only thing He told you to do; “Believe in the One He has sent.”  It means you aren’t saved.

If you believe that you can lose your salvation because of your behavior, it means that you don’t believe Jesus took all of the sins of your life to the cross (Col 2:13-15), and therefore you don’t believe He saved you completely (Hebr. 7:25).  It means that you don’t believe God has accepted responsibility for keeping you saved (2 Cor. 1:21-22) and you have to finish the job yourself by meeting some standard of behavior.  That means that you’re working to keep your self saved after your work of salvation was finished, which means you’re subjecting yourself to the penalty of the Sabbath breaker in Numbers 15.   It means that you aren’t saved.

There isn’t much time left for the Church.  The Lord could come while you’re reading this.  Please consider these things carefully.  Make sure you’re really saved by grace through faith.  Not by works,  lest anyone boast. (Ephes. 2:8-9) You can’t be working to become saved and you can’t be working to stay saved. You are either forever saved or you were never saved.  Remember, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:5)  There is no eighth day.

In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia,  from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. (Isaiah 11:11)

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.  For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.” (Ezek. 36:22,24)

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”  (Romans 11:25-27)

This past week marked the 60th anniversary of Israel’s rebirth as a fulfillment of the prophecies of  Isaiah, Ezekiel, Paul and others.  Brought back in unbelief to the ancient homeland of their patriarchs, Israel has defied history, world opinion, and the concerted effort of their enemies for 60 years.

Most of the world has no idea how close Israel has come to extinction again, not only in the wars we all know about, but also in several other major efforts that were discovered and prevented at the last minute but never made the headlines. Altogether, Israel has faced and overcome an existential threat at an average greater than one for every 10 years of the nation’s modern history.

Will this ever end?  Will Israel’s neighbors ever come to terms with the fact of Israel’s existence?  Not according to Bible prophecy. Let’s look at what God’s word has to say about what’s coming for Israel.    Because there’s more written about this time to come than any other subject in the Bible I’ve just selected a few of His proclamations to give you an overview.  As you read this, keep in mind that if my calculations are correct all this could happen within the next 10 years or so.

According to Psalm 83 Israel will soon face an attack by neighboring nations intent upon its destruction.  And according to Isaiah 17 Syria will attack leaving Israel damaged but not destroyed.  In the process, the city of Damascus, one of the oldest in the world, will cease to exist and Syria will be defeated.

After that Israel will face its biggest threat yet as the Russian Iranian coalition of Ezekiel 38 mounts what they believe will be the final assault on their sworn enemy.  But what should have been an easy victory for Israel’s powerful enemies will turn into an utter disaster that leaves their forces decimated.

This time Israel will emerge from the smoke and ashes with the realization that an old and trustworthy Friend has intervened to turn certain defeat into a resounding victory.  The King of the Universe will have revealed Himself to the world as Israel’s champion. (Ezek. 39:22)

But still the enemy will be relentless.  Even the knowledge that God is on Israel’s side will not be  sufficient to dissuade him because the power behind Israel’s enemies believes himself to be God’s equal.  (Isaiah 14:14).  Taking control of the thoughts and actions of a popular leader, he will convince Israel that he’s the long awaited messiah and enforce a covenant that appears to be the ultimate assurance of peace for them. (Daniel 9:27)

By means of this peace he will deceive many (Daniel 8:25) and Israel will believe the Kingdom Age is finally coming, that what they wanted Jesus to do 2000 years ago has finally been done for them.  Israel’s enemies will lie scattered over the battle field in utter defeat, and what will appear to be a permanent peace will have arrived.  In gratitude Israel will build a Temple and take up their long abandoned relationship with God.

Just when it looks like peace has finally come, this leader will show his true colors and will proclaim himself to be God, (2 Thes. 2:4) causing the temple to become desolate and worship to cease.  There will be war again, even worse than before, and Israel will discover that they’ve made a covenant with death and it’s been annulled (Isaiah 28:18).  It will be 3 ½ years of the most terrible time the world has ever seen (Matt. 24:21) and Israel will be right in the middle of it until finally all the nations of the world will be lined up against Jerusalem. (Zech. 12:2-3)

But once again at the last minute God will intervene, this time in the person of Israel’s true Messiah.  He’ll pour our His Spirit of grace and supplication, and they’ll will finally acknowledge Him. (Zech. 12:10)  With the armies of Heaven at His command, He’ll suddenly appear in the skies over Israel just as He promised and with nothing more than the word of His mouth He’ll slay Israel’s enemies once and for all. (Rev. 19:11-16)  The false messiah will be cast live into the lake of fire, (Rev. 19:20) Satan will be bound for 1,000 years, (Rev. 20:2) the Kingdom Age will finally begin, and peace will reign at last in the Promised Land.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for. (Isaiah 40:2)

“Their bloodguilt, which I have not pardoned, I will pardon.”  The LORD dwells in Zion! (Joel 3:21)

Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs. (Isaiah 61:7)

Among men all traces of the anti-semitism so prevalent again today will be gone and Israel will be the world’s preeminent nation, home to the people of God.

Be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.   I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.(Isaiah 65:18-19)

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.

Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers.  They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet.   Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” (Isaiah 49:22-23)

The whole creation will rejoice that the curse has finally been lifted and peace has been restored between God and His chosen people.

“In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water.  A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house and will water the valley of acacias. (Joel 3:18)

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. (Isaiah 55:12-13)

No one who reads the Bible literally can dispute that these promises were spoken by God to Israel and have never been fulfilled.  Nowhere in the Bible is He called the God of the Arabs, or of the Americans or any other national or ethnic group.  He’s called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and whether the rest of us like it or not He chose the Jewish people to be His own and has sworn never to forget them.

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. (Deut. 7:6)

This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars  to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar — the LORD Almighty is his name:

“Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the LORD, “will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.” (Jere. 31:35-36)

Through out history the nations of the world  have been blessed or cursed according to the way they’ve treated Israel and it’s long past time for us to get used to that idea.  Even the mighty Babylonians, into whose hands the Israelites were given By God Himself, suffered the penalty for mistreating them. (Isaiah 47)

This doesn’t mean that we have to blindly accept every action of Israel’s government, which after all is a secular one and as disregarding of God’s word as the rest of the world.  But it does mean that we shouldn’t be pressuring Israel into violating God’s commandments concerning the land He gave them.  And we shouldn’t be tolerating the anti-semitism that’s so rampant in our society again, whether it’s the deranged rantings of a national leader, the empty boasts of a terrorist chief, or the desecrating acts of teen aged vandals.

Because if the 60 years of Israel’s modern existence have taught us anything, it’s that God’s hand is upon them and He won’t let go until they’re his again.  In the meantime whoever touches Israel touches the apple of His eye (Zech 2:8) and will surely suffer the consequences.

The next 10 years are set to be the most turbulent by far in all of Israel’s modern history.  God is calling them back to Him and knows that they won’t come easily.  But come they will, and when they do it will be great news for all of us. For if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring? (Romans 11:12)