THE SABBATH - A MILLENNIAL TYPE

Shabbat’s origins go back to creation, Genesis 2:1-3 where God worked for six days then rested on the seventh day. As with much of what the Bible presents to us, Shabbat is a foreshadowing, a reflection or picture of what exists in the spiritual realm and what those who follow Him will enjoy (in its heavenly/spiritual capacity) one day.

Writes Rabbi Irving Greenberg in The Jewish Way: "The Shabbat is the foretaste of the messianic redemption. But even as this enclave of perfection is carved out in the realm of time, the world goes on as usual in the realm of surrounding space"

"The Shabbat comes to an end weekly, but it creates an appetite and a satisfaction that lasts through the week until it is renewed again" (p.130). He goes on, "This periodic taste of fulfillment became the protection against the bitterness of gratification indefinitely postponed. Every seven days, the people of Israel were 'married' again to the Divine Lover and to the beloved Shabbat queen."

Irving Greenberg describes how the Sabbath is in reality a sanctuary in time -- and a remarkably powerful reality in itself, picturing and foreshadowing the Messianic age. It is a tiny microcosm of the Kingdom of Yahweh. It is a foretaste -- of Yahweh's Kingdom, and what it will be like. Therefore, every time we observe it, and enter into its rest, we in a sense enter into the Kingdom of Yahweh God.

We are, as the Scriptures say, "His offspring" -- His "children," made in His own image and likeness. We are to become like Him in every way! As the apostle John wrote, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see him as He is" I John 3:2.

Paul also said that we are partners with Yahweh -- as His very own family, and children: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Messiah; if so be that we suffer with him, that we might be glorified together."

As Paul wrote to the Philippians, "For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Y'shua the Messiah: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto HIS GLORIOUS BODY, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" Phil.3:20-21.

The kingdom of Yahweh God is within us, and those who are called by His Spirit press into that kingdom to attain it in all its fullness. The realm of eternity is spiritual and pressing into it requires us to cast off the things of this world. Luke 17:21; Matthew 11:12; Matthew 6:25-34 The weekly Sabbath is a very vital part of this divine program!

Sabbath Typology Each of the seven days of creation is a spiritual picture of 1,000 years of time. In Psalm 90:4 it is written: "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."

The seventh day of creation, the Sabbath (Shabbat), is a spiritual picture of the 1,000-year Messianic Age when all the earth and its inhabitants will enter into His Sabbath rest. The Apostle Peter associates the day of the Lord to the coming of the Messiah and the Messianic Age in 2 Peter 3:7-10

2000 years from Adam to Abraham 2000 years from Abraham to Messiah 2000 years in the Messianic age (new covenant era) 1000 years of Shabbat rest (Millennium-Messianic Kingdom)

= 7000 years corresponds to the 7 days of creation where He rested on the seventh day. Genesis 1: 1:3 - 2:3

There is a teaching related to the Sabbath that says that when God created the world, He determined it to last for 6 days (6,000 years). He then created the Sabbath for the purpose of restoration and revival of the world. Just as the Millennial Sabbath will renew the earth after its six thousand-year days, the weekly Sabbath gives the earth a renewal every seven days.

The Prophetic Role of the Weekly Sabbath The Sabbath is a time of rest and is a Picture of the Bride (Yahweh's people) resting with the Bridegroom, Y'shua. It is very symbolic of the ultimate fulfillment of the Sabbath -- the 1000-year rest (the Millennium), when He will come and tabernacle with His Bride permanently.

The Rabbis understood that if His people completely entered into His rest they would be in a state of complete holiness. Because, to completely enter into rest,is to completely cease from one's own works - spirit, soul and body. Such a state of would be to be in complete harmony with the Father in His eternal rest. Such complete unity with the godhead would answer Y'shua's prayer in John 17 and hence bring to completion the work of redemption. In the days of the Temple, on the Sabbath, the Levitical choir would sing Psalm 92, which was called, A psalm, a song for the Sabbath day.

In traditional Jewish thought, the Sabbath is a blueprint of the Messianic Age. It is also a foretaste of the world to come. The Sabbath is a day which points toward the future. It is a day of hope and anticipation of the Messianic fulfillment.

The Millennial Kingdom There are parallels drawn to the seventh day Shabbat in Genesis that are found in Scripture telling us that there is a greater Shabbat yet to come where things will be restored, to a state much like the original Garden of Eden. This period of time is known as the Messianic kingdom.

This shall be ushered in by the return of the Messiah, the Lord of the Sabbath - "And He shall send Messiah Y'shua, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:21

"And it shall come to pass,that he that is left in Zion,and he that remains in Jerusalem,shall be called holy,even every one who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem" Isaiah 4: 3

and " .. ... .. they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison," Revelation 20:2-7

Following this prophetic Sabbath Day,the seventh one thousand years,we enter into the eighth day of the Eternal Sabbath. This will be "a new heaven and a new earth" (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Revelation 21: 1, 5) in which there will be a recreation of the natural order which will be so glorious that the previous state of things will be forgotten. The surface of the earth shall be changed, and there will no longer be any sea, the earth being restored to an Eden-like state. ( Revelation 22:1-2)

There shall be no more death, pain or sorrow as the former things are passed away. Isaiah 65:20-23; Rev. 21: 4 Its inhabitants shall enter into the promised redemption of their mortal bodies Romans 8:18-23 There shall be complete peace and holiness upon the earth in this eternal Shabbat. Isaiah 65:23-25; Revelation 21: 6-8,27

"Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying" Is.65:17-19

The Conditions of His Shabbat

1. The animals will be at peace with each other and with mankind (Isaiah 11:6-8).

2. The farmland will be prosperous (Ezekiel 34:24-27).

3. God's people shall dwell safely and peacefully (Ezekiel 34:25, 28).

4. The whole world will be filled with the knowledge of God (Isaiah 11:9, Jeremiah 31:33-34).

5. There will be peace and no wars (Isaiah 2:3-4, Micah 4:3).

6. The Torah will be taught from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-3, Micah 4:1-2).

7. There will be continual light on the earth (Zechariah14:6-8 & Revelation 22: 5).

8. Messiah will be King over all the earth (Daniel 7:13-14,18,27, Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 2:27, 11:15, 12:5, 19:15-16).

Looking down into the eternal Sabbath following on from the Millennium, John said, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new." Rev.21: 1-5 Here is the fulfillment of the eternal Shabbat - the kingdom upon earth, according to the Father's will.

Shabbat - An Eternal Ordinance When the Almighty gave the Sabbath to His people, He proclaimed that it was to be an everlasting ordinance. It was not only for Israel, but began in the beginning at creation and goes on into eternity.

"Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed." Exodus 31:15-17

We see that it shall be observed in the millennial age. In Ezekiel's vision of the service of the temple in the Millennial age Yahweh said to him, "The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened" Ezekiel. 46:1

In the time of the new heaven and the new earth, Yahweh will require that all flesh keep the Sabbath.

" For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that every new moon, and every sabbath, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says Yahweh" Isaiah 66:22-24

Even after having entered into the fulfillment of the type that the Sabbath represented, the weekly observance is still kept in place as an ordinance forever.

Just as Yahweh established the ordinance in the beginning for man, and He rested on the seventh day to set the pattern, even so when man has come to maturity as a son of the Almighty, he also will still need to rest. Rest in a seven-day cycle is an integral part part of the need of man according to the way he was created. To rest and rejuvenate in accordance with the rhythmic pattern of the body's cycle will always be to live in harmony with His ordained laws of existence for mankind.

So, "there remains a Sabbath rest (Sabbatismos) to the people of God." Hebrews 4:10 (Literal translation) Sabbatismos (Strongs 4520); Vine's Expository Dictionary -"a Sabbath-keeping"; R.V."a Sabbath rest"

So, there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of Yahweh - Daily in ceasing from our own works, weekly in practical observation of the day,and eternally dwelling in His Presence.

Yahweh gave the Sabbath to His people to more fully reveal His redemptive plan through the Messiah, including the marriage of His bride, the prophetic events regarding His second coming and the following events surrounding His rule and reign during the Messianic Age.

Every week, then, as the Sabbath draws nigh, it is like welcoming the Messiah with out-stretched arms. It is like entering into freedom and rest from oppression. It is in essence a "mini-Millennium"!

How much do we really appreciate Yahweh's wonderful gift and rejoice in it? How much do we enjoy observing it, hallowing it, and keeping it holy?

May Y'shua come speedily in our days and set up His Messianic Kingdom which will usher in everlasting peace based on the foundation of His teaching going out to all nations from the city of Jerusalem, so that all the earth will come to abide in the Sabbath rest of Yahweh God.