All of us as we recover from alcoholism have begun to enter into a relationship with our Creator.: My friend promised when these things were done I would enter upon a new relationship with my Creator; that I would have the elements of a way of living which answered all my problems. Pg 13 As we continue to search Gods word we begin to see that we need to stop doing certain things and begin to do others. Everything that we need to know about how to live and conduct ourselves is in Gods word. When asked about something Dr. Bob would say "What does it say in the Good book." The word of God is an instruction manual for us to live our lives according to the doctrine that has been given to us by our Creator.:
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. As human beings we have a desire to be with others and to fellowship with those that are interested in, and doing the things that we like. Quite naturally, as we recover, we may have a desire to become affiliated with a church or group of people that is serving God.: Though the family has no religious connections, they may wish to make contact with or take membership in a religious body. Pg 131 There is nothing wrong with this at all! Where the problem lies is that the church or group of people we are referred to, or may already be involved with, is actually doing things that are contrary to Gods word. There is only one way to serve God and that is according to His word and that is it! Anything other than that is done in vain. Proverbs 16:25 25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
What we will deal with in this lesson is the day of the week that God commands us to sanctify or set apart, and what we must do on this day according to Gods word. We are going to leave aside all traditions and fables and deal only with what God says in His word. First off most people worship on the first day of the week or Sunday. We will not even dignify this by talking much about it. If you want to know the truth about this all you have to do is look it up. It is all over the internet and in history books and encyclopedias. It was a tradition started by man and is contrary to what God commanded us to do forever.
Let's start by looking at who needs to keep the ordinance of the Sabbath day. Most people think that there are two sets of laws. One for the Jews and one for the Christian. But what does God say about this in His word.: Numbers 15:14-16 14And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do. 15One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. 16One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you. Whatever the nation of Israel was told to do by the Lord, the stranger or person that is not Israel must also do. One set of laws or commandments for everyone.: Numbers 15:29-36
29Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. Under the old covenant it was an animal sacrifice. Under the new covenant it is to come under the shed blood of Jesus. Remember sin is the breaking or transgressing of Gods laws that He gave to Moses, (1 John 3:4). 30But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. But anyone, Israel or not, that breaks Gods laws purposely will be cut off. 31Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. 32And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 33And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. 34And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. Distinction is not made between Israel or the stranger. They simply found a man gathering sticks on the sabbath day. 35And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. 36And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses. Whatever this man's actions were deemed to be by God, working or carrying a burden or whatever, he was found to be breaking the ordinance of the sabbath and God commanded that he be killed. This is for our example on how we should conduct ourselves.: Leviticus 24:22
22Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God. One law for all people.: Exodus 12:49
49One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. One law for all people. Gods word also calls Israel the circumcision and the stranger the uncircumcision.: Romans 2:25-29 25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Being Israel in the flesh only and not a servant or one that keeps Gods laws means nothing. 26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? If you are a stranger or someone other than Israel and you keep Gods commandments you are counted as Israel spiritually 27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Regardless of what we are physically, we must be spiritual Israel or be servants of God by keeping His commandments. The main thing that matters is that you are circumcised in the heart. It is the same laws for both Israel and the stranger. Galatians 3:26-29 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. It does not matter what race or sex you are if you are Christ's by keeping His commandments 29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. And if you are Christ's then, and only then, are you an heir according to the promise made with Abraham. Now it is important to come to know who Israel is so we can fully comprehend the order or protocol that God uses to give His word to all of mankind. Without knowing who Israel is certain prophesies are not clear. Salvation must come through Israel because that is the people that God choose to give His oracles to. But that is for another lesson.
Let's look at what day the Lord called the Sabbath day.: Genesis 2:2-3
2And 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. 3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. So God rested the seventh day and blessed it and sanctified it, or set it apart from the other days.: Exodus 20:1 1And God spake all these words, saying, God spake and gave all these commandments in Exodus the 20th chapter. Exodus 20:8-11 8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: You can work six days a week, day 1 through day 6. 10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: But on the seventh day we are not to do any work. 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. God tells all the people that He rested the seventh day and blessed it and made it holy. So the first thing we see is that we are to rest on the sabbath or seventh day of the week, Saturday.
Now Gods days are different than ours, they go from sunset or evening to sunset or the next evening. Man came along and changed that too. If you don't have a watch you can't tell what time of day it is at night but when you see a physical change like the sun going down you know that a new day is starting. So the Lords sabbath is from Friday at even or sunset to Saturday at even or sunset. This is easily seen in the creation in Genesis the first chapter. Everyday is always the evening and the morning to make a complete day. Leviticus 23:32 32It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. From even unto even shall you celebrate the sabbath. This is talking about the day of atonement, but it holds true for all of Gods sabbaths. You can research on your own how that the days of the week, as they are now, are the same as they always were. If you really want the truth you'll find it!
Let's keep going.: Exodus 31:12-18
12And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Again the Lord speaking. 13Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Now we see that the Sabbaths are a sign between God and them that keep them throughout all generations, and that we are set apart from others in keeping them. There are more than one sabbath that we are commanded to keep. In this lesson we are only dealing with the weekly sabbath. 14Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. If we defile the sabbath we will be put to death. One way to defile the sabbath is to work. Anyone working is seen to be defiling the sabbath and will be put to death and cut off from his people. This will happen at the judgment day, although physical death can happen anytime. 15Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. This is an everlasting covenant between God and anyone who wants to take hold of his covenant. 17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. We too are supposed to rest and worship God on this day. A day free of the cares and worries of this life. A day to rest from our labor and a time set aside for God. 18And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. God gave Moses the tablets with the ten commandments on them, written with his very finger. Be honest and think about if man can change something that God says is forever and written with His very finger! Furthermore you can not read anywhere in His word where God changed the sabbath day to Sunday, or the first day of the week. You can't read this one time! But your research will show you who did!
In the 23rd chapter of Leviticus the Lord gives us more Sabbaths or feast days and ordinances that must be observed. Each one has to do with Gods plan for mankind and points to Jesus, yet another lesson. Look how God starts this off with Moses.: Leviticus 23:1-3
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Feasts of the Lord not Jews. Remember one law for all. The Lord says these are My feasts! 3Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. Now in this chapter that deals with the ordinances for all of Gods sabbath days He tells us that the weekly sabbath, the seventh day, is a day of rest with no work to be done. God also adds that we are to keep an holy convocation or gathering of like minded people on this day. Let's look at some definitions to better understand what God is telling us here.:
Holy= devoted entirely to the deity or the work of the deity
convocation= an assembly of persons convoked
convoked=to call together to a meeting
Miriam Webster online dictionary
A gathering of persons to a meeting with the sole purpose of worshiping God. Now we can have an holy convocation any day we want, but it is commanded to have one on His sabbath, or the seventh day of the week. Leviticus 23:3 3Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
We can read all over the bible that His word was read at these convocations.: Luke 4:14-16 14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. Jesus read the word and taught on the sabbath at the synagogues or gathering place. When Paul started teaching he did the same. Acts 18:4 4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. Now when Paul started teaching he taught everyone that wanted to know about Gods grace and mercy. So Paul began to teach the Gentiles also. Acts 13:42-44 42And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Paul also taught out of His house.: Acts 28:30-31
30And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. There are other scriptures that talk about the church in peoples houses. We can't all be gathered together on the sabbath day, we are in bondage as a people that are trying to serve God to the best of our ability, in a world that wants nothing to do with the truth of His word. We might find a church that we can go to that are doing their best, as a whole, to keep Gods commandments according to His word. Or we may be gathering with others at someone's house or community center. The point is that anywhere two or more are gathered in the name of Jesus he is there with them.: Matthew 18:20
20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. And anytime anyone is gathered together and talking about His word He is writing our names in a book of remembrance.: Malachi 3:16-18 16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. Those that fear Him obey Him. 17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. He knows who is keeping His sabbath days and who is not. Who is keeping his laws, statutes and judgments and who is keeping man's traditions. 18Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. The righteous and wicked in Gods eyes, not yours or mine. Between those that obey Him and serve Him and those who don't!
Let's go further. We have already read where we can defile or pollute the sabbath day by working. Let's see what else defiles the sabbath day.: Nehemiah 13:15-19
15In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. People are working and selling different things. 16There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. People are not only working but buying and selling things. 17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? And Nehemiah calls this profaning the sabbath day. 18Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. 19And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. So on the sabbath day he shuts up the gates to the city so no one can buy or sell on the sabbath. He did this because this would be work. If I am buying something, I am not only gathering as the man in the wilderness who was gathering sticks, but I am also causing someone to work for me by waiting on me and getting paid for doing a service for me.: Jeremiah 17:21-27 21Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. Now the Lord is telling the people not to be working on the sabbath day as He commanded their fathers. 23But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction. But just like the nation of Israel did often, they were disobedient.24And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; 25Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever. 26And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD. Israel would have been a great nation, where people would come to worship the Lord and learn about Him through the nation of Israel. They were to be Gods priests teaching all nations about God and would have been blessed beyond words. It will be this way when Jesus returns. 27But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. The nation of Israel, as a whole, was disobedient and the city destroyed and all of the nation of Israel was sent into bondage and scattered throughout all nations. But again this is for another lesson. The point is that we are not to be taking a burden in or out of our houses on the sabbath. No work is to be done. Of course the better part of discretion always prevails. There are some things such as cleaning up spills, changing diapers, attending to emergencies etc. that must be addressed and God provides us with the room to do such things, however the things that we know can be done on another day should not be done on the sabbath. It is a day of rest from all our burdens and time set aside for the Lord. Remember this is a sign between God and His people. and it sets us apart from others or those that are not Gods servants. Ezekiel 20:11-12
11And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. 12Moreover 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.
Now the nation of Israel was in the wilderness after being brought out of bondage and they were whining and crying to Moses about being hungry. Keep in mind though that this was not just Israel it was a mixed multitude.
Exodus 16:4
4Then 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.
Exodus 16:16-23
16This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. 17And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 18And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. 19And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. 20Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them. Everyday they gathered enough for that day and when they got greedy and try to take more and leave it for the next day it spoiled. 21And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. 22And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. On the sixth day they gathered twice as much so they would have enough for the sabbath day and they would not have to go and get any on the sabbath. 23And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. This is the way that I see this 23rd verse. When we read Leviticus the 23rd chapter we will see that the Lord only commands us on two Sabbath days not to do any work, His weekly Sabbath and the day of Atonement which is a day of fasting and a day to afflict our souls or bodies before the Lord. On the weekly Sabbath He provides us a way to eat. Bake and boil, or seethe, what we need to eat on the six day and lay the rest that we cook until the seventh day or Sabbath day. Let me say that I can not read anywhere that God specifically says not to cook on the Sabbath day! But on all the other Sabbath days or high holy days that God gives us He commands us not to do any servile work. So on these days to cook to eat would not be servile work. Let's take a look at another verse that God says not to kindle a fire on the Sabbath day.: Exodus 35:1-3
1And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them. 2Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. 3Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day. Now we know that we are supposed to be prepared before the Sabbath and have what we need to sustain us for the Sabbath. I don't think that not kindling a fire means not to turn on your heat or warm yourself if you are cold. Even though it was hard work to kindle a fire in the wilderness I think that if we read this with understanding and tie it all together we see that this is talking about not cooking or doing any work on the Sabbath. Again Let me say that I can not read anywhere that God specifically says not to cook on the Sabbath day! Let's look at what Paul said and move on.: Philippians 2:12 12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Isaiah 56:1-7
1Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2Blessed 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. As we have read to pollute the sabbath would be working, buying and selling, (I think) cooking, and not keeping an holy convocation. I should already have all the things gathered and prepared that I need to keep the sabbath day and call it a delight 3Neither 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. We know the Lord has not separated the stranger as He has said one law for all. 4For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6Also 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; The only way to eternal life, keep the sabbath and don't pollute it, and keep His commandments. 7Even 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. No one is excluded if they keep the covenant that God made with Abraham and later with Israel. Isaiah 58:13-14
13If 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: Finding thine own pleasure is doing things that I can do on other days that distract me from staying close to Him. Speaking thine own words is setting up deals or making plans that don't need to be made on the sabbath. The sabbath is a day to give praise and continue to learn about His grace and mercy, not do things that I may find occupy my time on other days. 14Then 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. Then we will be rewarded.
Now we have a basic understanding of the sabbath day and what we are told by God to do. Let's look at what the sabbath day points toward.: 2 Peter 3:8
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. To the Lord one day is a thousand years.
Revelation 20:1-6
1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, Bound for one day 3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Would not deceive or have power for one day. 4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Lived and reigned with Christ for one day. 5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Those that are servants of God and deemed worthy by God, will make the first resurrection and spend one day, or a thousand years at rest and peace with Jesus. 6Blessed 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. The second death or eternal damnation. Isaiah also writes of this time.: Isaiah 11:1-10
1And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. All talking about Jesus. 5And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. 6The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. All of this will be taking place at His return. Complete peace and serenity. The animals will all be living together in harmony and people will be at peace with them. No one will hurt or be killed in this period of time, the thousand year rest. 10And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And at this time Jesus will be with us and it truly will be a glorious time!
Hebrews 3:14-19
14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;There is no such thing as once saved always saved. We partake in Christ if we endure until the end, from the time our eyes are opened to His mercy until we die or He returns. But that is another lesson. 15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. We hear His voice today by reading His word and being taught how God would have us live. 16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? Were killed because of their disobedience. 18And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? Believed not or did not obey. 19So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Or disobedience. They did not endure until the end keeping Gods laws or commandments, statutes and judgments.: Hebrews 4:8-11
8For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. There is the reward that Jesus said He would bring with Him. To live and reign with Him. 10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. So we see that in the flesh we are laboring to come into the rest that Jesus has set aside for those that serve Him by keeping His commandments. Hebrews 11:39-40
39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. All who are servants of God will receive the promise or be partakers in that day of rest at the same time, at His coming.
Luke 6:5
5And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Ezekiel 20:19-20
19I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; 20And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
So we see that the sabbath day is a day that the Lord has set aside and it is a day for us to cease from our worldly labor. A day of rest and a day to worship God and seek understanding of His will for us through His word. It is a day that God says is a sign between Him and His people, or His servants. All who keep the sabbath, as He has set forth, will be His people and He will be their God. We also see what this day really represents. It points to the return of Jesus where He will reward them that have served Him, to live and reign with Him, at peace and in harmony with all nature, as we were created to do before we sinned against Him.
We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Pg 84
1 Thessalonians 5:21-23
21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.