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A Timeline For Rest

Baruch HaShem Adonai!!! Oh, bless the Name of the Lord. He is so awesome. I want to share something in this article, that I hope will give you great encouragement.

Prophecy is often misunderstood. Usually it is a feared subject. Most avoid the portions of the Word that deal with end times because : a) it overwhelms them or b) they simply do not believe that the topic of the final days is one worthy of study and discernment. However, God would not have placed so much information about the "last days" into His Word if it were not important. Furthermore, let's not forget ;

All scripture is given by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness": II Tim 3:16

If ALL scripture is for the purpose of maturing the believer, than to ignore the passages that are dealing with end times , is to ignore information given by God to develop your walk with Him. We are to study to show ourselves approved. And we are to study it ALL. I would further add, that we are the generation seeing the unfolding of the prophetic events concerning the last days. Therefore, it is essential that you and I know what to expect. With this in mind, I would like to share with you some wonderful news about the furture.

First look at Is 46:9-10

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that re not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure":

Now this is very important. It gives us a piece of information that is vital to prophecy. Here God shows us that He has revealed things about the end of time from the very beginning of time.

In Genesis , while God whas showing us the start, He showed us the finish. Do you recall how the first chapter reveals six days of creation work. Then in chapter 2, God "rests" because His work is finished and He deignates the Sabbath as His day to honor in rememberance. So the pattern was, 6 days of work followed by one day of rest. Kefa (Peter) gives us a greater understanding to this picture.

"But, 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". II Peter 3:8

The Lord gave man a map of time. From Adam until the end of the age there would be 6,000 years or 6 days. This would be followed by the Sabbath. The day or 1,000 years of rest.

THE SABBATH

To take hold of the significance of the Sabbath we must gain an understanding of this gift from God through the scriptures.

The Sabbath is a festival of God according to Lev 23:1-3. In the Hebrew the word for feast is "moed". This interesting word is defined as an appointment, a season or a fixed time. God's feasts (7 of them) are rehearsals for an "appointment" with Adonai. The Sabbath or Shabbat, is a picture of a future time. This future time is the millenial reign of Yeshua. Therefore, every time a believer welcomes the Sabbath, he is practicing for the day when he will welcome his Messiah as He ushers in the appointed rest. Thus, the Sabbath is a taste of the "olam haba" (world to come).

Now put this is perspective with the "last days". Man will work for six days (6,000 years) but the last day, or the 7th day, which lasts for 1,000 years, will be a time of rest.

In Ex 31, God reveals that the Sabbath is His sign as well as an eternal covenant that distingushes His people. It is in Genesis 2, that Adonai sanctified the 7th day. To sanctify something is to set it apart or make it holy. In the Hebrew a term for marriage is "kiddushin". This is taken from the word "kodesh" which is holy. Therefore, the Sabbath, like a bride, is set apart, made holy. Remember, at the start of this 7th day, there will be a "marriage supper".

WHERE ARE WE NOW

Stand back for a moment and look at man's time map. Recall, that 6 days or 6,000 years were given. This would be followed with a day or 1,000 years of rest with Yeshua.

From Adam to Yeshua's first coming there was 4,000 years or 4 days. We are currently in the year 2,000 or the second day since Yeshua's earthly ministry. Therefore, we are at the end of the 6th day! Yes, I know all about the errors in the calendar. However, the errors do not create a substantial gap either way. We are approaching the dawn of the 7th day.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Each Friday night, as the sun goes down in the homes where Sabbath is being welcomed, the woman lights two candles. A b'rakhah (blessing) is said as she waves her hands before her eyes.

"Blessed are you , Lord our God, King of the universe, who commands us to light the Sabbath lights".

The family watches as the Lord is honored and His command to rest is observed. The weeks work and worries, will be laid aside, hearts and minds will settle on HaShem.

Sabbath is a beautiful reminder. It is a preparation. Before the foundations of the world were laid, God determined that there would be a set time, an appointment with all of His creation that had accepted His love proposal through Yeshua. The work of remption, like the work of creation, would be finished. Sin would be dealt with. The enemy bound. The Messiah would be crowned King and take His throne in Jerusalem while His bride rejoiced. We are getting ready for our Lord.