Sabbath time

Distinguished from all other days, the seventh day, when YHVH God ceased from all His work which He had done/made, is the only one which does not reference it with evening followed by morning. (Gen 2:1-4)  Time is a created thing which began “in the beginning”. (Rom 8:37-39) 

From God’s perspective (if I may reverently so say), the seventh day Sabbath/Shabbat brings to an end His work creatively and prophetically, and divides time between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God/Heaven which is not of this world/cosmos/aeon (Jn 18:36); between that which is flesh from that which is spirit (Jn 3:5-7):  it is a transition day. 

Its fulfillment is the Millennial Kingdom – the 7th 1000-year Day – which transitions towards, and then separates, time from eternity, when time is no more [at least as we have known it]. (Rev 10:6; 21:22-25; 22:5)  Eternity is now symbolized by the “day after the Sabbath” (Sonday, or in both the Hebrew and Greek, the “one” of the week), or the “eighth” and eternal Day going outside and beyond the repetitive cyclical passage of a week of days. (Lev 23:9-11, 15-16)  Yeshua, whose birth and life, death and burial, fulfilled the Sabbath – He is the Sabbath rest of God that we enter! — even as He fulfills all the other appointed times and feasts of YHVH, carried on the redemptive work of the Father (Jn 5:15-47) to both restore and to reconcile all things to God. 

Just as is the “day after the Sabbath” both the “8th day” of the week, so is it the first day of the new cycle.  But in eternity, there is just an eternal day of light.  The Jubilee year falls in the 50th year of the Jubilee cycles, after 49 years, or, after 7×7 years.  The 50th year also begins the next cycle count. (Lev 25:8-13)  The Passover and Unleavened appointed time is for 7 days:  salvation and sanctification are in force for the entire 7000-year history of this Creation.  The Redemption for eternity requires an 8th day — a day after, and which breaks the times cycle.  This we get from Sukkot/the Feast of Booths-Tabernacles, which is appointed each year for 8 days, and the celebration follows the Day of Atonements which allows our holy God to dwell among His forgiven and justified and sanctified people.  God will forever eternally dwell with His redeemed and purified chosen people Israel, and with the rest of the new covenanted peoples who are called by His Name. 

What is interesting regarding the distinctive reckoning of the Sabbath without the normal evening/morning referents is that during the crucifixion of the Author of Life, from about the 6th hour/12 noon until the 9th hour/3:00pm, there was extraordinary , supernaturally imposed darkness over all the Earth (and I believe throughout the Creation), bringing to an end the rule of the kingdom of darkness, the shed blood of Yeshua the Messiah/Jesus Christ on the cross paying in full the price for accomplishing full redemption of things in the heavens, on the Earth, and under the earth unto YHVH to whom it all rightfully belongs. (Lk 23:44-46) 

That darkness represents the death of all mankind through the sacrificial death of Messiah/Christ, who bore our sin and punishment.  No one can enter the Sabbath rest of God except he/she be born-again by the Holy Spirit from Above through repentance and faith in the gospel/good news of God through Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, both confessing and believing from the heart that Jesus/Yeshua is LORD, and that God has raised Him from the dead.

Ultimately, as the Lord informed His disciples just before His ascension to the right hand of the Father, times and seasons have been reserved by the Father in His own authority.  Our only certainty of salvation and part in the First Resurrection is abiding faith in the Lord, our God and Savior, and in His word.  Praise God for whatever things He chooses to make known to us; and thank God, too, that the simplest and feeblest-minded can come to Him through the simplicity that is in Christ.

The idea of a special creation for this/our Earth-Solar system is “casually” mentioned in the Genesis account of the 4th Day of the general creation.  This similar to Israel’s being created as a special people unto YHVH in a distinct, designed, and purposeful manner ty the Creator within the general creation of human beings and people groups and nations.  It does not require an interpretation of some former, destroyed world or universe.  The six days for this “very good” Creation, with its 7th unique day of rest and for all to know that YHVH, God of Israel, is the true and only Creator and Sovereign is planned and designed to necessitate the need and promise for a redemption and a Redeemer who makes all things perfectly new.  The number 7 explains this Creation to bring it to full completion, but 8 explains the resurrection and new Creation.