The beneficent Creator, after the six days of Creation, rested on the seventh
day and instituted the Sabbath for all people as a memorial of Creation. The fourth
commandment of God’s unchangeable law requires the observance of this seventh-day
Sabbath as the day of rest, worship, and ministry in harmony with the teaching and practice of
Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and
one another. It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of
our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom. The Sabbath is God’s
perpetual sign of His eternal covenant between Him and His people. Joyful observance of this
holy time from evening to evening, sunset to sunset, is a celebration of God’s creative and
redemptive acts. (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11; Luke 4:16; Isa. 56:5, 6; 58:13, 14; Matt. 12:1-12; Ex.
31:13-17; Eze. 20:12, 20; Deut. 5:12-15; Heb. 4:1-11; Lev. 23:32; Mark 1:32.)

In the next life there will also be a Sabbath day of rest. There will be six days of labor, followed by one day for rest. That's why we should rest during today's sabbaths, to show that we are willing to obey the LORD and observe his day of rest, looking ahead to observing the Sabbath in the next world.

Don't some people say that God changed His mind and that we no longer need this physical rest ... because we are resting IN Him Spiritually each moment? How do we answer that?

People can say anything they want. It's the Scriptures we need to pay very close attention to. That requires a one-on-one relationship with the Bible and the LORD who made this world.

It was no accident that the LORD picked a nation of slaves to serve him, the children of Israel. They didn't understand, for a long time, that they were supposed to be his SERVANTS, obedient to all of his commands.

That's why we can expect to be servants/slaves of the LORD in the next life. It won't be an eternal vacation floating around on clouds of bliss or walking around forever in a petting zoo.

If there will be a flying city 2/3 the size of our moon, the New Jerusalem, somebody has to build and operate it. Unless, of course, we believe in magic where moon-sized cities appear out of nothing just by a simple command...

There will be a weekly Sabbath day of rest in the next life, just like there will be a baptism in the River of Life, too.

I thought we could put it on autopilot.

Do you have any references for that idea?

YES. Praise God ... that is exactly the way the Earth was made.
I believe that He "spoke" and it was done. Sounds like "magic" to me.

What an Awesome God we serve.

"That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." 2 Peter 3:12 (second part),13).

"As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before Me," declares the Lord, "so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before Me." says the Lord." Isaiah 66:22,23.

"Then I saw a new heavens and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God." Revelation 21:1-3.

OK, there is not a lot of wordy evidence on the surface, but let us look at these texts logically.

(1) We know that this existing earth (not the planet, but what is on it) will be totally destroyed, and allowed to rest for 1000 years, allowing it to regain the condition that it was in prior to the first creation. We then have the destruction of the wicked, and the cleansing fires.

(2) Then we have reference made to the children of Israel that the promise made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would be fulfilled -- they will be represented in the New Jerusalem -- the 12 gates of pearl, the 12 foundations -- all honouring the 12 tribes that came from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They are told that in the New Jerusalem they, along with all the saved, will worship on the Sabbath before God.

(3) Then we come to the next text which tells us that God Himself will make His abode on this earth. This earth will become the centre of the universe.

See you there!!

Beryl

My opinion about the sabbath...
Because the word“sabbath" can be translated as 'week.' This may be
the correct reading of Colossians 2:16,17. “Let no man judge you in food or drink or respect of a holyday, or a holy new month or a
holy week. Which are a shadow of things to come, but
the body (image) is of Christ.”

I believe in the 7th day Sabbath doctrine because it is in the Bible.

I do believe in the Bible---being inspired by God.

Point made!

in Christ,

Bob

OK, so we believe in the 7th day Sabbath instuted by our beneficent Creator. I sometimes think of it as a special meeting time or appointment with God. Then, at other times it is perhaps more like my time to just hang out with my Creator.

But, as I live with my (unbelieving) son. I'm tired. The last thing I feel like doing is dressing up and being with bunch of people. So, how to hang out with God! Sometimes I watch Christian music videos. Yesturday, I was thinking about nature; ended up watching some nature shows on TV. But, that wasn't as satisfying.

Today, I was trying to find something in Mrs. White's writings,and didn't find it, but found again where she talks about the importance of Bible Study. I've attempted to look for other activites, because I've heard people poo pooing the study and "lay activites" Sabbath. But, I might return to that.

So,I've shared now. How do you spend your Sabbath hours? I'm not interested in "should's" or "ought's", but what do you really do? What works for you and what doesn't?

Juanita

1. We are not to forsake the assembling of the saints together - Heb 10.

2. Your unbelieving son is looking to see how "real" your convictions are. If they are simply "preferences" then "to each his/her own". But if it is a deeply held conviction it will show up in your life. Showing to what degree you are willing to sacrifice in favor of a deeply held conviction.

Consider the scenario were you lived far from your unbelieving son. If in that case you had a strong believing family supporting you in your weekly Sabbath church attendance, how then could you possibly reach out to your unbelieving son? How "convincing" would your letters and phone calls to him be urging him to also consider the importance of the Sabbath? Might he merely brush it off as a cultural preference on your part and nothing more? Surely he would not consider it a "great sacrifice" on your part to keep Sabbath and attend with believers when you were surrounded by a family that all did the same.

3. Start two kinds of Bible study. One that is devotional (a book at a time with your own notes). Possibly your son would join you. The second kind of Bible study that would go on at the same time would be at the "subject level". Pick a subject that an easy doctrine like Creation, and Christ as our substitute and atoning sacrifice -- then work your way out from there.

Just some ideas to consider.

in Christ,

Bob

HEY JUANITA


SORRY about you son not wanting to worship JESUS with
you....

I am an older man that is divorced My oldest son
is not in the church my middle son and youngest son
are still in the church but live with their mom in
another state

I can understand about not wanting to get dressed up
and go to church and sit by yourself

so what to I DO on SABBATH if I DON'T attend church
I try to go for walks we have parks near were I LIVE
I READ MY bible

but when I ATTEND the S.D.A CHURCH I get little friends
and primary treasure and pass them out to children in the
APT complex I live in

dgrimm60

Living with an unbelieving adult son makes it more difficult for you to spend the Sabbath hours as you would prefer. But look at it this way: You can witness to him silently just by going about your normal Sabbath activities without comment. By dressing for church, eating breakfast with him while wearing your Sabbath outfit, and then going to the divine services without commenht, you are witnessing to him of your faith. What better opportunity to show your faith?

Then if you are not invited to anyone's home for Sabbath lunch you can return home and have a quiet lunch at home, also providing a witness to your son. He'll notice, you can be sure.

Then in the afternoon if you leave and go for a walk in the park he will observe your lifestyle. I think you have a wonderful opportunity to witness.

I had my adult son living with me for about a year and a half; it was terribly hard for me not to try to check on his whereabouts every time he was away, but I forced myself not to do it. We developed a pleasant adult relationship. I stopped "mothering" him, and he was in turn most respectful -- much different than he had been when a teenager before he went away to college.

God bless you in your silent witness. And prayer for him daily will certainly bear fruit also -- maybot not immediately, but in the long run.

HEY JEANNIEB43


that is good advice about just caring on your sabbath
activities with out saying a word


dgrimm60

Sounds like a place I would want to avoid. I'll take the next 'earth' where we are called sons and daughters of God. Now that is something to be 'bliss' about!!

1. Read our Bibles.
2. Know the difference between what is actually "in the Bible" and what just "sounds like it would make a nice addition to the Bible".

I like to keep things simple.

in Christ,

Bob

Thank you all for your advice,thoughts, prayers and good wishes.
You are very kind. For the record, my son and I get along very well. I do what I want to do. But, what I was and am looking for is not thoughts and advice about what I can do; but rather a sharing about what you do. How do you spend the Sabbath?

What I really enjoy doing on the Sabbath is to go to church and see the diversity of believers. I get tired of my own thoughts and ways. Seeing youth participate at church is especially rewarding.

I enjoy the Sabbath School lesson study and hearing each person participate.

I also enjoy hearing the sermon. We have a great preacher who is willing to re-preach the sermon to me at my home if I am unable to attend personally.

Good post Redwood. I like to get together with others and see how they think.

pk

Sabbath Questions.

Do the loyal angels observe the Sabbath?

If so, when did that observance begin?

Did the angels start observing the Sabbath only after the Sabbath was instituted in this world?


Stewart.

I don't know of any biblical reason to believe the seventh-day Sabbath applies to the angels. The Sabbath is tied directly to the creation of the earth and of human beings. The weekly cycle shows that it has to do with the earth, not with angels or with heaven.

Doubtless, God ordained other ways for angels and beings on other planets to celebrate their creation and show their gratitude to the Creator.

Fair comment.

Although it interests me that, quote, "before the earth was called into being, God's law existed" (MB 48). It would seem to follow then, that the Sabbath Law existed before the earth was called into being.

Admittedly the Law of God was then "adapted to the condition of holy beings", but I don't think we have any doubt that the 10 general principles of that entire Law are eternal.

Obviously, the Sabbath Law, after the creation of the new world, will apply.
But will it apply only to the human family?

Is it possible that the Sabbath existed prior to the creation of this world, and that the record we have in Genesis applies to the formal institution of the Sabbath here?



Stewart.

I'm in general agreement with you. The principles of God's eternal, moral law apply to all intelligent beings. God's law is eternal as God Himself is because the law is merely an expression of His character.

You raise an interesting, good point about the possibility that humans and other intelligent beings on other planets will worship God together on the Sabbath.

I think that's at least theoretically possible since the earth will become something like the capital of the universe. The last chapters of Revelation indicate that God will live among us on the earth. So maybe all of the universe will in some way be connected to our worship of God as Creator.

Thank you for your thoughts on this, John317.

Perhaps this facet is only an incidental, but it does interest me. From what I've seen, yes, it appears that "all of the universe will in some way be connected to our worship of God as Creator".

I think the following snippet from Early Writings provides us with some clarity on this point.

"The Sabbath was instituted in Eden before the fall, and was observed by Adam and Eve, and all the heavenly host. God rested on the seventh day, and blessed and hallowed it.
I saw that the Sabbath never will be done away; but that the redeemed saints, and all the angelic host, will observe it in honor of the great Creator to all eternity." (EW 217)

_________________


There are a number of other thoughts that appear to make Sabbath-keeping in heaven a present-tense reality:

"All heaven is keeping the Sabbath, but not in a listless, do-nothing way..." (6T 362)


Regards,
Stewart

On your opening point I take the other view, Oldsailor.

In the same way that the test in Eden was over a literal tree, so in our time the test will be over a literal day.

God often tests men by very simple means, and in my view, such a test is incorporated into the Ten Commandment.
The Sabbath Commandment, I believe, ultimately does come down to being about a day.


Regards,
Stewart.