Sabbaths in Heaven

[Lineman]

Have you ever really sat down and thought about what Sabbath will be like in heaven?

We know that we will still celebrate the creation of this earth when we get to heaven, so we know that Sabbath will begin on Friday evening at sunset like it does now, but if there is no night in the New Jerusalem how will we know? Will it be night outside the city maybe? Will there maybe still be a sun, though it will not be needed for its light?

When Sabbath begins there will still be light (no night) so it seems to me that we may have extra time to share what we have found and to listen to whomever (though I am not so sure we will be having sermons like we have now).

Seems to me that because we have just spent a whole 6 days looking at things new and exciting that we will be full of excitement and want to share a little of what we have just found with those who will listen.

Can you imagine what we might hear from each person? One might come telling us what they have found in their study of music and sound. Another might tell us what they have seen in the stars, and yet another might tell us what they learned while working in their garden. All of these things will be telling us just a little bit more about the God who loves us and worked so hard to save us from the results of sin.

I really think that we will be so excited to hear what others have found that we will be disappointed when the Sabbath is over. I can only imagine that instead of sitting someplace listening to what someone is telling us we might be shown what they have found, kind of like children do in school during "Show and Tell".

What might you be telling us about?

[delta]

Do you ask the question in assuming that the Sabbath (not a sabbath) yet existed only after the fall of Adam & Eve?

Just a little remainder here that after 6-literal days of creation, God added up a special day, the seventh day. And God blessed the day, sanctified it and declared as a holy day before the sin of our first parents. So the Sabbath is a part of God's perfect plan.

[Lineman]

Can you imagine hearing about this kind of thing on Sabbath "morning"? (Like Delta pointed out in another thread, God tells us that we have NO idea of what we will find out there someday. What we have already found is nothing, not even a drop in the bucket.)

[fccool]

I think that scripturally, Sabbath is a test for us on Earth, just like the law is a test. Not that there will not be memorials in Heaven... yet I think that the explanation that I've heard given by Doug Batchelor is skewed. Unfortunately, this the the same explanation and reaching "proof" for Sabbath keeping in Heaven that is given almost anywhere you go in Adventist circles... and it comes from Isaiah 66:22,23

22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain.

23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD (NKJV)

It's a skewed argument for Sabbath keeping in Heaven to show that we have to keep it here on Earth. I don't disagree with the second premise... I hold it to be the test of faith. But, I do disagree with first one and the motive for interpretation. If we are to seek the truth we must not try to conform all of the scripture to fit our position.

There are a couple Biblical problems in applying these verses to New Heaven and new Earth and reconciling these with the rest of the Adventist position, and here's why.

Isaiah 65 does state that God is creating something new, but read into this carefully:

17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

18But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

19And 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.

20There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

The above is one of the most problematic text for both pre-mill and post mill theologians. The next one is a bit more puzzling.

23And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

24And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

First of all, let me point out that the above passage does not state that Sabbath worship will be preserved in heaven. The modern translation would read: " And they will worship me month to month and week to week". The New Moon is a measure of month end (and beginning), and Sabbath is the measure of modern "week end" (and beginning). It does not state that "Every Sabbath people will gather together in Jerusalem to hear Jesus preach". It's a big stretch. Let's not stretch and filter out scripture to fit our position.

Secondly, the following verse points out the carcasses remaining burning and abhorring to all flesh.

Here's the problem that I find with many Adventist that interpret book of Isaiah. They lift the passages out of context and interpret these literally, when most of it is written in metaphors and poetic language. That's why you get into such problems as the above described. It took me a couple semesters in college to begin to understand what the book was talking about.

Although I do believe that the book alludes to some future events, and the reign of Christ... it contains dual prophesy of rebellious nation of Israel (and Judah) at that time that will be swept away into captivity and then the faithful remnant will be restored once more.

So, the animals living together in peace together in Chapter 11 corresponds with Chapter 66, but there's obvious problem of children dying. How do you explain it?

Once again, much of the prophetic OT is written in as a song. The animals in refferense MAY be representative of human traits . Compare the Isaiah 11:6

The 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.

with Jeremiah 5:6...

Therefore a lion from the forest will slay them, A wolf of the deserts will destroy them, A leopard is watching their cities. Everyone who goes out of them will be torn in pieces, Because their transgressions are many, Their apostasies are numerous.

While I do believe that some passages in Isaiah do foreshadow the things to come in New Heaven and new earth... the original purpose is not to show what is coming for us, but what is coming for the nation of the OT Israel. Of course we can learn and derive many things from these prophesies, but we should be careful stretching the words to apply to our age or things to come. Every time you read the Bible, or you hear Bible quoted you need to consider "When, Why, Who, Where, and Whom to". Otherwise you will be scratching your head much trying to fill the gaps in application by either avoiding the context, or come up with dubious explanations that do not make sense, and I do find some Adventist (and non-Adventist alike) pastors do that much.

I agree that we can only have a glimpse of things to come. Yet, I find some people making ridiculous assertions... like flying to see other planets and etc... as though humans will have supernatural abilities of flight? I know that with God all of the things are possible, yet this was not the state we were created in. And if the goal is to get back to the original state of being, I doubt much that flying to other planets will be a part of it.

I would obstain from such assumptions, because there is no mention of it in the Bible, and it does not present the people who observe us with a consistent message of "sola scriptura", and many people look at it on part with insane asylum looking for aliens to take them into their space ship. There's no reason for extra Biblical fantasy.

[fccool]

On top of that, the Joy of Christianity is not in Sabbath alone! Sabbath is no greater commandment than not lying or stealing, although some believe it to be. If you lie or steal and you "keep the Sabbath" it makes no difference.

The joy of Christianity is living the restoring the harmony of relationship and nature that once was broken. We experience a little glimpse of heaven on earth in Church today... of course not in its fullness, but we still do. I'm not a sucker for Country music... but I kind of like the song. Many people view heaven being this place of "everything will be brought to you on a golden platter"... a bigger and better Disney World kind of thing. I think it will be much simpler, yet awesome. I'm not a sucker for Country music, but this one gets me.

The kids screaming, phone ringing

Dog barking at the mailman bringing

That stack of bills - overdue

Good morning baby, how are you?

Got a half hour, quick shower

Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour

My funny face makes you laugh

Twist the top on and I put it back

There goes the washing machine

Baby, don't kick it.

I promise I'll fix it

Long about a million other things

Well, it's ok. It's so nice

It's just another day in paradise

Well, there's no place that

I'd rather be

Well, it's two hearts

And one dream

I wouldn't trade it for anything

And I ask the lord every night

For just another day in paradise

Of course, there will not be bills in heaven, or new kids... yet, I think that there will be things breaking down in Heaven occasionally, but we will have no problem fixing these. The physical feeling will still be there, because the physical pain is there to warn us. So, perhaps occasionally we may even bump our foot on the bed and say "ouch". Yet, I definitely looking forward to "no more death", no more sin, no more taxes or licenses... or earthly government... injustice, unlimited time to study and explore God's creation and create free things for other people to enjoy, no more travel papers to fill out to travel and see your relatives on the opposite side of globe... And asking God face to face about the mysteries of the Universe. I really, really, really looking forward to that day.