February 9: THROUGHOUT ETERNITY
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. Isaiah 66:23
. . . from one New Moon to another . . . Under Mosaic law, the monthly rites were associated with gladness (see Numbers 10:10). Nearing the end of the book of Revelation, the Lord confirms the continuation of months: …on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month… (Revelation 22:2b ESV). The presence of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden is proof of God’s intention for man to live forever. God’s act of preventing access after man sinned (Genesis 3:22) is proof of His mercy! Restored access to this tree for repentant, faithful people is certainly something to be glad about and celebrate! The “how” of God’s way of perpetually sustaining the life of His redeemed ones is not given. Nevertheless, we confidently trust that the Giver of life knows how to eternally sustain life. It is interesting that medical research scientists, in their study of cell-renewal, have speculated that the fruit of the tree of life contains a unique enzyme or some other catalyst that effects continual cellular renewal. Regardless of how it is accomplished, it is cause for heartfelt gladness!
Isaiah’s mention of months and weeks at the end of his book reveals his vision of the end of fallen earth’s history with a view of the redeemed and restored Creation. Genesis 1:14 comes to mind: Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years. He ‘crowned’ His six days of creating with an ‘invisible crown’: an additional day in which no work was done. The weekly Sabbath is a precious time created for sweet rest and renewal with the Maker as well as fellowship with loved ones. It is a day of joy and blessings, many of which are unexpected! Although He is never tired, He looks forward to and enjoys this time set apart for sanctification of His people. It breaks His heart for this time to be ignored, scoffed at, and trampled upon (Isaiah 58:13).
The days that comprise weeks and the months that comprise years are fixed within the ‘clockwork’ of Creation. The only two institutions established by the LORD before sin were marriage and the seventh-day Sabbath. These institutions were intended as marvelous blessings, but of course require our active attention and participation. Jesus made it clear that marriage would not continue (Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25). He also demonstrated that the Sabbath* will indeed carry forward throughout eternity, just as Isaiah prophesied.
The archenemy’s attacks on these institutions continue, but those who build their faith upon God’s word are building on the rock (see Matthew 7:24). Jesus encourages us to be like the man who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock (Luke 6:48). He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) It is impossible for someone who doesn’t love the Lord to honor His commandments.
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12
*Note: In the Old Testament, religious leaders piled on rules that made Sabbath keeping burdensome. Jesus ignored these man-made rules and was falsely accused of breaking the Sabbath. This was the main reason they had Him crucified. In 321AD the Emperor Constantine made a law changing the day of worship to Sunday, the most popular day for sun worshippers. This was a political maneuver to unite pagans and Christians. A similar attempt to unify the world is on the horizon …