Hebrews 3&4: There remains therefore a rest

[mannysee]

From time to time I look at the SDA forum to consider their positions.

I have seen texts from Hebrews chapters 3&4 used to bolster their weekly Saturday rest observance.
e.g. I have seen more than once the text "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God" used.

Looking carefully at these two chapters I feel that the one-day-in-seven rest is not being discussed at all.
Rather the Hebrews are being reminded of the rest that lay ahead when their ancestors came out of the wilderness wandering. The "rest" in context being rest from their enemies (and other things) when they came into the land.

"They will not enter my rest":
Again, I feel that the "my rest" here was either the land rest to come and/or the eternal rest e.g. "Let us strive to enter that rest".

One thing to remember here is that Israel during the 40 year wandering period being discussed in these chapters were already resting their one day in seven according to the law.

And so the words "there remains" is referring to something in the future and not the one-day-in-seven rest which the Hebrews then were already observing during their 40 year wilderness period.

Your thoughts?

 

[Tallen]

I think this is speaking of a future time when we no longer labor to be enjoying the blessings of YHWH. Our covenant will come to full fruition and the promised land of rest will be fully realized. Like the Israelites, who wandered in the desert, and needed to be obedient to the Commandments of YHWH, we are to be obedient also. Looking forward to what is promised to us fully in our Messiah. When we are resurrected and given victory over all our enemies, and no longer wrestle with a nature that is prone to sin, disbelief and unfaithfulness, we will have entered into that rest as the Israelites entered into the Promised Land. They no longer dwelt in temporary tabernacles and being without a physical land of their own, were able to rest and enjoy what was promised in a country that was given them by YHWH. This was their rest from the wilderness. We face the same, a future permenent Sabbath, where all of the pormises of YHWH are realized and there will no longer be the struggle with sin.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
(Hebrews 4:9-11 KJV)

There remaineth therefore a rest, a future rest that is not yet realized, to the people of YHWH. A rest that we are laboring to enter is in a future tense in the Greek, and is set before us as a goal to which we are all working toward.

Putting it together:

The Sabbath of Creation, which YHWH Himself did, He rested on the seventh day, is an example for what we are looking for now. We are laboring to achieve a future sabbath in a permenant kingdom where we will enjoy all of the promises of YHWH given to His people. All of the work will be done, we will have achieved our victory and He will give us what He has promised, fully and completely. This sabbath that is spoken of, isn't the Sabbath of creation to be taken every seventh day, but a future time where the people of YHWH will rest. Perhaps after 6000 years (6 days metaphorically) of human history (where His people have struggle to be obedient) when we enter into the final and permenant kingdom of Messiah. He will be our King and we will enjoy His kingdom and dwell there in the rest that is promised.

That's my take on this.

 

[Phileoeklogos]

"They" do not enter His rest, because of unbelief, but "we",...


Heb 4:3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.


We have ceased from our works, putting our faith in the works of God, we enter that rest, that true sabbath, which the seventh day typified, we now have this rest, and we also have the the future fulfillment, perfect and eternal, because we are abiding in the already/not yet kingdom.