Isaiah 66:22-23
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And 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.
In light of this passage, what day will the citizens of the city of God worship? Saturday or Sunday? Is there any connection as to what do should believers worship on here on earth?
The day of worship in heaven
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_SoaringEagle
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The day of worship in heaven
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
If this passage indicates that we should now be observing the Sabbaths, would it not also indicate that we should be observing the new moons?
Isaiah also wrote that Yahweh had the following to say of the Hebrew practice of oberving new moons and feasts:
Isaiah 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them.
Notice Yahweh does not take ownership. He calls them "your new moons" and "your appointed feasts."
Yahweh also said He would put an end to Israel's feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths:
And I will put an end to all her mirth, her feasts, her new moons, her sabbaths, and all her appointed feasts. Hosea 2:11
Now I know that it can be argued that God was not pleased with their worship in the context of their evil deeds, but would be pleased with it if they were living righteously. Notwithstanding, it seems that these observances were not the thing which chiefly pleased God, but their obedience to His instructions.
Isaiah also wrote that Yahweh had the following to say of the Hebrew practice of oberving new moons and feasts:
Isaiah 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them.
Notice Yahweh does not take ownership. He calls them "your new moons" and "your appointed feasts."
Yahweh also said He would put an end to Israel's feasts, new moons, and Sabbaths:
And I will put an end to all her mirth, her feasts, her new moons, her sabbaths, and all her appointed feasts. Hosea 2:11
Now I know that it can be argued that God was not pleased with their worship in the context of their evil deeds, but would be pleased with it if they were living righteously. Notwithstanding, it seems that these observances were not the thing which chiefly pleased God, but their obedience to His instructions.
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
Paidion
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
Avatar --- Age 45
"Not one soul will ever be redeemed from hell but by being saved from his sins, from the evil in him." --- George MacDonald
In the New Jerusalem, there is no night—only continuous day (Rev.21:23, 25). With no sun, moon or stars, it would be difficult to know when the sabbath or the new moon had arrived or ended.
For reasons that one can find presented in my Isaiah lectures, I suspect that Isaiah's reference to the "New Heavens and the New Earth" is actually a reference to the new covenant in this present time ("If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation" 2 Cor.5:17). There are many who think the same about the New Heavens, New Earth and New Jerusalem in New Testament references like 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21, as well. I am not sure of the latter.
In Isaiah 66, therefore, I do not see this as worship "in heaven," but rather as a reference to present-day worship. But what of the "sabbaths" and "new moons"? There are two possibilities that I can see:
1) When predicted in the Old Testament prophets, the worship associated with the New Covenant is often spoken of in Old Testament worship imagery. Hence, Malachi's reference to the Gentiles around the world offering "a pure offering" and the burning of "incense"—which was only done by the priests, in the Old Testament (Mal.1:11). Similarly, Isaiah speaks of the Gentiles keeping the sabbaths and presenting burnt offerings and sacrifices (Isa.56:6-7). Zechariah 14:16-19, likewise, speaks of the nations observing the Feast of Tabernacles.
In view of the teaching of Hebrews, that the Jewish feasts and sacrifices have been fulfilled and done away in Christ, it seems best to understand these Old Testament descriptions as being fulfilled in the substance of them, not in the shadow (Col.2:16-17)—that is, in the antitype, not in the type. Just as we still practice circumcision, Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Rom.2:28-29/ Col.2:11-12/1 Cor.5:7-8) in the spiritual, not the ritual manner.
In short, these prophetic references to the worship of the present age merely use the language of worship in the prophets' own day to represent the spiritual counterpart.
2) "From one sabbath to another" and "from one new moon to another" can indicate the whole period in between new moons and the days between the sabbaths. That is, unlike Judaism, which had holy days (weekly and monthly, as well as annually), the worship of the Messianic Age occupies "every day alike" (Rom.14:5).
This elevation of every single day to the status of a holy day of worship would be making the same point as Zechariah 14:20 makes, in saying that "Holiness unto the Lord" (which was originally only engraved on the high priest's mitre plate) will be engraved on such ordinary things as the bridle-bells of the horses— and that every pot and bowl in town will have the status of the holy vessels of the temple. I take this idea to be that God, in the New Covenant, brings a sacredness to all of life, such as was only hinted at in the Old Covenant by the separation of a few holy things, people and days.
This could also be the meaning of people worshipping God "from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another," (i.e., not just on these "holy days," but all the days in between as well).
For reasons that one can find presented in my Isaiah lectures, I suspect that Isaiah's reference to the "New Heavens and the New Earth" is actually a reference to the new covenant in this present time ("If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation" 2 Cor.5:17). There are many who think the same about the New Heavens, New Earth and New Jerusalem in New Testament references like 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21, as well. I am not sure of the latter.
In Isaiah 66, therefore, I do not see this as worship "in heaven," but rather as a reference to present-day worship. But what of the "sabbaths" and "new moons"? There are two possibilities that I can see:
1) When predicted in the Old Testament prophets, the worship associated with the New Covenant is often spoken of in Old Testament worship imagery. Hence, Malachi's reference to the Gentiles around the world offering "a pure offering" and the burning of "incense"—which was only done by the priests, in the Old Testament (Mal.1:11). Similarly, Isaiah speaks of the Gentiles keeping the sabbaths and presenting burnt offerings and sacrifices (Isa.56:6-7). Zechariah 14:16-19, likewise, speaks of the nations observing the Feast of Tabernacles.
In view of the teaching of Hebrews, that the Jewish feasts and sacrifices have been fulfilled and done away in Christ, it seems best to understand these Old Testament descriptions as being fulfilled in the substance of them, not in the shadow (Col.2:16-17)—that is, in the antitype, not in the type. Just as we still practice circumcision, Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Rom.2:28-29/ Col.2:11-12/1 Cor.5:7-8) in the spiritual, not the ritual manner.
In short, these prophetic references to the worship of the present age merely use the language of worship in the prophets' own day to represent the spiritual counterpart.
2) "From one sabbath to another" and "from one new moon to another" can indicate the whole period in between new moons and the days between the sabbaths. That is, unlike Judaism, which had holy days (weekly and monthly, as well as annually), the worship of the Messianic Age occupies "every day alike" (Rom.14:5).
This elevation of every single day to the status of a holy day of worship would be making the same point as Zechariah 14:20 makes, in saying that "Holiness unto the Lord" (which was originally only engraved on the high priest's mitre plate) will be engraved on such ordinary things as the bridle-bells of the horses— and that every pot and bowl in town will have the status of the holy vessels of the temple. I take this idea to be that God, in the New Covenant, brings a sacredness to all of life, such as was only hinted at in the Old Covenant by the separation of a few holy things, people and days.
This could also be the meaning of people worshipping God "from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another," (i.e., not just on these "holy days," but all the days in between as well).
Last edited by Guest on Wed Dec 31, 1969 7:00 pm, edited 0 times in total.
Reason:
Reason:
In Jesus,
Steve
Steve