Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Even though this passage of scripture refers primarily to the rest of faith, we must also remember that faith without works is dead. True faith does not annul the letter or the spirit of the law, but rather magnifies it. Throughout the history of the children of Israel, God found it necessary to remind them of His holy Day of rest, the seventh day Sabbath. Hence the reason why we see the number "7" occurring so many times in the old testament. For instance the Israelites were instructed to march around Jerocho seven times. Naaman the leper was instructed to dip seven times. The blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled seven times before the veil of the earthly sanctuary. The year of release from debt was the seventh year, and on and on and on.
Then in the new testament we see Christ and all of His disciples following the same command given by God to worship on the seventh day. Let's read:
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
Acts 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
These and many other examples plainly show that God's sabbath of the seventh day is still valid, and there is no scriptural authority or precedent for keeping the first day of the week as a holy day. This breach that has been made in the law of God will one day soon have to be addressed by every living person on this planet, and the decision to obey or to continue in disobedience will ultimately determine the destiny of all those who would have come to a full knowledge of the truth. It is this individual decision that the prophet Joel is referring to, after having prophesied distinctly concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Let's read:
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
It therefore behooves every sincere seeker for truth to thoroughly investigate the scriptures concerning this truth and we hope and pray that our decisions will come down on the side of obedience and righteousness, for God has said that His word cannot be altered by anyone because it is already settled in heaven and on earth. We therefore end with a promise and an urgent encouragement to every member of the human family, to be reconciled to God.
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
May The Lord enable us to see and obey the truth always for His coming is very near, even at the doors. God bless!