Entering God's Rest - Illustration
Visualizing God's Rest of Hebrews 4 from Creation through Eternity
INTRO
Hebrews 4 is a chapter that often comes under much scrutiny. Many Christians today are taught that this chapter shows proof of the fourth commandment - to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy - being replaced with our Sabbath rest now being in Jesus alone. However, when we look closely at this text and compare it with the rest of scripture, we will see that it is bringing beautiful typology and meaning to light.
The purpose of this article is not to provide a detailed study of the chapter (that will be saved for another post) but rather to provide a high level visual illustration that captures the main idea of God’s rest and what it means to enter it.
This illustration will cover the Sabbath from the beginning of creation through eternity.
OVERALL DIAGRAM
THE ORIGINAL MODEL
God creates man. He has an unfallen nature, and sin does not exist in the world. Man has perfect daily communion with God.1
God walks with man upon the earth.2
The Sabbath is created on the 7th day as a memorial of God’s creation and His rest. It is man’s intimate day of communion with and remembrance of God.3
Sin Enters the World
THE FALLEN MODEL
Adam sins, develops a sin nature, and passes that nature down to every human born from that point on.4
Man is evicted from Eden and God no longer walks with man upon the earth.5
The Sabbath day observance continues and points man back to the rest that once was and will one day be again in the future. It serves as the sanctified day of worship and communing with God by His people each week.6
Christ’s First Advent
THE EXAMPLE MODEL
God sends His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem humanity and to set an example for them upon the earth. He inherits man’s sinful nature but lives a perfectly sinless life, for sin is not our nature itself but rather a transgression of the law.7 Thus He paved the way for man to walk as He walked and to receive eternal life.8
By His Holy Spirit, God abides within those who love Him and keep His commandments. They follow the example set by Jesus.9
The Sabbath day observance continues as Jesus reinforces it was made for man. It is His day, and He is Lord over it.10
Christ’s Second Advent
THE RESTORED MODEL
The redeemed are resurrected with new incorruptible bodies to meet Christ in the sky as He takes them to dwell with Him in heaven. These bodies are free from the fallen sin nature.11
Men now dwell in the presence of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for 1,000 years in heaven and then for eternity upon the earth made new.12
The 7th day Sabbath observance continues for eternity as a memorial of His creation and His rest. It will now additionally serve as a memorial of His restoration and redemption of humanity from the corruptions of sin. It will remain to be man’s intimate day of communion with and remembrance of God forever.13
God Bless,
Charles
Thank you brother Charles! This is my favorite post you have given. I love this chart so much and want to have it printed in color and framed. It's perfect to show visually oriented people like artists and so simply shows the deep truth of why God made the sabbath. How beautiful!
This is wonderful brother Charles! Thank you so much for this post. 🙏🙌