Unearthing Genesis 1:1 | Part 7

The Sapphire Review Vol. 2 | No. 25 • May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025

Recreation and the Sabbath

In this series, we have seen thus far that the truth of the creation is a righteousness by faith message. In Part 6, we saw that the Sabbath is the memorial of the creation of the firmament called Heaven, the dry-land called Earth, the gathering together of the waters [under the heaven] called Seas, and all things that are within them. In this article, we will now discuss these subjects (righteousness by faith and the Sabbath) as they pertain to recreation.

The Recreation of Man

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when [Christ] shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1 John 3:2–3

Our blessed hope1 is in the second advent and glorious appearing of the Son of God. When Jesus shall appear, how shall we behold Him? “We shall see him as he is”, at which time we shall be changed, in the twinkling of an eye,2 and we shall be like Him,—pure, glorious, and incorruptible. Yet, even now have we “put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created [us].”3 Why? Because we have this hope in us, and therefore we are “created [anew] in righteousness and holiness of truth.”4

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Our faith, being “the confidence of things hoped for, the evidence of things not [yet] seen”,5 is firmly established upon the word of God, by which man was created in God’s image,—even after the likeness of JEHOVAH and His only begotten Son.6 For God spoke, and man was formed at His decree:

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:26

Now it was at this time that man appeared, and God beheld him, and declared him very good.7 Even the angels, bearing witness to the wondrous acts of creation by the word of God, sang together and shouted for joy in beholding the appearance of man by God’s word.8

The Sabbath, then, is the memorial of the creation of man. Thus did Jesus say unto the Pharisees, “the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.”9 In remembering the Sabbath day,10 we are to keep it as the memorial of the day in which Christ lovingly made, and created, and formed us in His own image.

Light Overcoming Darkness

In the six days of creation,11 each creative act of God was light overcoming darkness and God’s creation overcoming nothingness and emptiness at His word. Each day consisted of an evening and morning,12 beginning with darkness and ending with light. The light overcoming the darkness culminated in the sixth day, wherein man became God’s crowning creation—the ultimate light to overcome darkness by the word of God.

Christ created man to be “the light of the world”,13 and put His own life in man,14 for it is the life of Jesus “which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”15 It is written:—

And [JEHOVAH] God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:7

Thus saith God [JEHOVAH], He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Isaiah 42:5

Succeeding this sixth day in which man was created, God ended His work. It was complete and perfect when His work was finished,16 and all that He made was declared “very good.”17 Neither the evening, nor the darkness called Night are mentioned again, because it was on this seventh day that JEHOVAH completely overcame the darkness and nothingness of non-creation by His word.

Man, like the earth before it appeared, was “without form, and void” before he appeared by the word of God. In this event of the creation of man, the light triumphed over the darkness. This wonderful typology points us to the day of Christ, when we shall be renewed after the image of Him who created us.18

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

The seventh-day Sabbath is the sign19 between JEHOVAH and His people who rest from their own works (as God did from His),20 trusting not to their own righteousness for salvation, but to the righteousness of Jesus Christ.21 Thus, the Sabbath rest is not mere abstinence from our earthly labours throughout the six working days, but much more, the very sign of our faith in the propitiation of Christ’s righteousness for the remission of our sins (that are past). It is the sign that we have ceased from our own works (as God did from His), and have received His righteousness, and walk in it. And it is even the sign of our blessed hope, that we look to the day of the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1 Thessalonians 5:4–5

The New Heaven and the New Earth

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Revelation 21:1

Now this wonderful typology of light overcoming darkness also points us forward to the new heaven[s] and the new earth22 wherein it will meet its antitypical fulfillment – for therein there shall be no more night,23 and JEHOVAH will be an everlasting light24 to them that are called, and chosen, and faithful.25

19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but [JEHOVAH] shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for [JEHOVAH] shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
Isaiah 60:19–20

So now we see that the Sabbath is not only the symbol of the thousand years of light and rest,26 but ultimately, the symbol of the heavenly country of promise.27 Herein is discerned the sanctity and delight of the Sabbath, which the world cannot receive.28 Because within it is found the blessings and promises of God, pointing to those things that have not as yet come to pass. Thus, by faith in JEHOVAH who created the heaven and the earth by His word, we hope for and look forward to the new heaven[s] and the new earth:

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
Isaiah 51:6

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2 Peter 3:13

The weekly Sabbath shall be kept in the new heaven and the new earth, and moreover will the moon, which shall no more withdraw itself, appoint the other seasons of our worship:

22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith [JEHOVAH], so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 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 [JEHOVAH].
Isaiah 66:22-23

Thus, in remembering the Sabbath day, and keeping it holy, we do look toward and hope for that rest in the new heaven and the new earth, wherein “God shall wipe away all tears from [our] eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”29

A More Sure Word of Prophecy

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2 Peter 1:19

In all these things are the promises of God, and although they have not as yet appeared, we can have confidence in all these things. For they, too (as the heaven and the earth, and even we, the children of God), shall also be brought forth by that same word which created them.

For six thousand years have the people of God walked in the dark wilderness of this world, but are soon to enter into the great day of millennial rest. And following this, after a short season, the children of the promise shall inherit all that God has prepared for them from the foundation of the world.30

So thus, when we read:—

For in six days [JEHOVAH] made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore [JEHOVAH] blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:11

We are reminded of the promises of God that must be fulfilled at the close of this present age, for all the things which are seen now have appeared by His word, just as His unseen promises,—soon to come to pass, shall also be fulfilled.

13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of [JEHOVAH], honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in [JEHOVAH]; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of [JEHOVAH] hath spoken it.
Isaiah 58:13–14

Never by our own will31 can we turn from our own ways.32 As it is written, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways”.33 But if we walk by faith, believing that JEHOVAH will do (in us) according to all that He has spoken,—then, and only then, shall we receive grace to honour God, and delight in His ways. For again, says JEHOVAH, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”34

Wherefore, brethren, do you believe, and know by faith, that in the beginning JEHOVAH created the firmament called Heaven and the dry-land called Earth at His word, even as He will, in the end, create new heavens and a new earth by that same word? And do you believe, and know by faith, that in the beginning JEHOVAH created man in His own image at His word, even as He will, in the end, recreate man and restore him in the image of God by that same word?

Let us rest, brethren, in these words:

I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
Isaiah 48:3