Title January 2021

Praise the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s study the Word of God together and uncover an important spiritual truth that affects every believer and non-believer alike.

WHAT HAPPENS TO DEMONS AFTER THEY LEAVE A PERSON?

Have you ever wondered what happens to evil spirits when they are cast out of someone? Do they just disappear? Do they go straight to hell? According to the Bible, demons do not die or vanish. Instead, they wander, looking for another person to enter. And if they find no suitable host, they often return to the one they left—especially if that person hasn’t truly changed or surrendered to God.

Jesus Himself explained this clearly:

Matthew 12:43–45 (NKJV)

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

In other words, unless a person fills their life with the presence of God—especially through the Holy Spirit—they remain vulnerable. Evil spirits recognize this “emptiness” as an open invitation.

DEMONS DON’T DIE—THEY CYCLE THROUGH PEOPLE

Just like money doesn’t get destroyed when it leaves your hand, demons don’t cease to exist when cast out. They keep looking for where they can be welcomed—either by sin, spiritual negligence, or rebellion against God. This explains why deliverance without true repentance and sanctification can leave someone worse off than before.

SATAN AND DEMONS PRESENT CASES TO GOD

Many Christians are unaware that spiritual beings—even fallen ones—still function under certain rules in God’s spiritual courtroom. Satan, in particular, is called “the accuser of the brethren.”

Revelation 12:10 (ESV)

“…for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”

He accuses believers before God, just like he did with Job. In Job 1:6–12, Satan presents himself before God and questions Job’s faithfulness, ultimately receiving permission to test him.

Similarly, in the case of King Ahab, we’re shown that spirits can request permission from God to influence events:

1 Kings 22:19–23

“Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And He said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’”

This shows that God’s sovereignty is supreme—nothing happens without His knowledge. But also, it teaches us that sin opens legal doors for Satan and demons to act.

SIN CREATES OPEN DOORS FOR DEMONIC ENTRY

When people live in unrepentant sin—such as sexual immorality, hatred, idolatry, or witchcraft—they make themselves spiritually vulnerable. Demons can then “petition” God for permission to enter that person, and if no intercessor or repentance stands in the way, the petition may be granted.

This is why Scripture says:

Ephesians 4:27 (NIV)

“…do not give the devil a foothold.”

REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE: SEXUAL SIN AND DEMONIC ACCESS

Take, for example, someone who constantly engages in sexual immorality. In the spiritual realm, this person is surrounded by unclean spirits seeking access. Initially, God may delay their entry, giving the person opportunities to repent—often through preachers or convictions from the Holy Spirit. But if the person continually ignores God’s warnings, the demons may be given permission to enter. The result could be severe consequences—physical, emotional, or spiritual. Diseases like HIV, for instance, may sometimes be spiritual judgments rather than mere infections (though not always, and not in every case).

Paul warns:

1 Corinthians 6:18–20 (NIV)

“Flee from sexual immorality… Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

DEMONS EVEN BEGGED JESUS FOR MERCY

Even during His earthly ministry, Jesus encountered demons who begged not to be tormented before their time. This proves that demons are aware of divine timelines and legal boundaries.

Matthew 8:28–32

“What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”… The demons begged Jesus, ‘If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’”

Jesus granted their request, showing that spiritual beings can ask, and God may permit based on divine wisdom and timing.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM DEMONIC ENTRY

To remain free from demonic oppression, a person must repent and stay spiritually filled. It’s not enough to be “cleaned out”; you must be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 (NIV)

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

True repentance involves action:

• Forgive those who’ve wronged you (Matthew 6:14)

• Cut off sinful relationships (1 Corinthians 15:33)

• Destroy spiritually harmful materials (Acts 19:19)

• Stop watching pornographic or ungodly content

• Replace worldly music with worship and truth-filled songs

Tangible steps prove your repentance is real. This kind of repentance drives out demons naturally—you may not even need deliverance prayers, because darkness cannot remain where the Holy Spirit lives.

FINISH YOUR DELIVERANCE WITH BAPTISM

After repentance and cleansing, seek baptism in water by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ. This completes your obedience to the Gospel.

John 3:23 shows that Jesus’ disciples baptized in places with “much water”—a symbol of total cleansing.

Once you’ve truly repented, filled yourself with God’s Spirit, and been baptized, demons lose all legal ground. Their accusations won’t stand, and you will live in freedom.

James 4:7 (NIV)

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus

There’s an important theological principle we must grasp: God, although all-powerful, does not do everything on His own. While He has the absolute ability to handle all things, He has designed His relationship with humanity in such a way that He does much, but also leaves room for us to participate. This principle is based on God’s wisdom and the nature of His relationship with us.

1. God’s Partnership with Humanity

From the very beginning, God chose to involve humans in His divine purposes. For example, in the Garden of Eden, after creating everything, God could have left Adam to live in eternal comfort and abundance, enjoying the garden without any effort. Yet, God gave Adam the responsibility to “work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). This wasn’t because God was incapable of doing it Himself—He could have maintained the garden without Adam—but God’s design was to allow humanity to share in His work. It was a way of involving Adam in the stewardship of creation, teaching him the value of responsibility.

God, in His perfect sovereignty, chose to delegate, showing that His plan for creation involves cooperation with His image-bearers. This delegation is not about God needing us, but about His desire to involve us in His redemptive work.

2. God Sustains Us, but We Must Cooperate

God sustains our very existence—our heartbeat, our breath, our health—all are in His hands:

“You hide your face, they are terrified; you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.” (Psalm 104:29-30)

Yet, we are not passive in this divine arrangement. God designed the human body with incredible processes that operate autonomously, but He still requires us to participate in our own care. For instance, we don’t control the beating of our hearts, but we are responsible for caring for our health:

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

As much as God sustains us, He expects us to take responsibility for our physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. While God provides the means for our nourishment (Matthew 6:11), He doesn’t magically feed us without any effort on our part. In the same way, our spiritual health requires active participation, such as prayer, Bible study, and service.

3. God’s Expectation of Prayer

One of the clearest areas where God calls us to participate is in prayer. Jesus emphasized the need for active prayer and watchfulness:

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)

Prayer is not a passive act; it is a deliberate, ongoing engagement with God. In fact, prayer is an essential part of our partnership with God. While God knows our needs before we ask:

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8)

He still invites us to pray because prayer aligns us with His will and brings us into communion with Him.

In Luke 18:1, Jesus told His disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and not give up:

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1)

Even though God is sovereign and knows what we need, He chooses to work through our prayers. If we neglect to pray, we miss out on the intimacy with God that He desires for us, and we may hinder the work He wants to do through us.

4. God’s Work and Our Participation in It

We are not mere spectators in the work of God. As members of the body of Christ, we are called to actively participate in His work:

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)

This is a central part of God’s redemptive plan for the world: He uses His people as instruments to carry out His will on earth.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

God has prepared specific tasks for each believer, and part of our responsibility is to be diligent in fulfilling those tasks. However, we must not fall into the trap of thinking that we can be passive in our spiritual lives and expect God to do everything for us. As we read in James 2:26:

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:26)

This means that a faith that does not engage in action—whether through prayer, service, or obedience—fails to reflect the full nature of a living relationship with God.

5. The Importance of Faith and Works

Many people mistakenly believe that since God is in control, we don’t need to do anything. While it’s true that salvation is by grace alone through faith:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

This doesn’t mean that we should remain passive in our spiritual walk. Our faith must be expressed through works. Jesus Himself, though sinless and fully God, still lived a life of prayer and action. He didn’t rely on His divine nature to avoid the responsibilities of life; rather, He exemplified the balance of trusting God while actively participating in God’s will on earth:

“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19)

Similarly, we are called to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling”:

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)

This isn’t about earning our salvation, but about actively living out the reality of our salvation. God calls us to participate in His work through prayer, service, and obedience.

6. The Danger of Neglecting Our Part

When we neglect the small part God has assigned to us, we open ourselves to spiritual decline. Proverbs 26:15 reminds us:

“The lazy man buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.” (Proverbs 26:15)

Spiritual laziness leads to stagnation and even death. If we sit back and wait for God to do everything, neglecting the small tasks He has entrusted to us, we miss out on the richness of partnership with Him.

In the work of the Kingdom, we must be faithful stewards of what God has given us. Whether it’s serving in the church, evangelizing, or using our gifts for the good of others, our participation is crucial. God doesn’t want us to be passive recipients of His blessings; He wants us to actively participate in the mission of His Kingdom.

Conclusion: Walking with God in Balance

To maintain a balanced Christian life, we must recognize our responsibility to actively engage with God’s work. This means participating in prayer, serving others, and being faithful stewards of what God has given us. If we neglect these duties, we risk drifting away from God’s will.

God has designed the Christian life as a partnership—He does the heavy lifting, but He invites us to join Him in His work. Just as He sustains our lives, we must actively participate in His Kingdom, both in our personal lives and in the broader mission of the Church.

Let us be empowered by the Holy Spirit to pray earnestly and to do the work God has called us to do. As we do this, we align ourselves with His perfect will and walk in the balance He desires for us.

Shalom.

In the time of Jesus, society was shaped by various religious and political groups, and three major groups were particularly hostile to Him. In addition to the well-known Pharisees and Sadducees, there was another group called the Herodians. As their name suggests, the Herodians were political supporters of the family of Herod the Great, who ruled Judea under Roman authority. They saw Herod as the rightful ruler and believed that he, as a representative of the Roman Empire, deserved royal honor and glory. Theologically, the Herodians were more concerned with political power and the status quo than with spiritual matters.

Theological Background:
The Herodians were not interested in the coming Messiah in the same way the Pharisees were. While the Pharisees hoped for a Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule and establish God’s kingdom (John 6:15), the Herodians were willing to support the political status quo under Roman dominion, as long as it meant preserving their position of power. Their allegiance to Herod’s political dynasty directly conflicted with the Jewish hope for a Messiah who would deliver them from oppression. This political focus made them more concerned with the preservation of earthly power than with the true kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed.

The Herodian Alliance with the Pharisees:
The Herodians and the Pharisees typically had no common ground. The Pharisees were opposed to Roman rule, whereas the Herodians were aligned with it. However, when Jesus’ influence and authority began to grow, the two groups found common cause in their opposition to Him. Jealous of His teachings and His ability to gather crowds, the Pharisees and Herodians joined forces to destroy Him, even though they were political enemies. This alliance reveals the depth of their animosity toward Jesus, who they saw as a threat to both their religious authority (in the case of the Pharisees) and their political control (in the case of the Herodians).

” (Mark 3:6)
“Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.”

This verse shows how the Pharisees, motivated by jealousy, teamed up with the Herodians to achieve their shared goal of eliminating Jesus. Theologically, this alliance illustrates how religious and political systems, when threatened by divine truth, will often collaborate to suppress God’s work.

Attempts to Trap Jesus:
The Herodians, along with the Pharisees, tried several times to trap Jesus with questions that would force Him into a position where He could be accused of breaking Roman laws or contradicting Jewish law. They knew that if He answered their questions in a way that angered Herod or the Romans, they could accuse Him before the authorities. For example, in Mark 12:13-17, the Herodians and Pharisees asked Jesus whether it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, hoping He would either anger the Jewish people (by supporting Roman taxation) or upset the Roman authorities (by opposing it).

“Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch Him in His words.” (Mark 12:13)

“Tell us then, is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” (Matthew 22:17)

Jesus responded, saying, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (Mark 12:17)

This response confounded His enemies. Theologically, Jesus affirmed the legitimacy of earthly government while simultaneously emphasizing that ultimate allegiance belongs to God. His answer pointed to a higher spiritual truth, acknowledging the sovereignty of God over all earthly rulers.

The Herodians’ Role in the Death of John the Baptist and Jesus:
The Herodians, who were loyal to the ruling family of Herod, were directly involved in the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:17-29). John had publicly rebuked Herod for his immoral marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife. Herodias, in particular, held a grudge against John and used her influence to have him executed. This event foreshadows how political and religious powers can conspire to silence the voice of truth. Similarly, the Herodians played a part in the trial of Jesus. They, along with the Pharisees, were part of the group that handed Jesus over to Pilate, seeking His crucifixion (Mark 15:10-11).

Theological Reflection:
The actions of the Herodians, like those of many earthly rulers and political systems throughout history, reflect a fundamental conflict between worldly power and the kingdom of God. The Herodians sought to maintain the status quo under Roman rule, while Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God, which transcends earthly kingdoms (John 18:36). His challenge to both the religious establishment and the political rulers was a declaration that God’s kingdom was not of this world, and it was to be established not through political manipulation or violence, but through the sacrificial love of Christ (Luke 17:20-21).

Warning Against Trusting in Human Power:
The Bible warns us not to place our trust in human beings, but in God alone.

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.” (Psalm 118:8)

Trusting in human systems, which are often corrupt and temporary, leads to disappointment and destruction. In contrast, those who trust in God are secure in His eternal kingdom.

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:5)

This curse is not just for those who reject God outright, but also for those who place their trust in human systems or rulers above God’s sovereignty.

Conclusion:
The Herodians, in their pursuit of political power and alliance with the Pharisees, exemplify the dangers of trusting in worldly authority. Their actions against Jesus and John the Baptist illustrate how earthly rulers and systems often resist God’s will. Theologically, we are reminded that God’s kingdom cannot be contained or defeated by human power. We are called to trust in God, who reigns eternally, rather than in the fleeting power of human rulers.

May the Lord help us to seek His kingdom first and to place our trust in Him alone.

Question:

As followers of Christ who trust in God’s power and providence, is it right to hire security guards to protect our personal property or church assets? Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain” (NIV). Does that mean relying on security measures is unbiblical?

Answer:
No, it is not a sin to hire guards or put in place protective measures for your property. In fact, the Bible supports wise stewardship and personal responsibility. God gives us wisdom, and part of that wisdom includes safeguarding what He has entrusted to us.

Hiring guards does not contradict faith—it only becomes a problem when we place our ultimate trust in human security instead of in the Lord. The key is where our faith rests.

What Does Psalm 127:1 Really Mean?

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” (Psalm 127:1, NIV)

This verse is not condemning human effort—it’s reminding us that all human effort is ultimately fruitless unless God is involved. It does not prohibit taking action or using guards; rather, it teaches that true security comes from the Lord. When God blesses your work or protection, your efforts are not in vain.

Biblical Example: Nehemiah’s Balance of Faith and Wisdom

A great example is found in the life of Nehemiah. When God called him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he faced serious threats from enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah. Nehemiah fully trusted in God—but he also took practical steps by posting guards.

“But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” (Nehemiah 4:9, NIV)

This is a perfect biblical model of faith in action. Nehemiah didn’t trust in the guards alone—he prayed first. But he also didn’t ignore his responsibility to protect the people and the work. This teaches us that spiritual dependence on God and practical wisdom go hand in hand.

Even Jesus affirmed the value of planning and protection:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28, NIV)

Wisdom involves preparing for risk and acting responsibly.

Trust in God Must Always Come First

We are called to be wise stewards—not careless. Leaving your house unlocked overnight or your business unsecured while expecting nothing to go wrong is not faith—that’s recklessness. God protects, but He also expects us to act wisely.

“Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Matthew 4:7, NIV)

This was Jesus’ response to Satan when tempted to jump from the temple, relying on angels to save Him. Deliberate carelessness while expecting divine protection is testing God, not trusting Him.

If by accident you forget to lock your doors and God protects your property, that’s His grace. But choosing not to lock them while saying “God will protect it anyway” is presumptuous and unbiblical.

Guarding Spiritual Things Is Even More Important

While guarding physical possessions is wise, guarding your spiritual blessings is even more important. Salvation, faith, and truth are precious gifts that Satan actively seeks to steal.

“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Revelation 3:11, NIV)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV)
“Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” (Proverbs 4:24–25, NIV)

These verses emphasize spiritual vigilance. After salvation, we must not become spiritually lazy. The enemy is always trying to deceive, discourage, and rob believers of their spiritual inheritance.

As Christians, we must take responsibility for protecting what God has given us—physically and spiritually. Just as God sends His angels to guard us:

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11, NIV)

—we too are called to guard what He’s entrusted to us. Doing so reflects God’s own nature as a protector. Let us trust Him above all, but also act with wisdom and diligence.

May the Lord bless you and help you to be faithful with everything He has entrusted to you.

A Final Word:
If you have not yet received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I urge you to do so today. These are the last days, and Christ’s return is near. When the trumpet sounds and Jesus comes for His people, where will you be?

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Praise the Lord Jesus! Welcome as we delve into the Word of God.

Before we explore the deeper implications, it’s essential to first understand the foundational meaning of the Sabbath.

What Is the Sabbath?

The word “Sabbath” means rest—ceasing from work, entering a time of peace, and being refreshed. In the very beginning, God created the heavens and the earth in six days, as detailed in Genesis 1:1-31. On the seventh day, He rested. This was not because He was tired, but to establish a pattern for humanity. God, who is all-powerful, chose to rest to set apart this day as holy, which we read in Genesis 2:2-3:

“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

This seventh day was blessed, sanctified, and set apart as a day of rest, not only for God but also as an example for humanity. Thus, the Sabbath was meant to be a sign of God’s perfect work and a pattern for His creation to follow.

Later, when God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel, He commanded them to keep the Sabbath day holy as a reminder of His creation and His covenant with them:

Exodus 20:8-11 (NKJV)

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”

The Sabbath as More Than Just a Day

However, the Sabbath wasn’t just about resting on a specific day. It was about entering into God’s rest—a concept that transcends one day or year and points to a deeper spiritual reality. The concept of the Sabbath finds its full meaning in the idea of divine rest, which was set out at creation but had a greater fulfillment to come.

For instance, in Leviticus 25:1-4, God instructed the Israelites to observe a Sabbath year every seventh year, during which they were not to farm the land but let it rest.

Leviticus 25:1-4 (NKJV)

“The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a Sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard.'”

This was a further extension of God’s pattern of rest, and it teaches us that both the people and the land need regular rest in order to be restored.

But it didn’t stop there. After seven cycles of seven years (49 years), the 50th year was to be declared the Year of Jubilee, when the land would again rest, and debts would be forgiven. This year of liberation and rest points to the ultimate liberation God promises His people.

Leviticus 25:11-13 (NKJV)

“That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine. For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field. In this Year of Jubilee, each of you shall return to his possession.”

The Year of Jubilee symbolizes ultimate freedom and restoration, a glimpse of the eternal rest God has in store for His people. It points us forward to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise—a rest that goes beyond physical land or a specific time, but into the eternal peace and joy found in His presence.

The Spiritual Fulfillment of the Sabbath

While the Sabbath observances in the Old Testament were important, they were ultimately a shadow of the true and eternal rest God had planned for His people. This deeper rest is what we read about in the New Testament, especially in Hebrews 4. The author of Hebrews reveals that the promised rest, the true Sabbath rest, is not just about a day, a year, or a physical land, but about entering into God’s rest through faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:8-9 (NKJV)

“For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.”

Here, the author is making the case that if the physical land of Canaan had been the final promise of rest, then God wouldn’t have spoken of another rest. This shows us that the rest promised to Israel was merely a type of the eternal rest that comes through salvation in Christ.

Hebrews 4:10-11 (NKJV)

“For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”

This teaches us that true Sabbath rest is found in ceasing from our own works and entering into God’s work—trusting in Christ’s finished work on the cross. This is the rest that remains for God’s people, and it’s available to us now through faith.

The Final Fulfillment of God’s Rest: The Millennial Kingdom

As we look forward to the future, we see that the ultimate fulfillment of the Sabbath rest will occur in the Millennial Kingdom, a time when Christ will reign on earth for 1,000 years. This is a time of peace, joy, and rest for God’s people, as described in Revelation 20:4-6.

Revelation 20:4-6 (NKJV)

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”

The Millennium represents the ultimate “rest” that God has promised, where Christ rules and His people enjoy perfect peace and fellowship with God. It’s a picture of the eternal rest to come, the final Sabbath where God’s people will live with Him forever in perfect harmony.

Conclusion: Entering God’s Rest

In conclusion, the Sabbath is not just about a day of rest or a yearly break—it’s a symbol of the ultimate rest God promises to His people. The physical rest commanded in the Old Testament points to a deeper spiritual rest found only in Jesus Christ. As believers, we are called to enter this rest by ceasing from our own works and trusting in the finished work of Christ.

Hebrews 4:11 (NKJV)

“Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”

We must remain faithful, trusting in God’s promises, and look forward to the eternal rest He has prepared for us in His Kingdom.

May we continue to rest in His promises and eagerly await the ultimate fulfillment of His Sabbath rest.