Please click on light blue text for further information
Hebrews 4:1
1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear (fear?) lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
Why did Apostle Paul say we should fear not
entering God's rest? For the answer let us look at a scripture that will help us to better understand from Genesis two.
Genesis 2:2-3
2 And on the seventh day God ended His work (He fulfilled that part of His plan that He needed to materialize, to bring forth the beginning) which He had done (previously mentally envisioned), and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done (He rested from manifesting His ideas into reality).
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it (it was to be set aside from the regular work to remind man to enter His rest), because in it He rested from all His work which God had created (or mentally envisioned) and made (visually materialized).
All things were completed, the whole universe was realized or made visible, and then God rested. All things were done!
Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 explains it this way,
14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. (Unlike man's own works, which are temporary!) Nothing can be added to it (God's works are perfect and complete), and nothing taken from it (there is nothing lasting that can be done apart from Him). God does it, that men should fear before Him. (So they would not take the glory or credit for the things they do well. God already did them and we just bring things into being.)
15 That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been (in other words, all has been accomplished); and God requires an account of what is past. (Did we do His works according to His timing or did we do ours?)
Let's go back a few verses and read 9 and 10.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10
9 That which has been (done in concept and plan) is what will be (in God's timing, it will be made visible), that which is done (all He was now resting from) is what will be done (be brought into being by something or someone predestined to make it visible), and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? (No) It has already been in ancient times before us. (Isn't God amazing!)
So everything that has been and everything that will be that is of God is in God's rest! The fulfillment of all the
promises made to the forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are there,
His plan for the restoration of creation, His feasts with the blueprint for the
reestablishment of His Kingdom are there as well. In His rest is His knowledge that will set us free from Satan's lies and if applied will stabilize our lives through the end days.
In His rest also is His law to be placed on the forefront of the hearts and minds of His people as they enter to guide and protect them.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
11 He has made everything beautiful (perfect and in order) in its time (He sets the timing). Also He has put eternity in their hearts (to make mankind desire to be immortal as in the beginning), except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end (we therefore do not know through whom or at what time these things will happen).
Ephesians 1:9-10
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times (predestined and ordained order at a certain period of time) He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him (this is why Jesus says in John 15:5 we “can do nothing without Him”).
Another extraordinary thing about God's rest, the life and destiny of every created thing is also found there from Adam and Eve on. In other words our lives were planned before the earth was formed, we too were a
part of the original concept!
Ephesians 1:11
11 In Him also we (you and I) have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
Luke 12:32 says,
32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
So if God wanted us in the Kingdom,
what happened that mankind is no longer in that rest?
Hebrews 4:10-11
10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His (all our own agendas, self-generated plans must be laid down).
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest (so all the promises can be brought into fruition), lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience (and we miss out like old Israel).
This world we live in
unfortunately evolved from Satan's plans to
take over the earth and all created beings on it! God of course knew that Satan would challenge Him for supremacy even before He created him! He even set a time, the length known only to Him, for the
enemy to try his best to steal creation and be as god to the earth. Time was allowed also for mankind to see his folly for choosing a created being over their Creator! They were created little gods, children of the Most High, ones Satan nor any other created being had control over, but they chose flesh and blood, the carnal, and this world over God's Kingdom.
Psalm 82:6
6 I said, “You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. (The original state of man!)
Hebrews 2:14
14
Inasmuch then
as the children (His little gods) have
partaken of flesh and blood (Adam laid down His spirit to soulishly follow his wife's lead), He
Himself likewise
shared in the same (was born through an Adamic mother to be as carnal man to defeat all the sins that developed and paid the death penalty for things with His life and repurchased mankind for the Father), that
through deathHe might
destroy him who
had the power of death, that is,
the devil,
(very plain)
This was necessary as mankind was no longer in His image,
their spirits were dormant, they could no longer see or understand the spiritual.
I Corinthians 2:14
14 But the natural man (ones led by their bodies through their soul) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them (no spirit to lead them), because they are spiritually discerned.
This world and its god rather than the Father guides the lives of the Adamic race and shapes their future. Lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, pride of life, a
part of Satan's nature is blindly followed resulting in the world and society we are in today.
II Corinthians 4:4
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded (Satan), who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (truth that would awaken their spirits to return to their original state), who is the image of God (He was born like fallen man, but was baptized and filled with the Spirit and His Godly state restored), should shine on them (and they would understand what all Christ really accomplished for them and see the promises of restoration offered to them).
I John 2:16 shows us the nature of the enemy that his children walk in.
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world (and cannot enter God's rest).
Without our spirits, with a controlling carnal nature man developed with Satan's influence the world and its systems. Everyone
born to this race of people would also be prideful, have the need to
be number one, be lovers of self with a hatred for anyone unlike them. Not Kingdom minded for sure but perfect for this world. The
wisdom Eve chose would be extolled, praised and through it the world's banking, education, religion and governmental systems evolved. Can you see why the
people of this world could never enter God's rest? No way are they going to
give up the things they have worked so hard for! They look longingly at peace, joy, safety, a place where
there is no pain, sickness or sorrow, but all this is
found only in God's rest. God offers this rest to His children alone, the world cannot enter. Yeshua or Jesus, the great shepherd
made a way to lead man there.
John 10:16, 27-28
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold (not of old Israel); them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me (they are not of the world as He is not of this world).
28 And I give them eternal life (Satan brings death), and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (Sound good? That's life within God's rest!)
Numbers 23:9 shows they responded at first favorably.
9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him; There! A people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations.
Hebrews 3:18-19 shows us the result of disobedience and unbelief.
18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? (They gave in to the world, lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, pride of life.)
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief (they knew they were chosen and didn't believe God would actually ever leave them).
It was then offered to Christianity. Again let us read what Apostle Paul said in Hebrews 4:1.
1
Therefore,
since a promise remains of
entering His rest, let us
fear lest any of
you seem to have
come short of it.
Remember John 15:5.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Now let us look at Isaiah 4:2 a prophecy concerning the end of the ages.
2 In that day (the Day of the Lord) the Branch of the Lord (the branch is united) shall be beautiful and glorious (the government or head of the body of Christ); and the fruit of the earth (individuals that make up the body) shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped (or come through the tribulations).
Galatians 3:27,29 shows us how this comes about.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ (reborn, to start over as mankind) have put on Christ.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed (new Israel), and heirs according to the promise. (Heirs of God's Kingdom. We get there being born through Jesus!)
I Corinthians 15:45
45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit. (The Spirit of Christ comes on us as we experience Pentecost to restore man's spirits, give them a language to speak to God and open spiritual eyes to comprehend the things of the spirit realm as in the beginning.)
Hebrews 12:18-24 reveals this home.
18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest,
19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it (old Israel) begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.
20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.”
21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)
22 But you have come to Mount Zion (This Sion is number 4622 in the Strongs Greek dictionary and has an S) and to the city (New Jerusalem) of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (remember she was designed in God's mind), to an innumerable company of angels (angels were actually created to intercede for man originally according to the book of Enoch the 7th from Adam and are there for New Israel or Abraham's Seed today),
23 to the general assembly (the gathering together) and church of the firstborn (Jesus is the firstborn and we are His) who are registered in heaven (predestined and written on the books in heaven), to God (these at rebirth are Jubilee'd back to Him) the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect (ones that have experienced all the feasts of God, all 7 holy convocations those whose thoughts are on God and minds are on the Kingdom),
24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant (the go between God and His people), and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. (Man can overcome everything through this blood!)
Side Note: In many versions of the Bible Sion is translated only with a Z as Zion, but if you will look in the Strongs' Concordance you will see for yourself, every New Testament definition in the Greek dictionary is number 4622.
4622. Sion see-own' of Hebrew origin (6726); Sion (i.e. Tsijon), a hill of Jerusalem; figuratively, the Church (militant or triumphant):--Sion.
As Mount Zion spelled with a Z governed Old Jerusalem so the above mountain of Sion governs New Jerusalem. For a deeper study of Mount Sion please read from our archive the blast
Mount Hermon versus Mount Hermon.
Isaiah 2:3-4 prophesies of this age.
3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord (Mount Sion), to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways (through His fivefold ministers, His government), and we shall walk in His paths.” (Because of truth His ways will become our ways and our thoughts more in line with His.) For out of Zion (should have an S also) shall go forth the law (to direct and guide), and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (truth will flow from there as living waters).
4 He shall judge between the nations (people from all nations will come), and rebuke many people (those that do not love Him); they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore (the Kingdom is established).
I Corinthians 3:9 shows us an interesting twist from the natural you must have spiritual insight to comprehend.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field (His land), you are God’s building (His dwelling place).
I Peter 2:5 shows us what God's land and home is made of.
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 3:16 says,
16 Do you not know that you are the temple (or house) of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Matthew 5:14 reveals the city and mountain of God.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city (New Jerusalem, made of living stones) that is set on a hill (Mount Sion, made of living stones as well) cannot be hidden. (The children of God stand out as different from the world.)
I John 5:19
19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one (because we are free, separate from the world).
Romans 12:2 advises,
2 And do not be conformed to this world (it's not God's!), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable (be an example) and perfect will of God (your thoughts are in line with God's and your ways in line with His law).
I John 2:15
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (Is there a part of the world we would hate to see end?)
James 4:4
4 Adulterers and adulteresses (this is what God calls disloyalty to Him)! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? (Or makes you an enemy of God.) Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (And they would not be in God's rest!)
Now maybe some of these other scriptures will mean more to us.
II Peter 3:6-7
6 by which the world that then existed perished (speaking of Noahs era), being flooded with water.
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire (the fiery judgment of God) until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (Perdition means a state of eternal damnation after death, we sure don't want to be a part of that!)
Revelation 18:4 is one to really study at this time in history.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues (very plain).
Revelation 18:2-3
2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen (and indeed she has, much of her leadership is guilty of about every sin in the book), is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons (lust, perversion, greed, on and on), a prison for every foul spirit (pride, control, oppression etc.), and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! (Her sacrifices to God are unclean!)
3 For all the nations (the whole world) have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (the whole world with its wars and violence is guilty of bloodshed in the name of God), the kings of the earth (our rulers) have committed fornication with her (government and church hold hands), and the merchants of the earth have become rich (church is big business in the world) through the abundance of her luxury.” (Many huge edifices while its people live in poverty and lack.)
Revelation 18:8
8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day (the Lord's Day)—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire (the fire of judgment), for strong is the Lord God who judges her. (We cannot therefore believe the world as it says the danger of the plagues is not a problem, it most certainly is!)
Let us read with enjoyment these closing scriptures.
Revelation 21:1-4
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea (no sea of humanity not of God).
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God (conceived in God's mind, made visible in the end on the earth), prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle (God's house) of God is with men (here on earth), and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Remember the scripture “you are God's land, you are God's house”?)
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away.”
What a beautiful promise! Now let us take one last look at God's mountain and city.
Revelation 21:10, 27
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain (Mt Sion), and showed me the great city (New Jerusalem), the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God (again, to be made visible on earth through His people),
Now here is the scripture I so look forward to seeing fulfilled,
27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.