FROM the prophetic point of view the Jewish Sabbath affords a study which is filled with interest and helpfulness. Literally, the word "sabbath means to repose, i.e., "desist from exertion," or "to rest." It also has many other derived meanings, such as: "(cause to, let, make to) cease"; "celebrate," etc. (Strong's Concordance). In other words, its use in the Scriptures determines the various shades of meaning which the Holy Spirit places up on it. Sometimes it is used to mean a particular day, while other times it is used to indicate a number of days, and yet again it is used to refer to a year (Lev. 23, 24, and 25).

Rather than to dwell at length on any one phase of the Sabbath in its relation to the future, let us consider the striking points of similarity between this seventh day or seventh year, as the case may be, and the seventh dispensation commonly called the Kingdom, or the Millennium.

1. The Sabbath is peculiarly Jewish in Character. It is important for us to see this fact first. A failure to recognize it opens the door for confusion in two directions: first, in calling Sunday — the first day of the week — the Sabbath; and, second, in trying to persuade ourselves — Gentiles^that we are Jews under the Law. Both of these errors indicate a failure to rightly divide the Word of Truth as we are commanded as Bible students to do (II Tim. 2:15). The very first occurrence of the word "sabbath" clearly signifies that it is the seventh and not the first day of the week (Ex. 16:23-26). Furthermore, the first day of the week — Sunday — is peculiarly Christian in character, the orthodox Jews are not even considering it in their religious rites or ceremonies. Then, also, we find that it was a definite part of the Law, given to the Jews as a nation (Ex. 16:28-29). It was a sign between the Lord and Israel. "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever" (Ex. 31:16-17).

The Kingdom (or Millennium) is peculiarly Jewish in character. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that David is to be raised up and placed on the throne as king over Israel (Jer. 30:9) and the twelve disciples of Jesus are to sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:28). Jerusalem will be the political and religious capital of the nations of the whole earth (Zech. 14:16-17). Jesus shall be King of kings and Lord of lords; David His servant shall be viceroy reigning from Mount Zion (Jerusalem) over all Israel, with the twelve apostles as his governors over the twelve tribes. It will be an absolute monarchy, and from the human standpoint unmistakably Jewish in character.

2. The Sabbath was a day of rest. "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings" (Lev. 23:3). The extent to which work was to be abandoned and rest entered into is set forth in the first occurrence of the seventh day, where we read: "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made" (Gen. 2:2). When the children of Israel found a man in the wilderness gathering sticks on the sabbath day, they were commanded of the Lord to stone him to death (Num. 15:32-35). They were not even to buy or prepare food (Neh. 10:31; Ex. 16:25-29), nor carry burdens (Neh. 13:19), nor even walk more than a limited distance (Acts 1:12) on the Sabbath day, so rigid and exacting were the laws governing that day which God had given them as a memorial. Not only was this rest confined to the people, but the animals and land were to profit by the Sabbath rest (Ex. 20: 10; Lev. 25:4-5).

The dispensation of the Kingdom is to be a time of rest. A vivid prophetic picture of Kingdom rest is given in the fourteenth chapter of Isaiah. The prophet reaches a climax in his description of the blessings of this condition in the seventh verse, where he says, "The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet." Individuals shall rest from their labors. Nations shall rest from turmoil and war. All creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption. It shall even be a rest unto the Lord, and best of all, it shall be rest forever.

Rest from labor,

Rest from war,

Rest supernal,

Rest evermore.

Thank God! "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" (Heb. 4:9).

3. The Sabbath is characterized by the number seven. Israel was not to gather any manna on "the seventh day," because that was "the sabbath" (Ex. 16:26). The "seventh day" was the "sabbath of the Lord" (Ex. 20:10). The "seventh day" was "the sabbath of rest" (Ex. 31:16). The "seventh year" was to be a "sabbath of rest unto the land" (Lev. 25:4). And the "seven sabbaths of years" was to characterize the "year of jubilee" (Lev. 25:8).

The dispensation of the Kingdom is the seventh dispensation in God's dealing with mankind upon the earth. The age in which we now live, as we believe the Word plainly indicates, is the fifth dispensation in the order of events as God views human history. The first dispensation closed with the expulsion of our first parents from the Garden of Eden after the fall. The second period closed with the deluge, when all the wicked were brought under that terrific judgment. The third closed with the confusion of tongues at Babel on the plains of Shinar. The fourth closed with the dispersion of the Jews and the Cross of Christ. The fifth and present age will close with the confusion of religions and the catching up of the Church (all believers) to be with Christ. Immediately following that event will be a short dispensation — the sixth — of approximately seven years length, which will close with the Battle of Armaggeddon and the return of the Lord to the earth. This great and notable day also marks the beginning of the seventh dispensation, at which time the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be ushered in. (For Scripture proof and details, see dispensational chart by Dean Clifton L. Fowler, published and distributed free of charge by the Institute Publishing Company)

It is this seventh dispensation that marks the culmination of God's dealing with human beings upon the earth. It is this seventh epoch in human history that shall be known as the believer's fullest realization of rest — the Sabbath. Yes, it will be true rest, characterized by the number seven — the perfection of rest.

4. The Sabbath was a day set apart for special worship unto the Lord. "Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you . . . . Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord" (Ex. 31:14-15). God regarded the Sabbath so holy that if any person of Israel were found working on that day he was to be put to death (Ex. 31:14-15). It would not take long to depopulate the world if God were dealing with mankind in like manner today. But we are not under the law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14). The Lord is not commanding worship to-day, but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9). The love of Christ is the only thing that constrains men to true worship of God today. The "true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him" (John 4:23).

The Kingdom is to be a dispensation of special worship unto the Lord. "In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts" (Zech. 14:20-21). Think of the decorations on horses ascribing holiness unto the Lord. Today horses and dogs and automobiles, yes, even people are decorated with everything else under the sun but that which ascribes holiness unto the Lord. Today many Christian women will not even wear modest apparel, to say nothing of wearing that which would especially recommend itself as being holy unto the Lord. No, we are not living in the Kingdom yet. The conditions do not measure up to the standard laid down in God's Holy Word. Furthermore, in that dispensation, all the families of the earth shall go to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts (Zech. 14:16-17). And if they will not go up to worship the Lord at Jerusalem, punishment will be inflicted upon them just as punishment was inflicted upon the people of Israel who violated the Sabbath of old by working instead of worshipping.

5. Finally the Sabbath (the year of Jubilee) was a time of adjustment, a time of liberty and restoration. "And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family" (Lev. 25:8-10). What a great day this was for all Israel, and also for the sojourner and stranger within her gates. The poor were relieved, lands and property that had become involved through the years were all adjusted and everyone involved received justice. Servants were set at liberty, the rich and the poor treated alike and the spirit of equality and fairness literally reigned supreme. Truly it was a great jubilee Everybody was happy because everybody was restored to liberty and to their possessions. What a picture of the grace of God! Imagine any who were under bondage at the time of jubilee remaining so when the declaration of freedom was made. Human beings are not made that way. And yet, how sad to think of Christians today who have a perfect standing before God — who are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, yet remaining in bondage to the old nature and servants to sin. Shall we not rather heed the exhortation of the Apostle Paul in Gal. 5:1 and "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath set us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage?"

The Kingdom will be a dispensation of final and full adjustment of all world problems together with the blessings of liberty and restoration. The Kingdom will be universal (Micah 4:1-2). Environment will be perfect (Isa. 35). Social and economic conditions will be adjusted (Isa. 66:21-23). Politics will be clean and righteous (Isa. 61:11; Rev. 20:4-6). Good health and longevity will be the rule instead of the exception, as is the case today (Isa. 35:5-6; 66:20). The problem of education will be completely solved, "for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Isa. 11:9). The disarmament question will be forever settled and there will be no further need of peace conferences, for the nations "shall beat their swords unto plowshares, and their spears unto pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn to war any more" (Micah 4:3). Israel shall be regathered and restored (Micah 4:6-8). There shall be universal prosperity (Micah 4:4). In fact, it will be the golden age concerning which the poets in all ages have sung, about which philosophers from time immemorial have dreamed, and the hope of which the prophets of old have written. In commenting on this glorious age, C. C. Cook writes the following: "The Millennial Age will be a time of overflowing mercy. 'Seven vials hold Thy wrath, but what can hold Thy mercy?' 'Blessed are they that put their trust in Him.' It is the consummation of blessedness. Those who live with Him in the Millennial Age will be with Him, and be i like Him, beyond which there can be nothing conceived as more desirable."

The points of our analogy might be extended to even greater limits, but we have seen sufficient to convince us that the Millennium, or Kingdom, is to be indeed and in truth a Sabbatic dispensation, filled with glorious rest for all the weary nations of the earth, and i worship that will be the joy of man and all creation.