09/17/24: Tacoma Central Church - Pastor Stephen Bohr: "The Sabbath Now and Forever" #2

Welcome and Introduction

Opening Remarks

• The speaker welcomes attendees, encouraging them to move closer for better engagement.

• Acknowledges online viewers and mentions the schedule for upcoming presentations at 6:30 PM.

• Invites a prayer before starting the presentation, emphasizing the desire for the Holy Spirit's presence.

Review of Previous Session

Recap of Creation Week

• The speaker reviews key points from the previous session about creation week, highlighting four problems faced by Earth before creation.

• Discusses who was responsible for creation: God as the architect and Jesus as the executor of that plan.

• Clarifies that days of creation were literal 24-hour periods, not symbolic or extended over millions of years.

Understanding Creation and Rest

Significance of the Seventh Day

• Explains that while Jesus finished His work on the sixth day, He ceased creating on the seventh day, which serves as God's signature on creation.

• Establishes that both the Sabbath in creation and in commandments are identical since both emphasize rest on the seventh day.

Central Theme of Creation

• Emphasizes that God is central to the creation story rather than man; it is referred to as "God's week."

The Nature of Sabbath Commandments

Reasons for No Initial Commandment

• Lists reasons why God did not command Adam and Eve to keep Sabbath initially:

• They had not worked yet; thus, they could not cease from work.

• The Sabbath needed to be created first before being commanded.

Sabbath as a Global Monument

Universal Significance

• Discusses how God made Sabbath a global monument commemorating His creative act rather than placing it in a specific location.

Clarifying Misconceptions About Work

Understanding God's Work vs. Human Work

• Highlights Ellen White’s perspective on Sabbath observance without misrepresenting God's commands regarding Adam and Eve.

The Seventh Day's Unique Status

Absence of Evening and Morning

• Notes that unlike other days, there is no mention of evening or morning for the seventh day due to its unique status in God's week.

Continuity Between Creation Cycles

Distinction Between Divine and Human Cycles

• Clarifies that while humans follow a continuous cycle of work-rest, God does not begin new cycles after ceasing His creative work.

Satan's Opposition to Sabbath Observance

Historical Context

• Describes various ways Satan has attempted to undermine observance of the Sabbath throughout history through evolution theories and changing worship practices.

Concluding Thoughts on Ownership of Sabbath

Ownership Debate

• Argues against labeling Sabbath as merely Jewish by asserting its divine origin; emphasizes it belongs to God because He created it.

Creation and the Concept of Void

Understanding "Void" in Creation

• The term "void" means empty, but it also describes the state of matter after God created it yet before it was fashioned for habitation. This indicates that matter existed but was not organized for life.

Review of Creation Week

• Each day of creation is significant:

• Day 1: Light was created.

• Day 2: Atmosphere and water were established.

• Day 3: Dry land and vegetation appeared.

• Day 4: Sun, moon, and stars were placed in their positions.

• Day 5: Marine and winged creatures filled the waters and skies.

• Day 6: Land animals and humans were formed.

• The seventh day was designated as the Sabbath.

The Source of Light on Day One

Exploring Light Before the Sun

• A common question arises about where light came from on Day One if the sun wasn't created until Day Four. It suggests a divine source rather than a physical one.

Dividing Light from Darkness

• On Day One, God divided light from darkness, naming them day and night respectively. This division raises questions about how evening and morning could exist without the sun until Day Four.

Defining Evening and Morning

Scriptural References to Evening

• Joshua's account shows that evening is defined by sunset (Joshua 8:29). Similarly, Mark states that evening occurs when the sun sets (Mark 1:32). Thus, there must have been an understanding of evening even on Day One.

Defining Morning

• Morning is defined by sunrise according to Judges (Judges 9:33) and Samuel (2 Samuel 23:4), indicating a consistent cycle tied to solar movements which implies some form of light existed prior to its creation on Day Four.

Understanding God's Creative Process

Distinction Between Creating and Fashioning

• The Hebrew word "bara" refers to creating something from nothing, while "asa" refers to organizing pre-existing materials into functional forms—used for placing celestial bodies on Day Four rather than creating them anew. Ellen White emphasizes this distinction in her writings about creation processes.

Synchronizing Our Solar System

• On Day Four, God organized existing celestial bodies into their places for human benefit rather than creating them anew; this act synchronized our solar system for signs, seasons, days, years, etc., reflecting order in creation rather than chaos.

The Nature of Rest on the Seventh Day

Summary of Creation Work

• Jesus completed His work over six days before resting on the seventh day—a model for humanity’s weekly cycle which includes six days of labor followed by a day of rest as established at creation's outset. This pattern continues through time until new heavens are made post-redemption work completion at Christ's second coming.

Future Implications for Humanity

• There will be no new cycles initiated since creation week until God creates new heavens and earth; then He will invite people into His rest after completing another creative process akin to Genesis' original week structure—emphasizing continuity in divine order across time periods including eternity future with observance of Sabbath principles throughout all realms including heaven itself as suggested by Isaiah (Isaiah 66).