I believe that the way to study the Bible is to let it speak for itself. I have given you the Greek and Hebrew words where I think it will help in understanding the translation and text itself. Having written this I also believe, that the entire Bible is about God, Jesus and not about humanity us. Jesus words in John 5:39-40 bear this out:

John 5:39-40 "You search the Scriptures because you yourselves think that in them you have eternal life; but they are they which testify (martureo) about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you might have life.

martureo - to be witness, i.e. testify (literally or figuratively): charge, give evidence, bear record, be well reported of, testify, and give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.

Note: Here Jesus is pointing out that the Jews were looking into the Bible (OT) to see what they had to do to live eternally, making the Word of God man centered. Jesus tells them that the Bible is about Him, He is the way to eternal life, God centered. So we study to Bible to see God, as it is a revelation of Him. With this in mind I would like to show what the Sabbath and marriage in Genesis, as well as Exodus and Deuteronomy tell us about God.

Genesis 2:1-4

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed and all their hosts. And on the seventh day (bayom) God (Elohim) completed (kalah*) His work which He had done (`asah), and He rested on the seventh (Shabath) day from all His work which He had done.

* kalah a primitive root; to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume): -accomplish, cease, consume (away), done, (be an) end (of), expire, `asah a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

3 Then Elohim blessed the seventh (Shabbat) day and sanctified (qadash*) it, because in it He rested from all His work which Elohim had created and made.

qadash; a primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), purify, sanctified.

4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh Eloheinu made earth and heavens.

Note: We should take away two points from the Sabbath day about God:

1- He rested that is He ceased His work and rested in the accomplished work of creation. 
2 -He blessed and sanctified the day Sanctifying or calling something holy is God's sovereign decree. His creatorship makes Him the sovereign ruler of the universe. This concept follows through with the furnishings of the Sanctuary, the calling of His people as holy (saints) and the sanctifying of His people all are God's sovereign choice. In essence we are holy because God said so not because we do holy things.

Excursus

I will leave the Sabbath day here while we support a second teaching of Genesis marriage and what it reveals about God, then we will continue on the Sabbath day.

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God (Elohim) created (bara) the heavens and the earth.

Note: A simple but profound verse, in the Hebrew text the verb bara is before the noun Elohim. The verb is in the singular bara He created and the noun Elohim is plural literally Gods he created. So the words have to be translated God created. In Genesis 2:22-25 we learn how more then one can be one.

Genesis 2:22-25

Yahweh Eloheinu fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man (haadam). The man (haadam) said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman (ishahah), Because she was taken out of Man (iysh)."  For this reason a man (iysh) shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife (ishahah); and they shall become one (echad) flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Note: echad one, a unity the two man and women become one a unity God is one. Here you can see a clear testimony of what the NT shows that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit – one God – three Divine Persons Every day the Jewish man confirms that when he recites the Shema

Shama Israel Yahweh Eloheinu Yahweh echad

Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is a unity!

Notice Jesus words and the Jewish response

John 10:30-31

30 "I and the Father are one (hen)."

Hen - The Greek equivalent of the Hebrew echad

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.

Note: Stoning was the penalty for blasphemy

We will look at the 2 Sabbath commandments in Exodus and Deuteronomy and contrary to what we have heard the Torah tells us to Remember and Observe the Sabbath:

Exodus 20:8-11

Remember (Zakar) the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. "Six days you shall labor and do all your work (mela'kah), but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Yahweh Eloheinu; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. "For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed (barak) the Sabbath day and made it holy (qadash).

Zakar - to mark properly (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; make mention of, be mindful, recount, recorder), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) into remembrance, still, think on

mela'kah - generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor): business, + cattle, + industrious, occupation, manner of work

barak - to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit) bless, congratulate, praise, salute,

Note: Remember the Sabbath don't forget it because it reminds us to rest in the completed act of God just like He did at creation. You rest in the One who made you.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

"Observe (shamar) the Sabbath day to keep it holy, as Yahweh Eloheinu commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Yahweh Eloheinu; in it you shall not do any work (mela'kah), you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. "You shall remember (Zakar) that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh Eloheinu brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Yahweh Eloheinu commanded (tsavah) you to observe (`asah) the Sabbath day.

shamar - guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.: take heed mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve,

Note: Observe the Sabbath because it reminds us to remember God's act in redeeming Israel. You rest in the One who redeemed you.

This is the idea of the Sabbath Rest in Hebrews 4:2-11

Hebrews 4:2-11

2 For the Gospel was preached to us, as well as to them; but the word they heard did not benefit (Opheleo) them, because it was not united (sugkerannumi) with faith (pistis) in those who heard.

Opheleo - to be useful, i.e. to benefit: advantage, better, prevail, profit.

sugkerannumi - to commingle, i.e. (figuratively) to combine or assimilate:mix with, temper together.

tsavah - to constitute, enjoin: charge, command send a messenger, put, (set) in order.

asah See Genesis 2:2 above

3 For we who have believed enter that rest (kakapaisis), just as He has said, As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter into My rest although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He spoke in a certain place concerning the seventh day: "And God did rest (kakapaisis) on the seventh day from all His works "; 5 and again in this place, "They shall not enter into My rest (kakapaisis)." 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those whom it was preached did not enter in because of unbelief (apeitheia),

apeitheia - disbelief (obstinate and rebellious): disobedience, unbelief.

7 He again limits a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "Today if you will hear His voice, and not harden your hearts" 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken afterwards of another day. 9 Therefore there remains a Sabbath rest (sabbatismos) for the people of God.

sabbatismos -a rest.

10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his own works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us diligently enter that rest (kakapaisis), so that no one will fall (pipto), through following the same pattern (hupodeigma) of unbelief (apeitheia).

pipto - fail, fall (down), light on

hupodeigma - an exhibit for imitation or warning (figuratively, specimen,): example, pattern

Note: The Sabbath day is a reminder of God's creative act, God's redeeming act, and Eternity (It was there before sin and it will be there after sin) According to Isaiah 66:23 "And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from Sabbath to Sabbath. All mankind will come to bow down before Me," says YAHWEH.

In essence the Seventh day Sabbath is the Gospel message Salvation is God's call, and God's alone. When we remember and observe the Sabbath we are resting in His accomplished work in Christ which is the Gospel.

So from the two institutions that existed before sin entered the world we find the nature of God, the Godhead, revealed in marriage and the Gospel revealed in the seventh day Sabbath. Both constantly under attack as like the book of Genesis itself. Who would imagine that the very day that defines the Gospel would become the day that people try to keep and thus make it the ultimate work, so sad.

I believe that you have sufficient information to raise more questions and I look forward to them and will do my best to answer them Here are some more ideas that you can chew on and questions to ponder and answer.

1 - The Investigative Judgment the pre-Advent judgment I believe makes sense because Jesus comes to take His people home and His people have to be determined before He comes. That said when we deal with the investigative judgment the 2300 years, Oct. 22, 1844, etc. We place the burden of the judgment on us, but since the Bible is about God is shouldn't it be about Him? The question we need to answer is: What is the criterion of the judgment? What is God looking for? Judging who or what?

2 - The Remnant Church and The Spirit Of Prophecy - Here are the key texts: Revelation 12:17 and 19:10

Revelation 12:17, 19:10

12:17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the remnant (loipoy) of her seed, who keep the commandments (entole) of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

19:10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

loipoy; - remaining ones,other, which remain, remnant, residue, rest.

entole - injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription: commandment, precept.

Note: You will note from the text itself that the concept of a remnant church is foreign to this text. The text is talking about the remnant of the church, or the final members of God's church.

How does the church keep the commandments of God? Which commandments are he talking about is it the 10, which 10 Exodus or Deuteronomy, is it the 613 of the Rabbis, or is it the new commandment which is the eternal commandment - agape? How we love one another, maybe?

The Spirit of Prophecy cannot be an individual person but collective prophets throughout history including John. Ellen White would be a recipient of the gift but not the gift giver. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Prophecy and He gives the gifts to whoever He wants to. Even the gifts are not something wed earn, but God's sovereign choice. It all boils down to God's choice not ours.

Two illustrations to think about:

1 - Wilbur Jones decides to leave $10,000,000.00 to a group of people as a gift. They assemble together and each has a Bank statement, a check book, and a debit card. They look it over and begin to discuss it among themselves. One says, It can't be true, no one give anything for nothing and destroys that card and shreds everything, some follow along with him. Another group decides that they should use the money but before they do they have to do something to prove that they are worthy of the money; suggestions like send 10% back to Wilbur so he will not take it all back, others give to the poor and needy so he doesn't ask them to give it all away. Others just hold on to it until he tells them what to do, so they argue and make rules all day. Another a small group decides since it is a free gift let's not attach any strings to let's just enjoy it and spend it freely. They were of course ridiculed because they were cheapening the gift by the rule keepers. The gift of God is eternal life. The gift giver is the one gave the gift to us which group describes us? God's sovereign verses humanities choice is in the balances? Is the Sabbath as a sign of the Gospel for the believer or is it something to be kept, a test.

2 Isaiah tells us in 58:13-14

Isaiah 58:13-14

13 "If because of the Sabbath, you turn away your foot from doing your own pleasure (Chephets) on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight (‘Oneg), the holy day of the YAHWEH honorable (kabad), And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word,14 Then you will take delight in YAHWEH, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of YAHWEH has spoken." 

Chephets - pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind), acceptable, delight (-some), desire, things desired, matter, pleasant (-ure), purpose, willingly.

Oneg - luxury: delight, pleasant.

kabad - in a good sense; numerous, rich, honorable;

Note: The richness of these texts what a message when was the last time the Sabbath day was a delight rather then a burden? How hard is it to keep?

 I write this as a prelude to the final illustration:

There are 52 weeks in a year that means that there are 52 Sabbaths in a year, 520 Sabbaths in 10 years and 1040 Sabbaths in 20 years I'll stop here because I want to bring together keeping the Sabbath, as some teach, and the judgment again as some teach. If you could review 1040 Seventh day Sabbaths they you have kept, and were able to scrutinize each of them, which one would you take to present to God at the judgment? Which one will you go up to God and say this is the on I want you to judge me on? This is the one that I kept perfectly, the one that I was as righteous as Adam was before the fall, as Jesus was when He was on the earth or for the matter as righteous as You keep it? Make your choice again what is the criteria for the judgment?

Salvation by Faith

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