ENTERING GOD'S REST THE SABBATH A TYPE OF THE PROMISED LAND

Pod Cast Prep Entering God’s Rest the Sabbath a type of the Promised Land Heb 4:1-10

WHY DID THE KING JAMES TRANSLATION LEAVE OUT THE WORD ‘SABBATH’?

The word they translated as ‘Rest’ is the Greek word ‘Sabbastismo’.  My Scofield Translation of the King James Version has a note saying it should read ‘or a keeping of the Sabbath.  The Greek word means Sabbath!  Most better translations of Heb 4:9 say ‘Sabbath Rest’.  This fits the clear meaning. They were correct contextually with “rest”, but left out the word “Sabbath”.  Why, probably because the scholars who made up the translating committee, were working for the King of England. He was also the head of the Church of England, which kept Sunday and was their patron. Overall the King James is a very good translation of the Bible.

PAUL’S MESSAGE IS THAT WE MUST NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AS THE ISRAELITES

Israel refused to enter their REST because they lost faith and trust in God and disobeyed.  See Heb 4:1-2.  Paul warns those Jewish Christians who wanted to return to Judaism because of pressure, to have the faith to move forward, unlike Israel of old.   He quotes Ps 95:7-11.   The typology has three levels:

  1. Israel led by Joshua refused to enter the Promised Land (Canaan) because of unbelief.
  2. New Covenant saints led by Jesus should work toward our ultimate Promised Land the Family of God and eternal life.
  3. The weekly, 7thday Sabbath, is our regular REST from the wicked world to help us enter the final Promised Land, being a member of God’s Family.

Each week we can practice entering a spiritual ‘rest’ (the Sabbath) to help us not neglect so great a salvation.  See Heb 4:4-11 and Heb 2:2

JESUS AND JOSHUA ARE BOTH THE SAME NAME

Joshua is Jesus in the Hebrew language and Jesus is Joshua in the Greek language.  Heb 4:8 should be translated  for us English speakers ‘If Joshua had given them rest’ because Paul is using the historic example.  The KJ translators however, used Jesus instead of Joshua.  God understands all languages. Both names are the same. But it is clearer to us in verse 8 to use Joshua.   Christ is a type of Joshua or Joshua is a type of the Messiah (Christ) leading God’s people to the Promised Land one physical, the other spiritual.       

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