The number “8” has to do with the new creation, and so does the number “50”….which is (7X7) + 1.
Jesus worked 6 days (symbolically) in his ministry, and finished his work on the cross on Friday (“It is finished”) then rested in the grave on Saturday. He was resurrected on Sunday (day 8) as a new creation (in terms of his resurrection body; not in terms of being YHVH).
Jesus is the BEGINNING of the new creation; the firstfruits (I Corinthians 15, Revelation 3:1).
Hebrew children were physically circumcised on the 8th day, which is a physical type of the new birth or the new creation or being born again (Leviticus 12:3).
On the first Pentecost after the Exodus (which is calculated as the 50th day from the weekly Sabbath during Passover), the Israelites received the Law on Mount Sinai (by Jewish tradition), and became a new physical nation that typified the Church.
On the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was received by the apostolic church, and the Church became a new spiritual nation; a kingdom of priests (Acts 2).
On the land sabbath year, at the end of the year, all debt was forgiven, and there is a new beginning starting in the eighth year (Deuteronomy 15:1-6). This is symbolic of Jesus and the forgiveness of our sins to begin a new life.
On the Jubilee year, which is the 50th year in the Israelite calendar system, all debts were forgiven and the land was returned back to the original property owners; in essence a new life and a restoration (Leviticus 25:8-15). For the believer, this relates to the liberation that we receive in Jesus, where our spiritual debt is forgiven.
So, these things point toward the new creation, which starts with Jesus’ resurrection. For us, regeneration (being born again) is the beginning of our new life. Ultimately, the new creation reaches fulfillment in a New Heavens and New Earth/New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22).
By the way, I believe this is the theological justification for the day of worship being on Sunday rather than the Jewish Sabbath. I read a quote by an early church father that gave me some hint concerning this, and now I am more convinced that the early church had SOLID THEOLOGICAL REASONS for the practice.
Jesus our Lord, the Church, and each individual Christian, is a new creation.
There are probably other incidences of "8" and "50" I am not thinking about. I'd appreciate knowing those references if you can email me on christianchat AND express them here. I'm sure our resident Sabbathkeepers will begin bombarding the thread so I might not notice your replies
For those who start blaming Constantine, GET AN EDUCATION. The vast majority of Christians had already abandoned Sabbath observance by AD140, and even SDA historian Samuele Bacchiocchi acknowledged that. It's pretty hilarious that Constantine the boogie man is accredited with this, when even Sabbathkeeping historians acknowledge that it is not true. Constantine's edict required that individuals be given the opportunity to rest on Sunday, and did not outlaw keeping the Sabbath. Making claims about this only displays your ignorance.
I suggest that you read Samuele Bacchiocchi's book From Sabbath to Sunday.
By the way, I suggest that people check out every fact that more radical Sabbathkeepers present. As an ex Sabbathkeeper, I believed their propaganda. When you start checking out the resources those sorts of people quote, you find out that they reference questionable resources, and go beyond what history has said on this topic. Basically, you're talking about conspiracy theories.
There are some Messianic Jews, etcetera, that prefer the shadows and types of the Mosaic Covenant, and observe the Sabbath instead of Sunday, in some cases to continue remaining viable witnesses to family and others. I have no issue with those Christians, and applaud them.
The ones who are attacking the Church and calling it pagan or false are the ones I have issues with, even those claiming to be the true believers. I believe Revelation speaks to the fate of those who continue in their attacks on the Church, and it isn't pretty.
Jesus worked 6 days (symbolically) in his ministry, and finished his work on the cross on Friday (“It is finished”) then rested in the grave on Saturday. He was resurrected on Sunday (day 8) as a new creation (in terms of his resurrection body; not in terms of being YHVH).
Jesus is the BEGINNING of the new creation; the firstfruits (I Corinthians 15, Revelation 3:1).
Hebrew children were physically circumcised on the 8th day, which is a physical type of the new birth or the new creation or being born again (Leviticus 12:3).
On the first Pentecost after the Exodus (which is calculated as the 50th day from the weekly Sabbath during Passover), the Israelites received the Law on Mount Sinai (by Jewish tradition), and became a new physical nation that typified the Church.
On the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was received by the apostolic church, and the Church became a new spiritual nation; a kingdom of priests (Acts 2).
On the land sabbath year, at the end of the year, all debt was forgiven, and there is a new beginning starting in the eighth year (Deuteronomy 15:1-6). This is symbolic of Jesus and the forgiveness of our sins to begin a new life.
On the Jubilee year, which is the 50th year in the Israelite calendar system, all debts were forgiven and the land was returned back to the original property owners; in essence a new life and a restoration (Leviticus 25:8-15). For the believer, this relates to the liberation that we receive in Jesus, where our spiritual debt is forgiven.
So, these things point toward the new creation, which starts with Jesus’ resurrection. For us, regeneration (being born again) is the beginning of our new life. Ultimately, the new creation reaches fulfillment in a New Heavens and New Earth/New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22).
By the way, I believe this is the theological justification for the day of worship being on Sunday rather than the Jewish Sabbath. I read a quote by an early church father that gave me some hint concerning this, and now I am more convinced that the early church had SOLID THEOLOGICAL REASONS for the practice.
Jesus our Lord, the Church, and each individual Christian, is a new creation.
There are probably other incidences of "8" and "50" I am not thinking about. I'd appreciate knowing those references if you can email me on christianchat AND express them here. I'm sure our resident Sabbathkeepers will begin bombarding the thread so I might not notice your replies
For those who start blaming Constantine, GET AN EDUCATION. The vast majority of Christians had already abandoned Sabbath observance by AD140, and even SDA historian Samuele Bacchiocchi acknowledged that. It's pretty hilarious that Constantine the boogie man is accredited with this, when even Sabbathkeeping historians acknowledge that it is not true. Constantine's edict required that individuals be given the opportunity to rest on Sunday, and did not outlaw keeping the Sabbath. Making claims about this only displays your ignorance.
I suggest that you read Samuele Bacchiocchi's book From Sabbath to Sunday.
By the way, I suggest that people check out every fact that more radical Sabbathkeepers present. As an ex Sabbathkeeper, I believed their propaganda. When you start checking out the resources those sorts of people quote, you find out that they reference questionable resources, and go beyond what history has said on this topic. Basically, you're talking about conspiracy theories.
There are some Messianic Jews, etcetera, that prefer the shadows and types of the Mosaic Covenant, and observe the Sabbath instead of Sunday, in some cases to continue remaining viable witnesses to family and others. I have no issue with those Christians, and applaud them.
The ones who are attacking the Church and calling it pagan or false are the ones I have issues with, even those claiming to be the true believers. I believe Revelation speaks to the fate of those who continue in their attacks on the Church, and it isn't pretty.