YES! THE SABBATH IS A SIGN BETWEEN GOD AND ISRAEL, BUT DIDN'T YOU KNOW THAT ALL WHO ARE IN CHRIST BECOME PART OF ISRAEL?

Did you know that when all saved believers walk through the gates of New Jerusalem, we will walk through a gate that bears the name of one of the tribes of Israel? That's right! All of the twelve gates of New Jerusalem are named after the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev.21:12). So we will ALL walk through a particular gate that bares a name of one of the twelves tribes. Why? Have you ever wondered? The answer is very simple, as the Bible confirms that when we accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God and our Lord and Saviour, we become 'grafted in' as part of TRUE Israel. And I will explain why I said 'TRUE' Israel. But what does this have to do with the Sabbath? Let me share a recent quote with you from a popular 'Christian' ministry in America:

"Are you a child of one of the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel from the Old Testament? That's super-important because the sabbath, which God repeatedly tells Moses is a 'sign between me and the children of Israel', is not given to anyone who is not a child of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. If you answered yes, congrats! You may continue with the test. If you answered no, game over, you're definitely not a biblical sabbath keeper because you don't qualify. Sorry."

I haven't given the source to this quote, because I'm not prepared to send people to a ministry that promotes gross error. And the ignorance in the above quote is astonishing! To believe that God's Sabbath promise was to the literal nation of Israel alone, you have to be completely ignorant of the original purpose of the 7th day Sabbath and WHO it was 'made' for. But before we get into that, let us take a look at WHO is true Israel today.

New Jerusalem has ... "a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel." (Revelation 21:12)

Is there any other gate by which you can enter New Jerusalem? No.

All saved will pass under one of those names of the twelve tribes of Israel. And when you understand what the names refer to and that all who come to Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, are grafted into the tree, becoming part of true Israel, then it makes sense. So what does a name signify? Let us look at the name 'Israel' itself. Who was that originally given to? It was given to Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes. And why was Jacob given the name 'Israel'? Let's take a look:

Genesis 32:24-28 ...'And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: FOR as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.'

Why was Jacob's NAME changed to Israel? Because he had 'prevailed' during his time of trouble. He had repented of his sin against Esau and he clung on to God with all he had, not letting go of God until God blessed him. Jacob OVERCAME! His CHARACTER had changed from 'Jacob' (a supplanter) to 'Israel' (to contend with God and OVERCOME by faith). Many professed Christians today do not understand the significance of this. They simply believe that the name Israel only applies to the literal nation of the flesh, which is why they don't understand the truth about the 7th day Sabbath. We will all walk through a gate of New Jerusalem which bares one of the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, because when we OVERCOME through Christ, we become 'grafted in' to true Israel and bear that name also.

Romans 9:6-8 ...'Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are NOT the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.'

"They are not all Israel which are of Israel." Do you see TWO Israels there?

Paul clearly mentions TWO Israels in Romans 9 above. The one Israel is the Israel of the flesh, as in the natural decendents of Abraham. The other Israel is TRUE Israel - those who have truly been converted, just like Jacob and are overcomers through Christ Jesus our Lord, as Christ is THE SEED through which the promises were made. So the promises were not given to a people simply because of their ancestry. The promises were ALL THROUGH Jesus Christ, who was THE SEED of which all nations would be blessed. And through Christ we ALL become true Israel, look:

Romans 2:29 ...'But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.'

Galatians 3:28-29 ...'There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, THEN are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.'

So who are the 'children of Israel'? ANYONE who is in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:13 ...'For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.'

Romans 11:17 ...'And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;'

The apostle Paul was a 'Jew of Jews' and yet he clearly understood the truth that through Jesus Christ we ALL, Jew and Gentile become ONE body - TRUE ISRAEL. We all become part of that 'one tree.' Simply being a Jew of the flesh meant nothing without faith in Jesus Christ, which is why many were 'broken off.' Just because someone may be an Israelite of the flesh, doesn't automatically mean they are God's children, as Paul said in Romans 9. Only through faith and surrender of life to God do we become His children and TRUE Israel.

So when God says that the Sabbath is a 'sign between Me and the children of Israel forever', who is God speaking about? He is clearly speaking of TRUE Israel, that 'one body' of believers who are heirs through THE SEED, which is Jesus Christ.

John 10:16 ...'And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be ONE FOLD, and one shepherd.'

If there was to be 'one fold', and Gentiles are 'grafted in' to the tree and we all become 'one in Christ Jesus', then what do we become through Christ? ISRAEL! A people who 'contend with God and overcome' through faith! This is what 'Israel' means.

So going back to that quote above about the Sabbath only being for Israel. YES! That is true. But what they sadly don't understand is that we ALL become Israel through Christ Jesus, being 'grafted in' and 'partakers of the olive tree.' Which is why we all pass through a gate of New Jerusalem that bares a name of the twelve tribes of Israel. And YES! The Sabbath IS a 'sign between God and HIS people Israel.' But by rejecting this truth that we all become Israel through Christ and by rejecting the 7th day Sabbath which God placed as a sign between Him and His people, many professed Christians are ultimately saying they are NOT God's people! Just like the Jews of the flesh. They wanted to make their OWN way and many professed Christians today are making the same mistake!

Jesus didn't say that the Sabbath was made for the Jews of the flesh. He said 'the Sabbath was made FOR MAN.' (Mark 2:27). Which means the Sabbath was made for ALL MANKIND. All who BY FAITH turn to God and worship Him in spirit and truth. And when was the Sabbath 'made'? It was made at creation week. How many Jews of the flesh were there at creation week? None! So when God says the Sabbath is for a 'sign between Me and Israel forever' (Exodus 31:17), He is saying it is a sign between Him and His people - his TRUE people, whoever they are. People who partake of the SAME ROOT, which is Jesus Christ. The Sabbath is a sign of FAITH in God's ways, not man's. So have you been 'grafted in'? Then you are now part of Israel and the Sabbath IS a sign between YOU and God.

For a deeper study regarding the Sabbath and who true Israel are, see our following pages:

SUNDAY KEEPERS MISS THIS KEY POINT OF FAITH REGARDING THE SABBATH

REJECT THE 7TH DAY SABBATH YOU REMAIN UNDER THE LAW

BIBLE TRUTH CONCERNING THE SABBATH DAY

THE ISRAEL DECEPTION - WHO IS TRUE ISRAEL TODAY?