Isaiah 66:21-24 “And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says the LORD. As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the LORD, “so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the LORD. “And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”
- New Moon observance in heaven?
Sabbatarian says Isaiah 66 is proof that Christians will observe Sabbath now, and in the new heaven. Does Isaiah 66 teach that Christians should observe the Sabbath?
If Isa 66:23 teaches that we will keep the Jewish Sabbath in heaven, then it also teaches we will keep the Jewish New Moon festival in heaven! “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 the Lord” Isa 66:23.
Sabbatarians have the Jewish new moon festival observances in heaven based on the above text! If they insist on Sabbath observances based on Isaiah 66, they also need to observe new moons NOW. But most Sabbatarian’s don’t observe new moons. That’s inconsistent! Are New moons and Sabbath keeping a requirement for Christians based on the New Covenant terms? No.
Col. 2:16 ‘Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day’’
2) Levital Priests in the new heaven?
If Isa 66:23 teaches that we will keep the Jewish Sabbath in heaven, then it also teaches in Isa 66:21 that the Levitical priests will be in heaven, because it is also mentioned. Sabbatarians have Levitical priests in heaven (Isa 66:21)? What happened to the Levitical Priesthood under the new covenant terms? It was abolished. Priesthood changed so did the law of Moses and Sabbaths:
Heb 7:12 ‘For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also’
3) Night and Day in heaven?
New moons require night, hence Sabbatarians have night in heaven Isa 66:23. Is there night and day in heaven? Revelation says there is no night in heaven (Rev. 21: 23; 22:5). You cannot have “new moon to new moon” or Sabbath days (even to even) without day and night!
Revelation 21: 25, ‘In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed’
4) Children dies in new heaven?
Is. 65:20 say child dies: What kind of heaven would it be where the child dies at 100?
Is. 65:17, 20 “”See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind…Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.
In fact in the new heaven and earth that God speaks in Revelation, He says:
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death‘ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed (Rev. 21:4; 27; 22:14,15).
Isa 66:23 and Isa 65:17 actually speaking in metaphoric terms. The new heavens and earth of Isa 65 & 66 are different from the New heavens and New earth spoken of in the New Testament. Sabbatarians see the expression “New heavens and new earth” Isa 65:17; 66:22 and assume it is post resurrection heaven. This is their primary error!
As you can see from the above, Isah 65, 66 has nothing to do with the Christian belief of the New Heaven and the New Earth. If Israel had been faithful/obedient to God those blessings of Isaiah 65-66 would have come to them. Isaiah’s prophecy applies only to Israel and not to new covenant Christians.
Weekly Sabbath was abolished, in Col 2:14-16, so no one can use Isa 66 to prove that the sabbath is for today! Even if Isa 66 was speaking of heaven (which it is not) there are some things in the church that will not be in heaven:
- Water baptism in church, but not in heaven.
- Marriage in church, but not in heaven (Heb. 13:4)
- Lord’s Supper in church, but not in heaven. Lord’s supper is only until Jesus comes: 1 Corinthians 11:26 ‘For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes‘
Prophecies describe a worship of God that includes the Sabbath, Circumcision, Sacrifices (Isaiah 66:23; Ezekiel 44:24). Does this show that the Sabbath is a permanent aspect of God’s law?
The prophets described an ideal time in which all peoples worshipped God. To effectively convey this concept to an old covenant nation, the prophets described old covenant forms of worship, including new moon observances (Isaiah 66:23; Ezekiel 46:3) and sacrifices in the temple (Zechariah 14:20-21; Ezekiel 20:40; 45:17; 46:4). They also describe discrimination against uncircumcised peoples (Ezekiel 44:9; Isaiah 52:1-2) and avoidance of ritual uncleanness (Ezekiel 44:25-27). But neither circumcision nor sacrifices, or Sabbaths are religious requirements in this age or in heaven. Besides, another prophecy indicates that the day-night cycle will cease (Revelation 21:25), implying that there will be no more Sabbaths.
Prophecies, based on symbolic passages (whether New Testament or Old Testament, whether about Sabbaths or sacrifices or circumcision) are not a reliable source of proof regarding Christian practice. Our doctrines must be based on scriptures that are applicable to the age we live in, and the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, who explained the shadows and rituals of the old testament, whether they apply to us or not!