DOES THE PHRASE “DAY AND NIGHT” LIMIT DURATION TO THIS
WORLD’S EXISTENCE?
Updated - 8/11/10
We
read some verses that talk about the punishment of the unsaved and they contain
the phrase “day and night” and we wonder: Does this phrase limit the
duration of the punishment to this world’s existence?
We
read two noteworthy verses:
Revelation
14:11 And the smoke of their torment
ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who
worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Revelation
20:10 And the devil that deceived them
was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false
prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The
above two verses include the phrase “for ever and ever”. Yet, they also
include the phrase “day and night”.
As
a side note, some people say that the phrase “for ever and ever” that we
read in our KJV Bible has been mistranslated and should be translated as “to
ever and ever”, indicating an end of the suffering. However, when we study
the Bible carefully, comparing Scripture with Scripture, we find that “for
ever and ever” is the only possible correct Biblical translation. We have
prepared a study that goes into detail on this:
IS “FOR EVER AND EVER”
REALLY FOREVERMORE?
Let’s
go back to examining how the Bible uses phrases like “day and night”
When
we see the phrase “day and night” we think about the passing of days in
this world and we know that this world finally comes to an end. As a result,
some people say that the phrase “day and night” is a proof that any
conscious punishment ends with the end of the world. So, we must ask the
important question:
Does
this phrase “day and night” limit the duration to this world’s existence?
To
answer this question, we have to examine the Bible and see how God uses phrases
like “day and night”.
First,
we discover that God uses terms like “day”, “night”, “light”, “darkness” not
only to speak of this world, but also to speak of spiritual truth.
Here
are some example verses:
John
3:19 And this is the condemnation, that
light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil.
John
12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a
little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness
come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Acts
26:18 To open their eyes, and to
turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan
unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them
which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
1
Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the
children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of
darkness.
John
9:4 I must work the works of him that
sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
In
the above example verses, we see the terms “light”, “darkness”, “day” and
“night” used in a spiritual or figurative sense. In the above verses those
terms cannot be understood in a literal or physical way.
God
does use terms like “light”, “darkness”, “day” and “night” to represent
spiritual truth.
However,
does God use the phrase “day and night” to represent something that is not
limited to this world’s existence?
Some
people assume that when we see the term “day and night” that the event
described comes to an end when this world comes to an end. However, is that
really true according to the Bible?
We
must remember that God uses figures from this world to describe spiritual
truth. For example as we saw above, Jesus says that the “night” comes when no
man can work (John 9:4). He is using “night” to point to a Gospel truth, not a
statement about the position of our side of the earth with respect to the sun.
God
also talks about the new moons and the sabbaths in the new heaven and new earth
(Isaiah 66:22-23). The new moons and the sabbaths require the passage of “day
and night” cycles. Isaiah 66:22-23 is an example where God is using references
to the time keepers of this world to speak about things that will occur in
eternity future. We will look more at Isaiah 66:23-23 later on in this study.
Let’s
consider 3 verses that use the term “day and night”:
Isaiah 34:10 It
shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever:
from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it
for ever and ever.
Revelation 7:15
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night
in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone,
where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day
and night for ever and ever.
Isaiah
34:10 describes the fires of God’s wrath. It says that they shall not be
quenched “day and night”. In the original Hebrew it says “day and night”.
God
also talks about the fires of His wrath in these verses:
Jeremiah
17:4 And thou, even thyself, shalt
discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to
serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a
fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
Mark
9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it
off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to
go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark
9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the
fire is not quenched.
Mark
9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it
off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be
cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark
9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the
fire is not quenched.
Mark
9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the
fire is not quenched.
From
Jeremiah 17:4, Mark 9:43, 44, 45, 46 & 48 and other verses, we learn that
the fires of God’s wrath shall never be quenched. They shall burn
forever.
No
where in the Bible does God nullify or modify the above verses that teach that
the fires of God’s wrath will never be quenched. They shall burn forevermore.
Some
people argue that Jude 7 teaches that the fires of God’s wrath will not burn
forevermore. However, there are two translation errors in our KJV Bible in Jude
7 and people have not considered what 2 Peter 2:6 says about the same subject.
A
detailed study of Jude 7 has been prepared which examines what this verse and a
related verse, 2 Peter 2:6, are truly teaching about the destruction of
When
we examine the Bible carefully, we find nothing in the Bible that nullifies or
modifies Jeremiah 17:4, Mark 9:43-48 and other verses that teach that the fires
of God’s wrath burn forevermore.
Now,
we will consider Isaiah 34:10 again. This verse teaches that the fires of God’s
wrath shall not be quenched “day and night”.
When
we combine Isaiah 34:10 with Jeremiah 17:4 and Mark 9:43-48, we learn that the
fires of God’s wrath shall not be quenched “day and night” and that goes
on forevermore. They shall not be quenched “day and night” forevermore.
In
Isaiah 34:10 the term “day and night” does not limit the duration to this
world’s existence. The fires of God’s wrath shall not be quenched, “day and
night”, and that goes on forevermore. The fires of God’s wrath shall never be
quenched.
Let’s
compare Isaiah 34:10 and Revelation 14:11. We read in Revelation 14:11:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth
up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the
beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Revelation
14:11 says that the unsaved “have no rest day nor
night”. From this statement one might assume that the unsaved will
have rest once this world comes to an end. However, this language is parallel
to Isaiah 34:10 that says that the fires of God’s wrath “shall not be
quenched night nor day”.
From
Isaiah 34:10 we might assume that the fires of God’s wrath will be quenched at
the end of this world. However, as explained above, the Bible teaches that this
is not true. Other verses teach that the fires of God’s shall not be quenched
forever.
So,
the phrase “shall not be quenched night nor day” in Isaiah 34:10 is not
a proof text that the fires of God’s wrath shall be quenched at the end of the
world. In the same way, the phrase “have no rest
day nor night” in Revelation 14:11 is not a proof text that
they unsaved will finally have rest when this world comes to an end.
The
fires of God’s wrath shall not be quenched “day and night” and that goes
on forever. The unsaved have no rest “day and night” and because of
Isaiah 34:10, we know that the phrase “day and night” in Revelation
14:11 gives no proof that rest comes when this world ends.
Isaiah
34:10 teaches that the phrase “no rest day nor night” in Revelation 14:11 does
not limit the duration of “no rest” to this world’s existence.
Now,
let’s consider Revelation 7:15, which says:
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve
him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell
among them.
Revelation
7:15 describes the believers in heaven serving Christ. The setting of
Revelation 7:9-17 is heaven with the 24 elders and the 4 beasts (living
creatures). If we examine these verses carefully there is nothing in them that
confines them to this world’s existence nor to the duration of this world.
The
temple in Revelation 7:15 is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. We read about the
Lord Jesus as the temple in John 2:19-21. The believers will be before the
throne of God serving Him “day and night” in His temple (the Lord Jesus
is the temple) forevermore. The believers will never cease to serve God in His
temple (The Lord Jesus) forevermore.
If
we examine the context of Revelation 7:15 with the help of Revelation 21:1-4,
we see that it also speaks of eternity future.
We
read in Revelation 7:14-17:
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And
he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne
shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any
more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters:
and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Let’s
compare that to Revelation 21:1-4:
1
¶ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven
saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell
with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and
be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
The
context of Revelation 21:1-4 is eternity future. In verse 1 the present heaven
and earth have passed away and there is now a new heaven and earth.
We
see parallel language between Revelation 7:15-17 and Revelation 21:1-4.
In
Revelation 7:15, God says that He shall dwell among the true believers. In
Revelation 21:3 God says that He will dwell with the true believers. The
setting of Revelation 21:3 is eternity future.
In
Revelation 7:17 God says that He shall wipe away their tears. God says the same
thing in Revelation 21:4. Again, the setting of Revelation 21:4 is eternity future.
There
is no language in Revelation 7:9-17 that limits the context to this present
world. In fact, all of the promises of God given in Revelation 7:15-17 will
continue forevermore.
Therefore,
we cannot say that the phrase “day and night” in verse 15 limits the
passage to this world. Everything in this passage continues on forevermore.
In
Isaiah 34:10 and Revelation 7:15, God is using the term “day and night” to
describe something that is going on continuously and goes on forevermore. Therefore, the term “day and night” does not
limit the duration to this world’s existence.
Here
are some verses which use the term “day and night” with the sense of a
continuous action:
Joshua
1:8 This book of the law shall not
depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that
thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then
thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Notice that God says that the law shall “not
depart” out of thy mouth and then God combines that with “day and night”.
If something does “not depart” then it is present continuously
which is being linked to “day and night”.
Psalms
42:3 My tears have been my meat day and
night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
Isaiah 60:11 Therefore thy gates shall be open
continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring
unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be
brought.
In
the above verses, God is tying the word “continually”
into the phrase “day and night”,
identifying it with something that goes on continually.
Isaiah 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O
Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that
make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
In
Isaiah 62:6, God ties the phrase “never
hold their peace” to “day nor night”,
identifying this phrase with something that never ends.
Mark 5:5
And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs,
crying, and cutting himself with stones.
In
Mark 5:5, “always” is being
identified with “night and day”,
something that goes on continuously.
Luke 2:37 And she was a widow of about fourscore
and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with
fastings and prayers night and day.
The
phrase “departed not” is identified
with “night and day” as something
that is going on continuously. In the following verses, we see the same idea
with the phrases “ceased not”, “continueth” and “rest not”:
Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the
space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
1 Timothy 5:5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate,
trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six
wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest
not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and
is, and is to come.
These
are some verses that use the term “day and night” in the sense of
something that is going on continuously.
In
Isaiah 34:10, Revelation 14:11 and 20:10, God is using the figure of “day
and night” to tie into the language of continuous conscious affliction that
we find in Deuteronomy 28:66-67 and Isaiah 28:18-19.
We
read in those passages:
Deuteronomy
28:66-67:
66 And
thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night,
and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
67 In
the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say,
Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt
fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
Isaiah
28:18-19:
18 And
your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell
shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall
be trodden down by it.
19
From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by
morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation
only to understand the report.
Both
of these passages use the figure of “day and night” to describe an
on-going, continuous affliction. We have other studies that show that these two
passages are talking about all of the unsaved throughout history and not just
those here on May 21, 2011. To see a study on Deuteronomy 28, please click on
this link and search for the phrase “Deuteronomy 28”:
A STUDY OF 10 BIBLICAL
PROOFS OF CONSCIOUS RESURRECTION OF THE UNSAVED
To
see a study on Isaiah 28, please click on this link and search for the phrase
“Isaiah 28”:
MORE BIBLICAL PROOFS OF
THE CONSCIOUS AWAKING OF THE UNSAVED AT JUDGMENT DAY
God
uses the term “day and night” in Isaiah 34:10, Revelation 14:11 and
20:10 to tie into Deuteronomy 28:66-67 and Isaiah 28:18-19 which describe a
continuous conscious affliction. God is also tying into other verses that we
have examined in which God uses the phrase “day and night” to speak of
something that is going on continuously.
So,
in Isaiah 34:10 and Revelation 7:15 we have the term “day and night”
used to describe something that goes on forever. With the help of other verses
that use the term “day and night”, we can understand that this term can
signify a continuous action. Isaiah 34:10 and Revelation 7:15 are talking about
things that go on “continuously” and we know from other passages that they will
go on forevermore.
Therefore,
when we read Revelation 20:10, the term “day and night” is not a proof
text that the event described stops at the end of this world. We have examples
of the term “day and night” describing things that go on forever. In the
same way, the “day and night” of Revelation 20:10 does not limit the
duration to this world’s existence.
Please
note that God says that the lake of fire involves torment (conscious
affliction) day and night “for ever and
ever”. God Himself says that it continues forevermore. If there is any
confusion about if Revelation 20:10 should be translated “to ever and ever” or
“for ever and ever”, please see the link above for a careful study of that
Greek phrase.
God
uses other terms from the time keepers of this world to describe things that go
on forevermore.
We
read in Genesis 1:14:
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of
the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for
seasons, and for days, and years:
We
read this verse and assume that God is limiting terms like “day and night”,
“days”, “years”, etc. to describe the passage of time in this world, and most
of the time this is true.
However,
this verse does not mean that every time we see these terms, “day and night”,
“days”, “years”, that the event described ends at the end of this world’s
existence.
For
example, we read in Zechariah 14:16:
And it shall come to pass, that every one that
is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from
year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of
tabernacles.
This
verse is using parabolic language to describe the new heaven and new earth for
the believers. Zechariah 14:16 cannot be speaking of this world because it is
talking about the feast of tabernacles which was part of the Old Testament
ceremonial law system. All of those Old Testament ceremonial laws have already
been completed in Christ. The context of Zechariah 14 is the end of the world.
The
same Hebrew phrase translated “year to year” in Zechariah 14:16 is also
used in Deuteronomy 15:20 and 1 Samuel 7:16 to describe events that occurred
from year to year in this world:
Deuteronomy
15:20 Thou shalt eat it before
the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou
and thy household.
1
Samuel 7:16 And he went from year to
year in circuit to
Zechariah
14:16 describes something that goes on in eternity future using the Hebrew phrase
“from year to year”.
God
talks about “years” along with the “day and night” in reference to this world’s
time keepers in Genesis 1:14. However, Zechariah 14:16 is talking about
eternity future. This verse shows that God is not limited to using terms like
“day and night”, “days”, “years”, etc. to only to refer to this world’s time
keepers.
In
the next section, verses from the Hebrew Bible will be shown to support some of
the arguments made. To download the Hebrew font used on this page, right click
the link below. Select ‘Save Target as’, then use the Control Panel in Windows
to install the font.
Let’s
consider another example.
We
read in Isaiah 66:22-23:
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth,
which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed
and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from
one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come
to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Isaiah
66:22-23 is talking about eternity future in the new heavens and new earth. We
see this in the language of verse 22, “For as the new heavens and the new
earth”. In this verse God is again using time figures from this world to
speak about eternity future.
Note
the language taken from the time keepers of this world, “from one new moon
to another” and “from one sabbath to another”. These phrases, like
the phrase “day and night”, are phrases that are used to speak of time
in this world. However, God applies them to speak of eternity future.
Here
God refers to the passing from one new moon to another new moon. That is a
passage of 29 or 30 days in this world. God also refers to the passing from one
sabbath to another sabbath. That is a passage of 7 days in this world. Back in
Genesis 1:14 God talked about “days”
in connection with the time keepers of this world. However, that does not mean
that God is limited in His use of the term “days” to only speaking of this world. Isaiah 66:23 shows that God
can use figures from the passage of time in this world to describe things that
will go on in eternity.
There are some arguments made to try to
refute the teaching that Isaiah 66:22-23 uses the language of the time keepers
of this world to talk about eternity future.
We
will examine these arguments.
1.
It is said that the phrases “one new moon to another” and “one
sabbath to another” refer to new moons and sabbaths in this world because
Isaiah 66:22-23 includes a time right before the end of the world.
Let’s
examine that argument. God says in Isaiah 66:22, “For as the new heavens and
the new earth …”. God did not say “For as the time shortly before the
new heavens and the new earth …”.
When
God said “For as the new heavens and the new earth … ”, God is talking
about the new heavens and the new earth. God is not talking about the time
right before the new heavens and the new earth. God is talking about the new
heavens and the new earth.
If
we change verses a little or modify them a little, we can make the Bible say
almost anything that we want it to say, but we will not have truth. The phrase
“For as the new heavens and the new earth … ” refers to the new heavens
and the new earth. It does not refer to the time shortly before the new
heavens and the new earth.
If
God wanted to talk about the time shortly before the end of the world, God
would have had to write Isaiah 66:22 something like this:
22 For as the time shortly before the new
heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the
LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
However,
God did not say that. By using the phrase “For as the new heavens and the
new earth … ” God is telling us that He is not talking about the time
before the end of the world. Rather, God is talking about the new heavens and
the new earth.
Therefore, in Isaiah 66:22-23 when God says
“one new moon to another” and “one sabbath to another”, God is using time
keepers from this world to speak of eternity future.
2.
It is said that in the phrases “one new moon to another” and “one
sabbath to another” the word “another”
points to “another creation”.
The
argument given is that the phrase “one new moon to another” really means
“one new moon to another creation which is the new heavens and the new earth”.
To go along with this teaching, it is said that the phrase “one sabbath to
another” means “one sabbath to another creation which is the new heavens
and new earth”.
The
teaching is that the word “another”
in the two phrases is talking about “another creation” which is said to
the new heavens and new earth.
However, this argument is made without a
careful check of the Hebrew text of Isaiah 66:23.
In
the phrase “one new moon to another”, the Hebrew word translated “another”
is the same Hebrew word “new moon”
used in the beginning of the phrase. We show both the Hebrew and English text
below with this phrase underlined in both:
Isaiah
66:23 And it shall come to pass, that
from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all
flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
hwhy rma ynpl twxtshl rvb-lk awby wtbsb tbs ydmw wsdxb sdx-ydm hyhw Isaiah 66:23
The
Hebrew word for “new moon” is the
word “sdx”. This
word is used twice in the underlined phase. The Hebrew phrase “wsdxb” means “to new moon”. So a literal translation
of Isaiah 66:23 is:
Isaiah
66:23 And it shall come to pass, that
from new moon to new moon, and from one sabbath to another, shall all
flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
God
is talking about a series of new moons occurring in the new heavens and new
earth. This is another example of God using a figure from the time keepers of
this world, like “day and night” or
“new moon to new moon”, to speak of
eternity future in the new heavens and new earth.
We know for another reason that Isaiah
66:23 cannot be talking about this present world.
The
literal phrase “new moon to new moon” found in Isaiah 66:23 is a reference to the Old
Testament ceremonial law system. We find that same phrase in the Hebrew
language used to describe the new moons in the Old Testament. Let us consider 3
verses with the same Hebrew phrase “new moon to new moon”. The Hebrew and translated English text are
underlined:
Numbers
28:14 And their drink offerings shall be
half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a
ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt
offering of every month throughout the months of the year.
hnsh ysdxl wsdxb sdx tle taz Nyy vbkl Nyhh teybrw lyal
Nyhh tsylsw rpl hyhy Nyhh yux Mhykonw Numbers
28:14
1
Chronicles 27:1 ¶ Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit,
the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers
that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month
by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were
twenty and four thousand.
Pla hebraw Myrve txah tqlxmh hnsh ysdx lkl sdxb sdx tauyhw habh twqlxmh rbd lkl Klmh-ta Mytrsmh Mhyrjsw twamhw Myplah yrvw
twbah ysar Mrpoml larvy ynbw 1 Chronicles 27:1
Isaiah
66:23 And it shall come to pass, that
from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all
flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
hwhy rma ynpl twxtshl rvb-lk awby wtbsb tbs ydmw wsdxb sdx-ydm hyhw Isaiah 66:23
In
each of the 3 verses, the English translation is different. However, the
important point is that the Hebrew text is identical. Both Numbers 28:14 and 1
Chronicles 27:1 are talking about the Old Testament Ceremonial law system. In
the Old Testament, God had setup of many ceremonial laws and some of those laws
involved monthly activities or activities that had to be done from “new moon to new moon”.
We
see other references to the “new moon”
as part of the Old Testament Ceremonial law system in the following verses:
2 Chronicles 2:4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the
LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet
incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning
and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of
the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
2 Chronicles 8:13 Even after a certain rate every day, offering
according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons,
and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of
unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
2 Chronicles 31:3 He appointed also the king’s portion
of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and
evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the
new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the
LORD.
Nehemiah 10:33 For the shewbread, and
for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the
sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things,
and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all
the work of the house of our God.
However,
when God came to the New Testament, almost 2000 years ago, God was finished
with those ceremonial laws as we read about in Colossians 2:16-17:
16 ¶ Let no man therefore judge you in
meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the
sabbath days:
17
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
In
Colossians 2:16-17, God is telling us that He has finished with the ceremonial
laws that involved “the new moon”
and the rest of those type of ceremonial laws. So with the beginning of the New
Testament era God ended all of the laws that involved “new moon to new moon”.
However,
in Isaiah 66:22-23, God is using language from the Old Testament Ceremonial
laws to speak of eternity future, because those ceremonials were pointing to
the salvation that God has provided for eternity future in the new heavens and
new earth.
Therefore, the ceremonial law language
of “new moon to new moon” or “one new moon to another” found in Isaiah 66:23 cannot refer to
this present world because those ceremonies are completed in Christ. Rather,
this language is a reference to the time keepers of this world, like the phrase
“day and night”, which is applied to eternity future.
Isaiah
66:23 also makes reference to the sabbath days as we read “one sabbath to another”. The argument is that God is teaching “one
sabbath to another creation, which is the new heavens and new earths”. However, when we examine the Hebrew text of Isaiah
66:23 we find that this understanding is not possible. The Hebrew word
translated “another” is the same
Hebrew word “sabbath” found in the
earlier part of the verse. Let us examine both the English and Hebrew versions
of Isaiah 66:23 and also Numbers 28:10 which has the same phrase in the Hebrew
language:
Numbers
28:10 This is the burnt offering
of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink
offering.
hkonw dymth tle-le wtbsb tbs tle
Numbers 28:10
Isaiah
66:23 And it shall come to pass, that
from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all
flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
hwhy rma ynpl twxtshl rvb-lk awby wtbsb tbs ydmw wsdxb sdx-ydm hyhw Isaiah 66:23
In
both Numbers 28:10 and Isaiah 66:23 we see the same phrase in the Hebrew text.
The English translation is different but the important truth is that the Hebrew
text is the same. Both verses are talking about “one sabbath to
another sabbath”. The Hebrew word for
“sabbath” is “tbs”. This word
appears two times in these verses. The phrase “wtbsb” means “to
sabbath”.
A
more precise translation of Isaiah 66:23 is:
Isaiah
66:23 And it shall come to pass, that
from one new moon to another new moon, and from one sabbath to another
sabbath, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Numbers
28:10 is talking about the ceremonial laws that occurred from “one sabbath to another sabbath”. Using the same Hebrew text in Isaiah 66:23, God is tying
back to the Old Testament Ceremonial law system. God uses the Old Testament
Ceremonial law system to speak about eternity future in the new heavens and new
earth because those ceremonial laws pointed to Gospel truth that applies
forevermore in the new heavens and new earth.
In
Isaiah 66:22-23, we have seen a number of proofs that show that God uses references
to the time keepers from this world, like “one
new moon to another new moon”, “one
sabbath to another sabbath”, to speak of eternity future in the new heavens
and new earth, showing that time keepers of this world, like “day and night”, do not limit the verse
to this world.
This
shows that God uses references to the time keepers of this world to speak of
events in eternity also. Therefore, phrases like “day and night” or “one
sabbath to another sabbath” or “one new moon to another new moon” do not limit
the duration to this world.
We
read in Psalm 21:4:
He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it
him, even length of days for ever and ever.
Here
God talks about a length of days, for ever and ever. The promise to the
believers is “life”, which is God
Himself and all of His blessings for ever and ever (John 11:25, 14:6). God uses
the term “days” (plural) going on
for ever and ever. Again, God is taking a figure that is used to refer to this
world and applying it to eternity future to speak of something that will go on
forever. A day is composed of one “day and night” cycle.
It
does not mean that there will be literal “days”
or “day and night” cycles in
eternity future. Rather, God is using terms taken from this world and applying
them in a symbolic way in eternity future. Therefore, when we read about “day and night” it does not mean that
the duration in view is limited to this world. Rather, God is using a figure,
like he uses “days”, “from year to year”, “from one new moon to another” or “from one sabbath to another”, to
represent something in eternity. For the term “day and night” it can be shown that this term has the sense of “continuously”.
In
Isaiah 65:22 God uses time figures taken from this world to describe the
believers duration in the new heavens and new earth.
Starting
in Isaiah 65:17 and continuing through verse 25, God is describing His
blessings upon the true believers in the new heaven and new earth. God begins
in verse 17 by saying “behold, I create new heavens and a new earth”.
In
this context, we read in Isaiah 65:22:
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall
not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my
people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
God
is talking about the true believers in eternity future. Notice God says “the
days of my people”. God refers to the duration of His people in eternity
future with the language of “days”. A “day” is composed of a “day and
night” cycle.
Isaiah
65:22 is another illustration of how God can use time figures from this world,
like “days”, to refer to eternity
future. Therefore, there is no Biblical reason that the phrase “day and
night” cannot speak of something going on in eternity future.
We
read two verses that talk about the “days of heaven”
We
read two important verses:
Deuteronomy
11:21 That your days may be multiplied,
and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your
fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
Psalms
89:29 His seed also will I make to
endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
In
both of these verses, God talks about the “days of heaven”. God is
talking about His promises in eternity future for the Lord Jesus and for the
true believers.
In
Deuteronomy 11:21, God uses the word “days”
several times to refer to His promises in eternity future. The “days”
that are “multiplied” refer to eternity. The Gospel does not make any
promise of a long sojourn in this world. Therefore, the term, “your days may
be multiplied”, must refer to eternity future in the new heaven and new
earth.
The
“land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them” is the new
heaven and new earth in eternity future. That land will be “as the days of
heaven”.
The
“seed” in Psalm 89:29 is the Lord Jesus Christ. As the verse says, the
promises are to the Lord Jesus “for ever”. The Lord Jesus will rule over
the
We
have seen two more verses in which God uses a word taken from the time keepers
of this world, “days”, to refer to eternity future. Therefore, when we see
references to the time keepers of this world, they not an indication that the
duration comes to an end with this world.
We
read an interesting verse in Psalm 121:6:
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by
night.
This
verse is a promise of God’s protection for the true believers.
If
we think about Psalm 121:6, we realize that it has nothing to do with the sun
and moon of this universe nor does it have anything to do with “day and night”
of this universe.
The
reason for that is because the Gospel makes no promise for protection in this
world. If a country has a drought or famine, the true believers in that country
will suffer along with the unbelievers. If there is no rain and the sun is
beating down in a land, then all the people of that land suffer. That includes
both the true believers and the unbelievers. As the sun smites the unsaved of
that nation, it also smites the true believers of that nation.
This
verse can only refer to the protection that the Gospel provides from the wrath
of God. In this verse, the four words, “sun”, “moon”, “day” and “night” cannot
be understood in a physical way. We have to look at them from a Gospel
perspective. The “sun” refers to the Lord Jesus. The “moon” refers to the law
of God, the Bible. If we are saved, the Lord Jesus, as the judge, and the law
of God, will not come against us because of our sins. They will not smite us.
Also,
this verse is not saying that we have protection from Christ, as the judge,
during the day and the law of God during the night. If we are saved, we have
protection from Christ, as the judge, at all times.
Rather,
day and night, at all times or continuously, we are protected from the wrath of
God. It is not that we are protected during literal day and night. The true
believer’s protection by God is continuous and it goes on forever. The
believer’s protection is a continuous protection for ever.
On
the other hand, for the unsaved, sadly, they will suffer continuously, day and
night, the wrath of God, forevermore, according to Revelation 14:10, 20:10 and
other verses.
You
may see a further development of this material by examining the study on the
eternal character of the suffering of the unsaved for more information on this
subject.
THE Biblical PROOFS OF
THE ETERNAL SUFFERING OF THE UNSAVED
We
will now consider a verse that has been offered as a proof that the phrase “day
and night” limits duration to the existence of this earth.
DOES GENESIS 8:22 SHOW THAT THE PHRASE
“DAY AND NIGHT” LIMITS DURATION TO THIS WORLD’S EXISTENCE?
We
read in Genesis 8:22:
While the
earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and
winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis
8:22 can make us think that once this present earth is destroyed, then “day and night” shall cease. However,
this verse does not say that God cannot use these terms, like “seedtime”,
“harvest”, “cold”, “heat”, “day and night” to also speak about things that go
on forevermore in eternity future. We will examine each of the words from
Genesis 8:22 and see how God uses them in the Bible.
- “seedtime”
The
translation “seedtime” is misleading
because the word “time” is not in
the Hebrew text. This Hebrew word is just translated “seed” more than 200 times. The word “seed” is the correct translation. This same Hebrew word is also
found in the following verses:
Genesis
22:18 And in thy seed <02233> shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because
thou hast obeyed my voice.
2
Samuel 7:12-13:
12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou
shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed <02233> after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I
will establish his kingdom.
13 He shall build an house for my name, and I
will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
2
Samuel 22:51 He is the tower of
salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to
his seed <02233> for evermore.
Psalms
18:50 Great deliverance giveth he to his
king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed <02233> for evermore.
Psalms
22:23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him;
all ye the seed <02233> of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed <02233> of Israel.
Psalms 89:36 His seed <02233> shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before
me.
Isaiah
44:3 For I will pour water upon him that
is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed
<02233>, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Isaiah
66:22 For as the new heavens and the new
earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your
seed <02233> and your name remain.
In
each of the above verses the “seed”
refers to either the Lord Jesus or to the true believers or in some cases, both
are in view. These are an example of a “seed”
that continues forevermore after this earth has been destroyed.
So, in Genesis 8:22, God talks about a
“seedtime” or “seed” that can be applied to this earth, but God also uses the
same Hebrew word translated “seed” to speak of a “seed” that goes on
forevermore. So, Genesis 8:22 does not limit the use of the word “seed” or any
other word in that verse to this earth’s existence.
- “harvest”
We
see the word “harvest” in each of
the following verses point to the true believers. They are the “harvest” of the Kingdom of God that
abides forevermore in the presence of God:
Matthew
9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples,
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are
few;
Matthew
9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that
he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Mark
4:29 But when the fruit is brought
forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is
come.
Luke
10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is
great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that
he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
John
4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four
months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on
the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
There
is a time of harvest at the end of the world, but the word “harvest” also refers to the true
believers themselves that go into heaven forevermore.
So, in this world there is the “harvest”
of earthly food, but there is also a “harvest” of true believers that continues
on into to eternity future.
- “cold”
There
are different ways to understand the word “cold”
in the sense of the Gospel. It is sometimes used to emphasize the “cold” waters of the Gospel that provide
salvation to a thirsty soul. We see this sense in these verses:
Proverbs
25:13 As the cold of
snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that
send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
Proverbs
25:25 As cold waters
to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
Matthew
10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink
unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I
say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
The
blessings of the “cold” waters of
the Gospel as indicated in the above verses go on forevermore. Throughout the
duration of this earth, there is “cold”.
However, throughout eternity future, the “cold”
waters of Gospel provide eternal security for the true believer. We see this
idea illustrated in Revelation 22:1-5:
1 ¶ And he shewed me a pure river of
water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the
Lamb.
2
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was
there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and
yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the
healing of the nations.
3
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb
shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their
foreheads.
5
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither
light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for
ever and ever.
Revelation
22:1-5 is talking about eternity future and in verse 1 God talks about a “pure river of water of life”. That is
the “cold” waters of the Gospel that
provide salvation forevermore for the true believer.
- “heat”
The
word “heat” is often identified with
the wrath of God or the fires of the wrath of God, since fires produce “heat”. We see the connection between
the word “heat” and the wrath of God
in these verses:
Deuteronomy
29:24 Even all nations shall say,
Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of
this great anger?
Deuteronomy
32:24 They shall be burnt with
hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth
of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.
Isaiah
49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst;
neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall
lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
Jeremiah
17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted
by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall
not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be
careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Revelation
7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither
thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
Revelation
16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and
blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they
repented not to give him glory.
We
see from the above verses that God identifies the word “heat” with the fires of the wrath of God. Fires produce heat. We
have already seen that the fires of God’s wrath burn forevermore. These verses
teach this principle:
Jeremiah
17:4 And thou, even thyself, shalt
discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to
serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a
fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
Mark
9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it
off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to
go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark
9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the
fire is not quenched.
Mark
9:45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it
off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be
cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Mark
9:46 Where their worm dieth not, and the
fire is not quenched.
Mark
9:48 Where their worm dieth not, and the
fire is not quenched.
As
mentioned above, there are no verses in the Bible that say that the fires of
God’s wrath will ever be quenched. According to the Bible, the fires of God’s
wrath will burn forevermore on into eternity future. Since the fires of God’s
wrath burn on into eternity future, then the “heat” of those fires will burn on into eternity future.
So,
we see that both “cold and heat”
will continue into eternity. There is “cold
and heat” in this earth, but also God talks about a “cold and heat” that will continue into eternity future. The “cold” waters of the Gospel that provide
salvation forevermore for the true believers. There is also the “heat” for the fires of the wrath of God
that burn forevermore.
- “summer”
God
uses the word “summer” in different
ways, but one significant way is in the sense of the harvest of the crops, and
the big harvest in which God is interested is the harvest or salvation of the
true believers. We see the word “summer”
used in the sense of the harvest in these verses:
Proverbs
6:8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and
gathereth her food in the harvest.
Proverbs
10:5 He that gathereth in summer <07019> is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in
harvest is a son that causeth shame.
Proverbs
30:25 The ants are a people not
strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer <07019>;
Isaiah
16:9 Therefore I will bewail with the
weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O
Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
In
the above verses, God uses the word “summer”
to refer to the harvest, which identifies with the word “harvest” that we also see in Genesis 8:22. The important harvest or
summer in which God focuses is the harvest of the true believers.
What
also is significant is that this Hebrew word translated “summer” in Genesis 8:22 is also translated “summer fruit” in several verses. Here are some examples:
2
Samuel 16:1 And when David was a little
past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met
him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of
bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits <07019>, and a bottle of wine.
2
Samuel 16:2 And the king said unto Ziba,
What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s
household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit <07019> for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be
faint in the wilderness may drink.
Jeremiah
40:10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at
Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine,
and summer fruits <07019>, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell
in your cities that ye have taken.
Jeremiah
40:12 Even all the Jews returned out of
all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to
Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits <07019> very much.
In
the 4 verses above, the Hebrew word translated “summer” in Genesis 8:22 is translated “summer fruit” to refer to the actual fruit of the summer or of the
harvest. This is significant because the true believers are the important “summer fruit” or the fruit of the
harvest that about which God is concerned.
So,
in Genesis 8:22, there is “summer”
in this earth, however, there is a “summer
fruit”, the true believers, that goes on into eternity future.
- “winter”
We
see the word “winter” in these 2
verses:
Matthew
24:20 But pray ye that your flight be
not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mark
13:18 And pray ye that your flight be
not in the winter.
Matthew
24 and Mark 13 are talking about the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) which is
a time when a lot of wrong gospels are being brought which deceive many people
(Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22). This is a time when there is not much true Gospel
available to many people and that ties into the “winter” in the 2 verses above. The “winter” is the opposite of the “summer”. The “summer”
points the harvest and the most important harvest is that of the true
believers. The “winter” points to a
time of no growth and no harvest. The important lack of harvest is the lack of
salvation. It is this “winter” of
the Gospel to which Matthew 24:20 and Mark 13:18 refer. For those that remain unsaved,
there remains a “winter” of the
Gospel for them forevermore as we read about the rich man in hell in Luke
16:23-26:
23
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham
afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue;
for I am tormented in this flame.
25
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy
good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and
thou art tormented.
26
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so
that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to
us, that would come from thence.
The
rich man is in the “winter” of no
Gospel. Matthew 24:20 and Mark 13:18 also describe a “winter” of no True Gospel for many. The rich man wants a drop of
the waters of the Gospel, but there is none for him. That continues on into
eternity for the rich man. There will be no water of the Gospel for him. He
will continue in the “winter” of no
Gospel.
So,
we see that there is a “summer and
winter” in this earth. However, God talks about a “summer and winter” or “summer
fruit and winter” that continues into eternity. The “summer fruit” is the true believer and the “winter” is the lack of Gospel for the unsaved. These both continue
forevermore.
Regarding
the phrase “day and night”, we have already
seen in Isaiah 34:10 and Revelation 7:15 that this phrase is applied to events
that go on forevermore.
Therefore,
as we look at Genesis 8:22 we see that it applies to this earth. In addition,
God also applies all of the words and phrases used in that verse to speak of
things that go on into eternity future.
A close examination of all of the words
and phrases in Genesis 8:22 shows that these phrases are used to describe
things in this earth, but also are used to describe things that go on into
eternity future. Therefore the use of these terms in Genesis 8:22 in no way
limits them to the existence of this earth.
The
above verses show that God uses terms taken from the time keepers of this
world, like “day and night”, “year to year”, “days”, “from one sabbath to
another”, “from one new moon to another”, etc., to speak about things that will
occur in eternity future. The presence of these terms is not a proof that the
events described are limited to the duration of this world.
The
term “day and night” is a testing point, but when the Bible is carefully
studied, we learn this phrase does not limit the duration to this world, but
rather teaches a continuous event.