Test 11: Purpose and Duration Indicators

Part I: The Hebrew Duration Terminology - Legal Precision in Divine Law

The Word "Olam" (עוֹלָם) - Forever or Age-lasting?

The Hebrew word "olam" appears 439 times in the Old Testament and is often translated "forever," "everlasting," or "perpetual." However, legal analysis reveals that "olam" doesn't always mean eternal in the absolute sense. Its meaning depends on context and the nature of what it modifies.

When Olam Means Truly Eternal:

Genesis 21:33: "And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting [olam] God." God's nature is absolutely eternal.

Psalm 90:2: "From everlasting [olam] to everlasting [olam], thou art God." Applied to God Himself, olam indicates absolute eternality.

Isaiah 40:28: "The everlasting [olam] God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth." God's creative identity is eternal.

When Olam Means Age-lasting (Limited Duration):

Exodus 21:6: A slave serving "for ever [olam]" - obviously limited to his lifetime.

1 Samuel 1:22: Samuel would appear before the LORD "for ever [olam]" - limited to his mortal life.

Jonah 2:6: Jonah was in the fish's belly "for ever [olam]" - actually three days.

Application to the Sabbath

Exodus 31:16-17: "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual [olam] covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever [olam]: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth."

The Sabbath's "olam" status must be evaluated by its foundation: "for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth." Since the Sabbath memorializes creation (not a temporary ceremonial purpose), and since creation is permanent reality, the Sabbath's "olam" indicates true perpetuity.

Compare this with circumcision: Genesis 17:13: "My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting [olam] covenant." Yet Paul declares circumcision abolished (Galatians 5:2). Why? Because circumcision was tied to physical descent from Abraham - a temporal condition. The Sabbath is tied to creation - an eternal reality.

Part II: The "Until" (עַד/Ad) Indicators - Clear Termination Markers

When Hebrew uses "ad" (until), it typically indicates a definite termination point. This linguistic marker is legally significant for identifying temporary laws.

Ceremonial Laws with "Until" Language:

Galatians 3:19: "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till [until] the seed should come to whom the promise was made."

The ceremonial law was added "until" Christ (the seed) came. This creates a clear terminus.

Hebrews 9:10: "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation."

Ceremonial ordinances were imposed "until" the reformation (Christ's ministry).

Numbers 35:25: The manslayer stays in the city of refuge "until the death of the high priest."

Clear termination point based on an event.

The Sabbath Has No "Until" Clause

Search the entire Scripture - nowhere does it say the Sabbath continues "until" any event. Instead:

• It's rooted in completed creation (Genesis 2:2-3)
• It's a memorial looking backward, not forward (Exodus 20:11)
• It continues in the new earth (Isaiah 66:23)

The absence of any "until" language regarding the Sabbath is legally significant. Laws with termination points have them stated; laws without termination points are presumed perpetual.

Part III: Shadow vs. Substance Indicators

Characteristics of Shadow Laws (Temporary):

Forward-pointing Language:

• Hebrews 10:1: "The law having a shadow of good things to come"
• Colossians 2:17: "Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ"
• Hebrews 8:5: "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things"

Inability to Perfect:

• Hebrews 10:1: "Can never with those sacrifices... make the comers thereunto perfect"
• Hebrews 9:9: "Which was a figure for the time then present... that could not make him that did the service perfect"
• Hebrews 7:19: "For the law made nothing perfect"

Substitutionary Nature:

• Hebrews 10:4: "It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins"
• The sacrifices substituted for the real sacrifice (Christ)

Characteristics of Eternal Principles (Permanent):

Rooted in God's Character:

• Leviticus 19:2: "Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy"
• Matthew 5:48: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"

Creation-based:

• Genesis 2:24: Marriage "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother"
• Genesis 2:2-3: Sabbath "God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it"

Moral Nature:

• Romans 2:14-15: "The Gentiles... show the work of the law written in their hearts"
• Universal conscience recognizes moral law

The Sabbath as Eternal Principle, Not Shadow

The Sabbath exhibits all characteristics of eternal principle:

1. Creation-rooted: Established before sin, before need for shadows (Genesis 2:2-3)
2. Character-reflecting: God rested, establishing pattern (Exodus 20:11)
3. Backward-pointing: Memorializes completed creation, not future redemption
4. Morally discernible: Human need for rest is universally recognized
5. New Earth continuation: "From one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship" (Isaiah 66:23)

Part IV: Linguistic Formulas Indicating Duration

"It Shall Be a Statute Forever"

This formula appears frequently, but context determines meaning:

Example - Leviticus 16:29: Day of Atonement "shall be a statute for ever"

• But Hebrews 9:12 shows Christ entered "once" - the reality replaced the type
• The principle (atonement) is eternal; the ceremony was temporary

"This Is That Which the LORD Hath Said"

Exodus 16:23: "This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath."

This formula indicates pre-existing divine declaration, not new institution. Used for the Sabbath before Sinai, indicating prior establishment at creation.

"Remember" vs. "Observe"

"Remember" (זָכַר/zakar): Recalls existing obligation

• Exodus 20:8: "Remember the sabbath day" - only commandment using "remember"

"Observe" (שָׁמַר/shamar): Keep or guard something already known

• Deuteronomy 5:12: "Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee"

Both terms assume prior knowledge, not new institution.

Part V: The Purpose Test - Why Was This Law Given?

Laws Addressing Sin's Consequences (Temporary):

Sacrificial System:

• Purpose: "For it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11)
• Fulfilled: "By his own blood he entered in once" (Hebrews 9:12)

Ceremonial Cleansing:

• Purpose: Ritual purity for temple service
• Fulfilled: "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7)

Dietary Laws:

• Purpose: Separation from nations (Leviticus 20:25-26)
• Fulfilled: "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common" (Acts 10:15)

Laws Establishing Divine Order (Permanent):

Marriage:

• Purpose: "It is not good that the man should be alone" (Genesis 2:18)
• Continuation: "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6)

Sabbath:

• Purpose: "The sabbath was made for man" (Mark 2:27) - human benefit
• Continuation: "There remaineth therefore a rest [sabbatismos] to the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9)

Moral Boundaries:

• Purpose: Reflect God's character
• Continuation: "Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16)

Part VI: The New Testament Confirmation Test

Laws Explicitly Ended:

• Circumcision: "If ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing" (Galatians 5:2)
• Food Laws: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink" (Colossians 2:16)
• Priesthood: "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law" (Hebrews 7:12)

Laws Explicitly Continued:

• Ten Commandments: "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (Romans 3:31)
• Moral Standards: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Romans 13:9), followed by listing commandments

The Sabbath Specifically:

• Hebrews 4:9: "There remaineth therefore a sabbatismos [Sabbath-keeping] to the people of God"
• Matthew 24:20: "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day" - Jesus expected Sabbath observance to continue after His death

Part VII: The Prophecy Test - What Does Scripture Say About the Future?

Laws Not Mentioned in New Earth:

• No temple: "I saw no temple therein" (Revelation 21:22)
• No sacrifices: Not mentioned in New Jerusalem
• No circumcision: Never referenced in eternal state
• No Levitical priesthood: All are priests (Revelation 1:6)

Laws Continuing in New Earth:

The Sabbath: Isaiah 66:22-23: "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. 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."

The Tree of Life: Revelation 22:2: "The tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits"

God's Commandments: Revelation 22:14: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life"

The prophetic test is decisive: what continues in the sinless new earth must be rooted in creation order, not sin management.

Part VIII: The Legal Framework for Duration Determination

Based on the linguistic and contextual evidence, laws can be classified by these indicators:

Part IX: Application to the Sabbath

Applying these indicators to the Sabbath:

The evidence is unanimous: every indicator points to the Sabbath's perpetual duration.

Part X: Resolving Apparent Contradictions

"The Sabbath Was Made for Man" (Mark 2:27)

Some argue this means the Sabbath is merely humanitarian, not divine law. But Christ's full statement reads: "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

The logical flow:

1. Sabbath was made for humanity's benefit (at creation)
2. Not humans created to serve the Sabbath
3. Therefore Christ has authority over it

This confirms the Sabbath's beneficent purpose while affirming Christ's lordship over what continues.

"Let No Man Judge You... in Respect of the Sabbath Days" (Colossians 2:16)

As established in Test 9, the plural "sabbath days" with ceremonial context indicates annual ceremonial sabbaths, not the weekly Sabbath. The duration indicators confirm this:

• Ceremonial sabbaths were shadows (temporary indicator)
• Weekly Sabbath predates shadows (permanent indicator)