Greetings. Thanks for submitting your question regarding Isaiah
66:22, 23 and if Isaiah therefore taught that the Sabbath will be kept in heaven.
22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain.
23 And
it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship
before Me," says the LORD (NKJV)
I have some charts that deal with typical arguments that Adventists
give regarding Isaiah at the following link.
In addition, please consider that there is also a "New Moon"
in Isaiah's "new heavens and new earth." There are also "Levites" as mentioned in 66:21. If the Sabbath is there, then the new moon and Levitical priesthood are there too. This expression
"new heavens and earth" has to be defined by the context in which it is found. For example, in 2 Peter 3:1-13, the usage of
it is clear that it is referring to the next era of time in heaven where there is absolutely nothing that exists as sinful.
But the context of Isaiah in which Isaiah 66:22, 23 is in disallows such a meaning. Please consider that Isaiah is speaking
of the same "new heavens and earth" in chapter 65 which helps us determine the meaning of it:
"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind" (65:17)
Now note what all is in Isaiah's "new heavens and
earth":
-
Levites (66:21)
-
New Moon (66:23)
-
Sabbath (66:23)
-
flesh (66:23)
-
wolves, lambs, lions and serpents (65:25)
-
children who die at 100 years old (65:20)
-
building houses and planting vineyards, work with hands (65:21,
22)
-
bringing forth children (65:23)
Now when you compare what is actually taught
about the New Testament's "new heaven and earth" you can readily conclude that Isaiah's "New heaven and earth" cannot be
speaking about the heaven where God's literal throne exists today, but most probable of the return of the Jews from Babylonian
captivity--which was a new era in their existence as a nation.
- Christ is our priest in heaven and is not of Levi. The law
was changed (Heb. 8:1; 7:11-15)
- New Moon and Sabbaths are done away and a mere shadow of
things to come (Col. 2:14-17). Besides, there is no sun or moon in heaven (Rev. 21:23, 22:5). This fact makes it impossible
to have a regular Sabbath keeping as well as a the "new moon."
- no flesh shall inherit it (1 Cor. 15:50ff)
- no death exists there (Rev. 22:4)
- no marrying and giving in marriage there (Matt. 22:30)
I hope this helps.
Cordially,
Steven J. Wallace
[NOTE: it is "possible" that Isaiah 65,
66 may have reference to the church. All of Isaiah's subjects would have to be regarded as "symbols" to do so. One cannot take
the "Sabbath" as literal in the church era but then symbolize the "new moon." Interpreting all these with counterparts
in the New Testament seems somewhat cumbersome. I therefore lean that the return from Babylon seems to be the most natural]
