God wants you to enjoy a special day out of every week: the Sabbath day. Jesus Christ said God made the Sabbath for man (Mark 2:27). God created the Sabbath right after He made human beings (Genesis 1:26; 2:2-3). It is a gift from God to all of us. Are you making use of it?

Anciently God sent the Prophet Jeremiah to the rebellious nation of Judah with a special message about the Sabbath day. It has a lot to teach us, if we will listen.

God told Jeremiah to go the gates of Jerusalem and tell the people who were entering the city by the gates, “Thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers” (Jeremiah 17:21-22).

The Sabbath has been in place from the beginning, and God was always clear in commanding His people to keep it. But far too many have disobeyed. Nevertheless, God still promises great blessings if we keep this day holy! “And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever” (verses 24-25).

Jeremiah’s prophecy is mostly for this end time. We must look at this spiritually today. Who will share David’s throne with Christ forever? That is the reward of God’s firstfruits (Revelation 3:21; Luke 1:23-33; Isaiah 9:6-7).

God says we are already kings and priests (Revelation 1:5-6). We are now getting ready to marry our Husband, Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:7). What a glorious vision of hope! Sadly, however, this vision has become vague to most of God’s people today.

Reclaiming this magnificent vision starts with properly keeping God’s Sabbath day. The Sabbath is a sign that we are God’s royal Family!

Anciently, God said that the Sabbath was to be kept always! “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed” (Exodus 31:13-17).

The Sabbath day focuses our mind back to God the Creator. He “rested, and was refreshed” on the Sabbath day. God doesn’t need physical rest. So how was He refreshed?

The Sabbath is a type of the Millennium—a time when God will be ruling this Earth and building His Family. Then that Family will rule the universe forever. So the Sabbath also causes us to look ahead.

God is a Creator. He is creating His Family. It only started with the creation of Adam and Eve. The animals were created after the animal kind. Man was created in the image and likeness of God. We look like God in our features. However, the spiritual creation is far more important. God is doing that job within His Church today. We must build the character of God (Matthew 5:48).

The great god was inspired and “refreshed” by the Sabbath-day vision. It will also greatly inspire you and me if we keep the Sabbath holy.

For people who have grown lukewarm in their relationship with God, only this glorious vision will bring them back. Only this vision will keep us growing spiritually. If we truly comprehend that breathtaking future, we will never forsake God!

The Creator of the Sabbath set an example for His creation on how to keep it—and to become holy in the process. Think of the power in God’s personal example! Our only purpose for being created is to follow that example.

God is present in a special and powerful way on His Sabbath day. The Sabbath, instead of being a burden, should leave us on a spiritual high. It should be a “delight” (Isaiah 58:13).

This is where Christ and the firstfruits will begin to change the whole world! This is where it all starts! We must learn this lesson if we are to rule the world with Christ.

“But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched” (Jeremiah 17:27). If we don’t heed this message about keeping the Sabbath holy, then God will kindle a fire!

Repeatedly God warns us in these verses. “Hear ye the word of the Lord …” (verse 20). “Take heed to yourselves …” (verse 21). “[I]f you will not hearken unto me …” (verse 27). God will personally kindle a fire—starting with the Great Tribulation. But this fire will not be quenched: It will destroy lives forever, unless we repent.

Will you heed God’s strong warning?

I can give you this godly guarantee. If you start keeping the Sabbath properly, it will begin to make dramatic and wonderful changes immediately in your life! Put God to the test!

This article is adapted from Gerald Flurry’s booklet Jeremiah and the Greatest Vision in the Bible. Read the entire booklet free.