In Hebrews 10:25 God says we are to assemble together more as we see the day coming. I have been thinking that perhaps we could meet all day on the Sabbath rather than having just one service. Since the services are held in different locations, perhaps by combining them there would be enough money to rent a hall large enough for everyone. I enjoy the annual holydays, and I believe the weekly Sabbath could be kept the same way.
We appreciate the suggestion, and since others may wonder why this is not done, we will explain the difficulties such an arrangement would present. First of all, we need to realize that the purpose of the weekly Sabbath differs from that of the holydays. God gave the holydays to show us the step-by-step Plan which He is working out in order to fulfill His purpose — which is to bring multiple BILLIONS of Sons into His Family. The annual holydays remind us year by year of the various steps in that Plan, and the all-day services on those days help focus our attention in a special way on each facet of that Plan as we observe the days. The Sabbath, on the other hand, is a day of rest. It reminds us every week that God is the Creator and that He rested on the seventh day, putting His presence in it and sanctifying it as holy time (Genesis 2:2-3). The Sabbath also pictures the coming millennial reign of Christ on earth which will follow the 6,000 years of man's mis-rule. Those of us who are begotten Sons of God will at that time enter the spiritual rest spoken of in Hebrews 4:1-11. The Sabbath is more than just a day of rest, however. While we are to rest from our normal physical labor and activities on this day, the Sabbath is NOT a day of inactivity. It, too, plays an important part in God's Plan, although its purpose differs from that of the holydays. The Sabbath gives us an opportunity to draw closer to God through extra time spent in prayer, Bible study and meditation. It gives us an opportunity to get our mind completely off the physical cares of this world and to concentrate instead on the purpose of life. The services on the Sabbath are weekly training sessions, which enable us to learn, through the sermons, how to become more Godlike — how to put on the mind and character of God so that we can someday BECOME GOD! For maximum benefit from these training sessions, however, we need very much the opportunity — which the Sabbath affords — to spend extra time in prayer and personal Bible study. Those who have children — especially small children — ran readily see that all-day services every Sabbath would detract from the overall purpose of the Sabbath which we have outlined. In the local Church areas which, in the past, have had Bible studies on Friday nights, the Bible Study has been moved to another night during the week for the same reason. The brethren can now use the Sabbath to draw closer to God and to be refreshed and rejuvenated physically as well as spiritually. We as a Church me following the admonition of Hebrews in Heb. 10:25. We are not "forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." Most of the brethren around the world can assemble every week for weekly Sabbath services and be taught by God's ministers. In addition, most brethren can also attend either a local Bible Study held every other week or a monthly Bible study held in outlying areas. Those in Spokesman Clubs have an additional opportunity to meet regularly and be instructed by God's ministers. The warning in Hebrews 10:25 applies to us as individuals. The Church has provided ample opportunities to "assemble ourselves together" in order to profit from the instruction of God's ministers and to enjoy the fellowship of other brethren, but many brethren do not take advantage of the opportunities! Some — too many — fail to attend even on the annual holydays! Those who do this are contemptuous of the food — the spiritual fare — that God has set before us at His Feast days. In attitude and action they say: "The table of the Lord is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat is contemptible." (Malachi 1:12). They despise the instruction and correction God makes available on His Holy Days and latch onto any excuse not to attend. These are the ones to whom the warning in Hebrews 10:25 is addressed — these and those who make excuses for not attending Sabbath services regularly and those who could attend a Bible Study but don't! We are warned that as we see the day approaching — the day of God's intervention in the affairs of this world — we ought to take every opportunity to attend the Holy Day services, the weekly Sabbath services and the Bible Studies which God's Church has made available for our edification and perfection! Notice that the next verse in Hebrews 10 — verse 26 — warns (Heb. 10:26): "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the Truth, there remains therefore no sacrifice for sin." This verse, in context, is a warning ESPECIALLY to those in God's Church who are neglecting to assemble with His people when the opportunity is provided. Paul realized that those who do not make a genuine effort to congregate with the other brethren whenever possible are in danger of going right out of God's Church and into the lake of fire because of their lethargic, lackadaisical attitude! Christ said we would be known by our fruits (Matthew 7:20). The indifference and lack of concern demonstrated by these individuals are symptoms of a deeper spiritual weakness that can and often doer lead to the willful sin that Paul warned against. This is a grave warning brethren — one that cannot be taken lightly and passed over. He that has ears to hear, let him hear!