PART II

THE TABERNACLE (OLD TESTAMENT)

Yahweh told Moses, “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take My offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, onyx stone, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it,” Ex. 25:1-9.

Furthermore, Yahweh said, “See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the spirit of Elohim, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee; the tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle, and the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, and the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office, and the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do,” Ex. 31:1-11.

This tabernacle made in the wilderness was a most important place for it was the dwelling place of the Most High Yahweh. Yahweh gave a special spirit to the men who were constructing it so that it could be done according to His instructions. But this tabernacle, its furniture, appurtenances, priesthood, sacrifices and offerings were only types of the greater tabernacle. Speaking of this tabernacle and appurtenances in the book of Hebrews it is declared, “Who (the tabernacle and priesthood) serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of Yahweh when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, ‘See,’ saith He, ‘that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount,” Heb. 8:5.

Furthermore, in Heb. 9:9 these same things are called, “....a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.”

Notice the words “example”, “shadow”, “pattern” and “figure.” “Example” is translated from the Greek word “hupodeigma” which is defined as, an exhibit for imitation or warning (figuratively, specimen, adumbration). “Shadow” is translated from the Greek word “skia,” and is defined as, apparently a primary word; "shade" or a shadow (literally or figuratively (darkness of error or an adumbration). “Pattern” is translated from the Greek word “tupos” and is defined as, a die (as struck), i.e. (by implication) a stamp or scar; by analogy, a shape, i.e. a statue, (figuratively) style or resemblance; specially, a sampler ("type"), i.e. a model (for imitation) or instance (for warning). Finally, “figure” is translated from the Greek word “parabole” which is defined as, a similitude ("parable"), i.e. (symbolic) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage.

Notice also that the first two word, example and shadow, have the word “adumbration” included in their definition. According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, and adumbration would be a shadowy outline, a suggestion beforehand, or a vague foreshadow.

Furthermore, we read, “Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of Elohim. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people: the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing,” Heb. 9:6-8.

In other words, while that tabernacle, its appurtenances, priesthood and sacrifices were in existence and in service, they were only a type, a foreshadow, a pattern, an example of something far greater that was going to take place in the future.

THE TABERNACLE (NEW TESTAMENT)

“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: we have such an High Priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which Yahweh pitched, and not man,” Heb. 8:1-2.

The true tabernacle is the one that Yahweh has pitched, not man. The tabernacle made by man was only a shadowy sketch of the real thing that Yahweh has made. As the prophet Isaiah proclaims, “Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He That sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; That stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in,” Isa. 40:21-22.

Since the tabernacle and its appurtenances were only sketchy types of the true, let’s see if we can compare them to that which Yahweh has made and come to understand how much greater that which Yahweh makes is than that which man makes.

The tabernacle had its first gate to which the people could approach with their gifts and sacrifices. The animals were sacrificed at the gate and part of their blood was taken into the sanctuary to sprinkle on the vessels there, but the rest was poured out at the altar while all of the flesh or portions thereof were burnt on the altar as a burnt or holocaust offering. Therefore, the gate and altar of sacrifice were representatives of the altar that eventually existed in Jerusalem. The people were not allowed to go beyond this point. In other words, the altar of sacrifice was the place where Yahweh’s heavenly tabernacle made contact with earth. Wherever the altar of sacrifice was located was Yahweh’s footstool as the Prophet Isaiah declares, “Thus saith Yahweh, ‘The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool...,” 66:1.

What we need to do now is to stretch Yahweh’s true tabernacle heavenward by looking at the model provided.

The altar of sacrifice was Yahweh’s footstool. As stated, the people were allowed to come to the altar of sacrifice and could proceed no further. But the Levites, especially the priests were allowed to enter into Yahweh’s sanctuary wherein were contained the Menorah and the Table of Shewbread. Thus, the Levites, especially the priests, were types of the angels (malakim, messengers) who, in the spirit world, are able to ascend and descend from heaven to earth and earth to heaven. The prophet Malachi was inspired to write, “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger (malak - angel) of Yahweh of hosts,” 2:7.

Before entering the sanctuary, the priest would have to stop at the brazen laver to wash his hands and his feet. As this journey is a type of a heavenward projection, the next thing we come to after we leave the earth is the atmosphere wherein are the clouds. Clouds are moisture, water. It’s from the clouds that the earth receives the cleansing rain. Therefore the laver containing water was representative of the area above the earth (the atmosphere) containing the clouds.

Having washed the hands and feet, the priest could then proceed through the “door” of the sanctuary. When our scientists fire their rockets into outer orbit, they speak of hitting the window or the door. This door of the tabernacle is a type of the door that exists between earth’s atmosphere and the realm of the solar system beyond that atmosphere. The earth’s atmosphere is the first heaven. When one goes beyond the door of the earth’s atmosphere he enters into the second heaven or the realm of the solar system.

The Menorah of the sanctuary consisted of seven lamps or lights. Isn’t it interesting that the figure is seven!? What would this wondrous Menorah made out of the purest of gold represent? What is it that exists in the solar system that provides light? Isn’t it the sun? Aren’t there seven days in a week? The Menorah, therefore, would be an earthly model or representative of the sun with its seven day weekly cycle.

Across from the Menorah was the table of shewbread with its twelve loaves of bread sprinkled with frankincense. What would this table represent in the heavenly realm? How about the moon? The moon is a heavenly body that has no light of its own, but it reflects the light of the sun. The shewbread had no light of its own, but it reflected the light of the Menorah. The Hebrew calendar and Yahweh’s own annual holy calendar had twelve moons or twelve months. There were 12 loaves of shewbread, one for each tribe of Israel and one for each month of the year. Of course, a lunar year is shorter than a solar or even a sidereal year so every three years or so, an extra month had to be added to the calendar in order to maintain a proper balance. This thirteenth month (moon) would be representative of the tribe of Levi.

The sanctuary was a representative of the solar system wherein were contained the sun and moon, the second heaven, so to speak.

There was one more section to the tabernacle which was called the holy of holies. This most holy area had to be entered through another door which was called a vail/veil. This veil would be representative of the glorious veil of stars in the heavens which are beyond our solar system. Beyond this starry veil is the throne of Yahweh in the third heaven. This is the tabernacle of Yahweh which is so far greater than the tabernacle made by the hands of man. This is the tabernacle that belongs to those of the New Covenant.

Now get this, you who want to bring Yahweh’s people completely under the control and authority of the Old Covenant, read this and learn, read this and fear, “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle,” Heb. 13:10. Our altar and tabernacle is so much more marvelous and wondrous to behold. HalleluYah!!!

THE PRIESTHOOD (OLD COVENANT)

Yahweh told Moses, “And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto Me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto Me in the priest’s office,” Ex. 28:1-3.

While the Aaronic priesthood was glorious, the problem is that even Aaron was unfaithful when it came to pressures from the people. While Moses was in the mount for 40 days, the people became restless and faithless, they urged Aaron to make gods to go before them (Ex. 32:1). Aaron requested all of their golden earrings from which he fashioned a golden calf (Ex. 32:3-4). This is an indication that the Aaronic priesthood would be too easily and quickly swayed by the desires of the people to take the road of falsehood and idolatry rather than to stand in the truth and true worship.

The book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. Malachi simply means “My messenger.” The book of Malachi reveals the unfaithfulness of the Aaronic priesthood and the need to raise up another true messenger and Priest, “And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto My name, saith Yahweh of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yes, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that My covenant might be with Levi, saith Yahweh of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared Me, and was afraid before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with Me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the Priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith Yahweh of hosts. ‘Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the People, according as ye have not kept My ways, but have been partial in the law.’ Have we not all one Father? Hath not one El created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of Yahweh which He loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange El. Yahweh will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto Yahweh of hosts (the priests offered the offerings). And this have ye done again, covering the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping and with crying out, insomuch that He regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand,” Mal. 2:1-13.

THE PRIESTHOOD (NEW TESTAMENT)

“If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the People received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For He of Whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Sovereign sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning the priesthood,” Heb. 7:11-14.

Do you notice that (all you who want get back under the law of Moses)? As stated previously,  Too many are saying that if there is a difference between the Torah (Old Covenant) and the New Testament/Covenant, the Torah rules the day. If such is the case, then your high priest is of the unfaithful Aaronic (Levitical) priesthood! There can be no priest of the tribe of Judah or any other Israelite tribe! If you are a Rabbi, elder, minister, etc. and can’t trace your lineage to Levi, then you had better abdicate your office and find a Levite, especially one named Cohen, Cowan, Kuhn, Cone, (derivatives of the Hebrew word for priest), etc., and let him teach you out of Yahweh’s word.

Notice verse 12 again, “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” The word “changed” is translated from the Greek word “metatithemi” which means, to transfer, change sides, carry over, translate, etc. The word “change” is translated from the Greek word “Metathesis” which means, transportation, i.e. transferral (to heaven)!

Now let’s understand what this means! While Moses was in the mount receiving instructions from Yahweh, he received two tablets written front and back with the finger of Elohim (Ex. 31:18). Moses took the two tablets which, since the covenant was between Yahweh and the people, should have been prominently displayed as a witness between Him and them and the rest of the nations of the earth. But when Moses saw what the people had done, he cast the tablets down breaking them. This was a another type that we find in the Torah for the covenant had already been broken by the people. Yet, Yahweh is merciful and allowed that covenant to continue for a time, or an age in order to fulfill His purposes.

The prophet Zechariah witnesses that Yahweh broke His covenant with His people, “And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with ALL THE PEOPLE,” 11:10. Again, we see this in type in the Torah when Moses cast the tablets (the tables of witness) down breaking them.

After order was restored, Moses went up a second time into the mount with another set of tablets which he had personally hewed out (Ex. 34:1). When Moses descended from the mount with the tablets, his face shone so brightly that the children of Israel couldn’t stand before him so he had to put a veil on his face when he walked among the people (Ex. 34:29-35). Moses then took the tablets and put them inside the ark of the covenant (Ex. 40:20). This was another type, for the ark of the covenant was an earthly representation of the heavenly throne that no man could approach unto (the throne in heaven, that is). This meant that the power of the covenant, the power and ability to keep the commandments would come from heaven from whence Yahshua came, “Then Yahshua said unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of Elohim is He Which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world,” Jn. 6:32-33.

The Torah reveals that there was going to be a change. The Torah reveals that the covenant had already been broken in the wilderness and the power of the priesthood and the law would have to be changed. The priesthood was transferred from Levi to Melchizedek and the power of the law was transferred to heaven!

Continuing in Heb. 7, “And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another  Priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the possessor of an endless life. For He testifieth, ‘Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.’ For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope; by the which we draw nigh unto Yahweh. And inasmuch as not without an oath He was made Priest; (For those priests were made without an oath; but This with an oath by Him That said unto Him, ‘Yahweh sware and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:’) by so much was Yahshua made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto Yahweh by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, Who is consecrated for evermore,” Heb. 7:15-28.

Notice the difference! Yahshua took on the flesh, but never yielded to its weakness. He was faithful in all things. He was raised from death to everlasting life! The infirmities of the flesh cannot ever overpower this faithful and enduring High Priest! The law (Torah) made nothing perfect. It was given to bring in a better hope!

THE OATH

Yahshua is made High Priest by an oath. The Hebrew word for “oath” is “shabuwa”. It is #7621 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and is defined as, feminine passive participle of 7650; properly, something sworn, i.e. an oath. The Hebrew word for sware, swear, sworn, etc. is #7650, shaba, which is defined as, a primitive root; properly to be complete, but used only as a denominative from 7651; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times).

Psa. 110:4 speaks of the oath made to Yahshua, “Yahweh hath sworn (#7650) and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

The interesting thing about this situation is that the Hebrew word for seven is also a derivative of #7650. The seventh day of the week is the Sabbath day. While Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance doesn’t tie the word Sabbath in with #7650, Isaac E. Mozeson does in his publication The Word which is a dictionary that reveals the Hebrew sources of English.

A Sabbath, in reality, is not only the seventh day of the week, but it is a weekly cycle of seven days that begins with day one and ends with day seven. The word “Sabbath” not only means to seven oneself, but it also has to do with rest, repose, etc.

Thus, the Heavenly Father has “sworn” (sevened Himself) that Yahshua would not only be the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, but that rest (repose, Sabbath) and peace would come through Him. That is why the seventh day Sabbath is still such an important day to the true New Testament believer. It is a memorial to the Creator Yahweh who created and finished His work in 6 days, resting on the seventh day, declaring it to be hallowed, holy. Yahweh, in that instance, swore to bring in rest and peace.

Since a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day (2 Pet. 3:8), we understand that Yahweh has allotted six one thousand year days for man to do his work, but the seventh millennial day belongs to Him and His Son Yahshua. The kingdom of heaven will be ushered in at the beginning of the 7th millennial day and it will continue for one thousand years. (Of course, we realize that Yahweh’s kingdom will continue for all eternity, but after the one thousand year millennial rule, some changes will occur.) Yahshua is the Priest-King who will officiate over this blessed millennium of peace and rest. Thus, we continue to observe the seventh day Sabbath not only as a memorial to the Creator Yahweh (things past), but as a sign and symbol that we are His people and He is our Elohim (things present), and as a remembrance to the coming kingdom (things future).

Peter also admonishes us, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light,” 1 Pet. 2:9.

Look at the power of this High Priest. He has the power of eternal life. He is totally faithful. He will never corrupt. He won’t be swayed by the people’s will. He will only seek Yahweh’s will. He has an unchangeable Priesthood! Has something changed here? Is the New Covenant different and better than the old Covenant? Absolutely!!!

SACRIFICES (OLD COVENANT)

Not only did the Old Covenant have its Passover sacrifice and observance, but there were sacrifices offered daily along with special sacrifices for the Sabbath and more special sacrifices offered on the annual holy days. Yahweh commanded Moses, “Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even...This shall be a continual burnt (holocaust) offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before Yahweh: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory,” Ex. 29:38-39, 42-43.

The book of Leviticus addresses the principle types of offerings. There was the burnt (holocaust) offering (chapter 1), the meat or flour offering (chapter 2), the peace offering (chapter 3), the sin offering (chapter 4, 5 & 6), and the trespass offering (chapter 7). The burnt or holocaust offering was completely burnt on the altar while the other offerings only had a portion which served as a burnt or holocaust. Of course, the animal sacrifices resulted in the blood being partially placed on the various instruments in the tabernacle with the rest of the blood being poured out at the altar. The Hebrew term for “burnt sacrifice” or “holocaust” is “olah” which is defined as, a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke).

As the smoke ascended into heaven, a link between heaven and earth was established. In other words, these sacrifices also worked to serve as a mediator between Yahweh and His People. These offerings were offered up in order to bring in satisfaction to Yahweh, to establish peace, to atone for sins, etc. They were offered on a daily, weekly and annual basis for these purposes.

We read in the book of Hebrews, “Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, ‘This is the blood of the testament which Yahweh hath enjoined unto you.’ Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission,” Heb. 9:19-22.

SACRIFICES (NEW COVENANT)

“It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For the Messiah is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of Yahweh for us: nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood of others; for then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so the Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin, unto salvation,” Heb. 9:23-28.

All of the things in the Old Testament (covenant) were only patterns and figures. They were made (the tabernacle and its appurtenances) and offered (the sacrifices) by the hand of man.

Let’s continue reading in Hebrews, “For the law (Torah) having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered, because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins...And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of Yahweh,” Heb. 10:1-4, 11-12.

The Old Testament had daily, weekly and annual blood sacrifices. The New Testament has only one true acceptable blood sacrifice. But there are other sacrifices in the New Covenant as Peter writes, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to Yahweh by Yahshua the Messiah,” 1 Pet. 2:5.

What are these sacrifices? “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light,” 1 Pt. 2:9. “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to Yahweh continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices Yahweh is well pleased,” Heb. 13:15-16.

The Apostle Paul adds, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Yahweh, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Yahweh, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of Yahweh,” Ro. 12:1-2.

These are the sacrifices of the New Covenant. Are they different from those of the Old Covenant? Yes. Has something changed? Absolutely.

TEMPLE (OLD COVENANT)

Eventually the tabernacle that was made in the wilderness, like anything manmade, came into disuse.  King Solomon was allowed to build a much more permanent structure, In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of Yahweh laid, in the month Zif: and in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it,” 1 Ki. 6:37-38.

“And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of Yahweh, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, That Yahweh appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. And Yahweh said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other elohim, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath Yahweh done thus unto this land, and to this house? And they shall answer, Because they forsook Yahweh their Elohim, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other Elohim, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath Yahweh brought upon them all this evil,” 1 Ki. 9:1-9.

Look at the warning! Yahweh warned that if Solomon and/or his children turned from Yahweh to other elohim, then He would remove Israel and the temple out of His sight and such was the case! In Solomon’s later years, his foreign wives turned his heart away from Yahweh to serve their elohim. The seeds of destruction were sown by Solomon himself! Biblical and civil history reveal that Yahweh’s prophecy came to pass and by the 6th century BCE both Israel and Judah had been removed from the land and the temple destroyed.

A remnant returned in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra who rebuilt the temple and re-established the Jewish state, but not the kingdom. The power of the kingdom had been given to the Gentiles. Eventually, this remnant also corrupted and their temple was destroyed along with the people being removed from the land and scattered among the nations.

The first destruction and removal occurred because the people had failed to obey and keep the first (old) covenant. After a period of time, the second temple was built and sometime afterward, the true King and Mediator Yahshua and His apostles came on the scene proclaiming the New Covenant. The overall preponderance of the people rejected this message and covenant, the temple was destroyed and the people either slain or sold into slavery into other lands. Thus, ended any opportunity for the children of Israel to re-establish and live under the terms and conditions of the First or Old Covenant.

THE TEMPLE (NEW COVENANT)

Yahshua brought in the Second or New and better Covenant. The temple under the First Covenant was made by the hands of man out of stones that are basically “dead”. Yahweh had proclaimed, “The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? and where is the place of My rest? For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith Yahweh: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word,” Isa. 66:1-2.

Yes, it was admirable for man to desire to build a dwelling place for the great Creator Elohim Yahweh. But in the end, the works of the hands of man simply are not acceptable. Yahweh did allow a tabernacle and then a temple to be made by the hands of man and did dwell in them for a time, but these were only sketchy shadows of that which Yahweh has built or is building for Himself. What Yahweh does, what Yahweh makes is far, far better than anything puny little man can do.

What we men must come to realize is that Yahweh lives, Yahweh is life and He doesn’t live in dead things, He lives in living things. He makes His abode in life, not death, and the things that man has to work with, while acceptable to man, are simply not acceptable to Yahweh, because man has to cut off life in order to live. Man has to cut down a tree, in other words, destroy the life of the tree in order to build. Man has to quarry stones out of the earth in order to build. Man has to kill an animal in order to eat. In order to preserve his food, that food has to die (as in grains, the canning processes, etc.) and then man can partake of it.

Yahweh has allowed this to continue for a time, but He is now in the process of building a much greater temple and life source that will be much more powerful than anything that has ever existed in creation.

Peter proclaimed, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Sovereign (Yahshua) is gracious. To Whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of Yahweh and precious, ye also as lively (living) stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable Yahweh by Yahshua the Messiah,” 1 Pet. 2:2-5.

Do you get that? Yahweh is no longer to live in a house that is made by the hands of man, but rather, He is presently living in those of us whom He has chosen to be His People, His priesthood, His living stones. We are made by His hands. We are not made by the hands of man. Even so, at the present time we are like the temporary tabernacle in the wilderness. We are still subject to death because of our mortal fleshly bodies. Yahweh is presently content to live in us through Yahshua the Messiah and the power of the Holy Spirit that is given through Him, but the time is coming when we will be resurrected or changed and given a body that is immortal, eternal, ever living. That will be the much more permanent dwelling place which is likened to the temple built at Jerusalem. That is what the true believer is called to become, an eternal habitation for Yahweh, the One Who lives forever. This is the temple of the New Covenant that is so much greater than that which the hands of man can build so that the temples built by the hands of man can only be a very poor representation, only a shadowy sketch, of that which is true!

Have things changed, and very powerfully so, under the New Covenant? Again, ABSOLUTELY! HALLELUYAH!!!!

JERUSALEM (OLD COVENANT)

The city of Jerusalem eventually became the headquarters for the administration of the first (old) covenant. It also became the capital city of the original kings over Israel and eventually the kings of the nation, or kingdom of Judah. (Since Israel broke away from the Jewish kingdom.)

Yahweh inspired the Prophet Jeremiah to proclaim, “Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus saith Yahweh; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto Yahweh, and the firstfruits of His increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith Yahweh,” Jer. 2:2-3.

When the queen of Sheba came to see Jerusalem and meet King Solomon and learn of his wisdom, it was such a tremendous experience that the Scriptures says there was no more spirit in her (I Ki. 10:5). In other words, she was left breathless.

The Problem is that it didn’t last. Solomon turned away from Yahweh in his old age, the kingdom was divided after his death, and eventually came to destruction. Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon and again by Titus of the Roman Empire.

Those Jerusalems were built by the hands of man. Modern day Jerusalem is also built by the hands of man. The book of Revelation declares modern day Jerusalem to be Sodom and Egypt (Rev. 11:8).

JERUSALEM (NEW COVENANT)

The Jerusalem that the New Covenant believer looks for is not the Jerusalem built by the hands of man. The New Covenant believer is to be walking in the faith of Abraham as is witnessed in the book of Hebrews, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is Yahweh,” Heb. 11:8-10.

This Jerusalem is shown to be a city that descends out of heaven from Yahweh, “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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from Yahweh out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for here husband,” Rev. 21:1-2.

This is the Jerusalem that will endure forever. Will things change? Absolutely!!!

CIRCUMCISION (OLD COVENANT)

Under the Old Covenant all the males were to be circumcised, “And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, ‘Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled,” Lev. 12:1-4.

No male was allowed to partake of the Passover unless he had been circumcised, “And Yahweh said unto Moses and Aaron, ‘This is the ordinance of the passover: there shall no stranger eat thereof: but every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof,” Ex. 12:43-45.

Circumcision of the flesh goes back to the covenant that Yahweh made with Abraham, “And Elohim said unto Abraham, ‘Thou shalt keep My covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee; every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt Me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he that broken My covenant,” Gen. 17:9-14.

CIRCUMCISION (NEW COVENANT)

Even though the majority of the Israelites were zealous concerning circumcision of the flesh, there is a circumcision that is so much greater than that of the flesh which is circumcision of the foreskin of the heart. Moses told the children of Israel, “And now, Israel, what doth Yahweh thy Elohim require of thee, but to fear Yahweh thy Elohim with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of Yahweh and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is Yahweh’s thy Elohim, the earth also, with all that therein is. Only Yahweh had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and He chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked,” Dt. 10:12-16.

Again, Moses told the children of Israel, “These are the words of the covenant, which Yahweh commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which He made with them in Horeb, And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, ‘Ye have seen all that Yahweh did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto his servants, and unto all his land; the great temptations which thine eyes have see, the signs, and those great miracles: yet Yahweh hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day,” Dt. 29:1-4.

The Prophet Jeremiah was inspired to plead, “If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith Yahweh, return unto Me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of My sight, then shalt thou not remove. And thou shalt swear, Yahweh liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and In Him shall they glory. For thus saith Yahweh to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings,” Jer. 4:1-4.

Here was a people who were circumcised in the flesh, but not in the heart even as those of Yahshua’s and the apostle’s day. Yahweh’s anger did burn in its fury against the people of Judah in Jeremiah’s day, for they were overthrown and destroyed by the forces of Nebuchadnezzar. But what about the people of Yahshua’s and the Apostle’s day?

Stephen disputed with certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, Cyrenians, Alexandrians and those of Cilicia and of Asia (Acts 6:9). These people became frustrated because they weren’t able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke (v. 10). So they stirred up the people and brought him to their council, setting up false witnesses to accuse him (vv. 12-13). After Stephen gave the council a brief history from Abraham to the building of the temple by Solomon, he declared, “Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: what house will ye build Me?’ saith Yahweh: ‘or what is the place of My rest? Hath not My have made all these things?’ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before the coming of the Just One; of Whom ye have been now the betrayers and murders: Who have receive the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it,” Acts. 7:48-53.

Stephen was speaking to men of Judah. Men who were scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, etc. These were all very, very careful to circumcise the flesh, but they weren’t circumcised in heart. One of the Pharisees attending this council and subsequent stoning of Stephen was a Pharisee name Saul of Tarsus (v. 58). Later, after his conversion he wrote, “For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Yahweh,” Ro. 2: 25-29.

The Apostles Paul and Barnabas were doing a tremendous work of witness and conversion among the uncircumcised, but ...“certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, ‘Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved,” Acts 15:1. This caused a great dissention and disputation so Paul and Barnabas took the matter to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem (v. 2). When they arrived in Jerusalem, “...there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses,” (v. 5).

After much disputing (which still occurs today) the Apostle Peter rose up and said, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago Yahweh made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the evangel, and believe. And Yahweh, Which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as He did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye Yahweh, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah we shall be saved, even as they,” Acts 15:7-11.

Stephen witnessed that the Jewish people of their day were uncircumcised in heart (even though they were circumcised in the flesh) and resisted the Holy Spirit. Peter witnesses that neither they nor their fathers were able to bear the yoke of the law. Paul witnesses that circumcision is truly profitable if one keeps the law, but if in your circumcision, you break the law, your circumcision is counted for uncircumcision.

The Apostle Paul encourages, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith the Messiah hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, the Messiah shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. The Messiah is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of  you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Yahshua the Messiah neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love,” Gal. 5:1-6.

Do you understand what Paul is saying here? Evidently some do not because they have turned back to circumcision of the flesh and are demanding that others do the same and hold the uncircumcised in flesh with contempt. If you demand circumcision and if you are convinced to be circumcised because of the law of Moses then you have taken yourself out from under the Messiah’s grace and have taken the promise that the children of Israel put themselves under, “All that Yahweh hath said will we do, and be obedient.”

Yahweh promised Israel, “And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither Yahweh thy Elohim hath driven thee, and shalt return unto Yahweh thy Elohim, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; that then Yahweh thy Elohim will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither Yahweh thy Elohim hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will Yahweh thy Elohim gather thee, and from thence will He fetch thee: and Yahweh thy Elohim will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and He will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And Yahweh thy Elohim will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love Yahweh thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live,” Dt. 30:1-6.

The problem is that Israel has never turned back to Yahweh with all their heart and mind. The only way that this can be done now is through Yahshua the Messiah. Yahweh prophesied that He would hide His face from the children of Israel to see what their latter end would be (Dt. 32:20-21). He prophesied that His anger would burn against them and that they would be destroyed with bitter destruction (vv. 22-25). This will continue until their power is gone and there is none shut up, or left (Dt. 32:36-38). Once this takes place then Yahweh promises to restore Israel to life and power because He declares that He kills and makes alive, He wounds and heals (v. 39).

Scripture reveals that Yahweh will soon turn His hand to recover His people from all parts of the earth where He has scattered them even to the point of opening their graves (see Dt. 32:39 again, and Ez. 37). This will be the far greater deliverance under the New Covenant, for the covenant of old failed.

SPIRIT VS. FLESH AND BLOOD

The first covenant was based upon the power of flesh and blood to perform and keep the covenant. But the Prophet Hosea proclaims, “But they like Adam have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against Me,” Hos. 6:7. (NOTE: The KJV reads, “But they like men...” However, a close examination of the Hebrew text reveals that the name Adam is utilized and has been erroneously translated into the generic word “men.” It was Adam, the first man created, who originally transgressed the covenant that Yahweh made with him in the garden of Eden. Thus, our forefather Adam, set the stage for the weakness of the flesh.)

The Apostle Paul was inspired to write, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in the Messiah Yahshua, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in the Messiah Yahshua hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, Yahweh sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally (fleshly) minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal (fleshly) mind is enmity against Yahweh: for it is not subject to the law of Yahweh, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please Yahweh. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Yahweh dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of the Messiah, he is none of His. And if the Messiah be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him That raised up Yahshua from the dead dwell in you, He That raised up the Messiah from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit That dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of Yahweh, they are the sons of Elohim. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father,” Ro. 8:1-15.

Again, Paul writes, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Elohim: neither doth corruption inherit incorruption,” 1 Cor. 15:50.

Therefore, do we delight in the Passover that we can kill with our own hands (the flesh) or the Passover that has been provided by the power of Yahweh and His Spirit? Do we take delight in the Egyptian Passover or do we delight in the Passover that is yet future and far, far, far greater than that of Egypt? Do we delight in other sacrifices that we can kill with our own hands daily, weekly, monthly, annually or do we delight in the one sacrifice that Yahweh has provided for us through His own Son by His Spirit? Do we delight in the mediator of the Old Covenant who failed as well as that covenant which also failed, or do we delight in the Mediator of the New Covenant Who has never and will never fail? Do we delight in Mt. Sinai which engenders to bondage or in Mt. Zion which is freedom and liberty? Do we want to restore that old tabernacle made by the hands of man, or do we trust and live in the heavenly tabernacle made by the hands of Yahweh? Do we look to the Aaronic Levitical priesthood or do we look to the Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek? Do we want to rebuild another temple made by the hands of man, or do we want to be a living stone in the temple made by the hands of Yahweh? Do we look to, trust in, and pray to the Jerusalem that now is, or do we look to, trust in, and pray toward that Jerusalem which will descend out of heaven from Yahweh? Do we trust in the circumcision made by the hands of man, or do we seek for and trust in the circumcision not made with hands, the circumcision of that heavenly sharp stone which cuts away the foreskin of the heart?

Let’s understand. Do we cover ourselves with articles of clothing, shawls, headcoverings, etc. that become filthy, threadbare and eventually have to be replaced. Or do we cover ourselves with the Messiah Who is our everything and endures forever? Do we wear things on the corners of our garments that are manmade, made by the hands of man, which become soiled, worn, tattered and have to be replaced? Those temporary manmade, hand made things were for the administration of the Old Covenant, but they certainly can no longer represent the New Covenant which endures forever.

RENEWED OR NEW?

Having compared the differences between the Old and New Covenants how can anyone declare that the covenant is just renewed? Yahweh renewed His covenant with Israel time, after time, after time. He renewed the covenant when Moses went up into the mount the second time with the second tables. But remember, Israel still didn’t walk in faith. The generation that was delivered from Egypt had to die in the wilderness because they were afraid to enter the land because of the giants and the power of the people that resided there. That generation had to die in the wilderness, not receiving the promise of the land.

While Israel faithfully served Yahweh under Yahshua ben Nun, after his death, the people suffered a series of falling away, getting into trouble, repenting and calling out to Yahweh for deliverance, etc. Yahweh would provide a judge who would deliver them and they would renew the covenant, but the renewal never lasted under the judges.

The age of the judges passed and the age of the kings came into being. The same pattern of falling away, repentance and renewal continued under the age of the kings until Yahweh would no longer allow the covenant to continue. He cast the people out of the land in utter disgust.

The covenant was renewed under Ezra and Nehemiah, but again, the people fell away and when Yahshua appeared on the scene, they had made the commandments and thus, the covenant, of no effect by their traditions (Mt. 15:1-6).

The bringing in of a new and better covenant, not a renewed covenant was then justified.

We have studied the Scriptures from the Torah, to the prophets, to the Psalms, to the New Testament and all proclaim Yahweh’s faithfulness and man’s unfaithfulness. The sooner we can admit this, the sooner we can get on with proclaiming a New Covenant.

When we compare the two covenants, we should rejoice that the one made long ago has been replaced by one that shall never fail. We should not desire to return to the administration of that covenant, nor return to the things made by the hands of man. We should rather delight in those eternal, enduring things made and administered by the hands and Spirit of Yahweh. Let us rejoice in the glorious liberty and freedom of the New Covenant. HALLELUYAH!!!!!

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