I know that many who read this treatise are going to lift up their voice to high heaven and once again proclaim that Jerry Healan is a false minister. It won’t be the first time, nor will it be the last. But then, I suppose I will be in the finest of company since many speak out so vehemently against Paul and his writings. But Paul isn’t the only one who is vilified. I have known many to completely turn away from the New Testament writings, embracing only the Old Testament as credible. But then, there are also others who have not only questioned and discarded the New Testament writings, but have also questioned and turned away from the Old Testament. It would be facetious to think that I can reason with any of these people to change their minds in any way. YAHWEH is the only One Who can do that. But I must do what I can to speak out against error. I must do what I can to present YAHshua the Messiah and His wondrous covenant that He has made available to His people.

Problems and differences are coming up in the assemblies, the body of the Messiah, which are breaking the body apart when it comes to the understanding concerning the principles that we are to live by in these days before YAHshua appears to usher in His wondrous and glorious kingdom. These understandings range from marital relations, divorce and remarriage, in effect, how we are to live and what we are to do under the New Covenant in this present day and age. This is leading to confusion and misapplication of the Scriptures in the lives of many.

Some have said that if there is a conflict between what is written in the Torah and the New Testament writings then the Torah rules supreme. The differences are imputed to have crept in through "Hellenistic" thinkers and writers who would not live by the law and wanted it to be destroyed.

I know men who are going about proclaiming that we must live by the law, the Torah. They proclaim themselves to be ordained elders and rabbis and seek to force everyone to live by the strictest application of the Torah. Many of these men have been divorced and remarried. Being an ordained minister, elder, or rabbi in the body of the Messiah actually puts one into the priesthood under our Heavenly High Priest YAHshua the Messiah. There were principles that the Levitical priesthood had to live by under the Old Covenant. They either had to take a virgin from the daughters of Israel or they could marry the widow of another priest. I wonder why many of these men don’t force this rule of the Torah upon themselves since they are quick to force the rules of the Torah on others.

I remember sitting in one Bible study (actually a Bible discussion) wherein one man brought up the idea that since we were to live by the application of the Torah, why didn’t we have silver trumpets made in accordance with the command found in Numbers 10:1-2? These trumpets were blown in various manners so that the children of Israel would know when only the leaders were to assemble with Moses and Aaron at the tabernacle, or when all of the tribes were to assemble. Blown in another manner the Israelites knew when to strike camp and continue on their journey. Blown in an alarm meant to arm and prepare for war. If we are to apply the strictest measures of the Torah, then this was a very good question, just as it’s a good question concerning whether a minister, elder or rabbi was married to a virgin of the daughters of Israel or the widow of a priest. If many of these men (ministers, elders and rabbis) have not applied these principles in their lives, then they should abdicate their positions and allow someone to take their office who actually has fulfilled it. (Fat chance of that!) It would probably be a great aid in straightening out much of the confusion in the assemblies and synagogues, however.

The question is, Do the strictest commands and measures of the Torah apply? Does the Torah rule over the New Covenant (Testament) when there seems to be a contradiction. Is there a difference between the two covenants? Let’s do our comparison between them to see which rules over the other and hopefully to find out what applies and where.

We know that the children of Israel had gone down into Egypt upon the bidding of the patriarch Joseph who was sent there not only for the preservation of the family of Israel but for the preservation of Egypt itself. Isn’t it amazing that Joseph was hated and scorned by his own brethren, sold into slavery by them, sent to Egypt, imprisoned there by the Egyptians, and at the right time was delivered from prison so that he could not only save those who had incarcerated him, but save the families of the very brethren who had hated, rejected and sold him into slavery in the first place! It seems that the Scripture, "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner," Psa. 118:22, applies in this situation. The builders of the families of Israel and the builders of the families of Egypt refused Joseph, but when verse 23 comes into play (This is YAHWEH'S doing) things change and they change dramatically.

But the time came when a Pharaoh was raised up who didn’t know Joseph and couldn’t remember what he had done for the kingdom of Egypt (Ex. 1:8). This Pharaoh became alarmed at the growth of the families of Israel and worried that the Israelites might join forces with an invading army and take over the kingdom (v. 10). So Pharaoh dealt subtly with the children of Israel bringing them into harsh and cruel bondage (vv. 11-14).

Moses was another rejected stone who became the head stone of the corner. We know the story of Moses and what his mother did to save his life. That he was adopted by the Pharaoh’s daughter and became a mighty man in Egypt until the day that he slew an Egyptian for abusing an Israelite brother and had to flee the kingdom for 40 years. But once again, YAHWEH had a plan that included the one who was rejected. He called Moses (Ex. 3) and sent him on a mission to deliver the children of Israel out of the house of bondage to Egypt in order to bring them back into Canaan, the land of promise.

After 9 grievous plagues which all but devastated the land of Egypt, YAHWEH brought one last plague, a 10th plague which would bring about the release, the deliverance of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, "And YAHWEH said unto Moses, ‘Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence together," Ex. 11:1.

The plague spoken of was the plague of the death of all the firstborn in the land of Egypt from the throne of Pharaoh to the least of his subjects. It even included the animals (Ex. 12:12). But YAHWEH made preparation for the salvation of the firstborn of the children of Israel through the killing of a Passover lamb. They were to slaughter it in the afternoon of the 14th day of the month, brush its blood on the lintel and sides of the doors of their dwellings. Then they were to roast the flesh of the lamb and eat it during the ensuing night (Ex. 12).

The Israelites were delivered out of the house of bondage that very night. They were set free to begin their journey back to the land of Canaan which had been promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). Israel was commanded to remember that day of deliverance through a re-enactment of killing a Passover lamb every year along with an observance of seven days of unleavened bread (Ex. 12:14-20, 13:3-10; Lev. 23:4-8; Dt. 16:1-8).

The Apostle Paul writes, "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even the Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us," 1 Cor. 5:7. What? Do you mean that there has been a change? Is the Passover of the New Covenant different from that of the Old Covenant? ABSOLUTELY!

Here is what the Prophet Jeremiah wrote, "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith YAHWEH, that it shall no more be said, ‘YAHWEH liveth, That brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’ but, ‘YAHWEH liveth, That brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither He had driven them:’ and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers," Jer. 16:14-15.

Furthermore, to add emphasis to what is already spoken, YAHWEH made the statement again, "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith YAHWEH that they shall no more say, ‘YAHWEH liveth, Which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’ but, ‘YAHWEH liveth, Which brought up and Which led the seed of the House of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land," Jer. 23:7-8.

Do you notice that the focus will no longer be on the Egyptian deliverance? Why? Because He has driven the overall preponderance of the children of Israel into the north country and also scattered others into all countries around the world. Now why did He do that? Isn’t it because of their failure to obey Him?

It has been reported and I know for a fact that there are those who are now killing an animal (sheep or goat) in observance of the Passover every year. That was the requirement for the deliverance from the land of Egypt and for the purpose of bringing them under the first (old) covenant. But the reality of the deliverance under the second (new) covenant is that there will be a greater deliverance requiring a greater sacrifice and that sacrifice provided for us is YAHshua the Messiah.

When John the Baptist saw YAHshua he proclaimed, "Behold, the Lamb of Elohim, that taketh away the sin of the world! (ASV)," Jn. 1:29. A second time he witnessed, "and he looked upon YAHshua as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of Elohim!," v. 36.

Peter writes, "And if ye call on the FATHER, WHO without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of the Messiah, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in Elohim, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in YAHWEH," 1 Pet. 1:17-21.

The prophet Isaiah witnessed beforehand, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and YAHWEH hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of MY people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased YAHWEH to bruise Him; HE hath put Him to grief: when THOU shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of YAHWEH shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall MY righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors," Isa. 53:6-12.

In the book of Revelation we read, "And I saw in the right hand of HIM that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to YAHWEH by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our Elohim kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto HIM that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever," Rev. 5:1-14.

One man who slaughters an animal every year at the Passover told me that he didn’t see anywhere in Scripture that the original Passover lamb slain in Egypt had any association with sin, and he is right! While Egypt was a vessel of physical bondage, it did serve the purpose of typifying our bondage to sin, corruption and death. However, such was the weakness of the Egyptian animal! It did have power to deliver the living firstborn from the power of the death angel, but it had no power to deliver anyone from sin nor the eventual reality of death! Nor did it have the power to deliver those already dead from the grave.

However, YAHshua, our Passover Lamb has the power to not only deliver us from our sins, our transgressions, our iniquity, to also deliver us in the future from the north country and from all other countries where we have been scattered, but He also has the power to deliver us from death and the grave, "I am He That liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death," Rev. 1:18.

The animal that was slain in Egypt didn’t have the power to do these things! The Egyptian deliverance didn’t last! Israel (both Israel and Judah) sinned, corrupted and disobeyed so terribly that they had to be cast out of the land of promise! Our Passover Lamb has the power to deliver us back into the land of promise at the future date that YAHWEH has chosen, the power to cleanse us from all of our sins, transgressions, rebellions, iniquities and even open the door of death and the grave for that very purpose of restoration! Our Passover Lamb was slain and then resurrected! The Egyptian Passover lamb was slain, but is still in death. Which Passover is better? Which lamb is greater? You can’t have both. It’s one or the other. The first has passed away because it was only a type of the second greater Lamb. When the greater is come, when that which is perfect is come, you no longer need the imperfect one.

Are we beginning to see that there is a difference between the two covenants? Multiple animals were slaughtered for the Passover every year under the first covenant which served the Egyptian deliverance, but the second covenant has a Passover Lamb that was slaughtered once for all time and that Passover Lamb is still living today. As a matter of fact, our Passover Lamb is not only a Lamb, but He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah! While animals, especially sheep, and lions don’t get along very well in the physical earthly realm, in the spiritual heavenly realm, we have One Who is both Lamb and Lion! What power!!! What strength!!! What honor!!! What glory!!! No wonder the heavenly host mentioned in Rev. 5 fall down before Him and worship Him, vv. 8, 14!!! How about you?

Israel came into the wilderness of Sin in the third month of their wilderness ordeal (Ex. 19:1). Moses went up unto YAHWEH Who said, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; ‘Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto MYSELF. Now therefore, if ye will obey MY voice indeed, and keep MY covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto ME above all people: for all the earth is MINE: and ye shall be unto ME a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.’ These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.’ And Moses came and called for the elders of the People, and laid before their faces all these words which YAHWEH commanded him. And all the People answered together, and said, ‘All that YAHWEH hath spoken we will do.’ And Moses returned the words of the People unto YAHWEH," Ex. 19:3-8.

Moses gathered the people at Mount Horeb (Sinai) and YAHWEH descended declaring His commandments to the People (Ex. 20). After hearing the commandments, the People withdrew and YAHWEH gave His statutes and judgments to Moses (Ex. 21, 22, 23), "And Moses came and told the People all the words of YAHWEH, and all the judgments: and all the People answered with one voice, and said, ‘All the words which YAHWEH hath said will we do.’ And Moses wrote all the words of YAHWEH, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto YAHWEH. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the People: and they said, ‘All that YAHWEH hath said will we do, and be obedient.’ And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the People, and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant, which YAHWEH hath made with you concerning all these words," Ex. 24:3-8.

Did you notice that the People promised three times that they would do and be obedient to YAHWEH'S words and His covenant? The first time all the elders of the tribes of Israel made the promise, but the second and third times all the People made the promise. The first (Old) Covenant was based on the promises of Elohim (YAHWEH) and man (the children of Israel). But the Scriptures (the Torah, the Prophets, the Psalms and the New Testament) witness to the unfaithfulness of the children of Israel to their own word, their own promises.

The failure of the children of Israel to be faithful to their own word opened the door for a New Covenant to be made which was based upon a better promise, "Behold, the days come, saith YAHWEH, that I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel, and with the House of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which MY covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith YAHWEH: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the House of Israel; after those days, saith YAHWEH, I will put MY law in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be MY People. And they shall teach no more ever man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know YAHWEH:’ for they shall all know ME, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith YAHWEH: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more," Jer. 31:31-34.

Notice that the New Covenant is based on the faithful words and promise of YAHWEH and not on the unfaithful words and promises of man (whether Israel, Judah or Gentile). The book of Hebrews makes this point, "For if that first (covenant) had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, He saith.... (then Jer. 31:31-34 is quoted)...In that HE saith, ‘A New (covenant),’ HE hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away," Heb. 8:7-8, 13.

Hasn’t something changed here? Hasn’t something been eliminated in going from the Old (first) to the New (second)? Isn’t it different and being different, isn’t it far, far, far greater and better than the first? ABSOLUTELY!!! That which is unfaithful, that which cannot be fulfilled is eliminated, which is the promises of man! Now we have a covenant that cannot and will not fail because it is based on the faithful Word of YAHWEH!!! HalleluYah!!!

PART II

The Old Covenant had a mediator to whom so many, many of the children of Israel still look today. That mediator was Moses. When YAHWEH descended upon the mount to declare His commandments the People couldn’t bear YAHWEH'S presence as it is written, "And all the People saw the thunderings and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the People saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said to Moses, ‘Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not Elohim speak with us, lest we die.’ And Moses said unto the People, ‘Fear not: for Elohim is come to prove you, and that HIS fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.’ And the People stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where Elohim was," Ex. 20:18-21. However, the sight was so fearful that Moses, himself, said, "I exceedingly fear and quake...," Heb. 12:21.

Paul writes, "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator," Gal. 3:19. Actually, this verse should say, "It (the law) was added for the sake of defining sin." Such is the purpose for law.

The law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. The mediator is Moses. The angels are simply messengers. In this case it applies to the men who represented the law, e.g., the priesthood, kings and prophets, especially the priesthood (which we will touch on later).

Now the Scriptures do say that Moses was faithful in all his house (Heb. 3:2), but Moses did fail in one seemingly simple thing that YAHWEH told him to do. Just before Israel entered into the promised land YAHWEH brought them once again into the desert of Zin. There was no water there and the people began their usual complaining. Earlier in their wilderness trek Moses had been commanded to smite a rock with his rod in order to bring forth water to the people (Ex. 17). This time he was commanded to only speak to the rock and the water would come forth (Num. 20:2-8). But Moses became impatient with the people and struck the rock twice with his rod (Num. 20:10-11). YAHWEH told Moses, "Because ye believed ME not, to sanctify ME in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them," v. 12.

Moses is credited with having written the overall preponderance of the first five books of Scripture (the Torah). Moses was the mediator of those Scriptures, including their covenant, and he was the personification of them. But Moses failed to be able to bring the children of Israel into the promised land. He did bring them up close to the boundary, but he didn’t have the power to deliver them into it. That power was transferred to another man, Yahshua, the son of Nun.

YAHshua Ben (son of) Nun was a type and forerunner of the Savior YAHshua the Messiah. They both had the same name YAHshua which means "the salvation of YAHWEH" or even "YAHWEH the Savior." "Nun" means "perpetuity." "Perpetuity" means eternal, forever! It also means to "resprout" or "propagate by shoots."

Read the 32nd chapter of Deuteronomy. Even before the children of Israel were delivered into the land, YAHWEH prophesied that they would eventually turn to the worship of other elohim, seeking their own way and not His. He declared that He would hide His face from them and would move to destroy them (v. 23-26) and that their day of calamity would come (v. 35-38). But He also promises to restore them in His own given time (v. 43).

His promise was that He would make a New Covenant with the houses of Israel and Judah and would restore them at the end of days. The New Covenant would be administered in the hand of a new Mediator and that Mediator is YAHshua the Messiah, "For there is one Elohim, and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Anointed Man YAHshua," 1 Tim. 2:5. "But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises," Heb. 8:6. "And for this cause He is the Mediator of the New Testament (covenant), that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament (covenant), they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance," Heb. 9:15.

Take a look at this better covenant again! The New Covenant provides for the redemption of transgressions committed under the Old Covenant. It is a much better covenant because it is not only based upon better promises (YAHWEH'S Word alone), but it is eternal. The First Covenant was based upon the Word of YAHWEH, but it was also based upon the word of man which made it conditional. The First Covenant was mediated by Moses who was unfaithful in only one point, but that one point was a contributing factor to its decline. The New Covenant is based upon the faithful and beloved Son of Elohim, YAHshua the Messiah. He lives forevermore and His covenant continues forevermore!

This New Covenant is exactly what it says it is, NEW! It is not a RENEWED covenant as some like to proclaim, because a renewal would cause us to be put right back under the terms and conditions of that first covenant. That covenant was mediated by Moses, but this covenant is mediated by YAHshua. That covenant had the seeds of destruction contained therein, the New Covenant does not!

The children of Israel were brought to Mt. Horeb in the Sinai wilderness in order to make their covenant with YAHWEH, "In the third month, when the Children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount," Ex. 19:1-2.

"Horeb" is #2722 in the Hebrew Lexicon of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and is defined as; from 2717; desolate. #2717 is the root word from whence Horeb is derived and it is defined as; to parch (through drought) i.e. (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill.

The Apostle Paul writes, "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar," Gal. 4:21-24.

What is this bondage? It is bondage to their own word, their own promises. They promised three times that they would obey and do all of YAHWEH'S word. They trusted in their own ability to fulfill the law and they failed miserably. They went about to establish their own righteousness. Paul writes, "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; as it is written, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to YAHWEH for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of Elohim, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of YAHWEH'S righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of YAHWEH. For the Messiah is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth," Ro. 9:30-33; 10:1-4.

Don’t we still see a people today who declare themselves to be the covenant people, yet they have stumbled at the stumblingstone and are in denial of the Messiah YAHshua? I am speaking specifically of those who embrace Judaism, especially the Orthodox. But there are also many in the assemblies named after YAHWEH who become blinded to YAHshua and turn to establish their own righteousness. Isaiah warns, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away," 64:6.

If you and I had been with Israel in the wilderness, we would have made that same covenant with YAHWEH for it was the only covenant available at the time. But those things were only types and examples of the New and better covenant and promise that was yet to come. But the promise of the New and better Covenant has now come and is offered to us through the faithful Mediator YAHshua the Messiah.

The book of Hebrews says, "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, and if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, ‘I exceedingly fear and quake:’) But ye are come unto mount Zion...," Heb. 12:18-22.

Peter writes, "Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Corner Stone, Elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.’ Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone Which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the Corner, and a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed," 1 Pet. 2:6-7.

Scripture reveals that Israel and Judah were disobedient and had to be destroyed and cast out of the land of promise. Many of their descendants in today’s world seek to uphold and obey the Torah, but if they are in denial of the Stone YAHWEH has laid in Zion, their attempt at obedience is futile. Peter cried out to those of his day, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of YAHshua the Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as YAHWEH our Elohim shall call," Acts 2:38-39. Peter’s words are written also for all in our world today.

Under the covenant made at Mt. Sinai (Horeb), the people were only allowed to approach the gate of the courtyard of the tabernacle and the later temple with their sacrifices which were to be offered on the altar. Only the Levites were allowed to enter the sanctuary and only one man was allowed to enter into the holiest place of all and that only once a year on the day of Atonement. Under the New Covenant, which is Zion, we are encouraged to boldly come before the throne of grace, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need," Heb. 4:16.

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of YAHshua, by a new and living way which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; And having a High Priest over the House of YAHWEH; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for HE is faithful That promised)," Heb. 10:19-23.

Which mount is better, Mt. Sinai or Mt. Zion? The people feared to approach Mt. Sinai. Even Moses quaked and feared exceedingly. Mt. Sinai engendered bondage. Mt. Zion engenders faith, confidence, boldness, mercy, freedom, etc., etc. Mt. Sinai allowed only one man to enter into the very presence of YAHWEH, but Mt. Zion allows us all to boldly approach His throne of grace through YAHshua the Messiah.

Is there not a change here? Hasn’t there been a change from Mt. Sinai to Mt. Zion?

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.

"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!!!

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. 2:1-9.

"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. transferal (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.

PART III

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!

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. 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 marvellous 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 has an unchangeable Priesthood! Has something changed here? Is the New Covenant different and better than the old Covenant? Absolutely!!!

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.

"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.

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 marvellous 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.

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 after a period of time, 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.

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!!!!

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. 3:2-3.

When the queen of Sheba came to see Jerusalem and meet King Solomon and learn of his wisdom, it 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).

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!!!

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 MYcovenant 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.

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 hand 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 then," 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.

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," Hose. 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 the 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 them 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 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.

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.