The “New Covenant”—Soon to be Implemented!
Precisely Who Is It For?
Chapter 25 Preview: What is the “New Covenant”? Is the New Covenant already in effect? What are the terms of the Covenant (or contract). Who did God intend to make this Covenant with? The knee jerk response to this question is usually—it’s for the Church (off site). But can you prove it? Is it possible that God promised this Covenant to another group of people to begin at a later date? There is a great deal of misinformation concerning what this Covenant really is that has been taught in the churches for centuries. The implementation of the prophesied New Covenant is the very center of Bible prophecy! Read on and consider the earth shattering truth about the “emancipation proclamation” of the “age to come”.
There is only one chapter in the Hebrew Scriptures (the so called “Old Testament” or “Old Covenant”) that specifically mentions the “New Covenant”, using that exact wording. However, this single chapter, viewed as a curiosity or spiritualized away by all of mainstream Christianity is the foundational prophecy from which all of the Messianic Scriptures, concerning the New Covenant, are based! (It’s ironic that the Messianic scriptures are referred to as “the New Testament” or “the New Covenant”, by those who have no clue what the Covenants are!) As unfathomable as it may seem, the foundational prophecy—Jeremiah 31—defining the very heart of the New Covenant has been replaced by a modern day counterfeit! As of this writing (2004) I do not know of anyone who believes that Jeremiah 31 is an entirely unfulfilled prophecy. People like to quote parts of the New Covenant prophecy without any of the context and say that it is sort of fulfilled. YET HAS ANY PART OF THIS PROPHECY REALLY BEEN FULFILLED? Jesus (Yeshua, off site) said that He looked forward to that time when He would celebrate the New Covenant with His disciples over a glass of new wine (Matthew 26:28-29).
Mark 14:24-25 He said to them, “This is my blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew in the Kingdom of God.” WEB
Paul expected that Yeshua would return in his lifetime and establish the New Covenant because he thought that the “first” one was “near to vanishing away”. Why shouldntwe also look forward to ALL of Jeremiah 31 being fulfilled—every jot and tittle of it?
Many people paraphrase the following verse and attempt to apply it to Christianity:
Jeremiah 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says [Yehovah]: I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people ... WEB
If you have “My law” written in your heart, then exactly when was it written there? What law is it? Did the inscription tingle? What does the law written on your heart say? Were you more knowledgable the day after you were inscribed? Did you need to ask someone, say a “neighbor” or a “brother” about this law? If you haventeven considered what the law says, then are you certain that it’s really written there?
The subject of how the New Covenant might apply to us now is a topic of considerable debate—but always with the presumption that the New Covenant is already in effect but people jump thru different hoops to get there. A significant minority of theologians (who have actually read Jeremiah 31) understand that the New Covenant was in truth meant for Israel but they still maintain that “somehow” the church has inherited the “spiritual aspects” of it. Others further assume—without a shred of evidence—that Yeshua must have been speaking about a “separate New Covenant with the Church”. Were that the case, we would then need to figure out what the separate old covenant with “the Church” was—particularly in light of the fact that there was no Assembly or “Church” of the Saints until after Yeshua died! In what way was this new and improved covenant with the Assembly better than the alleged older one? Liberal theologians, who dismiss the many nationalistic promises contained in Jeremiah 31, teach that the New Covenant is for “the Israel of God”. Most people tho have simply never questioned their inherited teaching.
In order to obtain a thorough understanding of the topic from the Scriptures—because this is a controversy—we should examine all of the evidence—every Scriptural reference to the “New Covenant” along with considerable context to see if any of the popular teachings agree with the Scriptures. In this way we can determine everything that God has revealed. I believe that you will see—if you dare to read this—that the basis for virtually all of Christiandom believing that the New Covenant is already in effect is that the Catholic Church has taught for centuries that the Kingdom of God is already here and by implication so too would be the New Covenant! When the Protestant Reformation occurred, the leaders simply could not bring themselves to explain that not only was the Catholic Church not “the Kingdom of God on earth” but that the New Covenant was not here yet either! An honest evaluation of the New Covenant scriptures will reveal that it is the covenant relationship between Israel and God IN THE COMING KINGDOM OF GOD! The Saints will have something far better!
When most people say the words “Old Covenant” they think that they are referencing all of the books from Genesis to Malachi. Actually the “first covenant” or “contract” has to do with the Sinai agreement that is based upon the Ten Commandments of Exodus Chapter 20, followed by three entire chapters of “fine print”! After Israel was informed of the specifics they agreed to the terms. This special occasion was celebrated by God Himself during a personal visit with seventy four witnesses (v.9-11)!
Exodus 24:3-11 Moses came and told the people all the words of [Yehovah’], and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words which [Yehovah] has spoken will we do.” 4 Moses wrote all the words of [Yehovah], and rose up early in the morning, and built an altar under the mountain, and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of cattle to [Yehovah]. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 He took the BOOK OF THE COVENANT and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, “All that [Yehovah] has spoken will we do, and be obedient.” 8 Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Look, this is the blood of the covenant [both covenants were signed with blood], which [Yehovah] has made with you concerning all these words.” 9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. 10 THEY SAW THE GOD OF ISRAEL. Under His feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness. 11 He didntlay His hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. THEY SAW GOD, and ate and drank. WEB
Many people have read verses 31-33 of the following quote, from Jeremiah, without even considering the detailed context. The context, comprising the entire chapter (actually the entire book) is about the time when God will restore the national sovereignty of all twelve tribes of Israel under a resurrected King David. This climatic end of the age drama concerning a Second Exodus to come is described in The Time After Jacob’s Trouble. The entirety of the first thirty verses of Jeremiah 31, leading up to the promised “New Covenant”, refers to this near future time period. The commonly quoted portion of the New Covenant is described in verses 31-34—yet the remaining verses, very specific promises—constitute an oath by God concerning the certainty that He will establish New Israel over the dead bodies of anyone who opposes Him! Note that the recipients of the New Covenant are all Israelites—not a Church. God never made a covenant with His Assembly! Check out the terms of Jeremiah’s prophecy carefully for yourself. [The “addendum” of this chapter actually proves that it should really be referred to as the Renewed Covenant, rather than a “New” one!]
Jeremiah 31:All At that time, says [Yehovah], will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. 2 Thus says [Yehovah], The people who were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. 3 [Yehovah] appeared of old to me, saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you. 4 Again will I build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel: again you shall be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who make merry. 5 Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy its fruit. 6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen on the hills of Ephraim shall cry, Arise, and let us go up to Zion to [Yehovah] our God. 7 For thus says [Yehovah], Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout for the chief of the nations: publish, praise, and say, [Yehovah], save your people, the remnant of Israel. 8 Behold, I will bring them from the North Country [Europe], and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who travails with child together: a great company shall they return here. 9 They shall come with weeping; and with petitions will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn. 10 Hear the word of [Yehovah], you nations, and declare it in the islands afar off; and say, He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as shepherd does his flock. 11 For [Yehovah] has ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he. 12 They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow to the goodness of [Yehovah], to the grain, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. 13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14 I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says [Yehovah]. 15 Thus says [Yehovah]: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. 16 Thus says [Yehovah]: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says [Yehovah]; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your latter end, says [Yehovah]; and your children shall come again to their own border. 18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed to the yoke: turn me, and I shall be turned; for you are [Yehovah] my God. 19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I struck on my thigh: I was ashamed, yes, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. 20 Is Ephraim My dear son? is he a darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says [Yehovah]. 21 Set up road signs, make guideposts; set your heart toward the highway, even the way by which you went: turn again, virgin of Israel, turn again to these your cities. 22 How long will you go here and there, you backsliding daughter? For [Yehovah] has created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall encompass a man. 23 Thus says [Yehovah] of Armies, the God of Israel, Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I shall bring again their captivity: [Yehovah] bless you, habitation of righteousness, mountain of holiness. 24 Judah and all its cities shall dwell therein together, the farmers, and those who go about with flocks. 25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and every sorrowful soul have I replenished. 26 On this I awakened, and saw; and my sleep was sweet to me. 27 Behold, the days come, says [Yehovah], that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of animal. 28 It shall happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so will I watch over them to build and to plant, says [Yehovah]. 29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. 30 But everyone shall die for his own iniquity: every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. 31 Behold, the days come, says [Yehovah], that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 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 broke, although I was a husband to them, says [Yehovah]. 33 But this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says [Yehovah]: I will put My Law [Hebrew: My Torah] in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people: 34 and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know [Yehovah]; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says [Yehovah]: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more. 35 Thus says [Yehovah], who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar; [Yehovah] of Armies is his name: 36 If these ordinances depart from before Me, says [Yehovah], then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me forever. 37 Thus says [Yehovah]: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says [Yehovah]. 38 Behold, the days come, says [Yehovah], that the city shall be built to [Yehovah] from the tower of Hananel to the gate of the corner. 39 The measuring line shall go out further straight onward to the hill Gareb, and shall turn about to Goah. 40 The whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy to [Yehovah]; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more forever. WEB
Israel will be “thrown down” one more time but afterward God will establish a New Covenant with the New Israel that will last “forever”.
Verse 31 above tells us without question who the covenant is for—“the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah”.
Verse 32 indicates that both covenants are marriage covenants. For details see Who is the Bride of Christ?
Verse 33 tells us that Israel will have the Torah written in their hearts and that they will truly be “My people”. If the knowledge of God was really written upon our hearts—internalized—then why are there literally hundreds of controversies? Until we are unified as a people, how can we believe that “I will be their God, and they shall be My people”? With so many different groups claiming to be the “one true Church” we are certainly not a singular people of God.
Once Israel has the knowledge of God literally written in their hearts it will not be long at all before “the nations will seek out” Yeshua! Then “the earth will be full of the knowledge of [Yehovah]”. This will happen just after the Second Exodus!
Isaiah 11:9-11 They will not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of [Yehovah], as the waters cover the sea. 10 It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the ‘root’ [descendant] of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and His resting place [New Jerusalem] will be glorious. 11 It will happen in that day that the Lord will set His hand again the SECOND TIME to recover the remnant that is left of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. WEB
Zechariah 8:23 Thus says [Yehovah] of Armies: “In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. WEB
Ezekiel spoke of this same Covenant but almost no one wants to keep His “statutes” and “ordinances” and nothing is said about dwelling “in the land”.
Ezekiel 36:26-28 I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances, and do them. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be My people, and I will be your God. WEB
Verse 34 is the clincher: These Israelites will have absolutely no need to be teaching each other! Today every man teaches his neighbors something different. Among professing Christians—every man has a different idea of what sin or righteousness is, but under the New Covenant: “and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know [Yehovah]; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says [Yehovah]”! The teaching will only come from God and from true representatives of God—resurrected Saints and the physical descendants of Zadok (Ezekiel 48:15-24, especially v.23).
The significance of the New Covenant promise was not lost on Paul, in fact he quoted the “mystifying” passage from Jeremiah as he was explaining how it was going to take place. He explained that the Messiah was to be the mediator: “He is also the mediator of a Better Covenant.”
Hebrews 8: All Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this. We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Servant of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle [New Jerusalem], which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for He said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He said, “Behold, the days come,” says the Lord, “that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didntcontinue in My covenant, and I disregarded them,” says the Lord. 10 “For this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days,” says the Lord; “I will put My laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be My people.11 They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.13 In that He says, “A New Covenant,” He has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away. WEB
The World English Bible is really an attention getter by using the word “collateral” below, [which means to guarantee a future transaction], rather than “surety” which we tend to just read over, but the meaning is the same!
Hebrews 7:22 By so much, [Yeshua] has become the collateral of a better covenant. WEB
Years after Yeshua’s earthly ministry, the “First Covenant” was still not “obsolete”. It was “growing old” but not yet dead. It was “near to vanishing away”, in Paul’s optimistic view, but not yet vanished.
Some people explain that when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD that that is when the old covenant became “obsolete” and vanished. At first glance that might seem satisfactory. Yet this scenario would have the First Covenant being in effect for about forty years after the death of Yeshua, authorizing the Roman Empire to be the deciding factor in the transition between the covenants—with God taking the back seat in the affair.
The Apostle Paul said that the promises associated with the First Covenant had “glory” and that none of these promised blessings will be diminished when Israel is under the New Contract, but the benefits package will no longer be limited to this physical realm, eventually ending in death. The New Covenant benefits package comes with “much more glory”—the promise of eternal life!
2 Corinthians 3:7-8 But if the service of death [No Eternal “Life Insurance”], written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away: 8 wont service of the Spirit be with much more glory? WEB
Here are the rewards that God promised to Israel for righteous living under the First Covenant. Notice that every benefit is in the physical realm of this life:
Deuteronomy 28:1-13 It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to the voice of [Yehovah] your God, to observe to do all His Commandments which I command you this day, that [Yehovah] your God will set you on high above all the nations of the earth: 2 and all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall listen to the voice of [Yehovah] your God. 3 You shall be blessed in the city, and you shall be blessed in the field. 4 You shall be blessed in the fruit of your body, the fruit of your ground, the fruit of your animals, the increase of your livestock, and the young of your flock. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough shall be blessed. 6 You shall be blessed when you come in, and you shall be blessed when you go out. 7 [Yehovah] will cause your enemies who rise up against you to [surrender defeated: Peshitta] before you. They will come out against you one way, and will flee before you seven ways. 8 [Yehovah] will command the blessing on you in your barns, and in all that you put your hand to; and He will bless you in the land which [Yehovah] your God gives you. 9 [Yehovah] will establish you for a holy people to Himself, as He has sworn to you; if you shall keep the Commandments of [Yehovah] your God, and walk in His ways. 10 All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of [Yehovah]; and they shall be afraid of you. 11 [Yehovah] will make you plenteous for good, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which [Yehovah] swore to your fathers to give you. 12 [Yehovah] will open to you His good treasure in the sky, to give the rain of your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand: and you shall lend to many nations, and you shall not borrow. 13 [Yehovah] will make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if you shall listen to the Commandments of [Yehovah] your God, which I command you this day, to observe and to do them ... WEB
Have you ever considered that Yeshua’s sacrifice redeemed those who died before He was even born? The sacrifice is not only for the generations that were born after His death but it works retroactively “for the redemption of the transgressions under the First Covenant”. Essentially, that makes the patriarchs who lived and died under the “first Covenant” followers of Yeshua!
Hebrews 9:15-20 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the New Covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the First Covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the First Covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you. NKJV
The explanation for why Paul was so ready for the Old Covenant to become obsolete is because only after the Old Covenant is done away can the new Covenant be implemented! Truly, Paul thought that it was “ready to vanish away”, but was he right on the timing or was he about 2000 years in error? This is the key question to ask. Paul thought that the Kingdom was about to be set up in his generation. The apostles were chomping at the bit from the “get go” on this issue:
Acts 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are You now restoring the kingdom to Israel? 7 He said to them, “It isntfor you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within His own authority. WEB
Yeshua did not even tell His own disciples that there were yet two millennia left in His plan! The following two quotes vividly illustrate the state of readiness that He left His followers in. (Yeshua wanted His people to stay on Red Alert!)
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that WE who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then WE WHO ARE ALIVE, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. WEB
Paul thought that “NOW” (in his time) was the End of the Age and that Judgment Day was nearly upon us!
Hebrews 9:24-28 For Christ hasntentered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own, 26 or else He must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But NOW once AT THE END of the ‘ages’ [Greek: “aion” age], He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for Him for salvation. WEB
New Covenant, New Priesthood
Yeshua is our “High Priest” in the sense of being relative to “coming good things”. The good things are in our future—we donthave them yet.
Hebrews 9:11-14 But Christ having come as a High Priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands [New Jerusalem], and not of [the original] creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh: 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? WEB
The patriarchs died without having “received the promises” that were most important. Those promises had to do with eternal life in “a homeland”—the New Israel.
Hebrews 11:13-14 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. NKJV
Here are two references, which show that our very purpose for being God’s people will not be made apparent until the “last time” (the end time). We are in the process of being “built up” to be a “holy priesthood” under Yeshua to serve when the New Covenant is implemented:
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our [Master Yeshua Messiah], who according to His great mercy became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of [Yeshua Messiah] from the dead, 4 to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesntfade away, reserved in Heaven for you, 5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed IN THE LAST TIME. WEB
The followers of God will be mistaken for idiots until the day that God returns! The root word for “evildoers” has to do with our “mode of thinking”. The root word of “visitation” has to do with “to look upon or after; to inspect; examine with the eyes; to visit; go to see one. (God actually visited ancient Sodom: Genesis 18:20-21).
1 Peter 2:4 ... 12 ... coming to Him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. 5 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through [Yeshua Messiah]. 6 Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in Him will not be disappointed .... 12 having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of [judgment]. WEB
Here are two references, which show that The New Covenant will finally be put into effect after the wickedness of this age is shaken loose and removed.
Hebrews 12:22-27 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, 23 to the general assembly and assembly of the Firstborn [Assembly of Yeshua] who are ‘enrolled’ [or registered] in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to [Yeshua], the mediator of a NEW COVENANT, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks [a better message] than that of Abel. 25 See that you dontrefuse Him who speaks. For if they didntescape when they refused Him who warned on the Earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven, 26 whose voice shook the earth then [Psalm77:18-20], but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. WEB
The timing spoken of in the context of the New Covenant is unmistakable! The New Covenant will be implemented when God shakes heaven and earth. It will accompany the “latter temple” which will soon be established in Jerusalem, before the Great Tribulation! Haggai elaborated on the time when God will shake heaven and earth:
Haggai 2:6 ... 22 For this is what [Yehovah] of Armies says: ‘Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this ‘house’ [Temple] with glory, says [Yehovah] of Armies. 8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says [Yehovah] of Armies. 9 [The glory of this LATTER TEMPLE shall be greater than the former: NKJV] says [Yehovah] of Armies; ‘and in this place will I give peace,’ says [Yehovah] of Armies .... 22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots, and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders will come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. WEB
Matthew, Mark and Luke all quoted Yeshua saying that His blood was associated with the New Covenant and that He would celebrate the establishment of the New Covenant with them when His Kingdom is finally “of this world”.
Matthew 26:28-29 ... for this is My blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine [celebrate] from now on, until that day when I drink it [recently made] with you in My Father’s Kingdom. WEB
Mark 14:24-26 He said to them, “This is My blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Most certainly I tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink [a new variety, Strong’s 2537] in the Kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. WEB
The New Covenant is all about bestowing on us a Kingdom! The Messiah’s Supper foreshadows the apostles eating and drinking “at My table in the Kingdom”.
Luke 22:20 ... 30 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is shed for you .... 28 ‘But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 ‘AND I WILL BESTOW UPON YOU A KINGDOM, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. NKJV
At the Messiah’s Supper He associated the New Covenant with His Return! Do you?
1 Corinthians 11:25-26 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death TIL HE COMES. In the same way He also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of Me.” 27 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death UNTIL HE COMES. WEB
Anyone who serves God [i.e. Saints or Christians] has the “hope” of serving Him in a much higher capacity when God is ruling over Israel. Matthew also spoke of literally ruling in the Kingdom:
Matthew 19:28 [Yeshua] said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed Me, in the [Renewed World] when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of His glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. WEB
We will serve under the Apostles in the Everlasting Kingdom:
Revelation 1:6-7 ... and He made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so, Amen. WEB
“Service” in the spirit realm will “be with much more glory”. The New Covenant is something that we should have “such a HOPE” for. Serving in the Kingdom of God is the destiny of all of Yeshua’s (presently human) servants:
2 Corinthians 3:4-14 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a New Covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away: 8 wont service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. 11 For if that which PASSES AWAY was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. 12 Having therefore such a HOPE, we use great boldness of speech, 13 and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldntlook steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. 14 But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the Old Covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away. WEB
In verse 11 above it says “that which passes away”. This implies that the First Covenant had not yet passed away (yet the Apostles were expecting the New Covenant/Kingdom of God to arrive very soon). The KJV goes as far as to say that it “is done away”. That is because the translators believed that the New Covenant was already in effect. It is true that the Apostles believed for years that they were the generation that would see the Kingdom of God established in their life times. They hoped to help administer the New Covenant to Israel. But they later changed their view about the timing, as is explained in Pentecost is Not Fulfilled!
Some scriptures are from the “New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.” “Bible text from the New King James Version® is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.”
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