The “New Covenant” —Soon to be Implemented! Part 1

The “New Covenant”—Soon to be Implemented!

Precisely Who Is It For?

Bridge to Tomorrow

Chapter 25, Part 1 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*). But can you prove it? Is it possible that God promised this “New 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 by Christianity for centuries. The implementation of this prophesied 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”.

INDEX

There is only one place in the Hebrew Scriptures (the so called “Old Testament”) that specifically mentions the “New Covenant”, using that exact wording. However, this single context, viewed as a curiosity or spiritualized away by virtually all of Christianity, is the foundational prophecy that all of the statements in the Testimony of Yeshua, concerning the New Covenant, are based! (It’s ironic that the Messianic Writings 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as it may seem, the foundational prophecy—Jeremiah chapters 30 & 31—defining the very core of the New Covenant has been replaced by a modern day counterfeit! As of this writing (2004) I dont know of anyone who believes that Jeremiah 30 & 31 is an entirely unfulfilled prophecy. People like to quote chapter 31, verse 33, of the New Covenant prophecy, without a shread of the context, and say that it is sort of fulfilled. YET HAS ANY PART OF THIS PROPHECY REALLY BEEN FULFILLED? Yeshua (Jesus*) said that He looked forward to the time when He would celebrate the New Covenant with His disciples over a glass of new wine (Matthew 26:28-29).

Before getting started, it is logical to ask what happened to the Old Covenant (no, it’s not a book). The first (old) marriage Covenant between Yeshua and ancient Israel was broken when He was sold, essentially by the wife of His youth, for thirty pieces of silver to Roman butchers, and killed:

Zechariah 11:10-14 I took My staff named Favor, and cut it in two, so that I could break the COVENANT that I had made with the nation. 11 IT WAS BROKEN THAT DAY; so the afflicted [Saints] of the flock who heeded Me, knew that it was the Word of Yehovah. 12 I told them, “If you think it best, pay me; and if not, keep it”. So they weighed out my price of thirty pieces of silver. 13 Yehovah told me, “Throw it to the potter, the sizable price of their appraisal for me”! I took the thirty pieces of silver, and threw them to the potter, in Yehovahs house. 14 Then I cut apart My other staff—Union, so that I could break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. —The Word of Elohim, Gabriel Version (WE)

Hebrews 8:13 When He [Yeshua] mentioned, a New Covenant, He was saying that the first one was old and about to be repealed; and what was then old and failing, was about to disappear.

The first marriage covenant actually lasted until Yeshua, the husband, died.

Romans 7:2 For example, a woman is bound to her husband, by the Torah, as long as he is alive; but if her husband dies, she is freed from the Torah, as it pertains to her husband.

Even tho the marriage was over as far as the wife was concerned, the Husband still maintained His commitment to Israel:

Jeremiah 31:32 Unlike the Covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt; since THEY broke My Covenant, tho I was their HUSBAND, announces Yehovah.

(Comments on the “Renewed Covenant” are at the bottom of this page, before beginning Part 2. An explanation on how Yeshua was both Husband and Yehovah to Israel is here.)

Now for Yeshua’s commentary on the New Covenant:

Mark 14:24-25 He told them, “This is My blood of the New Covenant that is poured out on behalf of many. 25 I will definitely not taste the fruit of the vine again, until the day when I drink a new variety in the Kingdom of Yehovah”. Gabriel Version

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 shouldnt we 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 havent even 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 thoro 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, the New Covenant must be in effect! 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 to all of the books from Genesis to Malachi. Actually the “first covenant” or “contract” has to do with the Sinai agreement that is based on 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 Yehovah Himself (in this instance the pre incarnate Yeshua) 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 didn’t lay 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.

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 Messiah’s Bride?

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 in 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 this 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 obey His “statutes” and “ordinances”, and nothing is said about the fine print of 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 Christians—every man has a different idea of what sin or righteousness is, but under the New Covenant: “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 as well as 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 The main point is that we have a High Priest who is seated on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty, in the Heavens. 2 He is the temple priest of the Sacred Place, the true tabernacle that Yehovah built, not man. 3 Every high priest is appointed to offer offerings and sacrifices; and it was necessary for this One to have something to offer as well. 4 If he were on earth, he wouldnt even be a priest; because there are priests here, who offer offerings prescribed by the Torah. 5 They perform sacred services in a pattern and shadow of the Heavenly counterparts; just as Moses was told, when he was about to build the tabernacle; “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain”. 6 But now, Yeshua the Messiah has attained a more excellent public service, since He is the Mediator of a more excellent covenant, one that was legislated with better promises than the former. 7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one. 8 Finding fault with THEM and said, “Look, the days are coming, says Yehovah, when I will bring about a New Covenant with the descendants of Israel, and with the descendants of Judah; 9 It wont be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt, because they didnt remain loyal to My covenant, and I rejected them, declared Yehovah. 10 But this is the covenant that I will enter into with the descendants of Israel after that time, says Yehovah; I will put My Torah in their minds—inscribing it on their innermost thoughts. I will be their Aloha, and they will be My people. 11 No one will teach doctrine to their fellow citizens, or a friend, or ask: “Do you know Yehovah”, because they’ll all know Me, from the youngest of them to the oldest. 12 I will be merciful regarding their wrongful behavior; and I will no longer remember their sins”. 13 When He said, a New Covenant, He has declared that the previous one was old and about to be repealed; and what is old and failing, is about to disappear. GV

The word “sponsor”, rather than “surety”, that we just tend to read over, makes the following point much better!

Hebrews 7:22 By all of this, Yeshua became the sponsor of a better covenant. GV

Years after Yeshua’s earthly ministry, the “First Covenant” was still not “obsolete”. It was “growing old”, but not yet dead. It was “about to vanish away”, in Paul’s optimistic view, but hadnt 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 was so “brilliant” 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. Yet the New Covenant benefits package is “even more brilliant”—having the promise of eternal life!

2 Corinthians 3:7-8 7 Now if the ministry of death [No Eternal “Life Insurance”] that was engraved on stones was so brilliant that the descendants of Israel could not look at Moses’ face [Ex.34:29], because of the brilliance of his face that went away; 8 then wont the ministry of the spirit be even more brilliant? GV

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 This is why He became the Mediator of the New Covenant—that by means of His death, He could become the ransom for those who had transgressed the first covenant, so that those who are called to the eternal inheritance, could receive the promise. 16 When there is a last will and Testament, the death of the one who made it will cause it to take effect. 17 A will is only in force when someone has died; because it doesnt take effect as long as the person who made it is alive. 18 That is why even the first covenant wasnt confirmed without blood. 19 After Moses had spoken every ordinance to all the people, according to the Torah; Moses took the blood of a heifer, and some water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people; 20 He said, “This is the blood that validates the covenant that Yehovah is binding on you”. GV

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 with 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 When they assembled, they asked Him, “Master, are You about to restore the Kingdom of Israel to its former state”? GV

Yeshua didnt even tell His own disciples that there were still two millennia left before He was to return! 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 15 We declare this to you on the Master’s own authority, that we who may survive and be alive, at the coming of our Master, will not precede those who have fallen asleep [into the Kingdom]. 16 Because our Master will personally come down from Heaven, with a mandate, and with a voice like the chief Messenger, and with Yehovahs trumpet; and the dead who belong to the Messiah, will rise first. 17 Then, WE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE, having survived, will be carried away together with them into the clouds, to meet our Master in the lower atmosphere; and this is how we will accompany our Master forever. GV

Paul thought that “NOW” (in his time) was the End of the Age, and that Judgment Day was nearly upon them!

Hebrews 9:24-28 The Messiah didnt enter into the Sacred Place made by human hands, that is a mere copy of the real Sacred Place, rather, He entered the Heavens themselves, to appear in the presence of Yehovah for us. 25 Nor was it necessary for Him to offer Himself often, the way the high priest enters into the Sacred Place every year with blood belonging to another. 26 Otherwise, He would have to have suffered repeatedly, since the beginning of the world. But NOW AT THE END of the age, He has offered Himself once by His sacrifice, to nullify sin. 27 People are destined to die once, then later they face Judgment Day. 28 So the Messiah also, having been offered once, was placed on the altar for the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, then without sins, for the eternal Life of those who expect Him. GV

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 dont have them yet.

Hebrews 9:11-14 But when the Messiah came, He was a High Priest with a gift that is truly a gift. He entered into a greater and more perfect tabernacle, that wasnt made by human hands [New Jerusalem],, and wasnt part of the same creation. 12 He didnt enter with the blood of goats and calves; but He entered into the Sacred Place just once with His own blood, and obtained eternal deliverance from our death penalty, for us. 13 If the blood of goats and calves, with the ashes of a heifer, was sprinkled on those who were Levitically unclean, and dedicated them as far as purifying our mortal bodies; 14 then how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who thru the eternal spirit offered Himself without blemish to Yehovah, cleanse our conscience from dead works, so that we can serve the living Aloha? GV

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 They all died in their convictions. They had not received the promised blessings; but they perceived it in the distance, were convinced of it; and admitted that they were foreigners living out of place on earth. 14 Those who say these things, make it apparent that they are seeking a city. GV

Here are two references that show that our very purpose for being God’s people will not be made apparent until the “the last days”. 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 3 Yehovah is blessed, the Father of our Master Yeshua the Messiah, who in His great mercy has engendered us again, to the expectation of real Life, by the resurrection of our Master Yeshua the Messiah, 4 to an incorruptible inheritance, undefiled, and unfading that is prepared in Heaven for you; 5 while you are under guard, by the power of Yehovah and by faith, for the eternal Life that is prepared and will be unveiled in the last days. GV

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 2:4-6,12 The One you are coming to is a living Stone, quite rejected by humanity, but with Yehovah, selected and precious. 5 You are also, like living stones in the temple, a rebuilt [1] spiritual Temple, with sacred priests who offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to Yehovah, thru Yeshua the Messiah. 6 The Scriptures say, “Look, in Zion I lay a chosen and precious Stone, for the cornerstone; and whoever believes in Him wont be ashamed” ... 12 Your behavior should be obviously commendable to everyone; so that those who slander you, can see your good behavior, and can praise Yehovah in the day of the Return [episkope, ep-is-kop-ay’] GV

Here are two references that 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 Aloha, the Jerusalem in the Heavenly regions; and to the Assembly of one hundred million spirit Messengers; 23 and to the festival assembly of the firstborn ones, whose names are recorded in Heaven, and to Yehovah the Judge of everyone; and to the spirits of the righteous, who are perfected; 24 and to Yeshua, the Mediator of the New Covenant; and to the sprinkling of His blood that reveals more advantages than that of Abel. 25 Be careful not to refuse to listen to the One who is speaking to you. Because if those who ignored the One who spoke with them on earth didnt escape, how much less will we, if we ignore the One who speaks to us from Heaven, 26 whose voice moved [or shook] the earth [Psalm77:18-20],, as if by a great wind; but now we have His promise, “Once again, I wont only move the earth, but Heaven also”. 27 By His saying, “Once more”, it indicates a major rearrangement of the things that are moved, because they were created so that the things that wont be moved can remain unchanged. GV

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” that will soon be established in Jerusalem, before the Great Tribulation! Haggai elaborated on the time when God will shake heaven and earth:

Haggai 2:6-9,22 6 This is what Yehovah, leader of His army says: ‘Once again, in a little while, I’ll be will shaking the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land; 7 and I will shake every nation. The precious things of every nation will be brought, and I will fill this ‘house’ [Temple] with splendor, says Yehovah of armies. 8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says Yehovah of armies. 9 ‘The latter splendor of this house will be greater than the former,’ says Yehovah of armies; ‘and in this place will I give peace,’ says Yehovah of armies” ... 22 I will overthrow the thrones of the kingdoms. I will destroy the power of the heathen kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots, and those who ride on them. The horses and their riders will fall down, everyone by the sword of his brother. WE

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 28 This is My blood of the New Covenant that is poured out on behalf of many to release them from the bondage of sins. 29 But I tell you that I will no longer drink any of the fruit of the vine [celebrate], until the day when I’ll drink a new kind with you in the Kingdom of Yehovah. GV

Mark 14:24-26 24 He told them, “This is My blood of the New Covenant that is poured out on behalf of many. 25 I will definitely not taste the fruit of the vine again, until the day when I drink a new variety in the Kingdom of Yehovah. 26 They sang a pascal Psalm, and went out to the Mount of Olives. GV

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 20 Similarly, concerning the cup, after supper, He said, “This cup is the New Covenant, in My blood, that is poured out on your behalf!... 28 You are the ones who have remained with Me in My trials; 29 and I PROMISE YOU THE KINGDOM, as My Father has promised it to Me, 30 so that you can eat and drink at the table in My Kingdom, and sit on thrones, and governing the twelve tribes of Israel. GV

At the Messiah’s Supper, He associated the New Covenant with His Return! Do you?

1 Corinthians 11:25-26 So, after they had eaten it, He then took the cup, and said; “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood; so do this, as often as you drink it, to remember Me by”. 26 As often as you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you commemorate the death of our Master, UNTIL He returns GV.

Click below to read Part 2.

A “Renewed Covenant”

As a side issue, I want to address the question about whether or not it is a “New” or “Renewed” Covenant. The word chadash (khaw-daWsh’) is used 53 times in the Scriptures. Aside from 4 references in Isaiah 65 & 66, about the “new heavens and the new earth”, none of these usages, including the Jeremiah 31:31 usage, can remotely be construed as “renewed”.

However, the root word of chadash (khaw-daWsh’) always means “renew” or “repair”. Here is the root word: chadash (khaw-dash’). It is a slightly different form of the word, but this root word is never associated with a covenant. Here is every usage of the renewed/repaired form:

1 Samuel 11:14 Then Samuel told the people, “Come, let’s go to Gilgal, and RENEW the kingdom there”. WE

2 Chronicles 15:8 When Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he was encouraged to remove the abominations out of the entire land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities that he had captured from the hill country of Ephraim; and he RENEWED the altar of Yehovah that was in front of Yehovahs porch. WE

2 Chronicles 24:4 Later Joash decided to RESTORE Yehovahs house. WE

2 Chronicles 24:12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the service work on Yehovahs house; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore Yehovahs house, and also skilled iron and brass workers to REPAIR Yehovahs house. WE

Job 10:17 You RENEW your witnesses against me, changing things and warring against me. WE

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean conscience, O Elohim. RENEW a firmly established spirit within me. WE

Psalms 103:5 who satisfies your desires with pleasant things, so that your youth is RENEWED like an eagle’s. WE

Psalms 104:30 You send out Your Spirit; they [animals] are created. You RENEW the face of the earth. WE

Isaiah 61:4 They will rebuild places desolate since antiquity, they will bebuild the ancestral places and places now wasted and deserted, and they will RESTORE cities parched from heat, and places deserted for many generations. WE

Lamentations 5:21 Bring us back to You, Yehovah, and we will be restored. RENEW our days as in ancient times. WE

Technically, I do believe that the New Heavens and the new earth will be renewed as in previous times, in the sense that the same old atoms will be reconfigured, but then, every new thing is constructed of old atoms!

Psalm 104:30 You send out your Spirit; they [animals] are created. You renew the face of the earth. WE

In modern Hebrew, chadash (and chadasha, the feminine form) still means new. Here are two random examples snagged from the net:

“Our sages have confirmed this when they point to the ‘shira chadasha’ or ‘new song’, written in the feminine gender, that the Jewish people sang in appreciation of G-d’s salvation at that time. This song will be replaced by a ‘shir chadash’, also ‘new song’ but in the masculine gender, which will be composed and sung by the Jewish people in the future when the final redemption will occur.” link

“(1) Go to Misrad HaP’nim IN THE TOWN WHERE YOU RESIDE to apply for Change of Status to Oleh Chadash/Olah Chadasha. They open at 8:00 AM but will start handing out numbers at 7:30 AM. For the shortest possible waiting time, arrive at 7:30 AM. (If you arrive after 9:00AM, you can often forget being served at all that day.) At the information (modi’in) desk, ask for an application form for oleh chadash (new immigrant) status, which you can fill out in the waiting room. Make sure to bring ... ” link

Some people try to reason that the “new moon” would be better termed “renewed moon”, adding credence to their use of the term “renewed”. Is that a valid argument?:

“It is only through the other Hebrew word for month, yerach [3391], that we have the connection to the physical body known as the moon. On this basis it would be more literal to translate the Hebrew word chodesh as ‘monthstart’ or ‘new-month’. The Hebrew noun chodesh [2320] has the same consonants as the Hebrew adjective chadash [2319] (almost always translated “new”) and the Hebrew verb chadash [2318] (about half the time translated “renew” and half the time “repair”). The month following any month is not a renewal of the previous month or a repair of the previous month; instead it is indeed a new month. While the translation of chodesh as ‘new-month’ seems more literal and precise than ‘new-moon’, the latter is so firmly accepted that this will be used in the present study.

“What about the suggestion to translate chodesh as ‘renewed-moon’? The moon itself is older than it was the previous month and the physical body itself is not renewed. If one wishes to make a case for translating the word chodesh as ‘renewed-moon’ based upon the light from the moon, this is quite subjective because chodesh has the primary affinity with month, and the month is ‘new’, not ‘renewed’.” link

Nevertheless, while I believe that the covenant will be new, it is new only since an entirely different generation of Israelites will be accepting the marriage vows. The covenant will be very new to them, BUT the terms of the covenant will be the same:

Ezekiel 36:28 You will live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you will be My people, and I will be your Elohim.

Only this time around, Satan and his children will be entirely removed from the face of the earth. No snake in the garden to stink things up. Success will be assured by the force of an iron scepter! (Psalms 2:9; Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15)