Which Laws Are Everlasting? Part 2

Which Laws Are Everlasting?

Part 2, When is “Forever” Truly Forever?

Chapter 31, Part 2 Preview: (back to Part 1) The vast majority of the 2.1 billion professing Christians in the world—33% of the world’s population—believe that Jesus’ death nailed the Law to the cross. They “stake” their destiny on that presumption! Yet the very first question that every Christian should ask concerning his status as a Saint (off site) is: Precisely what does God require of me? How is a person to know which Biblical laws are required of Christians. Should you simply inherit a religion or pick a guru and believe whatever he tells you? How do you personally decide which laws to obey? Does it really matter? Is there a key to knowing which laws are permanent?

In order to know which laws are forever, we need to know what forever is.

How is it possible for David to keep these commandments “forever”?

Ezekiel 37:25-28 They shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, ‘forever’ [for eternity] and David My servant shall be their prince ‘forever’. [Both 05704: “as long” as “time” & 05956: for eternity]. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an Everlasting [New] Covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them forevermore. 27 My tent also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 28 The nations shall know that I am [Yehovah’] who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them ‘forevermore’. WEB

Only the Father has an eternity that stretches both forward and backward in time forever without interruption. Jesus had a three day and three night interruption. However anyone can have an eternity from a certain point forward. This will be our Everlasting Covenant with Yehovah.

Somewhere, someone has probably made the case that the world will be devoured by fire from the following passage:

Deuteronomy 32:22-25 For a fire is kindled in My anger, burns to the lowest Sheol [grave or “hell”], DEVOURS THE EARTH with its increase, AND SETS THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE MOUNTAINS ON FIRE. 23 “I will heap evils on them. I will spend my arrows on them. 24 They shall be wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat and bitter destruction. I will send the teeth of animals on them, with the poison of crawling things of the dust. 25 Outside the sword shall bereave, and in the chambers, terror; on both young man and virgin, the suckling with the gray-haired man. WEB

The only problem is; this is the allegorical language used to describe the fall of ancient Egypt. The quotation is taken from “the Song of Moses” (sorry, I dont have the music). This is following the Exodus from Egypt, and just before the Israelite exiles finally moved into the glorious Promised Land. Moses was reminding them of why they had been made slaves in Egypt in the first place.

Malachi 3:4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to [Yehovah], as in the days of old, and as in ancient years. WEB

Great Tribulation? It doesnt have to end this way! This offer still stands:

Jeremiah 25:4-6 [Yehovah] has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened, nor inclined your ear to hear) 5 saying, Return now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that [Yehovah] has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forevermore ; 6 and dont go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and dont provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands; and I will do you no harm. WEB

The chapter on the “New Covenant”, explains the great significance of Jeremiah 31, which precisely defines what the New Covenant is. However, continuing into Jeremiah 32 there is a great deal of information about the demise of ancient Israel, but the concluding statements indicate that, after the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, the descendants of the ancient nation of Israel, will again be allowed to live in the promised land with all of the benefits of this New Covenant!

Jeremiah 32:17-41 Ah Lord [Yehovah]! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for you, 18 who show loving kindness to thousands, and recompense the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them; the great, the mighty God, [Yehovah] of Armies is His name; 19 great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open on all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings: 20 who performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even to this day, both in Israel and among other men; and made Yourself a name, as in this day; 21 and brought forth Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror; 22 and gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey; 23 and they came in, and possessed it, but they didnt obey your voice, neither walked in your law; they have done nothing of all that you commanded them to do: therefore you have caused all this evil to come on them. 24 Behold, the mounds, they are come to the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence; and what you have spoken has happened; and behold, you see it. 25 You have said to me, Lord [Yehovah], Buy the field for money, and call witnesses; whereas the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 Then came the word of [Yehovah] to Jeremiah, saying, 27 Behold, I am [Yehovah], the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me? 28 Therefore thus says [Yehovah]: Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it: 29 and the Chaldeans, who fight against this city, shall come and set this city on fire, and burn it, with the houses, on whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal, and poured out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger. 30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only that which was evil in My sight from their youth; for the children of Israel have only provoked Me to anger with the work of their hands, says [Yehovah]. 31 For this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and of My wrath from the day that they built it even to this day; that I should remove it from before My face, 32 because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke Me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 They have turned to Me the back, and not the face: and though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction. 34 But they set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. 35 They built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech; which I didnt command them, neither did it come into My mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. 36 Now therefore thus says [Yehovah], the God of Israel, concerning this city, about which you say, It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: [Now for the good news!] 37 Behold, I will gather them out of all the countries, where I have driven them in My anger, and in My wrath, and in great indignation; and I will bring them again to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: 38 and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: 39 and I will give them one heart and one [new] way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: 40 and I will make an Everlasting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from following them, to do them good; and I will put My fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from Me. 41 Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with My whole heart and with My whole soul. WEB

Jeremiah 50:5 They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it, saying, Come, and join yourselves to [Yehovah] in an everlasting [New] Covenant that shall not be forgotten. WEB

Ezekiel 16:60 Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth [the “Old Covenant”], and I will [re]establish to you an everlasting [New] Covenant. WEB

When the tribes of Israel finish their rebellion against God, He will make Earth the place for His throne.

Ezekiel 43:7-8 He said to me, son of [Adam], this is the place of My throne, and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. The house of Israel shall no more defile My holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their prostitution, and by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places; 8 in their setting of their threshold by My threshold, and their doorpost beside My doorpost, and there was but the wall between Me and them; and they have defiled My holy name by their abominations which they have committed: therefore I have consumed them in My anger. WEB

Hosea 2:19-20 I will betroth you to Me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness, in justice, in loving kindness, and in compassion. 20 I will even betroth you to Me in faithfulness; and you shall [finally] know [Yehovah]. WEB

God Is Not About To Change!

It should be apparent that one should not go through the Hebrew Scriptures, arbitrarily choosing which laws are still in force and which ones arent for this “dispensation”.

What does the “traditional Christian” word “dispensation” mean? Dispensationalism is the doctrine in which some believe that God judges people by different standards depending on which time period they happen to live in. In short, it is lusting for a license to sin. Webster’s dictionary says about Dispensation under the subheading “Rom. Cath. Ch”:

Biblically speaking, God does not change. Even more specifically, His not changing is the reason why His people Israel (Jacob) all thru the ages have not been destroyed.

Malachi 3:6 For I, [Yehovah], dont change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed. WEB

Interestingly, Satan’s henchmen want to change the law.

Daniel 7:25 He [the Beast] shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to CHANGE the [appointed] TIMES [Holy Days] AND THE LAW; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. WEB

While God does not change His eternal laws, the nations of Israel, past and present, have “rejected knowledge” of His laws.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. WEB

2 Kings 17:15 They rejected His statutes, and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He testified to them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations that were around them, concerning whom [Yehovah] had commanded them that they should not do like them. WEB

This is the very essence of the mystery. God has only personally sanctioned two types of governmental laws! There were the laws regarding the Levitical Priesthood of the First Covenant working in tandem with the laws which were essentially part of the Constitution of Ancient Israel. These operated when God was dealing with Israel on a collective national basis. Secondly, there are the laws that apply to all people, of all time, in every place. Ignorance of these laws is no excuse. Of course certain other general information laws, such as health laws and laws of physics etc. are sprinkled thruout the Bible. However none of these laws are in the Levitical or governmental classifications.

I was tempted to quote Hebrews chapters 7 thru 10 here, so that some might read thru it, but it might have the opposite effect. These chapters go into great detail about how the Levitical Priesthood was replaced by Melchizedek’s (Jesus’) eternal priesthood.

Hebrews 7:11-12 Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law [of the priesthood]. WEB

Since the sacrifice of our Savior, the new priesthood is we ourselves. Each Christian is a priest over one! The only problem with the “First (‘Old’) Covenant” was that it was predestined to fail because the laws were not etched into the minds of the people. The experiment with ancient Israel, while tragic, was necessary to prove to people, of all time, that mankind cannot attain any level of perfection on his own.

1 Peter 2:8-10 For they [i.e. the Pharisees] stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed [predestined]. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10 who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. WEB

For the time being, those of us called of God for leadership positions in the Kingdom of God are not operating under the terms of ancient Israel’s “first covenant”, nor are we living under the ideal conditions that will accompany the “New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah” (Jeremiah 31). This present age is a time of much greater opportunity and much higher rewards are possible than those offered under either the Old Covenant or the New Covenant with Israel!

In this interim period, between the First Covenant and the New (or “Second”) Covenant, we dont need a Levitical priesthood. In fact we are a “royal priesthood”!

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10 who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. WEB

Hebrews 7:23-28 Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death. 24 But He, because He lives forever, has His priesthood unchangeable. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, seeing that He lives forever to make intercession for them. 26 For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 who doesnt need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For He did this once for all, when He offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected. WEB

However, the New Covenant, as it applies to the Levitical priesthood, includes most of the same sacrificial requirements as were required under the First Covenant. This is described in great detail in Ezekiel chapters 40-48. Most commentators would rather avoid this large segment of scripture entirely, or else have you believe that this detailed prophecy has somehow already been fulfilled.

Has the Old Covenant Vanished Away Yet?

The New Covenant will be better than the First one because the promised rewards (such as eternal life being universally understood) are much more encouraging and the hope of living up to it’s standards is much greater due to the laws being hot wired directly in the peoples brains! Today, we must struggle with many false concepts. Seeking and finding the truth takes work.

Hebrews 8:6-13 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 didnt continue 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 [same] 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,’ [as I am doing] for all will know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. [Definitely not so today!] 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more. 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

Paul acknowledged that the First Covenant was still in existence as he wrote, but that its days were numbered. This would be a reference to the Levitical priesthood’s obligations of the Covenant. Sacrifices had not ceased when Christ was crucified. Of course Paul thought that he would live to see the New Covenant being implemented. Paul had no idea that there would be a two thousand year period from which God would be selecting many more leaders for the Messianic Age. That being the case; did the Old Covenant vanish away when Paul thought that it would or was that also going to last far longer than he had anticipated. To be sure, after 70 AD the Levitical priesthood’s implementation of the Old Covenant’s sacrificial requirements were put on hold and have remained on hold ever since that time. But has God cancelled the Levitical obligations of His Old Covenant yet, or is the sacrificial system simply dormant; soon to be a Renewed Covenant? The Levitical system far outlasted the nationhood of ancient Israel, after it’s captivity, without a need for a free and independent national Israel. It was doing just fine under Roman occupation until the Jews sought to force the political reunification of Judea before God’s time. This was the ““Church” (off site) and State” issue if the first century.

To be sure, Jesus attached a great significance to the circumstances surrounding the end time “Holy Place”.

Matthew 24:14 When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains [or mountain]. WEB

Let the reader understand; the Holy Place in this instance is the end time Third Temple. “Holy Place” is mentioned I believe 57 times in the Hebrew scriptures to the temple and its surroundings.

Daniel also specified that the sacrifices would be resumed, and then forcibly halted. Without getting into that here, suffice it to say that this “Holy Place” is not simply a Holy Place to the Jews, rather it is Holy to God; that is why it will be holy! In God’s Holy Place sacrifices will again take place. I believe that this will complete the Old Covenant (or contract) just prior to the New Covenant’s implementation. Even Paul’s statement, in Hebrew’s 8 above, appears to have envisioned the Old Covenant lasting until the New (Renewed) Covenant is enacted.

Notice in the renowned Seventy “Weeks” Prophecy of Daniel that sacrificing had again been on center stage:

Daniel 9:27 He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out on the desolate. WEB

Certainly God had to divorce Israel, but with the marriage agreement written in the minds of Israel, national divorce will become “obsolete”. Next time God will not have to even consider divorcing Israel.

Isaiah 50:1 Thus says [Yehovah], “Where is the bill of your mother’s divorce, with which I have put her away? Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were you sold and for your transgressions was your mother put away. WEB

Before getting into more detailed laws, I’d like to give an example of a law that I believe has changed:

Numbers 15:38-40 Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. 39 “And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and REMEMBER all the Commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, 40 “and that you may REMEMBER [double emphasis!] and do all My Commandments, and be holy for your God. NKJV

Here is the change:

John 14:25 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, [which] the Father will send in My name, [it] will teach you all things, and will remind you of [or “bring to your remembrance”] all that I said to you. WEB

This better way to remember has been available available since Jesus went to heaven. And while we dont have the God’s law downloaded into our minds at this time (Jeremiah 31:33), the Spirit can and will remind us of those things that we have learned, and will guide us into new knowledge if our minds are receptive.

While people generally overlook the fact that the Holy Spirit was available to the patriarchs, it is nonetheless apparently available to more people now. In the past, it seems as tho the Spirit was rationed. Sometimes the Holy Spirit was even used for physical purposes. For example Bezalel was “filled ... with the Spirit of God”, but apparently only so that he would be a skilled craftsman!

Exodus 35:30-35 Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, [Yehovah] has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 31 He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; 32 and to make skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in brass, 33 in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skillful workmanship. 34 He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works. WEB

Yet if there is any possibility that you may not “remember all the Commandments” of Yehovah due to the influence of His Spirit then by all means tie tassels to your clothes, hey, tie them on your fingers too as reminders!

SPECIFIC LAWS (Alphabetical)

Circumcision: Within the context of the very detailed account about the coming third temple (Ezekiel 40-48), we see that God will not be allowing any uncircumcised men inside of it; whether “foreigners” or Israelites.

Ezekiel 44:6-9 You shall tell the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord [Yehovah]: you house of Israel, let [us have no more of] all your abominations, 7 in that you have brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary, to profane it, even My house, when you offer My bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken My covenant, to add to all your abominations. 8 You have not performed the duty of My holy things; but you have set [other] performers of My duty in my sanctuary for yourselves. 9 Thus says the Lord [Yehovah], No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into My sanctuary, of any foreigners who are among the children of Israel. WEB

When “the Apostles AND brethren who were in Judea” determined that circumcision was not to be considered mandatory for non Israelite Saints was that a change? Apparently the circumcision decision is based on the fact that God was working with non Israelites then and now. Circumcision is still for a sign for physical Israel!

Because the Ezekiel 40-48 prophecy is used so much in this segment, I want to provide the time line of the prophecy. This is clearly after the intervention of God into world affairs, when Yehovah comes down and dwells “in the midst of the children of Israel forever!”

Again notice Ezekiel 43 the sequence of events:

Ezekiel 43:7-9 He said to me, son of [Adam], this is the place of My throne, and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. The house of Israel shall no more defile My holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their prostitution, and by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places; 8 in their setting of their threshold by My threshold, and their doorpost beside My doorpost, and there was but the wall between Me and them; and they have defiled My holy name by their abominations which they have committed: therefore I have consumed them in My anger [in the Great Tribulation]. 9 Now let them put away their prostitution, and the dead bodies of their kings, far from Me; and I will dwell in the midst of them forever. WEB

Circumcision was not “done away with”. In fact, it will be a sign for “gentiles” in the future!

Dietary Laws: These laws date back to the beginning when animals were sacrificed by Adam’s family. Clean and unclean animals were distinguished on Noah’s ark, with seven pairs of the clean animals being spared to hasten the recovery of livestock herds (Genesis 7:2). Indeed when the Lord and His Christ return, those “eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse” will be killed for that indiscretion (Isaiah 66:17). God has always hated the practice of eating of unclean flesh. The Apostle John’s inspired quote indicates that he knew God’s mind on this:

Revelation 18:2 Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird! WEB

Holy Day Laws: A single verse should suffice to indicate that Hold Days are a part of the future. After what people call Armageddon, the entire world will be forced to get this right.

Zechariah 14:16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. NKJV

Here is a single reference indicating that the Holy Days are “forever”.

Exodus 12:15-17 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; even the first day you shall put away yeast out of your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 In the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, except that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you. 17 You shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this same day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations by an ordinance forever. WEB

For a complete explanation of the end time relevance of these days see Israel’s Holy Days.

Jubilee Laws: The law concerning the Jubilee is also meant only for the nation of Israel and only “When you come into the land” (the Holy Land). The term Jubilee is only found in Leviticus chapters 25 & 27, except for Numbers 36:4.

Leviticus 25:8-12 You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. 9 Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. 10 You shall make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee to you; and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family. 11 That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee to you. In it you shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself, nor gather from the undressed vines. 12 For it is a Jubilee; it shall be holy to you. You shall eat of its increase out of the field. WEB

This special year is found in a greatly overlooked prophecy of Jesus called by another name: “the acceptable year of the Lord”. While these years will not be celebrated again until God forces them on the world, their existence is a fascinating part of the countdown to the Everlasting Kingdom! Jesus said that He proclaimed an “acceptable year”. Which year was it?

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because he has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, 19 and to proclaim the the Acceptable Year of the Lord. WEB

Judgments: The Judgments were codified in Exodus 21-23. They were given right after the Ten Commandments were engraved in stone. They were part of the National law of ancient Israel. Unlike the Ten Commandments, which can all be demonstrated to have been in effect since the beginning, these laws were reserved for the time when Israel was in possession of the Holy Land. History will repeat itself:

Deuteronomy 4:13-14 He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tables of stone. 14 [Yehovah] commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it. WEB

The Judgments were meant to be “forever”, and will be reinstated “come the revolution”, when Israel regains her land.

Psalms 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. NKJV

Sabbatical Laws: Like the Jubilee Laws, which are calculated on the same timetable, these laws will not be in effect until The Restoration of All Things, when the modern nations of Israel again “come into the land”.

Leviticus 25:2-4 ... When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a Sabbath to [Yehovah]. 3 Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in its fruits; 4 but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to [Yehovah]. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. WEB

The Ezekiel prophecy, among other places, describes the reallocation of the land to the returning nations of Israel:

Ezekiel 47:13-14 Thus says the Lord [Yehovah]: This shall be the border, by which you shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions. 14 You shall inherit it, one as well as another; for I swore to give it to your fathers: and this land shall fall to you for inheritance. WEB

There is a prophecy that explains why both ancient tribes of Israel and the modern Israelite nations were, and will be, made desolate. This prophecy explains that the breaking of the “Land Sabbaths”, which apparently must be observed on a national basis, were a part of the reason God will remove Israel from the land areas where they now reside. This land will be rested!

Leviticus 26:31-35 I will lay your cities waste, and will bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not take delight in the sweet fragrance of your offerings. 32 I will bring the land into desolation; and your enemies that dwell therein will be astonished at it. 33 I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you: and your land will be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste. 34 Then the land will enjoy its sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land. Even then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, even the rest which it didnt have in your sabbaths, when you lived on it. WEB

There is a large segment on what could be termed “Land Sabbaths” in the article Why the Land Sabbath? The blessings associated with the Land Sabbath did not require faith because God said that He would provide an incredible bumper crop in the 48th year that would last thru the 50th year. The time to obey God in this instance was after God did His part. Individuals attempting to give their gardens a rest (on arbitrary seven year cycles) never experience harvests that would have the newspapers coming out to take pictures of their corn stalks with four ears etc. Resting the land is a great idea. I have six gardens, three of which rest in cover crops every year.

Levitical/Sacrificial Laws: As mentioned before, these laws will make a come back as explained in great detail in Ezekiel chapters 40-48.

Ezekiel 44:10-14 But the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity. 11 Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house, and ministering in the house: they shall kill the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them. 12 Because they ministered to them before their idols, and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel; therefore have I lifted up My hand against them, says the Lord [Yehovah], and they shall bear their iniquity. 13 They shall not come near to Me, to execute the office of priest to me, nor to come near to any of My holy things, to the things that are most holy; but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed. 14 Yet will I make them performers of the duty of the house, for all its service, and for all that shall be done therein. WEB

This is not in reference to the actual individuals who sinned when ancient Israel “went astray”. Rather, their actions altered history so that their distant offspring “shall bear their [their ancestors] iniquity”. This is no different than the “ten lost tribes” bearing the burden of centuries of iniquity because their ancestors lost the identity of their God, as well as their own ethnic identity.

Purity Laws: This part of Ezekiel’s prophecy practically covers it all: sacrifices, clean and unclean, ordinances, statutes, Feasts, Sabbaths, purity and defilement.

Ezekiel 44:15-25 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who performed the duty of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood, says the Lord [Yehovah]: 16 they shall enter into My sanctuary, and they shall come near to My table, to minister to Me, and they shall keep My instruction .... 22 Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her who is ‘put away’; [divorced] but they shall take virgins of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest. 23 They shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 In a controversy they shall stand to judge; according to My ordinances shall they judge it: and they shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed Feasts; and they shall make My Sabbaths holy. 25 They shall go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister who has had no husband, they may defile themselves. WEB

Sabbath Laws:

Exodus 31:16-17 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days [Yehovah] made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed. WEB

The Book of Hebrews contains a wonderful analogy comparing what should have been the most joyous event in Israel’s history. The time setting for the analogy is when all of Israel should have entered the Promised Land, but due to “disobedience” all of the adults except Joshua and two spies, were excluded from the restful blessings of the Promised Land. Even Moses himself was not allowed to enter. The comparison being made below concerns Sabbath keeping Saints who “hear His voice” and will enter a New Promised Land. This Promised Land will be there for them forever! There is a deliberate cover up in most Bibles concerning the phrase “Sabbath rest”. Most translators, not wanting to rock the boat, simply translate the inspired word “Sabbatismos” as “rest”. There is a place reserved for the cowardly!

Hebrews 4:1-11 Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into His rest. 2 For indeed we have had Good News preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didnt profit them, because it wasnt mixed with faith by those who heard. 3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, they will not enter into My rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all His works;” 5 and in this place again, “They will not enter into My rest.” 6 Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter therein, and they to whom the Good News was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience, 7 He again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), “Today if you will hear His voice, dont harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken afterward of another day. 9 THERE REMAINS therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For He who has entered into His rest has Himself also rested from His works, as God did from His. 11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. WEB

Statutes

The Statutes of God are primarily national laws with national benefits and promises. They are directly associated with possessing “the land” of Israel, or losing it. Some of them can and should definitely be done on a personal basis as Abraham did centuries before Moses received them from God. The national nature of most of these laws is self explanatory. These national laws were meant to be eternal. All we need is the Israelite nations truly under God once again!

Genesis 26:5 ... because Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My requirements, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws. WEB

Exodus 15:26 If you will diligently listen to the voice of [Yehovah] your God, and will do that which is right in His eyes, and will pay attention to His Commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you, which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am [Yehovah] who heals you. WEB

Leviticus 18:26-28 You therefore shall keep My statutes and My ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-born, nor the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you; 27 (for all these abominations have the men of the land done, that were before you, and the land became defiled); 28 that the land not vomit you out also, when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. WEB

Leviticus 19:19 & 23 You shall keep My statutes. “‘You shall not crossbreed [create mongrels of] different kinds of animals. “‘you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed [hybrid]; “‘neither shall there come upon on you a garment made of two kinds of material .... 23 When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as forbidden. Three years shall they be forbidden to you. It shall not be eaten. WEB

Leviticus 20:23-24 And you shall not walk in the statutes [foreign national laws] of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they commit all these things, and therefore I abhor them. 24 But I have said to you, “You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples. NKJV

Leviticus 25:18-22 Therefore you shall do My statutes, and keep My ordinances and do them; and you shall dwell in the land in safety. 19 The land shall yield its fruit, and you shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. 20 If you said, “What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase;” 21 then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for the three years. 22 You shall sow the eighth year, and eat of the fruits, the old store; until the ninth year, until its fruits come in, you shall eat the old store. WEB

Deuteronomy 4:1-8 Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and to the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that you may live, and go in and possess the land which [Yehovah], the God of your fathers, gives you. 2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish from it, that you may keep the Commandments of [Yehovah] your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what [Yehovah] did because of Baal Peor; for all the men who followed Baal Peor, [Yehovah] your God has destroyed them from the midst of you. 4 But you who did cling to [Yehovah] your God are all alive this day. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as [Yehovah] my God commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land where you go in to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7 For what great nation is there, that has a god so near to them, as [Yehovah] our God is whenever we call on Him? 8 What great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? WEB

Deuteronomy 4:40 You shall keep His statutes, and His Commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land, which [Yehovah] your God gives you, forever. WEB

Deuteronomy 6:23-24 ... and He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land which He swore to our fathers. 24 [Yehovah] commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear [Yehovah] our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as at this day. WEB

Deuteronomy12:1 These are the statutes and the ordinances which you shall observe to do in the land which [Yehovah], the God of your fathers, has given you to possess it, all the days that you live on the earth. WEB

Deuteronomy 28:11-17 [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 .... 15 But it shall come to pass, if you will not listen to the voice of [Yehovah] your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command you this day, that all these curses shall come on you, and overtake you. 16 You shall be cursed in the city, and you shall be cursed in the field. 17 Your basket and your kneading trough shall be cursed. WEB [The rest of this chapter is our future.]

2 Kings 17:19-23 Also Judah didnt keep the Commandments of [Yehovah] their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which THEY made. 20 [Yehovah] rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until He had cast them out of His sight. 21For He tore Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drove Israel from following [Yehovah], and made them sin a great sin. 22 The children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they didnt depart from them; 23 until [Yehovah] removed Israel out of His sight, [out of the land] as He spoke by all His servants the prophets. WEB

Plan A: Israel was to have stayed in the land and kept the law forever:

2 Chronicles 33:7-8 ... In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put My name forever: 8 neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from off THE LAND which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law and the statutes and the ordinances given by Moses. WEB

Plan B: Israel will return to the land as explained in The Time After Jacob's Trouble, and keep the law forever.

The Ten Commandments:

If you ever wonder whether keeping the Ten Commandments is essential, then I would recommend that you read every reference to “Commandments” in the Greek Scriptures. I especially like the latter ones.

2 John 1:6 This is love, that we should walk according to his commandments. This is the Commandment, even as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. WEB

Revelation 12:17 The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God’s Commandments and hold Jesus’ testimony. WEB

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. WEB

Revelation 22:12-14 Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with Me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 Blessed are those who do His Commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in by the gates into the city [of New Jerusalem]. WEB

Tithing Laws:

A tithe is the inheritance of the tribe of Levi. They were/are not to be given a portion of “the land”. The Levites were/will be governmental and religious administrators. Short of writing a chapter on this topic now, suffice it to say that the Bible nowhere commands “tithes and offerings” for “the ministry”. Some contributions, when you are able, are a different matter. [Assuming you can find a ministry worth supporting.]

Numbers 18:26 Moreover you shall speak to the Levites, and tell them, ‘When you take of the children of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall offer up a wave offering of it for [Yehovah], a tithe of the tithe. WEB

Budgeting another 10% of your personal income, only until enough funds accrue to celebrate the Feasts, is part of the plan that God instructed us to do. This has always been the way to fund these important memorial events.

Deuteronomy 12:17-19 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your freewill offerings, nor the wave offering of your hand; 18 but you shall eat them before [Yehovah] your God in the place which [Yehovah] your God shall choose, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates: and you shall rejoice before [Yehovah] your God in all that you put your hand to. 19 Take heed to yourself that you dont forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land. WEB

There is a portion of scripture that forms the backbone of virtually every “pro tithing to your church” article. Check some out and see if this is not the first or only reference used. However the context has nothing whatsoever to do with a “church” and everything to do with the New Temple, a New Covenant, the return of the Messiah, the reestablishment of Israel’s statehood, Judgment Day, and purifying “the sons of Levi” so that they will begin to give “offerings in righteousness” “as in the days of old, and as in ancient years”. There will be fantastic national prosperity and “All nations shall call you [the nations of Israel] blessed”. Preachers have virtually destroyed the powerful message of Malachi, having to do with how the Levites of old wasted the tithes, and how this problem will be rectified when the Messiah “will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver”!

Malachi 3:1-12 Behold, I send My messenger, and He will prepare the way before Me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the Messenger of the Covenant, whom you desire, behold, He comes!” says [Yehovah] of Armies. 2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who will stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap; 3 and He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to [Yehovah] offerings in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to [Yehovah], AS IN THE DAYS OF OLD, and as in ancient years. 5 I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and dont fear Me,” says [Yehovah] of Armies. 6 “For I, [Yehovah], dont change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says [Yehovah] of Armies. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with the curse; for you rob Me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be [meat: KJV] [for sacrifice] in My house, [the temple] and test Me now in this,” says [Yehovah] of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before its time in the field,” says [Yehovah] of Armies. 12 “All nations shall call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says [Yehovah] of Armies. WEB

CONCLUSION

Numerically speaking, most of the laws of the Bible were written for the benefit of the entire nation of Israel, under the inspired leadership of the Levitical priesthood. Had Israel not forsaken God, this would have remained the case and all of the rest of the world would have witnessed the miraculous blessings that were to have been a direct result of keeping these laws. Most of these nations, when given an opportunity to “share the wealth” that was Israel’s heritage will gladly do so. We are now in an interim period where there is no Temple. The First Covenant is in mothballs and the New Covenant is yet to be implemented. God is going to marry Israel again. Israel will be the Bride of Christ! God will destroy anyone who opposes His rule, and reinstate all of His eternal laws in OUR generation! Perhaps the “body of Christ” (the Saints) will also be married to the Bride.

At this time, God is looking for a “few good men” and women who strongly desire to understand His righteous ways and are not content to simply live this life as tho there were no tomorrow. These people will not be surprised by the fact that God is going to intervene in world affairs by forcibly taking over the governments of the entire world, waking up humanity with a strong dose of reality. In fact the true Saints will hold key positions in the coming Government of God.

The laws that pertain to individuals, rather than to an entire nation or nations, can and should be kept. In fact this is our ticket into the Everlasting Kingdom! All of the everlasting national laws will be implemented soon enough with very little adjustment.

All of the teachings of Jesus the Christ have to do with individual responsibilities. We must develop a personal relationship with our Creator. It is amazing that virtually all of the churches want to operate as tho they were national governments—making decisions for their “lay people” and teaching their followers not to rely directly upon God for their inspiration, guidance and instruction. The ministers of this worlds’ religions all tell you to rely on their wisdom and understanding and council for these things. They make gods of themselves; maybe not in name as the Roman Emperors did, but for all other “practical purposes”.

Heed the council that Paul sent to the saints of Philippi:

Philippians 2:12-14 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out YOUR OWN salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputes, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world .... WEB

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