352 The truth about the covenants 1

The truth about the covenants G-d made with mankind 1.

Most people who are aware of the Ten Commandments believe that they did not exist until Moses received it from G-d’s hand and that it lasted only until Messiah ben Joseph’s death. Those who hold this believe, also believe that Messiah ben Joseph came to establish a ‘New’ Covenant, consisting of grace and promises without any laws. However, the Ten Commandments did not begin when G-d made the covenant with ancient Israel at Mount Sinai.

To better understand the truth about the original covenant G-d made with ancient Israel and the Renewed Covenant that Y’shua came to make, we need to understand that G-d’s law of love existed long before the creation of Adam and Eve. G-d is concerned about the welfare of all His created beings. G-d’s love is an attitude of help, service and cooperation. Put simply it is the way of ‘give’ as opposed to the way of ‘get’, so prevalent in the world today.

G-d has ordained that mankind learns to live His way of love. We see from 1 John 5: 3 that the love of G-d is that we keep His commandments and His commandments are not burdensome. But to which commandments is Rav Yochanan referring? When Messiah ben Joseph was on earth about 2,000 years ago he answered someone who asked Him in Matthew 19: 16, saying: “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life? Messiah ben Joseph answered him in verse 17, in this way: “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” The person then asked Messiah ben Joseph in verse 18, “Which ones?” Upon which Messiah ben Joseph answered in verses 18 & 19, saying: “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTARY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS; (19) HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”Messiah ben Joseph was obviously referring to the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments constitute a spiritual law that is unchangeable and eternal; a law that represents love and its fulfillment, as also expressed in Romans 13: 10, as follows: ‘Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.’ We see further from Psalm 111: 7 & 8, that G-d’s Spiritual law will be upheld eternally, in this way: ‘The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are sure. (8) They are upheld forever and ever; they are performed in truth and uprightness.’ The Ten Commandments is also the covenant that HASHEM made with the nation of Israel, as witnessed from Deuteronomy 4: 12 – 14, as follows: “Then HASHEM spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form – only a voice. (13) So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. (14) And HASHEM commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might perform them in the land where you are going over to possess it.” The statutes are an explanation of how we apply the Ten Commandments in our lives; and the judgments are the punishment due for breaking the commandments.

The question is: Why don’t we have peace, harmony and cooperation in the world at this time? The overriding reason is because of the transgression of G-d’s law of love. Disobedience to the Ten Commandments has produced misery, unhappiness, suffering and death to the world since Adam. Before the creation of man G-d placed angels on earth to finish its creation and to administer His government on earth. G-d’s government based on love was administered by angels for millions of years. There was peace, joy, harmony and success on earth; until the anointed cherub Lucifer rebelled against the government of G-d, as the prophet Ezekiel explains in Ezekiel 28: 13 – 15, as follows: “You were in Eden, the garden of G-d; every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. (14) You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain (the government) of G-d; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. (15) You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you.” The account is expounded upon further in Isaiah 14: 12 – 15, in this way: “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning (the KJV reads Lucifer here), son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! (13) But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of G-d, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north (where G-d’s throne is). (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High,’ (15) Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.”

We see from 2 Peter 2: 4, that Rav Kepha also mentions Satan’s ultimate destiny, as follows: ‘For if G-d did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment.’ We see the judgment executed upon Lucifer and a third of the angels who followed him in rebellion explained in Revelation 12: 3 - 4 & 9, in this way: ‘And another sign appeared in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. (4) And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven, and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. (9) And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.’ This was confirmed by Messiah ben Joseph the embodiment of Torah, who existed eternally, when He said in Luke 10: 18: “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”

Many years later G-d created Adam and Eve and immediately instructed them in His way of life. After instructing them G-d required them to make a decision. In order to receive His Set-apart Spirit (symbolized by the ‘tree of life’) and restore G-d’s government on earth, Adam would have to reject Satan’s way of get and follow G-d’s way of giving and sharing according to His law of love. At that time Satan was in the Garden of Eden to tempt the first humans. Adam decided to reject G-d’s way and made a fateful decision for himself and all of his descendants after him. G-d therefore drove Adam and Eve out of the garden, and shut mankind off from access to the Set-apart Spirit. From then on G-d would reveal the true knowledge and understanding of His spiritual law and plan only to those of His choosing, as witnessed in 1 Peter 1: 10 – 12, as follows: ‘As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, (11) seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Messiah within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Messiah ben Joseph and the glories to follow. (12) It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Set-apart Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.’ Mankind in general would not have free access to G-d’s Set-apart Spirit and spiritual understanding again until Messiah Ben David’s coming to rule the world from Jerusalem to put an end to Satan’s reign (Revelation 20: 1- 3). During the preceding nearly six thousand years of Satan’s rule, those people whom G-d has specifically chosen from the house of Judah who remained faithful to the covenant He made with both the house of Judah and the house of Israel at Mount Sinai, plus a relatively few whom He is busy calling and choosing to return to Him through Messiah ben Joseph from among the lost ten tribes of Israel as first fruits, (have and) are receiving His Set-apart Spirit to be begotten spiritually. They will have the special opportunity to enter into a renewed covenant relationship with G-d when Messiah comes one day, in the near future.

G-d made a number of covenants with mankind, of which the conditions of three covenants were met by Noah, Abraham and David. The covenant that G-d made with Noah is still applicable today, since we still see the appearance of a rainbow in the sky after every rainstorm. This is also the one sign that we have today, of the existence of G-d, as He told Noah in Genesis 9: 12 – 16, saying: “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; (13) I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. (14) And it shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, (15) and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. (16) When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between G-d and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

Next we get to the covenant that HASHEM made with our father in the faith Abraham in Genesis 17: 7 – 11, as follows: “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants (mainly people descended from Isaac and Jacob) after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be G-d to you and to your descendants after you. (8) And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their G-d.” (9) G-d said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. (10) This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. (11) And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.” It is stated very clearly here that as fulfillment of the agreement with Abraham (i.e. that he and his male descendants after are circumcised in the flesh), he and his descendants are heirs of the Promised Land Canaan for an everlasting possession. That essentially means that they will inherit the Promised Land to live in forever. It is true, it meant that Abraham’s descendants lived in the Promised Land anciently and some are still living there today, but the only way in which they will be able to live in it for an everlasting possession, is when they will live in it as spiritual beings during the Kingdom of G-d on earth where He will have His headquarters in Jerusalem in the Promised Land forever. This will be from where Messiah ben David will administrate the Kingdom of G-d on earth. This is also where after the Millennium and the second resurrection; after the Great White Throne judgment, the New Jerusalem will be established, after everything that can burn, has been burnt up.

It is for this reason that we read about the promises made to Abraham from Hebrews 11: 8 – 10, ‘By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. (9) By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents (temporary dwellings) with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; (10) for he was looking for a city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is G-d.’ However, we read from verses 39 & 40 of Hebrews 11 (talking about all our fathers and mothers in the faith who were specifically called according to G-d’s will): ‘And all these, having gained approval (by fulfilling their side of the covenant) through their faith, did not receive what was promised, (40) because G-d had provided something better for us (Abraham’s descendants), so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.’ In fact Galatians 3 & 4 goes in to great detail about the law of inheritance, telling us that we are Abraham’s children through promise like Isaac. It continues in Galatians 3: 26 – 29, saying that if we from the lost ten tribes, who return to G-d through faith in Messiah (i.e. believe in both His saving name, and in what He said and did whilst He was on earth) and belong to Him (by accepting Him as our Passover Lamb and be immersed in His name) again become Abraham’s offspring with our Jewish Brothers, heirs according to promise. The question is what was the covenant promise? As we’ve read from Genesis 17, the promise was to dwell in the land of Canaan – the Promised Land for ever.

But, when will we be able to dwell in the Promised Land forever? We will only be able to dwell in the Promised Land for an everlasting possession, after Messiah ben David’s coming to establish the Kingdom of G-d (over Israel) on earth. To be able to live in the Promised Land which Abraham is also waiting to inherit, we need to fulfill our part of the covenant agreement Abraham made with G-d, and all our male descendants should be circumcised. This is after all also the requirement for all males who partake of the Passover. We see from Joshua 5: 3 – 5 and 10, that during the time that ancient Israel wandered around in the wilderness for forty years their children were not circumcised, but before they entered the Promised Land and before they partook of their first Passover, they were circumcised, as follows: ‘So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. (4) And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way, after they came out of Egypt. (5) For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised. (10) While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal, they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho.’ I believe this is similar to what will happen to those who will repent as a result of the coming great tribulation, before the coming of Messiah. They will be immersed into Messiah ben Joseph’s saving name and all their males will be circumcised before entering the Millennium in the Promised Land under Messiah ben David’s reign, similar to what happened in Joshua’s time. If we fully understand the second part of the promise made to Abraham and its latter day fulfillment – that he and his descendants will dwell in the Promised Land as an everlasting possession, we will realize that it has to do with where those who qualify like our fathers in the faith did, will spent eternity. If those who are called at this time remain faithful to the end, together with our Jewish Brothers who remain Torah observant,we will with Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and others mentioned in Hebrews 11 be resurrected at Messiah’s return, to rule the world under Him from Jerusalem, the headquarters of the world to come. Understanding these truths fully will help us get rid of false doctrines that good people go the heaven upon death, and evil people will be tormented in an eternal hell fire. This is in essence the good news about the coming Kingdom of G-d, which Satan has suppressed through Christianity, and thereby keeping the bride (consisting of a remnant from the house of Israel who return to HASHEM through Messiah ben Joseph and their Torah obedient Jewish Brothers) from entering into the New (Marriage) Covenant with HASHEM at Messiah’s coming, similar to the Marriage covenant HASHEM entered into with both houses of Israel at Mount Sinai, after leading them out of Egypt.

However, before we finally discuss the original marriage covenant that HASHEM entered into with the ancient nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, we get to the covenant promise that HASHEM made with King David and his descendants. In Second Samuel 7 HASHEM tells David that He will raise-up a descendant after him and will establish his throne forever. We know that this (‘forever’)can only occur when Messiah comes to rule the world from Jerusalem for a thousand years and onto eternity. At that time HASHEM also tells David that he will not build a house for Him during his lifetime, but that his son Solomon will, as we read from verses 12 to 16 of 2 Samuel 7, as follows: “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers (note: this does not say that David was going to heaven, after his death), I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. (13) He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (Note also that this is not saying that King Solomon will live eternally, but that his throne will be established forever – this is the very same throne which Messiah ben David will occupy at His return one day) (14) I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, (15) but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. (16) And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” We read in Luke 1: 32 and 33 where G-d spoke to Miriam about Messiah ben Joseph using virtually the same words that He spoke to David through Nathan, saying: “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and HASHEM G-d will give Him the throne of His father David; (33) and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.”

Because the principle of duality that runs throughout the Scriptures, we see that King David’s throne is even now occupied by someone ruling in his place, as much as the Levites who are presently teaching in Judah, assisting in maintaining the Oracles of G-d (i.e. calculating and maintaining the Hebrew calendar, Koshering of foodstuffs available for sale to Torah keeping individuals in society, maintaining Torah Scrolls, etc.). We read accordingly from Jeremiah 33: 20 – 22: “Thus says HASHEM, ‘If you can break My covenant for the day, and My covenant for the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time, (21) then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical Priests, My ministers. (22) As the host of heaven cannot be counted, and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.”’ That is why there is actually someone occupying King David’s throne at this very time. From the blessings given to the twelve tribes of Israel, immediately prior to his death, Moses said about Joseph in Deuteronomy 33: 13 – 16: ‘And of Joseph he said, “Blessed of HASHEM be his land, with the choice things of heaven, with the dew, and from the deep lying beneath, (14) and with the choice yield of the sun, and the choice produce of the months. (15) And with the best things of the ancient mountains, and with the choice things of the everlasting hills, (16) and with the choice things of the earth and its fullness, and the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush. Let it come to the head of Joseph, and to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.”’

This was in fact similar to Jacob’s blessing of Joseph in Genesis 49: 22 – 26, in this way: “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; its branches run over a wall. (23) The archers bitterly attacked him, and shot at him and harassed him; (24) But his bow remained firm, and his arms were agile, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), (25) From the G-d of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. (26) The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; may they be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.” We have identified Joseph’s son’s Ephraim and Manasseh in a previous teaching as being the British Commonwealth and the United States of America respectively. As Jacob’s first born son Reuben sinned against his father and was disqualified, Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph’s sons received a double portion during the latter days. Verse 16 of Deuteronomy 33 as well as verse 26 of Genesis 49 tells us that the crown or civil rulership will belong to Joseph’s son to whom Jacob gave the first born blessing, namely Ephraim, but Judah will remain G-d’s Lawgiver in respect of Spiritual matters, until Messiah who will officiate in both offices of King and High Priest returns, as witnessed in Zechariah 6: 12 & 13 in this way: “Then say to him, ‘Thus says HASHEM of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of HASHEM. (13) Yes, it is He who will build the temple of HASHEM, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.”’

We read (HASHEM)’s promise to David in Psalm 89: 28 – 37, in this way: ‘My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall be confirmed to him. (29)So I will establish his descendants forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (30) If his sons forsake My law, and do not walk in My judgments, (31) if they violate My statutes, and do not keep My commandments,(32)then I will visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. (33) But I will not break off My lovingkindness from him, nor deal falsely in My faithfulness. (34) My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips. (35) Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. (36) His descendants shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me. (37) It shall be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky is faithful.’ We see that ultimately Messiah ben David will take the throne from whoever will occupy the throne over civil Israel, but also how He will take the position of High Priest from the high priest in Judah when He returns to rule the world from Jerusalem, as confirmed in Genesis 49: 10, as follows: ‘The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.’ The reason why we read about the continual existence of the Levitical Priesthood with David’s throne in Jeremiah 33: 20 – 22, is because of the covenant of peace that HASHEM made with Phinehas in Numbers 25: 11 - 13, after he saved the nation from the plague caused by them playing the harlot with the daughters of Moab, in this way:“Phinehas the son of Eleazer, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel, in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. (12) Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give him My covenant of peace; (13) and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his G-d, and made atonement for the sons of Israel.”HASHEM made a perpetual or eternal covenant with Phinehas and his descendants, because of his zeal for G-d and similar to the covenant with David, will not violate it. Baruch Hashem!