Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

The truth about the covenants Elohim made with mankind.

Most people who are aware of the Ten Commandments believe that they did not exist until Moses received it from Elohim’s hand and that it lasted only until Messiah’s death. Those who hold this believe, also believe that Messiah came to establish a ‘New’ Covenant, consisting of grace and promises without any laws. However, the Ten Commandments did not begin when Elohim made the covenant with ancient Israel at Mount Sinai. To better understand the truth about the original covenant Elohim made with ancient Israel and the Renewed Covenant that Yahshua came to make, we need to understand that Elohim’s law of love existed long before the creation of Adam and Eve. Elohim is concerned about the welfare of all His created beings. Elohim’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.

Elohim has ordained that mankind learns to live His way of love. We see from 1 John 5: 3 that the love of Elohim is that we keep His commandments and His commandments are not burdensome. But to which commandments is Rav Yochanan referring? When Yahshua the Messiah 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? Yahshua 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 Yahshua in verse 18, “Which ones?” Upon which Yahshua 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.” Yahshua 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 Elohim’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 YHVH made with the nation of Israel, as witnessed from Deuteronomy 4: 12 – 14, as follows: “Then YHVH 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 YHVH 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 Elohim’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 Elohim placed angels on earth to finish its creation and to administer His government on earth. Elohim’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 Elohim, as the prophet Ezekiel explains in Ezekiel 28: 13 – 15, as follows: “You were in Eden, the garden of Elohim; 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 Elohim; you walked in the midst of 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 Elohim, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north (where Elohim’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 Elohim 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 give 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 Yahshua the image of Elohim, who existed eternally, when He said in Luke 10: 18: “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.”

Many years later Elohim created Adam and Eve and immediately instructed them in His way of life. After instructing them Elohim required them to make a decision. In order to receive His Set-apart Spirit (symbolized by the ‘tree of life’) and restore Elohim’s government on earth, Adam would have to reject Satan’s way of get and follow Elohim’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 Elohim’s way and made a fateful decision for himself and all of his descendants after him. Elohim therefore drove Adam and Eve out of the garden, and shut mankind off from access to the Set-apart Spirit. From then on Elohim 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 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 Elohim’s Set-apart Spirit and spiritual understanding again until Messiah’s return 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 Elohim 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 Yahshua 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 Elohim when Messiah returns one day, in the near future.

Elohim made a number of covenants with mankind, of which the conditions of three covenants were met by Noah, Abraham and David. The covenant that Elohim 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 Elohim, 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 Elohim and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

Next we get to the covenant that YHVH 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 Elohim 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 Elohim.” (9) Elohim 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 Elohim on earth where He will have His headquarters in Jerusalem in the Promised Land forever.  This will be from where Yahshua will administrate the Kingdom of Elohim 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 Elohim.’ 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 Elohim’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 Elohim 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 Elohim through faith in Messiah (i.e. believe in both His saving name, Yahshua 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’s return when He will come to establish the Kingdom of Elohim (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 Elohim, 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’s saving name and all their males will be circumcised before entering the Millennium in the Promised Land under Yahshua’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 doctrine 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 Elohim, which Satan has suppressed through Christianity, and thereby keeping the bride (consisting of a remnant from the house of Israel who return to YHVH through Messiah and their Torah obedient Jewish Brothers) from entering into the New (Marriage) Covenant with YHVH at Messiah’s return, similar to the Marriage covenant YHVH 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 YHVH entered into with the ancient nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, we get to the covenant promise that YHVH made with King David and his descendants. In Second Samuel 7 YHVH 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 returns to rule the world from Jerusalem for a thousand years and onto eternity. At that time YHVH 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 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 Elohim spoke to Miriam about Yahshua 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 YHVH Elohim 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 Elohim (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 YHVH, ‘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 YHVH 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 Elohim 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 Elohim’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 YHVH 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 YHVH. (13) Yes, it is He who will build the temple of YHVH, 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 (YHVH)’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 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 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 piece that YHVH 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 Elohim, and made atonement for the sons of Israel.” YHVH made a perpetual or eternal covenant with Phinehas and his descendants, because of his zeal for Elohim and similar to the covenant with David, will not violate it.

Let’s now turn to the marriage covenant that YHVH made with the nation of Israel. This is essentially the only covenant that YHVH is busy renewing with both houses of Israel. One of the most important doctrines the living Messiah has revealed to us, His latter day congregation, is that of the marriage covenant made with the united nation of Israel and its renewal. Unfortunately many confused the word ‘covenant’ with ‘testament’. To begin with, a testament is not the same as a covenant and it is important to understand the difference. A testament is a written legal instrument by which a person bequeaths or wills certain of his possessions to another person when he dies, or when the other party reaches an agreed milestone – such as when the son of a farmer turns 25 years of age, he inherits his father’s farm, as described in the father’s will/testament. It is usually not in payment or a reward for work or responsibilities performed. But a covenant is a mutual agreement, a legal undertaking to do or not to do a certain act; a document describing the terms of the agreement. In Scriptural language a covenant is an agreement, by which one party promises certain rewards or payments in return for certain stipulated performances by the other party.  So it is clear that the covenant made with Abraham to depart from the land of his birth for a territory of Canaan was a binding agreement, which YHVH made with Abraham. Another requirement that Abraham had to fulfill was as his part of the covenant to circumcise the foreskin of his flesh as a sign of the everlasting covenant between Elohim and him. If Abraham and his descendants would comply, then Elohim, in turn, bound Himself to fulfill the specific promise in His covenant with Abraham. Notice that no death had to take place to make this covenant binding as would have been necessary if it was a testament. Elohim’s covenant was confirmed with Isaac (Genesis 26: 2 – 5) and Jacob (Genesis 27: 27 – 30) whose name was later changed to Israel. Years later, due to a great famine in the land of Canaan, where Israel lived, the patriarch (Jacob) and his family moved to Egypt, where they grew into a large nation. Through circumstances beyond their control the nation of Israel eventually became enslaved to the Egyptians.

Turning to Exodus 2: 23 – 25, we see that Elohim looked down on the nation of Israel enslaved in Egypt and He remembered His covenant with their forefathers, as follows: ‘Now it came about in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. And the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to Elohim. (24) So Elohim heard their groaning; and Elohim remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (25) And Elohim saw the sons of Israel, and Elohim took notice of them.’ Eventually YHVH released the children of Israel from bondage through a series of miracles and led them out of Egypt. Forty seven days after the Israelites left Egypt, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in front of the mountain (Exodus 19: 1 & 2). Elohim, through his servant Moses proposed a covenant with the nation of Israel; in the covenant Elohim promised to make them a great nation, provided they would obey Him. We see from Exodus 19: 8 that the people immediately agreed, saying: “All that YHVH has spoken we will do!  Notice, these forefathers of ours were so confident in their own ability to obey that they readily agreed to the covenant with Elohim. Because the Israelites expressed their desire to enter into a covenant agreement with Elohim, He informed Moses to tell them to consecrate themselves and be ready for the third day, the sixth day of the third month (the 6th of Sivan). On the third day, amid an awesome display of lightning, thunder and thick clouds churning over the mountain, Elohim’s powerful voice thundered out the basic law of His government – the great spiritual law defining His way of life. The covenant made at Sinai – called the “Old Covenant”  by deceived Christianity today – imposed upon the nation of Israel certain terms and conditions to be performed. The people were to obey the Ten Commandments and for obedience their reward would be that Elohim would make them a nation above all people. Notice that these promises were national and material, but also contained spiritual blessings, as can be seen from Exodus 19: 5 and the first part of verse 6, in this way: ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; (6) and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’  

Elohim then proceeded to write these commandments with His own finger on two tablets of stone. We read from Deuteronomy 6: 1, 4 & 5 what YHVH Elohim said to Moses after He gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites, as follows: “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which YHVH your Elohim has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it. (4) Hear, O Israel! YHVH is our Elohim, YHVH is one! (5) And you shall love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might!” Elohim gave Moses additional instructions how to apply the Ten Commandments in the form of civil statutes and judgments, and instructed Moses to write these statutes and judgments together with the Ten Commandments in a book called ‘the book of the covenant’ (as per Genesis 24: 4 & 7). Therefore these additional laws became part and parcel of the covenant that Elohim made with Israel. But we see from verses 5 – 8 of Exodus 24, that the covenant had to be ratified or confirmed with blood before it became binding, in this way: ‘And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to YHVH. (6) And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. (7) Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that YHVH has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” (8) So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which YHVH has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Once a covenant is signed, sealed or ratified, it cannot be added to as Rav Shaul explained in Galatians 3: 15, saying: ‘Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations; even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.’  The covenant made at Mount Sinai was typical of a marriage contract between a man and a woman. It was symbolically a marriage agreement between (the Word of) Elohim and the nation of Israel. As the arm of YHVH who dealt with the nation of Israel in the Tanach, the Word of Elohim – the husband – promised to materially provide for and protect the nation, or congregation of Israel. The nation as his wife, in turn agreed to remain faithful to Him - to refrain from adulterous relationships with the gods of other nations around them. Israel as a nation accepted the role of a wife, to obey her Husband Elohim. The blessings that YHVH would provide for His bride is given in Leviticus 26: 3 – 13 and Deuteronomy 28: 1 – 14. However, we see the curses that would befall them if they disobeyed YHVH, given in Leviticus 26: 14 – 19 and Deuteronomy 28: 15 – 68. As mentioned before, Elohim’s spiritual law existed long before Adam and Eve were created. But Scriptural record shows that knowledge of Elohim’s law was only available to a special few in ancient times. Those whom YHVH called individually to perform a special work in His service – the prophets and patriarchs of old knew and kept Elohim’s Ten Commandments, statutes and other laws. We see the example of Abraham mentioned in Genesis 26: 5, as follows: ‘Because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.” Abraham did not only obey the commandments, no he also obeyed Elohim’s statutes and laws. The statutes and other laws of Elohim actually magnify, or reveal specific applications of the Ten Commandments. The judgments that YHVH gave along with His other laws are for the protection of everyone’s legal rights. The judgments are binding decisions on Elohim’s previously revealed law. These decisions are used to settle future disputes and to render a sentence or verdict.

The examples given in Exodus 16: 28[1] and 18: 15 & 16[2] show clearly that Elohim revealed laws to the nation of Israel in Exodus 20 that were already in force. Clearly Israel could not refuse to obey laws that did not exist! Both these instances occurred before the nation reached Mount Sinai – before the covenant was made through Moses. Therefore the Scriptures shows that the commandments, statutes and judgments, all based on the principle of love toward Elohim and love toward fellow man – were in force prior to the establishment of Elohim’s marriage covenant with the nation of Israel! This being the case, why did Elohim have to reveal His law to the children of Israel when establishing His covenant with them? Simply because people had strayed so far from the truth by the time of Moses, that Elohim had to reveal His laws and statutes again or anew  to the Israelites. Ancient Israel had lost much, if not most of the knowledge of Elohim’s way in Egyptian bondage. Since the Ten Commandments, the statutes and the judgments were already in force, the only thing new about them at Mount Sinai was the written codification thereof which Elohim presented to the people after rehearsing them with His own voice. The civil statutes and judgments were also revealed to Israel to show how the Ten Commandments should be applied to the physical nation. An important point to remember is: Since Elohim’s Ten Commandments, statutes and judgments existed before the covenant was made with Israel, they were definitely not abolished in 31CE when Yahshua died. When Elohim brought Israel to the foot of Mount Sinai, He gave the Ten Commandments to them. He allowed Moses to declare His statutes and judgments to Israel, when they were scared to hear His voice. These statutes and judgments, as we’ve seen, magnify the Ten Commandments. However, we see that the physical ceremonies and sacrifices did not begin at that time. The only sacrifice mentioned in the book of the covenant was instituted in Egypt, as may be understood from Exodus 23: 18, in this way: “You shall not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; nor is the fat of My feast to remain overnight until morning.” This is obviously talking about the Passover that was instituted in Egypt, weeks before to protect the first born in Israel, when YHVH killed the first born in Egypt. It was repeated in the covenant made at Sinai, but it was not instituted by that covenant! In addition we see that when YHVH spoke the terms of His covenant to Israel after they were brought out of Egypt, He did not give them instructions for a sacrificial system of laws, as witnessed in Jeremiah 7: 22 – 23, as follows: “For I did not speak to your fathers, or commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. (23) But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your Elohim, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you’” Elohim did not command sacrifices to be offered originally. This explains why the temporary sacrifices, instituted after the first covenant was made and ratified at Mount Sinai, were not perpetuated after Messiah became the sacrifice in respect of sin, to reconcile us back to the Father. Only the Passover continued, but with different symbols, as we now keep it in remembrance of Messiah’s death, until His return. The reason why the Passover is continued is that it began before the covenant that YHVH made at Mount Sinai.

The very fact that Yahshua substituted unleavened bread and wine for the Passover lamb only, and not for the Levitical offerings, is one proof that the ceremonial offerings were temporary and no longer in affect. Further proof of these facts are given in Galatians 3: 19, in this way: ‘Why the (sacrificial) Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made.” Rav Shaul explains that the temporary rituals and sacrifices were afterward ‘added because of transgressions’ – because Elohim’s spiritual law was being broken by the Israelites. When Elohim made His covenant with ancient Israel, He wrote the Ten Commandments on two tablets of stone. At that time He also had Moses write His civil statutes and judgments in a book. But this book did not at first, contain the laws of burnt offerings and sacrifices. Elohim had these added later, as a separate part of the civil statutes, because the Israelites had begun to transgress Elohim’s laws. The keeping of these ritualistic laws required a great deal of additional work, as witnessed by the first seven chapters of Leviticus. That is essentially why they became known as the ‘works of the law’ as may be seen in Scriptures like Galatians 2: 16. But we see from Galatians 3: 19 that these additional (sacrificial) laws lasted until Messiah’s sacrifice, as already quoted. Notice especially the words “until the seed should come”.  Rav Shaul further explains the purpose of the sacrificial laws in verse 24 of Galatians 3, as follows: ‘Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Messiah, that we may be justified by faith.’ These physical sacrificial laws foreshadowed the sacrifice of Messiah and were a ‘reminder of sin’ to teach the people the need for Messiah— the true Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5: 7), who would eventually pay the penalty of human transgression for all mankind, at which time these sacrificial laws would cease. These temporary ritualistic laws did not define sin as the rest of Torah do; they were simply reminders of sin and the fact that atonement comes through the shedding of blood. The Torah laws which explain what sin is, are the ones we are to keep in the spirit as well as the letter today. These ritualistic laws had no further use when the Lamb of Elohim died for the sins of the world, and when the Set-apart Spirit became available for those called out of the world by Elohim. However, be aware that they did not cease because they were part of the original marriage covenant between Elohim and Israel. They were added after the first covenant was ratified! These rituals ceased to be needed only because the true sacrifice for sin had been offered! 

The original marriage covenant made at Sinai was between the ancient nation of Israel and Elohim. We know that ancient Israel became two separate nations, namely the house of Judah and the house of Israel. The house of Israel was not faithful to her part of the marriage agreement. The people turned from worshipping Elohim and followed the customs of the heathen, serving their false gods. They broke their part of the marriage covenant by committing spiritual adultery, and as a result YHVH divorced them as witnessed in Jeremiah 3: 6 & 7. Since Elohim is Set-apart He cannot co-exist with sin, and He was forced to separate His ‘wife’ from Himself, as we read from Isaiah 59: 1 & 2, in this way: ‘Behold,(YHVH)’s hand is not short that it cannot save; neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. (2) But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your Elohim, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.’ YHVH tells us the latter day descendants of Israel in Isaiah 50: 1, saying: “Where is the certificate of divorce, by which I have sent your mother away? Or to whom of My creditors did I sell you? Behold you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.” The relationship became so bad that YHVH was finally forced into divorcing His own people – the ten northern tribes of the house of Israel. Elohim punished the nation by sending them into captivity into Assyria as witnessed in 2 Kings 17: 6 – 19. Even though YHVH also sent the house of Judah away, He did not do so permanently. They eventually returned and preserved Elohim’s Set-apart Days, Torah, and the Hebrew language throughout the ages.

This brings us to the second reason for Messiah’s death. When Messiah died, knowing that He would be resurrected three days and three nights later, His dying words on His impalement stake in John 19: 30 had two meanings. When Yahshua said: “It is finished” or transliterated in Hebrew ‘Kallah’ He meant that His life as a human came to an end, but it also means ‘My Bride’. By saying the words ‘My Bride’ He meant that since He died, He is now free to remarry His bride again, because as called out members of His congregation of first fruits to be born again at His return, we from the lost ten tribes, who were immersed into His saving name have also died to sin, as explained in Romans 6: 3 – 7, as follows: ‘Or do you not know that all of us who have been immersed into Messiah Yahshua have been immersed into His death? (4) Therefore we have been buried with Him through immersion into death, in order that as Messiah was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, (6) knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; (7) for he who has died is freed from sin.’  Rav Shaul continues explaining the Law if divorce and remarriage for us as in Romans 7: 1 – 4, saying that because both Yahshua died and the called out congregation of Elohim has also died with Him in immersion, He is now free to remarry us, as follows: ‘Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), (of an adulterous woman), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? (2) For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. (3) So then if, while her husband is living, she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she is joined to another man. (4) Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Messiah, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for Elohim.’  By teaching those whom YHVH called out of the world at this time, we are in fact preparing more potential children of Elohim for His everlasting Kingdom.

But similar to the way in which Moses ratified the original marriage covenant with the nation of Israel, Yahshua had to ratify the renewed marriage covenant with His blood, as He also said when He partook of His last Passover, before His blood was shed and He died on the execution stake the very next day, in Luke 22: 20, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” A second witness comes from 1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 25, where Rav Shaul said: ‘For I received from the Master that which I also delivered to you, that the Master Yahshua in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; (24) and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (25) In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”’ The marriage covenant is in the process of being renewed between the remnant of the lost ten tribes of Israel, called out of the churches of the world at this time, and who accept Yahshua Messiah as their Passover Lamb, by being immersed into His saving name. This is when we die to sin and be reconciled to the Father and Brother Judah to become part of the commonwealth of Israel ,  chosen by Yahshua as His bride-to-be. He betroths us to be remarried to Him if we remain faithful to the end, by teaching fellow believers as He said in Matthew 24: 44 & 45, in this way: ‘For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. (45) Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their (Spiritual) food at the proper time?’ Yahshua continued telling His disciples in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25, that when He returns as the Bridegroom one day, not all of those whom He has betrothed will be ready!    

This is also why YHVH talks about making a new or renewed marriage covenant with both houses of Israel in Jeremiah 31: 31 – 33, saying: ‘Behold,  days are coming, declares YHVH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. (32) not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, declares YHVH. (33) But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares YHVH, I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.’ Notice that even though YHVH tells us through Jeremiah that He will make a new (marriage) covenant with both Judah and Israel, He will only have to write His Torah upon the hearts of those from the house of Israel, since our Jewish brothers are already obeying Torah. This also means that the laws given in the original covenant will be written in our hearts and minds. Under the first marriage covenant made at Sinai, Elohim wrote the Ten Commandments on two tablets of stone. The people could see the law with their eyes, but it was not within their hearts and minds. A prevalent teaching by many in Christianity claims that the fault with the old covenant was the Torah – that the old law was abolished for a new law. However we read the reason why the original covenant with Israel failed in Hebrews 8: 6 – 8, as follows: ‘But now He (Yahshua) has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the Mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. (7) For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. (8) For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD DAYS ARE COMING SAYS YHVH, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH.” Yes, the original covenant failed because of the weakness of the people (house of Israel), and not because Torah was defective. According to Malachi 3: 1 Messiah was prophesied to be the Messenger of the New Covenant. The terms of the New Covenant are part of the gospel of the Kingdom of Elohim that Yahshua also preached, as may be seen in Mark 1: 14 & 15. Just as Moses was the mediator of the first marriage covenant, so is Messiah the mediator of the New Marriage Covenant. And just as His marriage with Israel at Mount Sinai set up the physical kingdom of Israel, so the marriage of Messiah’s congregation will be set up the spiritual Kingdom of Elohim. The good news of that coming marriage actually is the Gospel Yahshua preached – the coming Kingdom of Elohim!

The first covenant was made with a people upon their promise to obey. But, because they disobeyed, they were dispersed amongst the nations of the world. The New Covenant shall be made only with Spirit-born people who, during their mortal lives remained faithful to Torah (for the house of Judah), or will have been begotten of the Set-apart Spirit by being immersed into Yahshua’s saving name, and already proved their willingness to obey Elohim (for the house of Israel)! The original marriage covenant was made with sinning mortals. The New Covenant will be made with righteous immortal children of Elohim. Those, whom Elohim called to enter into the New Covenant marriage, are now busy preparing themselves to become the bride of Messiah at His return. Others in past ages who were called, chosen and faithful until death, have already been prepared by Elohim and are waiting to be resurrected from the dead when they too, will enter into the New Covenant marriage with Messiah along with those who will still be alive at Messiah’s return. At the time of the first resurrection and Messiah’s coming in power and glory, He will marry repentant, forgiven, sin-free ‘Spiritual Israel’, born into the Kingdom of Elohim. Torah will not only be in our documentation any longer, but will be part of our being, in our hearts (belief system) and minds (our thinking). That is when the New Covenant will be in full effect. We see from Ezekiel 43 that even though there will be the exact same offerings during the millennium rule of Messiah, that were offered during the time of Moses, it will be of a memorial nature. It will simply point back to the value of Yahshua’s once for all sacrifice. The sacrificial offerings that the Israelites for so long failed to offer validly, will be offered acceptably, at which time they will fully understand the value of the Lamb of Elohim, to which it was intended to point. Baruch HaShem YHVH!

 

 

 

[1] Exodus 16: 28: ‘Then YHVH said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions.”’

 

[2] Exodus 18: 15 & 16: ‘And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of Elohim. When they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and make known the statutes of Elohim and His laws.”’