Biblical CovenantsBy Ian Foyn

Contents

Contents.............................................................................................................................................................1

What is a Covenant?...........................................................................................................................................2

Preamble............................................................................................................................................................2

General comments on Covenants......................................................................................................................2

The Anatomy of Covenants of God.....................................................................................................................3

Disclaimer.......................................................................................................................................................3

Adamic Covenant...............................................................................................................................................4

Noahic Covenant................................................................................................................................................5

The Signs.....................................................................................................................................................6

Abrahamic Covenant..........................................................................................................................................7

Sinai Covenant....................................................................................................................................................7

The Davidic Covenant.........................................................................................................................................8

Covenant Types..............................................................................................................................................9

Covenant: Blood.........................................................................................................................................9

Cutting a Covenant...................................................................................................................................10

Covenant: - Salt........................................................................................................................................11

Covenant: - Sandal....................................................................................................................................12

Covenant: - Marriage................................................................................................................................13

Covenant: - New.......................................................................................................................................14

Appendix A.......................................................................................................................................................25

Psalms 22 + notes – prove Jesus is Messiah.................................................................................................25

Appendix B.......................................................................................................................................................25

God’s Word [Torah] – Definitions.................................................................................................................25

Appendix C.......................................................................................................................................................26

Unbelieving man beware!............................................................................................................................26

Appendix D.......................................................................................................................................................27

How long does Adonai care for His Covenant Partners?..............................................................................27

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What is a Covenant?

A Covenant is an unbreakable symbiosis between two or more parties (whereby all assets, liabilities, friends, enemies, resources and any other associated interests connected with all the parties becomes common to all.) This includes family protégé and seed or offspring throughout the generations but excludes intimate relations with the individual party’s spouses.

Preamble

God tells us plainly that the Bible is a covenant contract with Him Jeremiah 11:3 tell them that Adonai the God of Isra'el says: 'A curse on anyone who does not pay attention to the words of this covenant,

The modern Church has accepted any doctrine that rejects anything ‘Jewish’ simply because it is Jewish. They have built into their theology a replacement mentality and it is so deeply rooted they do not recognize it as error.

The covenants, as we shall see, are all misunderstood (purposely?) and yet they are all applicable to the Church today. The honour bestowed upon us, that the Incomparably, Almighty, Loving and Just God of creation, the Possessor of heaven and earth, would make any covenant with sinful man is almost incomprehensible.

Yet, that wonderful God has made five main covenants with man, all through the medium of the Hebrew nation, whom we foolishly reject and oppose. The New Covenant is NOT the New Testament! In fact the New Covenant terms are set out in the Old Testament! Nowhere in the Bible does it ever prophesy or teach that the Church shall replace Israel at any point or in any form.

The Covenants of God with man (Israel) are: -o Bloodo Salto Sandalo Marriage (Ketuvah)o New

Each one shall be examined and hopefully explained enough to pique the interest of the reader without being an exhaustive study.

General comments on Covenants

All four covenants point to a progression of a personal relationship with HaShem (See Appendix B for the definitions).

o Blood Covenant – Allowing man to be able to come near to a Holy God and have a relationship with Him.

o Salt Covenant – Allows HaShem to call us friends. Become inseparable.o Sandal Covenant – Allows HaShem to give us an inheritance. All He has, becomes ours.o Marriage Covenant – We can be harvested into heaven to the marriage feast of the

Lamb.

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o New Covenant – Allows Adonai to remove the weak link in all the previous covenants and gives Him the opportunity to live with His creation forevermore.

o I am also reminded of the passage that says: - (“2 Corinthians 3:10, 11. 10 In fact, by comparison with this greater glory, what was made glorious before has no glory now. 11 For if there was glory in what faded away, how much more glory must there be in what lasts.) If the SINAI [Covenant] was glorious – and it WAS glorious! – then how much more is the New Covenant?

A thought: - Only after the second set of tablets were written did Moses’ face shine [at the institution of the Sinai Covenant – the giving of Torah]. Could Moses’ face shining, be indicative of the glory of the New Covenant (the second covenant) being ‘more glorious’?

Adonai (Literally Lord or Master) is shaking up all that can be shaken in order to take up residence in the house prepared for HaShem.

Haggai 2:5 – 9. 5 "This is in keeping with the word that I promised in a covenant with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit remains with you, so don't be afraid!" 6 For this is what Adonai-Tzva'ot (Lord of Hosts) says: "It won't be long before one more time I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land; 7 and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasures of all the nations will flow in; and I will fill this house with glory," says Adonai-Tzva'ot. 8 "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine," says Adonai-Tzva'ot. 9 "The glory of this new house will surpass that of the old," says Adonai-Tzva'ot, "and in this place I will grant shalom," says Adonai-Tzva'ot.' "

The Anatomy of Covenants of God.

Disclaimer.

I do not have the responsibility to teach anyone these things. I do not have the responsibility to correct anyone’s doctrine.

I do have the responsibility to warn that there is more to the principles, practices and intent of covenants of the Almighty God.

But, I shall gladly teach those willing to learn. I shall respectfully correct doctrine if the recipient is willing. I may direct seekers to resources and sources of further information.

And, I pray Adonai’s blessing upon all that I may have the honour of speaking to, whether friend or foe, for it is Adonai’s responsibility to convict and illuminate through His Holy Spirit.

We can only understand the subject of the covenants with a Hebrew-centric mindset.Zechariah 8:23 Adonai-Tzva'ot says, 'When that time comes, ten men will take hold — speaking all the languages of the nations — will grab hold of the cloak of a Jew and say, "We want to go with you, because we have heard that God is with you." ' "Isaiah 4:1 On that day, seven women will grab hold of one man and say, "We will supply our own food and wear our own clothes. Just let us bear your name; take away our disgrace."

I deal with the five covenants to one degree or another. But, I shall be dealing with the blood covenant in a lot more depth as it has a more direct bearing on the sacrifice of our Messiah Yeshua.

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All 5 covenants point to a progression of a personal relationship with HaShem. Blood Covenant – permanently wipes away sin. Allowing a relationship. Various depths

of covenant.o There are five covenants under this heading. These covenants I shall deal with

last even though the Blood Covenant is in fact the first covenant instituted by HaShem.

There are defined aspects to every covenant that Adonai has made with mankind. In every covenant, Adonai expected from man the faith to believe Adonai’s promises and to obey the instructions of Adonai. Adonai made a series of lavish promises, some seemingly impossible, as His part of the covenant deal. Further, covenants are transferable to the progeny of the covenant partners.

Galatians 3:15 – 17. 15 Brothers, let me make an analogy from everyday life: when someone swears an oath, no one else can set it aside or add to it. 16 Now the promises were made to Avraham and to his seed. It doesn't say, "and to seeds," as if to many; on the contrary, it speaks of one — "and to your seed" — and this "one" is the Messiah. 17 Here is what I am saying: the legal part of the Torah, which came into being 430 years later, does not nullify an oath sworn by God, so as to abolish the promise.

See the Appendix A at the end of this document for Scofield’s comments on Psalm 22 that proves Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah of God.

The aspects of a blood covenant include: - The terms of the blood covenant – what can be expected from each party – on one hand,

man’s responsibility and on the other, the promises that Adonai makes. Resultant curse for non-compliance. A sacrifice. A sign. Other benefits – some are unique to each covenant and some are reiterated.

A covenant is seldom made over a short period of time. It could take a long time to come to full fruition and to be fully accepted. The signs remain as long as the earth remains.

There were two covenants God made with Gentiles: -

Adamic Covenant

Terms – for Adam – Name the animals, Be fruitful, multiply and replenish (fill) the earth, Tend the Garden (earth) and Exercise dominion over the earth and animals. Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 1:26, 28; 2:16, 17; 2:19.)

Terms – for Adonai – Provide seed of the woman that will crush the head of the serpent, who shall bite His heel. (Genesis 3:21.1)

The curse is death and the earth has been under the sentence of death ever since. (Genesis 3:19.)

1 This was not a ritual Prophecy, it was not a mystical Prophecy, it was a legal Prophecy – a legal declaration or statement.

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Sacrifice of an animal to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:21.) The sign – Death. Although the covenant was not expressly stated, the elements were present. Other benefits – Marriage instituted (Genesis 2:24.) Vegetarian diet enjoined (Genesis

1:29, 30.) Seventh-day rest introduced (Genesis 2:3.).

Evidence that God continued to meet with, and speak to, Adam and his family is found in the fact that Cain and Abel knew about the principle and practice of sacrificing.

Genesis 4:3, 4. 3 In the course of time Kayin (See Appendix B for the definitions) brought an offering to Adonai from the produce of the soil; 4 and Hevel (See Appendix B for the definitions) too brought from the firstborn of his sheep, including their fat. Adonai accepted Hevel and his offering.

Noahic Covenant

Terms – for Noah – Build the Ark, Be fruitful, Multiply and fill the earth, Obey the seven laws.

Terms – for Adonai – Save the eight souls on board, Save the animals on board, Renew the earth.

The curse is death of mankind – instantly – and the destruction of earth and all the animals by water.

The sign – the Rainbow. Benefit – Removal of the tainted blood – the Nephilim.

We always use the Marriage covenant as an example of what a covenant would look like and then we express that a covenant with God is greater or stronger than that. That is our greatest error, when it comes to the subject of covenants. The marriage covenant is the foundation for all other covenants!

All of God’s covenants are fashioned after the marriage covenant. Where was the marriage covenant created or instituted?

Genesis 2: 21 – 25. 21 Then God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the person; and while he was sleeping, he took one of his ribs and closed up the place from which he took it with flesh. 22 The rib which Adonai, God, had taken from the person, he made a woman-person; and he brought her to the man-person. 23 The man-person said, "At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She is to be called Woman [Hebrew: ishah], because she was taken out of Man [Hebrew: ish]." 24 This is why a man is to leave his father and mother and stick with his wife, and they are to be one flesh. 25 They were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed.

Where does the covenant come in?

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Well, it starts with the relationship between God, the man, and the woman.Matthew 19:4 – 6. 4 He replied, "Haven't you read that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, 5 and that he said, 'For this reason a man should leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two are to become one flesh'? 6 Thus they are no longer two, but one. So then, no one should split apart what God has joined together."

Every covenant that God makes is to be viewed as God being the husband and man being the wife (the man and woman are one flesh so they make up ‘man’ – the race). This fact alone is enough for Adonai to be offended at the current popular agenda that determines to confuse or remove the God-given gender roles of mankind. But, that is a side issue we shall not explore now.

Man’s responsibility has been, since Adam, to believe by faith and obey the Lord without question. Making, and keeping, the promises is God’s part of the covenant – which we will deal with presently – and keeping God’s commands in willing obedience and faith (or trust) is man’s part. The faith comes in as we believe that God is able and willing to keep His promises. But to start with, we need to believe that God IS.

Exodus 20:2, 3. 2 א "I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery. 3 ב "You are to have no other gods before me…” Hebrews 11:6 And without trusting, it is impossible to be well pleasing to God, because whoever approaches him must trust that he does exist and that he becomes a Rewarder to those who seek him out.

One covenant never replaces the previous covenant … it may expand upon it or improves upon it or better defines the former covenant, but never replaces it.

Each covenant is a part fulfillment of the previous one and it builds, and sometimes expands upon, the previous one. The sign of each covenant continues as long as the earth exists.

The Signs

Adam – Universal death. (Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.)

Noah – The rainbow. (Genesis 9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.)

Abraham – The circumcision. (Leviticus 12:3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.)

Moses (Sinai) – The Sabbath. (Exodus 31:16, 17. 16 The people of Isra'el are to keep the Shabbat, to observe Shabbat through all their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the people of Isra'el forever; for in six days Adonai made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and rested.' ")

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The common theme of the covenants of God is the Kingdom of God and the Dynasty of His Messiah (the marriage between God and man).

Abrahamic Covenant

The Promise

As we examine the Avrahamic covenant, we find that Adonai promises him seed as numerous as the sand on all the seashores of the world and as many as the stars in the sky; and, God promises a parcel of real estate forever.

Exodus 32:13 Remember Avraham, Yitz'chak and Isra'el, your servants, to whom you swore by your very self. You promised them, 'I will make your descendants as many as the stars in the sky; and I will give all this land I have spoken about to your descendants; and they will possess it forever.' ".

God reiterates His promise and increases it to possessing the cities of his enemies.

Genesis 22:17 I will most certainly bless you; and I will most certainly increase your descendants to as many as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the cities of their enemies,

The Name Change

God changes the name of Avram to Avraham – inserting His name into that of Avram. And, God is henceforth known as the God of Avraham.

Genesis 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

The Supernatural Seed

God promises that Avraham will be fruitful and nations and kings shall issue forth from him. With a barren wife, that takes some believing.

Genesis 17:6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

A review of Genesis 17 is a worthwhile exercise to get a fuller perception of the covenant God made with Avraham. The actual covenant ceremony can be read in Genesis 15:9 – 18.

Sinai Covenant

The taking of the Jews out of the land of Egypt is not the same as God taking Israel as His chosen people. When the Jews accepted the terms of the covenant made at Sinai they became God’s chosen people – that is a covenantal condition.

Exodus 19:1 – 9. 1 In the third month after the people of Isra'el had left the land of Egypt, the same day they came to the Sinai Desert. 2 After setting out from Refidim and arriving at the Sinai Desert, they set up camp in the desert; there in front of the mountain, Isra'el set up camp. 3 Moshe went up to God, and Adonai called to him from the mountain: "Here is what you are to

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say to the household of Ya`akov, to tell the people of Isra'el: 4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you will be a kingdom of cohanim for me, a nation set apart.' These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra'el." 7 Moshe came, summoned the leaders of the people and presented them with all these words which Adonai had ordered him to say. 8 All the people answered as one, "Everything Adonai has said, we will do." Moshe reported the words of the people to Adonai. 9 Adonai said to Moshe, "See, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, so that the people will be able to hear when I speak with you and also to trust in you forever." Moshe had told Adonai what the people had said;

Adonai laid out the covenant rules and the people accepted them. Study Exodus 19 for a fuller understanding of this covenant.

The Davidic Covenant

Psalms 89:3, 4 [3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, 4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.].

This is a significant Covenant as Adonai promised a king like David – he would have the heart of God and do all His will – and His throne would be an everlasting throne. None of David’s sons have lived eternally on the throne – YET! This promise is still coming, and its fulfilment is not many years off from now …

David – The house.2 Samuel 7:9 – 16. 7 I have been with you wherever you went; I have destroyed all your enemies ahead of you; and I am making your reputation great, like the reputations of the greatest people on earth. 10 I will assign a place to my people Isra'el; I will plant them there, so that they can live in their own place without being disturbed any more. The wicked will no longer oppress them, as they did at the beginning, 11 and as they did from the time I ordered judges to be over my people Isra'el; instead, I will give you rest from all your enemies. " 'Moreover, Adonai tells you that Adonai will make you a house. 12 When your days come to an end and you sleep with your ancestors, I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of your own flesh and blood; and I will set up his rulership. 13 He will build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. 14 I will be a father for him, and he will be a son for me. If he does something wrong, I will punish him with a rod and blows, just as everyone gets punished; 15 nevertheless, my grace will not leave him, as I took it away from Sha'ul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Thus your house and your kingdom will be made secure forever before you; your throne will be set up forever.' "

The backdrop to this promise from God was the heart attitude of David: -2 Samuel 7:2 -7. 2 the king said to Natan the prophet, "Here, I'm living in a cedar-wood palace; but the ark of God is kept in a tent!" 3 Natan said to the king, "Go, do everything

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that is in your heart, for Adonai is with you." 4 But that same night the word of Adonai came to Natan: 5 "Go and tell my servant David that this is what Adonai says: 'You are going to build me a house to live in? 6 Since the day I brought the people of Isra'el out of Egypt until today, I never lived in a house; rather, I traveled in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 Everywhere I traveled with all the people of Isra'el, did I ever speak a word to any of the tribes of Isra'el, whom I ordered to shepherd my people Isra'el, asking, "Why haven't you built me a cedar-wood house?" '

Common promises to Avraham and David: -1. God shall make their name great.2. They are promised a piece of real estate.3. Eternal offspring.4. Connection to an eternal throne.5. Special relationship with God Almighty.6. Effect upon the nations (Gentiles – Goyim).7. Great blessing.

Covenant Types

We shall examine each covenant in turn. The application to the Believer shall be evident and I hope to present it in such a fashion that the Spiritual importance would become evident with its true meaning, practice and purpose. It may surprise us to learn its true meaning – as opposed to its traditional, accepted meaning.

Covenant: Blood

This is the largest subject of all the covenants in that it is the most detailed, the most famous, the most preached on, and the one that has the most content of all the other covenants. It is like the foundational covenant. We shall examine the procedure and the purpose of this covenant; and as we do, we shall notice that the symbolism and other interesting nuances of this awesome Covenant is impressive. The following Scriptures give practical examples of the application of this covenant, its procedures and conditions. As we go on, it shall be noticed how different aspects come to the fore and are touched on; but if these Scriptures are not clear in our minds at the time of reading, the applicable importance may very well be missed. We can always refer back to them to refresh our memories.

Cutting a Covenant

Making a blood covenant is known, worldwide, as cutting a covenant. The reason for this is the method employed.

Jeremiah 34:18 – 20. 18 As for the men who violated my covenant by not living up to the conditions of the covenant which they made in my presence when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts — 19 the leaders of Y'hudah, the leaders of Yerushalayim, the officials, the cohanim and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf; 20 I will hand them over to their enemies, hand them over

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to those who seek their lives; and their corpses will become food for birds in the air and wild animals.

There are Terms to consider and a Procedure to follow.

Genesis 31:44 – 54. 44 So now, come, let's make a covenant, I and you; and let it stand as a testimony between me and you." 45 Ya`akov took a stone and set it upright as a standing-stone. 46 Then Ya`akov said to his kinsmen, "Gather some stones"; and they took stones, made a pile of them and ate there by the pile of stones. 47 Lavan called it Y'gar-Sahaduta ["pile of witness" in Aramaic], while Ya`akov called it Gal-`Ed ["pile of witness" in Hebrew]. 48 Lavan said, "This pile witnesses between me and you today." This is why it is called Gal-`Ed 49 and also HaMitzpah [the watchtower], because he said, "May Adonai watch between me and you when we are apart from each other. 50 If you cause pain to my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, then, even if no one is there with us, still God is witness between me and you." 51 Lavan also said to Ya`akov, "Here is this pile, and here is this standing-stone, which I have set up between me and you. 52 May this pile be a witness, and may the standing-stone be a witness, that I will not pass beyond this pile to you, and you will not pass beyond this pile and this standing-stone to me, to cause harm. 53 May the God of Avraham and also the god of Nachor, the god of their father, judge between us." But Ya`akov swore by the One his father Yitz'chak feared. 54 Ya`akov offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his kinsmen to the meal. They ate the food and spent the whole night on the mountain.

This covenant includes a name change Nehemiah 9:7, 8. 7 " 'You are Adonai, the God who chose Avram, brought him out of Ur-Kasdim and gave him the name of Avraham. 8 Finding that he was faithful to you, you made a covenant with him to give the land of the Kena`ani, the Hitti, Emori and P'rizi, the Y'vusi and the Girgashi, to give it to his descendants; and you have done what you promised, because you are just.

The Holy name of God, יהוה, has a basic H sound.

The י - Yod is pronounces as a Y.

The ה - Hey is pronounces as a H.

The ו - Vav is pronounces as a V.

The ה - Hey is pronounces as a H again

Giving us: - YHVH. (Hebrew has no vowels as they are inferred by the meaning of the word.) Attempting to pronounce it renders an ‘H’ sound, like the exhale of a breath. Thus, giving God His highly respected, and unpronounceable Name. Taking the H sound and applying it to the covenant names of Avram and Sarai, changes them to Avraham and Sarah, respectively.

How does HaShem take on Avraham’s name? He is called the God of Avraham.

As is general knowledge, God is known as The God of Avraham, the God of Yitz'chak and the God of Ya’akov. Each one, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, made a covenant with God. God is not ashamed to be identified with them and therefore has given them His name. Avraham and Sarah, being the

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father and mother of the covenant promises, were the only ones to have their names changed by having God’s Name inserted into theirs. All the descendants of Avraham carry the name of our father Avraham.

The Body of Christ (us – if one is Born-Again and Spirit-Filled) has the honour of carrying the Name of our God (Acts 11:26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They met with the congregation there for a whole year and taught a sizeable crowd. Also it was in Antioch that the talmidim for the first time were called "Messianic.").

Through our relationship with them, when God accepts us as covenant partners, we have the honour of carrying His Name. But let us not jump the gun; I’ll deal with this aspect later.

Covenant: - SaltCovenant of Salt is an unbreakable covenant. This is a covenant of friendship. The principle is that as salt is a preservative and cannot be separated, so is a Godly friendship. It is an everlasting relationship.

The method employed in the salt covenant is that the two parties desiring to cut this covenant come together and each one brings a bag of salt. The two bags of salt are poured out onto the table and stirred up. Then the salt is divided between the parties and they each receive a bag of salt again. But now, it is a bag of mixed salt. Some of your own salt and some of the covenant partner’s salt. The condition for dissolving this friendship is that one would have to put the salt together again and separate the salt into two piles of the original – unmixed – salt piles. And each one receives back his original salt bag. But then that person ran the risk of being put to death for the betrayal of the sworn covenant.

As anyone can understand, this is most unlikely, if not downright impossible, to do. This covenant espoused the original term friend. Today, the word friend has come to mean a companionable relationship that can change according to current emotions; but it is far removed from the original intent or meaning of the word.

2 Chronicles 13:5 Don't you know that Adonai, the God of Isra'el, gave rulership over Isra'el to David forever, to him and his descendants, by a covenant of salt [which is unbreakable]?

David’s covenant of salt 2 Chronicles 13:5; Isaiah 41:8; 2 Chronicles 20:7.[2 Chronicles 13:5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?Isaiah 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.;2 Chronicles 20:7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?]

In the New Covenant we are brought into the salt covenant with Avraham and through him into Yeshua.

John 15:13 – 15. 13 No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave doesn't know what his master is about; but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

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Mark 9:49, 50. 49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is excellent, but if it loses its saltiness, how will you season it? So have salt in yourselves — that is, be at peace with each other." Leviticus 2:13 You are to season every grain offering of yours with salt — do not omit from your grain offering the salt of the covenant with your God, but offer salt with all your offerings.

In this covenant, when the parties would bring a bag of salt each then they would place it on a table. They would carefully consider their options and the desire to become this person’s permanent friend.

Also, if one of the parties made a salt covenant with a third party, the second party automatically became a friend of the third party.

Finally, the Blood Covenant sacrifice would also be salted making two covenants at the same time.

Covenant: - Sandal

In this covenant, the possession of real estate comes into play. When Moses gave the laws in Deuteronomy, he dealt with the redemption of property owned by a particular family. If they lost the property through poverty or death, a near kinsman could buy it back on behalf of the family. He was called the Go’el or kinsman redeemer. This could also be applied to a family member that had been sold as a slave being bought back.

The process was that the Go’el would call all the family and the elders of the city together at the city gate. He would ask the nearer kinsman if he wanted to buy the property. And, if there was a wife involved, he could buy her as part of the ‘package’, and raise up children to the deceased family member. He could, in fact, become father to more than one family in this way. (This type of marriage is called a levirate marriage.)

If the nearer kinsman declined to buy the property, then the willing Go’el would call on the elders to witness the transaction and write the deal down and store the deed safely. Then the Go’el would go to the nearer kinsman and remove his sandal and take it to indicate that he had taken his place as redeemer.

We see this transaction in practice in Ruth chapter 4: -Ruth 4:6 – 11. 6 The redeemer said, "Then I can't redeem it for myself, because I might put my own inheritance at risk. You, take my right of redemption on yourself; because I can't redeem it." 7 In the past, this is what was done in Isra'el to validate all transactions involving redemption and exchange: a man took off his shoe and gave it to the other party; this was the form of attestation in Isra'el. 8 So the redeemer said to Bo`az, "Buy it for yourself," and took off his shoe. 9 Bo`az addressed the leaders and all the people: "You are witnesses today that I am purchasing from Na`omi all that belonged to Elimelekh and all that belonged to Kilyon and Machlon. 10 Also I am acquiring as my wife Rut the woman from Mo'av, the wife of Machlon, in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property; so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his kinsmen and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today." 11 All

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the people at the gate and the leaders said, "We are witnesses. May Adonai make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Le'ah, who between them built up the house of Isra'el. Do worthy deeds in Efrat; become renowned in Beit-Lechem.

We also see references to this act in various other places, the most poignant is the instance with John the Immerser: -

Matthew 3:11 It's true that I am immersing you in water so that you might turn from sin to God; but the one coming after me is more powerful than I — I'm not worthy even to carry his sandals — and he will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and in fire.

Covenant: - Marriage

This covenant is not part of the list of covenants of God, yet it is the covenant that threads its way through all of them. The husband is the head of the home and the wife is the bride for whom the home was specially built, and through whom the godly seed would issue. In all His covenants, Adonai sets Himself in the ‘role’ of the man and mankind (whether a Gentile covenant to the Gentiles or a Jewish covenant to the Jews or both) in the role of the bride.

All of God’s prophecies and statements about taking a people for Himself all revolves about the intentions of taking a bride. All the acts of God found in Scripture have been with the Marriage Covenant in mind.We see the Marriage Covenant Contract (HaKetuvah) [ostensibly with God] detailed in Exodus 24, 25 and 26: -

Agreement Exodus 24:3, 4, 7, 8. Requirements Exodus 24:1, 2. Ate in Adonai’s presence Exodus 24:9 – 11. Written Ketuvah Exodus 24:12 – 18. Ketuvah Exodus 24. Bread of the presence Exodus 25:21 -> Ark of the Ketuvah Exodus 25:9b – 21. Offerings Exodus 25:17. Dwelling place for Adonai among men Exodus 25. Miraculous ‘unit’ – ‘Holy Spirit’ Exodus 25:31 – 40. Make the tabernacle Exodus 26:1 ->

Ketuvah (in English it is transliterated as ‘Ketubah’ – in Hebrew the ‘beit’ can be pronounced ב “beit” or “veit”), what does it mean? and what is its significance?

It is a typical Jewish marriage contract.

It consists of five parts: -1. The combined family histories with lineage and genealogy and with anecdotal comments.2. The history with lineage and genealogy of the bride and with anecdotal comments.3. The history with lineage and genealogy of the groom and with anecdotal comments.4. The history of how the bride and groom met with anecdotal comments.

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5. What is to be expected behaviour of the bride and the groom before and after the wedding.

To confirm that the Bible is the Ketuvah of God, the first five books of the Old Testament (the Torah of Moses), as well as the first five books of the New Testament (the Gospels and Acts), are written in the format of a Ketuvah.

Genesis gives the combined family histories of the bride and groom. Exodus gives the personal and family history of the bride. Leviticus gives the history of God’s ‘family’ – the Levites. Numbers tells of the love affair between God and His people with joys and sorrows as He

reaches out to her. Deuteronomy lays out the responsibilities of the groom and the bride.

All of these (above) are physically orientated – beginning with the Gentiles and then the extraction of what became the Jews and still further, the Levites.

In the case of the New Testament Ketuvah, we find a reiteration of the previous one in the Septuagint, but all nations are included as we enter the Millennium Age.

Matthew was written specifically with the Jews in mind. Mark was written specifically with the Gentiles in mind. Luke was written specifically with the Greeks in mind. John was written specifically with the Church (Jews and Gentiles) in mind. Acts was written to show the working of the Holy Spirit through the disciples of Yeshua.

All of these (above) are spiritually orientated as it would be in a ‘perfect’ world.There is so much more to the Godly Ketuvah. This subject could be explored further in the excellent works by John Klein and Adam Spears entitled “Lost in Translation” Volume 1, pages 33 - 76.

Covenant: - New

The New Testament is NOT the New Covenant!

Consider this riddle – when did the ‘Old Testament’ end and the ‘New Testament’ begin?

When does the Old Testament become the New Testament2?

Answer: -

It never does.

2 Why is there an “Old Testament” and a “New Testament”? The ‘Old’ is not old as in age, but as in former. ‘New’ is not new as in young, but as in a different world. The world in which we live is mainly concerned with the five physical senses (which is passing away because of man’s sin), but there is a world to come – although it shall still be on this earth (for now), but has the added dimension of being Spiritually alive. This would be the millennium age of Christ’s rule. Ultimately, there shall be a genuinely new heaven and a new earth, which comes in after the White Throne Judgement of ALL Mankind.

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Jesus lived his life under the requirements of the ‘Old Testament Laws’, therefore the Gospels are ‘Old Testament’. The apostles lived their lives under ‘Old Testament Laws’, so Acts and the Epistles are written in the ‘Old Testament’ days. John, who lived under the ‘Old Testament Laws’ wrote the Apocalypse making that an ‘Old Testament’ writing too, and, it was written with a distinctly classical Hebrew bent. That means that by extension, we are still living in ‘Old Testament Days’. The Millennium Reign of Christ will be governed by the ‘Old Testament Laws and Sacrifices’, making the Millennium ‘Old Testament Days’ too.

The New Testament is not a difference of days, laws (or lack of them – as some preach), sacrifices, Jewish feasts or any other ‘Old Testament’ practice. The New Testament is purely the new writings that ultimately explain the arrival of the deposit of the Millennium Reign of Christ as promised to the Jews; and all that pertain to the accomplishment of that goal. The Millennium Reign is imparted in seed or deposit form. And, as an extra bonus, the Gentiles may now actually bless themselves in Avraham by repenting and being grafted into the Olive Tree. (Acts 3:25 "You are the sons of the prophets; and you are included in the covenant which God made with our fathers when he said to Avraham, 'By your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed.') [But I am now jumping ahead of myself.]

[See the study on Sacrifices Today to see a handling of the first century Church and how they could truly be viewed as a temple-sect of the Jewish religion to be found on this website.]

Strictly speaking, the New Testament books are actually the writings of the Apostles – that is all – no more, no less. Holy Spirit inspired Scripture in exactly the same way as the Old Testament, and includes clarifications, and prophecies, and further teachings, all in harmony as one whole Book.

Galatians 3:21 Does this mean that the legal part of the Torah stands in opposition to God's promises? Heaven forbid! For if the legal part of the Torah which God gave had had in itself the power to give life, then righteousness really would have come by legalistically following such a Torah.

Is it not strange … the Gentile Church wants to claim the promises of the covenant God made with Moses (e.g. Deuteronomy 28) but reject the responsibilities required along with the resultant curses that follow any disobedience?If they want the promises, they must needs accept the responsibility of the Law and the punishment threat as well – it is a package deal! Because they twist Paul’s words to support their view does not mean it is right.

The New Covenant promises and conditions are found only in the ‘Old Testament’ and all the prophecies concerning this covenant are all to the Jews and found in the writings of the Old Testament prophets.

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The New Testament contains: -1. Four teaching biographies of Jesus.2. A book of history (Acts).3. Writings of the Apostles.4. An Apocalypse.

The correct (Scriptural) term for these books is ‘The Writings of the Apostles’.

The New Covenant prophecies are found throughout the Old Testament. But the most condensed or significant prophecies are: -

Backdrop Scriptures: -Restoration for Israel and Judah

Jeremiah 30:1 – 24. 1 This word came to Yirmeyahu from Adonai: 2 "This is what Adonai the God of Isra'el says: 'Write all the words I have spoken to you in a scroll. 3 For the day is coming,' says Adonai, 'when I will reverse the exile of my people Isra'el and Y'hudah,' says Adonai. 'I will cause them to return to the land I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it.' " 4 These are the words Adonai spoke concerning Isra'el and Y'hudah: 5 Here is what Adonai says: "We have heard a cry of terror, of fear and not of peace. 6 Ask now and see: can men give birth to children? Why, then, do I see all the men with their hands on their stomachs like women in labour, with every face turned pale? 7 How dreadful that day will be! — there has never been one like it: a time of trouble for Ya`akov, but out of it he will be saved. 8 "On that day," says Adonai-Tzva'ot, "I will break his yoke from off your neck, I will snap your chains. Foreigners will no longer enslave him. 9 Instead, they will serve Adonai their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10 "So don't be afraid, Ya`akov my servant," says Adonai, "or be alarmed, Isra'el; for I will return you from far away and your offspring from their country of exile. Ya`akov will again be quiet, at rest; and no one will make him afraid. 11 "For I am with you to save you," says Adonai, "I will finish off all the nations where I have scattered you. However, you I will not finish off, but will discipline only as you deserve; I will not completely destroy you." 12 For here is what Adonai says: "Your wound is past healing, your injury most severe; 13 no one thinks your wound can be bandaged; you have no medicines that can heal you. 14 All your friends have forgotten you, they no longer seek you out. I have struck you down as an enemy would, punished as a cruel man would, because of your great wickedness, because of your many sins. 15 Why cry that your wound and pain are past healing? I have done these things to you because of your great wickedness, because of your many sins. 16 "But all who devour you will be devoured, all your enemies will go into exile, those who plunder you will be plundered, those who pillage you will be pillaged. 17 For I will restore your health, I will heal you of your wounds," says Adonai, "because they called you an outcast, Tziyon, with no one who cares about her." 18 Thus says Adonai: " I will return Ya`akov's captives to their tents; I will take pity on his dwellings. Cities will be rebuilt on their own tels (previously destroyed, ruined and buried cities), with palaces where they're supposed to be. 19 From them will come thanksgiving and the sound of people celebrating. I will increase them; they will not be decreased; I will honour them; they will not be despised. 20 Their children will be as they used to be, their community confirmed in my presence; and I will punish everyone who oppresses them. 21 Their leader will be one of their own, their ruler will come from among them. I will cause him to come close and let him approach me; for, otherwise, who would guarantee his heart enough to approach me?" says Adonai. 22 "You will be my people, and I will be your God." 23 Look! The storm of Adonai, bursting out in fury, a sweeping storm, whirling down upon the heads of the wicked! 24 Adonai's fierce anger will not abate till he accomplishes the purpose in his heart. In the acharit-hayamim (“End-Times”. Used solely concerning the Last Days), you will understand.

The Lord Will Turn Mourning to Joy

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Jeremiah 31:1 – 40. 1 (30:25 – [indicates the Jewish division of chapter and verse]) "When that time comes," says Adonai, "I will be God of all the clans of Isra'el, and they will be my people." 2 (31:1) Here is what Adonai says: "The people escaping the sword found favour in the desert — I have brought Isra'el to its rest." 3 (31:2) From a distance Adonai appeared to me, [saying,] "I love you with an everlasting love; this is why in my grace I draw you to me. 4 (31:3) Once again, I will build you; you will be rebuilt, virgin of Isra'el. Once again, equipped with your tambourines, you will go out and dance with the merrymakers. 5 (31:4) Once again, you will plant vineyards on the hills of Shomron, and those doing the planting will have the use of its fruit. 6 (31:5) For a day will come when the watchmen on Mount Efrayim will call, 'Come, let's go up to Tziyon, to Adonai our God.' " 7 (31:6) For here is what Adonai says: "Sing with joy for Ya`akov! shout for the chief of the nations! Proclaim your praise, and say: 'Adonai! You have saved your people, the remnant of Isra'el!' 8 (31:7) Look! I am bringing them from the land in the north, gathering them from the far ends of the earth; among them are the blind and lame, women with children, women in labour, all together, a vast throng returning here. 9 (31:8) They will come weeping and praying as I bring them back. I will lead them by streams of water on smooth paths, so that they won't stumble. For I am a father to Isra'el, and Efrayim is my firstborn son." 10 (31:9) Nations, hear the word of Adonai! Proclaim it in the coastlands far away. Say: "He who scattered Isra'el is gathering him, guarding him like a shepherd his flock." 11 (31:10) For Adonai has ransomed Ya`akov, redeemed him from hands too strong for him. 12 (31:11) They will come and sing on the heights of Tziyon, streaming to the goodness of Adonai, to the grain, the wine, the olive oil, and the young of the flock and the herd. They themselves will be like a well-watered garden, never to languish again. 13 (31:12) "Then the virgin will dance for joy, young men and old men together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, comfort and gladden them after their sorrow. 14 (31:13) I will give the cohanim their fill of rich food, and my people will be satisfied with my bounty," says Adonai. 15 (31:14) This is what Adonai says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and bitter weeping. It is Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no longer alive." 16 (31:15) This is what Adonai says: "Stop your weeping, and dry your eyes, for your work will be rewarded," says Adonai. "They will return from the enemy's land; 17 (31:16) so there is hope for your future," says Adonai. "Your children will return to their own territory. 18 (31:17) "I hear Efrayim bemoaning himself: 'You disciplined me, and I took your discipline like a young ox not used to a yoke. Let me return, and I will return, for you are Adonai, my God. 19 (31:18) Yes, I turned away; but later I repented. When I had been made to understand, I struck my thigh in shame and remorse, bearing the weight of the disgrace acquired when I was young.' 20 (31:19) "Isn't Efrayim my very dear son, a child who delights me so? I speak about him all the time, I can't help but recall him to mind. In sum, I deeply yearn for him; I will surely show him favour," says Adonai. 21 (31:20) Set up road signs, erect guideposts, pay attention to the highway, the path on which you travelled. Come back, virgin Isra'el, come back to these cities of yours! 22 (31:21) How long will you hesitate, you unruly daughter? For Adonai has created something new on earth: a woman with the strengths of a man. 23 (31:22) Here is what Adonai-Tzva'ot, the God of Isra'el, says: "This expression will be used again in the land of Y'hudah and its cities after I have returned their exiles: 'May Adonai bless you, home of justice, holy mountain!' 24 (31:23) In it will live together Y'hudah and all its cities, the farmer and those who lead the flocks. 25 (31:24) For I have satisfied the weary and filled the needs of all in distress." 26 (31:25) At this point I woke up and looked around, but I had enjoyed my sleep. 27 (31:26) "Here, the days are coming," says Adonai, "when I will sow the house of Isra'el and the house of Y'hudah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. 28 (31:27) At that time, just as I used to watch over them with the intent to uproot, break down, overthrow, destroy and do harm; so then I will watch over them to build and plant," says Adonai. 29 (31:28) "When those days come they will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' 30 (31:29) Rather, each will die for his own sin; every one who eats sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge.

The New Covenant

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31 (31:30) "Here, the days are coming," says Adonai, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isra'el and with the house of Y'hudah. 32 (31:31) It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated my covenant, even though I, for my part, was a husband to them," says Adonai. 33 (31:32) "For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Isra'el after those days," says Adonai: "I will put my Torah (the same, good, pure and right Laws given to Moses) within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people (the Jews – NOT the Gentile Church). 34 (31:33) No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, 'Know Adonai'; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more." 35 (31:34) This is what Adonai says, who gives the sun as light for the day, who ordained the laws for the moon and stars to provide light for the night, who stirs up the sea until its waves roar — Adonai-Tzva'ot is his name: 36 (31:35) "If these laws leave my presence," says Adonai, "then the offspring of Isra'el will stop being a nation in my presence forever. (They are a resurrected nation TODAY!)" 37 (31:36) This is what Adonai says: "If the sky above can be measured and the foundations of the earth be fathomed, then I will reject all the offspring of Isra'el for all that they have done," says Adonai. (We cannot, to this day measure the sky or fathom the foundations of the earth, so Adonai still has not rejected Israel.) 38 (31:37) "Look, the days are coming," says Adonai, "when the city will be rebuilt for Adonai from the Tower of Hanan'el to the Corner Gate. 39 (31:38) The measuring line will be stretched straight to Garev Hill, then turn to Go`ah. 40 (31:39) The whole valley of corpses and ashes, including all the fields as far as Vadi Kidron, and on to the corner of the Horse Gate to the east, will be separated out for Adonai; it will never be uprooted or destroyed again." (We do not see the fulfillment of verses 38 – 40 today. So this indicates that there are still future fulfilments to come.)

Backdrop Scriptures: -Prophecy to the Mountains of Israel

Ezekiel 36:1 – 38. 1 "Now you, human being, prophesy to the mountains of Isra'el. Say: 'Mountains of Isra'el, hear the message from Adonai. 2 Adonai Elohim says: "The enemy is boasting over you, 'Ha! Even the ancient high places are ours now!' " ' 3 Therefore prophesy, and say that Adonai Elohim says, 'Because they desolated you and swallowed you up from every side, so that the other nations could take possession of you; and now people are gossiping about you and slandering you; 4 therefore, mountains of Isra'el, hear the message of Adonai Elohim — this is what Adonai Elohim says to the mountains and hills, the streams and valleys, the desolate wastes and the abandoned cities, now preyed on and derided by the other surrounding nations —5 therefore this is what Adonai Elohim says: "In the heat of my jealousy I speak against the other nations and all of Edom, since, rejoicing with all their heart, they have arrogated (appropriated) my land to themselves as a possession and, with utter contempt, seized it as prey." ' 6 "Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Isra'el, and say to the mountains, the hills, the streams and the valleys that Adonai Elohim says this: 'I speak in my jealousy and fury, because you have endured being shamed by the nations. 7 Therefore thus says Adonai Elohim: "I have raised my hand and sworn that the nations surrounding you will bear their shame. 8 But you, mountains of Isra'el, you will sprout your branches and bear your fruit for my people Isra'el, who will soon return . 9 I am here for you, and I will turn toward you; then you will be tilled and sown; 10 and I will multiply your population, all the house of Isra'el, all of it. The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will multiply both the human and animal populations, they will increase and be productive; and I will cause you to be inhabited as you were before — indeed, I will do you more good than before; and you will know that I am Adonai. 12 I will cause people to walk on you, my people Isra'el; they will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; never again will you make them childless." 13 Adonai Elohim says, "Because they say to you, 'Land, you devour people and make your nations childless,' 14 therefore you will no longer devour people, and you will not make your nations childless any more," says Adonai Elohim. 15 " I will not permit the nations to shame you, or the peoples to reproach you any longer; and you will no more cause your nations to stumble," says Adonai Elohim.' " The Lord's Concern for His Holy Name 16 The word of Adonai

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came to me: 17 "Human being, when the house of Isra'el lived in their own land, they defiled it by their manner of life and their actions; their way before me was like the uncleanness of niddah (Menstruation). 18 Therefore I poured out my fury on them, because of the blood they had shed in the land and because they defiled it with their idols. 19 I scattered them among the nations and dispersed them throughout the countries; I judged them in keeping with their manner of life and actions. 20 When they came to the nations they were going to, they profaned my holy name; so that people said of them, 'These are Adonai's people, who have been exiled from his land.' 21 But I am concerned about my holy name, which the house of Isra'el is profaning among the nations where they have gone.

I Will Put My Spirit Within You22 "Therefore tell the house of Isra'el that Adonai Elohim says this: 'I am not going to do this for your sake, house of Isra'el, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have been profaning among the nations where you went. 23 I will set apart my great name to be regarded as holy , since it has been profaned in the nations — you profaned it among them. The nations will know that I am Adonai,' says Adonai Elohim, 'when, before their eyes, I am set apart through you to be regarded as holy. 24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you from all the countries, and return you to your own soil . 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my Spirit inside you and cause you to live by my laws, respect my rulings and obey them. 28 You will live in the land I gave to your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanliness. I will summon the grain and increase it, and not send famine against you. 30 I will multiply the yield of fruit from the trees and increase production in the fields, so that you never again suffer the reproach of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your actions that were not good; as you look at yourselves, you will loathe yourselves for your guilt and disgusting practices. 32 Understand,' says Adonai Elohim, 'that I am not doing this for your sake. Instead, be ashamed and dismayed for your ways, house of Isra'el.' 33 "Adonai Elohim says, 'When the day comes for me to cleanse you from all your guilt, I will cause the cities to be inhabited and the ruins to be rebuilt. 34 The land that was desolate will be tilled, whereas formerly it lay desolate for all passing by to see. 35 Then they will say, "The land that used to be desolate has become like Gan-`Eden (Garden of Eden), and the cities formerly ruined, abandoned and wasted have been fortified and are inhabited!" 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I, Adonai, have rebuilt the ruins and replanted what was abandoned. I, Adonai, have spoken; and I will do it.' 37 "Adonai Elohim says, 'In addition, I will let the house of Isra'el pray to me to do this for them: to increase their numbers like sheep —38 like flocks of sheep for sacrifices, like the flocks of sheep in Yerushalayim at its designated times, in this degree will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am Adonai.' "

Much of what is highlighted above has come to pass in our lives – we are watching it unfold! But, other parts have not occurred yet.

Salient points of this covenant are: -1. The covenant is made with the Jews. (Not the Gentiles.)2. The Law – the SAME law given to Moses – shall be written on the hearts of every Jew. (Not

the Gentiles.)3. All the signs of the previous covenants are in view with this covenant: -

a. Death – Eternal life. (Adamic.)b. Live in the Millennium Kingdom together [all colours of skin]. (Noahic.)c. Circumcision – of the Heart. (Abrahamic.)

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d. Sabbath – Millennium peace. (Moses.)e. House – The Holy Temple in Jerusalem. (Davidic.) Including animal sacrifices and Jesus

(a Jew) ruling as King.f. The unique sign to this covenant is the Indwelling Holy Spirit Who enables us to keep

all the Laws of Adonai.g. Accomplished by FAITH and OBEDIENCE.

4. All the signs, covenants, etc. are now applied Spiritually – the work of being drawn near is in the heart.

5. The New Covenant shall only be fully manifest in the millennium.

This covenant is not, anywhere in Scripture promised to the Gentiles. Because of this, the “church fathers” have conjured up Scriptural interpretation that makes the Gentile Church the recipients of the covenant promises and therefore become replacements of the Jews; and they developed an anti-Semitic flavour to their teaching. The only promises made to the Gentiles are found in the Adamic and Noahic covenants.

Is there, however, any hope for the Gentiles concerning the new covenant?

Yes, there is!

This hope is found in Romans 11.Romans 11:17 – 34. 11 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you — a wild olive — were grafted in among them and have become equal sharers in the rich root of the olive tree , 18 then don't boast as if you were better than the branches! However, if you do boast, remember that you are not supporting the root, the root is supporting you. 19 So you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20 True, but so what? They were broken off because of their lack of trust. However, you keep your place only because of your trust. So don't be arrogant; on the contrary, be terrified! 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he certainly won't spare you! 22 So take a good look at God's kindness and his severity: on the one hand, severity toward those who fell off; but, on the other hand, God's kindness toward you — provided you maintain yourself in that kindness! Otherwise, you too will be cut off! 23 Moreover, the others, if they do not persist in their lack of trust, will be grafted in; because God is able to graft them back in. 24 For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree!

The Mystery of Israel's Salvation25 For, brothers, I want you to understand this truth which God formerly concealed but has now revealed, so that you won't imagine you know more than you actually do. It is that stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Isra'el, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness; 26 and that it is in this way that all Isra'el will be saved. As the Tanakh says, "Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer; he will turn away ungodliness from Ya`akov 27 and this will be my covenant with them, . . . when I take away their sins." 28 With respect to the Good News they are hated for your sake. But with respect to being chosen they are loved for the Patriarchs' sake, 29 for God's free gifts and his calling are irrevocable. 30 Just as you yourselves were disobedient to God before but have received mercy now because of Isra'el's disobedience; 31 so also Isra'el has been disobedient now, so that by your showing them the same mercy that God has shown you, they too may now receive God's mercy. 32 For God has shut up all mankind together in disobedience, in order

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that he might show mercy to all. 33 O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments! How unsearchable are his ways! 34 For, 'Who has known the mind of Adonai? Who has been his counsellour?'

Praise God for His goodness, mercy and grace! That He has allowed us, Gentiles, to enter the nation of Israel and experience the deposit of the Millennium Kingdom now through His gift of Salvation by the Holy Spirit. Bless His Holy Name!

Let us look at another corroborating Scripture: -Ephesians 2:12, 13. 12 at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Isra'el. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying God's promise. You were in this world without hope and without God. 13 But now, you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of the Messiah's blood.

Gentiles do not become Jews and the Gentiles do not replace the Jews in God’s plans – ever! Through Jesus we participate in all the covenants, including the blessings, the curses and the requirements of obeying the Laws – the Good Laws that God has ordained for our good and our peace. But how can all these things suddenly become a domain for Gentiles to claim? Upon what legal ground can Gentiles be include in a Jewish Tree, partake of all the covenant promises and sit down with Avraham without becoming legally Jewish?

Strictly speaking, Gentiles are excluded from the commonwealth of Israel. Could it truly be that the Sacrifice of Jesus makes us Jewish? No sacrifice could ever remove sin. Sacrifices only purified Jews ritually to be able to come before a Holy God without the danger of being consumed. (See the piece by this author on Sacrifices Today on this website.) So what mechanism is there to allow Gentiles into the Jewish Olive Tree?

Let us begin with considering when did the New Covenant begin?

It began at the tearing of the curtain in the temple, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. That was the deposit of the Millennium Kingdom, which shall be fully manifest when Jesus sets His foot on the Mount of Olives (this name takes on new meaning now with the Gentiles being grafted into the Jewish olive tree).

The giving of the precious Holy Spirit was not the birth of the Church as many affirm. Yes, it opened the door for the inclusion of the Gentiles into the Olive Tree. But in reality, He was the seed of the Millennium Kingdom deposited into the hearts of all Covenant Partners with God. (This is a hint as to how Gentiles can be grafted in legally.)

Why did God need to promise a New Covenant?

Was the law too hard to keep? - NO!

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Was He being too optimistic? - NO!Was the law too strict? - NO!Was the law too restrictive? - NO!Did God decide to replace the law with love? -NO!Is the God of the Old Testament too unreasonable? –NO!Could the God of the Old Testament have had no (compassion, forgiveness, mercy, or other loving considerations or attributes)? - Of Course He could have, and He does have.Did the God of the Old Testament need a Jesus to bring in the love, forgiveness and mercy needed to redeem man? - NO!Was He just cruel? - DEFENITELY NO!Was the God of the Old Testament too cruel and harsh that we needed a new God – Jesus?

- NO!Is this why He needed a New Covenant? - NO!Did God over-estimate man’s abilities? - Of Course NOT!

Our God is the “I Am” – which means ‘He is today the same, yesterday the same and to be expected to be forever the same’. He cannot, and shall not, change – EVER!!! It was because of His love and mercy that He sent Yeshua to the cross.

The LAW was not flawed, difficult or unreasonable in any way or form. Paul, the guy that modern preachers pit against Jesus in Biblical authority, says that the Law is Good!

Romans 7:12, 16. 12 So the Torah is holy; that is, the commandment is holy, just and good. 16 Now if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am agreeing that the Torah is good.

… And, other places.

We need to be careful not to put words in Paul’s mouth. Just because he says things that seem opposite to the rest of the Bible and seems to change previous doctrine does not make it so. Just because students do not see the relevance of what he is saying and do not desire to look further does not make the widely-held assumption right. (I can almost hear the objections, like – ‘the plain text says …’ etc. We need to remember that that is the English plain text. But that is another topic I shall deal with at another time. Suffice it to say that Paul does not introduce a different belief system or religion called ‘Christianity’. For reference check out works like the “Lost in Translation” series, the presentations supplied by the ‘FFoZ’ group, and other similar publications.)

The reason God needed a New Covenant, was because of the faulty man(kind) that could not keep the simple rules that God had set out to provide peace of mind for the obedient adherents of His Torah. The Jews kept letting the covenants fail because of their sin. The Church demonstrates the failure of the covenants for the same reasons as well. Their sin, I think, may be more inexcusable than the Jew’s sins, because the Church’s arrogance and pride has introduced a religious system

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that contradicts Scripture and was a source of persecution of the Jews that has driven them away from salvation. This false system is now so ingrained that the so-called ‘body of Christ’ refuse to accept correction and refuse to repent of their pride. This sin has manifested in demonic doctrine like the anti-Semitism, replacement theology, British Israelism, etc. found in churches today.

The “sad” part of the New Covenant is that it shall only fully manifest in the Millennium. Right now, however, we do have a ‘deposit’ of what is to come – namely the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Back to the question … How can a Gentile be grafted into the Olive Tree of God?

According to the Blood Covenant, as explained above, when Avraham cut covenant with God, he became God’s partner forever. Concerning the Blood Covenant, when a person has a previous Covenant Partner and cuts covenant with someone else, then the previous Covenant Partner becomes a partner with the new partner even though it was not he that cut covenant with the newest partner.

Just to make what I am trying to explain a little clearer: - Suppose Tom and Harry are Covenant Partners. Tom now goes out and cuts covenant with Dick. Harry and Dick are automatically Covenant Partners, making the final covenant a Tom, Dick and Harry Partnership. Now if Harry goes out and cuts covenant with Steven, both Tom and Dick are automatically partners with Steven. – You get the idea …

God promised Avraham a son would always sit on the throne of Israel. But, every son of Avraham died ‘naturally’, not fulfilling the promise. Then came Yeshua … He was of the seed of Avraham, and He lives eternally, He shall be returning soon to take His rightful (and promised) throne on earth and rule forever in Israel.

When He died on the cross, He died for ALL mankind. But this still only opens the door for us to come near to God, not become a Covenant Partner.

As we understand from the Sacrifices (see the article Sacrifices Today on this site by this author), we become one with the sacrifice and are then able to come before the Almighty God. But, again this does not make us Covenant Partners.

When we look at the covenant Avraham cut with God, where do we find Avraham when they began the ritual of walking through the animal pieces?

Genesis 15:12 As the sun was about to set, a deep sleep fell on Avram; horror and great darkness came over him

Avraham was asleep during the time that the covenant was being cut.

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The next question is ‘Who walked through the animal pieces to make the covenant?’

Before we look at the answer, let me make this point: - A covenant is only as strong as the weakest partner.

Genesis 15:17 After the sun had set and there was thick darkness, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared, which passed between these animal parts.

It was a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch that passed between the animal pieces. A case could be made that God the Father is the flaming torch and Yeshua is the smoking fire pot or vice versa. Either way, the covenant was cut between the Heavenly Father and His Son, while Avraham was snoozing.

Who is the weakest link between God the Father and God the Son?

Neither! They are co-equal, co-Almighty, co-everything! They are One! The Covenant therefore is unable to fail and is unbreakable.

Avraham now becomes more than a conqueror. Romans 8:23 tells us that we are more than conquerors because Yeshua does the work and we reap the benefits of His efforts. Here Avraham lives this concept and receives the covenant and the promises. The point is that those that are IN CHRIST are IN THE COVENANT along with Avraham …

All a Gentile has to do is to be in Christ to benefit from the Covenant.

To be In Christ one needs to be Born Again (John 3:3 "Yes, indeed," Yeshua answered him, "I tell you that unless a person is born again from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.") by receiving Yeshua (Jesus) (John 1:11, 12. 11 He came to his own homeland, yet his own people did not receive him. 12 But to as many as did receive him, to those who put their trust in his person and power, he gave the right to become children of God,) and the prerequisite to be Born Again is to answer the call of God (Act 2:37 – 39. 37 On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Kefa (Peter) and the other emissaries, "Brothers, what should we do?" 38 Kefa answered them, "Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh! 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away — as many as Adonai our God may call!").

There is more to be said on this subject, but this is already a sizeable dissertation. I shall therefore conclude with the following appendices: -

Appendix A

Psalms 22 + notes – prove Jesus is Messiah

Note 1: - Psalms 22, 23 & 24 form a trilogy.

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In Psalms 22 the good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11);In Psalms 23 the great Shepherd, “brought again from the dead … through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Hebrews 13:20), tenderly cares for His sheep;In Psalm 24 the chief Shepherd appears as King of glory to reward His sheep (1 Peter 5:4).Note 2: - Psalm 22 is a graphic picture of death by crucifixion.The bones (of the hands, arms, shoulders, and pelvis) out of joint (v14);The profusion of perspiration caused by intense suffering (v14);The action of the heart affected (v14); strength exhausted, and extreme thirst (v15);The hands and feet pierced (see note 3 and John 20:20);Nudity with the hurt to modesty (v17), are all associated with that mode of death.The accompanying circumstances are precisely those fulfilled in the crucifixion of Christ.The desolate cry of v1 (Matthew 27:46);The periods of light and darkness of v2 (Matthew 27:45);The contemptuous and humiliating treatment of vss6 – 8, 12, 13 (Matthew 27:39 – 44);The casting of lots of vs18 (Matthew 27:35), were all literally fulfilled.When it is remembered that the crucifixion was a Roman, not a Jewish, form of execution, the proof of inspiration is irresistible.Note 3: - The Hebrew text reads “like a lion” here, but this gives no clear meaning to the passage. Ancient versions and some manuscripts support the KJV translation, “they pierced”. History and the way Christ died prove this translation to be accurate.Note 4: - At v22 the Psalm shifts from crucifixion to resurrection; fulfilled in the “go to my brethren,” etc., of John 20:17. The risen Christ declares to His brethren the name, “Father”.Note 5: - Verses 26 – 31 relate the results of the suffering and deliverance described in the Psalm and proves its Messianic reference beyond all question. It could not possibly be said of the suffering and subsequent deliverance of any mere human being that it would result in both the meek and the prosperous being fed (vss26, 29), in all the ends of the earth turning to the Lord (v27), in all the dead eventually bowing before Him (v29), and in a new people being born (v31).

Appendix B

God’s Word [Torah] – Definitions

HaShem – Literally ‘the Name’ יהוה the name we erroneously call Jehovah.

Adonai – Lord.

Kayin – Cain – Adam’s firstborn son.

Hevel – Abel – Adam’s Second son.

Yeshua – A more accurate rendering of the Hebrew Name of Jesus.

Adonai Tzva'ot – Lord of Hosts.

Ketuvah – the Hebrew wedding contract made up of five sections.

Cohen – Priest.

Cohen HaGadol – High Priest.

Cohenim HaGadolim – High Priests (Plural).

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Nephilim – the offspring between fallen angels and human women.

Yeshua HaMashiach – Jesus the Messiah.

The Law of Adonai (Torah).Psalms 119:1 Note 4: - Psalms 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. God’s Word is treated under these designations: -1) Law [Primarily ‘instruction’ or ‘teaching’],2) Word {Words} [Speech or utterance, a general word for the disclosure of God’s will],3) Ordinances [also ‘Judgements’, referring to legal pronouncements, rules of the administration],4) Commandments [used as authoritative orders; used as religious principles],5) Precepts [relate to man’s moral obligations as enjoined by God],6) Testimonies [indicate God’s own declarations concerning His nature and purposes],7) Statutes [refers to civil & religious appointments of the Mosaic ‘law’], and8) Judgements.I might add: -9) Ketuvah [the wedding agreement that is the cause, reason and privilege of man receiving the whole of God’s Word],10) Contract [the terms and conditions written up for the relationship between God and man via the Hebrew nation],11) Covenant [the guidelines for behaviour before, during and after the wedding feast, between God & man], and finally,12) This includes the Book of Revelation.

Appendix C

Unbelieving man beware!

Man transgresses God’s covenant.Hosea 6:7 "But they, just like men, have broken the covenant, they have been faithless in dealing with me.

Unbelievers who deny God answered.Isaiah 28:15, 16. 15 Because you said, "We made a covenant with death, we made a contract with Sh'ol. When the raging flood passes through, it will not touch us. For we have made lies our refuge and hid ourselves in falsehoods" — 16 therefore here is what Adonai Elohim says: "Look, I am laying in Tziyon a tested stone, a costly cornerstone, a firm foundation-stone; he who trusts will not rush here and there.

Unbelievers that may unwittingly, or purposely cut covenant with devils, demons & Nephilim as well as ones that make PC [Politically Correct] laws, contracts and treaties [e.g. abortion, homosexual, ‘green’, etc., laws] and who hide behind their lies, shall surely be judged according to God’s Corner Stone [Yeshua HaMashiach] and shall be trodden underfoot.

Isaiah 28:14 – 22. 14 So listen to the word of Adonai, you scoffers, composing taunts for this people in Yerushalayim: 15 Because you said, "We made a covenant with death, we made a contract with Sh'ol. When the raging flood passes through, it will not touch us. For we have made lies our refuge and hid ourselves in falsehoods" — 16 therefore here is what Adonai Elohim says: "Look, I am laying in Tziyon a tested stone, a costly cornerstone, a firm foundation-stone; he who trusts will not rush here and there. 17 I will make justice the plumbline and righteousness the plumb-bob; hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, water will overflow the hiding place, 18 your covenant with death will be

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annulled, and your contract with Sh'ol will not stand. When the raging flood passes through, you will be trampled down by it. 19 As often as it passes through, it will take you, for it will pass through every morning, day after day, night after night; understanding the message will be sheer terror." 20 For, [as the saying goes,] "The bed is too short for a person to stretch, and the blanket too narrow [to protect him from cold] even if he crams himself in." 21 For Adonai will arise, as at Mount P'ratzim, and storm with rage, as in the Giv`on Valley; so he can do his deed, his strange deed, and perform his task, his alien task. 22 Therefore, now, stop your scoffing, or your bonds will be further tightened; for I have heard from Adonai Elohim-Tzva'ot that destruction is decreed for the whole land.

Appendix D

How long does Adonai care for His Covenant Partners?

Adonai’s word and covenant is to a 1000 generations and forever.Psalms 105:7 – 10. 7 He is Adonai our God! His rulings are everywhere on earth. 8 He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded to a thousand generations, 9 the covenant he made with Avraham, the oath he swore to Yitz'chak, 10 and established as a law for Ya`akov, for Isra'el as an everlasting covenant:

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