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The “New Covenant”—Coming Soon
to “...the family of Israel AND the family of Judah!”
Chapter 19, Part 1 Preview: What is the “New Covenant”? Is the New Covenant or any aspect of it already in effect? What are the terms of the Covenant. Who did Yehovah (God) make this Covenant with? The knee jerk response to this question is usually—“it’s for the church”. But if the church now has a New Covenant, what was the Old Covenant with the church? Is it possible that Yehovah didn’t promise the “New Covenant” to “the church” and that it won’t even be in effect until Yeshua (Jesus) returns? There is a great deal of misinformation concerning what this Covenant really is that has been taught by Christianity for centuries. The implementation of this prophesied Covenant is the very central theme of Bible prophecy! Read on and consider the earth shattering truth about the “emancipation proclamation” of the “age to come”.
Imagine a place in the Bible that explains the circumstances surrounding the implementation of the New Covenant. Imagine it in bold exacting detail. Picture this explanation in the context of one of the most eloquent and profound passages in the Bible. What did the Bible give as a SIGN that the New Covenant would be in effect? The answer is earth shaking—I mean LITERALLY earth shaking. When the first Covenant was put into effect the EARTH SHOOK (Exodus 19:18) and the 10 Commandments became the law of the land! These EXACT SAME SIGNS are going to happen “ONCE MORE”:
A Glimpse of the Future
Hebrews 12:22-27 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living Aloha, to the Jerusalem that’s in the Heavenly realm, to the assembly of tens of thousands of spirit messengers, 23 and to the festival assembly of the firstborn whose names are recorded in Heaven, and to Yehovah, the Judge of everyone, and to the spirits of the righteous who are perfected [Yeshua wouldn’t even admit to being good: Luke 18:19] 24 and to Yeshua, the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the sprinkling of His blood that reveals better things than 'the blood' of Abel. 25 See to it that you don’t reject the One who speaks with you. If those who ignored the one who spoke with them on earth didn’t escape, how much less will we if we ignore the One who speaks to us from Heaven, 26 whose voice shook the earth. But now He has promised, “Once more, I’ll not only shake the earth, but the heavens as well.” 27 By His saying, “Once more”, it indicates another major rearrangement of the things that can be shaken, because they were created in such a way that the things that can’t be shaken will remain.
[12/31/22: “Cliff’s Notes version”: The New Covenant Defined: Jeremiah had good news and bad news for Israel. First the Good news. There is going to be a New Covenant: “Yehovah says: “The time is coming, when I’ll make a New [marriage] Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah”—Jeremiah 31:31. People often hear this verse with no context whatsoever. There is absolutely a game changing context starting in the previous chapter. Chapter 30 is totally centered on getting all 12 tribes of Israel back in the land of Israel! All of Chapter 30 and 31 are about that theme, a theme frequently referred to as the “EVERLASTING COVENANT”, as in Isaiah 55:3-5, Isaiah 61:8-9, Jeremiah 32:40-41, Jeremiah 50:4-5 and Psalm 105:7-11.
These all refer to the same FUTURE EVENT! In 2 Samuel 23:5, David essentially explained that the entire plan of the Bible as given to Abraham—the one David had inherited—and was yet to be realized! Yeshua was actually crucified and resurrected to ensure the fulfillment of the “Everlasting Covenant” Hebrews 13:20, and now it is about to actually happen. Now back to Ezekiel: In chapter 32 Jeremiah finally gets to the bad news, as true prophets always do. Jeremiah is incarcerated and “the king of Babylon’s army was besieging Jerusalem”. This takes 36 verses, but then Jeremiah immediately jumps right back into the same topic—restoring the land to the 12 tribes. The rest of chapter 32 expands on good news certainly never yet fulfilled. Then Chapter 33: “The Word of Yehovah came to Jeremiah a second time while he was still confined in the guard’s courtyard...”. He begins with 5 verses on the current bad news, but then he jumps right into the good news in verse 6 “I’ll restore it [Jerusalem] to health and healing, and I’ll heal the 'people', and I’ll expose them to an abundance of peace and truth! 7 I’ll bring Judah back from captivity,’ [not “restore their fortunes”] AND bring back the captives of Israel, and rebuild them as they were in the beginning” (a small battle weary remnant). The rest of the chapter is incredibly good news—it has absolutely nothing to do with what happened with the Jews in 1948—that being only a prelude to what Jeremiah so beautifully laid out in this 4 chapter message. This is the entire context of “the New Covenant”. Every time the Apostles mentioned the New Covenant this is exactly what they were referring to. It is within this context that the EVERLASTING COVENANT is equated with the New Covenant (Ez.32:40)! I strongly suggest that you review all of those EVERLASTING COVENANT references. They all relate to this very prophecy. The New Covenant (or New Testament) is NOT the writings of the Apostles, but they were eagerly awaiting it! A minute before Yeshua ascended to Heaven “they asked Him, Sovereign, are You about to restore the Kingdom of Israel to its former state?” (Acts 1:6)...They were still clueless (until they received Yeshua’s spirit) about the grandeur of His coming Kingdom (just restoring it would not be enough)...but it won’t be long now!]
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The timing spoken of in the context of the New Covenant is unmistakable! The New Covenant will be implemented when Elohim (God) shakes heaven and earth! It will accompany the millennial Temple” that will soon be established in Jerusalem! Haggai elaborated on the time when Yehovah will shake the heavens and earth again AND REVEAL THE MEDIATOR:
Haggai 2:6-9,22 This is what Commander Yehovah says: ONCE more, in a little while, I’m going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I’ll shake all the nations the Great earthquake], and they’ll come with the treasures of all nations [see JFB], and I’ll fill this 'Temple' with splendor,” says Commander Yehovah. 8 The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says Commander Yehovah. 9 The latter splendor of this 'Temple' will be greater than the former,; says Commander Yehovah. And I’ll establish peace in this place, says Commander Yehovah.&rdquo... 22 I’ll overthrow royal thrones and destroy the power of the heathen kingdoms. I’ll overthrow the chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of a countryman.
There is only one place in the Hebrew Scriptures (usually under the misnomer: “Old Testament” or “Old Covenant” to deliberately make that part of the Bible seem obsolete), where the Bible specifically defines in exacting detail the “New Covenant”, using that very term. (All of the other references specifically refer to that narration.) However, that single two chapter long context is viewed as a curiosity or spiritualized away by virtually all of Christianity. It is the foundational prophecy that all of the statements in the The Testimony of Yeshua (invariably misnamed “New Testament”) concerning the New Covenant are based! (It’s ironic that the Messianic Writings are referred to as “the New Testament” or “the New Covenant” by those who have no clue what the Covenants are!) As unfathomable as it may seem, the foundational prophecy—Jeremiah chapters 30 & 31—the very basis and definition of the New Covenant has been replaced by a phenomenal counterfeit! As of this writing (2004) I don’t know of anyone who believes that Jeremiah 30 & 31 is an entirely unfulfilled prophecy. People like to quote chapter 31, verse 33, of the New Covenant prophecy without a shred of the context, and refer to it as fulfillment. YET NOT ONE DETAIL OF THIS EXCEPTIONALLY SPECIFIC PROPHECY HAS EVER BEEN FULFILLED! Yeshua even said that He looked forward to the time when He would celebrate the future New Covenant with His disciples over a glass of new wine (Matthew 26:28-29).
People assume that the New Covenant is all about eternal life; in reality Jeremiah chapters 30-31, the full text explanation of the New Covenant is entirely about life in the physical realm for flesh and blood human beings! Eternal life is an entirely different topic! Israelites living under the New Covenant will be exposed to the reality of eternal life, and hopefully choose Life. Soon after all 12 tribes of Israel become a role model for humanity, they will bless the rest of the world with the knowledge necessary for acquiring eternal life! Before getting started, it is logical to ask what happened to the Old Covenant (no, it’s not a book). The first (old) marriage Covenant between Yeshua and ancient Israel was broken when He was sold, essentially by the wife of His youth, for thirty pieces of silver to Roman butchers, and crucified:
Zechariah 11:10-14 I took My staff called “Favor”, and cut it in two so that I could break the covenant I had made with all the nations. 11 It was broken that day so the afflicted of the flock who were watching Me, realized that it was a 'message' from Yehovah. 12 I told them, “If it’s alright with you, pay me, but if not, keep it.” So they weighed out of thirty pieces of silver as my wages.
13 Yehovah told me, “Throw it to the potter, the magnificent [sarcasm] price they valued me at!” So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in Yehovah’s 'Temple'. 14 Then I cut apart My other staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Hebrews 8:13 When He [Yeshua] mentioned the New Covenant, He was 'declaring' that the first one was obsolete and about to be repealed, and what was obsolete and failing will soon disappear.
The first marriage covenant was to “disappear” after Yeshua was killed, some think in 70 AD, but arguably it won’t “disappear” until it is replaced with the new marriage covenant.
Even tho the marriage was over as far as the wife was concerned, the Husband still maintained His commitment to Israel, tho the marriage was never consummated before it ended.
No place in the Bible expresses the failure of Israel’s first marriage, and the permanence of the future marriage of the Lamb remotely as well as Hosea 2. The entire chapter (and then some) is pertinent:
Hosea 2 ALL “Call your brothers, ‘My people’, and call your sisters, ‘Shown Mercy’! 2 “Contend with your mother! Contend, because she isn’t My wife and I’m not her husband. She should remove the prostitute’s makeup from her face and stop soliciting adultery with the cleavage of her breasts. 3 Otherwise I’ll strip her as naked as she was on the day she was born. I’ll turn her into a wilderness, like a desert, and I’ll let her die of thirst. 4 I won’t love her children because they’re children conceived in prostitution. 5 Their mother is a whore. She became pregnant by her shameful behavior. She said, ‘I’ll chase after my lovers. They’ll give me bread and water, wool and flax, olive oil and drinks.’
6 “So I’ll hedge her in with thorns and build a wall so that she can’t find her way out. 7 She’ll chase her lovers but she won’t catch them, and she’ll look for them but not find them. Then she’ll say, ‘I’ll go back to my first man [1], because it was better for me then than now.’ 8 She doesn’t realize that I provided her with grain, new wine and olive oil. I even supplied the silver and gold that she used for Baal! 9 “So I’ll take back My grain when it 'ripens' and My new wine during the harvest season, and take away My wool and My linen that covered her nakedness. 10 Now I’ll expose her naked body in the sight of her lovers, and no one will rescue her from My grasp. 11 I’ll put an end to HER celebrations, HER Pilgrimage Feasts [2] [Chag], HER New Moons, HER Sabbaths and all HER appointed Festivals [Moedim]. 12 I’ll destroy the grapevines and the fig trees that she claimed were the wages her lovers have given her, and I’ll make them a forest and wild animals will devour them. 13 I’ll come and punish her for the times when she burned incense to the Baals, when she adorned herself with her rings and jewelry, chased her lovers and forgot Me,” says Yehovah.
Here Comes the Bride—Again!
14 “But I’m going to allure her back. I’ll bring her into the wilderness [Ezekiel 20:35] and speak tenderly to her there. 15 I’ll give her back her vineyards beginning there and the Valley of Achor [trouble] into a door of hope. She’ll respond there as in the days of her youth, just like when she came out of the land of Egypt.” 16 Yehovah says: “When That Day Comes* you’ll call Me ‘Husband’ [Ishi] and you’ll never again call Me ‘Lord’ [Baali]. 17 I’ll remove the names of the Baals from your mouths, and you will never mention them again. 18 When That Day Comes I’ll make a covenant with all the wild animals of the plains, the birds from the air and the animals that move around on the ground. I’ll abolish bows and swords and weapons of war from the “earth”? [eretz: land or region] so that everyone can live in peace. [3] 19 I’ll be betrothed [4] to you forever. Yes, you’ll be betrothed to Me in righteousness and in justice, in faithful love and compassion. 20 I’ll be faithful to you, and you’ll finally know Yehovah.
21 “When That Day Comes, I’ll respond,” Yehovah says, “I’ll respond to the heavens and they’ll respond to the earth. 22 Then the land [eretz] of Israel will respond to the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, and they’ll respond to what happened in Jezreel [Hosea 1:5,11]. 23 I’ll plant 'Israel' in the land for Myself. I’ll show love to those I called ‘Not loved’ and I’ll tell those who were not My people: ‘You are My people’, and they’ll say, ‘My Elohim’!”
[1] The word for 'Husband' and 'man' are the same in Hebrew—such a small vocabulary! Anyway, in ancient Israel, people were considered to be married at their betrothal, and if their “engagements” were broken off they actually had to get a divorce—sometimes before they had even met each other (due to arranged marriages), and months to years before their marriage would have ever been consummated—just like Joseph considered divorcing Mary before their marriage was consummated. But the New Covenant will be “happily ever after”! [2] There is a difference between Feasts and Festivals, but this refers to HER Feasts based on pagan substitute feasts like Christmas and Easter or perhaps even the wrong calendar. [3] After Israel, the bride, has returned to her greatly enlarged land (Ezekiel 47:14-23), she will be totally dependent on her Husband for defence, (no Iron Dome), but armies near (Psalm 83) and shortly afterward far (Ezekiel 38 (special emphasis on verse 11) will learn hard and fast. [4] Betroth literally means: “a fine, literally pay the price, and gain the right of possession.” Yeshua paid the price. So when does He take possession? And Who is the Messiah’s Bride?
Jeremiah 31:32 It won’t be like the [marriage] Covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand led them out of the land of Egypt, since they broke My Covenant, tho I was their Husband,” says Yehovah.
Now for Yeshua’s commentary on the prophetic New Covenant:
Mark 14:24-26 He told them, “This is My blood of the New Covenant [5] that is poured out on behalf of many. 25 I’ll definitely not taste the fruit of the vine again until the day when I drink a new variety [or fresh wine] in Yehovah’s Kingdom. 26 They sang a paschal praise Psalm and went out to the Mount of Olives.
[5] Almost every modern translation omits the word “New” here, siding with a small minority of Greek texts, breaking the connection with the New Covenant promises of Jeremiah 30 and 31. Of over 6,000 known copies of the Greek texts, all but 2 or 3 mention New Covenant, those few corrupted Wescott and Hort editions are the ones that the “scholars” rely on in the modern translations. Some few others say “renewed” here, claiming that the original Hebrew source of the term (Jeremiah 31:31) is “renewed.” Yet only the root word there is “renew.” Chadash khaw-dawsh’ is new, while chadash khaw-dash’ (with a different vowel point) is renew, such as “renew {02318} the face of the earth” or “renew {02318} a right spirit within me.” Nevertheless, there are no specified differences between the covenants other than the promised land being an eternal thing.Paul expected that Yeshua would return in his lifetime and establish the New Covenant, because he thought that the “first” one was “obsolete and failing” and would “soon disappear”. Why shouldn’t we also look forward to ALL of Jeremiah 31 being fulfilled—every jot and tittle of it?
Jeremiah 31 is the only place in the entire Hebrew Scriptures that mentions the New Covenant. The entire chapter, and even chapter 30 detail all of the particular details of this time, place and event. Millions of people refer to verse 33 of this prophecy and attempt to heist the New Covenant from Israel and apply it to Christianity, without realizing that the “law” spoken of in their Bible version is the Torah, and that it is plainly applies to the 12 tribes of Israel (verse 31). Yet Christians believe that that Torah is obsolete, even “nailed to the cross”:
Jeremiah 31:33 “In this [marriage] Covenant that I’ll make with the House of Israel after those days,” Yehovah says, “I’ll put My Torah within them and write it on their hearts. I’ll be their Elohim, and they’ll be My people.
If you have “My Torah” written in your heart, then exactly when was it written there? Did the inscription tingle? What is the reason for the Torah being written on your heart? Were you more knowledgeable the day after you were inscribed? Did you need to ask someone, say a “neighbor” or a “brother” about this Torah? If you haven’t even considered what the Torah says, then are you certain that it’s really written there?
Even just consdering the very next verse of context from this favorite “evidence” of a present day New Covenant for Christians is problematic:
Jeremiah 31:34 People will no longer teach their neighbors or their relatives, or ask, ‘Do you know Yehovah’ [the Lord], because they’ll all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” says Yehovah. [No more evangelism!] “I’ll forgive their wickedness, and I’ll never again remember their sins.”
Obviously there has never been a time or place where everyone from “the least of them to the greatest of them” knew Yehovah, where there was no reason for evangelism, were everyone was completely forgiven, and sin was something from a forgotten past!
The subject of how the New Covenant might apply to us now is a topic of considerable debate—but always with the presumption that the New Covenant is already in effect, but people jump thru different hoops to get there. A significant minority of theologians (who have actually read Jeremiah 31) understand that the New Covenant was in truth meant for Israel, but they still maintain that “somehow” the church has inherited the “spiritual aspects” of it. Others further assume—without a shred of evidence—that Yeshua must have been speaking about a “separate New Covenant with the Church”. Were that the case, we would then need to figure out what the separate OLD covenant with “the Church” was—particularly in light of the fact that there was no Assembly or “Church” of the cherished ones (saints) until after Yeshua died! In what way was this new and improved covenant with the Assembly better than the missing older one? Liberal theologians who dismiss the many nationalistic promises contained in Jeremiah 31 teach that the New Covenant is for “the Israel of God”. Most people tho have simply never questioned their inherited teaching.
Simply put, your relationship with Yeshua is not the New Covenant. All of the terms and conditions of the New Covenant are spelled out in Jeremiah 30-31, and date stamped for the future. Every other usage of the term references that prophecy!
In order to obtain a thoro understanding of the topic from the Bible—because this is a controversy—we should examine all of the evidence—every Biblical reference to the “New Covenant”, along with considerable context, to see if any of the popular teachings agree with the Bible. In this way we can determine everything that Yehovah has revealed. I believe that you will see—if you dare to read this—that the basis for virtually all of Christendom believing that the New Covenant is already in effect is that the Catholic Church has taught for centuries that the “Kingdom of God” is already here, and by implication, the New Covenant must be in effect! When the Protestant Reformation occurred, the leaders simply could not bring themselves to explain that not only was the Catholic Church not “the Kingdom of God on earth” but that the New Covenant was not here yet either! An honest evaluation of the New Covenant references will reveal that it is the covenant relationship between Israel and Yehovah, IN THE COMING KINGDOM OF ELOHIM! We the cherished ones will have something far better!
Let’s apply the factors that reports used to use: Who? what? where? when? how? and why? Who—The New Covenant promises are with “the house of Israel, AND with the house of Judah”. What is the purpose? So that “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness. I will give rest to the people of Israel.” Where: “The One who scattered Israel will regather him, and protect him like a shepherd does his flock.” When: Chapter 31 is a continuation of chapter 30. The chapter begins with “At that time”. So reading the context answers the timing. How: “Just as I have overseen their uprooting and tearing down, their overthrow, destruction and disaster, so I will oversee their building and planting, says Yehovah.” Why: “Only if the heavens above can ever be measured, and if the foundation of the earth beneath is ever found, would I reject all the Israelites for what they’ve done, says Yehovah.” There is no Biblical justification for applying these promises to any other people of any other time or place!
When most people say the words “Old Covenant” they think that they are referring to all of the books from Genesis to Malachi. Actually the “first covenant” or “contract” has to do with the Sinai agreement that is based on the Ten Commandments of Exodus Chapter 20, followed by three entire chapters of “fine print”! After Israel was informed of the specifics, they agreed to the terms. This special occasion was celebrated by Yehovah Himself (in this instance the pre incarnate Yeshua) during a personal visit with seventy four witnesses (v.9-11)!
Exodus 24:3-11 Moses went and told the people everything what Yehovah had said, and all the regulations, and all the people answered in 'unison', “We will do everything Yehovah has said.” 4 Moses wrote down all of Yehovah’s words. He got up early in the morning and built an altar at the ‘foot’ of the mountain with twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young Israelite men who offered zebakim [sacrifices] and made fellowship zebakim of bulls to Yehovah. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and he sprinkled the other half of the blood on the altar.
7 He took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people, and they said, “We will do everything Yehovah has said, and we will be obedient.” 8 Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that Yehovah has made with you based on everything you just heard!” 9 “Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and THEY SAW the Elohim of Israel. Under His feet was something like a 'floor' made of lapis lazuli [“sapphire”], as clear as the sky itself. 11 He didn’t raise His hand against the leaders of the Israelites. They saw Elohim, and they actually ate and drank!
Many people have read verses 31-33 of the following quote, from Jeremiah, without even considering the detailed context. The context, comprising the entire chapter (actually the entire book) is about the time when Yehovah will restore the national sovereignty of all twelve tribes of Israel under a resurrected King David! This climatic end of the age drama concerning a Second Exodus to come is described in The Time After Jacob’s Trouble. The entirety of the first thirty verses of Jeremiah 31, leading up to the promised “New Covenant” refers to this near future time period. The commonly quoted portion of the New Covenant is described in verses 31-34—yet the remaining verses, very specific promises—constitute an oath by Yehovah concerning the certainty that He will establish New Israel, over the dead bodies of anyone who opposes Him! Note that the recipients of the New Covenant are all Israelites—not a Church. Yehovah never made a covenant with His Assembly! Check out the terms of Jeremiah’s prophecy carefully for yourself. Yeshua won’t return and enact His New Covenant until both Israel and Judah are ready to live according His terms, so that they can receive the blessings described HERE:
Jeremiah 31: ALL “When That Day Comes*,” declares Yehovah, “I’ll be the Elohim of all the families of Israel, and they’ll be My people.” 2 This is what Yehovah says: “The people who survive the 'war' will find favor in the wilderness. I’ll give rest to the people of Israel.” 3 Yehovah appeared to us long ago and said: “I’ve loved you with an everlasting love, so with faithful love. I’ve drawn you out. 4 I’ll rebuild you, and you’ll be rebuilt, virgin Israel. Again you’ll take up your tambourines and go out dancing joyfully. 5 Once again you’ll plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria. Those who plant them will enjoy the fruit. 6 There will be a day when the watchmen on the hills of Ephraim will cry, ‘Get up, let’s go up to Zion, to Yehovah our Elohim.’” 7 This is what Yehovah says:
“Sing with joy for Jacob, and shout among the major nations, shout praises and say, ‘Yehovah, save Your people, the survivors of Israel.’ 8 I’ll bring them from the North Country, and gather them from the remotest parts of the earth. Blind and lame people will return as well as expectant mothers and women in labor. A huge crowd will return here. 9 They’ll come with tears of joy, praying as I bring them back. I’ll lead them beside streams of water in a straight path, so they won’t stumble, because I’m a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn. 10 “You nations, hear the Word of Yehovah, and announce it in the distant lands beyond the oceans! [Commentary]. Proclaim: The One who scattered Israel will regather him, and protect him like a shepherd does his flock. 11 Yehovah has paid the ransom for Jacob, and reclaimed him from those too strong for him. 12 They’ll come and shout for joy in the elevated place [or height] of Zion. They’ll be beaming over the goodness of Yehovah, over the grain, the new wine, the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd. Their lives will be like well watered gardens, and they won’t ever be sorrowful again. 13 Then the virgins will celebrate and dance along with young men and the old. I’ll turn their mourning into rejoicing, and comfort them and exchange their sorrow with happiness. 14 I’ll satisfy the priests with abundance, and My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” says Yehovah.
15 This is what Yehovah says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter crying, Rachel crying for her children. She refuses to be comforted for her children, because they no longer exist.” 16 This is what Yehovah says: “Stop crying out, and 'shedding' tears because your work will be rewarded,” says Yehovah. “They’ll return from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope in your future,” Yehovah says. “Your children will return to their own territory.
18 I’ve surely heard Ephraim moaning to himself, ‘You’ve disciplined me! I was disciplined like a calf unaccustomed to a yoke. Bring me back and restore me, because you are Yehovah my Elohim. 19 After I strayed, I changed the way I thought and acted [repented], and after I was instructed, I 'slapped' my 'butt'. I was ashamed and humiliated because I carried the shame of my youth.’ 20 “Is Ephraim [representative of the ten non-Jewish tribes] My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? As often as I speak against him, I still remember him and passionately yearn for him. I’ll surely have mercy on him,” says Yehovah. 21 Set up road signs, make guideposts. Start thinking about the highway, the same direction that you left from. Return, virgin Israel, return to your cities. 22 How long will you wander from here and there, you apostate daughter? Yehovah has created a new thing in the land, a weak woman will 'overpower' [Clarke’s] a strong man.”
23 This is what Commander Yehovah, the Elohim of Israel, says: “After I return them from captivity they’ll once again repeat these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, ‘Yehovah bless you, home of righteousness, 'special' mountain.’ 24 Judah and all its cities will live there together, along with homesteaders and those who follow their flocks. 25 I satisfy those who are weary, and I refresh everyone who is faint.” 26 At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasing. 27 “In days to come,” Yehovah says, “I’ll repopulate [sow] the House of Israel [the “Lost” 10 Tribes] AND the House of Judah with people and animals. 28 Once I oversaw their uprooting and tearing down, their overthrow, destruction and disaster. Now I’ll oversee their building and planting,” says Yehovah. 29 “In those days they’ll no longer say, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children’s teeth are set on edge.’
30 Instead, everyone will die for their own sins, everyone who eats the sour grapes will have their own teeth set on edge.” 31 Yehovah says: “The time is coming [1], when I’ll make a New [marriage] Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah. 32 It won’t be like the [marriage] Covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand led them out of the land of Egypt, since they broke My Covenant, tho I was their Husband,” says Yehovah. 33 “In this [marriage] Covenant that I’ll make with the House of Israel after those days,” Yehovah says, “I’ll put My Torah in the very hearts. I’ll be their Elohim, and they’ll be My people. 34 People will no longer teach their neighbors or their relatives, or ask, ‘Do you know Yehovah’ [the Lord], because they’ll all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” says Yehovah. [No more evangelism!] “I’ll forgive their wickedness, and I’ll never again remember their sins.”
35 Yehovah says that He provides the sun to light the day and the 'orderly succession' of the moon and stars to light the night, and He instantaneously calms [U] the raging waves of the sea—Commander Yehovah is His name: 36 “If these fixed conditions ever fail in My presence,” Yehovah says, “then the Israelites will cease to be a nation in My presence forever.” 37 This is what Yehovah says: “If the heavens above can ever be measured, and if the foundation of the earth beneath is ever found, then I would reject all the Israelites for what they’ve done,” says Yehovah.
38 “The time is coming,” Yehovah says, “when the city will be rebuilt for Yehovah from the Hananel Tower to the Corner Gate. 39 The measuring line will stretch from there straight to Gareb Hill, and then turn toward Goah. 40 The whole valley that was covered with dead bodies and ashes, and all of the fields as far as the Kidron Valley, as far as the corner of Horse Gate toward the east, will be 'special' to Yehovah, it will never be uprooted or overthrown again.”
[1] Jeremiah 30 and 31 are one long prophetic monologue about the events to occur at the time of the Second Exodus (Jeremiah 23:7-8), when all 12 tribes of Israel return to the land (not just the Jews!) AND The Time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7)—better known as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:1-22). Not one verse of this 2 chapter prophecy has been fulfilled, including the Torah being written on anyone’s hearts. Why single verse 33 out of all this futuristic context?
So the New Covenant is for the survivors of the Great Tribulation from ALL twelve tribes of Israel—and no one else!
Israel will be “overthrown” one more time, but afterward Yehovah will establish a New Covenant with the New Israel that will last “forever”.
Verse 31 above tells us without question who the covenant is for—“the house of Israel and the house of Judah”.
Verse 32 indicates that both covenants are marriage covenants. For details see Who is the Messiah’s Bride?
Verse 33 tells us that Israel will have the Torah written in their hearts, and that they will truly be “My people”. If the knowledge of Yehovah was really written in our hearts—internalized—then why are there literally hundreds of controversies? Until we are unified as a people, how can we believe that With so many different groups claiming to be the “one true Church”, we are certainly not this singular people of Elohim.
Once Israel has the knowledge of Yehovah literally written in their hearts, it will not be long at all before “the nations will seek” Yeshua! Then “the earth will be as filled with the knowledge of Yehovah as the water covering the sea” ... This will happen just after the Second Exodus!
Isaiah 11:9-11 They won’t hurt or destroy on all [1] My 'special' mountain, because the land [eretz: region, vs 10-11] will be as filled with the knowledge of Yehovah as the water covering the sea. [2] 10 When That Day Comes* the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a rallying banner for the nations. His resting place will be majestic. 11 When That Day Comes, Yehovah will extend His hand a second time to recover the survivors of His people from Assyria [Iraq/Turkey], Egypt, Pathros [Upper Egypt], Cush [Ethiopia], Elam [SW Iran], Shinar [Babylon], Hamath [Upper Syria] and from the islands of the sea.
[1] Of the 30 places where 'special (holy) mountain' appears, almost every reference is to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, but a few apparently include all of Jerusalem. [2] Notice that the “knowledge of Yehovah” fills the Land of Israel (not really the earth) (v.9) completely before making much of a dent beyond Israel. Verses 10-11 make it abundantly clear that Israel must be fixed before the neighbors begin to “recover”.Zechariah 8:23 Commander Yehovah says that at that time, ten men from every language and nation will take hold of the 'tzitzits' [“tassels”] of a Jew, and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we’ve heard that Elohim is with you.’
Ezekiel spoke of this same Covenant, but almost no one wants to obey His “statutes” and “ordinances”, and nothing is said about the fine print of living “in the land”.
Ezekiel 36:26-28 Then I’ll give you a new heart, and I’ll put a new spirit within you, and remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you hearts of flesh. 27 I’ll put My spirit in you and enable you to 'live' within My unchanging rulings and be careful to obey My regulations.[3] 28 “You’ll live in the land that I gave to your ancestors, and you’ll be My people and I’ll be your Elohim.
[3] When people truly have His spirit within them they never claim that the Commandments are impossible to keep!Verse 34 is the clincher: These Israelites will have absolutely no need to be teaching each other! Today every man teaches his neighbors something different. Among Christians—every man has a different idea of what sin or righteousness is, but under the New Covenant: “People will no longer teach their neighbors or their relatives, by asking, “Do you know Yehovah [the “Lord”]”, because they’ll all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, declares Yehovah. “I’ll forgive their wickedness, and I’ll never again remember their sins.”! The teaching will only come from Yehovah and from His true representatives—resurrected cherished ones as well as the physical descendants of Zadok (Ezekiel 48:15-24, especially v.23).
The Mediator of a Better Covenant
The significance of the New Covenant promise was not lost on Paul, in fact he quoted the “mystifying” passage from Jeremiah, as he was explaining how it was going to take place. He explained that the Messiah was to be the mediator: “He is also the mediator of a Better Covenant.”
Hebrews 8 All: The 'main point' is that we have a High Priest who is seated on the right hand side of the throne of the Majesty in Heaven. 2 He is the Temple priest of the 'cherished' place, the true Tabernacle that Yehovah built, not man. 3 Every high priest is required to give meal offerings and zebakim [sacrifices], and it was necessary for this One to have something to offer as well. 4 If He were on earth, He wouldn’t even be a priest, because there are priests here who offer the gifts prescribed by the Torah. 5 They serve as a pattern and shadow of their 'counterparts' in the Heavenly realm, just as Moses was told when he was about to build the tabernacle, “Be sure you make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.” 6 But now, Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah has been given a superior ministry since He is also the Mediator of a better covenant, one that was founded on better promises than the former.
A Second Covenant
7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second one. 8 Finding fault with THEM He said, “The time is coming, says Yehovah, when I’ll enact a New marriage Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah. 9 It won’t be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors during the time when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt, because they didn’t remain loyal to My covenant and I neglected them, declared Yehovah. 10 But this is the covenant that I’ll make with the household of Israel after that time, says Yehovah, I’ll put My Torah in their minds—inscribing it on their innermost being. I’ll be their Aloha [God] and they’ll be My people. 11 No one [in Israel] will teach doctrine to their fellow citizens [evangelize] or ask a brother, “Do you know Yehovah” [no witnessing to anyone], because they’ll all know Me, from the youngest of them to the oldest [1], 12 because I’ll be merciful regarding their unrighteousness and I won’t call their sins to mind.” 13 When He [Yeshua] mentioned the New Covenant, He was 'declaring' that the first one was obsolete and about to be repealed, and what was obsolete and failing will soon disappear.
[1] People love to force fit one condition of Israel’s New Covenant into the here and now, citing verse 33 about the “new heart”, pretending that at least this one verse from Jeremiah 31 has been fulfilled—without considering the many simultaneous terms of the New Covenant, such as quoted in verse 11 above. But all of the fine print of the New Covenant is detailed in Jeremiah chapters 30-31. Every other reference to the New Covenant in the Bible references the detailed specifications in Jeremiah.
The word “sponsor” rather than the usual “surety”, that we just tend to read over makes the following point much better!
Hebrews 7:22 By all of this, Yeshua became the sponsor of a more excellent covenant.
Years after Yeshua’s earthly ministry, the “First Covenant” was still not “obsolete”. It was “growing old”, but not yet dead. It was “about to vanish away”, in Paul’s optimistic view, but it hadn’t vanished yet.
Some people explain that when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, that that is when the old covenant became “obsolete” and vanished. At first glance that might seem satisfactory. Yet this scenario would have the First Covenant being in effect for about forty years after the death of Yeshua, authorizing the Roman Empire to be the deciding factor in the transition between the covenants—with Yehovah taking the back seat in the affair. The old covenant must finally be taken out of the way before or .
Hebrews 10:9 Later He said, “I have come to do Your will, O Yehovah!” So He is taking away the first so that He can establish the second!
2 Corinthians has us being qualified to be priests of the New Covenant.
2 Corinthians 3:6 who has qualified us to be ministers of the New Covenant [1], not in the letter, but in the Spirit, because the letter kills, but the spirit produces life.
[1] In the Kingdom when our “metamorphosis” (v.18) is complete, we will minister the New Covenant to those who survive the end of the age, whose minds are “veiled” (v.15). In the “fine print” of the New Covenant contract (Jeremiah 30-31), in the verse immediately following the promise to Israel & Judah of a “new heart” (31:33), it promises that no ones minds will be confused (veiled) about Yehovah “Because they’ll all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.”
But when do we start officiating?
Continuing in verse 11-12:
If what is being inactivated [condemnation, v.11] is brilliant, how much more brilliant must 'redemption' be that lasts forever? 12 So because we have this hope, we speak without any reservations.
HOPE, from Strong’s #1680 elpís (from elpo-, “to anticipate, welcome”) – properly, expectation of what is sure (certain); hope.
So the hope, anticipation and expectation of our New Covenant priesthood is for the future.
The envoy (apostle) Paul said that the promises associated with the First Covenant were “brilliant”, and that none of these promised blessings will be diminished when Israel is under the New Contract, but the benefits package will no longer be limited to this physical realm, eventually ending in death. Yet the New Covenant benefits package is “even more brilliant”—having the promise of eternal life!
2 Corinthians 3:7-8 Now if the ministry that brought death, that was engraved in letters on stone, was so brilliant that Israel’s descendants couldn’t even gaze at Moses’ face [Exodus 34:29] due to the remaining brilliance on his face, 8 then won’t the ministry that brings the spirit be even more brilliant?
Here are the rewards that Yehovah promised to Israel for righteous living under the First Covenant. Notice that every benefit is in the physical realm of this life:
Deuteronomy 28:1-13 Now if you diligently obey Yehovah your Elohim and carefully obey all of His Commandments that I’m giving you today, then Yehovah your Elohim will set you high above all the nations of the world. 2 All these blessings will come to you in abundance if you obey Yehovah your Elohim: 3 You’ll be blessed in the city and you’ll be blessed in the country. 4 Your 'descendants' will be blessed as will the harvests of your land. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. 5 Your harvest basket and your kneading bowl will be blessed. 6 You’ll be blessed when you come in and you’ll be blessed when you go out.
7 Yehovah will cause your enemies who attack you to surrender defeated [Peshitta] before you. They’ll attack you from one direction but flee from you in seven. 8 Yehovah will send you blessings in your barns, and in everything that you put your hand to. He’ll bless you in the land that Yehovah your Elohim gives you. 9 Yehovah will establish you as His special people, as He has sworn to you if you obey Yehovah your Elohim’s Commandments and live by His ways. 10 Then all the nations on earth will see that you are called by Yehovah’s name, and stand in awe of you.
11 Yehovah will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your livestock and in the produce of your ground, in the land that Yehovah swore to your ancestors to give you. 12 Yehovah will open for you His good treasury in the sky and give rain to your land at the right time, and bless all of your handiwork. You’ll lend to many nations but you won’t borrow. 13 Yehovah will make you the head and not the tail; you’ll only move upward and never downward, if you hear and obey the Commandments of Yehovah your Elohim that I’m giving you today.
Have you ever considered that Yeshua’s death redeems those who died before He was even born? His blood is not only for the generations that were born after His death up to the present time, but His zebak (sacrifice) works retroactively as “the ransom payment for those who had sinned under the First Covenant”. Essentially, that makes the patriarchs who lived and died under the “First Covenant” followers of Yeshua! So the Jeremiah 31 New Covenant— with no part of it yet in effect—has a retroactive provision for everyone who lived and will have lived during the 6,000 years prior to it taking effect!
Hebrews 9:15-20 This is the reason He became the Mediator of the New Covenant—so that by means of death He could become the ransom payment for those who are breaking [1b] the first [original] covenant, so that those who are called to the eternal inheritance can receive the promise. 16 When there is a last will and testament, it follows that the one who made it will die. 17 It only goes into effect when someone has died. It doesn’t take effect as long as the person who made it is alive. 18 That is why even the first covenant wasn’t put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had spoken every regulation to all the people, according to the Torah, Moses took the blood of a heifer with some water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the Scroll and all the people. 20 He told them, “This is the blood 'that confirms' that the covenant that Yehovah has made with you is binding.”
The explanation for why Paul was so ready for the Old Covenant to become obsolete is because only after the Old Covenant is done away with can the New Covenant be implemented! Truly, Paul thought that it was “ready to vanish away”, but was he right on the timing, or was he about 2000 years in error? This is the key question to ask. Paul thought that the Kingdom was about to be set up in his generation. The envoys (apostles) were chomping at the bit from the “get go” on this issue:
Acts 1:6 When they assembled they asked Him, “Sovereign, are You about to restore the Kingdom of Israel to its former state?” [1]
[1] Not to be overlooked is the fact that a literal Kingdom isn’t an “if”, but a “when” (Luke 22:30) Also see these comments!
Yeshua didn’t even tell His own disciples that there were still two millennia left before He was to return! The following two quotes vividly illustrate the state of readiness that He left His followers in. (Yeshua wanted His people to stay on Red Alert!)
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 We declare this to you by the Word of Aloha’s own authority, that we who survive and are alive when our Sovereign returns will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep [into the Kingdom]. 16 Our Sovereign will 'personally' come down from Heaven with a mandate, and with a voice like the chief Messenger and with Yehovah’s shofar, and the dead who 'belong to' the Messiah will rise first! 17 Then, we who are still alive, having survived, will be carried away together with them into the clouds to meet our Sovereign in the expanse. And we will be with our Sovereign forever.
Paul actually taught that “NOW” (in his time) was the End of the Age, and that Judgment Day was about to begin!
Hebrews 9:24-28 The Messiah didn’t enter into the 'cherished' place made by human hands that is a mere copy of the true 'cherished' place, rather, He entered Heaven itself to appear in the presence of Yehovah for us. 25 Nor was it necessary for Him to offer Himself often, the way the high priest enters into the 'cherished' place every year, with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise He would have to have suffered many times since the beginning of the world. But now, at the end of the age, He has offered Himself once as a zebak to abolish sin. 27 And just as people are destined to die once, and after their death comes Judgment [Day], 28 so the Messiah was also offered once, and personally placed on the altar to bear the sins of many, and He’ll appear a second time, not to bear sin, but for the eternal life of those who expect Him.
So Paul finished his comments about Yeshua the Mediator, tying it to His return.
New Covenant, New Priesthood
Yeshua is our “High Priest” in the sense of being relative to “good things to come”. The good things are in our future—we don’t have them yet.
Hebrews 9:11-14 But the Messiah who came was a High Priest of the good things to come, and He entered the greater and perfect tabernacle that wasn’t made by human hands and wasn’t part of this creation. 12 He didn’t enter with the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the 'cherished' place just once with His own blood and obtained our eternal deliverance from the death penalty. 13 If the blood of goats and calves and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are Levitically unclean makes them 'clean', and cleanses their mortal bodies, 14 then how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who thru the eternal spirit offered Himself without blemish to Yehovah, cleanse our consciousness from dead works so that we can serve the living Aloha?
The patriarchs died without having “receiving what was promised”—the most important things. Those promises had to do with eternal life in “ a city of their own”—in the New Israel.
Hebrews 11:13-14 They all died in faith without receiving what was promised [3], but they saw it [singular in Aramaic: the city] from a distance, and were jubilant about it, acknowledging that they were foreigners and aliens [still] on the earth. 14 Those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a city of their own.
[3a,b] The city of New Jerusalem in vss. 8-16 is the ultimate expression of the promised land of Genesis 22:16-18, and will be our permanent home as soon as we’re “made perfect” (the first resurrection) (vss. 39-40)!
Here are two references that show that our very purpose for being Yehovah’s people will not be made apparent until the “the last days”. We are in the process of being “built up” to be “'special' priests” under Yeshua, to administer the New Covenant:
1 Peter 2:3-5 if indeed you have gotten a taste of Yehovah’s goodness.
4 As you come to Him, a living Stone that humanity has rejected, but selected by Yehovah and precious, 5 you are also like living stones being built into a spiritual Temple [1], and 'dedicated' priests who present spiritual zebakim [sacrifices], acceptable to Yehovah, thru Yeshua Messiah.
[1] The fact that, spiritually, we are “The Israel of Yehovah” (Galatians 6:16), rebuilt right now, does not diminish from the fact that all of physical Israel will be rebuilt, as Yeshua prophesied in Matthew 16:18!
Yehovah’s followers will be mistaken for idiots, put to shame and slandered until the day that They return!
1 Peter 2:4-6,12 As you come to Him, a living Stone that humanity has rejected, but selected by Yehovah and precious, 5 you are also like living stones being built into a spiritual Temple, and 'dedicated' priests who present spiritual zebakim [sacrifices], acceptable to Yehovah, thru Yeshua Messiah. 6 The Scriptures say, “I am laying in Zion a chosen and precious Stone for the cornerstone, and no one who believes in Him will be put to shame!”
Matthew, Mark and Luke all quoted Yeshua, saying that His blood was associated with the New Covenant, and that He would only celebrate the establishment of the New Covenant with them when His Kingdom is physically here.
Matthew 26:28-29 This is My blood of the New Covenant [3] that is poured out on behalf of many to release them from the bondage of sins. 29 I’m telling you that I’ll no longer drink any of the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink a new kind [4] [5] with you in the Kingdom of Yehovah.”
[3] Most modern translations omit the word “new” here, siding with a small minority of Greek texts. Some few others say “renewed” here, claiming that the original Hebrew source of the term in Jeremiah 31:31 is “renewed.” Yet only the root word there is “renew.” Chadash khaw-dawsh’ is new, while chadash khaw-dash’ (with a different vowel point) is renew, such as “renew {02318} the face of the earth” or “renew {02318} a right spirit within me.” Nevertheless, there are no specified differences between the covenants other than the promised land being an eternal thing. [4] Compare the traditional “drink it anew” of v.29 with Luke 5:39. [5] The timing and circumstances of v.29 are explained in Did the “lord’s Supper” Replace the Passover? [4] Compare the traditional “drink it anew” of v.29 with Luke 5:39. [5] The timing and circumstances of v.29 are explained in Did the “lord’s Supper” Replace the Passover?
The New Covenant is prophetic—about giving us the Kingdom Yeshua promised us! The Messiah’s Supper foreshadows the envoys eating and drinking “at the table in My Kingdom”.
Luke 22:20,28-30 After supper He did the same with the cup, He said, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood that is poured out on your behalf!... 28 You are the ones who have stayed with Me in My trials, 29 and I PROMISE YOU THE KINGDOM just as My Father has promised it to Me, 30 so that you can eat and drink at the table in My Kingdom and sit on thrones governing the twelve tribes of Israel
At the Messiah’s Supper, He associated the New Covenant with His Return and “governing the twelve tribes of Israel.”! Do you?
1 Corinthians 11:25-26 So, after they had eaten it, He then took the cup and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, do this, as often as you drink it, to remember Me by.” 26 Every time you eat this loaf of bread and drink from this cup, you commemorate the death of our Sovereign UNTIL He returns [6].
[6] While the “lord’s Supper” will not be commemorated after He returns, the Passover will be celebrated, as prophesied in Ezekiel 45:21, a millennial reign chapter, as will the Feast of Tabernacles, as prophesied in the very evident millennial chapter of Zechariah 14, verses 16-21 in particular. See Did Yeshua’s Supper” Replace the Passover?
We celebrate Yeshua’s Supper “so that we won’t be condemned with the world” on Judgment Day (v.32).
Now for Part 2.
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