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BACKGROUND
THE FEASTS
EASTON
FEAST; FESTIVALS - RELIGIOUS; ATONEMENT; ATONEMENT, DAY OF; AZAZEL; PASSOVER; PENTECOST; TABERNACLES, FEAST OF:
NEW BIBLE DICTIONARY
PASSOVER; PENTECOST, FEAST OF; TABERNACLES, FEAST OF:
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
THE FEASTS - BIBLE DICTIONARIES
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| BEYOND THE VEIL – 2
NEW TESTAMENT REVELATION ON ATONEMENT
THE BOOK OF HEBREWS (1st of 2) |
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 The interpretation of the Day of Atonement is an underlying theme of a good part of the New Testament, particularly the book of Hebrews, which is largely devoted to this theme. It is both interesting and highly significant that the two least understood books of the New Testament are Hebrews and Revelation. For these two books have at their very heart, the Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles respectively.
As we participate in the Feast of Trumpets God reveals the deeper truths of the book of Hebrews, for they must be understood in order to experience Atonement. As we absorb the truths of Atonement a greater understanding of the book of Revelation will evolve. For the ‘revelation of Revelation’ will introduce us to the exciting realms of the Feast of Tabernacles. Each new truth revealed to the Church is but a stepping stone to the next, no matter how wonderful and glorious a revelation it may appear at the time. It is only with the return of Christ that all truth will be finally revealed. For death, the final frontier, is the final truth to be understood, and the final barrier to be overcome. It is ironic that death, so inevitable for all of us, is to be the last stronghold to be defeated. Doctors can delay, but never stop the inevitable. It would be fantastic to get our resurrection bodies right now, wouldn’t it? My back would say amen to that today!
But let’s stop the wishful thinking and get back to reality! i.e. the intriguing reality of the book of Hebrews. See what it has to tell us about the post resurrection application of the principles of the Day of Atonement. We will of necessity, take a brief, simple, yet hopefully revealing walk through this book. Seeing how the Atonement of Jesus both fulfilled the Old Testament pattern and set the scene for the role of the Tabernacle church in experientially entering into the positionally completed work of Jesus. Sorry to use these theological words, but it is important to clearly define the position. In simpler terms, Jesus has done it all, but we are yet to experience all of it, that is to fully embrace it in our lives.
Hebrews is split into three major sections; a meaty filling, sandwiched between the prologue and the conclusion. Let’s take a bite!
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| 1. The Superiority of God’s New Revelation: <i>(Hebrews 1:1-4)</i> |
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 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus is supreme, a mirror of the Father, and far superior to the angels.
Hebrews 1:1-4
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| 2. Christ is Superior to Old Covenant Leadership: <i>(Hebrews 1:5-7:28)</i> |
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 a. Superior to the Angels: (1:5-2:18)
“To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (1:13-14)
Jesus had to be made like us, his brothers, in order to successfully make atonement for us.
“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” (2:17)
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 b. Superior to Moses: (3:1-4:13)
Made like us but superior to us.
“Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself.” (3:3)
We are warned not to become like the Jews, who constantly disobeyed Moses,
“We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at first.” (3:14)
and invited to enter our Sabbath-rest,
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God, for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.” (4:9-10)
for God knows us better than we know ourselves!
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (4:12)
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 c. Superior to the Aaronic Priesthood: (4:14-7:28)
Jesus is our Great High Priest to whom we can turn to find grace, mercy and help in our time of need because,
“Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (5:8-10)
We are warned not to fall away, but to grow up in Christ and seek more of Him.
“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. And God permitting we will do so.” (6:1-3)
for there is more to be found in God than these Passover and Pentecost truths. Rather, we are to aim towards attainment of perfection, to be like Jesus.
“For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.” (7:28)
Hebrews 1:5-7:28
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| 3. The Sacrificial Work of our High Priest is Superior: <i>(Hebrews 8:1-10:39)</i> |
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 a. A Superior Covenant: (8:1-13)
The New Covenant is immeasurably superior to the Old,
“But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.” (8:6)
for it is internally based, of the heart, not external, as was the law.
“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put the laws in their minds and write them on their hearts, I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (8:10)
Sins are to be forgiven and forgotten.
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (8:12)
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 b. A Better Sanctuary: (9:1-12)
In a deliberate New Testament interpretation, the Golden Altar of Incense was placed in the Most Holy Place, whereas in the tabernacle itself it was in the Holy Place.
“Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.” (9:3-4)
The first Tabernacle was limited in its effectiveness.
“But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first Tabernacle was still standing.” (9:7-8)
but Jesus opened the Holy of Holies up to us.
“He did not enter by the means of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.” (9:12)
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 c. A Better Sacrifice: (9:13-10:18)
God’s absolute principle of requiring a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin remains the same,
“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (9:22)
but the means of achieving the required sacrifice has changed.
“so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (9:28)
Hallelujah! Jesus, through His obedience made us (positionally) holy.
“Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will. He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (10:9-10)
In order to personally experience holiness in our lives we have to follow the example of Jesus and set aside our will for His.
“because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (10:14)
Yes, personal holiness comes through the submission of our will to that of God the Father, as the example of Jesus testifies.
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 d. A Call to Persevere: (10:19-38)
We are to be purified by the water.
“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (10:22)
There are dire consequences awaiting us if we don’t,
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” (10:26-27)
for God will avenge those who abuse His grace.
“How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “the Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (10:29-31)
But we will be rewarded for our perseverance.
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (10:35-36)
Hebrews 8:1-10:39
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i> |
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 "THE HEART OF THE QUESTION IS OUR HEART!"
Always has been, always will be. And this is what the Book of Hebrews and the end time (Tabernacle or Bride) church is all about.
Truly 'Walking with Jesus' is the desire of God's heart and should be of ours also.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 Once again we see how Jesus is 'better' than the Tabernacle. For He was able to fulfil all the functions through the gift of 'Grace' rather than the harshness of the 'Law.'
Thank you Jesus for all you have done for me.
Today we are going out whale spotting!
Kaikoura: Diving Sperm Whale, Kaikoura
Going out on one of the Whalewatch boats to see these whales and is great, but until they dive it's hard to comprehend how big they are.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
733. Jesus' Blood is the stain remover of life.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
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Facts for Fun: http://www.wwj.org.nz/facts.php
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Just jokes: http://www.wwj.org.nz/jokes.php
Waxing Lyrical: http://www.wwj.org.nz/waxing.php
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