Resurrection and the Blood of Sprinkling*

 

This year, Passover and Resurrection coincide on the calendar. Jesus was sharing the Passover Seder with His disciples prior to His arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. He spoke to them saying, "With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." (Lk. 22:15). Jesus fulfilled the Passover as the Lamb of God who was slain before the foundations of the world - the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He was raised from the dead on the Feast of First Fruits, and became the first fruits of our resurrection as we follow after Him.

His shed blood fulfills the "blood of sprinkling" that covers man from the curse, and sanctifies. It is the blood that cries out to God forever. The blood of sprinkling also seals the covenant or testament between God and man, both the old, and the even better new covenant, as we will see.

In all things, God's servant Moses was instructed to follow the pattern of heaven here on earth. On the first Passover, Moses received the command from God that the children of Israel should apply the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintels in order to protect their houses against the curse and plague of death that had been released as a result of Pharaoh's own words (Ex. 4:22, Ex. 10:28-29).
The blood formed a mark of the cross around their doors. This blood protected the Israelites from the angel of death, while all of Egypt suffered the death of their first born:
"Through faith he (Moses) kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them."  Heb. 11:28
Just as the children of Israel were delivered out of Egypt to the meeting at Mt Zion to receive the testament of God by the sprinkling of the blood of the lamb upon their doorpost, we also are delivered by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ to a heavenly testament and meeting place:
"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly, and to the church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel, see that ye refuseth not him who speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven." Heb. 12:22-25
How does the blood of Jesus speak better things than the blood of Abel? Abel's blood cried out to God for vengeance. Jesus' blood cries out to God for forgiveness.
The voice that spoke from the earthly Mt. Zion shook the earth, but now the voice that speaks from heaven will shake the heavens as well, leaving only those things which cannot be shaken. And the kingdom which we have received cannot be shaken (Heb. 12:26-28).
, Peter wrote (1 Pet. 1:1-5) that the sanctification of the Spirit, and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus has begotten us again in a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, "to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
The priests in the old covenant were sanctified by the blood of sacrifice. Regarding the blood of sanctification under the new covenant, scripture describes the blood of Christ as being even greater than the blood of animals sacrificed under the old covenant:
"For as the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"  Heb. 9:13-14
The Old Testament was sealed by the sacrifice of animals and the sprinkling of blood and water on the book of the words spoken by God, and on all of the people, as well as the tabernacle itself, and all of the vessels of ministry by the principle that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission (of sin). Moses said, "This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you."  (Heb. 9:18-22, Ex. 24:8). As the blood of animals purged the earthly things established after the pattern of the heavenly things, greater sacrifices than these were necessary to purge the heavenly things (Heb. 9:23). Unlike the earthly priest who entered the holy place with the blood of others, the sacrificed Christ entered into heaven itself, and into the presence of God for us, "but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."  Heb. 9:23-26.
Of His own blood and the sealing of a new testament from God, Jesus said at His Passover meal with His disciples:
"...Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."  Mt. 26:27-28
The sprinkling of the blood of Jesus sacrificed, and His resurrection, fulfilled the feasts, sanctified us by the remission of our sins, sealed a new testament for us, made us the church of the first fruits as we are resurrected with Him, and has delivered us out of slavery and into the heavenly places with Him as a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Not only do the scriptures testify of the blood of sprinkling and the resurrection, but we also have evidence before our eyes of Christ's blood of sprinkling from the Shroud of Turin. This physical evidence was prophesied before hand (Isa. 52:15, Isa. 53:1, Zech. 12:10), and made known to, and seen later by the Church, the Ekklesia, both Jew and Gentile (1 Cor. 13:12, Gal. 3:1).
The title of the new book that examines all of this evidence is "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling". "NAZAH" means "to sprinkle". Let us not turn away from the voice of the blood of sprinkling that is speaking to us today.


*The above is based upon the 4/21/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.

 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

https://everlastingcovenant.sermon.net/main/main/21320220
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/  

Palm Sunday 2019*

 

We are familiar with the events of Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a small donkey, as the crowds, laying their garments on the ground upon which for Him to ride, waved palm branches. The crowds were shouting in triumphant welcome to the one whom they believed had come to rule and deliver them as a king. They shouted:

"...Hosanna: Blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord...Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest...Blessed be the kingdom of our father, David, that cometh in the name of the Lord..."  Jn. 12:13, Mt. 21:9, Mk. 11:10

Both Jesus' riding on a donkey, and the shouts that greeted Him, were fulfillment of prophecy that day. There was much about the events of those days that followed Christ's entry into Jerusalem that fulfilled prophecy, and also prophesies to us regarding the times in which we are living now. 

All Jerusalem was in an uproar over Jesus. People were asking, "Who is this?" (Mt. 21:10). The religious leadership of the day were afraid and annoyed at this spectacle, and the cries of the children and others who hailed Jesus. They told Jesus to command them to stop this shouting. The leaders sought a way to destroy Him, because they feared His influence over the people (Mk. 11:18). Before Jesus had even entered Jerusalem, He had performed the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. The leadership began even then to fear Him. They said among themselves in outrage, "...behold, the world is gone after him." (Jn. 12:19).

Doesn't this also prophesy to us today of how many refuse to see the glory of God, even in miracles and evidence done before their eyes?

There were those in leadership who stayed quiet although they believed that Jesus came to deliver them, because they feared being thrown out of the synagogue for their belief. They feared men more than they believed God. They sought the approval of men, more than the deliverance of God:

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."   Jn. 12:42-43

Wasn't this prophetic at the time of the same condition that exists today in many of the leadership of the Church? Fear to speak the truth. Fear to bring the Word of deliverance. Fear to declare the remedy for sin, because they will not call sin, sin. The leaders of the Church prefer the praise and acceptance of men, rather than bringing the Word of salvation to those who are perishing.

As Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem, He first looked around it upon all things (Mk. 11:11). When He returned the next day, He overturned the tables of the money changers, and cast out those who bought and sold. Jesus expressed His outrage, which also fulfilled prophecy, saying:

"Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves."   Mk. 11:17 (Isa. 56:7, Jer. 7:11)

Is Jesus not prophesying the very condition of much of the Church today? The success of a church to many in leadership is not measured by the number of anointed prayers going up, nor by the effort to spread the Gospel, but rather by the number of people in the seats.

After Jesus had examined the temple that first day, He came upon a fig tree and sought its fruit, even though it was not the season for bearing fruit. He cursed the fig tree and said that no man would eat fruit of it forever (Mk. 11:14). Returning the next day, His disciples noted that the same fig tree had withered from the roots. As the disciples brought this to His attention, Jesus told them that things spoken in faith in God would come to pass, including being forgiven as we forgive (v. 20-26). What is today's Church believing and speaking?

If Jesus examines His Church, will He find fruit upon it? Has the Church withered today because of lack of fruit? Upon seeing Jerusalem, Jesus wept over it. He saw its future destruction and the scattering of its inhabitants, which was later fulfilled in 70 AD. Their destruction came as a result of missing the visitation of their Deliverer (Lk. 19:41-44). After two thousand years, in this generation, Jerusalem has been restored, and its inhabitants brought back from all nations. Doesn't this speak to us as a sign of Jesus' soon return? What is the Church declaring about this sign, if anything?

There in the temple, Jesus did the work of the temple, which was not buying and selling. He healed the sick, and taught the truth of God daily (Mt. 21:14, Lk. 19:47). Though many saw the miracles at his hands, "yet they believed him not."  (Jn. 12:37). Because of their lack of faith, the prophecies of Isaiah came upon them that they should not be able to see or hear, nor understand in their hearts to be converted and healed (Jn. 12:39-40). If we prefer spiritual blindness when evidence is before our eyes, then deep spiritual blindness in fact will come upon us. The Apostle Paul also addressed this in Romans 1, regarding those who do not like to retain ("echo"-hold, own, possess, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to, to be closely joined to) God in their knowledge, so God gave them over to a reprobate mind (Rom. 1:28). Paul was speaking of those to whom God had manifested Himself, who had received the knowledge of God, but had not retained it. This also is the condition of our time, even among those who have known God.

The conditions of the temple and the religious leaders of that Palm Sunday two thousand years ago, have prophetic importance to the Church today. We should seriously heed the words of Jesus regarding them.

 

*The above is based upon the 4/14/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.

 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

https://everlastingcovenant.sermon.net/main/main/21320220
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/  

 



Repairers of the Breach*

 

 This year, Passover falls on what we now call Good Friday, and the Passover week will include Resurrection Sunday. A breach occurred centuries ago between the Gentiles of the Christian faith, and its Jewish roots. These Jewish roots are a foundation to our relationship with the Messiah, Jesus being the Chief Cornerstone. The Feasts of Israel, both those commanded by the LORD, and the Rabbinical feasts, are observed and taught in the New Testament, as well as the Torah.

This breach between Gentile Christians and Jews is documented back to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The Emperor Constantine, a convert to the Christian faith, urged a complete separation from the Jews and our connection in faith to them. After the reading of a letter from the Emperor, the Council established the separation of "Easter" from Passover. This declaration of separation was a blatant anti-Semitic rant. These words are disturbing to read, but necessary in order to expose the ethnic hatred and scriptural ignorance that were the causes of the breach:

". . .relative to the sacred festival of Easter. . . it was declared to be particularly unworthy for this holiest of all festivals to follow the custom of the Jews. We ought not therefore, to have anything in common with the Jews. We desire to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews..."

 

With the adaptation of the Nicene Creed, the ekklesia, the called out assembly of God's people, which is translated as "church", was rent in two. The ekklesia is composed of people from every nation, tongue and tribe. It is composed of both Jew and Gentile (Greek). In fact, the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, is for the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Rom. 1:16). The Jews are the natural branches of the tree that grows from the root of our faith. The Gentile believers are unnatural, wild branches that have been grafted into that holy root:

"For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles...For if the casting away of them (the Jewish branches) be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead? For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches...For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved..."   Rom. 11:13-26 (excerpt)

Paul described the Gentiles' feeling of spiritual superiority over the Jew as being "ignorant" regarding God's plan from the beginning. That very willful ignorance can result in those grafted in Gentile branches being cut off from the root! (v. 21-22). When those Jewish natural branches are grafted back into the root of faith which is Christ, as is the stated will of God when He says "All Israel shall be saved", it will mean life from the dead. This is the very miracle of "Easter", the resurrection of Christ, Who is the First Fruits of the resurrection of the dead. The Church chose the unfortunate label of "Easter" to specify the day of Christ's great resurrection victory over death. "Easter" is a form of the name of a vile pagan goddess known as Ashtoreth, or Ishtar, but the obvious misnaming of this holy day is yet another effort to separate from the Jewish and Biblical foundation.

The verses above mention the timing of the grafting back in of Israel  as being connected to when "the fullness of the Gentiles be come in". We are seeing that in the events of this generation. Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, which was trodden of the Gentiles (Lk. 21:24), has once again come into the possession of Israel. This is a sign to us that the fullness of the Gentiles has been accomplished.

The Apostle Paul urges the church of Corinth to observe Passover in its truest meaning:

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."  1 Cor. 5:7-8

Christ is the personification and the prophetic fulfillment of Passover. He is represented in the elements of the Seder meal of Passover. There is no separation between the crucifixion of Christ Who is the Lamb of God, and the Passover.

The Church has also separated itself from the other feasts proclaimed by the LORD, and from the true understanding of the sabbath, when these very things from our Jewish roots of faith testify of Christ.

Our role in this time, as the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, is to mend the breach between the natural Jewish branches and the wild Gentile branches of the tree of faith in Christ- to play our part in the grafting back in of those Jewish branches. Isaiah prophesies this word of the LORD:
"And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in...and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD...Then thou shalt delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth..."  Isa. 58:12-14
One way that we have begun this repairing of the breach is through the new book, "NAZAH". This book details the scientific, medical, cultural, and Biblical facts that support the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin as the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, and the physical evidence of His resurrection, and according to the mentions in scripture (1 Cor. 13:12, Gal. 3:1, Isa. 52:13-15). See in "NAZAH" how these scriptures point us to the truth of the Shroud.
 "NAZAH" plays a vital role in repairing the breach, and restoring the natural branches into the tree of faith, and the root of Christ. 

*The above is based upon the 4/7/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.

 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

https://everlastingcovenant.sermon.net/main/main/21320220
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/  

 



Seek First His Kingdom*

 

 

Jesus saw the multitudes before Him, He took His disciples up to the top of a mountain and began to teach something very vital (Mt. 5:1-2). He began to teach the difference between the system of the world, including the system of religion, and the Kingdom of God. This is one of the longest discourses of Christ recorded in scripture. What He taught the disciples that day on the mountain, would introduce a completely new understanding of the Father and His Kingdom than what the disciples had known and practiced all of their lives. What He taught them was truth that would provide for them and us in body, soul, and spirit.

One truth underlying our spiritual relationship with the Father that Christ revealed that day is that the Father sees and knows in secret. Our prayers, and our giving, in order to fulfill the true power and blessing contained within them, is not done before the eyes and knowledge of men, but is to be done in secret, just between the Father and us:

"...when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what  thy right hand doeth**: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly....when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."   Mt. 6:3-4, 6

By not letting our left hand know what our right hand is doing, we are not to congratulate our own pride of self-righteousness, which hides within us, and is eager to be puffed up before God. Jesus even had to teach these grown men how to break the tradition of empty prayers. He taught that our prayers do not need to be religious "rote" prayers, full of repetitious words that we do not feel, that have little meaning to us, and even less meaning to the Father (v. 7-8). Thinking as the world thinks and admires should not carry over into our prayers. If we do these things openly to impress others, than that is the only "reward" our prayers and giving will receive.

In giving us a prayer guideline, Jesus did not tell us to "pray these words", but rather, "after this manner, therefore, pray ye" (v. 9). The words He gave as a model, the we know as "The Lord's Prayer", offer several powerful principles:

• Our effective prayer worships the holiness of the LORD, and His name.
• The only kingdom that we desire here on earth, is the Father's Kingdom, and His will, and our desire is for His Kingdom and will to fill the earth.
• We rely on the Father, rather than on the world or ourselves, to provide for us in every way.
• Our Father's Kingdom is based on the principle of sowing and reaping. If we are praying for forgiveness, than we must forgive others. As we bless others, we are blessed in turn (see also Eph. 4:32).
• Our deliverance from evil and temptation is from our Father, and not in our own strength (see also 1 Cor. 10:13).
• Our prayers conclude as they opened, in worship of the Father, and praise of His Kingdom.

Jesus continued to tell His disciples how even our daily lives, our thoughts, our goals must be changed. They are not to reflect the world's thoughts and goals that we have known all our lives, but the Father's Kingdom instead. The thoughts, worries, desires, cares, investments, plans that have consumed us are of no value to us. The only thing that can add to our lives is the provision found in our Father's Kingdom:

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also...No man can serve two masters...Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on...for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all of these things. But seek (aim at, strive for, crave, seek by thinking, meditating, reasoning, enquiring into) ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

                                                                                              Mt. 6:19-33 (excerpt)

We are all guilty of serving both the LORD's Kingdom and the kingdom of the world. What Jesus taught His disciples and us not only serves us in every day life now, but is the secret place of our provision, physically and spiritually, for these end times. Our minds need to be renewed in this truth. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual, and that warfare involves taking down the strongholds that rule over our own thoughts and imaginations, bringing them into the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:3-7).

What we seek in life is found in the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and this is where we should seek first.

 

*The above is based upon the 3/31/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.

 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

https://everlastingcovenant.sermon.net/main/main/21320220
 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/