More Excellent*

Continuing this week in our series "Search the Scriptures", we will find that the Word of God teaches us of a more excellent way. The Book of Proverbs contains the counsel of godly wisdom and it says, "The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor: but the way of the wicked seduceth them." (Prov. 12:26. The Hebrew word for "excellent" is tur, meaning to search (for righteousness). Even each Hebrew letter of the word tur, has a meaning that reflects the source of excellence. The Hebrew letters together mean "the cross/the covenant, the nail, and the Highest or the most important person". The more excellent way is to be searched out in God's Word. Proverbs also says, "A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised." (Prov. 12:8). We have also spoken these last two weeks of the condition of the heart, and its importance in our walk. Paul wrote of how the Jews rested and boasted in their knowledge of the law. He wondered why, as they taught others the law, they didn't also teach themselves. If they did, then Paul would not have to ask them: "...dost thou steal?", "...dost thou commit adultery?", "...dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written...if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision...For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision , which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Rom. 2:17-29). The more excellent way is to be transformed and circumcised inwardly, in the heart, by the Word and the Spirit of God. This was Paul's prayer for the believers as he wrote to the Philippians: "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God." (Phil. 1:9-11). In the more excellent way, your love has to increase along with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ. The Book of Hebrews says that by His inheritance as the Son of God, the name of Jesus is more excellent than even the angels: "...when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.". It is unto the Son that he said, "...Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." (Heb. 1:4-8). The more excellent way is the Son, and for us to follow in the righteousness of His authority and kingdom. Also in Hebrews, the more excellent priesthood of Christ, the Son, is written about: "We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." (Heb. 8:1-2). While earthly priests offered gifts according to the requirements of the law, which was only after the pattern of the heavenly things, this Priest, Jesus, also came with an offering, fulfilling the "heavenly things", rather than a pattern or shadow of them. Because of this: "...now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (v. 6). This new covenant established after the true heavenly things is not the same covenant which God had established with the fathers, which they broke, and were still breaking, as Paul mentioned above. However, the new covenant promised by God through the prophets, and established in the offering by Jesus of Himself, surpasses the old: "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people...for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (v. 9-12). As we saw that Jesus established a better priesthood of the heavenly things rather than the pattern of them, He also fulfilled, and will fulfill, the Feasts of the LORD, as given by God to Moses in the law. Jesus has already fulfilled the spring feasts, but approaching immediately are the fall feasts, which the Lord shall also fulfill. Tonight begins the Feast of Trumpets. This is the way that the fall feasts are written: "...In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. Ye shall do not servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD." (Lev. 23:23-25). The observing of the sabbath, itself, is the first of the LORD's feasts (Lev. 23:2-3), by the way. The Feasts of Trumpets will be fulfilled by Jesus. We know that in the Rapture, the trump shall sound, and we shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The next of the fall feasts, which is also soon to arrive, is the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur (v. 26-32), a solemn feast day which comes ten days after the Feast of Trumpets, and calls all of God's people to a sabbath, with the affliction of our souls in fasting, prayer and repentance. It is prayed and hoped at this time that one's name will be written in the (Lamb's) Book of Life. Five days later, the Feast of Tabernacles, lasting seven days, will be observed (v. 33-36). All of these Feasts require a special offering to be brought before the LORD. Have you prepared your offering to Him? All of the Feasts of the LORD are commanded to be observed forever. The Feast days are upon us now. Don't be caught unaware of their meaning, and their importance in God's eyes, and to the salvation of His people. These Feasts represent Christ: the Bridegroom is coming - be ready. Although many churches do not teach these things, this is part of our preparation for the Lord's return. They are part of the more excellent way. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 9/25/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool, also on Facebook.

Feast of Atonement: Shadow Feast

 

We are currently in the middle of the Fall Feasts of the LORD. We have completed the Feast of Trumpets, the following nine days of awe, during which we examine ourselves and repent of our sins in preparation for the day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27-32), which we have also just completed.

On the day of Atonement, under the old covenant, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle and sprinkle the blood of bulls and goats on the mercy seat atop the Ark of the Covenant. This sprinkling of blood would cleanse himself, his family, the sanctuary and its vessels, and the people, sanctifying the flesh (Heb. 9:13). This cleansing, however, had to be repeated yearly, being able to cleanse the flesh temporarily only. While this, in itself was of significant spiritual importance, The Feast of Atonement, being a temporary and partial remedy, was a mere example and shadow of the eternal atonement yet to come:

"...priests that offer gifts according to the law: who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished by God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount."   Heb. 8:4b-5 (see also Ex. 25:40)

During this feast, the tabernacle into which the old covenant priest entered and temporarily cleansed with animal blood, was only a shadow of a heavenly tabernacle:

"It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these (animal blood); but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."  Heb. 9:23-24

Even the blood applied yearly under the old covenant to the mercy seat during this feast that could cleanse only the flesh, was a shadow prophesying the eternal one-time atonement by the blood of the Son of God made in the heavenly tabernacle, that cleansed the conscience (mind, soul, inner man), not just the flesh, of man:

"...but now once in the end of the world (age) hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself...Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having eternal redemption for us. For if 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?...For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins...For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Heb. 9:26b,12-14,10:4,14

The priest, himself, in the old covenant, was only a shadow of the eternal Priest, Jesus, who would make the offering for all of us. Jesus, our High Priest, was not a priest made from the law and commandments as the earthly, or shadow priests were, but by the power of an endless life (Heb. 7:16). While the shadow priests must end their service because of death, His unchangeable priesthood continues forever (Heb. 7:23-24).

The LORD gave us a prophetic picture of this eternal Priest to come through the miraculous incarnation of an eternal king-priest in the old covenant, Melchisedec (meaning the king of righteousness):

"(For those (earthly or shadow) priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath made by Him that said unto Him, "The LORD sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."  Heb. 7:21, (Ps. 110:4, Gen. 14:18, Heb. 7:1-3)

Not only was the eternal priesthood of Christ to extend forever into the future, but it began in the eternal past as He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Heb. 4:3, Rev. 13:8). This eternal priesthood accomplished the thorough work of salvation and sanctification only hinted at in the shadow Feast of Atonement, allowing us to be written in the Book of Life:

"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, utterly, entirely, to the end, to the last) that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them...now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." 

                                                                                            Heb. 7:25, 8:6

Being those who have been cleansed, saved, and sanctified through the fulfillment of this shadow Day of Atonement, the knowledge of all these things should manifest in us:

"Having... boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,...Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water, let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering..."  Heb. 10:19, 22-23

This knowledge of the eternal, one-time, completed atonement offering by our High Priest, Jesus, also comes with a sobering consideration:

"...if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins...He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how mush sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?...The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God."

                                                                                Heb. 10:26, 28-31 (excerpt)

The fulfillment of this "shadow feast" does not give us a free pass, or eternal permission, to rebelliously, and wilfully, continue to sin. The blood of Jesus, sprinkled for us upon the mercy seat in the heavenly tabernacle should not be despised in this manner by the very people who have the knowledge of the miraculous deliverance accomplished by our eternal High Priest of the atonement. Instead, let this truth be a part of us, and manifested through us.

 

To Contact/Give:

PO Box 155

Christmas, Fl. 32709

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

PayPal available

 

To watch the entire message:

https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.e.stevenson/videos/10210102545581967/

 

2017-Season of Zechariah

 

 

Recently, the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, made statements regarding Israel and Jerusalem that, at best, were lies, and at worst, were anti-Semitic. There has been very little outrage expressed by the Church regarding these statements. One example from Sec. Kerry's comments follows:

"If the choice is one state, Israel can be Jewish or democratic, it cannot be both, and it won't ever really be at peace."

The statements of Sec. Kerry are unacceptable, and shameful to America, but they reflect the prophetic conditions of our time warned of in scripture. They also signal the nearness of the end of the age (not the end of the world, as some incorrectly speak), the creation of a false treaty of peace that will result in a horrific war, the building of a third temple in Jerusalem, and the return of Messiah, Jesus.

In the face of lies, demands, and accusations against Israel by the highest officials, and by the United Nations, it is essential and timely to read and know what God's plans are for Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem.

God describes Jacob (Israel) as the "apple of God's eye" (Deut. 32:9-10, Zech. 2:8), meaning Israel is the center of God's presence, fountain, and face. God makes assurances in the strongest terms as the Keeper of Israel:

"Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."  Ps. 121:4

 

שָׁמַר

That word "keepeth" in Hebrew has a very strong meaning. It is the word shamar, to keep, guard, observe, have charge of, protect, save life, watchman, wait for, preserve, keep covenant, perform vows, to be on one's guard. The letters of the word, shin, mem, reysh, are even more emphatic, meaning to devour, to chew to pieces, to flood in massive water, chaos, and blood by the Head, the Highest. We will see this meaning fully developed later. While the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, the Church seems to be sleeping, with very little to say about these important prophetic developments. Even though Secretary Kerry and others have spoken concerning Israel and Jerusalem, the words of men will not prevail over the Word of the LORD as given to His prophet, Zechariah  regarding Jerusalem:

 

 



-The LORD will return to Jerusalem and His house (the third temple) shall be built in it. The LORD shall comfort Zion, and yet choose Jerusalem. (Zech. 1:16-17, 2:12)

-The LORD has said that He will be unto her (Jerusalem) a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.  (Zech. 2:5)

-The LORD says that he who touches Zion touches the apple of His eye, and God will shake His hand upon those who touch her, and they shall be a spoil.  God also tells all flesh to "Be silent" before the LORD regarding their opposition to Jerusalem.  (Zech. 2:8-9, 13)

-Furthermore, the LORD says that He is jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and with great fury.  (Zech. 8:2)

-The LORD returns to Zion, dwelling in the midst of Jerusalem on the holy mountain of the LORD of hosts. He calls Jerusalem His city of truth.  (Zech. 8:3)

-The Creator of heaven and earth, and the One who forms the spirit of man within him, declares that He will cut in pieces those people of the earth who gather against Jerusalem.  (Zech. 12:1-2, 9)

-The LORD Himself will defend, and battle for Jerusalem.  (Zech. 14:1-3, 12)

-The LORD considers the city, and the house of David to be as God, and as the angel of the LORD.  (Zech. 12:8)

After all of these things, the LORD will reveal His salvation to Jerusalem:

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for His only Son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn."

"And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem...and the LORD shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one."

                                                                                                 Zech.12:10, 14:8-9

With the nations currently rising up against Israel, and Jerusalem, this makes 2017 to be the year of Zechariah. We ignore the words of the Keeper of Israel and Jerusalem at our own peril. Those nations who move against Jerusalem will be judged harshly and unequivocally. In view of these events, it is time for the Church to wake up, and rise up, to be the Bride, to be the Ekklesia, the called-out assembly of God's people. Many in the Church fast for the new year. If we do so, let us do so sincerely (Isa. 58, Zech. 7), fasting for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the spreading of the Gospel to the Jews, and then the Gentiles. Let us also fast for our own nation, because we do not know the Word of God, nor how to repent before God. The little Word we do know, we ignore, or call irrelevant to our times. We have gone our own way, doing what seems right in our own eyes. This year, let us turn back to the LORD, and to His life and light.

Contact/Give:

P.O. Box 155

Christmas, Fl. 32709

http://everlastingcovenant.wixsite.com/theshroud

To hear the complete message of Dr. Kenneth Stevenson:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

 



Understanding Last Days Prophecies

 

It is very important that the church read, know, and understand the prophecies of the Bible, particularly those that deal with the Last Days, which definitely apply to the time in which we now live.The LORD meant for us to know and understand these things, because not knowing them will mean our destruction. The LORD said to the prophet Hosea, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee..."      Hos. 4:6

The prophet Hosea ministered in a time when Israel and Judah were prospering, but they were morally and spiritually bankrupt. They had turned from God, placed their trust in kings and riches, and worshipped idols, including Ba'al. Even the priesthood had become infected with this idolatry. The LORD said, "...thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame."  Hos. 4:6-7 

God's priests and people had exchanged the condition of His glory for the shame of sin and idolatry. The LORD told His prophet that the spirit of whoredoms was in the midst of them (Hos. 5:4). They had abandoned their Husband, God, to chase after idols.

We find the condition of our society today, including the church, to be similar to that of Israel and Judah in the time of Hosea. We also are rich, and we also have rejected the knowledge of the LORD, and we now find ourselves being destroyed as a result. We choose instead, abominations, and the spirit of whoredoms. We rely upon electing politicians who also have no knowledge of the Word, nor the Spirit of God, or choose to ignore them. As a nation, we have exchanged the glory of our founding upon the principles of God's Word, for shame.

 



Hosea calls the people of God to return to Him:

"Come and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days, He will revive us: in the third day, He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then we shall know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."  Hos. 6:1-3

The LORD tells Hosea above, of revival and the resurrection of the third day. Not only does this merciful resurrection refer to Christ's resurrection on the third day, but Peter tells us that each day of the LORD is as a thousand years (2 Pet. 3:8). This brings us to the very threshold of that third day today. The signs and events of our times also confirm the nearness of that third day resurrection, which includes the rapture, or catching away, of those in Christ who remain alive at that time. We are expected to have knowledge of these precious prophetic promises.

 

This prophetic Word is the very testimony of Jesus, who is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10). This same testimony of Jesus tells His Bride to make herself ready for the marriage of the Lamb has come (Rev. 19:7).

Those who keep the knowledge of the prophetic word are blessed (Rev. 22:7). The prophetic word, the testimony of Jesus, tells us to keep this prophetic word, and "worship God... for the time is at hand."  (Rev. 22:9-10). "And behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22:12

Those who do not know these Last Days prophecies, or do not receive their urgency, will not have made themselves ready:

"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." 

                                                                                                   Rev. 22:11

The thing that adds to the urgency and imminence of these Last Days prophecies is the fact that as the moment draws nearer, the days will even be shortened for the elect's sake, otherwise, no flesh would be saved. The accelerated progression of lawlessness and lies will be such that even the elect will be deceived unless those days are shortened (Mt. 24:22-24, Mk. 13:20). Because of these things, none of us can afford to be complacent, or relaxed in attitude towards these prophecies.

According to scripture, Israel's attitude as Hosea's prophecies came to pass would be, "My God, we know Thee". God denies this responding, "Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. They have set up kings, but not by Me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off...For Israel hath forgotten his Maker." Hos. 8:2-4, 14

These are like the words of Jesus in Mt. 7:22-23:

"Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me ye that work iniquity."
Much of the church feels that they know, and are part of Jesus, ministering in His name. However, as we leave His Word and His truth behind, choosing sin, worldly comfort and compromise instead, will Jesus say to us that He never knew us? Will the Father say that the choices we made, and the works that we did, had nothing of Him in them?

Hosea calls the people of God back to Him again:

"O Israel, return unto the LORD Thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so we will render the calves of our lips."     Hos. 14:1-2

God answers,

"I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under His shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the sent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon."     Hos. 14:4-7

"And I will make them one nation...and one king (Messiah) shall be king to them all..Neither shall they defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places...and will cleanse them: so shall they be My people, and I will be their God....David my servant (Messiah) shall be king over them...they all shall have one shepherd: they shall walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them...and My servant David shall be their prince forever....I will make a covenant of peace with them...an everlasting covenant...and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them...I will be their God, and they shall be My people...and the heathen shall know...when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore."   Ez. 37:23-28 Excerpt
Not only will God hear their sincere cries to Him, and heal them, but He also blesses them, and confirms His promise of Messiah to them.

Return unto the LORD. Time is short, and the call of the Last Days prophecies goes out, and those who know the prophecies will answer and be saved from destruction.

 

*photo top of page: the prophet Hosea