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/  

 



Whose Report - Pt. 2

v

 

Last week, we studied the prophetic promises in scripture pertaining to the coming of Christ, and His birth. We will continue that study as we look at His promised return. As His disciples asked Him what the signs and timing of events would be concerning the destruction of the temple and His return, Jesus began to give a specific prophetic description of those events that would occur in Matthew 24 and 25. We are seeing these prophetic events being fulfilled today. One essential component of those prophetic events that Jesus described, but that the Church often overlooks, deals with Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jewish people:

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains."  Mt. 24:15-16 (Dan. 11:31, 12:11)

By referring to Daniel's prophecies, Jesus revealed that the abomination of desolation that would occur in the temple in Jerusalem had not yet been fulfilled, and would be fulfilled as an event related to His return. In citing this scripture, we can conclude that there must be a third temple in Jerusalem to be built, in order for the desecration by the antichrist to take place. Scripture also teaches that Jerusalem will be a central focus of the world in the latter days, as we are seeing even now. Jesus prophesied that the gospel would be preached in all the world, and unto all nations, and then the end (of the age) would come. While the Gentile nations have received the gospel, God has never finished with the Jewish people, or Israel. The LORD described in several scriptures the everlasting covenant that He had established, and many of those scriptures are regarding all of the descendants of Abraham, but principally Israel, and Jacob. In these last days, we have seen Israel miraculously restored as a nation, as well as the revival of the once dead Hebrew language. God also prophetically promised that Israel would be spiritually revived and restored, and would see Messiah revealed to them, as they look upon Him who was pierced (Zech. 12:10). The apostle Paul also confirmed the prophetic promise from Isaiah of this everlasting covenant sworn to by God concerning Israel:

"...blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins."   Rom. 11:25-27 (Isa. 52:7-10, and 59:20-21)

As Paul promised in Romans, there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: "For whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  Rom. 10:10, 12-13

Isaiah prophesied how this salvation and redemption would be accomplished. The Servant from God would be stricken and killed for the "transgression of my people." (Isa. 53:8). The LORD was even pleased to do it because it would result in salvation for His people, and many others (Isa. 53:9-10). The LORD describes this Servant as One who would "sprinkle ("NAZAH"- spurt, spatter, startle, besprinkle especially in expiation) many nations" (Isa. 52:15).

The Book of Hebrews, written to Jewish readers, referring continually to the Law of Moses and the worship of the tabernacle and temple, further describes the accomplishment of this High Priest, Jesus Christ, as the "sprinkler" with His own blood of atonement and expiation both for the Jew and the Gentile as the fulfillment of a promise:

"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; (for he is faithful that promised;)...and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant (Jer. 31:31), and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."   Heb. 10:22-23, Heb. 12:24

To find out even more about the "sprinkling of expiation", and the fulfillment of the prophetic promises of salvation to Israel and the Jew first, and then also the Greek (Gentile), and the remarkable physical evidence of it, please order the new book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", written by Dr. Kenneth Stevenson, and now available (see below).

As we read and study the prophetic promises in scripture regarding the return of Christ, we must not forget that God will perform everything He has promised in His everlasting covenant regarding the restoration and salvation of Israel, the Jewish people, and all of the nations of the earth.

 

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

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

 

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.

A Covenant vs. A Testament

 

 

Often the Church views its relationship with Christ as a result of a testament, rather than a covenant, and teaches others to do the same. However, the Church cannot be the Ekklesia, the called out assembly, until it understands and walks in covenant relationship with Christ. Jesus expressed the result of that failure to do so this way:

"Not everyone that sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 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 I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."  Mt. 7:21-23

Many are going to make this mistake, having felt secure in their knowledge of Christ, only to find out too late that they never had a covenant relationship with Christ.

One way the Church has missed the Gospel of Christ completely because of the lack of covenant, is in its neglect, or wilfull ignorance of some of the Gospel's foundational truths. Much of the Church believes and teaches that the Church has replaced Israel in covenant with God - that the Church is spiritual Israel. Nothing could be further from the truth, as we shall see.
Also the Church teaches that salvation is a one-time, for all time, gift from God through Christ, requiring nothing from the receiver, but acceptance. As we learned from Jesus in Mt. 7, above, there is more required.
 Writing to the church at Rome, Paul said:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith...To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life...Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; But glory, honour and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God."   Rom. 1, 2
Salvation in our lives is not a one-time event, received as a testament bequeathal from the One dead. It is worked out in increments and growth in an ongoing covenant relationship with the One who was dead, but is now resurrected, and living. A testament is unilateral from one dead. A covenant is bi-lateral, requiring two to enter into it. As Paul taught, the Gospel is a continuing, developing growth into the full measure of the stature of Christ-from "faith to faith", and with "patient endurance".
Often the Church leaves behind the principles of the Gospel in order to please men, especially in its compromise regarding righteousness. Paul taught that those who continue in the flesh and sin, are still servants or slaves to sin unto death regardless of the gift of grace available through Christ (Rom. 6:1-2,16). To continue to sin brings us right back under the dominion of death. Covenant with Christ, on the other hand, joins us in baptism with His death, with His burial, and with His resurrection. We become dead to sin, it no longer having power to entangle us, and living in resurrection, or Spirit instead:
"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwell (to occupy a house, reside, cohabit, inhabited house, all become one in a house) in you...For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."   Rom. 8:11, 13
Instead of excusing and accepting sin, which leads to certain death, shouldn't the Church be teaching how to dwell in and with the Spirit, in order to live? The Church should be advocating the way to life in Christ, and in the Spirit, not the way to death. If we continue to advocate the way to death, even though we know the way to life, then we are like those who thought they were doing great works for Christ, but were, in reality, unknown to Him. What a sad and useless end! However, this does not have to be our end.
Additionally, as the Church, which claims to preach salvation, continues to ignore the importance of the Jew first in that salvation, again, we will be like those incomplete, and even dead.The Jews are not excluded from the Gospel of Christ, and His salvation. In fact, they are an integral part of it. Paul insists that their re-grafting back into the Gospel and Christ, or "the olive tree", is life from the dead:
"...through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches...And they also, if they bide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again...how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?  Rom. 11:11-24 (excerpt)
After the resurrection of Christ, thousands of Jews, even scribes and priests, believed on Him. Israel was blinded in part so the fullness of the Gentiles could be brought in. However, the Church ignores the will of God that "All Israel shall be saved." (Rom. 11:25-26, Isa. 59:20, Ps. 14:7). To continue to ignore the importance of the Jew to the Body of Christ, is to continue to refuse to do "the will of the Father", as Jesus instructed us in the verses from Matthew 7.
Most of the problem comes in our misunderstanding, and our incorrect use of the word "church". "Church" has become to us an organization, even a building. However, the word in the New Covenant, poorly translated into English from the Greek is the word ekklesia. Ekklesia is neither an organization, nor a building. It is a called out, called forth, called by, called away from, called aloud, separated from, assembly of people, to receive the name of, to bear the name or title of, by word, command, or order (of God), especially gathered for sacred purposes (by God). If we do not understand the awesome and miraculous "calling out" with which we were called, we cannot fulfill it.
Being the Ekklesia is not the result of a testament. Being the Ekklesia is the result of a covenant, a covenant with the One who was dead, but is now alive (Rev. 1:18).

To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/Support the Ministry/Order "NAZAH":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8http://endtimeschool.com/

Complete Message:
 https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.e.stevenson/videos/10212240456628407/    
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FhuiqfVgzw&feature=youtu.be                                                                                           

 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, forgive me, and fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.

Esther, the Beautiful Bride

 

 

This is the season of Purim and Resurrection. As we are looking into the Book of Esther, which is the story of Purim, it is rich with revelation and prophetic meaning. It has layers of truth, and the deeper you look, the more layers you can uncover.
One of the beautiful portraits from the Book of Esther is the portrait of the Bride of Christ. Esther was chosen to marry King Ahasuerus. His name translates as "I will be silent and poor (humble)", but even more interestingly, from an older source, his name means "lion-king". His city of Shushan means "lily, trumpet, white" from a root word meaning, "exult, rejoice, leap with joy".
As Esther married the king, she carried two identities. Outwardly, publicly, Esther was a Gentile. However, inwardly and truly, she was a Jew. Her Hebrew birth name was Hadassah, meaning "myrtle". According to rabbinical teaching, the myrtle tree releases a fragrant aroma called "Maharsha" when its leaves are crushed. The leaves were also used in brews and teas for medicinal purposes. The myrtle tree is associated with righteousness as it is mentioned in Zech. 1:8-11.
The name Esther is of Persian origin and means "star". The Hebrew word closest to this name is hester, meaning "hidden". What was hidden about Esther? It was her Jewish identity. This hidden Jewish identity made all the difference in foiling the plot of the wicked Haman against the covenant people of God. Esther's uncle, Mordecai, commanded her not to reveal her Jewish heritage, nor her connection to the Jewish people (Est. 2:10,20). So she lived as a Gentile, known only by her Gentile name.
The Bride of Christ is also both Jewish and Gentile. Although most of the Church is identified as being Gentile, its roots, and its Savior are very much Jewish. Our scriptures are Jewish. The Gentile branches may have been grafted in, but the root is Jewish. Not only that, but scripture tells us that those original Jewish branches are going to be restored.

 

"For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature,

and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree:

how much more shall these,

which be the natural branches,

be grafted into their own olive tree?"
 Rom. 11:24

And
"For if their (the Jews) being cast away is the reconciling of the world,
what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?"
Rom. 11:15

 

Queen Esther finally revealed to the king that she was Jewish, as she petitioned the king for her life and for the lives of her people, which were endangered by the plot of Haman (Est. 7:3). While the king originally gave his favor to Esther as a Gentile bride, it is the Jewish bride who came forth from hiding, who broke the plan of the enemy. It is in this moment of her revelation that the king decided the fate of Haman. She was his bride, and he upheld her life, and her royal honor as his wife. 
The Esther story has so many things to teach us. One thing it teaches us, the Church in general, is that if we ignore the importance of the Jewish people as part of the Church identity, and the importance of our Jewish roots, we do so at our own peril, and we will not be able to fulfill properly the role that God has purposed for us in an "Esther victory" over the enemy. That victory is His plan of enlargement and deliverance (Est. 4:14).

Esther is the beautiful Bride of the King. The Bride of Christ is neither Jew nor Gentile (Gal. 3:28, Col. 3:11), but a new creation that requires both identities to be grafted in together, to be made one in His hand, to be all one in Christ Jesus, our King and Bridegroom. It requires the unifying in Him of both identities to become "life from the dead".

 



 







photo above: myrtle branch