Think Not*

Jesus said: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill..." (Mt. 5:17-18). The word "Think" used in this verse is the Greek word nomizo, meaning "to hold by custom or usage". How many customary practices within the Church are not based on the truth of scripture, but are based upon errant teachings handed down over generations? Various teachers and writers in church history basically introduced the idea that the God of the Old Testament was different than the God of the New Testament, wrongly setting a division between the Old Testament as Law, and the New Testament as grace.. Other heresies like this, in addition to anti-Semitic doctrines, were part of Church history, and have been carried down to today. The prophet Hosea brought a correction from the LORD for His people. The LORD said that there was "no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." (Hos. 4:1). Because of this lack of knowledge, and rejection of knowledge, His people are destroyed. Since the priests had rejected knowledge, He would reject them, adding: "...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." (v. 6-7). The law of God was never meant to be forgotten, but incorporated into the hearts of His people. In fact, the apostles taught about Jesus Christ, His death, and resurrection, through the law and the prophets in the early foundational years of the Church. The apostle Paul, who eventually wrote much of the New Testament, is recorded as doing this many times. As Paul traveled to Corinth, he reasoned with both the Jews and the Greeks in the synagogue every sabbath, and being pressed in spirit, testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ (Acts 18:4-5). When his teaching was rejected in the synagogue, he told the Jews there that their blood was on their own heads, and he brought the Gospel to the Gentiles on the other side of the city. The house in which he was staying was right next to another synagogue: "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." (v. 6-8). A vision from the Lord one night assured Paul: "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." (v. 9-10). For 1 1/2 years, Paul taught the word of God, which at that time did not include the New Testament, which was not yet written, but the "Old" Testament only. He was falsely accused by some Jews of teaching "contrary to the law", but the deputy of Achaia, Gallio, rejected their complaints, saying that he was no judge over such matters (v. 12-17). Another teacher of the Gospel at that time, Apollos, who was preaching Jesus based upon the baptism of John, was taken aside and shown by those who had been with Paul the more perfect way to present the Gospel. He then began teaching from the Torah scriptures: "...he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." (v. 25-28). On another occasion, Paul appeared before the apostle James and the elders of the church in Jerusalem, where he declared before them "the things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry" (Acts 21:17-19). They glorified God, and testified that there were many thousands of Jews who were believers in Christ, and continued to also be zealous for the law. The elders informed Paul that there were rumors that Paul was teaching the Jews who were living among the Gentiles to forsake the commandments of the law of Moses. Because of this, the apostles in Jerusalem advised him to practice a cleansing in the temple with four other men, so that "all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law." (v. 20-24). James and the elders had no doubt that Paul did indeed observe and teach by the law of Moses, and his act of purification in the temple would assure the other Jews of the same (v. 26). However, the accusations from the Jews came against him again, not based upon fact, but upon a lie, and a false assumption: "Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place." (Acts 21:27-29). Paul began to speak to his accusers in their language, Hebrew, because he was accused of being an Egyptian (v. 38, 40). To this crowd, Paul identified himself as he spoke still in the Hebrew language: "I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus...yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous towards God, as ye all are this day." Acts 22:1-3). Paul told the crowd how he had been one who persecuted, even to death, those who believed in Christ (v. 4). However, Paul saqid, he then had an encounter with a glorious Jesus while on his way to arrest believers in another city. Jesus spoke to Paul from heaven, and that moment changed his life, as well as having been temporarily blinded by the light of Christ's glory. A devout Jewish believer who walked according to the law, healed Paul of the blindness and told him: "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men...be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (v. 6-16). Later, Paul was brought before the Sanhedrin council, the same religious council that had condemned Jesus a few years before, and began speaking to them quoting the law of Moses (Acts 23:1-5). He was then brought before Festus and King Agrippa to be questioned, based on accusations made by the Jews regarding their law. Paul again had an opportunity before these political leaders to open the law and the prophets, and the revelation from them of Jesus as the Messiah. He explained how he lived as a Pharisee, in the strictest sect of the Jewish religion: "And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come...Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? "(Acts 26:1-8). As Paul said, the promise of resurrection from the dead had always been part of the promise made to the fathers, and it was always part of the service of the twelves tribes of Israel before God. Paul said that Jesus Christ and His resurrection was what the prophets and Moses did say would come (v. 22). He wasn't preaching against the law and the prophets, but from the law and the prophets. Festus told Paul that he must be mad from all of his study and learning. Paul assured Festus that he was not, and that he knew that Festus was already aware of these things that had been going on before his face. It was not hidden from him (v. 24-25). To King Agrippa, Paul said: "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Paul said that he wished that all who heard him that day would be as he was in faith in Christ, except for the chains with which he was bound (v. 27-29). Even as Paul continued to be held under house arrest for two years in Rome, "...he expounded and testified to the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning to evening." (Acts 28:23). Some who came to hear him believed, and some didn't, which, Paul said, also fulfilled the prophets (v. 25-27). Paul explained the rejection by some of the Gospel taught through the law and prophets this way: "...their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away." (2 Cor. 3:14-16). Paul said that it is the Holy Spirit that frees man to see: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (v. 17-18). When we see the connection, by the Holy Spirit, of Christ, the law and the prophets, a blindness is lifted from us, and we not only see His glory, but we are changed in degrees of glory as well. Those who are lost are blinded by the spirit of this world, in order to prevent them from being able to see the light of the Gospel of glory, which is the image of Christ, and by that light be changed. "For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Ccor. 4:3-6). As Paul spoke to the Corinthians about seeing the face of Jesus Christ, he must have been speaking to a people who had seen that face. There is historical evidence that the Shroud of Turin, with the image of the crucified Christ supernaturally imposed upon it, was seen throughout the large area throughout which Paul preached. As we understand what Paul preached from the law and the prophets, we know that he was not preaching legalism, but the fulfillment of both by Christ, as Jesus also taught. If we have asked Jesus into our hearts, then the law and the prophets must also reside in our hearts, as God always intended for His people. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/15/23 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 END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.The ShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

The Torah = The Law and the Prophets*

Church history, including some of its important leaders and influencers like Martin Luther, St. Augustine, the Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicaea, were filled with Anti-Semitism. As well as having a disregard for the commandments of God as they appeared in the Torah, or Old Testament, because of that contempt for the Jews, the Church also disregarded scripture in order to appeal to pagan converts. The commandments regarding the sabbath and the Feasts of the LORD were changed or ignored resulting in the spiritual impoverishment of the Church, and the removal of the Church from its Torah and Jewish foundation. The phrase, "the law and the prophets" appears five times (five is the number of grace) in the Old Testament, but it appears ten times (ten is the number of completion) in the New Testament! So why does the Church systematically exclude the law and the prophets from its direct relationship with grace? Let us look at the mentions of "the law and the prophets" in the New Testament. Jesus said: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Mt. 7:12). The intention of this Torah principle that Jesus taught is based on one of the two great commandments, again from the law and the prophets, which we will see later. John the Baptist, whose purpose was to prepare the way for the Messiah, Jesus, was connected by Jesus directly to the law and the prophets which preceded John, including His revealing of John the Baptist as Elijah, the great prophet of Israel (Mt. 11:11-14, see also Lk. 16:16). Jesus was tested by Torah lawyers on His knowledge and interpretation of the law, and He answered them according to the law when asked: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mt. 22:36-40, see also Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18). Regarding the Torah, Jesus revealed: "...it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle (small mark over a Hebrew letter) of the law to fail."(Lk. 16:17). The Torah is not about legalism, but it is about teaching us that God is a good God. This is the source of the grace of God - His goodness towards us. Jesus reminded His disciples when He met with them after His resurrection, that He had told them of what would happen to Him when He was previously with them :...that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." (Lk. 24:44-48). Everything concerning Christ was written beforehand in the Torah. At that same time, Jesus also spoke about another promise from the law and the prophets: "And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." (v. 49). Jesus is referring to the promise in the prophets that God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. This outpouring, as recorded in Acts 2, occurred on the Feast of Pentecost, also called the Feast of Weeks. Again, we must say that the Church has not been taught the ordained and prophetic Feasts of the LORD. In another example of the law and the prophets in the New Testament, Jesus was travelling into Galilee, in Bethsaida, where He called Philip as a disciple, and told him, "Follow me." (Jn. 1:43). Then Philip went to Nathaneal and told him: "...We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathaneal said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see." (v. 45-46). Jesus had seen Nathanael in the Spirit, and said to him: "Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." (v. 47-48). Nathanael was amazed that Jesus had seen him in this manner beforehand, and proclaimed to Jesus: "...Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." Jesus answered: "Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these...Hereafter, ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (v. 49-51). When Paul arrived in Antioch, he was in the synagogue on the sabbath. The law and the prophets had been read during the service, and then Paul was invited to speak (Acts 13:13-16). Paul then opened up the Torah in a manner that revealed the sovereignty and goodness of God to His people throughout their history (v. 17-21). Then Paul spoke to them about how the Torah brought the people of God to the provision of His salvation: "...he (God) raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel." (v. 22-24). The people in the synagogue had been reading the law and the prophets on the sabbath, and Paul brought them the Gospel of salvation out of the same law and the prophets. When Paul was brought to trial before Felix, the governor of Cesarea, by false accusers among the Jews who wished him dead. Paul defended himself before the governor saying: "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets: and have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." (Acts 24:14-16). As Paul said, our consciences towards both God and man are developed and ordered by the law and the prophets, and Paul structured his life upon the knowledge of them. As Jesus said (above), all the law and the prophets hang upon our keeping the two great commandments relating to our love for God, and equally, our love for our neighbor, man. The last few years of Paul's life were spent in Rome, where he was kept under house arrest, and would eventually be executed.
However, scripture tells us how Paul spent this time: "And when they had appointed him a day (for his hearing), there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not." (Acts. 28:22-23). The Church of believers was founded through Paul and the other apostles through the revealing of the truth of Christ in the law and the prophets. Paul also wrote that the Jews have an advantage in every way because the oracles of God have been entrusted to them. These oracles include the Torah, the Word of God. The fact that some may not believe does not make the faith of God expressed by His Word, without effect. God is going to judge the world righteously based upon His Word, whether they believe or not: "...yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Rom. 3:1-5, see also Ps. 51:4)). Because of this, Paul wrote that one is not a Jew who is one outwardly, by circumcision 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. 2:28-29). This also is directly from the law and the prophets. We need both the Old Testament and the New Testament, both of which are wrapped into Yeshua, Jesus. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/8/23 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 END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.The ShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

In the Old Concealed, In the New Revealed

"ECCE HOMO", Behold the Man, by Antonio Ciseri

 

One of the many awesome characteristics about scripture, is that it does not need man to prove it, because it proves itself. It proves itself historically, and it proves itself prophetically. The Old Testament is full of many prophetic shadows and promises in which the Messiah, and other truths, are concealed for man to search out. The New Testament reveals the fulfilment of those prophecies. Even from the very start of scripture, a Messianic prophetic promise is concealed and later revealed in the New Testament:

"In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth...." from Genesis 1:1, begins the description of God's creative work. Both the Hebrew word used here, and the letters of the word, give a picture of "The Son of God, crushed, His hand on the cross". **

The prophetic mystery of Christ that was concealed in the very beginning of scripture, is revealed in Jn. 1:1-3:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him..."

We also find out in John that this Word who was in the beginning, and was God, became flesh in the firstborn, begotten of the Father, that firstborn being Jesus (Jn. 1:14).

We have more powerful examples of the concealed prophetic promise from the Old Testament, being revealed in the New Testament, as Paul explained Gospel truths in the Book of Romans. He presented the fulfilling truths, and continually referred back to the Prophet Isaiah and others to show us the source of those hidden promises.

Paul taught from Old Testament prophecy, the covenant of salvation that God had made with Israel, and the New Testament fulfillment in Christ:

"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 is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so 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

The prophetic covenant promise of salvation was made to Israel. Paul reveals the original Old Testament covenant promise from Isaiah:

And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. And as for Me, this is My covenant with them...Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, and that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins." 
                                                                                   Isa. 59:20-21, Isa. 40:2

Paul points out again that, according to Isaiah, there is a remnant of Israel that shall be saved (Rom. 9:27, Isa. 10:21-22).

Paul describes the fulfillment of the prophetic promise from Isaiah regarding the spread of the Gospel:

"And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Rom. 10:15 (Isa. 52:7). But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esias (Isaiah) saith, LORD, who hath believed our report?" Rom. 10:16, (Isa. 53:1).

In the midst of all of the prophecies of Isaiah that Paul cited here in Romans, the prophet also talked about a salvation that would be seen, and a Savior that we would look upon and consider:

"The LORD hath laid bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God...So shall He sprinkle (nazah-sprinkle with blood/water, startle) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider...and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." 
                                                                                             Isa. 52:10, 15, 53:2

This Salvation is not just reported, but seen. Even those who do not have the opportunity to hear the report, will still have a visible means with which to consider it. The effect of this visual evidence startles nations, according to Isaiah. This visual experience will be startling to nations and kings because of its very nature. Isaiah describes the visceral reaction to what will be seen:

"He is despised and rejected; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, and He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes, we are healed."  Isa. 53:3-5

Isaiah gives a complete description of this Person, whom we will be able to see with our eyes, throughout the whole of Chapter 53. In every way, it is a prophetic account of the crucified Savior, Christ, the Messiah.

Again, we are told to see: "I am sought of them that asked not for Me: I am found of them that sought Me not: I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name."  Isa. 65:1

As Isaiah prophesied, we do have a visual account of this Savior, and His suffering. It is on the Shroud of Turin. As Isaiah prophesied, nations and kings have seen, and been startled and sprinkled as they witness this image, which can only be Christ. On the Shroud, we can see an image that cannot be reproduced by man, though many attempts have been unsuccessfully made. The image of a crucified man is a negative image, and it is also three dimensional. The image itself is superficial, appearing on only the very upper curve of each fiber, and does not seep deeper into the linen fabric. The image is not made from a powder, pigment, or dye, according to all testing results. Radiant energy, released at a single time, uniformly from the whole body, created the image. The verified blood on the Shroud is of a chemical nature that results from torture. Every swelling from bruising, and the many scourge marks, not only covering the whole back, but wrapping around the sides to the front of the body, are clearly visible, and identifiable as coming from a specific Roman scrourger in use at the time of Christ. All of the wounds depicted on the Shroud agree with the scriptural description of Jesus beaten and crucified. The image is powerful, and indeed startles those who see it and "consider" it.
We don't need to see Jesus to believe Him (Jn. 20:29), but the precious visual confirmation touches our hearts, and causes our souls to soar.

The mysteries concealed in the prophecies of the Old Testament, are indeed revealed in the New Testament, and are still being revealed to us today. As we come into the Resurrection and Passover seasons, the LORD has given us, both Israel and the nations, something to see and consider.

**Excerpt from "Nazah: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling" (p.29), by Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
 

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To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, including Dr. Stevenson's book, "Nazah: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", please see the above links.

Also available: March, 2018 issue of Charisma Magazine-article written by Dr. Stevenson  on the Shroud

 

To see Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also 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.
God bless you.