A Festival of Dedicated Lights*

Although Hanukkah, which means "Dedication", is not one of the original feasts ordained by God, Jesus observed Hanukkah, which is also called the Feast of Dedication, or the Festival of Lights. It was at the Feast of Dedication, that Jesus told as clearly as possible when asked by His questioners: "If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." (Jn. 10:22-24). Earlier, Jesus had told His listeners, "I am the good shepherd." (Jn. 10:10-18). Though the devil meant nothing but evil and destruction towards men, as the Good Shepherd, Jesus came to give His life to protect the sheep. Jesus came "that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (v. 10). Jesus also said: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (v. 16). At the Feast of Dedication, Jesus continued this revelation: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. I and my Father are one." (v. 27-30). He identified Himself to the questioners by the works of His Father, which He did in His Father's name. His questioners did not believe Him, Jesus told them, because they were not of His sheep. This was His message at the Feast of Dedication: those who hear and follow their Good Shepherd, and are saved from the destruction of the devil. Although the works are before their eyes as a testimony, there are those today also who do not believe the miracles of Christ, the works He did and continues to do in His Father's name. Why did Jesus bring this message at the Feast of Dedication? There are those who believe, but do they understand the importance of being "dedicated"? We are living tabernacles or temples of God by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. A tabernacle is not just a physical building. It is a dedicated and consecrated place, both physically and in our case, spiritually, for the presence and worship of God. Numbers 7 describes the dedication of the Tabernacle of the congregation: "And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar, and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them." (v. 1). The twelve leaders of every tribe brought offerings of silver, gold, oxen, bullocks, rams, lambs, and goats to be given to the Levites. For twelve days, the offerings of each leader or prince were made on a certain day for the dedication of the altar of the tabernacle. (v. 10-11, 84-88). When this was done, the LORD gave Moses the pattern for the construction and lighting of the lamps of the gold candlestick (Num. 8:1-4). Aaron did this as the LORD had shown Moses. Then Moses was commanded by the LORD: "Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them...Sprinkle water of purifying upon them...and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean." (Num. 8:6-7). The Levites were the tribe of priests from among the children of Israel, to serve in the tabernacle. We also have been called to be priests, as we will read later. We are cleansed by the washing of the Word of God. The Book of 1 Maccabees of the Apocrypha tells the events surrounding the cleansing and re-dedication of the temple in Jerusalem, which had been defiled by the pagan enemy. When they saw the condition of the temple, they fell down on their faces and repented before God. Judas Maccabee had the defiled altar torn down and re-built with new stones, and the temple furnishings brought in: "They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense and the table. And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the temple." Judas and the whole congregation then ordained eight days of dedication to begin from the 25th of Casleu from year to year. Priests of "blameless conversation", who loved the Word, were chosen to restore the temple sacrifices and praises (see 1 Maccabees 4:36-59). In the dedication of Solomon's temple, the fire and glory of the LORD filled the temple so that the priests could not stand to pray. The whole congregation worshiped and praised: "For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." (2 Chron. 7:1-3). Solomon offered thousands of animals in sacrifice to dedicate the house of the God. They kept the dedication of the altar for seven days, and assembled together on the eighth day. (v. 4-9). The LORD then appeared to Solomon by night, assuring the king that He had heard Solomon's prayer, and He had "chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice." (v. 12). This dedicated place would be a place where the LORD would hear, and the curses would be broken (see also Rev. 22:3). With this in mind, the LORD promised: "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house...". (v. 13-15). We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. As we cleanse and dedicate this living temple to Him, our hearts and souls, He fills this living temple with His fire and glory. We are called to be priests and kings in the Kingdom of God, and must dedicate and sanctify ourselves accordingly. The call is to be a holy nation. God wants all of His people to be holy. Moses first saw this priesthood as God called His people to keep His covenant: "...then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.' These are the words which thou shalt speak to the children of Israel." (Ex. 19:5-6). Peter confirmed the same truth regarding the believers in Christ: "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ...But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (1 Pet. 2:1-10, excerpt). Jesus spoke of us being salt and light in the world as He preached about the blessing of those who are "pure in heart", the peacemakers and the persecuted: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid...(but put) on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 5:8-12, 14-16). Dedicated light in us is like the light that illuminates the holy city of heaven: "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the LORD God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev. 22:1-5, excerpt). Let this season cause us to be dedicated lights. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/5/21 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, and endtimeschool.com.

Feast of Atonement-Yeshua IS Our Atonement

 

The Feast of Atonement, Yom Kippur, is the second fall feast of the LORD. One day a year, the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle or Temple, and sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice upon the Mercy Seat, which was atop the Ark of the Covenant. This blood offering cleansed the sins of the people for one year. It was not a permanent atonement for sin, and had to be renewed yearly. The days leading up to this feast were marked by self-examination, and deep repentance. This feast was a prophetic type and shadow that would be perfectly, and eternally, fulfilled by the Messiah.

Under the New Covenant, Jesus Christ became both our High Priest who enters, and the  blood of sprinkling. He brought  into the heavenly Holy of Holies the sacrifice of blood that He provided from His own body, to sprinkle upon the Mercy Seat of God:
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained 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? And for this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."   Heb. 9:12-15
                                                                     And:
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ...To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you..."  1 Pet. 1:2, 4
No longer for just a year, but now, as Christ has fulfilled the Feast of Atonement with the sprinkling of His blood, the redemption and the inheritance are eternal.
The Jewish blessing and prayer for the Feast of Atonement is "May you be inscribed in the Book of Life". Now, through Christ, the Messiah, that prayer is fulfilled.
We should also know that not only did Jesus enter the Holy of Holies with His blood, but in so doing, He made the way possible for us to enter this holiest place as well:
"Having therefore, brethren , boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, His flesh; and having a High Priest over the house of God; 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 in pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering (for He is faithful that promised)."   Heb. 10:19-23
Following into the Holy of Holies, after the way that Jesus established with His blood, we follow Him in priesthood, and we have priestly responsibilities, and obligations. We cannot hold our priesthood in just any manner. It requires consecration, setting ourselves apart from the ways and spirit of the world. Through the Prophet Malachi, God exhorted the priesthood:
"For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name, and a pure offering: for My name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts."
                                                                                            Mal. 1:11
Incense offered to God is the form of our prayers before Him (Rev. 8:3-4), and also in the verse above, God says He requires a pure offering. We are that pure offering ("I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  Rom. 12:1). As we perform these priestly duties, God's name becomes great in all the nations, and among the heathen who do not know Him. We see this principle again in Malachi:
"My covenant was with him (that is Levi, the tribe of priests) of life and peace,,,he feared (reverenced, awed by) Me, and was afraid (amazed, broken, prostrate) before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with Me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts."  Mal. 2:5-7
The LORD teaches through Malachi above, that the priest who fulfills his responsibilities as he should, brings the covenant of life and peace with him. His reverent ministry before God has the effect of turning many others from iniquity. People will seek the knowledge and truth found in the priest's mouth, and the priest becomes the messenger of the LORD. All of this is accomplished as a result of the total reverence and deference to God in the priest's own heart. His own heart must be sprinkled with that atoning blood.
All of this great work of the Messiah's atoning blood and the Spirit is a fulfillment of the prophetic promise of God:
"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 first born...In that day, there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhbitnts of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the (false) prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land....And one shall say unto Him, "What are these wounds in Thine hands? Then He shall answer, "Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends."  Zech. 12:10, 13:1-2, 6
The eternal promise and inheritance have been accomplished in us and through us in the fulfillment by Jesus of the Feast of Atonement. Others, even whole nations, are to be impacted by that atonement work in us. However, as we have seen, our resulting priesthood in Christ also requires something of us.

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Last Days Priesthood Continued-Is There Yet A Zadok Remnant in America?

 

The above is a portion of a quote by French writer and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville, from his book "Democracy in America" (De La Democratique en Amerique), published in two volumes in 1835 and 1840, after he visited America for nine months to perform a study for the French government. This is the full thought:

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers – and it was not there . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there . . . in her rich mines and her vast world commerce – and it was not there . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution – and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”  

 

De Tocqueville went on to write that the democracy existing in America was very unique, unlike the democracy found in Europe. He thought this was because American democracy was birthed from Puritan seeds of faith and scriptural truth, which were integrated into our earliest government. As the full quote above states, he found that America's continued greatness was still very much connected to the uncompromising Spiritual truth coming forth from pulpits at the time of his study.

Scripture established this connection between the preaching of righteousness and the condition of the land even before de Tocqueville revealed it. Scripture warns that the lack of goodness, or righteousness coming from the "pulpit", the priesthood, will cause loss of righteousness and create great woes throughout the land. The LORD gave His word to Ezekiel saying:

"The conspiracy of her prophets...is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things...Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean;...Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain...The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy..."      Ezekiel 22:25-29 (excerpt)

Ezekiel notes above that the profane, unclean, unholy condition of the land began with the corruption of the prophets, then the priests, then the princes (government), and then, finally, the people. It started with the spiritual gatekeepers of the land, and continued to progress from there.

The LORD sadly continues in v. 30:

"So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one."

The Prophet Isaiah also describes the woes of God's judgments that would come upon the land:
"Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as if with a cart rope;
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to men mighty at drinking wine,...Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man!...Therefore, the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people..."     Isa. 5:18-25 (excerpt)
What is the attitude of those involved in this cycle of unrighteousness? It is an attitude of mockery and scoffing towards the LORD, and His judgment:
"Woe to those...that say, "Let Him (God) make speed and hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it." (v. 19).
The Psalms and Proverbs also mourn the effect of unrighteousness upon the land:
"Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men."    Ps. 11:3, 12:1-4, Prov. 29:18
These are the same spiritual conditions found in our own nation today.
However, the LORD has not left us in this desolate condition. He teaches us a remedy. The remedy will not be found in a political candidate, but in a remnant:
"How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem...Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will be brought out...surely they will come out to you, and you will see their ways, and their doings...And they will comfort you when you see their ways and their doings..."  Ez. 14:21-23 (excerpt)

and



"But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood...they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge...whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall put on linen garments...And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean."                   Ez. 44:15-17, 23 (excerpt)

Unrighteousness, uncleanness, and the failure to teach the people the difference between the holy and unholy marked the prophets and priests of Ez. 22, and the effects of these things trickled down to the governing princes, and eventually to the people as a whole, corrupting the whole land. Now, however, in the verses above, we see the opposite happening. The Zadok priesthood, that remnant, is coming forth to bring the righteousness of the blood (of Jesus), the righteousness represented by their linen garments (Ps. 132:9, Rev. 19:8), the righteousness from faithfully teaching the people the difference between the holy and the unholy. Here we see the effect of that righteous Zadok priesthood upon the land.
As corruption trickled down from a corrupt priesthood to all the people of the land, righteousness now trickles down from a righteous priesthood. This is a priesthood that stands in the gap. This is a priesthood that humbles itself, prays, seeks God's face, and turns from its wicked ways, embracing not their own righteousness, but the righteousness of God in Christ, and teaching that righteousness to others. They not only teach it, but they live it. That righteousness trickles down, like the oil of anointing poured upon Aaron's ("Light Bringer") head in Psalm 133. It continues to trickle down his beard, and down his garments. That righteousness is like the dew ("covering") over Mt. Hermon ("dedicated for destruction, extermination") that continued downward. The righteousness of this priesthood is like the righteousness of our High Priest, Jesus, that trickled down from His pierced head to His pierced feet and beyond. In the same manner, this Zadok priesthood's righteousness  trickles down to cover a nation.
Does this Zadok priesthood still stand in an America that has turned its back on its Puritan beginnings, whose people are no longer taught the difference between the holy and the unholy? Will this priesthood rise up and cause the pulpits of America to once again be "aflame with righteousness" as de Tocqueville described, a flame that transforms a nation?
These are the priests spoken of by the LORD to the Prophet Joel:
"Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD..."     Joel 2:17


Recommended Reading:  "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville
                                           http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/815?msg=welcome_stranger

                                          George Washington's Third Vision of America
                                          http://ad2004.com/prophecytruths/Articles/Prophecy/Washington.html 



Becoming the Priesthood of Truth

 

The Apostle Paul warns Timothy that in the last days, perilous times will come. One of the perils he speaks of is a resistance to truth. Men in these last days, he also warns, will be always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of truth (2 Timothy 3:1, 7-8).

As believers in Christ, and in the Word of God, we have received the truth:

"...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever...Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."   1 Peter 1:23-25)

We were born again out of the abiding, incorruptible nature of the word, which makes it truth ("Thy word is truth", Jn. 17:17). Becoming born again is the direct result of that very power of truth.
Jesus came to bring truth to us:

When Pilate asked Jesus if He was a king, Jesus answered,

You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."  Jn. 18:37.

Sadly, Pilate reflects not only the world spirit of his time, but of our time as well, by cynically asking "What is truth?"

This truth to which Jesus came to bear witness, is an offense to those who refuse to hear it, to those who "resist the truth". Jesus exposed this even in those who were believers in Him:

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 

                                                                               Jn. 8:31-32

However, these believing Jews took offense in this, saying that their father was Abraham, and Abraham had already made them free. They declared they had no need of an additional freedom. Jesus pointed out that by sin, they were in bondage still, and they needed the freedom of the truth that He brought, the truth of His Father. These believers became so offended, that they desired to kill Jesus. "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has brought you the truth which I heard from God..."  (v. 40). They also accused Jesus at that point of having a demon (v. 48). And these were those who believed in Him!

We have accepted the truth, and have been born again as a result of truth, and perhaps we feel that we "have arrived" at our spiritual destination. However, our journey does not end there. Peter reveals the spiritual truth and responsibility of a priesthood:

"...you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."    1 Peter 2:5

This spiritual house, this priesthood, is built upon a chief cornerstone of truth, Jesus Christ. However, while this cornerstone of truth is precious to us, it is a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense (v. 6-8) to those who reject the truth, just as Jesus revealed in His own believers, above. They were offended, even to the extent of desiring to murder.

Scripture gives strong warnings to those who purposefully deny and suppress the truth-the wrath of God is revealed from heaven. They are also sent strong delusions that cause them to believe the lie that condemns them, because they did not believe the truth, and they did not receive the love of the truth. They will never be allowed to enter the beautiful city of God, the New Jerusalem, because they love and practice a lie. (Rom. 1:18, 2 Thess. 2:10-12, Rev. 21:27, and 22:15).

God will not allow the lie to live beside His truth. It is the same in the holy priesthood of believers spoken of in 1 Peter. If this priesthood does not stand for the truth, the LORD has a controversy with them. The whole land mourns because of a priesthood that compromises the truth of their Chief Cornerstone, with the lie:

"There is no truth or mercy

Or knowledge of God in the land.

...Therefore the land will mourn;

And everyone who dwells there will waste away

With the beasts of the field

And the birds of the air;

Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.

...My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being priest for Me.

Because you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children."

Hosea 4:1, 3, 5-6

 

We can easily see that the condition of our land today is the same as that being described by the Prophet Hosea, above.  A priesthood that forgets, or purposefully rejects the truth, or is offended by the truth, or afraid to offend others with the truth, is a priesthood that is rejected by God. It is a priesthood that brings mourning to the land and its inhabitants. Bondage, instead of freedom, covers the land. Where is the holy priesthood of believers?

 



We, the priesthood, are instead exhorted by Paul who said:

"...God, from the beginning, chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word, or our epistle."  2 Thess. 2:13-15

 

 

 

Recommended viewing: "Monumental", a 2012 documentary

See trailer below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuN86qIqfw0