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(July 31, 2010)

If you've read the book of Ezekiel, you're familiar with the fact that YHWH will institute animal sacrifices in the future, in the third temple. A few examples are, but limited to: Ez 40:41-43, 43:18-27, Jer 33:14-18.

Why will the animal sacrifices be re-instituted? Haven't the animal sacrifices been abolished in the NT? (Ref: Heb 10) This seemingly contradiction has derailed some people from the truth. The FACT is, there will again be animal sacrifices in the third temple AND there are no animal sacrifices in the NT contract. Both are true. For some odd reason, people think that YHWH is shackled and obligated to give every single person the exact same covenant/contract. Although; fundamentally, we each choose which contract we want to sign. I will explain. And, I will also answer my posed question which involves the subject of the covenants and their perspective rewards.

Let's begin with Daniel 12:1-3. It reads,

"...And at the time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book, and many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth wake up, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting abhorrence. And those who have insight shall shine like the brightness of the expanse, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever."

I could have very easily quoted Revelation 20 to demonstrate the first and second resurrections. But I chose to use Daniel 12:1-3 because many people believe the NT is full of errors, which isn't correct.

Daniel 12:1-3 essentially informs us that there are two camps of people:

those who are righteous will arise in the first resurrection, they will shine brightly like the stars in heaven and live forever.
those who are not righteous. This group isn't necessarily promised eternal life. They arise in the second resurrection that is considered an everlasting abhorrence.

The two separate resurrections and their perspective promises mandates two separate contracts. Although, there is a huge religious theology movement that believes the OT Mosaic contract has NOT been annulled and will continue forever. And, the one-in-number god belief supports this supposition. You see, if you believe that Christ wasn't the One who contracted with the Israelites in the desert, then - in fact, the OT contract remains in affect. But, if you believe that Christ was the One who contracted with the ancient Israelites, then - in fact, the OT contract does NOT remain in affect.

FACTS TO KNOW:
There are three ways to annul a contract:

both parties agree to dissolve the contract,
to fulfill the contract obligations,
or if one of the parties, who signed the contract, dies.

Christ DIED and He also fulfilled the contract obligations. No regular human could ever do it. Christ was the One who contracted with the ancient Israelites. Hence, He was the only One that could fulfill the contract, because He is the One who signed on the dotted line sort-of-speak. And; because of His death and who He was/is, the entire OT contract is no longer valid. (Ref: Rom 6:22 thru 7:1- 3 and Zechariah 11:10-13)

Christ was the ultimate sacrifice that those sacrificial animals resembled. Hebrews 10 is valid and it is NOT full of errors. YHWH doesn't like the death of animals and never did. He is the giver of LIFE! A lover of LIFE! HE doesn't delight in the death of animals - animals that He gave life to in Genesis and said all was "good".

King David was inspired to write the following that applies to the NT life contract:

Psalm 40:6-9 reads,

"Sacrifice and meal-offering Thou hast no delight in; mine ears hast Thou opened; burnt-offering and sin-offering hast Thou NOT required. Then said I: 'Lo, I am come with the roll of a book which is prescribed for Me; I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is in my inmost parts.' I have preached righteousness in the great congregation, lo, I did not refrain my lips; O LORD, Thou knowest. I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy mercy and Thy truth from the great congregation.

Before Christ died, He instituted a new covenant/contract (actually, it was the refreshed Abrahamic covenant/contract). He instituted this said contract the night that He was betrayed . The NT contract symbols are the bread and wine. (Ref: Matt 26:26-28, 1-Cor 11:23-29) The reason why this NT contract remained in affect after Christ's death is because it was a WILL and TESTAMENT contract. Christ had His disciples write His WILL. And, if anyone abides by His WILL requirements, then they will share in HIS inheritance. (Ref: Eph 3:1-7, 1-Col 1:12 and many more.) The reward for abiding by His WILL stipulations is eternal life. Those who are in this camp will arise in the first resurrection and shine brightly like the stars in heaven.

For the sake of explanation; let's say now, the first resurrection has now occurred. Let's leap into the future and say that Christ has returned. The saints are now shining like the stars in heaven and Christ is sitting on His throne in Jerusalem. THE FIRST RESURRECTION IS NOW AN EVENT IN THE PAST. The NT contract has been fulfilled because the reward has now already been given. What now? Can the rest of the people - who were not righteous, enter into the NT contract after its fulfillment? NO!, they can not. YHWH does not reverse time! For example: if one arises in the second resurrection, they can't be a part of the first resurrection.

The remaining people who died and did NOT attain unto righteousness arise in the second resurrection. But, at the point in time of the second resurrection, they need a contract! For this reason, YHWH institutes a NEW contract! It's called, "The Covenant/contract of Peace". (Ref's, but not limited to: Ez 34:25, 37:26). This covenant/contract contains animal sacrifices. They have to go through the school program all over again! (Ref: Gal 3:24)

Ezekiel 37 demonstrates the second resurrection as also does Matt 12:40-42 and John 5:27-29. This group of people will be brought back to life again, but will return into the physical form. The entire physical nation of Israel (which includes the house of Judah) as a general whole, will arise in the second resurrection. For some reason, there is a fallacy notion going about that these people will arise in the first. Not so. Believe the words of our Messiah, the Christ! In John 9:41 Christ said that the sins of the Jews remain! And, in Matthew 8:11-12 Christ said the following:

"And I say to you that many (gentiles) shall come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the sons of the kingdom (the Israelites) shall be cast out into outer darkness - there shall be weeping (sadness) and nashing of teeth (anger)."

In Luke 13:28-29, Christ clearly spoke to the Jews and it reads:

"There shall be weeping (sadness) and gnashing of teeth (anger), when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of Elohim, and yourselves thrown-outside. And they (primarily the gentiles) shall come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of Elohim."

The OT contract nor the NT contract is an end-all contract. Each serves a purpose. But, please know that the NT contract was open to the ancient Israelites. The good-news was preached to them also (ref: Heb 4:2). However, they rejected it except for a select few. The OT contract has been fulfilled and is now obsolete. The NT contract is currently the one in affect. And, after the NT contract has been fulfilled, the "contract of peace" will be instituted. The NT contract does not contain animal sacrifices. The future "contract of peace" does contain animal sacrifices.

I have written a more intensive study covering this subject if anyone is interested. But expect to read for several hours at least. The article is titled: "Should Christians Observe Every Law of Moses?"

Why Are Animal Sacrifices Instituted in the Future Third Temple?
(July 31, 2010) If you've read the book of Ezekiel, you're familiar with the fact that YHWH will institute animal sacrifices in the future, in the third temple. A few examples are, but limited to: Ez 40:41-43, 43:18-27, Jer 33:14-18. Why will the animal sacrifices be re-instituted? Haven't the animal sacrifices been abolished in the NT? (Ref: Heb 10) This seemingly contradiction has derailed some people from the truth. The FACT is, there will again be animal sacrifices in the third temple AND there are no animal sacrifices in the NT contract. Both are true. For some odd reason, people think that YHWH is shackled and obligated to give every single person the exact same covenant/contract. Although; fundamentally, we each choose which contract we want to sign. I will explain. And, I will also answer my posed question which involves the subject of the covenants and their perspective rewards. Let's begin with Daniel 12:1-3. It reads, "...And at the time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book, and many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth wake up, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting abhorrence. And those who have insight shall shine like the brightness of the expanse, and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever." I could have very easily quoted Revelation 20 to demonstrate the first and second resurrections. But I chose to use Daniel 12:1-3 because many people believe the NT is full of errors, which isn't correct. Daniel 12:1-3 essentially informs us that there are two camps of people: those who are righteous will arise in the first resurrection, they will shine brightly like the stars in heaven and live forever. those who are not righteous. This group isn't necessarily promised eternal life. They arise in the second resurrection that is considered an everlasting abhorrence. The two separate resurrections and their perspective promises mandates two separate contracts. Although, there is a huge religious theology movement that believes the OT Mosaic contract has NOT been annulled and will continue forever. And, the one-in-number god belief supports this supposition. You see, if you believe that Christ wasn't the One who contracted with the Israelites in the desert, then - in fact, the OT contract remains in affect. But, if you believe that Christ was the One who contracted with the ancient Israelites, then - in fact, the OT contract does NOT remain in affect. FACTS TO KNOW: There are three ways to annul a contract: both parties agree to dissolve the contract, to fulfill the contract obligations, or if one of the parties, who signed the contract, dies. Christ DIED and He also fulfilled the contract obligations. No regular human could ever do it. Christ was the One who contracted with the ancient Israelites. Hence, He was the only One that could fulfill the contract, because He is the One who signed on the dotted line sort-of-speak. And; because of His death and who He was/is, the entire OT contract is no longer valid. (Ref: Rom 6:22 thru 7:1- 3 and Zechariah 11:10-13) Christ was the ultimate sacrifice that those sacrificial animals resembled. Hebrews 10 is valid and it is NOT full of errors. YHWH doesn't like the death of animals and never did. He is the giver of LIFE! A lover of LIFE! HE doesn't delight in the death of animals - animals that He gave life to in Genesis and said all was "good". King David was inspired to write the following that applies to the NT life contract: Psalm 40:6-9 reads, "Sacrifice and meal-offering Thou hast no delight in; mine ears hast Thou opened; burnt-offering and sin-offering hast Thou NOT required. Then said I: 'Lo, I am come with the roll of a book which is prescribed for Me; I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is in my inmost parts.' I have preached righteousness in the great congregation, lo, I did not refrain my lips; O LORD, Thou knowest. I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy mercy and Thy truth from the great congregation. Before Christ died, He instituted a new covenant/contract (actually, it was the refreshed Abrahamic covenant/contract). He instituted this said contract the night that He was betrayed . The NT contract symbols are the bread and wine. (Ref: Matt 26:26-28, 1-Cor 11:23-29) The reason why this NT contract remained in affect after Christ's death is because it was a WILL and TESTAMENT contract. Christ had His disciples write His WILL. And, if anyone abides by His WILL requirements, then they will share in HIS inheritance. (Ref: Eph 3:1-7, 1-Col 1:12 and many more.) The reward for abiding by His WILL stipulations is eternal life. Those who are in this camp will arise in the first resurrection and shine brightly like the stars in heaven. For the sake of explanation; let's say now, the first resurrection has now occurred. Let's leap into the future and say that Christ has returned. The saints are now shining like the stars in heaven and Christ is sitting on His throne in Jerusalem. THE FIRST RESURRECTION IS NOW AN EVENT IN THE PAST. The NT contract has been fulfilled because the reward has now already been given. What now? Can the rest of the people - who were not righteous, enter into the NT contract after its fulfillment? NO!, they can not. YHWH does not reverse time! For example: if one arises in the second resurrection, they can't be a part of the first resurrection. The remaining people who died and did NOT attain unto righteousness arise in the second resurrection. But, at the point in time of the second resurrection, they need a contract! For this reason, YHWH institutes a NEW contract! It's called, "The Covenant/contract of Peace". (Ref's, but not limited to: Ez 34:25, 37:26). This covenant/contract contains animal sacrifices. They have to go through the school program all over again! (Ref: Gal 3:24) Ezekiel 37 demonstrates the second resurrection as also does Matt 12:40-42 and John 5:27-29. This group of people will be brought back to life again, but will return into the physical form. The entire physical nation of Israel (which includes the house of Judah) as a general whole, will arise in the second resurrection. For some reason, there is a fallacy notion going about that these people will arise in the first. Not so. Believe the words of our Messiah, the Christ! In John 9:41 Christ said that the sins of the Jews remain! And, in Matthew 8:11-12 Christ said the following: "And I say to you that many (gentiles) shall come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the sons of the kingdom (the Israelites) shall be cast out into outer darkness - there shall be weeping (sadness) and nashing of teeth (anger)." In Luke 13:28-29, Christ clearly spoke to the Jews and it reads: "There shall be weeping (sadness) and gnashing of teeth (anger), when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of Elohim, and yourselves thrown-outside. And they (primarily the gentiles) shall come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of Elohim." The OT contract nor the NT contract is an end-all contract. Each serves a purpose. But, please know that the NT contract was open to the ancient Israelites. The good-news was preached to them also (ref: Heb 4:2). However, they rejected it except for a select few. The OT contract has been fulfilled and is now obsolete. The NT contract is currently the one in affect. And, after the NT contract has been fulfilled, the "contract of peace" will be instituted. The NT contract does not contain animal sacrifices. The future "contract of peace" does contain animal sacrifices. I have written a more intensive study covering this subject if anyone is interested. But expect to read for several hours at least. The article is titled: "Should Christians Observe Every Law of Moses?"