| Romans 7: |
12: Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
14: For we know that the law is spiritual:...
|
Therefore, in order to dispel any doubts the Jews may have held concerning his
obedience, Paul joined four others in a Nazarite dedication service.
This service is fully described in Numbers chapter 6.
The service involved:
- Taking a vow of dedication (separation)
- Not drinking wine or strong drink or even eating anything from the
vine for the period of the vow
- Not cutting one's hair, but shaving it off after the period of the vow
had expired
- Not coming into contact with any dead body all the days of separation
- An offering of two doves and a lamb to signal the end of the vow
Paul joined in this dedication ceremony - not because he was a Nazarite
or had grown his hair long for many weeks, not because he had been defiled by
a dead body in any way, but for one reason alone:
| Acts 21: |
24: ...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.
|
Whilst considering these facts, also remember that:
- The Temple in Jerusalem was still standing.
- The Aaronic Priesthood was still officiating;
so sacrifices in the Temple were not illegal even though the reality
to which those sacrifices pointed (Christ's death) had occurred.
- The morning and evening sacrifices were also still being made.
- Christ's early disciples (mostly Jews) were still visiting the Temple
each day and witnessing the daily sacrifice.
Then came that incredible accusation Paul was teaching disobedience to
Yahweh's law! The Apostles were stunned, because they all knew the charge
was totally false. They knew Paul had been explaining the deeper
lessons of Yahweh's law; just as we are attempting to do in this booklet.
And, here he was being accused of heresy! What were they to do? How could they
convince an extremely religious population that Paul was in fact an
obedient Israelite? How could they do this without entering into
endless explanations, arguments and possible uproar? What were they to do?
They found the answer in the Nazarite vow. Bear in mind, no law
would be violated if Paul joined in this dedication service, for
the Temple and the authorized priesthood were both present. Indeed, much would
be gained by a silent public display (a bald head) of obedience. So,
Paul agreed to their plan and re-dedicated himself to God along with the
others.
That is all we should read from this incident: The Apostle Paul
joined others in a dedication service to dispel any doubts he was a
law-breaker. In view of these facts, let no misguided Gentile offer
unauthorized animal sacrifices elsewhere on earth. Without a Temple and
Priesthood, even the Jews do not presume to offer sacrifices: how much
less should Gentiles who believe in the Savior as the Lamb of God.
Will the animal sacrifices mentioned in Ezekiel's prophecy be performed in some
future day?
(Ezekiel chapters 44 through 46)
Answer
As explained earlier, animals were slaughtered by the Aaronic
Priesthood to illustrate the following spiritual realities:
- The penalty for sin is eternal death.
- Without the shedding of blood, forgiveness is not possible.
- An innocent victim could take the place of a guilty party.
- If a repentant believer requested pardon and came before the
Most High with that innocent victim's blood - he/she would be
pardoned - on the strength of the Messiah's coming sacrifice.
- All animal sacrifices pointed to Messiah's (Christ's) sacrifice on Calvary.
- The Savior's blood (life) purifies the believer enabling him/her to be
totally reconciled to the Father.
- The multiple sacrifices made on Yahweh's Sabbaths signify the
multiple achievements of Christ's sacrifice in the Plan of Salvation.
Also, remember, Ezekiel's prophecy was written in about 592 BC, over 600
years before Christ's death on Calvary. In those chapters, the prophet uses
symbolic language to describe a far higher degree of cleansing and
purification still to be achieved in a date future to him. In other words,
Ezekiel's prophecy pictured Yeshua the Messiah's sacrifice and its eternal
effect. Prophetic language may often be low level, picturing bulls, goats,
lambs and the literal sons of Zadok; but the realities to which those well known
terms point is high-level. The use of symbolic terms such as the
'Passover Lamb', 'circumcision','washing', 'unleavened bread' etc. all
describe the spiritual realities Messiah's sacrifice would accomplish. These
well-known terms help us better understand the concepts of sin, sacrifice,
cleansing and holiness. That is the main reason why symbolic language is used
in prophecy.
The prophecy of the Revelation also uses symbolic language: 'coloured horses',
'bows', 'swords', 'scales', 'sickles' and 'frogs' to describe messages
of warning, war, famine, the end-time harvest and the work of evil spirits. In a
similar way, Ezekiel looked forward and in symbolic language described the
future work of Christ (the Prince) in a spiritual Temple built on a high
mountain. We quote from the Westminster Dictionary of the Bible page 178:
-
"The picture that is unfolded in these chapters (of Ezekiel) is not an
ideal which the prophet expected would be realized literally; but is
purely symbolic; for in no other way is it possible to understand the
high mountain of the new Zion, and the measurements, and the allotments of the
land which are geometrical and not geographical, and the healing waters
that issue from the sanctuary and presently become a mighty river, and the
trees whose fruit is produced every month and whose leaves are for
healing..."
Ezekiel's Temple, in other words, is a spiritual structure which Yahweh
will inhabit through eternity: a structure built on the foundation of the Lord
Jesus Christ, his sacrifice and his life-blood which was shed for us: a
sacrifice, which to the prophet Ezekiel, was still future. Notice the
responsibility of providing all the sacrifices in the Temple fell to
the PRINCE.
| Ezekiel 45: |
17: And it shall be the PRINCE'S part to give burnt
offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts,
and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the
house of Israel: He shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat
offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings,
to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.
|
The Prince is Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ). It remains his responsibility
to provide all the sacrifices and to make reconciliation for Israel (Ezekiel
45 & 46). And that is exactly what the Savior has been doing since his
death and resurrection. By his death - with a single sacrifice - he
met every sacrificial requirement mentioned by Ezekiel: and also began the work
of building the eternal Temple on the high mountain of the new Zion. The
sevenfold Passover sacrifices mentioned in Ezekiel 45:23 (7 bullocks, 7 rams and
a goat kids), all picture the absolute perfection, totality and
all-encompassing effect of Yeshua's life-blood and sacrifice. They do not
mean, as the Passover lamb or kid Jesus will die over and over again seven times.
Is it wrong for a believer to donate an animal for one of Yahweh's Feasts?
Answer
A believer may donate money, fruit, vegetables or a clean animal for a
Feast; that is perfectly in order. Indeed, one cannot have a Feast without these
things: they must either be bought or donated. Either way, the animal must not
be sacrificed in a religious ceremony or on an altar of any kind. Nor should
its blood be eaten by or sprinkled on anyone. The animal should be slaughtered
in the ordinary way; ensuring that its blood is spilled on the ground.
Clean animals that may be eaten are listed in Leviticus chapter 11.
Is it right for a church leader to charge a fee for prayers made on behalf of
the sick or the dead?
Answer
No, it is not right! In fact, it is a serious sin for any church leader to turn
religion into a money-making racket. If a primate, priest or prophet asks you
to pay for his prayers, you may be sure he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Sad to
say, the church has proved to be a brothel of betrayal. Crimes of the worst
kind are rampant in its midst and fleecing the poor of their meager funds is
one of its worst sins. This does not mean a congregation should not support
full-time ministers. They should be, by free-will offerings taken up
in the normal way. But when a payment, however small, is demanded for a
special prayer, then beware of the wolf in sheep's clothing!
Isn't the Sabbath commandment symbolic, and therefore obsolete?
Answer
The Sabbath commandment is eternal. It is part of Yahweh's primary law,
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20).
The Ten Commandments can never become obsolete any
more than honesty; respect for Yahweh's Name, honour for our parents etc. can
become obsolete virtues. The Bible says: "all his commandments are
sure. They sand fast for ever and ever" (Psalm 111:7-8).
The seventh day Sabbath is a:
- memorial of creation and a vital part of the
Everlasting Gospel.
- perpetual covenant between Yahweh and His people (Exodus 31:12-17).
In other words, the Sabbath forms part of the Eternal Covenant.
- sign of sanctification (Ezekiel 20:12 & 20). The Sabbath
will last as long as sanctification and holiness remain: which is forever.
- foretaste of the Rest of God (Hebrews 4).
Like the other primary laws in the Bible, the Sabbath commandment will continue
for all time, even on the new earth (Isaiah 66:22-23). The weekly Sabbath is a
foretaste of Yahweh's Rest, to which the Almighty is eagerly looking
forward. In Hebrews chapter 4, the church is given a serious warning about
failure to keep the seventh day Sabbath. We are reminded; many in
ancient Israel failed to enter the Promised Land because they rejected the
weekly Sabbath. In His anger, Yahweh swore they would die in the desert
and not enter the Promised Land, which is also a foretaste of His Rest.
| Hebrews 4:
|
1: Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering
into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2: For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the
word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them
that heard it.
3: For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said,
As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4: For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise,
And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5: And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6: Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein,
and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so
long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your hearts.
8: For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have
spoken of another day.
9: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10: For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from
his own works, as God did from his.
11: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any
man fall after the same example of unbelief.
|
The chapter says at some later date - a second time - Yahweh would
again entreat His people to keep the weekly Sabbath as a foretaste of His
Rest. What does this amazing passage mean? It means this:
- There still remains for Yahweh's people, a Rest similar to His
resting on the weekly Sabbath at the creation (Genesis 2:1-3).
- Yahweh would appeal to His people a second time to keep His
seventh day Sabbath as a token of His Rest - the true Promised
Land, which is the new, sin-free universe He has planned to create.
- All who want to enter Yahweh's Rest (the Promised Land) will
rest every seventh day from their work as God did from His.
That is what Hebrews chapter 4 is saying. Study it again and again for
yourself. Believe it or not, Yahweh's second appeal to obey His Sabbath
commandment is being made at this very moment to YOU. This appeal is part of
Yahweh's second call to His followers to keep His Sabbath day. Beware of
rejecting it.
The Sabbath-keeping church I attend continues to offer animal sacrifices.
I do not agree with them on this matter. What should I do?
Answer
To begin with, you should make the leaders and the congregation aware of this
truth about Messiah's sacrifice. This booklet may help do that. If they continue
to sacrifice animals or birds after having received a knowledge of the truth,
then leave and join another Sabbath-keeping congregation. Remember; however,
that just because a group holds a service on the true Sabbath day, does not mean
it has all the truth or even that its members are better than non
Sabbath-keepers. Knowledge of the truth is a step in the right direction: but,
if sin is not put away and truth followed by the Fruit of the Holy Spirit
(Galatians 5:19-25), then knowledge is just extra mental baggage. It
means nothing. Sabbath-keeping churches who continue to sacrifice animals
will gradually see their best members leave: because, once they understand
the truth, they will expect their leaders to stop this illegal practice
- or they will leave. Let all animal sacrificing Sabbath churches around the
globe take note!
The Sunday-keeping church I attend accepts Christ's sacrifice,
but rejects Yahweh's weekly and annual Sabbaths. What should I do?
Answer
To begin with, you should study the following AVITW articles:
Failure to keep the Creator's Sabbath day, which is the memorial of His
creation, is a serious sin. The Everlasting Gospel (outlined in
Revelation 14:7) highlights two vital requirements:
- "Fear God and give glory to Him;..."
This means: put your faith in the Almighty, accept His free gift of
salvation through His Son and glorify Him for that fact.
- "and worship him that made the heaven, and earth, and the sea,
and the fountains of waters."
This means: Worship Yahweh by keeping His Sabbath day, which is the
memorial of His creation: for in six days the Lord made the heavens,
the earth, the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day.
Your group has accepted the first half of the Everlasting Gospel: faith
in the all-sufficiency of Yeshua the Messiah's life-blood. Other groups
(including most Jews) have accepted the second half: Yahweh's Sabbath days.
Your task now is to find and worship with a group which teaches the whole
Gospel; a group that accepts Christ's all-encompassing sacrifice and
also keeps the weekly and annual Sabbaths of the Almighty.
The Everlasting Gospel article explains
these two requirements.
For help in your search see:
Where can I find such a Group?
and The Perfect Church
A Voice In The Wilderness
Animal Sacrific Index
Author: Elder: David B. Loughran - Stewarton Bible School - Stewarton Scotland
A Voice In The Wilderness - USA
www.avitw-usa.org
First published 1979 / Placed on the Internet 1996 / Updated: 2009
