The mysteries of Christ and the church were not written or foretold in the OT scriptures. These mysteries were by in large revealed to the apostle Paul for the church which was for the believing Jew and Gentile. The blood and body of Christ is the communion of the NT believer and was never partaken of until Christ administered this to his disciple just prior to the cross (eat my flesh and drink my blood). There was no life for the NT believer without it. The Jews did not have this communion under the law of Moses and many were offended by the very thought of it.
If this was available to them prior to the cross, you need to show me and make it plain if possible. The communion we have is far superior to that of the Israelite under the law of Moses or what was accomplished by the high priest in the holy of holies. The Holy Spirit indwells every NT believer and it is the Spirit that makes this communion possible. This communion is eternal redemption that was obtained for us and we received it by faith through the administration of the Spirit and not according to the letter of the law. We have access to the holy of holies by the blood of Christ as NT believers. He is our high priest who gives us access for communion with the living God.
There are seven major covenants in scripture. Six have been fulfilled, and the seventh is prophesied giving us an expected hope that the last promise will come to pass simply because the previous six promises are all true. Lets’ look back to what God has done, and know what He will do.
1. Adam=God giving sustenance and authority over land and animals to mankind. This is the first time in the Bible that blood was shed for the atonement/covering of the sinful flesh
2. Noah=The promise not to destroy the faithful, and never again destroy the earth with water depicted with a rainbow
3. Abraham=the promise of making a nation for an example to all the world
4. Moses=giving instructions to learn the will of God distinguishing, and identifying transgression, eventually led to the promised land and the sandal covenant
5. David=the promise of an everlasting kingdom through his lineage of Judah called the salt covenant, salt being a preservative
6. Jesus=the promise for the remission of transgression/iniquity/sins completing the promise to David, the Priesthood being through Judah, transferred on the mount of transfiguration. I believe that Jesus is number 6 in this sequence of events because He became flesh and dwelt among us as John chapter 1 states.
7. Ephraim and Judah as one nation=Ephraim is classified as the entire world of Gentiles being connected with the dispersion of the 10 tribes captured by the Assyrian Empire never to return to the promised land until the final judgment described in Revelation. Judah returned in 1948 as the Jews, and will be united with Ephraim.
Ezekiel 37:16-23 (KJV)
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For
Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of
Ephraim, and
for all the house of Israel his companions:
(Gentiles)
[SUP]17 [/SUP]And
join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou
meanest by these?
[SUP]19 [/SUP]Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which
is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him,
even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
[SUP]22 [/SUP]
And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
[SUP]23 [/SUP]Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions:
but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
This is a complete picture of the history of God’s faithfulness, judgments, and promises from beginning to end. In essence we see seven events, one built upon another, completing God’s divine plan that I would classify as the seven spirits of God. I believe this can be all wrapped together in what the true church should be, and then including the seven churches in the first part of the book of Revelation. The church definitely should be sen today as very comparable to the covenants God has issued to mankind since the beginning of time
1. The church has been given authority,
2. and is promised protection due to being faithful.
3.They are promised increase when justified by faith,
4. and they are to conduct themselves with integrity that glorifies God.
5. They will be completely beautiful as the betrothed bride of Christ.
6. The Groom knocks on the heart's door in preparation for the marriage,
(Revelation 3:20)
7. and faithfully prepares a place for her, and with joy receives her for Himself.
