THE TWO COVENANTS

By Don Hollifield

Today we are going into the depths of the Bible as we explore some of the symbolism of the Old Testament.

What exactly is a Covenant? In civilian life, a Covenant is a binding agreement between two or more individuals. But in Theology, it is a promise from God to mankind as recorded in the Bible.

In the New Testament the corresponding word for Covenant is "Diathece" which is usually translated as "Testament." Covenant and Testament are the same in the New Testament. The two Covenants are God's Promise to all mankind. God made many promises, most of which have transpired, with the remainder still to come.

I believe the two Covenants covered in today's message are two of the most important of all. The first Covenant is contained in the Ark of the Covenant and the second Covenant was revealed by Jesus at the last supper.

So what exactly is the first Covenant? It's God's Promise written symbols with pieces of the puzzle contained in the Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Let us begin with Exodus 25: (selected verses) V11: And thou shall overlay it, (the Ark) and shall make upon it a crown of gold round about. V12: And thou shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners there-of, and two rings shall be in the one side and two rings in the other side of it. These rings are so the Israelites can carry the Ark on their shoulders. V17-18 & 20-21: And thou shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. V18: And thou shall make two cherubims of gold, of beaten works shall thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And the cherurbims shall stretch forth their wings on high covering the mercy seat. The cherubims will protect the contents of the Ark as an eagle protects its young. V21: And thou shall put the mercy seat above the Ark, and in the Ark shall put the testimony that I will give you. The Testimony is God's Promise, but what are the items containing His Promise? V29-30: And thou shall make dishes there-of and spoons there-of and covers there-of and bowls there-of, of pure gold. V30: And thou shall set the table with shew bread before Me.

Shew-bread is also called the Bread of Faces, in which man attains the sight of the Lord through the bread. It is unleavened bread that was placed in two rows of six loaves on each side of the Ark for a total of 12 loaves. Deuteronomy 10v4-5: And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writings, The Ten Commandments, which the Lord spoke unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly, and the Lord gave them unto me. V5: And I turned myself and came down from the mount and put the tablets in the Ark ... as the Lord commanded me.

The Lord copied the Ten Commandments and gave them to Moses who placed them into the Ark of the Covenant as directed by God. These tablets were the "Unbroken" Ten Commandments. Numbers 17v10: And the Lord said unto Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod again before My Testimony to be kept for a token against rebels. Aaron's rod was brought before God's "Testimony" or the Ark of the Covenant. Why??? Exodus 33v32-34: And Moses said, "This is the thing that the Lord commanded, fill an omer of it" (A measure of Manna Bread) To be kept for your generations." V33: And Moses said unto Aaron, "Take the pot (Golden Pot) And put an omer full of Manna herein.." V34: As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it therefore the Testimony to be kept. A golden pot of Manna Bread was the third item placed before the Ark of the Covenant.

Exodus 40v20: And he took and put the Testimony into the Ark and put the mercy seat upon the Ark ... The Testimony was God's Covenant which were the ITEMS mentioned above. These items are symbolic for God's Covenant; God's Promise for all mankind.

The Ark has a Golden Crown that circles it's top, and it contained the following 3 items:
       1. The unbroken stones of the 10 Commandments.
       2. The rod of Aaron. This rod was possessed by Moses and Aaron for several years, and they performed many miracles with it. When God told Moses to select a tribe to perform all religious acts, Moses had the tribal leaders cast their rods overnight. The rod of Aaron came alive, it had buds on it. So you have life from an old dead rod.
       3. A golden pot containing Manna Bread.

As you know the Israelites lived 40 years in the wilderness on Manna Bread. Each morning they would gather their day's supply of the bread and if they gathered too much, the next day it was worm infested and could not be eaten. The only exception was on the 6th day when they gathered enough for the Sabbath Day also. If they gathered too much, then on the 8th day it was also worm infested. The Mann Bread in the Golden Pot is preserved forever.

Let's examine the symbols of these items:
THE GOLDEN CROWN:
God says, "I will send you a king, who ...
THE UNBROKEN TEN COMMANDMENTS:
"Will not break My laws."
THE ROD OF AARON:
"He will die and arise from death."
THE MANNA BREAD:
"To provide eternal life for all mankind."

On top of the Ark is a solid golden lid called the Mercy Seat. It's pure gold which means you must be pure or without sin to receive God's Promise. There are 2 angels on the lid with wings outstretched protecting the Ark. I believe these angels represent Michael and Gabriel because both of these angels were involved in protecting Jesus.
       1. Michael: When the devil was kicked out of the Garden of Eden, Michael was chosen to guard the devil, thus protecting the blood line of Jesus.
       2. Gabriel: He told Mary that she was blessed by God and the Holy Spirit would come upon her and cause her to be with child: God's son, Jesus. Then later Gabriel came to Joseph in a dream telling him to take his family to Egypt since King Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Both angels were involved in protecting Jesus.

God sits on the Mercy Seat which tells us that God stays with His Promise, and through His Mercy we receive His Promise or Covenant.

The Ark of the covenant is kept in the Holy of the Holiest at the Temple of God where God dwells. Only the High Priest has access to the Ark, however (this is important) only after the High Priest cleanses himself. The entrance to the Holy of the Holiest is covered by a thick veil which wild horses could not rip it apart.

During the ceremony of the Atonement of Sins, the High Priest uses two goats and one bullock. The bullock is first sacrificed. Leviticus 16v14-21, selected verses: And he shall take the blood of the bullock and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat, eastward, and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle the blood with his finger seven times. The blood of the bullock is to cleanse the High Priest before the ceremony. Notice he is facing Eastward which means he is facing the light, the Prince of Light. Also, seven in spiritual numbers is symbolic, telling us that this procedure is directed by God. V15-16: Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering for the people ... And do with the blood as he did with blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. V16: And he shall man atonement for the holy place because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins. V20: And when he hath made an end of reconciling of the Holy Place and the tabernacle of the congregation and alter, he shall bring the live goat. V21: And Aaron shall lay both hands upon the head of the live goat and confess over him all the inquires of the children of Israel and all the transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat and shall send him away by the hand of a fit (or a very strong) man into the wilderness.

God specifically used two goats. The first goat dies for the sins of the Jewish Nation and its blood is sprinkled 7 times on the Mercy Seat, which in turn puts their sins on atonement. The Mercy Seat represents God's Mercy for the "Atonement" of their sins.

The Bible specifically used "Atonement" of their sins because "Atonement" means lifting and putting them on hold. Atonement does not mean their sins were forgiven or blotted out. Their sins could NOT be forgiven and blotted out until Jesus died. Then the High Priest takes the head of the live goat and confesses the sins of the Israelites over its head. Their sins were then transferred to the goat. The goat then goes wild and only a very strong man has the strength to take the goat and turn it lose in the wilderness. Notice the High Priest holds the head of the goat because the soul of a person resides in his brain. Since only the High Priest is allowed in the Holy of the Holiest, they tied tiny gourds and bells on the hem of his robe, which rattled as he circled the Ark. As long as they could hear the gourds and bells, they knew their sins were put on atonement. If they were unworthy, God slew the High Priest which tells us that if we are unworthy, our reward is death.

Please notice the lid of the Ark was not opened to the Israelites. Why??? The Ark of the Covenant is God's Promise of Salvation to all mankind. This Promise can only be rewarded after Jesus has died for our sins. Why did God kill Uzzah when he tried to keep the Ark from falling off the cart when David was transferring it to Mount Zion? II Samuel 6v6-7: And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the Ark and took hold of it for the oxen shook it. V7: And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah and God smote Uzzah for his error, and there he died by the Ark. What was Uzzah's error? Remember the four rings that were placed on the corners of the Ark so it could be carried, and not placed on a cart behind some oxen. It was to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites. This tells us that it is our responsibility to carry God's Promise on our shoulders to fully understand and appreciate the Second Covenant.

Let's turn to the time of Jesus. He's been crucified and buried. Mary Magdalene and a group of women visited His Tomb to anoint Him. The stone has been rolled back. They enter, but Jesus is missing. Luke 24v4: And it came to pass as they were perplexed there about, and behold two (TWO) men stood by them in shining garments. The women were totally confused and bewildered, especially when they saw two angels. I believe the two angels were Michael and Gabriel, who rolled back the stone blocking the entrance to Sepulcher. When they rolled back the stone, it was symbolic of the two angels on the Ark lifting the lid off the Ark. God's Promise of Salvation was NOW available to all mankind. Everyone both past, present and future could now enjoy God's Promise of eternal life.

The first Covenant was now fulfilled. So what's the Second Covenant? Jeremiah 31v31-34, written 478 years before the birth of Christ: "Behold, the days will come," saith the Lord, "That I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel" V32: "Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of Egypt." V33: "But this will be the covenant that I will make after those days. I will put My law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall by my people, for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them," Saith the Lord, "For I will forgive their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more." The New Covenant will be after the first Covenant has been fulfilled. The laws of God became flesh when Jesus was born, and with Jesus in our hearts we all know God. And God will blot out our sins, according to the First Covenant after the resurrection of Jesus. God's laws are in the bodies and souls, and written in the hearts of those that BELIEVE.

Now let's go to the night of the Lord's Supper. It's the 14th day of Nissan. Mark 14v13-15: And Jesus sent forth two of His disciples, and said, "Go into the city and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him." Bearing a pitcher of water is strictly a woman's job. It was probably an angel. V14: "And where-so-ever he shall go in, say to the Goodman (Owner) of the house, "The Master saith, 'Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the Passover with my disciples?" This would be the first day of the feast of the "Unleavened Bread," during 'Pass-over." V15: And he shall show you a large room ... Why the Upper Room? Why not any room? Cause the Upper Room is the highest room. It's on top and the nearest to heaven. I believe the Upper Room is symbolic for the Holy of the Holiest, in the Temple of God where God dwells and where Jesus will give His Disciples the New Covenant.

Mark 14v22-24: And as they did eat, Jesus took the bread and blessed and brake it and gave it to them and said, "Take, Eat. This is my body." Jesus blessed the Bread, the Bread of life, His body. The Unleavened Bread is symbolic for the Bread of Life. The blessing of the Bread is God's Promise of Salvation. Also, remember in Exodus 25, the Ark was set upon a table with dishes and spoons, and two rows of six loaves of Unleavened Bread, representing the Last Supper. There were 12 Disciples with Jesus sitting in the middle, being the Ark of the Covenant. The two rows of six loaves each were the Disciples sitting on each side of Christ. The Last Supper was set for hundreds of years waiting for Jesus and His Disciples.

V23: And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank of it. V24: And He said unto them, "This is My blood of the new testimony, which I shed for many." Yes, this is the New Covenant. The First Covenant will be complete when Jesus is crucified and arises from death. Now Jesus tells us how to receive Salvation through His Blood. Jesus first blesses the bread which is His Body which He willingly sacrifices for our sins. Then Jesus gives thanks for the blood He will shed for us. He is thankful for this opportunity to die for us. This shows us just how much He loves us. The Body of Jesus is the Bread of Life, and when we partake in Holy Communion we are receiving God's law in our bodies and written in our hearts, through Jesus. And when Jesus resides in our body, His blood cleanses our soul and we have God's Promise of Salvation. Jesus is the light. Jesus is the way. And Jesus is the Good Shepard who cares for His flock.

Psalm 23v1: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want ... What more do you want??? With Jesus in your heart you know God knows you. And with Jesus as the Good Shepard, you know He will personally lead you to heaven, if, IF, you follow Him, because your sins have been blotted out. The gates of Heaven have been opened wide by Jesus. He knocked down the barrier which is sin, when He defeated sin with His crucifixion. So keep the faith and keep Jesus in your heart, and you're living according to God's plan. And the Good Shepard will bring you home. Every time you take Holy Communion, you are confirming your faith and you are enjoying salvation through the Blood of Jesus. The Sanctuary becomes the Upper Room, the Holy of the Holiest. And we have direct access to God. How? It's in the Bible.

Mark 15v37-38, at the crucifixion: And Jesus cried out with a loud voice and gave up the ghost. V38: And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. The veil covers the entrance to the Holy of the Holiest. But why did God rip the veil in two? Previously only the High Priest was allowed in the Holy of the Holiest room of the Temple of God. So when Jesus died, God ripped the veil in two, and we now have direct access to God through Jesus our High Priest sitting on the right hand side of God. However, when we partake in Holy Communion, I believe there are two stipulations. Paul explains these stipulations in I Corinthians 11v29: For he that drinketh unworthy, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not disconcerting the Lord's Body. The unworthy are the non-believers. They're in danger of damnation anyway. No harm done. They just don't receive forgiveness. Are we worthy? NO! Because we are with sin, also. Remember the High Priest had to be cleanse himself before going into the Holy room. We also need to be cleansed.

First Stipulation: Repent your sins before receiving Holy Communion. Second Stipulation: Remember you are receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus. I think of Jesus dying on the cross, blood dripping from His many wounds that He suffered for us. Jesus said, "Take in remembrance of Me."

We are in the Holy of the Holiest when we receive the Body of Christ and the laws of God are in our hearts. So always take in remembrance of Jesus. And when time is fulfilled, the Good Shepard will take His Flock to Heaven. Jesus said; "Of that day and hour knoweth no man, but the Father." And when that day arrives, God will say to Jesus, "IT'S TIME, SON. IT'S TIME." Then the 7th trump will sound and Jesus will gather His Flock. So you better have Jesus in your heart. 'Cause if you're not right, you're left.

AMEN