Reconciliation

The New Covenant

JEHOVAH having made promise to bless all families of the earth, it is certain that he will make all the necessary arrangements for such blessing and that such arrangements will be consistent with justice. Looking to the reconciliation of man to himself, God promised to make a new covenant with Israel and Judah and through such covenant all mankind may have an opportunity for complete reconciliation. By his prophet he said: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: . . . this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. " — Jer. 31: 31, 33.

By the term "new covenant" is not meant that the covenant is a modern one, nor that it embodies entirely new features. The law covenant made in Egypt served as a typical model of the new covenant. The latter is called "new" because it is another arrangement that will accomplish fully what the law covenant in Egypt could not accomplish. The law covenant was definitely abolished and taken away; hence the new covenant is not a renewing of the first or law covenant.

The covenant made in Egypt, which is the law covenant, continued for 635 years after Jeremiah prophesied concerning the new covenant, as set forth in the above text. That shows that the law covenant was not old because of age, nor the new covenant new because not known, about prior to the making of it. The Abrahamic covenant was made 430 years prior to the making of the law covenant in Egypt, and yet the Abrahamic covenant is not called old.

Paul states that Sarah represented the Abrahamic covenant and Hagar represented the law covenant. (Gal. 4: 24) After the death of Sarah Abraham did not renew his relationship with Hagar, but he took a new wife, whose name was Keturah. By Keturah Abraham had six sons. It is quite clear that Keturah represented the new covenant in the same sense that Hagar represented the law covenant in Egypt. This picture also teaches that the new covenant is not a renewing of the old, but that it is entirely a new arrangement.

Why With Jews

Was God under any obligation to the Jews to provide for and make a new covenant with them? The covenant which God made with Israel in Egypt they repeatedly broke. He was under no obligation to make with them a new covenant. They provoked God by turning to the Devil's organization. For this God told Moses he was disposed to destroy the Jews. "They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto,

and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt And the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation." — Exod. 32: 8-10.

Moses was a lineal descendant of Abraham. God could have made a new nation with Moses as the beginning thereof and could then have entered into a covenant with that nation. He could have carried out his purposes just as well in that manner. God did not destroy the Israelites. And why did he not destroy them? Because Jehovah's own name was involved. Not only had he made promise to Abraham and his sons, but Shiloh had been promised through the line of Judah. Moses made a plea to God and said to him: "Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people." — Exod. 32:12-14.

Other scriptures show that the name of Jehovah was involved. "Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake; do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us." (Jer. 14:21) God

had given his word, and both his name and word were involved. This was the good and sufficient reason why Israel was not destroyed. "For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off." (Isa. 48: 9) "But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt. . . . Then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out."  — Ezek. 20:9, 13, 14.

Jehovah would have Israel and all of his creatures to know that he is the only true God and that life can not be had except as a gracious gift from him. This is proven by his words through his prophet: "And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, 0 ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God." — Ezek. 20: 34, 44.

Parties to Covenant

Jehovah makes the new covenant on one side; and who is in the other side of the covenant? According to the words of the Prophet Jeremiah it is Judah and Israel: "I will make a new covenant with the house

of Israel, and with the house of Judah." Through his prophet God said to them: "Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant." "And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. " — Ezek. 20: 36, 37; 16: 62.

But how could Israel be brought into the covenant, seeing that Israel is at enmity with God? The answer is found in the words of God through his prophet: "In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten." — Jer. 50:4, 5.

Be it noted that they must come to Zion to join themselves in covenant with Jehovah. They can not of themselves make a covenant with the Lord. Zion is God's organization. Christ Jesus being the chief One of Zion, the name applies to him individually and specifically. The houses of Israel and Judah being at enmity with God are not competent to enter into a covenant with Jehovah. The same is true with reference to all men. Israel therefore must have some one who is competent to act for and in her behalf and to assume the responsibility of the covenant and to treat directly with Jehovah God. Concerning this qualified One, Paul writes: "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of

Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." — Rom. 11:26, 27.

The contracting parties, therefore, are Jehovah on the one side and the ONE whom Jehovah designates to act for and in behalf of Israel as Israel's representative. That One must be able to lift the disability from Israel and to take away her sins. The Jews are included in the ransom sacrifice given for all because Jesus gave his life a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:5, 6) Jesus also redeemed the Jews from the curse of the law by nailing it, the law covenant, to the cross and abolishing it. All their lifetime the Jews were in bondage because of their inability to keep the law, which shows them to be sinners and therefore in bondage to sin and death. The covenant by sacrifice made at the Jordan brings this profit to the Jews, to wit, a way for them to be relieved from the disabilities under which they rested. The covenant by sacrifice was made at the Jordan. God counted it finished from that time forward.

Having redeemed the Jews from under the bondage which rested upon them, Jesus at once became the rightful owner of the Jews, and it became his right to act for and in behalf of Israel. He was competent to act and is the One selected by Jehovah to act in making the new covenant. The Jews are not even to this day competent to enter into a covenant with Jehovah God. If we should find from the facts that the new covenant has been made, then surely it could not have been made directly with the Jews. The Scriptures show that Christ, the Head of God's organization and coming out of that organization, Zion, is the

One who acts for and in behalf of Israel and by whom Israel is brought into the covenant. Abstractly stated, the new covenant is made by Jehovah on the one side and by Christ Jesus on the other side as the legal representative of Israel, composed of the houses of Israel and Judah.

Jacob's name was changed to that of Israel. Israel was a grandson of Abraham. In line with his promise to Abraham God had said to Israel: "In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." (Gen. 28:14) Judah was a son of Israel, and God had promised that the descendant of the line of Judah should be the One through whom the blessings would come. "Unto him shall the gathering of the people be." (Gen. 49:10) Jesus was of the house of Judah. He is designated, "The Lion of the tribe of Judah." (Rev. 5:5) It was with the descendants of Israel that God made the law covenant. Israel, Judah and all of their descendants were imperfect, and none of them could do that which was perfect. The Israelites could not keep the law perfectly. Jesus kept the law perfectly and fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law. (Matt. 5: 17,18; Col. 2:14) He was born a Jew under the law; and being a lineal descendant of the house of Judah according to the flesh, and keeping the law perfectly, he became the rightful owner of every blessing promised to Israel and Judah. Therefore when God said that he would make a new covenant with Israel and Judah, it follows that he would make it with the one who held all the rights that Israel and Judah and their descendants could have held if they had been perfect. The new covenant could have been made with no one else than the perfect man Jesus and with him in be-

half of all mankind, for the purpose of effecting reconciliation of mankind to God.

When and Where Made

The Scriptural proof is overwhelming that the new covenant was made between Jehovah and Jesus at the time of the slaying of Jesus as the real passover lamb. On the fourteenth day of Nisan, 33 A. D., Jesus met with his disciples at Jerusalem and ate the passover lamb as enjoined upon Jews by the law. He, being the One foreshadowed by the passover lamb slain in Egypt, was the one to fulfil the picture, the fulfilling of which required his life. It was necessary for Jesus to eat the passover before he died. At the conclusion of the eating of the passover lamb on the fourteenth day of Nisan, 33 A. D., Jesus instituted the memorial of his death. At the same time he designated his blood poured out as the blood of the new covenant. "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: for this is my blood of the new testament [covenant], which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:27, 28) The word in this text translated "testament" is from the same root word translated "covenant". It is the first time the Greek word, which is translated covenant, appears in the New Testament. These words were spoken by Jesus, and he alone on the earth at that time was competent to understand and express the meaning of the passover. Jesus was here referring to his own

blood, which was poured out that same day. The shedding of that blood was foreshadowed by the blood of the passover lamb slain in Egypt at the time the law covenant was made. The words of the prophet show that the law covenant was made in Egypt: "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 the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord." (Jer. 31: 32) The day Israel was led out of Egypt foreshadowed the day of the death of the real paschal Lamb and fixes the time for the making of the new covenant.

Paul, writing concerning the institution of the memorial of the death of Jesus on the night of the same day in which Jesus died, says: "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Cor. 11:25) Paul spoke with authority, and the only proper conclusion that can be had from his words is that the covenant was then and there made and the blood of Jesus shed that day was the blood of that covenant which made it sure and firm. In the same connection Paul said: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?" (1 Cor. 10:16) He referred to the same cup which Jesus said is the blood of the new covenant.

In support of this conclusion are the words of Paul later written: "For a testament [covenant] is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth." (Heb. 9:17) Rotherham renders the text thus: "For a covenant

over dead persons is firm, since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted." The Diaglott says: "A covenant is firm over dead victims."

In the law covenant made in Egypt, Moses contracted in behalf of Israel, and the blood of that covenant was the passover lamb. In a representative capacity Moses there died, the lamb dying for him. On that fourteenth day of Nisan, Moses, representatively dying, foreshadowed Jesus who actually died on the fourteenth of Nisan, 33 A. D. A testator is one who dies after having made a will or covenant. Jesus was the covenanter or testator, and after making the covenant he died on the same day. Jehovah was on the other side of the covenant, and he could not die. It was the man in the covenant that died. This definitely fixes the date of the covenant beyond question of a doubt. But God really supplied the victim for death, namely, his beloved Son, and thereby Jehovah shared in the sacrificial part. Now, says Paul, the covenant is made firm over the dead victim. The appropriate time for making the new covenant is the day that the old law covenant ended. That law covenant ended on the fourteenth of Nisan, 33 A. D., the same day Jesus died and the same day the new covenant was made.

Seeing that Jesus is the real contracting party on behalf of Israel and all mankind, the making of the covenant would not need to wait until Israel is restored or even until the time for the beginning of restoration; nor is there any reason why the blood of Jesus should be reserved until the glorification of the church and then used for the making of the new covenant. Nor is it at all necessary that the ransom price should be paid before the new covenant is made.

Mediator

The new covenant being made by Jehovah with Israel, it is manifest that a mediator is necessary. Jehovah can not consistently, and does not, enter directly into a covenant with any person or people who are not in full harmony with him. The Jews were out of harmony with him, Jesus had pronounced Jehovah's decree declaring that their house was left desolate. The Jews had rejected Jesus as their King. They had failed to keep the law covenant and were under the bondage of sin. Who then could be the mediator in the covenant for them? Essentially Jesus alone, because he was the only perfect man on earth and was in full accord with Jehovah God.

A mediator is one who stands between the competent and the incompetent party to the contract and acts in a representative capacity for and in behalf of the incompetent one. This rule is recognized in worldly organizations. A full-grown man desires to make a contract with a minor child or with an insane person concerning the property interest of such, The full-grown man is competent in the eyes of the law but the minor or the insane person is incompetent to contract. A court of proper jurisdiction appoints a third person who possesses the legal qualifications to make a contract, to act as guardian or mediator for his incompetent ward. The contract is then made and necessarily it must be made directly by the full-grown man on one side, who contracts for himself, and the qualified man on the other side, who as guardian or legal representative, contracts for and on behalf of his ward. When the minor becomes of mature age or the

insane person is restored to sanity there no longer exists a necessity for a guardian or mediator, and the office there ceases.

The Jews were incompetent because they were born in sin and shapen in iniquity. (Ps. 51: 5) Their covenant with Moses as mediator on their behalf had failed because of the imperfections of themselves and Moses. Jesus made an end to the law covenant when it was nailed to the cross at his crucifixion. He fulfilled the law covenant and it became obsolete. This he accomplished by his death. "And for this cause [that is to say, because the blood of Christ purges away sin] he [Jesus] is the mediator of the new testament [covenant], that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament [covenant], they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." (Heb. 9:14, 15) The Jews were guilty of transgressions under the law covenant and the blood of Jesus redeemed them therefrom, and therefore he is the prepared and duly appointed One to act as Mediator of the new covenant made in their behalf and in behalf of all mankind for the purpose of reconciling all men who obey.

As further proof that the new covenant has been made and that Jesus is the Mediator thereof, reference is made to the words of Paul addressed to the church: "Ye are come [approached] ... to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant." (Heb. 12:22-24) At the time Paul wrote these words Jesus was the Mediator and the covenant had been made, because the covenant must be made with a mediator as the only qualified one.

The Apostle Paul says concerning that covenant that it had "ordinances of divine service, and a worldly [orderly arranged] sanctuary". (Heb. 9:1) He also says that these things were a figure for a time of a better sanctuary and of divine service in connection therewith. In connection with the tabernacle in the wilderness there was a divine service, and those who ministered there were of the Levitical priesthood. In connection with the holy sanctuary, "not made with hands" but in heaven itself, Christ Jesus the great High Priest ministers. That which was done in the tabernacle of the wilderness foreshadowed what Christ Jesus would be in connection with the heavenly sanctuary. The ministry of Jesus Christ is far more excellent than that in relation to the tabernacle. By his faithfulness unto death he provided the great ransom price. In doing this he offered up himself as a great sacrifice for sin. Thereafter he offers the members of his body also, they being taken into his covenant by sacrifice by the grace of God. This service he performs as minister or priest.

What then did he obtain besides this excellent ministry? He is made Mediator of the new covenant. "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Heb. 8:6) The basis of that new covenant is his own blood shed for man, and this gives promise of better things for mankind than the old covenant could possibly give. The ministers of the law covenant died and were unable to save Israel in that covenant. But Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, is able to save them to the uttermost. This is true be-

cause he lives for ever and holds the priesthood for ever. "But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." — Heb. 7:24, 25.

The new covenant therefore is established not only on better promises, but upon the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which gives promise to all who believe and obey that they shall live for ever.

Surety

It was at the Jordan that Jesus was accepted by the Father as the great ransom sacrifice. There he was appointed to assume the duties of the office of sacrificing priest. He was priest of the Most High God, therefore priest according to the rank of Melchisedec. There it was that God gave his oath that Christ Jesus shall abide as High Priest for ever and that there never would be a change. That was three and one-half years before the new covenant was made. At that time Jesus was made surety or guarantor of the new covenant. Note the argument of Paul upon this point. "By as much as this hath Jesus become surety of a better covenant also." — Heb. 7:22, Rotherham.

By this much of what, is asked? Surely it was by the ransom sacrifice that Jesus became the surety of the covenant, because his is the blood of the covenant. But immediately following Jesus' consecration Jehovah gave his oath that he was a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Therefore by, the sacrifice of himself he was made surety of the covenant,

and in addition thereto by the oath of Jehovah the matter was made doubly sure. This is shown by the language of Paul: "And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (for those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec)." (Heb. 7: 20, 21) By comparing this scripture with the Rotherham translation it will be observed that Rotherham omits the words in verse twenty, to wit: "he was made priest." The Diaglott does the same thing. These words are supplied in the Authorized Version. Jesus was already a priest of the order of Melchisedec, but now at the time of his consecration he was made a priest for ever with no possibility of a change and according to the rank of Melchisedec. By his blood and by the oath he was made the surety of the better covenant. Through his prophet God had said: "I the Lord . . . will give thee for a covenant of the people." (Isa. 42: 6) Primarily this prophetic testimony must apply to Jesus alone. The body members taken into the covenant by sacrifice become thereafter a part of The Servant, and this is a secondary matter.

The correct conclusion therefore seems to be that at the time of his consecration Jesus was made surety or guarantor of the new covenant and that the new covenant was made at the time of his death. Since it must be made with him as Mediator for Israel and all mankind it follows that he became the Mediator of the new covenant at the time of his death at Calvary. Therefore just before he went to Calvary, and on the same day that he exhibited to his disciples the cup of

wine, he said to them: "This is [representatively] my blood [representatively] of the new testament [covenant], which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26: 28) The blood of Jesus therefore provided the ransom price and at the same time is the blood for making firm the new covenant.

Body Members Taken In

As used herein, the word "inaugurate" is intended to be understood as meaning to ratify and confirm, and cause to begin to operate or function, to establish, to initiate or begin with the first act of operation. It seems quite certain from the Scriptures that when the new covenant is inaugurated and begins to function, the church, which is the body of Christ, will have part in the mediatorial work. And why this conclusion? Because the body members have been taken into the covenant by sacrifice, and offered up by Christ Jesus as a part of his sacrifice, and therefore become of Christ, the body members functioning with him in the ministration of the new covenant.

God through his prophet says: "In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth." (Isa. 49: 8) Paul quotes this prophetic utterance and applies it to the church. (2 Cor. 6:2) This is proof that the body members of Christ are a part of The Servant and they, together with Christ Jesus the Head, are given "for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth". "To establish the earth" means to erect a stable and righteous government on earth

for man. It also proves that the body members will participate with the Head, Christ Jesus, in the administration of the covenant. Paul also shows that the prophecy has an application to the body members during the time of the selection and development of the church. In that time they are members of The Servant and are ambassadors for Christ to preach the message of reconciliation. Therefore they should see to it that this great favor from God is not received by them in vain, says the apostle.

Do the Scriptures teach that the church, which is the body of Christ, has anything to do with the making or sealing of the new covenant? The body members have nothing to do with making the new covenant, for the obvious reason that the covenant was made between God and Jesus Christ as the representative of man before any man was begotten as a member of the church of Christ. The Scriptures say nothing about the sealing of the new covenant, and certainly not that the church has anything to do with it. Referring again to Paul's argument in Hebrews 9:17, he states that a covenant is of force or made firm over the dead victim. The man Christ Jesus was the victim of death whose blood made firm the covenant. The covenant became effective from the moment of his death. It is sure, firm, and stedfast for ever thereafter. There is no occasion then for such a thing as the sealing, as that word is used in connection with the execution of documents between earthly contracting parties.

Beginning at Pentecost, which was several days after the new covenant was made, men began to be brought into the covenant by sacrifice. The disciples

were there accepted as a part of Christ's sacrifice. This has been true of Christians since. Being brought into Christ, these have committed to them a ministry of reconciliation and it becomes their privilege and duty to serve that which is the spirit of the new covenant, to wit, proclaim to the people God's message of reconciliation. They are therefore ministers of the spirit of the new covenant because the spirit of it is reconciliation. — 2 Cor. 3:5, 6.

The law covenant was made in Egypt. Egypt is a type of the world or Satan's organization. The law covenant foreshadowed the new covenant. It is therefore appropriate that the new covenant be made in the world, and the facts show that it was made while Jesus was in the world but not a part of it. Jesus Christ on earth offered himself as the antitypical passover Lamb. At the time he was slain as the antitypical Lamb Jesus alone assumed the obligations of the covenant for its beneficiaries. The covenant became effective at that time. From Pentecost forward the firstborns have been passed over and delivered, not by reason of the new covenant, but by virtue of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

Participate in Inauguration

The body members of Christ will have part in the inauguration of the new covenant as indicated by the Scriptures. The ceremony of the inauguration of the law covenant at Mount Sinai is described by the apostle in this language: "For when, Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with

water, and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people." (Heb. 9:19) Both calves and goats were sacrificed on that occasion and the blood of both sprinkled on the book of the law and upon the people. That would indicate that Moses represented there the One pictured by the animals that were sacrificed, to wit, the calf (bullock), representing Jesus, and the goat, representing the body members of the church. Once each year the law covenant was renewed with the blood of the bullock (calf) and the goat, which were sacrificed on the day of atonement. Consistently the calf and the goat would represent the same persons on both the occasion of the inaugurating and that of the renewing of the covenant. This seems clearly to foreshadow that the body members, represented by the goat, would have something to do in connection with the inauguration of the new covenant.

At the inauguration of the law covenant Moses told the people the words of the Lord God and the people agreed to do them. At the same time, and in this connection, the sacrifices were offered by young men. "And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord." (Exod. 24: 5) These "young men" well picture the younger brethren of Jesus whom Jesus has taken into his covenant by sacrifice and who by reason of being a part of Christ participate with him in the inauguration of the new covenant. These correspond to the "young men" mentioned by the Apostle John. They are the ones wholly devoted to the Lord God. "I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the

beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." — 1 John 2:14.

The Priesthood

The words of the apostle strongly support the conclusion that a priesthood is associated with the new covenant and the ministration thereof. "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary." (Heb. 9:1) The worldly tabernacle here mentioned had a service in connection therewith and was in a figure representing the true tabernacle. (Heb. 9:9) It is here on earth that the service begins that relates to the real tabernacle and real atonement day, because it was on earth that Jesus was sacrificed. That would be another proof that the new covenant was made at the death of Jesus. The yearly service in connection with the tabernacle in the wilderness would testify that there is a divine service in connection with the inauguration of the new covenant and that there would be a long period of time elapsing between the making and the inauguration of the new covenant.

Knowing that the divine services of the tabernacle in the wilderness foreshadowed the divine services of the real tabernacle, we may use the figure to ascertain what is the true meaning of the reality. On the annual atonement day of Israel a bullock was slain and the high priest took its blood and entered the Most Holy and there sprinkled the blood to make atonement for himself and his house. (Lev. 16: 6) By "for himself" is meant in behalf of those who shall compose the mem-

bers of his body, the under-priesthood. By the term "his house" is meant those of the household of faith which shall include all who are justified and spirit begotten aside from those composing the members of his body, the under-priesthood. With that ceremony performed, then the high priest returned to the court, killed the goat of the sin-offering which is for the people, and carried its blood into the Most Holy and there made atonement for the sins of the people by sprinkling that blood as he did the blood of the bullock. — Lev. 16:15.

At this sacrifice the bullock represented the poured-out life-blood of Jesus Christ alone. The blood of the goat represented the body members of Jesus Christ taken into the covenant by sacrifice and made a part of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Therefore it essentially represented the blood of Christ in both instances, but it is the goat in which the church is represented in Christ.

The Christian era has been the time of sacrifice, during which time the members of the body of Christ have been selected. During that period of time what is being done concerning the new covenant? The body members are ministering to the spirit thereof by proclaiming the message of God's plan relative to the blessing of all the families of the earth. When the period of sacrifice is complete, as represented by the Lord's goat, then, as shown by the picture, the blood of Christ, including the body members', is presented and used to make atonement for the sins of the people. What then is to be done concerning the new covenant? Will the blood then be used as a basis for making the new covenant? No, because that covenant was

made when Jesus was on the earth. Will the Wood be used then to seal the new covenant? To be sure not! Because the covenant was made sure at the time it was made, and Jesus was made surety for it even before. Nowhere in the Scriptures is the covenant spoken of as being sealed. What then is to be done at the end of the period of sacrifice?

Inauguration

When the atonement for sin is made for the people, then the time is due for the inauguration of the new covenant. The law covenant was made in Egypt and inaugurated at Mount Sinai, which represented Mount Zion. That picture shows that the new covenant is made on earth and must be inaugurated at Mount Zion, in heaven itself. It is in heaven that the sprinkling of the blood for the inauguration takes place. (Heb. 12:24) At the inauguration of the law covenant at Mount Sinai Moses sprinkled the blood both on the book and on the people. "For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people." (Heb. 9:19) (See Exod. 24: 6-8.) The book of the law represented God's expressed will, because he dictated it. As Moses read the book of the covenant to Israel, likewise will Christ publish the terms of the new covenant to Israel and to all mankind and thereby open up 'the highway of life'.

When the law covenant was inaugurated the people of Israel were at the foot of Mount Sinai, having

previously been delivered from Egypt. When the inauguration of the new covenant takes place the people will have been delivered from the world, Satan's organization foreshadowed by Egypt, and will be at the foot of Mount Zion, which is the mountain of God, to wit, his kingdom, subject to the instruction of God.

Assembly at Ceremony

Who will be present at the inauguration of the new covenant? Addressing the church, Paul says: "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel." (Heb. 12:22-24) "The city of the living God" is his organized kingdom of righteousness. The Scriptures indicate that there will be present an innumerable company of angels. Throughout the development of the divine plan these pure, holy, mighty and loyal angels, wholly devoted to God, have been performing their service. It is like God to have these faithful ones present at the inauguration of the covenant that is to reconcile mankind to himself. Then Paul says it will be the general assembly of the church of the firstborn, which shows that the church will then be complete. There the great Jehovah God, the Judge over all, will manifest his presence. Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, the most exalted One of the universe next to

Jehovah, will be there. Thus are shown Jehovah and Jesus, the two competent contracting parties to the covenant, at its inauguration. At that time the body members of Christ will be joined with him as one composite Mediator. These will be under-priests of Jesus acting with him and under his direction.

How about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the others of the faithful heroes whom we call ancient worthies? Will they be present and have a part in the ceremony? Would it be necessary for the new covenant to be inaugurated and in operation before these faithful ones are raised from the dead? No, because it is the great ransom sacrifice applied as a sin-offering that guarantees their resurrection. The new covenant has nothing to do with awakening them out of death. Those worthy men faithful to the end received a good report from God because of their faith. By faith they saw the day of Jesus Christ and rejoiced. Paul says, "They without us [the church] should not be made perfect." (Heb. 11:40) It follows then that when the church is completed, when all who have been taken into the covenant by sacrifice have finished their course, then is the due time for the bringing forth of the ancient worthies. At the inauguration of the law covenant not only were Aaron and others who were in line for the priesthood present and participating with Moses, but there were "seventy of the elders of Israel" also present. "Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of

Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink." — Exod. 24: 9-11.

These seventy were men of importance and are called in this text "nobles", which means chief men or chosen men. Whom could these foreshadow if not the faithful worthies mentioned in the Old Testament and by Paul in his epistle to the Hebrews? Those faithful worthies were not all of Israel. Some of them lived before Israel was chosen. Therefore they would be featured at the inauguration of the new covenant as earthly representatives of Israel and all others of mankind. Be it noted that in the above text it is stated: "Also they saw God, and did eat and drink"; not that they could see with natural eyes God's glorious body, but that they could see a manifestation of' his power and fully understand the meaning thereof.

In describing the assembly Paul says: "To the spirits of just men made perfect." (Heb. 12:23) Those faithful men of old were justified because of their faith and loyalty to God. When the ransom sacrifice is applied as a sin-offering for the people, to remove the legal disability, that is the time when the spirit or power of life of these justified men will be made perfect. This is a further corroboration that the ancient worthies will be present at the inauguration of the new covenant. They will not be in heaven but on earth, performing some specific function at the inauguration of the covenant.

Marvelous Ceremony

At the inauguration of the law covenant at Horeb, the mount of God, the ceremonies foreshadowed the

inauguration of the new covenant at Mount Zion, or mount of God, or God's organization. About that there does not seem to be any occasion for doubt. Paul directly links the two together. As to whether there will be a grand and mighty ceremony, we have but to look at what happened at Mount Sinai. At that time Jehovah manifested his presence in a great cloud upon the mountain and there were fire, thunders, lightning, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud. (Exod. 19:16) Referring to this same matter Paul says: "And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard, entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake)." — Heb. 12:19-21.

What then should be expected at the inauguration of the new covenant? The angels of heaven will be assembled there. The church of the firstborn will be there. Jesus the glorious Mediator with his under-priests will be there; and above all, Jehovah God. None of these will be visible to human eyes, but God has often manifested his presence by a demonstration of his power. The ancient worthies will be there to represent both houses of Israel and all mankind. All there would see the presence of the Lord God made manifest in the cloud, the tempest, the storm and fire, which demonstration will surely be given in a far more marvelous manner than human phrase can describe. Then all shall know that Jehovah is the great God and that Christ is King over all the earth. The

faithful worthies all died before the crucifixion of Jesus. Where have they been during all these centuries? The clergy say they have been in heaven; but in this, as in almost everything else, the clergy are wrong.