Any man, ANY man of the House of Israel who slays an ox or a sheep or a goat in the camp or who slays it outside the camp, and to the entrance of the Tent of Appointment does not bring it, to bring-it-near as a near-offering to YHWH before the Dwelling of YHWH; bloodguilt is to be reckoned to that man, blood he has shed, that man is to be cut off from amid his kinspeople–in order that the children of Israel may bring their slaughter-offerings that they are slaughtering in the open field, that they may bring them to YHWH, to the entrance of the Tent of Appointment, to the priest and slaughter them as slaughter-offerings of shalom (greeting) to YHWH.  The priest is to dash their (animal’s) blood against the slaughter-site of YHWH, at the entrance of the Tent of Appointment, and is to turn the fat into smoke as a soothing savor to YHWH–that they may slaughter no longer their slaughter-offerings to the hairy (goat demons) after whom they go whoring.  A law for the ages shall this be for them, throughout their generations.  Leviticus 17:3-7 Schocken Bible

Boiling it down to its essentials, here is what Moses was saying:  when you slay an animal that was supposed to be a sacrifice, WHEREVER the animal is killed (either in the camp/city, or outside the camp/city) you must be very careful to make certain that the blood of the animal, and its other parts, are brought to the priest and offered in the manner prescribed for the Sacred Gift of Greeting, (of which we wrote earlier) and have the blood applied to the altar.   If you decide NOT to apply the blood to the altar, you are legally “cut off” from your kinspeople.  This means that under God’s law, you are no longer a citizen of Israel.  If you were of the tribe of Judah, you are no longer a Jew.  If you were of the tribe of Reuben, you are no longer a Reubenite.  If you were of the tribe of Benjamin, you are no longer a Benjamite, and etc.  Note that there are no exceptions.  The seriousness of this matter can hardly be overstated.

Whatever else may be said of this law, one should carefully note that it is “a law for the ages” and not be in too big a hurry to declare that it is “Old Testament”, meaning that it has been abolished and is no longer of any effect.  Moses clearly states that its effectiveness will continue through more than one age.  Therefore, we admonish you, dear reader, with all earnestness not to be guilty of this legal offense, even though you are nearly 2,000 years removed from the destruction of Herod’s temple and the end of sacrifices.  As we shall discuss below, you are not excused merely because God sent His armies to destroy Jerusalem and the temple.

The altar was always intended as a picture and an example of the altar of the heart:  made of earth and uncut stones not shaped by man, and in “every place where I cause My name to be remembered“, and approached without steps so that anyone may come.  Moses was told by YHWH/Jesus to build all things according to “the pattern shown to you on the mountain.”  This heavenly pattern is fulfilled by applying the blood of the sacrifice to one’s heart when God causes His name to be remembered there, and this law is satisfied in the exact same place–a place made of the dust of the earth, and shaped by God, not man.  And thus we come to one of the main reasons God caused the temple to be destroyed–so that all men of the descendants of Israel may have the opportunity, no matter where they are in the “field” (which is the world), to decide to figuratively apply the blood of the sacrifice to their hearts.

What sacrifice, and what blood?  Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  Has it not been told to you from the beginning?  Simply stated, the blood of Christ Jesus, who was the paschal lamb offered for the sins (hamartia, in Greek) of the whole world.  The apostle John makes it clear that Yeshua the messiah was the propitiation, or sin offering, whose blood was to be applied to the altar for the entire world.  Exactly how is the blood applied to an individual’s heart?  By simply asking the new high priest, the one who is a priest forever, according the new order of Malki-Zadok, who also happens to be Yeshua the messiah.  For, He is both the sacrifice and the priest who applies the blood to the altar.  When God causes you, dear reader, to remember His name, ask Jesus to apply the blood to the altar of your heart.  When you do this in sincerity of heart, let us be the first to welcome you as a new citizen to the Kingdom of God!

Those who wish to build a Third Temple in Jerusalem, and who wish to re-institute the sacrifice of animals in that temple, have decided NOT to apply the blood of the Christ-sacrifice to the altar God has instructed.  The effect of this is that their individual citizenship as Israelites is revoked.   The King of the Jews and of Israel is Jesus the messiah who is the son of David; therefore, to Him belongs the kingship and the kingdom!  In Him is citizenship; one cannot break this law and remain a part of the people of whom Jesus is king!  He is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and neither is circumcision outward, in the flesh, as of old.  Instead, he is a true Jew who is one inwardly, whose heart has been “circumcised“.  We urge our brothers:  cease your hostility against Messiah; turn again to God, and He will remember His promise:  At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son!

On the other hand, ANYONE wishing to have the law fulfilled upon the altar of their heart may do so by merely asking.  In this way, one who is not physically descended from Judah (a Jew) or one of the other tribes may become a “true Jew” by complying with God’s law and may simultaneously make Jesus his king.  Moreover, one is not excluded from this common wealth merely because one is not physically descended from Israel, to which descendants it was first offered.  No, “Israel” includes many who are not descended from Israel.  The sons of Israel are those about whom God has sworn, by His own mouth, that all men will be saved.  This means, of course, that all men will–sooner or later–apply the blood of Christ Jesus the sacrifice to the altar of their hearts.  God will win them over to take this action of their own free will.  So great is His mercy and love, and so effective are His judgments!

We refer to you the teachings of Dr. Stephen Jones, whose writings are of singular importance and definitive on this matter, an exemplar of which may be found at this page.  As a final note, one may ask why this law should be kept NOW, if in the end all men will end up following the law.  Frankly, we do not view it ultimately as a matter of choice, except such choice as Father puts on the heart (by calling to remembrance) of each person.  For those whom God uses this post to spur to action, we are glad.  For those who end up waiting, God will work His judgments effectively and with mercy to cause you to change your mind in His time.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, who has given us the law of Moses as a pattern of things as they exist in Your holy habitation, and who has given all those who receive King Jesus the right to be called sons of God!  Praise You, Lord.

« »