There is a tremendous amount of debate and confusion over the matters of Eschatology, that is, the Study of the End of Times. Two of the most prevalent school of thoughts are Covenant Theology and Dispensational Eschatology.
Covenant Theology claims that God deals with mankind through several Covenants. Most Covenant Theology theologians hold to a Covenant of Works in the Old Testament between God and Adam. The New Testament is the Covenant of Grace.
Dispensationalism is a method of biblical interpretation that teaches that Scripture is “unfolding” in a series of Dispensations beginning with Adam, changing with Noah, and so on as history progresses. Dispensationalists claim support for their interpretation through “literal” interpretation of scripture, but a literal interpretation of scripture contradicts this claim.
The Covenant of Dominion:
“God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began…Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.“” (Titus 1:2, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 9:16)
This covenant has never been replaced. It requires mankind to be in God’s image and likeness in order to be a partner, and over and over God had to single-handedly uphold this covenant, and make modifications to squeeze some men into qualifying for their side of the deal.
Everlasting Covenant of Dominion established / carried out with Noah plus a new clause also covenantal in nature and extent – never to flood the entire earth again:
“I, behold I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven…But with thee will I establish my covenant [of dominion over the earth]; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee…I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every living creature that is with you.” (Genesis 6:17-19, 9:9-10)
“NEITHER shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth…for perpetual generations [always the case with a covenant]: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a[nother] covenant between me and the earth…And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting [nature of the original] covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the [baseline] covenant, which I have established [made to stand despite the massive destruction of all life] between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.” (Genesis 9:11-17)
Everlasting Covenant of Dominion established / carried out with Abram The Hebrew plus a new clause also covenantal in nature and extent – a land grant:
This is the logical sequela of the LORD’s commitment to refrain from once again destroying the whole earth by flood, despite the whole earth once again engaging in the exact same corruption that led to Noah’s flood – specifically by the Canaanites in the territory given to Abram. This new clause parcels out a portion of the entire earth as a land base from which to assert dominion.
“the LORD appeared to Abram [the Hebrew], and said…I will make my [baseline] covenant between me and thee…my [baseline] covenant [of dominion over the entire earth] is with thee…thou shalt be a father of many nations [throughout the whole earth]…I will establish my [baseline] covenant [of dominion] between me and thee and thy [spiritual] seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee…Abraham our father…believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness…the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was…through the righteousness of faith.” (Genesis 17:1-11, Romans 4:1-13)
Ishmael, father of the Arabs and Islam, inherits dominion under this baseline covenant. Shocking? As if Christianity doesn’t have its own share of terrorists and departures from the one true God. More to follow in subsequent posts. For now, don’t deny the clear statement of scripture:
“And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!”
Abraham’s focus is not “live” but “before thee”, i.e. in his presence, serving as a minister of the kingdom, like Joseph in Pharoah’s court: “And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:46)
“And God said…I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him [granted him an inheritance of dominion as my son], and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. BUT my [world-wide dominion] covenant will I establish with Isaac [ruler of the Hebrews], which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.(Genesis 17:18-20)
Can we not see that being granted dominion is a deadly battle with the Adversary before it becomes the honor of a Purple Heart? “Take point on the charge into battle against the enemy!”
“This is my [sub]covenant [of the possession of the land of Canaan only, not of becoming a son of God], which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised…and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you…And the uncircumcised man child…shall be cut off from his people [in the geographical state]; he hath broken my covenant.” (Genesis 17)
This covenant of possession of Canaan is only established centuries later.
“And it came to pass in process of time, that…the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage…And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob…And God said…I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites.” (Exodus 2:23-3:17)
The Covenant of Dominion Offered to the International House of Hebrews
“Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to
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- the house / genetic descendants of Jacob, and tell
- the children [spiritual followers] of Israel i.e. combined together the entire world-wide Hebrew Commonwealth;…
if YE [the Commonwealth] will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, 2) then YE [the Commonwealth] shall be…unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” (Exodus 19:3-6).
This is simply the requirement to be in God’s image and likeness in order to be a partner in the baseline Covenant of Dominion. However, the Hebrew Commonwealth promptly failed their side of the covenant.
“And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us…And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people [the Hebrews] which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt]…have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them:” (Exodus 32)
New Clause giving priestly / intermediaries to God status to the tribe of Levi after they proved themselves by following Moses
“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD‘s side?…And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.…And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses:” (Exodus 32)
Priesthood statuswas taken away from what had been among the responsibilities of the the heads of families assigned to the Levites as “an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” (Exodus 40:15)
If we take God at his word there are now in existence generations of Levitical priests who still have priestly responsibilities.
“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7)
The High Priest is waiting for the critical mass number of his under-priests to fall in line.
“For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:39)
New Clause giving priestly status to all followers
“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: 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…(Jeremiah 31:31-32)
We need to put this covenant brakeage in context. Back up two chapters to Jeremiah 29:24-32)
“Because thou has sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and…all the priests, saying The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the Lord…Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah…because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.” (Jeremiah 29:24-32)
This was executed in one way when “after the destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE, the priests were no longer able to perform their functions. But the ultimate realization of this covenantal new clause is yet for the future.
“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. And they shall teach no more…saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know / be united with me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34)
Kingdom Come 