MAN'S UNIVERSAL GUILT AS THE END TIME APPROACHES

BY APOSTLE TIMOTHY ASOMBA

When in the beginning, God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate; the raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness and the power of God was moving over the water... God then commanded, “Let there be light” and there was light.

The bible recorded that God was pleased with what he saw, then he separated the 'Light' from 'Darkness.' The light he named 'Day' and the darkness 'Night'- (Genesis 1vs.1-5).

Arguably, the foregoing exemplifies what God saw, before he instituted and established his holy and life-enriched laws, commands and ordinances for mankind to obey and have life in abundance. Thus, the law is light and obeying it brings life, while disobedience to the law brings darkness.

All scriptures is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may fully be equipped to do every kind of good deed (2 Timothy 3vs.16-17). As we engage in this scriptural exercise, we hope to teach the truth, rebuke errors, correct faults and give instructions for right living.

Man's universal guilt simply has been the constant disregard for God's sacred laws and everlasting covenants, despite the coming, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to redeem the new covenant.

The Genesis

Before the law was codified (handed written) on Mount Sinai, God Almighty had always spoken orally to mankind. The oral command given the first man and woman, Adam and Eve “not to eat the fruit of the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and bad” exemplifies this fact- (Genesis 2vs.16-17)

When man disobeyed God's oral command by eating of the fruit, God's punishment was not far-fetched. God's pronouncement of judgment marked a watershed in the sufferings and non-eternal existence of mankind to this day, even though it was not God's will for man to taste suffering or death (Jeremiah 29 vs. 11).

As the oral command failed to sink into man's mind, heart, soul and spirit, the need for a codified law became expedient. Thus, at Mount Sinai, the LORD came down from heaven; spoke to his people and gave them good Laws and sound teachings. You taught them to keep your Sabbaths holy, and through your servant Moses you gave them your Laws (Nehemiah 9 vs. 13-14).

Analyzing the above script and taking cognizance of the underlined

1. God's Laws were codified (handwritten) and handed over to mankind at Mount Sinai, so that man won't deny acknowledgment of the Laws (Exodus 19 vs. 1-3; Exodus 20 vs. 1-17).
2. Through God's servant Moses, the sacred Laws, amongst which is the 7^th Day Sabbath were given to mankind (John 1 vs.17)

As a matter of fact, man's universal guilt which has unfortunately lingered till this day, is foolishly proclaiming as old and obsolete, God's good laws and sound teachings by the coming, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Saddening, is the fact that this heretic proclamations emanate from various so-called exalted pulpits. Own to this, God's anger is today, revealed from heaven against all sin and evil of the people who prevent the truth from being known.

God Almighty punishes mankind, because what can be known about God is plain to them, for God himself made it plain. Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all! (Romans 1 vs. 18-20).

When Adam and Even broke God's oral but stern command, a sacrifice was made to purify them of their guilt. This fact is exemplified by the animal skin used by the Creator to cover their nakedness (Genesis 3 vs. 21).

However, being an omniscient (all-knowing) God, Christ the lamb was already chosen and preserved before the creation of the world and revealed for man's sake in the last days (1 Peter 1 vs. 20-21). Even though the grace (man's unmerited favour) was given to man through Christ (John 1 vs. 17), man through his constant disregard for God's sacred Laws makes this grace a 'DISGRACE' (Hebrew 10 vs. 28-29).

Why the rampant death?

Daily, death toll increases all over the world. As at the time of writing this paper, the Nigerian media reported incidences of deaths, injuries and pains caused by a suicide bomber who attacked a 'First Day Sabbath Observing Church.' As this has become a recurring decimal across the globe, it becomes expedient to state that the earth has turned a restless and desolate place, because man has defiled it by violating God's covenants meant to last forever, while upholding man made commands.

There's hunger everywhere, battles everywhere, killings everywhere, famines, earthquakes, floods, hatred, kidnappings, whirlwinds, tsunami, hurricane, poverty and other calamitous events across the globe (Isaiah 24 vs. 1). No doubt, all these events are signs of the end time, but not the end time. However, it will be okay, if man can retrace his wrong footsteps and return to God Almighty.

Man should search for the old path, because it gives life (Jeremiah 6 vs.16).

God's covenants desecrated by man

Succinctly, there are several everlasting covenants which God Almighty has made with mankind to last forever. Let's discuss just two from the list below.

1. The Sabbath
2. The Religious Festivals
3. Sacrifice
4. Destruction of the Earthquake
5. Day and Night
6. Circumcision

THE SABBATH

The Sabbath is a special day of rest set aside by God Almighty for the people he created in his own image and likeness to worship and reverence him. Dating back 321 AD, one aspect of man's universal guilt is rejecting God's 7^th Day Sabbath to uphold the 1^st Day Sabbath.

Without mincing words, biblical records have shown that the only heavenly recognized 'Day of Rest' is the 7^th Day Sabbath, which falls on Saturday, according to the Gregorian calendar. It was Roman Emperor Constantine that changed the LORD's 'Day of Rest' from the 7^th Day (Saturday) to the 1^st Day (Sunday), see The Lord's Day and A National Sunday Law by Jacob M. Teske (1995:18).

Revealing enough, Prophet Daniel had long ago wrote about this in (Daniel 7 vs. 25-27). He wrote: The fourth empire represented by a horn will come with Chariots and horses to oppress God's people. It will try to change God's religious festivals, speak against the Supreme God. God's people will be under his power for 31/2 years. Theological records have it that it was Roman Emperor Constantine that Prophet Daniel wrote about. For he change God's sacred 7^th Day Sabbath from Saturday ton Sunday, as enacted at the Laodocean Council in 321 AD.

Having been converted from paganism to Christianity, Constantine compromised God's laws to win more pagans into Christianity. It's also on record that the Roman Catholic Church also introduced pagan-originated religious festivals such as CHRISTMAS, EASTER, ASH WEDNESDAY, GOOD FRIDAY and others into Christianity.

If these festivals were introduced without attaching its relationship to Christ Jesus, it would have been okay. However, proclamations from most self-exalted pulpits that God instituted the Christmas and Easter Sunday to be celebrated by mankind because Christ was born and resurrected on both days is an horrendous heresy.

Not deviating from the sub-topic, it's a reminder that God's punishment awaits those who enjoy in the universal guilt of profaning God's sacred day of rest. Warning against such disobedience, Prophet Isaiah wrote: “Just as the new heaven and the new earth will endure forever by my power, so will my people's names. On every new moon Festival and every Sabbath, people from every nation will come to worship me in the new earth (new Jerusalem), and as they leave, they will see those who rebelled as they are eaten by worms and burnt by the everlasting fire (Isaiah 66 vs. 22-24).

The Covenant Nailed to the Cross

This has been the argument put forward by most religious pundits that God's fair, right and just covenants, which he made to last forever have been nailed to the Cross of Calvary by Christs' death and resurrection. What a heretic fallacy!

The Sabbath covenant was mandated by God Almighty shortly after the creation of heaven and earth (Genesis 2 vs.1-3). So, why must Christ himself abolish this covenant, since he was present when it was handed over to man on Mount Sinai. Yes, Christ was the rock which quenched the children of Israel's thirstiness in the wilderness (Nehemiah 9 vs.15).

Christ's Statements that Debunked Abolishing the Laws

1. Matthew 5 vs. 17-20: Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teaching come true. Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the law will be done away with- not until the end of all things. So then, whoever disobeys even the least important of the commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be least in the kingdom of heaven... (Matthew 5 vs. 17-20).
2. When a woman complemented Jesus' mother, Mary 'How happy is the woman who bore you and nursed you,' Jesus said to her: “Rather, how happy are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”

3. Do not think, however, that I am the one who will accuse you to my Father, Moses, in whom you have put your hope, is the very one who will accuse you. If you had really believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me, but since you do not believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I say? (John 5 vs. 45-47).

Note: Moses as underlined means the Law. Jesus only used Personification in the passage. Already, various passages of the scriptures have clarified that the Father has given the son (Christ) the right to judge mankind on the last day (John 5 vs.26-27). So there was no way Jesus could contradict the scriptures. This is a food for thought for those who claim that the divine Laws of God have been abolished by Christ.

4. You study the scriptures, because you think that in them you will find eternal life. And these very scriptures speak about me! Yet you are not willing to come to me in order to have life (John 5 vs. 39).
5. The Law of Moses and the writings of the Prophets were in effect up to the time of John the Baptist; since then, the Good News about the Kingdom of God is being told, and everyone forces his way in. But it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest detail of the Law to be done away with (Luke 16 vs.16-17).

Note: Even those who condemn the sacred and everlasting Laws of God force their way in proclaiming the Good News about the Kingdom of God. What an Irony!

6. Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it (Matthew 7 vs. 13-14).

Note: Those who are chosen by God as ardent listeners and adherents to the true covenant fully understand how tedious it is to obey the Laws of God. The Laws of Sabbath, Religious Festivals, Purification Laws- abstaining from Fornication, Adultery, Covetousness, Stealing, Lying, Cheating, Unclean Animals, Masturbation amongst others. They seem hard and very few people adhere to them in the world today.

The pertinent question is: Are you among those who have found this gate to life? If Yes, remain firm. If No, have a U-Turn, so as not to be condemned before and after the trumpet blasts (Isaiah 66 vs. 22-24; Zechariah 14 vs. 16-19).

Affirming this true position, Jesus told those who informed him that his brothers and mother were around saying, “Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants him to do is my brother, my sister and my mother” (Matthew 12 vs. 50).

Did Jesus Observe the Sabbath?

Yes of course. See (Luke 4 vs. 16-20). When controversial questions on conduct during the Sabbath came up, Jesus confidently said: “The Sabbath was made for the good of man; not man for the Sabbath! The son of man is the LORD of the Sabbath,” he concluded (Mark 2 vs. 27-28).

Is God's True Sabbath Saturday or Sunday?

The Sabbath was established shortly after the six days of the creation of heaven and earth. Precisely on the 7^th day (Genesis 2 vs. 1-3; Exodus 20 vs. 8-11). God's true Sabbath is Saturday, not Sunday. See the references below.

Jesus' Burial

It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had followed Jesus from Galilee went with Joseph and saw the tomb and how Jesus' body was placed in it. Then they went back home and prepared the spices and perfumes for the body. On the Sabbath they rested, as the Law commanded (Luke 23 vs. 54-56).

Jesus' Resurrection

After the Sabbath, as Sunday morning was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb (Matthew 28 vs. 1).

The Fall of Manna/Quail

On the sixth day they gathered as much food, four litres for each person. All the leaders of the community came and told Moses about it, and he said to them, “The LORD has commanded that tomorrow is a holy day of rest dedicated to him.

Bake today what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Whatever is left should be put aside and kept for tomorrow.”

As Moses had commanded, they kept what was left until the next day; it did not spoil or get worms in it. Moses said, “Eat this today, because today is the Sabbath, a day of rest dedicated to the LORD, and you will not find any food outside the camp. You must gather food for six days, but on the seventh day, the day of rest, there will be none.”

On the seventh day some people went out to gather food, but they did not find any. Then the LORD said to Moses, “How much longer will you people refuse to obey my commands? Remember that I the LORD, have given you a day of rest, and that is why on the sixth day I will always give you enough food for two days... (Exodus 16 vs. 22-30).

Note: As underlined from the foregoing, it was the LORD, God Almighty that commanded the observation of the 7^th day Sabbath. As noted earlier, the narrow way is not easy. That's why observers of this sacred and everlasting covenant have to eat foods that are not steamed on every Sabbath day. Just few people amongst the world's over 7 billion populace adhere to this sacred and everlasting covenant.

However, securing a ticket to the Kingdom of God does not end here i.e. Observing the 7^th day Sabbath. True righteousness must be imbibed by any covenant child who must make heaven. For whoever breaks one commandment is guilty of breaking them all (James 2 vs. 10).

Nehemiah's Reform

Shortly after Nehemiah's reforms, he made this sincere prayers to God Almighty. His words: “Remember, my God, all these things that I have done for your Temple and its worship. At that time, I saw people in Judah pressing juice from grapes on the Sabbath. Others were loading corn, wine, grapes, figs and other things on their donkeys and taking them into Jerusalem; I warned them not to sell anything on the Sabbath.

Some men from the city of Tyre were living in Jerusalem, and they brought fish and all kinds of goods into the city to sell to our people on the Sabbath. I reprimanded the Jewish leaders and said, “Look at the evil you are doing! You are making the Sabbath unholy. This is exactly why God punished your ancestors when he brought destruction on this city. And yet you insist on bringing more of God's anger down on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

So I gave orders for the city gates to be shut at the beginning of every Sabbath, as soon as evening (Friday evening) began to fall, and not to be opened again until the Sabbath is over (on Saturday evening).

I stationed some of my men at the gates to make sure that nothing was brought into the city on the Sabbath. Once or twice, merchants who sold all kinds of goods spent Friday night outside the walls. I warned them, “It's no use waiting out there for morning to come. If you try this again, I will use force against you.” From then on, they did not come back on the Sabbath (Nehemiah 13 vs. 14-21).

Any Further Argument?

From the foregoing, the truth is plain about the true day of rest cum worship. Anything short of that may be regarded as IDOLATORY. Ascertaining this, Jesus admonished a Samaritan woman saying, “You Samaritans do not really know whom you worship; but we Jews know whom we worship, because it is from the Jews that salvation comes...” (John 4 vs. 22).

By this statement, does it imply that Christ, the Saviour of all, is a racist/tribalist? God forbid! What this means, is that anyone who does not abide by the true covenants of God Almighty may think he worships God, but does not.

Corroborating this fact, Christ affirmed in one of his many teachings: “Not everyone who calls me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. When Judgement Day comes, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God's message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles! Then I will say to them, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!' (Matthew 7 vs. 21-23).

Apostle Paul, Others and the True Sabbath

Apostle Paul is a lettered fellow. Owing to his level of exposure and complex style of writing his letters, many unstable Christian believers misinterprete the real message of his writings. From various self-exalted pulpits, Apostle Paul has often times been termed, an ANTAGONIST/CRITIC of the sacred and everlasting Laws of God Almighty. What an Irony!

Having discovered the complexity of Paul's letters and the multiplier side effects on ignorant and unstable believers, Peter wrote: “This is what he says in all his letters when he writes on the subject. There are some difficult things in his letters which ignorant and unstable people explain falsely, as they do with other passages of the Scriptures. So they bring on their own destruction” (2 Peter 3 vs. 16).

The following passages of the scriptures ascertains that Apostle Paul and other Apostles earnestly obeyed the Sabbath covenant- (Acts 13 vs.14; Acts 16 vs. 13; Acts 18 vs. 4; Acts 13 vs. 42-44; Acts 17 vs. 1-4).

Anyone who still upholds the Constantinist First Day Sabbath still wallows in the Universal Guilt of Man, and won't be spared when the Great Day comes (Isaiah 66 vs. 22-24).

If you have ears listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches (Revelation 3 vs. 6).

THE RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS

Succinctly, we all know that the Scriptures is inspired by God Almighty; useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults and giving instructions for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed (2 Timothy 3 vs. 16-17).

Having indepthly perused this same Scriptures over the years, we state categorically that popular Christian Religious festivals such as CHRISTMAS, EASTER, ASH WEDNESDAY, ASCENSION SUNDAY, GOOD FRIDAY amongst others are unbiblical. claims from various self-exalted pulpits that they are the commandment of God Almighty is FALACIOUS and thus and HERESY of the highest order.

Historically, these festivals have pagan origins from old Babylonian and Roman colonies. See Babylon Mystery Religion (1981).

For clarity, God Almighty had from the very beginning, instituted sacred religious festivals to be observed by mankind in honour of him. God had commanded that these sacred festivals be observed “FOR ALL TIME TO COME,” i.e till the end of the age. However, it becomes pathetic that mankind has rejected God's own Laws to uphold man made commands. What a shame!

Without much ado, the major sacred religious festivals mandated for man's observance by the Creator are SEVEN. Perhaps, as God is a master planner, the festivals coincides with his sacred number, 7.

Succinctly, the seven sacred and everlasting religious festivals as mandated by the Creator (Leviticus 23 vs. 1-44) include:

1. The Seventh Day Sabbath: It's always observed without work on Saturdays.

See New Testament Passages

Matthew 12 vs. 1-3; Matthew 28 vs. 1; Mark 2 vs. 27-28; Luke 4 vs. 16; Luke 23 vs. 54-56; Acts 13 vs. 14, 42-44; Acts 16 vs. 13-15; Acts 18 vs. 4; Revelation 1 vs. 10 etc.

See Old Testament Passages

Genesis 2 vs. 1-3; Exodus 20 vs. 8-11; Exodus 16 vs. 22-27; Exodus 31 vs. 12-18; Exodus 35 vs. 1-3;

Leviticus 19 vs. 3; Leviticus 23 vs. 1-4; Numbers 15 vs. 22-36; Deuteronomy 5 vs. 12-15; Nehemiah 9 vs. 14; Nehemiah 10 vs. 31; Nehemiah 13 vs. 15-22; Isaiah 56 vs.1-8; Isaiah 58 vs. 13-14; Isaiah 66 vs.22-24; Jeremiah 17 vs. 19-22; Ezekiel 20 vs. 1-25 etc.

2. The Feast of Passover/Unleavened Bread: Falls between mid March and Mid April in the Gregorian Calendar. As mandated by God Almighty, it is to be celebrated on the 14^th day of the first month (Nisan/Abib) according to Hebrew Calendar and runs concurrently for seven days.

The essence of this feast is to remind God's people of how he used his mighty hands to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt, the land of bondage and tribulation. It is however, without its own regulations such as presentation of food offerings, fruit offerings, burnt offerings, receiving of the Holy Communion, observing a Sabbath on the First and last day of the feast, amongst others.

See New Testament Passages

Matthew 26 vs. 17-18; Mark 14 vs. 12-17; Luke 22 vs. 7-13; Luke 2 vs. 41-43; John 4 vs. 43-45; John 11 vs. 55; Acts 20 vs. 6; John 13 vs. 1; John 19 vs. 14; John 2 vs. 23; John 2 vs. 13 etc.

See Old Testament Passages

Leviticus 23 vs. 5-14; Numbers 9 vs. 1-14; Numbers 28 vs. 16-25; Deuteronomy 16 vs. 1-8; 2 Chronicles 30 vs. 1-27; 2 Chronicles 35 vs. 1-19; Ezra 6 vs. 19-22; Ezekiel 45 vs. 21-24; Exodus 34 vs. 18; Exodus 12 vs. 1-50; Exodus 13 vs. 3-10; Joshua 5 vs. 10-12 etc.

3. The Feast of Pentecost (Harvest Festival): It comes up exactly 50 days (seven full weeks) after the last day of the Feast of Passover/Unleavened Bread. God's mandate was for man to annually appreciate him for the fertile land and fruitful harvest he has given (Leviticus 23 vs. 15-22).
   
   
   However, today, so many ignorant, unstable and self-exalted pulpits have misinterpreted this divine mandate. They blindly hold that the Pentecost is celebrated as the day when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles.

Truly, that the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles on the day of Pentecost was just a coincidence and divine mandate by God Almighty. Recall, Christ had always promised his disciples of sending them the Comforter (Holy Spirit), who will teach them the hidden truth about God, which he (Christ) was unable to teach them (Luke 24 vs. 49; John 14 vs. 15-31; John 16 vs. 4-15).

It's also worthy to state that Prophet Joel had in his days prophesied about this eventual coming of the Holy Spirit on the people of God, when he said: “Afterwards I will pour out my Spirit on everyone: Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your old people will have dreams, and your young people will see visions. At that time I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, both men and women” (Joel 2 vs. 28-29).

Since God's words through his chosen prophets must always come to past, any further argument about the exact essence and origin of the Feast of Pentecost must be considered baseless. In the new testament passages below, Apostle Paul was always eager to grace the Feast of Pentecost at all possible cost.

See New Testament Passages

Acts 2 vs. 1-42; Acts 20 vs. 16; 1 Corinthians 16 vs. 7-8 etc.

See Old Testament Passages

Leviticus 23 vs. 15-22; Numbers 28 vs. 26-31; Deuteronomy 12 vs. 9-12; Deuteronomy 16 vs. 16; Joel 2 vs. 28-29

4. The Feast of Trumpet: According to God's mandate, it's to be celebrated on the first day of the seventh month (Ethanim/Tishri) of the Hebrew Calendar. In the Gregorian Calendar, this feast usually falls between mid September and mid October. Accompanying this sacred feast are presentation of food offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, wine offerings, a sacred day of rest and blasting of trumpets to signify victory.

See Old Testament Passages

Leviticus 23 vs. 23-25; Numbers 10 vs. 10; Numbers 29 vs. 1-6; Joshua 6 vs. 20; Psalms 150 vs. 3 etc.

See New Testament Passages

Matthew 24 vs. 30-31; Revelation 11 vs. 15; 1 Corinthians 15 vs. 51-52

5. The Feast of Atonement: This feast according to God's mandate is to be celebrated from sunset on the ninth day to sunset on the tenth day of the seventh month (Hebrew Calendar). It falls between mid September and mid October. On this day, the children of Israel are expected to fast to atone for their sins, as well as offer burnt offerings, food offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings and wine offerings.

Why Observe This Feast When Christ Has Nailed Our Sins to the Cross?

Like many would ask, Christ has died for our sins, so is there any need for this religious ritual cum festival. This is a pertinent question, but a discourse for another day.

Shortly before Jesus gave up the breath on the cross of Calvary, the scriptures recorded: “Jesus knew that by now everything had been completed; and in order to make the scripture come true, he said, “I am thirsty.” A bowl was there, full of cheap wine; so a sponge was soaked in the wine, put on a stalk of hyssop, and lifted up to his lips. Jesus drank the wine and said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and died (John 19 vs. 28-30).

Today, Christ's last statement- 'It is finished,' before he gave up the breath has posed a lot of controversies in the Christendom. Many think, this statement was aimed at putting all the sacred covenants of God to rest, including sacrifices. God forbid! For the scriptures have already told us that Grass may wither and flowers fade, but the word of our God endures forever (Isaiah 40 vs. 8).

To put the records straight, Christ's coming, death and resurrection were aimed at renewing and strengthening the old covenant which was not initially written in the minds and hearts of men (Hebrew 8 vs. 1-13).

I reiterate, Christ's coming was never to abolish any of the sacred Laws of his Father, but to reinforce them in the minds and hearts of men. This is so that they need not tie the Laws on their arms, wear them on their foreheads as a reminder, or even write them on the doorposts of their houses and on their gates (Deuteronomy 6 vs. 8).

Because the divine Laws have been written in the minds and hearts of men; owing to the fact that the commands are not too difficult or beyond the reach of men; for the fact that the Laws are not up in the sky, men need not ask, “Who will go up and bring it down for us, so that we can hear it and obey it? Nor is it on the other side of the ocean. Men need not to ask, 'Who will go across the ocean and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and obey it? No, the law is here with you. You know it and can quote it, so obey it now (Deuteronomy 30 vs. 11-14).

Surmise us to say that the written Laws in our hearts is the CONSCIENCE within us, which pinches and knocks us whenever we do wrong, but gives us kudos whenever we do right.

That Christ came to re-enforce the old covenant, thus bringing men close to God Almighty is not new. After all, Prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah had earlier prophesied about his coming (Isaiah 7 vs. 14-25; Jeremiah 31 vs. 31-34)..

Christ Ordered a Leper to Offer Sacrifice as the Law Commanded

Truly, the coming, death and resurrection of Christ were never to abolish the divine Laws of his Father, including SACRIFICE. If it were/did, why then did Christ instructed a leper whom he healed not to tell anyone, but to run to a priest who will examine him, and then offer the necessary SACRIFICE as the Law of God commanded (Mark 1 vs. 40-44).

Note: This divine instruction was earlier given in the old testament passage of (Leviticus 14 vs. 1-57).

Again, if Christ's coming was to make divine SACRIFICE obsolete, he would have disapproved of his parents, Joseph and Mary who offered a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons during his dedication in the Temple of God (Luke 2 vs. 22-24). Perhaps, if he was too young a baby to talk then, when he grew up and began full ministration by 30, he would have condemned their act of obedience.

Paul and Sacrifice

Apostle Paul and the issue on sacrifice must also be brought to the front burner of this discourse. The point being that Paul's letters had over the years, been misinterpreted amongst medieval and modern theologians. This, Peter attributed to the complex style of his letters when he wrote:

This is what he (Paul) says in all his letters when he writes on the subject. There are some difficult things in his letters which ignorant and unstable people explain falsely, as they do with other passages of the scriptures (bible). So they bring on their own destruction (2 Peter 3 vs. 16).

Certainly, the sacrifice offered to take away sins on the day of atonement is an everlasting covenant (Psalms 50 vs. 5).

The Only Unworthy Sacrifice

The only UNWORTHY SACRIFICE which God Almighty do not accept is one offered to any other god. Thus, a punishment awaits defaulters (Exodus 22 vs. 20).

Did Paul Offered Sacrifice?

Yes of course! If Paul had wrote off the offering of any form of sacrifice, why then did he pay the expenses of those men who offered sacrifice to God Almighty in fulfillment of their CEREMONY OF PURIFICATION as NAZARITES- Dada (Acts 21 vs. 23-26).

Perhaps, in his defence before Governor Felix, Paul strongly affirmed: I do admit this to you: I worship the God of our ancestors by following that way (divine Laws), which they say is false. I also believe in everything written in the Law of Moses and the books of the prophets. I do my best always to have a clear conscience before God and man.

After being away from Jerusalem for several years, I went there to take some money to my people to offer SACRIFICE. It was while I was doing this that they found me in the Temple, after I had competed the ceremony of purification... (Acts 24 vs. 14-18). What a wonderful way of clarifying misinterpreters of his stance in all his letters!

One of the most controversial of Paul's letters which many ignorant, unstable and self-exalted pulpits misinterprete is his letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 10 vs. 1-18).

Succinctly, what Paul was trying to buttress in this passage is that the death and resurrection of Christ came to strengthen the divine Law of his Father, thus bringing man once again closer to his Creator. It was to put God's laws in the hearts and minds of men (Hebrew 10 vs.16).

Note, Peter told us that Christ had already been chosen for this same purpose before the creation (1 Peter 1 vs. 20).

Moreso, we were also told by Apostle Paul that “If Jesus was on earth, he wouldn't be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts required by the Law. The work they do is only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven,” i.e.exactly the same (Hebrew 8 vs. 4-5)

Also note, earlier, Paul had told us that “Every High Priest is appointed to present offerings and animal sacrifices to God, and also Christ, our High Priest must also have something to offer” (Hebrew 8 vs. 3).

Amidst the arguments put forward, it becomes expedient to clarify that Apostle Paul also celebrated the FEAST OF ATONEMENT, perhaps, abiding by all the tenets of the sacred feast (Acts 27 vs. 9).

Christ's death was never to abolish the divine covenants of his Father. Therefore, anyone who preaches a different doctrine is on his own. If you have ears listen then to what the Spirit says to the Churches (Revelation 2 vs. 11).

6. The Feast of Tabernacles (Feast of Shelters/Booths): This sacred festival dates back when the children of Israel were still in the wilderness (Leviticus 23 vs.33-43). God Almighty mandated mankind to observe this feast 'FOR ALL TIME TO COME' (Leviticus 23 vs. 41).
   
   
   The festival of shelters begins by sunset on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Hebrew Calendar) and runs concurrently for seven days. In the Gregorian Calendar, it annually falls between mid September and mid October. Like the Feast of Passover/Unleavened Bread discussed earlier, a sacred day of rest is compulsorily observed on the first and last day of this feast.
   The scripture affirms that the essence of this feast was to remind the people of God, that the children of Israel lived in simple houses made with palm-fronds, while they were in the wilderness (Leviticus 23 vs. 42-43).

Christ Celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles

See (John 7 vs.2, 14-19, 37-39).

Other Scriptures Upheld it

Leviticus 23 vs. 33-44; Numbers 29 vs. 12-40; Deuteronomy 16 vs. 13-15, Nehemiah 8 vs. 13-18 etc.

Punishment For Not Observing Tabernacles

God had through his servant, Prophet Zachariah warned mankind of the implications of not observing the festival of shelters when he said: “Then all the survivors from the nations that attacked Jerusalem will go there each year to worship the LORD Almighty as King, and to celebrate the FESTIVAL OF SHELTERS.

If any nation refuses to go and worship the LORD Almighty as King, then rain (God's abundant blessings) will not fall on their land. If the Egyptians refuse to celebrate the FESTIVAL OF SHELTERS, then they will be struck by the same disease that the LORD will send on every nation that refuses to go. This will be the punishment that will fall on Egypt and on all the other nations if they don't celebrate the FESTIVAL OF SHELTERS (Zachariah 14 vs. 16-19).

Note: Amidst the incessant calamities befalling man today, this is a clarion call for man to return to GOD Almighty, by obeying his divine, right, fair, just and everlasting covenants.

God's Laws, Not New

This command I am writing to you is not new; it is the old command, the one you have had from the very beginning. The old command is the message you have already heard (1 John 1 vs. 7).

For Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore (Hebrew 13 vs. 8).

We therefore implore you as Jeremiah admonished the people of his days: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the Ancient paths and where the best road is. Walk on it, and you will live in peace (Jeremiah 6 vs. 16).

After all, there are some things that the LORD our God has kept secret; but he has revealed HIS LAWS, and we and our descendants are to obey it forever (Deuteronomy 29 vs. 29).

God's Laws, For All

For pundits who may still ignorantly argue that the above mentioned divine covenants are for ONLY THE ISRAELITE, take note of what the Psalmist, David said: “You are righteous, LORD, and your Laws are just. The rules that you have given are completely fair and right (Psalms 119 vs. 137-138).

The Psalmist also wrote: “The Lord is our God; his commands are for all the world. He will keep his covenant forever, his promises for a thousand generations (Psalms 105 vs. 7-8).

For those of you, who are already participants of the divine covenants, tarry not! because people mock you. Remember Christ's admonition: “Everyone will hate you because of me. But whoever holds out to the end will be saved... (Matthew 10 vs. 22).

CONCLUSION

As the end time draws nigh, man's universal guilt had been his outright disregard for God's divine and sacred LAWS. It's time to make a U-TURN. If you have ears listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches (Revelation 2 vs. 29).

SHALOM!