Understanding God’s Word Ministry

The Tabernacle a Picture of the Old and New Covenant

Hebrews
CHAPTER 9(A.D. 64)
CONTRAST
THEN verily the First Covenant (is meant to describe the Tabernacle in which the Service of God was celebrated under the former dispensation, and to show it had a reference to what was future) had also Ordinances of Divine Service (Ordinances adapted for Divine Service), and a worldly Sanctuary. (The word “worldly” is used here as a contrast to the Heavenly world.)2 For there was a Tabernacle made (refers to what Moses had made in the wilderness, which pattern was given to him by God); the first, wherein was the Candlestick (Golden Lampstand), and the table, and the shewbread (refers to the “first room,” which was the Holy Place where the Sacred Vessels were situated); which is called the Sanctuary. (This should have been translated, “which is called the Holy Place.” The name “Sanctuary” was commonly given to the whole edifice.)3 And after the Second Veil (pertains to the Veil which separated the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies), the Tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all (refers to the Holy of Holies, which contained the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat);4 Which had the Golden Censer (should have been translated, “the Golden Incense Altar,” which sat immediately in front of the Veil in the Holy Place), and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid round about with gold (presents the most Glorious and Mysterious Vessel of the Tabernacle), wherein was the Golden Pot that had Manna (presents that which was a Type of Christ as the Bread of Life [Jn. 6:32–33, 35]), and Aaron’s rod that budded (represents Christ Alone as Saviour, and proof that God would raise Him from the dead), and the Tables of the Covenant (the two stone Tables containing the Ten Commandments, five to each Table);5 And over it (the Ark of the Covenant) the Cherubims of Glory (Living Creatures) shadowing the Mercyseat (they looked down upon the Mercyseat); of which we cannot now speak particularly (cannot go into great detail).6 Now when these things were thus ordained (refers to the fact that all of this was of God, and every part and parcel of the Tabernacle in some way pointed to Christ), the Priests went always into the First Tabernacle (into the first of the two rooms of the Tabernacle called the “Holy Place”), accomplishing the Service of God. (This refers to the daily, even constant, rituals that had to be carried out.)7 But into the second (the second room of the Tabernacle called the “Holy of Holies,” where the Ark of the Covenant was) went the High Priest alone once every year (pertained to the Great Day of Atonement [Lev. 16:14; 23:27]), not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people (presents him going in twice on this particular day, each time taking the blood of the Sacrificial animal which had been killed—once for himself, and once for the people—with the blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat):8 The Holy Spirit this signifying (the Holy Spirit was both the Divine Author of the Levitical system of worship, and its Interpreter), that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest (proclaims the fact [and by the Holy Spirit, at that] that access to God was blocked while the Law was enforced, except in the most limited way), while as the First Tabernacle was yet standing (show the limitations of the Levitical system):9 Which was a figure for the time then present (refers to the Tabernacle being a representation of Heavenly realities), in which were offered both Gifts and Sacrifices, that could not make him who did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience (portrays the weakness of the First Covenant, in that it was based on animal blood, which was insufficient; in other words, the conscience of the Jew was still heavy with realization that sin had only been covered, not taken away; only the Cross could take away sin [Jn. 1:29]);
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (pp. 2130–2131). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Christ - A Better Mediator, with a New Covenant, Based Upon Better Promises

Hebrews 8 and 9
 
10 For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel (refers as stated to the “New Covenant”) after those days (refers to the Old Covenant having run its course, which it did at the time of the Cross), saith the Lord; I will put My Laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts (proclaims in abbreviated detail the glorious fact of what the New Covenant would do because the sin debt was paid by Christ on the Cross, which made it possible for the Holy Spirit to abide forever in the hearts and lives of Believers [Jn. 14:16–17]): and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people (refers to relationship under the New Covenant that was not possible under the Old Covenant [Zech. 8:8]):11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord (refers to the complicated process of the Old Covenant): for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. (This presents the fact that the Holy Spirit will teach every Believer, as He does, and which Jesus also said would be [Jn. 16:13–15]).12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness (the Cross made this possible), and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (Due to the Cross, sins and iniquities no longer exist, at least for those who trust Christ.)13 In that He said (Jer. 31:31), A New Covenant (all in Christ and what He did at the Cross), He (God) has made the first old (it was designed to be temporary). Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away. (Since the Cross, which introduced the New Covenant, there is no more need for the Old, which is vastly inferior.)
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 2130). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.
 

The Old Covenant vs. The New Covenant

A New Covenant Hebrews 8
(Jer 31:31–34 )
TOOLS
 Heb 8:7
¶
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
TOOLS
 Heb 8:8
For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
TOOLS
 Heb 8:9
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
TOOLS
 Heb 8:10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
TOOLS
 Heb 8:11
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
TOOLS
 Heb 8:12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
TOOLS
 Heb 8:13
¶
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Christ - The Minister of a Better Covenant

 
CHAPTER 8(A.D. 64)
HIGH PRIEST
NOW of the things which we have spoken this is the sum (refers to what Paul will now give as it regards the meaning of all this): We have such an High Priest, Who is set on the Right Hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens (the very fact that Christ is now seated in the Heavens at the Right Hand of God proves His Work is a Finished Work);2 A Minister of the Sanctuary (as Paul uses the word “Minister,” it speaks both of Priestly service to God and of service to man), and of the True Tabernacle (the true dwelling place of God, which is in the Heavens), which the Lord pitched, and not man. (This refers to the fact that Moses pitched the earthly Tabernacle, but God formed the True Tabernacle.)3 For every High Priest is ordained to offer Gifts and Sacrifices (portrays the High Priests of old serving as mediators between God and men): wherefore it is of necessity that this Man (Christ Jesus) have somewhat also to offer. (A Priest must have a Sacrifice to offer. Christ offered Himself. This was His one great and all embracing Sacrifice, satisfying all the Types of the Old Covenant and abolishing all its Offerings for sin.)4 For if He (the Lord Jesus) were on Earth, He should not be a Priest (refers to the fact that He was not of the Levitical Order, and due to His Sacrifice of Himself, no more earthly Priests are now needed, which, as should be obvious, completely abrogates the Catholic Priesthood), seeing that there are Priests who offer Gifts according to the Law (due to His Eternal Priesthood, and the Offering of Himself in Sacrifice, the Law is done):5 Who (the Levitical Priesthood) serve unto the example and shadow of Heavenly things (refers to a suggestive replica, which, in fact, had no substance within itself), as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the Tabernacle (proclaims the fact that this was but a poor replica of the reality Who is Christ): for, See, said He (Ex. 25:40; Num. 8:4), that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the Mount (meaning the Tabernacle on Earth was merely a replica of something far better in the Heavens).
MEDIATOR
6 But now (since the Cross) has He (the Lord Jesus) obtained a more excellent Ministry (the New Covenant in Jesus’ Blood is superior, and takes the place of the Old Covenant in animal blood), by how much also He is the Mediator of a Better Covenant (proclaims the fact that Christ officiates between God and man according to the arrangements of the New Covenant), which was established upon better Promises. (This presents the New Covenant, explicitly based on the cleansing and forgiveness of all sin, which the Old Covenant could not do.)7 For if that first Covenant had been faultless (proclaims the fact that the First Covenant was definitely not faultless; as stated, it was based on animal blood, which was vastly inferior to the Precious Blood of Christ), then should no place have been sought for the Second (proclaims the necessity of the New Covenant).8 For finding fault with them (the First Covenant was actually designed to glaringly portray the fault of the people, which it successfully did), He said (Jer. 31:31), Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah (that New Covenant was in Christ and what He did at the Cross; regrettably, Israel rejected Him):9 Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers (refers to the Law of Moses, which was given some fifty days after Israel was delivered from Egypt) in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt (speaks to the immaturity of Israel at that time; consequently, she was treated as a minor); because they continued not in My Covenant (Israel was not true to the Covenant regarding the Old Law), and I regarded them not, says the Lord. (Israel rejected God’s First Covenant, so God rejected them.)10 For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel (refers as stated to the “New Covenant”) after those days (refers to the Old Covenant having run its course, which it did at the time of the Cross), saith the Lord; I will put My Laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts (proclaims in abbreviated detail the glorious fact of what the New Covenant would do because the sin debt was paid by Christ on the Cross, which made it possible for the Holy Spirit to abide forever in the hearts and lives of Believers [Jn. 14:16–17]): and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people (refers to relationship under the New Covenant that was not possible under the Old Covenant [Zech. 8:8]):
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (pp. 2129–2130). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Redeemed by His Death, Saved by His Life

Romans 5
8 But God Commendeth His Love toward us (Christ dying for the ungodly is a proof of Love immeasurable), in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Jesus died for those who bitterly hate Him).9 Much more then (if Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, how much more will He do for us now that we are Redeemed and, thereby, reconciled to Him!), being now Justified by His Blood (we are justified now, and the Blood of Christ stands as the guarantee for that Justification), we shall be saved from wrath through Him (the Wrath of God, which is always manifested against sin).10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the Death of His Son (the only way we could be reconciled; this Verse shoots down the “Jesus died spiritually doctrine”), much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (does not speak of His Perfect Life, but rather the pouring out of His Life’s Blood at Calvary).11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ (we are to boast of our Reconciliation to God, for it is a true confidence [1 Cor. 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17]), by Whom we have now received the Atonement (Reconciliation).
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 1977). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Being Made Complete Through Trials and Tribulations, To the Glory of God

Romans 5
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
THEREFORE being Justified by Faith (this is the only way one can be justified; refers to Faith in Christ and what He did at the Cross), we have peace with God (justifying peace) through our Lord Jesus Christ (what He did at the Cross):2 By Whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace (we have access to the Goodness of God by Faith in Christ) wherein we stand (wherein alone we can stand), and rejoice in hope (a hope that is guaranteed) of the Glory of God (our Faith in Christ always brings Glory to God; anything else brings glory to self, which God can never accept).3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also (in the fact that tribulations do not hurt us): knowing that tribulation works patience (points to the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to Faith, even by the greatest trials and sufferings);4 And patience, experience (points to an end result); and experience, hope (presents the natural product of an approved experience).5 And hope makes not ashamed (in effect, tells us that this is not a false hope); because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts (God’s Love brings all of this about) by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us (all of this is wholly a work of the Holy Spirit).
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 1976). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Christ the Spirit of Life

Christ Supplying Us with His Indestructible Life to Overcome Darkness

The ministry of Melchisedec is not to save sinners. If you are still a sinner, then you need Christ’s ministry as typified by Aaron. But we are no longer pitiful sinners; we are fighters, fighting against the by-products of death. Chedorlaomer, who was slaughtered by Abraham, does not represent sin but represents the by-products of death. When Abraham learned that Lot had been captured, that capture was a matter of the by-products of death. All of the elders in the churches must be slaughtering elders. When the elders come into the meetings and see that many of the dear brothers have been captured by Chedorlaomer, they must slaughter that king. Do not rebuke or condemn the brothers who have been captured but slaughter Chedorlaomer, the by-products of death that have captured the brothers and sisters and hold them in bondage. If you do this, our Melchisedec will come in, and you will enjoy His ministry. 
 Many Christians do not understand Hebrews 7 and 8 because they maintain the position of being pitiful sinners. [396] Hardly any one of them is a slaughtering Abraham. We must slaughter all of the by-products of death mentioned in Romans 8; we must slaughter groaning, vanity, bondage, slavery, corruption, and decay. How can we slaughter these by-products of death? Through the intercession of our High Priest. While we are slaughtering Chedorlaomer and all of the by-products of death, He will be interceding for us. This is the ministry of our High Priest, the heavenly Minister, today. 
 We see a picture of this ministry in the case of the warfare between Israel and Amalek (Exo. 17:8-13). Moses was holding up his hand (that is, praying) on the top of the hill and Joshua was fighting in the midst of the battle. While Moses was praying, Joshua was slaughtering the enemy. Likewise, I believe that while Abraham was slaughtering the kings, Melchisedec was praying for him. In the same way, while we are slaughtering the by-products of death, Christ, our heavenly Minister with a more excellent ministry, is in heaven interceding for us.