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moadis:overview_3_covenants [2019/11/04 00:20] – external edit 127.0.0.1moadis:overview_3_covenants [2019/11/12 00:06] – gregkedro
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 In common terms, a covenant is a formal and binding agreement between two or more parties to do or not do something specified. That which is specified in the agreement are the covenant //stipulations//. In common terms, a covenant is a formal and binding agreement between two or more parties to do or not do something specified. That which is specified in the agreement are the covenant //stipulations//.
  
-__Dr. Hal Harless__: A covenant is "a solemn unilateral obligation made binding by an oath."((Harless, Hal. //How Firm a Foundation//, p. 12))+__Dr. Hal Harless__: A covenant is "a solemn unilateral obligation made binding by an oath."((Hal Harless. //How Firm a Foundation//, p. 12))
  
-__Dr. Peter S. Ruckman__: Covenants are "agreements between God and man, or simply interventions, by God, to set up an agreement... the Covenants mark the boundaries of each 'period of time...' (each economy / administration of the dispensation).((Ruckman, Peter S., //How to Teach Dispensational Truth//, pp. 14-15.))+__Dr. Peter S. Ruckman__: Covenants are "agreements between God and man, or simply interventions, by God, to set up an agreement... the Covenants mark the boundaries of each 'period of time...' (each economy / administration of the dispensation).((Peter S. Ruckman, //How to Teach Dispensational Truth//, pp. 14-15.))
  
 In the Bible covenants are the //legal mechanism// by which God sets up a steward in a stewardship. The covenant stipulations become the responsibility of the steward in his stewardship and delegate to him the authority required and necessary to carry out the responsibility. The covenant stipulation, then, become the legal basis for judgment if the steward is found less than faithful in in stewardship. In the Bible covenants are the //legal mechanism// by which God sets up a steward in a stewardship. The covenant stipulations become the responsibility of the steward in his stewardship and delegate to him the authority required and necessary to carry out the responsibility. The covenant stipulation, then, become the legal basis for judgment if the steward is found less than faithful in in stewardship.
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 ===== Covenant Types ===== ===== Covenant Types =====
  
-There are three types of covenants in the Bible((Harless, Hal. //How Firm a Foundation//, pp. 12-14.)): +There are three types of covenants in the Bible((Hal Harless. //How Firm a Foundation//, pp. 12-14.)): 
   - Grant Covenant: Unconditional   - Grant Covenant: Unconditional
   - Suzerainty ((I chose to use the "big, scholarly" word //suzerainty// because we run into it reading books about covenants and we should know what it means. When talking about the major covenants in the Bible, it is far more simple to refer to the unconditional covenants (grant covenants) and conditional covenants (suzerain covenants). But, learning a new word or two every now and then will not hurt us. So... there you go.)) Covenant: Conditional   - Suzerainty ((I chose to use the "big, scholarly" word //suzerainty// because we run into it reading books about covenants and we should know what it means. When talking about the major covenants in the Bible, it is far more simple to refer to the unconditional covenants (grant covenants) and conditional covenants (suzerain covenants). But, learning a new word or two every now and then will not hurt us. So... there you go.)) Covenant: Conditional
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   - Under King Josiah: 2Kings 23.1-3; 2Chronicles 34.31-32   - Under King Josiah: 2Kings 23.1-3; 2Chronicles 34.31-32
  
-With the Babylonian captivity of 606 B.C., however, the Mosaic Covenant was broken and invalidated, and it was never again renewed. The Babylonian captivity marks a clear distinction in the political rule on the earth (it marks a clear political transition((Johnson, Elliott. //A Dispensational Biblical Theology//, p. 284))). +With the Babylonian captivity of 606 B.C., however, the Mosaic Covenant was broken and invalidated, and it was never again renewed. The Babylonian captivity marks a clear distinction in the political rule on the earth (it marks a clear political transition((Elliott Johnson. //A Dispensational Biblical Theology//, p. 284))). 
  
-Elliot Johnson explains((Johnson, Elliott. //A Dispensational Biblical Theology//, p. 273ff)) that the Mosaic Covenant provided the right to rule over the nations of the earth as a **//mediated//** rule (i.e., Israel would reign as God's representative on earth, carrying out His will on earth; this is what the Bible calls the Kingdom of Heaven). In 606 B.C. God **//delegated//** that political rule over the nations of the earth to the Gentiles (e.g., Dan 2.37-38). This Gentile rule is not a mediated rule, like Israel's, but rather it is simply a delegated authority God shifted from Israel (who was to be the head of the nations) to the Gentiles (the nations now ruled over Israel). It is a clear distinction in delegated authority to rule: the Gentiles now govern Israel.+Elliot Johnson explains((Elliott Johnson. //A Dispensational Biblical Theology//, p. 273ff)) that the Mosaic Covenant provided the right to rule over the nations of the earth as a **//mediated//** rule (i.e., Israel would reign as God's representative on earth, carrying out His will on earth; this is what the Bible calls the Kingdom of Heaven). In 606 B.C. God **//delegated//** that political rule over the nations of the earth to the Gentiles (e.g., Dan 2.37-38). This Gentile rule is not a mediated rule, like Israel's, but rather it is simply a delegated authority God shifted from Israel (who was to be the head of the nations) to the Gentiles (the nations now ruled over Israel). It is a clear distinction in delegated authority to rule: the Gentiles now govern Israel.
  
 In the Bible this global, political rule by the Gentiles is called the **//Times of the Gentiles//** and it is outlined in broad form in the "metal man" of Daniel 2. It begins with Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon, the head of gold, and it ends with the Second Coming of Christ (the stone cut without hands that destroys the images and ends the reign of the Gentile nations; the stone that marks the beginning God's Kingdom on earth with Christ reigning on David's throne in Jerusalem according to the Davidic Covenant). In the Bible this global, political rule by the Gentiles is called the **//Times of the Gentiles//** and it is outlined in broad form in the "metal man" of Daniel 2. It begins with Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon, the head of gold, and it ends with the Second Coming of Christ (the stone cut without hands that destroys the images and ends the reign of the Gentile nations; the stone that marks the beginning God's Kingdom on earth with Christ reigning on David's throne in Jerusalem according to the Davidic Covenant).
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 The Times of the Gentiles are defined in Luke 21.23 as the period during which the Gentiles lead the Jews into captivity out of their land and trod under foot Israel's capitol city of Jerusalem. It is the time of Gentile dominion on the earth and it includes Gentile dominion over Israel.  The Times of the Gentiles are defined in Luke 21.23 as the period during which the Gentiles lead the Jews into captivity out of their land and trod under foot Israel's capitol city of Jerusalem. It is the time of Gentile dominion on the earth and it includes Gentile dominion over Israel. 
  
-It bears reiterating here that the breaking of the Mosaic Covenant did not destroy (annul) the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was not abolished when the Covenant of Moses was broken and annulled.((Johnson, Elliott. //A Dispensational Biblical Theology//, p. 284)) Remember the two parts of the covenant agreement in Exodus 19.5-8 and 24.3-7: +It bears reiterating here that the breaking of the Mosaic Covenant did not destroy (annul) the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was not abolished when the Covenant of Moses was broken and annulled.((Elliott Johnson. //A Dispensational Biblical Theology//, p. 284)) Remember the two parts of the covenant agreement in Exodus 19.5-8 and 24.3-7: 
   - God promised the people of Israel they would reign over the nations of the earth if they obeyed the Law (this is the political reign of God from heaven on earth through Israel as the Lord's mediator; this is the Kingdom of Heaven).    - God promised the people of Israel they would reign over the nations of the earth if they obeyed the Law (this is the political reign of God from heaven on earth through Israel as the Lord's mediator; this is the Kingdom of Heaven). 
   - All the people of Israel gave their solemn oath to do all the Lord commanded them in the Law and to be obedient to it.    - All the people of Israel gave their solemn oath to do all the Lord commanded them in the Law and to be obedient to it.