The Eternal Covenant and the Jewish Messiah: Can Any Claim Override the Torah?
An examination of the everlasting covenant, the unchanging God of Israel, the eternal commandments, and the biblical conditions by which Israel's promised ruler must be identified. Introduction: Does God Change His Covenant? The central question is not what later religious institutions teach about the Messiah. The fundamental question is what the God of Israel has actually declared in His covenant and what the Scriptures say Israel should expect from its promised ruler. The Torah presents the covenant between YHWH and Israel as a relationship established by divine command, covenantal promises, and obligations handed down through Israel's generations. The Sabbath is called a perpetual covenant. Circumcision is described as an everlasting covenantal sign. The priesthood of Aaron is established as a perpetual priesthood. Israel's appointed festivals are ordinances to be observed throughout its generations, and the dietary commandments are given as instructions governing what...