Everlasting promises of God in OT

[EHRAM]

In a number of parts of the Hebrew Scriptures, God makes promises or gives commands and the scriptures state that these commands or promises are everlasting or permanent. A Jewish friend once challenged Christianity, stating that these permanent commands or promises are not fulfilled in Christianity.

One example is Jeremiah 33, which states that there will always be Levitical priests offering sacrifices.

Jesus is a priest of the order of Melchizedek. Is he also a Levitical priest?

 

[Della]

As the awaited Messiah, Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, fulfilled all such commands and promises in his life, death and resurrection. The Church is the fulfillment of the Levitical priesthood which offers the sacrifice of Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. This pure offering is the unbloody re-presentation of the Eucharist offered on all the altars of every Catholic church around the world.

 

[Della]

Another thought, the commands of God, as your Jewish friend has stated it, have not been fulfilled in Judaism, either–using his logic.

Where is the Levitical priesthood among the Jewish sects if it was meant to be carried on uninterrupted for all eternity instead of fulfilled by the last Revelation to man, the Word of God, Christ Jesus?

 

[EHRAM]

Another thought, the commands of God, as your Jewish friend has stated it, have not been fulfilled in Judaism, either–using his logic.

Where is the Levitical priesthood among the Jewish sects if it was meant to be carried on uninterrupted for all eternity instead of fulfilled by the last Revelation to man, the Word of God, Christ Jesus?

My Jewish friend believes that ALL of these promises will be fulfilled when the Messiah comes and temple worship is restored. She does not believe that some were fulfilled when Jesus came 2000 years ago and that the rest will be fulfilled when He comes again.

Some of the passages of concern are:

Permanent observance of Yom Kippur (Lev 16:29-34, 23:26-32)
Permanent observance of Sukkot (Lev 23:39-43)

Permanency of the Levitical priesthood after the arrival of the Branch (Jeremiah 33:14-22)

 

[Della]

My Jewish friend believes that ALL of these promises will be fulfilled when the Messiah comes and temple worship is restored. She does not believe that some were fulfilled when Jesus came 2000 years ago and that the rest will be fulfilled when He comes again.

Some of the passages of concern are:

Permanent observance of Yom Kippur (Lev 16:29-34, 23:26-32)
Permanent observance of Sukkot (Lev 23:39-43)

Permanency of the Levitical priesthood after the arrival of the Branch (Jeremiah 33:14-22)

The permanency is in the Church which Jesus Messiah founded. Really, she is the one who has to explain the discrepancies within her own beliefs with regard to this issue.

Why, if these institutions were to go on uninterrupted, did they end in 70 AD until the present day? She has to account for that before trying to lay it at the doorstep of Catholicism.

 

[ryanoneil]

My Jewish friend believes that ALL of these promises will be fulfilled when the Messiah comes and temple worship is restored. She does not believe that some were fulfilled when Jesus came 2000 years ago and that the rest will be fulfilled when He comes again.

Some of the passages of concern are:

Permanent observance of Yom Kippur (Lev 16:29-34, 23:26-32)
Permanent observance of Sukkot (Lev 23:39-43)

Permanency of the Levitical priesthood after the arrival of the Branch (Jeremiah 33:14-22)

Keep reading in the book of Hebrews.

Yom Kippur gives greater prominence to that need of satisfaction and expiation which was present in all the ordinary sin-offerings. All these sacrifices for sin were figures of the great (everlasting) Sacrifice of Christ. In like manner these Jewish rites of atonement speak to us of the Cross of Christ, and of the propitiatory Sacrifice which is daily renewed in a bloodless manner on the Eucharistic Altar. The Jewish prayers used on the Day of Atonement foreshadow the common commemoration of the saints and the faithful departed in our liturgies.

Much of the Feast of Booths Sukkot, can be found in the liturgies of the Mass as well. In every Mass the word hosanna is said twice during the Sanctus at the end of the Preface. It is sung by the choir at high Mass. It is also repeatedly sung during the distribution of the palms, and the solemn procession on Palm Sunday. If your friend reads Matthew 21:1-17 she will see may parallels. Modern Jews have a procession of palm-branches, in the synagogue, every day during the Feast of Tabernacles, in September, while prayers called hosannas are recited.

I’m sure there are many more parallels that can be found. Keep looking.

Ryan