Just wondering what it was that Jesus brought to humanity that was not already brought by Moses Himself?
What is the Catholic (and non-Catholic if anyone wishes to contribute) position on this?
Thanks and G-d bless!
Grace, truth, salvation and life.
Moses received the ultimatum, that by this very law, you and all the children of Israel have been sentenced to death. Moses died and so did all other before and after him.
So who did they wait for to resurrect them from their graves in fulfilment of:
Ezekiel 37:11-14
The Vision Explained
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
So Prophet Daniel like others was told the following:
Daniel 12:13
“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”
Daniel’s resting place along with the whole house of Israel the 144,000 mentioned in John’s revelation were in Abraham’s Bosom (paradise), where the thief went to.
Yet after the risen Christ opened the fifth seal, as mentioned in John’s revelation chapter 7 of those Old Covenant Saints that were crying under the altar (Revelation 6:9) were resurrected and given white angelic garments as Ezekiel 37:11-14 prophesy fulfilled, as declared in:
Matthew 27:52-53
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
So we see those that slept in Abraham’s Bosom are those that were resurrected by the opening of the fifth seal after Christ’s resurrection, who was the forerunner to the resurrection of the dead, that all the Old Testament Saints were hoping and waiting for. The resurrection of the dead was initiated by Christ, when he being the forerunner, fulfilled the prophesy of Ezekiel 37:11-14, by raising up the house of Israel (144,000), who were the first fruits to the resurrection of the dead.
We see the Apostle Peter also declare this event, where these first fruits were taken into the heavenly New Jerusalem with The Lord to begin the eternal millennium reign and hereby declare this first group as the first ones to be redeemed from amongst men.
Revelation 14:4
These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.
In Revelation of John these symbolic 144,000 from every tribe of the children of Israel, were the first to enter the measured inner court of Christ, meaning they were counted within Christ’s numbers of redeemed. The outer unmeasured court became the unbelieving gentile world at large, where the three angel message to preach the gospel was given to the New Testament first century church to prophesy this gospel until the time, time and half a time is up.
Ephesians 4:8
This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
So in answering your question, you see that Christ’s first advent initiated the resurrection of the dead and fulfilled the promise given to the Old Covenant Saints by bringing them into his heavenly Kingdom as the measured inner courtroom of God. The 12 Old covenant elders from Abraham down to Daniel sat on the right side of Christ as the kingly jury and the 12 resurrected Disciples sat on the left hand of Christ. These became the fulfilment of the shadow that was played out during the 24 earthly judges as the prelude to the eternal event that would happen when 24 heavenly judges would sit with Christ, and thereby Christ became the King of these heavenly kings within his heavenly Kingdom that was established when he ascended up.
So as far as the New Testament believers are concerned, salvation came first to the Jews after their physical exodus when walking with Moses for 40 years. Today as New covenant believers we are on our spiritual exodus to the heavenly Holy city to meet the King of the North Christ Jesus in what is almost a 2000 years migration process from this life to the eternal life to be present with the temple, who is Christ.
The Holy Spirit guides us through our spiritual exodus unto death, then unto resurrection by the Spirit that raised Christ (Romans 8:11).
Like I would go to church BUT the times don’t work.
