Better!
                                                                                            By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                            January 30, 2019
     "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body.
     And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it.  
     For this is My blood of the new testament [covenant], which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
     But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom,"  Matthew 26:26-29.   
Introduction
     In years past, I have asked individuals and entire church congregations, "What is the "key word" in the Book of Hebrews?"  Most of the time the ones being asked just looked at me with a puzzled look on their faces.  Obviously, most of them didn't have a clue about what I was asking.  
     To me it is sad that true believers, who seriously study God's Word, read right through the Book of Hebrews, and never notice the emphasis placed on the word, "better."  This tells me that they likely have also missed  the real emphasis in the whole Book of Hebrews.  
     Now let's see if the Lord God will bless me with the grace I need to clarify these statements for our readers......
Introducing Hebrews
     The Book of Hebrews in most Versions of our English Bible is simply entitled, "The Epistle to the Hebrews."  It is the one book in the whole Bible in which the writer is never identified in the text. I do have a version of the Bible in my personal library, which is titled, "The Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews." What those who published this version did was to take liberties with the Scriptures no where authorized in God's Word.  The name of the inspired writer of Hebrews is never stated in the book.  No where!   It is commonly believed by most Biblical historians and scholars, that Hebrews was written by the Apostle Paul, due to the mannerisms and expressions set forth in the book.    But even if Paul was the writer, he is never identified as such anywhere in the entire book, and I personally refuse to add his name to the epistle,  taking liberties with God's Word which the Scriptures do not authorize, Revelation 22:18-19. .  Plain enough?       
     If Paul was indeed the person whom the Lord inspired to write the Book of Hebrews, then he obviously did not want his name to appear as the writer of the book.  Why?  Because he had such a deep burden for his own people to receive Christ as their Messiah and Savior, Romans 9:1-3.  Yet Paul knew that he  was hated by the leaders of the Jewish people, and that they were railing against him, and they were  discouraging the people from listening to snything he had to say.  Therefore,   in order to get more of the Jewish people to read his epistle, he purposely did not identify himself as the writer of "The Epistle to the Hebrews."  Dear reader, do you have such an intense love for your loved ones, friends, and neighbors?  
     The enmity and hatred for true Bible believing Christians, that we see in the world today, is not new!  It is as old as the first century of Christianity.   
     Any reader who seriously studies the Book of Hebrews should be able to detect the great burden the inspired writer had for his Jewish people to receive Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior.  This truth stands out throughout this epistle.  The writer obviously had a fervent desire for his Jewish people to receive Jesus as their Savior during this present Dispensation of Grace.  If any reader has never realized this truth, or realized why,  then look for these truths as you study this wonderful epistle again.   
      I am well aware that Christian believers apply most of the teachings in the Book of Hebrews to believers in  the Lord's Churches.    But tell me, right at the beginning of this study, what is the title of this epistle?  Is
 this epistle addressed to one of the Lord's churches, as are several other New Testament epistles?  Romans, Corinthians, Galations, Ephesians, and Philippians, for example?  This epistle is clearly entitled, "The Epistle to the Hebrews.  Therefore, this epistle is glaringly addressed to the Hebrew people.  Then obviously, many or most of the truths set forth in this epistle,  first apply to the Hebrew people, rather than to the Lord's Gentile Church.  Some of the  principles and truths given to the Jewish people in this epistle,, also apply to the Lord's  Church and Gentile believers, but certainly not all of them.  
The Word "Better" in Hebrews
     If our readers will take their Concordance, and look up the Scriptures in the Book of Hebrews in which the word, "better" occurs, this is what they will find.......

     [1]    "Better Savior", Hebrews 1:4.  
     [2]     "Better life," Hebrews 6:9; 11:40; 12:24.  
     [3]    "Better blessings," Hebrews 7:7.
     [4]    "Better hope," Hebrews 7:19.
     [5}    "Better covenant," Hebrews 7:22; 8:6.
     [6]    "Better promises," Hebrews 8:6
     [7]    "Better sacrifices," Hebrews 9:23.
     [8]    "Better substance," Hebrews 10:34.
     [9]    "Better country,"  Hebrews 11:16.  
     [10]   "Better resurrection," Hebrews 11:35.
     
     I have listed each of the Scriptures in which the word, "better," is used.  The word itself occurs 13 times in the Book of Hebrews.  "13" is the number in the Bible signifying, "Sin and rebellion."  The Jewish people, having rejected and crucified Christ, were certainly in a state of sin and rebellion against God whom they "professed" to be following.    As this epistle was written to the Hebrew people, they were at that time,, and still are today, looking to the "Law of God" for their relationship with God and for their salvation and deliverance.  This, in spite of the inspred truth, "Therefore by the deeds of the Law, there shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the Law is the knowledge of sin," Romans 3:20.  
 Important Contrasts
     By the time our readers have looked up and studied these Scriptures, they should be able to understand that the inspired writer of Hebrews was contrasting two servants, two ways to live, two hopes, two covenants, two promises, two sacrifices, two substances, two countries,  and two resurrections.  
     Now I want to make the connection between all of these "betters" just as  clear as possible for our readers.......
The Abrahamic & Mosiac Covenants
     The Holy Bible, God's written Word, was God's way of speaking to mankind.  Therefore, beginning with Moses, God raised up prophets to write down His Word, just as stated in Hebrews 1:1.  This was necessary, because the inspired Word tells us very clearly, that when God offered to speak directly to His people at Mt. Sinai, they were so afraid of God that they made the choice to hear God's Word through their leader and prophet, Moses.  Read it for yourself in Exodus 20:18-19.   
     Since the children of Israel rejected hearing the voice of God Himself, the Lord God then made a Covenant with them through His prophet, Moses.  This Mosiac Covenant was actually a confirmation and extension of the Covenant He had already made with Abraham some 300 years previously, Genesis 15:18; 17:1-21.  The "sign" of that Covenant was "circumcision," which the Hebrew people have practiced ever since the time of Abraham, Genesis 17:23-27.  .  Therefore it is referred to in God's Word as both the Abrahamic Covenant, and also as the Mosiac Covenant of Law.  Either term is applicable, as the Mosiac Covenant is simply an extension of the Covenant God first made with Abraham.    
     In the course of giving this Covenant to the children of Israel,  Moses told His people that the Lord God would raise up from among them "a prophet like unto me," Deuteronomy 18:15.  The inspired Word very explicitly states that the Israelites were to "hearken" to that prophet "in all that I shall command Him,"  18:18-22.  This is why the Jewish women for many centuries hoped that they would be chosen to be the mother of the prophesied "Messiah."  .   
     Then began a series of prophets being raised up to Israel over the course of several hundred years.  However, the nation and people of Israel, as a people, never accepted any of them.  There was always a small "remnant" of the Israelite people who loved God and listened to His prophets, but God's Word is quite clear that the stiff--necked and rebellious people of Israel, never listened to and obeyed any of the prophets God sent to them, Jeremiah 2:30; 7:23-26; 25:4-7; 26:4-7.   
      This is one reason why the inspired writer of Hebrews was so burdened for his people, that they might receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior..  He knew that if they rejected this prophesied prophet,  [Deut 18:15] they would come under the severe judgment of God [the Tribulation Period], or be lost for ever.  So he wrote his epistle to show his unbelieving people how much "better"  everything would be for them under the New Covenant of Christ, than under the old Covenant of the Law.  
      Now let our readers see this truth for themselves.......
The New Covenant
     A "better" Savior.......Hebrews 1:4  Every true believer knows that the Lord Jesus Christ is a "better" Deliverer and Savior than Moses ever could be.
      Moses delivered the Israelite people out from under  bondage  in Egypt, but what they thought was "freedom" was only temporary.  Their own  rebellious "sin nature"  got them back into bondage and trouble again, and again, and again, and because of their unbelief they are still in trouble today.   
     But Christ Jesus has delivered every true believer from the bondage of sin and death eternally, and given us power over our old "sin nature until we leave this world by death, or are raptured to glory where we will receive our new bodies.   Hallelujah! What a Savior!    Glory to God!
     A "better" life, "better" blessings," and a "better" hope.......Hebrews 6:9; 7:7; 7:19.
     Every true believer who is truly living for the Lord, knows that the "Christian life" is "better" than the life the unbelieving lost world lives from day to day.  And as we love and live for the Lord, He fills our life with unexpected blessings, which make life in this present evil world so much "better."  And during those times when we feel overwhelmed by the wickedness and sin all about is in this world, the Lord graciously reminds us that we have a "better" hope for the future when our work on earth has been completed, Titus 2:11-15.  Praise the Lord!  
     A "better" covenant" with "better" promises.......Hebrews 7:22; 8:6.
     Every true believer knows that the New Covenant under which we who are New Covenant believers live, is much "better."  Read our text Scriptures used for this study again.  Under this New Covenant our sins have been remitted. They are gone!  Our sins no longer stand between us, and the mercies of God.   In other words, even though we may still slip up on occasion while living in this body of flesh,  and do things that are not pleasing to the Lord, those sins and failures are already covered by the precious blood of Jesus.  They will not separate us from God's love for us, Romans 8:1-4; 8:35-39.    Our sins and failures are gone in the eyes of God, cast into the sea of God's forgetfulness, never to be remembered against us  anymore. Hallelujah!    
      Israel and the Jewish people had no such assurance under the Mosiac Covenant.  Time after time, the Lord God rebuked them for their sin and wickedness, and brought upon them terrible judgments.  And for Israel as a nation and people, the worst judgments are yet to come.
     And oh yes!  The "better promises" set forth in the New Covenant.  
     The New Covenant promises all true believers that when we die, we will ascend up into Heaven itself.  Go ahead!  Search the entire Old Testament.  Where were the children of Israel ever promised to ascend into Heaven upon their decease?  Book, chapter, and verse, please?  
     The New Covenant promises all true believers that ".....if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," 2 Corinthians 5:1.  In other words, when our flesh and blood body dies, the Lord God already has a new spiritual body waiting on us in the heavens above.  Remember the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:44.  
     Now where were the people of Israel ever promised such a thing in their Mosiac Covenant?  
     Dear readers, I could write an entire book on the promises of God to those true believers living under the New Covenant.  I have neither the time nor the leadership of the Lord to do so.  It is just glaringly obvious that the New Covenant has "better promises" than any set forth in the Mosiac Covenant given to Israel.    
     A "better" sacrifice.......Hebrews 9:23
     Every true believer knows that the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary's old rugged cross was the most excellent sacrifice of all sacrifices ever offered to God, Isaiah 53.  There is no way that the sacrifices of sheep and goats could ever atone for sin, and give eternal life to those offering the sacrifice.  But the blood shed by the sacrifice of God's own Son could, and does! John 3:16; 3:36; 5:24.   Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  To God be thanksgiving and glory!  
     A "better" substance.......Hebrews 10:34
     Read this Scripture and the context in which it occurs.  The inspired writer is talking about our "possessions" during this present life.  These "possessions"  invaribly wear out,  are used up, stolen from us, or broken and become useless to us,  and we throw them away.  
     But when we arrive in Heaven, those "possessions" that we are given or have access to, will never deteriorate, nor be taken from us.  Our beautiful white robes will never need laundering, nor replaced.  Upon our heads will be golden crowns, which shall never tarnish or diminish in beauty in any way.  Read Revelation 4:4; 4:10-11; 5:5-6; 5:8-11; 5:14.  It is these "24 elders" which represent the raptured church and New Covenant believers.  Our means of transportation (if we need any) will not be some  noisy automobile, subject  to wearing out or braking down and having to be replaced.   There will be no concern over food.  Our cabinets (if we even have such) will never be empty.  The river of the water of life will never cease to run with living water, and the trees of life on each side of the river will never cease to produce delicious fruit.     Whatever home or "mansion" is assigned to us will be just as fine and lovely  after  a  thousand years of use, as it is the first day we enter into it.  And no enemy will ever cause us to flee, leaving all our "possessions" behind.     
      But Israel as a nation and people have had to flee from their lands and homes numerous times in their history, leaving everything they possessed behind, in order to save their lives.  Yes, in Heaven we believers will "have a better and an enduring substance," Hebrews 10:34.   
     A "better" country.......Hebrews 11:16.
     Every true believer surely knows that Heaven is a "better" country than any land in any nation on this earth.  In Heaven the land will never produce thorns and thistles, and we believers will never have to plow and plant the land to make it produce food for us.  
      The context in which this Scripture occurs, is speaking about the lands which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob sojourned in as they searched for a city in a "better" country than that which Abraham had come out of;  the city of Ur, in the land of the Chaldees.   
     Certainly the land of Heaven will be a "better" country, and "New Jerusalem" will be the finest and most beautiful city in all of God's creation.  And that land and that city, will be the eternal  "home" of every true New Covenant believer.   Glory to God!   
      A "better" resurrection.......Hebrews 11:35
     Here is a subject which is not fully understood by even many of God's people.  We know that Christ Jesus Himself clearly stated that there will be a "resurrection of life," and a "resurrection of damnation."  These resurrections DO NOT occur at the same time, but are separated by more than  a thousand years.  Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 with a careful study of Revelation 20.  
     But what about Old Covenant Israel?  Their resurrection as a nation and a people DOES NOT occur at the same time as that of New Covenant believers, nor of the spiritually "dead" as set forth in Revelation 20.  Then when does it occur?   I'm so glad you asked!   
     The resurrection of the Israelite or Jewish people takes place at or near the middle of the future Tribulation period, as recorded in Daniel 12:1-2.  
    Daniel 11:36-45 records the rise to power of "the king of the north," who will ultimately become the anti-christ.  In 11:45 he will set his palace "between the seas in the glorious holy mountain" in the land of Israel.  This is apparently the same time when he enters into the Jewish Temple and proclaims himself to be God, as recorded in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
     Without any break in the line of thought, the inspired Word in Daniel 12:1-2 then explicitly says,  "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.  
     And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."  
     So the very time when Old Covenant Israel is resurrected is specified in these inspired Scriptures, and it appears that it occurs at or near the middle of the future Tribulation Period.  This is likely because it is at or near the middle of the Tribulation when the anti-christ sets up "the abomination of desolation," and the Jews are forced to flee from their land to take refuge in the city of Petra in the ancient land of Edom.  They will be led into that city by King David, who apparently is also resurrected at this same time.    
     Now the inspired writer in Hebrews 11:35 says that all true New Covenant believers have a "better resurrection."  Why did he make this claim, and what did he mean?
      We know that when true believers living today are resurrected and raptured, each of us will receive a new "glorified body" made in fashion like the glorious body of the Lord Jesus Himself, Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1-2.  Our new body will be young and strong, imperishable and incorruptible.  We will never know sin nor sickness, nor pain and suffering, nor heartache and sorrow,  nor even old age, again in all of eternity to come.  Praise the Lord!  "Even so, come, Lord Jesus," Revelation 22:20.  
      But where under the Old Covenant were the Jewish people ever given such promises? Where were they ever promised a "glorified body" at their resurrection?  What the Old Covenant Scriptures promised the Jewish people was a return to their youth, Job 33:14-28.   The aging process will be made to cease for them, so that even in their old age they will still be able to bring forth children, Psalm  92:12-15.  
     The Old Covenant Jewish believers, at their resurrection,  will not receive "glorified" spiritual bodies, but rather will be restored to physical, natural life without a "sin nature."  In essence, restored to the sinless physical condition that  Adam possessed  BEFORE he disobeyed God.   
     The unscriptural theory that everyone, Jew and Gentile, receives a "glorified" body, and lives happily ever after in the Eternal Age, is simply not true, and it is not what the Scriptures teach at all.  Why does the inspired Word explicitly state that the Jewish people are to INHERIT the land of Israel as their "everlasting possession," if they are to be "caught up" and live forever in Heaven?   Read it for yourself in Exodus 32:13, and several other similar Scriptures  in the Old Testament.   
      Dear readers, all of the Jewish people who became true believers while living under the old Mosiac Covenant of the Law will be restored to flesh and blood physical life at the time of their resurrection.    They will be totally cleansed of the Adamic "sin nature," Joel 3:20-21.  
      These resurrected Old Testament Jewish believers will be restored to physical life with totally sinless and righteous bodies. Then they will continue to reproduce, as Psalm 92:12-15 clearly states.   This will  guarantee that God's Kingdom in the Eternal Age will be a kingdom of absolute righteousness.  Read Revelation 21 - 22 again, and this time pay careful attention to what is stated in every verse of  Scripture.
Why Such a Burden for His People?  
      The inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews was well aware of the distinctions between the Old Covenant for Israel, and the New Covenant for the Lord's Church and New Covenant believers.  Because he was aware, he fervently wanted his Jewish people to receive Christ as their Savior while mankind is living under the New Covenant.
     The inspired writer knew that Heaven is far "better" than earth; that having  a "glorified body" for all eternity will be "better" than having  a natural body, that living in New Jerusalem will be "better" than living in the earthly Jerusalem, and so on and on.  He had this great burden that his people might receive Christ under the blessings of the New Covenant, rather than continue to live under the Covenant of Law.  
     If I haven't already made it clear, both covenants are "everlasting covenants."  Again and again in the Old Testament, Israel was told that they were to observe certain laws and holy days "throughout your generations for ever."  Every reader knows that when you are obligated to do something at a certain time, in exactly a certain way, the obligation can become very burdensome.   New Covenant believers will not have this "burden of the Law" in their lives to observe throughout eternity.  
      This is why the inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews so much wanted his people to be saved during this present dispensation, and thereby become New Covenant believers.  
Law and Grace
     Dear readers, this present New Covenant dispensation is nearly over.  We are swiftly approaching the end of it.  Once the end of this dispensation has been reached, as will be indicated by the resurrection and rapture of all true believers saved in this present dispensation, then all of mankind left behind on the earth will come directly under the judgment of God set forth for disobedience to His Law.
      Have our readers ever thought of this?  Go back and carefully read the Books of Law written by Moses in the first five books of the Bible.  Notice carefully the penalties given for violating, breaking, ignoring, or simply refusing to keep God's Laws. Don't fail to notice the many places where the Word says that a Law applied, not only to the Jewish people, but also the "stranger" [foreigner; Gentile] "within thy house."    Then compare those penalties with the judgments of the future Tribulation Period described in Revelation, chapters six through 19.   
     Almighty God doesn't take kindly to disobeying His Laws, commandments, statutes, and judgments.  But because He is merciful and compassionate, and He loves mankind whom He created, He gave to mankind a period of GRACE, during which He sent His own Son into the world to become the sacrifice that would atone for all of mankind who has broken His Law.  During this period of GRACE, men and women, boys and girls, can simply confess and repent of their sins for having violated His laws, and they will  be saved.   The Tribulation Period is then a time when God is going to pass judgment upon all of mankind left behind on the earth who have violated His Laws.  
      Thank God for this present Dispensation of Grace!  
Conclusion
     Folks, the end of this present dispensation is coming real SOON.  The terrible seven year Tribulation is staring mankind in the face right now.  The only thing holding it back is the GRACE OF GOD!  
     The Lord God is just and altogether righteous.  He will not allow judgment to come on true believers a second time,  when they have already confessed and repented of their sins, receiving the shed blood of Christ as the supreme sacrifice which has for ever  paid the penalty for their sin.
     Therefore, Father God is sending His Son back to earth again, this time to resurrect and rapture His believing saints to glory, BEFORE He allows His judgments to be poured out upon the unbelieving, Christ rejecting lost world.  
     Therefore the reader has two choices!  Choose carefully!   
     [1]  By repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, every reader can be READY when the Lord comes to resurrect and rapture His people to glory, Acts 20:21.  
     [2]   The reader can reject Christ in unbelief, and be left behind on the earth when the resurrection and rapture occurs.  The terrible judgments of the Tribulation Period will then begin and the only escape from them will be DEATH.  
     May God add His blessings to this message!  
CHOOSE CAREFULLY!  
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     My personal contact information:
POSTAL........Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401
EMAIL..........francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE........573-202-6493
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