Source: Google Images
OT = Old Testament (Covenant): "For I [am] the LORD, I change not ..." {Malachi 3:6 KJV}
NT = New Testament (Covenant): "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." {Hebrews 13:8 KJV}
Our bible today is compiled of scrolls (books) written long before we came into the world. The scrolls were written by men who were inspired or instructed to write by the Lord &/or moved by the Holy Spirit:
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost." {2 Peter 1:21 KJV} MORE ... https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/search.cfm?Criteria=write%2A+book%2A&t=KJV#s=s_primary_0_1
People in the land of Israel believed in the God of the OT, Who was revealed in the flesh in the man we call Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew). John the Baptist (aka: the Immerser; as we call him today in modern English) testified and was witness to God becoming a man and dwelling with His people Israel, who rejected Him. John testified, verbally and in writing, of God coming in the person of Jesus.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." ... after affirming himself as a witness to God in the flesh (Jesus), John continues ... "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him]." {John 1:1-5, 10-18 KJV, see also John 1:6-9 KJV}.
The NT didn't exist in the days of Jesus, nor the apostles and early disciples who later ended up writing as they too were instructed of the Spirit. Even to this day we believers are writing parts of the New Testament that will likely be read by many during the -soon coming- millennial reign of Jesus.
Jesus said that the OT testifies of Him, He was talking to the religious establishment of His day when He said (and this still applies to many false religions today) ...
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." -Jesus {John 5:39 KJV}
The *Bereans* didn't search the NT, they searched the OT, that's all they had at the time!
"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few." {Acts 17:10-12 KJV}
When the Lord returns to rule & reign on this earth for 1,000 years, He will do so with a ROD OF IRON, meaning, this earth's inhabitants will be living under the OT rules, based on the 10 commandments. He will not re-instate the 613 "Mosaic Laws" but will simply and fully enforce the 10 commandments. This is why by the end of the 1,000 years, when satan is let loose for a short time, the nations will once again gather to war against Him. The ROD OF IRON is also called a "sharp sword", which is the verbal and written -word of God- that comes out of Jesus' mouth as documented in the OT, and confirmed in the NT.
"And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." {Revelation 19:15 KJV}
He will wipe out all the evil-doers of all nations before renewing this world and those that are His of all ages will step into eternity with God Who will be coming to the new earth to live with His people. Watch for it, it is coming sooner than you think.
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God." {Revelation 21:3 KJV}
The NT is the New Covenant, and it does NOT replace the OT, which is the Old Covenant. It's a witness to it, a confirmation that what has been written down from ancient times is as true today as it has ever been. The NT is a second witness and verifies the OT.
BOTH the Old Testament AND the New Testament are witnesses, be sure you understand that.
"But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." {Matthew 18:16 KJV}
I'm with Joshua ... "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." {Joshua 24:15 KJV}
No folks, the Lord did NOT do away with the OT in favor of the NT. BOTH testify of Him in their own ways and indeed they cross-testify back and forth between them. We can't fully understand the NT without first reading and understanding the OT. BOTH are equally valuable.
I testify that Jesus (Yeshua) IS the Son of God come into the earth as One of His own creation, that being the person of Jesus of Nazareth. I am washed by His precious shed blood that paid for my sins in full. Maranatha to the -soon coming- King.
"Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed [are] those who have not seen and [yet] have believed."" {John 20:29 NKJV}
Here are some of my previous articles to help clarify why we need BOTH testaments ...
http://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2016/07/071716-passionate-for-one-that-saves.html
http://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2016/02/021916-god-in-writing.html
http://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2016/01/010816-did-jesus-abolish-commandments.html
http://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2015/11/112715-word-made-flesh.html
http://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2015/11/110815-to-jewsisraelis.html
Thanks for reading ;o}
{Curly bracket comments within scripture (if any) are mine. Red letter text is quoting Jesus/Yeshua. This article is Firefox's Reader View friendly.}
