THE VEIL

By Lahry Sibley

2 Cor 3:13 Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face
so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing
[splendor which had been upon it].

Up to this point in chapter 3 of 2nd Corinthians, Paul is speaking of the

comparison of the laws concerning the sacrificial laws of the temple verses
what our Lord has accomplished on the Cross. The sacrificial system was
destined to be temporary. Remember, it was not written in stone, and
placed in the Ark (permanent). It was written in the book and placed on a
table outside the Ark in the Holy of Holies(temporary).

But what I think is important is that you and I see Paul drawing attention to
the “veil”. A veil hides. Now we know that the veil in the temple was rent in
two when Jesus was crucified. But there is another veil, a veil of blindness,
and we’ve all experienced and continue to experience when we study the
Word of God. We “suddenly” see things we never saw before. The blindness
is stripped off a text, a doctrine, what have you, and we see more of God
than ever before. It is Spirit led revelation.

14 In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had
become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this
present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being
read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to
reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away.

The revelation of the Bible, in both the old and new covenants, is Yah’shua,
the Messiah. He alone is the celebration of all this “IS”. He came and did
what we could not possibly do by our own obedience and righteousness, and
redeemed us from the curse of Adam and restored fellowship between the
Father and ourselves. Glory to God.!!!

But as a nation, Israel did not recognize Him, their Messiah. They rejected
Him then, and this “blindness” continues until this day. But who blinded
them? Why is that they did not and cannot recognize Yah’shua as Messiah?
Probably 99% of modern American “so called” Christianity will tell you that
satan blinded them, solely on the perceived strength of the truth found in 2
Cor 4:4. Let’s fast forward just a bit and look at it.

2 Cor 4:4 For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers'
minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them
from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ
(the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.

“For the god of this world”……please note the small “g” signifying a supposed
deity other than Elohim. First of all, the greek word “theos”, god, in the
original text (if there is such a thing in greek, for there are so many
manuscripts) the word “theos” in this verse begins with a capital “T”, which
would indicate genuine deity, i.e., Elohim. So which is it? Who has blinded
the children of Israel, veiled their “sight” and keeps them from recognizing
the Messiah? Is it “satan” as most proclaim, or is it Elohim.

Now we know the Bible teaches, that out of the mouth of two or three
witnesses let every word be established. We don’t invent doctrines from one
scripture verse. There must be other collaborating texts found elsewhere in
the Bible to support a verse that seems to stand alone. Otherwise, we must
shelve the verse as informative but inconclusive.

Friends, there is not a single verse in all of scripture that tells us that satan
ever “blinded” anyone. Not one. Not even this verse in 2 Cor 4:4. None. Yet
this verse is quoted over and over again, and it’s meaning completely
changed when a preacher/teacher wants to attribute someone’s spiritual
misfortune to the work of satan.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath
sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

That’s what the Master says. Those who come to truth and light of Messiah,
are drawn to it by the Father Himself, NOT satan! But wait, there’s more.
Lets return to chapter 3….

14In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused [they had
become dull and had lost the power of understanding]; for until this
present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being
read, that same veil still lies [on their hearts], not being lifted [to
reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away.
Even though the sacrificial system has been destroyed for 2,000 years,
Israel as a nation cannot recognize that Yah’shua put a stop to it and that
their temple was torn completely down, just as He prophecied it would be.
For the very one who rent the veil in two, put an obvious end to it, and yet
they cannot see it. But who blinded them? Read on please.

2 Cor 3:15 Yes, down to this [very] day whenever Moses is read, a
veil lies upon their minds and hearts. 16But whenever a person
turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken
away.
Now we know from what Jesus said, no one can strip away the veil and lead
someone to repentance (the Cross) unless they are drawn to it by the
Father, and the veil is stripped away. They recognize the wretchedness of
their sin, their need of a Savior, and that Yah’shua Himself is in fact, the
Savior, Who becomes Lord of their life.
But who blinded Israel?

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he
seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were
blinded
Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit
of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should
not hear;) unto this day.

There it is, plain as day. Paul here is referencing not 2 Cor 4:4, but Isaiah…

Isa 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep
sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the
seers hath he covered.

How many witnesses is that? Two? Now remember, there is NO Bible

reference of satan ever blinding anyone. And above we have the scripture of
2 Cor 4:4, Romans 11:7,8, and Isaiah 29:10. How many witnesses is that? 3
witnesses!

“So what are you trying to say, Bro. Lahry”? Good question. I believe the
Bible clearly shows and all should understand that only Elohim is the “God”
of this world and all worlds past present and future. But what really bothers
me about all of this, is that the Apostle Paul uses up a lot of text in 2 Cor 3
and 4, plus what he had to say in Romans to emphasize that Israel was
indeed blind to their Messiah, veiled then and now. He further collaborates
the truth of Isaiah 29:10. And yet preachers will stand in the pulpit and
parrot what they have been told, that “satan is the god of this world”.

Now, I want you to think about just how serious this is. They are taking the
work of God, plain and simple, and attributing this to SATAN! I ask you, “is
this blasphemy or what”? When I hear a preacher proclaim that “satan is the
god of this world”, I just cringe inside. I want to run out of that place. They
have been lied too, and they continue to perpetuate the lie. They most likely
learned the lie in seminary or Bible college. And instead of searching the
scriptures to see if these things be so, they just keep repeating what they
were taught by man instead of proclaiming the true Word of God taught by
the Holy Spirit. It is to me, horrifying.

When confronted about it, you’d think you wanted to melt down their sacred
cow. I’ve even confronted nationally known ministers on the radio about it,
live. They just will not hear to it. They themselves are blind. And we know
what happens when the “blind lead the blind”. God’s power cannot rest in or
upon men and women who will blaspheme His name, beloved.

So, as we are going through this book of 2 Corinthians and seeing what Paul
has to say about his own people and culture, let not you and I be deceived
and certainly not attribute the work of God to “satan”. Oh my, it so upsets
my spirit. Wow.

2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).
18And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to
behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are
constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever
increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for
this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Glory to God. We have rested from works of sacrifice for sins, because Christ
bore the wrath of God for our sins in His sacrifice, once and for all time.
Messiah is the rest from sacrifices for sins, the whole temple system. God no
longer dwells in temples made by hand, remember? Glory to God.

We are liberated from the just punishment, and the power of sin. We are
being changed through the newness of life in the resurrection power of our
Lord and satan, hell, nor high water are going to stop it. Halleluyah! Satan
has not, can not, will not and could not ever keep you from seeing the truth
and the light because it is an act of love and kindness from the God of this
world and all worlds past, present and future, Elohim, Yahweh!!! Somebody
ought to shout!!!! - Lahry