PATRIARCHAL PERIOD
Patiarchal period refers to the era in the Hebrew Bible characterized by the stories of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as detailed in Genesis 12-50. The period, between 2000 and 1500 B.C, which marked a time of God’s covenant with these male figures and their families. The period is often characterized by family religion, where the head of the family acted as the priest.
THE LORD’S COVENANT TO ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
The lord promised Abraham that he would have numerous descendants. He promised that all of them would be entitled to receive the gospel, the blessings of the priesthood and all of the ordinances of exaltation. These descendants through the power of the priesthood, would carry the gospel to all nations. Through them, all the families of the earth would be blessed(Genesis 12:1-3). God further promised that if they were righteous He would establish His covenant with all generations of Abraham’s children (Genesis 17:4-8).
We are the covenant people according to the above response. “As many as received this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be counted thy seed(lineage) and shall rise up and bless thee as their father.” When we are baptized into the church, we enter into the covenant the Lord made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Galatians 3:26-29).
The fullness of the gospel is called the new and everlasting covenant, which includes the covenant made at baptism, during Holy Communion,and at any other time (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 37-26).