Jesus - Son, High Priest, King, Lord.

[Eleanor]

The Father`s Plans for Restoration – Jesus.
When God created the angels the most glorious angelic ruler (Lucifer) rebelled and was cast out. Then when God created man, in His foreknowledge He knew that man would sin and that the great estate, earth, would be overrun by the usurper, (Lucifer/Satan). This would result in sin, disease and death.
God the Father however had purposed -
`according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Christ..` (Eph. 1: 9 & 10)
This was a momentous purpose and involved all the Godhead – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All of God`s creation from the highest heaven to the earth needed restoration and was destined to come under the righteous rulership of the Son.

Is it about "rulership," or is it about "adoption" as sons of God, brothers of Jesus, and co-heirs in Jesus personal inheritance?
I don't find this "rulership" emhasized in the NT, what I find emhasized there is
the glory of the Son in the salvation of his bride the church,
who is his own body in the two-in-one enfleshment of the marital union, (Eph 5:30-32), i.e.,
the called-out assembly (ekklesia, Ac 7:38) going all the way back to Abraham (Ro 11:16-23),
whom he ransomed (Mt 20:28) with his own blood that he might have many brothers in glory (Ro 8:29).

The NT does not present rulership as the goal of God plan, rather it presents union with Christ in the family of his Father as the goal of the plan.
I see this "rulership" as a misplaced goal which diminishes the Father's real goal of his glory through the glory of his Son by ransoming from eternal destruction that which is presented both as the bride of Christ and the brethren of Christ, i.e., the church, the one olive tree, the one people of God going all the way back to Abraham (Ro 11:16-23). That is the goal which is the focus of the NT, restoration of the redeemed to
union with God in his Son, Christ Jesus, along with the restoration of all creation in the new heavens and earth, their home of righteousness (2 Pe 3:13).
The NT does not present a goal of "rulership," it presents a goal of union with God in his Son, Christ Jesus.

God established legal and moral requirements for this restoration, and we see this revealed to us throughout God`s word in the nation of Israel.

God's goal is not material and physical. It is spiritual.
It's not about Israel, which was just the prelude of the real event accomplished on the cross.
It's not about the restoration of Israel, it's about the restoration of his people and all creation from the fall of Adam.
It's about the one people of God in heavenly union with him in his family for all eternity.

 

[Marilyn C]

Jesus the High Priest.

The Tabernacle (& later Temple) were only temporary till the Great High Priest came who took His own blood into the sanctuary of heaven for forgiveness of the whole world. This is God`s own Son, Jesus.

God`s Son was divinely appointed a priest unto God.

`The LORD (Father) has sworn and will not relent, “You (Son) are a priest forever... ` (Ps. 110: 4)



The Priesthood of Jesus is far superior to the Aaronic priesthood.

Jesus` Priesthood was Unique. There were many High priests and priests under the Aaronic Priesthood, all subject to death, but there is only one Great High Priest who ever lives.

Jesus` Priesthood was Universal. While the Aaronic Priesthood was established for a nation, Israel, Jesus` Priesthood is for the whole world.



Jesus` Sacrifice gives Eternal Redemption.

The earthly sanctuary was symbolic of Jesus, His pure life and sacrifice.

`But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats or calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. ` (Heb. 9: 11 & 12)



When Jesus Christ was manifest on earth, He humbled Himself even to death on a cross. He was the highly exalted one on high, yet, He because of His great love, He came to be the substitutionary death on man`s behalf.

`Therefore in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in all things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ` (Heb. 2: 17)



What wonderful news that Jesus Christ`s priesthood ministers His tender mercy and faithfulness upon us who are so undeserved.

 

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[Marilyn C]

Jesus, the Heavenly High Priest for His Body.

`We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected and not man. ` (Heb. 8: 1 & 2)

The apostle John saw a vision of our heavenly High Priest. The details draw upon the imagery of the High Priest in the Temple in the Holy place with the golden lampstand. These represent the Body of Christ down through the ages.

`I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man clothed with a garment down to His feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ` (Rev. 1: 12 & 13)

The long garment is as the priest wore, symbolic of holiness, yet Jesus` very character is holy without spot. The golden girdle was worn by the High Priest to indicate his high office and authority, but Jesus, the eternal High Priest, ever lives to intercede. Giving eternal blessings.



`His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace. ` (Rev. 1 :14 & 15)

The whiteness of His head and hair symbolizes the maturity of His understanding and the perfection of His intellectual knowledge. The eyes are another essential factor for discernment if judgment is to be righteous. Jesus` vision penetrates every realm and sphere and scans the innermost thought of every mind and heart.

The symbolic picture of the feet, refer to the uprightness of all Jesus` dealings. He is perfectly just, never misjudges, miscalculates, or misunderstands any case in question. He rewards every worthy achievement and recognizes the sacrificial suffering of His people.



`His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword. ` (Rev. 1: 15 & 16)

We are shown Jesus` great authority. He speaks to many people on various subjects. He combines His sovereign commands and counsel with His heartfelt comfort as He delivers His messages.

The stars are symbols of His administrative authority and by His word, the sword of the Spirit, He executes judgment or of justification.



Finally, His countenance is like the sun, speaking of His unspeakable glory. (Rev. 1: 16)

 

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[Marilyn C]

Jesus, the Heavenly High Priest for Israel.


`Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. And He was given much incense, that He should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.` (Rev. 8: 3)

God`s Mediator is now revealed as the High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary for Israel. He is shown in angelic form before the golden altar. This indicates the ceremony of the Day of Atonement for Israel.


The High Priest would take the blood from the outside altar and bring it to the golden altar, mix it with incense and fire. Then he would take it into the Holy of Holies and sprinkle the blood and fire before the Ark of the Covenant.

This is a pictorial drama of what the Lord has already done and about to do. He has shed His blood as the sacrifice for the sins of the nation of Israel; He has offered His pure life as a fragrant offering, (incense); and now is about to cast the `blood and fire` to the ground in judgment upon the rebellious.

`And the angel took the incense, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thundering, lightnings, and an earthquake.` (Rev. 8: 5)


The time for the purification of Israel and judgment upon the Nations has come.

Note the blowing of the trumpets was a priestly activity and thus we see Christ the High Priest administrating this from the heavenly sanctuary. It was only when Christ as the angel threw the fire to the earth that the 7 angels prepared to sound.


It is through Christ, (His sacrifice) that God will forgive and atone for Israel`s rebellion. God made that covenant promise to Israel because they could not fulfil it themselves.

The timing of this is just before the end of the tribulation when the proclamation of the coming Kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord God and Christ. (Rev. 11: 15 - 19)

Finally, the nation of Israel will be cleansed and forgiven, the Day of Atonement fulfilled.

`In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and uncleanness.....I will say, “This is my people;” and each one will say, “The Lord is my God.” (Zech. 13: 1 & 9)

 

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Jesus the King and a Priest.

`The LORD (Father) has sworn and will not relent, “You (Jesus) are a priest after the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps. 110: 4)

The Father has made His Son not only a priest, (and a high priest) but also a king. Those two offices were never put together in Israel but were separate. However, Jesus is appointed king and priest after the order of Melchizedek.

`For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High,…` (Heb. 7: 1)



Melchizedek was a king and a priest who met Abraham after he brought back his brother Lot and his people from being captive of some kings. It was then that Melchizedek blessed Abraham.

`Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hands.` (Gen. 14: 19)

Melchizedek is portrayed as a type of Jesus as King and Priest.



There is a prophetic picture in the Old Testament of the Lord on His throne (king) and saying that he is also a priest.

`Behold, the man whose name is the Branch! From His place he shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the Lord; yes, he shall build the temple of the Lord.

He shall bear the glory, and sit and rule on His throne; so He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.` (Zech. 6: 12 & 13)



We see these two offices of Jesus portrayed symbolically as the lion and the lamb.

`Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, …..and in the midst of the elders a Lamb as if slain.` (Rev. 5: 5 & 6)

The Lion is a symbol of Kingship while the Lamb is of sacrifice, a priest`s offering. Jesus is both. Not only is He a ruler, a king, but He has revealed His heart, His character, as the one who gave His all for mankind.



Only Jesus is worthy to hold these two great offices – King and Priest.

 

[Marilyn C]

 

[Marilyn C]

Jesus, King on Mount Zion.


The Father said, “I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.” (Ps. 2: 6)

Jesus is appointed king by His Father and set on the highest ruling position – Mount Zion. This is in the third heaven where the angels are.

`You have come to Mount Zion…to God….innumerable angels….to Jesus…` (Heb. 12: 22 & 23)

Mount Zion on earth was part of Jerusalem and where King David ruled from. And then there was the city part further down.

`Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful for elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.` (Ps. 48: 1 & 2)



When Jesus was on earth, He told Pilate that His rulership was not of this earth, meaning that no one on earth appointed Him.

`Jesus answered, “My kingdom (rule) is not of this world. If my kingdom (rule) were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom (rule) is not from here.” (John 18: 36)



The throne of Jesus is set by the Father in the highest realm – Mount Zion.

`Behold, a throne set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a Jasper and a Sardius stone in appearance.` (Rev. 4: 2 & 3)



The Jasper gem stone was the last on the High Priest`s breastplate. It stood for the tribe of Naphtali whose name means to prevail, to conquer –

`I have prevailed.` (Gen. 30: 8) Prevail – to gain the victory, to conquer.


Christ was the last Adam and He prevailed over the world, the flesh and the devil. He has secured the supreme victory over the greatest foe.


The Sardius gem stone was the first on the High Priest`s breastplate. It stood for the tribe of Judah. The prophetic word reveals that He would be the ruler (king) over the other tribes. (Gen. 49: 8 - 12) The Hebrew `yadah,` (Judah) means to use the hand, indicating power and dominion.


Thus, we see the Son on the Throne as King and High Priest, the conqueror.

 

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[Marilyn C]

Jesus, King during the Tribulation.



`The Lord (Father) shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies!` (Ps. 110: 2)

The Father tells His Son to begin ruling in the midst of His enemies. So, who are His enemies?

`Why do the nations rage, and the people`s plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, “Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.` (Ps. 2: 1 – 3)

The Gentile Rulership will come to a head exhibiting great lawlessness, against God. Jesus in His Kingship office brings judgment upon the rebellious. Great calamities strike the earth bringing famine, disease, heat, and thirst.

There will be those who do not repent.

`But the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk, and they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. ` (Rev. 9: 20 & 21)



However, God`s great hand of mercy is still stretched out and many will turn to Him.

`After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,…

These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ` (Rev. 7: 9 & 14)



Jesus the King overcomes the Gentile beastly rule, and their armies around Jerusalem.

`And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall dissolve while they are on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets.` (Zech. 14: 12)

The kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of the Lord and His Christ.

`Then the seventh angel sounded: and there were loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever! ` (Rev. 11: 15)

 

[Marilyn C]

 

[Marilyn C]

Jesus, King during the Millennium.



The LORD (Father) said to me, (Son), “I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to me,

“You are my Son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; …` (Ps. 2: 6 – 9)

When the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of Jesus the King, He will rule them with a rod of iron. This means immediate consequences for disobedience.

`And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, on them there will be no rain. ` (Zech. 14: 16 & 17)



Jesus the King is over all in the highest realm, and on earth He will rule through a king named David and priests.

`They shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. ` (Jer. 30: 9)

`I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see my glory…..Then they will bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD…`

And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites. ` (Isa. 66: 18, 20 & 21)



Many nations will go up to Jerusalem to learn the ways of the Lord. They will not learn war anymore.

`Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD`S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it.

Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us of His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.”…

`nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.` (Micah 4: 1 – 3)

 

[Marilyn C]

 

[Marilyn C]

Jesus, King in Eternity.



This is a picture of the fiery, glorious throne of Jesus the King overall.

`I (Daniel) watched till thrones were put in place. And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued from before Him, a thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.` (Dan. 7: 9 & 10)

In eternity Jesus` rulership as King is overall God`s great Kingdom. Each realm will have kings that rule under Jesus.

`He who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.` (Rev. 3: 21)

`Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in while robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads.` (Rev. 4: 4)

These twenty-four elders represent the whole Body of Christ who will rule and reign with Christ in the third heaven overall.



In the lower heavens the city, the New Jerusalem will also have rulers. They are the twelve Apostles who have been promised to sit on thrones.

`when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve throne, judging the tribes of Israel.` (Matt. 19: 28)

`Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ` (Rev. 21: 14)



Then on earth Israel has been promised that they would rule the nations of the world. And we see that the nations will walk in the light of the new Jerusalem.

God told King David through the Prophet, “Your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.` (2 Sam. 7: 16)

`And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into it. `(Rev. 21: 24)

 

[Marilyn C]

 

[Marilyn C]

Jesus the Lord.



Lord – This office is held by one who has the right to administer in some sphere or capacity. It could be national, social, or spiritual.

It is also the executive part of the government, carrying the laws into effect. It is the exercise of power and can be signing and sealing of laws.

Thus, the Lordship of Jesus is not just a name but a title carrying authority and power.

`He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. ` (1 Tim. 6: 15)

The Lord`s superlative office, Lord of lords, entitles Him to supreme administrative power over all other authorities.

`Jesus Christ – He is Lord of all.` (Acts 10: 36)

Jesus is Lord in every sphere of rule, every realm of power, in every dominion, every empire, every kingdom, every government and in every administration.



The Lord made some massive claims during His earthly ministration and declared He had power –

• over all flesh, (John 17: 2)
• over all the powers of the enemy, (Luke 10: 19),
• and over all that are in the graves (John 5: 25).

He is Lord of the Living and the dead (Rom. 14: 8 & 9) and has power to raise the dead. (Rev. 20: 12 & 13) He outlives all other administrations and all other authorities. Jesus is -

Lord of glory. (1 Cor. 2: 8)

Lord of creation. (Heb. 1: 10)

Lord of all racially. (Acts 10: 36)

Lord of the Harvest. (Matt. 9: 38)

Lord of resurrection power. (John 11: 25)

Lord of heaven and earth. (Acts 17: 24)

The Lord Jesus is always mindful of details in dispensing both justice and mercy.

Whenever we dwell on the capabilities of the Lord Jesus, His foresight, His great insight, and oversight over all assure our mind that He is truly Lord of Lords.