Bible Study Priests in the Kingdom

[Jesse]

This study will focus on the shadow of the priesthood of Aaron the high priest and the tribe of Levi. The Levites were a chosen, separated people and I see they as being a type for believer’s today. We are called to also be a priesthood, set apart for the Lord’s service, just as they were. Their service was in the Tabernacle, our service is in the Lord. Someone said sometime and somewhere that the Levites would say "To live for me is the Tabernacle", but to the Christian it would be "To live for me is Christ" - that really sunk it in for me.

From this scripture, we can see we are called into a holy and royal priesthood, in service to Jesus Christ our Lord, we, a chosen generation, holy nation and a peculiar people.

1 Peter 2:5-9 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;


We know that much of what happened in the OT was a shadow to come:

Col 2:17 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--17things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

It was a glance of what was to come and what is to come.

 

[Jesse]

Our whole purpose on earth is to “come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” Eph 4:13. Taking a look at the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ we can see what our future holds as the Kingdom Priests.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: forthe fine linen is the righteousness of saints.Revelation 19:7-8

The attire we wear is righteousness, shown here as fine clean and white linen, there is a purpose here and it takes us back to the shadow, at the Levites in the Temple.

And it shall come to pass, [that] when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.Ezekiel 44:17

The reason to look back at the priests in the temple is to gain a better understanding and insight. The Levites and all they do is a shadow of the reality. In the Revelation we see the real thing and now we have a greater understanding. It shows the ones who are ministering are clothed in righteousness, as linen, but in the shadow we see detail in the actual function.

In the Temple, we read where the priests could not enter unless they first put on the clothing prescribed by God. The entry of the priests into the inner court was a shadow of our coming into the presence of God to do ministering and service. The teaching then is for us here now as well into the future. We will not be allowed entrance without the pure white, spotless linen of righteousness, only these will enter. Only those who have been washed in the blood of Christ are found righteous, for that righteousness come only through His blood.

What the priests did then is only a copy and shadow, this was all done according to a pattern

Then David gave to Solomon his son thepatternof the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, Andthe pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites,and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.1 Chronicles 28:10-13

More to come......

 

[Jesse]

In the following verses, we can see there were 24 elders and this follows the pattern of the shadow, there were 24 courses of priests, each one representing the whole of that which they belong. The 24 elders in the Revelation all sang, we are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, from every tongue, every people and every nation. We have been made Priests and Kings, we will reign with Christ on earth.

These elders represent us, we are the ones who have been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, we are from every tribe, nation and people, who have been made priests and kings and will rule with him. We all come together in one accord and this song that we sing causes God’s glory to fill the temple! Amen!

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Rev 5:8-10

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.Rev 15:8


The shadow

Chronicles 5:11-14 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course:Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets: It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking theLord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised theLord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;

14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of theLordhad filled the house of God.

 

[jasonc]

good! at least we get to look at revelation other then eschatology, but as a form of worship and ministry. once again the torah is inside that last book.

 

[Jesse]

good! at least we get to look at revelation other then eschatology, but as a form of worship and ministry. once again the torah is inside that last book.

Yes, that is true jason, we can look at that book in a different way. Our positions, as you have pointed out, will be some worship and some ministry. If we are eternal beings, called Priests in the Kingdom, then what will we be doing, what will it be like?

Those were the questions that prompted this study.

 

[reba]

What will it be like? or what is it like

 

[jasonc]

Yes, that is true jason, we can look at that book in a different way. Our positions, as you have pointed out, will be some worship and some ministry. If we are eternal beings, called Priests in the Kingdom, then what will we be doing, what will it be like?

Those were the questions that prompted this study.

I have discussed this topic indirectly with stovebolts.
torah according to the jews will be relearned in heaven. while we aren't in that manner doing torah, we do have the gists of the torah that we must do and live. so when we get to heaven will we be seeing God as he is and serving him as we weren't meant to.and of course on the earth forever.

 

[Jesse]

What will it be like? or what is it like

Haha

Well, I can tell you it IS awesome and it will be awesome.

Hey, so the Kingdom is here, it is in us and all around us and it IS coming!

 

[Jesse]

I have discussed this topic indirectly with stovebolts.
torah according to the jews will be relearned in heaven. while we aren't in that manner doing torah, we do have the gists of the torah that we must do and live. so when we get to heaven will we be seeing God as he is and serving him as we weren't meant to.and of course on the earth forever.

I have heard this before, learning the Torah. I do know there will be Feasts.

 

[jasonc]

I have heard this before, learning the Torah. I do know there will be Feasts.

not sure in the final state of creation.i prefer not to digress on if there are literal wedding feasts.

 

[Jesse]

not sure in the final state of creation.i prefer not to digress on if there are literal wedding feasts.

That is a huge topic, and one I would really like to look into and study some more, but yes, it is beyond this study. This one I did, is just a small one, only touching the surface. A little bit at a time.

 

[eddif]

I suppose we can kind of find out about the OT priesthood from the NT.

Hebrews 5:1
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

Our high priest in heaven (Jesus) is / was without personal sins, but evidently on earth there is still sin in man (even out priestly role).

We study to divide scripture into piles (similar area information).
Romans 7:25
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Two piles:
Pile one - flesh
Pile two - mind

The piles do not destroy each other, (Although there is conflict to be resolved in Christ).

Aaron did involve himself with the golden calf, but later interceded for the people of God.

This all strains redneck minds.

eddif

 

[Jesse]

I suppose we can kind of find out about the OT priesthood from the NT.

Hebrews 5:1
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

Our high priest in heaven (Jesus) is / was without personal sins, but evidently on earth there is still sin in man (even out priestly role).

We study to divide scripture into piles (similar area information).
Romans 7:25
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Two piles:
Pile one - flesh
Pile two - mind

The piles do not destroy each other, (Although there is conflict to be resolved in Christ).

Aaron did involve himself with the golden calf, but later interceded for the people of God.

This all strains redneck minds.

eddif

He eddif,
Thanks for your post.

Yes, I agree, we know the law has not been done away with, it has only been fulfilled by Christ in us so that we are able to have it written on our hearts.

Maybe the conflict lies in that one is deteriorating and the other one is being renewed in order to control the other one. We are able to have the very mind of Christ and our goal in this life is:

Ephesians 4:12-13 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.…

In this, the more we renew our minds, have the mind of Christ, the more we look like Christ and less we allow our flesh to control us. We have good works prepared for us as we participate with the Lord in building the Kingdom of God, as priests with Jesus as our High Priest! What an awesome privilege!

 

[reba]

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

At the time this was written ALL Scripture they had was the First Testament + ..
( jasonc doesn't like the term Old Testament )

 

[th1b.taylor]

This is not a debate forum... reba

 

[Jesse]

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

At the time this was written ALL Scripture they had was the First Testament + ..
( jasonc doesn't like the term Old Testament )

I so agree with this reba! The First Testament (there you go jasonc :wink) shows us much about God's character and how he deals with people, where else can we find such an amazing testimony of God's people for centuries! There is so much wisdom in the OT that we can glean, insight and understanding that the Holy Spirit teaches us through the history of the Hebrews. It's not a complete picture without it.

Jesus refers to it constantly, I love how He is really hidden in the OT, but now that He has been revealed, we see Him more clearly in the OT. When we read the OT and see how He fulfilled prophecy, it is an amazing witness to the glory of God.

Through the entirety of the Bible we are able to depict a more accurate view of God and His Ways and in the center of it all is Christ and He crucified and resurrected - in all of that, we are able to have life and life more abundantly in Christ! Amen!

 

[jasonc]

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

At the time this was written ALL Scripture they had was the First Testament + ..
( jasonc doesn't like the term Old Testament )

one could say chadosh and brit chadosh. covenant and the new covenant

 

[reba]

look you dont get carried away

 

[jasonc]

look you dont get carried away

the word I tend to use the Tanach, the T is for torah and the other parts are for the writings, prophets,poetry?

 

[JohnD]

Exodus 19:6 (KJV)
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

God never realized this prophecy in the nation Israel. Since Exodus 32 only the Levites were priests.

Unless...

you realize the Church is Spirit Israel and the prophecy was aimed at it... then the priesthood of the believer (which the OP here was all about) is the fulfillment

Only...

we in the Church have been bamboozled into the traditions of men that falsely divide the Church into clergy / laity.

Meaning...

until we get back to our personal ministry, God still has not realized this prophecy.....