Priests

SLAVES OF HIS KINGDOM

/ David R Maas / Leave a comment

To be a citizen of the kingdom of God requires a life of self-sacrificial service for others, not power over them.

According to the New Testament, collectively, Christians are a “kingdom of priests.” As citizens of this realm, they rule with Jesus both now and in the “age to come.” But such a high calling raises the obvious question:  How does each believer participate in his present reign? Fortunately, both Jesus and Paul provided straightforward explanations for how the disciple implements his sovereignty.

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REIGNING WITH JESUS

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Disciples reign with Jesus as “priests” who render service in his Tabernacle by mediating his light in the world.

In Revelation, the present sovereignty of Jesus is based on his past death and resurrection, and because of his sacrificial death, his disciples now reign with him. But like him, their elevation to rule over the earth is paradoxical – it is characterized by self-sacrificial service, for the outpouring of his lifeblood has consecrated them as “priests” for God.

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PRIESTLY KINGDOM

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Disciples reign with Jesus by fulfilling their role as “priestly kings” who mediate His light to the world.

At Mount Sinai, Yahweh summoned Israel to become a “kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” If she kept His covenant, the nation would become “my own possession… for all the earth is mine.” God never intended for His people to be a community isolated from the rest of humanity. Instead, Israel was to reflect His light in a world darkened by sin.

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REIGN OF THE SAINTS

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Overcoming saints reign as a “kingdom of Priests” during the “thousand years,” having overcome the “beast” – Revelation 20:4-6.

During the “thousand years,” Satan is imprisoned, and the victorious saints begin to reign. Ironically, the “rest of the dead” do not live until the “second death” at the “Great White Throne of Judgment.” Behind the image of the saints’ reign is Daniel’s vision of “one like a Son of Man” who received the “kingdom” from the “Ancient of Days.”

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PRIESTLY COMPANY ON ZION

/ David R Maas / 5 Comments

The 144,000 “males” on Mount Zion comprise the “first-fruit” of the final harvest, the priestly company that “follows the Lamb” – Revelation 14:1-5.

Previously, John saw the 144,000 “males” from the tribes of Israel encamped in the wilderness. Now, they appear together on “Mount Zion,” a priestly company and the “first fruits” of the greater harvest to come. They stand with the “Lamb” in contrast to the “inhabitants of the earth,” who bowed and rendered homage to the “beast.”

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