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Does the Body of Christ rule on earth in the millennium?


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Guest shiloh357
8 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Jesus` office of Great High Priest is emphasised at the present as He builds and matures the Body of Christ. However His priesthood does not stop or finish there, as you think Shiloh, for it continues on into eternity,

`Jesus...because He continues for ever, has an unchangeable priesthood.` (Heb. 7: 24)

The Greek word `aion`  means an age, perpetuity, (endless duration) eternal.

And the phrase `continues for ever,` reveals that the age, the perpetuity, continues on.

 

No, in v. 24 the use of the phrase, eis ton aiona refers to Jesus living forever.   It does not say that Jesus will be our Great High Priest on into the dateless eternal future.  The author of Hebrews is simply pointing out that since Jesus is not going to die, He is ministering in an unchanging priesthood.    So you are applying aiona  to the wrong thing.   Heb. 7:24 is applying it to Jesus, not His ministry as Great High Priest.

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Christ`s priestly activities do not finish as you said, for you are limiting Christ`s great priestly activities to just the Church. Christ`s priesthood is a universal calling because Melchizedek, the type of Christ`s priesthood, was a high priest to the world. Before there were any priests in Israel, he was a priest of the most high God. Jesus Christ, after the order of Melchizedek, is a High Priest to the `world` not only to Israel.

`Then Melchizadek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God most high.` (Gen. 14: 18)

 

 The ministry of our Great High Priest IS limited to the Church.   Nowhere in Scripture does it say he is the Great High Priest for the world.   You are just making that up.   The writer of Hebrews in Heb. 4:14  refers to Jesus as our Great High Priest.   There is no reference to Melchi-Tzedek as the High Priest to the world.  Unless you can provide a Scripture reference that says he is, I will simply have to reject that assertion as unbiblical.

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You are also limiting Christ`s priestly activities to just His sacrificial offering of Himself and His intercession. His sacrificial death was, however the basis for His ongoing priestly ministries.
 

 

I am limiting His priestly activities to what Scripture limits them to.    And yes, His ministry as our Great High Priest pertains to His sacrificial offering for us.   Jesus as High Priest, is ministering currently in Heaven in accordance with the terms of the New Covenant.   His ministry as High Priest is only ever about His sacrificial death and His continuous intercession for us.  There is no other context in which it occurs.
 

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`But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also mediator of a better covenant which was established on better promises.` (Heb. 8: 6)

These promises are to the Body of Christ, to Israel and to the nations of the world. They are fulfilled over time and into eternity. The Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ will continue for ever to `bless` His people in all areas of God`s great kingdom. And `blessing` another is a priestly activity. (Gen. 14: 19)

 

No, those promises of the New Covenant do NOT apply to the world.  Those promises are only to those who belong to the New Covenant Church.   The promises made to Israel are promises that Jesus will fulfill and they are related to this world. Jesus will fulfill those promises as Israel's Messiah and ruling King on earth during the Millennium.  

God has better promises and a better covenant for the Church. God appeals to the world to trust Christ as Savior and thus become part of the Church.  Only when someone becomes born again and becomes part of the Church, do they enjoy the blessings of the New Covenant and only then do they have a Great High Priest.
 

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At present Christ`s kingship is held in abeyance, but it will come to the fore in the tribulation and on through the millennium and into eternity. As the prophet Zechariah says,

`Behold, the man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place he shall branch out, and .....He shall bear the glory, and shall 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)

 

Thus we see that the Lord`s High priestly office is everlasting, universal, and combined with His kingship.

 

Jesus will not enter into the office of King until after He returns and sets up His millennial reign.   You're confusing two things, though. 

Jesus ministry as our Great High Priest is NOT the same as what Zechariah is describing.    The role of Great High Priest is a heavenly office that will not continue in to the dateless future, and only applies to Church.    Its' the same idea with His role as Messiah.   His role as Messiah is limited to Israel.   Right now, He is not Israel's great High Priest.  And when He returns, He is not returning as Great High Priest.   He is returning as Israel's Messiah/King.

I would point out that while Jesus will be a priest and a King, he will not be the Great High Priest during the Millennium and He will not be ministering in that way.   He will hold the titles of priest and King, yes,  but nowhere in the book of Ezekiel is Jesus offering animal sacrifices.  Jesus is a priest, but will not be operating in that office during the millennium. 

And it is important to note that Zechariah 6 is about what is happening on earth.   You are using a prophecy about Jesus building the Temple, the same Temple referenced in Ezekiel 40-48, a Temple which will house Jesus' throne, on earth.  He is literally going to reign on earth in His temple according to the Messianic prophecy you have cited.

 

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Guest shiloh357
10 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

Here is the whole scripture of Zechariah 6: 12 & 13.

`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 shall 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)

This is the temple that Ezekiel had a vision of. It is has some differences from the OT temple under the Mosaic Law and some similarities.

1. It will be much greater in size and the overall design is markedly different.

2. There will be a river flowing eastwards from the threshold of the temple out to the Jordan valley.

3. The mode of worship and priestly service however does parallel that of the Mosaic in numerous details.

4, There is no Day of Atonement (national repentance) as that will have  been fulfilled.

5. The animal sacrifices offered in both temples are symbolic, not efficacious. One looked forward to the Messianic promise of cleansing and atonement in the shadowy future, while the temple sacrifices in the millennium look back at Christ`s death as a historic reality.    

6. The Glory of the Lord overshadowed both temples.

7. And they worship the Lord by offering and sacrifice.

 

As these structures are built by human hands and are on earth they are still a `copy and shadow` of the true temple.

`The Lord said, “But in this place there is one greater than the temple.” (Matt. 12: 6)

`But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.` (Rev. 21: 22)

 

Christ is the true temple of God, the one through whom mankind can have access to God & through whom are given bountiful blessings.

 

The Temple Jesus will build referenced in Zechariah is not a copy of the Heavenly Temple.   The Tabernacle and Temple services under the Mosaic Covenant were patterned after what is Heaven.   An in depth examination of the Temple shown in Ezekiel 40-48 is markedly different and does NOT follow the Mosaic patterns.  There is no altar of incense, and there is no Holy of holies with the  Ark of the Covenant in it. In the holiest place of Ezekiel's Temple, it is Jesus' throne which is located there. There is also no menorah or laver, or shewbread table.   There is no veil.   The only similarity is the altar of burnt offering.  There is no Yom Kippur sin offering made, either.  The ministry of Ezekiel's Temple will not be return to the Mosaic priesthood or Old Testament economy.

So here we will still have a temple that is going to exist during the Millennium on earth with Jesus' throne in it.   So we have an earthly reign of Christ in His millennial, earthly temple clearly laid out in Scripture.

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On ‎23‎/‎04‎/‎2017 at 6:01 PM, shiloh357 said:

The ministry of our Great High Priest IS limited to the Church.   Nowhere in Scripture does it say he is the Great High Priest for the world.   You are just making that up.   The writer of Hebrews in Heb. 4:14  refers to Jesus as our Great High Priest.   There is no reference to Melchi-Tzedek as the High Priest to the world.  Unless you can provide a Scripture reference that says he is, I will simply have to reject that assertion as unbiblical.

So let`s look at this person called Melchizedek in relation to His ministry.

`Jesus, having become high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated `king of righteousness,` and then also king of Salem, meaning `king of peace,` without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.` (Heb. 6: 20  & 7: 1 - 3)

There are two orders of priest -

The Aaronic order of Israel`s earthly priests.

For the Levitical priesthood, (Aaron`s descendants) a person`s genealogy was of first importance. In Israel, no man was allowed to exercise priestly functions unless he belonged to the family of Aaron. This is an earthly priesthood.

 

The Melchizedek order of which Christ is the High Priest.

To understand the Melchizedek priesthood we need to look at what God`s word says concerning this man as the type, resembling the Son of God`s priesthood. His  resemblance to the Son of God, lies in the biblical representation, (`aphomoioo,` to produce a facsimile). This is in the sense that his history was so written up that he appeared to have no father and mother and no end of days.

It is important to note that the likeness of Melchizedek is not to the Messiah as the Son of Man, but to Him as Son of God. As Son of Man He was born and died. As Son of God, neither could be said of Him.

Then we read `remains a priest continually,` (Heb. 7: 3) speaking of Melchizedek, relating to the different aspects mentioned - `without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life.` seemingly still a priest continually. However one cannot have a type that was in itself eternal, for then one would have the reality, not the type.

Thus we see that Melchizedek, represented, as God`s word shows us, the priesthood of the Son of God,

- Its priority - it was before all others. (before Israel`s priests)

- Its perpetuity - Gk. `dienekes` carried through, perpetually, continually, for ever. `remains a priest continually.` (Israel`s priests are temporary.)

- Its superiority - for it is an order of kings. Melchizedek was a king & a priest. (Israel`s priests were separate from the kings.)

- Its scope is universal - Gentile & for Israel. (Aaron`s priesthood was just to Israel.)

Melchizedek was a Gentile King & a Priest of God.

`Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God most high.` (Gen. 14: 18)  

Melchizedek`s priesthood was acknowledged by Abraham, for he gave Melchizedek tithes & received a blessing from him. From Abraham came the nation of Israel. Thus we have the Gentiles & Israel acknowledging that Melchizedek is the priest of the most high God. As Melchizedek is a type of the Lord in His priesthood we see that the Gentiles are included as well as Israel.

Isaiah tells us that God`s house is for all nations and not just Israel. The one who presides over this has a universal ministry, of bringing access to God.

` Thus says the Lord......my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations,...` (Isa. 56: 7)

The prophet Micah says -

`in the latter days....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 His ways, and we shall walk in His paths,..` (Micah 4: 2)

And the prophet Zechariah -

`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.` (Zech. 14:16)

All these ministries are priestly - prayer, being taught, worship, keeping the Feast day and are for the nations as well as Israel. Thus the Son of God who is a King Priest has a universal calling of priesthood.

 

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Guest shiloh357
1 hour ago, Marilyn C said:

- Its perpetuity - Gk. `dienekes` carried through, perpetually, continually, for ever. `remains a priest continually.` (Israel`s priests are temporary.)

- Its scope is universal.  Melchizedek was a Gentile King & a Priest of God.

 

That's some pretty fancy theological gymnastics, but your entire argument really hinges on this, so I am going to deal with the nature of the ministry of Jesus as our Great High Priest.

The mistake that People make in using typology is that they push types and shadows further than the biblical authors intended, and they force a one-to-one comparison between the type and the anti-type. 

There is a good reason why the translators chose the word "continually" not "forever." And that's the problem, here.   You are trying to force something on to the text that is not there, namely that Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchi-Tzedek forever, meaning on into the dateless eternal future, and that is not what the Bible says and the original Greek doesn't allow for you make that claim. Diēnekés is a neuter adjective in the Greek that describes Jesus' ministry as Great High Priest as a present, continuous ministry.  It does not reference the ministry of Melchi-Tzedek in prophetic terms as something that is related to the Millennium or the New Heavens and New Earth.   It is only used by the writers of Hebrews in reference to Jesus' ministry to the Church.   If it were a universal priesthood, if that were the intended understanding, it would be true, NOW.   But it is not.   Jesus' ministry after the order of Melchi-Tzedek is not universal today.  It is only for the Church, and is not efficacious for the world.

Another thing to point out is that it is a unique ministry that only applies to Jesus and no other priests.  The fact that Melchi-Tzedek was a Gentile is irrelevant to the typology.  The writer of Hebrews does not bring that into the typological formula.   That's what I mean about trying to push a type too far.   The Bible does not say that the ministry of Great High Priest is universal, nor does it say that the order of the Melchi-Tzedek was a universal order.   You are adding that artificially to the Scriptures.

As for the priests ministering during the Millennium... Eze. 40:46; 43:19; 44:15; 48:11  tell us that they will be the "sons of Zadok."   Zadok was a direct descendant of Aaron.   Zadok was faithful to David and to the Lord during his ministry and those priests and Levites that are Zadok's offspring, will be privileged to serve as priests in the Temple.  They are Zadokite priests, Levites, and are not part of the order of Melchi-Tzedek.  The order of Melchi-Tzedek is unique to Jesus, alone.  So while I agree that the Aaronic priesthood is eternal, we still have Aaronic priests, sons of Zadok, operating as priests in the millennial temple. And they will be performing sacrifices.

There is no prophetic role for the order of Melchi-Tzedek beyond Jesus' ministry to the Church as our Great High Priest.  He is not the Great High Priest to the world.   When Jesus returns, He is not returning to operate in the office of High Priest, but to operate solely as King.   While Jesus will always bear the Messianic titles of Prophet, Priest and King, He does not operate in those offices simultaneously. 

I would also add that your attempt to link the order of Melchi-Tzedek to Isa. 56:7, Micah 4:2 and Zech. 14:16 kind of defeats your initial argument that Jesus will be reigning in Heaven during the Millennium, as all of those references to Millennium speak to Jesus' reign on earth, as those prophecies have yet to be fulfilled.  Their fulfillment is still future and is on this earth, and not  in the New Heavens and New Earth, it is limited to an earthly Millennial reign.

 

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14 hours ago, shiloh357 said:

  So while I agree that the Aaronic priesthood is eternal, we still have Aaronic priests, sons of Zadok, operating as priests in the millennial temple. And they will be performing sacrifices.

 

If the Aaronic Priesthood is eternal, (as you say) then it would be greater than the Lord`s priesthood, which you say is temporary.

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Guest shiloh357
1 hour ago, Marilyn C said:

If the Aaronic Priesthood is eternal, (as you say) then it would be greater than the Lord`s priesthood, which you say is temporary.

I did not say it was eternal.  Both are temporary. I simply pointed out that the priests of the Aaronic/Zadokite line are present in the millennial temple and are given the most important tasks of ministry there.  "Eternal" doesn't mean that something will continue on into the New Heavens and New Earth throughout the endless ages.    "Eternal," as used in many places in Scripture, only applies to the end of this earth.   There will be no temple during the New Heavens and New Earth for them to minister in, so obviously their ministry does not last beyond the millennial reign of Christ. 

And simply because Jesus will not be ministering as our Great High Priest during the Millennium, it doesn't mean that His ministry is, somehow, less "great"  of a ministry, than what is happening in Ezekiel's Temple during the millennium.

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50 minutes ago, shiloh357 said:

I did not say it was eternal.  Both are temporary. I simply pointed out that the priests of the Aaronic/Zadokite line are present in the millennial temple and are given the most important tasks of ministry there.  "Eternal" doesn't mean that something will continue on into the New Heavens and New Earth throughout the endless ages.    "Eternal," as used in many places in Scripture, only applies to the end of this earth.   There will be no temple during the New Heavens and New Earth for them to minister in, so obviously their ministry does not last beyond the millennial reign of Christ. 

And simply because Jesus will not be ministering as our Great High Priest during the Millennium, it doesn't mean that His ministry is, somehow, less "great"  of a ministry, than what is happening in Ezekiel's Temple during the millennium.

Thank you for that clarification of the word `eternal` in your sentence. Probably would help to write what you mean - to the end of the millennium or in eternity.

 I agree that the priests of the Aaronic/Zadokite line will be operating in the millennium. So...under whose authority & by whose wisdom (teaching & judging) are they operating.

 

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Guest shiloh357
8 minutes ago, Marilyn C said:

Thank you for that clarification of the word `eternal` in your sentence. Probably would help to write what you mean - to the end of the millennium or in eternity.

 I agree that the priests of the Aaronic/Zadokite line will be operating in the millennium. So...under whose authority & by whose wisdom (teaching & judging) are they operating.

 

The Lord's.  Since Zadok was faithful both to the Lord and to David, His descendants are rewarded by having the privilege to perform the services.

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Guest shiloh357

So it is appears that the Lord Jesus will be physically on earth during the Millennium reigning from the throne of David in His temple.

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6 minutes ago, shiloh357 said:

The Lord's.  Since Zadok was faithful both to the Lord and to David, His descendants are rewarded by having the privilege to perform the services.

When you say the `Lord,` do you mean God the Father, LORD, or the Lord Jesus Christ?

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