Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
Luke 4:1-8 (KJV) 1And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,2Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.3And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.4And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.5And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. So here in Luke 4 we are now gonna see the actual beginning of the gospel of the Kingdom being taught and preached by Jehoshua. Prior to His baptism, Jehoshua was being prepared by His Father for the work of the Kingdom. It was after being baptized by John in the Jordan river that Jehoshua is said to be filled with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist later says in John 3:33-36 that Jehoshua was given the Spirit without measure. Isaiah 11 also prophesies that Jehovah God's perfect 7 manifold Spirit would rest upon the Messiah. It's important to understand this going forward especially in respect to the above pasaage when Jehoshua is tempted by Satan. After Jehoshua's 40 day fast Him and Satan have a much overlooked encounter. Many people read this passage without understanding the significance of verse 1 "being full of the Holy Ghost". This means that everything Jehoshua said in His dialogue with Satan was inspired by the Holy Ghost which is called the Spirit of truth. It's important to understand that Jehoshua was not speaking here in some split dualist human nature apart from His divine nature. Jehoshua was fully human with a full human nature who was filled with Jehovah's Spirit which is the Spirit of truth. This means everything single thing that Jehoshua spoke here is absolute truth without qualification. The first challenge to Jehoshua from Satan is in regards to Jehoshua's Sonship. It is noteworthy that today most denominations pose the same question about the Messiah. Many Churches deny Messiah's true Sonship and have instead promoted Him to be God Almighty Himself. Those who hold fast to the Sonship of Messiah are often ridiculed and mocked and told that they will burn in hell. You almost never hear sermons in Churches regarding the Sonship of Messiah. The sermons are usually about Him being God or the second person of the trinity. Many of the Churches have taken on the same spirit of Satan in that they question the Sonship of Messiah tempting Him with this blasphemous question. In verse 4 Jehoshua directs Satan to the word of God and says that man will live by EVERY word of it. When tempted by the denominations of Christendom if Jehoshua is the Son of God we must do like Jehoshua does and direct them to the straightforward word of God. In verses 5-7, Satan tempts Jehoshua to snatch at eqaulity with God and not give up His right to rule. Satan does this by offering Jehoshua the kingdoms of this world. Remember, Jehovah God foreordained Jehoshua to receive the Kingdoms of this world as His inheritance (Daniel 7:13-14, Hebrews 1:1-3). Jehovah God predestined Jehoshua to rule the nation's with a rod of iron (Psalm 2, Revelation 2:27). However the Father needed His Son to fulfill the plan of salvation first, which required that Jehoshua empty Himself and die on the cross to make a reconciliation for sins. Philippians 2, Titus 2 and Isaiah 53 detail Jehoshua emptying Himself on the cross and how he counted not the being of an eqaulity with God a thing to be grasped at. Unlike Adam, Jehoshua doesn't fall for the wiles of Satan. In verse 8, Jehoshua gives a statement of faith concerning worship thereby rebuking Satan and qouting Deuteronomy 6:13. Jehoshua says that only the Lord thy God is to be worshipped. While many people claim that Jehoshua is the "Lord thy God" the scriptures over and over again contradict this and actually teach that Jehoshua is the Son of the Lord thy God. Remember in John 17:3 that Jehoshua says that the Father alone (only) is the one true God and that eternal life is based on this understanding. So with this understanding of what Jehoshua said being filled with the Holy Spirit, the Lord thy God is the Father. Jehoshua makes it clear that ultimate worship is to be directed to the Father (Lord thy God) alone. Remember, others in scripture are talked about as being worshipped but it's in repsect to the position they have according to the authority God has granted them. This type of worship is more akin to giving one honour. Jehoshua receives this type of worship above anyone else who has ever lived. However it is the Father that receives worship alone as the Almighty God. Infact ascribing worship to anyone or anything else as the Almighty God is a violation of the first commandment of the bible (Exodus 20:1-3, Mark 12:28-34, Deuteronomy 6:4-13). Luke 4:9-13 (KJV) 9And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:10For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:11And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.12And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.13And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. In verses 9-11, Satan again tempts Jehoshua regarding His Sonship in order to put doubt in Him. It is sad that much of Christendom has done the same as they truly don't believe that in identity Jehoshua is the Son of God. They even question those who hold fast to the Sonship of Messiah and say "is Jehoshua really the Son of God, isn't He God Himself?". In verses 12 and 13 again Jehoshua rebukes Satan with the word of God. This is what those of us who hold to the Sonship of Messiah need to do with those who tryto tempt us with the lie that He really isn't the Son of God in identity. Keep in my mind that this dialogue between Jehoshua and Satan was done right after Jehoshua was described as being full of the Holy Spirit. So when Jehoshua says that only the Lord thy God being the Father is to be worshipped it is a Holy Ghost inspired statement and is not simply something He said in His human nature. This is the foundational truth of the gospel of the Kingdom which is that the Father is alone to be worshipped as the Lord thy God. Having this understanding then allows us to truly understand who Jehoshua is in identity. Luke 4 14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.15And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.17And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Verse 14, Jehoshua returned from His encounter with Satan being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the second reference to Jehoshua being filled to the full with the Holy Spirit and they are both post baptism. It also destroys the false notion that some words He spoke only in His human nature. Jehoshua was a whole being and fully human who was filled with God's Spirit. Verse 15, His anointing gave Him a teaching ministry in which many people were blessed even glorifying Him. Being filled with the Holy Spirit obviously made Jehoshua a great teacher of Jehovah's Torah. Verse 16, while many point to Jehoshua's resurrection being on a sunday as proof of sunday being the new holy day of the Messianic faith, it's noteworthy that the official proclamation of the beginning of His ministry was on the Sabbath day. Verses 17-19, Jehoshua reads from Isaiah 61 and Jehoshua says that the Spirit of Jehovah was upon Him referencing His baptism in which He received the seven manifold Spirit of Jehovah God His Father not another distinct person. This is proven because Jehoshua says that "He" anointed me. The "He" is obviously a reference to the Father Jehovah. The Father anointed Jehoshua with His (Jehovah's) very own Spirit (mind, presence, power) not another distinct person. Jehoshua needed the anointing (consecrated) Spirit from the Father in order to perform the work of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. Jehoshua was consecrated by the Father at His baptism for the work of the ministry. If we are to be followers of Jehoshua then we need to follow in His footsteps by preaching good tidings, proclaim liberty to those who are captive to sin and recovery of sight to the spiritually blind. We are to bind the broken hearted and bruised. We are to proclaim the acceptable year of Jehovah meaning that this is the day of salvation. Are message is to be one of good news and healing. Of course a warning of the judgement to come is also to be trumpeted. Isaiah 61 goes on to say that Jehovah's anointed would also declare the day of God's wrath and comfort those who mourn. The rest of the passage details a beautiful picture of how the gospel message is to uplift the hurting and turn them unto righteousness. Isaiah 61:2-3 (ASV) 2to proclaim the year of Jehovah`s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;3to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified. The above passage shows us what the content of the Kingdom gospel is suppose to entail. It's all about restoration. Restoration of the hurting and bruised. When we seek to heal people in the name of our Lord Jehoshua then a restoration of society as a whole follows: Isaiah 61:4-5 (ASV) 4And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.5And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers. Restoration always starts with the individual then moves towards society as a whole. The gospel of the Kingdom is supposed to be a healing agent not a tearing down of people. Just as Jehoshua didn't come to condemn neither are we to condemn. The full restoration will take place at the second advent. If we follow the divine prescription given to us in this passage regarding what the gospel of the Kingdom is supposed to entail then we will be called priests of Jehovah God and inherit the future consummated Kingdom of Jehovah God. Isaiah 61:6-7 (ASV) 6But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.7Instead of your shame [ye shall have] double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them. If we follow the Messiah and preach the same gospel of the Kingdom that He did which entails the first 5 verses of Isaiah 61, then we will have the privilege of being called priests of Jehovah God. This is a high calling and not to be taken lightly. We are called Messianic's because we are followers of Messiah. To be a follower of someone means to actually do the things they do. Our calling as Messianic's is to bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and comfort those who mourn along with warning of the judgement to come. If we don't do these things then we have no right to call ourselves priests. Only kings and priests will inherit the Kingdom of Jehovah. If we fufill this high calling to preach glad tidings unto the meek then men will call us ministers of God. People will recognize that you are filled with God's Spirit. "Ye shall eat the wealth of the nations" This is a reference to the saints inheriting the Kingdom to come after Messiah's second advent. Remember though, this is provided we fufill our calling as kings and priests. Verse 7 of Isaiah 61 further details the blessings in the Kingdom to come that the saints will enjoy. Peter talks about this inheritance being reserved for us: 1 Peter 1:3-4 (ASV) 3Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, In this life Messianic's will be looked at and treated with shame by the world, however in the coming Kingdom they will be exalted and glorifed. They will have everlasting joy and possess the land that was promised to Abraham's descendants. As Messianic's our gospel is to be exactly the same one that the Son of God preached. This is called the gospel of the Kingdom. Luke 4:21-22 (ASV) 20And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.21And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears. Jehoshua began His preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom on a Sabbath day. This is another reason to honour the 4th commandment. Luke 4:41-44 (ASV) 41And demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.42And when it was day, he came out and went into a desert place: and the multitudes sought after him, and came unto him, and would have stayed him, that he should not go from them.43But he said unto them, I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent.44And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee. Even the demons knew the true identity of Jehoshua acknowledging His Sonship and His Messiahship. Unfortunately these demons have a more accurate view of the identity of Jehoshua than most of Christendom who believes He is actually the Almighty God. In verse 43 Jehoshua would not stay in one place because of His calling to preach the good tidings of the Kingdom of God in other cities. This shows us that in Luke 4:23-40 Jehoshua was preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. What was the content of Jehoshua's preaching during in these verses? Warning of the wrath of God to come for those who reject the gospel of the Kingdom (verses 23-27). Teaching the word of God on the Sabbath day (verses 31-32). Casting out demons (verses 33-37). Healing sickness (verses 38-40). Jehoshua called all these things the good tidings of the Kingdom. Just like Jehoshua we are not to stay in one place but we are to take the gospel of the Kingdom to other cities and places outside of where we live. This is actually commanded by Jehoshua: Matthew 28:19-20 (ASV) 19Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:20teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. The blessing is that we will not be alone when we go out and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. Jehoshua said He will be with us until the end of age, world without end. After His ministry started Jehoshua then called disicples to assist Him in preaching the gospel of the Kingdom (Luke 5). This is similar to us in that upon our baptism we are to start our work in the ministry and seek disciples. Of course, these disciples are to follow Messiah but we are also to train them in the ways of the Kingdom. One of the characteristics of the Kingdom gospel is a move away from legalism to living by the Spirit of the law. One example of this is something that took place on the Sabbath day. Luke 6:1-5 (ASV) 1Now it came to pass on a sabbath, that he was going through the grainfields; and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.2But certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?3And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read even this, what David did, when he was hungry, he, and they that were with him;4how he entered into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests alone?5And he said unto them, The Son of man is lord of the sabbath Jehoshua's lesson to the Pharisees was that providing for man's need was not in contradiction to the prinicples of the Sabbath. Often times, those who are legalistic will neglect the needs of others in order to keep some strict often self imposed rules in order to preserve the Sabbath. Helping those in need actually fits with the spirit of true Sabbath keeping even if it appears to others that you are violating the letter of Sabbath keeping. Right before performing a work of healing on the Sabbath, Jehoshua said this to the Pharisees in Matthew 12:12-13: "12 How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day.13Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other. In the gospel of the Kingdom it is the Spirit of the law that is emphasized over the letter of the law, which is often times perverted by religous teachers. Jehovah God wants us to understand the spiritual intent of His law not get tied down in the minutia of the letter which kills. Jehoshua's purpose was to encourage people to look beyond the "letter of the law" to the "spirit of the law"...the principles behind the commandments and the law's intention. Jehoshua quotes the book of Deuteronomy and Leviticus: "All the Law can be summed up in this: to love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself" (paraphrased). The bible says that Jehoshua is the end which really means He is the goal of the law. Romans10:4 (ASV) 4For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth. This does not mean that the law has ended or is abolished but rather that Jehoshua is the goal of how the law is to be applied in one's life. The word end comes from the Greek word "telos" and means "goal; a point aimed at as a limit". If one wants to keep the law then they need to look to Jehoshua as He is the goal of how to keep it. Jehoshua's teachings and manner of life is the example to follow in keeping the law. This is how the law is applied in the gospel of the Kingdom in that it finds it's fufillment in Jehoshua's teachings and manner of life. The sermon of the mount is the perfect exposition of the law.
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The two olive trees part 2
Jeremiah 33:15-18 (ASV) 15In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.16In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is [the name] whereby she shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness.17For thus saith Jehovah: David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;18neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt-offerings, and to burn meal-offerings, and to do sacrifice continually. Jehoshua as the Branch (shoot, spring) will sprout up from the line of David showing that the origin of Jehoshua is from the heritage of David not that of an angel. Jehoshua could not according to prophecy precede David in order of time but had to sprout and grow up from David's ancestry. Jehoshua is before David in the sense of preeminence and rank because He was chosen from the foundation of the world to be the Messiah and King of Israel. His resurrection was an affirmation of His Sonship and rulership over all creation including David who still is in his grave. In verse 16 we see that Jerusalem i.e the Church shall be called "Jehovah our righteousness". This is because the Church is imputed with the righteousness of Jehovah's only begotten Son. Verses 17 and 18, even though David's throne would be empty, and there would be no temple during the exile, Jehovah ensures the continuation of a legitimate Kingship and Priesthood, joined together in Messiah. The shadows of the Levitical priesthood are now fulfilled in the Son of God and His people (Hebrews 7:11-17). Jehoshua is the two olive trees as He is a King Priest as the offices of king and priest are the two olive trees that stand before the God of the earth. The oil that comes forth from the two olive trees (Jehoshua) is the Holy Spirit. We know from scripture that the Holy Spirit proceeds out of the very being of Jehoshua. John 20:22 (KJV) 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: The Holy Spirit is the very breath of Jehoshua Messiah and proceeds from the very substance of Jehoshua. John 14:18 (KJV) 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Jehoshua told the disciples this in reference to the Spirit of truth i.e. the Holy Spirit. This refers to Jehoshua's coming to them in the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Revelation 5:5-7 (KJV) 5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: beuhold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof 6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. The execution of Jehovah's decree and the victory of His people depend solely on One who is the Mighty King (Lion) descended from Judah: Genesis 49:8-12 (KJV) 8Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.9Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Judah means "praise". Lion a metaphor for power. Though Joseph received the right of firstborn, from Judah came the Davidic line of kings (1 Chronicles 5:2). Messiah is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and He has overcome all the powers of the devil (Rev 5:5; 17:14). "Sceptre" Rod used by a King (Numbers 24:17; Psalm 2:9; 45:6). "Lawgiver" A King (Isa 33:22), or possibly another word for rod. "Shiloh" means "him to whom the Kingdom belongs". "Gathering of the people" literally "the obedience of the peoples," the nations who will submit to Messiah the King. Jehoshua is from the seed of David not an angel i.e. Michael or the angel of Jehovah! The word "seed" comes from the Greek word "zera" (Strongs 2233 Hebrew) and means "seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity: - carnally, child, fruitful, seed (-time), sowing - time." The bible says every seed produces after it's own kind. Jehoshua is not and never was an angel, He is from the seed of David as a Branch that sprouted up and sprung forth from David's posterity (family heritage). Psalm 89:1-4 (KJV) 1 I will sing of the mercies of Jehovah for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.2For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.3I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,4Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. Jehoshua is the fufillment of the covenant that Jehovah made with king David. David's throne through Jehoshua Messiah has been established since the ascension of the Son of God to heaven. This likely happend on the day of Pentecost. Hebrews 1:8-9 (KJV) 8But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.9Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. In context the time period here is the ascension of Jehoshua to heaven after His spending 40 days with the disciples post resurrection. Jehoshua was subsequently enthroned as the King of Israel by His Father Jehovah God. Jehovah anointed His Son with the fullness of the Holy Spirit similar to the way He would anoint certian kings of Israel in the old testament. Of course Jehoshua has the fullness of the Spirit unlike His predecessors who had a measure of it to varying degrees at varying times. This anointing coincided with the enthronement of the King as the King would need Jehovah's Spirit to rule rightly and justly (Zechariah 4). Jehoshua is told by the Father to sit on His (the Father's) right hand as God Himself will be Jehoshua's throne meaning Jehoshua will have the very authority of Jehovah God Almighty. Jehoshua is the very righteousness of God hence His new name "Jehovah our righteousness". Jehoshua was the spotless Lamb of God and never sinned as He was fully righteous and it was this righteousness that merited Him Jehovah's throne. He will rule with the scepter of righteousness in His Kingdom. It is important to understand that the Kingdom of God is one and the same as the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah. The Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah will never end as the Father has granted rulership of the Kingdom to His dear Son (Colossians 1:12-14). Even when the Son turns the Kingdom over to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), He Himself will still be King over His Father's Kingdom. Jeremiah 30 says that in the new heaven and new earth that Jehovah will be our God and David (Jehoshua) will be our King. Jeremiah 30;8-9 (ASV) 8And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondman;9but they shall serve Jehovah their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. 1 Chronicles 29:22-25 (ASV) 22and did eat and drink before Jehovah on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto Jehovah to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.23Then Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.24And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.25And Jehovah magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. Here we see a prefiguring of the Son of God's coronation. Solomon who was considered Jehovah's son is anointed for the purpose of kingship as the king would need Jehovah's Spirit in order to execute Jehovah's will for Israel. Note also that the High Priest had to be anointed by Jehovah God in order to fufill the Levitical priesthood functions. These are the two olive trees represented by Solomon (kingship) and Zadok (priesthood). Again, Jehoshua merges these offices into one making Him the two olive trees. Hebrews 1:8-9 qoutes Psalm 45:6-7 which is about the psalmist David's son Solomon. Jehovah God gave His son Solomon the graces of the Holy Spirit to fulfil his office of kingship. Whereas Solomon is the begotten son of Jehovah in terms of adoption and being born from above by the Spirit, Jehoshua is Jehovah's uniquely begotten Son via the virginal begetting. Jehoshua was also born again from above by the anointing of the Holy Spirit at His baptism. Jehoshua then received the fullness of the Holy Spirit again at His coronation after His ascension into heaven. Psalm Chapter 2 1Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing?2The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, [saying],3Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us.4He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision.5Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure:6Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion.7I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.8Ask of me, and I will give [thee] the nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter`s vessel.10Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.11Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling.12Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in him. This passage finds it's ultimate fufillment in Jehoshua and has an immediate application to David. It's a Messianic psalm. Here we see that the kings of the earth take counsel against Jehovah and His anointed (Messiah). Jehovah's anointed kings of Israel were Messiah's as that is what anointed means i.e. "messiah". David was a messiah of Jehovah God. David prefigured the ultimate Messiah who is Jehoshua. Just as the kings of the earth made a conferacy against Jehovah and David, the same thing took place during Jehoshua's ministry. Jehovah has the last laugh against the kings of the earth. He will vex them and pour out His wrath against them as in the days of David. Jehovah exalts His anointed upon Zion which is Jehovah's holy hill. Zion is a set apart (holy) place where the anointed King of Israel has his throne. Jehovah says that He sets His anointed King on Mount Zion. It's Jehovah that anoints, empowers and inaugurates the king. This is why the king of Israel has the very authority of Jehovah and is one with Jehovah in purpose. When someone went against the king of Israel they were in effect coming against Jehovah. Jehovah and His messiah's were united as one. How much moreso is this true in respect to the ultimate Messiah of Jehovah who is the only begotten Son? Just as David was set as the king of Israel by Jehovah God in Mount Zion, Jehoshua was set as the King of Israel in heavenly Mount Zion (Hebrews 1:8-9). In verse 7, we see the decree of Jehovah which in this case has a dual application, first this is in regards to David. David was begotten as Jehovah's son when he was anointed by Jehovah as the king of Israel. The same is true of Solomon and even Saul. To be anointed as the king of Israel by Jehovah was eqauted to being begotten by Jehovah as his son. Remember, the word begotten also has a metaphorical application to it and not just literal. In the metaphorical application, begotten means to be born again by the Spirit of Jehovah God i.e. being given (baptized) the Holy Spirit. In the case of the kings, they may have already been in relationship with Jehovah but there anointing as kings begat them in a whole new sense. The kings were now anointed i.e. begotten as God's chosen firstborn (preeminent one, chief in rank) son's. The kings of Israel needed the special anointing of Jehovah in order to rule righteously and make prudent decisions. The same was even true of our Messiah while He lived on earth and even at His ascension and exaltation into heaven. Isaiah 11:1-5 (ASV) 1And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.2And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.3And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears;4but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.5And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins. It was being anointed with the Father's Spirit that gave Jehoshua the ability to judge righteously during His ministry. Hebrews 1:8-9 (KJV) 8But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.9Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Jehoshua was anointed by Jehovah as the King of Israel at His ascension and this anointing gives Jehoshua the ability to rule the earth even now in righteousness. To be anointed by Jehovah was the same as being consecrated for a position of office. The kings of Israel as well as the high priests had to be anointed by Jehovah before they could start functioning in their role. Jehovah begat David as his son when he anointed him as the king. In a metaphorical sense, begotten means to consecrate for an office. The office that David was consecrated for is to be king of Israel which is also the same as him being begotten as God's. son. This verse (Psalm 2:7) is qouted in the new testament in regards to Jehoshua. "this day have I begotten thee" Messiah's glory as God's Son due to being begotten in the womb of Mary, infinitely above the angels, was publicly declared when Jehovah raised Him from the dead and exalted Him as King. Acts 13:32-33 (KJV) 32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. The promise of the exaltation of God's Son to His divinely appointed throne was fufilled in Messiah's resurrection and ascension. Jehoshua, when He was resurrected became Jehovah's first begotten Son from the dead (Colosssians 1:18). Jehovah begat Jehoshua from the dead hence the psalm qouted above applies to the resurrection as well as the virgin birth. Romans 1:1-4 (KJV) 1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,2Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Jehoshua was declared to be the powerful Son of God at His resurrection. The controversy surrounding Jehoshua's ministry was whether He really was the Son of God. Luke 1:29-35 details exactly how Jehoshua became God's Son. So Jehoshua's resurrection wasn't when Jehoshua became the Son of God but rather was Jehovah powerfully declaring Jehoshua to be His begotten Son. In other words, the resurrection vindicated Jehoshua's claim of Sonship. The Holy Spirit was the agency in which the Father raised Jehoshua from the dead (Romans 8:11). Messiah as the exalted King sends forth the Holy Spirit to His Church. Hebrews 5:5 (KJV) 5So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. Here the author of Hebrews connects Jehoshua being anointed as High Priest with being begotten by Jehovah. Again, being begotten by Jehovah also has the meaning of being consecrated for a position of office. Just as Hebrews 1:5-6 qoutes Pslam 2:7 in respect to Jehoshua being anointed as King, this passage qoutes it in respect to Jehoshua being anointed as High Priest. Remember the two olive trees are the office of King and Priest. Jehoshua is the two olive trees. Hebrews 1:2 says that Jehoshua was appointed the heir of all things which in the book of Hebrews especially focuses on the Kingship and Priesthood of Jehoshua Messiah. Hebrews 5:5 cites not only Pslam 2:7 but also Pslam 110:1. Messiah's Sonship and Priesthood are closely connected. As Jehovah's King and High Priest, Messiah was the fufillment of old testament prophecy (Zechariah 6:9-15). Messiah glorifed not Himself but was appointed as High Priest by God. Messiah's priesthood is closely connected with His Sonship and so is divine. Numbers 17 details the appointment of Aaron as High Priest by God. Hebrews 5:6 (KJV) 6As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. The exalted Son is the exalted priest over His people (Israel) in fufillment of old testament prophecy. The Son of God's priesthood externality was sworn to Him by the Father. Zechariah 6:9-15 9And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,10Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, whither they are come from Babylon;11yea, take [of them] silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest;12and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Jehovah; 13even he shall build the temple of Jehovah; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.14And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of Jehovah.15And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of Jehovah; and ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto you. And [this] shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of Jehovah your God. Here we see a prophecy of the two olive trees which are the Kingship and Priesthood united in one Person which is the Branch Jehoshua. In the above passage of Zechariah we see a coronation ceremony that is an actual enactment to be a picture prophecy of the priestly and kingly offices of the coming Messiah. Jehoshua is the only one in whom these offices could unite. After the object lesson Joshua had to vacate the throne. The plural use of "crowns" indicates a magnificently splendid crown as the Hebrew uses the plural to intensify. "Branch". A Messianic title, "he shall grow up. Literally, "he will sprout", the same root as Branch. Jehoshua was a Branch of the Davidic family line as He sprouted up from the seed of David's family heritage. He came from David's kingly lineage. Also, as Jehovah's only begotten Son, He sprouted and grew up out of His place and increased in the Spirit. He was begotten by Jehovah God in the womb of Mary due to Jehovah's Spirit overshadowing Mary. It is key to understand that Jehoshua had to be a twig i.e. stem i.e. Branch of Jesse who is David's Father. This means that Jehoshua's growing up out of His place had to start after He proceeded out of the bowels of David not before in some preexistent form. The scripture says that Jehoshua was a Branch of the seed of David not an angel or a preexistent spirit being. Jehoshua is currently building Jehovah's temple which is the Church. Verse 13, Jehoshua is a priest upon His throne referring to His office of King. Jehoshua uniquely fufills both the office of High Priest and King. The counsel of peace is between both office of King and Priest fufilled in Jehoshua. Remember, the office of King and Priest are the two olive trees. Verse 14, after the symbolic coronation, the crown was taken away from Joshua and kept in the temple as a reminder of the promised Royal Priest. Verse 15, Zechariah's conclusion to his first message. Widespread work on and completion of the temple would confirm his prophetic authority. |
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