Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
For most of church history Christians have believed that the resurrection of Christ ushered in the new creation. A failure to understand this truth will cause you to misinterpret several key passages in the new testament. These misinterpretations often have to do with Christology and end up applying the Genesis creation account to Jesus. Paul, Peter, John and the author of Hebrews write about the new creation in Christ as it is a central theme in the new testament. Having the proper understanding of the new creation will help us have a proper understanding of Christology, eschatology, ecclesiology and the application of the law in the new covenant.
Let's start in the gospel of Mark: Mark 1:1 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way. This is an important verse to understand as Mark says that the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God is in relationship to John the Baptist Kingdom mission. John the Baptist was the messenger that was to prepare the way of Jehovah's Christ. Mark 1:9-12 9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him: 11 And a voice came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased. 12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness. This is the baptismal account of Jesus and his begetting into covenant Sonship (Kingship) and John seals this as the beginning of the gospel of the Son of God. Verse 11 is an adaptation of Psalm 2:7 which is a royal coronation of a Davidic King. Here at the Jordan river Jesus is being anointed as the King of Israel which is also a begetting into Sonship as the Father Jehovah made a covenant with David's royal offspring (2nd Samuel 7:14). Mark 1:14-15 14 Now after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel. The time is fulfilled refers to the 70 weeks prophecy in the book of Daniel in which the anointing of the most holy begins the 70th week and final week of that prophecy to bring in everlasting righteousness. The anointing of the most holy refers to Jesus baptism. It was only after his baptism that Jesus began to preach the gospel of the Kingdom: Luke 3:21-23 21 Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 23 And Jesus himself, when he began [to teach], was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the [son] of Heli. It is clear from Luke that Jesus teaching mission began at the age of 30 years old which started right after his baptism. This goes right with Mark stating that the beginning of the gospel of the Son of God started after he was baptized. The mainstream churches falsely teach that the gospel of Jesus Christ precedes his anointing at the Jordan river. Because of their god man belief concerning Christ they imagine him going around and doing some of the things that he only did after he got baptized. This is the logical conclusion of their belief that Jesus is God so they are blinded to the reality that Jesus only taught and did amazing things after he was anointed with the Spirit of Jehovah. When we realize that Jesus baptism ushered in a new era then the concept of a new creation becomes more apparent. The failure to see the new creation concept in scripture will cause us to get many other things wrong including Christology, ecclesiology and eschatology. This shows that Jesus ministry was not a continuation of Moses doctrine but it was something new. This refutes the idea that Jesus teachings belong as part of the old covenant. His baptism inaugurated His gospel which surpassed and was different than the law of Moses (John 1:17). The advent of Jesus brought in the last days i.e. the age of salvation and this advent was at his baptism when he began to teach and preach the Kingdom of God. Hebrews 1:1-2 1 God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, 2 hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in [his] Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds; At the "end of these days" i.e. the last days Jehovah God spoke to us through His Son. From the above passages we learned that Jesus only preached the gospel of the Kingdom from his baptism onwards so the last days began when Jesus was anointed at the Jordan river. 1 Peter 1:18-21 18 knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, [even the blood] of Christ: 20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake, 21 who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God. Verse 20 corroborates Hebrews 1:1-2 in the end of days (last days) began when Jesus was manifested and as the author of Hebrews says this was when Jehovah God began to speak to us through His Son. The book of Mark, Luke and Acts show us that Jesus only began to preach and teach after he got baptized at the age of 30 years old. Jesus was manifested (made evident) at the age of 30 years old when he was publicly anointed as the King of Israel. The new creation concept is seen all over the new testament and this beginning of the new creation is linked both with the beginning of Jesus gospel as well as his resurrection and ascension. 1 John 1:1-2 1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life 2 (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal [life], which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); This is such an important truth to grasp and that truth is what is the beginning that John is speaking of. Remember, the above passages that I quoted sealed the beginning as the time when Jesus began his gospel mission which according to scripture began at Jesus baptism. Acts 13:23-24 23 Of this man`s seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus; 24 when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Notice how Paul identifies the baptism of repentance that John preached as being before Jesus coming i.e. advent and manifestation. Paul identifies the advent of Jesus as being after John started his baptism of repentance ministry. With all the above mentioned scriptures we can identify the beginning that John is speaking of as being the beginning of Jesus Kingdom mission (Mark 1:1). Since we have established that Jesus advent (made manifest) ushered in the last days and is connected with his baptism, let's now go to the resurrection. Romans 1:1-4 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord, This is key because Paul is connecting Jesus resurrection to him being declared to be the Son of God with power. That phrase "Son of God with power" refers to Jesus enthronement as King on David's throne. It's important to understand the significance of Jesus being enthroned as King in relationship to the new covenant ekklesia age because it clearly shows that Jesus ascension into heaven inaugurated something new. Jesus was the suffering Son of God during his Kingdom mission on earth but now he is the enthroned King. Colossians 1:12-13 12 giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; 13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; The new creation is connected with the inauguration of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ as Paul says that we are translated to that Kingdom via our begotten from above experience. This is a present tense reality and not just future as Paul says this a reality that is already taking place in the first century. When we go a couple verses after this passage we will see clearly the connection between the new creation and the Kingdom of Christ: Colossians 1:15-16 15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; Many Christians, especially the Jesus is God believers, read this as a Genesis creation passage, however it is very important to hone in on what is actually stated. First off, we see that Jesus is the image of the invisible God which aligns with what the author of Hebrews says in verse 3 of chapter 1 of that book in that Jeaus is the express image of Jehovah God. What things were created in Jesus in verse 16? First off, notice that is says created in (through) and unto Jesus. This is important because it doesn't say that Jesus created these things but that they were created in him, which could also mean "with him in mind". However, the things created in him were not the earth, moon, sun, stars and oceans but rather thrones, dominions, principalities and powers. This shows that Genesis isn't in view here when it speaks of all things being created in and unto Christ. The things created in Christ in verse 16 are the very things made subject unto him at his ascension into heaven: 1 Peter 3:21-22 21 which also after a true likeness doth now save you, [even] baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; 22 who is one the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. Notice that the things created in Jesus in Colossians 1:16 are the very same entities made subject unto him after his resurrection/ascension. These two are the same thing, the creating the principalities and powers in Christ and those same principalities and powers being made subject unto him. This clearly shows that the creation narrative in Colossians 1:15-16 is not about Genesis but rather the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven where he was sat at the right hand of Jehovah God (verse 22 of 1 Peter 3). Peter, in connection with Christ ascension and the powers being made subject unto him, alludes to Psalm 110:1 which is a Davidic covenant fulfillment prophecy. This shows that the angels, authorities and powers created in and unto Jesus were in connection with his enthronement as King as Psalm 110:1 is a prophecy of David's royal offspring being enthroned on the throne of David in order to fulfill the covenant Jehovah made with David. Remember thay Colossians 1:15-16 is within the context of Christ's Kingdom (Colossians 1:12-13). Let's compare: Colossians 1:15-16 - The creation of the thrones, dominions, powers and principalities in and unto Christ is within the context of his Kingdom. 1 Peter 3:21-22 - The angels, powers and authorities made subject unto Christ is within the context of him being enthroned on the throne of David (Psalm 110:1). This shows that the Colossians creation narrative is within the context of the resurrection and ascension of Christ into where he was enthroned as King. As we proceed further into Colossians chapter 1 this becomes even more evident: Colossians 1:17-18 17 and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. The title of first born is in regards to Jesus resurrection and this is how we should understand verse 15 when it says Jesus is the first born of all creation. It has nothing to do with the Genesis creation and being the literal first born of that narrative. Further evidence of Colossians 1:15-16 being about the new creation and the Kingship of Christ the title first born is found in Psalm 89 in connection with the Davidic covenant Kingship of the royal seed of David: Psalm 89:27 "I also will make him my first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth" The title first-born in Colossians is in connection with the creation of the thrones, dominions and powers and it is also connected with Jesus resurrection from the dead as the literal first-born Son raised from the dead to eternal life. Scripture also shows that upon Jesus resurrection and ascension he was enthroned as King on the throne of David so the title of first-born is in regards to Jesus Davidic Kingship. This is abundantly clear in Psalm 89:27 where Jehovah tells the royal offspring of David that they are His first-born Son higher than the kings of the earth. This is ultimately a prophecy of Jesus as by this time the Davidic throne had stop being occupied. The title of first-born is specific to Jesus resurrection and Kingship and it is this title that is connected to the creation of the things mentioned in verse 16 of Colossians 1. The resurrection and Kingship of Christ comprise the shorthand version of the gosepl according to Paul: 2nd Timothy 2:8 "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel" The seed of David terminology is referring to the Davidic Kingship. Revelation 1:5-6 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood; 6 and he made us [to be] a kingdom, [to be] priests unto his God and Father; to him [be] the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Verse 5 is almost a direct quotation of Psalm 89:27 linking the title of first-born with Jesus Kingship. It also links the title of fist-born with his resurrection ala Colossians 1:17. Through Jesus blood, death and resurrection we are also made kings and priests. The title of first-born used of Jesus in respect to his Kingship and resurrection is how we should understand the creation narrative of Colossians 1:15-16 because that narrative is inherently connected to the "first-born" title of Jesus. 2nd Corinthians 5:17-18 17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. 18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; We, through our begotten from above experience, are also part of the new creation. We have become new in Christ and the old us has passed away therefore we are no longer sinners and identified by those things we use to do. We now have Jehovah's law written on our hearts per the terms of the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) and per the new covenant our sins have been blotted (obliterated) out. It's important that we identify ourselves as new creations with a born on date of whenever the Holy Spirit fell upon us. Revelation 1:9 "I John, your brother and partaker with you in tribulation and kingdom and patience [which are] in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus." Just three verses after the mention of Psalm 89:27 and Jesus being the firstborn from the dead and higher than the kings of the earth John mentions the that he, along with the brethren, are already in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Remember, the title of fisr born ia related to the new creation as Jesus beint the first born from the dead is the first fruits of the new creation. Even though the fullness of the new creation takes place at the last day resurrection we now have the spiritual reality of it when we are spiritually begotten from the deas as Paul likens our conversion to a resurrection. The inauguration of the Kingdom of Christ is the inauguration of the new creation. Paul connects the two in Colossians 1 and John connects the two here in Revelation chapter 1. Revelation 3:14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God" Those of the pre-existent non trinitarian view use this verse as proof that Jesus is literally the first created (begotten) spirit being from before the world was created by Jehovah God. However, notice that before it says he is the beginning of the creation of God it says that he is the faithful and true witness. Witness means martyr so John identifies Jesus being the beginning of the creation of God in respect to him being martyred therfore the beginning comes after his martyrdom which is obviously the resurrection. Again, we are clearly seeing the new creation narrative in plain view of the death, resurrection and Kingship of Christ. Revelation 5:9-10 9 And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood [men] of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, 10 and madest them [to be] unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth. See how John, in the Revelation of Jesus, connects the shedding of the blood of Jesus with us of all nations being made kings and priests i.e. a Kingdom of priests. Again, we see the cross of Christ, his death and resurrection connected with the beginning of his Kingdom which makes us kings and priests. Ephesians 2:5-6 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly [places], in Christ Jesus: Paul says that our begotten from above experience is our resurrection spiritually as we were previously dead. Just as Jesus resurrection from the dead made him a King and a Priest as Jehovah's right hand we also sit with Jesus in the holy of holies when we are spiritually resurrected from the dead. In Ephesians 1:4 Paul says that we have all the spiritual blessings that Christ has in the heavenly places. Those spiritual blessings are easy to identify once we understand what Jesus inherited when he rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. Let's go to Zechariah 6: 12 and 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; 13 even 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. This is a prophecy about the Branch of David being enthroned as King of Israel and High Priest of Israel which shows this is within the context of the new covenant as in the old covenant those offices could not be held by the same person. The counsel of peace will between both Jesus offices of King and High Priest. These are the spiritual blessings that Jesus has the in the holy of holies (heavenly places). The blessings that Jesus has the heavenly places is the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant which includes the throne of David and the Melchizedek priesthood: Psalm 110:1-4 1Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.2Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.3Thy people offer themselves willingly In the day of thy power, in holy array: Out of the womb of the morning Thou hast the dew of thy youth.4Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek. This is the most alluded to old testament passage in the new testament which shows the absolute importance of it. This is David prophesying by the holy spirit of his royal offspring receiving the fulfillment of the promise Jehovah made with him (2 Samuel 7). We know that Jesus fulfilled this and received both the Davidic throne (Acts , 2:29-31) and the Melchizedek priesthood (Hebrews 5;5) at his ascension into heaven. Acts 13:34 "And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure [blessings] of David" Upon Jesus ascension he received the sure blessings of David in the holy of holies. Paul says these are the same blessings that we have now in the holy of holies in Christ. Those sure blessings are the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant which is the throne of David and the Melchizedek priesthood. Ephesians 3:8-11 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; 10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly [places] might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: The dispensation of the mystery that Paul speaks of is the new creation as we see that the context is in relation to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places that were created by Jehovah God which He purposed to put under the authority of His only begotten Son Jesus. The mention of the principalities and powers are also mentioned in respect to the new creation narrative of Colossians 1 and 1 Peter ch. 3 and those are both within the context of Jesus resurrection and ascension into heaven. With this understanding of the new creation we will now go to the prologue of John chapter 1: John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.5And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. Most Christians read this as the Genesis beginning, however if we stay consistent with what John refers to as the beginning in his epistle then we have to go with the beginning of Jesus ministry as the beginning referenced above. 1John 1:1 "That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life" Obviously, John is not talking about the Genesis creation here as the beginning because he mentions the beginning within the context of him and the other apostles seeing him, hearing him and handling him which clearly refers to the start of Jesus Kingdom mission. Unitarian Christians will object to the idea that this is the start of Jesus mission due to the implications of Jesus being called God since he is called the Word of God in Revelation 19:13. Others who do believe the prologue of John refers to the beginning of Jesus mission will also avoid Jesus literally being the Word in John 1:1 due to those same concerns. However, all Unitarians agree that Jesus is what the Word of Jehovah became so there should no issue of Jesus being identified one for one as the Word in the prologue's first few verses. There is no need to get into the semantics of it as Jesus is elsewhere called "God". Reading Deuteronomy 18:15-21 will be a great help in understanding Jesus being the Word of Jehovah. Once we understand that then we can freely identify Jesus as the Word who is God in the first few verses without making him a pre-existent divine being. Remember, Jesus also said in John chapter 10 by whom the word of God came theu were called gods referring to the Judges of Israel. Jesus then said that he had an even greater claim to that title by being the Son of God. The title of Son of God is equated to being the King of Israel (1 Chronicles 28, 2 Samuel 7 and John 1:49). The King of Israel was called God in Psalm 45, which scholars say is Solomon in the immediate context. Thomas also called Jesus "my Lord and my God" and again we must understand the title "God" when used of Jesus in the Psalm 45 and 82 context as the Word of God came by him and him being the Davidic King of Israel. Let's now talk about the new creation aspect of this passage: "All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made" Most Christians use this to say Jesus is the creator of the Genesis creation, however even Jesus never attributed the Genesis creation to himself but rather he credited the Father. The all things made through Jesus refer to the same things made through him in Colossians 1:15-16 which are the thrones, powers, principalities and dominions. These are the same things that were made subject unto him at his ascension into heaven (1 Peter 3:22) and that Jehovah God purposed in Christ from the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1 and Ephesians 3). Revelation 3:14 says that Jesus is the beginning of the creation of Jehovah God, however we know that beginning is tied in with his resurrection not Genesis. The beginning of Jesus mission is connected with his baptism at the Jordan river. As Colossians 1:12-13 shows, the all things created in Jesus are in regards to the Kingdom of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:22 also confirms this as the Davidic covenant fulfillment Psalm 110 is mentioned in that verse in connection with those created things of Colossians 1:16 being made subject unto Christ. John 1:2 "The same was in the beginning with God" Again, most Christians think Genesis is in view here but it is actually the beginning of Jesus mission as stated above. To better understand this we have to know when the Word became Jesus and that is said in verse 14 which we will look at it in a little bit. Needless to say that the Word became flesh (Jesus) when he was baptized at the Jordan river which is exactly when he began to preach the word of the Kingdom of God. John's epistle matches this perfectly: 1 John 1:2 "(and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal [life], which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)" Remember, it was only after Jesus was baptized that the apostles heard, saw and handled him so the beginning of Jesus mission is in view here. This is how we should understand the phrase "which was with the Father" meaning within the beginning of Jesus Kingdom mission. John 1:4 "In him was life; and the life was the light of men" Eternal life was in Jesus when he conducted his Kingdom mission and it still is in him as he sits on the throne of David in new Jerusalem. 1 John 5:11-13 11 And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12 He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.13 These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, [even] unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God. We have eternal life now in the Son of God, Jesus Christ as in Jesus is life and that life is the light of men who are begotten from above by the Spirit of Jehovah God. John 1:5 "And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not" This is clearly referring to the Isaiah 9 prophecy about the Davidic Christ which we know is Jesus. This is about Jesus Kingdom mission and not anything in the old testament as some Unitarians teach. Isaiah 9:1-2 1 But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. This prophecy from Isaiah was applied to Jesus Kingdom mission and the start of that mission in the former territory of Northern Israel. Jesus started his mission in Galilee of the nations where the Northern tribes dwelled. At the time of Jesus first advent (baptism) the whole land of Israel was in darkness especially the Northern half as the House of Ephraim had been scattered and for the most part given to idols and paganism. Needless to say, many in Israel rejected their Saviour as they were in darkness to the false religious establishment of the temple system (Judah) and idols (Ephraim) so they did not comprehend the light of the Son of Jehovah God. John 1:6-8 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.7 The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.8 He was not the light, but [came] that he might bear witness of the light. To further prove that the prologue of John is about the Kingdom mission of Christ and the new creation verse 6 takes us to the baptism ministry of John. To go right into John's mission would be strange if indeed the verses prior were about the Genesis creation. John the Baptist bore witness of Jesus Christ that he is the Son of God: John 1:32-34 32And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him.33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize in water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit.34And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. Verse 7 and 8 are definitely John the Baptist witnessing of Jesus being the light not the Father as some Unitarians believe. We see from the above passage that John saw the holy spirit of Jehovah fall upon Jesus and abide on him. Verse 34 says thay John the Baptist bears witness that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus said he is the light of the world and John bore witness of that and this again fits in with Jesus Kingdom mission prophesied in Isaiah 9 where the Davidic King brings in the light to the dark places of Israel especially that of the Northern Kingdom. John 1:9-10 9 There was the true light, [even the light] which lighteth every man, coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not. If the prologue of John is about the Kingdom mission of Jesus and the new creation then he (Jesus) is the one who is the true light that lights every man coming into the world. What does this mean? First we have to define what the word world means here. John 12:19 "The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing: lo, the world is gone after him" How did the world go after Jesus when bis Kingdom mission was only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel? Clearly the gospel of the Kingdom did not go out beyond Israel during Jesus mission so the word "world" is used to represent "Israel". The word "world" (kosmos in the Greek) has a flexible meaning which mean a specific geographic area or a nation or it could mean the literal whole world. Since Jesus mission was clearly limited to Israel then the word "world" as used in John 12:49 has the more narrow meaning of "a nation". Back to John 1:9-10, the use of the phrase "true light" and that the true light lighteth every man that comes into the world brings us back to Isaiah 9 prophecy about the Kingdom mission of the Davidic Messiah starting in Northern Israel: Matthew 4:12-17 12 Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,15 The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Nations, 16 The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up. 17 From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew confirms that the Isaiah prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Kingdom mission. The bringing of light into the world specifically had to do with the Northern House of Israel who had been largely separated from Jehovah God by the time of Jesus first advent. John 8:12 "Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life" Jesus confirms that he is the light of the world and again this is in respect to the Isaiah 9 prophecy about his Kingdom salvation message to the Northern House of Israel but of course includes the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The man that Jesus, the true light, lightens is the man who is begotten from above by the holy spirit and enters into the New Israel i.e. the world: Colossians 1:12-13 12 giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; 13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; Notice how the translation into the Kingdom of the Son of God is understood as coming out of darkness and into light. This is how we can understand the phrase "lighteth every man, coming into the world" meaning that coming into the world is the same as coming into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and that Kingdom is the New Israel i.e. the world. Isaiah 9;8 "The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel' The word unto Jacob (Judah and Ephraim) is the prophecy of the coming Davidic King to establish the throne and Kingdom of David forever. The prophecy of the arrival of the new covenant Davidic King lighted upon Israel. 1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God`s] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" Peter connects being in the marvelous light to us being kings and priests in the Kingdom of God. John 1:10 "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not" Jesus was in the world meaning Israel as it was who he came to redeem and preach the Kingdom to. It was this world that was going after Jesus according to the Pharisees (John 12:19). Jesus came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel not the entire geographical world. The world was made through Jesus, the question is what world was made through him? Again, we have seen from the above that the word "world" is a flexible term but in the context of Jesus mission and those who followed him, the world is Israel. There is nothing here about the Genesis creation of moon, sun, stars, mountains, oceans, people and animals. I am proving from the context of the prologue that the prologue is about the new creation and Jesus Kingdom mission as that is what is in view. Jesus made a New Israel at his first advent. We can safely say this to be the truth because we have a New Jerusalem (Hebrews 12; 13 and Galatians 4). If there is a New Jerusalem then there must be a New Israel for you can't have a New Jerusalem as part of the old Israel thereby mixing new wine with old wineskins. This New Israel is Jesus Kingdom (Colossians 1:12-13. This Kingdom was formed through the blood of his cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead as we are made kings and priests of that Kingdom via those events in Jesus life (Revelation 1:5-6, 4:9-10; Ephesians 1:4, 2:6). I have already proved that Jesus Kingdom was established upon his ascension to the right hand of the Father throughout this study. Paul talks about the Commonwealth of Israel that Jesus created in his death, blood and resurrection: Ephesians 2:12-13 12 that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. Those who were once afar off (Northern Israel) were made nigh (part of) the Commonwealth of Israel by the blood of Christ. This is the new covenant Israel reuniting Judah and Ephraim (Hebrews 8:8) therefore it is indeed a New Israel being that there is a new capital city where our King reigns and our names are enrolled: Hebrews 12:22-24 22 but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than [that of] Abel. This is the New Israel being spoken of with heavenly Zion and Jerusalem as it's headquarters. The phrase "church of the first begotten" refers to the sons and daughters of Jehovah who comprise the Israel of the new and better covenant. Jehovah referred to Israel as His first begotten (Exodus 4:22; Jeremiah 31:9). The ekklesia of the first begotten Israelites of Jehovah is enrolled in New Jerusalem. Galatians 3 26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.28 There can be neither Judean nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus.29 And if ye are Christ`s, then are ye Abraham`s seed, heirs according to promise. Sonship through Christ to Jehovah God is obtained through begetting of the holy spirit and confirmed outwardly by baptism. The statement by Paul that there is neither Judean nor Greek is in regards to the two houses of Israel with the Greeks representing the Northern tribes (John ,7:35, 11:52). Paul says if you are Christ's, meaning anointed, then you are Abraham's seed meaning you are a descendant of Abraham through Isaac. This is what Paul refers to as the Israel of God in Galatians 6:16. This is the New Israel that Jesus created in his blood which is why one must be baptized into Christ to be part of the new Israel in order to identify with his death and resurrection. "the world knew him not" This world is not the new Israel that Jesus created but the old Israel that Jesus came to bring salvation to. Most of old covenant Israel rejected their King but those who received him: John 1:11-12 11 He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: Jesus own were the Israelites and most of them did not receive him as their king. But there was a remnant according to election that did (Romans 11:5). To those Israelites who did receive Jesus as King and Jehovah's Son they were given the right yo become son's of God: Galatians 4:4-5 4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the Sonship. Paul is speaking to the Galatians here and identifies them as having been under the law and being redeemed (repurchased) which shows that if they were redeemed they had at one time had to have been purchased by Jehovah God. This proves that the Galatians were descendants of the Northern House of Israel. 1 Peter 2:9-10 9 But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God`s] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. The elect race is Israel as Paul says in Romans 11:28. It is Israel who is Jehovah's possession: Deuteronomy 32:8 "For Jehovah`s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance" This is never said about anyone else other than Israel. This proves that the elect race of 1 Peter 2:9 is Israel and not non Israelites. Many use verse 10 to say this elect race were previously not the people of God so they couldn't be Israelites, however they fail to realize that Peter is alluding to Hosea 1:10 "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that, in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, it shall be said unto them, [Ye are] the sons of the living God" This prophecy from Hosea is about the Northern House of Israel and their redemption from idolatry unto the living God Jehovah. Their being taken into captivity and divorced by Jehovah God was the time that they were not the people of God and the mission of Jesus and the apostles was their reconciliation to God. In the place where it says they are not God's people, dispersion outside the land of Israel, they are now called sons of the living God. These are the ones who were given the right to Sonship by receiving their King. To believe on Jesus name (John 1:12) is to believe that he is literally Jehovah's only begotten Son. It is not about the pronunciation of his name in Hebrew or in English but rather it's what the name represents (character, identity and authority). The name "only begotten Son" is the name one must believe in order to be a son of God. That obviously is not a proper name but it's a title of Kingship. The first time we see the phrase "begotten Son" in terms of a relationship with Jehovah is in Psalm 2:7 and it is used as part of a coronation of an Israelite Davidic King: Psalm 2:7 "I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee' This is the Davidic Christ speaking abd declaring what Jehovah told him. This decree is a law and it is said by Jehovah God. This law is that the Davidic royal seed is Jehovah's begotten Son. The word begotten in Hebrew denotes both a literal (conception in the womb) and metaphorical (spiritually birth) meaning. It also means to declare pedigrees. The pedigree being declared to the Davidic royal offspring is their Kingship and Sonship. Psalm 2:6 "Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion" This is stated right before the decree of begotten Sonship in verse 7 showing that these two things (Kingship and Sonship) are inherently connected. John 3:16-18 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.18 He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. To believe on the Son of God (verse 16) is to believe on his name (verse 18). A name represents someones character, identity and authority. So the name that one must believe on to be saved is not the name "Jesus" in terms of pronunciation and spelling but it's what that name represents. It's the name of the "only begotten Son of God" as verse 18 says. The title "only begotten Son" is the name that Jesus was given that is above all names: Hebrews 1:4-5 4 having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son? Jesus became much better than the angels at his ascension into heaven as that is the context of Hebrews chapter 1. The inherited name is what is mentioned in verse 5 that correlates perfectly with John 3:18. Even though angels are sons of God none of them were ever told of the decree of Psalm 2:7 "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee" This is because this decree is for the royal seed of David and is a Davidic Israelite coronation. The Angels are spirits and they are not of the seed of David so they have no right to the throne of David. This is the name that Jesus is given that is above all names because to be Jehovah's only begotten Son means that you are the Davidic King who is to rule over all creation forever from the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6-7). The new creation is in the first advent of Jesus Christ and his subsequent death, resurrection and enthronement as King on the throne of David.
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