Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
My study called Amillennialism reformed part 1
Amillennialism like many other doctrines has evolved over time and today many Amillennialists teach that the reign of Messiah with the saints is a heavenly one not an earthly one (Rev 20:4). This is not the traditional view of Amillennialism. The traditional view of Amillennialism is that the first resurrection of the saints is their conversion here on earth and hence they reign with Messiah during the span of the new covenant Church age. The new view among many Amillennialists is that the thousand year reign of the saints with the Messiah takes place once they die and go to heaven as a disembodied soul and hence it is a heavenly reign not an earthly one. So the first resurrection is when the saints die and go to heaven as disembodied souls. As a devout Amillennialist, the new troubles me and brings the Amillennial view into more reproach than it already endures due to accusations of over spiritualization. Is the saints millennial reign with Messiah heavenly or earthly? Is the first resurrection our earthly conversion or is it at death when we go to heaven as a disembodied soul? These are the questions I will find answers for in the scriptures. Suprisingly the answer to the first question is actually very simple, lets go to Revelation 5:9-10: 9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. By way of the Messiah's death on the cross we have been made kings and priests. This is a present tense statement that is backed up by Revelation 1:5-6 and 1 Peter 2:9. We are not priests and kings in waiting but we are those offices in reality. Verse 10 seals the deal and says that we shall reign on the earth not heaven. For Amillennialists to keep the integrity of their doctrine they have to go back to the traditional view that the first resurrection is our earthly conversion which results in our reigning with Messiah on this earth now during the millennial age. All Amillennialists agree that the Kingdom of Jehoshua is a present reality, however the new version of Amillennialists posit our reigning with Messiah being in heaven after we die. The problem with the new version of Amillennialism is that nowhere in scripture does it speak of a resurrection taking place right after we die. The only resurrections that are spoken of is our conversion experience i.e. when we are baptized after being given the Holy Spirit and at the last day when our dead bodies are raised to be with Messiah i.e. the second advent. Lets look at Romans 6 for an example of conversion resurrection: 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.7For he that is dead is freed from sin.8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Verses 4, 5, 8, 10 and 11 compare our conversion to Jehoshua's resurrection. Baptism is in view here not dying and flying up to heaven as a disembodied soul. Ephesians 2:5-6 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: The quickening and raising up of the saints here is clearly speaking of our conversion experience as verse 5 says "when we were dead in sins" past tense as our quickening results in being saved. No dead man is saved and no dead man will inherit the Kingdom so this quickening is one that brings salvation in this life, hence we will be resurrected to immortality on the last day. Verse 6 says that as a result of being quickened and saved we are raised up (resurrection), present tense, to sit together with the Son of God in the most holy place. Jehoshua's functions in the holy of holies are the Davidic Kingship and Melchizedek priesthood (Hebrews 1:8-9; Hebrews 5:5). Because of being quickened and made alive we are no longer dead in our sins which shows the above passage to be about a spiritual resurrection in this life i.e. our conversion experience. As a result we are now part of the elect race Royal priesthood that Peter speaks of: 1 Peter 2:9 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: This is present tense language used by Peter of the Church. This is only true of those who have been called out of the darkness of Satan's kingdom to the Son of God's as Paul also says: Colossians 1:12-13 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son In order to be part of the Royal Priesthood and Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah you must have been called by the Father into the marvelous light of His beloved Son's Kingdom. Again, conversion is the way into the Priesthood and Kingdom not dying and going to heaven as a disembodied soul. When we were dead in our sins, we were in the darkness of Satan's kingdom. When the Father called us He quickened us saving us by His grace thereby bringing us into the Kingdom of His Son Jehoshua. Lets look at one more passage that proves that the believers conversion experience is likened to new birth or resurrection: John 3:3-8 3Jehoshua answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be begotten from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be begotten when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother`s womb, and be begotten?5 Jehoshua answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be begotten of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!6That which is begotten of the flesh is flesh; and that which is begotten of the Spirit is spirit.7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be begotten from above.8The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is begotten of the Spirit. Being begotten from above by the Spirit of Jehovah represents a new life i.e. resurrection from being dead in sin to being made alive with Messiah Jehoshua. The Son of God says that this is the only way that we will be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. Being begotten by water represents baptism which is a requirement and commandment. Both of these, being begotten by the Spirit and water, represent our conversion experience which leads to new life in the Son of God. Previously we were dead but now we have entered into eternal life and have passed from death to life: John 5:24 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life. Jehoshua says that when we hear (obey) His word (His commandments) and believe that the Father is the only true God (John 17:3) then we have passed out of death (dead in sin) and are now in life i..e rebirth, spiritual resurrection (law written in our hearts). I believe i have showed that our conversion experience is likened to being resurrected albeit spiritually. With the understanding that the first resurrection is our conversion experience and that we reign as kings and priests on earth, lets read Revelation 20:4-6: 4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.5But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. If you have the new Amillennial position then you believe the thrones mentioned are in heaven and that is where the saints do the judging. In the older Amillennial view, the thrones are on earth and it is on earth that the saints judge. Since Revelation 5:9-10 says that we as kings and priests reign on the earth, then the older Amillennial view has to be true. The saints are never said to conduct judgment from heavenly thrones so these thrones must be earthly thrones. Since all Amillennialists deny a future earthly millennium then the earthly reign of the saints where they sit on thrones and judge must be in respect to the new covenant age and matters concerning the earthly affairs of the Church which is the Kingdom of the Son of God on earth. Lets look at some texts that support the idea that the Church has been given authority to judge matters concerning the Church during the new covenant age. Matthew 16:13-20 (KJV) 13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. In verse 18, Jehoshua tells Peter that He (Jehoshua) will build the Church on the foundation of His Sonship and Messiahship and that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church built on this. Verse 19, Jehoshua tells Peter that He will give the Church, that is built upon this rock (Jehoshua's Sonship and Messiahship), the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. This is a reference to the Church's authority as the agent of God's Kingdom. The keys of the Kingdom of heaven are the same as the key of David mentioned by Jehoshua in Revelation 3:7: "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth" The key of David is a key that gives one authority in the government of Israel. The Davidic kings had the government of Israel laid upon their shoulder (Isaiah 9:6) and they entrusted men under them with the keys of the kingdom. Isaiah 22 speaks of such a case: 22And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.23And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a throne of glory to his father`s house. 24And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father`s house, the offspring and the issue, every small vessel, from the cups even to all the flagons. Eliakim was given the key of the kingdom of David and had authority to shut or open the house (kingdom) of David. Eliakim was given the office of treasurer of the kingdom. The treasurer was the under the authority of the Davidic king and was given authority to judge matters concerning the kingdom. To have the key of David likely meant ability to grant entrance in the kingdom or excommunicating from the kingdom. With this understanding we then know what Jehoshua means in Matthew 16:19 as He is giving the apostles and those who follow after them authority to bind and loose matters concerning the Church on earth. Jehoshua will then bind and loose in heaven, whatever judgments the Church makes. This is basically the same as shutting and opening concerning matters in the Kingdom of David which is headed by the final Davidic King Jehoshua Messiah. The Church is the kingdom of David on earth and Jehoshua is the King of the Kingdom. Jehoshua has given the Church the key of David, which is the authority to judge matters concerning the kingdom even granting entrance or excommunicating. The Church is basically the Eliakim of the new covenant age. Jehoshua has entrusted us to judge righteously concerning His Kingdom even giving us authority to either shut the door of the kingdom or to open it, which especially speaks of Church discipline as Matthew 18 shows: 15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. The text above is primarily about Church discipline as Jehoshua gives the key of David to the Church as He allows them to kick an unrepentant member out of the kingdom of David (the Church). In this case, the Church is shutting the door of the house of David to an unrepentant sinner and no one can open the door to him/her because Jehoshua bound the decision in heaven. Only the Church can then loose that decision, thereby opening the door of the kingdom of David to the repentant brother or sister. Jehoshua then looses that decision in heaven. Verses 19 and 20 show that having the key of David and authority to loose and bind goes beyond Church discipline but even extends to anything we ask in Jehoshua's name. Two or three constitute a legitimate gathering of the Kingdom of David where the Davidic King is then present in their midst. 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 1Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?2Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?4If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.5I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?6But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Here Paul chastises the Corinthians for going to the secular authorities to have their internal disputes resolved. In verse 2, he says the saints will judge the world (unbelievers) in the consummation (last day) so why are they going to these same unbelievers to solve their disputes. Paul tells the Corinthians to set in the Church the least esteemed to be judges of the internal disputes between members of the Church. This shows that all members of the Church are to have part in being judges albiet within the context of the authority they have within a particular Church fellowship. In todays mainstream institutional Church system, members have given up their the right to be judges in matters concerning the kingdom, thereby forfeiting the key of David to be solely held by paid professional clergy. Paul makes it clear that the authority to judge matters concerning the Church is for everyone in the Church provided they are walking uprightly in the faith. Psalm 122:1-9 (ASV) 1I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah.2Our feet are standing Within thy gates, O Jerusalem,3Jerusalem, that art builded As a city that is compact together;4Whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of Jehovah, [For] an ordinance for Israel, To give thanks unto the name of Jehovah.5For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.7Peace be within thy walls, And prosperity within thy palaces.8For my brethren and companions` sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.9For the sake of the house of Jehovah our God I will seek thy good. The song of David can also be looked at as a prophecy of the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah, the eternal Davidic King. The house of Jehovah in David's day was the tabernacle and in the new covenant age it is the Church. Jerusalem of David's day is now replaced by New Jerusalem which is the Headqaurters of the Church (Hebrews 12), as the Church is described as being building fitly compacted (framed) as a holy temple of Jehovah (Ephesians 2:19-21). The 12 tribes of Israel in the new covenant are the Church, as James the brother of Jehoshua gave greeting to the Church and referred to them as the 12 tribes scattered abroad. The content of his letter proves indeed that he is writing to members of the body of Messiah i.e the Church not to the literal ethnic tribes of Israel. James 1:1-2 (KJV) 1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Its obvious that James is not addressing literal descendants of the 12 tribes as he refers to them as brethren, meaning fellow believers in Messiah who are in the faith (verse 3). It would be ridiculous to think he is sending this letter to the literal 12 tribes who by this time were dispersed around the world and largely untraceable. It would be a pointless effort by him because he wouldn't even know where or who to send it to since they were literally lost tribes. The context is clear that his letter is addressing those in the Messianic faith. The whole chapter is exhorting them to obey the word of God who begat them through the word. God didn't beget unbelievers through the word thereby eliminating the idea that this letter could be addressed to literal descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel as they were geographically untraceable for the most part and likely many if not most unbelievers of the Messiah either by rejection or by never even hearing of him by this point. With that understood, lets now go back to verses 4 and 5 of Psalm 122: 4Whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of Jehovah, For an ordinance for Israel, To give thanks unto the name of Jehovah.5 For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. The tribes of Israel which is the new covenant Church go up to give thanks to Jehovah in His temple i.e. the Church which is New Jerusalem. The thrones of judgment are the authority of the King and His servants to lead the people in justice. These are the thrones of the Kingdom of David in which Jehoshua and the Church (12 tribes) sit and judge. The Kingdom of David is a type of the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah. Ephesians 2:6 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Messiah Jehoshua. The heavenly places refers to the heavenly sanctuary specifically the holy of holies. Paul says we sit with Jehoshua in the holy of holies. What is Jehoshua's office of function in the holy of holies? He is a King and a Priest there (Heb 1:8-9; 5:5). If we are said to be sitting with Him there, then that means we also are functioning as kings and priests. Scripture confirms that we are already kings and priests by what Messiah did on the cross (1 Peter 2:9; Rev 1:5-6; Rev 5:9-10). By sitting with the Son of God in the heavenly places, we participate with Him in His Kingship and Priesthood. As He physically reigns in heaven, we physically reign here on earth (Rev 5:9-10). As He operates His priesthood in heaven in the heavenly sanctuary, we operate our priesthood here on earth in the Church which is Jehovah's temple here on earth (Isaiah 61). Our union in and through Messiah imply that we already share in Jehoshua's exaltation in heavenly places. This passage in Ephesians proves that we reign now with Messiah not just after He comes back. Jehoshua is the Davidic King and sits on the throne of David in heaven and we as the 12 tribes of Israel sit with Him on His throne in heavenly places thereby we sit on thrones of judgment in the house (kingdom) of David. Luke 22:29-30 (ASV) 29 and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed unto me,30that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Jehoshua covenanted a Kingdom to the 12 apostles which is the Kingdom of David. The Father appointed this Kingdom to Jehoshua at His baptism and enthroned Him as King of this Kingdom upon His ascension into heaven. This is not a future earthly millennial kingdom but a present tense Kingdom proved by the myriad of scriptures that we are already in the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah. Colossians 1:12-13 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: You cannot be translated into something that doesn't exist, hence once we were begotten from above by the Spirit we were translated (transferred) from Satan's kingdom to the Kingdom of the Son of God. This Kingdom is an eternal Kingdom which lasts throughout all eternity. The judging of the 12 tribes of Israel is also a statement that must be understood by what James stated in his letter where he identified the 12 tribes of Israel as the Church. Remember, Jehoshua gave the key of David i.e. the key to the kingdom of heaven to the apostles where they had authority to shut or open the house of David (Matthew 16:13-20; Matthew 18:15-21).
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