Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
My continuing study on the priesthood of Jehoshua:
Let's go back Hebrews 10, verse 5, the author of Hebrews qoutes Psalm 40:6 referring to the incarnation of Jehoshua. God prepared a body for Jehoshua and His body would be the perfect once and for all sacrifice. The sacrifices and offerings in the old covenant were only neccessary because of sin. Psalm 40:6 is a reference to obedience to the law. It was due to Israel's disobedience to the law that the old sacrifices were needed. Verse 6, when presented in a God ordained way, sacrifices were a fragrant aroma to God. This statement in verse 6 is a comparative statement. Sacrifices and offerings were secondary to true, proper and perpetual obedience. Verse 7, citing Psalm 40:6-7, Jehoshua was truly, properly, and perpetually obedient to God (John 6:38). Verses 8-9, "taketh away the first" A reference to the Levitical sacrifices. "Establish the second". Messiah's obedience that He offered to Jehovah. Jehoshua offered the last needed sacrifice for sins (His body and blood) which was His body thereby instituting the new and better more glorious testament. Jehoshua's mission on earth was to do the Father's will not His own. This shows that the Father is the God of Jehoshua as stated elsewhere in scripture. Verse 10, it is God's will that we are sanctified through the sacrifice of Jehoshua's body once and for all. The emphasis here is only the consecration Messiah's work effects for His people. "Offering of the body" one of the purposes of Messiah's incarnation was for His atonement. "Once for all". Jehoshua's sacrifice is final. The Investigative judgement denies that Jehoshua made full atonement when He offered His body up as a sacrifice. They say that the work of atonement continues starting in 1844 until the "close of probation" where our forgiven sins have been transferred to the most holy place. The book of Hebrews categorically refutes this nonsense and says that we have received the atonement without qualification hence the wording "once for all". Verse 10 clearly says that the offering of His body sanctifies His elect. The elect don't need to wait for further sanctification in a future investigative judgement i.e. antitypical day of atonement. The elect are already sanctified when they have faith in the sacrifice of the Son of God. The word "sanctified" comes from the Greek word "hagiazo" (Strongs 37) and means "to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate:- hallow, be holy, sanctify". Either we are sanctified or we are not. Either Jehoshua's sacrifice was sufficient or it wasn't. It was Jehoshua's very sacrifice on the cross that made us (God's elect) holy and sanctified. The key is that it is God through His Son that sanctifies us and nothing of our own doing. The Investigative judgement places the responsibility of one's own behavior as the means for sanctification. There is a huge emphasis of getting rid of one's own character defects during the alleged "time of their probation" here on earth. This is a false gospel. The bible says that it is Jehoshua's death on the cross that makes us holy and sanctifies us as a present tense reality for the beleiver. As a result of the faith placed in the ransom sacrifice of Jehoshua, a believer will experience the new creation hence becoming a new man/woman. This is the born again experience which comes from above, being begotten of Jehovah by the Spirit. This is all the work of God the Father through His Son Jehoshua by the power of the Holy Spirit. Nothing we did or do sanctifies us but only what Jehoshua did on the cross. Someone truly begotten of the Spirit will bear fruits fit repentance. John 1;12-13 (KJV) 12 But to those who received him, he gave them power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe that believe in his name, 13who were begotten, neither of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Jehoshua gave us power to become the sons of God through our faith in Him. Faith in Jehoshua encompasses His whole misson which here in Hebrews 10 is about His death on the cross sanctifying us. Verses 11-13 of Hebrews 10: 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. Here in verses 11-13, we see the contrast being made between the Levitical priesthood and the priesthood appointed to Jehoshua which is the Melchizedek priesthood. The Levitical priesthood was a standing priesthood which ministered daily in the holy place offering continual sacrifices that themselves couldn't take away sins. The old testament priests stood, we read of Messiah that He sat down. Why the difference between the two? The text above tells us. The daily ministry in the holy place didn't satisfy the taking away of sins, so there was a need for the priests to do daily ministry. Jehoshua, who is described as "this man" proving that the ransom sacrifice didn't have to be God but rather it had to be a Man, made the final and absolute sin offering that takes away sins forever. This is something the Levitical priesthood could never do hence the need for daily standing ministry on their part. Because Messiah's offering of Himself was final, there was no need for Him to do daily standing ministration in the holy place. Rather, the Son of God's perfect once and for all sacrifice granted Him direct entrance into the most holy place as Jehovah's sitting high priest. As confirmed all throughout scripture, God's throne is in the most holy place which then confirms that Jehoshua when told to sit down on the right hand of Jehovah God on His throne it was in the most holy place. Verse 13 solidifies the nature of Jehoshua's Melchizedek priesthood as He is told by Jehovah God to sit down on His right hand until His (Jehoshua's enemies) are made His footstol (second advent). Hebrews 1:3 also confirms this: "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" The evidence is irrefutable in that Jehoshua went directly to the most holy place at His ascension and exaltation to sit down on Jah's right hand until the second advent. Even Zechariah the prophet foretold this: Zechariah 12:12-13 (ASV) 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. It was Jehovah God Himself that spoke through Zechariah about the coming Branch (Messiah) re His dual office of King and Priest. Versr 13 of Zechariah confirms that the Branch (Jehoshua) would SIT and rule (Kingship) upon His throne and that He would also be a Priest (Melchizedek) upon His throne. The counsel of peace would be between Jehoshua's dual office of King andPriest. Notice that Zechariah says that Jehoshua's Kingship and Priesthood would be operated from His throne as sitting down not standing up. As His throne in heaven is in the same location as God the Father's throne then obviously it's in the most holy place. The dilemna for Seventh day Adventists is, do you believe the author of Hebrews, Jehovah God, the prophet Zechariah or do you believe Ellen White? By teaching that the atonement wasn't made in full at the cross and that Jehoshua had to perform the functions of the Levitical priesthood in the holy place (daily ministry), Adventists had reduced the blood of the Son of God to the blood of animals. They are therefore saying that like animals blood, Jehoshua's body and blood wasn't enough to for ever take away sins. This is called trampling the Son of God's blood underfoot (Hebrews 10:29). 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. In verse 14 of Hebrews 10, we further read of the absolute completion of the atonement via the once and for all perfect sacrifice of Jehoshua's body. In verse 15 of Hebrews 10, the Holy Spirit is a witness to what the author of Hebrews is testifying to which in context of the previous verses has to do with Jehoshua's entrance into the most holy place at His ascension sitting down at the right hand of Jehovah God. That Messiah's priesthood is not a standing priesthood like the Levites doing daily ministry in the holy place with continual sacrifices. That Jehoshua will remain on the throne until His second advent alluding to His sitting priesthood. Also, that Messiah's body offered on the cross provided the full atonement for sins and made us perfect forever thereby sanctifying us at the cross. The Holy Spirit is a witness to the above truths. Ellen White contradicts all of the above that the Holy Spirit of Jehovah witnesses to. Who do you believe? In verses 16 and 17 we see more truth that the Holy Spirit witnesses to which is that part of the new covenant the law of Jehovah will be written in our hearts and in our minds. Also, that our sins will be remembered no more. Again, Ellen White contradicts exactly what the Holy Spirit witnesses in respect to our sins no longer being remembered. The Investigative judgement teaches that our confessed sins get transferred to the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in order to be reviewed again during the Investigative judgement. This contradicts the very terms of the new covenant and the witness of the Holy Spirit which proceeds from God the Father Himself. Ellen White and the Investigative judgement doctrine teaches that God will remember our sins during the Investigative judgement yet the Holy Spirit of Jehovah God says the exact opposite which is that our sins will not be remembered. Again, who do you believe? The word "remember" comes from the Greek word "mnaomai" (Strongs 3415) and means "to recollect, to come into remembrance, to bear in mind". This matches what is said elsewhere in repsect to the new covenant which is that our trangressions will be blotted out i.e. obliterated. This understanding of the terms of the new covenant destroys the false investigative judgement doctrine which teaches that our confessed sins get transferred to the most holy place for reveiw at the Investigative judgement. You cannot transfer something that is obliterated. Ellen White's investigative judgement doctrine blasphemes the witness of the Holy Spirit. Verse 18: "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." Remission comes from the Greek word "aphesis" (strongs 859) and means "freedom, pardon, deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission". Verse 18 says that we have received (remission) liberty, freedom and pardon of our sins, which in this context is speaking of Jehoshua's offering of His body on the cross. The Investigative judgement teaches the exact opposite of what we just read in verse 18. The author of Hebrews speaks of the finality of the atonement by clearly saying that there is no more offerings needed for sins. Jehoshua's once and for all sacrifice on the cross gave us pardon, liberty and freedom. The Investigative judgement doctrine teaches that the saints are on probation and still have to pass a future review to see if they are worthy of eternal life. Do you see how demonic the Investigative judgement doctrine is? Satan will do anything to keep the saints in bondage to doubting their salvation and the finished work of the cross. Satan wants the saints to look at themselves on probation rather than free and having liberty. Freedom and liberty are the exact opposite concepts of probation. You cannot both be free and be on probation, they don't mix. It's basically being a child of a family whether they are born into or adopted versus being a foster child. Begotten and adopted children are members of the family they are born or adopted into and withinrelatively healthy families the begotten or adopted child doesn't have to worry about being disowned even in times where they may not be the most perfect or obedient child. They have a natural ingrain confidence that there parents will be there for them through even the toughest of times. On the flip side a foster child has no certainty and realizes any day could be their last day with their foster parents. Also, their performance and behavior will also hinge on whether they eventually get adopted as they know that any serious or semi serious trangression of their foster parents rules could spell the end for them. Your average begotten and adopted child will have more confidence and security and actually bear fruits showing that. Even with the carrot of eventually being adopted if they behave well, foster children many times will not behave and bounce from family to family. It's usually the secure child that will bear better fruit even though there is not risk of losing the family ties to keep them in line. Even though the foster child has more of a motivation to behave well as their performance will determine their future, surprisingly this often doesn't pan out that way. Seventh day Adventists reject being secure in their salvation and giving that security to their members, because they think somehow that will make them get too comfortable and be too worldly. The leaders of the Church feel that they can't let members get too cozy in their salvation lest they become lest zealous for the Church. However, the opposite effect has happened as the Seventh day Adventist Church is plagued with serious abominable sins such as allowing homosexuals to be members, in ministry and they even have a transgender elder in their Hollywood church. This is not a small issue in the Church as the world church is increasingly endorsing and/or tolerating this wicked abominable sin. Besides their heavy involvement in politics they are hugely ecumenical notably with the Catholic church. Women pastors are increasing in the Church and number of other apostate teachings and practices plague the Church. This is what happens when you teach a false gospel based on works and performance and deny your members the security of salvation. The exact results that they were in fear of, if they had given their members security of salvation, have happened. Verses 19 and 20 of Hebrews: 19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; This is another passage that refutes the Investigative judgement doctrine. The author of Hebrews says that we now can enter the holy of holies with the blood of Jehoshua as our passport. This was written almost 1800 years before 1844 which is supposedly when Jehoshua first went into the most holy place. There would be no way for us to have access to the holy of holies via Messiah's blood if Messiah didnt actually go there by the time this was written. The author of Hebrews even tells us to have boldness to enter the holy of holies via the Son of God's blood. Holiest comes from the Greek word "hagion" (Strongs 39) and means "holiest, a sacred thing, sanctuary, holy place." Obviously the author of Hebrews uses the word holiest to denote the most holy place. Of course, Seventh day Adventists will twist scripture to say this is only the holy place to perpetuate their 1844 lie. Verse 20 of Hebrews 10, Jehoshua gave us access to the most holy place in a new and living way through the sacrifice of His body (flesh). The author compares Messiah's flesh with that of the veil that seperates the holy place from the most holy place. Again, it is obvious that the author is making reference to Jehoshua entering the most holy place upon His ascension to heaven. The author uses Jehoshua's flesh as a type of the sanctuary veil, basically saying that the veil is no longer needed in the temple because Jehoshua through His veil (body) tore the sanctuary veil apart thereby entering in the throne room where the mercyseat is, sprinkling the blood of His flesh to fulfill the day of atonement. Jehoshua is called the mercyseat for our sins and also symbolically called the veil which consecrated the way of access for us to be in the presence of the Father. Verse 21 and 22 of Hebrews 10 21 And having an high priest over the house of God;22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Jehovah appointed Jehoshua as the High Priest over His (Jehovah's) House (the Congregation) see also Hebrews 3:2. In Hebrews 3 verse 4, it says that Jehovah builds all things including His house (the commonwealth of Israel) and He appointed His Son to be the Master builder and over (preeminent) over Israel (verse 6). Hebrews 3 verse6 also says we are the House of Jehovah. In the old covenant the people of Israel were the House of God. Hebrews shows that New testament beleivers have continuity with God's redemption plan of the old testament. The problem with the Investigative judgement is that it confuses the old covenant glory of Moses with the new covenant glory of Jehoshua. The Investigative judgement doctrine teaches that upon Messiah's ascension He had to perform daily ministry in the holy place for 1800 years before entering into the most holy place. The daily ministry of the Levitical priesthood in the holy place was part of the old covenant glory of Moses. Let's see how Hebrews 3 makes the comparison between the glory of Moses (old covenant, Levitical priesthood) versus the glory of Jehoshua (new covenant, Melchizedek priesthood). Hebrews 3:6 (KJV) 3For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. The author of Hebrews says that Jehoshua being over the House of Jehovah is counted worthy of more glory than Moses as Jehoshua is the builder of Jehovah's House (Zechariah 6:13). Because Jehoshua is over His Father's House He does not have to perform the functions of the Levitical priesthood in the holy place. This is because Jehoshua is not just a high priest but also the King of Israel (the Church). Jehoshua like Melchizedek is a King Priest. For proof that Jehoshua didn't have to perform the functions of the Levitical priesthood upon His ascension let's go to Hebrews 7: 26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. Jehoshua being made higher than the heavens alludes to His glorious ascension and absolute authority over heaven and earth given to Him by the Father. Verse 27 proves the point that Jehoshua because of His superiority over Moses and the Levitical priests, doesn't need to daily standing ministry in the holy place continually offering sacrifice for sins. His once and for all sacrifice of His own body satisfied the sin problem (blotted out) for His people purging us forever. Unlike the Levitical priests who stand daily in their temple ministry, The Son of God sits at the right hand of Jehovah God in the most holy place as a Priest upon His throne (Zechariah 6:13). The glory of Moses included daily ministry in the holy place by the Levitical priests yet these daily sacrifices couldn't take away sin thereby the need to offer them daily. The glory of Jehoshua includes His once and for all satisfying the debt of sin against us which was done when He offered His body up as a sacrifice on the cross. Elsewhere Jehoshua is called the mercyseat for our sins showing us that He bypassed the daily ministration in the holy place and went right to the mercyseat to sprinkle His blood to atone fully for us (Romans 5:9-11). Every Adventist should know that the reference to daily ministry by the high priests in verse 27 of Hebrews 7 is regarding the daily ministration in the holy place.
2 Comments
Teri
1/10/2018 01:46:33 pm
Hey Solomon, this is a fantastic post! Jesus was definitely" perfectly" obedient. I also like how you put into words how it is that Jesus taketh away the first, meaning the Levitical sacrifices to establish the second, a new and better way...The Cross was necessary, the needed sacrifice for sins which was why Jesus prayed the father if there be another way. I learned more about the close of probation- a SDA doctrine but you are correct in that we have already received atonement for sins. The ongoing task of becoming new creations in Christ, cannot be achieved unless we have been born again and are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Thus we have now the power to become the sons of God. I also loved "Do you believe" Heb 10: 29 is such a wonderful scripture. Keep on in the faith as I know you are doing. God bless.
Reply
Solomon Jah
1/19/2018 07:26:11 am
Hi Teri,
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2021
Categories |