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The City of Zion Part 5
The Royal Priesthood
Introduction
This article is a transcribed sermon given to a local fellowship group in October 2005. This is part five of a fourteen part series on the "City of Zion", and what is known as the "royal priesthood" will be addressed in this article. These sermons can also be obtained on CDs or audio cassettes. The term "royal priesthood" is only found once in the Bible (1Peter 2:9). The apostle Peter quoted from Exodus 19:5-6; which explained that a people called Israel were to be a "kingdom of priests", an "holy nation", and a "peculiar treasure", and Israel was to be ABOVE all people of the earth. The point that must be understood is that Peter addressed his epistle to "strangers" scattered to various nations (1Peter 1:1); which would mean these "strangers" were considered as a part of the "royal priesthood." This would logically mean that these "strangers" were also a part of God’s peculiar treasure above all other people in the earth. The fact is, God inspired Peter to quote Exodus 19:5-6 to correctly identify these "strangers". To be consistent and honest with scripture one must conclude that since Israel of the old covenant was special to God above all other people, then the people Peter wrote to also had to be special above all other people of the earth. The point is, God was very selective and inspired the apostle Peter to imply that other people (other than Israel) of all the earth were NOT included as a part of the "royal priesthood". The question that all believers should logically ask; why did Peter quote Exodus 19:5-6, if the "strangers" included other people than the true Israelites that were God’s peculiar treasure above all other people of the earth? The answer that is generally given in today’s Christian world is that there is now a "spiritual Israel". But than that demands this question; why didn’t Peter just say "spiritual Israel" instead of quoting Exodus 19:5-6? Please read this transcribed sermon very carefully…..
It is important for us as a Church body to consider the subject of Zion as a truth that should be a part of our daily thinking and a part our Christian walk with God. The truth of Zion is very real and that reality is a part of our daily lives, and I know we simply are not aware that. We’re only aware of the physical world around us; we are not aware of the invisible unseen creation. That is why our Christian walk with God is called a faith walk. 2 Cor 5:7 says; For we walk by faith, not by sight. Zion cannot be seen; it is not by sight, but it is also not a fantasy or religious sounding belief that just makes us feel good, if you know what I mean. It is reality, a profound truth, and a fact of life that we as professing believers must never take for granted. Shall we pray.
As we know, the Bible talks a lot about the subject of Zion, and also priests are mentioned many times in scripture, but a royal priesthood is mentioned only once in the Bible. God wants us to have a spiritual awareness of the invisible unseen creation of the city and country of Mount Zion. Walking by faith means we walk; we take strides or steps in understanding spiritual things. We can all agree growing in understanding spiritual things has everything to do with accepting and believing the knowledge of God, and it is the lack of correct knowledge that we must try to avoid.
As I mentioned in my last sermon to ignore scripture is to not acknowledge what the scriptures are saying, and that is what causes the lack of knowledge. God destroyed Israel because they rejected certain knowledge as explained in Hosea 4. Let’s just turn to Hosea 4:1-7 and we want to read the complete context of what Hosea was explained starting in verse one.
KJV Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because [there is] no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. 3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. 4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people [are] as they that strive with the priest. 5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: [therefore] will I change their glory into shame.
Now we can all agree these are very serious statements regarding knowledge. The United States today is a copy of sinful ancient Israel which means Hosea’s warning can most certainly apply for this nation. The sinful description of the land with no knowledge of God could very well apply to this nation, which is certainly given over to all these sins described by Hosea.
What is the sin of blood touching blood? That word "toucheth" is the same word that Eve was not to "touch" the tree in the midst of the garden (Gen 3:3). It’s the same "touching" when God prevented Abimelech not to "touch" Abraham's wife Sarah (Gen 20:6). It is a certain kind of blood that touches another kind of blood that causes the offspring of a certain seed to be worthless to God. This nation is very much involved with this kind of sin and will justify it; including most of our Churches.
This nation has all kinds of knowledge all right, but understand something; it is the lack of certain knowledge that cause these sinful conditions. But this nation was not always like this; these sinful conditions were caused when the true God and the laws of God started to be rejected in the schools and the courts, and yes, even in our Churches. But this was also the condition of ancient Israel, and we know that Hosea wrote and warned the people of his day; and the knowledge that was rejected is what the priests taught the people.
If you noticed they strived with the priest and in verse 5 it says therefore; in other words that is why they were destroyed because of the lack of knowledge. The people forgot the law of God that the priests taught. That is why God rejected ancient Israel and Israel was destroyed. The word destroyed in verse 6, if you will check, means to be dumb or silent. It also means to cease, cut off, and come undone. Yes, ancient Israel became dumb and stupid caused by lack of certain knowledge; they ceased and became undone as a nation, and were cut off from their inheritance, and please understand; all this was caused because Israel rejected knowledge from the priests. Why would God destroy the mother and also forget the children mentioned in verse 6? It is because the children by descent were in line to inherit the priesthood. The people in Hosea’s day simply ignored and refused to believe what the priests tried to teach them.
Just to edify and I do include myself, if we ignore what certain scriptures are saying then we’re just playing a knowledge game with God, and I’m sure we all can agree with that. We must believe the written words of God, but we might not understand what is written and that is not a sin. The sin comes into focus when we profess to be believers in God’s word and then we ignore and don’t acknowledge what the words of God are saying. That is what causes the lack of knowledge.
We can all agree that understanding the subject of Zion and growing in God’s word is all about accepting and believing correct knowledge. I’m sure there are no confessed believers of the Bible that will say they DON’T believe what the words of God are saying. You see, there is no true believer that dares to make that statement. Remember to sin is to miss the mark of perfection, or sin is simply making a mistake that we might not even be aware of. Most of us are not aware that we might be ignoring or not acknowledge what certain scriptures are saying because the understanding is being blocked by what we personally believe; and I do include myself.
It doesn’t matter what you or I or anyone happens to believe. What matters is it truth, and are we humble enough to change our beliefs? The point I am making, if we are not aware or if we unintentionally ignore what God’s words are saying; it is still a sin. None of us would intentionally reject or ignore scripture, now would we? We do not realize that all we have to do to reject knowledge is to ignore what the words of God are saying. We chose to put a spin on what certain scriptures are obviously saying, because it is only natural for us to interpret to make them fit with the way we personally believe, and again I include myself. We simply are not aware of the mistake and sin we might be making. To grow in understanding the words of God is to simply believe the meaning of words in the context they were written. So let’s be careful to not repeat the sin and mistake of the people of Hosea’s day.
1Peter 2:9 KJV But 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:
There is only one people that are biblically called a chosen generation, a holy nation, and a royal priesthood. "Chosen generation" means chosen offspring or race. How serious does it become to reject knowledge for those called to be a part of a royal priesthood? God is selecting a spiritual priesthood that will teach the correct knowledge of God; to be mediators on matters between God and man for the purpose of reconciling. That is what mediator means and that is what priests are supposed to do, and it is called a royal priesthood.
Royal means kingly or sovereign foundation of power. The color "purple" was always biblically used to represent the royalty and sovereignty of kingly power. Purple and scarlet were the colors used many times in Exodus when God instructed the type of cloth that was to be used for the service of God. This cloth was always fine linen which was highly symbolic of a royal priesthood being clothed with righteousness that was to show forth the praises of God.
In the story of the rich man and Lazarus; the rich man was clothed in purple; the color of royalty, and he also was clothed in fine linen (Luke 16:19). The tribe of Judah was promised the scepter of power but only until Shiloh comes.
Genesis 49:10 KJV The 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.
The Jews of Christ’s day understood Gen 49:10, and they claimed the scepter of power and they were proud and considered themselves as lawgivers; rich with the blessings of righteousness from God. Jesus Christ was the Shiloh to come and was of the tribe of Judah. The Jews of Christ’s day rejected Christ the Shiloh and rejected the rightful scepter that belonged to Christ unto who the gathering of people would be. The Jews knew exactly why Christ used the illustration of a rich man against them.
Their proud legalized supposed rule of the scepter of power with the rich blessings of God was destined to end because Shiloh was now come and the people would gather unto Christ; not the Jews. Remember the rich man had five brothers (Luke 16:28), and Judah had five full brothers from his mother Leah; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, and Zebulon. There were twelve brothers, but some were half brothers from different mothers. The colors of kingly sovereign rule and the fine linen of the laws of righteousness that the rich man was so proud to possess would be given to Lazarus; who represented the lost tribes divorced from God known as the Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:12-16 KJV That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
The priesthood of Levi was destined to be replaced by the royal priesthood when God cut off Israel from their inheritance; when they become aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and were without God and had no hope. Now understand this very tragic condition of Israel being destroyed and cut off was all caused by a lack of knowledge. These Ephesian Gentile Israelites were rejected and wounded by God and the dogs came and licked their sores and they begged for the crumbs off the rich man’s table. This was highly symbolic language illustrated by Jesus Christ in Luke 16:21 explaining the enmity and hostility; the middle wall of partition which Christ broke down and made peace and reconciled into one body both the Jews and Gentiles. Judah and the other tribes are now reconciled. This reconciliation is what the Jews, illustrated by the rich man clothed in purple and fine linen, would not accept which is what the enmity and hostility was.
As we know, even the apostle Peter had a major problem with that enmity that Christ broke down. The word "Commonwealth" in Eph 2:12 is no. 4174 and means citizenship; it has nothing to do with a covenant or the inheritance promised to the nation of Israel. Commonwealth and the covenants are two different things that Israel would become alienated and strangers to. Commonwealth can also mean freedom and was translated as "freedom" in Acts 22:28.
Because of the lack of certain knowledge Israel would no longer have the "freedom" as citizens, and what is the citizenship of Israel? I do not believe this is talking about just being recognized as a natural born citizen of the seed of Israel. I could be wrong but I believe this is talking about Israel being aliens from having the freedom of being citizens of the city and country of mount Zion.
Phil 3:20 KJV For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
That word "conversation" is found in other places, and it simply means conduct or manner of life. But Phil 3:20 is the only place where it is a different Greek word, and it means citizenship. Sure it could be said since our citizenship is in heaven our conduct and manner of life should be righteous living, but that was not the original Greek word. Most all translations say "citizenship" in Phil 3:20 but the KJV and few others use "conversation." Our conduct and manner of life is on earth; not in heaven. Could it be that Israel’s citizenship has always been in heaven? But since ancient Israel rejected certain knowledge they became alienated or were no longer citizens of heavenly Zion. Webster says alienate means; to divert from its original use or possessor; to apply to a purpose foreign from its original or customary one.
Who was the possessor of Israel, and what was the original use that the possessor had in mind for Israel? God was the possessor of Israel and Israel was diverted or alienated from its original use all because of the rejection of the knowledge of God. Could it be that original use was to be a royal priesthood to the rest of God’s creation? The high priests under Moses made reconciliation for the sins of the people, but they only represented the REAL high priest Jesus Christ who made the REAL reconciliation for the sins of all Israel. The priests taught the laws of God as Hosea explained, but the laws were also animal sacrifices. Did the possessor of Israel intend for that priesthood to teach the world how to sacrifice animals, or how to physically observe the weekly Sabbath including the festivals and the eight day feast of tabernacles in how to dwell in tents or booths for eight days? Is that the kind of knowledge that the possessor of Israel wants to teach to a fallen world, and if rejected would that cause its destruction? The rejection of the knowledge of those types of laws did cause God to destroy Israel as a nation, because the Levitical priesthood was still in power.
As we all know, that was a temporary priesthood of a natural born temporary citizenship. That citizenship was destroyed when Israel was destroyed along with the Levitical priesthood; which is why that priesthood was never the original purpose and use for the possessor of Israel. The royal priesthood has a heavenly citizenship in heavenly Zion that will be used to teach the correct knowledge of God to reconcile and restore the fallen creation. We will now pick up where we left off in my last lesson.
Psalm 110:1-7 KJV The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people [shall be] willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. 6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill [the places] with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. 7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
"The Lord said unto my Lord" should be translated as, "The affirmation of Jehovah to my Lord". This is quoting Young’s Translation. The two "Lords" cannot be the same person because Christ the Lord would NOT be talking to himself, and neither would God the Father. King David describes what Jehovah the self existent one affirmed to "my Lord," and who was "my Lord?" This was quoting what David wrote; which means Jesus Christ was David’s Lord.
There are two different "Lords" in verse one. The second "Lord" is no. 113 and means rule or sovereign, and was translated as Lord or master over 330 times in the OT. The Jehovah Lord affirmed that Jesus Christ the Lord would sit at His right hand until Jehovah would make Christ’s enemies His footstool. Christ would rule as a sovereign priest after the order of Melchizedek in the midst of His enemies. It says God’s people will be willing in the day of Christ’s power when He rules as a priest among His enemies. They will be willing for what? They will be willing to rule also with Christ out of Zion as a royal priesthood to be mediators; to teach the knowledge of God when Christ rules in the midst of His enemies. God the Father swore that power to Jesus Christ with an oath and will not repent; which means He will not change His mind.
The affirmation of Christ as a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek means it is unchangeable. Remember a priest is one who holds the office of a mediator; transacting and reconciling matters between God and man. That is what Jehovah God affirmed about Jesus Christ to David which includes the willing saints. They are the rod of Jesus Christ’s strength out of Zion that Jehovah will send, and "rod" was translated most of the time as tribes or tribe, and "rod" means chastising, correction, and ruling. "Rod" is a scepter of power that will be the strength out of Zion given to the willing saints ruling with Jesus Christ.
The Lord in verse five is referring to the no. 113 Lord who is Jesus Christ. He will be at the right hand of God the Father in the day of God’s wrath (verse 5) to rule out of Zion in the midst of Christ’s enemies and to judge among the heathen; and there will be a lot of dead bodies and the heads of many countries will be wounded.
Hebrews 5:6-10 KJV As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
This of course is quoting Psalm 110 as we just read. Jesus Christ is obviously the high priest mentioned, but Christ was affirmed and made a priest only after the ORDER of Melchizedek. That implies that Christ was not Melchizedek; He was only made a priest after the same cause, manner, and reason of the priesthood of Melchizedek. That is what "order" means. The name Melchizedek is traced to mean royal king. Whoever He was, He was the king of Salem and he was very impressed with Abraham when he returned from slaughtering certain kings. That is why he blessed Abraham, and Abraham tithed to him and gave him a tenth of the spoils of war, as we will see. This man is only found twice in all the Old Testament but found nine times in the book of Hebrews alone, and the phrase "after the order of" is repeated seven times in Hebrews, which tells me that God wants us to know the significance of a man called Melchizedek. I believe the writer of Hebrews fills in some details that are not found in the Old Testament. He must have had other writings.
Hebrews 6:13-14 KJV For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
The promise made to Abraham is what Abraham believed and that is what pleased God as we know. What is so important for us to understand is that the faith of Abraham is also the Christian faith; it is the faith that the early Church also believed and trusted in, which makes it our faith that we must also believe and put our complete trust in. Abraham got his faith and belief from a man called Melchizedek who was the mediator between God and Abraham.
Melchizedek must have also told Abraham about a certain city that he was to inherit, and as we know Abraham demonstrated his faith by looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. God swore by himself to bless and multiply Abraham; which means that Abraham’s descendants are also promised to inherit that city.
Hebrews 6:15-17 KJV And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation [is] to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath: {confirmed...: Gr. interposed himself by}
Notice that God confirmed to the heirs of promise the immutability of what God already decided; which is His council. He confirmed that promise to the heirs by His own oath; He could swear by no greater. The word "confirmed" is to interpose and to ratify. God ratified that promise by interposing himself and that is what the footnote says. "Immutability" means unchangeable.
Verse 18 KJV That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
The two immutable or unchangeable things was God’s word of the promise to Abraham through Melchizedek, and then the second thing is His oath that confirmed that promise. It was impossible for God to lie about the blessing and promise to Abraham and to the heirs of promise simply because God interposed Himself; He pledged himself. But there is more to the word "confirmed" that just to interpose and ratify. It also means a "go between," it means a reconciler, an intercessor, a mediator. God was a go between; He was the middle man so to speak, so as to guarantee the unchangeable promise to the heirs, and He placed himself in the middle as a reconciler, a mediator, and an intercessor to all the heirs of promise. Verse 17 says God was willing to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise than just to swear with an oath; so He placed himself between the actual inheritance of Zion and the heirs of promise; the inheritors of Zion.
Verse 19 KJV Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
That hope is very sure and steadfast because when Jesus Christ died that hope of inheriting Zion entered within the veil. It went behind that curtain in the holy place where God symbolically dwelled with His people. When Jesus Christ died that curtain of the temple was ripped from top to bottom symbolically exposing where God dwelled and that is where Christ also entered making the reconciliation for the sins of all the heirs of the promise of Zion. The heirs of promise can now symbolically go where God dwells, and Christ was the forerunner for all the heirs. That hope of the inheritance of Zion did not become an anchor of our souls until Christ made the reconciliation for the sins of all the heirs of the promise. This historical event that happened behind that veil that anchors our souls becomes the unchangeable faith that believers must have, and this was all made possible with Jesus Christ being made a priest by an unchangeable oath of God after the order of a man called Melchizedek. Let’s continue on in chapter seven.
Hebrews 7:1-3 KJV For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
The term "without descent" means unregistered as to birth. It means without pedigree or genealogy. That is the order of the priesthood of Melchizedek which Jesus Christ was made after. That priesthood was not dependent on the successors inheriting it by the genealogy of fathers and mothers and the birth and death of the inheritors.
Some say that Shem was Melchizedek. Whoever he was, he did not inherit that priesthood by descent, pedigree, or by genealogy, which is why it says he was without father and mother, and was without beginning of days or end of life. He had to represent the Son of God Jesus Christ as a priest that abides continually. Shem’s birth and genealogy is registered and mentioned, and he did have an end of life, but that doesn’t mean Shem still could not the priest of the most high God; it’s just that his birth, descent, and death didn’t matter.
You might wonder why I am I making such a big deal over a man called Melchizedek. Well, God inspired the writer of the book of Hebrews to repeatedly mention this man; so why should we not have an interest on who this man was, and why not learn why Abraham was connected with him? Why not learn more about the unchangeable hope that anchors our souls just like the unchangeable faith of Abraham; which has to do with seeking for the city of Zion. Over the years many have speculated on who Melchizedek was. Why not just believe that he was an actual man called Melchizedek. Of course he was a mystery man simply because there is no record of his parents, and his birth was not registered and there is no record of his death; but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have a father and mother; it just wasn’t registered and recorded, as explained in Hebrews.
There is also another mystery man in the Old Testament that the Bible made no mention of his parents or his birth or his death; at least I can’t find any mention of it; but maybe you can. That man was the prophet Elijah, and all it says is that he was a Tishbite. I believe God chose a man called Melchizedek to represent an unchangeable continuing priesthood made like unto the son of God; which is exactly why that priesthood was not determined by descent, pedigree, genealogy, birth or death; which in turn is why his physical descent was never recorded in scripture. Melchizedek was the king of Salem and Psalms 76:2 says; speaking about God. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
The man Melchizedek represented God; the REAL king of Salem or king of Jerusalem, and the REAL king of righteousness and peace whose dwelling place is in the REAL heavenly Zion.
Hebrews 7:4-6 KJV 4 Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Again "descent" is mentioned. The Levitical priesthood had to be sustained by the tithing system because the sons of Levi had no other inheritance. The priesthood of Melchizedek was also a physical priesthood because it also was sustained by the tithing system, and Abraham even gave him a tenth of the spoils of war, but it says Melchizedek’s descent was not counted to inherit the priesthood as were the sons of Levi. That word "counted" means to trace in genealogy. This simply means the priest of the most high God was not traced in genealogy, which again is why his birth was never registered.
If you keep reading in Hebrews Melchizedek is mentioned repeatedly and it also keeps repeating the phrase "after the order of". What is God teaching us, and why is Abraham included? Keep in mind our high priest Jesus Christ was made after the same cause, manner, and reason that Melchizedek was. That is what the phrase "after the order of" is all about.
What did God teach Abraham through Melchizedek that was a part of the covenant that convicted Abraham to demonstrate what he believed by looking for a heavenly county and city? Whatever Melchizedek taught Abraham; Jesus Christ our high priest wants to teach to us also. But we must be willing to be taught and learn to grow in that knowledge; knowledge that can only come by studying the words of God, and it must never be ignored or rejected. We all know what happened in Hosea’s day. God destroyed the whole nation of Israel because they refused to be taught by the priests and they rejected the knowledge of God; so God rejected them.
Do not ever think that God will not reject us from the royal priesthood if we choose to ignore or refuse the understanding of the words of God; but it doesn’t mean we still won’t be saved. It just means we might not qualify for the office of the royal priesthood if we refuse knowledge. Salvation comes only by grace; it cannot be earned by works. The office of a priest as God’s mediator is a very serious responsibility, it must be respected and proved by growing in knowledge, and that office must be earned by training for it.
Revelation 1:5-6 KJV And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Notice Christ is the prince of the kings of the earth. "Prince" means chief ruler; which means Christ is in total control of the kings of the earth. It says Christ makes us priests unto God His Father. The word "kings" should be kingdom. According to Vincent’s word studies the term "king" is never applied in the New Testament to individual Christians. Christians are made to be priests; not kings. The Weymouth NT says: and has formed us into a Kingdom, to be priests to God, His Father--to Him be ascribed the glory and the power until the Ages of the Ages. Amen.
Christ does the works in us to form or to make us into a kingdom of priests. Most all translations say "kingdom" instead of kings. Speaking about translations; no matter how much comparing various translations and studying we do; it still is not enough to earn our salvation. Salvation is a gift and gaining knowledge does not earn salvation. There is no translation including the KJV that accurately portrays the true meaning of God’s words. I choose to compare various translations simply because it helps me to understand the words of God, and I want to edify and encourage you to also choose to do that. Choosing to study the words of God will earn rewards including the royal priesthood, and we will not suffer loss if we chose to do that. It’s a matter of choice along with the word "if", and who wants to suffer loss?
1 Peter 2:9 says the royal priesthood is to show forth the praises of God. Were the believers in Peter’s day effective in showing forth the praises of God? Even the apostles were generally not effective, and at one time all left the apostle Paul. God intended for the royal priesthood to be effective as mediators to teach the knowledge and laws of God, so obviously the royal priesthood is for a future use.
"Praises" was translated as "virtues," and it means manliness, valor, and moral excellence. Valor means to be strong. Webster says the word virtue is taken from virtus, and from vireo; in the sense of strength, from straining, stretching, and extending. God is extending himself by straining and flexing His muscles to show His strength, His manliness, His moral excellence. He does that by showing the fruit of His Spirit through us. The fruit of God’s Spirit is His nature, His character, and His strength.
A royal priesthood must be built on love, joy, peace, mercy, kindness, goodness, and patience to show forth God’s strength. These fruits must be practiced in training for that priesthood. The royal priesthood must also know how to execute the judgments of God to restore and reconcile a fallen creation back to God, and again this must be learned by correct knowledge. The royal priesthood has to be qualified mediators, and is built on the kingly sovereign foundation of power in order to reconcile and to restore God’s creation as it was originally.
Psalm 132:11-18: KJV The LORD hath sworn [in] truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. 12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. 13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired [it] for his habitation. 14 This [is] my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. 18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
Here again the Lord Jehovah swore truth to David and will not turn or change from it. That truth is that God will set the fruit of David’s body on David’s throne. God was speaking unto David; which makes it David’s throne. Notice God’s covenant and His testimony must be taught, and if the children keep that teaching they will sit and rule from David’s throne and their children will also sit on David’s throne. Notice God will do the teaching and the point is, teaching God’s covenant and testimony has to do with accepting and believing what is taught by God’s original words. That is how God teaches.
Zion is "her"; a woman that God will abundantly bless her provision and satisfy her poor with bread. One translation says, "I will certainly bless all that Zion needs". God’s people are that woman and they can be called Zion because they are to inherit Zion and all their spiritual needs will be satisfied. The priests of Zion will be clothed with salvation, and Zion’s saints will shout for joy. Both are saved but some will be priests. They can’t all be priests. That’s like saying every member of a body of believers are all elders or every member is a pastor. God will clothe the saints with salvation, but will clothe David’s enemies with shame. That shame is caused when the enemies are resurrected to see the saints shouting out loud for joy in Zion, and they now know WHY they are not able to be a part of that joy. The royal priesthood will be in Zion to rule with Christ to execute God’s judgments, and to show forth the virtues of God in the midst of Christ’s enemies and to the rest of the creation. We are being trained to do that, brothers and sisters.
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