Revelation 1:6

Christian Identity (Part 3)

Priesthood

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Review

• The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, - Revelation 1:1 (ESV)

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• Written by John near the end of 1st century AD while on exile on the island of Patmos

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Outline of the Book of Revelation

• Introduction (1)
• Letters to 7 Churches (2-3)
• A Scene in Heaven (4)
• The Scroll & the Lamb (5)
• The 7 Seals (6-8)
• The Sealed People of God (7)
• The 7 Trumpets (8-11)
• The Angel & Little Scroll (10)
• The 2 Witnesses (11)

• The Woman & the Dragon (12)
• The Beasts (13)
• People of God & People of the Beast (14)
• The 7 Plagues (15)
• The 7 Bowls of Wrath (16)
• Babylon is Fallen (17-18)
• A Fourfold Hallelujah (19)
• Final Judgment (20)
• New Creation (21-22)

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Christian Identity (Revelation 1:1-9)

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Servants

Loved

Blessed

Freed from sins

Kingdom

Priests

Brothers

Partners in patient endurance

Partners in tribulation

A Kingdom of Priests

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” - Exodus 19:5-6 (WEB)

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hiereus

ἱερεύς

https://biblehub.com/greek/2409.htm

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“a priest, one who offers sacrifice to a god (in Jewish and pagan religions; of Christians only met.)”

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“(from 2413 /hierós, "sacred because belonging to the Temple")”

and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. - Revelation 1:6 (ESV)

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Priests Under the Mosaic Law

• Priesthood for Aaron and his sons (Exodus 28-29)
• Aaron was the first “high priest”
• Other Levites mostly assisting (Numbers 3-4)
• Had to be anointed, sanctified, holy (Exodus 28-30, 40, Leviticus 21)
• Had special clothing (Exodus 28-35, 40)
• Specific duties (Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy):
• Offering sacrifices
• Examination of diseases
• Cleansing rituals
• Valuations
• Judgments
• Tabernacle maintenance
• Teaching
• Mediating the relationship between God and the people

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Priests

They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham, - Hebrews 7:5 (WEB)

Now indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and an earthly sanctuary…Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services, - Hebrews 9:1-6 (WEB)

Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same sacrifices… - Hebrews 10:11 (WEB)

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High Priests

For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins…Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was. So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him…“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” - Hebrews 5:1-6 (WEB)

Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services, but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people. - Hebrews 9:6-7 (WEB)

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Christ as High Priest

Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. - Hebrews 2:17 (WEB)

But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable. Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them. - Hebrews 7:24-25 (WEB)

…We have such a high priest…a servant of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. - Hebrews 8:1-3 (WEB)

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Reading/Discussion

• Romans 12:1
• Romans 15:16
• Philippians 4:10-18
• 1 Peter 2:5-9
• Hebrews 13:10-16

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What does it mean to be priests in God’s kingdom?

(particularly in view of the new covenant)

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