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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 2 - THE ENTHRONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST (REVELATION 4:1 - 6:17)
PART 2.2 JESUS CHRIST IS ENTHRONED BY GIVING HIM THE SEALED SCROLL (REVELATION 5:1-14)

3. All Creatures Worship the Lamb (Revelation 5:8-14)


c) The third argument regarding the worthiness of the Lamb advanced by the twenty-four elders in their worship hymn is as follows: You have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.

Melchizedek was a royal priest who blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:18-20). Moses was a mediator between God and his people and carried out spiritual, priestly as well as political, secular tasks. David was a royal prophet. He taught generations of people how to pray, confess sins and praise.

The double function of political and priestly authority belongs to the office and charisma of the leaders in several religions and cultures. The Pharaohs had been secular rulers and in personal union at the same time media of (their?) spirits. The Roman Caesars demanded political obedience, but also religious worship. Muhammad demanded faith in and obedience to himself as well as in and to Allah. Hitler made the crowd call excitedly "Hail Hitler", what should finally indicate to salvation by Hitler. Anti-Christ will take his seat in the temple in Jerusalem, dominating from there all nations and demanding at the same time to be worshiped by everybody (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:15-17; 20:4).

Yet how a secular spiritual theocracy of Jesus Christ may look like, will be defined by his lamb character. All priestly kings or royal priests in his kingdom will be steeped in the lamb character; otherwise they would be alien elements causing only harm. The twenty-four elders boasted that Jesus all persons whom he had called out of the tribes of Israel and the nations made kings and priests. At the same time they looked to the little Lamb who solely was worthy to open the sevenfold sealed scroll. Worldly honor, striving for power, weapons, taxes, political authority, war or a new world order combined with punitive measures are not the means and methods of the royal priests of Jesus Christ. They follow the Lamb. The apostles of Jesus did not realize themselves, but put off their wolf nature and got full of the Spirit of the Lamb. Their Lord had revealed them a great promise: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

Jesus had never had his own way, but he submitted always to his heavenly Father. He recommends us to emulate him. Royal priests will be borne by the Holy Spirit. However, they are not able by birth to take their office. In the school of faith Jesus educates, breaks and encourages them by his humility and meekness at first how to pray, love and hope.

The royal priests of Jesus Christ do not tell about themselves and their experience first and foremost, but glorify the Lamb of God and his work. Again and again they put down their crowns before the sacrificial Lamb and confess that their authority, power and fear come solely from the crucified.

As priests in the New Covenant they are allowed to enter the presence of the holy God at any time and rely on the blood of the Lamb before him and put the blessing of this sacrifice upon those entrusted to them. Their intercession is their authority. Their thanksgiving honors the Lamb.

We should think about, which people in our neighbourhood Jesus called us to pray for, and then we should do this priestly service regularly and faithfully.

Jesus called his fellow workers out of mortal sinners and transformed them into sanctified servants of God (1 Corinthians 3:9; 4:1). They live forever and are entrusted by their Lord with new missions again and again, whereby fixed spiritual rules apply, for example: “He who is faithful in what is least, is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least, is unjust also in much (Luke 16:10).

He who exalts himself, will be humbled; and he who humbles himself, will be exalted (Matthew 23:12).
All things, whatsoever you will ask in prayer, believing,you will receive. (Matthew 21:22).

If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15).

The New Testament is the constitution of the royal priests, the Spirit of the Father and of the Son is their power and the blood of the Lamb is their righteousness.

John confirmed by faith that Jesus called the several church leaders in Minor Asia and John himself to be such royal priests (Revelation 1:6).

The twenty-four elders recognized the right of the Lamb to open the sealed scroll - not only because Jesus died as sacrificial lamb and redeemed for God men out of all tribes and nations, but also because he transformed these called ones into new creatures. They accepted his lamb character; therefore he could commission them to serve in his Spirit and to reign over peoples in a spiritual manner. Their gentleness will dash in pieces the pride of the arrogant in the name of Jesus as with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:8-12; Daniel 7:27; Revelation 20:4; 22:5).

PRAYER: Meek Lamb of God, we magnify You and rejoice because You are the King of Kings in Your spiritual kingdom and have made the purchased sinners Your servants on earth to pray, preach, sacrifice, and believe for the good of the obstinate. You make Your servants witnesses to Your victory, and You change them into lambs having the power of a lion, while they are humble priests and spiritual kings bearing the world's insults patiently.

QUESTION:

  1. What are the services of royal priests before their Lord?

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