New Light from the book of Hebrews: Part V Please read Part I to IV along with the Introduction in order to understand this most important Part V. Once we understand the book of Hebrews we will be ready for heaven! 4. There were many things Christ would have loved to tell His disciples before His crucifixion but they were not ready to receive them. Paul reveals these crucial points necessary for us to understand today in order to receive perfection of character. ‘’I have yet many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.’’ John 16:12 . Have you ever wondered what were the many things Christ wanted to say to His disciples but they could not have received them at that time? Pursuing His admonition, He promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit who would guide them into all truth. The Holy Spirit is our greatest need at this time. We are on the border of the Heavenly Canaan. Like Israel of Old, we have returned to the wilderness more than once since 1844. We need His wisdom to understand a major revelation which will propel us forward and finish the work assigned to us as the people of the Judgment and the last generation. What is that revelation? CHRIST COULD NOT BE A PRIEST FROM AARON’S ORDER For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. Hebrews 7: 12-14. If Christ would have declared Himself the High Priest while the temple was still standing, the disciples could not have understood and accepted Him. How could He have been a high priest since He sprang from the tribe of Judah while the tribe of Levi was the chosen descendant to give attendance at the altar? The answer is found in the book of Genesis and the loss of the BIRTHRIGHT in the Old Testament. 1. Cain lost his birthright after he killed Abel because of anger and rebellion. Genesis 4: 3-11. 2. Esau lost his birthright for a bowl of lentils because of appetite and lack of self-control. Genesis 27: 1-46. 3. Reuben lost his birthright because he slept with his father’s concubine; because of passion and lack of self-control. Genesis 49: 3, 4. THE BIRTHRIGHT OF THE FIRSTBORN: THE EXCELLENCY OF DIGNITY, OF POWER REUBEN WAS THE FIRSTBORN OF JACOB Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou went up to thy father’s bed; then defiled thou it: he went up to my couch. Genesis 49: 3, 4. The promises made to Abraham and confirmed to his son were held by Isaac and Rebekah as the great object of their desires and hopes. With these promises Esau and Jacob were familiar. They were taught to regard BIRTHRIGHT of great importance, for it included not only an inheritance of worldly wealth but spiritual pre-eminence. He who received it was to be the priest of his family, and in the line of his posterity the Redeemer of the world would come. On the other hand, there were obligations resting upon the possessor of the birthright. He who should inherit its blessings must devote his life to the service of God. Like Abraham, he must be obedient to the divine requirements. In marriage, in his family relations, in public life, he must consult the will of God. Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 177, 178. THE BIRTHRIGHT INCLUDED: 1. An inheritance of worldly wealth: a double portion of the father’s wealth. 2. To be the progenitor of the Redeemer to come. 3. To be the PRIEST of the family. JACOB’S THREE SONS INHERITED THE BIRTHRIGHT INSTEAD OF THE FIRSTBORN REUBEN 1. Joseph received the DOUBLE PORTION through Ephraim and Manasseh. 2. Judah became the PROGENITOR of the Redeemer. 3. Levi received the PRIESTHOOD. THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THE BIRTHRIGHT 1. THE DOUBLE PORTION The Early and the Latter Rain of the Precious Truth and the Present Truth as received from the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 32:2; Zechariah 10:1; Matthew 25: 1-13 The 10 virgins: Both had the Holy Spirit (the oil) but the 5 foolish had the precious truth only - 5 wise had the precious truth and the present truth and were ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Early and Latter Rain. 2. TO BE PROGENITOR OF THE REDEEMER To be progenitor of the Redeemer means to partake of His Character. Partaker means: participant, sharer, associate, fellow, partner, belong to, eat or drink, pertain, take part, communicate, communion, fellowship. (Greek Concordance 3353). 3. TO BE THE PRIEST OF THE FAMILY 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; 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; 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. Hebrews 7: 1-3; Genesis 14: 18 - first time mentioned. The high priest was designed in a special manner to represent Christ who was to become a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. This order of priesthood was not to pass to another or be superseded by another. Redemption, The First Advent of Christ, p. 14. CHRIST WAS THE FIRSTBORN OF AN UNCHANGEABLE PRIESTHOOD If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Hebrews 7:11, 12, 22-24. Thus Christ, through His incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven has restored the Birthright of the Firstborn and made it available for us today! Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:1, 2. Part VI will demonstrate the firstborn rights of Christ, His unchangeable priesthood, and by inheritance, our firstborn rights which enable us to be called Sons and Daughters of His Father and to become partakers of His Divine Nature.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 10:15:30 +0000
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