King and High Priest Now

by Terry Wane Benton

Premillennial thinking is that Jesus was not able to set up His kingdom in the first century like He planned, postponed that plan, and will come back again later to set up His kingdom on earth and reign for 1000 years. That is a mistaken view. Another view is that of Realized Eschatologists (AD 70 doctrine) Jesus set up His Priesthood and kingdom in AD 70. That view delayed the kingdom by 40 years and fails to see that Jesus' kingdom and priesthood were in place in AD 33 on the first Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection and ascension.

The first view is mistaken because it means that Jesus is not king or priest and can do nothing about our sins. Zechariah 6:12-13 prophesied that Jesus would "sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." So, if Jesus is not king yet, then He is not a priest yet and can do nothing about our sins. We can't have peace with God through Jesus now because peace comes from Jesus' counsel coming from His position as king on His throne and priest. If Jesus is a priest, then He is also king. He cannot be a priest without also being king. If His priesthood counsels us now, then His Kingship also rules over a kingdom that benefits from Him being priest and king. Of course, the people on Pentecost learned that they could have "remission of sins" because Jesus is "Now both Lord and Christ (Anointed)." (Acts 2:36). Remission of sins comes through the priestly role of Jesus and His authority (kingly role) to give remission of sins. So, the premillennial people miss being "translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). If they are waiting for Jesus to set up His kingdom in the future then they are missing out on the benefits of His position as king and priest now.

AD 70 brethren make a different mistake. They delay the kingdom or try to "phase" it in over a 40 year period so that they can make more of AD 70 than AD 33. The problem here is that Jesus had "all authority in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 1:18) in AD 33, and He was the High Priest long before AD 70. You don't phase in a priesthood and a kingly position over a 40 year period. Jesus either had authority and ability as High Priest to offer remission of sins in Acts 2, or the people had to wait for forty more years. He either had the authority and position in AD 33 or He lied. Since He cannot lie, He had all authority and full position as king and priest to give His "counsel of peace" to the 3,000 seeking remission of sins in Acts 2. They did not have to wait till His kingship and priesthood were "phased" in over the next forty years. Long before AD 70, the brethren knew "we have a High Priest" (Hebrews 4:15). "Jesus, having become High Priest forever" (Hebrews 6:20). He "has an unchangeable priesthood"( Hebrews 7:24). Therefore, Jesus was fully king and priest long before AD 70.

The counsel of peace was given long before AD 70 (He is our peace - Ephesians 2:14f). Jesus offered the sacrifice of Himself as king and priest in matters pertaining to God. His kingdom is not an earthly kingdom (John 18:36). It never was in the plan of God for Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom. His kingdom is not like the earthly kingdoms of men. But He is higher than all kings, the King of kings, and He has full authority as King, and full authority as High Priest to deliver to our hearts the enriching "counsel of peace." We must enter His spiritual house and kingdom now or we receive none of the benefits. Remission of sins began to be preached in Jerusalem in Acts 2 (Luke 24:48) based upon the kingship and priesthood of Jesus being fully in place. Don't be ignorant of these facts and the opportunity it gives to you.

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