My pondering on the Millennial Reign of Christ continue, based on cross-references in the Old and New Testaments (covenants). This post addresses the likely 'offices' in which the Church redeemed may be operating during this thousand year period. As per usual, I welcome all Bible-based inputs, questions, etc. as we all are 'looking through the glass darkly.' As noted in a previous post, I understand this period will be the most interesting/exciting the Earth and mankind may have ever known -- Jesus, literally reigning on Earth, following the worst time the Earth and mankind will have ever experienced -- The Great Tribulation! Definitely worth considerable pondering, I'd say!!!
During the first (Old) covenant, God established three 'offices' among His people (Israel) -- prophets, priests and kings. Appointment of kings was an amendment to the original plan, 'cause the people wanted to mimic other nations. All Israel was to have been a nation of priests unto God (Exodus 19), serving God and possibly representing Him before all people of the Earth, with a sub-set of priests representing Him before their fellow Jews.
During the Church Age, He established five 'offices' (apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers) 'until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ', i.e., during the millennial reign. (Ephesians 4:11)
But according to Revelation 1:6 and 5:10, during this thousand year period, there may only be two 'offices' (and presumably administrators/functionaries in each office), namely (sub)kings (under Jesus) and priests unto God. There is no mention of an 'office' of the prophets speaking on behalf of God, nor 'offices' of evangelists, pastors or teachers *, though it is clear there will be mortals in this age (Isaiah 65:20, Zechariah 14, et al. But, based on my analyses, unless today's criteria for salvation are modified or suspended, these 'millennials', born in that 5th age of history, might not experience salvation as we know it until AFTER The Millennial Reign. (See: Salvation in the Millennium (Series)) So why might these offices be absent then?
The answer may well be that the whole Earth (all people --mortal and immortal) will be full of the knowledge of God, what He says and demands, without these intermediaries functioning in 'offices' as under the old and new covenants. The office of the priests, however, which is absent in the Church Age, has dual interface roles, one vis-a-vis God, and another vis-a-vis the people. They specialize in religious rites and ceremonies. So perhaps you and I should become much more familiar with details of The Book of Leviticus! ;o) These were all a 'type' of rites and ceremonies going on continually or periodically in Heaven. It appears there remains an extensive set of rites and ceremonial functions in The Millennial Reign for which God requires a 'nation of priests', including the associated functionaries. (See Exodus 19:6, Isaiah 11:9 and 65:25). It is also plausible that only the then nation of Israel will perform some or even most of these functions. Keep in mind, Israel, in The Millennial Reign, will comprise both immortal saints AND mortal humans who will have survived the tribulation, plus their (likely long-living) offspring during the Millennial Reign.
* Note the reference to 'office', rather than the (then immortal) people who will have served in these offices during their mortal lives under the old and new covenants.
Join me in pondering (y)our possible future 'job description'.
(See: Millennial Reign Job Description (poem) )
Hey, where's the book on 'how to be a KING?!'
Hey, where's the book on 'how to be a KING?!'
I suspect it might be The Holy Bible, since it teaches us...
'How to reign in life!'
----------* Note the reference to 'office', rather than the (then immortal) people who will have served in these offices during their mortal lives under the old and new covenants.
Interesting!
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
ReplyDeleteWith no more pensions, we tend to change jobs FAST! Can't help but wondering whether our roles in the new millennium will be.....rotational! 😜
Interesting thoughts!
ReplyDeleteCertainly it will be a glorious blessing to enjoy the presence of the Lord Himself.
It makes sense that he will continue to administer the affairs of His kingdom through His authorized servants, priests, who hold the priesthood authority He has given them through ordination (Rev. 5:9-10; Mark 3:14; John 15:16, Acts 14:23, Matthew 16:19).
Great Scripture references!
ReplyDeleteEven though some of the Church (redeemed and then immortal) will be assigned as Jesus' reps throughout the earth during His reign, and He will be centrally based in Jerusalem, I believe those so assigned will indeed still enjoy His presence, though we will be physically separated. How? Perhaps somewhat like we do today, but stronger. Recall, angels are dispatched to serve us on earth, yet they still behold His face.
In subsequent posts, I elaborate the concept of the two small remnant groups God targets (a remnant of the Jews, and a remnant of the Gentile nations, which we call The Church). Since Exodus 19 originally targets Israel as a nation of priests unto God, it may well be that the Jewish remnant to be saved may largely perform this function during both the Millennial Reign of Christ AND throughout eternity. Similarly, since The Church is God's remnant, saved from the Gentile Nations, it may well be that this group, during the Millennial Reign, may principally serve as (sub)kings and rulers over cities and regions of mortal Gentiles. Thus The Church may exercise Christ's overarching kingship over all the earth. Sounds exciting?
ReplyDelete