#2 The Exalted Christ And The Exalted Man

The High Priest And His Body

The Eternal Jesus – The King Eternal

April 10, 2014

As we look a little deeper into the scriptures, it seems clear that we should begin to see Jesus in His Eternal Dimension rather than ONLY in His earthly mission. We are NOT discounting His earthly mission but that work was completed. He is now in His Eternal Assignment of ruling. The Eternal Jesus may have a strange sound to it because we generally think about the Eternal Christ. Since Jesus took His seat at the Right Hand of God, the Almighty, and holds His Priesthood forever, it is surely valid to call Him the Eternal Jesus. It is sometimes apparent that some still see Jesus on Calvary or in the tomb or as the resurrected Lord or in a cloud being taken up out of sight into heaven, but the vision stops there. We have shown Him spending forth days following His resurrection teaching His disciples about the Kingdom of God as the last thing He did in the earth dimension. However, this was an introduction to His Eternal Work of establishing His Eternal Kingdom. We would like to focus upon this Man, Christ Jesus, sitting upon the Throne of Heaven and carrying out His Eternal Work of preparing a people to rule over the World Yet to Come.

It may appear more correct to call Him The Eternal Christ Jesus because He is certainly the Exalted Christ but that is more abstract and mysterious. If we call Him the Exalted Man, Christ Jesus, it sounds more familiar. However, when we call Him, "the Man," in His present Eternal Position many alarms go off because this sounds crass. Some Christians object to calling Him the Last Adam or the Second Man except in His roll as Savior or Prophet. The "MAN" [one of us] sitting on the Throne with God, Almighty, is very difficult for many Christians to perceive or accept. For that reason some insist that "He merged back into God." Why? It is ONLY God who can sit in that Eternal Position! Then how can we explain this scripture? I tell you, hereafter you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER

Some even think it is disrespectful to think He was made Lower that the Angels. Why? Because it is said that He is Almighty God who came down from heaven to take on the body of a man. If He is Almighty God how could He be lower than the angels?

Rather than jumping up and shouting all this is false doctrine, why should we not

examine ALL the scriptures to discover if there is a scriptural answer?

In the last document we emphasized that the Man, Christ Jesus, took His seat at the right hand of God, Almighty. I was speaking with a pastor recently who said that Jesus merged back into God and now there is just the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Word has become the Son or the Son has become the Word. If Jesus merged back into the Father then He is not sitting at the Right Hand of God. If He merged into the Father is true then there is just One on the throne but the scriptures shows there are two on the Throne. These 18 references should convince anyone!

Mat 22:44 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT THINE ENEMIES BENEATH THY FEET"'?

Mat 26:64 Jesus *said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."

Mar 12:36 "David himself said in the Holy Spirit, 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT THINE ENEMIES BENEATH THY FEET."'

Mar 16:19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

Luke 22:69 "But from now on THE SON OF MAN WILL BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND of the power OF GOD."

Act 2:33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

Act 2:34 "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

Act 5:31 "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Act 7:55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;

Rom 8:34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Eph 1:20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

Col 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Heb 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE THINE ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR THY FEET"?

Heb 8:1 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

Heb 10:12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,

Heb 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1Pe 3:21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Here are 18 Bible verses that confirm that Jesus took His seat at the Right hand of God, Almighty. To attach all these scriptures just to prove a point may be a little overkill but we should make NO MISTAKE that the MAN, Christ Jesus is seated at Almighty God's Right Hand.

Isa 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

This Jesus is now called the Eternal Father and Mighty God. Christ Jesus has been given All Authority over heaven and earth, He is the High Priest and the mediator of the New Covenant, He is now ruling within His Kingdom and over the works of God's hands and He sits at the right hand of the Almighty God. It would be very difficult to perceive of anything higher than that!

The reason that some object to the term the Man, Christ Jesus, because now, they say, He has returned back into God, Almighty. Why? Because He is now called the Mighty God.

The revealed fact is that He is recognized as the MAN, Christ Jesus, simply because God has predestined MAN to rule over the works of His Hands. He (this Perfected Man) has been given ALL authority over both heaven and earth and is NOW ruling in His Kingdom. ONE OF US, of this new species who are born of God, is now ruling.

1Cor 15:24 then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all.

This is very straight forward and quite clear and needs no exegesis. The Eternal Jesus is the Sovereign God of this WORK! It is HE who now Rules as the King/ Priest over ALL the works of God's Hands. There is the MAN, Christ Jesus who is mediating between God and Mankind. This is the same Jesus, who died on Calvary, is now standing between God and man and functions as the ONLY mediator!

1Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time.

Even though there may be still more introduction needed to convince the promoters

of false cliches about Jesus, we will continue with our theme. As we extol the truths in this Book

of Hebrews, we will continue to look into some overlooked realities. The theme of the Superiority of Christ or the Far Superior Man, Christ Jesus, reveals a newer (for us) dimension of God's Eternal Purpose that involves MANY SONS whom He will have brought to Glory. Of course we dare NOT speak of these MANY SONS as far Superior to other persons of the new species. That would be challenged by too many Christians as FAR too arrogant. Nevertheless, it is clear that some Christians will qualify and some will not. Some, the overcomers, will sit with Him and some believers will not! Some shall see His face and some believers will not!

Some will immediately conclude that this is far too arrogant because God loves ALL His children the same! Doesn't the Bible say that God is no respecter of persons so everybody is equal! No! Everybody has the exact same opportunity but everybody is NOT guaranteed the same result. How do we know that? This is because Heaven is divided into three places.

This "equality" will be the exact objection we will face if we speak about the Body of our Great High Priest. The point in suggesting (in harmony with the scripture) that Christ Jesus is FAR Superior to any other person or thing is to begin to superficially identify those who are members of Christ! Those persons who are IN HIM should be like Him. Or as Ephesians 4 suggests; to grow up into a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ. To suggest that to accept Jesus as personal Savior is equal to Growing Up in all things INTO Christ seems rather silly.

As we pointed in other documents, the High Priest cannot have defects in His body. This should clearly convince us that the members of His Body, the Body of our High Priest, must not have defective members.

Lev 21:16 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 17 "Speak to Aaron, saying, 'No man of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect shall approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 'For no one who has a defect shall approach: a blind man, or a lame man, or he who has a disfigured face, or any deformed limb, 19 or a man who has a broken foot or broken hand, 20 or a hunchback or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye or eczema or scabs or crushed testicles. 21 'No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest, who has a defect, is to come near to offer the LORD'S offerings by fire; since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God.

Now, it may sound too harsh to say that all these churches that are full of baby Christians

(the dwarfs) cannot qualify as Priests of God and neither can they approach God. However, neither can all these OTHER Christians who have defects.

Brother, don't you realize that your teaching is offending good, faithful believers who are attending the meetings and paying tithe? The fact is that MANY aspects of the Kingdom offends most church people. We might suggest that you set a time to pray and fast and twist God's arm until He lowers these qualifications so everybody can qualify.

If we relate the Kingdom of Priests to the body of our High Priest being ONE NEW MAN, it would be a tremendous shock to the status quo. This would be severely criticized by the casual believers who are ignorant of the Gospel of the Kingdom. When we speak about the Superiority of Christ as He relates to the Visible church, it may meet some strong headwinds if we suggest that His Body has grown up in ALL things into the Head. Even though that is quite clear in scripture, if we just suggest that "harvest maturity" is a requirement to participate in His Ruling Body, we will be met with powerful criticism and possibly ostracism.

If we could survive after that, the requirement of Harvest Maturity of the First Fruits might seem acceptable to preach as it relates to the Kingdom dimension. Why? The harvest maturity of the first fruits would be logical to qualify to become part of His BODY / His Government in His Kingdom. In other words we should NOT separate His Person from His Kingdom and we should NOT separate the Head from the Body. In other words, I am speculating, the Superiority of Christ should demand at least some superiority of the body. Why? Because He, CHRIST, is ONE NEW MAN. But doesn't 1 Corinthians and other letters suggest that EVERY believer is a member of the body of Christ? Yes, that certainly does appear to be true. If we are not confusing the point, we are suggesting that the Body of Our Great High Priest in His Eternal position as the ruler over everything, must have a fully mature body of Sons.

In other words, we are suggesting that the Body of Christ, during this church age, must grow up in all things and become fully mature members of the body of the High Priest. Just remaining "babes in Christ" is not acceptable in the Kingdom. Even though many of the Corinthians were immature and just babies they were still called the body of Christ. We will rest with that but NOW we are speaking about the GOAL which we identify as being members of the Body of our High Priest! This is the ultimate reason for ridding ourselves of ALL defects.

The first Adam is one old man, including everyone in him which means everyone in Romans 1. The process of perfection involves getting out of old Adam and getting into THE ONE NEW MAN, the Last Adam. To suggest that this happens (suddenly) when we accept Jesus as personal Savior sounds silly and ridiculous. Why is that? When the church is called to become a "Royal Priesthood" it must be seen from the viewpoint of the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek. Jesus is the High Priest of this New Covenant, Royal / Kingly Priesthood.

In the Kingdom viewpoint, full growth into Harvest Maturity is just the normal expectation. FULL Christianity requires that we grow up in ALL things into Christ. Partial or casual Christianity is not the goal of the New Covenant nor the Kingdom of God. Even though this is quite acceptable in the visible church system, the Kingdom requirements conflict with this casual view of God's final purpose. Growing UP is what we are relating to healing / removing all our defects!

It might be proven that the Bible assumes that all Christians WILL grow up to Harvest Maturity and be qualified to be caught up as First Fruits. However, it also reports that some believes do not grow up but that is more or less condemned as less than Christian. It might be proven that it is shameful NOT to grow up in all things into Christ. For the visible church to accept mediocrity as normal is shameful.

When the ignorant boast that EVERYTHING was finished at Calvary, they seem to think they are exalting Calvary. The fact is they are ignoring the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent FOLLOWING Calvary to lead us into all truth and to participate in His Kingdom. This was AFTER He was taken up to the Right Hand of God, and began to rule within His own Kingdom. In other words, this, Pentecost, is in ADDITION to the blessing of Calvary. To reject Him whom the King sent to the church on that first day of the Feast of Pentecost is really stupid.

Calvary was tremendous but it does NOT excuse us from the discipline of the Father which is guaranteed to ALL His Sons. Neither does Calvary excuse up from discipleship or a full consecration. Neither does it excuse us from doing the will of God nor meeting the demands of the Kingdom. Calvary does open the way for us to participate. Nevertheless, some will prefer to believe the lie that Calvary solved ALL man's problems and not just forgiveness of sins.

It is within this background that we want to examine the Book of Hebrews. Not like a commentary but as a Christian preparing to take his place in the Eternity of God, Almighty!

In document #1 we considered our High Priest in Hebrews chapter 4.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Heb 4:14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

To suggest that Jesus will begin to operate as High Priest during the millennial Reign when He sits on the throne of David as King / Priest is to miss the theme of the Book of Hebrews. The uniqueness of this Book is that it puts these things in the present tense.

For the Word of God IS living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword---- there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Here it is clear that the Living Word of God is THE PERSON whom we are confronted by and nothing about us is hidden from His Sight. Then Jesus, Our Great High Priest, IS the Word of God, whom is now over the House of God. This Great High Priest, the Man, Christ Jesus, is the Living Word of God! His Word is active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. It is clear that these terms "Jesus," "our High Priest" "the Son of God" and "the Word of God" are all speaking of the same person. This is certainly remarkable and quite unique and this Revelation appears to be limited to the Book of Hebrews. When we ignore the revealed Truths in this Book of Hebrews we will be severely limited in our understanding of God's Purpose. It is from that neglect that we get these silly doctrines about Jesus merging back into God.

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive

mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. This should be understood within the context in which it is written. Now the Man, Christ Jesus is the Mediator between God and man. To approach the Throne of Grace is not a physical entrance but an approach to inquire into that invisible realm. This Throne of Grace is Not in the physical realm but is in that sanctuary not made with hands and eternal in the heavens. We mention that because of this fallacy that the song leader can take us in there by singing and strumming his guitar.

A person in Cuba asked me to define what I meant by ULTIMATE so they could translate it into Spanish. I sent the dictionary meaning but all this is too abstract UNTIL it is applied to and limited to "the Person."

ultimate >adjective 1 being or happening at the end of a process. 2 being the best or most extreme example of its kind: the ultimate accolade. 3 basic or fundamental. >noun 1 (the ultimate) the best achievable or imaginable of its kind. 2 a final or fundamental fact or principle.

3 come to an end.

Full Definition of ULTIMATE

a : most remote in space or time : farthest

b : last in a progression or series : final <their ultimate destination>

c : eventual 2 <ultimate success>

d : the best or most extreme of its kind : utmost <the ultimate sacrifice>

c : incapable of further analysis, division, or separation

Synonyms

1. extreme, remotest, uttermost. supreme..

1. conclusive in a series or process; last; final: an ultimate question

2. the highest or most significant: the ultimate goal

3. essential

4. most extreme

5. final or total, the most significant, highest, furthest, or greatest thing

Our divinely "begotten" High Priest whom is now Prophet, Priest, King, Heir of ALL things, Apostle, Mediator, Originator, Perfecter, and seated at the Right Hand of Almighty God. He is the Perfect Sacrifice that fully satisfies the Father to reconcile ALL things back to God. He has met every expectation, hope and need of mankind for them at last to be fully prepared to fulfill God's Original Purpose and Predestined Plan.

Of course these are only words that are too shallow to fully convey who He is in His Current Ministry as the Ultimate King / Priest standing between God and us. How could we possibly define His Ultimate Ministry that He is actively engaged in at the present time and during the church age. All words fail to reach into the Throne Room Realm of current reality. However, without the Book of Hebrews we would be unaware that He is our functioning High Priest and He is perfecting a functioning body of fully mature Sons.

But, brother, could you give me one clear verses that specifically says that? No! This is my interpretation of a series of events, verses and truths derived from a Bible study, devotion, time, attention and acquiring knowledge over 44 years. I cannot guarantee that His Mature Sons will make up the Body of our Great High Priest but I cannot understand the Kingdom of Priests unless that is true. I cannot comprehend the ONE NEW AND PERFECT MAN unless this is "full maturity" is a reality. If this is NOT true then I have to ask; Grow up in ALL things into WHAT? Does that mean into who He was or Who He is Now?

Well, Brother, can you give me a clear and decisive definition of "Kingdom maturity." Not exactly! But I can confidently say that HE IS THE LIVING DEFINITION OF KINGDOM MATURITY. Therefore, growing up in ALL things into Him is the definition. However, all this is still abstract until we understand His Absolute and Ultimate Superiority over ALL things. If our UNION WITH CHRIST JESUS is the goal, it seems reasonable to establish what that requires. In ONE word, the goal is; Perfection! He IS the Definition of "Going on to Perfection."

Well, Brother, you have really discouraged us because all we can do now is to give up and quit trying. No! Wait, there may be more!!

Mat 5:48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Well, Brother, we just do not believe that. Well, friend, you will not be dead one hour until you will start believing.

Thank God for the Book of Hebrews because without this we would still be confused about the things that only find their ultimate reality in the Kingdom of God. This is EXACTLY why we are dependent upon the Book of Hebrews for our "End of Life Philosophy!" Without this tremendous revelation we would have no insight into the Tabernacle of Moses so we would just remain ignorant of the Tabernacle of God. How, then, could we evaluate our tremendous loss if we lose the Kingdom. What a loss if we fail to comprehend our eternal destiny and our calling to dwell in that Glorious City of God, THE MOST HOLY PLACE, Mount Zion.

That is why we are focusing upon the Preparation of the Priests as revealed in the Shadow of the Tabernacle of Moses. No other Book gives us this insight into the New Covenant fulfillment of the Tabernacle of Moses, the sacrifices, the peace offerings, the Harvest Feasts, the Priesthood, our Great High Priest and the mysterious altar, in a higher invisible realm, from which we may eat.

It is here in Hebrews where the King and the Kingdom become one. The Kingdom can only accept into itself that which is of its own character. It cannot be modified to accept something contrary to itself. That means that EVERYTHING that participates in this Divine Order must be totally transformed , modified and adjusted to be completely compatible with the Kingdom and to be fully obedient to it's Absolute Government. Kingdom Salvation is limited to those who are obedient to the King.

Heb 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

To approach these five very serious warnings in some casual way and making up excuses why these do not apply to the church, demonstrates a total ignorance of what this book conveys. This certainly misses the theme we are presenting as the Kingdom's demanding requirements that must apply to that Kingdom of Priests who will fulfill God's Eternal Purpose!