“Ambassadors for Christ have a solemn and important work, which rests upon some altogether too lightly. While Christ is the minister in the sanctuary above, He is also, through His delegates, the minister of His church on earth. He speaks to the people through chosen men, and carries forward His work through them, as when in the days of His humiliation He moved visibly upon the earth. Although centuries have passed, the lapse of time has not changed His parting promise to His disciples: “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” From Christ’s ascension to the present day, men ordained of God, deriving their authority from Him, have become teachers of the faith. Christ, the True Shepherd, superintends His work through the instrumentality of these undershepherds. Thus the position of those who labor in word and doctrine becomes very important. In Christ’s stead they beseech the people to be reconciled to God” (4T 393).
The priests in the Old Testament priesthood are clearly representing Christ in ministration (for the Scriptures of the priests carrying ‘sin’ in the blood through the sanctuary go to Leviticus 23, wearing garments for glory and for beauty to do ministry unto the Lord go to Exodus 25, for those where the priest goes in before the Shekhinah glory go to Leviticus 23).
The ‘priestly’ leaders of the New Testament priesthood are nothing shy of the same (representatives of Christ). Christ shows Himself holding the seven stars in His right hand in Revelation 1:16 and 20. These stars are called angels (meaning messengers) and they are the ones (the pastors/elders/leaders) giving the ‘messages’ to the churches.
Some might say that in the New Testament ALL are priests (old, young, male and female) because of what Peter says in 2:5-9. But is that consistent with the Old Testament? Did God allow ALL His “kingdom of priests” found in Exodus 19:6 to minister in His stead in the holy sanctuary? Assertively, no–else they would have died…
I hope this answers at least part of your questions. =)
“Ambassadors for Christ have a solemn and important work, which rests upon some altogether too lightly. While Christ is the minister in the sanctuary above, He is also, through His delegates, the minister of His church on earth. He speaks to the people through chosen men, and carries forward His work through them, as when in the days of His humiliation He moved visibly upon the earth. Although centuries have passed, the lapse of time has not changed His parting promise to His disciples: “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” From Christ’s ascension to the present day, men ordained of God, deriving their authority from Him, have become teachers of the faith. Christ, the True Shepherd, superintends His work through the instrumentality of these undershepherds. Thus the position of those who labor in word and doctrine becomes very important. In Christ’s stead they beseech the people to be reconciled to God” (4T 393).
The priests in the Old Testament priesthood are clearly representing Christ in ministration (for the Scriptures of the priests carrying ‘sin’ in the blood through the sanctuary go to Leviticus 23, wearing garments for glory and for beauty to do ministry unto the Lord go to Exodus 25, for those where the priest goes in before the Shekhinah glory go to Leviticus 23).
The ‘priestly’ leaders of the New Testament priesthood are nothing shy of the same (representatives of Christ). Christ shows Himself holding the seven stars in His right hand in Revelation 1:16 and 20. These stars are called angels (meaning messengers) and they are the ones (the pastors/elders/leaders) giving the ‘messages’ to the churches.
Some might say that in the New Testament ALL are priests (old, young, male and female) because of what Peter says in 2:5-9. But is that consistent with the Old Testament? Did God allow ALL His “kingdom of priests” found in Exodus 19:6 to minister in His stead in the holy sanctuary? Assertively, no–else they would have died…
I hope this answers at least part of your questions. =)