Our Lord Jesus has many names and titles, each related to the work he has or will perform. In Hebrews 3:1, the Apostle Paul calls him the “High Priest of our profession.” Why is he given this title, and what does “of our profession” mean?

To understand this, we will need to look at the time when the nation of Israel was in the wilderness and God had instructed them to build a Tabernacle. For the Tabernacle service, Aaron was selected by God as high priest, and his sons as underpriests (Exod. 28:1; 30:30). The high priest was ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin, and was to bring the people to perfection (Heb. 5:1; 7:11). Aaron was a picture of Jesus who offered himself as a ransom for Adam during his First Advent and, thus, atoned for man’s sin (1 Tim. 2:5,6; 1 John 2:1,2).

During his First Advent, our Lord also learned obedience by the things which he suffered, and “being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchizedek [a royal or kingly priest] (Heb. 5:8-10). Melchizedek, the priest and king who blessed Abraham, was a picture of the resurrected Jesus who, as a spiritual high priest, brings life first to his followers during the Gospel Age and then at his Second Advent to the rest of mankind through his earthly kingdom (Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 7:1-3,11,12,15-17,20-28).

Hebrews 10:20 tells us that our Lord Jesus, as our high priest, opened up a new and living way for us to follow, giving us the opportunity to become his footstep followers, which is what “our profession” means. Our Lord devoted his entire being to fulfill his Heavenly Father’s will. He presented his earthly life in sacrifice at Jordan, represented by the slain bullock in the Tabernacle picture (Lev. 16:3,6). This is what we must do, as we are admonished in Romans 6:11: “Likewise reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive [as New Creatures] unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

During the Gospel Age, Jesus serves as both our High Priest and Advocate, so that through him we may be accepted by God. He cleanses us from all sin with his blood and justifies our sacrifice that it might be acceptable to God (1 John 1:7,9). He covers our imperfections with a robe of righteousness (Isa. 61:10). If we are faithful in following Jesus, then we become part of Jesus’ Melchizedek priesthood. We will become spiritual underpriests who will reign with him for a thousand years and help bless all mankind in his earthly kingdom—”Ye are a . . . royal priesthood, . . . that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (Rev. 20:6; 1 Peter 2:9,10).  

The parable of the sheep and the goats is recognized for both its promise to the obedient, and judgment of the disobedient (Matt. 25:31-46). In it the glorified Lord sits on his throne dividing the nations “as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matt. 25:32, NASB). The Lord is both on his throne and glorified. This reveals that the parable applies to the 1000-year reign of Christ and his church (Rev. 20:4). Colossians 3:4 affirms that the completed church will be present during this judgment. This is the time of Christ’s promised earthly kingdom, which will bless all the families of the earth. 1 Corinthians 6:2 confirms that the church will participate in this judgment of the world of mankind.

According to the parable, the world will be judged by their works of love toward one another. Each individual will show their love toward Christ through their love to one another. “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” (Matt. 25:40, NASB).

How beautiful a picture—the Prince of Peace reigning on his throne of perfect justice with his bride (the church), judging mankind according to the law of love that he gave and lived during his human life. People will be grouped according to their acts of love toward each other! Those who are sheep-like in character—humble, accepting, and obedient to the kingdom arrangement of love for all—will receive the blessings of God’s kingdom. Those who are goat-like—stubborn and self-willed, not submitting themselves to the guidance of the good shepherd and not lovingly uplifting their fellow man—will be separated from the flock.

Failing to attain this character of active love will result in becoming part of the goat class which the Lord condemns with the same judgment pronounced against the devil and his angels. This sentence of eternal fire is not one of torment, but of complete destruction. The Prince of Peace will then pour out the never-ending blessings of God on all those who developed the character of the sheep. They will live forever filled with love for one another.  

The world of mankind is sick, and each day it is becoming sicker. Everywhere we look, we see disease, mental illness, and death. Bird-flu is raising its ugly head and a pandemic may be on the horizon. Mental illness seems to be on the rise with more and more horrific crimes being committed. Selfishness of the heart and mind led to a Bangladesh factory building collapsing and killing more than 1,000 garment workers.

The world needs a good physician, one who can heal not only man’s physical illnesses, but also his illness of the mind and of the heart. Jesus and his bride, the church, will be that great physician.

Jesus came at his First Advent to demonstrate his ability to heal through God’s power. All of those healings pointed forward to the healing Jesus will perform for the entire human family in his kingdom.

He healed the man with an unclean spirit, showing how Jesus will eliminate the influence Satan and the fallen angels have over mankind (Mark 1:21-28). Jesus healed Peter’s wife’s mother of a fever, showing how man’s infection of sin will be cured (Mark 1:29-31). Our Lord  healed the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, showing that Jesus will help mankind to walk righteously and pleasing to God (John 5:1-9).

Jesus healed a man with a withered hand, showing he will teach mankind how to work righteously and be pleasing to God (Luke 6:6-11). Our Lord healed the man born blind, showing how he will heal mankind’s physical and spiritual eyesight in his kingdom (John 9:1-11).

He healed the woman crippled with an infirmity, demonstrating how he will help the human family stand up righteously before God (Luke 13:10-17). Our Lord healed a man with dropsy, a heart ailment, showing how he will heal man’s heart of sinfulness and selfishness, so then he can write God’s law there (Luke 14:1-6). Finally, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating that he will raise everyone  who has ever lived from the tomb to receive this healing and thereby have the opportunity to gain everlasting life in his kingdom (John 11:1-45).

In Ezekiel 11:19,20, the prophet describes this healing: “I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God” (NASB). Isaiah writes about this healing, “The eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy” (Isa. 35:4,5 NASB).

Jesus will be able to heal mankind because he died as a ransom for Adam, and thus provided the price needed to pay for man’s sin. In that day, “No resident will say, ‘I am sick’; The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity” (Isa. 33:24 NASB).

Jesus returns to establish his earthly kingdom and  heal man’s body, heart, and mind so that mankind can become perfect and  come back into harmony with God. With this healing, man will be able to obey God’s law perfectly and gain everlasting life.

“His anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”—Psa. 30:5

What a blessing to know that these troubling times and their sorrows will be replaced by everlasting joy in the dawning of Christ’s Kingdom! The Scriptures tell us God is a “happy God” (1 Tim. 1:11 Rotherham) with a plan of redemption for his fallen creation. This plan is spoken of in Isaiah 51:11, “The redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” It was for that “joy set before him” (Heb. 12:2) that Jesus endured the suffering of persecutions and ultimately, the cross.  So, too, should the Christian count it joy when they prove their faith through obedience to God’s plan in the difficult experiences that result from walking in the footsteps of Jesus (Jam. 1:2).

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit essential to the Christian character (Gal. 5:22). “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:6 ESV).  How can the true joy of the Lord be obtained?  The Christian can rejoice in life and all of its pursuits (Deut. 12:7), rejoice in the salvation God has offered to the faithful and the privilege to tell others about it (Psa. 20:5), rejoice  in the love of the Creator (Psa. 59:16), rejoice in the blessing to know God’s Word (Jer. 15:16), rejoice in the mercy of God’s salvation (Psa. 13:5), rejoice in going to Bible study and worship (Psa. 122:1), and even rejoice in persecution, a sign of being approved of God (1 Pet. 4:13,14).

There is so much for which to rejoice!  Rejoice in the present hardship for the development it provides for the future, and rejoice for the future with its promise of mercy, peace, and love for all mankind.  God is a god of joy, if we allow his joy to fill our hearts. Then, we will have the strength to endure all tribulation (Neh. 8:10), until that time described in Revelation 22:1,2 when all nations will know the joy of God.

“Rejoice in the Lord always;  Again I will say, rejoice!”   (Phil. 4:4 NASB).  

As young children, we learn right from wrong as well as good from bad. Our parents give us examples to follow and will often point out the wrong or evil in the world and ways to avoid it.

This was the case with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Our loving Father presented them with a land of perfect things for the two of them to share and gave them only one thing to avoid. He made things perfectly clear in Gen 2:16,17: “The Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

This was our first example of parental guidance and would later become our biggest example of disobedience. Adam failed this test and the world continues to pay for his disobedience today.

Our Father gave us many admonitions to follow such as obey and live, disobey and die.

We, as footstep followers of Christ, are currently in a similar situation.  We gave up our earthly life to follow Christ. In doing so, we have the same two choices: (1) Obey the father, live a life according to his will and we will have eternal life. Revelation 2:10 says: “be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (2) Disobey, turn away from God, stop following the example of Jesus and we will face death (Heb. 6:4-6; Heb. 10:26-31).

We must follow the advice of 1Peter  3:15: “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.” We must follow God’s will to the best of our ability, following Jesus’ example of obedience and loyalty to God. When we err, the Lord in his graciousness has given us an opportunity to come to the throne of heavenly  grace to  ask for his forgiveness. If we are sincere, we will be forgiven and the spots will be removed from our robes.

Trust and OBEY, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus.  

“BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen”—Revelation 1:7 (NASB)

Revelation 1:7 begins with a prophecy from Daniel 7:13,14 (NASB): “Behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” Daniel is speaking symbolically about our Lord’s Second Advent and how it will be associated with clouds (trouble) in the heavens—­­­­the religious systems of the earth. Jesus’ return is to establish the everlasting dominion and kingdom given to him by God.

The perception of many Christians is that everyone sees Jesus coming, literally, in the sky. However, Revelation 1:7 says Jesus comes in the clouds and then, every eye will see him, after he has arrived. This is consistent with Jesus’ statements that he would arrive as a thief (Matt. 24:43,44; Luke 12:39,40). Both the Apostle Paul and Apostle Peter confirm that Jesus would come, or return, at his Second Advent as a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10).

Jesus prophesied that after his return, “there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Matt. 24:21,22 NASB). The tribulation comes from man’s selfishness, and we see that today. Nations, terrorists, and many different groups are warring against each other, struggling for power, influence, and survival. This struggle, if left unchecked, would destroy mankind; but Jesus and his bride return to prevent that destruction and establish Christ’s kingdom. The world of mankind does not see Jesus arrive, but they see the effect of his return in the troubles that ensue as Jesus implements the kingdom and dominion, given to him by God.

Please see our offer for the free booklet Our Lord’s Return on the back page.  

In November 2012, the United States elected its President for the next four years. As leader of the US, the President is one of the world’s most powerful leaders. Together with the leaders of China, Russia and the major countries of Europe, their policies and actions direct both their nations and the world toward an ever-changing, ever-challenging future.

The problems these leaders face are the same ones as before the U.S. Presidential election.  The global economy is sputtering along, most nations have large financial debt, and the political, religious and social-economic conflicts within countries and between countries are growing. There seems to be no way out of man’s ever-increasing problems.

The politics of selfishness makes it impossible to make reasonable decisions for the overall benefit of everyone. Constraints on resources make it impossible to pay for what needs to be done. Unless something drastically changes, the troubles in the world will continue to grow until as Jesus prophesied, there would be “great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now.” Jesus added, “unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Matt. 24:21-22 NASB).

The leader who will solve all of man’s problems will be selected, not by a vote of the people, but by the Creator of the universe, God. This new leadership, Christ and his church, or “the elect,” have been in preparation for this role since Jesus’ First Advent. They have been called by God and fashioned through God’s Spirit and leading in their lives into the character-likeness of the Father, himself. These qualities were described by Jesus in Matthew 5:3-9 as humility, gentleness, hunger and thirst for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, and being a peacemaker.  Paul adds the qualities of love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control to this character description in Galatians 5:22-23. In 2 Peter 1:5-8, the Apostle adds moral excellence, knowledge, perseverance, godliness and brotherly kindness to the qualities of this leadership group.

These qualities are all needed for “the elect” to accomplish their assignment from God—bringing man back into harmony with him. This assignment includes (1) raising the dead, (2) healing man from the physical and spiritual effects of sin, (3) teaching the human family God’s principles of truth and righteousness and (4) solving all of man’s problems. As spiritual priests and kings in Christ’s earthly kingdom, they will rule over the human family for a 1,000 years, leading mankind up the way of holiness (Isa. 35:8-10; Acts 17:13; 1 Cor. 6:2; Rev. 20:6).

Their work will result in the willing and obedient of mankind receiving everything that our first parents lost through disobedience—perfection of heart, mind and body, everlasting life on a perfect earth and sonship with God. “The elect” is the seed of promise that God told Abraham would bless all the nations of the earth (Gen. 22:18).

“If ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid, … neither be troubled.”—1 Peter 3:14

There are various kinds of suffering which we see in the world, and which, according to the Scriptures, God views and deals with in different ways. First, there is the suffering that comes about because we are all descendants of Adam, and inheritors of the condemnation of sin and death which he received because of disobedience. The remedy for this suffering is only to be found in God’s plan, whereby he sent his Son, Jesus, to be a corresponding price—or ransom—for Adam. This will ultimately release Adam, and hence his progeny, from the penalty of sin and its resulting suffering of sickness and death. The Scriptures testify: “Christ Jesus;   Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2:5,6).

Another form of suffering is that which we endure because of our own wrongdoing. Although this suffering may be partially due to our fallen condition inherited from Adam, there is at least a measure of responsibility on our part, to the extent of our knowledge of the principles of right and wrong. The Apostle Peter warns us against falling into this kind of suffering: “Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer” (1 Pet. 4:15).

Our theme scripture describes “suffering for righteousness.” Peter comments further on this kind of suffering saying, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, … But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; … If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; … If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Pet. 4:12-14,16). Suffering for righteousness is that which occurs as the child of God endeavors to follow the example of Christ, while in the midst of opposition, reproach, ridicule, and even persecution. Those who suffer in this way are counted as “happy,” and can “rejoice,” because their sufferings are developing in them the necessary qualities to be sympathetic “priests” in Christ’s coming kingdom.     

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”—Zechariah 9:9

When our Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he fulfilled this prophecy that foretold of him and his coming. Luke confirms this, saying, “When he was come nigh…the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest” (Luke 19:37,38). The disciples rejoiced at the presence of Jesus and pronounced him their king because his arrival had been promised by God and foretold by the prophets. Moses declared, “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deut. 18:15).

As the U.S. presidential election approached, Americans were faced with the task of electing their leader. However, there was no divine approval given, nor prophecies or miracles to aid in the decision process. All one had to go on were the past promises, words and deeds of the candidates in order to decide. Oh, how the acts and promises of men pale in comparison to what our Lord Jesus accomplished during the short 3½ years of his ministry.

When we consider the world today, in the hands of men whose words and deeds have caused decades of wars, famine, inequity and fear, shouldn’t we look to our God who has promised a ruler that will end death, sorrow, war and disease, cause the earth to give her increase, and bring mankind back into harmony with the Heavenly Father?

Let us rejoice for we have the sure word of prophecy that God’s earthly kingdom is close at hand and his choice for leader will accomplish what he has promised. “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:25,26).

When we read of this “river of water of life,” we notice that truth will flow as a mighty river, refreshing and blessing the whole earth (Rev. 22:1).  This river comes by means of the prospective members of the bride class that now have God’s spirit in them. The Bride is to become a “partaker of the divine nature.” She is to have within her a “well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). Eventually, these wellsprings, brought together in glory with the Lord, shall provide “living fountains of waters” to which the rest of mankind will come,  to drink (Rev. 7:17). Christ and the church constitute the source of the great “river of water of life.” A corresponding testimony of the “living waters” is found in Zechariah 14:8.

Water is used in the scriptures as a symbol of life. We continue to pray “Thy Kingdom come” and not until that prayer is answered, can the river of water of life flow. This river of life can only come when the institutions of this world have been replaced by God’s kingdom.

Revelation 22:2 tells us there is in this kingdom, a tree to sustain life, reminding us of the “paradise” where Adam was driven from on account of sin. He could no longer eat of that tree, which would have kept him living. On each side of the river, the tree of life will bear twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month to the changing conditions of men as they are brought upward toward perfection. We can see how the Lord will rid mankind of its sin, sickness and imperfection.

This “river of the water of life” represents the blessed influence that will proceed to humanity from the glorified Christ, head and body, through the kingdom of God’s dear Son. The calling of the world’s attention to the “river of the water of life,” to the leaves of healing, and to developing the fruits of the spirit will be the message that will be promulgated in that kingdom. The result will be that the world shall hear, and all who love righteousness and hate iniquity will return again to life eternal.  Amen  