CHAPTER III
Prophet, Priest and King
JEHOVAH, in preparing for the complete vindication of his Word and his name, foretold the mighty agency he would use to accomplish that purpose. He would bring forth a Prophet who would speak authoritatively for Jehovah, a Priest who would serve as the chief executive officer of the Lord, a King who should in God's due time rule the world in righteousness. Since the Redeemer and Deliverer of man must be strong and a great conqueror, it might be expected that the same Mighty One would fill the office of God's Prophet, Priest and King.
The work of Moses as a prophet was about done, and God would have him tell Israel of the coming of the Greater than Moses. He therefore said to the Israelites: "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. And the Lord said unto me, ... I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him." — Deut. 18:15,17-19.
All peoples of earth shall in due time hear and obey that mighty Prophet, or Jehovah himself will take the matter in hand. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31) It follows that the One here described would come not to speak his own message but to speak the message of
the Almighty God and to acquaint the people concerning the will of the Most High, that his will might be done by the peoples on earth as it is done in heaven.
The fact that God said that the great Prophet would be "like unto" Moses must mean that the work done or duties performed by Moses foretold the kind of work to be done or duties to be performed by the Greater than Moses. That which prominently stands out in the work of Moses may be summed up in this manner: He was appointed by Jehovah. God raised him up to be the deliverer of his people. He was the law-giver. He was the teacher of the people, informing them of God's will. He was the true and faithful witness of God for the people. He was the father and comforter of the Israelites. Above all, he stood for the name and glory of Jehovah. The Greater than Moses must do likewise, only on a far wider scale. The chief reason why God sent Moses to Egypt was to "redeem [Israel] for a people to himself, and to make him [for himself] a name". (2 Sam. 7:23) Therefore the chief reason for sending the greater than Moses must be to redeem the people and to make a name for Jehovah God. There is no intimation that he would be sent merely to save some and get them to heaven to help God run his affairs.
If it be found from the Scriptures and from the events that have actually come to pass that the prophecy uttered by Moses concerning the coming of the greater Prophet has been fulfilled, then it follows that the one fulfilling the prophecy is the mighty Representative of Jehovah God and that his words are true and import absolute verity and must be followed and obeyed. It would also follow that any man, whether clergyman or other, who denies the words of Jesus is a false prophet and his words are false. All
mankind, be they Jews or Gentiles, must obey whatsoever this great Prophet commands, if they would have the favor of Jehovah God.
FULFILLED
John the Baptist was a prophet. He was the one who made announcement of the coming of Jesus Christ the Son of God. The learned Jews came to John and inquired if he was that Prophet concerning whom Moses prophetically wrote. John answered that he was not, but that the one coming after him and whom he announced is that great Prophet. When Jesus appeared and began his work John said: "This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me." — John 1:21,30.
When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan the spirit of God descended upon him and there was a voice from heaven saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt. 3:17) John testified that he witnessed this great demonstration of power. (John 1: 33, 34) Peter at Pentecost declared Jesus Christ to be the One whom Moses foretold. (Acts 3:19-24) Paul also identifies him as that great Prophet. (Rom. 1:1-3) The New Testament scriptures abundantly testify that Jesus Christ is the great Prophet foretold by Moses. Did he meet the divine requirements of a prophet? He did in every respect. He spoke in the name of Jehovah God; his words on all occasions tended to turn the people to Jehovah God and to honor his name, and many things that he said have come to pass.
He spoke in the name of Jehovah and authoritatively as God's mouthpiece. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto
the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." (Heb. 1:1,2) Jesus always honored his Father and claimed no honor for himself. "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5:30) "As my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. ... I honour my Father. ... If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me." (John 8: 28,49, 54) He did not attempt to magnify himself, but always magnified God's name. When those who heard him would not believe him, he asked them to believe him because of his works. — John 14:10,11.
The entire New Testament record of Jesus abundantly proves that he was the great Teacher from God bearing testimony to the truth of Jehovah. For this cause was he born and came into the world. (John 18:37) He was the great expounder of the will of God. As God's great mouthpiece he declared things to come to pass which could not be understood until they were fulfilled.
Jesus' great prophecy concerning his second presence and the end of the world is set forth in the record. (Matt. 24) The things there prophesied began to come to pass in the year 1914, and they are still in process of fulfilment. Jesus foretold the fall of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews and that subsequently they would again become the recipients of God's favor. The first part of that prophecy was long ago fulfilled, and the latter part is now beginning to be fulfilled. He testified that he must die to provide the great redemptive price for man. (Matt. 20: 28; John 10:10; 6: 51) That prophecy has been fulfilled. (Heb. 2: 9; 1 Tim. 2: 5, 6) He prophesied that he
would be raised from the dead, would ascend into heaven, and would come again; all of which prophecies have been fulfilled. Many of his prophecies have been fulfilled, and many more are yet to be fulfilled. What is here said is said for the purpose of showing that he met in every sense that which was required by the Lord and which proved him a true prophet, and that he is the great Prophet who Moses prophesied was to come.
As Moses was the redeemer and deliverer of the Israelites from Egypt, so is the great Prophet Jesus Christ the Redeemer and Deliverer of all mankind. As Moses was the law-giver to the Israelites, so Jesus Christ is the great Law-giver for the people. As Moses was teacher of the people of Israel, so Jesus Christ is and ever will be the great Teacher of mankind. As Moses was the guide for the Israelites, even so Jesus Christ is the Guide and Leader and Instructor for the people. (Isa. 55:4) As Moses was a "father" to the Israelites, so Jesus Christ is the great Life-giver of the world. (Isa. 9: 6, 7) As Moses stood for the honor of Jehovah's name, even so the Greater than Moses, Christ Jesus, whom God hath exalted, is now and ever shall be an honor and glory to the name of Jehovah God. (Phil. 2: 9-11) The proof shows beyond all question that Jesus Christ is the great Prophet whom God foretold by the mouth of Moses, and that the words spoken by Jesus are from Jehovah, and that all who would live must hear and obey his words.
A PRIEST
The high priest of Jehovah God is the one who serves him officially as his principal officer. The ceremony performed in connection with the tabernacle
on the atonement day was a prophetic ceremony. The priest performed that ceremony. In substance that prophetic ceremony said: The time will come when the great High Priest, appointed by Jehovah, shall serve in that official capacity in making atonement before God for the sins of the world. A perfect human sacrifice must be offered up as a substitute for sinful man, thereby providing the cost price for the redemption of man, and must in due time be presented to Jehovah. Who would be the priest to perform that sacrificial work? Paul, the inspired witness of the Lord, answers the question and identifies Christ Jesus as that great High Priest who was faithful to God who appointed him. (Heb. 3:1-6) The proof shows not only that he was the Priest of God when on earth, but that he still occupies that high office in heaven itself. (Heb. 4:15; 8:1) He did not take that high office by his own appointment, but took it by appointment from Jehovah God. — Heb. 5: 5, 6.
Once each year, on the atonement day, the high priest of Israel performed the prophetic ceremony by offering the lives of animals; and in fulfilment of that prophecy Jesus Christ, the great High Priest of God, offered his own life-blood once, and thereby provided the ransom price and sin-offering for mankind. "Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For Christ is not entered
into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." — Heb. 9:11,12,14, 24,26.
As further proof that the Jewish ceremony on the atonement day was prophetic, the high priest of the Jews must be taken from the tribe of Levi; and hence it was called the Levitical priesthood. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, about which tribe nothing was said concerning priesthood. There was another priesthood provided, which is designated in the Scriptures by the Lord as the priesthood "after the order of Melchisedec". (Heb. 7:11-17) Then Paul, in that connection, quotes the words of the prophet: "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually." — Heb. 7:3.
By this language is meant that this priesthood did not come into office by reason of birth, as did the priests of the Levitical order, and that therefore he had neither father nor mother; and since there is no record of the beginning of the Mighty One, and since there is to be no end of his priesthood, it is stated that he was without beginning of days or end of life. Therefore the Levitical priesthood prophetically referred to the work of the great Priest, Christ Jesus, to be performed in connection with the antitypical atonement day, but it did not foreshadow other work that the same great Priest does.
Another prophecy was made foretelling that great Priest and the nature of his work. When Abraham
was returning from rescuing Lot he was met by Melchizedek, who was then king of Salem, which means that he was the king of peace, and he was at the same time a priest of the Most High God; and he gave Abraham nourishing food and drink. (Gen. 14:18; Heb. 7:1) That prophecy foretold the coming of a Mighty One who would fill the office of Priest of the Most High God and who would minister life-giving portions to the peoples of the earth. Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy and is God's great High Priest and chief executive officer for ever, and he gave unto the people that which will bring and sustain life. (Rom. 6:23) Being God's chief executive officer, he does and will perform all things for Jehovah and in the name of Jehovah. Concerning this it is written that 'all things are from Jehovah and all things are by Christ Jesus'. — 2 Cor. 5:18; 1 Cor. 8:6.
KING
The prophecy concerning Melchizedek shows also that the great High Priest who fills the office is at the same time the great King or Ruler. God caused Isaiah to prophesy concerning the coming of the Mighty One upon whose shoulder the government of righteousness would rest, and who would give life and peace to the peoples of earth. He foretold that that Mighty One is the Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9: 6, 7) When Jacob was on his death-bed God caused him to utter a prophecy concerning what should come to pass in the future. Among other things he prophesied as follows: "Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh
come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." — Gen. 49:9,10.
Jesus descended from the tribe of Judah and is identified in the Scriptures as "the Lion of the tribe of Juda". (Rev. 5:5) The Mighty One thus foretold by this prophet must have the right to rule and be the great Law-giver to the people, even as Moses was the law-giver to Israel. His name Shiloh means peaceful One, or the Prince of Peace. The fact that the prophet declared that unto him shall the gathering of the people be is a prophecy that he would be the Ruler of the people. Jesus has partially fulfilled this prophecy and is in course of fulfilling it all.
Jehovah caused his prophet to foretell the place of the birth of him who must be the rightful Ruler of the world. "But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Mic. 5:2) "When Jesus was born at Bethlehem this prophecy was fulfilled partially, or in miniature. The words of the prophecy, "Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting," definitely identify the Logos, by whom all things were created and who was made flesh and dwelt among men, as the One who was born to be the Ruler of the world. (John 1:1-4) When Jesus was on earth he was anointed to be King and therefore was the King at that time, but he did not assume the office of Ruler at that time. He must wait until God's due time, which was future, as he stated to Pilate. (John 18:36-38) The prophet indicated the time that Jesus would assume his office as King when he said: "Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his
brethren shall return unto the children of Israel." — Mic. 5:3.
That prophecy relates to the time when his nation would be born and his rule would begin, which has now been fulfilled, but which will be discussed in a subsequent chapter. God, through his prophet, referring to a future time, said: "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." (Ps. 2:6) That prophecy began to have its fulfilment in 1914, as will appear from evidence hereinafter submitted.
The indisputable prophetic testimony shows therefore that he whom Jehovah provided to redeem the human race is also the great Prophet of Jehovah God and speaks with absolute authority for Jehovah. The proof is also that he is the everlasting "Priest of the Most High God" and will for ever administer the duties of that office, and is hence the chief officer of Jehovah. The proof is also that he is the great King and rightful Ruler of the world, who will rule in righteousness for the blessing of the people, and that he received the everlasting right to all these high offices at the time when he was anointed by the holy spirit of Jehovah.
"Anointing" means designation to office and that the one thus anointed is clothed with power and authority to act in that office. The word "Christ" means anointed one, and it was at the time of his anointing that he received the name Christ. From that time forward he has properly possessed the titles of Prophet, Priest and King. The word "Messiah" also means the anointed one. God, through his prophet, foretold that the Messiah the Prince would be cut off, but not for himself. (Dan. 9:25,26) That prophecy is exactly in harmony with Isaiah's prophecy concerning the One who should pour out his soul unto death to
provide the redemptive price for man. (Isa. 53: 8,12) Jesus fulfilled this prophecy, because he is the Anointed, the Messiah, and he poured out his soul unto death, not for himself but for the benefit of mankind.
When Jehovah God raised Jesus out of death and exalted him to the highest place in heaven, he had then become the Redeemer and the One who makes atonement for sin; and he rightfully holds that title in addition to those of Prophet, Priest and King. Jesus then possessed the power and authority to establish immediately a righteous rule on the earth and take action against the great enemy to oust him from ruler-ship of the world, and to perform the work of vindicating Jehovah's name, and to command all the people to obey. It would have been his greatest joy to do so then, had it been God's due time; but God's due time had not yet arrived; therefore Jehovah said to him as he had foretold through the words of the Prophet David: "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Ps. 110:1) Paul recorded the fulfilment of that prophecy when he wrote: "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." —Heb. 10:12,13.
The above prophetic statement can not be taken to mean that Jesus must remain idle or inactive when directed to sit down, but must mean that he was to await God's due time for taking action against the enemy to oust him from the courts of heaven, establish a government of righteousness, and vindicate his Father's name. There was much other work for him to do in the meantime. When he was about to end his earthly ministry as a man, he said to his disciples: "And I covenant for you, even as my Father has
covenanted for me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22:29, 30, Diaglott) Thus Jesus uttered a prophecy that his faithful followers (meaning his disciples and others who should likewise follow in his footsteps) would be with him in his kingdom.
Again, he said to his disciples about the same time: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also." This was also a prophecy, the understanding of which was hidden from his followers until the time of his coming and his kingdom. Now that prophecy has been at least partially fulfilled and is in course of fulfilment, and those who are devoted to the Lord can understand it and do understand it. Seeing then that the prophecies foretold the Redeemer, the great Prophet, Priest and King, and that these prophecies have been fulfilled or are in course of fulfilment, there is an abundance of proof to establish the faith of all who love Jehovah. The fact that the Lord caused these prophecies to be written for the benefit of the man who devotes himself to Jehovah God is conclusive proof that in God's due time the prophecies would be understood.
