CHRIST THE MEDIATOR
The Son of God, the Heir to all the estates, will be invested as the Supreme King priest upon the throne in the third heaven. All of heaven will acclaim Him, & that He indeed is worthy. (Rev. 5: 12) The Father will give His Son the nations as His inheritance & the power & authority to execute His will over them, (symbolised by the scroll).
To do this great task, we see Christ operating as a Mediator – one who stands between two parties, (God & Israel), one who will –
`avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; ` plus, `He will provide atonement for His land & His people.` (Deut. 32: 43)
This Mediatorial activity was enacted by Israel once a year on the Day of Atonement – Israel`s National day of repentance & forgiveness. The High priest, standing in for the nation of Israel would go into the Temple with the blood from the sacrifice, mix it with the incense & fire from the Golden Altar & then throw the fire to the ground before the ark of the covenant.
Thus we see Christ as the High Priest standing before the symbolic Golden Altar in heaven, (having shed His own blood). The fire & blood is then thrown to the ground, as it were, in judgments upon the rebellious. (Rev. 8 & 9) `I came to send fire on the earth,...` (Luke 12: 49)
Judgments upon the Rebellious.
The blowing of trumpets, a priestly activity, declare that God`s judgments executed by Christ, are about to come forth upon the nations of the world. The first four trumpet calls are during the early part of the tribulation & affect a third of the earth, the sea, the water & the stars. This would bring about great hardship of famine, lack of fresh water, & great fear. Now we can see why the great multitude from the tribulation, died of hunger, thirst & heat. However we see that they repented before God. (Rev. 7: 16)
The last three trumpets, (5th, 6th & 7th) take place from the middle of the tribulation to the end. These are so terrible that they are referred to as `woes,` - demonic activity of torment, & plagues. When the 7th trumpet sounds then the mystery of God is finished. (Rev. 10: 7) It heralds a great earthquake, Armageddon, & the Lord`s return in power & glory.
Purification of Israel.
Amid the horrific judgments Christ as Mediator also brings `atonement for His land & His people.` This is shown pictorially by the `Messenger of the Covenant` astride land & sea. He swears by Himself, who lives forever. (Rev. 10)
`there is no God beside me....for I lift my hand to heaven & say, “As I live forever....I will render vengeance to my enemies.....He will provide atonement for His land & His people.` (Deut. 32: 39 – 43)
God swears by Himself, for there is no one greater, that He will fulfil the covenant that He promised to Israel –
`...if they (Israel) confess their iniquity....then I will remember my covenant with Jacob,...Isaac....& Abraham.` (Lev. 26: 40 – 42)
Moses & Elijah, (the Law & the Prophets) are sent to turn the hearts of the people back to their God. They remind the people of Israel what the Lord promised in His word – to provide atonement for His land & His people. This means that God will forgive, be merciful, cleanse & pardon the people of Israel who will turn back to Him.
The Son of God, the Heir to all the estates, will be invested as the Supreme King priest upon the throne in the third heaven. All of heaven will acclaim Him, & that He indeed is worthy. (Rev. 5: 12) The Father will give His Son the nations as His inheritance & the power & authority to execute His will over them, (symbolised by the scroll).
To do this great task, we see Christ operating as a Mediator – one who stands between two parties, (God & Israel), one who will –
`avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; ` plus, `He will provide atonement for His land & His people.` (Deut. 32: 43)
This Mediatorial activity was enacted by Israel once a year on the Day of Atonement – Israel`s National day of repentance & forgiveness. The High priest, standing in for the nation of Israel would go into the Temple with the blood from the sacrifice, mix it with the incense & fire from the Golden Altar & then throw the fire to the ground before the ark of the covenant.
Thus we see Christ as the High Priest standing before the symbolic Golden Altar in heaven, (having shed His own blood). The fire & blood is then thrown to the ground, as it were, in judgments upon the rebellious. (Rev. 8 & 9) `I came to send fire on the earth,...` (Luke 12: 49)
Judgments upon the Rebellious.
The blowing of trumpets, a priestly activity, declare that God`s judgments executed by Christ, are about to come forth upon the nations of the world. The first four trumpet calls are during the early part of the tribulation & affect a third of the earth, the sea, the water & the stars. This would bring about great hardship of famine, lack of fresh water, & great fear. Now we can see why the great multitude from the tribulation, died of hunger, thirst & heat. However we see that they repented before God. (Rev. 7: 16)
The last three trumpets, (5th, 6th & 7th) take place from the middle of the tribulation to the end. These are so terrible that they are referred to as `woes,` - demonic activity of torment, & plagues. When the 7th trumpet sounds then the mystery of God is finished. (Rev. 10: 7) It heralds a great earthquake, Armageddon, & the Lord`s return in power & glory.
Purification of Israel.
Amid the horrific judgments Christ as Mediator also brings `atonement for His land & His people.` This is shown pictorially by the `Messenger of the Covenant` astride land & sea. He swears by Himself, who lives forever. (Rev. 10)
`there is no God beside me....for I lift my hand to heaven & say, “As I live forever....I will render vengeance to my enemies.....He will provide atonement for His land & His people.` (Deut. 32: 39 – 43)
God swears by Himself, for there is no one greater, that He will fulfil the covenant that He promised to Israel –
`...if they (Israel) confess their iniquity....then I will remember my covenant with Jacob,...Isaac....& Abraham.` (Lev. 26: 40 – 42)
Moses & Elijah, (the Law & the Prophets) are sent to turn the hearts of the people back to their God. They remind the people of Israel what the Lord promised in His word – to provide atonement for His land & His people. This means that God will forgive, be merciful, cleanse & pardon the people of Israel who will turn back to Him.
