Saturday, May 14, 2011

The Last Days (1) - Old Order Gone

A new season called the last days began when Jesus arrived on earth.

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by his Son whom He has appointed heir of all things (Heb 1:1-2).
The Last Days ended with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. During this short season, the Old Testament religious system ground to a halt.

The letter to the Hebrews explains that the temple sacrifices only applied until beginning of a new order that began with Jesus.
The gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only… external regulations applying until the time of the new order (Heb 9:10).
The death and resurrection of Jesus marked the end of the Old Testament system and the beginning of a new order. Jesus ministry was the epochal event that brought in the Last Days of the Old Testament order. It struggled on for a while, but its days were numbered.

The ministry of Jesus ended Jerusalem’s role in God’s purposes.
  1. The temple in Jerusalem had been the centre of sacrifice; but Jesus death on the cross put an end to sacrifice forever. Jesus became the only high priest that will ever be needed, so the animal sacrifices in a temple were redundant.

  2. Jerusalem had been the throne of the King of Israel. When Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, everything changed. When he was crowned as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, a role of the King of Israel was finished.

When Jesus entered the presence of God as the perfect High Priest and was appointed as King of Creation, the old order was finished.

God sent the Holy Spirit into the church to do his work in the world.
He has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father (Rev 1:6).
The body of Christ became the new kings and priests who serve God in the world, so the old order was finished. It carried on as if nothing had happened, but its days were numbered. The old order was in its Last Days.

2 comments:

Gene said...

My brother, I am relying on you to help me get this right. I have gone thru a great deal of change in this area and yet believe that this is not well understood or taught. I am NOT yet qualified to teach it. It causes great division and anger at least here in Chicagoland. I appeal to you to try to make this very very clear. IF it stands Biblical scrutiny and not just vain speculation, it might set people free. If not it will just divide.

Ron McK said...

Gene
You are right. I do need to get this very clear, because the church needs to hear it to understand our times. I am not sure, if I am up to it, but I will do my best. Please pray for me.