As God’s people, we need to recognize Christ Jesus in His sovereign facet as King, whose starting point is His sacrifice on the cross, which is like the realm of the slain Lamb of God in the throne room. This is leading into the dimension of the hidden revelation of the Father and His plans (cf. Revelation 5:5-7).
Revelation 5:5-7:
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
The King’s Sphere of Government and the Capital City
A king’s earthly sphere of government usually extends from the capital of a country. This is why it was no coincidence that when Jesus Christ lived on earth and approached by riding at the right time into the city of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, He was recognized and proclaimed as king by the people (cf. John 12:12-15).
John 12:12-15:
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”
It is interesting to note at this point that while Jesus was riding, He was publicly proclaimed King by the people. This elevated position that accompanied Jesus’ sitting makes it clear that it was about a higher realm of Jesus’ presence in which He revealed Himself to the people.
Speaking in a spiritual context, the character of the capital city of Jerusalem is akin to an open door in heaven based on intimacy with Christ as the Bridegroom in the form of walking in first love and continuous true relationship with Him, as the city is referred to as the bride and also wife of the Lamb (cf. Revelation 21:2.9-10).
Revelation 21:2.9-10:
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. …
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. …
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
This city amounts to a new dimension of knowing Christ as the eternal King. This dimension is a higher level in heaven. The Bible passage from Revelation 19:11-16 makes this clear to us. There John again sees heaven opened in a new level and recognizes Christ as the eternal King, who, riding on a white horse with His royal army, moved forward and revealed Himself warlike in different facets. He is the Faithful and True, the Hidden – the Name that no one knew but Himself, The Word of God, King of kings and LORD of lords.
Revelation 19:11-16:
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
The heavenly or messianic Jerusalem can grant entrance through Christ Jesus in 12 different characters, resulting from the assigned angels of the 12 tribes of Israel, which are allocated to the four winds in an alliance of units of three (cf. John 10:9 i.c.w. Revelation 21:10-13.21a).
John 10:9:
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
Revelation 21:10-13.21a:
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. …
21a The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. …
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.
11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. …
21a The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. …
This area of access through the pearl gates of the city includes access into the kingdom of heaven, as this is like a pearl (cf. Matthew 13:44-46).
Matthew 13:44-46:
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Abraham and the Encounter with Melchizedek
It was no coincidence that Abraham, after victoriously waging war against the four kings, met Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who revealed to him the mystery of Jesus’ coming sacrificial death in the form of ‘bread’ and ‘wine’. Then Abraham expressed his gratitude to him by giving a tithe (cf. Genesis 14:17-20 i.c.w. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Genesis 14:17-20:
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26:
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
So Abraham entered the dimension of eternal kingship and priesthood through the encounter with Melchizedek. This is for us today a call to enter into the light of His face, which in this case is revealed in the facet of the lion representing the king and the bull representing the priest. Through the revelatory truth given to us, we can get the knowledge of Jesus’ kingship and priesthood for this time, which enables us to go forward in His spirit of the fear of the LORD as well as His strength (cf. Psalm 36:9 i.c.w. Zechariah 4:6; Proverbs 1:7a; Proverbs 9:10).
Psalm 36:9:
9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Zechariah 4:6:
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Proverbs 1:7a:
7a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, …
7a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, …
Proverbs 9:10:
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The presence of Jesus Christ as the eternal King of kings is accompanied by His powerful living two-edged sword, which is not in His hand or attached to His waist, but goes forth from His mouth to correct the nations with the revelatory truth contained therein in the form of righteousness (cf. Revelation 19:15a).
Revelation 19:15a:
15a Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. …
15a Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. …
This includes the royal and priestly communication of God that goes along with the roaring of the Lion of Judah and the plowing power of the Father.
Since the LORD is followed by a people riding on white horses according to Revelation 19:14, these are the so-called rearguard of His righteousness, reflecting Jesus Christ in His appearance in their field of responsibility assigned by the Father.
Revelation 19:14:
14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
In this, it is required from us that we allow the Word of God to work from within us, speaking out the revelatory truth that He is showing us for this time, while following Christ in faithfulness and truthfulness. This implies also living in the righteousness of His Word and not giving in to contradiction. As a result, our anointing with the authority of Himself as King of kings as government in the eternal realm and LORD of lords as government within the temporary realm increases. This increase in substance is necessary so that the power of His righteous and eternal kingship impacts the earth which includes His righteous judgment that even shakes society and political realms.
The Righteous Royal-Priestly Intervention of Christ
Christ’s righteous royal-priestly intervention is akin to His drawn ‘line’ in the sand that He drew with His index finger, while the religious spirit or spirit of self-righteousness was accusing that woman who was caught in adultery (cf. John 8:3-11).
John 8:3-11:
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.
7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.
7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Based on this, Jesus stooped twice to silence this religious spirit by ‘writing’ which is the power of God’s steadfast Word (Note: it is written), that is an indication of God’s kingship and priesthood. Jesus’ upright posture can serve as a reference to Him as King and His bowed posture to Him as Priest.
The eternal royal priesthood is accompanied by Jesus’ precious blood, which required His sacrifice on the middle cross of Calvary in order to position us in it (cf. Revelation 1:5-6).
Revelation 1:5-6:
… 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
… 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
From this it is clear that our discipleship with Jesus also requires a sacrifice, which involves laying aside the old life in order to live in the new life in Christ Jesus (cf. Galatians 2:20).
Galatians 2:20:
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
The mystery of sacrifice is hidden, among other things, behind the blood-soaked robe of the King of kings and LORD of lords in Revelation 19:11b.13 in the dimension of the Faithful and True as well as in Him as the Word of God.
Revelation 19:11b.13:
… 11b whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. …
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
… 11b whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. …
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
The principle of the ‘blood-soaked robe’, which requires a sacrifice in order to stand in the dimension of Christ’s kingship, is akin to Joseph’s blood-soaked robe, which was dipped in animal blood by Joseph’s brothers to deceive their father. The deception ultimately resulted in this blood-dipped robe secretly carrying Joseph’s career into governmental dominion. This, in turn, caused his brothers to initially not recognize him in his governing authority (cf. Genesis 37:31-33).
Genesis 37:31-33:
31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.
32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”
33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”
31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.
32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”
33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”
The Kingship of Christ and Betrayal
From this it is evident that the kingship in Christ can be preceded by betrayal and denial, just as Jesus was betrayed and denied in order to ultimately reign as King of kings and LORD of lords for eternity (cf. Luke 22:48, Matthew 26:34).
Luke 22:48:
… 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
… 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Matthew 26:34:
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
The dimension of Jesus Christ as the Lion of Judah, which encompasses the realm of the Father’s face in the facet of the lion, is accompanied by a ravening full-grown lion. This implies a royal harvest equivalent to the term and expression of ‘fisher of men’ (cf. Luke 5:10b i.c.w. Acts 10:13).
Luke 5:10b:
“… 10b Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
“… 10b Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
Acts 10:13:
13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
Moreover, the dimension of the Lion of Judah is accompanied by a certain ‘nakedness’. The Hebrew root word for ‘lion – ‘āraḥ’ sounds phonetically the same as the Hebrew word for ‘nakedness – ‘ārāh’. This is related to the power of God’s revelatory Word to enable us to be covered by the forgiving presence of Jesus’ blood and only from this covering of His perfect sacrifice, we are enabled to serve in His royal priesthood in the Kingdom of God (cf. Hebrews 4:12-13 i.c.w. Revelation 1:5-6).
Hebrews 4:12-13:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Revelation 1:5-6:
… 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
… 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
