1 ¶
AND
hea shewed me
Joshuab
[Yehoshua/JESUS]
the high priestc standing
before the
aangel of the LORDd,
and bSatane
standing at his right handf
to cresist ["accuse"]
him.
.2
And the LORD said unto Satan,
aThe LORD rebuke
theea, O Satan; even the LORD that
hath chosen
bJerusalemb rebuke
thee: is not this a abrand plucked out of the
firec?
JESUS by Name
in the Old Testament
In the Book of Mormon, before the birth of JESUS, it is given to those
ancient 'American' prophets to know JESUS by name as JESUS CHRIST. At least
that is its translation equivalent. Just how the Book of Mormon prophets
would have transcribed it would have been as JEHOSHUA(JOSHUA) MESSIAH in what
ever reformed Egyptian characters which represented the name. Joseph Smith
would have then translated into its most common 'transliterated' English
form to be JESUS CHRIST. If the Book of Mormon had been in HEBREW and
translated into the English-Hebrew transliteration, the name would have been
JEHOSHUA/JOSHUA for Jesus in our Book of Mormon text. But why where the
Book of Mormon prophets more privileged to know Jesus Christ/Jehoshua Messiah
by that name title and the ancient Old Testament prophets not?
Well, with close study of the Bible, it becomes apparent that the Old Testament
prophets did know him by name also. In the inspired Book of Moses, the LORD
is stated to be JESUS CHRIST (JEHOSHUA MESSIAH). The New Testament Jews also
seemed well to understand from their comprehension of the scriptures that
the name of the LORD would be 'JEHOSHUA/JOSHUA'. And we do find here in
Zechariah chapter 3 that the LORD, the SON of GOD, our Great High Priest, is
called by name 'JEHOSHUA' in the Hebrew Bible and JOSHUA in our transliterated
King James version.
When one comes to know all of the names of God which refer to Jehovah,
the Messiah, even Jesus Christ; it is easy to see that all of the prophets of
God did speak and testify of the Lord and his anointed mission in behalf of
mankind. Yet here in Zechariah chapter 3 we have a very unique occurrence in
the Jewish supplied Old Testament, in which JESUS, who is Jehovah, is actually
being called by that very name 'JESUS'.
Remember that 'Jesus' is the transliterated Greek form of
the name 'Joshua'. And the more proper and complete name is Jehoshua or Yehoshua
meaning 'In Jehovah Is Salvation'. In Zechariah 3, Jehovah is referred to by
his eventual earthly name of Jehoshua as the Hebrew Bible records that the
more formal name is being used, 'Yehoshua'. Jesus was not named after Joshua
the son of Nun. Moses renamed 'Oshea' with one of the names of Jehovah,
'Jehoshua' or 'Yehoshua'. JESUS was named in the preexistence by God the
Father as 'Jehoshua' or 'Yehoshua'. And when Gabriel commanded that the
Christ Child be named JESUS, he was not naming the Christ after the prophet
and judge Joshua. He was commanding that the name given Jehovah in the
preexistence by God the Father be the name of the Christ Child on earth.
The Lord Rebuke Thee
This is basically our defense against Satan.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we can command Satan to depart. In the case
of Michael the Archangel, who is Adam, when he contended with Satan over
the 'body of Moses' (Jude 1:9), he did not exercise any power or athority
over Satan but did rather use that 'Rebuke' as stated by God himself here
is verse 2, "The LORD rebuke thee." Thus we do have power to command
Satan but only righteously in the name of God. And Satan has to obey the
commands and directions of God.
The War in Heaven
The War in Heaven had not been one of physical
'blood and guts.' It rather was that which was fought over ideas, causes and
mental positions. The very Plan of Exaltation was being challenged by Lucifer's
perception of what he would have it be under his direction and control. He
wanted to be he who was empowered and appointed to be the 'creator and redeemer
of mankind.' But his intent was not true to the cause and benefit of God's
children. He was going to take away their self actuating agency to choose for
themselves and force them to live according to his rule and command over them.
His intent was not to allow any of them to achieve to the heights of Godhood,
but to forever be subject unto him, Lucifer, as their 'God and King', forever
subjected to his dominion over them as his subjects and not as his equals.
God's Plan, supported by Jehovah, was to allow man the opportunity to become
even as God was. Since Lucifer's plan and design was to thwart man eternal
progression, remove from him his self-actuating agency, and to rule over
'them' as their eternal overseer; God the Father would not allow such to
occur. Rather God the Father put an end to that War of Words and cast Lucifer
and Lucifer's followers out of Heaven down to the temporal world and under
the condition and situation that they would never obtain temporal bodies of
flesh and bone, and that for attempting to remove from man his agency, that
they would never be able to become like God is.
What also ought to be noted here is that, that War did not end over the souls
of man. Satan still tries to take away from man his free agency and the God
given Liberty to choose. Satan inspired earthly kingdoms and rulers have
continued to attempt to rob man of that given right of exercise of agency.
Now with that agency may has the opportunity to become like God is. Also
the condidtion of that agency is that man is held responsible for his choices
and justice must be satisfied. But the Father also allows man to obtain a
redeption by and through and of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah,
as he will suffer the pains of sin for all those who take upon them his name
and do follow him and obey the commandments of God, and thus being enabled to
become one with the Father and Son even as they are one in Heaven themselves.
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1a he As is the case of many
such 'panoramic' visions of this nature, a guide is provided to point out that
which he who is receiving the vision ought to pay attention to and record.
This was the case in the vision given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon of
D&C section 76. In that vision it was given to them is segments and it was
further told to them that which they not only were to pay attention to but
precisely what portions of their vision series they were to record. This is
the same in Lehi's vision of the tree of life which Nephi also received. They
both had an 'angel guide' and though it was the 'same' vision, Nephi seems to
have been guided 'further' in the vision than was Lehi, for Nephi recorded
more than Lehi and was even told which part(s) of the visionary series he
was NOT to record as it had been reserved for the Apostles John to record,
which was the vision of Revelation. It is at this point that we may consider
that is was the 'vision of all' particularly pointed out and guided through
by the angel guide that these prophets were being guided through. And though
that 'entire' vision was reserved unto Mahonri Moriantumr to record, which is
in the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon, it would seem that many other
prophets have seen it and in part particularly guided to that portion(s) of
the vision which they were to report on and record. Such may been considered
or seen which Zechariah is being sequenced through in his visionary experience
of his series or segments of vision(s).
1b
Joshua [Yehoshua/Jehoshua] This is
not Joshua the prophet and judge of Israel, the son of Nun (See
Num. 13:16) who was named by
Moses one of the names of Jehovah being called Jehoshua or 'In Jehovah Is
Salvation'. Nor is this the later priest of the day of Zechariah, though the
Jewish application of this to him is what has preserved this vision and hide
it from the understanding of the Jews that it might have been preserved. This
is Jehovah and the event of this vision is when Jehovah, renamed Jehoshua,
and Lucifer, renamed Satan, stood before the judgment bar of the Angel of
the LORD or God the Father.
1b
the high priest This is 'The High Priest' of the Covenant of God,
who is none other than Jehovah or Jesus Christ himself (See
Hebrews 3:1).
1c
angel of the LORD This is 'The Angel of the LORD', God's Presence
or Presence of the Father before Whom, Jehovah and Lucifer did stand.
Lucifer 'Resisted and Accused' the Plan of God and Jehovah as the
source of Salvation of mankind.
1d
Satan Lucifer was 'branded' by the fiery judgment of God the
Father with the name of Satan, meaning 'Adversary' or 'Accuser', Lucifer
leading the opposition against Jehovah in the War in Heaven.
1estanding at his right hand
Though SATAN is standing to the right of JESUS/JEHOVAH, it is from the
perspective of the FATHER which is important. With SATAN upon the right of
JESUS/JEHOVAH, that places SATAN upon the left hand of the FATHER from the
perspective of the FATHER and it places JESUS/JEHOVAH upon the right hand of
the FATHER as the FATHER is facing them so as to represent the FATHER blessing
JESUS/JEHOVAH rightfully upon the right hand of GOD, and unlike the instance
of Jacob with Ephraim and Manasseh, the FATHER would not have to reach the
right hand across to give the rightful blessing upon the head of the
rightful firstborn JEHOVAH.
2a
Satan, the LORD rebuke thee God the Father rebukes or casts Satan
off from Heaven as the accuser and the adversary of Jehovah and the Plan of
God (See Rev. 12:9-10).
And then Jude records that Adam as Michael the archangel did remind the devil
that it was the Lord, God the Father, who had rebuked or judged Satan as
so recorded here in Zechariah 3:2 (See:
Jude 1:9).
2b
chosen Jerusalem The City of Peace, or in other words of those who
peacefully accepted God's Plan of Happiness and did not contend against it.
It is an ancient name given here in the pre-mortal world, it is the 'Holy City
of God' or community and the people of the Lord who are the 'Pure in Heart',
the same being the Zion of the Lord; the Lord being the Bridegroom and Zion
being the bride. From before the world was, was the people and the 'city or
kingdom of the Lord' known by the name of Jerusalem. Here in this vision of
the judgment council in favor of Jehovah who is Jehoshua or Jesus and Satan,
those who did select, follow and support Jehovah were stated to be members of
'Jerusalem'. This is the much universal, extensive and panoramic
consideration of Jerusalem being the city of the Lord from the beginning to
the end of these particular ages of time.
2c
brand plucked from the fire The 'Judgment' of God is as a burning fire.
God's All Searching Eye knows the inner man and all his workings. Lucifer
stood before the Angel of the LORD, God the Father, and was judged with
such a burning judgment, which comes only by the Spirit of Truth who sees
thru all men to their very core. Lucifer was branded with the name of
Satan, as that was his guilt, being the adversary and accuser of Jehovah, in
his rebellion against God the Father and His chosen Messiah, the Savior of
the world.
~ FIREBRAND ~
Satan was a 'firebrand' which is defined as a 'person who is passionate about
a particular cause—typically inciting change and taking radical action.
He was a rebel in rebellion against Jehovah and ultimately against Elohim as
well. As such a 'revolutionary', as Lucifer would likely like to distinguish
himself, he had a 'cause' that he could incite people about and bring them to
following after him in that cause. But from the position of the established
Diety, Lucifer was but a subversive egotist whose cause was but centered in
himself. His design was to elevate himself at the expense of others and not
to the greater good of the children of God. Not only was a significant degree
of angency lost, but the chief benefactor of Lucifer's design was Lucifer.
It is quite one thing to have a differing point of view and to talk it out
to an understanding, being in the end reconciled unto God. It is quite another
when one insists on his intended change over and above the ruling authorities
in their proper position. Satan was in the process to ursurp and take the place
of the rightful heir. And he was intending to do it according to his own set
of rules, which did not comply to the end goal and by the proper means of
attaining that goal as was in place as an integral part of the Plan of Exaltation
with its underlying concept of Eternal Progression. Without becoming fully self-actuated,
God's children could not maximize their potential in becoming as God it. Lucifer
was in the process of so placing himself above all else and not as a co-heir with
those who did so qualify to become one even as the Father and the Son were one.
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1a
TG
Angels
b
HEB the Adversary or Accuser
(also v. 2);
Ps. 109:6
c
HEB accuse
2a
Jude
1:9
2a
Amos 4:11
2b
Matt.
5:35
Order in God's Kingdom
It is of interest to note in the Kingdom of God there is an order to be
followed. Lucifer opposed Jehovah's selection to be the Redeemer of man. He
became the 'accuser', the 'adversary' which earned him the name of Satan. In
the order of events, Jehovah and his 'accuser' came to stand before the Angel
of the LORD, who was or represented God the Father. In the process of this
priesthood court held before a council of heaven, God's 'All Searching Eye'
penetrated to the very root of the matter within Lucifer's contentions
against Jehovah and God's Plan to set forth that 'in Jehovah Salvation was to
be'. The name of Jehovah was pronounced in that council as Jehoshua or
Yehoshua, 'In Jehovah Is Salvation'. The truth was not found in Lucifer.
Thus he was named 'Satan' and rebuked, being cast out of Heaven.
Complaints in God's Earthly Kingdom concerning those called in the Church are
handled in much the same manner. The accusing party is brought in to confront
the one called upon the matter in question. It is resolved by the spirit of
discernment by a priesthood council. If the accusation is found to be true,
the person called is not appointed until a resolution is found. If the
accusation is found false, then the accuser is give the opportunity to repent
and reconcile himself to the facts of the matter. If the opposition is
continued despite the truth, as was the case with Lucifer, then the person
must be disfellowshiped, cast out off, or excommunicated from the Church or
Kingdom of God.
The Lord and Azazel
Now in temple ceremonial commemoration in the Day of Atonement performance,
this occasion is again played out when the two goats, one for the Lord God
Jehovah as Jehoshua and the other for Azazel, the scapegoat Lucifer or Satan.
And then the one goat for the Lord is sacrificed in the atonement and the
other is expelled into the dark and dreary wilderness, being cast out and
down from heaven and the presencne of the LORD.
In the temple ceremony of the Day of Atonement the priest makes a choice
between the two goats by the castting of lots, in the actual preexistence
event it was God the Father, Elohim, who made the judgment determination to
spurn and cast out Saten and to endorse and pronounce Jehovah as Jehoshua,
'Jehovah the Redeemer' of the atonement of the Plan of God.
Duplication in Divine Investiture
Because of the 'replication' of representation that 'Divine Investiture' does
cause in such scriptural reecords which reference 'God', it seems necessary
to discuss here the relationship between God the Father of Spirits and
Jesus Christ the Son of the Atonement. In 'The Father and Son, A Doctrinal
Exposition by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles'
of 1916 (see Improvement Era, August 1916 & Ensign, April 2002), it is
stated that: "Elohim is the Father in every sense
in which Jesus Christ is so designated, and distinctively He is the Father of
spirits." By Divine Investiture, in respect to this World, the Second Estate,
as Elohim being advanced Celestially beyond this state of progression and
thus no longer pertaining thereto (D&C 130:5), Jesus Christ as Jehovah was
selected to
stand in the stead of his Father in all things. This would include being the
'Creator', 'In being the very Eternal Father of Heaven and Earth', etc., as
depicted by the following graphic.
This Divine Investiture would also further mean that any such names or titles
of God, either of the Father Elohim or the Son Jehovah, would also be
interchagable as each is so interchangably designated. This causes some
confusion when in the scriptures both are being referenced at the same time.
They share names and titles so is it one or the other or both who is being
referenced and spoken of? In the case of Zechariah 3, the fourth visionary
segment reported by Zechariah, both Elohim and Jehovah share the same stage.
Jesus as Jehoshua the High Priest and Elohim as the 'Angel or Spirit of the
LORD'. Yes the title 'Angel or Spirit of the LORD' is one such title which is
interchangable and may actually reference either Elohim or Jehovah as well as
even the being of the Holy Ghost at times. This is by virture of Divine
Investiture where the Son Jehovah may stand in the stead of the Father as
even the being of the Holy Ghost does in his various rolls in servicing the
relationship between God and fallen man.
Admittedly, this may cause some confusion and thus the need for spiritual
guidance in scriptural interpretation. But such was the case when King David,
so guided by the spirit, spoke of both Father Elohim and Son Jehovah in Psalm
110:1: "The LORD [Elohim, Father of Spirits] said unto my Lord [Jehovah the
son, Jesus Christ], Sit thou at my right hand, until I make
thine enemies thy footstool." This Jesus quoted to the Jews in so delineating
that he, Jesus Christ the 'Lord', who was Jehovah, was the Son of God, the
the son of the 'LORD' GOD ELOHIM, even God the Father of Spirits.
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3
Now Joshua was clothed with afilthy
garmentsa, and stood before the
angel.
.4
And he answered and spake unto those that stood before
hima, saying, Take
away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have
caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change
of araiment.
5 And I said, Let them
set aa fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre
upon his head, and clothed him with
agarments. And the angel of the
LORD stood by.
6 And the angel of the LORD
protested [proclaimed] unto Joshua,
saying,
7
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt awalk in
my ways, and if thou wilt keep my bcharge, then thou shalt
also judge my house, and shalt also keep my
courtsa, and I will give thee
places to walk among cthese that stand by.
He Judgeth My House
He that judgeth the House of God is he who is the 'Judge of all' (Hebrews
12:22) and 'The LORD ... standeth to judge the people' (Isaiah 3:13, also
2 Nephi 13:13). Yea, this is Christ Jesus, Jehovah, who, by the appointment of
the Father according as summed up here, is to be the fulfillment and
faithfulness of the work done and accomplished by the Son Jesus or Jehoshua.
This vision is that of Jesus Christ, the Greek name Jesus being the same
Hebrew name as Jehoshua.
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3a
Joshua [Yehoshua/Jesus] was clothed with filthy
garments Understanding the context of the event of this recorded
vision of the preexistence, a better translation would yield the concept that
the sins of the world, 'the filthy garments', were to be judged upon the
Redeemer or Jehoshua who is Jehovah. He takes upon himself the sins of the
world and suffers for them, for all who will accept him as their Redeemer.
4a
those that stood before him These were members of the ruling
council of the heavenly preexistent court. These were a number of the great
and noble ones. And it was confirmed before them that Jehovah was the 'True'
Messiah who would take away the sins of the world. Through the atonement the
sins of the world are removed from off the 'scapegoat's' back as he suffers
for them satisfying God's justice of punishment for sin.
7a If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if
thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also
keep my courts The literal fulfillment of this condition was met
by Jesus Christ in the meridian of time during his ministry, atonement and
crucifixion. Jesus Christ himself has stated that he has met these
requirements and will so judge the world in D&C 19:1-3. (See also Isa. 53:12
and Mosiah 14:12)
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3a
TG
Filthiness
4a
Lev.
16:4;
[Commentary]
5a
Lev.
16:4;
[Commentary]
5a
HEB a clean (pure) cap ~ This
is reflective of the Temple
priestly cap, hat or crown of
priesthood glory bestowed
upon Christ by the Father.;
Lev.
16:4;
[Commentary]
7a
TG
Walking with God
b
Deut. 11:1
c
IE the heavenly messengers ~
OR all the spirit hosts of
heaven who keep their first
estate by remaining faithful.
Messiah's Charge
God's Anointed, Jehovah who is Jesus Christ, would take upon himself the
filth and sins of the world and perform as the divine redeeming kinsman
satisfying the demands of justice upon his own sinless countenance. This is
the atonement for those who accept Christ. He will be made our judge to rule
and reign upon the earth with justice and mercy.
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8 ¶ Hear now, O Joshua
[Jehoshua Jesus/Jehovah in Whom is Salvation] the
ahigh
priest, thou, and thy fellowsa that
sit before thee: for bthey are men wondered
at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the
aBRANCHb.
9
For behold the stone that I have laid before
Joshuaa; upon one stone shall
be seven eyesb: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD
of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one
dayc.
10
In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour
under the avine and under the
afig tree.
'THE NAME'
'HaShem'
The Hebrew title 'HaShem' literally means 'The Name'. To avoid using the
unspeakable name of God, Jewish will simply state 'HaShem', 'The Name' in
place of the name of God. The significance of bring one's own personal
sacrifice for sin before 'HaShem' for acceptance to have the atonement for
sin accomplished, is filled with meaning in the offerings of the
'Day of Atonement' ceremonies and sacrifices of the Law of Moses.
Before the foundation of the world, God the Father named his son by 'the
name' (HaShem) after which the 'people', the 'city', the 'Zion', the 'Church'
of the Lord was to be called and named, taking upon them His name, becoming
his people. This is stated, along with that 'name',
in Philippians 2:9-11, where
it states the name was given by the Father and it was 'Jesus' Christ, Jesus
Christ being the King James version name for the Greek Iesous Christos. And
the Greek 'Iesous' is a transliteration of the name of 'Joshua' or 'Jehosuha',
the being the same name. Now 'Jesus' or 'Jehoshua', who was commanded to be
so named by Noah as the angel Gabriel, was not named after the great military
leader and prophet Joshua. In fact it was the other way around. Moses
renamed the son of Nun through revealed inspiration as Joshua as recorded in
Numbers 13:16. The fact that
Jehovah was already named by the Father before the foundation of the world is
confirmed in the Book of Moses,
where it is stated that Enoch (and Adam) knew that 'name' to be 'Jesus
Christ' even in his day and time. And there are a number of
Book of Mormon references which
also testify that it was known in Old Testament times that his name was
'Jesus' Christ. Of course the Nephites wrote in reformed Egyptian and the
exact 'Reformed Egyptian' name and pronunciation is not to be had, but it
was translated into that same common language of the English King James Bible
as 'Jesus' Christ. Also, Adam would have spoken and written the 'pure
Adamic Language' which was lost at the Tower of Babel. Thus just how Adam
wrote and pronounced the name is not known but is supplied in the common
form of the day as also being 'Jesus' Christ. More important than the exact
pronunciation or written form of 'the name' is its meaning, which reflects
the appointment of the 'redeemer' by the Father's anointing. It means,
'Jehovah in whom is Salvation' the anointed Son of God the Father. That is
the literal meaning of the name Jesus Christ or Yehoshua Messiah or however
it was pronounced or spelt in Reformed Egyptian or the Adamic Language of
Adam.
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8a thy fellows These are
the humble and meek followers of Jehovah, the noble and great ones who
supported and upheld Jehovah, fighting against Satan and his followers in
the preexistence.
8b
my servant the BRANCH God the Father sets out that he will bring forth
His Servant the BRANCH who is the Anointed Messiah (See also
Zechariah 6:12-13).
9a
stone that I have laid before Joshua The stone is the Gospel which
is to roll forth until it fills the whole earth as presented in D&C 65:2 and
in Daniel 2:34,45. It is the gospel plan the plan of salvation as set forth
before Jehovah in whom is salvation (Jehoshua). This is the meaning of the
stone being set forth before Jehoshua who is Jehovah in whom is Salvation,
even Jesus (Jehoshua/Joshua) Christ.
9b
upon one stone shall be seven eyes The seven eyes are the seven
servants of the Lord which administer the seven dispensation of time from
Adam until Joseph Smith (see JST Revelation 4:5; 8:2; 15:1; 21:9). And because of this gospel, the stone, and the
administration of the seven servants, the sins of the earth will be removed
in that one day of the Lord.
9c
remove iniquity of that land in one day The miracle of the atonement is
that the sins of the world will be removed from the earth in the day of the
Lord. Whether this 'day' is the 'Great Day of the Lord's Judgment' or whether
it be the day of forgiveness bestowed upon each individual in the day that
their sins are forgiven and removed, it will occur due to the suffering of
the Lord performed in the Garden of Gethsemane as Christ once suffered, the
just for the unjust, redeeming us all from the Fall of Adam to receive a
reward according to the good works performed. This is the Day of Atonement
and it has significance in the Law of Moses as the day of feast and
celebration at the time of cleansing the humble souls who do follow Christ.
Day of Atonement
Lost to man's understanding is the significances of the ceremonies and
sacrifices of the Law of Moses, for they did all represent Christ, Messiah,
who was named Jehoshua/Jesus, whom they rejected. From the perspective of the
'eternal now' of God, He seeing all things before him from beginning to end,
the vision given to Zechariah of Jehoshua/Jesus and Satan before the Father,
held great significance relative to the 'Day of Atonement of the Lord' in the
Law of Moses. From the calling, election and anointing of Jehovah over
Lucifer. to the final last days of judgment, does both the vision of Zechariah
and the Day of Atonement present before the people the role of Jesus/Jehoshua
in the plan of redemption. Jehovah was selected. Lucifer/Satan was cast out of
heaven. The Savior would come into the world being 'the' BRANCH. The atoning
sacrifice would be made. And all the sins of man would be removed at that
great day of the Lord at the end of time as presented in Zechariah chapter 3.
This was understood by the eternal perspective of the all seeing eye of God.
Symbolically, the Day of Atonement, is set forth before the Father in the
vision of Zechariah, Israel cleansed from all sin, the sins of the
world removed from Jehoshua/Jesus by the atonement. This a spiritual
cleansing portrayed before the Father in the preexistence in the vision of
Zechariah, which occurs for all the world after Christ's coming.
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8a
TG
High Priest,
Melchizedek
8a
TG
Jesus Christ, David Descent
TG
Jesus Christ, Prophecies abt
8b
IE Peculiar People;
Isa. 29:14;
2 Ne. 27:26
TG
Peculiar People
10a
Micah 4:3-4
Thou and Thy Fellows
Before our all knowing God, who sees all from a panoramic eternal perspective
from beginning to end as an 'eternal now' before his eyes, those who 'meekly'
followed and supported Jehovah and the Plan of Salvation in the preexistence
were considered His 'fellows', They were the people of the Lord, his meek and
faithful followers. Already in the eternal
presence of the preexistence they were alluded to as the 'Holy City', known
by the name of Jerusalem in verse 2. They were a peculiar people, a people to
be wondered at.
Of the Day of Atonement
Each fall, which represents God's end of season time table for His eternal
plan of salvation for the earth, and in connection with the 'awaking to
repentance' feast of the trumpets, on one special day commanded by God in the
Law of Moses during the sanctuary calendar year, the Day of Atonement, the
high priest entered the most holy place of the sanctuary, the Holy of Holies,
to stand before God. He represents Jehoshua/Jesus, the 'great high priest',
who did stand before God the Father in the preexistence as seen in vision by
Zechariah in chapter 3, taking upon himself the sins of the world, standing
in our place for judgment. Then the sanctuary in heaven
Hebrews 8:1 was cleansed and the
habitation of earth will be cleansed of the 'temporary' defilement by our
sins caused by this carnal second estate, as set out here in the
4th vision of Zechariah and as had been established in the Law of
Moses Leviticus 16:18 in
similitude of the Savior's enactment. At the time of that cleansing, the
people who have humbled themselves and repent are then cleansed
Leviticus 16:19 as it is set
out in Zechariah's vision then they will have all their sins removed at that
great day of the Lord, when all are sanctified before God as was foreshadowed
in the preexistence as set out in the vision received by Zechariah. After the
Day of Atonement in the representative calendar of the Hebrew ceremonies and
sacrifices, comes the Feast of Tabernacles, the in-gathering which represents
our celebration in the heavenly Canaan, the Millennium day, while feasting in
our work in the temples of God to in-gather all God's children to fulfill the
purposes and glory of God. Thus as man is so sanctified and prepared to be
acceptable before God to be raised up at the time of judgment when the
righteous are confirmed ready for heaven
Revelation 14:7. Through the
eternal perspective of God, we see the work of Christ for our salvation from
the beginning to end, from before the foundation of the world through the
coming forth of the Messiah as the BRANCH, to the end of time in that great
Millennial day.
Gaining perspective of the Lord's work in the plan of salvation from
beginning to end, from the preexistent eternity to God's celestial eternity,
as this vision given to Zechariah provides, brings forth great understanding
and comprehension concerning the nature of the ceremonies, sacrifices and
feast of the Law of Moses and their representation of Jehovah as
Jehoshua/Jesus, He in whom salvation is found.
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