MEM

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; …they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (NAS unless indicated, bolding added)

Therefore, those that are part of the first resurrection will be priest of God; assistants to Yeshua The High Priest Hebrews 4:14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

…But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Rev 20:5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed…

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

The above partial commentary by Barnes and the quote by Mr. Elliott is quite descriptive of the soon to occur events. If there are questions it would be best to resolve them to understand the role of those called to be priest (attendants) and will reign with the coming King. May you make it your quest to "…seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…" Matt 6:33, that you may be in that "first resurrection".

Understand - Yeshua is our High Priest
Hebrews 3:1 KJV Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and HIGH PRIEST of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Hebrews 4:14 KJV Seeing then that we have a great HIGH PRIEST, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Believers in The Messiah are a Kingdom of Priests
Revelation 1:6 KJV And hath MADE US kings and PRIESTS unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Priest will rule with Messiah during The Messianic Era
Revelation 5:10 KJV And hast made us unto our God kings and PRIESTS: and we shall REIGN on the EARTH.
Revelation 20:6 KJV … but they shall be PRIESTS of God and of Christ, and shall REIGN with him a THOUSAND YEARS.
2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him…

Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Isa 61:4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations, And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations… 6 But you will be called the priests of the LORD; You will be spoken of as ministers of our God…

Meanwhile all believers, from Jews and Gentiles, are constituted "a kingdom of priests," Rev 1:6, "a holy priesthood," 1Pet 2:5, and "royal," 1Pet 2:9. …all believers are commanded to offer the sacrifices mentioned in Rom 12:1; Phil 2:17; Phil 4:18; Heb 13:15-16; 1Pet 2:5;

Kingdom - Perhaps a reminiscence of Ex 19:6, a kingdom of priests. In Rev 5:10 we have again "a kingdom and priests." To be priests - Each member of this true kingdom is a priest unto God, with direct access to him at all times.

The whole priestly system of [Israel] was typical. It was a shadow of which the body is Christ. The priests all prefigured the great Priest who offered "one sacrifice for sins" "once for all" (Heb. 10:10, 12). There is now no human priesthood [as such].

The term "priest" is indeed applied to believers (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6), but in these cases it implies no sacerdotal functions. All true believers are now "kings and priests unto God." As priests they have free access into the holiest of all, and offer up the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, and the sacrifices of grateful service from day to day.

Rev 1:6 KJV And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father…

Rev 5:10 KJV And hast made us unto our God kings (G935) and priests…

G935 (Strong) King - leader of the people, prince, commander, Lord of the land, king

Rev 1:6 NAS and He has made us to be a kingdom (G932), priests to His God and Father…

Rev 5:10 NAS "And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom (G932) and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

G932 (Strong) Kingdom

1Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness …

Rev 5:10 NJB and made them a line of kings and priests for God, to rule the world.

Rev 17:14 "… because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

Now that we have established the Scriptural truth of being called to be priests, we will next time examine the duties of the priests - may we diligently prepare for our calling; for "Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; …they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years." Rev 20:6.

(* editing is done to shorten length - you are encouraged to read the full commentary where applicable)

Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.

One of the primary duties of a priest is to make known YHVH’s (The LORD’s) will, His way, to the people. To do so requires one "To know wisdom…"

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Holy One of Israel open our mind… " To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity…"

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives, And freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations, And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. 5 And strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers. 6 But you will be called the priests of the LORD; You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, And in their riches you will boast.

Yeshua - we are blessed to be prepared, by You, for service in Your Kingdom.

1. Who said to Yeshua (Jesus) "Are you greater than our father Jacob"?
2. Name the books of the Law (Torah)?
3. In which city did Josiah reign?
4. What is the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5?
5. Where in the tabernacle was the incense altar placed?
6. What queen came from a long distance to visit Solomon?
7. Who said, "I’m going out to fish"?

(Lessons from humility and death to self.)

John 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth…you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Yeshua, we humbly ask to be transformed by Your Spirit, to be in Your likeness.

Ezra was a priest of the Most High and a scribe. Ezra, a captive, was sent to Jerusalem by King Artaxerxes to judge and teach the returning exiles. He had great authority and responsibility. Consider some of the possible responsibilities of Yeshua’s priests.

Ezra 7:11 Now this is the copy of the decree which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, learned in the words of the commandments of the LORD and His statutes to Israel:

Ezra 7:25 "And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the River, even all those who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who is ignorant of them. 26 And whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment."

Ezra 10:1 Now while Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large assembly, men, women, and children, gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept bitterly.

YHVH, You alone have the power to forgive our transgressions, to help us in our misguided ways.

For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights. (Prov 3:12)

Material in this section is based on various prayer diaries.

THE TRICK IS TO FIND THE MAN IN THE COFFEE BEANS:



Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people.

If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, the right half of the brain is developed normally.

If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein.

If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger! And yes, the man is really there!

Where Is Tawas City, MI? 
It is on Lake Huron and has a population of just over 2,000!! 

An elderly gentleman Had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%.

The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, 'Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.'

The gentleman replied, 'Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. But I have changed my will three times!'

Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a tree when one turns to the other and says: 'Slim, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?'

Slim says, 'I feel just like a newborn baby.'

'Really!?  Like a newborn baby!?'

'Yep.  No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants.'
 

Hospital regulations require a wheel chair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who insisted he didn't need my help to leave the hospital.

After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel him to the elevator.
 
On the way down I asked him if his wife was meeting him.

'I don't know,' he said. 'She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown.'  
 

 
Couple in their nineties; both are having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember...

Later  that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. 'Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?' he asks.

'Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?'

'Sure…'

'Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?' she asks.

'No, I can remember it.'

'Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so as not to forget it?'

He says, 'I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.'

'I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?' she said.

Irritated, he says, 'I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I’ve got it.'
Then he toddles into the kitchen.
 
After about 20 minutes, The old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of beef bacon and eggs… She stares at the plate for a moment. 

'Where's my toast?'
 

 
A senior citizen said to his eighty-year old buddy: 'So I hear you're getting married?'

'Yep!'
 
'Do I know her?'

'Nope!'

'This woman, is she good looking?'

'Not really.'

'Is she a good cook?'

'Naw, she can't cook too well.'

'Does she have lots of money?'

'Nope! Poor as a church mouse.'

'Why in the world do you want to marry her then?'
 
'Because she can still drive!'  
 

A man was telling his neighbor, 'I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it is state of the art… It is perfect.'
 
'Really,' answered the neighbor. 'What kind is it?'
 
'Twelve thirty…'  

Have a good day!

Michael Boldea Jr.

Gratitude is always the right attitude

You can go anywhere if you build a road

Old age is like a car-paint can conceal the exterior, but the lines reveal the age

You know it’s going to be a rough day when you wake up looking like your driver’s license picture

The best gifts are tied with heartstrings-yours

Habits are cobwebs at first, cables at last

You are who you choose to be

Nevertheless
And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places. (2 Kings 12:2,3; ESV)

 
The books of Kings recount the happenings of the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah. Much of what we read centers around the life of the various kings. Very few of the approximately forty kings of Israel and Judah are classified as good to any extent, Joash being one of them. How this is described in our reading is interesting in that the writer provides us with this disclaimer of sorts: "Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places."
 
There were certain kings like Joash, who did what was right for the most part and yet tolerated this significant inappropriate aspect of the life of their nation. The people had been instructed by God to perform his prescribed rituals only at the location God determined. By this time, that place was the temple in Jerusalem. These other locations, called "high places", were sometimes used for pagan worship and other times for the worship of the true God. From the way the kings are assessed by the biblical writers, it sounds as if the issue of the "high places" was secondary, yet nevertheless important. Kings like Joash did what was good. Nevertheless, their reluctance to remove the "high places" to some extent undermined the good they were otherwise seeking to do.
 
We see by this that God seems to have some toleration for the inaccurate ways in which we relate to him. There are some aspects of inaccurate spirituality that he puts up with. Nevertheless, just because he tolerates them doesn't mean that we shouldn't address them.
 
Among our "high places" today are all sorts of traditional and cultural expressions of worship that have great importance to us, but were never sanctioned by God. He puts up with them, but, nevertheless, would prefer that we remove them. We preserve our "high places" to our own detriment. We may be technically doing what is right in the sight of God, yet at the same time, there hangs over us a significant "nevertheless." How much better off we would be if we no longer tolerate our "high places" and would not have to hear God say about us, "nevertheless".

*(This document was edited for length)

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)

4. Gal 5:22 … love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control…

7. Peter - John 21:3