Prophet Priest And King

[Avatar4321]

Joseph taught at one point that we all move up first as a prophet then to become a priest and then a king.

it occurred to me last night while I was singing that he was teaching us what we are all to do. We obtain the spirit of prophesy and thus become prophets because we have a testimony of Jesus Christ. Then we learn our duties and follow the spirit until we obtain priesthood power thus becoming priests. I'm not sure what happens when we become kings or all that is involved. But I find it amazing nonetheless.

[JLHPROF]

Joseph taught at one point that we all move up first as a prophet then to become a priest and then a king.

it occurred to me last night while I was singing that he was teaching us what we are all to do. We obtain the spirit of prophesy and thus become prophets because we have a testimony of Jesus Christ. Then we learn our duties and follow the spirit until we obtain priesthood power thus becoming priests. I'm not sure what happens when we become kings or all that is involved. But I find it amazing nonetheless.

 

I think  the exact reference is:

 

"Last Monday morning certain men came to me and said: "Brother Joseph, Hyrum is no prophet--he can't lead the church; you must lead the church. If you resign, all things will go wrong; you must not resign; if you do the church will be scattered." I felt curious and said: "Have we not learned the Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, which includes both Prophets, Priests and Kings: see Rev. 1 Chap., 6th v., and I will advance your Prophet to a Priest, and then to a King--not to the Kingdoms of this earth, but of the Most High God. See Rev. 5 Chap., 10th v.--'Thou hast made us unto our God, Kings and Priests, and we shall reign on the earth."

 

This refers to temple priesthood keys promised in the endowment and fulfilled in the second anointing.

What happens when we become Kings is that we rule and reign with Christ forever over our own posterity and kingdoms.

[intra]

 "Have we not learned the Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, which includes both Prophets, Priests and Kings: see Rev. 1 Chap., 6th v., and I will advance your Prophet to a Priest, and then to a King--not to the Kingdoms of this earth, but of the Most High God. See Rev. 5 Chap., 10th v.--'Thou hast made us unto our God, Kings and Priests, and we shall reign on the earth."

have a look at the text of Revelation 1:6

 

Strong's Transliteration Greek English Morphology

2532 [e] kai καὶ and Conj

4160 [e] epoiēsen ἐποίησεν He has made V-AIA-3S

1473 [e] hēmas ἡμᾶς us PPro-A1P

932 [e] basileian βασιλείαν, a kingdom, N-AFS

2409 [e] hiereis ἱερεῖς priests N-AMP

3588 [e] tō τῷ to the Art-DMS

2316 [e] Theō Θεῷ God N-DMS

2532 [e] kai καὶ and Conj

3962 [e] Patri Πατρὶ Father N-DMS

846 [e] autou αὐτοῦ, of him: PPro-GM3S

846 [e] autō αὐτῷ to him [be] PPro-DM3S

3588 [e] hē ἡ the Art-NFS

1391 [e] doxa δόξα glory, N-NFS

2532 [e] kai καὶ and Conj

3588 [e] to τὸ the Art-NNS

2904 [e] kratos κράτος dominion N-NNS

1519 [e] eis εἰς to Prep

3588 [e] tous τοὺς the Art-AMP

165 [e] aiōnas αἰῶνας ages N-AMP

3588 [e] tōn τῶν of the Art-GMP

165 [e] aiōnōn αἰώνων· ages. N-GMP

281 [e] amēn ἀμήν. Amen. Heb

 

and of Revelation 5:10 

 

Strong's Transliteration Greek English Morphology

2532 [e] kai καὶ and Conj

4160 [e] epoiēsas ἐποίησας you have made V-AIA-2S

846 [e] autous αὐτοὺς us PPro-AM3P

3588 [e] tō τῷ to the Art-DMS

2316 [e] Theō Θεῷ God N-DMS

1473 [e] hēmōn ἡμῶν of us, PPro-G1P

932 [e] basileian βασιλείαν kings N-AFS

2532 [e] kai καὶ and Conj

2409 [e] hiereis ἱερεῖς, priests; N-AMP

2532 [e] kai καὶ and Conj

936 [e] basileusousin βασιλεύσουσιν they shall reign V-FIA-3P

1909 [e] epi ἐπὶ upon Prep

3588 [e] tēs τῆς the Art-GFS

1093 [e] gēs γῆς. earth. N-GFS

 

 

 

the word "basileian" is rendered in almost every place as "kingdom" not "kings" -- note that in both of these verses, the tense is accusative singular - not plural "kings" (indeed it is a feminine noun, so it would be "queens" if it were plural), but rightly translated "kingdom" 

the sense is "a kingdom of priests" not "kings and priests" 

you might notice too that Revelation 5:10 declares those saints will reign on the earth (singular -"earth" not plural, on their own personal 'earths' or 'planets- - for which perfectly good Greek words exist but are not used in the text). 

EDIT: fixed formatting 

Edited December 25, 2014 by intra

[intra]

the saying that His people will be "a kingdom of priests" is in keeping both with prophecy (Exodus 19:6) and with the message of His apostles (1 Peter 2:9) 

the saying that we shall become kings seems to oppose that there is One king, to sit on the throne of David, with all things beneath His feet: 

And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
(Zechariah 14:9) 

as in Ezekiel 37:22 --  "one king be king to them all" and again in 37:24 -- "David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd" 

one King, one Shepherd -- Jesus Christ the Lord of Lords, one name under heaven and earth by which men may be saved!!  

[intra]

The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
(Psalm 2:2-6) 

i fear we imagine a vain thing, thinking to make ourselves kings of the earth, having not the head, which is Christ, that True King. as for the Lord, He has enthroned His King forever!! 

ti remains that this is true: 

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us
(2 Timothy 2:12) 

this does not say we shall be kings, but that if we suffer with Him so also we will reign, and if we reign, it is with Him, not apart from Him. if we would exalt ourselves, we will be brought low.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
(Matthew 23:12) 

we must exalt Christ Jesus the King of kings, humbling ourselves, or we sill surely be humbled and that not of ourselves! 
 

[JLHPROF]

this does not say we shall be kings, but that if we suffer with Him so also we will reign, and if we reign, it is with Him, not apart from Him. if we would exalt ourselves, we will be brought low.

 

we must exalt Christ Jesus the King of kings, humbling ourselves, or we sill surely be humbled and that not of ourselves! 

 

 

 

Hilarious that you don't see the contradiction in your own statements.

 

In order for Christ to be King of kings, there have to be some kings for him to be king over.  Those are the exalted saints - as in James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

 

As Joseph Smith taught "If the Saints are not to reign, for what purpose are they crowned?"

[intra]

the silver is His, the gold is His, the nations and all the earth are His. He is over all the kings of the earth, former and present and to come! 

Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
(Revelation 1:4-5)

 

 "If the Saints are not to reign, for what purpose are they crowned?"

why do you figure they throw their crowns at Christ's feet? 

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
(Revelation 4:10-11) 

is it because He has created all things, and because all things were created for His good pleasure? 
perhaps He alone is worthy of glory & honor and power? 

 

[JLHPROF]

the silver is His, the gold is His, the nations and all the earth are His. He is over all the kings of the earth, former and present and to come! 

Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.

(Revelation 1:4-5)

 

why do you figure they throw their crowns at Christ's feet? 

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

(Revelation 4:10-11) 

is it because He has created all things, and because all things were created for His good pleasure? 

perhaps He alone is worthy of glory & honor and power? 

 

 

Twenty four specific elders performing a specific act of turning their stewardships over to Christ.  A prophecy.

NOT  a reference to the crowns given to ALL saints by Christ himself that they may rule and reign with him.

You can apply an incorrect interpretation to one scripture or you can acknowledge the plethora of references to the saints being exalted to rule and reign.

 

 

I Peter 5:4 - And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

 

Revelation 3:11 - Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

 

II Timothy 4:8 - Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

Revelation 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

 

II Timothy 2:12 - If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

 

Revelation 20:6 - Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

 

Revelation 22:3-5 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

 

Revelation 20:4 - And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

 

Luke 22:29-30 - And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  (King of kings)

 

Luke 12:32 - Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 

James 2:5 - Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

 

Romans 8:17 - And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.