NT Framework - A High Priest replacing all human priests

He has ascended through all the heavens and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. The King is holding court, it is an open session where we all are able to come before Him and make our requests. And unlike kings of old, we can come boldly without an invitation and without fear. 

More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com 

This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).

Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner. 

Transcript

Setting The Topic: Ascension

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and our series on the New Testament framework. Today, a smaller, bite-sized piece from the larger lesson. We hope you enjoy it.

Three Heavens Explained

Hold Fast: Hebrews 4:14–16

Why “Passed Through The Heavens” Matters

Genesis, The Expanse, And Waters

Atmospheric Vs Starry Heavens

The Third Heaven In 2 Corinthians 12

Ascension And Supremacy Over Angels

Hebrews 2 And Psalm 8

Now And Not Yet Of His Reign

Application: Confidence In Christ

SPEAKER_01 0:10

All right, let's talk about the significance of it. What does it mean? This is where things get fun. First, there'll be three points, three main points. The first main point is that he has passed through the heavenlies. This is stated multiple times. Somewhere, I think that's Hebrews 4, but let me make sure. Yeah, Hebrews 4, 14. Let's turn to Hebrews 4, 14 through 16. There's a significance to the concept of the heavens or the heavenlies, and of course, his passing through them. Because we're going to see, of course, there's three three heavens. The atmospheric heaven, the starry heavens, where the galaxies and so forth are. And then the third heaven, which is the highest heaven elsewhere, described as the highest heaven, you know, where God is, his throne room, and so forth. So Hebrews 4.14. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, and that high priest is named for us, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. In other words, there's an application to this idea that he passed through the heavens and went to the third heaven, and it's that we should hold fast our confession. The reason, verse 15, for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who's been tempted in all things as we, and yet without sin. See, we're all tempted to not hold fast our confession. And that's what he's talking about here. He's saying, Well, you should hold fast your confession of Christ. Why? Well, because he's passed through the heavenlies. This must have significance for that. And the reason and the significance is because he now sits at the highest position in the universe. And so why would you shrink back from your confession of him? He's at the helm of the universe. Who else is above him? See, he's already passed through the heavenlies. Well, what's the heavenlies anyway? Why does he keep saying this? Pass through the heavenlies, this is said in Ephesians, this is said in Colossians, he's far above. What is this signifying? Well, I mean, angels dwell essentially in the second heavens and have access to here to the first heavens. So they uh dwell in the atmospheric heaven. I mean, there's angels that, you know, good angels that have access to the third heaven, of course. But he's passed through these heavens, signifying he has now gone above them. As Colossians 3 says, he's far above. So there are these three heavens, which we mentioned, the atmospheric. Um I'll mention a few things about this in Genesis, when God creates, and boy, I just really kind of wish we were teaching Genesis. I've been wanting to teach it now for a long time. In Genesis, he creates the waters above, the heavens, and the waters below, and he calls the expanse heaven or sky. That's the way it's phrased in our English Bible. Um without going into long details, I think these waters above were placed at the edge of the universe. I don't think they're around the earth. Well, yeah, around the earth, but I mean farther. Way out at the edge of the universe, separating the second heaven from the third heaven. That's what I would say. And there are reasons for that. But some people have seen them directly around the earth and some uh explanation for the waters that fell at the flood and so forth, 40 days, 40 nights, and all that. I actually think most of the water came from within the earth. The earth itself burst open, and most of the water was underneath the crust of the earth, and then it burst forth, and now we have more than 70% of the earth is covered in water, right? Uh but before the flood, the earth was very different. But most of the earth was probably land. So, anyway, uh to put all this discussion in context, you've got the expanse on the day two, and this expanse is called heaven. And then later, he creates the birds, right? On day four. He creates the birds. I'm sorry, day five. That's in the wrong day five. And he says that they are to fly against the face of heaven. So, which is against the face of the second heaven, the starry heavens. I mean, birds don't fly out in space, do they? No, because there's no oxygen there and they won't be able to fly. So these there's an atmospheric heavens that they fly in. That's their realm, the birds. And then you've got the starry heavens beyond that, where galaxies and so forth are. And then, of course, Paul talks about the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12.2. So we might as well look at that one because it's always interesting. 2 Corinthians 12 2. But the important thing we're seeing here is that Christ passed through all these heavens, right, into this heaven that Paul is describing, that a man he knew, right, was caught up to the third heaven. By the way, it's a word for rapture, but anyway. Uh 2 Corinthians 12, 2, I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago, whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know. God knows such a man, such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And we think he's talking about himself, but he's doing so in a manner to come across humbly rather than arrogantly. So he speaks of himself in the third person. So this is the third heaven, though, he says there in verse 2, and that's obviously the throne room of God, the highest heaven, what the Hebrew called Shamayim Shamayim, the highest heaven or heaven of heavens. Right? And what Christ did was he passed through these heavens at the ascension to the highest heaven and took his seat at the right hand of the Father. So this is the first major significance of the ascension. Um there's no angel that's above him. Jesus was made a little lower than the angels, right? For a little while in his incarnation. But at the ascension, he's far above all the angels. So this is significant. Hebrews, well, which we were just there, should have stayed. Hebrews chapter 2, verses 5 through 10. Hebrews chapter 2, verses 5 through 10. Which is quoting Psalm 8 at Hebrews 2, 5 through 10. All this is practical. It's there's there's application to the ascension. Um it's not just, hey, let's know this stuff just to know it. No, there's a reason this is written. Hebrews 2, 5 through 10. For he did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking, but one has testified somewhere else, saying, What is man that you remember him, or the son of man that you are concerned about him? You have made him for a little while lower than the angels, speaking of the Messiah, right? In his incarnation. You have crowned him with glory and honor, and you have appointed him over the works of your hands. You have put all things in subjection under him. Now that's all coming out of Psalm 8. All coming out of Psalm 8, right? And then he says, For in subjecting all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. So Psalm 8 is talking about a time in history when all things will be subjected to him. And the author is saying, now we don't yet see that. But he hasn't yet subjected everything to himself. And that's because he's talking about the kingdom. And the kingdom's not here yet when he comes to rule on earth, right? So we don't see all things subjected to him yet. But, verse 9, we do see him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely Jesus, because of the suffering of his death, crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone, you know, every single person, every single individual that's ever been born, he tasted death for them on the cross. Verse 10, for it was fitting for him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation, which is the Messiah through sufferings, and so forth. But um the point is to see that he has been made a little lower than the angels, right? But that was only for a little while. Now he has passed through the heavens, as chapter Hebrews 4 tells us, and he's taken his seat at the right hand of the Father.

SPEAKER_00 9:12

Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas. If you would like to see the visuals that went along with today's sermon, you can find those on Rumble and on YouTube under Spoke and Bible Church. That is where Jeremy is the pastor and teacher. We hope you found today's lesson productive and useful in growing closer to God and walking more obediently with Him. If you found this podcast to be useful and helpful, then please consider rating us in your favorite podcast app. And until next time, we hope you have a blessed and wonderful day.