Creator, Prophet and Heir
Heb.1:1-2, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds." "
Sundry times: Greek is, polumeros. Adverb. Consisting of many parts, manifold. In many parts, in manifold ways, over much time.
Divers manners: Greek is, polutropos. Adverb. Meaning in many ways, in diverse manners, God spoke through the Prophets.
The revealing of Scriptures was not to any one prophet, but received in portions by many.
1. To Noah was revealed the world to which the Messiah should belong.
2. To Abraham, the nation to which Messiah would come.
3. To Jacob, the tribe from which Messiah would descend.
4. To David and Isaiah, the family.
5. To Micah, the town of Messiah's birth, Bethlehem.
6. To Daniel, the exact time of Messiah's coming.
7. To Malachi, the announcement of God's messenger of the covenant, and Christ's second advent.
8. Through Jonah, Christ's burial and resurrection.
9. Through Isaiah and Hosea, Christ's resurrection.
Each Prophet was given a part, when Christ came, that which was done in part was done away with.
1 Cor.13:12, "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
Darkly: 135. Greek = ainigma. To hint obscurely. An enigma, riddle; Sept. for Heb. .
Prov.1:6, "To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings."
Darkly in the N.T. metaph. Meaning of obscure declaration. 1 Cor.13:12, "through a glass darkly," as in enigmatically, puzzle, obscurely. Sept. for Heb. Num.12:8, "not in dark speeches."
An obscure prophecy was termed by ancient writers as, "A specular which is not clear." Specular meaning a mirror.
The oracles of God revealed by internal suggestions, audible voices, the Urim and thummin, dreams, and visions.
In one way, God was seen by Moses, in another way by Elias, in another by Micah. Isaiah, Daniel and Ezekiel, each beheld a different form.
By the number of Prophets given revelation, this demonstrating that each had prophesied only in part. With the coming of Christ our King, High Priest, and Prophet, the Father's will was revealed fully, not in various hues of different colors, but revealed by the whole spectrum of pure Light given in Christ.
God made known His will, in the manifestation of His love to the world, by giving us revelations for the salvation of mankind. First in part to the Prophets, then completed in Christ Jesus.
From Malachi to John the Baptist, no Prophet spoke for four hundred years to the people. In this period of time, the Son of God would be the object of the Jews' expectations.
Kings speak through their ambassadors. The Father spoke first through his prophets, then through Jesus Christ. Christ being the last and the highest manifestation of the Father's called Prophets.
1. Matt.21:34, "When the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants (the Prophets) to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it."
2. Matt.21:37, "But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, they will reverence my son."
The Prophets were sent in small measures, but Christ was sent in the fulness of the Spirit of God dwelling in him bodily.
1. John 1:16, "And of His (Jesus) fulness have all we received, and grace for grace."
2. John 3:34, "For He who God (the Father) hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him (Jesus.)"
3. Col.2:9, "For in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
Jesus answers the objection of the Jews, drawing from their own Prophets, for He is the end of all prophecy.
1. Rev.19:10, "I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
2. John 1:17, Jesus is the end of the law of Moses, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
3. John 5:46, "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me (Jesus.) for he wrote of me."
"In these last days spoken unto us," meaning, the whole of time. This time, was divided into two stages. This age, and the age to come. The world to come is the new dispensation brought in by Jesus, beginning in grace here and now, to be completed in glory after.
It is called, "To come," or, "about to be," as at the time of its being subjected to Christ by Divine decree. It was then a thing of the future, and is yet so, in respect to its completion.
In regards to subjecting all things to Christ in fulfillment of Ps.8, (please read) the realization is still, "to come."
Paul wrote when the priesthood and O.T. rituals were still in force, continuing until the destruction of Jerusalem. These ancient Jews knew how to view the statements of Paul. We like them, still pray, "Thy kingdom come," for its manifestation is yet future. So the days of Messiah were the transition period, "last days," in contrast to, "In times past."
"Spoken unto us by His Son."
John 14:10, "Believest thou not That I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works."
Jesus' majesty is set forth,
1. By the very title of Son, and by the predictions,
a. "Whom He hath appointed,"
b. "By whom He hath made the worlds,"
c. "Who sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."
The will of the Father is set down from the beginning of all things till the goal is reached. Jesus as the heir, this follows His Sonship, and preceded His making the worlds.
1. Prov.8:22, "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old."
2. Prov.8:23, "I was set up (anointed) from everlasting from the beginning, or ever the earth was."
We see both the Father and Son together before the works of old, "The LORD (the Father) possessed me -- before His works of old." Jesus creating all things, this making Him Lord and God of all things, this to the glory of the Father who sent Him.
Eph.3:11, "According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
As the, "only begotten of the Father," Jesus is heir of the universe, Heb.1:6, Again, when He bringeth in the first begotten unto the world, he saith, and let all the angels of God worship Him."
So the Son of God, was the instrument by which the Father put His will into effect, Heb.11:3, "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."
"The word of God," answers to, "by whom," John 1:3, "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made." Christ Jesus was appointed in the Father's eternal counsel to be the Creator of the material and spiritual worlds. This is His office, Creator is His title, and the universe was given to Him as His kingdom.
Jesus is, "heir of all things," by right of creation. The promise given Abraham that he should be heir of the world. This promise will have its fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
Rom.4:13, "For the promise, that He should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."
Gal.3:16, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ."
Gal.4:7, "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
In Gen.1:3, God said, "Let their be Light, and their was light." This was the (Shekinah) glory of the Son, coming to a barren world, a world without life, and God said, "Let there be," and life came into existence, for in Him is life. So Jesus is, "heir of all things," by right of creation.
"He made the worlds." The inferior and superior worlds, Col.1:16, "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him."
Col.1:16, can be translated literally, (ages) with all things and persons belonging to them, the universe, including all space and ages of time, and all material and spiritual existences. The Greek tells us the Father not only appointed His Son as heir of all things before the creation, but also made the worlds by Him.
For Jesus is, "the brightness of His (the Father's) glory." As a flood of light, our Lord shines with great splendor, brightness and Divine glory. To look upon Him in all His glory would bring to us death. He is the brightness of the Father's glory, for He upholds, and sat at the right hand of the Father. From glory He came, to glory He ascended.
John 17:5, Jesus said, "Now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
God's will has been revealed in the words and works of His Last Prophet, His only Begotton Son, Jesus Christ. The Father's will has been fully revealed. Jesus Christ spoke to His people precisely what had been given Him. The words and the works were published in the volume of the book we call the Bible.
The rest is up to us.
Thank you,
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com