The “Branch” is King and Priest.

Zachariah 6:9-15

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
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in the first half of chapter six, Zachariah had just seen the vision of the Four Chariots relating to severe global tribulation. Now, is the talk of Jesus Christ being the King in Heaven and the Priest over our soul (we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit). The Holy Bible consistently reveals to us that this earth will experience tremendous turbulence before Jesus Christ returns as King. However, Jesus remains with us through the storms as the Priest ministering to our soul through the Holy Spirit.

• Gifts from the followers of Christ crowns Jesus as King who is also our High Priest.
• Jesus builds the Temple of the Lord in us and sits on His throne in Heaven.
• The Church and New Jerusalem includes many people from all around the world.

Gifts from the followers of Christ crowns Jesus as King who is also our High Priest.

“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Receive the gift from the captives—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon—and go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.” Zechariah 6:9-11

At this time, the Israelites had just been released from captivity to Babylon, and the names mentioned above are those among the newly released captives [Heldai, Tobija, and Jedaiah]. They would give their gifts of gold and silver to make a very precious crown to place on Joshua’s head, who was also the high priest. A crown represents being a king, and it’s an extremely rare event that a person was both king and priest. Joshua being both king and priest is prophetic for Christ Jesus being both King and Priest.

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we were captives under the bondage of sin, but have been made free by faith in Jesus the Christ, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 As freed captives, we offer ourselves as a gift to God, by living in the presence of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ. We honor our Lord Jesus with the very best we have by crowning Him as King and High Priest over our life. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

Our Lord Jesus is prophesied about being both King and Priest, “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” The Lord will send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. The Lord has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Psalms 110:1-4

We are the temple of of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ is the Priest over each and every Believer. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God…” 1 Corinthians 6:19 He is the one and only Priest over His temple. He is the King over the entire family of God, the King of kings, and sits at the right hand of God on His throne in Heaven.

Jesus builds the Temple of the Lord in us and sits on His throne in Heaven.

“Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He will sprout up, and He will build the temple of the Lord; Yes, He will build the temple of the Lord. He will bear the glory, and will sit and rule on His throne; So He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between both offices.” ’ Zechariah 6:12-13

By the Spirit of the Lord, Isaiah spoke to Joshua. Joshua was ordained as king and priest, so the Lord used him as an example of the “Man”, the “Branch”, who would be both King and Priest. That “Man” and “Branch” is the Christ…Jesus…the Son of God…the Savior of the world.

From the Kingdom of God, Jesus Sprouted up, being sent to this earth through the virgin Birth as the Son of God. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 He builds the temple of the Lord, which is to build up our body as the temple of the Holy Sprit. Yes, He will build the temple of the Lord. “…having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:20-22

“He will bear the glory, and will sit and rule on His throne…” can be summed up like this, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13 So He will be a priest on His throne…

“Both offices” refers to the office of King and the office of Priest. The counsel of peace would be within both offices. As King, our Lord Jesus brings peace over the Kingdom of God, as quoted, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.” Zachariah 4:6 As Priest over our body as the temple of Lord, He calls us to peace, “God has called us to peace.” 1 Corinthians 7:15 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

The Church of Christ includes many people from all around the world. 

“Now the elaborate crown will be for a memorial in the temple of the Lord for Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. Even those from afar will come and build the temple of the Lord. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. And this will come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” Zechariah 6:14-15

After the Jewish people were freed from captivity to the Babylonians, the Lord promised that a new temple would be rebuilt. The first temple was destroyed by the command of the king of Babylon. The elaborate crown of gold and silver made for Joshua, as king and priest, would be placed in the new temple, as a memorial. It would be a memorial to highlight the captives made free. Even the Jewish people, who were scattered, would come from afar to help build the temple. The fulfillment of the prophecy of the the temple being rebuilt would be a sign that the word spoken through Isaiah was true and sent by the Lord. The condition of the temple being rebuilt depended on diligently obeying the voice of the Lord, God. Zerubbabel headed the rebuilding of the temple. Zerubbabel and the rebuilding of the temple are described in Ezra chapters 3 through 6.

Today, every born-again Believer has the memorial written on our heart that Jesus is the King and Priest over our life. Our born-again experience is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart. We have been set free from captive to sin and have newness of life as the temple of the Holy Spirit. The testimony of Jesus has reached afar, on all seven continents, all over the world. People across the globe are building the temple of the Lord by dedicating their body as the home of the Holy Spirit, by faith in Jesus Christ [the chief cornerstone]. Our born-again experience, with the Holy Spirit living in us, is evidence of the truth of the word of God, and that the Lord has sent Jesus to us as the Christ and Savior of the world. Our body, being built as the temple of the Holy Spirit, will come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1