Revelation 1:6 (NLT)
“He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”
The Holy Spirit has been highlighting and stirring the first ministry that all disciples of Christ are called to. That is the priestly ministry of ministering to the Lord. I want to dig into the two priesthoods, that of Abiathar and Zadok.
Abiathar's name means "at peace with God."
Zadok's name means "one who's proved righteous"
This originates with an unnamed prophet giving a prophecy to Eli, which is actually a curse the Lord is declaring upon the ministry of Eli.
1 Samuel 2:30-31 (NKJV)
“Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.”
The prophet then speaks about what the Lord is going to do
1 Samuel 2:35 (NKJV)
“Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.”
This prophecy of two priesthoods is still seen today, and will continue until Christ Jesus returns. Both of these ministries are in operation at the same time in nations all across the earth.
First, the prophet speaks of the ongoing ministry of a self-centered, backslidden, compromising priesthood. He describes those priests who are of the spirit of Eli, mentioning two things:
1. The seeker sensitive ministry that looks to please people and not God
1 Samuel 2:29 (NKJV)
“Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?”
Eli was soft on sin! He never rebuked his two sons because he would possibly offend them. Only once, in his 40 years of ministry did Eli even mention their sins to them. They had been committing sexual immorality and were full of greed, and all Eli said to them was, "Why do you do such things?" (1 Sam. 2:23)
He had no righteous indignation! He never mentioned the Fear of the Lord, God's hatred and judgment toward sin. And he represents a priesthood of ministers who are afraid to reprove God's family (the congregation), even today. We see so much leaven (sin) in the church now, and reproof, correction, rebuke seem like a thing of the past.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Instead folks get a loving pat on the rear, and it's called “love”. Ministers fear offending someone and would rather not confront the sin. We must be bold enough to stand for the truth of God’s Word, no matter the persecution. Emotions must be put aside and the love of their soul must be of importance. There is so much carnality, we see people full of gossip, backbiting, jealousy, greed, addiction, immorality, and depression (Gal.5:19-21). They literally walk out from church and start talking about all the things of the world, light up a cig or head to the convenience store for a Sunday beer… They are more into television and entertainment than spending time in the Word of God and prayer. They come looking for the benefits of this “Jesus” they have heard about, yet have no heart for the Lord. Many have created an image of Jesus after themselves and it is idolatry!
How are we supposed to be?
1 Thessalonians 2:4-6 (NLT)
“For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.”
2. These ministers are self focused and only concerned with themselves, they look to promote their giftings, stories and what they have seen or done, instead of pointing the sheep to the Great Shepherd and the importance of their personal relationship with Jesus through beholding Him.
In verse 29 above it says “to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?”
When the people brought the meat offering to the priest, it was supposed to go into the seething pot to be boiled. Afterward, the priest dipped a three pronged hook into the pot, and whatever came out on the hook went onto his table.
But Eli's two sons didn't want the boiled meat. They wanted the red, raw filet mignon! So they brought their father the prime cuts. That's how Eli got fat, lazy, careless. If he would have dealt with his sons, he might have lost his filet mignon, but he chose comfort over correction!
This is exactly what is happening in dying churches today. Pastors are interested only in their own comfort, their sermon series, their stories, their giftings, etc, instead of spending time in the secret place to hear the true word of the Lord for the people. The sheep are surrounded with false voices speaking half truth and some complete lies. This is keeping the people in their sinful ways and continuing down the broad path to destruction!
The prophet is saying, "You are self-centered Eli, caring for your own nest! The ministry means nothing more than food on your table, security for you and your family. You don't really care about the flock. Back in 2021 the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said “Leaders are fleecing My flock instead of feeding them”, at that time I had some insight but not the full picture and it is now becoming clear! Leaders are more interested in what goes on their table than in what goes into the people's hearts. They are soft on sin, afraid to reprove, rebuke and correct!
This unnamed prophet then announced three judgments that were to come, the same is still true today.
1. Loss of spiritual power and authority:
In verses 30 and 31 we see, “and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house”. The arm is a symbol of power, protection and strength. To be "lightly esteemed" by the Lord means a loss of God's favor and blessing. It also means no impact against Satan's kingdom. These ministers may be esteemed in the eyes of man, but in God's eyes he is someone in whom He puts no trust!
These ministers despise Almighty God by not preaching His whole counsel. They have no life in the secret place, true prayer is of no importance to them. They’re not concerned about feeding (discipling) the sheep, but only about success and reputation through outreach and church growth. They just want to make sure there's a crowd and will use the world's methods to advertise just to get people there. The Spirit of God is saying “you have lightly esteemed My Word, and now I am going to lightly esteem you! Go your way, do your own works. You are lightly esteemed in My eyes!"
This cutting off of God's anointing leaves the Eli priesthood to busy works of the flesh that may look good to man. It all sounds like important kingdom work, but God really is not in it! It’s just a busy activity…
2. The Lord will bypass them with the true anointing and blessings in the last days:
1 Samuel 2:32 (NKJV)
“And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever.”
When the Lord comes to pour out the new wine He is going to pass these ministers operating in the spirit of Eli by. Instead God is going to look for the other priesthood to bless and anoint. He is looking for the ones who have and are paying the price and have given their full heart to Him.
The Lord is saying "Regardless of all I do, you will not see My true goodness! You will not be part of My end times, Holy remnant people. You are lightly esteemed, and you will go about your ministry with no real spiritual authority, and just playing church…"
3. The Spirit of God will pull back from them right in the prime of their life and ministry:
1 Samuel 2:33 (NKJV)
“But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age.”
Although this verse was literally fulfilled (Saul sent Doeg up to Nob), it carries a spiritual revelation. It is telling us that this priesthood will look good up to a specific point. These ministers will be very active and busy. However, just when they are to be their best, full of energy, power, wisdom and holiness, ready to be used the most, a spiritual death will take place. The Spirit of God is going to leave them. They'll be left standing as dead men before a dead congregation!
The most concerning part of the prophecy given by this unnamed prophet of God is that this backslidden, compromised priesthood would never be cut off from God's altars. The Lord is not going to shut them down, they will remain until He returns. Verse 33 says, “But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart.” It is going to take the gift of discernment to see those operating in this priesthood, and to not come into agreement with this ministry.
So let’s dig into these two priesthoods
2 Samuel 15:35 (NKJV)
“And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.”
Who is Abiathar?
Well it appears from the above that he appears to be holy, dedicated, devoted, loyal to David. He will have nothing to do with Absalom's rebellion. He goes about his ministry looking as pure and uncompromising as Zadok.Why is he never mentioned in the Word after this? Why is he not named among the prophets? Why does his name die out?
Something major happens, and ever so quickly! Suddenly Abiathar is "lightly esteemed", and Zadok is made the example of the holy, remnant priesthood. Why? It is because Abiathar had the spirit of Eli in him. All those prophecies spoken by the unnamed prophet fell upon him.
The unnamed prophet had said that not all such kinds would be cut off. Abiathar's father and eighty-three other priests who wore an ephod were slain by Doeg. Only Abiathar escaped! He ran to David and the ministry he represented survived, which was according to prophecy.
Yet just as the prophet had spoken, Abiathar, the seed of Eli, in the prime of his life and at the peak of his blessings was seduced by the call of success. He lost his place with God's anointed!
Who is Zadok?
1 Chronicles 12:1 (NKJV)
“Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, helpers in the war,”
1 Chronicles 12:28 (NKJV)
“Zadok, a young man, a valiant warrior, and from his father’s house twenty-two captains;”
Zadok was the first young priest to see David’s anointing. Men were coming to David from all over to join him. Zadok recognized that the Spirit of God had left Saul, his ministry was now all flesh, with no call or touch of heaven. And Zadok wanted nothing to do with it, as God was not in or with it! He went to David at Ziklag, and remained with him the rest of his life. Through every rebellion, Zadok stood with him, a man proved righteous. David had captured the priest's heart, and Zadok never turned back.
Who are these pastors and leaders today?. They are men and women of prayer who are committed to the Jesus of the Bible, not the idol many claim which is an image they have built (Psalm 50:21). They have crucified all the sins of the flesh, entertainment and worldliness. And you know it when you hear them preach the Word, because it stirs deep in your soul!
When others turned on David, Zadok remained faithful. David was running from his son Absalom, who had rebelled. And when David came to the brook Kidron, the Word of God says:
2 Samuel 15:24 (NKJV)
“There was Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.”
Zadok and Abiathar are both with David at the brook Kidron, and they go back to Jerusalem at David's order. While Absalom defiled David's concubines in full public view, and Israel went into wickedness and rebellion, these two men stood in God's house.
We see the same today, while the majority of the world is going to hell because of sin, evil and extreme wickedness, God still has His holy men serving at His altar. He still has a Zadok priesthood, faithful to God's Word!
Both of these priesthoods were operating in Ezekiel's day. And, like the unnamed prophet, Ezekiel prophesied they both would flow as two streams of ministry to the very end.
Ezekiel 44:5 (NKJV)
“And the Lord said to me, “Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes and hear with your ears, all that I say to you concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord and all its laws. Mark well who may enter the house and all who go out from the sanctuary.”
The Lord was telling Ezekiel, stand at My house and see all the people coming and going. Discern all the activities going on here.
Ezekiel 44:7 (NKJV)
“When you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to defile it—My house—and when you offered My food, the fat and the blood, then they broke My covenant because of all your abominations.”
They're bringing strangers and foreigners into God’s house to defile it! These same abominations are going on in churches today and God is saying, "Enough, I've had it!" Ungodly ministers have brought into the holy sanctuary, worldly entertainment, utter foolishness, people in the congregations who use drugs and alcohol and don't even know God. Sadly some stand ministering in the pulpit, and the people don't even know the difference!
Ezekiel 44:8 (NKJV)
“And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but you have set others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.”
The prophet is saying, you've brought in foreigners, people who do not know Me, to keep charge of My sanctuary. These people are wicked, unholy, unseparated, and still of the world. God's house was being profaned!
So God appointed an Abiathar priesthood to minister to a people whose hearts were set on idols. These ministers had strayed far from God. They were filled with the spirit of Eli, chasing fame, success, and selfish ambitions, and the people loved to have it so. So God appointed idolatrous priests to give the people what they wanted. "False people, false priests!"
Ezekiel 44:14 (NKJV)
“Nevertheless I will make them keep charge of the temple, for all its work, and for all that has to be done in it.”
These priests will do all the religious works that on the surface appear of God, but look what the Word of God says in the previous verse “And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed.”
They will stand in the pulpit “lightly esteemed by God”, full of self and idolatry, nowhere near to the Lord. They will go through all the motions, preaching, teaching, counseling, etc. They are deceived, having no discernment, no witness of the Spirit!
Can we see in scripture the connection between the prophecy spoken to Eli and the Abiathar priesthood?
1 Kings 2:26-27 (NKJV)
“And to Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before my father David, and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted.” So Solomon removed Abiathar from being priest to the Lord, that he might fulfill the word of the Lord which He spoke concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh.”
However notice in verse 26 it says “ for you are deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time”. This priesthood is still in operation void of the anointing of God, and we saw above in the chapters in Ezekiel exactly what they would be doing in the churches.
The Word of God gives us a sure promise that if the people would repent, turn from their rebellion, idolatry and sinfulness that He would raise up a Holy priesthood to feed His sheep!
Jeremiah 3:14-15 (NKJV)
“Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Who is this Holy Priesthood?
Ezekiel 44:15-16 (NKJV)
“But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord God. “They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.
Ezekiel 44:17 (NKJV)
“And it shall be, whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, that they shall put on linen garments; no wool shall come upon them while they minister within the gates of the inner court or within the house.”
What is this telling us? There can be no mixture, a little bit Jesus, and a little bit of the world… God says there can be NO mixture! He desires holiness, purity, and a life consecrated unto Him!
What is the calling of a Priest of Zadok?
Ezekiel 44:23 (NKJV)
“And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”
What are the signs of a Priest of Zadok?
- They are not afraid to reprove, rebuke and correct with the power and authority of the Holy Ghost.
- They clearly show what is righteous and unrighteous, and they disciple the people in the truth of the Word as they grow in knowledge and wisdom to make right choices for themselves.
- These ministers know the voice of the Lord. They know what God is speaking, because they sit, wait and seek Him in the secret place.
Is there a tie from the Zadok priesthood to Jesus?
Zechariah 3:1-10 (NKJV)
“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes." And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by. Then the Angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying, "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here. 'Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,' Says the LORD of hosts, 'And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day,' says the LORD of hosts, 'Everyone will invite his neighbor Under his vine and under his fig tree.”
Joshua is the son of Jehozadak, whos genealogy can be traced back to Zadok
God told the prophet Zechariah to place a crown on Joshua’s head: “Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak” (Zech. 6:11). Joshua was already the high priest, and the prophet was to symbolically crown him king. The coronation was to serve as an encouragement to Joshua in his work of rebuilding the temple. Also, it was a visual prophecy of the future Messiah—who would be both high priest (Heb. 6:20) and king (Matt. 27:11). Significantly, the name “Joshua” is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek name “Jesus.” Thus, the priest-king Joshua was a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah, and the similarity extended even to his name.
Zerubbabel held the Davidic king line and he descended from Zadok as well and his lineage is tied to Jesus! So the two olive trees and branches symbolizing Joshua holding the priest line and Zerubbabel holding the king line, and Jesus tied to both in lineage reveals His holding as the High King Priest as pure!
Can we see Jesus as the High King Priest?
Hebrews 7:1, 17, 24( NKJV)
“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.”
Luke 1:32-33 (NKJV)
“He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
Revelation 19:16 (NKJV)
“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Can we see an example of these two types in the New Testament?
Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV)
"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Martha was distracted doing things she thought needed to be done to please Jesus, however He tells her Mary has chosen the good part. She sat at His feet and heard His word, meaning she was in close proximity to the Lord ministering to Him!
What happens when someone is distracted with busyness and spending no quality time with Jesus?
John 11:20-21 (NKJV)
“Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Martha was frantic and immediately brought accusations to Jesus as to why He was delayed getting there. She had no peace! However, what does it say about Mary? “but Mary was sitting in the house” She was waiting patiently for the Lord, she had a greater level of trust and peace!
What do we see Jesus do in this moment?
John 11:28-29 (NKJV)
“And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him.”
Jesus called upon the one who was always close to Him! The same goes for anyone who remains close to the Lord Jesus, you are the one He will call upon when He has a need to fulfill. We must remember that it is not us who changes lives, works miracles, delivers, and heals. It is Jesus through the Holy Spirit and if you are not spending time in His presence you will not have the oil needed to pour upon others!
Word and quick vision on 4/2/22
“We’re the molding of what we’re beholding”
If we behold distraction and busy work (that may even appear Kingdom) He cannot soak us in oil! Try to oil something that won’t sit still! It may catch some residual splash, but it can’t be truly soaked…
If we sit and behold Jesus, then He can pour the oil upon our heads, and it’s the oil that rubs off on others, not our “prideful fleshy works”!
We can do so many things that seem good to man and be rewarded with man's praise, but is God really in it???
Who did king David call for? Zadok (1 Kings 1:32)! Who did Jesus call for? Mary (John 11:28)! Both of which were ones who spent their time ministering to the Lord, not distracted doing many works. He calls upon the ones He can trust, who truly know Him, hear His voice, and are quick to obey!
What Kind of Priest Are You???