The face of the Lion – Session Two:

The Revelation of Kings, Priests and the Kingdom

By Apostle Carel Marais

The Lion is the king of all beasts and refers to man’s Kingly Purpose or Apostolic nature. Jesus is called the Lion out of the tribe of Judah. (Rev 5:5) There is an authority and understanding of our kingly and priestly nature that God is restoring to the church of the last days.

The principle: Everything God says and does relates to His Kingdom. The Bible then is the account from Genesis to Revelation where scripture reveals God as the great and almighty King/Lion at work on His purpose and plan.

Exo 19:6 'And you shall become a kingdom of priests for Me, a holy nation'

In the old testament it is said of the nation of Israel that thy will be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. In the eighties and nineties a teaching in the charismatic church taught us that in the church their will be kings (business people creating wealth for the body) and priests (ministry orientated people who will focus on maturing in the gifts). These were two different groups of people in the church, one creating wealth for the church and the other putting in the effort to do the work of ministry. Like in the old testament we see the kings and the prophets connecting and in the same way business people were connected to full time ministers to fund the activities of their ministry.

I believe this to be an incomplete understanding of the concept of kings and priest. I believe that in the new testament the Apostles trained believers to operate in both: being kings and priests. Everywhere in the new testament where there is made mention of priests and kings the two is mentioned together. One concept and one activity. We are called as both priests and kings – two activities but one person.

Currently in the church there is the kings (business people only focusing on creating wealth for the kingdom – most of the time first for self and then for the kingdom) and then distancing themselves from the responsibility to grow spiritually, maturing in the word of God.

Then we have the priests who do not have businesses who abdicate their responsibility to create wealth for the kingdom and blame a lack of finances in the kingdom on the self-centred operations of the business folk instead of understanding their own responsibility in adding wealth to the kingdom.

1Pe 2:9 '[But you are] a special people, a holy nation, priests and kings, a people given up completely to God, so that you may make clear the virtues of him who took you out of the dark into the light of heaven'

Rev 1:5-6 '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. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

See the purpose and plan is to reverse and destroy the works of Satan and fully restore Godly rule and governance through his church. Not through one or the other but through the “both and” principle. We are to operate as both kings and priests.

We are all called, anointed and appointed by God to create and add wealth to the kingdom, just as we are all called to grow spiritually, maturing in the word and the operations of ministry in the body. Not either or but rather both and.

The Bible is not about religion, but about a King and his Kingdom. Abraham knew it. Moses knew it. David king of Israel, knew it.

David focused on the Kingdom of God although he himself was a king. David understood his place. David understood his role not only as a king under God with civic obligations to his people, but also as a priest before God with spiritual responsibilities.

David went into the Holy of Holies and ministered unto God, a place and position under the old testament reserved only for the High Priest. David not only transcendent time when it came to the accurate way we have to worship today, but also in the way that we operate in the kingdom as both kings and priests.

See like David we are called to rule and govern as kings in this world as well as to fulfil the priestly role of carrying out our ministry. This I believe is part of the unveiling of the face of the Lion that we'll see in the church of the last days.

Daniel saw this kingdom that David operated in, in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. This final and eternal kingdom, the kingdom of the 'rock' is the Kingdom of God that would be ushered in by the coming of Christ and would eventually rule absolute and unopposed.

Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream a great statue with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, abdomen and thighs of bronze, legs of iron and feet made partly of iron and partly of clay. Then a stone cut out with no human hand smashed the feet of iron and clay and proceeded to break the rest of the statue into tiny pieces, which the wind blew away. After this the stone grew into a great mountain that filled the whole earth (see Dan 2:31-35)

Interpretation: The various segments of the statue refer to kingdoms and empires that have come and gone on the earth. Babylon, the golden head, gave way to the Persian Empire, represented by the chest and arms of silver. Persia fell to the empire of the Greeks, symbolized by the abdomen and thighs of bronze. The legs of iron stand for the Roman Empire, which was stronger and more widespread that the Greeks or any other empire that had preceded it.

The final kingdom, represented by the feet of iron and clay is the current age we live in. See clay and iron do not mix; they cannot be joined together to form a strong and stable mixture. This refers then to a time of government or empire that cannot hold together. According to the Book of Revelation it is from this governmental system that the 'beast' and the Antichrist will rise.

Nevertheless, this is not the focal point of Daniel's interpretation of the kings dream. See there is another kingdom coming; there is another kingdom rising up, symbolized by a 'rock', a stone, a kingdom that will smash and blow away all others, a kingdom that will grow to fill the whole earth and will last forever.

See when Jesus came, He spoke of this rock. One day He asked His disciples “Who do the people say the Son of Man is?' (Matt 16:13) After their reply, He got more personal:

Mat 16:15-18 'What about you?' he asked them. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' 'Good for you, Simon son of John!' answered Jesus. 'For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it'

Jesus was using a play on word here. The name Peter, or petros in Greek means 'stone' as in a small rock. When Jesus said 'rock', however He used the word 'petra', which refers to a large boulder. See Jesus Himself was the 'rock' upon which His Church would be built. He Himself was the rock in Nebuchadnezzar's dream that crushed all the kingdoms of the earth to dust. His is the Kingdom made without human hands that will last forever.

Daniel saw this King, the 'rock' destroying Satan and his kingdom in Dan 7:9-14 'I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgement was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed'

What a awesome scene this is, revealing the King of heaven in all His glory, splendour and majesty. Daniel taxed his vocabulary trying to find words to describe the indescribable. The 'Ancient of Days' refers to God the Father, eternal without beginning or end. His white clothing speaks of His purity and holiness, while the white of His hair suggests the wisdom of the ages. Blazing flames and the river of fire also symbolize God's purity and holiness, as well as His majesty and power.

Then the ancient of Days took His seat in the midst of thrones – thousands of them. Thrones are for rulers, and these thrones were the seats of authority for the kingly citizens of the Kingdom, the King's court. Daniel saw many kings, but then the King of kings entered, and all the focus was on Him.

Thousands attended Him, as befitting such a great King. These verses imply that those who occupied the thrones around the King were also among those who attended Him. Here was a scene unlike anything ever found on earth: kings attending the King; rulers taking care of the Ruler. Earthly kings have servants attending them. The King of kings, the ancient of Days has kings as His attendants.

After the Ancient of Days took His place, the court was seated and the books were opened. This is a scene of judgement, the judgement of Satan. Daniel saw in a vision 500 years prior to the birth of Jesus how Satan was judged, his power destroyed, and his body 'thrown into the blazing fire.' Fire consumes and here it symbolizes all loss of power.

See what this means for us is that all the power and authority of Satan and the forces of darkness have been broken. They have already been judged. Their final destruction awaits with the return of Christ, but it is as certain as though it had already happened.

This is why we do not have to surrender to defeat or despair or helplessness in our daily lives. We can live in victory and walk in confidence because the power of our enemy has been broken. The Lord has given us authority over Satan. We are among those seated at the right hand of God; seated in heavenly places; seated in judgement over Satan with the King of glory.

We see in Daniels dream the reason for Satan’s destruction when we read 'One like the son of man, coming with clouds of heaven' approaches the Ancient of Days. This is a direct reference to Jesus 500 years before He was born.

Through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, Jesus the Son of Man conquered Satan and broke his power and authority forever. With this victory He entered heaven triumphantly where He was given 'authority, glory and sovereign power,' was worshipped by people of all nations, and ruled 'an everlasting dominion', a Kingdom that will never be destroyed. (See Phil 2:8-11)

See what we lost at the fall was not only out ticket to heaven. We did not come from heaven nor were we created just to go to heaven. We were created from the dust of the earth to rule over the earth. What we lost at the fall was not heaven, but the Kingdom.

Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead not so much to take us to heaven as to bring us back into possession of the Kingdom we lost. When we receive the Kingdom, we will possess it forever and ever. Yes I believe in a rapture and that we are all destined to rule & reign with Christ now and one day in heaven, but before we can rule & reign now – there's got to be a revelation and understanding of the kingdom of God in us.

Now we see in Dan 7:27 'And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him'

See absolute authority is given to us. God is the only true Sovereign King with absolute authority – He is answerable to no one except Himself. But we receive delegated authority. Within the scope of our delegated authority, we have absolute authority.

This means we do not have to sit by helplessly while the enemy wreaks havoc in our lives. We can stand up to him and in the name of Jesus take authority over situations. That is our right as Kingdom citizens in good standing with the King.

Our slave mentality blocks us off from so much that is ours for the asking, and we settle for the far off dream of the 'pie in the sky in the sweet by and by'.

When Jesus restored the Kingdom to us, He did not give us a pretty façade with nothing inside. He gave us power: power to overcome,power to prosper, to live in victory, to be joyful and to fulfil our potential.

With Kingdom comes greatness. Jesus said that the key to true greatness is humility and service. Remember that in the vision Daniel saw that kings serve the King. Jesus set the example when He, the King of kings took up a towel and bowl of a servant and washed His disciples feet. At another time He told them 'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)

We were not created to dominate each other, or to be dominated, but to serve one another equally as kings and priests in our Fathers Kingdom. But YES – We were created to have dominion over Satan and to rule and reign over the kingdom of darkness.

It is only when we understand our place and role – like David did; as kings and priests in the Kingdom that we can fully appreciate the meaning of delegated authority, power and greatness.

See Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead not so much to take us to heaven as to bring us back into possession of the Kingdom we lost. There is an unmasking taking place in the church today – it is the roar of the lion we hear where both the priest & the king in the saints are revealed.