Scripture tells us that all believers are now priests to God the Father. In the Old Testament only priests of the house of Aaron were allowed to minister in the holy place in the Tabernacle, or Temple. Their part was to offer sacrifices, eat of them when accepted as sacrifices, and minister at the golden altar of incense. All this was typical of believers appropriating the glorious sacrifice of our Lord as settling the question of sin once and for all, then having communion as to it (set forth in the eating of the flesh of the sacrifices). The golden altar sets forth the worship of the true believer, and his happy service of intercession. This is, in contrast with the one family of Aaron out of all the tribes of Israel, to be the portion of ALL believers. To be a priest is to be a worshipper.
So we read, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, AN HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)). "But ye are a chosen generation, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, an holy nation" (1 Peter 2:99But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)). "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 forever and ever. Amen" (Rev. 1:5, 65And 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, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6)).
This clearly teaches that ALL believers are priests. There is no place in Scripture where a special body of men by virtue of theological training and ordination are priests. Such are practically the denial of the priesthood of all believers. Yet Dr. Bullinger dares to contradict these scriptures, or explain them away, which is really the same thing. He writes, "The fact is there is no priesthood recognized by God on the earth during the present Dispensation, while Israel as a nation is excluded" ("How to Enjoy the Bible," p. 127). "It is urged that in this present Dispensation 'all are priests'; but this is just as incorrect as to say that some, or any, are priests" ("How to Enjoy the Bible," p. 126).
If this is true then there are no worshippers to God on earth in this Dispensation. If this is true, it is the contradiction of the following scriptures: "But the hour cometh, and NOW IS, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him" (John 4:2323But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23)).
The Apostle Paul warns his readers in the preceding verse of the "Concision," that is a term of reproach, leveled against the Jew, who rejected the Messiah. In contrast to that he says, "WE are the circumcision," that is, believers on the Lord Jesus. Such worship God in the Spirit. We read in confirmation of this: "He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly: and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Rom. 2:28, 2928For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Romans 2:28‑29)). Heb. 10:22For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (Hebrews 10:2) speaks of "the worshippers once purged." So there are plainly priests, or worshippers, in this dispensation.
Dr. Bullinger says: "To see this Dispensational truth [that is, HIS misrepresentation of it] makes a priesthood' in the Church of God an impossibility. For Christ never was a priest on earth; and He would not be a priest if He were on earth to-day" ("How to Enjoy the Bible," p. 128). Not quite so fast, reverend Doctor. Had he not read the following scripture?: "Behold the Man whose name is The BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the Lord: even He shall build the temple of the LORD; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; AND HE SHALL BE A PRIEST UPON HIS THRONE: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both" (Zech. 6:12, 1312And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: 13Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:12‑13)).
There we find that the Lord will be a Priest on earth in the future day, and if He were on earth today He would be a Priest upon His throne, but that day is not yet. Now when we come to the Epistle of the Hebrews we find Christ could not be a priest on earth after the order of Aaron, for He was of the tribe of Judah. In Heaven, however, He is exercising His priesthood with Aaronic functions, though of the Melchisedec order.
So the believers are exhorted to enter into the holiest, that is, to come consciously into God's presence as worshippers. We read: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He bath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having AN HIGH PRIEST over the house of God: let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Heb. 10:19-2219Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19‑22)). "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise [worship] to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name" (Heb. 13:1515By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)).
Entering into the holiest is a matter of the soul, not of a place, neither Heaven nor earth, but of the spiritual condition of the believer. Nor is the House of God here a place; it sets forth the thought of God dwelling among His people, the Recipient of their worship, praise and intercession.
The whole of the wonderful Epistle to the Hebrews is occupied with the priesthood of our Lord in exercise NOW. "We have A GREAT HIGH PRIEST, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession" (Heb. 4:1414Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14)).
And a HIGH priest implies there are priests of which He is the Chief. Where are the priests in relation to the High Priest? If believers are not priests now, there cannot be a High Priest. What terrible confusion does Dr. Bullinger make, whatever he touches.