The Priesthood of Jehoshua Messiah part 1

The Priesthood of Jehoshua is one of the most overlooked aspects of our Savior. Most believers take Messiah's priestly ministry for granted. Some ignorantly make His priesthood of none effect with their false once saved always saved doctrine. If it were possible that we can never lose our place in the Lamb's book of life then there wouldn't be a need for a High Priest.

The purpose of Messiah's priestly ministry is to give His brethren grace in the time of need in order to resist temptation and also to plead our forgiveness to the Father when we come to the throne of grace. This is all done after we have come to the cross and were born again. The cross does not give believers a free pass to sin thereby break the law. However, we know that as imperfect beings we will fall at times and this is where Jehoshua's priestly ministry comes in the picture.

The "Our Father" is the model prayer that Messiah gave to us. This prayer tells us to ask for our trespasses to be forgiven. Also, we are told to examine ourselves daily to see if we be in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). If we are to examine ourselves and daily ask for forgiveness of sins then there must be an ministerial office that attends to these prayers. This cannot be the cross solely as most Christians teach, remember the ministration of the cross was to reconcile us back to the Father. The cross nailed our debt and provided us forgiveness of sins so that we can be born anew.

Romans 3:25 (KJV)

25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

It is past sins that the cross forgives for the new believer. For sins committed after one becomes born again, the Priesthood of Jehoshua in the most holy place facilitates this ministration. After one becomes born again and then sins, he or she must go in prayer to the Father in the name of the Son to ask for forgiveness. The Father and Son are both in the most holy place. The cross is in the courtyard (altar of burnt offering) but still has a vital role in our walk with Messiah. We dare not minimize the cross.

Don't get me wrong, the cross of Messiah is still a vital component of our walk. Too many in the Adventist denomination minimize the continuing importance of the cross in the believers life. Why is the cross still important in a believers life?

Because, it is the very ministration that even allows us access to the most holy place. The cross was where the once and for all sacrifice took place. The shedding of blood on the cross provides forgiveness not only for the new convert  but also for the experienced believer. However, the Most Holy place is now where we go to receive forgiveness of sins. I must emphasize that the sacrifice on the cross is what gives Jehoshua as High Priest the authority to plead our forgiveness to the Father.

Unlike what some Adventists teach, the cross and the priestly ministry of Jehoshua go hand in hand. The Messiah does not reapply His blood over and over again in the most holy place. His sacrifice on the cross took care of this once and for all.

The purpose of Messiah's priestly ministry is simply to intercede for us and provide us with the forgiveness of our sins committed after we have become children of Jehovah. The blood was already applied once and for all, it does not need to be reapplied every time a believer sins and ask for forgiveness.

I'm afraid many Adventists have over complicated the Priesthood of Jehoshua and have come to many faulty conclusions.

In this study we will determine if the Son of God's priesthood needed to emulate the old covenant Levitical preisthood. We will also determine whether or not the Messiah immediately went to the Holy place upon His ascension or if He had to wait until 1844. We will investigate (pun intended) the teaching of the investigative judgment as taught by Adventists. Do the Father and Son need to review the cases of dead saints, who already endured to the end, to determine whether or not they are fit for eternal life.

Psalms 110: (ASV)

1Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.2Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.3Thy people offer themselves willingly In the day of thy power, in holy array: Out of the womb of the morning Thou hast the dew of thy youth.4Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.5The Lord at thy right hand Will strike through kings in the day of his wrath.6He will judge among the nations, He will fill [the places] with dead bodies; He will strike through the head in many countries.7He will drink of the brook in the way: Therefore will he lift up the head.

In this passage Jehovah is the Father and the Lord is His Son. The Father grants the Son Kingship and to sit on the throne with Him until His (the Son) enemies are made His footstool. This is not to say that Jehoshua in His pre-existence wasn't already a King, however His Kingship would now encompass so much more due to His victory over sin and death. This is why Messiah during His earthly ministry was proclaiming the Kingdom of Jehovah as it was nigh.

The Kingdom of Jehovah refers to both the Father and Son. The Father is referred to as Jehovah in verse 1, the Son is referred to as Jehovah in verse 5 as "Lord" should be rendered "Jehovah" in this verse. Once the Son's enemies are made His footstool, He will then strike through kings in the day of His wrath.

This passage alludes to the Son of God's ascension to Heaven and we see that He is granted Kingship by the Father. In verse 4 Jehoshua is made a Hig Priest after the order of Melchizedek. The Messiah obtains the throne as King and High Preist upon His ascension into Heaven.

Jehoshua qouted this passage in the gospels (Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42-43). Peter also qouted this in reference to Jehoshua in Acts 2:34-35 following this up with his statement in verse 36 of Acts 2:

"Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly, that God made this same Jehoshua, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Messiah."

In context of Acts 2-34-36, Peter is referring to Jehoshua being made Lord (Jehovah) and Messiah in connection with His resurrection/ascension albeit Jehoshua was both these things prior to His resurrection/ascension. Jehoshua's victory over sin and His subsequent resurrection and ascension solidified His Lordship (Kingship), His Messiahship and His never ending Priesthood.

Just to confirm that Jehoshua was made King at His ascension, Psalms 110 is qouted in Hebrews 1:

13But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?

The context of this passage in Hebrews from verse 8-14 is in respect to the Son of God's ascension to Heaven.

Hebrews 10:12 (KJV)

12but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Paul confirms that it was after Messiah offered up His body on the cross that He sat down on the right hand of God. The key phrase in this passage is "one sacrifice for sins for ever". It was because this sacrifice provided full atonement for sins that Jehoshua was made King and High Priest. Right after (40 days) His sacrifice on the cross, Jehoshua sat down on the right hand of God. If Jehoshua's sacrifice for sins was for ever and this sacrifice granted Him to sit on the right hand of God then we can safely conclude that He is still sitting on the right hand of God and has been since His ascension.

Jehoshua's sitting on the right hand of God is for ever and it was never required of Him to vacate Himself from the right hand of the Father for any period of time unless He and the Father so chose. The Adventist teaching of the sanctuary and investigate judgment leads to the inevitable conclusion that at some point Jehoshua legally had to vacate His throne which is situated at the right hand of the Father to perform a priestly work similar to the old Levitical preisthood. They teach that Jehoshua didn't have access to the most holy place until 1844.

Brethren, this outright false and it is an attack on Jehoshua's Kingship, Divinity, and even His Priesthood.

As we go through this study, I will elaborate on why this teaching attacks all three the above functions of the Messiah.

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)

2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Clearly our Savior was set down on the right hand of God after His ascension. He didn't have to wait until 1844. Likely Adventists won't deny this verse but they will say that God's throne in this instance isn't in the most holy place as He has a moving throne. While it is true that Jehovah's throne is a moving throne, we will see that the Son of God did indeed go right into the most holy place at His ascension. Although Jehovah has a moving throne, we will see from this study that the primary place for His throne is in the most holy place.

The truth that Jehoshua went to sit down on the right hand of God after His ascension is undeniable.

Acts 7:55-56 (KJV)

55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Brethren, ask yourself this question, where does Jehovah's shekinah glory shine from in the tabernacle? Obviously in the most holy place. Is there any reason to think otherwise in this account of Stephen? Stephen saw the glory of God and Messiah standing on the right hand of Jehovah's shekinah glory. The Shekinah glory of Jehovah was primarily associated with the most holy place in the earthly tabernacle, should it be any different in heaven?

The Shekinah glory isn't just confined to the most holy place to be sure, however that is where it originates from.

Remember, the earthly sanctuary was patterned after the heavenly sanctuary.

Hebrews 8:5 (KJV)

 5Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Exodus 25:22

"There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.

Ezekiel 9:3

"Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case."

Ezekiel 10:18

"Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim."

Hebrews 9:5

"and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail."

Leviticus 16:2

"The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat."

2 Samuel 6:2

"And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim."

As we can see clearly the throne of Jehovah God in the earthly sanctuary where His Shekinah would shine was in the most holy place. Remember the earthly sanctuary was patterned after the heavenly sanctuary, the one that Jehovah pitched. We have to ask ourselves, why would it be any different in heaven?

The scriptures are clear that at His ascension, Jehoshua went to be seated on the Davidic throne at the right hand of God. The obvious conclusion is that Messiah went right to the Holy place at His ascension and didn't have to wait until 1844. Jehoshua's Kingship and Priesthood are inherently connected.

Hebrews 2:9 (KJV)

9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Jehoshua was crowned with glory and honour at His resurrection and ascension. This is when He was enthroned as King and also made a HighPriest after the order of Melchizedek. Believers have a derived sonship in Messiah. Jehoshua is the captain of our salvation. The Son of God leads His people into the salvation He has secured (perfect),Complete and entire. Messiah's suffering was the means of completing the work the Father had given Him. Brethren, because of the Son of God's substitutionary death we are assured of salvation as it is made perfect by Jehoshua.

The teaching of an investigative judgment where believers records will pass in review before the Son of God to see if they are worthy of His atoning blood is unbiblical. The believer has already been justified i.e. rendered righteous. The believer then needs to abide in the Messiah and trust in His merits for righteousness. Believers that endure to the end and do not deny Jehoshua in word or in lifestyle  go to sleep (death) awaiting the resurrection of the righteous. How can I say such a thing? Because eternal life is something the believer already had by the time he/she died and didn't need to earn it. A believers walk in Messiah isn't one where he/she spends their life trying to earn eternal life as they already have it. Once a believer has eternal life by confession of faith in the Son of God, they then follow the Lamb of God and walk out their faith as a king and a priest.

John 5:24 (KJV)

24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Brethren, the above scripture is one of the most damning scriptures against the investigative judgment. Those who believe the words of the Son of God have (present tense) eternal life and shall not come into condemnation. They have already (at the moment of belief) passed from death to life.

Do you see the significance of this passage?

It says that those who believe in the Son of God will not come into condemnation. Let's look at what the word condemnation means in the greek. The greek word for "condemnation" is "krisis" (Strongs 2920) and means "decision, by extension a tribunal; by implication, justice (especially,  divine law): - accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment.

Wow! Jehoshua says that those who believe in Him and His words will receive eternal life at that moment and will not come into condemnation meaning they won't come before a tribunal and they won't be accused, condemned or come into judgment.

 My beloved brothers and sisters, the Investigative judgment teaches the exact opposite. It teaches that no matter if you were a believer during your earthly life, that you will have to pass an investigative judgment where every single unconfessed word and deed will be held against you and likely cause you to lose in the judgement. This is not what the bible teaches. Jehoshua Himself says that believers will not come into judgment (condemnation).

Don't get me wrong, believers will go before the judgment seat of Messiah but by that time their cases for eternity will have already been decided and it will be a judgment of rewards for them. Their cases were decided when they became born again. By the time believers appear before the judgment seat they will have already been resurrected and translated to meet Jehoshua in the air. The only thing in doubt for the believer by that point will be amount and substance of their rewards. Isn't that good news!!

Let's go to scripture to prove that the resurrection and translation of the saints precedes the judgment seat of Messiah.

Revelation 11:12 (KJV)

12And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Many bible students believe this passage refers to the resurrection and translation of the saints at the second advent.

Revelation 11:18 (KJV)

18And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

The time of the dead that they may be judged follows shortly after the resurrection and translation of the saints, The rewards for the saints are already prepared. If the judgment is after the saints resurrection and ascension to glory then it obviously can't be an investigative judgment and rather is a judgment of rewards.

Revelation 20:9-12 (KJV)

9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Historically the Christian Congregation has believed this passage in verse 9 to take place at the end of this age. The judgment in verse 12 is after the saints have been resurrected and translated to glory as verse 9 was the consummation of the end of this age. So obviously the white throne judgment for Christian's is not investigative butter for rewards.

Why doesn't a believer need to be judged in a pre advent investigative judgment? Because they have already been translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son at the time of their confession in Him. Let's show this in scripture:

Colossians 1:12-14 (KJV)

12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

This is another passage that destroys the investigative judgment doctrine. This harmonizes with Jehoshua's statement in John 5:24 that once we have faith in Him we pass from death to life.

Verse 12 of Colossians 1 says that the Father made us meet which means He qualified us to inherit eternal life, this is a present tense statement by Paul. The word translated means transferred. When God redeems a sinner He transfers them from the power of darkness (satan's kingdom) to the Kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Brethren the above passage in Colossians 1:12-14 would make no sense if we still had to pass a future investigative judgment in order to be granted entry into the kingdom. We have in this life received eternal life and entrance into Jehoshua's Kingdom all present tense realities not merely a future hope.

The believer has eternal life through belief in the Son of God and will not lose it as long as he/she holds the beginning of their confidence unto the end (Hebrews 3:14).  It has to do with belief. Only unbelief which is the source of all other sins will cause one to lose eternal life. If one keeps their faith unto the end then the eternal life they received at their profession of faith never left them.

Let's now go back to the Priesthood of Jehoshua.

Hebrews 2:11 (KJV)

11For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

There is a corporate solidarity or untiy between Messiah and His people. Jehoshua willingly identifies Himself with and takes to Himself sinners as His brethren.

If Messiah already calls us His brethren once we believe in Him then the teaching of a future investigative judgment to determine if we can go into heaven is false.

Hebrews 2:17 (KJV)

17Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Messiah subjected Himself to the law of Jehovah God and to the frailty and weakness of humanity for the purpose of redeeming them. Jehoshua was fully human and able to sympathize with our weakness and frailties. It was necessary for Messiah to be made like us so that He would be merciful and faithful knowing the trials that we have to go through in the flesh.  Jehoshua is able to relate to us and extend us mercy. "make reconciliation" propitiate or appease the wrath of God by satisfying divine justice with payment for the sins of the people (Romans 3:25-26). Brethren, this was all done at the cross, the payment for sins and satisfying Jehovah's wrath. The word reconciliation means "to atone for", this is a past tense phrase as it was during the time that Jehoshua was made like unto us that reconciliation was made. After His resurrection and more fully His ascension, Messiah was glorified and no longer fully like us. The reconciliation had to be made while He was like us with full human frailty.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)

.14Seeing 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.15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)

25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

"able also to save them"

Not a mere possibility but a reality. Christ is mighty to save.

"To the uttermost"

Christ fully and finally saves His people to all eternity. Perfection has come through Christ.

"come unto God by Him"

In and for the sake of Christ, sinners can come into the very presence of God.

"ever liveth to make intercession"

Christ's work continues even now and forever as effective intercession on behalf of His people.

Hebrews 3:1-3 (KJV)

1Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;2Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.3For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

Verse1, Solidarity with Messiah is not only one of brotherhood, but it sanctifies those united to Him. Jesus is the High priest of our profession. He is the One we confess as our Mediator with God. Jesus took part in flesh and blood so that we can become fellow heirs and partakers with Him, the call to sonship comes from heaven. Jehoshua is called an Apostle meaning one sent by God.

Verse 2, Jehoshua's faithfulness to Jehovah is not contrasted with Moses unfaithfulness but rather to the position of Jehoshua's compared to Moses. Moses was part of the House of God as a servant.

Verse 3, Jehoshua builds the House of Jehovah, He does not merely serve in it like the Levitical preists did.

Hebrews 5:1-10 (KJV)

Hebrews Chapter 5

1For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:2Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.3And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.4And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.5So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.6As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;10Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Verse 1, the priests role in the old testament was to be Israel's representative in the presence of Jehovah. God's Son is a greater high priest than the Levitical preisthood under Aaron in the old testament.

Verse 2, High priests could have compassion because they were subject to the same weaknesses as those they ministered to.

Verse 3, the high priests did not condemn sin but offered sacrifices on behalf of sins. Taken from among men, high priests needed to sacrifice for their own sins.

Verse 4, High Preists were appointed by God, though in the time of the second temple, the preisthood was sold and bought by political powers.

Verses 5-6, the Messiah's Sonship and Priesthood are closely connected citing Psalm 2:7, 110:1. As God’s King and Priest, Messiah was the fufillment of Old Testament prophecy (Zechariah 6:9-15). Messiah was appointed as a Priest by God the Father. Jehoshua's Priesthood is closely connected to His Sonship and so is divine. The exalted Son is also the exalted Priest over His people in fufillment of Old Testament prophecy.

Verse 7, the Levitical preists offered the blood of animals. Messiah offeres up Himself in prayers "strong crying and tears". Jehoshua has wrestled in prayers and is able to sympathize with His people. "and was heard". Jehoshua was not heard in the sense that he evaded death, but was heard in the sense that the Father would give Him ultimate victory over death in the resurrection.

Verses 8-9, Jehoshua experienced true suffering. This is what qualifies Him to be a High Priest and have compassion on His people. "Perfect", not moral perfection but the idea of maturity or completion of a mission. "The author of eternal salvation" Jehoshua has a perpetual priesthood that secures a perpetual salvation for His people. Obedience is not a prerequisite for salvation but is the fruit of genuine salvation.

Verse 10, God spoke directly to Christ and appointed Him to this position. Christ was not after the order of Aaron because He was from the tribe of Judah.

Hebrews 6:18-20 (KJV)

18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Christ sat on the throne of God at His ascension and this is the anchor of the soul for a Christian. Our connection with Christ gives us the confidence we need in the face of tumult around us. We have a King on the throne who ministers to us as High Priest not of the Levitical functions but rather a better Priesthood.

"The veil" The high priest would enter once a year behind the veil into the most holy place to approach the mercyseat (Hebrews 9:24, 10:19-21). Our High Preist who is of a superior order didn't have to perform the functions of the Levitical preists but rather went right to the most holy place at His ascension. The bible says Jehoshua is the mercyseat (propitiation) for our sins. In order to be enthroned on David's throne, Jehoshua had to go to the most holy place where the Father's throne is.

"Propitiation"

that by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to execise his love towards sinners.

In Romans 3:25 and Hebrews 9:5 (A.V., "mercy-seat") the Greek word hilasterion is used. It is the word employed by the LXX. translators in Exodus 25:17 and elsewhere as the equivalent for the Hebrew kapporeth , which means "covering," and is used of the lid of the ark of the covenant ( Exodus 25:21 ; 30:6 ). This Greek word (hilasterion) came to denote not only the mercy-seat or lid of the ark, but also propitation or reconciliation by blood. On the great day of atonement the high priest carried the blood of the sacrifice he offered for all the people within the veil and sprinkled with it the "mercy-seat," and so made propitiation.

In 1 John 2:2 ; 4:10 , Christ is called the "propitiation for our sins." Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is "the propitiation," because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured. (Compare Hebrews 2:17 , where the expression "make reconciliation" of the A.V. is more correctly in the RSV "make propitiation.")"

Romans 3:25 (KJV)

25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Propitiation comes from the Greek word hilasterion (Strongs 2435) and means "an expiatory (place or thing), an atoning victim, or the lid of the Ark (in the Temple): - mercyseat, propitiation."

This refers to the propitiatory cover of the ark of the covenant on which blood was sprinkled to cover sins. In the septuagint, the greek word hilasterion is used for the mercy seat in Exodus 25:17

Exodus 25:17 (KJV)

17And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.

Mercy seat comes from the Hebrew word "kapporeth" (Strongs 3727) and means "a lid (used only of the cover of the sacred Ark): - mercy seat."

The mercy seat (atop the ark) was where the High Priest sprinkled the blood seven times on the day of atonement to make atonement for all Israel. The word for mercy seat is the Hebrew word "kapporeth", root "kaphar" meaning,  "to cover or purge in the sense of reconciliation or atonement.

With this understanding of the word propitiation being equivalent to mercy seat, it becomes clear that Jehoshua went right to the Holy place at His ascension and didn't have to perform the Levitical functions. Romans 3:25 says that Jehoshua is the propitiation in other words "mercy-seat" for us meaning He had to go right into the most holy place to sprinkle His blood seven times.

Did Jehoshua make full atonement for us?

Romans 5:8-11 (KJV)

.8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

The bible is crystal clear in that we have already received the atonement being made reconciled to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ blood. The scriptures above says that we have been made justified (rendered righteous) by Jehoshua's sacrifice on the cross.

The word "atonement" comes from the Greek word "katallage" (Strongs 2463) and means "exchange (figuratively adjustment), i.e. restoration to (the divine) favor: - atonement reconciliation.

Jehoshua's death on the cross reconciled us to the Father and restored us to divine favor. He provided atonement for us. Was this atonement for us made in full once for all at the cross?

John 19:30 (KJV)

30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

"It is finished" Christ had completed the work of fufilling God's purposes (John 17:4) that He had announced in Scripture  (the same verb as "Finished" is translated "accomplished" in verse 28. The price is paid in full for the elect (John 10:14-15, Mark 10:45) and the wrath of God toward believers (John 3:17, 36; 18:11).

The full atonement was made at the cross for us and the scripture says that Jehoshua was the mercy-seat for our sins which proves that He had to go right into the holy place after His resurrection  to sprinkle the mercy seat in the most holy place. The throne of Jehovah in the earthly sanctuary was symbolized as being in the most holy place where the real Shekinah of Jehovah would dwell. Just as in the type, the real sanctuary in heaven has Jehovah's throne in the most holy place and scripture clearly states that Jehoshua sat down on the right hand of God at His ascension and remained there afterwards. Jehoshua was even told to remain on the throne until His enemies were made Hisfootstool

1 John 2;1-2 (KJV)

1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

The greek word for propitiation here is "hilasmos" (Strongs 2434) and means "atonement, expiator: , - propitiation."

Scripture clearly says that Jehoshua made atonement for us and not only that full atonement "it is finished". Jehoshua is the mercyseat for us (Romans 3:25) meaning that His death provided us access into the most Holy place via His blood, as He went right into the most holy place first to present Himself before the Father after His resurrection and then again at His ascension. If Jehoshua is our mercyseat and this was done at the cross providing the atonement in full, then He did not have to perform the Levitical functions by ministering in the holy place standing up.

Jehoshua went directly to the most holy place after His resurrection to sprinkle His blood on the mercy-seat and then at His ascension He went directly to the most holy place to sit down (not stand up) at  the right hand of God to receive His Kingdom, throne of David, His crown, His right sceptre and His Priesthood. Jehoshua's Priesthood operates from the throne sitting at the right hand of God. His Priesthood doesn't operate standing up as the Levitical preists did standing up.

1 John 4:10 (KJV)

10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Jehoshua was made the propitiation (atonement). The tense of the verse is past tense "sent His Son to be the propitiation". The atonement was done when Messiah was on earth, that's why He said "it is finished". After His resurrection, He had to go see the Father:

John 20:17 (KJV)

17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

In fufillment of first fruits, Jehoshua presented Himself before the Father on the same day as the firstfruits of the spiritual harvest. The Father's throne is in the most holy place and this is likely when Messiah sprinkled His blood on the mercy-seat.