Summary: The ancient Jewish legal system symbolizes God’s rule and role in our lives and demonstrates His incredible love for us.
God our Judge and Defender
In Old Testament times, defending the accused was such a sacred duty that the judge refused to delegate the work to an attorney. He himself served as the defender of the accused. The Jewish Encyclopedia explains: “attorneys at law are unknown in Jewish law.” Their legal code required judges to “lean always to the side of the defendant and give him the advantage of every possible doubt.”
What a system! God Himself defends and judges the accused. But who is the accuser? Revelation 12:10 speaks of the devil who accuses us before God day and night. The devil also keeps a record of sin, and his accusations are painfully correct. How do we then overcome these accusations?
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (Revelation 12:11 NIV).
Christ our Advocate, Bridegroom, and King
When we accept the fact that Jesus died in our stead, God finds the evidence He needs to pronounce us innocent. In certain situations, the Hebrew judge appointed an advocate to assist him in defending the accused. The Jewish Encyclopedia states that the husband could represent his wife and help the judge defend her if the verdict involved his personal rights. Here we have a glorious parallel with the heavenly judgment: Christ the Bridegroom purchased His bride with His own blood.
Christ serves as our court-appointed Advocate to help the Father defend us against the accusations of Satan. He also defends His own right to grant us salvation and to give us eternal life. Our eternal salvation does not depend on how hopeless we are, but on how sufficient Christ is in saving sinners.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2 NIV).
When probation closes, Christ will cease His intercessory ministry, put on His kingly robes, and return to earth as King of kings to meet His bride. Daniel 7 describes the great judgment scene to take place just prior to Christ’s Second Coming, where He will receive kingship. In order for Jesus to qualify as King, He first had to become Priest. And before Jesus could become Priest, He had to become the Lamb, slain for the sins of the world:
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all people, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14 NIV).
The main theme of the book of Daniel is Jesus Christ, the crucified Lamb, the risen High Priest, and the coming King. The good news is that the judgment will turn out in favor of all those who come to Christ with a repentant heart, seeking forgiveness of their sins and a renewed heart that lives in harmony with God.
The Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom (Daniel 7:22 NIV).
Author: Professor Walter J. Veith, PhD, June 3, 2009. Amazing Discoveries
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2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” AND 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”