Believers are already a kingdom of priests, a royal priesthood (Revelation 1:6; I Peter 2:5, 9), and this identity stresses responsibility and the ongoing pursuit of holiness rather than benefits. Because the New Testament gives few direct instructions on priestly service, the Levitical pattern must be studied as a shadow of the heavenly reality, read through Christ as High Priest. The consecration of Aaron and his sons in Leviticus 8-9 serves as the model, and the Feast of Tabernacles appears patterned after it: seven days, a significant eighth day, dwelling in a set place, offerings by fire, and eating before the LORD. The Feast is therefore part of believers' continuing sanctification. The ram of consecration's blood on the right ear, thumb, and big toe marks what God sets apart: hearing His voice amid worldly noise, hands for service, and feet for stable, balanced walking. Priests were also "filled" by eating the ram and unleavened bread, both pointing to Christ. Hebrews 13:10 says believers have an altar from which others may not eat, so preparation means feeding spiritually on Christ and His Word by God's Spirit, guarding against strange teachings, and applying what is learned. Malachi warns against treating service as drudgery or despising God's table, and Hebrews 6 warns against rejecting it, since without this food priests cannot stand and serve.

The priesthood, as a vital institution, carries profound responsibilities and demands a high level of holiness, reflecting God's own nature. Priests serve as living messengers, reminding the entire nation and church of the call to be holy as God is holy. Under the Old Covenant, priests and Levites were visible and audible links between God's initial call to holiness and its fulfillment in His Kingdom. Now, under the New Covenant, all believers are forming a priesthood, serving as priests to each other under our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, with the same purpose of reflecting holiness in intimate association with the Father, the Son, and one another. Holiness is central to the priestly role, extending beyond mere morality to embody God's uniqueness and purity. Priests are called to strive for moral holiness, though they will never fully attain God's level of holiness in this life. Their role as intermediaries between God and the people required them to provide religious instruction and live as examples, ensuring the community understood the importance of holiness. This responsibility is heightened for believers today, who possess the Spirit of God, demanding a higher standard than those under the Old Covenant. The preparation for priesthood began with specific appointments, as seen when God designated Aaron as high priest and his sons—Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar—as priests, establishing a structured order to organize Israel as a holy nation. These appointments were not self-initiated but divinely ordained, emphasizing that priests act on behalf of men before God, bridging the separation caused by human sinfulness. Strict standards governed their conduct and physical condition; any physical disfigurement or deformity disqualified a priest from service until healed, reflecting the perfection of God whom they represented. Further regulations ensured ceremonial purity, prohibiting priests from serving if rendered unclean by circumstances such as touching the dead, which symbolized defilement linked to sin and death, enemies of a living God. Priests were also forbidden from imitating pagan practices, maintaining distinctiveness in appearance and behavior to uphold God's holiness. Marriage within specific family lines was mandated to preserve the purity of the priestly lineage. These stringent requirements highlight the carefulness with which priests had to conduct their lives, handling holy things and leading in holiness. Incidents like the severe judgment on Nadab and Abihu for using unauthorized fire in their offerings underscore the importance of exact obedience to God's instructions, with no deviations allowed. Their presumptuous act, possibly influenced by alcohol, contrasted with the need for a clear mind in sacred duties, a principle relevant to all called to be a kingdom of priests. Every aspect of priestly service, from unblemished animal offerings to the perfection required of the priests themselves, pointed to the ultimate model of holiness in Jesus Christ, who remains perfect as our representative before God. The priestly life was surrounded by restrictions designed to maintain a state of holiness, a burden that underscores the high level of conduct and attitude God expects from all believers today. These Old Testament examples were deliberately recorded for our learning, urging us to strive for the highest standards of holiness before God, the world, and the church, keeping ourselves distinct and righteous in a world that often resists such boundaries.

God is preparing us for a great purpose, which includes not only ruling in His Kingdom but also serving as priests. We are called to be a royal priesthood, as stated in I Peter 2:9, and to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, as noted in I Peter 2:5. This responsibility is not reserved for the future; even now, we have priestly duties that are just as critical as preparing to rule. If we are not practicing priesthood today, we will not be ready for the role in the World Tomorrow. The function of a priest involves mediating between God and humanity, offering sacrifices, and having access to God that others do not possess. A priest serves God personally, ministers to others, and must have something to offer both to God and to the people. In the Millennium, as symbolized by the Feast of Tabernacles in Numbers 29:12-13, the priestly role will require extensive sacrificial work, far surpassing other times in God's plan, highlighting the immense responsibility we will bear. Scriptures such as Obadiah 21 and Isaiah 30:19-21 indicate that in the Millennium, we will act as saviors, judges, and teachers, guiding and delivering people as part of our priestly duties. The primary function of a priest is to assist people in accessing God for union with Him, achieved through mediation and reconciliation. Additionally, a priest teaches a way of life to enhance this reconciliation, counseling and supporting others through life's trials. Sacrifices, central to priesthood, are gifts to God meant to establish or maintain fellowship with Him. This fellowship requires daily renewal through ongoing sacrifices, as our relationship with God fluctuates and needs strengthening. Romans 12:1 urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service. By living a life of obedience and sacrifice, following the example of Jesus Christ, we prepare to be priests in the World Tomorrow, applying this calling practically in every aspect of our lives.

The preparation for priesthood begins with the headgear required of both the high priest and ordinary priests during service at the tabernacle. The white linen turban and the gold plate engraved with Holiness to the Lord, fastened by a blue cord across the forehead, served as constant reminders that those who ministered stood under divine authority. White symbolized righteousness and wisdom, blue pointed to grace and holiness, and gold indicated divinity, all placed on the head to signify that the mind and will must be submitted to God. This external sign reinforced the internal reality that priests, though holding high rank, remained under the authority of the One whose house they entered. Jesus Christ, as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, perfectly exemplified this submission. He repeatedly declared that He came not to do His own will but the will of the Father who sent Him. His life demonstrated that headship over the church flows from perfect obedience. The Levitical system, with its physical garments and offerings, served as a pattern pointing forward to this greater priesthood. Because the priesthood has changed, a change of law has also occurred, moving from a fleshly commandment to the power of an endless life. Preparation for service under this new priesthood requires offering oneself as a living sacrifice. This means presenting the entire person—mind, body, and conduct—in continual service to God. Such sacrifice involves putting off anger, malice, deceit, and worldly conformity while putting on the mind of Christ, which is marked by humility and obedience. It demands clear distinctions between the holy and the profane, the clean and the unclean, so that teaching and example remain unconfused. The goal is single-minded devotion that produces holiness in all conduct, mirroring the character of the High Priest. This preparation connects directly to the broader purpose of the Melchizedek priesthood. Unlike the Aaronic order limited to Israel, the new priesthood is universal, royal, and righteous, destined to serve all nations and to produce peace between God and humanity. Those being prepared are living stones built into a spiritual house where God dwells, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable through Jesus Christ. Their lives, anchored together like the unified garments of the high priest, display the divine nature, righteousness, and humanity of their Head, ensuring they will serve eternally as kings and priests in the coming Kingdom.

The church is a priesthood in training, formed over 6,000 years and not formally installed until Christ returns, yet already bound by priestly duties according to I Peter 2:5, 9. Because the Old Covenant priestly system was a physical shadow of spiritual realities (Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 9), its detailed ceremonies must be studied and then raised to a spiritual plane. Believers no longer burn animals, for they themselves are the temple, and they are both the priest and the offering. Israel refused to draw near to God at Sinai, rightly sensing its unfitness. The church has no such excuse, because God Himself calls, cleanses through Christ's blood, and makes believers partakers of the divine nature, so that they can draw near. Priests stand between God and the world, going first so that others may follow later. Preparation means offering spiritual sacrifices and showing forth God's praises. Romans 12:1-2 sets out the reasonable response: presenting one's whole life daily as a living sacrifice and refusing conformity to the world. Practical sacrifices include private prayer, study, and meditation, thanksgiving, and sharing, encouragement, and gentle correction. Setting aside time to "chew" God's Word, rather than swarming about like busy insects, is a real sacrifice. Purity, begun by Christ's blood and continued through keeping God's Word by the Spirit, is essential, since God is holy (Leviticus 19:2; I Peter 1:15-16).

The church is being prepared to become a kingdom of priests (I Peter 2:4-10) serving under Jesus Christ, the spiritual High Priest, and the Old Covenant priestly symbolism teaches the characteristics needed for that work. The high priest's onyx shoulder stones list the tribes in birth order, picturing commonality and equality, which parallels Galatians 3:27-29, where all in Christ share a spiritual birth into one family. The breastplate jewels differ by tribe, and the marching order (matching the breastplate order) places Levi, who carried the tabernacle and its furniture, at the protected center, with Judah leading. These differences in order and function show that God assigns each tribe its own service for the good of all, a pattern Paul applies in I Corinthians 12 to the church, where diverse gifts and members are placed by God as He pleases. Believers cannot always see their place, yet Jesus promises one for each (John 14:1-3), and the 144,000 are the firstfruits who follow the Lamb. Israel had to camp a Sabbath day's journey from the tabernacle, but through Christ's blood believers, Israelite and Gentile alike, have been brought near, with access even into the spiritual Holy of Holies. Together they form the household of God and "the Israel of God," a holy temple built on Christ, the cornerstone.

Believers are called to become priests of the Most High God (Revelation 5:9-10), and preparation begins with understanding what priesthood is. Priesthood and sacrifice originated in God's command, not in human invention, and were already formal in Abraham's day through Melchizedek. A priest is a more mature person who stands before God as His servant, leads worshippers, and mediates between God and man, building spiritual bridges through instructive, sacrificial, ritualistic, and mediatorial duties. The Levites, whose name means "attached," were given to assist the priests and help Israel draw near to God. The firstborn, once dedicated to God as family leaders and priests, were replaced at the tabernacle by the Levites. "Firstborn" then became a title of rank and honor that has nothing to do with birth order, as seen with Joseph, Ephraim, and Christ, who is called Firstborn though He was never born. Through Christ, the whole church becomes the firstborn and shares His supremacy and dignity as priests under Him in the Melchizedek priesthood. God intended Israel to be a kingdom of priests, and because He is holy, those who serve Him must be holy (Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2). Becoming holy through sacrificing human nature and growing in likeness to God's character must therefore be the main focus of life, since no one can help others become holy without being holy himself. Korah's rebellion shows the danger of lusting after the honor of priestly office instead of being chosen by God.

Preparation for the priesthood requires pursuing holiness as a major objective of training. Holiness flows from God's absolute goodness, which sets Him apart from all others, and demands separation from the evil of this world in attitude and conduct so that daily life aligns with His moral excellence, virtue, righteousness, and justice. Those called to this preparation are generally the weak of the world, marked by attitude problems, laziness, health issues, insecurity, anger, narcissism, and self-righteousness, yet God places them together in small congregations so they must learn to love one another as Christ loves them rather than evade relational challenges. This preparation centers on developing God-like perspectives, attitudes, conduct, and judgment, growing toward the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ while recognizing that none qualify on their own. God imputes Christ's righteousness through faith in His sacrifice and the blood, aligning the called with His law as the foundation for service. The high priest's garments under the Old Covenant symbolize the required character: the white breeches, ankle-length tunic, and girdle worn against the skin represent righteousness from the inside out, while the girdle further pictures readiness for vigorous, active service by holding all things in place and enabling focused, sober, self-controlled attention to the hope of the Kingdom without mental clutter or distraction by fear. The blue robe, seamless and worn exclusively by the high priest, distinguishes the office of authority, signals separateness from sinners, and points to grace that bridges the gap between God's holiness and human weakness, with its bells and pomegranates assuring that the priest remains alive before God and that His word continues to sound throughout the earth. A priest must therefore exercise compassion on the ignorant and those going astray, remembering personal weaknesses and Christ's own sympathy, without approving wrong conduct yet still extending kindness that anticipates future good in the Kingdom.

The preparation for priesthood begins with the fundamental requirement of holiness, grounded in God's declaration, "Be holy, for I am holy." Those called into training for priesthood under Jesus Christ are being shaped to represent God as closely as possible, much as human organizations train members to reflect established standards. A unique feature of this priesthood is that the priests and worshippers are the same people, all trained together and helping to train one another, creating a varied fellowship drawn from diverse backgrounds. Preparation involves specific instructions: honoring all people, fearing God alone, and loving the brotherhood with an affection deeper than mere respect, since fellow believers are family bound for the same future. This love is to function as an identifying badge, distinguishing disciples just as Jesus declared that all would know His followers "by their love for one another." This command, rooted in Leviticus 19 and intensified by Jesus in Matthew 5 to include even enemies, calls for a self-denying love modeled on Christ's own sacrifice. The preparation process itself unfolds through specific stages illustrated in the consecration ceremonies of Aaron. First, one must be called to the priesthood, as all believers are called to the order of Melchizedek. Second, a washing represents justification by faith in Christ's blood. Third, consecration by blood on the right thumb, toe, and ear symbolizes faithful work, righteous conduct, and true hearing—understanding and acting upon God's Word, since "faith comes by hearing." The ear's anointing is especially significant, as hearing is linked biblically to the heart and understanding; without truly hearing God's Word, right action is impossible. The fourth stage is being clothed for the office, representing the sanctification process and the period of conversion. Clothing carries major theological importance throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, serving as covering, protection, and representation of economic, social, and especially spiritual realities. Aaron's garments receive more detailed attention than any other clothing in Scripture, occupying two of the five chapters devoted to tabernacle instructions, underscoring their significance as a picture of Christ's character. The garments were made with the finest materials and craftsmanship, paralleling the tabernacle's furnishings, since nothing but the best would do for something typifying Christ. The priestly vestments, worn from the inside out, begin with undergarments—breeches, a coat or tunic, and a girdle—crafted with the same fine linen and skill as the outer garments, symbolizing that Christ's righteousness extended even to what was unseen, His inward attitudes and conduct. This linen undergarment parallels the righteous acts of the saints and represents the imputed righteousness through which believers gain access to God, since holiness alone permits entrance into His presence. Through faith in Christ's shed blood, this righteousness is placed upon believers as their own priestly garment, enabling them to serve before God just as Aaron was clothed to minister before Him.