4. Priesthood

Peace Run Like A River

© 2001 Mekizedek's Treasure

Artist:  Harp and vocal  Jane Snyder

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A Comparison of Melchizedek and

Jesus Christ as to Priesthood

 

PRIESTHOOD – Melchizedek

 

Gen. 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem

brought forth bread and wine:

and he was the priest of the

Most high God.

 

This passage calls Melchizedek a priest (kohen — one actively officiating) of El (#410 meaning the mighty strong God of power). This is the first use of this name of God. Abram used Yhovih (eternal one) when addressing his God. So, Melchizedek already new God in a name that had been revealed to no one else. Even after Abrams' encounter with Melchizedek the promises he received were from (Elohiym). This is the plural form of El that was used in creation, and made known through Noah.

 

The next use of El is by Hagar, (Sarah's maid) when she responds to a visitation of the Lord. She calls Him El — the mighty God of power who sees.

 

In Melchizedek we have a man who is an acting priest of The Mighty Strong God of Power that was yet unknown to the human world. Abram was to receive a blessing from this priesthood because he had just done a righteous act under the direction of El. He demonstrated this by bringing back spoil from a great victory with few men. Melchizedek received Abram’s tithes, brought out bread and wine, and offered blessings. There was no invoking of his God, no ritual, no sacrifices, not even blood, just a prophetic act — bread and wine. This priesthood is the type of the third day priesthood that requires no blood sacrifices, (because of Christ's one time sacrifice of Himself) and no keeping of written laws, because they are now written on our hearts. This is called the new covenant, which was instituted by Christ with bread and wine at His last passover meal.

 

Priesthood — Jesus Christ

 

The Jewish Levitical order of the priesthood was in effect until this God-man Jesus instituted the new covenant in His blood at the last supper. This new covenant was not ratified until He laid down His very life by shedding His pure blood, unstained by Adam's sin. At that moment, the priesthood was changed forever. His sacrificial death was accompanied by many signs.

 

Matt. 27:50-53 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

 

The first thing that the change of priesthood brought, was the offering of His blood once, in the Holy of Holies in heaven (Heb 9:12,24,28). This caused the end of the Levitical priesthood as there was no more need for it.

Next He descended into hell to preach to the spirits in prison (1Pet 3:19). After that, He was seen on the earth for 40 days, at the end  of which He gave His disciples their commission, (Matt 28:18-20, MK 26:15-18). 

He then ascended from earth into heaven where He now is seated at the right hand of the Father (MK 14:62, 1 Pet 3:22).

 

The following is a listing of what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection.

 

The Current Priesthood of Jesus :

Appointed and called by God Heb 3:1,2; Heb 5:4,5

Is of unblemished purity Heb 7:26,28

Needed no sacrifice for Himself Heb 7:27

Offered Himself a sacrifice for others Heb 9:14,25 

only once Heb 7:27

Made reconciliation Heb 2:17

Obtained redemption for us Heb 9:12

Continually offers intercession Heb 7:25; Heb 9:24

Blesses Nu 6:23-29 with Acts 3:26

Is on His throne  Zec 6:13

Is a mediator  John 16:23,24,26  Heb 8:6

 

Christ's priesthood is first spoken of prophetically in Psalm 110.

The first 4 verses of the Psalm is a record of the Father's, (Jehovah's), words to the Son (Adown). Verses 5-7 speak of the transfer of power from the world's kingdom to the Messianic Kingdom. Notice the references to enemies that is contained in the declaration of this priesthood. Does it remind you of Abram returning from war and receiving the bread and wine, with the blessing from Melchizedek's priesthood?

Carefully read this Psalm for an overview of how the Messianic priesthood will be established.

 

 

(Psalms 110 NKJV) {1}The LORD {Jehovah} said to my Lord, {Adown} "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." {2} The LORD {Jehovah} shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! {3} Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. {4} The LORD {Jehovah} has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of  Melchizedek." {5} The Lord {Adown} is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. {6} He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. {7} He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.

 

What does it mean when we call a priesthood "an order"?

 

Ps 110:4 "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

 

The Hebrew word for order is dibrah  #1700. It is the feminine of #1696 Dabar. The passage from Ps 110:4 is the only place that dibrah is used in scripture. The name Deborah comes from it. It means: a reason, suit or style: – cause, end, estate, order, regard. It is stunning that this framework should have its' own word—dibrah.

We could say, "You are a priest forever according to the one and only pattern or framework of Melchizedek".

 

The Priesthood of Jesus in His millennial reign.

Eternal  Heb 7:16

Unchangeable  Heb 7:24

The High Priest  Heb 10:21

Over a kingdom of priests 1 Pet 2:5,9

Is to have universal dominion Ps 72:5, 8-11,17,19

To be King of Kings  Ps 72:5, Rev 1:5-7, 11:15,12; 19:16

To be the Judge Rev 2:23; 6:16,17; 14:14-16

 

Zechariah 6:12,13 speaks of His throne and has Him as a priest on that throne. Also, in this passage He is called The Branch (tsemach) see also Isa.  4:2; Jer. 2:3-5; Zech. 3:8. All of these passages of Scripture refer to the Messianic age of the Millennium. The meaning of the Branch is that which contains growth (sprouts). This priestly throne speaks of growth. From this we see that even on that throne He will be a priest of an ever-expanding Kingdom.

  

The book of Acts records the upheaval that took place in Israel with the establishment of the new order of priesthood that Jesus Christ instituted with the shedding of His blood. Yet the old Levitical order continued for 70 more years until the destruction of Jerusalem.

What kind of upheaval will accompany the establishment of the Melchizedek Priesthood in the Messiah's (Christ's) 1,000 year reign? At that time all of the nations will be brought into subjection and the devil chained up. The establishment of the new order will come out of the great tribulation of a many membered body of Jesus Christ.

 

Rev 20:2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

 

Christ's current priesthood of the new covenant has been open to all believers — Jew and  Gentile, who will walk in its path. It is called by Paul the "High calling in Christ Jesus". Most Christians do not walk in it, as its price tag is too high (following the steps of the master). Nevertheless, it is the calling of all believers. He is forming a kingdom of priests who will rule and reign with Him for 1,000 years, at the end of which there will be one final rebellion. (Rev 20:3) The outcome of this is recorded in Rev 20:7-10. This 1,000 year reign is as the seventh day of rest that God took after creation. At this time He will bring about the restoration of the earth.  (Isaiah 58:12)

 

Will this be a sinless state?

I do not believe so. I believe it will once again be a time of choices, yet with the active influence of the devil removed. What is left is the flesh—- sinful flesh, but judged flesh.

 

What will this kingdom of priests be doing?

Rev 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

 

 

We will certainly be reigning, judging, restoring, and building His Kingdom.

This is what the Melchizedek Priesthood is all about !

visit Street of Gold

 

If you are interested in becoming a part of this company of priests; you need to enter "The Gate of Pearl".  Follow it through step by step.

Remember this is just the path in word form. You must actually live this out in your everyday life. Here lies the challenge!

Rev 22:14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

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