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The Melchisedec Priesthood

"Melchisedec, as described in (Hebrews 5:10, 6:20, ch 7) was without father, without mother - without genealogy. He is further described as having neither beginning of days nor end of life. He suddenly emerges from the unknown and as suddenly disappears: it is not known whence he came or whither he went; neither birth nor death is assigned to him: he is a type of undying Priesthood...

"The author of the Epistle of the Hebrews shows how great a personage Melchisedec was, to whom even Abraham and through him virtually Levi, paid tithes, thus admitting their inferiority. When thus our Lord was made a High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, he held a higher office than the Aaronic Priesthood." (Westminster Dictionary page 388)

Christ our High Priest

Priests in the Melchisedec order will be appointed by Yahweh Himself. A man is no more able to appoint himself or another to the Melchisedec Priesthood than he is able to choose his own father or mother. Unlike their Aaronic counterparts, priests in the Melchisedec order are not dependent on an ancestral link to Aaron the Levite. Instead, like Melchisedec, they too are without genealogy. In other words their priesthood is by Yahweh's choice - not by natural descent. Melchisedec priests will be ordained as priests in Yahweh's own time - at some future date. Then in front of the redeemed host they will be invested with power and authority just as Aaron's sons were publicly ordained before the assembled hosts of Israel. (Leviticus chapters 8, Numbers chapters 8 and 18). Appointments to the Melchisedec Priesthood will be for eternity. In the Melchisedec Priesthood the blood of bulls, lambs, goats and pigeons is not used. This fact will be further explained later.

Practical Illustrations

According to Scripture Gentile converts are grafted into the Olive of Israel (Romans 11:13-24). This means that we are grafted into one of the twelve tribes: and many will obviously be grafted into the tribe of Levi. We may, therefore, conclude that many faithful, Gentile believers will one day take up their eternal duties in the Melchisedec Priesthood as members of the tribe of Levi. In this sense the Levitical Priesthood is also eternal; just as the nation of Israel and its Davidic King are endless. (Jeremiah 33:17-22) points out this fact. But, and here is an important point, though the Aaronic Priesthood is in this sense on-going, animal sacrifices will no longer be offered by the blood-born sons of Aaron. Why? Because the reality to which the first covenant animal sacrifices pointed has already occurred on Calvary.

The Altar of Sacrifice

"The fundamental law of the Hebrew altar, which was embodied in the theocratic covenant and was given at Sinai before the Tabernacle was built, enjoined the erection of an altar of earth or stone wherever Jehovah would manifest Himself. This law was the primary warrant for the altars at the Tabernacle and the Temple, where Jehovah's presence continually was, and for the transient altars and sacrifices on occasions of theophanies. (Jud.2:5, etc)"

A Voice In The Wilderness - Canada   Animal Sacrific Index