Awesome Melchizedek Deep Dive!

Melchizedek Deep Dive!

“Melchizedek Deep Dive” is the result of a long term friendship of mine with David Perry. He has a doctorate in Biblical Studies and a fixation on the Melchizedek Message found in the Bible! I now agree with him that there’s a very good reason to have this “fixation” because VERY few people have any real understanding of the Melchizedek Message!

Please read Melchizedek, Why Should I Care?

"1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually".

Hebrews 7:1-3  KJV

Who Is Melchizedek?

The reference above says this Melchizedek was King of Salem and “priest of the most high God” (aka Yah). He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the Kings (which had abducted Lot and his family) and blessed him. Then Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. The name Melchizedek means “My King of Righteousness”. This same Melchizedek was also the King of Salem; which means King of Peace.

And according to verse 3 this Melchizedek also had no father or mother, no descent (in other words no ancestors or descendants), had no “beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually”! So here, Paul is saying that the same Melchizedek mentioned in Genesis actually is very much like Jesus Christ. In fact he specifies this so closely that one can easily surmise that he is literally talking about Jesus Christ!

The Levitical Priesthood throughout the Bible critically depends upon the ancestral lineage of the Levites. Even so, Abraham the first ancestor to form the beginning of ALL Israelites, himself paid tithes to the Melchizedek first mentioned in the Bible! And this first Melchizedek “blesses” Abraham, indicating that he is “superior” to Abraham, without any sign of remonstrance from Abraham! So, is this “first Melchizedek” actually Jesus Christ?

Please check for new articles on the subject of Melchizedek!

There is much controversy about the identity of Melchizedek, especially the “first Melchizedek” mentioned in Genesis! The following is an article written by Stephen Haskell:

The Order of Melchisedec

By Stephen Haskell

“Who is Melchisedec? He is the one that fills all the specifications the Bible gives of Melchisedec.

He was a man. “Consider how great the man was.” Hebrews 7:4.
He was a king. “King of righteousness.” “King of Salem, which is King of Peace.” Verse 2.
He “was priest of the most high God.” Verse 1.
He “abideth a priest continually.” Verse 3.
He was greater than Abraham, for Abraham paid tithes to him, “and without contradiction the less is blessed of the greater.” Verses 4-7.
Abraham received the promises, therefore Melchisedec was greater than the one who received the promises of God.
He is the one “of whom it is witnessed that He liveth.” Verse 8.
He was made “like unto the Son of God,” and therefore was not the Son of God. Verse 3.
He was without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” Verse 3.

In the Review and Herald of February 18, 1890, page 97, last paragraph, we read from Mrs E. G. White: “It was Christ that spake through Melchisedec, the priest of the most high God. Melchisedec was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in this world, the representative of the Father.”

There is but one being in the universe that fills all these specifications. That is the Spirit of God. He ever lives to intercede. He has no beginning of days or end of life. He represents the Father and the Son. He speaks peace to the troubled soul. He is not an angel of any kind, for angels are amenable to law, and were created. This being is equal to the Father and the Son. It is the voice of God in the world. A careful study of the above and belief of the same will forever settle the question as to who Melchisedec is.

Many speculations have been circulated in answer to this question; but the only sure way to arrive at right conclusions is to carefully study what the Lord has written of Him.

Melchisedec occurs eleven times in the Bible: eight of the instances refer to the priesthood of Christ, as follows;-

Psa. 110:4 Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec

Heb. 5:5 So 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.

Heb. 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb. 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

Heb. 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb. 7:11 Priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec

Heb. 7:15 After the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest.

The three remaining passages that speak of Melchisedec are descriptive of His character and work. In Genesis 14:18-20 we have the first mention of Melchisedec and in Hebrews 7:1-10, we have a further description of Him, the name Melchisedec occurring in the first and tenth verses. A careful reading of these last texts in will give us the following facts in regard to the work and character of Melchisedec.

King of Salem
King of righteousness
King of peace
Priest of the most high God
Blessed Abraham
Received tithes from Abraham
Without father
Without mother
Without descent (margin, without pedigree).
Having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.
Made like unto the Son of God
Abideth a priest continually
Descent is not counted from them (Abraham or Levi)
Greater than Abraham

Who is Melchisedec?

The one who fulfils all these characteristics given by inspiration.

Is it Christ? No, for Christ has a Father and also a mother, and His genealogy is traced in the Bible. He has a descent. Melchisedec is “made like unto the Son of God,” and therefore could not be the Son of God.

Is it the Angel Gabriel? No, for the angels are created beings and therefore had beginning of days. The whole of the first chapter of Hebrews is given to show that Christ is far above the angels and that they in no way compare with Him, therefore Melchisedec, who is “made like unto the Son of Man”, could not be any one of the angels. Gabriel is not a king. Angels are messengers sent to minister.

The Holy Spirit, “the third person of the Godhead”, the soul of Christ’s life, and the light and life of the world, is the only one to whom all of the above specifications will apply. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, and therefore is “King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is King of peace.”

The “Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered, and He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26, 27.

Therefore the Spirit “abideth a priest continually,” and is a “priest of the most high God.”

The Spirit is the “third person of the Godhead,” and therefore has no more “beginning of days nor end of life” than God Himself. There is no record of father, mother, or pedigree given of the Holy Spirit. As the third person of the Godhead, It is greater than Abraham and could bless him. The Spirit comes to the world as representative of Christ and thus is made like unto Christ.

The Holy Spirit has visibly appeared to man under different forms. The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Christ. Luke 3:22. It came as cloven tongues of fire upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. To Abraham it appeared as a King, Priest. Today it comes as a blessed Comforter to everyone who will open his heart to receive it.

Was Melchisedec a real person, or simply a representative of a certain priesthood? The Scriptures plainly say He was both. He was the king of Salem, and he was a priest of the most High God. He was a king priest. He represented a king priesthood. This was fulfilled in Christ. Zech 6:12, 13. “Melchisedec king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of the Most High God.” Gen 14:18; Heb 7:1. He blessed Abraham and said, “Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth,” “and he, (Abram) gave him tithes of all.“ Gen 14:19, 20; Heb 7:2, 4, 6, 7. Here are several terms used, all are literal. “Abram,” “Salem,” “tithes,” “bread and wine,” and “priest of the most High God.”  These were as real as the battles fought by Abram and the spoils taken. The victorious triumph of the gospel is also indicated.

Melchisedec was of a priesthood that existed before the giving of the law. He was representing this priesthood. Christ was a priest after this order. “The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” Psa 110:4; Heb 5:6, 9, 10; 6:20; 7:11, 17, 21. It will be noticed that Christ is priest “forever” after this order. It is an order that always has and always will exist. The particular work of the priest may change, but the order exists. It was this priesthood that was represented by Melchisedec. A priest that offers and intercedes for others. Who is it that ever has and ever does this? Rom 8:26, 27.

The Holy Spirit

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Salem was the home of Melchisedec.  It was the ancient site of Jerusalem, the same as Mount Zion. “In Salem also is His tabernacles, and His dwell place in Zion.” Psa 76:2. The place, the priest, the order of priesthood, his being also a king, and his bringing forth “bread and wine,“ represented something. He was “king of Salem, priest of the Most High God,” “being by interpretation King of Righteousness, and after that also, king of Salem, which is king of peace.” Heb 7:2. But why does the Lord say, “without father, without mother, having neither beginning of days nor end of life?” The next clause explains it, “made like unto the Son of God abideth a priest continually.” The order abideth continually. Heb 7:3.  If I understand it correctly, it is simply this: God takes a king priest, to represent an order of a priesthood, that has no beginning or ending, and therefore does not reckon his pedigree, or in the words of the margin, His is “without pedigree”.

The priesthood of Aaron was known by his pedigree. Ex 6:16-27. The reason that tribe was chosen for the priesthood, is given in Deut 33:8-29; Ex 32:25-29. This explains why Moses’ prophecy concerning Levi is so different from the one given by Jacob. Gen 49:4-7.

Elijah the Tishbite, represented the work of John the Baptist and the work of the third angel’s message, and he is only mentioned as a Tishbite of the inhabitants of Gilead. With this simple introduction, without any pedigree given, he is represented as locking heaven and going to the wilderness with the key. 1 Kings 17:1-6. When individuals are mentioned in the Bible representing an office or work, little is said about their pedigree. This must be apparent to every Bible student; so when an order of priesthood is represented that has no beginning or ending, an individual is selected to represent it, without giving their pedigree, or any particulars concerning him except that which pertains to the work represented.”

Stephen Haskell, South Lancaster Papers

Now let’s consider a letter, written by Elder Starr in 1924:

In case you cannot read what is written in the photocopy above, I have written it out below:

Adventist Heritage Center, James White Library, Andrews University

Report Of A Council On The Subject Of Melchizedek Held At The Avondale College, Australia

At this council, the editor of the Australasian Signs Of The Times requested the privilege of presenting his views as to who Melchizedek was. He read from a series of articles he had prepared for the paper.

As nearly as I remember, there were present at this council Elder S.N. Haskell, Elder W.H.L. Baker, Professor Rosseau, Professor Hughes, Ellen G. White, and the writer.

As the editor read from his articles, Sister White interrupted him, saying “Bro. Blank, I would not publish those articles if I were you”. He inquired, “Why Not”? She replied, “Because they are not correct”. The editor then inquired, “Who was Melchizedek then”? Sister White answered, “I will tell you who Melchizedek was, He was the Holy Spirit of God, assuming human form. He represented Christ to the people of that generation”. This ended the council.

As soon as the meeting was over, Elder Haskell came to me and said, “Now, Brother Starr, whenever the Spirit Of Prophecy makes a clear statement like that regarding Melchizedek, we can find this plainly taught in the Bible. And so we looked it up, concluding as follows:

“The eternal Spirit” (Hebrews 9:14) would meet the specification in Hebrews 2:3 “without beginning of days or end of life”.
“A priest forever” Romans 8:26…”the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us”.
“Made like unto the Son of God” (Hebrews 7:3) We concluded that the Holy Spirit who produced Christ in the flesh through the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:20) was the only one who could reproduce Christ in the flesh to those people in ancient Palestine, and in and through us today reproduce His likeness.

Elder Haskell wrote some articles on this subject and printed them a few years ago in the Bible Training School, presenting practically the same view as here related.

Signed: G. W. Starr, Glendale California, Sept. 5^th, 1924

The Melchizedek Message

This view also reinforces the statement of Jesus Himself in John 14:18 “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you”. And if you read this “in context” Jesus is saying that He is “the same” as the Holy Spirit!

My own personal opinion is that the “Melchizedek message” is THE most important message ever given directly to the SDA church membership! And that is because I firmly believe that it will be instrumental in causing the final “revival and reformation” that is needed in order to do the job of properly presenting the 3 Angels’ Messages to the world!

And by the way, this also settles forever the controversy over whether the Holy Spirit is “just a force” or an “actual person” of the Godhead! If the Holy Spirit can take the form of a human being, then He must be a “person” and not just a “force”!

Please notice that beginning with Psalms 110 and going through to the end of Psalms 119 that there is a continuous development of the Melchizedek message with a focus upon the “Law Of God”!

This quarter’s SDA Sabbath School Quarterly is all about “The Great Controversy”! Much of what has already been presented so far this quarter has very much to do with the “Melchizedek Message”!

Well, I know that there’s a lot to consider in this article! If you are a Seventh Day Adventist, whether layman or pastor, I humbly invite you to study into the “Melchizedek Message” further on your own! I’m quite certain that there is much more valuable “gold” to be found in God’s Word on this subject!

As a guiding principle in your study of the Melchizedek Message, please keep 1 Peter 2:1-10 clearly in mind during your further study! This is important because there are concepts presented there which will serve to “alert you” to other key concepts revealed elsewhere in God’s Word on the same subject!

I will be covering more about this later in another article! No, we have not reached the bottom yet! We are going even deeper!

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