The Order of Melchisedec

(From a sermon of Bro. Julius Adewumi, NightVigil, 4/9/96)

The Lord impressed something in my heart about the priesthood of Melchisedec.

In Hebrew chapter 7:20-28 it reads: "And in as much as not without an oath he was made priest (talking about Christ), (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).

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Who needeth not daily as those high priests to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmities; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore."

Apostle Paul was saying here that Christ was made an high Priest after the order of Melchisedec. This is what was said about Melchisedec:

"Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Heb.6:19-20)

Now he is going to tell us who is Melchisedec: " 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, to whom also Abraham gave the tenth part of all, being by interpretation, king of righteousness, after that also king of Salem, which means king of peace, without father, without mother, having neither beginning of days nor end of life; but made like unto the son of God abideth a priest continually." (Heb.7:1-3)

There has been theological questions among many scholars about who this Melchisedec was: Was he a human being in those days? Or was he a spirit manifested to Abraham, and if so how is he in relation with God? Without putting forward any dogma, I went into the enzyclopaedia of the Bible to find out what theologians have concluded and there is no help there. Before Apostle Paul wrote this epistle in the hebrews where he stated concerning Melchisedec that he is "without father, without mother, having no beginning of days, nor end of life", he must have found it from somewhere; or he must have done some research! That was why I went into the enzyclopaedia of the Bible to find out if some other people have done some research about Melchisedec. But nothing new in the enzyclopaedia. They were simply comparing scripture verses. They also pointed out some dogmas and claims by certain sects where some people said he was one of the descendants of Enoch or Seth, and some said he must be pre-incarnate Messiah, or he was Holy Spirit manifestation etc. Then the enzyclopaedia summarized all those suggestions as "unauthorized".

I began to meditate on this: who was that Melchisedec? I searched the bible also and found that the prefix (or suffix) "sedec" in the name "Melchisedec", was actually used in the ancient city of Jerusalem (perhaps among the Jebusites). One of the kings in the old testament was "Adonisedec" in Jerusalem. Could there had been a king of Jerusalem either real or legendary by the name of Melchisedec? However when this man appeared to Abraham, Abraham recognised him and accepted him as the priest of the most high God, and that they both were worshipping the same God! Or perhaps it was a legend which all the people held in that generation that there was a priest of God by that name who also was the king in Jerusalem, whether real or imaginary: Whatever it was, when Abraham saw him he did not argue the point. He gave him the tenth of the spoil. Abraham therefore knew that someone by the name of Melchisedec was a priest of God in that day, whether he was formerly a legend to him or he was really a physical king of the city of Jerusalem.

I now want to talk on the Melchisedec priesthood, and not about Melchisedec himself. From 1600 prophecy, I will quote some lines here where the Lord describe the endtime events of God and how He will bring about some saints into the level of anointing to be priests unto God. When the book of Revelation said the Lamb has made us kings and priests unto our God, and we shall reign upon earth, I want you to realize that some of us shall fit into the class of priests under Christ the High Priest, while others shall be kings under Christ the King of kings. (Rev.5:10).

I am reading all of these background text to show the insight the Lord impressed upon my heart about this Melchisedec priesthood. Not about Melchisedec himself, but about the priesthood. It is an order of priesthood! Remeber when God made Aaron to be the high priest in Israel, God set up an order of priesthood in which all the sons of Aaron were priests by birth. Actually, God first selected the Levites to serve the Lord instead of all the first-born of Israel. Then from among the Levites God chose Aaron and his descendants to hold the offices of the high priest and priests. Which means only the sons of Aaron can ever be a priest in Israel. That is what we mean by an order of priesthood. It's like a dynasty.

Now talking of Mechisedec, it means there is an order of priesthood which is alluded to by the scriptures in Hebrew which we read. Christ being the high priest of this order which has been set up by God; this is the Melchisedec order. The 1600 prophecy was indicating that some saints will be elevated to that order of priesthood. According to this prophecy, the people that are going to be fully redeemed are those who are elevated into this order of priesthood by Christ:

(From 1600 Prophecy) (quote)

"Some trials will be absolute necessity for clearing away the remaining infirmity of the natural mind and burning of all wood, nothing shall remain in the fire, for as the refiner's fire, so shall he purify the sons of the kingdom."

"Some will be fully redeemed, being clothed upon with a priestly garment after Melchisedec order,qualifying them for governing authority; for it is required on their part to suffer the fanning of the fiery breath, searching every part within them until they arrive at a fix body from whence the wonders is to flow. Upon this body will be the fixation of the Urim and Thumim that are the portion of the Melchisedec priesthood, whose genealogy is not counted in the creation which is under the fall, but in another genealogy which is the new creation. These priests will have a deep inward search and divine sights into secret things of deity. They will be able to prophezy on clear grounds, not darkly or enigmatically, for they will know what is couched in the first originality of all beings, in the eternal antitype of nature, and will be able to bring them forth according to divine counsel and ordination. The Lord sweareth in truth and righteousness that from Abraham's seed after the spirit, there shall arise a holy seed which shall be manifested in the last age." (endquote)

The Lord impressed a point in my heart about this priesthood. The impression is on the fact that apostle Paul was comparing this priesthood with Aaronic order when he stated that Christ has an "unchangeable priesthood" in that he ever liveth to make intercession. That is why he has unchangeable priesthood. The Lord impressed upon my heart that "concerning all those that will fall into that category of saints, elevated into the order of Melchisedec, it is paramount that they leave this world without seeing death!" It is paramount for those group of saints that will be in that order to leave this world without seeing death. That makes sense because he said the only way they have unchangeable priesthood is that they ever liveth to make intercession for men. He said it is paramount for them to leave the world without seeing death, because he said they have an endless life.

I began to meditate on this. The next question is why is the need for an order of priesthood? Even in the days of Aaron, what was the need for an order of priesthood on earth? You may say, well they are ministering to God. Remember Priests speak to God for the people; Prophets speak to the people for God. King is a leader of the people, which sometime will represent the whole people. But the reason why we need a priesthood or a prophet line is because God prefers to deal directly with individual people rather than having the king to represent all of them. The priest can not only bring the sacrifice of the king before God, but also he can bring the sacrifice of anybody from among the people before God. The priest speaks to God for the people, while the prophet is the mouthpiece of God to the people. In the end of days when there shall be the new heavens and the new earth, most likely, these priests of the order of Melchisedec will still be ministering to God. Remember like the Levites have no inheritance in Israel, God was their inheritance, similarly, these priests are also going to be part of the work of God in the physical universe, ministering to God. They have to be of unchangeable priesthood to be priests perhaps for the whole physical universe. I strongly believe that this planet earth is a prelude of what God has in mind for at least the solar system, if not more than that. God perhaps has set up this priesthood to minister in this physical universe. Christ is uniting all things in heaven and in earth into himself. Ponder upon this scriptures: "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven". (Col.1:19-20).

In short, if everybody else will die, in the mind of God it is paramount for those in that order of Melchisedec to leave this earth without dying. This is the only thing the Lord impressed upon my heart. Thank you Lord!

But who is this legendary figure, Melchisedec? Without father, without mother? We know that the Lord Jesus had a mother when he was on earth but no physical father.. (We know Joseph was mere guardian). But this Melchisedec was said to be without father, without mother! Was he a spirit who manifested often and became a legend, which appeared, did some things, associated himself to Salem and then disappeared? No one really know except going with what the book of Hebrews wrote. Also if he is a spirit, what will be his relationship with the order which God has setup as the "order of Melchisedec? Whoever he is, an order has been set up in the heavenlies to which God is linking up men on earth through Jesus Christ "who is our high priest after the order of Melchisedec". There must have been an order of priesthood in the heavenlies into which God is simply enrolling a band of the redeemed mankind. He established the temporary Levitical priesthood in Aaron, but the order of eternal priesthood which he had in heaven is what he is linking this elect to in the order of Melchisedec.

Remember God has been in business for eons of years. He did not just set up shop 6000 years ago when he started with mankind, you ought to realize that. He therefore must have had an order of priesthood in the heavenlies. Christ being the high priest, God will join the redeemed mankind to that same order of priesthood.

Male and Female created he them:

Now when we think about Aaron, Aaron and his sons were told to eat the offerings that were brought before the altar. I meditated on this and ask "what about the daughters? what about the wives of Aaron and daughters-in-law?" What part did they play? Also in the order of Melchisedec which we are discussing, those saints have wives -- remembering that Enoch typified the translated group. Where do the wives fit in?

The answer is as follows: Even as Aaron ministered to God, the Levites who were more or less cousins were given to Aaron to minister to Aaron, in helping to do the service of God. However Aaron's wives, and the wives of those sons of Aaron, were also ministering to their respective husbands in their specialized functions. That in itself makes the service of the wives part of the same levitical service. Because those children from the tribe of Levi were ministering to Aaron as Aaron was ministering to God in the tabernacle, (some were to carry bowls, some were to carry the tent, and so on), whether they were helping him carry bottles, or curtains, they were the only people who could come that close to the altar of God. By that service they were separated from the rest of the crowd. Whereas Aaron and his sons were given to eat the sacrifice at certain spots in the tabernacle. Now just as Aaron was set apart to be holy unto the Lord, but only his wife could come close to him at certain location in his own house. Then his wife also had to be specifically separated unto holiness for Aaron's sake. She was ministering to Aaron, same as the wives of those sons of Aaron. The wife also could be classified as "Levites": people who were set apart to minister to the priests. Similarly, the wives of the saints who pertain to the Melchisedec priesthood (if we think of it with the human thinking now) are ministers to the priests. Think about that! The women have a lot in any lot the husband has with the Lord. Yet remember this is not to say the same lot! Because I have heard some folks introduce themselves as Pastor ABC and the wive also as Pastor-Mrs ABC. I do not mean that at all. She is not also a pastor. She is ministering to that pastor, which in many church organisation is equivalent to a specialized deacon's office. She is the only one who can come close to the priest at a special area of their private life. Who else could come close to the priest in their private bedroom? It is a ministration in itself which nobody else have the right. Like in the temple, only the Levites could come close to the priests in some sections of the temple. I'm not saying if "he" is a priest, "she" must be a priestess; No! I have not said that at all. The wife of the priest is a special minister to the priest.

In summary, concerning those who fall into the category of the Melchisedec priesthood, it is paramount for them to leave this world without seeing death. It is good for us to aspire to be counted worthy to receive the highest order of the saints in glory. Let's pray that the Lord will chose us to be candidates for this full redemption.

May the Lord give the reader more insight and understanding into these deep things of deity, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bro Julius Adewumi

Gospel Distribution Ministry, USA.

Gospel Distribution Ministry, USA