Who is Melchizedek?

“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:18-19)

• Melchizedek is the king of Salem.

• Melchizedek is the priest of the most high God.

• Melchizedek was a priest & a king.

  
  

Prior to Christ dying on the cross, Melchizedek was a priest & king of Salem. But after Christ died on the cross, He hath made us priests & kings of the Jerusalem above. For it is written: “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6

“Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils…And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.” (Hebrews 7:4)

• Melchizedek is a man.

• Melchizedek is also a man that is “better” than patriarch Abraham.

  
  

There are a few men Abraham met in his life that are “better” than himself. For example:

“And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant” (Genesis 18:2-3)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” (John 13:16)

• The three men Abraham met were Christ and his two angels disguised in human form.

  
  

Likewise, Melchizedek whom Abraham met was also an angel disguised in human form. Here are evidences from the scripture:

1. “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 7:3)

2. “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?” (Hebrews 7:11)

   • The order of Levitical priesthood is NOT PERFECT.

   • The order of Melchizedek priesthood is PERFECT.

3. “And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.” Hebrews 7:15-16

   • The Levitical priesthood is after the law of a carnal commandment. The priests after this order DIE.

   • The Melchizedek priesthood is after the power of an endless life. The priests after this order DO NOT DIE. To further support this point, Paul writes: “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.” Hebrews 7:23-24

     
     

If Christ is a minister of the heavenly sanctuary after the order of Melchizedek and not a minister of the earthly sanctuary after the order of Levi. Likewise, Melchizedek is a minister of the heavenly sanctuary. For it is written: “And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.” Hebrews 1:7

Who are some notable priests of the heavenly sanctuary?

• Four beasts & 24 elders:

  “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.” Revelation 5:8

• The angel of the golden censer:

  “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” Revelation 8:3-5

• Our High Priest Jesus, who took over the golden censer from the previous angel in 31 A.D.:

  “Christ offered up His broken body to purchase back God’s heritage, to give man another trial. “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.” Hebrews 7:25. By His spotless life, His obedience, His death on the cross of Calvary, Christ interceded for the lost race. And now, not as a mere petitioner does the Captain of our salvation intercede for us, but as a Conqueror claiming His victory. His offering is complete, and as our Intercessor He executes His self-appointed work, holding before God the censer containing His own spotless merits and the prayers, confessions, and thanksgiving of His people. Perfumed with the fragrance of His righteousness, these ascend to God as a sweet savor. The offering is wholly acceptable, and pardon covers all transgression.” (Christ Object Lessons 156.2)

  
  

In conclusion, Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God is an angel in man form, a minister of the heavenly sanctuary, that came to Abraham and received tithe from the patriarch.