V-4. Was MELCHIZEDEK a THEOPHANY of Jesus? DOWNLOAD to SAVE as a PDF Doc to read OFFLINE. V-4. Was MELCHIZEDEK A THEOPHANY of Jesus?
WHO IS MELCHIZEDEK?
First of all, what is THEOPHANY? A theophany is a teaching or a THEORY that a “pre-incarnate” God the Son came down from Heaven during the Old Testament times and appeared in different forms. And one of the forms that some Christians believe that God the Son appeared as was the high priest named Melchizedek. Here is how this theophany theory works. There are verses in the Bible that say that no man has ever seen God at any time. Some verses say that no man has seen God and LIVED. Then some Christians, who believe that Jesus is Yahweh himself as the second person of a Trinity Godhead, have concluded that SINCE men have indeed seen Jesus, then it MUST be Jesus who appeared to people in the Old Testament. Their line of reasoning is that no man can see Yahweh the Father and LIVE BUT man CAN see God the Son because men saw the Son of God in the New Testament. Keep in mind that one must ASSUME or interpret Jesus to be God the SON incarnate in the flesh before the theophany THEORY even has a leg to stand upon. Now to ME, this theophany theory is “circular reasoning”. For you see, you first have to assume that Jesus is Yahweh HIMSELF. And then you have to assume that Yahweh is three separate persons in the one Yahweh. And then, you have to assume that it was God the Son incarnate in the flesh and NOT God the Father or God the Holy Spirit who was incarnate in the flesh. Then one must INTERPRET the verses that SEEM as if God the Son appeared to people in the Old Testament to try and prove that God the Son pre-existed in all eternity past without ever having a beginning because if God the Father appeared to people then they would have all died. Here is the problem that I have with this “theophany THEORY”. Trinitarian Christians say that God the Son is equal in every way with God the Father because they BOTH ARE the SAME God Yahweh. Now to ME, if Jesus is the SAME God as Yahweh Himself, then anyone who saw Jesus would have died because they would have been seeing Yahweh HIMSELF, according to the Trinitarian theory that the Son of God is one and the selfsame being as Yahweh Himself. So to ME, the TRUTH of the matter is that every single so-called theophany is nothing more than a TYPE, FIGURE, or SHADOW that is POINTING to the Messiah. And we are to look at the characteristics of the so-called theophanies, which are simply types, shadows, and figures of the future Messiah, Jesus, so that we can know who the true Messiah was when he came. Some Christians teach that Melchizedek is a theophany. Again, a theophany is the THEORY that Melchizedek is the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ that appeared to people in the Old Testament. In other words, some Christians “interpret” the verses concerning the high priest Melchizedek as being the SON OF Almighty God, or God the SON, the second person of a Godhead Trinity, BEFORE he became God incarnate. And God incarnate, to a Trinity believer, means that God the SON became FLESH when Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary. That is to say, some interpret Melchizedek to be a MANIFESTATION of God the SON that APPEARED as a MAN to Abraham. And they INTERPRET those verses to mean that Melchizedek was NOT actually BORN. Rather, they claim that Melchizedek was a manifestation of God the SON appearing to Abraham much like an angel can appear as a man to LOOK LIKE a man. And to ME, an angelic being is not actually a human being. So to me, they are comparing Jesus to not actually being a real human being. Just to be sure that Trinitarians know that there are other Christians that teach that it is NOT possible for Melchizedek to be a manifestation of Jesus because the Bible clearly says that Jesus is a high priest AFTER the ORDER of Melchizedek. And that proves to us, who are NOT trinitarian Christians, that Melchizedek and Jesus are TWO distinct separate persons. In other words, NON-Trinitarian Christians, such as myself, also say that Melchizedek cannot be a manifestation of Almighty God the Father either because he was the high priest OF the most-high God. Now the non-Trinitarian Christians who agree and teach this second point of view mostly teach that Melchizedek was a MAN just like the Bible says that he is. But there are some Trinitarian Christians who just cannot accept that Melchizedek is JUST a MERE MAN. And that is because of how they INTERPRET Hebrews 7:3. In other words, they INCORRECTLY INTERPRET that without descent means that Melchizedek was NOT BORN. But, in truth, it simply means that neither the father of the mother of Melchizedek were in the lineage of the Levitical priesthood.
Hebrews 7:3.
“Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made LIKE unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually.”
We will get back to this verse further on in this study. But for now, I want to make you aware of yet another group of Christians. There are those who do indeed agree that Melchizedek is NOT the pre-incarnate Jesus, or that Melchizedek is NOT a manifestation of Almighty God the Father, but yet they still cannot see that Melchizedek is just a MAN. And these Christian have concluded that Melchizedek is the Holy Spirit because these Christians see that Jesus is NOT Melchizedek and Almighty God the Father the MOST-HIGH is NOT Melchizedek, nor is Melchizedek a MAN. Therefore, they REASON or conclude that Melchizedek MUST BE the Holy Spirit based upon where the Scripture says that Melchizedek is without descent, without beginning, and without end, because only God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are CO-ETERNAL persons or beings who have no beginning according to the doctrine of the Trinity.
But what does the Bible ITSELF teach us?
Let us read the verses where Melchizedek is mentioned in the Bible to learn if Melchizedek is:
#1. Almighty God the Father himself. #2. Jesus, the Son of the most high God. #3. The Holy Spirit. #4. Or a man, a human being, who was made to be a high priest of the most-high God by Almighty God Himself. #5. An angel who manifested or appeared in the form of a man.
My understanding is that most Christians AGREE that Melchizedek is NOT the MOST-HIGH God, Almighty God the Father HIMSELF because Melchizedek is a HIGH PRIEST OF the most-high God. Therefore, the only other three remaining options are the ones that I listed above, with the exception of Melchizedek being an ANGEL who APPEARED as a MAN. I only added that option but I have not found any connection with Melchizedek being an angel. With that being said, let us now read all the passages of Scripture where Melchizedek is mentioned.
Genesis 14:18 says,
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest OF the most high God.”
So here we see that Melchizedek cannot be Almighty God Himself because Melchizedek is the high priest OF the most-high God.
Psalm 110:1-7.
“The LORD (Or Yahweh) said unto my Lord (Jesus being made to be a Lord in the future. In other words, this is a PROPHECY of the yet coming Messiah who will be MADE to become both Lord and Christ), Sit you at my right hand, UNTIL I (Almighty God your God and Father) make your enemies your footstool. (Again, this is a PROPHECY of Jesus, the yet still coming SON OF Almighty God when this prophecy was first written, whom Yahweh prophesied to bring forth by his spoken word that the angel Gabriel spoke to the Virgin Mary. But more precisely this is a prophecy of Jesus during his yet future 1000 year reign in his Father kingdom where his God and Father, the Almighty Himself, will subdue all his enemies to the feet of His Son Jesus his anointed one, who will sit at the right hand of Almighty God the Father to rule for Yahweh for a 1000 years in the world to come) 2. The LORD (Yahweh) shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: RULE you in the midst of your enemies. (Again, speaking of Jesus ruling with a rod of iron over the nations of the world who are left after the initial wrath of Almighty God executed by His Son Jesus at the second coming of Jesus) 3. Your people (Speaking of the Jews in their MORTAL bodies during the Millennial reign of Jesus that Almighty God will give to his Son Jesus saying YOUR people) shall be willing in the DAY of your power, (Speaking of the FIRST DOMINION, the 1000 year reign of Jesus. For you see, the Bible itself teaches us in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Micah 4:6-8, and here in Psalm 110:1-7, that Jesus will rule as God FOR God, in the NAME of God for ONLY 1000 years. And then the Son will commit the ruling of the kingdom back into the hands of his God and Father. So then, verse 3 is saying that the people in their mortal bodies during the world to come will be WILLING in the DAY of the POWER of the Son of God) in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of your youth. 4. The LORD (Yahweh) has sworn, and will not repent, (THIS is what it means for Yahweh to NOT CHANGE. What Yahweh has SPOKEN will come to pass. God has spoken some things and then CHANGED what he spoke to speak something different. But after God spoke to the Apostle John to write the book of Revelation there can be no new prophecies from Yahweh that will CONTRADICT what has been written down in the Bible. So then, what God has spoken about His yet coming Son will not change) You (Referring to Jesus the Son of Almighty God the Father) are a priest forever AFTER the ORDER OF Melchizedek. (This shows us that the ORDER of the PRIESTHOOD of Melchizedek, which is being a priest OF the MOST-HIGH God was already established long before the word was made flesh. In other words, this passage of Scripture means that the priesthood or the ORDER OF the priesthood, which Melchizedek was a priest already, existed before Jesus was made to be a HIGH PRIEST AFTER or in the same fashion or in the same ORDER as the priest Melchizedek. Now to ME personally, this fact alone clearly teaches us that Jesus is NOT Melchizedek. There is also a verse in the book of Jasher that I will quote shortly that also proves that Melchizedek is NOT a “manifestation” of a pre-existing Jesus. However, my readers should be made aware that some Bible scholars believe that the three versions of the book of Jasher could be forgeries. And to me, at least SOME verses in the book of Jasher appear to be altered to tampered with. Here is a link to another website so that you can judge for yourself. The book of Jasher. In a moment, I will show another reason for NOT building church doctrine on the book of Jasher. So only use verses of Scripture in the book of Jasher if they AGREE with the rest of Scripture) 5. The Lord at your right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. (This is a prophecy of Jesus being the one who will execute the wrath of Almighty God the Father, which the Father committed into the hands of His HUMAN Son to do according to John 5:26,27) 6. He shall JUDGE among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. 7. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore, shall he lift up the head.”
Now, SOME Christians claim the Shem, the son of Noah is Melchizedek. But I myself disagree. But let us take a moment and read a verse from the book of Jasher that teaches us that Shem, the son of Noah, is the MAN called Melchizedek. But again, can we TRUST every word in the book of Jasher? Personally, I do not trust every word in the book of Jasher. So all I am saying is that SOME Christians use the following verses to prove that Jesus is NOT Melchizedek.
Jasher 16:11,12.
“And Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, the SAME was Shem, went out with his men to meet Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech. 12. And Adonizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth from all that he had brought from the spoil of his enemies, for Adonizedek was a priest before God.”
Again, some Christians argue that while Adonizedek is not the same spelling as Melchizedek, it can clearly be seen that the context of Jasher 16:11,12 parallels with Genesis 14:18-20 where Abraham gives Melchizedek tithes or a tenth of all the spoils of war.
Genesis 14:18-20.
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20. And blessed be the most high God, which has delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”
We also know that the New Testament quotes names from the Old Testament and that the spelling of those names are not always the same so we must go by the context. For example, Isaiah is spelled as Esias in the New Testament. So then, THOSE Christians SEEM to make a good argument that Shem is the man called Melchizedek. Again, I disagree. For one thing we know WHO the mother and father of Shem are. We also know the descent of Shem. So to ME, Shem is NOT Melchizedek. Here is a link to a 30 minute video that explains some ERRORS that were made in the Masoretic manuscript called Were the Pyramids Built Before the Flood? (Masoretic Text vs Original Hebrew) (mirror NathanH83) This video show many sources that prove Shem died 500 years Abraham. So it is impossible for Shem to have been Melchizedek. But for now, let us continue this study, which is NOT to try to prove WHO Melchizedek is, but rather. this study prove who Melchizedek is NOT! And in my own opinion, no matter who Melchizedek is, he is NOT a theophany of Jesus. So then, we read in Hebrews chapter 5 that Jesus was made to be a high priest between man and Almighty God the Father after he became obedient unto death on the cross. In other words, Jesus did NOT exalt HIMSELF to be a high priest, but rather this honor was GIVEN unto Jesus by his God and Father the most-high God.
Hebrews 5:1-14.
“For EVERY high priest taken from among MEN is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he HIMSELF ALSO is compassed with infirmity. (The Bible, to ME, clearly teaches us that Jesus was a MAN who was tempted in ALL points just like we are tempted so that he can KNOW the feelings of our weakness and have the compassion to be a good and faithful high priest between Almighty God and mankind. And in verse one we clearly see that EVERY high priest is taken or chosen to be a high priest NOT from the rank of ANGELS. But rather, EVERY high priest is select FROM AMONG the HUMAN race and more specifically the MALE. Now to ME, the word of TRUTH makes it perfectly clear that Jesus was indeed a HIGH PRIEST and seeing that the word of TRUTH also clearly states that EVERY high priest is taken from AMONG MEN, then to ME, this means that Melchizedek AND Jesus were BOTH MEN born as HUMAN BEINGS) 3. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4. And no MAN takes this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5. So ALSO Christ glorified NOT himself to be MADE a high priest; but he (Speaking of Almighty God himself) that said unto him (Referring to his SON Jesus speaking forth a PROPHECY of his yet coming Son calling things that are not yet come into being as though they already are), You are my Son, TODAY have I begotten you. (The phrase “TODAY have I BEGOTTEN you” clearly teaches us that the SON OF Almighty God did indeed have a BEGINNING on a certain DAY in which he was BEGOTTEN or brought forth into existence where he had never been BEGOTTEN of brought forth before. Please see the study O-1. DID JESUS HAVE A BEGINNING? And for an even deeper understanding please read the study O-14. When did Jesus Become God's Son? Part 1 Both studies will give you a deeper understanding that the HUMAN Jesus did indeed have a BEGINNING and that Jesus the SON OF Almighty God the Father was MADE to be both Lord and Christ BY his God and Father the MOST-HIGH and ONLY ALMIGHTY God.) 6. As he said also in another place, You are a priest forever AFTER the ORDER OF Melchizedek. (This verse clearly teaches us that the ORDER OF this PRIESTHOOD in which Melchizedek was a priest had already existed BEFORE Jesus was even PROPHESIED to be a priest AFTER that same ORDER. So it is MORE about this particular ORDER OF PRIESTHOOD than it is about the MAN Melchizedek who was a priest is the ORDER OF PRIESTHOOD) 7. Who in the days of his FLESH, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8. Though he were a Son, yet LEARNED he OBEDIENCE by the things which he suffered; (These verses do NOT fit the theory that God the Son VOLUNTEERED to come down from Heaven and become flesh) 9. And being MADE perfect, he BECAME the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Jesus was made to become the Father of everlasting life by his God and Father the Almighty.) 10. Called of God a high priest AFTER the ORDER OF Melchizedek. (So then, Melchizedek was a TYPE or a FIGURE foreshadowing the coming Messiah whom Yahweh would make to become a high priest, as well, AFTER the same ORDER of priesthood) 11. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing you are dull of hearing. 12. For when the time that you ought to be teachers, you need that one teaches you again which are the first principles of the oracles of God; and have become such as having need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13. For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Then in Hebrew 6:20, we read where Jesus has gone before us to BECOME our high priest AFTER the ORDER OF Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:20.
“Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever AFTER the ORDER OF Melchizedek.”
So from these verses, we clearly see that Jesus was CALLED to be a high priest BY his God and Father the most-high God. And we see that Jesus even though he was the SON OF Almighty God the Father still needed to learn to become OBEDIENT in all that his God and father sent his Son to do in order to be found worthy to be MADE a high priest FOREVER AFTER this particular ORDER OF PRIESTHOOD, which the MAN Melchizedek was ALSO a priest in this same ORDER OF PRIESTHOOD. And finally, in Hebrews chapter 7 we read that the MAN Jesus was made AFTER the SIMILITUDE a high priest of the MAN Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:1-28.
“For this Melchizedek, 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, (Which ALSO means my king who is righteous. You see, Melchizedek or Malki Tzedek in the original Hebrew can also be translated as my king [is] righteous[ness] or my righteous king) and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (Some Christians reason that since Jesus is called the PRINCE of PEACE, then this proves without a doubt that Jesus and Melchizedek were ONE and the SAME person. But I have to disagree, because of all the plain, clear and simple evidence of these TWO different persons being COMPARED to each other. Jesus was made to be a high priest AFTER the ORDER OF Melchizedek who the Bible says was a MAN in verse 4. You see, the Greek word “TAXIS” that is translated as “ORDER” suggests a similar “arrangement.” For example, just as Melchizedek was BOTH a king AND a priest simultaneously, so ALSO is Jesus Christ as well. Please see Zechariah 6:12-13 and Hebrews 1:3. Also, the preposition “KATA” is used with the accusative case which suggests the sense of “in accordance with, corresponding to” that clearly shows us that two things are being COMPARED with each other. So to ME all this sound Biblical evidence or COMPARISON clearly shows me that Jesus and Melchizedek are NOT one and the same person. Many other Christians can see this truth as well, but some Christians stumble over the next verse and therefore conclude that Melchizedek MUST without fail be either Almighty God the Father Himself, his Son Jesus, the Holy Spirit or an ANGEL) 3. Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; (This can mean that the parents of Melchizedek were not in the descent or in the line of the priesthood. It can also mean his parents died. But to me, the Greek word translated as “without father” carries the meaning of NO RECORD of his father, mother, or when Melchizedek was born or when he died) but made LIKE unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually. (Again, this shows us a COMPARISON between TWO different people where both were MADE a high priest. In other words, Melchizedek was MADE a high priest similar to the Son of God being made a high priest, but the Son of God will remain a high priest and NOT DIE) 4. Now consider how great this MAN was, (Here we see that Melchizedek was a MAN who truly existed as a real person in the Old Testament times. In other words, this MAN Melchizedek was NOT some kind of vision or apparition of a heavenly being appearing to Abraham and then disappearing after this encounter. But rather, it seems that the people knew this MAN Melchizedek and that he was a great and righteous MAN) unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though THEY come out of the loins of Abraham: (The sons of LEVI came out of the loins of Abraham and ONLY those of the DESCENT of the sons of LEVI could become PRIEST. In other words, the ORDER of the priesthood was of the DESCENT of the tribe of LEVI only. And if a person was WITHOUT DESCENT of the tribe of Levi then they could not be a priest of the Levitical order of priesthood. In other words, in order to be a priest then one must have either a mother or a father of the tribe of Levi) 6. But he whose DESCENT is not counted from THEM received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. (This shows us that the GENEALOGY of Melchizedek is being spoken of here and NOT whether or not Melchizedek had a mother and a father. But rather, that the DESCENT of Melchizedek was NOT from the tribe of LEVI and NEITHER was the DESCENT of Jesus of the tribe of LEVI. Of course, Melchizedek had a mother and a father. Otherwise, he would not have been called a MAN. Again, the Greek word translated as “without father” carries the meaning that there was NO RECORD of a father, mother. In other words, there is no written record of when Melchizedek was born or when he died and who his parents were. Also, it is the ORDER of the PRIESTHOOD ITSELF that is AFTER the ORDER of Melchizedek that has no record of its beginning or end either. MORE specifically, there is no record of when Melchizedek became the high priest OF the GREAT KING of RIGHTEOUSNESS, ALMIGHTY God HIMSELF who is without beginning or ending. And the MAN Melchizedek was NOT an eternal human being. Man means MORTAL) 7. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8. And here MEN that DIE receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. (To ME this is an analogy between Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18 and Jesus in Psalm 110 where Jesus is the one who is witnessed to LIVE forever as a high priest AFTER the ORDER OF the PRIESTHOOD in which Melchizedek was a priest but DIED as ALL men are appointed to die once. The reason that I say this is because I myself can find nowhere in the OLD Testament where these words are actually spoken. So it is quite sure that the author is not quoting the Old Testament. And even if some lost book of the Bible is found where a verse speaking these words were found, I am quite confident that they would be a PROPHECY or a type and shadow of the coming Son of Almighty God and NOT referring to the MAN Melchizedek himself as an IMMORTAL being. Clearly, to me, the BREAD and WINE in Genesis 14:18 is a FIRGURE foreshadowing the body and blood of Jesus. The phrase “it is witnessed that he LIVES” to ME is speaking of Jesus and NOT the mortal man Melchizedek. Also, it could be speaking of Almighty God Himself receiving tithes THROUGH His high priest of the ORDER of Melchizedek) 9. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. 11. 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 Melchizedek, and NOT be called after the order of Aaron? 12. For the PRIESTHOOD being CHANGED, there is made of necessity a CHANGE also of the law. (So then, from these verses we clearly see that it is MORE about the DIFFERENT PRIESTHOODS that are being compared more so than the MAN Melchizedek and the MAN Jesus Christ. Although they too are also being compared as well) 13. For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of JUDAH; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. (This means that the PRIESTHOOD of Melchizedek has NO DESCENT. That is to say this ORDER of PRIESTHOOD which BOTH the MAN Melchizedek and the MAN Jesus Christ were made to be a priest did NOT obtain this PRIESTHOOD by DESCENT. In other words, they, BOTH Melchizedek, AND Jesus was without mother or father or GENEALOGY of DESCENT that QUALIFIED for any ORDER of priesthood such as the Levitical order where DESCENT was mandatory. That is to say, this ORDER of priesthood in which Melchizedek AND Jesus were a priest was NOT handed down through genealogy or descent. To say this another way, BOTH Jesus and Melchizedek did indeed have a mother and a father, but the PRIESTHOOD ITSELF is obtained WITHOUT the qualification of DESCENT or the genealogy of having a mother or father in the LINE or GENEALOGY of this ORDER of PRIESTHOOD. They were both MADE a high priest OF Almighty God. We shall be made PRIESTS and we are not in the lineage of any priesthood) 15. And it is yet far more evident: for that AFTER the SIMILITUDE of Melchizedek here arises ANOTHER priest, (Now, this verse clearly teaches us that Jesus is NOT ONE and the SELFSAME MAN as Melchizedek. But rather, Jesus in some ways is very SIMILAR to Melchizedek. And thus, Melchizedek is a FIRGURE or Jesus. Or more precisely the PRIESTHOOD itself should be what is being COMPARED and NOT that Jesus and Melchizedek are one and the self-same person. In other words, it is the SAME PRIESTHOOD to which BOTH Melchizedek AND Jesus BOTH belonged being compared to the Levitical priesthood which was of DESCENT of the tribe of LEVI. But it should not be overlooked that also there are SIMILARITIES as well between the two MEN, Melchizedek and Jesus, in that, BOTH were kings and priests. So then, Jesus arose AFTER Melchizedek to be ANOTHER priest in this SAME ORDER of priesthood that is NOT received by DESCENT) 16. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Again, Jesus is the ONLY MAN who has ever been given ETERNAL LIFE up to this present day for you see no other man or human being will be given their reward of eternal life UNTIL the second coming of Jesus) 17. For (Or because) he testifies, You (Speaking of Jesus the Son of Almighty God the Father) are a priest forever AFTER the ORDER OF Melchizedek. (Again, quoting Psalm 110 meaning that Jesus is NOT one and the same person as the man Melchizedek but rather Jesus has risen to be ANOTHER priest after the SIMILITUDE of Melchizedek. This PROVES that Melchizedek is NOT a so-called theophany. But rather Melchizedek is a TYPE of FIGURE of the Messiah that was prophesied to come) 18. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (Then the writer quotes the prophecy written in Psalm 110 in the next verse) 21. (For those priests [Speaking of ALL the Old Testament priest including Melchizedek] were made without an oath; but this [Clearly speaking of Jesus and NOT Melchizedek] WITH an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a priest forever AFTER the ORDER OF Melchizedek:) 22. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. (In other words, because of this fact that Jesus was made to be a high priest FOREVER by an OATH made by Almighty God HIMSELF gives us a SURETY of a BETTER TESTAMENT) 23. And they (Including Melchizedek) truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of DEATH: (In other words, there is a DIFFERENCE between Jesus and Melchizedek in that Almighty God the Father made an OATH confirming that his SON Jesus would be the LAST priest FOREVER between God and mankind. This again teaches us that Jesus is NOT one and the same man as Melchizedek because we are clearly told in verse 23 that Melchizedek died along with all the other priests in the past. Jesus is the ONLY man who has ever been GIVEN IMMORTALITY up to this point in time. Please see John 5:26,27, and 1 Timothy 6:14-16. Therefore, Melchizedek being a MAN had to have DIED even though the writer of Hebrews SEEMS to be saying in Hebrews 7:8 that he LIVES. To me, the Melchizedek in the Old Testament is a PROPHECY of the COMING high priest who will be given this priesthood FOREVER and NOT that Melchizedek is Jesus himself. Also, again, I myself cannot find these words anywhere in the OLD Testament. So the writer of Hebrews, to ME, is NOT actually “quoting” the Old Testament. But rather, the writer of Hebrews is drawing his own analogy between Genesis chapter 14 and verse 8 being compared to Psalms 110) 24. But this MAN, (Speaking of Jesus) because he continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25. Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives (AFTER being GIVEN immortality by his God and Father) to make intercession for them. 26. For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27. Who needs 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. 28. For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the OATH, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”
So then, the question at hand is as follows. “Is Melchizedek a theophany of Jesus Christ?” In other words, is Melchizedek a manifestation of Jesus himself in the Old Testament being seen as a MAN? What is a theophany? Simply put a theophany is a THEORY of God the SON appearing in human form. You see, since God is an INVISIBLE SPIRIT who cannot ever be seen with mortal human eyes, then the only way for God to be actually SEEN is for God to APPEAR or MANIFEST himself in a VISIBLE human form. And according to Trinitarians, it is only God the SON who can be SEEN because people saw Jesus who the INTERPRET to be God the SON incarnate in the flesh. This is what the term theophany means. The actual word “theophany” comes from Greek “theos” meaning God plus the Greek word “phainein” or “phan”, which means to show or reveal. Thus combined, they form the word “theophany”, which again simply means that God appeared in human form. Again, it makes NO SENSE to me that the so-called God the Son can manifest himself to be seen, but for some reason, if God the Father were to be seen then the people would DIE. I mean IF Jesus is Yahweh HIMSELF and God the Son is equal in every way with God the Father, then people saw God and did not die. So how is it possible for people to see God as God the Son and not die when they see God the Son. But IF people the SAME God as God the Father, then they would die. To ME, it is all just a man-made THEORY and CIRCULAR reasoning. First, one has to assume that Jesus IS Yahweh Himself. For you see, God the SON had to have always existed as Yahweh Himself, but NOT as Yahweh the Father. Otherwise, people would die IF they saw Yahweh the Father. But Yahweh the Father is INVISIBLE and cannot be seen by mortal human eyes. And that is WHY Trinitarian Christians argue that ONLY Yahweh the SON can be seen. But for some strange unknown reason, according to the Trinitarian theory, people can see God who is invisible when it is God the Son. And that is why they claim that it was Jesus that people saw in the Old Testament before God the SON became Jesus, according to THEIR theory. Anyway, the question at hand is Melchizedek a “theophany”, or Almighty God appearing in a human form? In other words, do these verses prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that Jesus is CO-ETERNAL with Almighty God the Father? In other words, is the Son of God ALSO a divine eternal being who is without BEGINNING, WITHOUT end of LIFE, and therefore the Son of God PREEXISTED for all eternity past? Did a God the Son manifest himself in the Old Testament as Melchizedek the high priest to the most high God? Now again, the main verses in question are found in Hebrews 7:2,3 and verse 8, which says that Melchizedek was WITHOUT father, without mother, without descent having neither BEGINNING of DAYS, nor END of LIFE or who LIVES.
Hebrews 7:2,3 and then verse 8.
“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; abides a priest continually... ...8. And here men that DIE receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he LIVES.”
So then, Melchizedek received tithes and DIED. But Jesus lives to be a high priest CONTINUALLY AFTER the ORDER of Melchizedek because Jesus is NOW the ETERNAL Son of God. Now, as we have already discussed within the comments of these verses that being without mother or father simply means that the ORDER OF PRIESTHOOD in which the MAN Melchizedek was a priest did NOT have as a qualifying mandate of a specific GENEALOGY. In other words, Melchizedek did NOT have to have a mother or father who was in the LINE or LINEAGE or DESCENT of this ORDER of PRIESTHOOD like a person must have a mother or father of the tribe of Levi to become a priest in the order of the Levitical priesthood. And having neither beginning of days nor end of life could also mean that in this particular ORDER OF PRIESTHOOD that there was no certain AGE in which one needed to be before he became a priest nor was there a maximum age in which their priesthood ended. They were made a priest until they died in this particular ORDER of PRIESTHOOD. But to me, the Greek word translated as “without father” carries the meaning of there is NO RECORD of Melchizedek’s father, his mother, the date of his birth or the date of his death. And all that is known for sure is that he was made a high priest like the Son of MAN was made a high priest. And the only difference is that Jesus will not die and Melchizedek died. There is just no record of his birth or WHEN he died. Now, for those of you who may not agree with these interpretations of the priesthood itself as having no DESCENT or ending there still remains all the clear plain and simple evidence of the COMPARISON between the TWO separate individual human beings of Melchizedek and Jesus. Keep in mind that ONLY Jesus was made a high priest FOREVER by the OATH of his God and Father the one true and ONLY ALMIGHTY MOST HIGH God. And that Jesus BECAME the author of eternal salvation and our high priest AFTER the cross when God highly exalted the Son of man, Jesus. The sound Biblical EVIDENCE clearly teaches us that Melchizedek was a MAN. So, therefore, he was NOT an ANGEL. Nor was he a supposed so-called pre-incarnate God the Son. Hebrews 5:1 clearly teaches us that EVERY priest is chosen from among MEN and NOT from among ANGELS.
Hebrews 5:1.
“For EVERY high priest taken from among MEN is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:”
This would also include Jesus as well being a MAN since Jesus the SON OF Almighty God was made to be a high priest OF Almighty God. Now there is no doubt that Melchizedek was a TYPE or a SHADOW or a FIGURE OF Jesus that was PROPHESYING the coming of Jesus, but I myself find no sound Biblical evidence to support the dogmatic teaching that Jesus PREEXISTED as the MAN Melchizedek in the Old Testament. Therefore, I conclude that Melchizedek is NOT a theophany or a MANIFESTATION of God the Son APPEARING in human form in the Old Testament. I personally believe that Melchizedek was a MAN just like the word of TRUTH says that he was in Hebrews 5:1-5.
Hebrews 5:1-5.
“For EVERY high priest taken from among MEN is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. (The Bible to ME clearly teaches us that Jesus was a MAN who was tempted in ALL points just like we are tempted so that he can KNOW the feelings of our weakness and have the compassion to be a good and faithful high priest between Almighty God and mankind. And in verse one we clearly see that EVERY high priest is taken or chosen to be a high priest NOT from the rank of ANGELS, but rather EVERY high priest is selected FROM AMONG the HUMAN race and more specifically the MALE. Now to ME, the word of TRUTH makes it perfectly clear that Jesus was indeed a HIGH PRIEST and seeing that the word of TRUTH also clearly states that EVERY high priest is taken from AMONG MEN, then to ME, this means that Melchizedek AND Jesus were BOTH MEN born as HUMAN BEINGS) 3. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4. And no MAN takes this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5. So ALSO Christ glorified NOT himself to be MADE a high priest; but he (Speaking of Almighty God Himself) that said unto him (Referring to his SON Jesus speaking forth a PROPHECY of his yet coming Son calling things that are not yet come into being as though they already are), You are my Son, TODAY have I begotten you.”
The phrase “TODAY have I BEGOTTEN you” clearly teaches us that the SON OF Almighty God did indeed have a BEGINNING on a certain DAY in which he was BEGOTTEN or brought forth into existence where he had never been BEGOTTEN or brought forth before. Please see the study O-1. DID JESUS HAVE A BEGINNING? and O-14. When did Jesus Become God's Son? Part 1 Both of these studies will give you a deeper understanding that the HUMAN Jesus did indeed have a BEGINNING and that Jesus the SON OF Almighty God the Father was MADE to be both Lord and Christ BY his God and Father the MOST HIGH and ONLY ALMIGHTY God. And since the SON OF God had a BEGINNING, then that proves that Jesus is NOT Yahweh HIMSELF because Yahweh has NO beginning. Again, I encourage you to read the study O-1. DID JESUS HAVE A BEGINNING? and the study O-14. When did Jesus Become God's Son? Part 1 along with the study “WAS JESUS one of the THREE MEN who visited Abraham?”, which I have titled as V-3. THREE men APPEARED to ABRAHAM? Now again, the main verses in question are found in Hebrews 7:2,3 and verse 8, which says that Melchizedek was WITHOUT father, without mother, without descent having neither BEGINNING of DAYS, nor END of LIFE or who LIVES. And if the Greek word “apater” was translated as UNRECORDED father, and mother, nor NO RECORD beginning or ending of life, then the comparison between the two men is that the Son of God was made a high priest that will not DIE like Melchizedek died.
Hebrews 7:2,3 and then verse 8.
“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 (Or more precisely, NO RECORD of) father, without mother, without descent, having neither (NO RECORD of) beginning of days, nor end of life; but made LIKE unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually... ...8. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he LIVES.”
Please notice that the writer of Hebrews is using the INTERPRETATION of the NAME “Melchizedek” and he is not speaking of the “MAN” Melchizedek because the actual man NAMED Melchizedek DIED. So then, the INTERPRETATION of the NAME ‘Melchizedek” means King of RIGHTEOUSNESS. ALMIGHTY God HIMSELF is the great eternal KING who MADE the Son of MAN His Kind of kings. The Son of MAN was GIVEN the NAME Jesus and who would be called the SON OF Almighty God. It was the human Son of God who became obedient to do all his God and Father's will even to suffer and die on the cross for the sins of the whole world. And then his God and Father HIGHLY EXALTED His human Son, Jesus, and gave him a NEW name that is above every other NAME to RULE and reign on his God and Father's throne as the King of kings being called the King of PEACE who LIVES forever more never more to die. Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. So, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading >>>D-0. THE BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of JESUS!<<< And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading >>>C-0. THE TRUE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH!<<< This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
To learn more TRUTH, then please return to
VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PREEXISTED!
To me, the best way to know the ONE true God in ONE person is to know who Jesus TRULY is according to the WHOLE word of Almighty God. So please read ALL of the studies under the heading >>>N-0. WHO is JESUS ACCORDING to the BIBLE?<<< and you will see that the Bible itself teaches us that Jesus was CREATED by his God and Father. And if you have any questions related to the correct meaning of certain verses of Scripture on this subject of who Jesus is please read all the studies under the two headings >>>U-0. VERSES used for THE TRINITY!<<< and >>>V-0. VERSES used to TEACH that Jesus PRE-EXISTED!<<< These two headings have ALL of the studies that I have on who Jesus truly is according to what the Bible itself teaches us in simplicity. I compiled these three headings to make it easy for my readers to send just one, two, or three links to those you desire to help understand what the Bible itself teaches concerning who Jesus is in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me. My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com. Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.
Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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