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Monday, July 31, 2017

The Day of the Lord; Repentance; Doom and Gloom or Light and Life; Zephaniah


How we personally perceive Yahweh is the way we communicate Him to others. If we think about Yahweh as a harsh disciplinarian we share His strictness and legalities with others. If we think about Yahweh as an angry and fierce deity who seems irate and annoyed with humans we will tell others about His wrath. If we think of Yahweh as a happy, loving, marshmallow type Creator, we will then communicate Him in a manner that suggests that we humans can do no wrong. While there is a balance to all those aspects of our Creators’ nature, there are many who use his fierceness as a manipulation tactic to scare the unsaved into salvation. While manipulation is a tactic used by the devil, the god of this world, we should be able to, quite matter of factly, share what is pre-determined for the future of earth, allowing people to make a rational decision regarding salvation. What we sometimes intend for good, by using fear as a motivator, usually backfires when people think they will have to serve an angry schizophrenic deity who they fear is ready at any moment to backhand them across the face. 

If we listen to what we tell others about Yahweh we will find out what we really believe his nature is. For example if we are always telling people about the wrath to come and we all must endure it, we must be serving a God who does not mind punishing the innocent and righteous along with evil malicious humans. If one sees Yahweh as a harsh deity one will not understand the harpazo. The people who only know Yahweh to be angry and hard will call the harpazo escapism and a false teaching. Rather it tells us who thinks of Yahweh as mighty to save and can separate out the righteous from the unrighteous. The harpazo actually reveals who believes all of what the Holy Spirit reveals and who does not. 

I recently listened to a recorded book from someone deceased who is claimed to be a prophet. His message was that America is going to burn. His perception may be correct after the harpazo, but not before. The issue of timing and timelines was not regarded, nor was the realization that America is not a middle eastern country and is not the center of Biblical prophecy, but instead Israel is. He lumped the saved together with the unsaved, the redeemed together with the unredeemed, the righteous together with the unrighteous, and the sinner with the saints. Yet Yahweh has always made a way out of wrath for the righteous, redeemed, saved, saints. 

If we remember, reading within the context of a timeline, we see clearly how all things written in scripture fit. Just like the idea of taken or left behind, which is better communicated as received or sent away. The “when” of that event is not the rapture/harpazo but at the end of the seven year tribulation, after Jesus comes with his armies. Those received are received into the kingdom on earth, those sent away (which we erroneously translate “left behind”) are sent to hades during the one thousand year millennial kingdom. At this time the Angels scour the heavens and the earth for the seed of Jacob and bring them back to Israel.  

Let’s take a look at the prophet Zephaniah’s words. He is not a doom and gloom prophet, but one that is simply warning, announcing a way out, and giving hope regarding future events. Zephaniah lived during the time of Josiah. If we remember, Josiah spent fourteen years cleaning up Jerusalem and the temple. Jeremiah lived during this time as well. But after Josiah’s death, Judah went back to her evil ways.  

Zephaniah 1:1-7 (AMP) 
1  THE WORD of the Lord which came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah king of Judah and son of Amon. 
2  By taking away I will make an end and I will utterly consume and sweep away all things from the face of the earth, says the Lord. 
3  I will consume and sweep away man and beast; I will consume and sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. I will overthrow the stumbling blocks (the idols) with the wicked [worshipers], and I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth, says the Lord. 
4  I will also stretch out My hand over Judah and over all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place and the name of the idol priests with the [false] priests, 
5  And those who worship the starry host of the heavens upon their housetops and those who [pretend to] worship the Lord and swear by and to Him and yet swear by and to [the heathen god Molech or] Malcam [their idol king], 
6  And those who have drawn back from following the Lord and those who have not sought the Lord nor inquired for, inquired of, and required the Lord [as their first necessity]. 
7  [Hush!] Be silent before the Lord God, for the day [of the vengeance] of the Lord is near; for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, and He has set apart [for His use] those who have accepted His invitation. 

Zephaniah is speaking about the Day of the Lord, the day the Lord is revealed, the Apocalypse. When is the Day of the Lord going to take place? The day Jesus returns to earth with his armies. When does the Bible tell us that will happen? At the end of the seven year tribulation, Revelation 19. Now if there are people we know who refuse the Messiah, and the harpazo occurs, they will be on the earth during some very hard times. The saints are watching the Lamb take the scroll and open the seals. So anyone who makes the decision to reject the Lord should know what that rejection entails. It’s alright to tell people what is to come as long as we don’t make it a manipulative thing. We don’t want to take on the characteristics of the god of this world. 

Zephaniah 1:14-18 (AMP) 
14  The great day of the Lord is near—near and hastening fast. Hark! the voice of the day of the Lord! The mighty man [unable to fight or to flee] will cry then bitterly. 
15  That day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 
16  A day of the blast of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the high towers and battlements. 
17  And I will bring distress upon men, so that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. 
18  Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's indignation and wrath. But the whole earth shall be consumed in the fire of His jealous wrath, for a full, yes, a sudden, end will He make of all the inhabitants of the earth. 

So far, the Bible has proven its veracity. The Holy Spirit has given us this record to read and understand. This foretelling of the Day of the Lord will come to pass. When will this distress take place? During the seven years of tribulations. The last three and one half years known as the Great Tribulation will be the time the whole earth is consumed. But Zephaniah is not only giving people the bad news, he is giving them a way out of the wrath to come. 

Zephaniah 2:1-3 (AMP) 
1  COLLECT YOUR thoughts, yes, unbend yourselves [in submission and see if there is no sense of shame and no consciousness of sin left in you], O shameless nation [not desirous or desired]! 
2  [The time for repentance is speeding by like chaff whirled before the wind!] Therefore consider, before God's decree brings forth [the curse upon you], before the time [to repent] is gone like the drifting chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord comes upon you—yes, before the day of the wrath of the Lord comes upon you! 
3  Seek the Lord [inquire for Him, inquire of Him, and require Him as the foremost necessity of your life], all you humble of the land who have acted in compliance with His revealed will and have kept His commandments; seek righteousness, seek humility [inquire for them, require them as vital]. It may be you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. 

It is the time for repentance. It may be that those who repent now will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger. Where will they be hidden? There are two groups, the repentant ones will be harpazo’d, seized, and taken up to heaven, both the redeemed dead who are in Paradise and the redeemed living on the earth. They will be partaking in the events occurring in heaven. The second group are the male virgins from the line of Jacob. They will be sealed and hidden among the people on the earth, then seized, or harpazo’d, midway through the seven years, after Jesus is crowned (Revelation 7 & 14)

Zephaniah 3:8-13 (AMP) 
8  Therefore [earnestly] wait for Me, says the Lord, [waiting] for the day when I rise up to the attack [as a witness, accuser, or judge, and a testimony]. For My decision and determination and right it is to gather the nations together, to assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them My indignation, even all [the heat of] My fierce anger; for [in that day] all the earth shall be consumed with the fire of My zeal and jealousy. 
9  For then [changing their impure language] I will give to the people a clear and pure speech from pure lips, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one unanimous consent and one united shoulder [bearing the yoke of the Lord]. 
10  From beyond the rivers of Cush or Ethiopia those who pray to Me, the daughter of My dispersed people, will bring and present My offering. 
11  In that day you [the congregation of Israel] shall not be put to shame for all your deeds by which you have rebelled and transgressed against Me, for then I will take away out of your midst those who exult in your majesty and pride; and you shall no more be haughty [and carry yourselves arrogantly on or] because of My holy mountain. 
12  For I will leave in the midst of you a people afflicted and poor, and they shall trust, seek refuge, and be confident in the name of the Lord. 
13  What is left of Israel shall not do iniquity or speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they shall feed and lie down and none shall make them afraid. 

After the Day of the Lord, the day of the Apocalypse, the day Jesus is revealed, He will change the language of the earth back to one language. Recognize, this is all about serving the Lord, whether we do it now, later, or never, will determine our place in the future. Remember the diaspora? The Ethiopians will bring a present, His offering. As we have studied, this may be the Ark of the Covenant, the Mercy Seat (Isaiah 18). The day the Lord brings back the sons of Jacob, from heaven and earth, will be a glorious day for those who accept Him as Lord. Not so much for the Jesus rejecters who will await the white throne judgment in hades for one thousand years. And if by chance their works on the earth were good enough, they may have a place in the new earth. Again, we can tell people what their options are before they die and they can choose. 

John the Baptist preached a message of repentance. 

Matthew 3:1-3 (AMP) 
1  IN THOSE days there appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the Wilderness (Desert) of Judea 
2  And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 
3  This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness (shouting in the desert), Prepare the road for the Lord, make His highways straight (level, direct). 

Actual repentance encompasses regret, reconsidering our morality, reversal of decisions regarding behavior, and a change in our thinking. 

3338μεταμέλλομαι 
metamellomai 
met-am-el'-lom-ahee 
From G3326 and the middle of G3199; to care afterwards, that is, regret
KJV Usage: repent (self).

3340 μετανοέω 
metanoeō 
met-an-o-eh'-o 
From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction)
KJV Usage: repent.

3341 μετάνοια 
metanoia 
met-an'-oy-ah 
From G3340; (subjectively) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision)
KJV Usage: repentance.

John had been calling to regular people to repent, but when he saw the Pharisees and Sadducees he says something interesting. He says “who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation that is coming?” This tells us there must be a way to escape. 

Matthew 3:7-12 (AMP) 
7  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation [of God against disobedience] that is coming? 
8  Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart]; 
9  And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our forefather; for I tell you, God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones! 
10  And already the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 
11  I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 
12  His winnowing fan (shovel, fork) is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out and clean His threshing floor and gather and store His wheat in His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with fire that cannot be put out. 

John challenges them to bring forth fruit consistent with repentance. Remember John was an Essene. He knew the Pharisees and Sadducees were corrupt. He demands a change of behavior from them. Then says that Jesus will be baptizing with the Holy Spirit and Fire. The chaff will be burnt with a fire that cannot be put out. John plainly told them what to expect. Whether he said it with anger and distain in his voice, or matter of factly, we see he did not say this with manipulation or enticement. John wanted to know who told them how to escape from the wrath and indignation that is coming.

Jesus warns the people that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repentance is the way to redemption. 

Matthew 4:17 (AMP) 
17  From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Once a person repents, he/she can see clearly. This is obviously hard to explain to someone who doesn’t understand that they are not seeing things clearly now. 

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (AMP) 
16  But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away. 
17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). 
18  And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Repentance starts a transformation. Someone could confess Jesus as Lord but without repentance there is no transformation, because repentance is a continuous action. 

Jesus reminds the church by way of the seven churches to repent. Notice this repentance is for the believer, not just the unbeliever. Unless there is repentance there is no overcoming. Without being an overcomer, one does not receive rewards in Paradise. We should remember to go back to our first love and repent, then we will be given fruit in Paradise.

Revelation 2:4-7 (AMP) 
4  But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. 
5  Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent. 
6  Yet you have this [in your favor and to your credit]: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans [what they are doing as corrupters of the people], which I Myself also detest. 
7  He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. 

The teachings of Balaam were to manipulate the Hebrew men with foreign women to cause them to sin. The Nicolaitans were dominators and intimidators of other people. 

Revelation 2:14-17 (AMP) 
14  Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people there who are clinging to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to set a trap and a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [to entice them] to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and to practice lewdness [giving themselves up to sexual vice]. 
15  You also have some who in a similar way are clinging to the teaching of the Nicolaitans [those corrupters of the people] which thing I hate. 
16  Repent [then]! Or else I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 
17  He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (conquers), I will give to eat of the manna that is hidden, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone, which no one knows or understands except he who receives it. 

There are manipulators in the Body of Christ. There are also dominators and intimidators like the Nicolaitans. Repent. Not just the brood of vipers who  are manipulating and dominating, but everyone who follows these people should repent for being led by them.

Some people have tolerated sexual sins in their church, knowing what is going on and allowing it to continue. “Jezebel” is a woman who is a tool of the devil and who has been given time to repent. 

Revelation 2:20-28 (AMP) 
20  But I have this against you: that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and who is teaching and leading astray my servants and beguiling them into practicing sexual vice and eating food sacrificed to idols. 
21  I gave her time to repent, but she has no desire to repent of her immorality [symbolic of idolatry] and refuses to do so. 
22  Take note: I will throw her on a bed [of anguish], and those who commit adultery with her [her paramours] I will bring down to pressing distress and severe affliction, unless they turn away their minds from conduct [such as] hers and repent of their doings. 
23  And I will strike her children (her proper followers) dead [thoroughly exterminating them]. And all the assemblies (churches) shall recognize and understand that I am He Who searches minds (the thoughts, feelings, and purposes) and the [inmost] hearts, and I will give to each of you [the reward for what you have done] as your work deserves. 
24  But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not explored and known the depths of Satan, as they say—I tell you that I do not lay upon you any other [fresh] burden: 
25  Only hold fast to what you have until I come. 
26  And he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the [very] end [doing the works that please Me], I will give him authority and power over the nations; 
27  And he shall rule them with a sceptre (rod) of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, and [his power over them shall be] like that which I Myself have received from My Father; 
28  And I will give him the Morning Star. 

Jezebel has no desire to repent. Don’t waste your time on Jezebel. She and all her followers will perish. Next, there is a group who doesn’t remember the lessons they have been taught. 

Revelation 3:2-5 (AMP) 
2  Rouse yourselves and keep awake, and strengthen and invigorate what remains and is on the point of dying; for I have not found a thing that you have done [any work of yours] meeting the requirements of My God or perfect in His sight. 
3  So call to mind the lessons you received and heard; continually lay them to heart and obey them, and repent. In case you will not rouse yourselves and keep awake and watch, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not know or suspect at what hour I will come. 
4  Yet you still have a few [persons'] names in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes, and they shall walk with Me in white, because they are worthy and deserving. 
5  Thus shall he who conquers (is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him [as Mine] and I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels. 

Lay the lessons you received to heart; obey, and repent. This group at Sardis doesn’t seem to have changed the way they behave, which could very well mean they confess Jesus as Lord without repenting. Repenting means there is regret for our past, a reconsidering of our morality, a reversal of our decisions regarding our behavior, and a change in our thinking. This was John’s issue with the Pharisees and Sadducees, he knew they wouldn’t change their behavior but they heard that this baptism of repentance was going to save them from wrath so they went along with it.  As if repeating magic words would save them. Here Jesus is speaking to the church not to the brood of vipers. If vipers can escape the wrath and indignation of the Lord through repentance, how much more the called out?  

Jesus says to the lukewarm church to be enthusiastic in earnest with burning zeal and repent. 

Revelation 3:16-21 (AMP) 
16  So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth! 
17  For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 
18  Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. 
19  Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. 
20  Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. 
21  He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne. 

The people in this church were fat and happy. They didn’t think they needed anything. They didn’t realize that the riches and comforts of this life are nothing compared to the riches the Lord offers. If we already have everything we need, we do not look to the Lord for our sufficiency. 

Repent from losing your first love. Repent from using manipulative tactics. Repent from being domineering and intimidating. Repent from allowing Jezebel into the church. Repent from not obeying the lessons learned. Repent from slumber. Repent from being lukewarm. Repent from not buying gold from the Lord. 

People look at repentance as death, as if they are giving up on life when they repent. But we know the opposite is true. People gain life when they repent because we are repenting of death, or dead works. Who would have tricked people into thinking repentance is the opposite of what it is? 

Five of the seven churches are reminded to repent; Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea. If repentance wasn’t an important subject for the church, the called out body of Christ, Jesus would not have mentioned it five times. This is not repentance unto salvation but repentance unto righteousness. The people may be saved but they are not living rightly. Smyrna and Philadelphia were the two churches not told to repent. Smyrna and Philadelphia were both enduring persecution. 

Peter gives us a bit of insight into repentance as well. He speaks as if he is talking to us today. “Where is the promise of His coming” the scoffers always ask. The promise of his first coming came to pass while all the scoffers believed the word of God had been broken, yet Jesus showed up and people still didn’t believe him. God still desires that all humans would repent.  

2 Peter 3:3-14 (AMP) 
3  To begin with, you must know and understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, [people who] walk after their own fleshly desires 
4  And say, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the forefathers fell asleep, all things have continued exactly as they did from the beginning of creation. 
5  For they willfully overlook and forget this [fact], that the heavens [came into] existence long ago by the word of God, and the earth also which was formed out of water and by means of water, 
6  Through which the world that then [existed] was deluged with water and perished. 
7  But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored up (reserved) for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people. 
8  Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. 
9  The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. 
10  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. 
11  Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behavior and devout and godly qualities, 
12  While you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will flare and melt with fire? 
13  But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide. 
14  So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. 

What kind of people should we be since the Day of the Lord will come? We should be consecrated, set apart, holy, devout, and godly. After the Day of the Lord, the millennial kingdom on the earth will take place for the righteous while the unrighteous will spend one thousand years waiting to be judged by their works. The redeemed have received their rewards half way through the tribulation, the unredeemed have to wait until the end of the millennial kingdom to find out if their works were enough to gain them life. Then there will be a new heaven and a new earth. The unrighteous will perish in the lake of fire, the righteous will enter a new heaven or earth where there is uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing. This is because the god of this world is finally exterminated in the lake of fire along with death and hell and the unrighteous. There will not be an earth filled with evil and sin any longer. What a glorious hope!

Josephus writes a discourse to the Greeks concerning Hades and tries to explain a better way to live without sin. He advises that repentance and guarding of our lives is like recovering from sickness. 

Josephus, Discourse to the Greeks Concerning Hades Section 8.  In whatsoever ways I shall find you, in them shall I judge you entirely: so cries the end of all things. And he who hath at first lived a virtuous life, but towards the latter end falls into vice, these labors by him before endured shall be altogether vain and unprofitable, even as in a play, brought to an ill catastrophe. Whosoever shall have lived wickedly and luxuriously may repent; however, there will be need of much time to conquer an evil habit, and even after repentance his whole life must be guarded with great care and diligence, after the manner of a body, which, after it hath been a long time afflicted with a distemper, requires a stricter diet and method of living; for though it may be possible, perhaps, to break off the chain of our irregular affections at once, yet our amendment cannot be secured without the grace of God, the prayers of good men, the help of the brethren, and our own sincere repentance and constant care. It is a good thing not to sin at all; it is also good, having sinned, to repent; as it is best to have health always, but it is a good thing to recover from a distemper. To God be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen.
The Works of Flavius Josephus.

This is Josephus’ advice for the Greeks regarding death and hell. It is good not to sin yet it is also good to have repentance. Jesus has the keys to death and hell, no one goes to either place without going through Him. 

Going back to Zephaniah the prophet, he did not leave people without hope. He tells us of the joy at the end of the age when Israel is brought back to the land they were/are to inherit. 

Zephaniah 3:14-17 (AMP) 
14  Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice, be in high spirits and glory with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem [in that day]. 
15  [For then it will be that] the Lord has taken away the judgments against you; He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, even the Lord [Himself], is in the midst of you; [and after He has come to you] you shall not experience or fear evil any more. 
16  In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not, O Zion. Let not your hands sink down or be slow and listless. 
17  The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing. 

The enemy is cast out. The Lord will be the King and the people will not have to fear. The people will rejoice in their savior, and in their salvation. The Lord will rejoice over the people, Jacob’s heirs, who were brought back from the farthest corners of heaven and earth. The Lord will rest. The Lord will be jubilant over Israel, and He will sing over them. 

Zephaniah is a prophet of light and life. Although he had to tell them what a horrid day the Day of the Lord would be for those who are on the earth at that time, he gave them hope and a way out. Repent. Then he gave them vision for the future, the picture of the Lord singing over them. Zephaniah did not manipulate or intimidate the people. He spoke to them, foretelling what would happen. 


This is our call. Tell people what is going to happen in the near future, tell them what repentance will do for them, and then let people figure it out. Meanwhile we need to look at ourselves and judge whether we are like the five churches Jesus spoke to. Repentance is life, it is setting ourselves apart from the god of this world who is death. Like Peter told us, we should be eager to be found by Him at His coming. He will call from the clouds. He gave us a way to escape the wrath to come. There are a lot of things the saints will do in heaven to prepare for the Day of the Lord. The saints will not be relaxing. We can be without spot or blemish and we can be at peace while we wait for the call of the Lord if we make repentance a regular practice in our lives.  

Monday, July 24, 2017

Priests of the Melchizedek Order; the Holocaust Offering; Priests by Choice


It is interesting to notice that the first person mentioned as a priest was not an Israelite even though he served Yahweh. In fact, there were people who were not of Jacob’s lineage who were priests. It might be, that in our own effort to become more spiritual, we have followed after the wrong priesthood. People think they are getting back to their roots by following Levitical priests but that is inaccurate. Instead, the roots of the priesthood precede the sons of Levi. We have talked about Melchizedek and who he was and the school he had in Jerusalem that Isaac and Jacob both attended. We have also talked about the Essenes and the Prophets that followed this school. But to gain a broader view of the original Priesthood we will look at two priests that predate the Israelites. We will look at the first holocaust offering in the Israelite camp as well. We will see if Jesus fulfills these requirements as priest. Who were the people serving El Elyon?

Genesis 14:18-20 (KJV) 18 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 hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 

We should pay attention here that the word king is redundant. Melchizedek means “King of Righteousness”, so the verse reads: “King of Righteousness, King of Salem”. This is pointed out in the book of Hebrews. He was the priest of the most high, or the Supreme God El Elyon. The very first priest recorded in the Bible is a priest to El Elyon. 

H4442
מלכּי־צדק malkı̂y - tsedeq 
mal-kee-tseh'-dek 
From H4428 and H6664; king of right; Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine
KJV Usage: Melchizedek.

Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
מלכּי־צדק
Melchizedek = "my king is Sedek" 
1. king of Salem and priest of the Most High God to whom Abram paid tithe after the battle he fought to free Lot; 'the order of Melchizedek' the order of the priesthood to which Christ belongs
Origin: from H4428 and H6664
TWOT: 1199i
Parts of Speech: Proper Name Masculine

H410
אל 'êl ale 
Shortened from H352; strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
KJV Usage: God (god), X goodly, X great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong.
Compare names in “-el.” 
Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
אל

1. god, god-like one, mighty one 
a. mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes 
b. angels 
c. god, false god, (demons, imaginations) 
d. God, the one true God, Jehovah 
2. mighty things in nature 
3. strength, power
Origin: shortened from H352
TWOT: 93a
Parts of Speech: Noun Masculine

H5945
עליון ‛elyôn el-yone' 
From H5927; an elevation, that is, (adjectively) lofty (comparatively); as title, the Supreme
KJV Usage: (Most, on) high (-er, -est), upper (-most).

Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions
עליון
adj 
1. high, upper 
a. of Davidic king exalted above monarchs n m 
2. Highest, Most High 
a. name of God 
b. of rulers, either monarchs or angel-princes
Origin: from H5927
TWOT: 1624g,1624h
Parts of Speech: 

Jasher points out who he is and calls him by another name. The priest brought food for Abraham and his men. 

Jasher 16:11 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.

Adoni means “Lord”, and again zedek means “righteousness”. Melech was the name of the valley. Shem, the son of Noah was the priest of El Elyon. Josephus adds to the story. 

Josephus Antiquities 1:10:2  So Abram, when he had saved the captive Sodomites, who had been taken by the Assyrians, and Lot also, his kinsman, returned home in peace. Now the king of Sodom met him at a certain place, which they called The King's Dale, where Melchisedec, king of the city Salem, received him. That name signifies, the righteous king: and such he was, without dispute, insomuch that, on this account, he was made the priest of God: however, they afterward called Salem Jerusalem. Now this Melchisedec supplied Abram's army in an hospitable manner, and gave them provisions in abundance; and as they were feasting, he began to praise him, and to bless God for subduing his enemies under him. And when Abram gave him the tenth part of his prey, he accepted of the gift: but the king of Sodom desired Abram to take the prey,…
The Works of Flavius Josephus.

Without dispute, Shem was a righteous king and he was a priest of God. Salem later was called Jerusalem as a combination of the Jebusite city. Isn’t it odd that we never hear about Shem? We never learn about him in Church or Sunday school, and we never exalt him for being a priest and teaching others. There is no doubt that Shem was the original priest of El Elyon. This is the original Order of the Priesthood. He knew Abraham well, and taught Isaac and Jacob as well as many others. Let’s look at Shem’s lineage. 

Genesis 11:10-27 (KJV) 10  These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: 
11  And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 
12  And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: 
13  And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 
14  And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: 
15  And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 
16  And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: 
17  And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. 
18  And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: 
19  And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. 
20  And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: 
21  And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. 
22  And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: 
23  And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 
24  And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: 
25  And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 
26  And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 
27  Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

Shem and Eber ran the school in Salem. Eber is also known as “Heber", where the name Hebrew originates from. When we call someone a Hebrew, we are saying he is a descendent of Heber/Eber as Josephus tells us. Therefore Eber/Heber must have been a well known individual for people to call the sons of Jacob Hebrews, descendants of Heber/Eber. The Israelites are Hebrews, or the sons of Jacob are also sons of Heber. 

Abraham’s linage is from Shem. Now let’s look forward. We seem to put blinders on when it comes to this bit of history, but Abraham had eight sons in total. Some of Abrahams sons learned from Shem/Melchizedek as well.

Jasher 25:1 And it was at that time that Abraham again took a wife in his old age, and her name was Keturah, from the land of Canaan. 2 And she bare unto him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuach, being six sons. And the children of Zimran were Abihen, Molich and Narim. 

Let’s look at this genealogy of Midian. 

Jasher 25:9 And the children of Midian, son of Abraham, went to the east of the land of Cush, and they there found a large valley in the eastern country, and they remained there and built a city, and they dwelt therein, that is the land of Midian unto this day. 10 And Midian dwelt in the city which he built, he and his five sons and all belonging to him. 11 And these are the names of the sons of Midian according to their names in their cities, Ephah, Epher, Chanoch, Abida and Eldaah. 12 And the sons of Ephah were Methach, Meshar, Avi and Tzanua, and the sons of Epher were Ephron, Zur, Alirun and Medin, and the sons of Chanoch were Reuel, Rekem, Azi, Alyoshub and Alad.

Why do we care about Midian? We see another pre-Israelite Priest from Midian, Reuel also known as Jethro. 

Exodus 2:16-22 (KJV) 16  Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 
17  And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 
18  And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? 
19  And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. 
20  And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. 
21  And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 
22  And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land. 

Reuel is also called Jethro. Reuel was a priest of Midian. It is easy to assume that Reuel could have been a pagan priest, but we will see shortly that he was not. In fact he was a priest of Yahweh. 

Exodus 3:1-6 (KJV) 1  Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 
2  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 
3  And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 
4  And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 
5  And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 
6  Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

Moses learned about Yahweh while living in the land of Midian. The God of Abraham was the God of Shem and Eber. Moses had a tremendous experience on the mountain. 

If we read the book of Jasher, we find that Moses was told to circumcise his oldest son, but did not as he was of the line of Abraham that did not have to circumcise their boys until around thirteen years of age. As per Reuel’s request and their custom of circumcision at the age of manhood, Moses did not circumcise Gershom as an infant. But once Moses left Reuel’s house and was on the road to Egypt to free the Hebrews the enemy sought this occasion to kill Moses. This was an opening for satan to attack Moses, so Zipphorah actually saved Moses’ life by circumcising the boy on the road from Midian to Egypt. Their second child Eliezer was circumcised at eight days.

Moses sent Zipporah, Gershom, and Eliezer back to Midian at some point, probably to protect them from Pharaoh. After Moses led the children of Jacob, the Hebrews, out of Egypt, Reuel/Jethro, Zipporah, Gershom, and Eliezer joined the children of Jacob in the wilderness. 

Exodus 18:1-12 (KJV) 1  When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt; 
2  Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, 
3  And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: 
4  And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh: 
5  And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: 
6  And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her. 
7  And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. 
8  And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. 
9  And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 
10  And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 
11  Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. 
12  And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God. 

Moses paid great respect to Reuel/Jethro. Reuel rejoiced over the things that Yahweh had done for the children of Israel. Reuel made a burnt offering and sacrifices to Yahweh, in the camp of the children of Jacob. This is the first burnt offering made after the Exodus. This is a holocaust offering. The only other time a whole burnt offering was made prior to this was after the flood, Noah made a whole burnt offering. This burnt offering is also known as a holocaust, a wholly consumed sacrifice. This first whole burnt offering was made by someone from the line of Shem and Abraham, but not a child of Jacob. 

G3646 LSJ Gloss:ὁλοκαύτωμαa whole burnt-offering, holocaust
Dodson: ὁλοκαύτωμα a whole burnt offering.
Thayer:
1) a whole burnt offering 
1a) a victim the whole (and not like other victims only a part) of which was burned

ὁλοκαύτωμα 
holokautōma hol-ok-ow'-to-mah From a derivative of a compound of G3650 and a derivative of G2545; a wholly consumed sacrifice (“holocaust”) KJV Usage: (whole) burnt offering.

Since whole burnt offerings have a very important place in Levitical law it is strange that we have not pointed out that the very first whole burnt offering was made by a priest who was not of the Levites. Why hasn’t anyone ever mentioned Reuel/Jethro was the person who made a whole burnt offering in the camp of Israel in the wilderness? At this time, the whole burnt offering and sacrifices were made, Aaron and the elders of Israel came together and ate before Yahweh. This is a spectacular picture, an heir of Abraham and Keturah was teaching an heir of Abraham and Sarah about whole burnt offerings. This is not a light matter. While I’m sure a good time was had by all, this holocaust offering was a prophetic announcement of a future high priest who would come from this order. After this, Moses meets with God again. 

Exodus 19:3-8 (KJV) 3  And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 
4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 
5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 
6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 
7  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 
8  And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. 

If they would obey Yahweh they would become a kingdom of priests. The whole nation, all the heirs of Jacob, could become priests if they would obey Yahweh. Imagine what that would look like. We do know what happened instead, even in the wilderness they worshipped idols and the cherubim. Now we see that it only took one generation for things to fall apart. Moses’ grandson was a Levitical priest, but he did not stick to Levitical law. 

Judges 18:29-30 (AMP) 29  They named the city Dan, after Dan their forefather who was born to Israel; however, the name of the city was Laish at first. 
30  And the Danites set up the graven image for themselves; and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 

If we read the whole story we find that Jonathan was a Levite looking for work and someone hired him to be a priest in the house of all the man’s idols. When the Danites came through the area they convinced him to leave and go with them. 

Eli’s sons were really taking advantage of their position and a man of God came to prophesy to Eli. Who was this man? We don’t know, but it is possible that even though he was not a Levite, he was a prophet from Shem’s order. 

1 Samuel 2:27-36 (KJV) 27  And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 
28  And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 
29  Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 
30  Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 
31  Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 
32  And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 
33  And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. 
34  And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. 
35  And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 
36  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread. 

Those are very strong words from this prophet. If we read verse 30 in the Septuagint we see this a bit more clearly. 

1 Samuel (1 Kings Sept.) 2:30 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel, I said, Thy house and the house of thy father shall pass before me for ever: but now the Lord says, That be far from me; for I will only honour them that honour me, and he that sets me at nought shall be despised. 

The plans regarding the entire nation being priests changed to the end that only those who honor Yahweh will Yahweh honor and those who treat Yahweh with contempt will be despised. This is now a priesthood by choice, not by birth. Eli’s house will fall and be hungry, while Yahweh will raise up a trustworthy priest. 

David prophesies that the Lord said to David’s Lord that he, David’s Lord, is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Who is David’s Lord? The one that comes from David’s line, the Messiah. 

Psalm 110:1 The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The Lord shall send out a rod of power for thee out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 With thee is dominion in the day of thy power, in the splendours of thy saints: I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning. 4 The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. 5 The Lord at thy right hand has dashed in pieces kings in the day of his wrath. 6 He shall judge among the nations, he shall fill up the number of corpses, he shall crush the heads of many on the earth. 7  He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore shall he lift up the head. Sept.

Jesus used this Psalm to confuse the Pharisees. The Pharisees knew that the Messiah was to come from the line of David, but they refused to believe Jesus was the Messiah. David’s Lord was the Son of the most high, who was to become a priest in Shem’s order. The Pharisees thought they were the priests and spiritual leaders, but as we have studied previously, they compromised and did not follow the Holy Spirit as the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and the Damascus community left service in the temple. The last verse of this Psalm is a little tricky. Let’s look. 

Psalms 110:7G1537[from out of G5493the rushing stream G1722in G3598 the way G4095He shall drink]; G1223on account of G3778this G5312he shall raise up high G2776a head. 

5493Dodson: χείμαρρος a winter torrent a storm-brook, a winter torrent.
Thayer:
1) flowing in winter, a torrent

χείμαῤῥος 
cheimarrhos khi'-mar-hros From the base of G5494 and G4482; a storm runlet, that is, winter torrent KJV Usage: brook.

2776LSJ Gloss: κεφαλή the head
Dodson: κεφαλή the head (a) the head, (b) met: a corner stone, uniting two walls; head, ruler, lord.
Thayer:
1) the head, both of men and often of animals. Since the loss of the head destroys life, this word is used in the phrases relating to capital and extreme punishment. 
2) metaph. anything supreme, chief, prominent 
2a) of persons, master lord: of a husband in relation to his wife 
2b) of Christ: the Lord of the husband and of the Church 
2c) of things: the corner stone

κεφαλή 
kephalē kef-al-ay' Probably from the primary word κάπτω kaptō (in the sense of seizing); the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively KJV Usage: head.

It is not a brook; a brook gives the impression of gentle water. This is a torrent, a winter run off from the mountain streams. The torrent this Lord and Priest of Melchizedek will drink from is flowing hard and fast. Because of being able to drink from this torrent, he will lift high his head, as a ruler and Lord. He is a chief cornerstone and he seizes his position by handling the torrential winter runoff. When it seems like we are standing in the midst of a torrential stream and we can barely stand up, we should keep Jesus in mind, as he overcame, prevailed, and is now the ruler over the church. 

Hebrews gives us further insight as to this priesthood of Melchizedek with some very practical understanding. 

Hebrews 5:1-10 (KJV) 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: 
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. 
3  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 
4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 
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. 
6  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 
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; 
9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 
10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 

Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, not Levi; therefore Jesus’ priesthood was of Melchizedek, a different priesthood. Jesus did not make himself a priest, he was called. Israel could have become a kingdom of priests, but they did not obey and adhere to Yahweh’s commands. Yet the Levitical priesthood is a second priesthood, as Melchizedek’s priesthood was a first priesthood. So the first priesthood came out of Shem and Eber's school, grown not by lineage but by those who honor Yahweh, which is why the son of Abraham and Keturah could be a priest who first sacrificed holocaust offerings, or whole burnt offerings. Jesus is after the order of this priestly line. He fulfilled his priestly functions by being the holocaust offering. 

Hebrews 6:17-20 (KJV) 17  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 
18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 
19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 
20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 

If we take into consideration Jacob who ministered in tents under Shem and Eber for over thirty years, we recognize that Jacob was a great priest of Yahweh. No matter what traditions say, the name Jacob does not only mean supplanter, but following after. As we have studied, Esau married two women that were not from Shem’s lineage and was not as interested in priestly functions. Esau traded his birthright or position as first born after running twenty miles from Nimrod’s men. Jacob obtained the blessing as well, but think that through. Rebekah knew that Jacob was an honorable priest of Yahweh, but Esau did not honor Yahweh. So thirty years after receiving the birthright, Jacob received the blessing. Jesus was born from Jacob’s lineage, and Jacob’s children received the blessing of being a set apart people because of Jacob’s honor to Yahweh. Jesus is the priest under Jacob’s priesthood, under Shem. This is the anchor that we have, our High Priest, Jesus, leads us in a priesthood not born out of lineage but by individual and personal dedication to Yahweh. 

Hebrews 7:1-28 (AMP) 1  FOR THIS Melchizedek, king of Salem [and] priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 
2  And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of all [the spoil]. He is primarily, as his name when translated indicates, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace. 
3  Without [record of] father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor. 

Why does the author of Hebrews say that Melchizedek has no father, no mother, no beginning of days or end of life? The author is pointing out that it does not matter the lineage of the Melchizedek priests, where they hail from or how long they continue because they are not bound to human terms. This priesthood is continual into the eons, practiced by those who want to be in the priesthood rather than born as destiny into the priesthood. Look what happened to Eli’s sons; they took their position as servants and twisted it to their own benefit. They probably did not want to be priests but were born to do it, so they took advantage of their position. Eli closed his eyes to their behavior and their entire family line became destitute. Notice Jonathan, Moses’ grandson. He went to work for a man as a priest in a house of idols. Essentially the tribe of Dan rescued him from working among idols and carved images. The Melchizedek priesthood is not a priesthood by birth, but by choice. Jesus lives eternally, he will always be a priest of this order. Shem now lives eternally, he will always be a priest to Yahweh.

Hebrews 7:4  Now observe and consider how great [a personage] this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth [the topmost or the pick of the heap] of the spoils. 
5  And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people—which means, from their brethren—though these have descended from Abraham. 
6  But this person who has not their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham [himself] and blessed him who possessed the promises [of God]. 
7  Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one. 
8  Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there [in the case of Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives [perpetually]. 

The author of Hebrews is trying to make the point that Levi payed tithes to Melchizedek via Abraham and this is a greater payment than what the Levites receive from their own brethren. Melchizedek proceeded Levi. Levi is of Melchizedek. We can see the author is making the same type of points that Paul and Jesus make regarding the Pharisees. The Essene/Nazarene/Therapeutae way is a more excellent way. Again, if we try to be spiritual people and want to go back to our roots, we have to understand history. We are not going back to our roots if we want to behave like Levites or Pharisees.  

Hebrews 7:9  A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham, 
10  For he was still in the loins of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him [Abraham]. 
11  Now if perfection (a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood—for under it the people were given the Law—why was it further necessary that there should arise another and different kind of Priest, one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed after the order and rank of Aaron? 

Jesus had to come from Melchizedek as he was not of Levi. But again Melchizedek is a priesthood of choice, not of lineage, and as we saw, it only took one generation for the Levites to start to fail and falter. The primary priesthood has gone back to the original priesthood, therefore the laws regarding the priesthood and functions have changed. Remember that today there is no temple, therefore it is a necessity for the laws to change. 

Hebrews 7:12  For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity an alteration of the law [concerning the priesthood] as well. 
13  For the One of Whom these things are said belonged [not to the priestly line but] to another tribe, no member of which has officiated at the altar. 
14  For it is obvious that our Lord sprang from the tribe of Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. 
15  And this becomes more plainly evident when another Priest arises Who bears the likeness of Melchizedek, 
16  Who has been constituted a Priest, not on the basis of a bodily legal requirement [an externally imposed command concerning His physical ancestry], but on the basis of the power of an endless and indestructible Life. 

Think about this, Moses received instructions to make a tabernacle (a mobile structure) in the wilderness. Shem had a temple (a permanent structure) in Salem/Jerusalem/the City of David. David took their tabernacle to Shem’s temple and combined the priestly and prophetic functions. Solomon then built the structure of the temple around the temple of Shem, again combining the priests and prophets. Unfortunately, we know how this all turned out. The Zadok priests and prophets left the temple as there was over three hundred years of defilement in the temple, from the time of the kingdom split to the time of Ezekiel.  

Hebrews 7:17  For it is witnessed of Him, You are a Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. 
18  So a previous physical regulation and command is cancelled because of its weakness and ineffectiveness and uselessness— 
19  For the Law never made anything perfect—but instead a better hope is introduced through which we [now] come close to God. 

The original priesthood once again supersedes the second priesthood. The law could not make the priesthood perfect. Why? Because any priesthood is maintained by choice not law. It is the heart of a priest that is valuable to the priesthood, and since there is no permanent structure to fulfill the law, the law has to change.

Hebrews 7:20  And it was not without the taking of an oath [that Christ was made Priest], 
21  For those who formerly became priests received their office without its being confirmed by the taking of an oath by God, but this One was designated and addressed and saluted with an oath, The Lord has sworn and will not regret it or change His mind, You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 
22  In keeping with [the oath's greater strength and force], Jesus has become the Guarantee of a better (stronger) agreement [a more excellent and more advantageous covenant]. 

The oath is eternal, through the ages, the Levitical line continually changes with the death of the priests and the physical location for the offerings. Jesus now reigns forever. 

Hebrews 7:23  [Again, the former successive line of priests] was made up of many, because they were each prevented by death from continuing [perpetually in office]; 
24  But He holds His priesthood unchangeably, because He lives on forever. 
25  Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them. 
26  [Here is] the High Priest [perfectly adapted] to our needs, as was fitting—holy, blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens. 
27  He has no day by day necessity, as [do each of these other] high priests, to offer sacrifice first of all for his own [personal] sins and then for those of the people, because He [met all the requirements] once for all when He brought Himself [as a sacrifice] which He offered up. 
28  For the Law sets up men in their weakness [frail, sinful, dying human beings] as high priests, but the word of [God's] oath, which [was spoken later] after the institution of the Law, [chooses and appoints as priest One Whose appointment is complete and permanent], a Son Who has been made perfect forever. 


Jesus was the holocaust offering, the whole burnt offering. He is the perfect High Priest. He did not need to serve in the earthly temple. In fact Jesus could only enter the outer courts of the temple in Jerusalem. Yet he reigns as the priest of the eons. The roots of the priesthood of El Elyon originate from Shem after the flood, or Enoch before the flood. The roots of whole burnt offerings start with Noah after the flood, or with Reuel in the camp of the Israelites in the wilderness. The priesthood laws changed and today we do not have to abide by Levitical laws for priestly service. There is no specific location required to serve as priest under the order of Melchizedek. There is however a requirement of choice. We choose to honor Him. Therefore, anyone who wishes to serve Yahweh can, and anyone who attempts to revive the imperfect second priestly order is mistaken. The Hebrews are heirs of Shem, they can serve under Shem’s order if they so choose.