Melchizedek

Melchizedek
מֶלֶךְ־צֶדֶק
Melchizedek King of Salem by Juan de Juanes
Period	20th century B.C.
Occupation(Features)	King of Salem, Priest of God
Activity area	Salem (presumably Jerusalem)
Major achievements	Blessed Abraham through bread and wine

Melchizedek (Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ־צֶדֶק) was king of Salem and a priest of God in the 20th century B.C. Salem which he ruled is most likely Jerusalem. In Psalm 76:2, Salem is mentioned as if it is synonymous with Jerusalem, and the words “Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley)” in Genesis 14:17 supports this. Melchizedek appears only once in the book of Genesis. As the first priest to appear in the Bible, he blessed Abraham, the father of faith, through bread and wine, and Abraham gave him tithe. Due to this act of Abraham, Melchizedek has great significance in the study of the Bible. In the New Testament, Hebrews chapters 5–7 describe Melchizedek in detail, and explain about him, who is the priest and king, as the figure representing the Messiah.

Who Is Melchizedek?

Abraham and Melchizedek by Bartholomeus Breenbergh: Melchizedek blesses Abraham through bread and wine.

Name

The name Melchizedek is a combination of the Hebrew words melek (מֶלֶךְ, king) and tzédek (צֶדֶק, righteousness), meaning king of righteousness. Salem (שָׁלֵם), which was ruled by Melchizedek, means peace.

In the Old Testament, the king of righteousness and the king of peace represented Christ who would appear in the future. Therefore, the writer of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament interprets Melchizedek as the shadow of Christ, the King of true righteousness and peace.

Priest Blessing People through Bread and Wine

In the 20th century B.C., a war broke out between the five countries around the Dead Sea and the allies led by Kedorlaomer king of Elam. At this time, Abraham’s nephew Lot became a captive by the allies of Elam, and Abraham led a neighboring tribe and 318 trained men born in his household to save Lot and fought against the allies of Elam, and he won. On his way back to his land, the king of Sodom met him; and Melchizedek king of Salem, the priest of God, blessed Abraham through bread and wine. In return, Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils.

After Abram [Abraham’s old name] returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Genesis 14:17–20

In the Old Testament times, it was very unusual offering bread and wine to worship God and ask blessings. The time of Abraham was before the sacrificial system of the Old Testament was codified, but it was common to sacrifice an animal to God since Abel. Interestingly, Melchizedek did not offer a burnt offering but blessed Abraham through bread and wine. Among the priests in the Old Testament times, Melchizedek was the only priest who blessed people through bread and wine.

Order of Melchizedek

High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek

The Old Testament prophecy about Melchizedek is found in Psalm 110. David referred to the Lord, who is to appear in the future—the Messiah, as the “eternal priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; . . . The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Psalm 110:1–4

In the Bible, there are two types of priesthood: the priesthood in the order of Melchizedek as prophesied in the book of Psalms, and the priesthood in the order of Aaron from the Old Testament. Priests, who follow the order of Aaron, sacrifice animals and offer their blood. The priest, who follows the order of Melchizedek, offers bread and wine to God like Melchizedek. The “Lord,” who appeared as a priest in the order of Melchizedek, was fulfilled by Jesus Christ.

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 5:8–10

After Jesus appeared as a priest in the order of Melchizedek in the New Testament times, the priesthood was changed from the order of Aaron to the order of Melchizedek. The priesthood of Jesus which is in the order of Melchizedek is faultless, perfect, and permanent.

Christ Gives Blessings Through the Passover Bread and Wine

Jesus blessed us with eternal life through the Passover bread and wine.

Melchizedek worship God by offering bread and wine. As the high priest in the order of Melchizedek, Jesus blessed us through bread and wine just as Melchizedek did.

“ ‘I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. . . . While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup [wine], gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Matthew 26:18–28

At the Holy Supper of the Passover, Jesus said that the bread and wine were His flesh and blood, and through them He blessed us with the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. In the days of Jesus, the Jewish priests sacrificed sheep, goats, and cattle, but Jesus was the only One who blessed people with eternal life through bread and wine. The Passover bread and wine are a sign showing that Jesus is the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek and Second Coming Christ

There Is Much to Say About Melchizedek but Is Hard to Explain

There is no objection that Jesus is the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote that Jesus is the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, but he also wrote, “We have much to say about Melchizedek, but it is hard to explain.” In Hebrews 7, Melchizedek is introduced as one without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life.

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. . . . Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

Hebrews 7:1–3

The record that Melchizedek was without father or mother, or genealogy is also a prophecy about Christ. It doesn’t mean that he literally had no parents or genealogy. It means that Christ, who is the reality of Melchizedek, is to be born as a Gentile under the parents who do not believe in God. However, although Jesus was a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, He was born in the tribe of Judah in Israel. This is what was difficult to explain about Melchizedek in the time of the early Church.
The prophecy about Melchizedek, which was hard to understand 2,000 years ago through Jesus Christ alone, is the prophecy that Second Coming Christ will be born in a Gentile nation, not in Israel.

Christ Has Restored the Passover

Second Coming Christ, too, should appear as the high priest in the order of Melchizedek and give us eternal life through the Passover bread and wine just as Jesus did 2,000 years ago. The Passover of the new covenant was abolished at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. It means that the order of Melchizedek, which gives eternal life through bread and wine, was cut off. Since the 16th century, reformers have come out and shouted for reformation of the truth and faith and many churches and denominations have emerged, but none of them have restored the Passover.

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.”

Isaiah 25:6–9

“Aged wine” means that the Passover have not kept for about 1,600 years since 325. It is only God, the high priest in the order of Melchizedek, who can bless us with eternal life through the Passover bread and wine.

Then, Christ Ahnsahnghong has restored the Passover of the new covenant in this age as it is in the Bible. In the Old Testament times, Melchizedek was the only priest who brought bread and wine. Two thousand years ago, Jesus was the only One who blessed people with eternal life through the bread and wine of the Passover; because the Passover bread and wine are the sign of Christ, who is the high priest who comes in the order of Melchizedek. In this age when no one celebrates the Passover, only Christ Ahnsahnghong blesses people with eternal life through the Passover bread and wine. Ahnsahnghong is the Christ who comes a second time as the high priest in the order of Melchizedek, and God who is without beginning of days or end of life.

Related videos

• Sermon: The Passover and the Order of Melchizedek

See also

• Ahnsahnghong
• Order of Priest
• Passover

External links

• Christ Ahnsahnghong Official Website
• Church of God’s Sermon “Melchizedek and Christ”