The Priest-Kings Melchizedek and Jesus

By Randy Nettles

In my last article, The Six Thousandth Year From Creation - by Randy nettles, I explained how major biblical and faith-based events occur, or will occur, approximately every 2,000 years. Most Bible teachers claim there were approximately 2000 years from Adam to Abraham, 2000 years from Abraham to Jesus (first advent), and there will be 2000 years from Jesus’ first advent to His second advent. In this article, we will meticulously examine each of these 2000-year time frames.

In my article/s, Chronology of Mankind: 6,000 Years of History Pt 1 :: By Randy Nettles - Rapture Ready, I calculated that Adam was created in 3960 BC. The first two millennia of my chronology are determined solely by scripture, based on the genealogies listed in Genesis 5 and 11 (the patriarchs begetting sons). However, I believe these genealogies record only “rounded off” years (whole years) for the ages of the antediluvian and post-flood patriarchs at the birth of their sons. I highly suspect these sons of the 19 patriarchs (from Adam to Terah) weren’t all born on their father’s birthdays, so there had to be some extra months (and weeks, days) involved that weren’t recorded.

This theory is reinforced by the idea that Jesus was crucified on the “fourth day” (as in “a day for the LORD is as a thousand years”). However, if Adam was created in 3960 and Jesus was crucified in 33 AD, that is only 3992 years of biblical chronology. I believe the “missing” eight years (to account for 4000 years) is most likely due to the “rounding off” (counting only whole years) of the patriarchs’ ages at the time of their sons’ birth. Of course, this is just a theory and can’t be proven, but it isn’t improbable.

In The Hepta Week Cycle For Six Millennia of Mankind : By Randy Nettles - Rapture Ready, I show how adding an extra 5.05 months to each of the 19 patriarchs would give the extra 8 years needed for a 3968 BC year of creation. 3967 BC years + 33 AD years = 4000 AM (Anno Mundi or 4000 years from creation).

Since we are adding 8 years to our chronology for the reasons stated above, the AM date for Abram’s birth would now be 2017 AM (2009 AM + 8 years = 2017 AM). If our BC date for creation is now 3968 BC, then the date for Abram’s birth is 1951 BC (3968 BC – 2017 AM = 1951 BC). This is the same BC date for Abram’s birth as what I have recorded in the Nettles chronology. Only the AM date has changed.

Although the AM dates have changed, we are back on track with my original Nettles BC/AD chronology from this point on. Abraham would still have entered the land of Canaan in 1876 BC. Isaac would still have been born in 1851 BC. Jacob and his family would still have moved to Egypt in 1661 BC. The children of Israel would still have left Egypt in 1446 BC, etc.

As I mentioned in my last article, Abram’s (Abraham) birth in 2017 AM (or 1951 BC) is problematic for two reasons. The first reason is that Abram’s birth in 2017 AM is 17 years past the 2000-year mark. The second reason is that Abram was born in Ur of the Chaldeans, a city in southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), to parents who worshipped a Moon god. I don’t believe his birth is a good enough reason for the 2000-year anniversary of mankind’s creation. After all, Abram didn’t even know of Yahweh until he was much older.

Abram, by faith, answered God’s call and left Haran to travel to the Promised Land at age 75. This event didn’t occur until 2092 AM (or 1876 BC), 92 years past the 2000-year mark. Instead, the person who might fulfill the significance of the 2000th year is Melchizedek, the priest of the “most high God” and the king of Salem. He is first mentioned in Genesis 14, but was no doubt king of Salem (and priest of the most high God) long before he met Abram. I wrote a couple of articles about Melchizedek about four years ago. Let’s once again examine this mysterious character in Genesis 14, and then we will look at some more dates for him and Abraham.

THE MYSTERIOUS AND MESMERIZING MELCHIZEDEK

Melchizedek comes upon the scene after Lot, his household, and some of the people of Sodom are taken hostage by four Kings of the Canaanite region. They also confiscate their property and goods. Upon hearing the news, Abram takes his men, rescues Lot and his household, and recovers all the stolen goods.

Upon Abram’s victorious return, Melchizedek comes out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (King’s Valley). “Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And Abram gave him a tithe of all” (Genesis 14:18-20).

In this account of Abraham and Melchizedek’s meeting, we are only given a few facts concerning this mysterious king. 1) His name. 2) He was a priest as well as a king. 3) He was a believer and priest of the same God that Abram worshipped, El Elyon (translated as “God most high”). He was not a worshiper of false gods/idols, as the surrounding nations were.

Melchizedek’s name in Hebrew is malkî-ṣeḏeq, which means “king of righteousness,” and he is the king of Salem (later named Jerusalem). Salem or ‘shalom’ means ‘peace,’ so Melchizedek is also a “king of peace.” The words righteousness and peace are associated with Jesus Christ. In Jeremiah 33:15, Jesus is described as a “branch of righteousness,” and in Isaiah 9:6, Jesus is called the “prince of peace.” According to D. W. Burdick, the name ‘Melchizedek’ appears to be a Canaanite royal name, very similar to ‘Adonizedek,’ a king of Jerusalem in the time of Joshua.

Melchizedek of Genesis 14 is both mysterious and mesmerizing. He is mysterious because there is not much that is known about him in the Old Testament, where he is introduced, other than three verses in Genesis 14 (vs. 18-20) and one verse in Psalm 110 (vs.4). He is mesmerizing because there is a whole chapter devoted to him in the New Testament book of Hebrews (ch.7) and how he is a typologyor foreshadowing of Jesus Christ.

So how is it that a king of a Canaanite city-state is a worshiper and priest of the one true God, rather than of Baal, Anath, Moloch, or some other heathen god? In his commentaries, John Calvin points out that it is remarkable that Melchizedek lived with Sodom on one side and the Canaanites on the other, yet he was a righteous king and priest. This shows that God can raise up a godly witness for Himself when and where He pleases. This reminds me of Job from the land of Uz, who was also a Gentile and righteous follower of Yahweh.

Everything we know about Melchizedek comes from Genesis 14:18-20, Psalm 110:4, and Hebrews 5, 6, and 7 (some New Testament versions spell his name as ‘Melchisedec’). The first O.T. text is historical. The second O.T. text is prophetic. The N.T. text is theological. We have discussed the historical aspect of Melchizedek in Genesis, so now let’s look at the prophetic passage in Psalm 110.

This chapter in the book of Psalms was written by David and refers to the Messiah’s future reign. The first verse is a conversation between the LORD (Yahweh - God the Father) and David’s Lord (Adoni - God the Son). “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. In verse 2, the LORD Father is discussing the Lord Son’s future rule as king of Israel. “The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!”

In Psalm 110:4, David also prophesies about the Lord’s (Jesus) future role as priest of the “Most High God,” as declared by the Father. “The LORD has sworn and will not relent: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” In this verse, the LORD (Yahweh) swears that David’s Lord (Adonai), who is Jesus, will be of the order of Melchizedek, which consists of two eternal characteristics. 1) He will have a dual role of king and priest. 2) He will not be of the lineage of the tribe of Levi.

Of course, Melchizedek is just a foreshadowing or typology of Jesus in this regard. In David’s time (and in Moses’ before him), a priest could come only from the tribe of Levi (the great-grandfather of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam). Aaron was the first high priest of Israel. This Levitical ‘law’ continued until the time of Jesus and afterward. In ancient Israel, a king could not be a priest, according to Yahweh’s own law.

Take, for instance, the case of King Uzziah, who by all accounts was a good king and “did what was right in the sight of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 26:4). However, “when Uzziah was strong, his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:16). Only a priest was allowed to burn incense according to God’s law which He gave to Moses. For Uzziah’s disobedience, God struck King Uzziah with leprosy, and he remained a leper until the day of his death.

Regarding the prophecy of Psalm 110, it must have been quite a shock to David when he received this word to learn that: 1) The future king of Israel would not only be a king but a high priest as well. 2) This future Jewish high priest would not be of the priestly order of Aaron and the Levites but of the priestly order of Melchizedek, who had no recorded genealogical background (as was required by the Levites).

Now, let us look at the theological aspect of Melchizedek and his relationship to Jesus Christ. The anonymous author of the book of Hebrews (possibly Paul, Barnabas, Luke, etc.) discusses Melchizedek throughout the entire 7th chapter (the number for spiritual perfection) of Hebrews. The first and second verses talk about the historical context of Melchizedek, as we have already discussed.

The 3rd verse (the number for divine perfection) in Hebrews 7 delves into the theology of Melchizedek and provides new information about him. Melchizedek was “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God; abides a priest continually” (Hebrews 7:3). Because of this verse, many Bible teachers mistakenly (IMO) teach that Melchizedek was a theophany of Jesus (called a Christophany).

Does this verse suggest he had no earthly parents or children, or just that his family is unknown (he might even have been an orphan)? I believe it is the latter. Even Jesus (the Son of God) had an earthly mother and stepfather, who were of human lineage. He also had a heavenly Father. Another reason why those who believe Melchizedek was a Christophany is because of the words “made like the Son of God.” They believe Melchizedek was ‘made’ like Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of the Father, through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus was ‘made,’ he was the eternal preexistent Word of God.

In my opinion, seeing Melchizedek as a Christophany or some other heavenly being has a few flaws. When the pre-incarnate Jesus appeared in the Old Testament, it was usually as the Angel of the LORD, and it was always for a limited time and never for a long duration (especially as a king and priest of a Canaanite kingdom). Take, for instance, when the Angel of the LORD appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18 before the destruction of Sodom in Genesis 19. Were the Angel of the LORD and Melchizedek both Christophanies? Did the Angel of the LORD take on a different appearance than he did with Abram approximately 19 years earlier, and was he still the King of Salem?

I believe that Melchizedek was just a man about whom the author of Hebrews had no background information, unlike a Levitical priest who had to prove their lineage. The author of Hebrews was simply contrasting the two orders of priesthood. Melchizedek was made like Jesus, not that Jesus was made like Melchizedek. Melchizedek was like Jesus in that he was a righteous, peaceful king and a faithful priest of Yahweh, just as Jesus is currently in heaven and will be in His millennial kingdom. Jesus is of the order of Melchizedek in that He is both priest and King and is not of the Levitical priesthood.

The text in Hebrews 7:3 simply states that Melchizedek was made like the Son of God, not that he was the Son of God. The statement of Psalm 110:4 calls David’s Lord (the Messiah) “a priest after the order of Melchizedek.” If Melchizedek were Christ, this text would literally mean that the Messiah (Jesus) was a priest after his own order. Historical and archaeological data provide good reason to understand compounds with ‘zedek’ as reflecting a dynastic title for Jebusite kings (descended from Ham and Canaan) of the Canaan area. We have the biblical example of ‘Adonizedek,’ king of Jerusalem, in Joshua 10:1; yet it can hardly be suggested that this wicked king was a theophany.

Hebrews 7:4-10 describes how great this man, Melchizedek, was, so that even the patriarch Abraham, to whom God made promises, gave him a tenth of the spoils as a tithe. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the inferior always paid tribute to the superior. Abraham’s voluntary tithe publicly acknowledged Melchizedek’s higher authority. This verse says that Melchizedek was greater than even God’s faithful servant, Abraham. Abraham gave his tithe to Melchizedek, and Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Hebrews 7:7 says, “Now beyond all contradictions the lesser is blessed by the better.”

Hebrews 7:11-18 explains the need for a new priesthood superior to the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament, instituted by the law of Moses. The fact that God describes a priest according to the order of Melchizedek in Psalm 110:4 shows there is something lacking in the priesthood according to the order of Aaron. The Levitical priesthood is associated with the law of Moses. The priesthood of Melchizedek is associated with the faith of Abraham, not with Moses or the law.

The very mention of the order of Melchizedek in Psalm 110:4 and Hebrews 7:11 shows that God wanted the priesthood to be changed (as well as the law of Moses). “For He [Jesus] of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [other than Levi/Aaron], from which no man has officiated at the altar” (Hebrews 7:13). Hebrews 11:14 explains that the Lord Jesus came from the lineage of Judah, “of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.”

Moses only knew of a future prophet who would come, but he did not know that he would also be a king and priest. “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:15,19).

Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, argued the Abrahamic covenant took precedence over the Mosaic covenant (Galatians 3.17-18). The covenant God gave Moses at Mt. Sinai did not supplant the covenant He had established with Abraham. Why did Paul make this point? The doctrines Paul received from the risen Lord were doctrines of grace, not Law. Paul used Abraham as his example of one who was justified by faith alone, and Abraham came before Moses.

According to Hebrews 7:15-17, Jesus, in the similitude of Melchizedek (who has the dual role of king and priest), is a priest forever. Jesus has not come to be our high priest by the law of a “carnal commandment,” but according to the power of an endless life. The saying, “you are a priest forever,” could never be said of a priest in the order of Aaron, none of whom were immortal, and each served only a limited time as a priest.

Jesus showed His priesthood was superior when He was resurrected and triumphed over death. Because of the weakness and unprofitability of the law and the Levitical priesthood, it has been annulled and replaced by a new and perfect priesthood and covenant. It is the covenant of faith (by the grace of God) in our High Priest and King, Jesus Christ.

The Levitical priest became a priest without an oath by God, but Jesus and Melchizedek were declared priests forever by God (the Father), as declared in Psalm 110:4. Because Jesus continues forever, He has an unchangeable priesthood, unlike his human counterparts. “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

As believing Christians, we are considered undefiled and do not need daily sacrifices by high priests who have to offer sacrifices for their own sins. Our high priest, Jesus, offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins once and for all. His sacrifice only had to occur once, for His blood doesn’t merely atone (cover over) for our sins but also cleanses us from all sins, past, present, and future. “The word of the oath, which came after the law appoints the Son who has been perfected forever as our High Priest” (Hebrews 7:28).

THE 2000TH YEAR SINCE CREATION

Now, let’s examine the chronology of Abraham (and a hypothetical one for Melchizedek) as reckoned from my 3968 BC date for creation. As I mentioned earlier, Melchizedek (who had greater spiritual authority than Abraham and was a typology of the priest-king Christ) was most likely the one who fulfilled the 2000-year anniversary of mankind. My theory is that he became priest-king of Salem (later named Jerusalem) in 2000 AM (or 1968 BC) at the age of 40. Abram was born 17 years later in 2017 AM (or 1951 BC).

Abram heeded God’s call and entered the Promised Land of Canaan in 2092 AM (or 1876 BC), when he was 75 (according to Genesis 12:4). Lot’s captivity and rescue, and Abram’s meeting with Melchizedek, occur in Genesis 14. We are not told how many years had passed between Abram’s entering the land and his meeting with Melchizedek, but considering the events that followed, I believe it was about five years, which would have been in 2097 AM (or 1871 BC). Abram would have been 80 years old, and Melchizedek would have been 137 years old. 137 is a very significant number. See 137: Number of God in Scripture and Science :: By Randy Nettles - Rapture Ready - Part 1.

Incidentally, two of Moses’s ancestors, Levi and Amram, lived to be 137 years old. Abram would have been the same age as Moses (80 years old) when the latter first encountered a Christophany (in the form of a burning bush) of the pre-incarnate Christ in Exodus 3. At that time, God told Moses, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” This occurred in 1446 BC, the same year as the Exodus, the giving of the Mosaic law, and the start of the Levitical priesthood for Israel.

The next event in Abram’s life occurred in Genesis 16, when Abram was 86 years old, which would have been in 2103 AM (or 1865 BC). This is when Hagar, Abram’s surrogate wife, gave birth to Ishmael. In Genesis 17, God confirmed the land covenant with Abraham and his descendants by giving them the sign of the covenant (circumcision among the Israelite males). This occurred when Abram was 99 years old in 2116 AM (or 1852 BC). Melchizedek would have been 156 years old if my theory regarding his coronation age is correct. The following year, Isaac was born.

From Melchizedek’s coronation as priest-king of Salem (Jerusalem) in 1968 BC to David’s capture of Jerusalem (from the Jebusites) and making it his capital city in 1002 BC, there were approximately 966 years. David died in 970 BC. Solomon’s second year of reign began in 968 BC, which would have been 1000 years (one day for the LORD) from Melchizedek’s (proposed) coronation as king of Salem. Two years later, in 966 BC, Solomon began construction on the Temple in Jerusalem. 966 BC was the 480th year after the children of Israel left Egypt in 1446 BC, as recorded in I Kings 6:1.“During the month of Ziv, which was the second month of the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, 480 years after the Israelis left the land of Egypt, Solomon began to build the LORD’s Temple.” (ISV)

From King Solomon’s second year of reign in 968 BC to 33 AD, when Jesus was crucified (buried, resurrected, and ascended to heaven), and the Church began, is 1000 years. Theoretically, Melchizedek began his reign as King of Salem 2000 years before Jesus “should have” begun his reign as King of Israel (and Jerusalem), but due to the great apostasy of the Jews and their denial of Jesus as their messiah-king, it has been delayed by 1993 years. In seven more years, will Jesus Christ be crowned King of Israel in the 2000^th year from when he was rejected as such, and in the 4000^th year from the beginning of Melchizedek’s (proposed) kingship?

So, if this theory is correct, every 2000 years, we have the faithful coming to Christ (or a typology of Christ). Melchizedek, a typology of Christ, appeared in the 2000^th year. The end of Christ’s first advent and the Church’s birth/conception occurred in the 4000^th year. I believe Christ’s second advent and the faithful remnant entering the millennial kingdom could begin in the 6000^th year.

Although many Bible teachers believe Melchizedek was a theophany of Christ (a Christophany), I believe he was merely a mortal man. Melchizedek was a Canaanite (possibly a Jebusite) king and High Priest of his people. Melchizedek was a righteous man who worshipped the one true God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the sons of Israel. His faith and obedience to the LORD could be compared to those of Enoch, Noah, or Job, none of whom were Hebrews (though some were ancestors of the Hebrews). Like Enoch and Noah, Melchizedek was surrounded by evil and unrighteous neighbors but never lost his faith (for he is a High Priest forever ordained by God Himself).

There is no account that addresses how Melchizedek obtained his knowledge of Yahweh. Both Abraham and Melchizedek called Him by the same name: God (El) Most High (Elyon). Perhaps Melchizedek learned of Yahweh Elohim from the Angel of the LORD (a Christophany), as did Abraham and Moses. Or Melchizedek might have learned of Yahweh from one of Abraham’s ancestors. For example, Eber died four years after Abraham’s death, at the age of 464. In other words, Abraham’s great, great, great, great grandfather lived longer than he did (and Abraham lived a long time), according to the Masoretic text.

Like Job, Melchizedek has no lineage given, so, in a way, one could say he had no father, mother, birth, or death date because they weren’t documented. Melchizedek was a very unusual priest in that he did not inherit his priesthood. It was given to him by appointment from God, for the LORD raised up for Himself a High Priest, not a temporary one, but one for eternity. His priesthood was based not on genealogy or inheritance but on faith. That is why God arranged for events to unfold as they did, so these two men of faith could meet. The greater of the two, Melchizedek, would receive a tithe from the lesser, Abraham, and God’s High Priest would give God’s servant/friend, Abraham, a blessing and would then bless their great God.

JESUS COMPARED TO MELCHIZEDEK

“Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe, Moses said nothing about priests.

This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,

“You are a priest forever,

after the order of Melchizedek.”

For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

“The Lord has sworn

and will not change his mind,

‘You are a priest forever.’”

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever“ (Hebrews 7:11-28).

Melchizedek is a typology/foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, the true King and High Priest forever. Abraham is a typology of the faithful remnant of Israel that place their faith in El Elyon. Jesus Christ is the High Priest for all faithful believers, both Hebrews and Gentiles, and is now sitting at the right hand of God, making intercession on our behalf before the Father. I’m sure Melchizedek is there as well, performing his role as “a priest forever.”

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Randy Nettles

rgeanie55@gmail.com

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