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JUDE 1:9--Help?
Kat:
Hi Lorine,
The Smith's Bible dictionary has a bit of information on Jewish tradition of Melchizedek.
The "order of Melchizedek," in Psa_110:4, is explained to mean "manner" = likeness in official dignity = a king and priest. The relation between Melchizedek and Christ as type and antitype, is made in the Epistle to the Hebrews to consist in the following particulars: Each was a priest, (1) not of the Levitical tribe; (2) superior to Abraham; (3) whose beginning and end are unknown; (4) who is not only a priest, but also a king of righteousness and peace.
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Heb 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
v. 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
v. 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
v. 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
v. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,
v. 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
v. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek is foreshadowing Christ, and as a preview of Jesus’ priesthood he is used to show that there is another line of priests which is greater than the Levitical priesthood. So this shows the superiority of Jesus as the High Priest over the Levitical priests and uses Melchizedek to substantiate this point.
So in Hebrews Paul presented Melchizedek as like Christ in that he is without father, without mother, without genealogy, "having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God" (verse 3). Now I don't believe this is saying that Melchizedek literally did not have father or mother, but his background was mysterious and this was not known about him.
There is a few mentions of Melchizedek in Ray's tithing paper. Here are the excerpts where he is mentioned.
http://www.bible-truths.com/tithing.html ------------------------------
Gen. 14:20, "And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he [Abram] gave him [Melchizedek king of Salem, the priest of the most high God, Ver. 18] TITHES of all [all the goods of war, Ver. 16]."
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In this, the first mention of tithing in the Bible, Abram gives to Melchizedek (a priest of God who was also the king of the city of Salem) a tithe of the best of the booty taken in war. Notice that this was not wheat, corn, wine, oil, or cattle from Abram’s personal possessions, but rather booty taken from conquered nations.
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There is nothing stated here that would cause us to conclude that Abram (later changed to Abraham) ever tithed on a regular basis on his own person possessions. Although Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe of the booty of war, he told the king of Sodom that he would take none of it for himself.
In this same account recorded in the seventh chapter of Hebrews, we learn that the priests of Levi, from the family of Aaron (although far inferior to the priestly order of Melchizedek) also receive tithes from the people according to the law.
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Now in order to be a priest one not only had to be of the tribe of Levi, but he also had to be of the family of Aaron. In fact, if one could not trace his genealogy back to the family of Aaron, he could not be a priest of God. This is the whole point of Hebrews seven. Jesus Christ is a priest for the eons of the rank of Melchizedek because Melchizedek predated the law which stated that only sons of Aaron could be priests. Therefore Melchizedek’s genealogy is not given in the Scriptures, and Christ, who according to the flesh is of the line of Judah, can and will be God’s High Priest in the Kingdom of God.
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hope this is of some help.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
indianabob:
Lorine and Folks,
Some have supposed that Melchizedek may be Shem the ancestor of Abram who according to the genealogy in Genesis lived longer than Abraham. Curious speculation if anyone is interested.
Indiana Bob
Pamela:
Hello Daywalker
I am relatively new to Ray's website and this is my first forum post.
A question comes to mind regarding the following verse:
Revelations 12
And a battle occurred in heaven. Michael and his messengers battle with the dragon, and the dragon battles, and its messengers. And they are not strong enough for him, neither was their place still found in heaven.
If Jesus is Michael would he not have been strong enough?
Warm regards to all,
Pamela
Dave in Tenn:
Hi Pamela. It wasn't Michael who wasn't strong enough or didn't prevail...it was the dragon.
Rev 12:7-9 And there came war in the heaven; Michael and his messengers did war against the dragon, and the dragon did war, and his messengers, and they did not prevail, nor was their place found any more in the heaven; and the great dragon was cast forth--the old serpent, who is called `Devil,' and `the Adversary,' who is leading astray the whole world--he was cast forth to the earth, and his messengers were cast forth with him. (YLT)
So Michael was "strong enough".
mharrell08:
--- Quote from: Pamela on November 03, 2009, 07:40:25 PM ---If Jesus is Michael would he not have been strong enough?
--- End quote ---
Also one side note:
Ray does not teach that Jesus is Michael, though he does state that 'MAYBE' Michael is Jesus or symbolic of Jesus.
Email reply from Ray (http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3232.msg24050.html#msg24050):
Dear Roy:
We need to be careful about using words like "mere" when referring to such as Michael the ARCHANGEL. The "ANGEL OF THE LORD" mentioned so often in Scripture is more than mere! Likewise Jesus is in every meaning of the word, a "Messenger--Angel" of His Father. If ARCH- signifies the very highest, (and we have no other being called an ARCHangel in Scripture except Michael [which means LIKE GOD]), then just maybe Jesus IS THAT ARCHANGEL.
God be with you, Roy,
Ray
The reason I point this out is because Hebrews 1 makes a distinct difference between Christ and His angels...I'll ask Ray directly this weekend if he's free, or see if Dennis can ask him. Either way, I'm sure he can provide more insight than the short paragraph above.
Thanks,
Marques
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