ETERNAL MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD. In the new covenant, Jesus’ sacrifice once for all made Him “a priest forever in according to the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:6; 6:20; 7:17,21). But who was this priest Melchizedek who preceded Jesus?
He had no genealogy, neither beginning nor end. “Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually” (Heb. 7:3).
Therefore he was not human. Yet he was “made like the Son of God”. Scripture calls angels “sons of God” (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7). But angels have “beginning of days” because they are among “all you works of His” (Heb. 7:3; Ps. 103:20-22). God created angels when He “created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).
If not angels, who else in heaven has neither beginning or end? God Himself—God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Father made the Son priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:5-6). So in that order, only the Holy Spirit could have preceded the Son.
How then could the Holy Spirit be “made like the Son of God” (Heb. 7:3)? Does the Holy Spirit ever take any form? Yes. At Jesus’ baptism, “the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove” (Lk. 3:22).
Melchizedek comes to Abraham
We may conclude that the Holy Spirit came briefly in bodily form during the only time that Melchizedek appears in Scripture as a human. He appeared in Canaan to Abraham after his victory over four kings:
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 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.’
He gave him a tenth of all” (Gen. 14:18-20).
We have no other record of an earthly priest of God Most High who was also king of Salem. In one Scripture Salem means Jerusalem (Ps. 76:2).
But Hebrews 7:1-2 correctly translates “Melchizedek” as “king of righteousness” and adds, “and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.” Where then do we find this kingdom of righteousness and peace?
In heaven. For “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). The Holy Spirit is King of righteousness and peace. He will share that kingdom when Jesus returns to reign on earth with His saints (Rev. 19:6,11-16; 20:6).
Read more in Melchizedek Priesthood Prepares Way for New Covenant
ETG articles related to eternal Melchizedek priesthood:
Millennial Kingdom Priests Will Show the Way of Christ
Glory Cloud Covers Millennial Temple & Jerusalem
Millennial Temple Sacrifices -Why, after the Cross?
Related sources for eternal Melchizedek priesthood
Keyphrase: eternal Melchizedek priesthood
