Who is Melchizedek?
 

    A fairly mysterious character in the Bible is Melchizedek. He is referred to in only three books of the Bible – two in the Old Testament (Genesis and Psalms) and one in the New Testament (Hebrews).

    The author of the book of Hebrews states that there would be much to say about him, but the interpretation would be difficult because his listeners had become careless.
Hebrews 5:11 and 12…”Of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again the elementary principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat”.

    In contrast to what a lot of people think, Melchizedek could not have been human since he has no genealogy and the days of his existence are not limited.
Hebrews 7:3-6… ”Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abided a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: but he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises”.

    These attributes like "without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life" are linked to his superhuman nature.
 

A not perfect priesthood     (Hebrews 7:3)…”Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life... who receive the office of the priesthood"     (Hebrews 7:11)…”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?"     (Hebrews 7:12)… "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law”.     Melchizedek was the Old Covenant's high priest of a not perfect priesthood.

Similarity between Melchizedek and Jehovah

    Using the reasoning applied above to Jehovah, we can only conclude that Melchizedek was also an angel. There is great similarity between the characteristics of Melchizedek and the angel Jehovah. Below are some of the things that Jehovah and Melchizedek have in common:

    . The standard used by Jehovah is the standard of justice, taking precedence even over mercy (Exodus 21:12-25; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21).  Melchizedek means “king of justice” (Hebrews 7:2)… "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”.

    . Melchizedek was king of Salem (Hebrews 7:2), or Jerusalem.  Jehovah is called “god of Israel”, whose capital city is the present Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 17:24; Exodus 3:16).

    . Melchizedek took a tenth of Abraham’s spoils and blessed him (Hebrews 7:1-6).  Similarly, Jehovah received a tenth from Abraham’s descendents and blessed the people (2 Cr.31:10).

    . Melchizedek has no beginning and no end, or in other words, is eternal.  He also has no genealogy (Hebrews 7:3).  Jehovah is also eternal and has no father or mother and certainly no genealogy (Nehemiah.9:5).  This fact identifies both as divine (angelical authority) and superhuman.

    . Melchizedek is the permanent chief priest of the Old Testament (Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 12:22).  Jehovah was also a leading figure in the Old Testament that orientated all religious service in the temple. The precious stones in priest's Ephod (Exodus 28:6 to 21) were the same quality as the stones that adorned the angel who were the model of perfection in Eden (Ezekiel 28:13).

    . It is difficult to interpret the role and character of Melchizedek, as we read in Hebrews 5:11, and also the character of Jehovah.

    . Melchizedek assumes human form when he appears to Abraham (Genesis 14:18-20).  Jehovah also takes on human form when he appears to Abraham (Genesis 18:1-7) and announces that Sara is with child.


    Some theologians think that Melchizedek was the real Christ of the Old Testament and call this type of occurrence "Parousia" (Second Coming). However, the fact that the text makes clear that Melchizedek was a figure of Christ (Hebrews 7:3) proves that he was not the real Christ.

    If Jesus were Melchizedek He would not bless Abraham right after the slaughter of kings (Hebrew 7:1 and Genesis 14:17 and 18) because the Son of the true God Father does not reward “serial killers”. Also, if Jesus were Melchizedek He would not receive the tenth from Abraham because it was a gift from plunder (Hebrews 7:4) and Jesus doesn’t approve plundering nor reception of stolen things.
 

Melchizedek, king of "justice"

The relationship between justice (which is associated with the name of Melchizedek), and condemnation is based on the fact that the law applies both justice and condemnation.     The violent temperament that Jehovah revealed on many  occasions perfectly matches the temperament of Melchizedek in view of the fact that the meeting with Abraham to bless him (Hebrews 7:1) occurs shortly after the slaughter of the kings… ”For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him”.     Genesis 14:18-20…”And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which had delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him tithes of all".     Therefore everything leads us to believe that Jehovah and Melchizedek are the same person, or rather, the same angel. Melchisedek is lastly the High Priest of Old Testament (Old Covenant) that became obsolete.     Thus, the priesthood of Melchizedek, as well as the Levitical priesthood were temporary and not perfect

The perfect and permanent priesthood of Jesus Christ
 

    The Old Testament had been changed by another one, perfect and forever, whose High Priest is Jesus Christ, the Son of the true God (Hebrews 7:11-12)…”For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law”.

    Melchizedek was unable to provide salvation and redemption because his ministry was not perfect. The "priesthood" initiated in Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:11) and concluded in Jesus means that the first gave way to the last. 

    The first became reprehensible and therefore was rejected.  The last is approved and therefore was exalted and glorified (Hebrews 7:18). The priesthood of Jesus Christ is perfect and permanent (Hebrews 7:24).

    After resurrection, Jesus was made the author of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:7-9)… ”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; though he was a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”.


 

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