WHERE THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD MEETS THE LEVITICAL THE JEWISH POSITION

• Jews often suggest that: • The Tanakh does not prophesy that Yeshua would be sacrificed for man. • A man can’t be a or atone for another man’s sins. • There were other means of atonement.

2 THE JEWISH POSITION

• In response to these ideas, this presentation will discuss: • How God reveals His plans to His people • Atonement in the Scriptures • Godly and evil altars • The Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods •

3 HOW GOD REVEALS HIS PLANS TO MAN

• The Tanakh says that God would provide atonement for His people.

• However, God does not plainly reveal His exact plans to His people in order to keep Satan and his kingdom in ignorance, as well as win the spiritual war.

4 HOW GOD REVEALS HIS PLANS TO MAN

• When God speaks to His people, God uses various methods. • YHVH uses symbols in dreams and visions to communicate; this requires us to investigate their meanings. • Yeshua spoke in parables that contained symbols; His disciples sometimes needed their full meanings to be explained. • YHVH shared His plan through the offerings and purification rituals, which are types and shadows of Yeshua. • This is just how God operates.

5 (כ ָּפַר) THE MEANING OF KAPHAR

kaphar – כ ָּפַר 03722 •

• Meaning: 1) to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch 1a) (Qal) to coat or cover with pitch 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to cover over, pacify, propitiate 1b2) to cover over, atone for sin, make atonement for 1b3) to cover over, atone for sin and persons by legal rites 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be covered over 1c2) to make atonement for 1d) (Hithpael) to be covered

6 (כ ָּפַר) THE MEANING OF KAPHAR

• Leviticus 17:11 – For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have ,le-chaper , לְכַפֵּ֖ר) given it to you upon the altar to make atonement piel infinitive) for your souls; for it is the blood that makes .ye-chaper, piel imperfect) for the soul ,יְכַפ ֵּ֖ר) atonement

7 KAPHAR HAS SEVERAL APPLICATIONS

• Genesis 6:14 – to cover ’s ark with pitch • Genesis 32:20 – wanted to appease Esau. • Exodus 21:30 – ransom money to redeem a life in the event an ox gored someone to death. • Exodus 30:12-16 – Whenever a census is taken, ransom money must be collected for atonement. This is a general atonement and not an atonement for sin; it is essentially a tax for the service of the and memorial for the children of Israel.

8 KAPHAR HAS SEVERAL APPLICATIONS

• Numbers 16:47 – used incense to atone the people when a plague broke out. The smoke acted as a covering to the people, and it may have also killed the organism causing the plague. • Numbers 31:50 – ornaments of gold from war were offered for atonement. As far as we know, there was no sin involved in the war, just the death of their enemies. • Leviticus 12:7-8; 14:19 – Atonement for uncleanness, which results as a normal part of life.

9 KAPHAR HAS SEVERAL APPLICATIONS

• Exodus 29:36-37; 30:1-10; Leviticus 16:1-34 – Atonement for the altars and Holy Place. • Numbers 35:33 – Atonement for the land. • Leviticus 4-6 – Atonement for a person because of the guilt of sin or trespasses.

10 MEN WERE KILLED TO ATONE OTHER PEOPLE'S SINS, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE NORM

• There were at least two times in Scripture when men were killed to atone for other people’s sins, but this was not a normal practice.

• These events contain hidden treasure – something typological in these events that is related to Yeshua’s crucifixion.

11 MEN WERE KILLED TO ATONE OTHER PEOPLE'S SINS, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE NORM

• Numbers 25:8, 13 – Baal of Peor – and he (Phinehas) went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel... and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel (by driving a spear through the Midianite woman and Zimri, a Simeonite).

12 MEN WERE KILLED TO ATONE OTHER PEOPLE'S SINS, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE NORM

• This method of death, of two people who had been physically united as one person, was typological of what would happen to Yeshua in John 19:34 –

• But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

13 MEN WERE KILLED TO ATONE OTHER PEOPLE'S SINS, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE NORM

• Not only that, but Phinehas was given YHVH’s covenant of an everlasting priesthood.

• Phinehas was the son of , son of Aaron – a future Levitical , but he was typological of Yeshua, our Melchizedek high priest, who is a priest forever.

14 MEN WERE KILLED TO ATONE OTHER PEOPLE'S SINS, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE NORM

• 2 21:1-6 – Now there was a famine in the days of for three years, year after year; and David inquired of YHVH. And YHVH answered, "It is because of and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites." 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.

15 MEN WERE KILLED TO ATONE OTHER PEOPLE'S SINS, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE NORM

• 2 Samuel 21:1-6 (Cont.) – 3 Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, "What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of YHVH?" 4 And the Gibeonites said to him, "We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us." So he said, "Whatever you say, I will do for you."

16 MEN WERE KILLED TO ATONE OTHER PEOPLE'S SINS, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE NORM

• 2 Samuel 21:1-6 (Cont.) – 5 Then they answered the king, "As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel, 6 let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before YHVH in Gibeah of Saul, whom YHVH chose.“

• Atonement was completely achieved once the Gibeonites, not the Israelites, killed seven descendants of Saul by hanging. This method of death is typological of the crucifixion of Yeshua that was carried out by the Romans, not the Jews. 17 A SACRIFICIAL SON

Only once did God ask someone to offer his son as a sacrifice, but God relented and provided a ram for atonement.

• Genesis 22:2-19 – was asked to offer his son as a burnt offering on Mt. ; however, as Abraham believed, YHVH provided a ram in Isaac’s place to provide atonement. This proves God can provide atonement, and it shows that Isaac was a type of Yeshua being the Lamb of God.

The sacrifice of Isaac by his father, Abraham, was typological of Father God offering His Son, Yeshua as a sacrifice. 18 A SACRIFICIAL SON

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 is often used as a reason to disqualify Yeshua from being a sacrifice for atonement, but there’s a big difference between what is righteous and what is an abomination.

19 A SACRIFICIAL SON

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 – When you come into the land which YHVH your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells,

20 A SACRIFICIAL SON

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (Cont.) – or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to YHVH, and because of these abominations YHVH your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before YHVH your God.

21 A SACRIFICIAL SON

• God’s request to offer Isaac was not: • Considered to be comparable to idolatrous Molech worship in which children were “passed through the fire” of the idol Molech. • Associated with witchcraft.

22 A SACRIFICIAL SON

• The abominations listed in Deuteronomy 18:9-14 are connected. Satan wants people’s worship. The worshiper’s child is the exchange price for the desires of the worshiper, such as fortune, possessions, and fame. This is part of witchcraft.

• This is selfish, but it’s according to an evil covenant.

23 A SACRIFICIAL SON

• YHVH’s desire is for us to love and serve Him. He is willing to exchange the blood of His own Son, Yeshua, to bring us into such a relationship.

• In return, He blesses us according to His grace and covenantal promises.

24 GOD WILL PROVIDE AN ATONEMENT

• We often see people praying that God will provide atonement for something; sometimes this is commanded by God.

• Other times, we see God promising to provide atonement.

25 GOD WILL PROVIDE AN ATONEMENT

• Deuteronomy 21:3-9 – And it shall be that the elders of the city nearest to the slain man will take a heifer which has not been worked and which has not pulled with a yoke. 4 The elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with flowing water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and they shall break the heifer's neck there in the valley. 5 Then the , the sons of Levi, shall come near, for YHVH your God has chosen them to minister to Him and to bless in the name of YHVH; by their word every controversy and every assault shall be settled.

26 GOD WILL PROVIDE AN ATONEMENT

• Deuteronomy 21:3-9 (Cont.) – 6And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley. 7 Then they shall answer and say, 'Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it. 8 Provide atonement, O Lord, for Your people Israel, whom You have redeemed, and do not lay innocent blood to the charge of Your people Israel.' And atonement shall be provided on their behalf for the blood. 9 So you shall put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you when you do what is right in the sight of YHVH.

27 GOD WILL PROVIDE AN ATONEMENT

• Deuteronomy 32:43 – Song of – Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.

28 GOD WILL PROVIDE AN ATONEMENT

• Psalm 65:1-3 – Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed. 2 O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come. 3 Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.

29 GOD WILL PROVIDE AN ATONEMENT

• Psalm 79:9 – Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name's sake!

30 GOD WILL PROVIDE AN ATONEMENT

• 16:60-63 – “Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for daughters, but not because of My covenant with you. 62 And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am YHVH, 63 that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,” says YHVH God.

31 GENERATIONAL SIN

• Some people use Ezekiel 18:20 to say Yeshua could not have died for anyone --

• The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

32 GENERATIONAL SIN

• Ezekiel 18:20 and its context basically repeats the choice and consequence Moses laid before the children of Israel

• Deuteronomy 30:15-18 – See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love YHVH your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and

YHVH your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 33 GENERATIONAL SIN

• Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (Cont.) – 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.

34 GENERATIONAL SIN

• If, and whenever you choose obedience to YHVH’s covenant and continue in it, you will have life.

• If, and when you choose disobedience to the covenant and continue in it, you will have death. You will bear your own guilt. It’s all up to you. Your father or son will not be required to bear your guilt. 35 GENERATIONAL SIN

• Some people will bring up Numbers 14:18 – YHVH is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.

• See also Exodus 20:5, 34:7; and Deuteronomy 5:9

36 GENERATIONAL SIN

• These verses indicate that God watches later generations to see if they will commit the same sins as their fathers.

• He holds us responsible to confess and repent of our own sins, trespasses, and iniquities as well as confess and repent of those that go back up to four generations, whether or not you know what they are. 37 GENERATIONAL SIN

• Failing to repent of the sins, trespasses, and iniquities of previous generations does not result in your own death and separation from God, but it can result in a legal right for Satan to cause a curse to be active in your life if you don’t deal with it.

38 GENERATIONAL SIN

• In other words, the sins, trespasses, and iniquities of your ancestors can give Satan the legal right to harass and tempt you in those areas.

39 GENERATIONAL SIN

• If you desire to be obedient in a certain area of your life but are constantly tempted, you may be battling with generational sin.

• Confess and repent of your own, as well as generational sin, trespasses, and iniquities up to four generations back. Ask God to remove these temptations from your life, then see how that helps you to walk blamelessly. 40 GENERATIONAL SIN

• Although Yeshua was temped, He did not sin.

• :15 – For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

41 ALTARS

• Altars can be stationary or mobile. • Stationary – e.g. the temple in • Mobile – e.g. the tabernacle in the wilderness, or the body of a believer in Yeshua

42 ALTARS

• Altars are places: • That are consecrated • Of worship • Where covenants are made • Of connection and communication between the earthly and spiritual realms -- where demons and angels can ascend and descend between the heavenly and earthly realms. • Of fellowship • Of substitution/exchange, which can be via /offerings. As such, 43 they can be places of atonement and forgiveness. ALTARS

• Altars can be: • Unrighteous – associated with demons, Satan, and idolatry • Righteous – associated with angels and YHVH God

• Any where there is an altar, there is a priest and priesthood associated with it. 44 ALTARS

• Let’s consider man’s first sin.

• There are certain details left out of this event in Scripture that we have to make assumptions about before we can move forward.

45 ALTARS

• God is the king of His heavenly kingdom, and He fits the description of Melchizedek who was without genealogy.

• After and Eve sinned, we know God killed an animal to provide clothing for . We assume the killing of this animal was a sacrifice that provided both atonement and forgiveness of their sin.

• Shortly thereafter, we see Cain and bringing offerings to God.46 ALTARS

• Since God’s animal was a sacrifice, there had to be an altar where God officiated as priest.

• Once Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they had the propensity to sin again.

47 ALTARS

• The only thing that kept them from being completely like demons was the tree of life.

• God banned them from the to prevent them from eating from the tree of life, so they would not remain permanently in their new sinful condition.

48 ALTARS

• All priests, righteous or wicked, have an altar they attend to.

• Altars can be evil altars where idols or false gods are worshiped; altars can be godly altars where YHVH is worshiped.

49 ALTARS

• Since God was the first priest and set up the first altar on earth, unrighteous or evil altars are a result of Satan and his demons copying what God did.

• Satan is a master counterfeiter who copies the many things of God for his advantage.

50 ALTARS

• There are probably as many as 50 false gods, if not more, mentioned in the .

• Sometimes there may be one god that went by different names depending on the territory it was worshipped in.

• Each false god had altars and priests who attended those altars. 51 ALTARS

• Evil altars can be set up in our lives in various ways. Whenever we idolize something, an invisible altar can be created.

• If something has an ungodly affect on you when you are engaged in a certain activity, there is likely an altar operating behind it. 52 ALTARS

• These altars must be torn down by faith in the name of Yeshua through confession and repentance of your sins, trespasses, and iniquities.

• Even altars set up in the lives of your ancestors up to four generations back can have an effect on what’s going on in your life. Those must be torn down in the same way. 53 ALTARS

• Other than what was intimated in the Garden of Eden, the first priest mentioned in Scripture is found in Genesis 14:18 – Melchizedek was the king of Salem and the priest of God Most High ( ; Supreme God).

54 ALTARS • What is odd is that in all of Scripture, there is no genealogy mentioned about him.

• The purposefully shows us the genealogy of godly men, but it does not share other genealogies unless we need to know them.

• These other people and their genealogies are not as significant as the primary ones: Adam > >> Noah > >> Abraham > Isaac > Jacob > 12 tribes >> etc. 55 ALTARS

• Some have suggested that Melchizedek, which is a title and not a name, may have been Noah’s son Shem, but we know his genealogy, so this may not be true.

• :3 describes Melchizedek as “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the , remains a priest continually.” 56 ALTARS

• Some suggest that Melchizedek was/is Yeshua; whether he was/is or not, he was definitely typological of Yeshua, our High Priest and King.

• Either way, Abraham knew who this man was since he honored him with of all from the war.

57 ALTARS

• The title Melchi-zedek means “my King of Righteousness.”

• There was no other righteous priesthood mentioned in Abram’s day or prior.

58 ALTARS

• Normally, the firstborn sons were the priests of each household.

• When YHVH struck the firstborn Egyptian males, he sanctified to himself the firstborn males of Israel for that purpose, but because of the sins involving the golden calf they had made at Mt. Sinai, YHVH exchanged the firstborn males of Israel for the (Numbers 3:11-13).

59 ALTARS • Numbers 3:44-48 explains how the exchange of the firstborn males for the Levites was carried out:

• Then YHVH spoke to Moses, saying: 45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am YHVH. 46 And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites, 60 ALTARS

• Numbers 3:44-48 (Cont.) – 47 you shall take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs. 48 And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons."

61 ALTARS

• The sons of Levi – the families of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari -- would serve YHVH by caring for the Tabernacle and its furnishings according to their assigned duties.

• Aaron and his sons would serve as priests, so really the priesthood should technically be called the Aaronic priesthood instead of the Levitical priesthood. However, we see Levitical priesthood used in Scripture. 62 ALTARS

• Not all Levites are priests; only the sons of Aaron, who are also Levites, are priests.

63 ALTARS

• In the future, the priests will be the sons of who descended from the line of Aaron because Ezekiel 44:15 says, But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood," says YHVH God.

• These were/will be the earthly priests of the Aaronic priesthood. 64 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• Moses was commanded to build the Tabernacle, including its furnishings, according to the pattern that was shown to him.

• This pattern was a copy and shadow based on what is in heaven.

65 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• Exodus 25:8-9, 40 – And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it... And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.

66 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• :3-6 – For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

67 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• Hebrews 8:3-6 (Cont.) – 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

• Based on verse 4, the earthly Levitical priesthood was still in operation when the book of Hebrews was written.

68 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• Some of these furnishings of the Tabernacle included: • The ark of the covenant and the mercy seat with a cherub at each end – God’s throne • Golden altar of incense with poles • Gold lampstand • The table for the bread of the presence (bread of faces/ showbread) with its dishes, pans, pitchers, and bowls. • Altar of burnt offering with poles • Levitical and priestly garments 69 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• Since the earthly Tabernacle and its furnishings are a shadow of the heavenly one, we must keep in mind that there are likely some differences between what is in the earthly and heavenly realms that we are not be fully aware of; this includes exactly what was offered on the altars in each realm.

70 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• In the Scripture, we find various statements that clue us into the fact that animals can sometimes represent people or vice-versa. • Judah – a lion’s whelp (Genesis 49:9) • Issachar – a strong donkey (Genesis 29:14) • Dan – a serpent by the way (Genesis 29:17) • Naphtali – a deer let loose (Genesis 49:21) • Benjamin – a ravenous wolf (Genesis 49:27) • YHVH’s people – the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3) • Yeshua – the Lamb of God (Passover Lamb) who takes away the sin of the world and the Lion of the tribe of Judah (John 1:29, 36;

Revelation 5:5) 71 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• There are also allusions to Yeshua being the goat used as a sin offering on the Day of Atonements, as well as the bull cut up by the priests of Baal at the battle of bulls on Mt. Carmel.

• Although this bull was killed, Baal failed to consume it. This compares thematically to the fact that Yeshua was killed, but His body did not decay.

• ’s bull that YHVH consumed with fire likely represented Satan who will be thrown in the lake of fire. 72 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• It also seems that the second goat – the goat for Azazel – from the Day of Atonement depicts: • Bar Abbas – who was released instead of Yeshua • Satan – who will be released from the abyss mentioned in Revelation

73 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• The idea that animals can sometime represent people goes to show that it is quite likely that the unclean and clean animals, fish, and birds of the dietary laws represent different kinds of people too – clean, unclean, and unholy mixtures.

• As we eat clean things, we should be making sure our characteristics are consistent with what is holy – set apart to YHVH.

74 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• The offerings and rituals for consecration and cleansing that are found in the book of Leviticus are primarily types and shadows of Yeshua, but there are other things represented as well depending on how you look at the themes in their patterns.

75 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• The descriptions and laws of the offerings are described in Leviticus 1:1-7:36: Leviticus 7:8; John 19:24 – (עֹלָּה) Whole Burnt offering = Olah • 53:5 – (מִנְחָּה) Grain offering = Minchah • Colossians 1:20 – (ש ְלָּמִים ) Peace offering = Shelamim • John 1:29 – (חַט ָּאת) Sin offering = Chattat • Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13 2 – (אָּש ָּם) Guilt offering = Asham • Numbers 15; John 19:34 – (נֶסֶ ְך ) Drink offerings = Nesek •

76 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• The grain, sin, and guilt offerings were considered most holy.

• Excluding the drink offerings, the central focus of the five main offerings is the peace offering – the goal of which is reconciliation, peace, and fellowship.

77 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• The consecration of Aaron and his sons involved various sacrifices, and similar themes in this consecration are seen in Yeshua’s death and burial.

• The procedure for the preparation of the ashes of the red heifer represents Yeshua’s death and burial.

• The cleansing of lepers required two birds (one killed, one living), which represented Yeshua’s death and resurrection.

78 THE HEAVENLY PATTERN

• We must remember that the Levitical system was good; it did what it was designed to do, which was provide atonement and forgiveness.

• However, the Melchizedek system is better.

79 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Yeshua is the bridge between the heavenly and the earthly priesthoods.

• Right now, only the Melchizedek priesthood is functioning, but the Aaronic priesthood will run parallel to the Melchizedek’s during the millennial kingdom.

80 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Some people may find this shocking. Afterall, Yeshua died once for all (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:27; 9:12; 10:10).

• Many understand that the Levitical offerings looked ahead to Yeshua; however, they will be offered again during Yeshua’s millennial reign.

81 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• This may be so we can look back and see the Levitical system that did not operate in our lifetimes, as well as better appreciate what Yeshua did for us.

82 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Now let’s take a closer look at the Melchizedek priesthood.

83 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• The righteous earthly and heavenly priesthoods form a wide-spread chiasm of sorts in Scripture:

• Melchizedek – the king and priest of Salem (Jerusalem) oAaron and his descendants – the earthly priest • Melchizedek – the king and priest of Zion (Jerusalem)

84 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Melchizedek is mentioned once in Genesis 14:18, again in :4, and several times in -7.

85 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS • In Genesis 14, Melchizedek was described as the king of Salem (Jerusalem) who brought out bread and wine in the Valley of Saveh (the King’s Valley) after a war had taken place between four Shemite kings (, king of Shinar; Anoch, king of Ellasar; , king of Elam; and , king of nations) and five Hamite kings (Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboim; and king of Bela [Zoar]).

86 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• The Hamites had been in subjugation to the Shemites until they rebelled in the 13th year.

• Chedorlaomer defeated and spoiled the rebels; they also had taken , Abram’s nephew, captive from Sodom.

• Someone escaped and informed Abram of what had happened.

87 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Abram and his men came to the rescue; he divided his forces, attacked the Shemite forces, brought back all the goods, Lot, women, and other people.

• Melchizedek, the king of Salem and the priest of God Most High (El Elyon, Supreme God), blessed both Abram and God Most High.

• It was at this point that Abram gave Melchizedek tithes of everything. 88 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Many generations later, the Aaronic priesthood was created as part of the Sinai covenant as previously mentioned.

89 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Nothing else was mentioned about the priesthood of Melchizedek until Psalm 110:1-7 – YHVH said to my Lord (Adoniy), "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." 2 YHVH shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! 3 Your people shall be volunteers (as soldiers) In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.

90 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Psalm 110:1-7 (Cont.) – 4 YHVH has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." • • 5 Adonai is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. 7 He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.

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• In this Psalm, we see David’s Lord (Adon), who is in the bosom of the Father, and/or at His right hand, as an eternal priest in the order of Melchizedek, as well as a warrior king.

• He is none other than Yeshua, also known as YHVH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS in 23:5-6.

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• There are several things we can learn about Yeshua and the priesthood of Melchizedek in the Apostolic Writings.

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• The writer of Hebrews confirms that God called His Son, Yeshua, a High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” and he says Yeshua became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:6-11; 6:20; 7:17, 21).

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• Yeshua, the Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world, and everyone who dwells on the earth, whose names are not written in the Book of Life, will worship Yeshua, the High Priest of the order of Melchizedek (Revelation 13:8).

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• Besides being slain in the heavenly realm, Yeshua was slain in the earthly realm when he was crucified on the cross (John 19:17-37).

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• :11-14 – But came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place (of the heavenly tabernacle) once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 97 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Hebrews 9:11-14 (Cont.) – 14 how much more shall the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

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• Therefore, Yeshua’s Melchizedek offering is an anti-type of the Aaronic offerings – it bridges the heavenly and earthly altars.

• It seems that the Melchizedek priesthood had been operating in heaven in parallel with the Aaronic priesthood while the tabernacle or temple on earth has been in operation.

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• Even in the future, the Aaronic priesthood will be operating in the future temple, which is described in Ezekiel, while Yeshua, the High Priest of the order of Melchizedek, reigns over the world in Jerusalem.

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• Ezekiel 20:40-44 – “For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says YHVH God, “there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your sacrifices, together with all your holy things. 41 I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. 101 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Ezekiel 20:40-44 (Cont.) – 42 Then you shall know that I am YHVH, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. 43 And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed.

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• Ezekiel 20:40-44 (Cont.) – 44 Then you shall know that I am YHVH, when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says YHVH God.

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• Ezekiel 42:13 – Then he said to me, “The north chambers and the south chambers, which are opposite the separating courtyard, are the holy chambers where the priests who approach YHVH shall eat the most holy offerings. There they shall lay the most holy offerings — the grain offering, the sin offering, and the trespass offering — for the place is holy.

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• Ezekiel 43:26-27 – Seven days they shall make atonement for the altar and purify it, and so consecrate it. 27 When these days are over it shall be, on the eighth day and thereafter, that the priests shall offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar; and I will accept you,' says YHVH God.”

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• Ezekiel 45:15-17 – And one lamb shall be given from a flock of two hundred, from the rich pastures of Israel. These shall be for grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings, to make atonement for them," says YHVH God. 16 “All the people of the land shall give this offering for the prince in Israel.

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• Ezekiel 45:15-17 (Cont.) – 17 Then it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and at all the appointed seasons of the house of Israel. He shall prepare the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.”

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• Notice that Ezekiel 45:17 says the Feasts of YHVH, which are shadows of God’s plans, will still be observed, so we should be observing them now too.

• Colossians 2:16-17 – So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Messiah.

• See Leviticus 23. 108 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• Let me emphasize again Leviticus 17:11 – For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

• This is the primary means of atonement for sin, trespasses, and guilt.

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• Colossians 1:13-14 – He (Yeshua) has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

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• Romans 3:23-26 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Messiah Yeshua, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation (ἱλαστήριον, hilasterion) by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Yeshua. 111 THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• 2435 ἱλαστήριον – hilasterion • Meaning: 1) relating to an appeasing or expiating, having placating or expiating force, expiatory; a means of appeasing or expiating, a propitiation 1a) used of the cover of the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was sprinkled with the blood of the expiatory victim on the annual day of atonement (this rite signifying that the life of the people, the loss of which they had merited by their sins, was offered to God in the blood as the life of the victim, and that God by this ceremony was appeased and their sins expiated); hence the lid of expiation, the propitiatory 1b) an expiatory 112 sacrifice 1c) a expiatory victim THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY REALMS

• According to the Oxford Dictionary on Lexico: • Expiate (verb) – to atone for (guilt or sin); it is from the Latin expiate – ‘appeased by sacrifice.’ • Expiatory (adjective) – ‘In an expiatory sacrifice the blood which is shed is regarded as wiping out a transgression.’

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• As you can see, the Apostolic Writings show the fulfillment of what was written in the Tanakh concerning YHVH’s plan for mankind – peace and reconciliation through blood atonement.

114 REFERENCES

• Lexicons from Bible Works, LLC; copyright 2013; version 9.0.12.754 • BDB-GESENIUS Hebrew-Aramaic and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Complete and unabridged. By Francis Brown, S.R. Driver, and Charles Briggs (all D.D., D.Litt.), finished in 1906 and based upon several works of Wilhelm Gesenius (and editors), dated 1833, 1854, 1858, and 1895. Full citation under "HEBDIC/HEBDICFR/HEBDICRU." Electronic edition is Copyright © 2001 by BibleWorks, LLC. All rights reserved. Significant Hebrew formatting modifications and improvements made by S. Bushell, 2001, to conform to lemma and inflected Hebrew forms and typeface.

• LNLEX - Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexicon of the Based on Semantic

Domains, 2nd Edition, Edited by J. P. Louw and E. A. Nida. Copyright © 1988 by the 115 United Bible Societies, New York, NY 10023. Used by permission. REFERENCES

• Oxford Dictionary On Lexico: • Expiate – https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/expiate • Expiatory – https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/expiatory

116 WHERE THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD MEETS THE LEVITICAL

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