Hebrews Series

Hebrews - #21

Fred R. Coulter - October 26, 2002

Now this is Hebrews #21. And we’ll get into the seventh chapter of the book of Hebrews, so if you have your study translation, that’s fine. If you don’t, just go ahead and use your Bible. Let’s come to the last verse in Hebrews 6, because this verse builds on everything, going clear up to chapter 10 and verse 26. It starts out with our access to God the Father.

Let’s back up to Hebrews 6:18 (AT). “So that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge...” And that is, flee from the world and all the things concerning it. “...We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to lay hold on the hope set before us; which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,...” In other words, that’s how you’re going to remain faithful and steadfast, is to always know the hope of your calling; to always understand the great, fantastic thing that God has for us; to know that we are going to be the children of God; to know that we’re going to share in spiritual, eternal life and live with God the Father and Jesus Christ and all the saints forever and ever in New Jerusalem. That’s the hope.

Now notice, “...both secure and steadfast,...” (vs. 19, AT). In other words, because of the promises of God by the two immutable things which He swore that He cannot lie, and because Jesus has already given Himself as that sacrifice and is our High Priest, it is secure and steadfast, and meaning nothing can shake it. Because our way of worshiping God is not in ritual; it is not in sacrifice; it is not in form and ceremony. Our way of worshiping God is direct access to God the Father and Jesus Christ into the Holy of Holies in the temple in heaven. And the whole purpose of everything from here on, whatever he says between this and Hebrews 10:26, is to show how superior, not just better, but superior the New Covenant is to the Old Covenant, and hence, superior to any other form of worship or any other religion, you see. Because only those that have the Spirit of God have this hope.

Now let’s just say this: it is true that if anyone will truly pray to Jesus, though they are not converted and baptized, and they believe, God will answer their prayers according to their faith at their level. Now why would He do that? To encourage them more toward conversion and coming to God. That’s why. So the thing to say that Jesus only hears the prayers of those who are converted, is not a correct statement. However, it is a true statement that only those who have the Spirit of Christ will receive eternal life. God can answer prayers for anyone. Answering a prayer does not mean eternal life. It just means that God answered the prayer. Now if they go on and they’re thankful and they, say they pick up the Bible and really want to know and learn and study, then God’s Spirit can be with them and lead them and, hopefully, they would be led to repentance and baptism.

But as far as those who are in the church, we have - let’s come here to Romans 8, and let’s see something very important here, to where God has absolutely drawn the line. Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,...” This is how God is viewing you, because, obviously, you are still in the flesh. And you still have the pulls of the flesh to overcome. But this, then, is your relationship with God. It is spiritual. “...If so be...” So here’s the dividing line. “...If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” So God is not making a mistake on what He is doing. Those who have the Holy Spirit are His. They are the ones who are called to salvation. So if you have others out there who know of God, heard of God, heard of the name of Christ, if they pray to Jesus and He answers their prayer, that’s fine. It is not giving them eternal life. You see, you do not have to have the Spirit of God in order to have your prayers answered. Otherwise, how would anyone ever be able to approach God at all? You couldn’t. Then you would have to have a system set up where then they would have to come to some man to have their sins forgiven before they could even pray. And can you imagine what a church would do with that?

So, now let’s come back here to Hebrews 6:19 (AT). Now here’s our relationship with God. “...And which enters into the sanctuary within the veil;...” Now you’re able to understand this a little bit more, so I guess it worked out just fine showing you, or having you for the Feast of Tabernacles, see the tabernacle again, where you could see the two compartments of the tabernacle, where you have the holy place and then you have the Holy of Holies. And the veil, within the veil, that is, into the Holy of Holies where the mercy seat of God is. In other words, to the very throne of God.

Now hold your place here, and let’s come to chapter 10. And I said verse 26. No, it’s actually…let’s pick it up in verse 19. Now notice how this is almost a repeat. This is the summary which begins the whole topic there in chapter 6:20. Now here’s the conclusion of everything. Hebrews 10:19, “Therefore, brethren, having confidence to enter into the true holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He consecrated for us through the veil (that is [to say], His flesh), and having a great High Priest over the house of God, let us approach God with a true heart, in full conviction of faith, our hearts having been purified from a wicked conscience, and our bodies having been washed with pure water. Let us hold fast without wavering to the hope that we profess, for He Who promised is faithful;…” (Heb. 10:19-23, AT). See, so it begins with hope, back here in chapter 6 and verses 19-20, and it ends with hope, chapter 10 and verse 23. Now let’s come back to Hebrews 6:20 (AT). “Where [Christ] Jesus has entered for us as forerunner, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchisedec.” And we’re going to start with that today. The order of Melchizedek. And there’s a reason why.

Now this is all based upon - let’s come to Psalm 110. This is all based upon what we find here in Psalm 110. And as a matter of fact, verse 4 of Psalm 110 is repeated many times in the New Testament. Because this is the whole basis of the foundation of the New Covenant and the worship of God under the New Covenant, and our access to God the Father, and Jesus Christ and the High Priest that we have. Now let’s pick it up here beginning in verse 1. “The LORD said unto my Lord,...” And of course, we know David had no lord over him. So this is one of those places in the Old Testament that reveals the Father as well as Christ. “...Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies” (Psa. 10:1-2). Isn’t that something? The enemies of God can only do what God allows. They don’t even realize how restricted and how held back they are by God. See, because they take this kind of attitude. Hold your place and come to Psalm 2. Here’s their attitude. Here’s the attitude of them today. And this is what they are wanting to do with all of the new religions, and now with this book that I mentioned earlier, Christianity Without God. See, God is going to let this world go its way, and they think they’re getting away with it. And then one day, bam, in the heavens there’s going to appear the sign of the Son of Man, and they’re going to be astonished at what’s going to happen. It’s going to be something.

Psalm 2: 1, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder [‘God has no hold on us’], and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure. Yet have I set My king upon My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psa. 2:1-9).

So when it says that He rules (come back here to Psalm 110), when He rules in the midst of His enemies, now that’s something to have great hope in. Yes, there are times that God lets the enemies conquer His people. That is true. And that’s what they’re going to figure that they are doing in the last days when the martyrdom’s occur. And what is going to be the ultimate reality of the fulfillment of Psalm 2? When they think that they have finally won. Hold your place here, Psalm 110, let’s go to Revelation 11. The enemies are going to think that they have finally won when they kill the two witnesses. Because look what they do after that. “And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies...” This is Revelation 11:9, after they’ve tormented them with plagues and everything like this, and they can call fire down from heaven, and hold back the rain, and everything. So God is going to let them kill them. Whereas before, if they tried to kill them, what would happen? Fire would come out of the mouth of the two witnesses and devour them.

So here, they are going to think, “Boy, we finally got it! These guys are dead!” And so, they’ll see their bodies, “...three days and an half, and shall not [allow] suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth” (vs. 9-10). So for three and a half days they’re going to think they’re victorious. [Chuckle] Really not very long at all. Then right after that, they are raised, the seventh trumpet is blown, and the resurrection takes place.

So you see, never worry (let’s come back here to Psalm 110), never worry about the enemy. Now yes, we’re to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. That’s true. But never worry about the enemy. Because God rules in their midst. And if He lets them rise very high, guess what? They have further to fall. And always remember Pharaoh. God said, “I raised him up for this very purpose: to show My power and My glory, that will be known in all the earth” (Ex. 9:16, paraphrased). Yes, it was. And still is. Wherever the Bible is, and you read it, it’s still known in all the earth that God took him down. But He let him be raised up in great glory. And He let him oppress the children of Israel. Then God intervened. And he learned one thing: even though he didn’t have any of the technological marvels that we supposedly have with our weapons today, that you can’t fight against the plagues of God. You can’t be a very good warrior when you’re covered with boils and blains. And you can’t concentrate on what you’re doing if flies and frogs and lice and all of these things are bothering you. So God has a good way of taking care of them, you see. So God does rule in the midst of His enemies.

Now let’s come back to Psalm 110:3. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power,...” That’s something. When is the day of His power? Whenever He intervenes on behalf of His people. Whether it is before the second coming or at the second coming. Of course, the second coming is going to be the greatest manifestation of it, isn’t it? Yes. “...In the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth.” Now this is, then, just sort of a symbolic expression of eternal life. Now verse 4, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [that is, ‘the LORD said to my Lord’], art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” (Psa. 110:3-4). Now one thing that’s very important here that we need to understand, when this was given, this was given while the Levitical priesthood, the Aaronic priesthood and the Levites were in full blossom in Jerusalem. And this is already telling us while that priesthood was functioning that it was going to be out of date sometime in the future and be replaced by the order of Melchizedek. And so this is what we will see.

Verse 5, “The Lord at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath.” Now this shows His second coming. “He shall judge among the heathen [He’s constantly doing that], He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way [that’s likening unto the Holy Spirit]: therefore shall He lift up the head” (vs. 5-7). And “lift up the head,” that has lift up Himself for battle, and has to do with His second return.

Now let’s come back to Hebrews 7. Let’s begin in verse 1, and then we will go back and we will study about Melchizedek in the Old Testament. Now let’s just read verses 1 through 4, and then we’ll go back and study those. “For this Melchisedec, King of Salem, Priest of the Most High God, Who met Abraham as he was returning from his defeat of the kings, and blessed him, and to Whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all; on the one hand, being interpreted King of Righteousness, and on the other hand, King of Salem, which is King of Peace; without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but having been made like the Son of God, remains a Priest forever. And consider how great this one was, to Whom even the patriarch Abraham give a tenth from the spoils” (Heb. 7:1-4, AT).

Now let’s go back and look at the…whatever bit it tells us of the priesthood of Melchizedek. Let’s first of all understand that it says here in Hebrews 7:1, that He is King and Priest. Under the system that Israel had, the priest could not be king. You had the kingship, which would come down through the line of David; you had the priesthood, which would come down through the line of Aaron. A king could not become a priest, and a priest could not become a king. But here we have both offices together in Melchizedek, showing - now, the reason that this is so is to show the superiority of the priesthood of Melchizedek, Who is Christ. That’s what it’s showing.

Now let’s go back and see the account here in Genesis 14. This is all we have concerning Melchizedek in the Old Testament. Now again, this becomes a very important precedent when we understand that Melchizedek, back here in Genesis 14, was actually the one Who became Jesus Christ. Because every other man has what? A mother, a father, a beginning of days, and an end of life. Now some commentaries like to say that Melchizedek was Shem. Well, why could it not be Shem? It’s very, very simple. The Bible records his birth, doesn’t it? Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah. So he had a father and mother. He had a beginning of days, and he had an end of life. So therefore, just as God appeared to those in the Old Testament time in different manners, there’s a time later when He came to Abraham and He appeared as a man. Here’s a time where He appears, then, as a High Priest. Now this becomes very important, because this occurred before the priesthood of Aaron and the Levitical system. That means that it has precedence over the covenant with Israel.

Now let’s pick it up here, Genesis 14. And when they came back from the slaughter of the kings, let’s pick it up here in verse 17. “And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter...” So the king of Sodom didn’t go out and fight. He stayed home. “...From the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. And Melchizedek king of Salem...” Now also, this tells us this is a preview of the only ceremony that we have where we use physical things. And that ceremony is what? The Passover. This king of Salem, Priest of the Most High, did not accept animal sacrifices, did not accept any other form of worship, did He? So then, here we have right here, by what He did, was a prophecy of what would be when it comes time for the Passover. Right here. Now this may not have been at the Passover time. It doesn’t tell us whether it was or whether it wasn’t. “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and He was the Priest of the Most High God” (Gen. 14:17-18).

Now, when it talks about the Most High in the Old Testament, that is talking about God the Father. So there are these some few references in the Old Testament concerning God the Father. In Daniel 7 He is called the Ancient of Days. So here He is the Priest of the Most High God. And that means God the Father.

Now verse 19, this is very interesting. Though the king of Sodom may have been there, there’s no indication that he participated in this service with Abraham and Melchizedek. Now notice what happened. “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 hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave Him tithes of all” (vs. 19-20). Now this also becomes a very important thing. This also shows, number one, that tithes were required before the Levitical priesthood.

Now let’s just answer a real quick question here. Let’s come to Genesis 26:5. Now we won’t get into tithing today. I’ll cover that at a later time. But we’ll sort of set the stage here with it. Let’s ask a question: was Abraham a righteous man? Yes. He’s called righteous Abraham, isn’t he? Now, which meant what? That he kept the commandments of God, didn’t he? But more importantly, what made him more righteous than others was this - he obeyed the voice of God without question, and with a willing heart and obedience. That’s what’s so important.

Now here we have in Genesis 26, we have the blessing passed on from Abraham to Isaac. And God tells him, beginning in verse 3, He tells Isaac, “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;...” Now, Isaac remembered that oath, didn’t he? Because he was one of the participants, wasn’t he, at the time when God asked Abraham to offer Isaac for a burnt offering. So he understood fully what was being said here. And he remembered the swearing that God said, “In blessing I will bless, and multiplying I will multiply,” (Gen. 22:17, paraphrased). So He reiterates it here in verse 4: “And I will make thy seed [that is, Isaac] to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws” (Gen. 26:3-5).

And these had to be the very same that He gave to the children of Israel at a later date. Now why can we be so sure of that? Well simply because Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and “I, the LORD, change not” (Malachi 3:6, paraphrased). So if His commandments are righteousness, which they are, and if obedience is required of them, which He does, then they had to be the exact same laws. Otherwise, how would Abraham know how to tithe, unless God had commanded him to tithe? Now though we only have this one account of spoil, that doesn’t mean that that was the only time that Abraham tithed. It gives this one account to establish a precedent that the priesthood of Melchizedek was in operation before the priesthood of Aaron, has superiority over the priesthood of Aaron, and that the priesthood of Aaron and the Levitical system was to come to an end at a future date. Now that’s why these things are there.

Now let’s come back to the book of Hebrews here. Hebrews 7:2 (AT). “And to Whom Abraham gave a tenth part of all; on the one hand, being interpreted King of Righteousness, and on the other hand, King of Salem, which is King of Peace;...” Now this is a literal declaration of His title back there in Genesis 14, and it is a prophetic reference of His titles when Christ sets up the kingdom of God. And we will see that all the way through when we’re going through this. Now verse 3, “Without father, without mother,...” Now no human being can be without father or mother, correct? So this has to be the one Who became Christ. “...Without genealogy;...” And there is no genealogy in the Old Testament you can go back where it says, “This is the genealogy of Melchizedek, the Priest of the Most High God.” Whereas, you could go back into the Old Testament in you could find the genealogy of the Aaronic priesthood and the Levites, can’t you? Beginning with whom? Moses and Aaron. Yes indeed.

“...Nor end of life, but having been made like the Son of God,...” So you see, when Melchizedek appeared as the Priest of the Most High God, He presented Himself in a form that He would look like when He became Christ. Now as the Son of God, He remains a Priest forever. Now this becomes so very important, because it means that there is no interruption of the service of His Priesthood. He does not need a successor because He is there forever it says. “...Remains a Priest forever.” And that’s continually, without interruption. Now how much better of a priesthood is this, than a priesthood of men who, through history have shown that they have become corrupted? And that corruption was previewed by what? Right back in the wilderness, wasn’t it, when the people came to Aaron and said, “As for this man Moses, we don’t know where he is. Aaron, make us gods.” See, so the corruptible nature of the Aaronic priesthood was revealed immediately in Aaron himself, wasn’t it? Now Aaron didn’t say, “Now look, we know we heard the voice of God. We know that He said ‘You shall not make any idols or graven images of anything, and you shall not bow down and worship them.’ So therefore, no, I’m not going to do this. And since my brother Moses is up there talking to God, if you so much as raise a finger to make an idol, I’m going to have the soldiers over here thrust you through with a spear.” Which is what he should have done. But he didn’t. So that whole episode of making the golden calves was not only a sin at that time, but it was also a prophecy of the coming corruption of the Aaronic priesthood. And you can go back and read how corrupt they became.

So here we have a King of Righteousness, no corruption; Who lives forever, Who is the right hand of God, Who has given us permission to come into the Holy of Holies in the temple above to God the Father, and Jesus Christ sitting at the right hand of God. Now that’s why it’s so superior. Because, number one, we have God the Father Who lives forever, and God the Son Who lives forever, Who can never be corrupted, Who are always righteous, Who gives us of His Holy Spirit, give us hope, give us understanding, give us of His word, and of His truth; and that we can have direct contact with Them in heaven above. And that’s contrasted with the Aaronic and Levitical system, where they had to come to the priest. They didn’t have direct access to God the Father in heaven above. Only certain of the prophets and the patriarchs, you know, they had direct access to God. But here, what a tremendous privilege that is, brethren. And that’s why, you’ll see, he spent so much time on this. So when he comes to the end of this in Hebrews 10, and he says, “If you trample under foot the Son of God, and count the blood of the covenant wherewith you are sanctified as an unholy thing, it’s over with” (Heb. 10:29, AT, paraphrased). Because this is a tremendous, absolute privilege here. He remains a Priest forever.

(Pause) Question is, why would he say, “the King of Righteousness,” rather than “the Priest of Righteousness”? Very important. He’s called the King of Righteousness, the King of Salem, which is the King of Peace. Because not only as High Priest, He has the two offices - He is King and He is Priest. Which then is a special office not granted to other human beings. This is to show that actually He is God. Because no one can be King of Righteousness unless he is God, can he?

Now let’s come here to Revelation, and let’s look at a couple of things. Let’s come to Revelation 19. And it shows His activity in righteousness here even in making war. Now verse 11, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.” Well, you see, only the King of Righteousness can judge and make war this way. Then it talks about Him and His glorified form, and He’s called The Word of God. Now, you come over here to verse 16, and it says, “And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” So being King of Righteousness and King of Peace, and Priest at the same time, that is a far greater office than the priesthood of Aaron, because he was only a priest. And he was physical. Whereas we now have a Priest forever Who is also king. Who is also ruler. And you could put in there Isaiah 9. You can tie that in there with it. Let’s look at that. We covered that during the Feast of Tabernacles, but let’s go back and look at it here. The very purpose why Christ came, and it shows all of these things all tied together.

Now here it doesn’t show His priestly office. Here it shows His kingly office. Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder:...” The kingly office is being exalted here. In Psalm 110 we have the priestly office. Then in Hebrews 7 we have them combined together for the very first time, because Christ was the only one Who was righteous enough to be King and Priest. Foretold by being King of Salem and Priest of the Most High back in Genesis 14. So here in Isaiah 9 it talks about the kingly element of it, you see. “...The government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful,...” Now all of these are names of God, qualities of God. “...Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Now back there in Hebrews 7 He’s called the King of Peace, you see. “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David,...” Showing that though He is Prince of Peace, He will be King of Peace because He’s going to sit on the throne of David. “...And upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isa. 9:6-7). So there we have the kingly part of the Melchizedek, being King and High Priest.