Priesthood Authority and Messianic Israel to be Endtime Saviors
This week we are going to pause reviewing Letters to the Hebrews and look at priesthood authority. We have been talking a lot about the priesthood in our review of Letters to the Hebrews. Next week’s parsha, Korach, records Korach’s attempt to usurp the priesthood and God kills him and those who supported him. Sending a clear message that Korach was not following the order of God regarding the priesthood. As we see in the New Testament, the priesthood in the Law needed to be changed because the Levitical Priesthood doesn’t atone for sin, doesn’t provided for the resurrection, and doesn’t connect believers with Heaven/eternity with God's presence. Moreover, the Melchizedek Priesthood doesn’t require a lineage but is obtained by an oath/covenant and is available to any male believer.
Priesthood Basics
Priesthood is God’s authority to teach His word and administer the ordinances for salvation. We can see this pattern in the Levitical Priesthood. The Melchizedek Priesthood takes the priesthood to a higher level by fusing leadership and priesthood functions into one head – Fathers over families and Community Leaders at various levels.
Melchizedek Priesthood |
Authority Head V V |
King Establishes and Executes the Law |
Priest Teaches the Law and Administer Ordinances |
The Church and the Melchizedek Priesthood
Today, we see primarily two churches that assert having Melchizedek Priesthood authority – the Catholic Church and the Mormon Church. Catholics claim priesthood authority through Apostolic Succession from Peter whom they recognize as their first pope. Mormons claim priesthood authority through the ordination of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery by Peter, James, and John as resurrected beings.
Since both of these churches claim priesthood authority, they both are also claiming that their doctrine will lead a believer to salvation. And since both of these Churches worship the same God, then their way to salvation should be identical. Unfortunately, their doctrines are not identical and we’re stuck in a dilemma deciding which one is right.
Catholic Church |
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Mormon Church |
Ancient Israel and the Melchizedek Priesthood
Before Israel sinned with the golden calf, Yehovah sought to establish the Melchizedek Priesthood with Israel. Let’s consider events in Exodus where Yehovah was restoring His relationship and the Melchizedek Priesthood with the children of Israel.
Moses and the Melchizedek Priesthood
We know that Moses had the Melchizedek Priesthood – he had power from God, he saw God and later we see Moses offer his life to atone for Israel’s sin with the golden calf – he was offering to be a proxy savior under the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Melchizedek Priesthood |
High Priests/Community Leaders Yehovah/Yeshua Moses |
Fathers and the Threshold Covenant
The very first covenant we see introduced to Israel in Yehovah’s restoration of His relationship with Israel is the Threshold Covenant – Exodus 12. Fathers in Israel sacrificed an unblemished male lamb, applied its blood to the door frames of their homes and consumed the meat of the lamb.
The sacrificed lamb represented Israel’s Savior-God.
Applying the blood to the front door was a recognition by the father of the home that the God of Israel was the deity that he recognized as his God. Today, we can post his name above our doors.
Consuming the meat of the lamb at the Passover meal represented the sealing of the covenant.
Applying the blood to the front door was a recognition by the father of the home that the God of Israel was the deity that he recognized as his God. Today, we can post his name above our doors.
Consuming the meat of the lamb at the Passover meal represented the sealing of the covenant.
Essentially, what the Threshold Covenant means is that if you, the father, take Yehovah as your god, you will be a king and priest to Him.
Melchizedek Priesthood |
High Priests/Community Leaders Yehovah/Yeshua Moses |
Priests/Family Leaders Fathers |
Firstborn dedicated to God
In the very next chapter, Exodus 13, we see Israel commanded to consecrate their firstborn males to Yehovah. These firstborn will function as temple priests. Later, this role will be taken from the firstborn and given to the Levites because of Israel’s sin.
Melchizedek Priesthood |
High Priests/Community Leaders Yehovah/Yeshua Moses |
Priests/Family Leaders Fathers |
Temple Priests Firstborn |
System of Community Leadership
The next event we see in Exodus 18 is the selection of leader-judges, which would have also included priesthood.
Melchizedek Priesthood |
High Priests/Community Leaders Yehovah/Yeshua Moses Leaders over Twelve Tribes – Numbers 1 Prophets – Ephesians 4, 1 Cor 12 Seventy Elders – Numbers 11 Leaders over thousands Leaders over hundreds Leaders over fifties Leaders over tens |
Priests/Family Leaders Fathers |
Temple Priests Firstborn |
Yehovah then revokes the Melchizedek Priesthood from Israel because of the golden calf sin.
The “New” Covenant and the Melchizedek Priesthood
In the “New” Covenant we see a change and restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood through Yeshua, which priesthood then is commonly held among believers. Melchizedek Priesthood authority is obtained through the New Covenant and swearing an oath/covenant. Fathers swear to be pure, Leaders swear to be perfect.
Endtime Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood
Isaiah predicts that there will be an Endtime restoration of leader/judges/high priests that coincides with the restoration of Israel. We can link these leader/judges/high priests to the 144,000 Melchizedek Saviors.
Avraham Gileadi PhD -
Types of God’s government that existed anciently combine to provide an idea of God’s government in the [Endtimes and] millennial age. One example is that of Moses and Israel’s judges: “I will restore my handover you and smelt away your dross as in a crucible, and remove all your alloy. I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as in the beginning. After this you shall be called the City of Righteousness, a faithful city” (Isaiah 1:25–26; emphasis added). The parallel verbs “I will restore” (ibid.) show God’s simultaneous appointment of his end-time servant—God’s hand and Righteousness—and of additional righteous “judges” who rule as one.
Similar models appear elsewhere: “A king shall reign in righteousness and rulers rule with justice” (Isaiah 32:1); “The moon will blush and the sun be put to shame, when Jehovah of Hosts manifests his reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory in the presence of his elders” (Isaiah 24:23). Although Jehovah rules as King in the millennial age (ibid., Isaiah 33:17, 22; 43:15; 44:6; 52:7), he doesn’t rule alone. God’s end-time servant and other servants—all who follow King Hezekiah’s pattern of serving as proxy saviors of their peoples—rule with him as Zion’s kings and queens (Isaiah 9:6–7; 11:1–5; 16:6; 37:15–20; 51:5; 60:3, 10–11, 16–17; 62:2).
My Journey with the Melchizedek Priesthood
Since authority to reveal God’s word requires the priesthood, I must assert having the priesthood. My journey with the Melchizedek Priesthood includes the following, which I will outline using Isaiah’s spiritual categories of humanity - the Ladder to Heaven developed by Dr. Gileadi in his book Isaiah Decoded.
Jacob – Believer in the God of Israel
Born into Mormon Christianity
I was ordained a high priest in 1986 when I was called into a bishopric in the Mormon Church. Now, I see this ordination as symbolic for a future relevance.
Israel – Returning to the Law
1998 - Embraced the Law in the Torah as still being relevant as an extension of the US Constitution – Skousen Book – The Majesty of God’s Law – Its Coming to America
2002 - Introduced to and embraced the Gospel in the Book of Isaiah set out in Isaiah Decoded by Avraham Gileadi PhD.
2012/2013 – Began publishing a neighborhood newsletter supporting a return to the Law.
2014 - was counseled for two years, persecuted, and finally excommunicated by my Church.
2016 Self-baptized into Yeshua HaMashiach Israel's Messiah (not Christianity's Jesus) at Big Springs, Missouri.
Established a website promoting an Endtime restoration of the Law.
2018 - I took the Hebrew name of Isaiah since I was named after my great grandfather and father who both had the name of Isaiah.
Entered the priesthood in the New Covenant as a priest by reciting an oath to be pure.
Born into Mormon Christianity
I was ordained a high priest in 1986 when I was called into a bishopric in the Mormon Church. Now, I see this ordination as symbolic for a future relevance.
Israel – Returning to the Law
1998 - Embraced the Law in the Torah as still being relevant as an extension of the US Constitution – Skousen Book – The Majesty of God’s Law – Its Coming to America
2002 - Introduced to and embraced the Gospel in the Book of Isaiah set out in Isaiah Decoded by Avraham Gileadi PhD.
2012/2013 – Began publishing a neighborhood newsletter supporting a return to the Law.
2014 - was counseled for two years, persecuted, and finally excommunicated by my Church.
2016 Self-baptized into Yeshua HaMashiach Israel's Messiah (not Christianity's Jesus) at Big Springs, Missouri.
Established a website promoting an Endtime restoration of the Law.
2018 - I took the Hebrew name of Isaiah since I was named after my great grandfather and father who both had the name of Isaiah.
Entered the priesthood in the New Covenant as a priest by reciting an oath to be pure.
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2020 - Received a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
Zion/Jerusalem – God’s Covenant People - Unconditional/Everlasting
God’s Son/Servant/Elect - Proxy Saviors - Conditional
Published 2021 “The Endtime Empowerment of Davidic Kings”
Blogged on the Torah for a year covering the parshas.
Published 2024 “Ascending the Ladder to Heaven at the End of the World” – an extensive review of Isaiah Decoded integrating the Law and applying a systems approach to the interpretation of Isaiah’s Gospel – the Ladder to Heaven.
2024/2025 - Overcome dysfunctional patterns of behavior (iniquity/inherited sin).
2025 - swear oath to be perfect as a high priest.
Receive calling to help Messianic Israel prepare to be Endtime Saviors .
In the Future
Endure an Extreme Test of Faith
Calling and Election Made Sure
See God, the Son
God’s Son/Servant/Elect - Proxy Saviors – Unconditional/Everlasting
Angel/Seraphim – Does the Work and Will of the Father
Tested in all things to be loyal to God – receive God’s power
Endure an Extreme Test of Faith
Calling and Election Made Sure
See God, the Son
God’s Son/Servant/Elect - Proxy Saviors – Unconditional/Everlasting
Angel/Seraphim – Does the Work and Will of the Father
Tested in all things to be loyal to God – receive God’s power
Kings and Queens of Messianic Israel—Saviors
The apostle Paul declared that each one of us must work out our own salvation – Phillipians 2:12. In other words, it is up to each one of us to establish a relationship with God and find out what God expects of us and how we are to serve in the Endtimes. For men, priesthood is integral for those who will be called and serve as the 144,000 Endtime Melchizedek Saviors who will gather the remnants of the House of Israel and graphed-in Gentiles. Messianic Israel is the source from whence these Entime Melechizedek Saviors will spring!
Avraham Gileadi PhD -
Olive tree allegories representing God’s people Israel in the writings of the prophets set in relief the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles. The Gentiles are given the chance to become God’s covenant people. In the end, however, most renege on their commitment and are “cut off” (compare Romans 11). A redeeming thing about the Gentiles’ being grafted into the tree, however, is that those who remain with the tree [Messianic Israel] do so because they nurture God’s people Israel. When the Jews rejected Jesus, his disciples took the gospel to the Gentiles. In the end-time, that situation is reversed, as those Gentiles who remain faithful [Messianic Israel] restore it to the house of Israel.
Still, the kings and queens of [Messianic Israel] who act as Israel’s “foster fathers” and “nursing mothers” (Isaiah 49:23; 60:3–16) are undoubtedly not pure Gentiles either. Because many descendants of Israel assimilated into the Gentiles through the centuries, those end-time saviors of God’s people [Messianic Israel] in all likelihood fall into the category of assimilated Israelites.