MELCHISEDEC - WHO WAS HE?

There are many speculations floating around regarding the identity of Melchisedec. Some believe he was Shem, others believe he was Christ. Some believe he was the Holy Spirit, and others believe an angel, and I'm sure there are other beliefs. But what are these? They are mere speculations and nothing more. God's Word gives very limited details concerning Melchisedec, but there is a certain verse in Hebrews which is the cause of all the wild speculations:

Hebrews 7:3 ...'Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.'

This verse is the reason for all the wild speculation. But many people are missing the simple truth regarding the above verse. How could Melchisedec be a normal man and yet be without father or mother, nor beginning or end of days? There is a very simple answer. There is no record of his geneology recorded in the Bible. The Holy Spirit concealed this information and it was a custom for the Jews, if the geneology of a man was unknown, then they would simply say that he was "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life." This was true of Melchisedec, as neither his geneology, nor his birth or death are recorded. So he was simply known as being without father, mother, beginning and end.

"The Hebrews kept very exact genealogical registers. Particularly was this the case respecting their priests; for if the priest could not trace his genealogy back to Aaron, he was not allowed to serve in the priesthood. Those who could not show their record in such tables were said to be without father and mother, and without descent. This did not signify that they had no ancestors, but that the record of them was not preserved. This is exactly the case of Melehisedec. He is introduced in Genesis without any record of his parentage, the Holy Spirit having purposely omitted that matter. He is said by Paul to have no beginning of days, nor end of life. This does not mean absolutely that there was no beginning of existence with him, for it is only true of one being in the universe, viz,, God the Father. But the evident meaning of the apostle is this: that no record of his birth or of his death appears in the history which is given us of him. He appears without any intimation given us of his origin; and the story of this priest of the Most High ends without any record of his death." (Review and Herald, Sept.7, 1869, p.84)

Do you see the simple truth regarding what Paul wrote in Hebrews 7? There is no need for wild speculations. Melchisedec's history is just not known, which is why Paul writes that he is without father, mother, beginning or end. So who was he? What DO we know from God's Word? Let us look at the verses:

Genesis 14:18 ...'And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.'

Hebrews 7:1-4 ...'For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him ... Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.'

So we know that Melchisedec was a man, just as much as Abraham was a man, from whom Melchisedec received tithes. He was also king of Salem, which is understood to be Jerusalem and he was also the priest of the most high God. He was a man, a king and a priest. This is who he was. God has decided to give us no more information of who he was, and therefore that is where we must leave it and go no further. Deuteronomy 29 tells us the following:

Deuteronomy 29:29 ...'The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.'

The secret things regarding Melchisedec belong unto the Lord and have not been revealed to us. Therefore, we leave it right where God desires and go no further regarding Melchisedec's identity. But what we do know is that Melchisedec was "made like unto the Son of God." In what way was this? Well, think about it. Melchisedec was a man, a priest of God and a king. Jesus Christ is a man, a priest and king. It is in this respect that the Aaronic priesthood could not completely fulfill the type of Christ, as the Aaronic order did not obtain a royal position as a king. But in Melchisedec, as well as Christ, the prieshood and royalty were combined into one. Also, the Aaronic order had to maintain a certain recorded lineage of predecessors and successors in that office, whereas there is no lineage of Melchisedec, and neither does Christ's priesthood come from lineage or is passed on to another, but both Melchisedec and Christ were ordained of God.

This is how Melchisedec was 'made like unto the Son of God' and was more fully a type of Christ. Melchizedek's priesthood was a type of our Saviour's priesthood, in his name (Melchisedec - meaning 'king of righteousness'), in office (priest of the Most High), in position (king), and in the fact that it was preceded or succeeded by no other in the same line. But as to the specific identity of Melchisedec, we know he was a man, a priest and a king, and as Sister White once said ... "It was Christ that spoke through Melchisedec, the priest of the most high God. Melchisedec was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in the world, the representative of the Father." (Review and Herald, Feb. 18, 1890, page 97). That is all God has decided to reveal to us and there we must leave it.