Episode 32 focuses on a most mysterious figure who is revealed in Daniel Chapter 7. It reveals the major role he will play in the defeat of the antichrist and the coming rule of God over the nations.

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Transcript
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The Future of the Teachings of Jesus
21. The Coming of Melchizedek
Who is Melchizedek? (Ep. 32)

 

The good news of Daniel Chapter 7. In the last episode we discussed the seventh chapter of Daniel, and the great good news it brings us concerning the climax of the dark times we are now enduring. It reinforces the hopeful conclusions of Daniel, Chapter 2. At a time of imperial and totalitarian rule, God will enter earthly affairs, end the unjust, coercive, and secular rule of men, and bring about the just and freedom affirming rule of God over the nation-states of the world.

The antichrist and the supernatural warrior-ruler sent by God. In the dream that Daniel recites in Chapter 7 we are introduced to two important new figures.  The first is the “little horn” (Dan 7: 8) who gains power in Western Europe and comes to be known in the New Testament as “the antichrist.” (1 Jn 2:22) We are also introduced to a second and even more mysterious individual. He is sent by God from heaven to defeat and destroy the antichrist and those who follow in his evil ways. He will then become the ruler over Israel and the nations and peoples of the earth. Here is what is revealed to Daniel in the dream:

9As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat…. 10A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened…. 13I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (Dan. 7: 9-10, 13-14; my bold)

 

The Jewish deliver. This is the first extensive description in the Old Testament of the figure that the Jews looked to as their coming deliver. This conquering and ruling superhuman personality is referred to in many other Jewish scriptures. One of the most important of these is Psalms 110, which is most enlightening in that it reveals the identity of the coming deliverer. Here is what David had to say in this Psalm:

         2The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes! 4The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” 4The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth.” (Ps. 110: 2, 4-6; my bold)

 

Melchizedek is the warrior-king who brings deliverance from the antichrist. We should realize that this Psalm refers to the time of the end and the gigantic battle that takes place at that time. This is the time when God will “shatter kings on the day of his wrath” (Ps 110:4) and execute “judgment among the nations.” (Ps 110:6) In this important Psalm Melchizedek is revealed as the ruling warrior-deliver who will be sent by God at the end of the age to shatter the power of the evil rulers of the nations.

         Who is Melchizedek? Who is Melchizedek? He is a mysterious figure who appears in both the Old and the New Testaments. He is one of the very few supernatural personalities, other than Jesus, who has appeared on our world stage. He is an immortal son of God who incarnated on the earth in the time of Abraham and was the divine personality who was instrumental in the establishment of the Jewish religion through the covenant with Abraham. Following is a description of him from the New Testament book of Hebrews:

 1For this Melchiz’edek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; 2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.” (Heb. 7: 1-3; my bold)

 

Melchizedek serves as a divine representative of Jesus to our world. Like Gabriel, Melchizedek is a high and divine Son of God who serves as a special representative of Jesus to our world. As the author of Hebrews testifies, “He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life….” (Heb. 7: 3) Melchizedek came to earth and functioned as a priest of God in the days of Abraham. He made his headquarters at Salem, which is the site of modern Jerusalem. It was through Melchizedek that God made the faith covenant with Abraham: if we will believe God’s promises and follow his instructions we may trust in Him for everything; in other words, “trust and obey.” This covenant formed the genesis and basis of the Hebrew religion.

Melchizedek is “the messenger of the covenant” who returns to destroy the evil doers. This identification of Melchizedek as the divine Son of God who comes down from heaven to defeat the antichrist in the latter days is reinforced by Malachi, Chapter 3, where Melchizedek is referred to as “the messenger of the covenant” made with Abraham. Malachi’s question, “But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?” demonstrates that Melchizedek comes at the time of the end and the great final battle with the antichrist. (Mal. 3: 2) Here is what Malachi predicts:

1the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. 2But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the LORD.” (Mal. 3: 1-3; my bold)

 

Summary. In summary, Daniel 7 reveals that the Ancient of Days, a high ruler in heaven, will pronounce judgment on the secular, evil forces who have gained power over our world. He will appoint Melchizedek to return to our world and defeat the antichrist and institute the reign of God over the nations of the earth. Thus, we see that Daniel 7, like Daniel 2, assures us that the secular totalitarian and dictatorial governments of men will be destroyed and replaced by the benign rule of God. It further reveals that this will be accomplished through Melchizedek, the same divine Son who, in the days of Abraham, initiated the Jewish religion to “trust and obey” God.” When Melchizedek returns he will institute a divine world government and rule the nations in the name of Jesus, and this rule will be forever. As Daniel reveals in Chapter 7, “to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Dan. 7: 9-10, 13-14)

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