NOTES by Editor | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 9, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 47.

NOTES.

By Editor

WE are led, by all the Scriptures, to believe that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham only in respect to his position or office as priest-king. Abraham was not a king; he was only a stranger and pilgrim in the land. The priesthood of Melchizedek and of Aaron were both typical of that of Christ; but as a type the former stood highest, because Aaron had no kingship connected with his priesthood. It is this fact that gives the priesthood of Melchizedek superiority over that of Aaron. Inasmuch as Aaron had no kingship, were it not for Melchizedek we should have but a limited and very imperfect type of the priesthood of Christ. In other respects, Abraham doubtless was not inferior to Melchizedek.

"THAT Christ was a 'prophet, priest, and king,' many of us have learned from our early childhood; but comparatively few ever learned the true relation these offices sustain to each other. He was 'that prophet' while on earth; and Paul's testimony given in Heb. 7:13, 14; 8:4, shows that he filled no other office. Many suppose that his priesthood is connected with that kingdom which is given to him as the Son of David. But this is utterly forbidden by plain Scripture declarations. Aaron had no kingship, and David had no priesthood; and Christ is not a priest after the order of Aaron (Heb. 7:11), so is he not a king on the throne of David (i. e., during his priesthood). It is 'after the order of Melchizedek,' who was both king and priest, that Christ is a priest on his Father's throne. At different times he occupies two different thrones (see Rev. 3:21); and the throne of his Father in heaven, which he now occupies as priest, 'he shall have delivered up' at his coming. 1 Cor. 15:23-28. Then, in subjection to his Father, he will take his own throne, called also the throne of David, on which he will reign forever—without end. Luke 1:32, 33. But then he will no more be a priest, his priesthood being altogether on the throne he now occupies."

SOME have supposed from the language of Heb. 5:6 that Christ's priesthood will never end; but that is not a necessary conclusion even from this text, and other scriptures quite forbid it. The word forever, as used in the Scriptures, has a variety of meanings. According to Young it frequently means "age lasting," or "to the age;" the latter is the definition which he gives to it in this case. We understand, therefore, that Christ will be a priest to the end of the gospel age, when he lays aside that office, takes the throne of his Father David, and is henceforth a king. Christ is a priest only for the gospel age; he has an unchangeable priesthood, and it does not pass to another; hence when he lays aside his priestly garments all human probation is forever closed, for there is no longer an intercessor.

It may be objected that to limit the meaning of the word forever would make nonsense of such texts as Heb. 10:14, but it is only seemingly so, for in that verse the term forever comes from an entirely different Greek word, the meaning of which is, "to continue continuously," so that the text would read: "For by one offering he hath perfected to continue continuously [or to eternity] them that are sanctified." The Greek words from which forever in Heb. 5:6 are translated, are always modified in meaning, as to duration, by that to which they are applied. Their primary significance is "age lasting." If applied to God, or to the inheritance of his people, they necessarily mean eternity, as is abundantly proved by other texts. If applied to any one age, or dispensation, they mean during that dispensation. If applied to man, they simply refer to his existence amid the conditions which surround him.