WHO IS THIS MELCHISEDEC #94

King Of Peace

December 9th, 2001

 

HEBREWS 7:1  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; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 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. 4 Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

 

Last week we spoke to you from Who is this Melchisedec where brother Branham was quoting from Hebrews chapter 7 where Paul was speaking of the Kingship of Melchisedec.  He said, "Notice His title, King of righteousness. Now, Hebrews 7:2: King of righteousness and King of peace, He's two Kings. Now, watch, Hebrews 7:2, King of righteousness, also the King of peace. He's two Kings there. Now, since He has come in the flesh and received His body up, in Revelations 19:16 He's called the King of Kings. He's all three of them together. See?

 

Now, there is one more thing I would like to say about these three titles of King. There is an order to these titles. How many of you can tell me from what we have read today the order of these three titles?

 

#1) First of all He was King of Righteousness. Then He was…

#2) King of Peace… and finally He will be…

#3) King of Kings…

 

Now what is Righteousness? It is Right-wise-ness. Right-wise-ness is being right! He is the King of being right! Right with what? Right with the Word! For, He is the Word. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was With God and the Word was God. Therefore His First Kingdom is the Kingdom of the Word, for He is the Word. Therefore, the first kingdom was the Kingdom of the Word, for In the beginning was the Word. Therefore the first kingdom is the Kingdom of Our God, for God is the Word, and if He is the Word, then the first of His titles would have to be the King of the word or the King of right-wise-ness. He is the God of all truth. For you must have the Word of God, the Truth before you can have Peace.

 

In II PETER 1:2 we read, Grace and peace be multiplied unto you (how?…Multiplied, that means double times double, etc. and how does this come about?) Peter continues,  through the knowledge of God, and (now, remember, and is a conjunction linking two things. In fact Brother Branham said the same thing, he said from PHILADELPHIAN CHURCH AGE  60-1210 paragraph 44 Isn't it strange that many cut off that part there? "And" is a conjunction that ties your sentence together. See?). Through the knowledge of God, and (and what? And through the knowledge) of Jesus our Lord,

 

By knowing the Father and the Son we truly come to know the Grace of God. And through understanding this Grace comes peace multiplied many fold. We can see therefore that it is through the Knowledge of, or Knowing God and knowing His Son Jesus Christ, that we come to understand the Grace of God, and His Mercy and plan for that Mercy which He imparts to us through the death of His Son.

For how could we have peace were it not for knowing the Grace of our God. And thus knowing God and His Son, we enter into a special relationship of trust,

 

Again in the first book of Peter, we see him acknowledges that Grace comes before peace as well.

 

I PETER 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

 

Not only in Peters 2 Epistles do we find this acknowledging how peace comes from, but in Paul's salutations of all his Epistles he always begins by saying, Grace [be] to you and peace from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ. As we read in more than half of his Epistles including this one from  II CORINTHIANS 1:2 that we see here.

 

Again in I CORINTHIANS 1:3, we read, Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and [in] all knowledge;

 

ROMANS 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

GALATIANS 1:3 Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father, and [from] our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

EPHESIANS 1:2 Grace [be] to you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

PHILIPPIANS 1:2 Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

COLOSSIANS 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

I THESSALONIANS 1:1   Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians [which is] in God the Father and [in] the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

II THESSALONIANS 1:2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

I TIMOTHY 1:2 Unto Timothy, [my] own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

II TIMOTHY 1:2 To Timothy, [my] dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

TITUS 1:4 To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

 

PHILEMON 1:3   Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

And we also see the Apostle John acknowledge this as well, as we see in II JOHN 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

And we even hear these words spoken from the angel of the Lord say unto John in the Book of the REVELATION of Jesus Christ 1:4, John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

 

JOHN 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 ¶  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

 

But this is not strange considering God promised us His Peace as far back as when He set the rainbow in the sky. For you see, peace is the effects of his Covenant with us.

 

ISAIAH 54:9-10   9 For this [is as] the waters of Noah unto me: for [as] I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

 

And so we see it is a covenant of "Peace" that we are looking at. The God of All Peace, remembering His Word of Promise.

 

84 times throughout the Old Testament we hear spoken words describing a "Peace Offering" that is made by the people to God. That’s the number 3 which is perfection, and 53 times Moses makes mention of this peace offering, and 5+3 equals 8 which is new beginning.

 

Now if we were to study this peace offering, we would find no different than what Peter, Paul, John, and Jesus taught. That Grace and Peace come by the Knowledge of God and He is the Word.

 

EXODUS 20:18 ¶ And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw [it], they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God [was]. 22 ¶  And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.  24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. 25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.  26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

 

Now this Scripture is the first time the words "Peace offering" are spoken in the Bible, and yet they do not describe the offering itself, but the altar on which to make that offering.

 

And if you will notice this Peace Offering is such an important thing to God that even the place to where the Offering is to be taken is of great importance to God.

Notice, God said, 24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, and then he says: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.  So we see first of all that it is in the Place where the Lord has chosen to place his name is the only place where God will accept our Peace offering. Now, I could take 125 sermons on this subject right here, because I already have. From November 6th of 1994 until March 10th of 1996 we spent 125 sermons covering brother Branham's Sermon,  "God's Only Provided Place of Worship". This series is not yet up on the web, but should the Lord be gracious, it will be soon.

 

Anyway, we are examining the king of Peace and we have found throughout the entire New Testament that Peace comes by knowledge. Now, just any knowledge will not do. The more you know about viruses and what they can do, or the more you knew what the World Order is coming to, these things will not bring you Peace. But we are told that Grace comes and brings Peace as the Apostle Paul said in, ROMANS 15:33Now the God of peace [be] with you all. Amen.   

 

And as we read through out the New Testament, this Peace from God Who is the God of all Peace can only come through knowing Him Who is peace.

 

Now, in getting back to the Peace Offering to the god of Peace, we can note that God begins by telling them that they can only worship where he has Placed His name, and then He commands them to build an earthen altar, but He tells them that they are not permitted to add their own work to it. For God is the creator of the earth and all that is in it.  25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

 

Now, let's follow God's commandment on how to enter into this Peace Offering step by step.

 

#1) He says to  An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me…

#2) He says,  The Location of your Peace offerings will be on this earthen altar.. and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings,

#3) And he tells Moses, that the only place where we can build this earthen altar for worship is where He has chosen to place His name. In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee

#4) He says, I do not want your own ideas as to how to make this altar,  And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.  In other words, don't add to and don't take away from what I give you. "For the earth [is] the Lord's, and the fullness thereof" I Corinthians 10:26

 

#5) He tells us this place is a place of Holiness, and should never be defiled. 26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

 

You know sometimes we do things not knowing why we do them, but when I see in the word that God's altar is a sacred place and he is jealous to protect it against the nakedness of man, no wonder Brother Branham was so against women wearing short dresses, and no wonder I did what I was compelled to do when that woman came to dedicate her child wearing a dress so short that her nakedness would have surely been revealed on this elevated platform. In the Old Testament, the robes were long, well below the knees, almost to the ground, and yet that is why God did not want an elevated altar, so the people would not look u and see the nakedness of the priest while sacrificing to God.

Naked is defined in Scripture as being anything below the neck and above the knees being in view or able to be seen.

 

Now, so far we have only come as far as the atmosphere of the place where God will accept this peace offering. But what of the Peace offering itself? What is it and what does it represent?

 

In the book of Leviticus where the Priests are given more definitive instruction, the peace offering is mentioned there. LEVITICUS 3:1 ¶ And if his oblation [be] a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer [it] of the herd; whether [it be] a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.

 

Notice that the sacrifice is to be without blemish. The word for without blemish here is the Hebrew Word tamiym which means 1) complete, whole, entire, sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity. What is complete/entirely in accord with truth.

 

Now, this Peace offering is to produce an effect. And that effect is atonement for sin. LEVITICUS 4:26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

 

Now, we know that in Christ all other sacrifice is to be done away. Therefore it is in Him that we have our Peace offering to God as Paul tells us in the Book of  Hebrews.

 

HEBREWS 10:1   For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year. 4 For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 ¶  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all]. 11    And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Now, I want you to ingrain this scripture into your heart. Memorize it and do not forget it., so let's say it over again… For by one offering, he hath perfected forever, them that are sanctified. Again…For by one offering, he hath perfected forever, them that are sanctified Again…For by one offering, he hath perfected forever, them that are sanctified Again…For by one offering, he hath perfected forever, them that are sanctified). Now do you believe that?  Then turn to your neighbor and confess it to them. Again…For by one offering, he hath perfected forever, them that are sanctified. One more time for good measure…For by one offering, he hath perfected forever, them that are sanctified. Good, now believe it and practice it.

 

15 [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin. 19  ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And [having] an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26  For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

 

EPHESIANS 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 ¶ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain (TWO) one new man, [so] making peace;

 

Now, here is the key to our understanding the father and the Son. Here is our key to the Ling of Peace and our peace offering to Him by the blood of His Son. Here is the key to all we desire in our relationship to the Father and to his Son, our Older brother Jesus. It all lays right here in these few words. for to make in himself of twain (TWO) one new man, [so] making peace; Let me reword this for you. Paul says here of Jesus, "for in the making from Two beings in One man into One man, Jesus Christ, and this is what brought peace between God and Man.  Then it is the One God Who dwelt in His Son, and the Oneness between the Son and the Father Who dwelt in Him that brought Peace between God and man. Then if the Godhood of God, if even a portion of that godhood, or god life be in you, it is that coming together of Two beings, God and You that brings you yourself into this Peace relationship between your Father and yourself.

 

For God was in Christ to do what? God was in Christ, RECONCILING the world to Himself.

 

II CORINTHIANS 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more. 17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

Now notice how that ties right in with what we were reading from Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation (Remember the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets is doctrine) And are built upon the (Doctrine) of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone] for He is the Doctrine; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

There we have it. The king of Peace, reconciling us through the body of His own Son, and the knowledge of this brings Grace and peace to us as saith Peter the Apostle of the Lord.