The Bible has much to say about The Priesthood of the Order of Melchizedek. In fact, I just finished writing a 436-page book about this very important Priesthood and its relevancy to the contemporary Church. Having completed it, I wondered if I really captured all I should have said regarding this important subject.  This article is going to be a very brief overview of the things contained in my new book.

Insight regarding this premier Priesthood is critical for today’s Church, as this ministry will enter into the mainstream of the Church to bring her to the place of ruling and reigning with Christ. To exercise maximum involvement in the Lord’s plans and purposes we will want to know why He is sending this Priesthood into the Church, and what our responsibility is to it. That is the purpose of this article.

The Lord has sworn and will not revoke or change it: You are a priest forever, after the manner and order of Melchizedek.

Psalms 110:4

The Priesthood of the Order of Melchizedek will carry four main offices. The offices of the Apostle, the Prophet, the Priest and the King will epitomize the Lord moving and ruling in the midst of His Church through this new Priesthood. They will carry heaven’s authority and power to accomplish an unprecedented purpose in the Lord’s schedule of Kingdom affairs. Having received this high authority they will equip the Church and lead her out to a glorious season of overcoming the evil one.  Satan’s kingdom will undergo a devastating season of losses because of the Lord’s intervention through this multifaceted Priesthood, and likewise the Church will experience unprecedented victories for the sake of the Kingdom. Their appearing will ultimately usher in a rather exciting time as the Melchizedek Reformation gets into full swing.

These coming ones are a special leadership team that will assume the headship of the Church under Christ. However, they will not displace the ministry offices listed in Ephesians chapter four: the apostle, prophet, pastor-teacher, and evangelist, but will rather enhance them. Bob Jones calls these people the Dreaded Champions!

Heaven’s Authority

I mentioned earlier that the Melchizedek Priesthood would bear heaven’s authority. Some in the Church might argue that we all bear heaven’s authority. I must admit I think the reality of the fact that we are not walking in that speaks a little too loud to dispute. This Priesthood will walk in the reigning authority such as Christ Himself walked in. No one will have to guess whom they are when they arrive as the reality will reveal itself.

They will flow in all nine gifts of the Spirit, and they will dwell in the seven Spirits of God, or should I say the Seven Spirits of God will possess them, or perhaps we could say it both ways.  The two together, that is the governmental operation of the Seven Spirits of God and the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit flowing through vessels of such meekness and authority, will have a profound effect on the body of Christ, Israel, and the world.

As to the world, the kingdoms of the world will see a functioning Priesthood that will look like Moses, Elijah, or Elisha has returned. They will perform incredible miracles and have a word that, like Samuel or Moses before him, will never fall to the ground or lack fulfillment. It will carry the very weight of heaven’s dominion behind it.

As to Israel, unbeknownst to the general public there are those Rabbiis past and present who have awaited the coming of Melchizedek as they rightly equate this figure with the coming Messiah for whom they yearn. These coming ones will in fact prepare the way for the Messiah. As this Priesthood becomes known in Israel there will follow a great outpouring of the revelation of Messiah Yeshua among God’s ancient people. It will produce the epoch revelation of their Messiah that will prepare them for the coming of the evil one.

Concerning the Church, this Priesthood will empower and prepare her to become the beautiful Bride of great authority and preeminence she was destined to exhibit.  She will bear the nature, character, wisdom, holiness, and love of her husband and Lord! As she enters into this lovely maturity she will herself perform awesome signs and wonders in the earth. Certainly, as the Lord revealed to me nearly 30 years ago, there will not be one sick one among us, as the Bride will pour forth the glory of the firstborn in the healing of the elect.  The future will prove a marvelous time for the Lord and His Church.

While all that I have said will seem incomparable, their nature and character will prove just as wonderful. For instance, those in this Priesthood will show forth the virtues of Jesus. They will exemplify Christ’s humility and meekness, His love and goodness as well as His joy and peace. They will bear such a humility and meekness that to walk close to them will seem as though you are in the very presence of the Lord Himself. It will seem as such, as He in fact will fully inhabit them. As crucified ones, they will live in the life of the Spirit just as did Jesus, for He will live in and through them. They will live and walk in two spheres simultaneously. While they sit in heavenly places, they will carry on their ministry here on earth. This is a great mystery, but one which will know fulfillment in the days ahead. (Ephesians 2:6; Rev. 3:21) That is why the Psalms reads that Melchizedek will sit at the right hand of the Father until He puts all his enemies under his feet. The reigning Lord Jesus will inhabit this Priesthood in his very own person. Hence, Melchizedek will demonstrate the greatest display of Jesus Christ the Church has known since He departed this earth two thousand years ago.

                                                            Sneak Preview

Let me give you sneak previews of their ministry through a few that have shown forth its marvelous workings in the past. Moses was such a one, who told the winds and the seas what to do and they obeyed him. The critters of the field were forced to comply with his demands as he revealed the living God to a dying generation.

Elijah came and spoke to the king and having done so; he turned to the heavens and withheld the rains then called them back again. He outran the chariots of his day as he road the wings of the wind. He like Moses prophesied and it stood fast. No word was without power.

David and his mighty men, rooted out enemy strongholds performing supernatural feats as did Samson before them. The Nations of the earth feared and revered them.

Above all, let me point out the ministry of Jesus Himself, supreme head over His church, for it is He who will come in and through them, demonstrating the wonders of His glorious person.  What He did in the beginning of the Church age He will again do multiplied many times over. He, through these reigning ones, will carry the Church from glory to abounding glory as they follow and mature in the life of His majestic Spirit. First, He will overcome the world the flesh and the devil, in and through them, then He will bring scores, literally untold numbers of His people into the life of ruling and reigning with Him. This will reveal the end time extravaganza of the ages.

These will work in conjunction with Isaiah 61:

 1THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,

2To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

3To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion–to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit–that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

4And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

5Aliens shall stand [ready] and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

6But you shall be called the priests of the Lord; people will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and the glory [once that of your captors] shall be yours.

7Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

8For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong with violence or a burnt offering. And I will faithfully give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with them.

9And their offspring shall be known among the nations and their descendants among the peoples. All who see them [in their prosperity] will recognize and acknowledge that they are the people whom the Lord has blessed.

10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels

11For as [surely as] the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring forth, so [surely] the Lord God will cause rightness and justice and praise to spring forth before all the nations [through the self-fulfilling power of His word].

As Jesus Christ portrayed in His own day of visitation, He will exemplify again through these. Meek, and humble demonstrating the love and power of the Father, He will through this Priesthood do it again. The anointing of Isaiah 61 will bring those who are willing into glorious maturity and make them a living testimony of Jesus Christ our Lord as risen from the dead. The Church of that day will put an end to all controversy. The Church will hail, the world will pale, and the kingdom of darkness will exhale in frustrated horror of these Dreaded Champions moving and walking in the glory of the Son.

 Divine Purpose

The Melchizedek Priesthood will come by way of divine purpose. There is a challenge in the heavens that God must glorify His Son as it is written in His Word. He must lift up His glorious name that all peoples will know that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh and provided the way of salvation. He must, present the Church as a glorious Bride to His faithful Son. Further, He must bring forth the harvest upon which His majestic soul yearns and His Son’s Bride labors. Men of meanness, kings, and lord’s, men of power and wealth must see their weakness in light of the Son of Glory. That every knee will bow and confess Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus must rule until He puts all things under His feet, as it is recorded in His Word. Finally, the Messiah must come to Israel, but before He comes, He must send His messenger to prepare the way, for it too is written.

For all these reasons the God of Heaven and earth must show forth His magnificence as He brings these powers to naught and cast His net for the end-time harvest before the evil one arrives on the scene.

 Nita (LaFond) Johnson