Hebrews 7:7-28 (KJV)
7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.20And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:21For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:24But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Hebrews 7 Verses 7-10, according to genealogical principle, Levites were present in Abraham when Abraham paid a tithe to Melchisedec. The Levites, who were descendants of Abraham, could not arise above Abraham’s status in the house of God. This passage again shows the absolute superiority of the Melchisedec priesthood in comparison with the Levitical preisthood. As the Levites were limited in respect to their position in the house of Israel, the Son of God is Lord over the House of Israel. It stands to reason that Jehoshua's Priesthood also isn't limited to the Levitical functions. Jehoshua is Lord over the whole House of Israel and of the sanctuary. He surpasses the limitations imposed upon the Levites of having to stand and do daily ministration in the holy place.
Jehoshua being a divine King Priest and far superior to any Levite that ever lived, went right into the most holy place to start His ministration sitting down on the throne not standing up.
Verse 11, here Paul makes a clear distinction and difference between the imperfect Levitical preisthood after the fleshy line of Aaron and the perfect Priesthood of Jehoshua who is after the divine order of Melchisedec. Trying to make these two priesthoods similar in function is error and it diminishes Jehoshua's Priesthood to that of an imperfect fleshy ministry. However, this is exactly what Adventists do with the investigative judgment. They reduce Messiah to a Levitical standing preist instead of a King Priest that minister's sitting down upon His throne. The implications of the investigative judgment are serious and spiritually dangerous.
Verse 12, Paul is very clear that the Priesthood changed with the arrival of the new covenant and thereby the functions of the Priesthood as well. The way the Priesthood is conducted has been changed (Psalm 110:4). This change is in respect to the ceremonial law. Because of this, Jehoshua as High Priest need not offer daily sacrifices in the holy place and He has made the ultimate once and for all sacrifice on the cross and thereby gained access to the most holy place right away sprinkling His blood on the mercy-seat. It is here in the most holy place, that the Son of God began His Priestly ministry sitting upon the throne of David.
Verse 13-14, a reference to the Messiah who came after the order of Melchisedec. If Jehoshua were of the tribe of Levi and was a priest after their order then it would make sense that he would start His ministry in the holy place. However, Jehoshua is a Priest of a divine order and is not subject to the regulations and functionality of the human imperfect Levitical preists. This is why He can rightfully go directly to the most holy place at His ascension, because He is a priest after the order of an endless life noting His absolute divinity.
Verses 15-17, the passage above notes the positive implications of the comparison between Jehoshua and Melchisedec.
Even more clear the perfection was not possible under the Levitical preisthood. "after that the similitude" Since according to the likeness or pattern set by Melchisedec.
"Carnal commandment". The Levitical preisthood was based on fleshy descent, and with fleshly ordinances. Remember, the Melchisedec priesthood is of a divine ordinance and need be subject to the regulations and functionality of the human imperfect Levitical preisthood. This means that Jehoshua as High Priest need not do standing daily ministration in the holy place for 1800 years before He has access to the most holy place. As we have shown, the Son of God's priesthood is conducted from His throne as a King not a human priest.
"power of an endless life". Both eternal duration and powerful application are needed for an effective priesthood. Jehovah the Father testified that His Son Jehoshua is a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, Paul quotes from Psalm 110:4. This is an irrevocable decree. The Messiah having risen from the dead, has no successor, but intercedes through the ages for His people. Jehoshua's intercession for us never ends. This contradicts the Adventist teaching that we will be without an intercessor for a time period right before the Messiah's return. Even when the Messiah leaves the most holy place, the Spirit maketh intercession for us and we know that the Spirit proceeds out of the Messiah.
Melchisedec means "King of Righteousness". Jehoshua is called "Jehovah our Righteousness". He is called King of kings and Lord of lords.
Melchisedec was King of Salem and a Priest of the Most High God before David's Kingship and Aaron's priesthood, and thus a type of Messiah. Jehoshua unites the offices of priest and King in one person, implying that the Aaronic priesthood would become obselete. This is why it is a huge mistake in thinking that Messiah's preistly ministry has to emulate the old Levitical preistly ministry. That old covenant Levitical preistly ministration has been completely done away with forever.
The Son of God's priesthood being one which unites with His Kingship is far superior to the Levitical preisthood. This obviously follows sound logic that the functionality of the Melchisedec priesthood must also be far superior to the Levitical functions. One of the aspects of the Levitical functions was to do daily ministration in the holy place standing up for the entire year before they can even enter the most holy place (once a year).
Adventists, by teaching that Jehoshua has to follow the same pattern as the Levites, miss the entire point of the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews says that Jehoshua has a more excellent ministry than the Levitical preists. The bible over and over again says that at the Son of God's ascension that He went directly to the most holy place. If so, then that means Jehoshua bypassed the daily ministerial functions of the Levitical preisthood and started immediately minstering in the most holy place.
After, the resurrection Jehoshua had to appear to the Father presenting Himself as the firstfruits. It is likely at this point that He sprinkled His blood on the mercy-seat in the most holy place. After this, the Messiah spent 40 days with the disciples before ascending to heaven. It is after His ascension that He sat down on the right hand of God being enthroned as the Davidic King and also being anointed as High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec.
With the sprinkling of blood on the mercy-seat, Jehovah's judgment is transformed into grace and mercy. This perfectly aligns with the narrative of the new covenant in which we are given an abundance of grace by the Father. Even Jehoshua says that we are given eternal life and do not come into condemnation meaning "pass into judgment" (John 5:24). This means that there is no future investigative judgment for the believer in Messiah as we have already been made righteous by faith in Jehoshua. Our judgment will consist of rewards for what we did with the gifts given to us.
In times past, our failure to adhere to strict obedience to the law would mean a fearful expectation of judgment. In the new and better covenant, we ask for grace and forgiveness in the time of need boldly going to the throne of grace. The throne of grace is in the most holy place. With the Adventist teaching of 1844, we would have to conclude that believers up until 1844 didn't have access to the throne of grace. They could only have this access if indeed Messiah went directly to the most holy place. If Jehoshua only went to the Holy place at His ascension, then believers were still in a time of judgment. This of course goes against the whole concept of the gospel and refutes the investigative judgment doctrine.
The day of atonement did not begin a duration of a time of judgment, it concluded it. The warning of judgment starts with the feast of trumpets and ends on the day of atonement which is when the priest would sprinkle the blood on the mercy-seat for his and the people's sins. Jehoshua by going to the most holy place after His resurrection to sprinkle the mercy seat with His blood, ended the time of judgment for those who would be cleansed by it. Once we are born again into the Messiah's Kingdom, our judgment ends and we have received the full atonement for sins. This means for the believer that the day of atonement is over. The teaching of a period of a day of atonement for believers is anti-gospel and contradicts scripture.
Romans 5:9-11 (KJV)
9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Does this mean we still don't ask forgiveness of sins, of course not! However a believer in the Messiah does not come into condemnation and has received the atonement at His new birth. The thing that will cause a believer to pass into judgment, is a denial of the Son of God.
The very core of the gospel denounces any such doctrine that teaches that believers will come into a investigative judgment after they have fallen asleep or alive.
John 3:17-18 (KJV)
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Verse 18 of this passage destroys the investigative judgment doctrine as it says plainly "He that believeth on him is not condemned". The investigative judgment doctrine says that we pass into judgment which in the greek can also be rendered "condemnation". The above passage in John clearly teaches that only those who don't believe in the only begotten Son of God are condemned also meaning to "pass into judgment". So if anything, there is an investigative judgment but it will strictly be for unbelievers.
Believers have been granted access to the most holy place since the resurrection of the Messiah after He sprinkled His blood on the mercy-seat.
Now back to Hebrews Chapter 7:
Verses 18-19, "disannulling" canceling by God, the giver of the law. "weakness and unprofitableness". The law here is linked to the insufficiency of the Aaronic priesthood. "law made nothing perfect". The types and shadows of the ceremonial law were not effective in themselves to bring men near (nigh) to God; only in as much as they pointed to Jehoshua were they sufficient. "better hope". The Messiah's preisthood, the object of our hope (Hebrews 6:18-20).
If the Messiah's preisthood has to follow the same pattern as the Levites then we don't have much better of a hope. What makes the Messiah's preisthood a better hope is that now we have access into the most holy place through His flesh. Also, it's a better hope because we have been forgiven in full because of what was done at the cross. We have received the full atonement. Our sins that are forgiven are remembered no more according to Jehovah God. The question is, do you believe Jehovah God or the preachers in Adventistism who say that our life record including our sins are kept for further review in the investigative judgment? Let's go to Jeremiah 31 for the Father's precious words of hope:
Jeremiah 31:31-34 (KJV)
31Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:32Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Jehovah says that in the new covenant that was to be made with the House of Israel, the sins of His people would be forgiven and remembered no more. Do you see what this means brethren? Once we are born again, all our sins are remembered no more. They are not kept on our life record pending a future investigation. As we walk our faith out, we come daily to the Father through His Son our High Priest and ask forgiveness of sins. This should be a daily and continual thing. The Investigative judgment also teaches that any unconfessed sin, even if it is something that we forget, will be held against us in the future judgment.
Brethren, this is not supported by scripture in regards to a believer who endures to the end having kept the faith in the Son of God. As noted in John 5:24, we do not come into condemnation meaning to pass into judgment.
Back to Hebrews 7, verse 20, Jehoshua has a superior priesthood in order to show that a change in the law has occurred, and the Messiah has ushered in a better covenant. Part of this better covenant is that we have received the full atonement through the once and for all sacrifice of Jehoshua's body and blood. There is no more need for animal sacrifices and daily ministration in the holy place. We now have direct access to God the Father in the most holy place through His Son. And we didn't have to wait until 1844! We don't have to wait unti our names come up in review in a future investigative judgment to receive the full atonement, we received when we became born again. Also, our sins are not transferred to the holy place when we become born again but rather they are remembered no more cast into the deep part of the sea and as far as the east is from the west. All this is because the Melchisedec priesthood blows the Levitical preisthood out of the water in terms of being better and superior.
This also leads to the beautiful truth that in the new covenant we are all priests and that as new covenant priests we aren't restricted to the Holy place and we don't ever again have to offer an animal sacrifice. As new covenant priests, we have direct access to the most holy through the Son of God and our sacrifices are now praising God's name, doing good, sharing with others, we now offer spiritual sacrifices.
Hebrews 13:15-16 (KJV)
15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
1 Peter 2:5 (KJV)
5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The teaching of the investigative judgment says that we don't have full atonement yet and that our sins are not forgotten but rather kept on record for further review. Also, it teaches that Jesus had to do daily ministration in the holy place for over 1800 years thereby meaning believers did not have access to the throne of grace which is in the most holy place for that amount of time. It also teaches that for 1800 years that believers didn't have direct access to the presence of Jehovah God because His Son was allegedly still in the holy place rather than the most holy place. The teachers of this doctrine will play around with these particulars to try and make their doctrine work but scripture doesn't support this blasphemous investigative judgment teaching. In order to try and make this doctrine work, they will say that Jehovah's throne is a moving throne or that the table of shewbread also represents that there is a throne in the holy place because of the crowns engraved on it. These are desperate attempts to make their false doctrine work as they know that the bible clearly teaches that the throne and presence is represented as being in the most holy place and that scripture teaches without controversy that the Son of God went directly to sit on the throne at the Father's right hand after His ascension.
Back to Hebrews 7, verses 20-21, "not without an oath" Jehovah appointed the Levites as priests by His divine word. The Messiah's preisthood was far greater, for He was made a Priest by divine oath. "The Lord sware and will not repent". Paul cites Psalm 110:4. An allusion to Jehovah's revoking of Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 2:30).
Verse 22, "surety" legal term for a person bound to perform the obligations of another. The oath makes Christ a surety of a better covenant (testament). In chapter 8 of Hebrews we will see the author discuss the greatness of the new covenant.
Verse 23, "suffered" Allowed. The earthly priests did not have a perpetual ministry, because death ended their priesthood. This again denotes the absolute superiority of the Melchisedec priesthood over the Levitical preisthood. The Melchisedec priesthood of Christ is a divine priesthood and it never ends as the Son of God ever liveth to make intercession for us. This point refutes the Adventist teaching that the Priesthood of Jesus has to mirror the Levitical preisthood in function and also refutes the Adventist notion that the end time saints will be without a mediator before the Father for a time.
The Melchisedec priesthood is a more excellent ministry than the Levitical preisthood in that there is no need for the Messiah to do the daily ministration in the holy place as He is a King Priest. Jehoshua conducts His Priesthood from His throne in the most holy place which began after His ascension.
Verse 24, Jehoshua received an incorruptible life, namely in His resurrection, and thus His Priesthood continueth forever. "Unchangeable" Jehovah's faithfulness is the foundation of the unchangeableness of the priesthood - to change this oath, the death of God would be necessary. The Son of God never stops being our priest hence "unchangeable" is described for His Priesthood. This means that He can never stop making intercession for us as by oath He is bound to do so.
Verse 25, "able...to save them." Not a mere possibility but a reality. The Messiah is mighty to save. "to the uttermost". Jehoshua fully and finally saves His people to all eternity. Perfection has come through Messiah. "come unto God by him" In and for the sake of Jehoshua, sinners can come into the very presence of God. "ever liveth to make intercession" The Son of God's work continues even now and forever as effective intercession on behalf of His people.
There is so much meat in verse 25. Those who come to the Father through the Son are saved completely. There is no conditonal salvation. The Adventist doctrine of the sanctuary teaches that we only receive conditional pardon and partial atonement through Jehoshua's sacrifice at the cross. However, Paul contradicts their false teaching by saying that Jehoshua is able to save us to the uttermost when we go to the Father in His name.
The Greek word for "uttermost" is "panteles" (Strongs 3838) and means "full ended, i.e. entire (completion), uttermost."
Brethren, the teaching that we only receive a conditional pardon of sins and partial atonement is a blasphemy from Satan and diminishes Jehoshua's death on the cross and His blood. Clearly as you can see from the meaning of the word uttermost, there is no doubt that Jehoshua's blood provided us with full pardon and complete atonement.
Also, we read in this verse that Jehoshua ever liveth to make intercession for us. In Adventistism they teach that right before the Son of God makes His return, He will stand up from the most holy place and then henceforth we will be without a mediator before the Father. Again Paul contradicts this false teaching. He says that Jehoshua's intercession for us is forever. On the surface, it may make sense that we will be without a mediator for a short time as Messiah will leave the most holy place to redeem His people but when we look a little deeper this scenario falls apart. So, how does Messiah still intercede for us if He has to leave the presence of the Father for a short period to come get us? Let's go to Romans 8:
"26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
As you can see brethren, the Holy Spirit also makes intercession for the saints. Remember, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Son of God. So it is the very Spirit of Jehoshua that makes intercession for us. So even when the Messiah leaves the most holy place to come get His saints, the Holy Spirit that eternally proceeds from Him will still intercede for us even though His bodily presence will not be in the most holy place. The Adventists leave this important detail out in their investigative judgment teaching.
John 20:22 (KJV)
22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
This is just one of the verses that shows that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the substance of Jehoshua.
This is good news brothers and sisters, when the very end of time arrives and the saints are tried in persecution, we don't have to worry about not having a mediator for us before the Father. The Holy Spirit which proceedeth from the Son of God will meditate on our behalf as the Jehoshua descends to earth to redeem us.
Rather than the bad news of the investigative judgment, Paul the apostle paints an encouraging and empowering picture of the surety we have in Jehoshua as we see below in Romans 8.
Romans 8:34-39 (KJV)
34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Contrary to the false doctrine of the investigative judgment, Paul says that Jehoshua is at the right hand of God making intercession for us. This was long before 1844. Adventists will say that this is in the holy place but anyone who knows about the sanctuary knows that the Father's throne is in the most holy place. Again, the Adventists are refuted by scripture.
Also, Paul says that nothing can seperate us from the love of Messiah. Neither tribulation, persecution or famine or sword can seperate us from His love. Yet Adventists would have us believe that during the most trying time in human history, we will be without our Lord and Saviour interceding for us. This is downright demonic. Again, Paul the apostle refutes the heretical Adventist doctrine of the investigative judgment.
In verses 38 and 39 of Romans 8, Paul reiterates that absolutely nothing and nobody can seperate us from the love of God the Father which is in Messiah Jehoshua our Jehovah. The investigative judgment doctrine leaves believers without assurance of salvation and without assurance of Fatherly and brotherly love from Jehovah and Jehoshua. It also leaves believers without an intercessor before the Father during the most difficult time in human history. Only Satan himself could come up with such a blasphemous scenario.
Now back to Hebrews Chapter 7, vwrse 26, "high priest became us" The Messiah is suitable and fitting for His people. "Holy" purity and devotedness to God. "Harmless" not touched by any defection or evil, but is perfectly morally qualified to serve as His people's priest. "Undefiled" Jehoshua's moral integrity. "seperate from sinners, and made higher than the the heavens" Morally seperated from sinners and physically lifted up from this world. Again, the Son of God unlike the Levitical preists was perfect and absolutely Holy who needs not to have His sins atoned for as He was the spotless Lamb of God. This is why it is an error to compare Jehoshua's Priesthood with the Aaronic priesthood. The Levitical preists were mere humans who had to daily offer sacrifice for their own sins also. This is also why they were only allowed to go to the most holy place once a year.
On the other hand, Jehoshua has never sinned and He is the divine Son of God thereby He has by inheritance the right to go directly to the most holy place to start His ministration as High Priest. He need not offer daily sacrifices for His sins. His blood is so pure and white that it even cleansed us sinners so that we also have access to the most holy place through Him.
The abominable investigative judgment doctrine not only keepsJehoshua out of the most holy place for over 1800 years but us also who the Son of God redeemed. Again, this is objectionable teaching from hell.
Verse 27, unlike the Levitical preists, the Messiah has no need to offer sacrifice for His own sin (Leviticus 16:6-10). "For this he did once" The finality of Jehoshua's sacrifice plays a prominent role in the author's understanding of the Son of God's sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12, 26, 28; 10;10). "Offered up Himself" Jehoshua was active in His role of being sacrificed (John 10:18).
It's very important to understand the absolute finality of the Son of God's sacrifice. The investigative judgment teaches that His sacrifice was not final but rather a down payment for our atonement. Paul refutes this satanic heresy and says Jehoshua's sacrifice was made once when He died on the cross. Oh, the Adventists will say all the right things about Jehoshua's sacrifice being final but in reality they teach a partial atonement. They say that our sins are still kept on record for further review in the investigative judgment. However, as note before we don't come into judgment (John 5:24; Romans 8:1). Who are you going to believe? The Son of God and His apostle or Ellen White and her disciples?
Verse 28 of Hebrews 7, "infirmity weakness" the word of the oath stands in contrast to the law and guarantees a better priest who remains a priest for ever. One priesthood (Levites) was carnal meaning temporal according to the Mosaic administration and the other priesthood is divine according to the oath of the Almighty God under a new and better covenant. Do you see why it is ridiculous to even compare Messiah's preisthood with the Levitical preisthood?
To say that Jehoshua's Priestly ministry has to follow the same pattern as the Levites is missing the whole point of the book of Hebrews which is that the Levitical preisthood, including it's functions, is far inferior to the Melchisedec priesthood which is of a divine order and is perfect. Long live the Melchisedec priesthood and thank Jehovah for giving us His Son as not only our High Priest but also our King and our God.
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