1950 This Means Everlasting Life - A2Z.org

60 "THIS MEANS EVERLASTING LIFE"
pears a king in the land of Canaan, the land promised
to Abraham and his descendants . It is the
king of Salem, the city which later becomes Jerusalem,
the capital of the ancient kingdom of Israel.
Without offering us any information about
his ancestry or his posterity, the Bible announces
his name as Melchizedek . His name means "king
of righteousness", and the name of his city means
"peace" . In bright contrast with Nimrod king of
Babylon, Melchizedek is a worshiper of Jehovah .
In fact, he is his earthly great priest as well as a
king on a throne . He met Abraham, who was returning
from the victory over the aggressive alliance
of four invader kings, including Amraphel
king of Shinar and Tidal king of nations. The brief
Bible record of this royal priest of Jehovah says :
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth
bread and wine : and he was priest of God Most
High. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be
Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven
and earth : and blessed be God Most High, who
hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand ."
Recognizing Melchizedek as Jehovah's priest of
those days, Abraham gave him tithes of the spoils
of victory, as Jehovah's dues . "And he gave him
a tenth of all ."-Genesis 14 :18-20, ASV .
3 Melchizedek was the first king on earth who
met God's approval . Because he also combined in
himself the office of priest, he was used to picture
prophetically the promised Seed of God's "woman"
as High Priest and King. The divine Interpre-
3 . Of whom was Melchizedek a prophetic picture? How
so?