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The Priesthood according to            Go back to the Bible and the Book of Mormon

THE PRIESTHOOD.

WHAT IS THE PRIESTHOOD? The Hebrew word means Mediator or messenger. In both of theses cases the meaning is very important. Mediator is the role that Jesus has, so in this case the priest is a person to act for Him, in the second case is close to the first meaning but in this case is closer to the meaning to the word Apostle that means sent. The Smith Bible dictionary gives us this definition:" The word priest means one who presides over thing relating to God,or, as Paul says "Every high priest taken from among men, is constituted on the behalf of men, with respect to their concerns with God, that he may present both gifts and sacrifices for sins" Hebrew 5:1 Adam is the first recorded priest; Noah was the first after de deluge. It is interesting to note that Adam and Noah were not from some specific tribe, they were the ancestor of the mankind and this is a proof that the priesthood was intended to be for the all men.. In the patriarchal system, the firstborn male was the priest of the family, and succeeded his father as leader, but how we can easily see in the case of Cain not only the firstborn had this privilege. The Mosaic system substituted the tribe of Levi, instead of the first born Exodus 28. The candidate for orders must prove his descendent from Aaron. The priesthood was a perpetual inheritance, transmitted from father to son. Keep on mind this because for the Melchisedec priesthood was different, I am writing this because where it is written in Hebrew 7:24 that He has an unchangeable priesthood, because was not to be transmitted like the levitical to some descendants. The Bible speaks clearly regarding about 2 priesthoods.


1 The Aaronic priesthood, or levitical, that we have seen was given to the descendants of the tribe of Levi, and it is easy to show that it was a lesser priesthood, because with it nothing went to be fulfilled.

2 The Melchisedek priesthood.

how were originated these two priesthoods?

According to what we have already written, not being the Levitical priesthood in the beginning and being Melchisedec before of that, it is easy to conclude that the priesthood holded from the Patriarchs was the Melchisedek priesthood. Therefore this priesthood was the priesthood given to Adam, when God gave him the garment made from animal's skin. I suggest you to read "Holy Garments" and "the Fig tree" to have a better understanding of this.

Melchisedek, according to the Hebrew tradition, is told to be Sem. Anyway it doesn't matter who was, the fact that the Bible speaks only about two different priesthoods and that the levitical order was intorduced with the law of  Moses, introduces the first question: Why this priesthood was introduced if the Melchisedek order was greater?

This is a very good question and I am very happy to answer it. The Church of Jesus Christ lds is the only one to maintain that the Gospel was from the very beginning. Keep on mind that Paul stated that changing the law even the priesthood has to be changed (Hebrew 7:12)

For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

The Lord was ready to give the Gospel to the Hebrew in the wilderness, but something happened (I suggest to read Gospel). Why did Moses break the first set of tables? Because his people were not ready for that particular set Hebrew 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Galatians 3:19

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

So we have the explanation here that the Hebrew were guilty for that change, like Paul was explaining in his epistle to the Hebrew 7:12. In fact it is easy to recognize that the process could be done in the opposite, like it happened in the Moses' time. For me is perfectly clear from this passage that Melchisedek had the Gospel and therefore before of the Law the Gospel was in force. Sure we have to consider, like for the scriptures, that they had the fullness for their particular time, in fact the scriptures are referring to this dispensation like the dispensation of the fullness of times. To make this concept clearer I will make an example. Melchisedec had no revelation regarding coffee or drugs, but he had the portion that he needed to know, the Gospel he had was to preach the first coming and the atonement. After the resurrection we are supposed to bring this message: Atonement and resurrection, looking for the second coming. What I mean is that every dispensation had particular goals to foresee and accomplish. To make easy to understand   why the Hebrew didn't have the Gospel it is enough to analyze these statements find in the scriptures. Gospel means good news and it is the knowledge of God and the mission of Jesus Christ: this is the eternal life, that they acknowledge You, the only true God and Jesus Christ..... Paul taught : I preach Jesus and Him crucified. This knowledge was missing to the Hebrew, they never recognized the scriptures concerning Jesus and when He came they crucified Him, if they accepted Jesus they could have the Gospel, but they refused Him and the Gospel was given to the gentiles. They had  the schoolmaster but

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ. Galatians 3:24

they missed the point.

Let's analyze why they received the aaronic priesthood.

God was ready to give them the Gospel

In Exodus 15:22-27 we read, "So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters."

Here we see a story that is full of symbolism. The waters of Marah were bitter (false religion). God sent to them a tree to purify the waters (Gospel). At this point God gave them a statute and an ordinance and there He proved them, and gave them commandments, and they came to Elim where there were twelve wells (Apostles) and seventy palms tree (Seventy evangelists).  In other words, Israel had become like bitter water because of their worship of false idols. The gospel would purify them, but God first gave them "a statute and an ordinance" and commandments to prove their faithfulness. If Israel did as God asked, they would receive the full gospel with twelve apostles and seventy evangelists who would give Israel living water. But, as Paul wrote, they were not obedient, thus they never received the fullness of the gospel.

Finally, Paul himself declares in Colossians 1:5,6,23: "For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:... If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which WAS  preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; And which WAS preached to every creature which is under heaven."

It is interesting this verse because Paul is saying "Was preached".

Now we will see why they were no obedient. In exodus chapter 16 the chosen people begun to complain about the Manna,  Manna is another symbol for Christ, He is the bred of life. In that particular situation the Manna was the temporal salvation, coming from the Heaven, they were in the wilderness and they needed material food to survive, when Jesus came they were in spiritual wilderness and he was like the Manna for their salvation. Here the Hebrew were complaining about the bread of life and God said in exodus 16:8

And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.  Exodus 17:3-4

And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

God had patience and told Moses Exodus 19:10-11

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
11
And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
While Moses was on the top of the mountain, receiving the first set of tables, his people sinned and left his God doing the golden calf. After all the miracles they saw in Egypt and thereafter, this was a clear proof that they didn't understand anything about God and faithfulness, and above all they were not trying to be sanctified, like God was asking. According to the scripture God was so angry with his chosen people that Moses had to ask for mercy because God was going to kill all of them. Exodus 32:12 ? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
Thanking the Moses' intercession God choose to leave those people alive but their journey in the wilderness would have been a lot longer and they never would have the opportunity to see the promise land. At this point Moses received the second set of tables. It is interesting to note that Moses knew before to go down that his people had sinned, anyway he didn't break the stones in the presence of God, he brought them down and when he was in their presence he broke them. He wanted to make sure that they knew that he had received the oracles of God and also to make sure that they could understand that was for their fault that the covenant couldn't be in force. They were doing the exact opposite regarding what God was asking: to sanctify. When Moses went back on the Mount, God didn't say any word regarding the first set of tables, He could say: Why you broke them? Now I have to rewrite everything. Instead there was no word about this, God made another set of tables, but just before of that we have to analyze at what happened after Moses broke the tables. We knew from the scripture that God wants for his people to be a "kingdom of priests" not just a tribe Exodus 19:6  6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

1 Peter 2:9
But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
 
Revelation 1:6
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Having the hebrew sinned God has to make some changes to His plan. Exodus 32:26
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who [is] on the LORD'S side? [let him come] unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
The Melchisedec priesthood was with Moses we know this for sure (we will discuss this when we will analyze the Kore's request). All the prophets had this particular priesthood, Elijah had the power to seal the heaven and to arise the dead and so on, but to the chosen people now God was giving a lesser power and a lesser law to be a schoolmaster to bring them to Christ.
In the clear words of Elder Cleon Skousen we have a good explanation.
We have to keep in mind that only one year before (while Israel was still in Egypt) Pharaoh and all the Egyptians families had lost their firstborns. The chosen people didn't lose any of their firstborns, therefore the Lord consacred them like own particular propriety. From that moment all the firstborns were consecrated to the Lord. Anyway, the Lord told Moses that he was going to adopt the whole tribe of Levi and use it like priests in the tabernacle's service. Moses was told to do a census of that particular tribe to see how many males were from a month or more. There were 22.000. Moses was told to find out   of the number of the firstborns of the other tribes. The number was 22.273. The Lord told that because there were 273 firstborns more between the other tribes, that He would ask to rescue this difference of 273 paying in cash to the sanctuary of the tabernacle. At this point the Levi's tribe was set aside like priests to serve in the levitical preisthood. All the congregation were asked to "put their hands upon the Levites" Numbers 8:10, which probably means that they sustained them with their uplifted hands in a vote of confidence just as officers of the Priesthood are sustained in modern times. Of course, the setting aside of one whole tribe to institutionalize the spiritual aspects of the Mosaic program (including both the carnal commandments and the Law of the Covenant) was a temporary crutch. From the Lord's standpoint it was an act of desperation. It was to keep this people from destroying themselves. The Lord's preferred way is to have a "kingdom of priest" not a tribe of priests. The Lord would like to have every worthy person enjoy priesthood privileges, but when a whole nation rejects the responsibilities of priesthood service as Israel had done, the Lord's only alternative was to build a firm core of responsible leadership in whatever group seemed most likely to carry the load. In time of crisis it had been the Levites who had met the test. This occurred when Moses had stood at the gates of the camp after the ugly incident of worshipping the golden calf and had to cried out:' Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come to me." and the scripture says :" And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him". Not another single tribe had stepped forward. Now the Levites received their reward for that act of brave commitment. At this point is interesting try to understand why the priesthood is so important to God and why it is so essential to the human salvation.
Only by the autorithy of the priesthood the Gospel's ordinances can be received and ministrated. This concept was well understood from the same Hebrew of the Messia's time. The first questions that they did to John the Baptist were to understand who he was: John 1:19-22
" And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

Surely all the persons that they were asking for (the Messiah, Elijah and the prophet) would have the right authority, because was prophesied in the scriptures. in fact when John said I am not one of them they made the key question in the verse  25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
They perfectly knew that without the right authority the baptism was useless, other than that we have the proof here that they knew about the baptism, because they are speaking of it like something they knew, otherwise the right question before than the other questions would be :"What are you doing? What is that?"
Even the evil spirits don't obey if you don't have the authority acts 19:13-16
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of [one] Sceva, a Jew, [and] chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Turning back to the authority deal, how many times they did the same question to the savior Himself?  A lot.
From the Jesus' answers we know that he supported this idea, because he never said:" What are you talking about?" Instead he asked regarding the John the Baptist's authority, because they were trying to put Him in trouble and he wanted them to think about it. He did in that way, because he Knew that answering to that question clearly, like he did when they time was ripe, would have give them the reason to kill him see Matthew 26:63-65
But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Matthew 26:64
64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
Another reason why the priesthood is necessary is found in the article of faith number nine.
"We believe in everything God has revealed, in everything  God is revealing and in everything God will reveal."
We know that God doesn't do anything without to reveal His secret to His servants, the prophets. Amos 3:7 It is necessary, to the Lord to have a mediator or priest or messenger by who to reveal Himself and His will to the members of the church or to the world. This was from the beginning. Only having a priesthood or power of God is possible to minister the things of God and receive the instructions from the Lord. We have seen that who was doing the sacrifices had the priesthood, so all the Patriarchs had this power, Abel was classified between the prophets from Jesus Himself Matthew 23:34-35
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and [some] of them ye shall kill and crucify; and [some] of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute [them] from city to city:

35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Luke 11:50-51
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
That Moses had a different priesthood from the levitical priesthood is proved by this Numbers 16:1:10
NOW Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [men]:

Numbers 16:2
2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

Numbers 16:3
3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, [Ye take] too much upon you, seeing all the congregation [are] holy, every one of them, and the LORD [is] among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

Numbers 16:4
4 And when Moses heard [it], he fell upon his face:

Numbers 16:5
5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who [are] his, and [who is] holy; and will cause [him] to come near unto him: even [him] whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be [that] the man whom the LORD doth choose, he [shall be] holy: [ye take] too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:
9 [Seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

10 And he hath brought thee near [to him], and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

Kore was a Levi's descendant, he had already the priesthood, what kind of priesthood he was looking for? a lesser priesthood? an equal? Think about it1 He was looking for the Melchisedec priesthood, there is no other mentioned in the Bible.
Joshua was not a Levi's descendant He was an efraimite but Look in Deuteronomy 34:9
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
He received the same power and authority that Moses had. Now the point is:from Who Mosed received the Melchisedec priesthood? At this point is good to do a little search regarding "the order" of Melchisdec. The scriptures, in both Old and New Testament, mention this order, if Melchisedech was the only one, no order would have been included. Melchisedec, King of Salem, is a shadow of Jesus. Salem means "Peace" and Jesus was and is the King of Peace. Melchisedech met Abraham and he received the tithing from him and they partaked to the sacrament Genesis 14:18-19
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.

19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
At this point it is interesting to think if Abraham had the priesthood and what kind of priesthood. He was surely worth to hold the priesthood, or not? He couldn't have the levitical priesthood for a simple reason, it was introduced 400 years later. Abraham had the priesthood for a several simple reasons: He saw God personally He built altars, Genesis 12:8
And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, [having] Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

He made sacrifices Genesis 15:9
And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
He was chosen to be the Father of the all believers, for his faith and his righteousness, he officiated in many things for the Lord, He had the priesthood no way. He received it from Melchisedec himself. Anyway Abraham was not the only one to hold the Melchisedec priesthood in the old testament's time. What about Balaam. Numbers 22:5-12
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which [is] by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they [are] too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, [that] we may smite them, and [that] I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest [is] blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men [are] these with thee?

10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, [saying],

11 Behold, [there is] a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they [are] blessed.

From these verse is clear that Balaam had the power of God to bless and curse, otherwise why God should be concerned, read verse nine and twelve and you will see that God was considering Him like a prophet. Balaam had the priesthood of God, was the levitical priesthood? No!! He was one of the priests of the "order" mentioned before. Balaam at the beginning was faithfull and later missed his sacred calling, but from this we are perfectly aware that he knew to have the power, otherwise everything has no meaning and God shouldn't be worried. His awareness is evident from Numbers 24:15-19
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:

17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
But another very important passage is Numbers 23:1-4

At this point we have already the levitical priesthood to make sacrifices and here we have a prophet that has the power to bless and curse making a sacrifice accepted from God. Balaam received direct revelation from God Numbers 23:18-23

Then he uttered his oracle: "Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor.
19
God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
20
I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.
21
"No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. [1] The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them.
22
God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox.
23
There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, `See what God has done!'
We know that at the end Balaam took the money but until this point He was a faithfull servant of the Lord. Numbers 23:29
 
Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me."
He did another sacrifice, it was the third one> God accepted it because like the other 2 times he answered to his prayer Numbers 24:3-4
 
and he uttered his oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,
4
the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, [1] who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
Balaam mantain his position before the Lord in these verses
Numbers 24:10-13
 
      Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.
      11
      Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded."
      12
      Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,
      13
      `Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD--and I must say only what the LORD says'?
      But more clear is the next passage Numbers 24:15-24
       
      Then he uttered his oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly,
      16
      the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
      17
      "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls ] of  all the sons of Sheth.
      18
      Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.
      19
      A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city."
      20
      Then Balaam saw Amalek and uttered his oracle: "Amalek was first among the nations, but he will come to ruin at last."
      21
      Then he saw the Kenites and uttered his oracle: "Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;
      22
      yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive."
      23
      Then he uttered his oracle: "Ah, who can live when God does this?
      24
      Ships will come from the shores of Kittim; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin."

      Well, at this point it is easy to see that his prophecies were fulfilled and he was a real servant of the Lord. We know from the new Testament that he failed his calling later but not until this point, anyway the remarks in Revelation 2:14

    Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.

It seems that he later taught something else to Balak Numbers 25:1

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women,
Moses remarks this problem in Numbers 31:16
 

    "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people.

Anyway this means even that Balaam knew what would have broken the covenant for Israel, probably he couldn't curse Israel but it was tempted to get the money in another way: he suggested the way by which Israel could be cursed by himself, sinning!!!

There is no doubt anyway that Balaam was a real priest, he made sacrifices to discuss with the Lord, but most important God always answered to him. He made 3 sacrifices and always received an answer. In this case there is no doubt that he had a powerfull priesthood to bless and curse and he could sacrifice also because the Melchisedec priesthood is the higher priesthood. Surely he was not from Levi, His father was a descendant from Edom (Esau) Genesis 36:32 and Esau was...........with Israel (see Smith's Bible dictionary revised edition at the word Beor). So the "order" was just there.


Now we have arrived to another very important holder of this priesthood: Jetrho, the father in law of Moses. Exodus 3:1

� NOW Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb.
He was a priest and by chance he was a descendant from Abraham himself  Genesis 25:1-6
THEN again Abraham took a wife, and her name [was] Keturah.

2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these [were] the children of Keturah.

5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

Was Jetrho a priest of the levitical order? Surely not, but being a litteral descendant of Abraham he received the same priesthood that his ancestor had. It is interesting to note here that Moses was sent from God to this man, do you think it was by chance? Nothing in the story of Moses was left to happen by chance. When he left Egypt was sent from God in a safe place, in a place in which he could receive knowledge and power and this could happen only meeting an inspired and holy man of God, like Jetrho was a literal descendent of Abraham. To note also that the scripture before to mention his real name mention is nickname in Genesis 2:18
And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How [is it that] ye are come so soon to day?
Do you know what means Reuel? Literally: God's friend. At this point think about the tradition of Abraham, he demanded for his posterity to be married only with people following the God's path and surely this tradition would be respected by Jetrho, He knew that Moses was leaded by God and he gave him his daughter. Moses too was aware of his personal mission Exodus 2:11
And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

The scripture makes clear that he knew that Hebrews were his brethren. Also Hebrew 11:24
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
and Acts 7:22-37
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

24 And seeing one [of them] suffer wrong, he defended [him], and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?

27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?

28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?

29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

30 � And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
When Moses saw [it], he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold [it], the voice of the Lord came unto him,

32 [Saying], I [am] the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send [to be] a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
 
Verse 25 is clearest: he was aware about his mission. He had free access to the royal libraries beyond to the Hebrews writings. Probably he read the writings of Joseph and his prophecies. In verse 25 he is astonished  that his brethren didn't recognize him. In this case he is a shadow of Christ, another Savior that later will not be recognized from his people. It is not more strange now to think that the meeting with Jetrho was by chance. He received his priesthood from him and he wa instructed by him for 40 years and he was ready for his mission. Regarding this there is another important fact to keep in mind Exodus 18:13-24
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

Exodus 18:14
14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What [is] this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

Exodus 18:15
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:

Exodus 18:16
16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make [them] know the statutes of God, and his laws.

Exodus 18:17
17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest [is] not good.

Exodus 18:18
18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that [is] with thee: for this thing [is] too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.

19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:

20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [such] over them, [to be] rulers of thousands, [and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, [that] every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear [the burden] with thee.

23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee [so], then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.


At this point Moses was already the great Deliverer and Lawgiver, anyway Jetrho was older than him as holder of the priesthood, he was his teacher. Moses was not upset for his counsel, he accepted it. He had the keys like prophet to deliver Israel from Egypt. To give them the Law and so on. Jetrho didn't have those particular keys, but he had the same priesthood and by this was inspired to give him a wise suggestion  that Moses promptly accepted in verse 24.
So at this point we can start to see that the "order" of Melchisedech was more than just a person. It is interesting to note that Joshua, an ephraimite,  received the same authority from Moses, surely not by the Holy Ghost Numbers 27:12-23

And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.

13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that [is] the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

15 � And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,

16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

18 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom [is] the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

20 And thou shalt put [some] of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask [counsel] for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, [both] he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.
And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

At this point we have a description by Hebrews 5:4-6 and by this scripture how the priesthood was given by laying the hands on the head of the person, the Holy Ghost is no mentioned, never!!!!  Joshua should have the respect from everybody in fact he was set aside before Eleazar the priest  and before all the congregation and they are supposed to be obedient to him, therefore his power and autorithy were above all, do you agree?
What about Elijah? Was he a priest? According to the scriptures He was  1 King 17:1
AND Elijah the Tishbite, [who was] of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, [As] the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

He had a great power no just to sacrifice. 1 Kings 17:12-15
And she said, [As] the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I [am] gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go [and] do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring [it] unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day [that] the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat [many] days.
and 1 Kings 1:17-22
And it came to pass after these things, [that] the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?

19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.

22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
What kind of priesthood had Elijah?  Well, on my opinion there is only an answer. Remember that Elisha received the same power, was he a priest? sure! 1 Kings 19:19-20
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who [was] plowing [with] twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
(it is interesting here because the scripture shows us that he was working, keep on mind that the Levites lived by offerings, their work was to perform priesthood's duties, if you read the Smith Bible dictionary you will find:"They guarded the Ark, and were reckoned separately as the host (of the Lord), and were not counted in the army. Their special duties were the daily sacrifice, and the work about the tabernacle (and Temple). They DIDN'T CULTIVATE LAND OR WORK ON TRADES, BUT WERE TO RECEIVE A TENTH AS TITHES FROM THE PEOPLE." so we have the proof here that Elisha was not a descendant from Levi

20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and [then] I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

and now be ready to be shocked: verse 21
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
He was a priest a great priest he performed twice the work that Elijah did according to his request, so he was a priest but his power was greater than usual levitacal priests and he was not from the tribe's Levi.We have the proof here that an higher priesthood can officiate in a lesser law. If he was doing something wrong  or taking an incorrect authority this is what could happen to him 2 Samuel 6:6-7. I could go on here because there are many others in the scriptures that they match the same way.

Now let's go to analyze if the Christ's disciples received some kind of priesthood and if they had some particular keys. We have seen previously that the purpose of God was to have a kingdom of priests Exodus 19:6 and Revelation makes clear that the final goal is the same  Revelation 5:10. Unfortunately for the disobedience of the chosen people this was not fulfilled at the time of the Law. This doesn't mean that God left away his purpose forever. When Jesus cursed the fig tree, He meant to curse their priesthood (see The Fig tree), having at that moment new people and new disciples He introduced a new covenant like Paul explained to the Hebrew in  chapter 7:11-12
If 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?

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
and consequently like Paul specifies a new priesthood. This concept is simple and clear. Peter maintains this in His letter 1 Peter 2:9
But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
and regarding an ordination He said in Titus 1:5
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
I love the roots of the word "ordain" has the same root like "order", if there is an order there should be an ordination otherwise there is no meaning in all of this.
Jesus had the Melchisedek priesthood, this particular priesthood had an "order" Melchisedek was not the only one.
Mark 3:14
 
And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15
And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
So they were "ordained" and consequently they
had the power to perform miracles, to heal the sick, to arise the dead. Remember the Jews were astonished by those things because they didn't have this power. What kind of priesthood had the Christ' disciples? according to the Peter's words their priesthood was "Royal". This is an adjective that it refers only to the King. Was Jesus the King of the Kings? Let me go ahead. Probably you are asking yourself why I am so boring in reapeating myself on this topic, but it is very important to understand that if the disciples had a different priesthood, it should have been specified in the scriptures. The Bible give us two names for two different priesthood, why if there was another one it shouldn't mention it? No the disciples performed they same miracles and they had the "Royal" priesthood. Jesus was upset only when His disciples were unable to perform the miracles, because He was perfectly aware that they had the same power He had, otherwise why he should be upset if they didn't have the power? The Chatolic church maintain that they have this power and authority from Peter, but what is very strange they don't maintain to have the Melchisedek priesthood, but just a priesthood. The Protestants believe to have the Priesthood of the believers given to them directly from the Holy Ghost. First of all I'd like to challenge them to show me just one scripture in the Bible that is clearly explaining that the Holy Ghost "ordained" somebody to the priesthood, because they like this scripture Isaiah 8:20
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.

And for second I'd like to ask to them:" Who decide what kind of believer it will be chosen from the Holy Ghost?
Do you know why? Because all the Christians are believers, Catholic, latter day saints, Jehowa's witnesses, Adventists. Probably is for that particular reason that they disqualify many people like Christians, to have more ground to stand on it. Anyway for them this problem is without solution, they are the only Christians in need to have a strange idea to explain their point, so they invented "the priesthood of the believers" Excuse me where is in the Bible this expressions? Where is the doctrine in the scriptures? We have a huge explanation in the old testament regarding the Levitical priesthood and everything is related to it. We have an explanation from Paul regarding how the Aaronic priesthood was received and something related to the Melchisedec priesthood   Hebrews 5:4-6
And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as [was] Aaron.

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another [place], Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
so in consequence we are suppose to find an explanation for this one too, otherwise we have to think to it like a "Ghost priesthood", in connection to the Holy Ghost' ordination. I am kidding here, but you could take me seriously because for the scriptures this priesthood is really a "Ghost" Being a philosophy of men is not contained in any scripture. They needed because no priesthood, no power, no authority.
They came out from the catholic church, all their leaders where excommunicated from the Pope, so they lost their priesthood. No one of them could give us an explanation by which was possible to understand and recognize them like priests, so when you climb the glass you will surely slip down. This is what happens to them when they try to explain their priesthood, their are trying to climb the glass, but having no ground to put their feet they fall always down. The priesthood of the believer is not a true doctrine and it cannot be the ground for their feet.
At this point I'd like to introduce the topic of the authority.

John 1:19-25
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

Why baptizest thou then. Great and good question!!! They were trying to determine if John was a lawful holder of the priesthood!!! They did the same question to the Savior on other occasions and Jesus didn't say that they were asking something wrong. In one occasion He called His personal Father to be a Witness for His mission and that what a declaration of His authority, but the best part is found when He before to perform a miracle, He forgave the sins of the man and after He performed the miracle. That was a clear shoot, God gave His personal seal granting the healing of the man, if Jesus was blasphemous in that occasion, God couldn't approve his action. He had the "whole Power" of God. He could stop the wind, arise the dead and so on.

When Jesus gave this authority to the Apostles?

Matthew 10:1-8

AND when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

How could you define this? If it is not the word "priesthood" that it fits in, I am just curios to see how people can explain this.

At this point I want to introduce the word "Keys", because not all the Apostles had the same keys. They had the same power to perform everything, but different keys, or callings. Matthew 16:19

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Here Jesus is speaking to the future because at that moment He had those keys, but after when He left.......
and like Paul explain in Galatians 2:7-8

But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as [the gospel] of the circumcision [was] unto Peter;

Galatians 2:8
8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

Christ prophesied Matthew 24:23

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not.

We have today churches like the church of England that are known by the name of a nation, or like the Catholic church that means "universal", other churches like the Protestants they are named according to the name of the Founder. This is funny, their founder is supposed to be Jesus Christ, am I right? But they give their praise to the person that established their church. I have to admit, they are right, totally right! The church has to have the name of the founder, they are admitting who was their chief, like our church maintains who is our Leader. I hope nobody get mad at this reasoning, it makes sense!!!! The priesthood makes the difference between the churches. If you have it you are in the right spot, otherwise you are in the wrong spot. The Catholic church has a position stronger regarding this. If there was the apostasy this position become weaker, because like Jesus cursed the fig tree at his time to show that the priesthood of the Jews was gone, if there was an apostasy the conditions required the same medicine. The position of the Protestants are stronger regarding certain ways to worship, what I mean is this. In my opinion they were right to protest the great mother church, and this makes that they should believe in the apostasy otherwise why they did protest? But on the other hand this didn't give hem the right to have the priesthood. They couldn't have it by the Catholic church because if they were in apostasy they lost it, if they were not in apostasy then they were right in excommunicating them, so they lost their previous authority. They needed a miracle to explain that and they invented a miracle:"The priesthood of the believer" given by the Holy Ghost. Is that in the scriptures? Where? anyway they surely will try to defend their position in some way, but at that point they will have several  other problems to overcome.

1) If the priesthood of the believer is true, it should apply to every believer (catholic, lds, Protestant, Adventist and so on) make sense? Who decide for that? Probably they will maintain that they are the chosen ones, but how they could prove it? Everybody could maintain the same, why not? Another problem could be that the Holy Ghost would have given the priesthood to many different denominations, I mean the Protestants, ao the Baptist, the Methodist and so on have the same priesthood, so the Holy Ghost instead to create one church did a great confusion, instead to build the church in Unity, He gave the autorithy to build so many different churches, with different doctrines with different names. Please ponder this: if we are supposed to recognize the true church from its fruits then we have to consider Ephesians 4:11-13

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12
to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
This is impossible for the Protestants they are so divided in denominations and doctrines.

  The way to discover the trick is easy it is written in the Bible   Acts 4:12

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

1 Timothy 2:5

For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Colossians 3:17

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. well if they follow the scriptures they are missing a great point here, they did mnya churches and they were missing this great point because no one had His name

Well in the past when God should face an apostasy like in the case of the Jews, He take the priesthood away from them and what He did? Did He build many churches? no Just one. How He built His church?  Sending a prophet before His Son and after  by His Son gave the authority to His disciples. The mission of the Holy Ghost is to remember His teachings and words and to lead the church, no to ordain people to the priesthood. Remember when Moses gave his autorithy to Joshua a did lay his hands on his head and look at this Acts 13:1-3

NOW there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid [their] hands on them, they sent [them] away.


1 Timothy 4:14

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

2 Timothy 1:6

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

If you want to insist in saying that the Protestants were sent from God to be the true church, you should convey with me that probably He sent too many of them and with different ideas, they don't believe in the same doctrines, otherwise why we have so many different denominations? Nobody from them said: So it says the Lord! Or better: I have received the authority by and to do..... This was never proclaimed. What was proclaimed is "the priesthood of the believer". It was a great idea, there was no other way, but does it works? Well if you don't think about it probably, but if you think about it, it will crush in few minutes

4 And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Sorry but for me the "priesthood of the believer" pertain to this category.

 I perfectly understand now because Catholic and Protestants declare that they don't have the Aaronic priesthood or the Melchisedec priesthood, because they are sincere, they really don't have them. Thanks God, at least on one topic everybody agrees.

Go back to the Bible and the Book of Mormon

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