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“The Ruach HaKodesh is signifying this, that the way into the Holy Place has not yet been revealed, while the first tent is yet standing; which is an illustration of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect; being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. But Messiah having come as a Kohen Gadol of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh: how much more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood.” (Hebrews 9:8-18 HNV)

Yeshua’s blood has made a way into the Holy of Holies for us. As Messiah having come as the High Priest of the coming good things. Messiah is a High Priest of the coming (not just the pre-existent) good things. Yeshua is the “the greater and more perfect tent, not made with hands,” which is symbolic of our bodies as a Temple to the Lord. Yeshua set the example and made a way for us. In His body he did away once and for all the sacrificial atonement system.

“Who doesn’t need, like those Kohenim Gedolim, to daily offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.” (Hebrews 7:27 HNV)

Yeshua died ONCE FOR ALL SINS when He offered up Himself as our atoning sacrifice. The Daily and Annual Sacrifices are FULFILLED in Yeshua. It wasn’t through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood. He then entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. It wasn’t for the blood of goats and bulls that those who have been defiled and seek to sanctify them of the flesh. How much more will the blood of Yeshua cleanse our consciences from dead works so we can serve the living God? For Yeshua is the mediator of the New Covenant.There is only One Mediator between God and man. There is no longer a need for a sacrificial mediator. Yeshua fulfilled it.

“What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.” (Galatians 3:19 HNV)

Until the SEED should come to whom the promise was made. The Law is our Tutor who teaches us of sin and shows our need for Messiah. In Messiah we have obtained salvation and redemption from our sins. It was ordained by the hand of Yeshua our Mediator to redeem us. There is only one Mediator in the New (or Renewed) Covenant and that is Yeshua, the Levitical priesthood is replaced with the Order of Melchizedek. We no longer need priest to mediate, Yeshua is our a Mediator and the Mediating sacrifice, all in one. He fulfills it forever.

“Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.” (Galatians 3:20 HNV) “You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” (Isaiah 43:10 HNV) “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Messiah Yeshua,” (1 Timothy 2:5 HNV)

God is Echad (One), and God is the mediator of the New Covenant. A mediator mediates between two parties, God is mediating the peace between sinful man and Himself, through Yeshua. Yeshua is God the Word who was Manifest in the Flesh, (John 1:1-12). Yeshua is the One and Only Mediator of the New Covenant.

“But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6 HNV)

The New Covenant is a Better Covenant with Better promises. He is a minister of a more excellent ministry. Yes the New Covenant is based and founded in the Law and Prophets, as the only right foundation. Yet, the Priesthood is the Melchizedek Order replacing the sacrificial Levitical Order. This is the distinction we must understand.

“For this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:15 HNV)

The Mediator died for our redemption from transgression and sin that were under the first condemning us as sinners now replaced by the New Covenant which enfolds the old into the new and reinvigorates it with a new Priesthood and a new High Priest, which not only shows us our sins but also lead us to our savior whom saves us from our sins.

“To Yeshua, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Hevel.” (Hebrews 12:24 HNV)

Yeshua Mediates the New Covenant, no longer the Levites, as a Priest after the Order of Melchizedek. Yeshua’s blood is our final sacrifice, once for all sins. Yeshuas death took place to redeem through who where under transgression of the first covenant. His Death has taken place to redeem us from the transgression of the old or first covenant. As a last will and testament is, so is the ratification of the New Covenant in Yeshua’s blood. It is final in Yeshua’s blood a statute forever that a New Covenant is established. The old was a shadow of the new, the new completes the old. Yeshua fulfilled it in the New, once for all times, sacrifices a no longer needed as a propitiation or substitutions for our sins. Just as the first covenant was dedicated with blood the new covenant is also ratified in blood. There was a sacrificial system of blood under the old, the new is under a new Blood Covering that of Yeshua’s blood.

“For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, … For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. herefore when he comes into the world, he says, “Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire, But a body did you prepare for me; In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of me) To do your will, God.’” Saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law), then has he said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,” (Hebrews 10:1, 4-9 HNV)

The Levitical Priesthood was a shadow of the GOOD TO COME in Yeshua. He took away the first and established the second, replacing the priesthood. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. The blood of bulls and goats wasn’t a complete atonement, it was only pushed it back, Yeshua washed our sins away permanently, as far as the east is from the west, to be remembered no more. God didn’t enjoy the sacrifices and burn offerings, that where offered according to the law, He desired the more perfect sacrifices of Yeshua. The Second TAKES AWAY THE FIRST, so the SECOND may be established, understanding the change in Mediators and change in Priestly Order is Central to the New Covenant. Everything Else stands, the Mitzvot stand, the Feasts stands, only Sacrificial Atonement has been replaced in the Blood of Yeshua once for all. To understand Yeshua priesthood we must understand the Melchizedek Order and how it Replaced the Levitical Order.

“Malki-Tzedek king of Shalem brought forth bread and wine: and he was Kohen of El `Elyon. He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Avram of El `Elyon, possessor of heaven and eretz: and blessed be El `Elyon, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Avram gave him a tenth of all.” (Genesis 14:18-20 HNV)

Here we see that He brought out bread and wine, blessed Avram of El Elyon, and received tithes from him. This is an early picture of the Kiddush and the ha-Motzi as sin in the Shabbat offering as well as the Tithe offering. Salem is the same city and the New-Salem. Jeru (which means New) is the new Salem, the same city as Salem. Understanding Salem is central to Gods economy. Its central in Israel and may well be where Eden was. Salem is where the Priest / King Melchizedek received Avram’s tithe and blessed the bread and wine as a Priest of Adonay.

“The LORD has sworn, and will not change his mind: “You are a Kohen forever in the order of Malki-Tzedek.”" (Psalm 110:4 HNV).

We see this prophetic picture of the Messiah, the seed of David in Psalms that is confirmed and explained more in detail in Hebrews.

“As he says also in another place, “You are a Kohen forever, After the order of Malki-Tzedek.”" (Hebrews 5:6 HNV)

This takes the passage in Psalms 119 and explains it and breaks it down for us. Lets look into how Hebrews breaks down the change in priestly orders.

“Named by God a Kohen Gadol after the order of Malki-Tzedek.” (Hebrews 5:10 HNV)

This shows God chose Yeshua to be a priest after Melchezidek not after Aharon or the Levite’s.

“For every Kohen Gadol, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. The Kohen Gadol can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness. Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself. No man takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aharon was. So also Messiah didn’t glorify himself to be made a Kohen Gadol, but he who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.” As he says also in another place, “You are a Kohen forever, After the order of Malki-Tzedek.” (Hebrews 5:1-6 HNV)

The comparison is made here between Aharon (the foundation for Levitical priesthood) with that of Melchezidek. This is central to Hebrews and the New Covenant, right understanding of this can help you rightly understand Yeshua’s mediating and atoning sacrifice. Yeshua died once, for all sins, he was sinless, a perfect mediating sacrifice.

“Where as a forerunner Yeshua entered for us, having become a Kohen Gadol forever after the order of Malki-Tzedek.” (Hebrews 6:20 HNV)

“A forerunner” is one who goes before to show the way and set the right example. In context

“Wherein God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us, which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil” (Hebrews 6:17-19)

1. “Two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie.” Basically, this is an important message for us to understand.
2. “We can take refuge to take hold of the hope set before us which is an anchor of the soul.” This should be a foundation for us to take refuge in and anchor our soul, as well as our salvation and faith.
3. “A hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil.” The veil was rent, we are now the “temples of the Holy Spirit” the Holy of Holies where the Glory of God seeks to dwell is within us. Just as Moshe experienced God glory, God wants us to experience it without the Judges or Priests, with only God as our mediator. He made a hope for us to enter within the veil.

“For this Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem, Kohen of El `Elyon, who met Avraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Avraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Shalem, which is King of shalom; without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a Kohen continually. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Avraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils. They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the Kohen’s office have a mitzvah to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the loins of Avraham, but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has taken tithes of Avraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.” (Hebrews 7:1-6 HNV)

Avraham who is off the promise, who is off the spirit, came under Melchizedek, which precedes the Levitical priesthood.

“My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Messiah is formed in you– but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? For it is written that Avraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar, For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in `Arav, and answers to the Yerushalayim that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. But the Yerushalayim that is above is free, which is the mother of us all,” For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break forth and shout, you that don’t travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.” Now we, brothers, as Yitzchak was, are children of promise. But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.” (Galatians 4:19-29 HNV)

This is an interesting story of how Avraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. This is symbolic of the Torah and the Spirit. As those who where under Mount Sanai and Jerusalem, where only a shadow of things to come. The Samarians worshiped at Mount Sanai and the Israeli’s worship at Jerusalem. The debate of where to physically worship is over as we are to worship in Spirit and truth. Ishmael still persecute those born of the Spirit because they are of the Flesh from Arabia.

“But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24 HNV)

This is an important illustration and central to understanding the change in priesthoods, from one based in Law and Truth, To one balanced between spirit and truth. “The son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh,” who is Ishmael and “the son by the free woman was born through promise,” who is Isaac. Ishmael is the illegitimate son of Avraham who came from disbelief. Avraham came under the Melchizedek priesthood, which supersedes the Levitical priesthood. This is an allegory of the two covenants, One is from Mount Sinai bearing a child of bondage and the second a picture of Yerushalayim in Heaven. Just as Melchizedek is a picture of the heavenly priesthood and intercession of Yeshua under the new covenant.

“However what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman,” (Galatians 4:30 – 31).

We are under Isaac, children of the Promise, the descendants of Avraham through faith in his Seed Yeshua. We are joint heirs with Yeshua of the free woman not of the handmaid or bond servant. We are admonished to  “throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman.” We are no longer under the Levitical priesthood we are to throw out the “handmaid and her son” which is what was handed down at Mount Sanai through the Levitical Order.

Melchezidek is a “King of righteousness, and then also King of Shalem, which is King of shalom.” Shalem, Salem and Shalom, share the same base root the Sheen, Lamed and Mem, the vowels make the distinction. There is Shalem (wholeness) in the Shalom (peace) which the root for Salem (City of peace). Jeru-salem means the New City of Peace and Wholeness. This is a picture of Yeshua and the Heavenly Jerusalem.  “Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a Kohen continually.” This is a picture of Yeshua, who is modeling His new priestly order after.

“Even Avraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils” to Melchezidek, the tithe was before the Levitical priesthood and is a statute forever. Even in contrast

“they indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the Kohen’s office have a mitzvah to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the loins of Avraham, but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has taken tithes of Avraham, and has blessed him who has the promises,” … “So to say, through Avraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes, for he was yet in the loins of his father when Malki-Tzedek met him. Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it have the people received the law), what further need was there for another Kohen to arise after the order of Malki-Tzedek, and not be called after the order of Aharon? For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also of the law,” (Hebrews 7:5-6, 9-12)

For the priesthood needs to be changed even though Levi was in the loins of Avraham there is a change of priesthood is essential to the New Covenant. Yeshua arises after the order of Melchezidek, not called after the Order of Aharon or the Levitical priesthood. This is the essential change of the New Covenant priesthood. The fundamental change to the Law is the change in the Priesthood from Levi back to Melchizedek, and from animal sacrifices to the mediating sacrifices of Yeshua’s blood on the cursed tree commonly referred to as a cross.

“For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also of the law.   For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no man has given attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Yehudah, as to which tribe Moshe spoke nothing concerning priesthood. This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Malki-Tzedek there arises another Kohen, who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly mitzvah, but after the power of an endless life:  for it is testified, “You are a Kohen forever, According to the order of Malki-Tzedek,” (Hebrews 7:12-17).

Yeshua came from the tribe of Judah not Levi, his cousin John the Baptist was of the Levitical priesthood. Yeshua is of Judah from “which no man was given to attend to the Altar” or its sacrifices, this is another essential picture to change in priesthood. Adonay did not speak to Moshe of a priesthood coming from the Tribe of Judah because the promise was to Avraham and superseded the fleshly Order of Aharon. Yeshua was a sacrifice from the tribe of Judah, the Lion of Judah became as a lamb, as the Priests after the Levite Order oversaw the sacrifice of Yeshua calling for his death crying “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.” The Levite’s were no longer mediating the Sacrifice it passed from them to Yeshua the new High Priest. The Pharisee’s, Saducee’s and Levite’s who presided over the death of Yeshua and called for it to be done at the hands of the Roman guards where in effect watching over the end of their priesthood as it changed over to Yeshua. The messiah they feared as he challenged their oral traditions and opinions in light of a right understanding of Torah as Yeshua taught biblical practices albeit Kosher, Festival or Halacha as Adonay intended minus the Leaven of the Pharisee’s and devoid of the Doctrine of Balaam.

“For they indeed have been made Kohanim without an oath; but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a Kohen forever, According to the order of Malki-Tzedek’”. By so much has Yeshua become the collateral of a better covenant. Many, indeed, have been made Kohanim, because they are hindered from continuing by death. But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable. Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. For such a Kohen Gadol was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” (Hebrews 7:21-26).

God made an oath that Yeshua would be a priest after Melchezidek forever whereas the Levitical Priesthood was for a time until Yeshua brought the re-form-ation of the Priesthood back to the previous Order under Avraham. Yeshua became the down payment of the New Covenant, he made the betrothal payment for His bride and gave us the seal of the Holy Spirit, as a promise while me makes a room for us in His fathers house. Yeshua lives forever as the priesthood of Melchezidek lives forever. Yeshua’s Priesthood under Melchezidek is unchangeable unlike the temporary Levitical Priesthood, as he lives to make intercession for us and mediate between God and man under the New Covenant. For it is through Yeshua that he makes us “holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” and gives us free access to the Holy of Holies. We can boldly come to the thrown and experience Gods glory. As God intended for us to.

“Moshe said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” (Numbers 11:29 HNV).”Moshe went out, and told the people the words of the LORD: and he gathered seventy men of the Zakenim of the people, and set them round about the Tent. The LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy Zakenim: and it happened that when the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more,” (Numbers 11:24-34 HNV) “I indeed immerse you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He shall immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh,” (Matthew 3:11 HNV).

Gods desire has been that all His people would be prophets and would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, this is a promise that is central to the New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant it was sporadic and temporary. Under the new covenant it is for all who would believe and receive. In the Tanakh the Holy Spirit came upon “some” but wasn’t available to all. As it says “they prophesied, but they did so no more.” Some did receive and operate in the Holy Spirit but it wasn’t made available to all until Pentecost. Believers upon Yeshua receive the seal of the Holy Spirit at Salvation (called the Insuflation) (John 20:22), which is subsequent to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit or the Manifestation Of The Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church at Pentecost in power, baptizing believers into the Body of Christ and releasing the gifts of the Spirit to them. At salvation the Holy Spirit brings the permanent indwelling presence of God to us for spiritual worship, personal progressive sanctification, building up the Church, gifting us for ministry and driving back the kingdom of Satan by the evangelization of the world through proclaiming the gospel with signs following. (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; I Cor 12:13). The Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ. He is our abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. The in-filling or empowering of the Holy Spirit, is often a conscious experience, for ministry today. The Holy Spirit is present today in ministry. The full exercise of all the biblical gifts of the Spirit and the laying on of hands for healing, recognition, revelation, activation and empowering of those whom God has ordained to lead and serve in the Church, Has been in full operation since the day of Pentecost until Christ physical return and the beginning of the millennial reign. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to every believer. The bible admonishes us to pursue, to chase after spiritual giftedness. It is every believers duty/responsibility to be discover, activate and exercise their spiritual gifts so that they can fulfill their divine purpose of blessing the body of Christ. The experience of the Holy Spirit Baptism is separate from but subsequent to conversion which is the initial sealing of the Holy Spirit. The Experience of the baptism in the Holy Ghost; Enables the believer to evangelize in the power of the spirit with supernatural signs and wonders following, (Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31; Heb 2:3,4), adds a necessary dimension to a worshipful relationship with God (1 Cor 2:10-16; 12-14), edify and build up the inner spiritual man, (1 Cor 14:4,5; Jude 20) and enable the believer to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit. The expression of the fruit and gifts and ministries as in the New Testament Church by the Holy Spirit is for the edification of the body, the conviction and salvation of the sinner, and the evangelization of the world. The evidences of a genuine Baptism in the Holy Spirit to other believers is the writing of the law of God upon one’s heart, the expression of biblical spiritual fruit above all love, boldness, power to minister and the nine central biblical manifestations of spirit; words of wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diversity of tongues, and interpretations of tongues. According to the New Testament there is one new birth also known as the insufflation, one baptism into the one Holy Ghost, one baptism of fire (sanctification), and many subsequent re-fillings/refreshings. We must seek to be filled and refilled and refreshed by God on a continual basis through cultivating a deep personal and worshipful relationship with God based upon true intimacy. Speaking in tongues is the essential gift expression in the believers prayer life in which the believer speaks mysteries to God and is edified in His inner man. Speaking in the unknown languages of men, angels or of God is a promise to all believers and essential for power in ones personal prayer life. This is separate from the gift of tongues which is one of the verbal expressions of the baptism in the Holy Ghost, this is for everyone however the baptism in the Holy Spirit does not always include the manifestation of the gift of tongues,. The gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit are the supernatural ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that every member of the Body of Christ should flow in several of them as the spirit of God leads. New Testament ministry is the outflow of the indwelling Christ. The church is to be the incarnation of Christ through His spirit, in and by the gifts of the spirit, by the power of His blood and the anointing of the spirit to this lost and dying world. The Church is called to a spiritual ministry of speaking, knowing, and doing. These manifestations enable us to talk like God, think like God, and do the works of God.

For further understanding read Matt 3:11; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 4:40; 10:34; 13:13; John 16:7; 14:26; 20:21-27; Acts 1:8; 4:7-10, 29-31; 5:12; 8:5-13; 10:38; Eph 5:17-18; Col 1:27; Rom 8:9-10; 28-29; 12:4-8; 1 Cor 4:20; 12:8-10; 14:1-40; 12:3-13,29; 14:1,39; 2 Cor 3:18; Heb 2:3-4; 2 Pet 1:3-4; 1 John 3:1-3; 1 Pet 4:10-11.

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