The Gospel of the Kingdom: Melchizedek and the Church of the Firstborn Pt 3 of 3
Last week we learned Cain and Abel were not at the altar of Yahweh to obtain right standing for themselves or anyone else because they were not priests at the time. They were at the altar presenting themselves as candidates for the priesthood.
Cain’s offering was rejected by Yahweh because it was the fruit of his labor. Cain was a tiller of the ground. When God passed judgment on Adam He cursed the ground (adamah) for Adam’s sake. Cain’s offering to Yahweh came forth from the ground (adamah) that was cursed by Yahweh. So, Cain’s offering was cursed, which is why it was rejected.
Abel came to the altar because he loved his birthright, so he came in faith. Cain came because his birthright gave him access to the altar, he came according to his works. One approached Yahweh according to how He requires being approached. The other approached Yahweh because it was his birthright. Cain basically approached Yahweh with the attitude that he was approaching according to his good works. Probably saying something like, “Besides, God knows my heart.”
Just because we’re in Christ doesn’t automatically make us priests. We have to reach the age of maturity first to be called by Yahweh to His altar, but then we have to petition Him to be accepted into His priesthood. In other words, we must desire it with all that is within us, and only then can we be considered for the priesthood.
Genesis 4:5-7, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
Here God is speaking to Cain about why he is so angry and downcast. Notice how Yahweh has not rejected Cain from being accepted into the Assembly of the Firstborn. “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” Cain's offering was rejected, but Cain wasn’t. Yahweh gives him the opportunity to repent and give a proper offering. He warns Cain that sin is at the door (of his heart) and even tells Cain he can rule over sin but if he refuses “he” (sin) will rule over you!”
Cain was jealous and his jealousy caused him to pick up an offense. Cain knew his heart was not right before Yahweh. Cain should have made his heart right in the sight of Yahweh so that he would uphold the law of love. He allowed himself to be ruled by a spirit of jealousy and picked up an offense because Yahweh chose Abel’s offering over his. The following two passages speak to the law of love:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
The second passage reveals how murder begins in the heart. This is what Yahweh was trying to warn Cain about, but Cain refuse counsel and did it his way.
Matthew 5:21-26, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. "Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Adam failed to love Yahweh before the tree of knowledge. Cain did not love his brother as himself while standing before the altar of sacrifice. The parallel here is the tree of knowledge and the altar of sacrifice both foreshadowing the cross.
Picking up where we left off last week…
Genesis 4:8-15 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground. "So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. “When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth." And Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear! “Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me." And the LORD said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.
The Book of Jasher (1:17-33) tells us what Cain talked to Abel about; the Bible does not. The brothers were quarreling over the land. Abel’s sheep crossed over into Cain's land and were eating in his fields. Angry and still jealous that Yahweh deemed Abel worthy to be firstborn over him, Cain complained to Abel about the sheep grazing in his fields. Abel responds by saying then pay me for the sheep of mine you took and ate and for the clothes you are wearing made from the hide.
Jasher 1:17-33, And in some time after, Cain and Abel his brother, went one day into the field to do
their work; and they were both in the field, Cain tilling and ploughing his ground, and Abel feeding his flock; and the flock passed that part which Cain had ploughed in the ground, and it sorely grieved Cain on this account. 18. And Cain approached his brother Abel in anger, and he said unto him, What is there between me and thee, that thou comest to dwell and bring thy flock to feed in my land? 19. And Abel answered his brother Cain and said unto him, What is there between me and thee, that thou shalt eat the flesh of my flock and clothe thyself with their wool? 20. And now therefore, put off the wool of my sheep with which thou hast clothed thyself, and recompense me for their fruit and flesh which thou hast eaten, and when thou shalt have done this, I will then go from thy land as thou hast said? 21. And Cain said to his brother Abel, Surely if I slay thee this day, who will require thy blood from me? 22. And Abel answered Cain, saying, Surely God who has made us in the earth, he will avenge my cause, and he will require my blood from thee shouldst thou slay me, for the Lord is the judge and arbiter, and it is he who will requite man according to his evil, and the wicked man according to the wickedness that he may do upon earth. 23. And now, if thou shouldst slay me here, surely God knoweth thy secret views, and will judge thee for the evil which thou didst declare to do unto me this day. 24. And when Cain heard the words which Abel his brother had spoken, behold the anger of Cain was kindled against his brother Abel for declaring this thing. 25. And Cain hastened and rose up, and took the iron part of his ploughing instrument, with which he suddenly smote his brother and he slew him, and Cain spilt the blood of his brother Abel upon the earth, and the blood of Abel streamed upon the earth before the flock. 26. And after this Cain repented having slain his brother, and he was sadly grieved, and he wept over him and it vexed him exceedingly. 27. And Cain rose up and dug a hole in the field, wherein he put his brother's body, and he turned the dust over it. 28. And the Lord knew what Cain had done to his brother, and the Lord appeared to Cain and said unto him, Where is Abel thy brother that was with thee? 29. And Cain dissembled, and said, I do not know, am I my brother's keeper? And the Lord said unto him, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground where thou hast slain him. 30. For thou hast slain thy brother and hast dissembled before me, and didst imagine in thy heart that I saw thee not, nor knew all thy actions. 31. But thou didst this thing and didst slay thy brother for naught and because he spoke rightly to thee, and now, therefore, cursed be thou from the ground which opened its mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand, and wherein thou didst bury him. 32. And it shall be when thou shalt till it, it shall no more give thee its strength as in the beginning, for thorns and thistles shall the ground produce, and thou shalt be moving and wandering in the earth until the day of thy death. 33. And at that time Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, from the place where he was, and he went moving and wandering in the land toward the east of Eden, he and all belonging to him.
After Cain killed Abel Yahweh judged him saying the following, "So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. “When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth."
There are several things to note:
Cain’s three punishments of his judgment: he was cursed from the ground; he would no longer receive its strength; he was banished from the Eden (father’s house) becoming a vagabond.
Yahweh’s judgment on Cain was based on Kingdom rules, not Levitical Law because it did not yet exist.
Cain wasn’t deemed unrighteous. Adam would have to disavow Cain in order for Cain to be deemed unrighteous. Because Adam was righteous, Cain was deemed righteous.
Cain’s judgment came from Yahweh directly. It was between them two.
Cain’s transgression was against a Firstborn. All Firstborns belong to Yahweh.
Cain’s judgment was related to the wrong committed against Yahweh.
When Yahweh asked about Abel Cain answered, Am I my brother’s keeper? In plain English Cain said, I am not Melchizedek because you chose Abel to be Melchizedek. I am not his keeper he is my keeper. Abel is responsible for reporting to You, Yahweh.
Yahweh knew where Abel was. He was providing opportunity for Cain to confess his sin. Confession initiates forgiveness. No confession, no forgiveness. Confession is vital.
Cain instead looked for a scapegoat to pass the blame onto, his brother Abel the second son. He made me do it!
Adam did the same thing in passing all the blame to his “brother” the Eternal Firstborn, Yeshua, who by the way is also a Second Son, the second Adam.
Abel’s blood cried out the appointed anointed Firstborn was denied his destiny.
Cain was cursed because removed a Firstborn from erets earth. Being sent from Eden he lost his connection with “authority”.
Cain’s descendants never served as Melchizedeks. They all died in the flood.
Cain is fearful for his life and tells Yahweh everyone he will cross paths with out of Eden will attempt to take his life. Yahweh places a “mark” on Cain and says if anyone attempts to take his life his retribution will be sevenfold.
People always question what the “mark” was that Yahweh placed on Cain’s head. It was more than like was a ‘tav’.
Ezekiel 9:4, and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it."
Strong's H8420 – tāv (mark); mark (as a sign of exemption from judgment); a tav, the sign of the cross (the mark of tav)
Genesis 4:16, Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.
Eden being the mountain of Yahweh, is where the presence of the Lord is. So this verse simply states that Cain went from the face of Yahweh implying Cain was no longer a member of the Melchizedek House. He lived in Nod east of Eden. Nod meaning wandering. Remember Cain was a vagabond, a wanderer.
Genesis 4:17-24, And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son--Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech. Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. Then Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."
Here in this passage, we will look at the names, their Biblical meaning, and the figurative meaning. Don’t forget Cain and his offspring never served in the order of Melchizedek. Being royal, Cain and his offspring were denied access to the throne. The book of Jubilees reveals Cain’s wife was his sister Awan. She was the mother of Cain’s son named Enoch (means discipline “that which comes from corrections”). Cain had more children after Enoch.
Enoch (discipline) fathered Jared (fugitive)
Jared (fugitive) fathered Mehujael (smitten of God).
Mehujael (smitten of God) fathered Methusael (man of God).
Methusael (man of God) fathered Lamech (made low).
Lamech’s two wives: Adah and Zillah
Adah bore Jabal and Jubal.
Adah (ornament) a source of honor.
Jabal (to flow as a stream) was the first to dwell in tents, possibly the first to trade in livestock.
Jubal (a stream; to flow like a stream). Jubal was the source through which musical instruments were introduced.
Jabal represents the temporary tabernacle in the wilderness where worship streamed forth.
Jubal represents the permanent place of worship in Spirit and in Truth where worship //////////// streams forth like rivers of living waters.
Metaphorically, Lamech fathered two streams through honor. One streamed dwelled in temporary dwellings, and the other became those who learned to worship.
Zillah bore Tubal-Cain and Naamah.
Zillah (a shade; shadow) literal and figurative.
Tubal-Cain: Tubal (a stream) and Cain (a procurement). Tubal-Cain, a blacksmith, taught men to make objects of brass and iron. Brass and iron represent confusion and chaos.
Naamah (pleasantness). So other supporting information in the Bible. An obscure masonic relief depicts her as being talented in the arts. More than likely dark carnal arts.
Figuratively, Lamech fathered a procurement of confusion through shades and shadows, which brought forth chaos.
Adah represents the Tree of Life (brings forth honor).
Zillah represents the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (brings forth chaos, and confusion).
Genesis 4:24-25, If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold. And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed."
In the NKJV the passage beginning with verse 25 is titled, A NEW SON. Seth foreshadows Messiah? Adam was a son but failed in his assignment necessitating the need for a new Son to fulfill the assignment Adam was not able to fulfill.
Since Lamech killed Cain accidentally he bragged that since Yahweh will avenge Cain when he was guilty, Yahweh would avenge Lamech seventy times more since he is humble and killed Cain accidentally.
Seventy times more = 490
70 x 7 = 490
490 symbolizes forgiveness
70 = God’s administration of judgment
7 symbolizes a completed work
Matthew 18:21-22, Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
490-year cycle equated to a Great Jubilee, according to the ancients.
1. From Abraham’s birth to the Exodus
2. From the Exodus to the 1st temple in Jerusalem
3. From the 1st temple in Jerusalem until a decree was given to rebuild that destroyed temple
4. From the rebuilding of the 2nd temple until the Cross
5. Daniel 9:24, Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
Genesis 4:25-26, And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed. And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.
After Abel’s death Eve brought forth another son who would serve as Firstborn. Seth would serve as a substitute for the ONE who was slain. After Seth, his son Enosh served as Firstborn. Humanity then became hostile towards Yahweh which is what “then the men began to call upon the name of the Lord” means. They were not calling upon Yahweh to worship Him but to curse Him.
Genesis Chapter 5 – The Melchizedek Lineage
Genesis 5 is a record of the pre-flood Firstborns (Melchizedeks). The Apostle Peter suggests there were eight Firstborns pre-flood even though 10 generations are listed.
Firstborns Kings/High Priests
Abel 1 Adam
Seth 2 Seth
Enosh 3 Enosh
Cainan 4 Cainan
Mahalal’el 5 Mahalal’el
Jared 6 Jared
Enoch 7 Methuselah
Methuselah 8 Noah
Lamech 9
Noah 10
Enoch was not for Yahweh took him. Lamech never served as Melchizedek because he died before his father Methuselah, the Melchizedek at the time. Removing Enoch and Lamech would make Noah the last Melchizedek pre-flood when he entered the ark. So there were 10 generations but 8 Melchizedeks.
2 Peter 2:4-5, For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
One of eight people
Does not mean one and seven others
The ark is not mentioned in this passage or implied
Peter declared Noah as the eighth preacher of righteousness, preached righteousness
Eight is a mistranslated it should say “eighth” (Strong's G3590 – ogdoos)
A preacher of righteousness
To further support Peter declaring Noah as the eighth preacher of righteousness read Hebrews 5:9-14
And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek," of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
This passage basically says this, the revelation of the Melchizedek and His priesthood is the very meat of God’s Word. Without this revelation one is still on milk of the Word and unskilled in the Word of righteousness or in other words is unskilled in the revelation of the Melchizedek and His priesthood.
My point? Noah could not be a preacher of righteousness unless he was Melchizedek High Priest. He was preaching the very meat of God’s Word.
Until next time, receive this blessing!
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace…His shalom!
Best,
Samuel Ramos III
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