Melchizedek -- Part 2 ("when thy posterity shall...look upward, then shall Zion look downward")

This post is a continuation of part 1, where we discussed the nature of the everlasting covenant and the order of the Son of God. 

The creation-covenant connection

We have frequently written about the creation-covenant connection on this blog. A linguistic Hebrew relation between the two indicates a conceptual relation. All creation was initially bound through covenant. Wickedness and iniquity disrupts this harmony whereas righteousness restores and preserves it. This righteousness is the essence of the order of the Son of God or the priesthood of Melchizedek, the king of righteousness. It ultimately leads back to the Garden of Eden or Zion where harmony and peace of the whole creation abound. 

How? The priesthood and its ordinances manifest the power of godliness and cause us to "look upward". To repeat JST Genesis 9:22

And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy

This is such a beautiful verse. The poetic parallelism at the end is certainly typical for ancient Hebrew and not 19th century upstate New York language, by the way. Do you see the creation-covenant theme? In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. When we live in this mortal state on earth and embrace the everlasting covenant, we look upward and heaven and earth are reunited and rejoicing.

Enoch and his posterity

Another aspect of this verse is God speaking to Noah about his posterity. There is an interesting dynamic here that I have pondered. In the last post we saw that the covenant was closely linked to Zion. Enoch and his city were taken and JST Genesis 14:32 states

And men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into heaven.

This implies that anyone with faith coming unto this order of God (the Melchizedek Priesthood) are translated and taken up to heaven like Enoch. This may seem strange, since Enoch and his city are quite unique in history. But reading on, this is explained

33 And now, Melchizedek was a priest of this order; therefore he obtained peace in Salem, and was called the Prince of peace.

34 And his people wrought righteousness, and obtained heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch which God had before taken, separating it from the earth, having reserved it unto the latter days, or the end of the world

So Melchizedek was after this order and should therefore be translated and taken up to heaven like Enoch. We learn from these verses that Melchizedek "obtained heaven", but not the same way as Enoch. Instead, he established the heavenly order, peace, on earth in Salem (from the Hebrew word, Shalom, meaning peace) and then waited for a day when he would come to the city of Enoch that has been reserved for the latter days. 

And this Melchizedek, having thus established righteousness, was called the king of heaven by his people, or, in other words, the King of peace. (JST Genesis 14:36)

This idea is expressed in Moses 8:2 as well

And it came to pass that Methuselah, the son of Enoch, was not taken, that the covenants of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to Enoch; for he truly covenanted with Enoch that Noah should be of the fruit of his loins.

Enoch and his city were taken to heaven. They sought heaven and obtained it through righteousness by the holy order and everlasting covenant. But part of the covenant was to leave a posterity that would have access to the same order and the same blessings. Except they would have to try to establish this order on earth "looking upward" and have to wait for the latter days for the full realization of Zion, where heaven and earth would meet. One day, Enoch and his city in heaven will meet Zion on earth, consisting of his righteous posterity.

Enoch, Noah and Abraham

Promises concerning posterity is an important ingredient in the Abrahamic covenant. In fact, I think the covenant with Abraham is just a reiteration of the everlasting covenant that God made with Enoch and Noah but with some additional specific promises to him. Interestingly, Melchizedek in the JST is described as "ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch" before he blesses Abraham

And it came to pass, that God blessed Abram, and gave unto him riches, and honor, and lands for an everlasting possession; according to the covenant which he had made, and according to the blessing wherewith Melchizedek had blessed him. (JST Genesis 14:40)

I would not be surprised if the order of the covenant with Enoch had a lot to do with the blessing that Melchizedek gave to Abraham. Melchizedek is also described as a man of faith

26 Now Melchizedek was a man of faith, who wrought righteousness...

30 For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that every one being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;

31 To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.

32 And men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into heaven.

I know that I am repeating some of these verses over and over, but there is so much in here and I want to highlight the different aspects. In this case, my focus on faith and posterity leads directly to Paul's letter to the Hebrews. Chapters 5-7 discuss Melchizedek and his order and chapter 11 is a lecture on faith. I don't think it's a coincidence that Enoch, Noah and Abraham are mentioned as examples of faith in that order

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

It's a long passage but I have to include all these verse since it fits remarkably well with the scriptures quoted already in the context of the everlasting covenant. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob dwelling in tabernacles actually also fits the series on tabernacles/shekinah that I recently wrote, especially this part and this part, even though I only reluctantly introduce yet another aspect to an already complex topic.

So let me try to sum this up: From the foundation of the world, there is an everlasting covenant binding all creation together in peace. The fall and the iniquity of man as a result of the fall, disrupts the covenant. But Enoch, being called after the order of the Son of God, managed to restore the covenant of peace and establish Zion. His city was taken to heaven with a promise that one day, the seed after him who similarly enter into this order and covenant, will meet them in a grand reunion of heaven and earth. Consequently, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham and other 'Tsadiks' (Righteous Ones) were not immediately taken up to heaven like Enoch. Rather, they were preserved, received promises concerning their posterity and tried to establish peace in their circumstances while longing for a future "city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God". 

As Abraham's seed, we too can "look upward" aided by the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood in which "the power of godliness" is manifest. "Then shall Zion look downward" and we will also one day become its citizens, no longer being "strangers and pilgrims".