In the first chapter we saw that Yahweh’s ultimate goal is for us to spiritually conquer and subdue the earth for His Son. When Yeshua returns, He expects us to hand over the reins of an already-spiritually-conquered world to Him. In turn, He will hand over the reins of this world to His Father.
Qorintim Aleph (1 Corinthians) 15:28
28 Now when all things are made subject to Him [Yeshua], then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him [Father] who put all things under Him, that Elohim may be all in all.
This is a multiphase operation involving both physical and spiritual armies. Today, Nazarene Israel is strictly in a spiritual-warfare-only phase, while Yahweh allows the proxy armies of Babylon to do the physical fighting. (We describe this in more detail later in this book.) In other words, we do not use carnal weaponry at this time (except for self-defense). After Armageddon, when Babylon and her three proxy armies (Christendom, Judaism, and Islam) no longer exist, Nazarene Israel will again bear a physical sword. However, in between then and now we are only called to spiritual war. Let us gird up our loins and behave like men, because successful spiritual warfare requires even greater organization and discipline than physical warfare.
Yahweh originally chose Avraham to begin the conquest of earth because Avraham valued obedience to Elohim more than his own flesh and blood. Avraham left his family and his father’s house, and circumcised himself. His obedience sets standards for us.
B’reisheet (Genesis) 22:15-18
15 Then the Messenger of Yahweh called to Avraham a second time out of heaven,
16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says Yahweh, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son —
17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Now we will use a variety of passages to observe the parallels between the Levitical priesthood and the Melchizedekian order which Yeshua established.
In the last chapter we saw how Yahweh chose the Levites to replace the priesthood of the firstborn, because rather than pleasing man, they were willing to oppose and even slay their own brothers and sons at Yahweh’s word. This sets a priestly standard.
Shemote (Exodus) 32:27-29
27 And he said to them, “Thus says Yahweh Elohei Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.'”
28 So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moshe. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
29 Then Moshe said, “Consecrate yourselves to Yahweh today, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.”
This same standard of soldierly discipline is found in Yeshua’s Melchizedekian order.
Mattityahu (Matthew) 10:34-37
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;
36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
After the Levites had shown that they were both loyal and obedient, Yahweh put them on His payroll. Because their pay has to come from Yahweh, Yahweh decreed that all the tithe of the land belonged to Him (and not the Levites). The people only give His tithe to the Levites.
Vayiqra (Leviticus) 27:30-33
30 “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is Yahweh’s. It is set-apart to Yahweh.
31 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it.
32 But concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be set-apart to Yahweh.
33 He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be set-apart; it shall not be redeemed.”
Since all the tithe belonged to Yahweh, it was His right to tell the people to give His tithes to the Levites, to support them in doing His work. This did not mean that the Levites answered to the people or should seek to please the people (as the priesthood of the firstborn had). Rather, the Levites were to seek to please only Yahweh (who gave them their pay). To do anything else would make them servants of the people, rather than servants of Elohim.
This same principle also shows up in the Renewed Covenant.
Galatim (Galatians) 1:10
10 For do I now persuade men, or Elohim? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Messiah.
Yahweh also declared that the Levites were not to have any inheritance in the land. That is, they were not to have any other means of support, apart from the tithe. This meant that they were to work for Him full time.
Bemidbar (Numbers) 18:20-24
20 Then Yahweh said to Aharon: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.
21 Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
22 Hereafter the children of Israel shall not come near the tabernacle of meeting, lest they bear sin and die.
23 But the Levites shall perform the work of the tabernacle of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a statute forever, throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
24 For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up as a heave offering to Yahweh, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.'”
This same principle shows up again in the Renewed Covenant. Although the disciples were willing to fall back on their fishing skills after Yeshua’s death (John 21), it is clear that they preferred to do Yahweh’s work full-time after they were filled with the Spirit.
Ma’asei (Acts) 6:2-4
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of Elohim and serve tables.
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Set apart Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
The people would have had to bring Yahweh’s tithes to one central treasury that was under the control of the Levites. This was the only way to make sure Yahweh’s tithes would be divided equitably among all the workers. From that tithe the Levites gave a tenth to the high priest, who used it to support the Levitical priests.
Bemidbar (Numbers) 18:25-32
25 Then Yahweh spoke to Moshe, saying,
26 “Speak thus to the Levites, and say to them: ‘When you take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to Yahweh, a tenth of the tithe.
27 And your heave offering shall be reckoned to you as though it were the grain of the threshing floor and as the fullness of the winepress.
28 Thus you shall also offer a heave offering to Yahweh from all your tithes which you receive from the children of Israel, and you shall give Yahweh’s heave offering from it to Aharon the priest.
29 Of all your gifts you shall offer up every heave offering due to Yahweh, from all the best of them, the consecrated part of them.’
30 Therefore you shall say to them: ‘When you have lifted up the best of it, then the rest shall be accounted to the Levites as the produce of the threshing floor and as the produce of the winepress.
31 You may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your work in the tabernacle of meeting.
32 And you shall bear no sin because of it, when you have lifted up the best of it. But you shall not profane the set apart gifts of the children of Israel, lest you die.'”
The main thing we need to understand here is that the same principles which applied in the Levitical order are still active in the Melchizedekian order. Even though we are scattered into every nation on earth, the need for organization and proper accounting of Yahweh’s tithe still applies.
We will give more details in later chapters, but in short, today Yahweh’s tithes are to be given to the city’s spiritual elders, and used by them to conduct the Great Commission in their area. It is optional, but Yahweh is not pleased until our hearts are joyful to do so, knowing that this is what it takes to keep the priesthood running worldwide.
Just like the Levites, city elders are to be supported by the tithe; in fact, they are to be counted worthy of a double portion of honor.
TimaTheus Aleph (1 Timothy) 5:17
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
Just as the Levites gave a tithe of the tithe to the Levitical priesthood, city elders are to send a tithe of the tithe to the Melchizedekian priesthood. It is then used to create doctrinal materials (like this book) which help tie our nation together. It is also used for evangelism, outreach, missions, and a great many other purposes, which we will talk about in later chapters.