The Covenant of the Priesthood

Thy name shall be no more Jacob (meaning contender) but Israel for as a prince hast thou power with God and with man and has prevailed. (Gen. 32:28)

Israel means "God rules" or more correctly "he shall rule as God". Thus the descendants of Israel were to become the centre of the rule and authority of God.

All nations were to come into association with this nation through Jesus Christ. The gentiles called into this relationship were to become the church or body of Christ, they were then to become a nation of kings and priests allocated according to the tribes of Israel under the Apostles who were each to lead one of the tribes in the government of God under Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:6; 5:19; 7:1-17).

The priesthood originally came with the restoration under Noah and was vested in Shem. This priesthood which was the order of Melchisedek (meaning my king is justice) which ultimately became centered in Jerusalem and Abraham tithed to Melchisedek at Jerusalem.

The tribe of Levi was created as a physical priesthood in Israel and took over in Jerusalem with David's occupation of that city in 1005 BCE. Levi continued to be the priesthood until Jesus Christ. From his crucificition and resurrection he was appointed the high priest of the order of Melchisedek which both preceded and succeded Levi. It is without genealogy and without an end.

Everyone of the gentiles called into the body of Christ becomes part of the priesthood of Melchisedek. This too is a major part of the Birthright Promises given to the descendants of Abraham and extended to all the sons of Noah through Israel.