Bible Study #4: YAHshua's pre-existence

The Bible reveals that Yahshua ("Jesus" in Greek) was with YAHVAH as a separate being in the beginning and, consequently, existed before His earthly ministry (described in the first four books of the New Testament). Christianity is based on the divinity of Yahshua and belief in the "Rock"-solid (I Corinthians 10:4) truth of the Bible, therefore, it is older than all religions. Also, Christian doctrine is historically based on Hebrew Old Testament tenets of Abram (whose name was later changed to "Abraham"). He was the first person referred to as a Hebrew (or Eberite, descendant of Eber, #5680 Strong's Concordance) mentioned in the Bible and lived around 4,000 years ago. He was a believer in YHVH.--
13: "And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram." (Genesis 14:13, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
1-4: "Now the LORD (YHVH) had said unto Abram, 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.' So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; . . ." (Genesis 12:1-4, HOLY BIBLE, KJV).

This Bible Study is about Yahshua's pre-existence and His Yahweh-ordained and caring involvement with His redeemed people, the crowning achievement of His creation. It is divided into 3 sections.--
Part I. Yahshua's Pre-existence.
Part II. Yahshua as Melchizedek.
Part III. Yahshua as Captain of the Host of YAHVAH.

Part I. Yahshua's Pre-existence--
     2: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah*, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." (Micah 5:2, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)(*This was the birthplace of Yahshua.)

     1-15: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, 'This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me." (St. John 1:1-15, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

     56-58: "[Yahshua said,] 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.' Then said the Jews unto Him, 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?' Jesus said unto them, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.'" (St. John 8:56-58, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

     5 & 24: "[Yahshua prayed], 'And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine Own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. . . . Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.'" (St. John 17:5 & 17:24, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

     1-4: "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud [after the Exodus from Egypt], and all passed through the [Red] sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:1-4, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

     9: "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 3:9, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

      14-17: "In Whom we have redemption through His [Christ's] blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:14-17, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

     1-3 & 8-12: "God, who at sundry times and in divers (various) manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: . . . But unto the Son He [God] saith, 'Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: they shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture (mantel, a covering garment, a robe) shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.'" (Hebrews 1:1-3 & 1:8-12, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

     3: "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." (Hebrews 7:3, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)(See references to "Melchizedek" in Part II.)

     20-21: "For He [Yahshua] was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, Who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." (I Peter 1:20-21, HOLY BIBLE, NASB)

     13: "[Yahshua said,] 'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.'" (Revelation 22: 13, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

Part II. Yahshua as Melchizedek (Hebrew)/Melchisedec (Greek)****--
****I give credit to my husband, Chaplain in Chief of American Reformation Ministries, for passing the truth of Yahshua being Melchidezek to me many years ago.--
     18-20: "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, 'Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.' And he [Abraham] gave him [Melchidezek] tithes of all." (Genesis 14:18-20, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
This was a foreshadowing of Yahshua's last Passover with His apostles just before His death.--
     1, 7-8, 13-20: "Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. . . . Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And He [Yahshua] sent Peter and John, saying, 'Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.' . . . And they went, and found as He had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And He said unto them, 'With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.' And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, 'Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.' And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me.' Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you.'" (St. Luke 22:1, 7-8, 13-20, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

     1-4: "The LORD [Yahweh] said unto my Lord, 'Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.' The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: 'Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.' Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, 'Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.'" (Psalm 110:1-4, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

     1-10: "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an high priest; but He that said unto Him, 'Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.' As He saith also in another place, 'Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.' Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec." (Hebrews 5:1-10, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

     6:17 - 7:28: "Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: but he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment (physical requirement), but after the power of an endless life. For He testifieth, 'Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.' For there is verily a disannulling (setting aside) of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (for those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by Him that said unto Him, 'The Lord sware and will not repent, "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:"') by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: but this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, Who is consecrated for evermore." (Hebrews 6:17 - Hebrews 7:28, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)

Part III. Yahshua as Captain of the Host of YAHVAH--
13-15: ''And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man (to be extant; a man as an individual or a male person) over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, 'Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?' And he said, 'Nay; but as captain of the host (army) of the LORD (YAHVAH) am I now come.' And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, 'What saith my Lord unto his servant?' And the captain of the LORD's host (army) said unto Joshua, 'Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.' And Joshua did so." (Joshua 5:13-15, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)
This is a foreshadowing of Yahshua's coming back to earth, leading the armies of heaven!--
11-16: "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He [Yahshua] that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, 'KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.'" (Revelation 19:11-16, HOLY BIBLE, KJV)