Up until the time that he sinned, Adam was both king (prince) and priest of this world, but then he lost his kingship to Satan. From that time on, God never intended for any man to become both king and priest. The closest thing to it was the patriarchal system in which one person was the ruler over the civil and religious affairs of his family. However, even the patriarch, Abraham, recognized the higher authority of a mysterious person named Melchizedek, who was both king of Salem and "priest of the most high God" (Gen. 14:18). Christ was "called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek" (Heb. 5:10). I do not intend to get into a discussion of the identity of a person "without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life" (Heb. 7:3). It is sufficient to say that God identified this person with Christ Himself.
Since then, there have been numerous examples of individuals who have assumed the role of king and priest in their society. Saul was the first king of Israel, and his enthronement resulted in tragedy for himself and the nation. Uzziah is another example among many in the Bible in whom these dual powers ended in disaster. In fact, we have been warned that such an entity with both civil and religious powers would arise, and that it would dominate the world for 1260 years of spiritual darkness. Millions of martyrs have given their lives as a testament to the persecuting power of such a union.
Today we see the results of such a union in political conflicts that are religiously motivated; conflicts between Muslims and Christians in Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Bosnia, and Russia; conflicts between Jews and Arabs in Palestine; conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland; conflicts between Mohammedans and Hindus in India-Pakistan. Even in our own United States there is a constant struggle to maintain the separation of church and state as guaranteed in the constitution.
As individuals, we must be constantly on guard against this tendency to appropriate the power and wealth of the state to achieve our own religious advantage. Only as we abide in Christ can we look forward to the day when we are made unto our God "kings and priests."
