The Falling Away of the Priesthood

The Falling Away of the Priesthood

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs foretell that for seventy weeks they will go astray, profane the priesthood, pollute the sacrifices, corrupt the law, and set at nought the words of the prophets. Puffed up by the priesthood, they lift themselves against men, persecute righteous men, hate the godly, abhor the words of the faithful, and call a deceiver the man who renews the law, at last slaying him without understanding his resurrection.

The temple shall be desolate in uncleanness, and they captives and an abomination among the nations under everlasting shame. Holy places will be polluted with no clean place left, leaving them a curse and dispersion among the Gentiles until he looks upon them again in pity through faith and water. Each jubilee brings a priesthood, the first speaking to God as a Father and arising for the salvation of the world, later ones marked by sorrow, grief, and hatred in Israel.

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Details

Category
Apocalyptic
Status
unfulfilled

The Prophecy

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs prophesy that the priesthood will fall away for seventy weeks, leading to desolation, captivity, and dispersion until restoration through faith and water.

Source

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 30:1-11

And now, my children, I have learnt from the writing of Enoch that at the last ye will deal ungodly, laying your hands u...

A1nd now, my children, I have learnt from the writing of Enoch that at the last ye will deal ungodly, laying your hands upon the Lord in all malice; and your brethren shall be ashamed because of you, and to all the Gentiles shall it become a mocking.

2 For our father Israel shall be pure from the ungodliness of the chief priests who shall lay their hands upon the Saviour of the world. 3 Pure is the heaven above the earth, and ye are the lights of the heaven as the sun and the moon. 4 What shall all the Gentiles do if ye be darkened in ungodliness? 5 So shall ye bring a curse upon our race for whom came the light of the world, which was given among you for the lighting up of every man. 6 Him will ye desire to slay, teaching commandments contrary to the ordinances of God. 7 The offerings of the Lord will ye rob, and from His portion will ye steal; and before ye sacrifice to the Lord, ye will take the choicest parts, in despitefulness eating them with harlots. 8 Amid excesses will ye teach the commandments of the Lord, the women that have husbands will ye pollute, and the virgins of Jerusalem will ye defile; and with harlots and adulteresses will ye be joined. 9 The daughters of the Gentiles will ye take for wives, purifying them with an unlawful purification; and your union shall be like unto Sodom and Gomorrah in ungodliness. 10 And ye will be puffed up because of the priesthood lifting yourselves up against men. 11 And not only so, but being puffed up also against the commands of God, ye will scoff at the holy things, mocking in despitefulness.

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The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs 30 Levi 14 2 min read

Did You Know?

1

Levi says he learnt from the writing of Enoch that his sons would at the last lay their hands on the Lord.

2

The book of Enoch, Levi says, foretells that the priests will go astray for seventy weeks and pollute the sacrifices.

3

Levi warns that the veil of the temple will be torn so that it no longer covers the priests' shame.

4

The priests are accused of robbing the Lord's offerings and taking the choicest parts before they sacrifice.

5

Levi counts a priesthood for each of seven jubilees, and says the seventh brings pollution he cannot express.