Abraham met Melchizedek before the King of Sodom got to him

Genesis 14: 17 – 20: And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 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 gave him tithes of all.

Abraham’s successful rescue of his nephew Lot, and his smiting of Sodom’s enemies was a very touching gesture to Sodom’s king, who desired to meet Abraham and take back all those who had been rescued along with Lot. But before the King of Sodom arrived (verse 21), another King had intercepted Abraham in a very special visitation. This King was Melchizedek who was God in created flesh (Hebrews 7: 1 – 3). Melchizedek was the King of Salem, which is the ancient name of Jerusalem, but this Salem is not a reference to the earthly city, but to the heavenly city of God, a city of theophanies (Revelation 21: 2). It was King Theophany Jesus Himself who made visitation to Abraham.

It is through Melchizedek’s visitation to Abraham that we catch a small glimpse of how the Rapture will happen. Melchizedek as an immortal King entered the world of mortals and came to Abraham. This is what will happen at the Rapture. Immortality will come to mortality. In other words, the theophany will come to the earth and pick up the flesh body, bringing it to a glorified condition. Then the flesh body having been quickened to a glorified state will be translated into Glory.

This very special visit of Melchizedek happened whilst the King of Sodom was still making his way to Abraham. This shows that there is a king who presides over a sodomite world condition (today’s world), who is going to come later on. But before the king of the sodomite world order comes onto the scene, King Theophany Jesus descends from Heaven (Revelation 10) first, and by His coming, a wondrous communion is established between Christ and His Bride, concluding with the catching away of the Bride into Glory at the Rapture, before the full-fledged manifestation of the Man of Sin takes place (2 Thessalonians 2: 3 – 4; Revelation 12: 10 – 11).