Genesis 14: The shadow of Christ

Melchizedek makes his first appearance in Scripture bringing bread and wine to Abraham after his victory against those that took Lot and his family prisoners.

There's so much Messianic symbolism it's overwhelming. Could this be an appearance of Christ or simply a forerunner?

Psalm 110:4 GOD gave his word and he won't take it back: you're the permanent priest, the Melchizedek priest.

The future king - in Christian belief, Jesus Christ - is referred to as a "priest forever after the order of Melchizedek".

Hebrews 7:1-4 "This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

Hebrews 7:3 in the New Testament refers to Melchizedek as a king "without father or mother or genealogy", a reference which some Christians take as referring to Melchizedek's true nature as an angel or even as Jesus himself, appearing thousands of years before his Earthly incarnation.