God's View of Gentile Priests

We do use the pattern: patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christ's dispensations. I suppose we correspond this to the offering of sacrifices. It is a convenient "handle".

In the beginning, there "seems" to have been "each man had a duty" being his own priest: e.g., Abel and Cain (Gen. 4). We coin "Patriarchal" to refer to the daddy as "priest." However, Adam was not the one offering sacrifices for his boys. Nevertheless, Abel's sacrifice was acceptable (Hebrews 11). The revelation that was given to prediluvians is scant.

Noah is the patriarch priest. Abraham follows, etc. (Gen_8:20); (Gen_26:25); (Gen_31:54). And Job. Job is an important example because he was not under the Levitical Law: he was a patriarch priest (for his children) but God authorized him to be a priest to his "friends" (Job 42:8).

Abraham offered sacrifices but submitted to the priest of Salem (Melchizedec). Then we have the priest of Midian with Moses. All of these preceded the Law of Moses.

Under the Law of Moses if sacrifices were offered at any place other than that authorized in the tabernacle and/or temple, it was called "high places" and considered violating the Law (e.g., 1 Kings 3:2,3).

Now, Jonah (3:10, etc.) doesn't have any "priest" that I can perceive. Jonah was a prophet and he preached repentance. I am hesitant to use an expression of "the patriarchal period existing" after Moses and after the establiishment of the "kingdom of priests" (Levi represented the tribes in this - Exodus 19:6; 28:1). I am ignorant of any passage that says this.

I've always understood that the Gentile world existed under the rule of conscience (Romans 2:13,14). "(...For when the Gentiles, which have not the Law, do by nature the things contained in the Law, these, having not the Law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)".

In the dedication of the temple, it is suggested that a mission of Israel included retaining a knowledge of God in the world until Christ should come (1 Kings 8:41-44). These appear to me to be the facts of the case.

Meanwhile, Acts 17:30 states clearly that God commands all of us living now to repent which includes obeying the Faith (Jude 3).