Category Archives: Symbolism

Multiple Types of the Christ: Jonah

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Jonah tried to run to the far end of his then known world, to Tarshish (Spain), Jon 1:3.

We learn Jonah’s reasons later.

The Ninevites were first of all gentiles, goyim, filth that no Jew would have anything to do with. Also they were vicious and brutal conquerers, absolutely heartless in dealing with conquered peoples. The Northern kingdom Israel was finally destroyed by the Assyrians.

Further God wanted Jonah to preach to them that they must repent or soon be destroyed. Poor Jonah! He was actually afraid that they would repent, and turn, and God would have mercy on them! (Jonah 4.)

But God prevented Jonah’s flight.

In a well know story, God had Jonah swallowed by “a great fish,” Jon 1:17. Much of the description is highly symbolic. Jonah said he called to God, “Out of the belly of Sheol,” Jon 2:2 WEB. Sheol does have associations with the sea, but was he literally in Sheol, the world of the dead. I would have to say no. He says he “went down to the bottoms of the mountains …” Jon 2:6 WEB. Literal? Again I would say no. Still, God heard his prayer and had a perhaps scarred and bleached Jonah go preach to Nineveh … and they repented!

The sign of Jonah, Mtt 12:39

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Jon 12:40 WEB

Where Jesus went was the world of the dead, also called Sheol or the abyss (Greek abussos, as in Lk 8:31, Rom 10:7, and Rev 17:8).

What were the key ingredients here?

1. That the gentiles also deserved to have the opportunity for repentance to life. The exaggerated Jewish rejection of all gentiles were very much out of line. As God Himself said,

“Shouldn’t I be concerned for Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred twenty thousand persons who can’t discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?”
Jon 4:11 WEB

The Jews should have learned better just from this prophet, but they didn’t, and haven’t as a group, even to this day.

2. Jonah was to bring this word of repentance even to the gentiles, as Jesus does in our own day.

3. Jonah was at least symbolically in the world of the dead for three days, but Jesus was literally.

And was Jesus reluctant to leave heaven to suffer so that we might live? Well at least he did pray, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.” Mtt 26:39 WEB

Who could blame Him?

Notice these types are all loosely related

These loose associations of synonyms and descriptions are the key to catching this imagery. There are many more types of the Christ.. For another partial list, consult Naves’s Topical Bible under “Types … ? of the Savior.”

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Multiple Types of the Christ: A Branch

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Soon after David’s days things began falling apart. These are of course common things in the political world. Because of Solomon’s sins the kingdom of Israel was split, with David’s heirs getting only a minor share of the split kingdom.

Soon the prophets were forecasting the fall
of David’s kingdom.

All of this was in the face of clear prophecies of David’s kingdom that “your throne shall be established forever,” 2Sam 7:16. It was clear that the Davidic kingdom was slipping. So where were the promises of everlasting rule? Were these false prophecies?

Then came predictions of a revival
of David’s kingdom.

Isaiah talked first of a branch of the Lord.

“In that day, Yahweh’s branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the beauty and glory of the survivors of Israel.”
Isa 4:2 WEB

Jeremiah spoke of a “branch” seemingly from the house of David.

“Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”
Jer 23:5 WEB

Further prophecies spoke of this branch coming as seemingly a tender shoot from the stock (should we say, the stump?) of David, or as stated, from David’s father Jesse.

“There shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.”
Isa 11:1 WEB

Or a few verses later it speaks of if as from the root of the tree itself, as if soon nothing much will be showing above ground.

“It shall happen in that day, that the root of Jesse, who stands for an ensign of the peoples, to him shall the nations seek; and his resting-place shall be glorious.”
Isa 11:10 WEB

But when this root takes hold, it will prosper.

“In days to come shall Jacob take root; Israel shall blossom and bud; and they shall fill the surface of the world with fruit.
Isa 27:6 WEB

And it will bring prosperity to Judah.

“The remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.”
Isa 37:31 WEB

It must be commented that Jesus, that branch, has not meant prosperity for Judah so far! Still the prophet says it will come, and it will. This root, this shoot of David, of Jesse, will not be a beautiful or handsome thing after the flesh according to Isaiah.

“For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”
Isa 53:2 WEB

And he is symbolically called “Joshua”

A high priest named Joshua of Zechariah’s time and his assistants “… are men who are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant, the Branch.” Zech 3:8 WEB. And of course, when the branch came, His name in Hebrew was “Yehoshuah,” or in English, Joshua, or from the Greek, Jesus.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Multiple Types of the Christ: Ezekiel

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“Son of man” is frequently found phrase in Scripture for any man, any human being.

“God is not a man, that he should lie,
Neither the son of man, that he should repent: …”
Num 23:19 WEB

However the one and only son of God did become a man. He did have “the form (morph?) of God,” Phil 2:6 WEB, and also took on “the form of a servant,” Phil 2:7 WEB (also morph?). He was fully God, and fully man. So he was indeed a “son of man.” So it came to be that one of Jesus favorite descriptions of Himself was as “the Son of Man,” and such is recorded in all four gospels, a total of 84 times.

Ezekiel was, it seems, a forerunner
of “the Son of Man.”

When Ezekiel is called he first sees a glorious vision of God and His covering angels in Ezekiel chapter one. Then the Lord spoke to him.

“He said to me, Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.”
Ezel 2:1 WEB

In fact, Ezekiel is addressed as a “Son of man” 93 times in the book of Ezekiel, a phrase that does not seem to be applied to any other prophet. Ezekiel sometimes seems to miss the list of types of the Christ.

Nonetheless, there are many parallels between
Ezekiel and Jesus.

Ezekiel was a prophet, and of course Jesus was a prophet. In fact Jesus was the great prophet like Moses of Deuteronomy 18.

Ezekiel was a priest, and Jesus, though he was no priest on earth, became the ultimate high priest of all heaven and earth, Heb 3:1.

Ezekiel was serving as priest and prophet “away from his home,” we might say. He was in exile in Babylon. So Jesus came to serve as a prophet away from His home in heaven.

Both men came to serve as watchmen and as shepherds to the lost sheep of Israel. Both men served in times when Israel defiantly did not want to listen, to heed, to change. Ezekiel was warned that they were a rebellious house, and to not fear them.

“You, son of man, don’t be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you do dwell among scorpions: don’t be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.”
Ezek 2:6 WEB

It took stern measures both in Ezekiel’s time and in Jesus’ to get even a few of the Jews to listen.

Both men warned of the fall of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel of Jerusalem’s fall in 586 BC. Jesus of the second scattering the Jews prophesied by Zechariah in Zech 10:9, in 70 AD.

Both pointed to gruesome trials to come, Gog and Magog for Ezekiel, and the abomination of desolation and the end of the world for Jesus.

And both gave us majestic pictures of a new heavens
and a new earth to come.

Yes! All in all, a very profound type of the Christ.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Multiple Types of the beast: Judas Iscariot

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Jesus answered them, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve,

“and one of you is a devil,” Jn 6:70 WEB

The Greek word used here is diabolos. Its basic meaning is to slander or falsely accuse someone, and is often translated as “devil,” meaning the Satan himself or one of his angels (Mtt 25:41). It comes from the Greek word diabello which has the idea of bringing false charges in order to create a quarrel or a fight.

He is one who has rich gifts from God.

Everything good, everything worthwhile, comes from God, Jas 1:17.

“For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”
1Cor 4:7 WEB

The Most Holy God made both you and I, but also all the angels, and everything that exists, and Judas Iscariot, and the man of lawlessness. Whatever good that is in him came from God, and whatever good he has also is from God.

In the case of Judas Iscariot he shared in the blessings of Christ with the rest of the apostles. When the apostles were sent on the limited commission Judas was there. When they returned rejoicing that “even the demons are subject to us,” Lk 10:17 WEB, Judas was there. Power to preach, power to heal, daily needs all covered … it was all there.

But a heart prepared with greed.

In whatever combination of circumstances, Judas had a love of money that was part of his undoing. So when some expensive oinment was poured over Jesus feet, Judas asked.

“5 “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii,a and given to the poor?” 6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.”
Jn 12:5-6 WEB

Characterized by destructive behavior

Oh to have been an actual apostle of Jesus the Christ, to have the opportunity for such a great standing in all eternity. Judas had all of this but was focused on worldly immediate things.

Jesus calls Judas “the son of destruction,” Jn 17:12 WEB, and the man of lawlessness/ the man of sin is also called “the son of destruction,” 2Thes 2:3 WEB (the same Greek word is used in both Scriptures). Both have destructive behavior. They destroy themselves, and bring ruin on many others. If we use Judas as a type of the beast, then there is,

Not quite repentance, but clear remorse, Mtt 27:3.

“4 saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.” 5 He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself.”
Mtt 27:4-5 WEB

And eternally cursed.

Terrifying curses are in Psa 69:19-28 of Judas and the others involved. I will only quote a verse.

“Pour out your indignation on them.
Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them”
Psa 69:24

I am inclined to take these verses of the beast also.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Multiple Types of the beast: Kings of Babylon

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The word “Mystery” in Mystery Babylon seem to indicate her secret or semi-secret nature. The beast and Mystery Babylon seem to work together to suppress Christianity. The beast at the last turns on Babylon the Great and destroys her (Revelation 18), within history because it is the will of God that he do this.

Now Mystery Babylon the Great has no problem
with false gods,

Further it is no exaggeration to say that she loves dictatorships. It is the beast organization (of Rev 13:1-2, and Rev 17:7) that “carries” Mystery Babylon the Great (Rev 17:7) to success.

Now the great harlot sits on seven mountains that are also seven kings, Rev 17:9-10. The beast is one of those seven kings on which the harlot sits, one of the main supports of Babylon the Great. You might say he is one the kings of Mystery Babylon the Great, but he secretly hates the Great Harlot who organizes all the wars and conflicts of this age.

“In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
Rev 18:24 WEB

Clearly Ancient Babylon is a model for Mystery
Babylon the Great.

Both are associated with great power and with great luxury. As Mystery Babylon the Great (working with the beast who has a mortal wound that is healed) overcomes Christianity; so also ancient Babylon conquered the people of God of ancient times: Israel and Judah. There are other points of similarity between the ancient and the entity of Revelation.

Both ancient Babylon and Mystery Babylon the Great are known for their immorality.

Both seem impossible to overcome. Ancient Babylon had great walls and great armies, and plenty of money. Mystery Babylon is seated on a beast with seven heads and ten horns. The beast is one of those seven heads, and those ten horns seems to indicate ten rulers. Also she is seated on “many waters” Rev 17:1, which is “peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages,” Rev 17:15.

Both fall because of their overwhelming immorality.

But back to the Kings of Babylon.

They both employ God’s people in their work. In ancient times it included Daniel and those with him. God’s people are warned to come out of her or they will go down with her (Jer 51:6 and Rev 18:4).

Once again the superiority of God’s ways are clearly demonstrated to the kings of Babylon, through Daniel, and Meshak, Shadrach, and Abednego and others.

Like the other types, the King of Babylon comes
close to complete repentance.

Nebuchadnezzar actually praises God when he writes about what happened to him in Daniel chapter 4. Read his abject confession there. But at the last, repentance doesn’t last, and the kings of Babylon must go down to defeat. So the King of Babylon is pictured as entering the world of dead as almost alive, though deprived of all strength in Isaiah 14, and maggots are his bed and worms are his covering, Isa 14:11.

It seems that the kings of ancient Babylon are types of the beast of Revelation, and this short essay only touches the surface.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Multiple Types of the beast: Ahab, King of Israel

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In most important things, Scripture gives us more than one opportunity to see, and understand, and be ready, for what will be. In prophecy, if something is very important, quite often times God gives us more than one opportunity to understand.

Ahab has a kingdom that is united
around false religion.

Subversion of God’s Holy religions began with the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel. It was all about subverting true religion to serve the political purposes of government. Many rulers, as perhaps mini-types of the beast, fall guilty to such temptations. Ahab then increased the turn to evil religion.

He did “evil in the sight of Yahweh above all that were before him,” 1Kgs 16:30.

Ahab toke as a wife a Sidonian worshipper of Baal: Jezebel. She soon organized the extermination of the prophets of God, 1Kgs 18:4; and Ahab began in Israel the worship of the Mother Earth “goddess” Asherah, the covert passion of the modern ecology movement. It was a fertility cult involving religious prostitution and infanticide.

Elijah responded,

“… As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. ”
1Kgs 17:1 WEB

James tells us,

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the earth for three years and six months.”
Jas 5:17 WEB

That is exactly the amount of time that the beast rules in Revelation. This amount of time is variously expressed as “three years and six months, 1,260 days, forty-two months, or as “time, times, and half a time.”

Also the two witnesses in Revelation 11,
for 1,260 days, Rev 11:3

“have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy.” Rev 11:6 WEB. Indeed, the two witnesses seem a little like Moses, and a little like Elijah.

Elijah even proved to Ahab that Yahweh, the Lord our God, was superior to Baal at the dramatic confrontation on Mont Carmel in 2Kings 18.

And Ahab, multiple times, was close
to true and lasting repentance.

When his conscience afflicted him over the murder of Naboth in 1Kings 21, it says,

“… when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.”
1Kgs 21:27 WEB

His repentance was sincere enough to touch God’s heart, 1Kgs 21:29;

but Ahab never let his repentance last.

So in the end he had to be lured to his death, as is clearly depicted in 1Kings 22. In the end, the dogs of Samaria licked up his blood, 1Kgs 22:38.

Of the beast himself, he is destroyed in the great battle against God at the Second coming of Christ, Revelation 19 and many other passages, and is thrown alive into hell, Rev 19:20, where the worms will eternally eat on them.

“… for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh.”
Isa 66:24 WEB

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Multiple Types of the beast: Pharaoh of the Exodus

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The oppression of Israel began out of fear.

Political fear of these “outsiders” taking over their country, or siding with their enemies. So the Pharaoh said,

“Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.”
Ex 1:9 WEB

So a Egypt far less populous that even in later ancient times, oppressed God’s people and “set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens,” Ex 1:11 WEB. The purpose was not just to use them for labor, but indeed to ruin them with hard labor and oppression. Often in history political fears drive religious oppressions, with genocidal results. Then God sent Moses to secure their release.

It has been briefly discussed in posts on Identifying Types, that the wilderness wanderings are typical (symbolic) of the Christian life, with the Red Sea finally separating Israel from the Egypt of this world. That means: that Egypt is symbolic of this world, and then the Pharaoh is symbolic of the “god of this world,” 2Cor 4:4.

The beast in Revelation 13 is trying to unite a one-world government, with a single religious focus on himself, as the true god of this world! Christians then become obstacles to the political unification of this world. This is indeed like the ancient Caesars as “gods,” but what is pictured in Revelation is far more complete and thorough than anything done in ancient times, and “All who dwell on earth will worship him,” Rev 13:8, even all who are not written in the book of life. The phony man/god will make war on the saints and overcome them, Rev 13:7. However neither ancient Rome nor the caesars ever overcame the church.

Similarly, Pharaoh did overcome and enslave Israel in ancient Egypt.

God’s people are to have their spokesmen.

It was Moses in ancient Egypt. It is the two witnesses in Revelation 11. It seems an attempt is made in both cases to bring this arrogant king to reason. The pattern seen over and over again, is that Moses bargains for freedom for Israel, the Pharaoh responds with greater oppressions, and God responds with increasingly harsh strokes on the beast and his kingdom.

Moses turns the waters of the Nile into blood. The two witnesses “have power over the waters, to turn them to blood,” Rev 11:6. “A great mountain burning with fire” is thrown into the sea and turns it to blood in Rev 8:8 WEB.

Repeatedly the Pharaoh ALMOST relents.

Pharaoh’s servants repeatedly plea “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh,” Ex 10:7. There was frogs, darkness, locusts, hail, and boils on all the people. All of these things have their equivalent in Revelation. At one point the Pharaoh even says,

… “I have sinned this time. Yahweh is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.”
Ex 9:27 WEB

But the Pharaoh of Egypt will never let
repentance stick.

So in the end he has to be broken and destroyed, when he goes to fight directly against God.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Identifying Some Types, Part 9 of 9

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Ancient Israel has a huge “exodus” from the
Egypt of this world

They had been in bondage in Egypt, a bondage directed by the Pharaoh as a type of the god of this world (2Cor 4:4). Then God personally delivered them from Egypt and bondage, and put a separation between them and the Egypt of this world, and led them into the promised land.

A new “god” of this world will come.

“he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.”
2Thes 2:4 WEB

This man has the entire world worship him.

“All who dwell on the earth will worship him …”
Rev 13:8 WEB

This has obviously NOT happened yet! No one man has been worshipped by “all,” yet! He will be destroyed by Christ’ second coming, 2Thes 2:8, Rev 19:20.

This man will overcome the church.

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.”
Rev 13:7 WEB

I am sorry to tell you this folks. Rome and the caesars did NOT overcome the church. Instead the church overcame Rome and the caesars! But this beast will overcome the church.

And one more time the true church will be forced
out into the wilderness.

The church is pictured as the faithful woman.

“The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days.”
Rev 12:6 WEB

Hosea speaks of the future of what God “will” do.

““Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
And bring her into the wilderness,
And speak tenderly to her.”
Hos 2:14 WEB

For the days that this vicious beast rules (1,260), the church will be protected in the wilderness (Rev 12:6 above).

God will send plagues on the beast and his kingdom
like the plagues of Egypt.

Read of those plagues in Revelation chapters 15 and 16, and other places in Revelation and the rest of Scripture. They are very much like the plagues God sent on Egypt in 15th century BC, including waters turning to blood, darkness, and hail and all the rest.

Then will come Greater Exodus to Come

Ancient Israel came out of Egypt, into the wilderness, an into a this world promised land. The saints will have an exodus, The Great Exodus into the wilderness, and then into the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells, 2Pe 3:13.

“16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.”
1The 4:16-17 WEB

The Greater Exodus into the Greater Promised land.

Understanding types is essential for understanding prophecy. This has been some practice.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Identifying Some Types, Part 7 of 9

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Some practice with types.

Rivers are indeed substantial barriers to ready crossing, especially to armies on the move. If you have a great river like the Mississippi, bridges are few and far between. Sometimes great landmarks in our lives here on earth are such barriers. Death is the ultimate one of these. It is at intellectually known, often dreaded or feared. As it is written, Jesus came that he,

“and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Heb 2:15 WEB

So what is the last river we cross before we
enter the true promised land?

For us as Christians it is obviously the river of death, that dreaded of all obstacles. And the last obstacle the children of Israel had to pass before the promised land was the river Jordan. It is thus a fitting symbol of our death before entering heaven.

Our songbooks are full of testimony to
Jordan as the river of death.

“On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand and cast a wishful eye,
to Canaan’s fair and happy land, where my possessions lie.”

“One more river, and that wide river is Jordan …”

And so on. These songs and sentiments are not out of place. It is implicitly part the imagery of Canaan as the promised land of heaven, and rising to take possession of it.

And when we finally come to the river of death?

What happened when Israel finally came to the Jordan? The priests led the way bearing the ark of the covenant. They were to stop when their feet were in the water, and the waters stopped flowing, “and rose up in one heap, a great way off.” The people of the land upstream were drowned by the waters, and the children of Israel passed over on dry ground.

So it is that the children of God cross over the river of death on dry ground, but the wicked are drowned by these same waters.

As it is written,

“… he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, …”
Rev 20:6 WEB

One of the shortcoming of the modern church
is ignorance, or the ignoring, of types.

The so called “scholarly” often treat such as unintended impositions on the text. They sometimes view these as things invented to cover for failed prophecies. They ignore the direct statement of types as evidence, and there is much of that. For instance, “a prophet … like you,” and “circumcise your heart, ” and so on. Or David writing in the first person in Psalm 22 of things which never happened to him! This was clearly intentional. Psalm 22 is a very clear prophecy of the crucifixion of the Christ. We should asking question like the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:34:

“Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?” WEB

Incredibly, many act as if God could not/would not possibly be that sophisticated! This is a huge blind spot in much of our preaching. We have let the unbelief of some, influence the preaching of many believers.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Identifying Some Types, Part 6 of 9

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Some practice with types.

Canaan as symbolic of heaven

It is called the land of promise in Heb 11:9. It was a land that was promised to Abraham, Gen 12:1, etc.

The first occupants of that land, were to lose it
because of sin.

And Abraham was promised that his descendants would get this land in later times. This was a prophecy.

“In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.”
Gen 15:16 WEB

Abraham could have said, “What??? That’s a long way off. Oh well, I guess we’ll see?” Instead, of Abraham it is written,

“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
Gen 15:16 WEB

Abraham was counted righteous BECAUSE he BELIEVED the prophecies of the Lord!

Israel inherited a country they did not build.

“10… to give you, great and goodly cities, which you didn’t build, 11 and houses full of all good things, which you didn’t fill, and cisterns dug out, which you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive trees, which you didn’t plant, and you shall eat and be full;”
Deut 6:10-11

Joshua repeats these promises in Josh 24:13.

Many inhabitants of heaven were unfaithful.

The angels that sinned were cast out of heaven in Revelation 12:7-9. Man is made to rule. He is made for a little while, “a little lower than the angels,” Heb 2:7 WEB. But that will change in the world to come.

“ You make him ruler over the works of your hands.
You have put all things under his feet:”
Psa 8:6 WEB

“2 Don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? … 3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? …”
1Cor 6:2-3 WEB

And we will inherit a land we did not build.

And we will inherit houses we did not build.

“2 In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.”
Jn 14:2-3 WEB

And Abraham himself was NOT just seeking an
earthly home.

“But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
Heb 11:16 WEB

And so we sing of heaven:

“To Canaan’s land I’m on my way, where the soul of man never dies,” and many other songs of Canaan and the promised land, as symbolic of heaven.

Some cautions on types.

What then are the proper limits to be observed? I would suggest that as a start, we not try to make symbolism to say anything plainly contrary to the open statements of Scripture. If used properly it will generally supplement and enforce what we should already know.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901