Category Archives: Using the Bible

The Wilderness Wanderings as a Type: Part III of III

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If the wilderness represents the Christian life after being separated from this world …

What corresponds to this present world?

Clearly Egypt corresponds to this present world of sin and death. Egypt is a place where we are born in bondage in this world. If we are deceived and bound here, who is it to?

“in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.”
2Cor 4:4 WEB

Who then corresponds to the god of this world?

The Pharaoh then represents the god of this world, the beast, the monster, who holds God’s own people in bondage, and will not let them go to be separated from this present world to pursue a course that leads to the eternal promised land!

What will convince the Pharaoh to let God’s people go?

Only a series of horrible disasters will convince him as described in Exodus chapters 7 through 12. Water is turned to blood. Frogs overcome the land of Egypt. Then plagues of insects, and the death of livestock comes. Then come plagues of boils on the wicked, and a place of hail big enough to kill both men and beasts. Then comes a plague of locusts, and then darkness covers the land, day and night. Lastly comes the death of the firstborn of man and beast. And Pharaoh relents.

Then in the last days, one called a “beast,” makes “war with the saints”
and overcomes them, Rev 13:7.

The beast’s accomplice in overcoming the saints is “Mystery Babylon the Great,” represented by a great prostitute who is,

“… drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.”
Rev 17:6 WEB

What will bring the saints release?
The seven last plagues!

“the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished.”
Rev 15:1 WEB

The seven last ever plagues of God’s wrath on an evil world begins in Revelation 15, and they are amazingly like the plagues on ancient Egypt in the book of Exodus.

The first of the last seven plagues is severe sores on all who had worshipped the beast or his image, Rev 16:2. Then the oceans are turned to blood, and all the fish die, Rev 16:3-7. Then the sun scorches the people of the earth, Rev 16:8-9. Then darkness covers the earth, Rev 16:10. And it goes on. There are hailstones that weigh about 75 pounds each, Rev 17:21.

Egypt and the Exodus are types, symbolic, of the end of this present world.

With the Pharaoh representing Satan and the beast of the last days, whom, “ALL who dwell on the earth will worship,” Rev 13:8 WEB, something that has never happened in history so far.

One more time the saints will flee into the wilderness. Then will be the grand Exodus out of this present world, to the Eternal Promised Land, 1Thes 4:16-18.

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

The Wilderness Wanderings as a Type: Part II of III

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Paul talks the Wilderness wanderings as typifying
our trials and sins in this life.

Paul says that those Israelites ate the same spiritual food and drink which we as Christians eat and drink. That is to say that ancient Israel drank of the Christ which was to follow, 1Cor 10:4. However with many of them God was not well pleased, and so they died in wilderness without ever entering the promised land, 1Cor 10:5.

These things are examples for us, 1Cor 10:6.

These are warnings for us. The promised land symbolizes heaven.

We should not desire evil things as they did. Neither should we be idolaters, 1Cor 10:6-7. Of course Paul tells us that covetousness, strongly desiring something, is idolatry, Col 3:5. He says that we should not commit sexual immorality as ancient Israel did and 23,000 died in one day, 1Cor 10:7-8. We should not test God as many of them did, and were destroyed by snakes, 1Cor 10:9. Neither should we complain against the Lord, as many of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer, 1Cor 10:10.

These are all easy things to fall into in any age, and Paul says,

“Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. ”
1Cor 10:11

So Paul’s conclusion is,

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.”
1Cor 10:12 WEB

What a picture of our present life in this world, as a life in a desolate place with all sorts of enticements around to draw us to our own destruction!

This symbolism suggest we could enter heaven sooner.

But our weaknesses in the flesh cause us to fall short and then aimlessly wander around for years in nothing but desolation. Of course there is other imagery that many have picked up on. The last river they crossed before entering the promised land was the river Jordan. Ours is the river of death. So we have many songs in our churches picturing death as the river Jordan, a river that parts for us cross on dry ground, even as it did for ancient Israel in Joshua chapter 3, if we are those chosen to enter that wonderful land.

And there is ONE MORE TIME in the wilderness.

Revelation is talking about those things yet to come in the Christian age, and Revelation 12 pictures the church as being pursued by that old dragon Satan, trying to destroy her.

“The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her …”
Rev 12:6 WEB

The woman, the church, is pictured as being protected by God in the wilderness for a critical period of “one thousand two hundred sixty days.”

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.”
Hos 2:14 KJV

There is to be one more time in the wilderness for God’s people, one more time for the ancient lessons to be pointedly relevant.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

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

The Wilderness Wanderings as a Type: Part I of III

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We are studying simple “types” and symbols, to see how types and symbols work in prophecy. A prophecy laboratory. A story of past and future things. Not a study any secret matter, but of things well known among many Christians.

Paul talks about symbolism in history.

In fact Paul talks about ancient Israel as being baptized into Moses, as symbolic of us being baptized into Christ.

“1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;”
1Cor 10:1-2 WEB

So this pictures Moses as being symbolic of Christ, and indeed, Moses says that Yahweh, the LORD, said the Christ will be like him.

“17 Yahweh said to me, They have well said that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.”
Deut 18:17-18 WEB

There is more to tell there, but that is the core of the matter.

By the waters of baptism we are separated
from our old life of sin in the world.

“3 Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. ”
Rom 6:3-4 WEB

So as the waters of baptism separate us from our old life to enter a new life, so the waters of the Red Sea separated Israel away from their old life in Egypt. Also it separated them “unto” Moses. He was their leader in a new life, a life that was lived in a wilderness, in a desert, in the rough land of the desert of Sinai, before they enter the promised land of Canaan. So if Canaan represents heaven, as was discussed in the post on “Hebrews Identifies a Type,” Then what does the Wilderness Wanderings represent?

The Christian Life as a trek through a desolate place!

Certainly the Israelites had literally been slaves in Egypt. Now they they were separated from their oppressors in Egypt by the waters of the Red Sea.

“Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again.””
Ex 14:13 WEB

Similarly, if the Christian has died with Jesus in baptism, then it is that,

“7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; 9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!”
Rom 6:7-9

Simple but important imagery. All of which leads to the next part.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

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

Zechariah: A Key Prophetic Book

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Poor, poor, neglected Zechariah. Zechariah is one of the smaller books in our Bible. Also Zechariah is one of the most difficult books of our Bible. Perhaps it is more difficult than the book of Revelation. Even many scholars just avoid the book. On the other hand, I would not say there is any book of the Bible of which I can say, I understand ALL of it. Still Zechariah deals with some central themes.

Zechariah deals with the first coming of the Christ.

It even quotes particulars such as His violent death.

“Awake, sword, against my shepherd,
And against the man who is close to me,” says Yahweh of Hosts.
Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; And I will turn my hand against the little ones.”
Zech 13:7 WEB

There is more about Jesus in Zechariah, but this verse is quoted as such in Mtt 26:31

Zechariah and Revelation often use similar imagery.

There are horns, there four chariots that sort of remind one of some of the images of heaven in Revelation. There are angels ministering to men, and more.

Zechariah deals with the Jews coming to Jesus.

It deals with this explicitly in Zechariah chapters 12 and 13. It seemingly speaks of all of Israel turning to Yahweh and His Christ, and it is discussed in connect with some heavy attacks on both “Judah” and “Jerusalem.” Such a national conversion has not happened to the Jews overall … so far!

Zechariah deals with TWO massive assaults on “Jerusalem,”.

“… and all the nations of the earth will be gathered together against it.” Zech 12:3 WEB

But is this talking about earthly Jerusalem as in Gal 4:24? Or is it talking about the church, Jerusalem above of the “kingdom of heaven,” as in many passages, including:

“But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Gal 4:26 WEB

Earthly Jerusalem has NEVER been assaulted this way, nor has the church, EVER, by “ALL the nations of the earth.” Either way, as described, these assaults have NEVER happened in any way. So we are either talking about a false prophecy … or one that is yet to happen.

Zechariah deals with a special “worthless shepherd.”

He is called an “idol shepherd” Zech 11:17 KJV. In a wandering discussion over several chapters Zechariah compares him with the true shepherd (Jesus the Christ). Both are killed by “the sword” according to Zechariah. Both have a recovery from death of one sort or another, according to Zechariah. Could this be speaking of the beast of Rev 13:3, who is “wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed,” KJV, and who is worshiped by the entire world?

There is more to tell, but this is a sampler.

Really, I do not think you can unravel the prophecies of the Christian Age, of Revelation, or of the end of the age, without Zechariah. Really we should not even be trying to do that.

KJV is the King James Versiom, 1611

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

Psalms: A Key Prophetic Book

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When we think of the book of Psalms, most people think of it as a book of songs for the ancient assembly of Israel, which indeed it is. Also many think of it as an in depth devotional book, to help us think about God, and to learn to draw nearer to Him. It is indeed also that. Psalms is one the loftiest and most inspiring of the books of the Bible. Almost no complete view of God can be made without dealing with the Psalms. And when you are having those major trials and difficulties which come upon men, Psalms is an extraordinary source of comfort and help. Psalms helps us to keep in mind that God is still in control and that He will hear the pleas of His saints, and answer their calls for help.

Most do not think of Psalms as a prophetic book at all. I didn’t. Then came a time when I need some shorter lessons for a once a month evening assembly that was to be followed by other activities. I decided to do lessons on the psalms. Over a period of nearly nine years I covered about 100 of the 150 psalms, taking each in turn, analyzing their message, declaring these things in sermons. It was only after covering over half of the psalms that I slowly began to realize, Hey, this is an important prophetic book! I admit to being a slow learner at times, and duller than I should be, but that was a shock to me.

It actually begins in Psalm 1 with talk of the wicked not being able to survive the judgement, Psa 1:5.

It continues with speaking of Jesus ruling the kings and judges of the earth during the Christian Age, in Psalm 2. This is clearly before the end of this age when it says,

“Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power.” 1Cor 15:24 WEB

In fact, I call Psalm 2 the “New Testament Psalm.”

Psalms continually speaks of eternal things of hope and prosperity in a better world. The psalmist David says,

“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psa 84:10 KJV

It continually speaks of end things.

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth.
He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear.
He burns the chariots in the fire.
Psa 46:9 WEB

Further Psalms is a primary source on the great uproar which will occur among nations, leading up to the end of our age.

“Why do the nations rage,
And the peoples plot a vain thing?”
Psa 2:1 WEB

In fact I do not think that any comprehensive view of the end things can be formed without the Psalms.

No wonder that the second most quoted book in the New Testament is that of Psalms.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

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

“But that is just figurative. How can we believe it?” Part III of III

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Jesus was to come with dark sayings.

“ I will open my mouth in a parable.
I will utter dark sayings of old, ”
Psa 78:2 WEB

Notice that most of the Sermon on the Mount is in figurative, symbolic language, and what does it say?

“Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn’t speak to them,” Mtt 13:34 WEB

Should we say, Well that’s just figurative? And ignore these “parables”? Are they understandable? Yes but parts of Sermon on the mount indeed have been frequently misunderstood. All of this means that Jesus was fulfilling Psa 78:2, according to Mtt 13:35.

What should we do? Why not be study diligently? 2Tim 2:15.

Objection to figurative / symbolic language in prophecy
is a Cop-Out, double talk,
often unconsciously used because
what is said stretches beyond
what we are willing to believe
or accept, or even study.

For instance, Abraham could have found it “unbelievable” that he would have a child at age 99, Rom 4:13. He could have just said, “Oh yeah?”

Against what could be reasonably expected, Abraham believed God.

“Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your seed be.” ” Rom 4:18 WEB.

Without weakening, Abraham believed God, Rom 4:19-21.

Theological liberals find almost all Scripture beyond believing, especially prophecy, and some of that leaven has through graduate schools infected many of our own.

God often stretches us beyond we find “believable,” just to see if we will believe HIM, even when it seems to us “unbelievable.”

Seriously! Was this symbolic, or did it literally happen, or is it both?

Abraham is an example as Paul discusses in Romans 4. God often announces things we have trouble believing, and often we just reject these things out of hand. As Isaiah said, “Who has believed our message? …” Isa 53:1 WEB.

And what are some of the unbelievable things God announces in Isaiah 53? The messiah will be put to death by judicial murder, Isa 53:7-8. The Messiah? Unbelievable.

But He will prolong his days, Isa 53:10. Wait a minute. That’s a contradiction isn’t it? How can I believe that? And many didn’t believe what seemed to contradict common sense!

Beware! Unbelief, even of “figurative” prophecies, can cost you your soul. It did the Pharisees!

It could have cost Abraham his soul, if he had not believed those “unbelievable” things, and so it can us, and that is the point of Romans 4.

If we read the clear words, figurative or not, and say in our heart, “It isn’t so,” then we have made God a liar, 1Jn 5:10.

This is no drill.

Does this make you feel uncomfortable? Maybe it should. Especially if you have neglected large stretches of the Bible. It is ALL meant for our instruction, 2Tim 3:16-17, so that you will be thoroughly furnished. So that you will live forever.

Maybe we have been playing with half a deck.

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

“But that is just figurative. How can we believe it?” Part II of III

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And there is figurative language later in Romans! In more than one place. For instance in Romans 12.

“Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
If he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.””
Rom. 12:20 WEB.

So Rom 12:20 says that if you do this (present tense), then it “will” have (future, and so also it is in Greek) the effect of heaping coals of fire on his head.

Is this literal? Is that soft coal or hard coal? Bituminous? High sulfur? Low Sulfur? Oh NO! Is this [shudder-r-r-r!] figurative? And it is future! It is a prophecy. It means God “will” (future) avenge you!

If you believe this prophecy, you will in “the present” obey this command.

If you don’t believe this prophecy (and many, perhaps most, even in the Lord, don’t) then you will not obey this command in the present, because you are not sure you can trust God to avenge you, therefore you need to avenge yourself.

Was this symbolic, or did it literally happen, or is it both?

Also there is figurative language about the second coming in Romans 13. When most people say, “Oh that is figurative,” they often really mean, it has no real meaning we can discern, and should be ignored.

“The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.”
Rom. 13:12 WEB.

Should I now reject Romans 13 for teaching? This is a prophecy and uses [shudder-r-r-r!] figurative language of the future!

You might say, I reject this! It is so imprecise! Well, yes, in a way it is. It does not tell us “exactly” what “at hand” means!

Throw this verse out for figurative language and being in men’s terms “imprecise”? Only at your own risk.

Can we misuse this verse? Absolutely! Peter says of the apostle Paul,

“as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.” 2Pe 3:16 WEB.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ” 2Tim 3:16 KJV

So Scripture is not a cafeteria where you can choose to avoid parts of the Word of God just because you think someone misunderstood this one time. Throw this out? At your own risk.

If you call some man a pig, that is indeed symbolic language, figurative language. But it not without meaning.

Is it imprecise in some ways? Yes. But it is not without meaning.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

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

How Much of Prophecy Should We Believe?

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“I just don’t see how this can happen.”

Actually there is much that we cannot see, or we have not seen. We are very limited creatures with very limited sight and foresight. Yahweh, He is God, and you and I are just men.

Jesus himself gives us some indications. This is when He is being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Jesus tells the devil and you and me how much of Scripture to believe and live by.

“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Mtt 4:4 KJV

We won’t be able to live just with food. We need every Word that God says. It is a quote from Deuteronomy 8:3. And Jesus treats it as true, in order to live as we should.

This not much different from other passages.

“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psa 119:160 KJV

Or again,

“Every word of God is flawless.
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Prov 30:5 WEB

Of course we use different parts of Scripture in different ways. As Christians we are under the law of Christ (1Cor 9:21, Gal 6:2), and not under the law of Moses.

So our regulations for worship do not come from Moses law. So for instance, we do not practice animal sacrifices. Even so,

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, …” 2Tim 3:16 KJV

So we would be able to see from Moses laws about sacrifices, that without the shedding of blood and the burning flesh, there is no forgiveness of sin. As the Hebrews author points out,

According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb 9:22 WEB

That is why Jesus died on the cross, and went to the abyss for us for three days (Rom 10:7). To save us from the punishment due us, if we will repent and give our lives to Him.

And since “All scripture is … profitable for doctrine,” Paul can rightfully use a regulation about how to handle an oxen to teach truth to you and me. The passage in mind is,

“You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain.” Deut 25:4 WEB

Paul quotes this passage and goes further and says of this regulation in Moses law about oxen, that,

“… Yes, it was written for our sake, …” 1Cor 9:10 WEB

Then Paul goes on to prove (1Cor 9:9-14) from this passage in Moses law to in that,

“they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” 1Cor 9:14 KJV

Indeed, we should use all Scripture.

“Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain.
God is His own interpreter
and He will make it plain.”

From the hymn “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

WEB is the World English Bible, is a public domain, copyright free, revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901, Version 1.3