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The Language of the Bible

The Language of the Bible. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 5:2). The Language of the Bible. Natural Language Symbols Objects, Places, Animals, Time periods Actions, Names, Colors, Directions Numbers

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The Language of the Bible

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  1. The Language of the Bible “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 5:2)

  2. The Language of the Bible Natural Language Symbols Objects, Places, Animals, Time periods Actions, Names, Colors, Directions Numbers Types / Antitypes People, Events, Offices, Institutions

  3. The Natural; The Symbol… • The natural language… • The language which details the natural creation, material things, persons, historical events etc. • “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground” (Gen 2:7) • “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof” (Gen 2:21) • Is the language of symbols • Man, deep sleep, one of his ribs, Eve

  4. The Natural; The Symbol; Redemption • The language of symbols • Man, deep sleep, one of his ribs, Eve • Tells the story of redemption • The man, the 2nd Adam, Christ Jesus, is put to death (sleep) and from his death his bride Eve is created, or made to live.

  5. Definitions Symbol, Type, Antitype

  6. Symbol, Type and Antitype • Symbol (e.g. Altar, door, vine, root) • “Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention”. From two Greek words: syn together + ballein to throw. One thing that stands for another. • Type (e.g. Adam, Solomon, Babylon’s overthrow) • “A figure, representation, or symbol of something to come, such as an event in the Old Testament that foreshadows another in the New Testament.” From Greek tupos, impression. Something that foreshadows another thing. Types are inherently prophetic. • Antitype (e.g. Jesus Christ, Rome’s overthrow) • One that is foreshadowed by or identified with an earlier symbol or type, such as a figure in the New Testament who has a counterpart in the Old Testament.” From two Greek words “anti-, equal to, like; + tupos, print, impression.”

  7. First that which is natural… (I) “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.” (1 Cor. 15:45-47)

  8. First that which is natural… (II) • Natural Language (type) • “The first man Adam was made a living soul” • “The first man is of the earth, earthy” • Spiritual Significance (antitype) • “the last Adam was made a quickening spirit” • “the second man is the Lord from heaven”

  9. First that which is natural… (III) • Romans 5:14 – “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure (Gr. tupos, type) of him that was to come.” • Adam “is the type of him that was to come”

  10. Why God Uses Symbol and Type Guidelines for InterpretingSymbol and Type

  11. Why God UsesSymbol and Type (I) • It is to God’s glory • “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 5:2) • The Truth only for those that fear Him • “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” (Psa 25:14)

  12. Why God UsesSymbol and Type (II) • The Truth only for His called • “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Matthew 13:9-11)

  13. Why God UsesSymbol and Type (III) • Only His servants will fully understand historical events in advance • “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signifiedit by his angel unto his servant John” (Revelation 1:1) • John 13:19; John 14:29

  14. Why God UsesSymbol and Type (IV) “The Apocalypse [Revelation] is a book of symbols, in which the greater is represented by the less. Its agents, and their operations, and its times preliminary to the thousand years, are all miniature representations of the reality—great things illustrated by small. This is the rule of prophecy, whether the truth be stated literally or by symbols—the verbal always falls short of the real, which is “joy unspeakable and full of glory;” things which cannot be expressed. Because of the Spirit’s working by this rule it is that so much has been revealed in so small a book. It is a condensed view of the deep things of the Deity, which, if they had been magnitudinously revealed, “I suppose,” as John says, “that even the kosmos itself could not contain the books that should be written.”“Condensation, then, is the general principle of divine revelation; but of the symbols, it is the special.” (Brother John Thomas, Eureka, vol 1. p. 257 Logos edition)

  15. Why God UsesSymbol and Type (V) “The chapter before us [Zechariah 4] presents this testimony in the form of symbol. This may be difficult at first to understand; but the effect of symbol, after understanding is attained, is to make the matter set forth much more vivid and striking to the understanding than it would be in a merely literal presentation. Considerable use is made of symbol throughout the prophetic writings, though these writings mainly deal with the literal. Jehovah alludes to the fact in Hosea thus—“I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets (Hosea 12:10). “If the similitudes were employed without any clue to their significance, their use would not be enlightening; but the clues, in almost all cases, are supplied—if not in the immediate context, in some corresponding part of the word. Diligent search and comparison will find them. In some cases it requires no such search; they lie on the surface.” Brother Robert Roberts

  16. Guidelines for InterpretingSymbol and Type (I) • Symbols or types do not, of themselves, establish first principle doctrine! Symbols and types must be interpreted in accordance with known first principle doctrine. • Symbols and types, nevertheless, reveal important details not revealed elsewhere in the Bible. A large portion of the book of Revelation is an example of this but again, the symbols are to be interpreted in accordance with known first principle doctrine. • The Bible interprets its own symbols. We must carefully consider the context of symbols used to properly understand them.

  17. Guidelines for InterpretingSymbol and Type (II) • Symbols and types are just that, symbols and types. The natural language often prevents us from applying 100% of the natural language to the antitype. The persons, symbols or events are usually not perfect representations of the genuine. • E.g. – A tried faith resembles gold but is more valuable than gold and does not perish (1st Peter 1:7). • Hebrew and Greek references should be consulted rather than relying on just an English translation. There are multiple words translated into single English words and multiple English words translated from single Hebrew/Greek words.

  18. Guidelines for InterpretingSymbol and Type (III) • The same symbol can be used to represent two different things. • Thus, a woman can be the chaste bride of Christ (2nd Cor. 11:2) or she may be an imposter, the Roman Harlot (Rev. 17:1). • A lion may be the Assyrian (Dan. 7:1) or a lion can be the King of Israel (Rev. 5:1). Most symbols have positive and negative significations.

  19. Guidelines for InterpretingSymbol and Type (IV) • We must understand symbols and types if we are to properly understand the Bible. To understand these hidden treasures is to understand the message of the Bible and to greatly increase our faith! • Misuse of types and symbols may lead to apostasy. Thus astrology vs. prophecy, astrology vs. astronomy, and numerology vs. Biblical numerics. The Preterist and Futurist interpretations of the book of Revelation, both which were created by the Catholic Church, are based on a misunderstanding of the Gospel and misuse of Biblical symbols.

  20. The Use of Symbols byThe Lord Jesus Christ “Because it is given unto youto know the mysteries ofthe kingdom of heaven”

  21. “SearchtheScriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39) “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he [Jesus] talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)

  22. Jesus said, “I am…” • John 6:35 – “Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life.” • John 6:41 – “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” (6:41, 48, 51) • John 8:12 – “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world” • John 9:5 – “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 12:46)

  23. Jesus said, “I am…” • John 10:7 – “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” • John 10:9 – “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” • John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” • John 10:14 – “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

  24. Jesus said, “I am…” • John 15:1– “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” • John 15:5 – “I am the vine,ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

  25. “They are they which testify of me…” • Bread, light, door, shepherd, vine are all symbols by which Jesus chose to represent himself. He uses other symbols to represent himself as well. • Other symbols in these few verses include • the Husbandmen which Jesus explains is God • Branches; the sons of God; those who dwell in the true vine • Sheep; the sons of God; those who follow the true shepherd • Fruit; the righteousness character and works developed by the spirit of God in His people (Gal. 5:22-23; Eph 5:9)

  26. Symbols, Types and Doctrine Examples… John 3:14-15 Revelation 17-19

  27. Symbols, Types and Doctrine (I) • John 3:14-15 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

  28. Symbols, Types and Doctrine (II) Numbers 21:5-9 “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”

  29. Symbols, Types and Doctrine (III) “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:14-15 • Moses (person; Num. 21:8, 9) • The Father. He who raises up. “For God so loved the world that he gave…” John 3:16 • Lifted Up; Raising Up (action; Num. 21:8, 9) • Public manifestation of something. “His righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen” Psa 98:2; Acts 2:32; Acts 10:40 • People (persons; Num. 21:6,7, 8) • Those needing redemption from sin – “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish” John 3:16 • Look (action; Num. 21:8) – “when he looketh upon it, shall live” • To look upwards where salvation comes from; to believe and publicly acknowledge what God has promised – “whosoever believeth in him”. • Brazen Serpent (symbol; Num. 21:9) • Brass represents the flesh. It was “crucified” and lifted up as Jesus Christ was. • “Shall Live” – (promised action; Num 21:8) • “not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:16.

  30. Symbols, Types and Doctrine (IV) • Romans 8:3 – “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God [has done] sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” • Hebrews 2:14 – “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” • Hebrews 2:17 – “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people”

  31. Symbols, Types and Doctrine (V) • “What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God (has done), sending His own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh." It was the same flesh, full of the same propensities, and the same desires. But, in Christ, all those desires were kept in subjection to the mind of God, because the Father, by the Spirit, taught him and led him from the beginning.” (brother Robert Roberts, The Slain Lamb). • “‘Sin’ is a synonym for human nature. Hence the flesh is invariably regarded as unclean... This view of sin in the flesh is enlightening in the things concerning Jesus. The apostle says ‘God made him to be sin for us’... And this he explains by saying in another place that ‘He sent His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.’ Sin could not have been condemned in the body of Jesus if it had not existed there” (Elpis Israel, page 127).

  32. Symbols, Types and Doctrine (IV) • Revelation 17 – 19

  33. The Language of the Bible Natural Language Symbols Objects, Places, Animals, Time periods Actions, Names, Colors, Directions Numbers Types / Antitypes People, Events, Offices, Institutions

  34. Symbols - Objects

  35. Symbols – DirectionsMoving or Facing East • Natural principle • The sun moves East to West • Spiritual Principle • We should move in the same direction that the “Sun of Righteousness” (Malachi 4:2) travels, that is west. • Genesis 2:8 “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.” • Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

  36. Symbols – DirectionsMoving or Facing East • To move or face eastward often indicates apostasy. • Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. • Genesis 11:2-3 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from theeast, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. • Genesis 13:11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

  37. Symbols – DirectionsMoving or Facing East • Genesis 12:8 And he [Abram] removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. • Isaiah 2:6 Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. • Ezekiel 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

  38. Symbols – ActionsLying Down

  39. Symbols – ActionsRising Up

  40. Symbols – ColorsScarlet

  41. Symbols – ColorsWhite

  42. Symbols – NumbersThree (I) • Denotes completion or perfection; resurrection

  43. Symbols – Numbers Five

  44. The Language of the Bible Natural Language Symbols Objects, Places, Animals, Time periods Actions, Names, Colors, Directions Numbers Types / Antitypes People, Events, Offices, Institutions

  45. Types – People – Abraham

  46. Types – People – Joseph

  47. Types – People – Samuel

  48. Types – People – David

  49. Types – People – Solomon

  50. Types – People – Paul

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