Old Testament Illustrations Of New Testament Truths

Types, Shadows, Symbols, Parables, and Figures are words that refer to ILLUSTRATIONS in the O.T. to N.T. truths.

We have a wealth of teaching in the Old Testament that prefigured truths taught to us about God's plan for man, God's intent to teach, and the beautiful illustrations of the glory of His grace.

The plan of God is awesome for how He has intended to allow forgiveness and grace to bring us back into His family for fellowship. It is an awesome plan, and our finite minds are incapable of every fully understanding it.

It is like taking a newborn baby, and trying to instruct them in algebra, geometry, and calculus on day one. The baby would stare and comprehend zero, no matter the good intentions of the teacher. God has therefore, as we do, unfold His plan of salvation, one step at a time.

God revealed His intent early, telling mankind, that a 'Seed of woman' would some day come and 'bruise' the head of the serpent. That initial lesson put fear in the devil, put hope in Adam and Eve, and was a start of God's illustrated lessons to teach us God's plan.

God's plan is still unfolding, and some of mankind has not gotten past '2 + 2 = 4' on understanding it. Others have progressed, and progressed in understanding a plan that is beyond our full comprehension. Since we have many books, Old Testament and New Testament, and we have millennia of revelations in picture form, in written essays, in spiritual revelations, let us look anew at the unfolding of the plan of God.

In every study, we need a good foundation. This study is to teach basic Bible types which enlighten, bring in to focus, and unveil the truths of the new covenant. God, Who in His foreknowledge, has always known the plan and revelation of the new covenant with all its details. So, in the Old Testament, He shows in picture form, in types and figures, what would soon come to pass in reality.

Just as a picture of an absent loved one, is treasured and often viewed, while awaiting that one’s return... so a type in the Old Testament, showed the image of what was to someday come in reality. The reality is the truly valuable and loved, as a lamb on the altar of burnt offering showed in type the sacrificial nature of Jesus. When Jesus came, the lamb, though a beautiful picture, is not preferred to the reality of Jesus.

Yet, the picture of the lamb, is a beautiful way to teach the reality of Jesus’ nature and work for us. We can view in clearness, His way and manner of approaching the sacrifice He gave for us. Typology should not replace the reality, but should make the reality more clear, more understood.

We miss much if we do not get the groundwork of typology correct. It can also be related to the foundation of a building, and to have a good foundation in typology, strengthens the beauty and reality of the structure upon such foundation.

There are two kinds of truth in Scripture.

Hebrews 5:12-14
“For when for the time, ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age; even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”



Milk and meat... are one way to describe truths in the Word.

Meat represents the deeper truths, and milk represents the basic, simpler truths.

Typology contains both, and yet, by its nature, it is like a bridge, to carry us from the milk to the meat.

It takes a truth, puts it in simple form, and then allows, or encourages, deeper seeking into that ‘milk’ truth, to find a ‘meat’ revelation.

I Corinthians 10:11
“these things, written for our admonition’

Hebrews 8:4-5
“Who serve as an example and shadow of heavenly things”

Hebrews 9:8-9
“which was a figure for the time present”

Hebrews 10:1
“... law having a shadow of good things to come.”


The words ‘shadow’, ‘example’, ‘pattern’... all contain the idea we refer to as ‘types’. Types are used to prefigure some person, thing, or event that would appear in the future. Types are a ‘sort of’ prophecy. Prophetically, types show us what was to come, and the type shows the foreknowledge and planning of an Almighty God.



TYPICAL COLORS



BLUE

The borders on the garments of the priests were to be blue. (Numbers 15:37, 40) Blue speaks of the heavenly nature of our Lord. We are to spiritually remember that our garments include a ‘blue fringe’, reminding us we are a heavenly people.


Philippians 3:20
“our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven...”

This is why we should ‘lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.’ (Matthew 6:20). We are also told to ‘seek those things which are above’ (Colossians 3:1-2) for we are soon to be homeward bound.



PURPLE

This is the royal color. The kings of Midian are said to wear purple. (Judges 8:26) Mordecai was dressed in linen and purple. (Esther 8:15) Belshazzar clothed Daniel in purple.

Purple refers to the kingship of Christ.

He has a name above all others.
Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He is the ‘King of kings’.

1 Timothy 6:14-15 (KJV)
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Jesus shall rule the world.
Revelation 11:15 (KJV)
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.

We shall rule and reign with Him. Just as His claim to being‘royalty’ brought Him persecution and death. They clothed Jesus in purple to mock Him, and the world, sensing our ‘royalty’ (being children of God) are also persecuted.



SCARLET

This is the color of suffering and sacrifice. It is the color of blood. Jesus suffered on our behalf, shedding His blood for us.

God with ‘determinate counsel’ sent Jesus to die and shed His blood for us.
Acts 2:22-23 (KJV)
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:


The Passover lamb, with its blood on the doorposts pre-figured, foreshadowed Jesus.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (KJV)
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

We need His blood applied to us.


WHITE

White typifies righteousness.

Christ was perfectly righteous for He was ‘without sin’ (Heb. 4:15).

Our righteousness is as) ‘filthy rags’ (Isa. 64:6).

We need to share His. In heaven, we shall be righteous, and shall be clothed in white (Rev. 19:8).



TYPICAL METALS

GOLD

Gold is the symbol of sovereignty and glory. The head in the dream recorded in Daniel was gold. This represented Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. Throughout the tabernacle, gold represented divine glory. It was overlaid wood, and thereby represented the God-man, Jesus Christ.

SILVER

Silver, in type, represents redemption. Moses numbered men of Israel, having them pay a redemption tax of silver, a half shekel per male. Silver was used in the tabernacle. Peter refers to this type, in I Peter 1:18-19 “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without spot or blemish.” The type is no longer necessary, for the price for our redemption has been paid by the blood of Jesus.

BRASS

Brass (or perhaps really ‘copper&#8217 represents judgment. Pillars that represented judgment for sin, held the linen curtain around the tabernacle, to keep people from approaching God. The brass serpent (Numbers 21) speaks of passing our judgment to Christ Who died for us. We need not be judged for our sins now, for Jesus has taken that judgment for us. In Revelation 1, Jesus is seen walking in the midst of the candlesticks (churches) with feet of brass, as though they burned in a furnace.


much more to come

link to 'peanut gallery thread'

http://www.christianforums.com/t7853783/

TYPICAL EVENTS AND PLACES


EGYPT

Egypt is a place of bondage and death, and therefore a type of sin, a type of the world with all its riches and opportunities. The exodus shows in type, the leaving of the world and its appeal behind. The wilderness journey, after the exodus from Egypt, represents the struggling life of a new saint, battling the desire to return to the former life. The conquest of Canaan, represents the victorious revival available to saints who put their faith in the promises of God.


CITIES OF REFUGE

The tribe of Levi had no permanent section of land, as did the other tribes. They had cities, called ‘cities of refuge’. To these cities, those accused of crimes, could flee... and were protected for trial. These cities were a type of the refuge we find in Jesus. Psalms 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour out your heart before Him, God is a refuge for us. Selah.”


TYPICAL NUMBERS

ONE is a type of unity and primacy.
Ephesians 4:4-6

Christ wants the church to be one in unity of Spirit. (John 17:21) Passover occurred in the seventh month, but God changed the calendar to make it the first month, for the first part of coming to God involves the shedding of the blood of the Innocent One. All laws of God are ‘one law’. (Numbers 15:16). The church consists of many members, but God calls them ‘one’ (Galatians 3:28)

TWO is a number that denotes division. It is the smallest number that can be divided. Israel was divided into two camps, the spies were divided into two groups. Cain and Abel were divided.

THREE is the number of divine completeness. The Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, are three personalities, making up the complete Godhead. There are three definitions of God, Spirit, Light, Love. There are three divisions of the tabernacle, outer court, holy place, and holy of holies. There are three metals used in the tabernacle, silver, brass, gold. Three colors of the veil are mentioned, blue, scarlet, purple. Three curtains in the tabernacle must be passed to come to God’s presence, the door, outer veil, inner veil. Christ was crucified after the third hour. There were three languages written over His head on the cross. There were three days and three nights of Jesus in the ‘heart of the earth’. The Jewish people had three great feasts, Passover, Pentecost, and tabernacles. The gospels record three times that God spoke from heaven in Jesus’ first coming (Matt. 3:17, 17:5, John 12:28). Jesus raised three from the dead, Jairus’ daughter, the widow’s son at Nain, and Lazarus. Three times the Jordan river parted to allow passage, Israel entering Canaan, Elijah, and Elisha.


FOUR is the number of God’s sovereignty over man.

FIVE denotes the weakness of the human being, needing grace.

SIX is the number of human achievement. It is the number of man. Nebuchadnezzar’s image was 60 cubits high, and 6 cubits wide. Man was created on the sixth day. The number of the Antichrist is 666 (Rev. 13:18). There are six cities of refuge, Numbers 35:6).

SEVEN is the number of divine completeness. Creation took seven days, and the seventh day was the day God rested in its completeness. God ordained the week to be seven days. Seven men lived more than 900 years. Isaiah 11:2-3 shows a seven-fold description of the Spirit. The book of Revelation is filled with sevens (7 Spirits before the throne, seven stars in Christ’s hand, seven lamp stands, seven letters to churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven vials, etc.)

EIGHT is the number of resurrection. It indicates something new. There are eight recorded resurrections. David was the eighth son, and he started a new dynasty. There were eight in the ark, which was new exhibition of God’s grace.

TEN is the number of perfect order. Genesis 1 records ‘God said’ ten times. There are ten commandments. The holy of holies was a cube ten cubits by ten cubits by ten cubits. There were ten plagues on Egypt. The millennium is 1000 years, which is ten to the third power.

TWELVE is the number of governmental perfection. Jacob had 12 sons. There were 12 tribes. There were 12 apostles. There are 24 elders (12 times 2) in Revelation. There are 12 gates and 12 foundations to the New Jerusalem. There are twelve stones on the breastplate. There were 12 spies sent into the land.

FORTY is the number of testing. Moses’ life is divided into three 40 year periods. Saul and David both ruled 40 years. Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days.

A FALSE TYPOLOGY TEACHING, = GEMATRIA​

There is a false teaching called Gematria.

This gematria is riddle writing, or a cipher mode of writing that comes near to a riddle. The idea purported by adherents of such, is that God did not mean what He said, but He hid some things in what He said, to tell you what He really meant to say. Supposedly, only a few "wise" riddlers will figure it out for the rest of us dummies, and tell us what God really meant to say.

So they use numbers, consonant letters, word counts, etc. to try to validate their chosen doctrines.

it is error, and leads to damnable teachings. It should be rejected by true saints.

For instance, the letters of the name Jehovah, in Hebrew could mean many different things, and different groups down through the ages have tried to make the name mean 'earth, water, fire, and air..." (witchcraft is into this one), and many other things the same letters could refer to.

The devil would like us to forget that the word Jehovah (Yahweh, or Yah)
means in the original language, "The One Who is, Who was, and Who will be", in other words it means the "Eternal One". It is a name used at times in the Bible to all three of the Trinity.

However, Gematria does not mention that, but wants the letters to refer to something a whole lot less than what the name really means.

Some, like to take a longer word, and divide it up, and make the word mean something else due to the small groups of letters in it. For instance
'fellow' becomes 'fell low" but that tells us nothing good or beneficial, and could be done in many fashions.

The gematria finds its validation in Revelation, where 666 is shown as a riddle, and supposed to have meaning, but the true understanding of what that number means, is far from what the cults that believe in gematria
propose we accept as truth. ( We should already know, what 666 shows us. It is not a name that is revealed by 666, but the reality of who the person called the Antichrist will be.)

I Cor. 13:12 tells us "for now we see as through a glass darkly"... but that does not mean that God has put true revelation into riddle form, and all the obvious meanings of Scripture should be thrown out. What that means,
is that our revelation of the Lord and His ways is not as clearly seen now,
as it will be when 'then we see face to face." and that truth, does not validate the form of numerology known as gematria.

Some Jewish people got into gematria in ages past, and it became part of what we call "Hebrew mysticism". It is an ancient religion, a part of the Babylonian cult that worshipped the one we know as Belial. The devil revives it periodically to distract some from the truth of the Word. It does distract, and it allows using letters to insert into the plain truth some error that is never said in the Bible.

Gematria is an ancient Babylonian doctrine, that perverted some in Israel,
making a cult there, that we call Hebrew mysticism.

From those purporting gematria for us we hear that to them, gematria has more to do with "form" than numbers. They say that gematria comes from the "geography" and the "lay of the land" rather than a numerical system. They claim that the sanctified name of the Lord is revealed in the Rock Chief of the corners. They proclaim falsely that there are 4 corners to heaven and earth just as the altar of God is formed with 4 horns at each corner. These 4 horns represent the 4 corner beasts, Lion, Eagle, Ox, and Man, of the
throne of Lord. The rejected "Rock" would be at the "mercy seat", or center of this temple square. The heavenly city is of 4 square. The Rock is center of this 4 square. The stone rejected would lie center of these 4 squares, or as the **enzign** of the cross, not to be confused with the crucifix. This is the teaching of the "form" of the hallowed name of Lord in 4 letters, YHWH, or "sign" of the cross and His 4 square city.

This is just a taste of the heresy known as gematria.

They continue that in seeing the numerical name of the beast 666, as it pertains to form, would be as two triangles in opposition on the left, two on the right, and two in the center. This principle represents the form of the beast and dominion of his kingdom. It represents the "house divided against itself" and the Babylonian "form" of the Kingdom of Solomon. The stone the builders rejected is the center stone of Christ, the builders are those that worship . Solomon and his 666 yearly income of Gold from his principality rule of this Babylonian design and template. This form can be viewed as the tower of Silo"AM", and rule of the 18, it can be viewed as the upper 3 triangles of "Nine-veh" in opposition with it's lower 3 triangles, Michael9 and the Dragon9, or 666. In the center of these 3 assemblies are the 3 shepherds in the "hidden" or center position. Collectively, this dominion of 18 and the 3 are seen as 21, or 777. When seen clearly, these 3 shepherds will pour the 3 plagues of 7 and dissolve the "system" or beast of 666, it's all about form!

Now, that all is very confusing, and detracts from the plain revelation of the unveiling of prophetic truth in the Book of Revelation. There ideas are not really intelligible! It is almost laughable for real saints, and real Bible students. We need to know about it, and know that with this is unintelligible heresy.

These lessons are not on gematria, but they are on Bible typology. There are serious differences... Typology is not a mystical revelation ... but pictures, shadows, and revealing truths of what the Lord was preparing us to experience in the plan of grace.

OTHER TYPES

FIRE is a symbol of God’s presence.
God manifested Himself by fire many times. When renewing the covenant with Abraham (Gen. 15:17), to Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3:2), at Sinai to Israel (Ex. 19:18, 20:18-20), the pillar of fire that led Israel (Num. 9:15), with coals of fire to purify Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5-7), at the dedication of the Temple of Solomon (II Chron. 7:1), to Elijah on Mt. Carmel (I Kings 18:38), on the day of Pentecost tongues like as fire appeared (Acts 2:3), and fire is seen as God’s judgment on sin upon Sodom and Gomorrah, and with God’s final judgment on the world, and on sinners.


LEPROSY is a type of sin.
Sin, like leprosy, spreads till there is complete bondage. There was only one way one could be pronounced clean from leprosy, and there is only one way for man to be cleansed from sin (the cross).


LEAVEN is a type of decay and spiritual corruption, and in every place mentioned, it is defiling, and to be put away (I Cor. 5:8).

SALT is the opposite of leaven, and is a type of preservation.
The presence of Christians in the world preserves it from the corruption of sin. When Christians are removed from this earth, corruption of sin will abound.



HOW TO STUDY TYPES

Not all objects are types. Some though are plainly a type.

I Corinthians 10:4
“They drank of that Spiritual Rock... and that Rock was Christ.”

Parables necessarily involve types... as seen in Matthew 13 parables... where ‘tares’ are the hypocritical and false within the church, ‘wheat’ is representative of true believers in the church age.

The Red Sea, the Jordan River, Egypt are types, and we find verification in Scripture teaching.



WHAT CONSTITUTES A ‘TYPE’?

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Bible types offer an excellent way to teach truth. As a knife in the hands of a surgeon is far different from a knife in the hands of a killer... so types also must be used in hands of those who are taught to properly handle such.

Numerology is a prime example of how some have handled typology with careless, uneducated abandon. The recent revival of ‘Bible codes’ of counting letters, and trying to find new doctrine with omitting letters between such counts, is another example of error in the use of types, figures, and shadows. Some look for meaning in the number of times a letter is in a chapter. Some look for meaning in chapter numbers or verse numbers themselves, but those were added by translators, and have no significance.

Types help in gospel presentation. Think of comparison between the life of Joseph, and the events of Jesus’ first coming. Consider the truths and understanding gained with the ‘lamb’ of the burnt altar, and the humble sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Typology, when properly studied and understood, reinforces the connotations and truths the Lord wants us to have for Bible facts.

Repetition confirms the object as a type, and assures us of its true meaning.

For instance, a ‘rock’ is a type of Christ, and is shown to be so,
by Moses (Numbers 20:8),
by David (Ps. 18),
by Isaiah (Isaiah 32:2),
and by Christ (Matt. 16:18).

Some types can vary in meaning.... as ‘trees’...
For Balaam used ‘trees’ to refer to the nation of Israel (Num. 24:6).
David used a ‘tree’ to refer to a godly man (Psalms 1).
Jeremiah used a ‘tree’ to refer to a godly man, also (Jer. 17:8).
Daniel used the ‘tree’ to refer to a king (Daniel 4:10).
Isaiah used a ‘tree’ to refer to a eunuch (Isaiah 56:3).
Jesus used a ‘tree’ to refer to Israel (Luke 13:6).


Types are valid teaching tools, and are often used in the Word. Cain in Genesis 4:5, shows us a self righteous person who offers God his own labor for salvation, believing that salvation comes from works and character building. Jude 11, Hebrews 11:4, and I John 3:12... show that Cain became a type of any person, who, in order to sustain and maintain his own evil ways, desires by any means, to rid himself/herself of righteous persons.

Abel, of Genesis 4:4, is a type of the true believer who acknowledges guilt, realizes his own insufficiency to pay for it, and obeys God’s instructions for obtaining a substitute to pay for the sins.

Proverbs 30:24-28 shows the ant is a type of those who recognize danger and realize their own weaknesses. They know they are no match for life’s problems, and provide for future trials. We must be like unto the ant, in being aware of possible coming trials, and prepare for those eventualities.

As we continue this study of typology, we must verify in the Word, the type itself, and any doctrine involved within.

Typology will not initiate doctrine, but it will illustrate doctrine already taught in Scripture.

Proper study of typology will be rewarded with clearer understanding, and revelations that clear up wrong concepts we sometimes get in study of the Word.

more to come, stay tuned..

THE PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS
part 1

A TYPE & SHADOW, an ILLUSTRATED LESSON OF BELIEVERS TODAY


I Peter 1:9
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness unto His marvelous light."

The Jews never fully accepted the calling to be this "priesthood" to the world. Most of them missed that calling. Most Christians have missed the true nature of their calling also. This study about being the priesthood to the world is one of the most neglected, and ignored, subjects in Christianity.


THE "SHADOW" OF WHAT WAS TO COME


The Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament was only a shadow of the substance of the priesthood that God intended to make of all believers.

A "shadow" is only an indication of the proximity of the substance, and not the substance itself. Therefore, the priesthood of believers completes and supersedes the Levitical priesthood, just as Jesus completed and superseded Aaron as the High Priest. The altar of burnt offering foreshadowed the cross, and in the same way, the priesthood of the Old Testament was a shadow and type of what God was going to make of the real priesthood.

All believers, of all ages since Adam, are a part of the priesthood of believers.

Exodus 19:6
"And ye shall be unto Me, a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation..."

I Peter 2:5-9
"Ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."

Revelation 20:6
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God, and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years."

It may take until they reach heaven for some to realize that they are part of a priesthood. In heaven, on the rapture day, all saints will finally acknowledge and know that they are part of a great priesthood.

Revelation 1:6, 5:10
"And hath made us kings and priests (literally 'a kingdom of priests') unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" ... And hast made us unto our God kings and priests (literally 'a kingdom of priests'), and we shall reign on the earth."



WHAT IS A PRIEST???

A priest is one who ministers to God and man, a holy worshiper who gives glory to the Lord, and one who mediates between a holy God, and sinful mankind.




The Lord is seeking for such persons to stand in the gap for the sinful world. He is looking for those who recognize their priestly ministry. We are supposed to be that royal priesthood. The priestly function of believers continues even into the millennial reign of Christ.

Revelation 20:6
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power, but that they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him 1000 years."


THE CURSE OF THE LEVITES

"Levites" was a name given to the descendants of Levi. Certain events caused a curse to be put upon the descendants of Levi by Jacob.

Genesis 49:5-7
"Simeon and Levi are brethren, instruments of cruelty are in their habitations... in their anger slew a man, and in their self will, they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath for it was cruel, I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel."

Later, that curse was turned into a blessing.

Deuteronomy 33:8-11 shows that curse was turned into a blessing, and the descendants of Levi were chosen to be the spiritual leaders of the nation. They were to teach Israel, burn incense before the Lord, and offer sacrifices for the people. To do the intercessory and teaching ministry, they must be scattered in the country. Thus, the curse of being scattered amidst the other tribes became a blessing.


The curse was changed for two reasons.

1. Phineas, a Levite had stayed a plague about to decimate Israel by decisive and moral-restoring action.

Numbers 25:1-13
"And when Phineas... saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand. And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through... So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel... the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Phineas... hath turned My wrath away... Behold, I give unto him My covenant of peace; And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood..."

2. At an earlier time, the Levites were the ones who stood faithful, while many others were in a moral decline.

Exodus 32:25-29
"... Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves unto him... he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side... slay every man his brother... companion... neighbor... And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses; and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that He may bestow upon you a blessing this day..."

Thus, this cursed-to-be-scattered-tribe was made the tribe that was to be a priesthood. The law of the tithe enhanced the selection of the Levites. A tithe was to be paid to these Levites (Numbers 18:21-30, Deuteronomy 18:1-8, Nehemiah 10:37-39, Hebrews 7:5,9). This money was given so these Levites could carry on a ministry among the people. They were to not have any inheritance, or land of their own. They were to have only the Lord for their inheritance (Numbers 18:20-24, 26:22, Deut. 12:12, 14:27).



LEVITE ??? or PRIEST ???

There was a three-fold organization of the Levites.

1. Aaron and his sons, who were of the family of Kohath, were the top echelon group.

2. Other Kohathites, not of Aaron's family, were the ones who were to carry the most sacred parts of the tabernacle.

3. Members of the families of Gershom and Merari were given lesser duties.

One could be a Levite and never become a priest. Every priest was a Levite, but not every Levite was a priest. The priests were to be those who chose to be consecrated. This was not forced on any Levite. The fundamental difference between a Levite, and another Levite who chose to be a priest... was the priest had the right to minister in the tabernacle.

Many Christians today, miss their calling to be a part of the consecrated priesthood. There are many attenders, many spectators, but not many are truly consecrated to the work of the Lord, and to the ministry in His presence.

Exodus 32:29
"For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord..."

The word - "consecrate" is from the Hebrew "yad mala", which literally means "fill your hands."

To be consecrated means to have your hands full of the work of the Lord. Some do not want to be fully occupied with the Lord's work.

We have, as Christians, the great commission to "go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature..." Most saints only want to pray for their loved ones, witness to the rich, influential, and elite... They want to attend worship and Bible study when convenient. They occupy themselves witht he "cares of this world." They are not fully occupied with the whole of the Lord's work.


MORE TO COME ON THE 'PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS'

THE NATURE OF THE WORK OF THE PRIESTHOOD

The nature of the work of the priesthood was given by prophetic revelation in the names of the sons of Aaron.

Exodus 28:1
"Take thou unto thee Aaron, thy brother, and his sons with him... that he may minister unto Me... even Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons."

"Aaron" means "very high", and as High Priest, he was a type of Jesus, our "great high priest" (Hebrews 4:14).

"Nadab" means "willing". The Lord only wants a priesthood who is willingly serving and ministering.

"Abihu" means "my father is he", and the Lord indicates that He wants a priesthood who are part of His family. This is not a servant, slave relationship, but we are part of the family of God.

"Eleazar" means "help of God". The Lord wants a priesthood who are doing a ministry that serves the purpose and plan of God toward mankind.

"Ithamar" means "land of palm". The palm tree is a symbol of the priesthood. It was one of the ornaments that will decorate the future temple described in Ezekiel. It was also one of the embellishments on the support posts in Solomon's temple. This tree of the desert flourished where no other could exist. It marks out to the weary traveler, the spot for shade and rest. It ceaselessly bears fruit. It is an apt emblem for the priesthood that God intends for us all to be. We are to exist where no other could, to mark out to those weary of sin a place and a way to find refreshment and life eternal, to be a place of shade and rest to the world, and to ceaselessly bear fruit for the Lord.

Psalms 92:12-14
"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree... Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing..."

To become more than a Levite, one had to first have the desire to become a priest. Then the person would present himself before the tabernacle (Deuteronomy 18:7). He must then sell his "patrimony" (inheritance from his father). This sale freed him from tending to worldly things, so as to free him for his greater responsibility in spiritual things. Then the person would be consecrated to the work. Finally, he was clothed in special clothes. Then he began his work as a priest.

The new duties of this priest were:
to offer sacrifices, and intercessory acts for the people...
to teach the law...
to keep the sacred fires burning...
to sound trumpets...
to encourage the army...
to bear the Ark of the Covenant...

The main purpose was intercession...
I Timothy 2:1-4
"I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions and the giving of thanks be made for all men... for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior."

The original curse upon the descendants of Levi was because of their cruelty. When that nature is changed, the descendants of Levi become concerned about others, and God uses the priesthood to "stand in the gap" for souls. Whenever a Christian backslides even a bit, the old nature of cruelty returns. Churches have often become dens of gossip, back-stabbing, envy, debate, strife, etc. The restoration to a priestly ministry is vitally needed in these last days.



THE "REFORMATION" OF THE PRIESTHOOD

The Bible talks of a "REFORMATION". This "reformation" is not the one started by Martin Luther. It was a "reformation" of change from the old sacrifices, the old Levitical priesthood, to a new one. Many do not understand the "reformation." Many, perhaps most, have failed to enter into this change, as God has desired.

Hebrews 9:8-11
"...the tabernacle was yet standing. Which was a figure for the time yet present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience. Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of the REFORMATION. But Christ being come as a high priest of good things to come..."

The old laws, the old priesthood, the old ordinances, the tabernacle service were a "figure" of what was someday to come. The "reformation" brought in a new way. The old way had been "imposed" upon them, but the new way is "good" and perfect.

Hebrews 10:1
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."


The old way was a shadow. A shadow reflects the image of a substance nearby. The real thing, which is the substance of that shadow, is the new covenant. This new covenant allows all Christians to become priests. The old covenant was not perfect, but the new way is. We are now to be part of the perfect way. The priesthood of believers is God's perfect plan for us.

This priesthood of believers is the "changed" priesthood. Previously, those born in the lineage of Levi, through Aaron (the first high priest) were the priesthood. Now, we are priests after the order of Melchisedec, who was also a priest in that time. This higher priesthood is not dependent on earthly descent.

Hebrews 7:12
"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law..."

Now, since that change, we are part of an unchangeable priesthood.

Hebrews 7:24
"...hath an unchangeable priesthood..."


Melchisedec did not have earthly descent to give him a right to be a priest, but he was a priest, and had a higher calling than the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, and all the Levitical priesthood came from the lineage of Abraham. This showed that the Melchisedec priesthood was a higher station than the Levitical priesthood. God has wanted an everlasting priesthood... Therefore, the priesthood shall continue throughout the millennium, and onto the new earth we shall still be a priesthood.

Exodus 40:15
"...for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood..."

TWENTY FOUR DIVISIONS OF THE PRIESTHOOD

The Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament was divided into 24 divisions (I Chronicles 24). Each of the 24 divisions had a head or "elder" priest. In the New Testament, these head or elder priests were called the "chief priests" (Matthew 2:4). Each of the 24 groups served for a time (one week) in the tabernacle (or Temple) and did the sacrifices for the people. Then they would go back to their homes, and minister to the people in the countryside.

The 24 elders seen in the vision of John of the rapture day (Revelation 4 & 5) are representative of the 24 groups to which we will be divided in heaven. The priesthood of believers of all ages will be divided amidst these 24 groups and probably serve in the throne room of God on a rotating basis. Thus, as we rule and reign with the Lord, we will be occasionally returning to God's throne room to worship, honor, and serve our God. Then, as our turn ends, we will return to rule and reign over the humans on the millennial earth, and later the new earth. On the rapture day (as described in Revelation 4 & 5) all 24 groups are together in the throne room of heaven.

Revelation 4:4,10
"And round about the throne were 24 thrones; and upon the thrones, I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold... the 24 elders fell down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne..."

Revelation 5:8-10
"And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, having everyone of them harps and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song saying, Thou are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, tongue, and people and nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests (literally, a kingdom of priests), and we shall reign on the earth."

THE "BRANCH" IS BUILDING THIS TEMPLE AND PRIESTHOOD

Zechariah prophesied that a "Branch" would come and build the Temple of the Lord...

Zechariah 6:12
"...Behold, the Man Whose name is the BRANCH; and He shall grow up our of His place, and He shall build the Temple of the Lord..."

Then Paul tells us that we are that Temple of God.

I Corinthians 3:16
"know ye not, that ye are the Temple of God..."

Zechariah 6:13
"Even He shall build the Temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne..."

This makes Jesus to be the High Priest Who dwells within the Temple of God... Should we not recognize that we are His priesthood and share in His ministry? Should we not be making sure that we are His Temple, and serving as priests of that Temple? Should we not make sure that Jesus sits upon the throne in that Temple?



PURPOSE OF THE PRIESTHOOD

The reformation of the old covenant, and of the old Levitical priesthood, to the new covenant with its new priesthood of believers, is designed to bring about a time when "all men shall know Me (the Lord)."

Hebrews 8:8-12
"Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel... not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers... For this is the covenant that I will make...I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people. And they shall not teach every man his neighbor... saying 'Know the Lord', for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest."

The latter rain revival will awaken this priesthood of believers. The priesthood of believers will then awaken the sinful world to it sins, and show them the remedy in Jesus Christ. After the rapture of the church, the 144,000 Jews will be saved who will continue this priesthood of believers ministry into the tribulation. On the millennial earth, and on the new earth, the saints will all be a part of the eternal priesthood of believers.



A REVIVAL OF THE PRIESTHOOD IN THE LAST DAYS

In the visions of Zechariah, Joshua (the High Priest) is seen standing in filthy garments. This vision is typical of the priesthood of believers of the last days. The filthy garments are typical of the fact that many of the priests of the Lord in these last days have not recognized their calling, and have not kept themselves pure and ready to do the priestly ministry.

Zechariah 3:3-4
"Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And He answered and spake unto those that stood before Him, saying, 'Take away the filthy garments from him.' And unto him He said, 'Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment...'"

We are now approaching the time when the Lord will remove the filthy garments from His priesthood, and by way of the latter rain revival, will get us ready to enter into the literal throne room of God to serve as priests. For many years the saints have not been even recognizing the fact that we are a holy priesthood. God needs to cleanse sin from the priesthood. Only after that spiritual cleansing and removal of the filth of sin amidst the priests, can the Lord begin to re-clothe us in the proper garments.

Zechariah 3:5
"Let them set a fair mitre upon his head...:

This "mitre" is symbolic of a ministry, and a responsibility to another people that this ministry involves. We must allow the Lord to put a mitre of priestly responsibility upon our heads.

Zechariah 3:5
"and clothed him with garments..."

The garments are to be pure, and since all our righteousness is "as filthy rags," we must be clothed in the pure righteousness of Jesus. Only in His garments should we be clothed.

Then a charge is given to the priesthood.

Zechariah 3:7
"If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge mine house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give the places to walk among these that stand by."

All who accept this ministry of being a priest to the Lord, are told to walk in the ways of God... Oh, how we have failed in that ministry! The life and example of the Lord is far from what the ministry of many has been. If we would learn to "keep " the "charge" given us by God, we would be ministering, not seeking to be ministered unto. We would be loving, and not holding grudges. We would be worshiping, and not seeking praise... The charge of accepting a priestly ministry is a great challenge... and is often ignored by many who want a pew-filling religion...

Zechariah 3:8
"...thou and thy fellows that sit before thee, for they are men to be wondered at..."

There is great power and glory for this priesthood. The world may despise the Lord Whom we serve, hate the message we bring, and abhor we, the priests, who serve both God and mankind... but the power of God shall rest upon the priesthood of believers when they finally stand in pure garments... and the blessings given to us will make us to be persons to be "wondered at."

Zechariah 3:8
"...for behold, I will bring forth My servant the Branch..."

This shows that the time of this re-clothing of the priesthood of believers is just before the return of Jesus.

There was on the mitre of the High Priest, a gold stone which was called the "crown." On this stone there was an engraving - "HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD". This represents the fact that our righteousness is given to us by the Lord, and it is not our own good works that make us worthy of the ministry of being the priesthood. It is the Lord Himself who engraves this upon the stone on our foreheads... In fact, the removal of our unrighteous condition will be done in one day, according to the prophecy of Zechariah. We will soon have a "one day" judgment that will purify the priesthood of believers. (There will be more on that later.)

Zechariah 3:9
"...I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and ...remove the iniquity of that land in one day..."

After the believers finally are truly acting as a priesthood of believers, we will see the peace and prosperity that the Lord has wanted to give this world.


Zechariah 3:10
"In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree."

THE CHOICE IS GIVEN TO US... WHAT A PRIVILEGE!

This reformation of the priesthood allows we, the saints, to do a priestly ministry. We can now, as priests, enter into the presence of God. In fact, we are allowed into the Holy of Holies, wherein in the Levitical priesthood, only the High Priest could enter, and that was on the day of Atonement only.

Hebrews 10:19-25
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. By a new and living way, which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh. And having an high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised). Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembling our ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Let us now, not when we have no other choice, but rather NOW fulfill our ministry, and accept our position as one of the priesthood of believers.

Isaiah 61:6
"But ye shall be named the priests of the Lord: men shall call you the ministers of God..."

Let us not miss out on our part. The latter rain revival is not to be revival wherein some evangelists, some churches, and some great saints do a great work... but rather, it is a time wherein all of the priesthood of believers are to have a ministry.



THE WARNING WE NEED TO HEED

There is a definite warning in the Scriptures of a possible apostasy from this priesthood. We, as saints, and as the priesthood of believers, must beware, for we can sin, fail, apostatize, and lose our high calling.

Hebrews 10:26-31
"For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God... For we know Him Who hath said, Vengeance belongeth to Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God."


With such great punishment possible if we fail to enter into this "reformation" priesthood of believers, or if we backslide and lose our position as a priest of the Lord, we had better carefully maintain, and study to know our position and work.

Hebrews 10:35-37
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that , after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry."

OLD TESTAMENT ILLUSTRATIONS ARE THE SHADOWS OF THINGS TO COME

We have looked at the priesthood reformation, changing from the Levitical of the O.T. to the priesthood of all believers now. We will return in a bit to more detailed typology on that, but for a short time, let us look at what God was doing in His revelations of the Old Testament. There are 'shadows' in the O.T. that 'foreshadow' great truths in the New Testament.



Colossians 2:17 (KJV)
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Colossians 2:17 (Wescott-Hort)
17 α εστιν σκια των μελλοντων το δε σωμα του χριστου

Here, we see the word skia = σκια = shadow...

The word has no evil connotation... it does not suggest evil or corruption...

There are times it is used to refer to a 'shadow' of something evil, as in the Septuagint for Ps 23:4
Psalm 23:4 (KJV)
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Some who are not adept at translating or doing exegesis may jump at that kind of usage for 'skia' and think it is therefore an evil thing (skia)... but actually there it is 'death' that is the evil thing that needs comforting by the presence of the Lord...

In Acts 5:15 we see 'skia' referring to the 'shadow of Peter'...
Acts 5:15-16 (KJV)
... they brought forth the sick... that at the least the shadow (skia) of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them... bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Jesus was in Peter, so Peter's shadow was likewise the shadow of Jesus, and as Peter passed by the sick and those vexed with evil spirits, they were healed and delivered...

So, was the 'skia' an evil thing there? No... of course not... a shadow is never an evil thing, it is the substance of which the shadow is conveying its nearness that is either evil or good. In the case of Peter, it was the shadow of good, in the case of Ps 23, it is the shadow of death, which is bad.

Likewise in Mark 4:32, we have the mustard seed likened to the 'kingdom of God', and it is small but grows into a huge tree that gives 'shadow' (skia) to flocks... Is the shadow (skia) bad??? No, it is the shadow (in this case) to one of the types of the Kingdom of God, which is good. So, the shadow of something good is not evil.

The word 'skia' does not taint at all what Paul is saying to the Colossians.

Colossians 2:17 (KJV)
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

So, if what the shadow prefigures is Christ, then the shadow (skia) cannot be bad... in fact, it is great.. for it is the shadow of what Christ came to do... it is His shadow....



Hebrews 8:3-5 (KJV)
3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

These shadows too were of good things, shadows of what the Lord would fulfill in type. They foreshadowed the sacrifice of the Lord.

Shadows can be scary to some... for they may prefigure a "boogey" man. As we mature in Christ, we learn that 'shadows' of our youth usually did not turn out to be 'boogey' men, but turned out to the pet dog, or mom checking on you in the night... The same with Colossians 2... some fear galatianism so much that they hate all shadows... In the case of the types of the feasts, and of sacrifices, they were foreshadowing Jesus, and are great teaching tools for us...

Some still jump at 'shadows', and some of us look beyond the shadow, to see if it is the shadow of something 'boogey man like' or something good.

more to come on 'shadows'

THE BOOK OF HEBREWS SHOWS US MANY SHADOWS OF THE O.T.

The Book of Hebrews is a great book to show that the Lord Jesus is 'better' than the pictures that foretold of Him. That does not make the pictures bad, for they were good. In fact, the world would have been far more ignorant of the glory of God's plan, had the pictures not been given. We can marvel in the pictures, but we find that the reality of what was pictured is 'BETTER'.

The word "better" is used 13 times in the book of Hebrews. It is translated from the Greek word "kreisson" which means "stronger, mightier, greater, superior, and more excellent."

Christ is presented "better" than:
the prophets (1:1-3)
the angels (1:4-2:18)
Moses (3:1-18)
Joshua (4:1-13)
High Priest (4:14-6:12)
Abraham (6:13-7:10)
Melchisedec (7:1-10)
Aaron and other priests (7:11-8:6)
the old covenant's sacrifices (8:7-10:39)
the old covenant's faith heroes (11:1-12:2)
parents and others (12:3-13:25).

Are any of those things 'bad'? No, of course not. Jesus is 'BETTER' but those things and people that He is 'better than' does not make them bad. They were 'good', are still 'good' and not evil, and Jesus is better than all of them though.

Jesus Christ is also shown to be a "better' hope than we have had before His coming. Then Christ is shown to be the Mediator of a "better" covenant.

The book of Hebrews evaluates the old covenant, and then shows how Jesus has fulfilled such types and has given us things much better.

The word "perfect" is found 14 times in the book.

Perfection is shown to be lacking in the Levitical priesthood, in the law, in the animal sacrifices, and in the old covenant.

Jesus gave Himself and thereby "perfected forever them that are sanctified..." (Hebrews 10:14)

We have all desired the "perfect" way, and strive to find how to have such...

Jesus is presented as that Perfection, and His way is the perfect way.

When we find such perfection, we naturally fear the loss of such. We want to be assured that we will not lose such perfection.

The word "eternal" is found often in Hebrews.

Christ is shown to be the Author of the "eternal salvation" (Heb. 5:9).

Christ Jesus also "obtained eternal redemption" for us (Heb. 9:12).

Christ shares the "promise of eternal inheritance..." (Heb. 9:15).

The throne of the Lord is "forever (Heb.1:8).

Jesus is a "priest forever..." (Heb. 5:6).

And finally, the Lord is presented as "the same yesterday, today, and forever..." (Heb. 13:8).


When we look at the book as a whole, we see that Jesus Christ is presented as BETTER because His blessings and His covenant are ETERNAL and PERFECT.

The pictures of the types and shadows of the Old Testament are now fulfilled. That does not make the admiring of the types and shadows to be bad, but it means we glory in the Lord Jesus as the ONE that all of those pre-figured.

The feasts are 'shadows', skia, of Jesus, and of His ministry done for us. We glory in those shadows, and know that the 'better than' is now come.
1.
Hebrews 13:22
"And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words."

An exhortation is a encouragement, a comfort, and a consolation. This book was not written to scare us, but to encourage us. We are to "encourage one another daily" (Heb. 3:13). We are reminded that we have a "strong encouragement" in Jesus (Heb. 6:18).

WE NEED TO LOOK TO SUCH A FUTURE,
AND IT SHOULD BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT
AS WE SO GAZE TOWARD THE FUTURE!

The focus of the book of Hebrews is on the future. It speaks of:
"the world to come" (2:5).
Jesus, the "heir of all things..." (1:2).
the "promise of eternal inheritance" (9:15).
the "city Whose Builder and Maker is God..." (11:13).
our being only "pilgrims and strangers on this earth..." (11:13).

The future is of vital importance to every saint. Too many are too earthly minded, too present and past oriented, and too prophetically ignorant to be of any heavenly use.

If Abraham allowed Lot to take the best lands, because He was so anxious to find the heavenly Jerusalem... (11:10),

if Moses could forsake the treasures of Egypt because he had "respect unto the recompense of reward..." (11:26)...

if Jesus could endure the cross "for the joy set before Him..." (12:2),

THEN we must learn to get our eyes upon the future! The Old Testament feasts were pictures of what Jesus came to do, and He is not done fulfilling those types. They were wonderful pictures of what He has now done, and what He will still do. Some of those pictures are fulfilled, but not fully. we still look at the feasts to learn more of His unfolding plan.

Jesus is 'better' than those pictures, but we still rejoice in watching their fulfillment unfold.

THIS BOOK OF HEBREWS EXHORTS US
TO EXPECT A FUTURE COMING,
A FUTURE HOME IN HEAVEN,
AND A FUTURE VICTORIOUS KINGDOM.


This book of Hebrews is not for spiritual babes who need to be spoon-fed. It is not meant to coddle pew-sitting, apathetic, lethargic, and luke-warm members of our congregations. Its meaning is far beyond the understanding of the judgmental, the carnal, the babes... it is for those who have their eyes on Jesus... who understand the Biblical types and shadows... and are anxious to see them unfold into more and more fulfillment.

Hebrews is for some who have the spiritual molars to do some real chewing on strong meat... It was written long ago, about how to prepare for a time soon to come! The book speaks of the good types and shadows, and reminds us to watch as they continue to be fulfilled by Jesus.

In the Written Word of God there is Milk and meat for us to eat. Paul preached about these spiritual giants in Hebrews, and about all the 'shadows' in the Old Testament. We are to feed on the truths of milk and of meat, and enjoy the revelation of what those Old Testament shadows show us.

Meat represents the deeper truths, and milk represents the basic, simpler truths. The 'shadow' teachings contain both, and yet, by their nature, they are like a bridge, to carry us from the milk to the meat. The 'shadows' of the real truth in Jesus take truth, put it in simplest form, and then allows, or encourages, deeper seeking into that ‘milk’ truth, to find a ‘meat’ revelation.


I Corinthians 10:11
“these things (the shadows of the Old Testament), written for our admonition’


Hebrews 8:4-5
“Who serve as an example and shadow of heavenly things”


Hebrews 10:1
“... law having a shadow of good things to come...”

Yes, the 'shadows' announced before the literal coming of Jesus, how, and why He would come. They illustrate beautifully. We do not need to do animal sacrifices, for we see now in Jesus the fulfillment of such. If anyone were doing animal sacrifice to be saved, they would be out of order. Yet, to look and admire the picture of those sacrificial lambs in the O.T., gives us joy and peace in Jesus, the fulfillment of that shadow. We do not go back to animal sacrifice, or trusting the picture and shadow of Jesus to be salvation. Galatianism was what Paul spoke of in Hebrews as doing that. Yet, he (though adamant about not going back to trusting those sacrifices as salvation, still showed us that the 'shadows' are now for our example and our admonitions in our glorious new covenant.

The words ‘shadow’, ‘example’, ‘pattern’... all contain the idea we refer to as ‘types’. Types are used to prefigure some person, thing, or event that would appear in the future. Types are a ‘sort of’ prophecy. Prophetically, types show us what was to come.... and the type shows the foreknowledge and planning of an Almighty God.

Our God laid out the feasts, the sacrifices, and did it as shadows to announce and picture the reality found in Jesus. What beauty there is in the feasts. What joy we have in looking at how Jesus is so wonderfully prophesied by them


GALATIANISM

Paul was not teaching that the ‘shadows’ of the Old Testament were evil. He was teaching against what Bible scholars have called ‘Galatianism’. This is an error that erupted in the early church, where some wanted ‘non-Jews’, i.e. Gentiles, to have to become a Jew first, and observe all the initiatory and cultural traditions and laws, before becoming a Christian.

These Galatianism persons demanded that the Greek gospels were corrupt, and used only the original Hebrew gospel, that they soon corrupted with removal of some passages, and additions of other passages to back their heresies.

Most of these ‘galatianism’ people were in Asia Minor, Jews who had traditionally not even wanted Gentiles into their Judaism, and now saved to Jesus Christ, they carried some bigotry into their new faith. So, when the Gentiles began accepting Jesus in great numbers, and their traditions and laws were not being even recognized by these Gentile converts, some began to make them mandatory, so they could maintain their attitude of superiority over the Gentile converts.

Paul saw the evil in that, and spoke to the Jews in Galatia, very sternly. He did speak in a number of his epistles concerning that idea, while at the same time, cautioning all, both Jew and Gentile, that these feasts, sacrifices, shadows of truth shown in the Old Testament, were not sinful of themselves, but were pictures of ‘good things to come’, but now that the reality of Jesus and His salvation ministry for us, we behold, we love these shadows, but they are not any longer a means of salvation.

The Torah is not mandatory to follow Jesus, but it has many beautiful revelations prophetically given to illustrate what Jesus had just came to do. There was not then, nor is there now, any need to convert to Judaism to be saved. The Jewish converts to Christianity are not any more special to God than the Gentile converts who had never heard of Passover, Pentecost, lambs for sacrifice, etc.

Circumcision, as explained in the New Testament, is allowable, but never again mandatory. Water baptism became a witness to what ‘circumcision’ had been, but even it was not mandatory in the new covenant. Observing the feasts doomed no one, nor did it save anyone. Only Jesus is the Savior.
The High Priest is Jesus, and He entered into the throne room, as the earthly high priest had gone into the holy of holies on the day of atonement. Jesus did it once and for all, and to celebrate the day on which the high priest had done it once a year, was meant to be a celebration that now, we enter into that presence of God every time we pray, and can atone for sin every time we fail, for the blood is already sprinkled on the mercy seat of heaven.

Galatianism still is found in a few circles. Most Messianic Jews realize the atonement of Jesus for us, has made the feasts and sacrifices to be something to be thankful for their illustration, but we have the reality of all of which they only foreshadowed now.

REVERSE GALATIANISM

Some call another error now to be ‘reverse Galatianism’. That is where some want all those familiar with the Old Testament shadows and types to completely forget their beautiful illustration, and not even mention those former shadows, not consider having lamb on Passover as observance of what Jesus did in fulfilling that type. Some want to doom anyone who is circumcised, bind up the Old Testament as though it were written by the devil, and pronounce curses on all who observe the beautiful shadows of the feasts. This is grievous to behold in a time when we are all to be unified around Jesus, not throwing out the God given pictures of what He came to do, not being Gentile Christians vs Jewish Christians.

Why do some Jewish Christians, or Old Testament appreciating Christians need to have separate congregations, separate buildings of worship? Too often the reason is that the Gentile converts, or those not being taught the beautiful shadow truths of the Old Testament typology, are callous, judgmental, and carnal acting toward them.

Reverse Galatianism errs greatly in demanding opposite of the galatianism. They want all Old Testament typology hated, and any Jewish Christians to become Gentiles before being saved. The two extremes are both wrong.

Today, some black Christians choose to worship in their own congregations. Some white Christians choose to worship in their own also. Unfortunately, the reason too often is that each group feels a bigotry in the others’ site. The prejudice there is like unto the prejudice of the galatianists vs the reverse galatianists. When we get to heaven, the Lord will have to sit some down, and vigorously scold the prejudiced, bigoted, biased, etc of the church so they can all meet around the throne in heaven to worship there together.

Some of each race have historical backgrounds, former memories of mistreatment by some with bigotry, that make them uncomfortable in mixed congregations. We cannot fault them for feeling a need to worship unhindered by such memories and thoughts, but we can work toward helping all of us realize that we are one in Christ, and skin color, traditions, cultural differences, are not evil, nor needs to be separate in the faith. That is our goal, and hindrance to such, stirring up of ungodly memories, is not Christ-like.

Paul said to worship on whatever day one chooses, eat meats or don’t eat them, celebrate the feasts or don’t celebrate them, but to love one another no matter what choices were made.

ONE SERIOUS ERROR OF REVERSE GALATIANISM,
ONE SERIOUS ERROR OF GALATIANISM...
THEY ARE BOTH GRAVELY ERRANT.


One of the serious errors of reverse Galatianism is that they see Paul’s stern words against the Jewish converts to Christianity, that wanted to make the traditions and practices of the law, the feasts and the sacrifices, to be mandatory upon all Christians. They were not only not mandatory, they were fulfilled in Jesus, and only ‘shadows’ of the new covenant.

Yet, when reverse galatianists viewed the words of Paul, they believed that the shadows were evil, not the interpretation of them. So, reverse galatianists began to condemn anyone who celebrated Passover, or who had a child circumcised, even if those persons knew and believed in Jesus as the fulfilment of the law, not putting the law as mandatory for salvation.

The error of the reverse galationists starts with the overlooking of the fact that the shadows did not become extinct with the coming of our Savior. God had long before been angry, and rejected the law keeping, the feast observing, and the worship even of the ones who did not comprehend the meaning of the ‘shadows’.

Long before Jesus came in the incarnation, long before the new covenant began, God said:

Isaiah 1:14-20 (KJV)
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto Me; I am weary to bear them.
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

God had seen the sins of those coming to worship, to celebrate feasts, to keep the tenets of the law. Their hearts were sinful, their worship insincere, their understanding of God’s purposes of the law, the sacrifices, the feast celebrations was contaminated.

Paul found that some had gone back to feast celebrations, and said it was not sinful to observe Sabbath day worship, or the eating or not eating of certain meats, or the keeping of one feast day or another, but that one should be fully persuaded. What Paul, following God’s direction, pointed out was that the law, and its keeping, did not save anyone, was not mandatory, for they were but ‘shadows’ of what Jesus came and fulfilled.

God had already rejected their feast celebrations, their worship, etc, long before Paul. God wanted reality of worship, of righteousness, of faith in Him as Redeemer, even in the Old Testament.

To Amos, the father of Isaiah, we see a similar from God:
Amos 5:21-24 (KJV)
21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

God wants mankind to understand His plan of grace and mercy. God does not now, nor did He then, accept the idea that keeping laws, celebrating certain feasts, singing certain words, etc. will ever redeem a soul, or earn for anyone salvation. God rejected it then, and rejects it now. Paul spoke to the same kind of sins in Galatians, as Isaiah and Amos spoke. It is not keeping the law that is evil, it is not singing worshipful songs that is evil. It is the doing it with the idea that those things earned salvation.

Jude preached against that idea, and mentions the keeping of the feasts by some who were ‘plucked up by the roots’, not saved, but thinking their ‘feasts’ were earning them salvation.

Jude 1:12 (KJV)
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Errant belief in the ‘shadows’, that were not really the substance of what the shadow prophesied to be near, makes the worship or trust of such ‘shadow’ wrong. It pollutes the shadow.

Malachi 1:6-7
"You priests despise My name, offering polluted bread. YET YE SAY, Wherein have we polluted Thee?"

The worship of the people, in that time in the Old Testament, had become polluted. They offered worthless offerings. Their actions revealed their lack of love and respect for God. This is a common problem in the last days. Reverse galationists pounce on the common sin in our time too, but then go far to far in making it sound like God’s ‘shadow’ teachings themselves are evil, whereas it is only the ones who say that those shadows are the salvation earning process, instead of seeing the fulfillment of the shadow teaching, i.e. Jesus, as the only means of salvation.

We are to seek the Lord, and can look and observe the shadow teachings, but never trust them to be our salvation. Jesus is our salvation.

Matthew 6:33
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

God asserted that the people had dishonored Him often in the Old Testament, and the Galatians to whom Paul wrote, were being tempted to again dishonor God by putting the ‘shadows’ to be mandatory for salvation.

God is disturbed in these last days by the insincere worship of many. Their worship is dead, meaningless, and has form -but no power. They treat the worship services as optional. They take communion as though it were only a midday snack. They treat times of intercession as though they were unimportant. They offer to God their extra time, if any. They will do the Lord's work if it does not interfere with their other plans. They think then that the keeping of a feast day, or the wearing of a cross necklace will atone for their sins.

In the last days, we have even a better covenant. We have the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Many today treat the new covenant as badly as the people in Ezra's day treated their covenant. They observed the ‘shadows’ that were meant to teach them, not save them. Some today do return to that same kind of error. Yet, reverse galatianists will condemn even those who observe the beautiful teachings of the ‘shadows’ of the former covenant.

Being out of relationship with the Lord means that all our relationships will suffer. Christians belong to the family of God. We all have a heavenly Father. Paul spoke to the Galatians as Christians, of which some had begun to trust ‘law’ keeping as salvation. He called those things ‘shadows’, and condemned the idea that they saved anyone. It is our heavenly Father that we please when we see Jesus as our Savior, and the law and feasts as beautiful shadows of Him and His work for us.

When reverse galatianists condemn those who in grace see the beauty of the pictures and shadows of the Old Testament, they do a disservice to the faith. We must condemn as Paul, the trusting of ‘shadows’ for salvation, but also condemn, the reverse galatianists who make all who choose to observe a feast day, or sing a worship song. Simply observing ‘shadows’ does not make one sinful, as long as we see the fulfilment of the shadows as being Jesus, our only Savior.

Galatianists who say one has to keep those ‘shadow’ teachings to be saved are errant also. We have both extremes. From both sides we can find unlove, selfishness, mistrust, lies, anger, hatred, spite, spiritual abuse, spiritual stonings, and "coat holders" for the stoners.

The Lord denounces both of these types of activities. He announces that He will not be bribed by their offerings and by their feast celebrations to forget and accept them despite their horrible relationships..

Some want each age to have its own separate rules of morality. God does not change.

Psalms 66:18"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me."

Jesus told the Samaritan woman that true worship was not in the externals, not in the group with which one fellowshipped, - but it was to be done "in spirit and in truth."

John 4:24
"God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

Jeremiah reminded some that obedience, not sacrifices were necessary.

Jeremiah 7:22-23
"For I spake not unto your Fathers nor commanded... concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices; but this thing I commanded them... Hearken unto My voice, and I will be your God..."

Sacrifices, feasts, law keeping were never intended to be an end in themselves.
Isaiah 1:11, 17-18
"What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? ...cease to do evil, learn to do well..."

Hosea 6:6
"I desire goodness, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

The true temple is in us, it is not the building in which we worship.
Acts 17:24
"...dwelleth not in temples made with hands..."
Colossians 1:27
"...Christ in you, the hope of glory..."
Luke 17:21
"...the kingdom of God is within you..."
I Corinthians 3:16-17
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God... the temple of God is holy, and such are ye..."

The ‘shadows’ of feasts and of sacrifices were only pictorial examples of what is to be happening within us, letting the true worship be having Jesus inside of each of us. We are not to seek righteousness by occasionally observing a shadow feast, or offering a shadow sacrifice... We are to be the TEMPLE. Therefore we can never leave such a temple. So we must always be holy... seven days a week, 24 hours a day... Our bodies are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. What manner of person ought we to be, if God is constantly dwelling within us... the temple of the Almighty God!

AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE REMEMBER THE SHADOWS,
WHILE WE CELEBRATE THEIR FULFILLMENT


Leviticus 23:23-28 (KJV)
23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.

There were three commands for the feast of trumpets:

1. Observe the first day of the seventh month as a special holy day to blow the two silver trumpets.
2. Do no unnecessary work on this day (Lev. 23:25).
3. Offer an offering made by fire on this day.

The seventh month was called Tishri by the Jews. The trumpets and their use are shown in Numbers 10:1-10. Two silver trumpets were sounded to announce this day. They were not blown throughout all Israel, but only over the sacrifices at the tabernacle.

The sacrifices were to be one young bullock, one ram, seven lambs, and one kid -- ten animals in all, besides the other sacrifices. (Numbers 29:1-6)

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

Then on the tenth day of that same month, the day of atonement, occurred. On that day, the people were to have a holy convocation (assembly) to God, and afflict their souls (i.e. fast). An offering was made by fire to Jehovah. No work (except for priests to make sacrifices) on that day. Any who would not fast and repent on that day was to be cut off. It was to be a continual fast, celebrated each year on that day, forever. It was a holy day, beyond all others.

The offerings were to be (according to Numbers 29:7-11) one young bullock, one ram, seven lambs, and one kid for a sin offering. Also, in Lev. 16, we see that special offerings were also offered, making it different from any other feast day. This was the great day of atonement, when Aaron, the high priest, went into the holy of holies to make atonement for all Israel. He was to offer a young bullock for himself, two kids for the congregation, and a ram for an additional burnt offering.

Every day was a day of sacrifice at the tabernacle, but these two days were special, because at the end of this day of atonement, the high priest would enter the holy of holies, and there put the blood of atonement upon the ark of the covenant, upon its mercy seat.

The Day of Atonement is the 10th of Tishri, their seventh month. On this day, they were to fast, pray, and confess any and all sins. This day is often called ‘Yom Kippur’. The phrase means, in Hebrew, Yom = day, and Kapper = to cover over. This once a year fast day, was to be a day in which sins were covered over, restoring a relationship with God.

THE TRUMPET KEEP SOUNDING, ANNOUNCING OUR REDEMPTION

The trumpets keep sounding, the ‘day of atonement’ is no longer one day a year, but the trumpets keep sounding in our spiritual ears, ringing the redemption of our souls, reminding us from the Spirit of God, that we are the children of God. That constant ringing is continuing, and for eternity we will rejoice in the trumpeting.

We are currently in a time when we are, as Christians, all priests to God. Mankind that follow their own wills, their own cravings, and thereby sinning against God, need someone to restore relationship between them and God. A priest is a person who is in relationship with God, and can be a mediator, or ‘go-between’, between God and sinful mankind.

In the Old Testament, the qualifications of a priest are spelled out. God knew that mankind would fall into sin, and had provided temporary sacrifices for a priesthood to offer. The priests were the ones who were to have maintained a relationship with God, so they could assist others to find restoration also.

The priest was to ‘make propitiation for the sins of the people’ (Hebrews 2:17), and represent the people before God. The priesthood were mediators for the guilty, bringing their state before the merciful God.

Hebrews 5;1
“...every high priest ... is appointed for men.”

The sacrifices offered by the priesthood prefigured Jesus. Jesus was prefigured by the sacrifices, but also, the priests were a type of Jesus. All human priests sin, but Jesus is the sinless High Priest.

I Timothy 2:5
“There is only One God, and only One Mediator between God and man, the Man Jesus Christ.”

Isaiah 53:12
“...numbered with the transgressors, and He bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

The High Priest entered the holy of holies once a year. Jesus entered, once and for all, and is seated at the right side of God, ever making intercession for us, always ready to restore close relationship with God. We often fail God, we need to come to the Lord, repent, and have relationship blessed by His mercy. No, we do not lose salvation for our failures, sins, weaknesses. We have an eternal trumpeting of the horns, silver trumpets sounding our eternal relationship with the Lord.

Hebrews begins with "God ...has spoken unto us by His Son..." (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Then near the end of the book of Hebrews, it says that we should be careful to "not refuse Him Who is speaking."


The book of Hebrews reveals the importance of the typology and shadow teachings of the OT. We need to look at those types and shadows, as revealed in Hebrews, to begin our in depth study of what God is trying to tell us

In other words, Jesus is speaking, and our reaction to His words is vitally important. This is a message that we must hear, pay heed to, and act upon it. Many are not hearing the message of Jesus. John instructed us to allow Jesus to abide in us, and to allow His word to abide in us. Rejection and refusal of the message of the Lord has plagued Christianity.


In the same way, the Christian church which was supposed to aid our hearing of the words and message of Jesus, has sometimes been the reason that some have missed the real message of the Lord. Many today wonder why they do not know more about the Lord's true message. They have attended church for years, heard sermon after sermon, read their Bible... and therefore, why don't they know the answers, know what the Lord has been saying...


There is a difference between "listening" and really "hearing"... Some listen to sermon after sermon, and yet do not hear the real message. Jesus often said:
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear..."

It takes more than physical ears to hear the voice of God, but it takes a receptive heart. Some do not, and will not receive the message of the Lord. Some have hardened their minds to the real message...

Hebrews 3:7-8
"Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts..."

There is a profound message in the book of Hebrews. Some (perhaps many) have avoided hearing the profound truths of Hebrews. Some are afraid of it, and others think it is too difficult a book, and too complicated a message.


THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

58th book of the Bible
13 chapters
303 verses
6913 words

The book of Hebrews is a literary treasure. It has been called the "Isaiah" of the New Testament. It explains the typology of the book of Leviticus. It is far from being an "off hand" epistle or letter, as are most of the New Testament books, but it is a logical dissertation. It is written in excellent Greek, and is eloquent, precise, logical, and balanced.

The title added by the King James translators is "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews." In the older manuscripts, Paul is not mentioned. Many ideas have been presented:


There are strong arguments for a Pauline authorship:

1. The thoughts are Paul's...
The reason for the difference in style, is probably that Paul is writing to the Jews rather than to the Gentiles, and also that Luke probably translated it into Greek.

2. Peter confirms that Paul wrote an epistle to the Jews...
II Peter 3:15-16
"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all of his epistles, speaking in them of these things: in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction."

3. Some say that Paul left his name off of the book because he wanted to avoid some refusing to listen to it because of the aversion to Paul some had (due to his helping of stoning Stephen, and his other persecutions of Christians before his salvation). It would be difficult to find someone else who had as much reason to omit his name.

4. Some say it was a letter sent along with the epistle to the Galatians, and that is why Paul's name is not on it. In the oldest manuscripts, the book of Hebrews follows Galatians, as though it were part of it... This perhaps explains why Paul referred to the book of Galatians as a "large letter" (Galatians 6:11).

5. The author of the book of Hebrews is writing from Italy:
Hebrews 13:24
"...they of Italy salute you..."

6. The author was imprisoned:
Hebrews 13:23
"Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom if he come shortly, I will see you."

7. Paul is the only writer of an epistle that ever mentions Timothy (Hebrews 13:23). Timothy had gone to Paul to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4). Then Timothy went with Paul to Rome (Colossians 1:1). Paul sent Timothy on a special mission (Philippians 2:19).

The date and place of the writing of Hebrews is about 68 A.D. It was written about the same time as Galatians, and II Timothy. It was written before the destruction of Jerusalem (in 70 A.D.). Some of it may have been written as early as 61-63 A.D. Some compare II Timothy (the last letter of Paul) to have been written at about the same time (compare Philippians 2:19, and Hebrews 13:23).

This book was written to the Hebrew Christians, which were a small, obscure sect of the Jews. The other Jews hated them as betrayers of the Jewish religion. They were discouraged and isolated from many other Jews. Many had considered renouncing Christ and returning to Judaism. Some still considered the old Jewish concepts superior to those of the new faith. Paul had to address these problems and show them why the new covenant presented by Jesus was superior to the old covenant in every way.

The symbolism of the Old Testament is shown in reality in the New Testament. Jesus is shown as superior to the religion of the Jews. Jesus is shown to have fulfilled the pictures in the Old Testament. It is as though one has a picture of a loved one, but after such a person arrives, the picture can be put aside for the presence of the person themselves is preferred to the picture.

Christ is the main theme of Hebrews.
Hebrews 1:1-3
"God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds. Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Jesus is therefore presented as:
the spokesman for God,
the heir of all things,
the planner of the ages,
the reflection of God's glory,
the express image of God,
the One Who upholds all of creation,
the Savior of the world,
and the One Who has ascended up into heaven to be our intercessor.


HEBREWS IS A BOOK OF EVALUATION


The word "better" is used 13 times in the book. It is translated from the Greek word "kreisson" which means "stronger, mightier, greater, superior, and more excellent."

Christ is presented "better" than:
the prophets (1:1-3)
the angels (1:4-2:18)
Moses (3:1-18)
Joshua (4:1-13)
High Priest (4:14-6:12)
Abraham (6:13-7:10)
Melchisedec (7:1-10)
Aaron and other priests (7:11-8:6)
the old covenant's sacrifices (8:7-10:39)
the old covenant's faith heroes (11:1-12:2)
parents and others (12:3-13:25).


Jesus Christ is also shown to be a "better' hope than we have had before His coming. Then Christ is shown that Christ is the Mediator of a "better" covenant. The book of Hebrews evaluates the old covenant, and then shows how Jesus has fulfilled such types and has given us things much better.

The word "perfect" is found 14 times in the book. Perfection is shown to be lacking in the Levitical priesthood, in the law, in the animal sacrifices, and in the old covenant. Jesus gave Himself and thereby "perfected forever them that are sanctified..." (Hebrews 10:14) We have all desired the "perfect" way, and strive to find how to have such... Jesus is presented as that Perfection, and His way is the perfect way.

When we find such perfection, we naturally fear the loss of such. We want to be assured that we will not lose such perfection.



When we look at the book as a whole, we see that Jesus Christ is presented as BETTER because His blessings and His covenant are ETERNAL and PERFECT.



HEBREWS IS A BOOK OF EXHORTATION TO AN EXPECTATION


Hebrews 13:22
"And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words."

An exhortation is a encouragement, a comfort, and a consolation. This book was not written to scare us, but to encourage us. We are to "encourage one another daily" (Heb. 3:13). We are reminded that we have a "strong encouragement" in Jesus (Heb. 6:18). WE NEED TO LOOK TO SUCH A FUTURE, AND IT SHOULD BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT AS WE SO GAZE TOWARD THE FUTURE!

The focus of the book is on the future. It speaks of:
"the world to come" (2:5).
Jesus, the "heir of all things..." (1:2).
the "promise of eternal inheritance" (9:15).
the "city Whose Builder and Maker is God..." (11:13).
our being only "pilgrims and strangers on this earth..." (11:13).

The future is of vital importance to every saint. Too many are too earthly minded, too present and past oriented, and too prophetically ignorant to be of any heavenly use.

If Abraham allowed Lot to take the best lands, because He was so anxious to find the heavenly Jerusalem... (11:10),

if Moses could forsake the treasures of Egypt because he had "respect unto the recompense of reward..." (11:26)...

if Jesus could endure the cross "for the joy set before Him..." (12:2),

THEN we must learn to get our eyes upon the future! THIS BOOK WILL EXHORT US TO EXPECT A FUTURE COMING, A FUTURE HOME IN HEAVEN, AND A FUTURE VICTORIOUS KINGDOM. IT HAS MANY OF THE OT TYPES AND SHADOWS, COMPARED WITH NT TRUTHS, IT IS THE BIBLICAL HANDBOOK FOR TYPOLOGY. ONE CANNOT UNDERSTAND OT SHADOWS, WITHOUT THIS BOOK.


This book of Hebrews is not for spiritual babes who need to be spoon-fed. It is not meant to coddle pew-sitting, apathetic, lethargic, and luke-warm members of our congregations. Hebrews is for some who have the spiritual molars to do some real chewing on strong meat... It was written long ago, about how to prepare for a time soon to come!

PREPARE TO BE ENLIGHTENED BY THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, AND TO LEARN SOME MEAT OF THE WORD THAT FEW HAVE EXAMINED.

Jesus is speaking to us, and has been speaking through the book of Hebrews... Many have been "dull of hearing". Take the "ear pick" and remove the garbage that we have been studying, heeding, and living by... and let us find the hidden gems of teaching that this book of Hebrews will teach us.

The types and shadows of the book of Hebrews are vital to understanding God's plan.

Hebrews 12:18-29
18. For we are not come unto the mountain (Mt. Sinai) that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest.
19. And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more;
20. (For they could not endure that which was commanded, and if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart;
21.And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake.
22. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.
23. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.
24. And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh of better things than that of Abel.
25. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.
26. Whose voice then shook the earth; but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only but also in heaven.
27. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29. For our God is a consuming fire.


We, in the book of Hebrews are shown the typology, shadows of the Old Testament that are ILLUSTRATED LESSONS to us of what God was going to fulfill in the New Testament. They are similar to prophecy, that is also fulfilled in Jesus about Whom prophecies spoke.

Now, in the New Testament, we are 'come unto' the fulfillment of prophecies, and of seeing the reality that made the SHADOWS of the Old Testament revelations.

All through the book of Hebrews, Paul has been warning us that the key to finding, possessing, and keeping this new covenant is to not do as those of the old covenant did, and not heed the message of God. We are to take the revelations of OT shadow types, and 'come unto' the new covenant.

We are not to disdain the Old Testament shadows, we love them, we marvel in them, we accept their prophetic truths, and now come unto the new covenant.

It is a grave responsibility and work. It can be done wrong. So, in Hebrews 12, we have warnings from God. We are told:

a. BEWARE OF DRIFTING FROM, OR NEGLECTING GOD'S WORD...

Hebrews 2:1-4
1. Therefore, we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2. For if the Word spoken by the angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward.
3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4. God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will.

This is the first of the five admonitions of Paul, here in Hebrews, to pay attention, close attention to God's Word. First, he directs us to beware of drifting, neglecting the Word, and its typology, shadow teachings in the Old Testament, and its revelations of their fulfillment in the New Testament.

Each further warning is stronger, until he warns against "defying" God's Word in chapter 12.

This warning is to believers, for he uses the word "we"... We must beware of neglecting our salvation. As Christians, we do not normally "reject" God's Word, but many do "neglect" God's Word. When we neglect what God has told us, we can "let them slip" from us, and this is deadly. As a ship needs an anchor to keep it from drifting during the storm, so Christians need the Word, to keep them from drifting, and slipping away from the Lord.

The Word of God, its message of deliverance, is vitally necessary. We must beware of taking the Word of God for granted. If we neglect prayer, worship, and the Word... our salvation that was purchased at great price can be lost. Our salvation, when enjoyed and lived as the Word instructs, can bring great inheritance, power, and victory over the devil and his cohorts. Too many Christians are weak, ignorant, mortified, pew- sitters in the church... These W.I.M.P.S. are near to destruction and judgment.


b. BEWARE OF DOUBTING GOD'S WORD

Hebrews 3:7, 12
7. Wherefore, (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day, if ye will hear His voice...
12. Take heed, brethren, lest there be any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God...

This is the second of the five admonitions of Hebrews. The first pointed to the danger of drifting away from God's Word, and this one warns of doubting God's Word.

The OT types and shadows taught us some things, and now the NT revelations reveal more of what we were to have learned by them. To disbelieve the Lord when they faced the Promised land was the error of Israel in the wilderness. They were atop and near the victory, and yet turned back in disbelief. They said, "We are not able..." and then had to wander in the desert of unbelief. Many today are likewise in that wilderness wanderings, and though they were out of Egypt (a type of sin), they were not into a life of power.

The doubting of God's promises when faced with difficult times, was their sin that led to judgment. We must learn to take God's message and believe Him explicitly. The disbelieving heart becomes a hard heart... do not go back to milk, when God has led you to meat... It may seem easier, but it is a lonely, desolate wilderness experience, when we doubt what God has told us.


c. BEWARE OF BECOMING DULL AND SLUGGISH TOWARD THE WORD

The book of Hebrews warns us to "fear, lest, a promise being left of us entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it... (Hebrews 4:1). Paul reminds us that the "Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith..." (4:2). Therefore we are instructed to "labor... lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief..." (4:11). There is great danger of us becoming dull and sluggish toward the Word of God, and lose its blessings. "The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper that any two-edged sword..." (4:12).

The problem is not with "dull" teachers, but with "dull hearers..." (5:11). The word "dull" could better be translated in our day as "slothful." Many do not want to listen to teachers who teach the unadulterated Word. Spiritual apathy and laziness prevent them from hearing the speakers of the truth of the Word.


Hebrews 5:11-12
11. Of Whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing...
12. ...ye have need that one teach you again...

Many today are likewise "dull" of hearing the true Word. They will listen to the heresies of the day. They want to be told how to be rich in carnal things, but do not want to hear about sin, about weeping for lost souls, etc.

Note how the Thessalonians listened to I Thessalonians 2:13:
"...when ye received the Word of God which ye heard of us: ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh in you that believe."

The Word of God is to work in us, and it will, when mixed with faith. It did so in the believers in Thessalonica, but it could not in the people in the wilderness, for they were slothful, dull, and sluggish toward the Word. The Word should excite us, enthuse us, empower us, and engender us toward more and more effectual work for the Lord. If it has not, it is because you have not learned to "labor" in the Word. You likewise must not have had "fear" of missing the "rest" that the Word could have engendered within you.

When Christians are "dull" toward Bible study, when they are sluggish and slothful in their study of the Word, they are immature, and on very dangerous ground. They are on more dangerous ground than the ones who "drifted" from the Word... and more than those who "doubted" God's Word... These who are "dull" of hearing are not hearing the truth by their slothfulness.


While these ones have been in the "faith" long enough that they should be teaching others the Word of God, they have an inability to share the truth, for they were "dull" when hearing the Word. Instead of being able to help others, they need to re-hear the truth of the Word of God. (See Hebrews 5:12)


They need to mature from the "milk of the Word" to the "meat of the Word." Only those who have gone through the painful "teething" time... who can enjoy a good steak. Too many avoid the painful teething time of spiritual maturity... and thereby, God can never get them to the "meat."

Hebrews 5:13-14
"For every one that useth milk, is unskillful in the Word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who be reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

When we use the Word, and apply it to our senses to discern good and evil... we mature... It is a painful process. Too many are "in-betweeners"... and live in-between Egypt and the Promised land... as did the "saints" in the wilderness.

We must "go on to perfection" (maturity) (Hebrews 6:1). Saints today need to make spiritual progress in the Word... and it is a painful process to be "teeth-ed"... and many would rather lie in the arms and protection of another, and be given the baby bottle of milk...!!! Slothful, dull, sluggish... non-maturing study of the Word... is not acceptable... but will be JUDGED BY GOD!


d. BEWARE OF DESPISING GOD'S WORD


Hebrews 10:26-39
26. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses.
29. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?
30. For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, the lord shall judge His people.
31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33. Partly, whilst ye were made a gazing stock, both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37. For yet a little while, and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.
38. Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39. But we are not of them who draw back into perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

From the other three steps, one is led by the devil, to the despising of the Word of God. The OT shadow teachings, the NT revelation events, are to be loved, gloried in, rejoicing the soul, not despised.

The are sinning willfully, and are hating the message of truth that God is trying to show them in the Word. To willfully sin thereby results in the loss of salvation. They trample underfoot the message of the Lord, they sin a sin that destroys their spiritual life.

There are many such willful sinners today still trying to maintain that they are part of a congregation, still saying their name is on the church roll... but the Lord is angrily telling us through Hebrews that they are bound for a "certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries..." (Hebrews 1:27)

God has spoken through the Word, and through prophetic messages, and given warnings, and admonitions... Some have hated such messages... and try to change the Word, leave out what they do not like in the Word, and try to add to it some bigoted, self-exalting messages... Examine the false doctrines of our day that are within congregations... and see how they have despised the Truth of the Word, and gone to heresies, false prophecies and their proponents. God is angry at such..! He tells them:

Hebrews 10:31
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

The OT shadows revealed now in the NT fulfillments, are to be loved, not despised... Happy Christian living is found in understanding the whole of the Word of God.

Hebrews 10:26-39
26. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
27. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses.
29. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace?
30. For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, the lord shall judge His people.
31. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33. Partly, whilst ye were made a gazing stock, both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37. For yet a little while, and He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.
38. Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39. But we are not of them who draw back into perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.




BEWARE OF DEFYING THE WORD OF GOD,

DESPISE NOT THE O.T. TYPES AND SHADOWS,
NOR THE N.T. FULFILLMENT OF THEIR PROPHECIES.


Hebrews 12:20, 25
20. For they could not endure that which was commanded...
25. See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.


God spoke in the OT, revealing what He could in the plan of salvation. Jesus had not yet come to die for sins, but mankind needed a roadmap, a lesson plan, to illustrate what Jesus would come to do. The lamb on the altar, the oil anointing the priests, the 'ark behind the veil in the Holy of holies, all teaching lessons of the NT plan for salvation. We must not despise these shadow teachings, but continue to rejoice in them.

This covenant is new, and greater than any old covenant of the Old Testament. The people of the Old Testament often defied the message and Word of God, and worked in direct opposition against the message of God. This opposition caused God to turn against the ones of that covenant. God offers a new covenant that is far greater than the old one, but we must likewise beware of losing it by sinfulness, as did those of the former covenant.
We must not despise their revelations via the shadows, but rejoice in them as we experience the fulfillments in the new covenant.



Too many of this new covenant think that God would never judge us... and they live carelessly. Look at the local congregations, and, if honestly viewed, we will observe many, parishioners and ministers, who have become the tares, hypocrites, trouble-makers, Pharisaical apostates. Why are we not warning them? Why are we not preaching this message, as found here in Hebrews, in unadulterated fashion? If God grew angry at those who resisted the shadow teachings of the OT, why would He not be more angry at those who resist now both the old shadow teachings, and the fulfilled revelation of His plan now?


This new covenant is wonderful. It is far greater than the former one. We need to see how much greater it is! Our Mt. Sion in heaven is far greater than the earthly Mt. Sinai wherein the earlier saints received their Word from God. We are receiving a far greater and more powerful Word from the Lord. Moses faced the revelation on Mt. Sinai with terror... but we can "boldly come before the Lord". We are the "church of the firstborn" (the inheritors) (Heb. 12:23).

We are part of the group that are to have the "double-portion":
if we do not drift from the Word of God,
if we do not doubt the Word of God,
if we do not become dull of hearing the Word of God,
if we do not despise His message,
and if we do not defy His Word, and try to live without its power and help in these day,
then we will receive the power of God.


God's Word, and His Word of Truth is shaking all that can be shaken. The Mt. Sinai shook under His Word... and the present revelation of His Word during this time of the "double portion" will shake all that can be shaken. We are part of the unshakable. We can be unshakable, if we search the Word for the power of God, the wisdom of God, and the message of authoritative potency!


If we do not really listen and understand the message of the Lord, we will fail, as did those of the former covenant. We need to yield to God's Word, and not drift, stagnate, or be apathetic. Neglect of the message leads to drifting. Drifting causes us to doubt, for faith comes by hearing the Word of God (romans 10:17), and if we neglect such Word, our faith will turn to doubt.

This doubt causes a hard heart, a mind that is dull toward the Word of God. Dullness leads to despising the Word, and that leads to defying His Word. This step by step rebellion against God's message to those of the new covenant, is what the book of Hebrews is trying to get us to avoid.

Hebrews 10:30
"the Lord shall judge His people..."

The former covenant was judged by God and found wanting. Our generation is about to be judged, and the yieldedness to the Word, or the neglect, the dullness and unawareness of His Word, and the rebellion against the Word will be judged.

We can study the types and shadows, and rejoice in their pictorial, teaching nature. We need to do such, and not fail by 'despising' any of God's revelation.

The Jewish people loved Moses. His books were revered as no others... Many Jewish converts were tempted to go back to the law of Moses, or to at least incorporate it more fully into their new-found Christian beliefs.

Moses had been a fantastic saint.

Moses was born about 1500 years before the Lord's first coming. He was born both the grandson and great grandson of Levi, the son of Jacob. He was the son of Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, and of Amram, the grandson of Levi.

The devil, knowing it was near the time prophesied that a deliverer would come to take Israel back to the promised land, was using the Pharaoh to kill the new born sons of the Israelites. Hidden among the reeds, discovered by the Pharaoh's daughter, loved and raised by this Hatsheput of Egypt, Moses received the education of the next Pharaoh of the land...

Twice Moses tried to deliver Israel, and with the killing of an Egyptian tried to show his people he was ready to step forth and help them. Yet, the people were reluctant to trust anyone to help them. Thirty years prematurely, a group of Ephraimites had miscalculated the year of deliverance, and attempted to leave Egypt. Their escape plan failed dismally. When Moses attempted to lead them, they shied away fearfully.

Moses retreated to the desert and to Ethiopia. Finally, he married Zipporah, and God called him from the burning bush. Then as he returned to Egypt, God sent plagues to encourage the Pharaoh to allow Israel to leave the land.

Judgment against the Egyptians finally weakened their grip upon God's people. Moses led a people that had 600,000 men, plus women and children.

These people wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, and though they saw:


At the end of the forty years, the next generation were more ready to step forth in faith with Joshua, but their numbers were relatively the same. Moses ended his ministry with a farewell speech in which he:


Then Moses went to Mount Nebo, he died, and God buried him secretly, so the body or burial site could not be venerated above measure.

Moses viewed the land of promise from that mountain before he died (Deuteronomy 34:1-4). His last words showed that his heart was with his people. This view of the land was a partial reward to Moses. There is a note of sadness, in that Moses only could view the land, and not go with his people to possess the land.

God did forgive the sin of Moses, but some penalties are to be borne as with:


When Moses died, it was not from old age. He was 120 years old, but his eyes were clear, he was full of youthful vigor and freshness. The wrinkles of age were not upon him. He died the youngest of his kindred...


Moses died on the same day on which he was born 120 years earlier... He was promoted to paradise, and unable to enter the land for he had sinned against God's plan. Many others in Israel were likewise judged for their sin of murmuring and doubt. God is no respecter of persons... God's justice counted the sin of Moses striking the rock for a second time to be severe for it broke the type and shadow of truth that God was showing to those people and to all generations since... God's justice does not allow Him to favor one, and judge others... His salvation is all mercy, but His rewards are based on our works, and His punishments are given for disobedience. Moses was saved, promoted to paradise, later allowed to stand on the Mt. of Transfiguration with the Lord, and now awaiting the rest of us in heaven...

Do you suppose that Moses was satisfied with just this glimpse into the promised land? Are any of us ever satisfied with the blessings of God here on this earth? There is a dissatisfaction because we now see "as through a glass darkly", and we long for the fuller blessings that await us in our soon coming time of eternal victory.

This man named Moses has been loved greatly by people of that day, and also of our own...

Deuteronomy 34:10-12
"And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land. And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel."

To prevent veneration and glorification of the man, God chose to bury him secretly. A greater than Moses was to come, and God did not want, nor would Moses have wanted, to let this loved intercessor and deliverer of his people to shadow the great One Who would come for the ultimate deliverance of the people.

Moses had some great qualities that marked him as a man of God.

Moses was:
obedient...
Moses was obedient in returning to Egypt, confronting an angry and evil Pharaoh, interceding for Israel even when they murmured against him, and faithfully leading them for 40 years...

unselfish...
Moses was not bitter even when he was refused entrance to the land he so longed to go. Moses gave glory to God, and not to himself for all the things that had occurred.

sensitive...
Moses was sensitive to the needs of the people, and carried their burdens to God in intercessory prayer...

confident...
Moses was confident in God's wisdom, and though he could easily have yielded to doubt and despair, he bore the weight of leading several million people across a desert for 40 years...


COMPARING MOSES AND THE LORD JESUS




Yet, Christ Jesus is far greater than Moses.

Moses came to announce the law, and to announce God’s plan for grace. Law saved no one then, nor now. The TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS, was teaching that salvation came from the mercy of God accepting the blood of lambs for grace to the sinner. The Lamb of God was to later come and fulfil in type what the plan of grace shared by Moses prophesied.

On the mount of transfiguration, there was a wonderful discussion, which I wish some would have stayed awake to relate to us. There, Moses and Elijah spoke of ‘things to come’, which included, I am sure, the discussion of the passion week, the offering of the Lamb that was so long before instituted in type in the tabernacle, temple worship.

Now we see what Moses could only speak of in type.

Now we enjoy the fullness of grace, of which Moses was shown only in type.

Now, grace is fulfilled, and then in Moses’ day, it was only pictured. Salvation has always been by ‘grace’. We and none of them then, were saved by the law.

Grace now makes obedience to the commands of Jesus easy, for we have a changed nature. Too many then, and far to many now, get the idea they can be saved by keeping the law. They failed then, they fail in the now. We have grace to save us ‘unto good works’, and to many still avoid the grace of THE LAMB, and try to be saved ‘by good works’

THERE ARE TYPES AND SHADOWS IN THE CONQUERING OF THE PROMISED LAND...

Israel was ready to enter the land. They had been slaves in Egypt. Moses had been sent by God to lead the people of God from their bondage. Israel was finally delivered following plagues against Egypt, a Passover of the death angel for God's people, and a parting of the Red Sea. The wilderness journey was meant to last two years, but was changed to a 40 year wandering.

In the wilderness, God tried His people. The people were a real trial to God... for they grieved the Lord, and provoked Him.

Hebrews 3:8-11
"Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness; when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known My ways. So I sware in My wrath, They shall not enter in to My rest."

They refused to enter the promised land, for 10 of the 12 spies lacked faith... The Lord's anger resulted in the whole generation dying in the desert, except for the two faithful spies... Joshua and Caleb.

Joshua was appointed leader, after the death of Moses.

Joshua 1:1-2
"Now after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying; Moses, My servant is dead, now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel."

There was a promise made to Joshua. He was told to be brave and to have faith. He was to obey the laws of God. Joshua was instructed to meditate on the Word of God. He was not to fear, for God is ever-present.

Joshua 1:6-9
"Be strong and of a good courage; for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses, My servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord, thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest."

The people consecrated themselves... and promised to hearken to the leadership of Joshua.

Joshua 1:16-18
"...All that thou commandest us we will do...According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee... Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment... he shall be put to death..."

The people then proceed to enter the land by the power of God.

Joshua 3:17
"And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan."

The time of the year was the time of the flooding of the Jordan... The snows were melting in the mountains, and the run offs were swelling the Jordan River... The spring rains also were adding to much run off... Yet, despite the flooding waters, the waters of the Jordan parted, and the children of Israel entered the land of promise on dry ground.

Next, Joshua had them erect a memorial. Twelve stones were erected at the spot of the crossing. This was to be a memorial so later generations could be reminded of the victory that God had done. Too often we forget the victories that God has given us... We need to take times, each week to just remind ourselves of the great blessings of the past in our own lives... Your miracle of salvation, past healings, past deliverances, and past blessings of the Lord should be reveled in over and over... We need to show the Lord we have not forgotten His blessings.

Joshua 4:6-8
"That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying: What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of he Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off; and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever. And the children of Israel did as Joshua commanded... And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there unto this day."

As they began to live in that new land, they were shown many great victories... Yet, these victories came with a first revelation... for the manna ceased. Now it was time to gather fruit from the trees, from the vines, and from the gardens, all of which required labor... The manna had fallen, without any more work than to gather the already prepared food... Now gardens and orchards would need care, nurturing, pruning, and weeding.

The manna was heavenly provision for a wilderness people. The manna was a blessing, but God brings us to a place where He desires to see our fruit... We should begin to labor for the Lord... No longer should we be "pew fillers..." doing no more than being in the place of blessing.... There is a time that God will demand that we be "gap fillers" and get out into the work of the husbandry of God. Whereas, in our early salvation we were like sponges, soaking up the abundant revelation and blessing poured out by the Lord, now - the Lord wants us to plant, to water, to weed, and to prune - in His garden... We will feast on the fruit of such labors, and we will find a higher level of salvation than we had with the manna...

Do not always remain a "wilderness Christian". Become a "promised land" Christian. Some look back at great victories, but God wants a fruitful life.

Joshua 5:11-12
"And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year."

Then Joshua needed to begin his time of leading the children of Israel. He needed direction from the Lord, and therefore Joshua was visited by a pre-incarnate revelation of the Lord Jesus... The Captain of the Lord of Hosts met Joshua, and stood there with a sword in His hand, showing to Joshua that He was ready to defend and protect His people...

Joshua 5:13-15
"And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked and, behold, there stood a MAN over against him with His sword drawn in His hand; and Joshua went unto Him, and said unto Him, Art Thou for us, or for our adversaries? And He said, Nay; but as the Captain of the host of the Lord, am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto Him, What saith my Lord unto His servant? And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so."

This 'Captain' gave Joshua his first instructions (see Joshua 6:1-5), and told him how to proceed in waging the war against the evil Canaanites... Joshua was told to encompass Jericho, and have a victory march about the city... The battle had not yet started, and yet, a victory march was to be held... for the faith of the people needed to be so sure of God's deliverance... that the outcome was certain to them...

Doubters and complainers will be sent back to the wilderness, they are not ready yet for the promised land... They were to march in faith, glorying in the victories not yet experienced... We need to remember this lesson that the Captain taught to Joshua...

The people were not to receive any personal gain from the victory of the Lord... and no spoils were to be taken for themselves from Jericho when its walls fell (Joshua 6:17-19). Too often we find some of today who want personal gain, glory, or reward from the Lord... All is to be done for God... All gain is to be given to Him.

When Jericho's walls fell (Joshua 6:20-21), the total victory was given to the faithful and patient... Some likely were tempted to complain on the 4th, 5th, and 6th days... Finally, on the seventh day, when they were told to march around that large city 7 times... some were probably thinking "Where is the Lord's victory???" and "We never should have left the wilderness, we look like 'fools' here marching around rejoicing in a victory we have not seen.

Joshua led them in many campaigns against the enemies... Not all were conquered the same way... Some were conquered with divine help, as Jericho. Some, as at Gibeon, the Lord miraculously changed the solar system, by stopping the rotation of the earth, and the sun seemed to stand still in the midst of heaven... Some of the foes required them to take up sword, and to fight mightily with the skill and power of the Lord...

The Lord did not have the land conquered in a day... nor in a year. At the death of Joshua, it was said: "there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed..." So it is with our lives... we would like the battles to be over... and yet our lives are constant, never ceasing battles.

After many victories, Joshua told Israel to remember all God had done. In Joshua 24:1-26, Joshua told them to remember how God had gathered Israel, blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... He told them to remember that God had used Moses and Aaron to bring them from Egypt. The Amorites had been defeated. Balaam had been unable to curse them. The Jordan had been crossed, and many victories had been given of God. The possessions they now had were the benefits of serving this God...

After all that God had done for them, Joshua pleads, they should give themselves in return... and he challenges them...

Joshua 24:14-20
"...choose you this day whom ye will serve..."

The people answered:

Joshua 24:21-25
"...we will serve the Lord... So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and set them a statute..."

The covenant that God made with these people was a personal choice for them, and was to be permanently binding... We too are to make a covenant with the Lord, and He has offered such to us... We need to make the covenant with God and make it binding forever... If we fail the covenant of the Lord, we would lose much... We cannot afford to allow our victories to be overturned...

The writer of the book of Hebrews, tells the people to whom he spoke to "fear".

Hebrews 4:1-8
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was this gospel preached, as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said; As I have sworn in My wrath if they shall enter into My rest; although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise. And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into My rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief; Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus (this is the Greek for Joshua, and Joshua is the one meant) had given them rest, then would He would not afterward have spoken of another day."

The Jews of the day of Joshua failed to enter into the rest that was possible even them.. We should fear missing the rest (submission rest) that we have. They were to follow the leadership of Joshua, who was a type of Jesus... They failed to continue in the covenant that he challenged them to accept. We should have a holy fear in us that we could likewise miss this "rest". Many of the people of the times of Paul were not afraid of missing the "rest"offered by Jesus... but were tempted to go back to the "rest" offered in the times of Joshua.

We should give diligence, pay close attention, and persevere in find all that God wants us to have in this age.

Hebrews 4:9-13
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do."

The Word of God, like a "sword" exposes our hearts, and cuts open our innermost thoughts and feelings. We must labor to listen to the Word, trust in the Word, understand the Word, and obey the Word of God.

Joshua told them to pay attention to the Word of God, but the writer of the book of Hebrews says that we must all work in the Word, to cut out unbelief and doubt. Faith and rest are found in the Word of God... for they are partners. We will have victory in battle, if we are obedient to the One Who is the embodiment of the Word of God...

As we are made naked, uncovered, and open in His sight, we need only to stay in the Word, and abide within Jesus Christ. Christ is greater than Joshua, for Joshua had met the One Who embodied the Word, when he met the "Captain", and Joshua could tell them to stay in covenant with Him... But Jesus is the Word, He is the "rest".

Joshua led them to the "rest" known as the Promised Land, but Jesus has a promised rest for us yet to come... He had the MILLENNIAL REST OF 1000 YEARS... He has a rest that is far beyond what Joshua gave... We must "labor therefore to enter into that rest."

On Mt. Sinai, Moses remained for 40 days. There, he not only received the ten commandments, but he also was given a revelation of the tabernacle. If he had only come down with the law, God would have had to destroy Israel, for they had broken it before Moses could even make it down the mountain.

The tabernacle showed to mankind, the way for people to be forgiven for their sins. God told Moses to make Him a sanctuary in which He could dwell in the midst of His people. This tabernacle had to be made according to the Divine plan. The purpose of this tabernacle was to make a way for mankind to atone for their sins, and then allow mankind to approach a God Who desires fellowship.

To know God, one must be righteous and pure. God had to make a way for mankind to become righteous and pure, for no man has ever accomplished that feat. The tabernacle revealed in type how salvation is given in grace by God.

Exodus 25:8
"And let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them."

TITLES OF THE TABERNACLE

The tabernacle is most often called simply the "tabernacle", which in the Hebrew means "dwelling" from the Hebrew word "dwelling". God dwells everywhere, but He appointed a place where Israel could find Him.

Sometimes it is called the "tent of meeting" which is from the Hebrew "ohel moedh". It was a place of contact between heaven and earth. God desires to meet with us, dwell with us, even now we find that He has made us to be His temple, or meeting place, and He dwells within us!

Exodus 29:42-43
"This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord, where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified with My glory."

It has also been called the "tabernacle of testimony," or "tent of witness". The tabernacle was a testimony to man about God's holiness, man's sinfulness, and God's plan of atonement. The whole tabernacle was a demonstration in type of God's plan of salvation.

It has been called the "sanctuary" which means that it is a "holy place." This was a building set apart for the dwelling place of God. In the New Testament period, we, the people of God, are His "sanctuary." The tabernacle was an earth sanctuary, made with hands. Bezaleel and Oholiab were given special skills in its building. Being an earthly building, it had limits and weaknesses. It needed repair. It was limited geographically. It was made for Israel, not the whole world.

PARTS OF THE TABERNACLE

The Bible description of the tabernacle starts within the Holy of Holies and moves outward. It starts with the innermost piece of furniture, showing that it is the plan of God to reach mankind, not the plan of mankind to reach God.

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

This chest (or box) was actually a replica of the throne of God in heaven. It was made of [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]tim (or achaia) wood, overlaid with gold. Inside it was the tables of the law given on Mt. Sinai, the bowl of manna, and the rod of God.

On top of this ark, was the mercy seat, upon which the blood was sprinkled each year on the day of atonement.

The shekinah glory presence of God dwelt between the two golden cherubim atop the mercy seat.

THE MERCY SEAT

This slab of solid gold had cherubim of beaten gold arising from each end. When the presence of God looked down through the mercy seat to the law within the ark, He had to look through the blood.

Leviticus 16:14
"And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times."

Christ is our mercy seat when God looks at us. He sees us through Jesus and therefore does not judge.

"Mercy seat" comes from the Greek word "hilasterion" which means "place where sin is satisfied..."

Hebrews 4:16
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

ALTAR OF INCENSE

Incense was burned upon the altar which represented prayers to God, and intercession. This piece of furniture in the holy place, that was the closest to the Holy of Holies. It shows that in our service to God, prayer and intercession brings us closest to God.

The incense was to be of a special compound, unlike any other in the camp...
It was composed of:
stacte (speaking of spontaneity of worship)
onycha (speaking of depth of worship)
galbanum (speaking of brokenness needed in worship)
frankincense (speaking of loneliness and suffering within our worship).


TABLE OF SHEWBREAD

The table was overlaid with gold, and had upon it twelve loaves of bread. When Titus sacked the temple in 70 A.D. and later erected the arch of Titus in Rome with etchings of the tabernacle furniture upon it. It shows the Table of Shewbread with two trumpets, and incense cups. The bread was a symbol of life, i.e. Jesus Christ...

The twelve loaves speak of the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were to be of unleavened bread (leaven being a type of sin). The priests gathered at the table periodically and fed themselves upon the bread... This speaks of the fellowship nature of Christianity. We are all to be fed with the bread of life... i.e. Jesus.

GOLDEN LAMPSTAND

The light of the Holy Place represented Jesus as the light of the world. The fire for this seven branched lampstand came from the burnt altar.

This lampstand was filled with pure olive oil.. and was refilled daily. Periodically it was trimmed, so the lamps would not produce more smoke than light... It burned continually, and never was to go out...

Jesus was the light of the world, and with Him in us, we have become the lights of the world... We need refilled with the oil (Holy Spirit) often, and periodically trimmed...


CURTAINS

The four coverings over the tabernacle each had a typology.

1. blue, purple, scarlet linen
= the righteousness of Christ..

2. ram's skins dyed red
= the sacrifice of Christ as the Lamb of God...

3. goat's hair
= Christ is our scapegoat upon Whom has been placed all our sins...

4. badger's skins
= the humility of Christ...

The tabernacle was 15 feet by 45 feet, and 15 feet high...

The two veils and the outer gateway represent the body of Christ, Who is the Door, the Way to God...

Hebrews 10:19-22
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having a High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water..."

Hebrews 4:14-16
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, Who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.... Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need..."

BOARDS

These boards which made up the wall of the tabernacle were [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]tim wood, overlaid with gold. They were portable, and the whole structure could easily be dismantled and carried to the next location. The wood represented the humanity of Christ, and the gold represented His deity. Together they represent the "body of Christ", i.e. the church, who are fitted together.

Ephesians 2:21-22
"In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord; In Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit."

There were 48 boards, and each was ten cubits high (15 feet). They were one and a half cubits wide (2 feet). There were 20 on the north side, 20 on the south side, and six on the east side... The final two were used somehow for support...

Being a type of the believers, these boards represented:

1. [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]tim wood = our humanity
2. overlaid with gold = our sonship to God
3. the boards once were rooted in, and sustained by the earth...
a. selected and chosen (John 15:16)
b. cut down (I John 3:13)
c. stripped of bark (our pride)
d. removed from the forest (II Cor. 6:17)
e. trimmed by God's chosen workmen according to God's dimensions
f. put into God's appointed place
g. carried from place to place, without personal choice...

The bars that supported these boards speak of Christ's holding together of individual believers...

The sockets of silver in which the boards rested, and which separated them from the ground, speak of the redemption of Christ that separates us from the world.

LAVER

The name comes from the Hebrew word "lavo" meaning "to wash." This speaks of the daily cleansing we need everyday from sin and the defilements of the world. The priests, if they saw hands or feet dirty, and did not wash, were struck dead... These were made of the copper mirrors of the women... We need to daily come to the Word of God, and look within, and see the reflection coming back of ourselves... so we may seek forgiveness for our sins, shortcomings, and find a cleansing from God.

BURNT ALTAR

This altar of brass speaks of judgment upon sin... Sin was judged at this altar. The sacrifices were placed upon it, and the cost of a life for sin was illustrated. There was a terrible smell about this ugly altar... Jesus is the only Answer to the ugliness of sin... The Lamb of God has now paid the price of sin upon the cross, which this altar represented.

There were four horns, one each at the corners of this altar, and this speaks of power... The preaching of the cross is the "power of God..." (Romans 1:3, I Corinthians 1:18).

There were two staves that were used to carry this altar, and this speaks of the gospel message of Jesus our Lamb being carried to the whole earth. The "two" speaks of the two parts of the gospel message.... the death of Christ, and the resurrection of Christ... (I Cor. 15:3-4).

The fire upon this altar was to never go out, it had been started by fire from heaven, and was never to be started with fire from any other source... This speaks of the heavenly choice of which sacrifice to accept... God made the choice, and He accepted it with fire... We cannot substitute any other sacrifice...



THE OLD TABERNACLE WAS ONLY A TYPE

Moses had to follow a pattern... It was only a replica of something that already exists in heaven...

Revelation 11:19
"And the TEMPLE OF GOD was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple, the ark of His testament; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail..."

Revelation 13:6
"And he (Antichrist) opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His TABERNACLE, and them that dwell in heaven..."

Revelation 15:5
"And after that I looked, and behold, THE TEMPLE OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY in heaven was opened... And the seven angels came out of the TEMPLE, having seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts (zoa) gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, Who liveth for ever and ever. And the TEMPLE was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the TEMPLE, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled..."

The old Tabernacle was only a type of what is in prophecy. God has a plan for the future. The tabernacle is only a figure of the reality to come.

Hebrews 9:24
"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures (Greek = antitupon = antitype = an exact representation of the real, but not the real) of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."

In heaven is the real "tabernacle"... a place not made with hands... It is not part of "this building (creation)"...

Hebrews 9:11
"But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building."

The heavenly tabernacle has a heavenly ark, the throne of God... Upon it has been sprinkled the blood of Jesus Christ, and now it is a "throne of grace" forevermore... It is not "golden cherubim" that hover about the throne, but the "zoa", or living ones of Revelation 4 & 5, that fly about the throne..

As we enter into this heavenly tabernacle, we come first to the "bema", or judgment seat of Christ... This is the literal burnt altar, where the Lamb Who has become our sacrifice still sits to judge and offer rewards...

Then we pass through the cleansing water of the rivers that flow out of the New Jerusalem... The laver was a type of this cleansing....

Then we come to the inner shell of the Throne room, and we fellowship with others of the priesthood of believers... We may partake of the "bread" (as the table of shewbread), we walk in the light of the Lord (the golden lampstand), and we worship the Lord (the altar of incense).

The Holy of Holies was a representation of the top of the pyramid shaped New Jerusalem... There on that flat top, we find the throne of grace... the mercy seat... and we will find the three members of the Trinity...

In the earthly tabernacle, only a few could worship... and only on occasion... The Jews assembled near the tabernacle to worship... The priests and Levites were permitted in the outer tabernacle, and the High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year...


The heavenly tabernacle is open to all God's people of all times.

Hebrews 10:19-25
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say His flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw nigh with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water... Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised."