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Sun
— represents the Gospel. |
Sunshine cheers us. Sunshine warms us. The
sun's rays have the power to heal. What better picture could we have of the joy of the
Gospel
— Good News
— of salvation and God's planned Kingdom of Righteousness? It provides
us with spiritual health and gladdens our hearts.
Even now, God has blest the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). In his
Kingdom, he will give all mankind the opportunity for everlasting life on a perfect earth,
demanding only their obedience.
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The
scripture that speaks of the "sun of righteousness" is different from
the more general symbol of "sun" meaning "Gospel." Jesus is the
center of the Sun, the Gospel, the Good News. His faithful Church,
his joint-heirs, will be there with him to heal the nations, the people
of the world.
"But unto that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness
arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the
stall." Malachi 4:2
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Moon
— represents the Mosaic Law. |
When Jesus died on the cross, the literal moon was at its full. This represents the fact that the Jewish nation could have then been ready to accept their
Messiah. Their Law had led them to Christ.
Because Israel rejected their Messiah, the symbolic moon began to wane, just as the
literal moon became smaller at that time of the month.
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Stars
— represent those who radiate light, spiritual
instruction. |
The twelve stars in Revelation 12 represent the twelve
apostles. In the new Jerusalem, the wall will have twelve foundations, and in them the
names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The words of the apostles still speak to us, of
Christ as Redeemer, as Savior, as Messiah.
The seven stars of Revelation 1:20 represent seven special
servants of Christ's Church during the Gospel Age. "The seven stars are the
angels of the seven churches." Revelation 1:20 A different angel
[messenger] received a message from the glorified Jesus during the existence of each of
the seven churches of history. "I saw the seven angels which stood before
God; and to them were given seven trumpets." Revelation 8:2
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Earth
— represents society, not literal dust or mud. |
Ecclesiastics 1:4 correctly states: "The
EARTH [meaning the land, the country, the field, the ground] will abide
forever." But Psalms 46:1-3 says, "Though the earth be
removed," and as we look around we see that things on the earth are indeed unsettled,
disorganized, troubled, and in the process of disintegrating.
Isaiah 1:2 speaks to the earth
— not that the land could hear or respond
to his proclamations; he speaks to the PEOPLE of the earth.
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Air
— represents spiritual powers.
|
Satan is the prince of earth's religious systems, which
are sometimes symbolized by the term "heavens."
In God's Kingdom, there will be a new "heavens" and a new
"earth." They will replace and destroy the present powers of Satan.
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Water
— represents truth. |
"Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify
and CLEANSE it with the WASHING of WATER by the word." Ephesians 5:25,26
"Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;
but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into
everlasting life." John 4:14
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Sea
— represents restless masses of society, usually unruly and
lawless. |
"The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest,
whose waters cast up mire and dirt." Isaiah 57:20
"The abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the
forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee." Isaiah 60:5
Isaiah is speaking to Israel
— spiritual Israel, another name for the
heavenly Church, and also natural, fleshly Israel, which will then be the capital of the
world, as God's chosen people, repentant and reformed for the sin of crucifying their
Messiah.
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Mountains
— represent kingdoms or strong, powerful
governments. |
THE mountain usually refers to THE Kingdom of God.
"It shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain
of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains."
Isaiah 2:2-4
Mountains in general often refer to worldly kingdoms.
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Hills
— similar to mountains, represent smaller
kingdoms. |
More specifically, "hills" sometimes mean a
lesser government or kingdom than "mountains"
— possibly less powerful kingdoms,
or less dictatorial [like republics].
The "hills" of Satan's dominion will be humbled and made low.
Sometimes "hill" is used in a phrase like "the hill of the Lord" or
"my holy hill of Zion." THAT "hill" will NOT be made unimportant in
God's Kingdom.
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Valleys
— represent the lowly and meek, whom God loves, so
it sometimes means a place of blessing. |
Sometimes the meek and humble become discouraged. God
will lift them out of their degradation or despair by encouraging and rewarding their
obedience to Him. The conditions of society will be leveled.
"Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places
plain." Isaiah 40:4
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Islands
— represent republican governments,
organizations of people. |
Islands are slightly above the "sea" level. The
"sea" represents unorganized masses of people. While kingdoms
("mountains") give place to republics ("islands"), so the islands
shall also in due time flee away. The spirit of liberty will overleap all bounds and
order and end in anarchy.
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Wilderness
— represents unfertile wilds, not cultivated as farmland
nor industrialized as a city. |
The nation of Israel had to travel through the wilderness for forty
years before entering the Promised Land.
The TRUE Church was taken into a "wilderness" condition for protection during
the Dark Ages.
"And to the woman [church class] were given two wings of
a great eagle [the support of the Old and New Testaments], that she might
fly into the wilderness [of separation from the world], into her place
[condition], where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time
[1260 years from CE 539-1799], from the face of the serpent [civil Roman
authority]." Revelation 12:14 
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Cities
— represent religious governments. |
The established Kingdom of God, the new Jerusalem, is referred to as a
city wherein dwell those who do God's commandments.
Babylon is called "that great city which rules over the kings of the earth"
BEFORE God's kingdom takes its rightful power. (Revelation 17:18)
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Trees
— represent prominent men.
Grass
— represents masses of mankind. |
"The first angel sounded...and the third part of the trees [prominent
men] was burnt up [were converted], and all green grass [men
sufficiently alive to receive or absorb the water of truth] was burnt up [were
converted]." Revelation 8:7
Trees represent prominent leaders that stand above the grass, the masses
of mankind. The righteous man is likened to a tree: "And he
shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water..." Psalms 1:3 The
wicked are likened to the "green bay tree." Psalms 37:35
Grass represents the common masses of men. "The grass
withers, the flower fades...surely the people is grass." Isaiah 40:7
It will require only a breath from the Lord to scatter all the might and glory and power
of earthly institutions. All who oppose His plan will fade in the great Day of
Wrath.
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Field
— represents the civilized world. |
Jesus said, "The field is the world."
Matthew 1:38 The wheat and the tares both came from the world of mankind.
After the true Church is glorified in heaven, the work must be done to clear, plow, and
prepare the field [the world] for the next age.
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Wheat
— represents the children of the Truth.
|
In the parable of the wheat and the tares [Matthew
13:24], Jesus said the good seed [the wheat] are the children of the Kingdom, the product
of Truth which the sower had sowed.
The wheat are the TRUE church, gathered with the sickle of Truth.
"Gather MY SAINTS together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by
sacrifice." Psalms 50:5
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Tares
— represent children of error.
|
Tares stand tall and proud, while wheat bow humbly. Tares
try to pose as true Christians, but are imitations. Tares are the product of false
teachings.
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Barn
— represents the place where the ripe wheat is taken,
away from the field and the tares; ultimately, heaven itself.
|
The wheat is gathered from worldly surroundings to be
with other wheat. True Christians gather together to study God's Word. In the final
sense, the wheat, true Christians, are garnered to the heavenly barn.
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Reapers
— represent God's servants. |
Reapers are spirit begotten Christians who are gathering
the wheat [other faithful Christians] into His barn [separate from worldly interests, and
finally into heaven itself].
"The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray
ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his
harvest." Matthew 9:37,38
Other saints have labored faithfully in the past, sowing the precious
seed which we are now privileged to help in harvesting.
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What is more hopeful than the realization that the sun will come out
after the rain?
"And God said to Noah: I will make a covenant with you. Never again
will all men die because of a flood. This is my token to remind you of my
promise. I will set a rainbow in the sky." Genesis 9:11-17
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Rain
— represents blessings. |
In Palestine, rain is greatly desired.
"If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments...Then I will give
you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase." Leviticus
26:3,4
I Kings 18 tells of a great rain which finally came after 3-1/2 years of drought.
Spiritually, there was a drought of Truth during the Dark Ages, followed by a wonderful
rain of refreshment from God's Word. Bible societies sprang up, education became
accessible to many, and the common man could read the Words of Life.
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Hail
— represents hard truths. |
"Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone...a precious corner stone,
a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not stumble. Judgment will I lay to
the line, and righteousness to the plummet; and the HAIL shall sweep away the refuge of
lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place." Isaiah 28:16,17
Matthew 7:26,27
— speaks of a storm which would destroy any house built on sand.
This is a downpour of truth, hard truths, which beat upon a house (NOMINAL Christendom)
until it fell. The crash of man-made theories, traditions, and doctrines, are
frightening, but they free some in the house who would not have left otherwise.
"And there fell upon men [professed Christians] a great
hail [overflowing scourge of hard truths] out of heaven [the
spiritual controlling realm], every stone [each hard truth] about
the weight of a talent [being the equivalent of the whole Gospel on each
subject]: and men [nominal Christians] blasphemed
[denounced] God because of the plague of the hail [affliction caused by
hard truths]; for the plague [affliction] thereof was exceeding
great." Revelation 16:21
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Dark clouds mean a storm is coming. If you wanted to draw
a picture of fear of disasters, you might draw dark clouds in the sky.
"When Michael [Jesus Christ] stands up,
there will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation." Daniel
12:1
"All the tribes of the earth shall mourn, for the Son of
man will come in clouds." Matthew 24:30
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Lightning
— represents
flashes, diffusions, of light and knowledge |
A flash of lightning from the Lord's throne discloses one error here,
and there another, with remarkable glimpses of the great principles of truth and
righteousness. Principles of the Word of God are brought to the front and discussed
in the news media and at public gatherings.
The increase of knowledge, general diffusion of education, multiplying of inventions,
general interchange of thought, wider range of commercial interests, rapid modes and cheap
rates of travel, multiplicity of books and periodicals, wonderful power of the daily
press, increase the flashes of lightning [truths] enlightening the world.
"His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw and
trembled." Psalm 97:4
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Wind
— Blowing winds represent wars. |
The worst winds of Revelation 7:1 [violence, anarchy]
will not reach their fullest culmination until the true Church is removed from the earth
into heavenly glory.
When the world recognizes its helplessness in this greatest time of
trouble [when God pours upon them His indignation, His fierce anger, for their flagrant
disobedience and dishonor to Him, their Creator], THEN He will bless and restore all the
repentant and reformed world, and bless them abundantly.
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Four winds
— represent all parts of the nominal church. |
From whence are God's elect gathered? Not from America
alone, and not from only one denomination. God's elect Church are gathered from every
direction, from every quarter of the "field." There are NOMINAL Christians in
every denomination. In between are scattered TRUE Christians - a remnant here, a remnant
there.
"And he shall send his angels [messengers, the
Reapers] with a great...trumpet [the truth], and they shall
gather together [spiritually to the harvest truth and oneness with Christ]
his elect [saints] from the four winds [from every denomination
or quarter of the wheat field], from one end of heaven [nominal church]
to the other." Matthew 24:31
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Revelation 16:18 speaks of a mighty earthquake, such as
was not since men were on the earth. This great revolution will overthrow everything that
is not of the Lord's establishment and approval. This revolution will affect all the
governments of the world, socially, politically, financially and ecclesiastically.
"...And there was a great earthquake, such as was not since
men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great." Revelation
16:18
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Fire
— represents trouble, anarchy, destruction, or trials. |
In 1 Peter 4:12, Peter writes to the true Church, "Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the FIERY TRIAL which is to try you...
Rejoice, inasmuch as
ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings."
Zephaniah 3:8,9 speaks of the fire of God's jealousy. "...my
determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon
them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth [the entire
present social fabric] shall be devoured [all evil principles of
government and society—not humanity] with the fire of my jealousy [the
Lord's anger will burn against all kinds of injustice and iniquity, devouring the
political, financial, social and religious structure of the world]. For then [after
men have been humbled and made ready to hear and heed God's counsel] will I turn
to the people a pure language [the pure word of truth, uncontaminated by human
tradition; a pure message unmixed with falsity and error], that they may all call
upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent."
We talk about people with hot tempers, or fiery tempers. We do not mean
that they are literal fire-eaters. After this present social order is destroyed, God will
turn to the people to bless them. If they or the earth had been literally burned up, He
could not bless them. Fire represents destruction of the evil systems
— their final end.
Ashes represent memory of what had once been.
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Still Small Voice
— represents God's Word of truth, love and
wisdom speaking to His people. |
"In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." Exodus
33:14
— "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give you rest."
Psalms 46:10
— "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the
heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Isaiah 30:15
"...And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the
mountains...but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the
LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in
the fire: and after the fire a still small voice...And, behold, there came a voice unto
him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah" I Kings 19:11, 12
The still small voice is the voice of truth, love, wisdom—the "Pure
language" or pure message of God's Word. The voice of God, divine power, will
bring the blessings to the world. Elijah had expected his reformation to go forward
like a windstorm, or an earthquake or lightning. Now he was to understand that it
would be more secret and quiet in the hearts of men, before giving outward manifestation.
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Head
— Christ is the Head of the Church, his body. |
"And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him
[Christ]
to be the head over all things to the church. Which is his body, the fulness of him
that filleth all in all." Ephesians 1:22,23
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of
the church; and he is the savior of the body." Ephesians 5:24
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Body
— represents the Church. |
"And he
[Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who
is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence." Colossians 1:18
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of
that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ...For the body is not one
member, but many...Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
I Corinthians 12:12, 14, 27
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Face
— represents favor. |
When God's face is turned toward you, it indicates His
favor. When God's face is turned away from you, it indicates His disfavor.
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his
ears are open unto their prayers: but the FACE of the Lord is AGAINST them that do
evil." 1 Peter 3:12
"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones;
for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the FACE of my
Father." Matthew 18:10
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Eye
— represents wisdom, understanding, comprehension. |
Moses told the children of Israel,
"Stand still and SEE the
salvation of the Lord." (Exodus 14:13 )
Salvation cannot really be SEEN. It is the CONSEQUENCES of salvation that can be
seen. Israel SAW that they were delivered from the Egyptians by the saving grace of
God.
Revelation 1:7 says: "Every eye shall SEE him."
Jesus said (John 14:19) "The world will SEE me no more."
What the world WILL see will be the trouble, the punishments, and the blessings which
the Lord will offer to all so that they will have a full opportunity to live eternally, if
obedient (repentant and reformed from their former disobedience).
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Hand
— represents power. |
God told Satan, "Job is in your hand (power), but save
his life." Job 2:6
"The Egyptians will I give over into the hand
(power) of
a cruel lord." Isaiah 19:4
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand
(power)
of God, that He may exalt you in due time." I Peter 5:6
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Arm
— represents support, strength. |
"Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm
of the LORD revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1) Christ is the arm of the LORD
Jehovah. Christ is the power of God unto salvation.
"I will redeem you with a stretched out ARM." Exodus
6:6 This was God's message to Israel in Egypt.
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Feet
— represent the last members of Christ's Body, or Church. |
The feet are the last members of his Church, the last
members of his Bride, just before they are all united in glory, ready to bless the world
of mankind.
"How beautiful upon the mountains [every nation]
are the FEET of him [the last members of the Body of Christ remaining on earth
before the earthly Kingdom is set up] that brings good tidings [the
ransom for all, and the blessed Kingdom to come]." Isaiah 52:7
"He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in
all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy FOOT against a
stone." Psalm 91:12
Psalms 91:11,12 is a part of a Psalm discussing those who dwell in the
secret place, particularly NOW in the final times of perilous temptations. Because of
today's insidious enticements, we need special help to be protected from stumbling-stones
in our path, false doctrines in our search for Truth.
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Virgin
— represents the TRUE Church, the Bride of Christ, which refuses
any illicit union with the rulers of this world. |
There were five wise and five foolish virgins, but they were all
virgins, waiting faithfully for their Bridegroom to return. (Matthew 25)
The Book of Revelation has much to say about a whore, mother of harlots, who did NOT
wait for her Bridegroom, but entered into unfaithful relationships with worldly powers
instead, setting up a false Kingdom as a counterfeit to Christ's true Kingdom. (Revelation
17)
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Harlot
— represents so-called Christians, who would not wait for the
return of their Heavenly Bridegroom to take them to the Marriage Supper, but entered into
alliances with leaders and ambitions of this world. |
A whore (Revelation 17) had daughters who were harlots like their
mother. They united with the governments instead of waiting for the true King of
Kings to whom they were espoused.
The Reformers correctly recognized Jezebel, also known as Babylon the Great, the whore
of the Revelation, to be Papacy. Ecumenists today are desirous of peace at any
price, so are careful not to antagonize the Church of Rome. In time of anarchy, many
will seek refuge in the stability of the Roman Catholic Church, even though they would not
agree with her written doctrines.
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Beasts
— represent governments. |
Daniel 7 describes four world empires as beasts. The first was
Babylon, likened to a kingly lion, with great splendor and pride. The second was Medo-Persia, likened to a powerful grasping, strategic bear, who hugs its prey to death
with its paws. The third was Greece, likened to a swift conquering leopard.
The fourth was a dreadful beast, likened to the crushing Papal Roman Empire.
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Six days preceded the Sabbath. Six thousand years precede the
seventh Millennium, the time of Christ's Kingdom reign.
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represents
heavenly perfection. |
Seventh day is God's commanded Sabbath. There
were seven creative days or epochs. There are seven colors in the rainbow.
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represents
earthly perfection. |
Ten curtains, ten cubits, were used in the Tabernacle
construction. Human beings have ten fingers and ten toes. The Ten Commandments
represent the essential code of human behavior.
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Jesus was 30 when he presented his life in consecration. He
was sold for 30 pieces of silver. Priests could serve in the Tabernacle when they
were 30.
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represents
a period of testing or trial. |
It rained 40 days and nights during the flood. The children of
Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. The spies spent 40 days looking at
the land of Israel. Moses, Elijah and Jesus fasted 40 days in the Wilderness.
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Olive - represents light, peace, divine blessing. |
In Biblical times, OLIVE oil was a source of light. After
the turmoil of the flood, it was an OLIVE branch which the dove brought back to Noah, and
he knew that the waters had abated. When the captives returned from Babylon, they
joyfully made booths of OLIVE and pine and myrtle and thick trees.
OLIVE oil was the bases of precious ointments used in anointing priests and kings of
Israel. The Mount of Olives pictures the Kingdom of Light, Peace and Divine
Blessing.
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Fig
— represents the Jewish nation. |
"Like good FIGS, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive
of JUDAH, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their
good." Jeremiah 24:5
"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when its branch is yet tender, and
puts forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh." Matthew 24:32
Many Christians recognize this to mean that when Israel sprouts again to life as a
nation, the time of Messiah's Kingdom is near.
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Wine
— represents doctrine. |
"And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will
burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish." Luke 5:37
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Bread
— represents life- sustaining, Jesus or Truth |
JESUS
—
"And Jesus said unto them, I am
the bread of life..." John 6:35
TRUTH
— "Therefore let us keep the feast...with the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
I Corinthians 5:8
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Famine
— represents lack of spiritual nourishment. |
Spiritually speaking, this would mean lack of truth, which strengthens
and builds us up.
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in
the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the
LORD." Amos 8:11
"Thy words were found and I did eat them." Jeremiah 15:16
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White
— represents purity. |
White is clean, pure.
"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow."
Isaiah 1:18
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be
whiter than snow." Psalms 51:7
"Many shall be purified, and made white..." Daniel 12:10
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Purple was the color for a king's garments.
"And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put
it about his head..." Mark 15:17
"...and purple raiment that was on the kings..." Judges 8:26
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Blue
— represents faithfulness. |
There is a saying, a "true-blue" friend, meaning a faithful
friend. The blue sky reminds us of God's faithfulness every day.
"Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto
the clouds..." Psalms 36:5
"...thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens..."
Psalms 89:2
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Red, the color of blood, reminds us of Jesus' life given for Adam and
his descendants. Red also pictures "sin," which is covered by the ransom.
"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow."
Isaiah 1:18
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Green
— represents earthly restoration. |
In spring, the grass and leaves turn green with renewed life.
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Gold
— represents the divine nature. |
As gold is the highest, most precious metal, so the divine nature
is the highest nature, the only nature having immortality.
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Silver
— represents the truth. |
"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of
earth, purified seven times." Psalm 12:6
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Copper
— represents perfect human nature. |
As a metal, copper is inferior in value to gold, just as the human
nature is inferior to the divine nature.
Jesus feet in Revelation 1:15 were likened to fine brass [copper], burned in a furnace.
This represents the feet members of the body of Christ being exposed to fiery
trials.
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Linen
— represents righteousness. |
"And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean
and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."
Revelation 19:8
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Crown
— represents immortality. |
"...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of
life." Revelation 2:10
"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of
glory that fadeth not away." I Peter 5:4
"...they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an
incorruptible." I Corinthians 9:25
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Robe
— represents righteousness. |
"...[God] hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness..." Isaiah 61:10
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Sword
— represents the Word of God. |
"...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God." Ephesians 6:17
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two
edged sword..." Hebrews 4:12
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Shield
— represents faith and truth. |
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Ephesians 6:16
"...His truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Psalms 91:4
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"If when he
[the watchman] seeth the sword come upon the
land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people..." Ezekiel 33:3
The trumpet represents a warning, not a trumpet-like SOUND, but obvious EVENTS, great,
historical happenings that all can see, whether or not they understand them.
Present events
— hidden things being revealed, the clamor for the rights of the
oppressed
— speak in trumpet tones.
An important proclamation of restoration, justice, and liberty, comparable to the
Jubilee trumpet of Israel.
"Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound...throughout
all your land." Leviticus 25:9
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Lamps
— represent the Holy Scriptures. |
All the virgins had the Bible and some light therefrom when the Lord returned.
Even while the Bible was clothed in the sackcloth of a dead language (during the Dark
Ages), there was enough Truth given to the virgins for the Lord to consider them faithful
for that era. But this parable is speaking of the time of the Lord's second Advent.
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Candlestick
— represents light-bearers, the true Church. |
The true Church offers the light of God's Word to others.
The seven golden candlesticks of Revelation 1:12,13, symbolize the church of the Gospel
Age, whose seven stages of development were pictured by the seven congregations of Asia
Minor.
"...the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."
Revelation 1:20
The institution of the Church was for the enlightening of the world, but some of its
members have been nominal only, and not true light-bearers.
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Incense Altar
— represents the true Church in the sacrificing
condition and their devotions and prayers. |
The Golden Altar, or Incense Altar, in the Tabernacle was the closest
furniture in the Tabernacle to the Most Holy. Prayer is the closest we can come to
the presence of God, and it can be reached only through Jesus.
As the sweet incense [Jesus' obedience] ascends into the Most Holy, the presence of
God, so through Jesus, the devotional life of the church, their praises and prayers,
ascend as sweet fragrance to God.
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The bullock [Jesus' sacrificed humanity] was slain in the Court of the
Tabernacle, the condition of faith in and harmony with God.
Each side of the Brazen Altar was 7-1/2 feet x 4 sides = 30 feet. Jesus was
thirty years old when he offered himself to God in consecration and was baptized at
Jordan.
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The great work of the true Church during this age has been to feed,
strengthen and hold forth Truth for all who enter the spiritual atmosphere of true
Christianity, even while here on earth.
"Shewbread" is called the "bread of faces" or "bread of
presence." God's presence, favor, or face, is reflected in His truth and
promises. The truth is God's presence with us. The Church develops their
knowledge of God through God's Word of truth.
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Ark of the Covenant
— represents
the eternal purpose of God, in blessing the world through Christ and the Church. |
The Mercy Seat or lid over the Ark of the Covenant represents God's
headship over the Jesus and the Church. God's four attributes are pictured by the
mercy seat.
The Mercy Seat itself, on which the blood of atonement was sprinkled, represents God's
justice which had to be satisfied by the blood of Christ. The Shekinah light
between the Cherubim represents God's wisdom. The two Cherubim, bent in a praying,
waiting position, represent God's love and power, looking to God's wisdom for the time to
become active.
God's attributes are manifested through the Jesus and the Church. They are
pictured in the Most Holy as divine, immortal beings [gold].
Within the ark were the golden bowl of manna [the Church will receive immortality],
Aaron's rod that budded [the Church's acceptance as the "royal priesthood"], and
the tables of the law [the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the Jesus and the
Church through him].
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The golden bowl of manna was kept in the ark of the covenant. This
manna never spoiled, representing the incorruptible characteristic of immortal life.
"...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden
manna..." Revelation 2:17
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Aaron's rod was kept in the ark of the covenant. When Aaron's rod
budded, it demonstrated that he was God's chosen priest. The Church, head and body,
is God's chosen "royal priesthood" and mediator for establishing the new
covenant between God and the world of mankind.
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Tables of the Law
— represent God's righteous law, fulfilled
in Christ and his Bride. |
The tables of the law were kept in the ark of the covenant. They
represented that Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of God's perfect Law and earned the
legal authority to execute God's law as the mediator. The Church, his body, kept the
spirit of the law.
"The righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:4
Jesus and the Church will be the administrator and mediator of the new law covenant,
bringing the world back into perfect harmony with their Creator.
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Laver
— represents cleansing, righteous
living. |
The Laver was made from the looking glasses of the women. The
Priests looking into the Laver could see their reflection clearly. Likewise, the
Christian must examine himself and cleanse his character by the water of truth. As
the Christian looks into the water of the Lord's Word, he sees his own imperfections, his
reflection in the water and copper, in contrast to God's standards.
As priests were to wash whenever they ministered at the altar, so Christians must
continually keep their robes clean, not spotted or wrinkled.
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The Tabernacle
represented
the spiritual path of the Christian in the Gospel
Age. Leaving the Camp [world], they enter the court
through the door or veil [Jesus] by accepting Jesus as their Savior. They see Jesus' sacrifice on
the Brazen Altar, cleanse themselves at the Laver, and proceed to the first veil
[consecration].
After laying down their human will and accepting God's will in
consecration, the Christian goes under the first veil
[death of human will] into
the Holy [condition of spirit
begettal]. They feed on the bread of truth at the Table
of Shewbread, are enlightened by the holy
spirit and reflect the light of God's truth from the
Golden Candlestick, and offer prayers through Christ at the Incense Altar.
At the second veil, the Christian experiences
death of the human body,
receives immortality, the divine nature [represented by the gold], and comes into the presence
of God.
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Lamb
— represents Jesus and the Church. |
JESUS:
"And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of
God!" John 1:36
"...he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her
shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." Isaiah 53:7
THE CHURCH:
"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine."
John 10:14
"The LORD is my shepherd; I
shall not want." Psalms
23:1
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In the Garden of Eden, Satan used the serpent to influence the downfall
of humanity. At the other end of the Bible, the Book of Revelation speaks of
"the old SERPENT, the Devil, and Satan." (Revelation 20:2)
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Dove
— represents peace, a meek and quiet spirit, the holy spirit. |
It is common today to speak of a peace-maker, one who will try diplomacy
and shun war, as a "dove."
A dove was a favorite figure with the Jews as an emblem of peace and salvation.
It represented the meek and quiet spirit of all those who possess the spirit of holiness
unto the Lord.
When Jesus was baptized, the holy spirit descended upon him like a dove.
"And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven
like a dove, and it abode upon him." John 1:32
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Frogs
— represent boastful croaking, pomposity, an air of superiority. |
The three most prominent characteristics of a frog are pomposity, an air
of superior wisdom and knowledge, and a continual croaking. The teachings associated
with frogs would be doctrines of bombast and pomposity, an attempt to overawe with dignity
and assumed authority.
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Dogs
— represent Gentiles. |
Matthew 15:22-28
— Both Jesus and the Canaanitish
woman recognized that the term "dog" was used by the Jew to describe a Gentile. Although Jesus' term for dogs was that of a pet, generally the word "dog"
meant disrespect, referring to the wild dogs that roamed the country and were pests.
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