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THE LAW AND THE LAND; SYMBOLIC OF WHAT WAS TO COME

    Bible Symbolism

     The Mickelson's definition of the Greek word for shadow in these next verses is: "Shade" or a shadow (darkness of error or an adumbration.) The first three definitions of adumbration means to 1. To give a sketchy outline of. 2. To prefigure indistinctly; foreshadow. 3. To disclose partially or guardedly.

     Hebrews 8:15 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, says he, that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you in the mount. The context of this verse in this and following chapters matches the dictionary definition of the word shadow as foreshadow precisely.  The same is true of this verse: 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.   Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2 says the rites and rituals of the Mosaic law were a foreshadow of what was to come in the Messiah. In other words it was symbolic of realities that were to come and not the very realities themselves.

    Galatians 4:21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a female slave, the other by a free woman. 23 But he who was of the female slave was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which engenders to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, you barren that bore not; break forth and cry, you that travail not: for the desolate has many more children than she which has an husband. 28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. In these verses the land of Israel, the city or Jerusalem in the Middle East was symbolic of the realities of what were to come and not the realities themselves. 

© Daniel Martinovich 2002-2017