In the book of Genesis. One will find that it wasn't enough for the God of the universe to simply say what the future would bring concerning his plan of redemption for the world, through the sacrifice of his son. He, in his awesome abilities told it thousands years before it happened symbolically, through the lives of individuals and nations. This article will go into the symbolisms that prophetically deal with the subject of the Old and New Covenants as revealed in Genesis. Obviously this is not all the symbolism found in Genesis but it seems to be the main thrust.
The Children of Abraham
Since this article delves heavily into the subject of Israel which appears to be such a controversial subject in this era. It seems good to cover up front what is plainly declared in the New Testament by Jesus and his Apostle's teachings instead of teaching what may be a new or controversial subject to many, via biblical symbolisms. What one will find if they properly understand the Bible, is that the Apostles of the New Testament are teaching exactly what the Prophets of the Old testament were teaching, in the sense of doctrine and prophecy. That is the main thrust of this article, to prove that what is taught about Israel and the Old and New Covenants in the New Testament, is also what is taught in Genesis.
In Galatians 3: The Apostle plainly teaches: Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7. Understand therefore that they which are of faith, they are the children of Abraham. 8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the gentiles through faith, beforehand preached the gospel to Abraham, saying, "in you shall all nations be blessed."
As it relates to the article. The point that is being made, is that this verse says: Whoever (Jew or gentile) is of the faith of /in Jesus Christ, they are the children of Abraham. Not symbolically, figuratively or even spiritually, but literally the children of Abraham. Many will say at this point that the word literal to describe gentiles as Abrahams children is absurd. To which I would agree heartily; if God beforehand did not literally have in mind all nationalities when he used the term, "children of Abraham." Preaching the gospel to Abraham thousands of years in advance. This is the very aim of this article, to prove that the book of Genesis teaches this over and over. Lets observe how Jesus sees it in John 8:
37. I know that you are Abraham's descendants; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you. 38. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father. 39. They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the things Abraham did. 40. But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God: Abraham did not do that. 41. You do what your father does. Then said they to him, We were not born out of wedlock; we have one Father, which is God. 42. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43. Why don't you understand my speech? it's because you cannot hear my word. 44. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and lived not according to the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45. This is why when I tell you the truth, you do not believe me.
Jesus himself teaches exactly the same thing his apostle does in Galatians. That God does not consider wicked men even if they are physical descendants of Abraham, children of Abraham. A closer look at an oft misunderstood scripture might further enlighten the reader to this in Romans chap. 11. The reference being the physical descendants of Abraham.
17. And if some of the branches be broken off (Israelites), and you (Gentiles), being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18. Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you. 19. You might say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: 21. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also does not spare you. 22. Look at the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off. 23. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
The root of the olive tree is not Abraham physically and the tree the physical linage, but rather. The root is the faith of Abraham based on the promise of God. This is confirmed by the references to faith as the condition of being a branch of the tree. In other words it is what is voluntary in us rather than our physical descent that Jew or gentile may be called "children" of Abraham.
Based on the premise above in Galatians 3: 7-8. That the promise/promises to Abraham were for all nations through Jesus Christ rather than Abrahams physical descendants alone. It is then explained in Galatians 3: 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He says not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ. Or as the simple English version says: God made promises to Abraham and his descendant. God did not say ``and to your descendants.'' That would mean many people. But God said, ``and to your descendant.'' This means only one person--Christ. It can be clearly ascertained then that the Apostle is teaching that the promises made to Abraham were not about or to his physical descendants (which are the many descendants referred to.) Rather they were to Jesus Christ, Gods one and only begotten Son. Then in verses 26 -29: he shows how God "foresaw" that the nations would be Abrahams children: 26. For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for all are one in Christ Jesus.29. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's children, and heirs according to the promise.
The Law of Moses
There is a confusion on this issue that has arisen in the last century. As if the promises made to Abraham were to his (many) physical descendants rather than to Jesus Christ alone and through Christ all nations. Hopefully, the symbolic teachings in the book of Genesis later in this article will clear this up completely. However the Apostle Paul had something more to say on this subject concerning the Abrahams physical descendants, the nation of Israel. What distinguishes them from other nations. I.e. the law of Moses. In Galatians 3: 17 it states this:
17. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of no effect. Or as the New International Version puts it: What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.
The Apostle is teaching that God gave these promises to Abrahams one descendant Jesus. His plan all along was for all nations through this one descendant. God didn't add to, make a new plan or a new set of promises to Abrahams physical descendants with the giving of the law, (the Old Covenant.) Instead his original plan/promises/ inheritance/prophecy remained the same and they all pointed to that one descendant and the New Covenant. Further more, as the real issue will unfold in the symbolisms in Genesis. It will be easily seen that the "all nations would be blessed promise" and all the other promises spoken of also includes the physical descendants of Abraham. In other words the nation of Israel is not separate from, but is one of those "all nations." (Verse 28 there is neither Jew nor Greek.) This is what God had in mind from the start. So then the question arises. "Why did God call them out of Egypt, then separate them from the whole world by giving them the law?" Here are some versus to answer this:
Romans 3:1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. The main reason stated here is to bring the Word of God into the earth. Then the beginning of the next verse states: 3 What if some did not have faith?.....Herein lies the reason for the law, some did not have faith. Some, many times the majority refused the invitation God gave their nation. The verses below spell out Gods plan to use them anyway.
Galatians 3:19. What was the purpose the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the descendent should come to whom the promise was made.... Hebrews 9: 10. Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. Hebrews 10:1. For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things..... Or as the New International Version says: The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves.....
The key words in these verses are: It was added, it was imposed upon, and it was a shadow (or symbolic.) Then these key words: Until the descendant comes, until the time of reformation, and reality rather than symbolic rituals. Or as Jesus put it in John 4:
19. The woman said to him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; but you say, that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21. Jesus answered her, Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father..... 23. But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.
The simple concept of what is being stated here is this: There was a time factor in Gods plan for the world that he promised to Abraham through his descendant. God's intention was to use Abrahams physical descendants to herald the good news in advance. The majority of Abrahams physical descendants were not willing to trust and therefore serve God in this matter. God knew this in advance and not willing to be thwarted. He imposed upon the unfaithful among them symbolic rituals and rites that proclaimed the good news of the redeemer and redemption of mankind in hundreds of different figurative ways. More will be said on this particular subject in a future Bible basics article "Why the Law;" but here are a few more versus.
The Story of Abraham Ishmael and Isaac.
Having laid somewhat of a foundation of basic New Testament teaching on what from the very beginning God had in mind when he made promises to Abraham. Genesis can now be looked at to see if it teaches the same thing the New Testament does in a symbolic fashion. Starting with a New Testament account of Genesis.
Galatians 4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22. For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a slave woman, the other by a free woman. 23. The son of the slave woman was born by normal physical means; but the son of the free woman as a result of Gods promise. 24. These two woman are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which produces bondage, This is Hagar. 25. For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to (symbolizes) Jerusalem which now is, and is a slave with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the childless woman than of her who has a husband." 28. Now we, brothers, according to Isaac, are the children of promise. 29. But as then he that was born after the normal physical means persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30. Nevertheless what does the scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son: for the son of the slave woman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31. So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free.
Notice carefully the Apostles words, "these are the two covenants." Hagar he says is Mount Sinai. It prophetically symbolizes the literal city of Jerusalem. Ishmael the child of the slave woman symbolizes the children of the literal city of Jerusalem. He is clearly stating that Ishmael the first born prophetically represents the first covenant and that Isaac represents the second covenant. Ishmael was born first through normal physical means. Then secondly, Isaac born not by physical means nor the will of man but of God. It is also clear by the Apostles doctrine that Abrahams wife Sarah represents the heavenly Jerusalem. Then quoting Isaiah 54 he declares this prophetic chapter to speak directly about the New Jerusalem and the second covenant as opposed to the literal Jerusalem and the first covenant. The next paragraph is their story in Genesis.
Genesis 15 1. After these things the
word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I
am your shield, and your exceeding great reward. 2. And Abram said, Lord
God, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my
house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3. And Abram said, Behold, to me you
hast given no descendent: and, lo, one born in my house is my heir. 4.
And, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, This shall not be
your heir; but he that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be
your heir. 5. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward
heaven, and tell the stars, if you are able to number them: and he said
to him, So shall your descendent be....
18. In the same day the Lord made
a covenant with Abram, saying, to your descendent have I given this
land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates:.
Genesis 16 1. Now Sarai Abram's wife bore him no children: and she had
an slave woman, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2. And Sarai said to
Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: so I ask of
you, go in to my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And
Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3. And Sarai Abram's wife took
Hagar her slave the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the
land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4. And
he went into Hagar, and she conceived:....
15. And Hagar bore Abram a
son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bore, Ishmael.16. And
Abram was eighty-six years old, when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Genesis 17 1. And when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord
appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk before
me, and be perfect. 2. And I will make my covenant between you and I,
and will multiply you exceedingly. 3. And Abram fell on his face: and
God talked with him, saying, 4. As for me, behold, my covenant is with
you, and you will be a father of many nations. 5. Neither will your name
any more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for a father of
many nations have I made you. 6. And I will make you exceedingly
fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of
you. 7. And I will establish my covenant between you and I and your
descendent after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant,
to be a God to you, and to your descendent after you. 8. And I will give
to you, and to your descendent after you, the land wherein you are a
stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I
will be their God.....
15. And God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your
wife, you will not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 16.
And I will bless her, and give you a son also of her: yes, I will bless
her, and she will be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of
her. 17. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his
heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and
shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? 18. And Abraham said to
God, O that Ishmael might live before you! 19. And God said, Sarah your
wife shall bear you a son indeed; and you will call his name Isaac: and
I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and
with his descendent after him. 20. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you:
behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will
multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make
him a great nation. 21. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac,
which Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year.
Genesis
21: 1. And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to
Sarah as he had spoken. 2. For Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son
in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3. And
Abraham called the name of his son that was born to him, whom Sarah bore
to him, Isaac. 4. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days
old, as God had commanded him. 5. And Abraham was an hundred years old,
when his son Isaac was born to him. 6. And Sarah said, God hath made me
to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7. And she said, Who
would have said to Abraham, that Sarah should have nursed children? for
I have born him a son in his old age. 8. And the child grew, and was
weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was
weaned. 9. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had
born to Abraham, mocking. 10. Therefore she said to Abraham, Cast out
this slave woman and her son: for the son of this slave woman will not
be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11. And the thing was very
grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. 12. And God said to
Abraham, Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the lad, and
because of your slave woman; in all that Sarah has said to you, hearken
to her voice; for in Isaac shall your descendent be called. 13. And also
of the son of the slave woman will I make a nation, because he is your
descendent. 14. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took
bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her
shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and
wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. 15. And the water was used up
in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 16. And
she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a
bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she
sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. 17. And God heard
the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of
heaven, and said to her, What ails you, Hagar? fear not; for God has
heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18. Arise, lift up the lad, and
hold him in your hand; for I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 25:
16. These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their
towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
Ishmael having twelve sons "princes" just like Israel formally named Jacob shouldn't be looked upon as a mere coincidence. It would seem that God is just furthering the symbolism that Ishmael represents the First Covenant by symbolically prophesying the twelve tribes of Israel.
In light of current circumstances in the world it would be wise to point out some of the other aspects of this story. What it symbolizes according to the light of the gospel. There seems to be a natural tendency to look at scripture in ways that leave whole races of people condemned or blessed based on their physical decent. Students of the Word of God can be assured that these viewpoints are the result of a worldly disposition rather than a spiritual one. God is not so inequitable. There are untold millions of Christians who believe the physical descendants of Ishmael are in the disfavor with God, based on this account in Genesis, and many other Old Testament scriptures. They look at the Middle East today in that same light. Sighting current events with great confidence as being a prophetic fulfillment of Genesis and other OT scriptures. All centered on the physical descent of Jews and Arabs. The question must be asked though. How could this assessment be correct if Ishmael actually represents first Covenant, as opposed to the Arab peoples that may be physically descendant from him? The answer to this was in first sentence of Galatians 4:21..... are you not aware of what the law says? 22. For it is written, that Abraham had two sons. This story in Genesis is the Torah, the law. The apostle calls the account of Ishmael and Isaac in Genesis the Law for a specific reason. Because it is so clear a New Testament doctrine, that the Law of Moses has been done away. This is especially true in the case of these two peoples as Ephesians 2:14-16 declares unequivocally: 14 For Christ is our peace, who has made both (Jew and Gentile) one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility (the law of Moses,) 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law (of Moses) with it's commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so ending the hostility between them. 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. Then in Galatians 3:28 it says: There is neither Jew nor Greek (or: Jew nor Arab, descendant of Isaac or Ishmael,) there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.29. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's descendants, and inheritors of all the promises made to him. In reading this one must understand that this was the mystery that has been hidden from generations for ages. It was revealed to the Apostles as in Ephesians 3:3. How that by revelation he made known to me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words,) 4. So that, when you read it, you might understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ 5. Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6. That the Gentiles ( which includes the descendants of Ishmael and Esau) should be fellow heirs (with the Jews), and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.
The Account of Esau and Jacob Who Is Renamed Israel
Romans 9:1. I say the truth in Christ, I'm not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Ghost, 2. That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and separated Christ for my brothers, my own flesh: 4. Who are Israelites; theirs is the adoption, the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5. They are descendant from the fathers, through who's ancestry Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 6. Not as though Gods word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.: 7. Nor are they Abrahams children just because they are his physical descendants; but, "through Isaac a descendant will be called out to you" 8. That is, they which are the children by physical descent, these are not the children of God: but the descendants who came through the promise are considered children. 9. For this was the word of promise (from God), "At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son." 10. And not only this; but when Rebecca and Isaac had twins; 11. (and the children were not yet born, and not yet done any good or evil, that according to election the purpose of God might stand, not of works, but of him that calls;) 12. It was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger."13. As it is written, "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated."14. What shall we say then? Is there unfairness with God? God forbid. 15. For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16. So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. 17. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18. Therefore he has mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens. 19. You will say then to me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? 20. No, O man, who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus? 21. Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel for honor, and another to dishonor? 22. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction 23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared for glory, 24. Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Nations.
Paul starts his analysis of the prophetic symbolism concerning Esau
and Jacob by repeating the doctrine regarding the genuine children of
Abraham; saying the same thing about Israel. That just because
individuals are physical descendants of Israel, this does not make them
the Israel of God. He then uses the example of Isaac coming
miraculously via the promise of God to symbolize the messiah coming
miraculously via the promise of God. Which gives birth to the second
covenant. Ishmael once more is being used to symbolize those who are the
physical descendants of Israel who do not believe, and the first
covenant.
There is a very troubling circumstance that has arisen concerning these
verses. Since I have an great interest in this subject. Any time I hear
a pastor or teacher on the radio or TV about to use these verses, I pay
special attention. Without exception what always happens is that verse 6
is quoted:....For not all who are descended
from Israel are Israel. Then with a "the Bible is not bound by
any rules of literature" slight of hand. The rest of the verses are
disconnected from verses 1- 6 . They then go on to teach that physical
descendants of Ismael are not the children of God. Nor the descendants
of Esau. The Jews are the ones descended from Israel physically
therefore they are the children of God. Brothers and sisters. There is
great darkness across the land concerning Bible Prophecy if some of the most popular and
followed Bible teachers can get away with this. No wonder so many
Christians don't study their own Bibles themselves. It confuses them
when they read what is written in simple easy to understand terminology.
Then they hear their formally
educated leaders spin it to say just the opposite.
Therefore lets look at it a little closer. Verse 6 says: ....For
not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Israel is the
father of the twelve tribes of Israel which includes modern Jewish
people. Ishmael is Israel's uncle. He is in no way a descendant of
Israel. The subject matter is the direct descendants of Israel. That not
all descendants of Israel are true Israelites. Or as Paul is actually
teaching. Not every Israelite or Jewish person is a believer. It is
believers that are accounted as the children of God. This is what Paul
is in anguish about. That all though tens of thousands of Jews were
believers. Politically, Israel as a nation has rejected the messiah. The same
exact thing goes for Esau. Esau is the brother of Jacob who is renamed
Israel. He is in no way a descendant of Israel. What the Apostle is
teaching is that the accounts of these people were symbolic prophecies
of the realities that were to come to the earth through Christ.
They in and of themselves were not the realities.
Looking further then at the symbolism in that chapter. Both Ishmael and Esau were the first born. Isaac and Jacob the second born. God rejected both of the first born and accepted the second born. This is the pattern we will find in Genesis. The rejection of the first and the acceptance of the second. In Gods rejection of the firstborn Esau it goes as far as saying that he was rejected before he was even born. This divine election of the second over the first was that God's eternal purpose through Jesus Christ and the second covenant might stand. Yes, God was going to bring his Word into the earth through the physical descendants of Israel. However that was not the goal of the mission. The goal of the mission was the messiah and through him the salvation of all nations. The physical descendants of Israel were but a tool to accomplish something God had planned when the first people he made sinned. The rest of the chapter explains how God did all these things, that through them he might show mercy to all nations. This is the story of Esau and Jacob (Israel) in Genesis.
Genesis 25 19. And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20. And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21. And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. 23. And the Lord said to her, Two nations are in your womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from your bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. 24. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them. 27. And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29. And Jacob was cooking soup: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30. And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me with some of that red soup please; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 31. And Jacob said, Sell me this day your birthright. 32. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point of dying: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33. And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore to him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and soup made of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 27 1. And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said to him, My son: and he said answered, Behold, here am I. 2. And Isaac said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3. Now therefore please take, your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; 4. And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless you before I die. 5. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6. And Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard your father speak unto Esau your brother, saying, 7. Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless you before the Lord before my death. 8. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command you. 9. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from there two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for your father, such as he loves: 10. And you will bring it to your father, that he may eat, and that he may bless you before his death. 11. And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: 12. My father might feel me, and I will seem to him as a deceiver; and I will bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. 13. And his mother said to him, Upon me be your curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch them for me. 14. And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savory meat, such as his father loved. 15. And Rebekah took good clothing of her eldest son Esau, which was with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: 16. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: 17. And she gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 18. And he came to his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who are you, my son? 19. And Jacob said to his father, I am Esau your firstborn; I have done as you asked of me: arise, please, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me. 20. And Isaac said to his son, How is it that you hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord your God brought it to me. 21. And Isaac said to Jacob, Come near, please, that I may feel you, my son, whether you be my very son Esau or not. 22. And Jacob went near to Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him. 24. And he said, Are you my very son Esau? And he said, I am. 25. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless you. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank. 26. And his father Isaac said to him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. 27. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed: 28. Therefore God give you of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: 29. Let people serve you, and nations bow down to you: be lord over your brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to you: cursed be every one that curses you, and blessed be he that blesses you. 30. And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31. And he also had made savory meat, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that your soul may bless me. 32. And Isaac his father said to him, Who are you? And he said, I am your son, your firstborn Esau. 33. And Isaac trembled very hard, and said, Who? where is he that has taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? yes, and he shall be blessed. 34. And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said to his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 35. And he said, Your brother came with subtlety, and has taken away your blessing. 36. And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he has supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he has taken away my blessing. And he said, Have you not reserved a blessing for me? 37. And Isaac answered and said to Esau, Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now to you, my son? 38. And Esau said to his father, Have you but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 39. And Isaac his father answered and said to him, Behold, your dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; 40. And by your sword shall you live, and shall serve your brother; and it shall come to pass when you shall have the dominion, that you shall break his yoke from off your neck.
Other Symbolisms in Genesis That Prophetically Reject the First and Accept the Second
The New Testament does not specifically sight the rest of these stories in Genesis about the first born or that which is first as prophetic symbolisms of the first covenant. Likewise it does not declare the second born in the rest of the historical accounts as symbolic of the grace to come to all mankind through the second covenant. This shouldn't be a hindrance to the readers recognition though that they are in fact symbolic of these same things. They go through the exact same scenario of the rejection of the first and the embracing of the second. Look at the account of Adam in 1 Corinthians 15:45. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a life giving spirit. 46. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Then Romans 5:14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Adam just as the physical descendants of Israel and the Law were heralds of the spiritual realties that were to come into the whole earth. They're lives and the things they did being prophecies of what was to come. God by his rejection of the first man for his sin, showed beforehand his rejection of the first covenant. This is then repeated through his first born Cain being condemned and rejected by God and Abel his second born being accepted by God just like Ishmael and Isaac, then Esau and Jacob. This is their story below.
Genesis 1:26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. Genesis 2:16. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die. Genesis 3:1. Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2. And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 4. And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die: 5. For God knows that in the day you eat from it, your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit, and ate, and gave also to her husband with her; and he ate. 7. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 9. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said to him, Where are you? 10. And he said, I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11. And he said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, that I commanded that you should not eat? 12. And the man said, The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13. And the Lord God said to the woman, What is this that you have done? And the woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I did eat. 14. And the Lord God said to the serpent, Because you have done this, you art cursed above all animals, and above every beast of the field; upon your belly shall you crawl, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life: 15. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel. 16. Then to the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow in your conception; in sorrow you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you. 17. And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall thou eat of it all the days of your life; 18. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you; and you shall eat the herb of the field; 19. In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for you are dust, and to dust shall you return. 20. And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21. Then for Adam also and his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23. Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to plow the ground from from which was taken. 24. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim's, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Genesis 4:1. And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. 2. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4. And Abel, he also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offering: 5. But to Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6. And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? and why has your countenance fallen? 7. If you do well, shall you not be accepted? and if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And to you shall be his desire, and you need to rule over him. 8. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and murdered him. 9. And the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I don't know: am I my brother's keeper? 10. And he said, What is this you have done? the voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground. 11. And now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand; 12. When you plow the ground, it shall not yield to you her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shall you be in the earth. 13. And Cain said to the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14. Behold, you hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from your face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that finds me shall slay me. 15. And the Lord said to him, Therefore whosoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven times. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
According to Hebrews and 1st John the difference between Cain and Abel was that Abel's works were wrought through faith while Cain's works were not. The murder of his brother Abel demonstrated this. Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks.1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. The foreknowledge of God in these prophetic parallels is stunning. The very beginning of the world prophesying the first and second covenants and the salvation of mankind. This, through the lives of the main characters in book of Genesis exactly the same way one after another. It staggers the imagination that Moses could write this historical account 1400 years before the coming of Christ at the time of laying out the first covenant to the people of Israel. Yet he so plainly prophesied through the book of Genesis and the rest of the 5 books of the Law that it was all symbolic of the messiah and the age of the second covenant. This wasn't something he was doing without any knowledge of the future either, for it says of him in Exodus 34:28. And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. 29. And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses did not know that the skin of his face glowed while he talked with him. 30. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face glowed; and they were afraid to come close to him..... 33. And so while Moses was speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. Then in 2 Corinthians 3 it states the reason why Moses hid his face with a veil: So they would not perceive the revelation of the end, when the first covenant would be abolished. 2 Corinthians 3:13. And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: This was so clear to Moses that he spoke of that Messiah when he said in Deuteronomy 18:15. The Lord your God will raise up to you a Prophet from the midst of you, of your brothers, like me; to him you will listen; 16. According to all that you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.17. And the Lord said to me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brothers, like you, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19. And it shall come to pass, that who ever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. It is astonishing that Moses new the basic theme that this article is trying to communicate thousands of years before it came to pass, yet....Who was one of the men standing with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration but Moses, and what were they doing? Discussing the death of Jesus!
Then of course there was Moses' own life that illustrated the exact same thing that the lives of those he wrote about illustrated. In Deuteronomy 34 he was not allowed to bring the children of Israel into the promised land. While the word says it was because he did not have faith and had to strike the rock twice to bring water out, instead of once. One can hardly imagine that this was his greatest display of a lack of faith. God used this opportunity to once more prophecy his rejection of the first covenant in favor of the predestined second covenant. This was done in the most amazing way. First, in the very act of striking the rock. The first time the rock was struck it did not give forth the life giving water. Once more symbolizing that the First Covenant was not the vehicle that brings the water of life, but the second was. However in a much more amazing way that this. Joshua the man with the very same name as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the one who led the people into the promised land. The name Jesus in Hebrew is Joshua. Every one in the New Testament called Jesus Yashua, or Joshua (in English.) Just as it says in 1 Peter and many other verses of the New and Old Testaments. Jesus is the one who brings the people into the promises of God. So first we have Moses representing the First Covenant being rejected as far as who will lead the people into the promised inheritance. Then secondly, Joshua representing the Second Covenant leading the people into the promised inheritance. In this light, these verses in the letter to the Hebrews are amazing.
The Apostle Paul Marked For Death Because He Taught About This symbolism in Genesis
While this article does not cover all the symbolism in Genesis concerning the Fist and Second Covenants nor the symbolism about other subjects, most notably Christ. Hopefully it covers enough that the mind of the reader will be persuaded as to the validity of the subject as written. It would not be complete however without looking into what Apostle Paul suffered for preaching these things in his day. Paul's conversion was accompanied by this word from the Holy Spirit. Acts 9:16. For I will show him what great things he must suffer for my name's sake. (Perhaps not the word that most would want to hear when they came to Christ.) As it turned out most of the things he suffered were at the hands of, or because of his own countrymen who were Israelites. Paul was targeted for murder as a young convert, there were riots, stoning's, murder, persecutors that followed him from city to city, jealousy and hatred. This hyperlink details some of the Apostle Paul's Sufferings. One of the things that makes the persecution of Paul stand out in comparison with others is that when he went to Jerusalem, 40 men took an oath in the presence of the Jewish leaders to not eat or drink until they murdered Paul. Acts 23:11. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must you bear witness also at Rome. 12. And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. 14. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 15. Now therefore you with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down to you to morrow, as though you would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, when he comes near, are ready to kill him. 16. And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. It would almost seem that not even Jesus had this type of rage directed at him, certainly not the other Apostles. What could he have possibly done that seemed to single him out for such special treatment? One need to look no further than the public outcry that got him put in the prison in this episode. Mark his accusers words carefully: Acts 21: 27. And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28. Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teaches all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.29. (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30. And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and then the doors were shut. 31. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band (Romans), that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. 33. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. 34. And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. 35. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was carried by the soldiers for the violence of the people. 36. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. It can be easily ascertained through their accusations that what really was getting Paul into a bit more trouble than the other Apostles and believing Jews who where in Jerusalem at that time was Paul's teaching about the First Covenant. One must remember that Paul was preaching and teaching almost every day for many years. The things he wrote that are noted in this article, imagine how deeply he went into teaching them at times to the churches they started. One can easily imagine how it might get some Jewish people up in arms saying. "Ishmael and Esau in reality represent the Israelites who refuse to put their faith in God, and through his grace find true repentance." More so, imagine how Paul taught that all the good promises and prophecies regarding Jerusalem were in fact speaking of the heavenly Jerusalem. Moreover the earthly one is regarded as merely symbolic of the heavenly and is destined for destruction. Indeed, would not the response be from an ungrateful and faithless people that Paul was preaching against this place and against the temple?
Here are a number of other scriptures that Paul says he got via revelation about this very subject. They are fascinating in the light that this article is attempting to bring forth. These are the types of things that caused the Apostle Peter to call Paul's letters (which contained his revelation,) scripture. 2nd Peter 3:15. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you; 16. As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrestle with, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
For The Theologian and the Bible Prophecy Teacher
There's a new word going round in the last
decade or two. It's called "replacement theology." There are the
accusers and the accused. This section of the article isn't created to
defend the accused. It is however aimed at the heart of the accusers.
After reading this paper, maybe not right away. One would hope that
those who accuse others of "replacement theology" will see that they
themselves are guilty of what they accuse others of. In what way? Very
simply. You have replaced those who the Word of God calls the "Children
of Abraham" and "the Israel of God," with the physical descendants of
Israel. No one is saying (at least here) that Christians should
not be whole heartedly supportive of the modern nation of Israel. After
all this was one of the great mysteries alluded to in the book of Romans
11:25. For I would not, brothers, that you
should be ignorant of this mystery......that blindness in part is
happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come
in........ 31. Even so have these (Israelites) not
believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. To
interpret this a bit: When the world reaches a point where the gentile
believers are numerous enough that their righteousness becomes a
standard for human behavior and civilization. And..... When the age of
the gentiles is over. The time when the four gentile empires (Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greek and Roman) ruled over and suppressed the gospel of
Christ. In that age, (which is the age we currently reside in,) the
physical descendants of Israel will find mercy. They will find
mercy because it is the right thing to do, to be merciful. They will
find mercy because the nations that are influenced by the gospel will be
powerful enough to help protect them. (Satan in his rage has a
score to settle with the people who brought the Word.) They will find
mercy because God has always wanted to show them mercy. (God just
needed a people who are merciful to show his mercy.) They will find
mercy because they are more righteous than those who seek their
destruction. They will find mercy because they will ally themselves with
nations that are influenced by the gospel against nations that are
oppressed by the wicked. Finally and hopefully. They will find
mercy.....some day..... because politically, they as a nation will
discover the gospel themselves. Even though many may not accept the
messiah personally. They will accept that overall, the influence
of the gospel is a good thing for them and the world in general.
Is this not what you see with your own eye's? Is this not what you hope
to see? Yet I say to you. This cannot be done ultimately, with
false teachings regarding race and descent in the hearts of God saints.
The Symbolisms in Genesis Are Not mere Theology
This section of the article will deal with the practical
application of these symbolisms.
Christians for the most part do not know their responsibilities or the
power that has been given to them in this life. Here are two scriptures
that are an example. John 20:21. Then said Jesus to them again,
Peace be to you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22. And
when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive
the Holy Ghost: 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if
you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (NIV) Matthew 16:19.
And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and what ever
you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven. The simple meaning of these two verses
is that God put his own power to change things in the hands of his
people. He and his people are supposed to be one as Jesus and his Father
were one, (John 17:11.) This is not abstractly either, God intended this
from the beginning. God did not stop Satan from hanging around his
creation. It was Adam and Eve who were given the power and authority
to keep Satan out of their world. Because they lacked faith in Gods
word, and and embraced Satan's word; they allowed the devil to bring sin
and death into the earth. Christ came to destroy the work of Satan in
the earth, (1st John 3:8). He has chosen to do this exactly the way he started at
first, by giving his people the power to rid the earth of Satan's
influence.
There are many other versus on this subject. As far as
these two are concerned, they go so much deeper than standard
Pentecostal speak: "I bind you devil" type thing. These verses
extend to the very
heart and soul of what an individual is or is not, in Christ. Even more
than this. They stretch to what the believer allows to happen to others,
and even to nations. Putting it another way. Christians whether they
realize it or not, are giving Satan a place in the world to deal out
death and destruction. They are doing this because they are ignorant of
Gods word, and have accepted Satan's word.
"Blessed are the peacemakers" Jesus says, "they shall be called the
children of God" Yet through the embracing of lies concerning the
physical descendants of Israel and the physical descendants of Ishmael
and Esau. Christians are indirectly allowing Satan access to whole
nations of people. To kill, steal and destroy. These words not some kind
of advocacy to bring these peoples to the table to talk peace, that is
ridiculous. There are fallen angles in almost total control of hearts and minds. There
will never be peace, that is, as long as Christians allow these beings
to control this part of the world. No! God is not allowing this, his
people are. They are the ones, they carry the responsibility and
the power according to their faith. If their faith is in the words of
Satan then they are literally giving him power to control an area of the
world. Just as Adam gave Satan control of his world.
It is understandable that many will reject words such as these because
they do not have any spiritual experience in these matters, at least
that they perceive. It is advisable to not throw caution and the fear of
God to the wind as to the validity of these claims. It is the scripture
that is being quoted, "Whatever you loose in the earth is loosed."
To put it in wording that is simpler, "whatever you allow on earth is
allowed and whatever you do not allow will not be allowed." Hundreds of
millions of Christians and the vast majority; yes even the
greatest preachers and teachers of the day are proclaiming,
believing and praying according to a lie spawned in their hearts. (No
doubt by Satan himself.) They say: "The natural born descendants of Israel are Gods chosen people.
The Arabs and (Muslims in general) are cursed
by God according to their descent and is why they are at war with
Israel." They might even quote a scripture like this: Malachi 1:
4..... and they shall call them, (the
descendants of Esau) the border of
wickedness, and, the people against whom the Lord hath indignation for
ever. How can this be though? How can the scripture plainly teach
through prophecy, symbolism and apostolic New Testament doctrines: That
Esau, Ishmael and even Adam and Cain were merely prophetic symbols of the
first covenant; that God had predestined to have an end? How could the
bulk of modern day Christians and almost all of their teachers make the
exact mistake the Jews of the first century made doctrinally? How can a
whole generation of modern day Christians believe the very things that
the Jewish Nation of the first Century believed? Something that they
were rebuked for by Christ, his disciples and not to mention Moses and
the prophets. How can they throw this hostile teaching in the face of a
billion Muslims that God wants to save?
Think about this in a practical
sense, (not that Mohammed thought this.) Mohammed reads the Old
Testament and especially notices that he and his people for really
no reason that he can see are hated and cursed by God. Furthermore he
thinks he reads that the Jews are
accepted and given promises of absolute dominion over the Arabs.
Who knows if the Christians of the day were not preaching
this very thing just as they do today. Mohammed (and all men for that
matter) knew that God could not be so unjust. How easy was it for Satan
to send him a message that Abraham actually tried to sacrifice Ishmael
rather than Isaac? That the descendants of Ishmael have the blessing and
the Jews are the cursed ones? Amazing that neither Jew nor Muslim (nor
modern day Christian for that matter) have it right. The story did
not mean what any of these groups thought. Ishmael and Esau
were rejected specifically to show that the way of reconciliation and
salvation in the earth was not through the rites and rituals of the
First Covenant; but through the faith in and of the Messiah that was to
come. How tragic that the people that are supposed to be the light of
the world are preaching the Law that built a wall of hostility between
Jew and Arab in the first place, (Ephesians 2:14-16.) How utterly
amazing in a horrible way that the whole New Testament spends chapter
after chapter condemning these types of
interpretations. Jesus himself went to great lengths to
show the lack of understanding of all things scriptural to the people of
his day. Yet today this same darkness that played a part in
destruction of the Jewish nation in 70 A.D. is the message one can hear
from pulpits all over the world.
Jesus is Evangelizing the Muslim World
In case you have not heard, Jesus himself has taken up personally evangelizing the Muslim world. He is appearing to hundreds of Muslims every year, bringing them to his saving grace and making them mighty soul winners amongst their own people. The story of the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus is being repeated all over the world to the glory of God and his great mercy. It is time to get in on what God is doing brothers and sisters. It has to start by tearing down (once more) this wall that brings hostility between Jew and Muslim, between Christian and Muslim. It has to start in the heart of the believer in repentance for being a contributor to Satan's kingdom, and not heeding the scripture that is meant to correct and bring life to a dying sinful world. The call here is not to political action. The call is to bring down this demonically inspired notion that resides in the spirit of the believer that the Muslim nations will not\cannot come to Christ. When the fact is, they are as predestined as any other people to do just that. The invitation from the Father in heaven to his people is to contribute to his government by thoroughly and heartily embracing the idea that God looks at Muslim and Jew through the exact same eyes. To him they are no different and his desire, his will, is to save. God is adamant, he will have a people that will change the Middle East through his Word, through faith in his Word and through the preaching of the Gospel. He invites you even now to participate in this great endeavor through your faith and a change of heart. Or..... you can wander in the wilderness until he finds a generation that has a heart to follow him. There will be peace in the Middle East when the Gospel runs it's full course there. Just as there is peace amongst other nations where the Gospel has a strong influence. May it be said of you at the end of your days "Blessed are you, a peace maker, truly a child of God."
Isaiah 19:21. And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yes, they shall vow a vow to the Lord, and perform it. 22. And the Lord shall strike Egypt: he shall strike and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. 23. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. 24. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: 25. Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.
There are over a hundred chapters of Bible prophecy about a growing free world before the book of Daniel ever uttered a word of end time prophecy. A world in which kings and emperors, dictators and warlords, are being brought to nothing. A world in which there is no more legal slavery and the earthly promises of God made to a hundred generations of saints, unfulfilled in their time, could finally begin to come to pass. This simply could not occur in the ancient despotic world where the poor masses had little to no control of their temporal or even their eternal destinies. The prophecies you will read about in this book promised an era of conditional freedom and prosperity for many nations. They promise God’s people who live in these nations will be free from the fear of oppression, and that they will be able to raise their children as they see fit. They promise the nations and peoples most influenced by the Bible and its principles will be the dominant nations in the world, just as they have been for the last 500 years. None of this occurred when the Messiah came, or with the end of the first covenant age and the horrible destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. In fact, it got even worse for true believers after that. It certainly did not occur when European empires and kingdoms began to claim Christianity. This all began to occur in a specific year prophesied in Daniel and Revelation, and for a specific reason. The journey you take through “The Bible’s Prophecies about the Free World” is going to change your life and rock the world around you. Nothing will ever be the same. Nothing will ever be the same. Order you copy of The Bible's Prophecy About The Free World today! Paperback, hardcover or e-book.
1st Corinthians 2:9.....no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace,
who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to
Zion, “Your God reigns.” ESV
Psalm 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that
published it.
© 2002-2016 Daniel Martinovich
