THOSE WHO OVERCOME

Bible Symbolism

The laws of nature and natures God

Being free, overcoming, living above the natural consequences brought into this world through mankind's refusal to walk in accordance with the laws of nature and natures God is a huge subject and very controversial to some people. It should suffice to say that living in the fullness of what God is willing to provide based on the many wonderful promises in scripture is available but rarely obtained. This, not due to an unwillingness on Gods part to provide according to the veracity of his Word but because we fail personally, as churches and as nations to meet the conditions laid out in his Word. Nevertheless, none of this taken in context of the scripture as a whole speaks of an all or nothing existence in Christ; meaning: The promise is good but there are many toils and snares in the world not just for individuals but generations that the grace of God must bring us through to find his promises . Condensed in a phrase: " And there shall be no more curse....."

When the Bible speaks of "curses" it is speaking of a number of different things. For the purposes of this subject it is a reference to the natural consequences and downward spiral of a person, culture or nation doing wrong. In fact 90% of the "judgment" of God oft referenced in scripture is just that. The natural consequences of a person or people walking contrary to the very laws of the nature God created them with. God actually intervening in the affairs of men to bring about some kind of penalty for lawlessness comprises the remaining 10% of what the Bible calls "Gods judgment." This may not be apparent to many, especially with a superficial reading of God's Word and Christian walk. The partial light of the Old Testament confuses some to think in terms of everything that happens, God sent or allowed it. This is true only in the sense that he created us, our world and the unseen world with specific unalterable natures were positive and negative effects are caused by right or wrong ideologies and actions. This is exploited by actors both seen and unseen, good and bad to bring about desired effects. God is able to intervene or not intervene in all of this in many different ways, and he does, in answer to faith, prayer, cry's for deliverance or to cause an effect in accordance with his good plans for the earth.

Here are some of the Bible's "curses" and promises of freedom from them that are available to those who meet the conditions; who "dwell" within the walls of this illustrative city of God. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. 16 To the woman he said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and 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 you 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 dust you are, and to dust shall you return.

Here we have some of the effects, or as it were, the "curse" for Adam and Eve not trusting the Word of the Lord and allowing Satan free reign in the earth. Instead of a commitment to what is right they committed their wills to the gratification of their bodies, emotions and thoughts and the world given to them to preserve and nurture for Gods wonderful purposes was brought into ruin. The majority of their descendants followed the same path and history records the results. Degradation and death. Not only on a personal level but to society, the planet and ecosystem itself. Not only is everything suffering the results of the choices made by Adam and Eve, plus most of our ancestors for that matter. The commitment of the will to the gratification of these flesh bodies and the choices that result from that commitment are criminal behavior in the eye's of the government of God. The demands of justice for this lawlessness must be satisfied for the law abiding public both in heaven and earth to maintain any sense of right and wrong and trust in the government of God. Therefore that prison called hell created for the devil and his angels is now housing multitudes of human beings who are not fit for the responsibilities and enjoyments of heaven.

Here are some verses to show how God has brought people out of these circumstances. Romans 5:8 But God exhibits his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, (his death,) we shall be saved from wrath through him, 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever trusts in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn, (pass judgment on) the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (Healed, preserved, delivered form judgment or the "curse.") What we see in these verses and many others in scripture is the universal reality of a just government not being able to safely forgive lawless behavior without some way to satisfy the publics sense justice. This was accomplished by Jehovah the Word of God becoming a man and taking the death penalty for mankind's sins himself. Why this such a universal reality and necessity can be seen in virtually any form of human government today. If said government forgives lawless behavior, if justice is not administered not only does it not work any repentance in the lawbreakers but it creates distrust of that government by the law abiding. If it continues the law abiding cannot but arrive at the opinion that the government itself is in collusion with the lawbreakers and is despotic. It should also go without saying that a true and heartfelt repentance, a turning away from how you lived in the past and towards God is another condition for reconciliation with God and his government. Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord...There are many different ways the scripture looks at all of this and explains it. This is not meant to be an exhaustive study on the subject but a short explanation.

Throughout the Bible the one effect of Adams faithlessness and disobedience the world will not be alleviated is our bodies growing old and dying. (Who wants to live 500 years in this flesh body anyway!) The scripture is replete though with promise that since our sins are forgiven the reason decay and death exists is done away. Therefore it is the explicate scriptural will of God that sickness, disease, infirmity, permanent disablement no longer rule over or subjugate those who live within the walls of this illustrative city. Meaning. if certain conditions are met people can find very real and supernatural deliverance from these maladies that exist because sin exists in the world. Isaiah 53 is one of the clearest scriptures about this. Written 700 years before the messiah came.

Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with sickness, malady and disease: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our sicknesses, maladies and diseases, and carried our anguish and afflictions : yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul to death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalms 103 AKJV 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Mark 2:3 And they come to him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come near to him for the crowds, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy, Son, your sins be forgiven you. 6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said to them, Why reason you these things in your hearts? 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Your sins be forgiven you; or to say, Arise, and take up your bed, and walk? 10 But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (he said to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say to you, Arise, and take up your bed, and go your way into your house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God,

Isaiah 33:24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Deuteronomy 28 is a good example of the promised effects of a nation walking in the light or the promised effects of walking in darkness. You can also see the promise of this in the prophecies to the seven churches in Asia. Notice how overcoming the darkness that was in or attacking these churches is a condition of being in that place, "within the walls" where there "is no more curse. "

The "curse" of the law.

Another important aspect of this concerns ancient Israel's role in being chosen by God to bring the Word of God into the world. God in his great wisdom and foreknowledge chose to bring his Word into the earth to save and transform the world through one tribe, one nation. Considering the circumstances of the world this brought many inherent advantages to his purpose but still left him with one inherit disadvantage. If God was going to use a single nation of people to do this, what was he going to do with the unbelievers among them? Just as it would have been if he chose any other family on earth; the sad fact was the majority of the population would usually be faithless and disobedient; plus there would be a minority percentage of hard core wicked who would be actively used by Satan to thwart the whole enterprise. His Word would be written by the faithful, full of the Holy Spirit among them. The birth of the messiah would come through a godly mother in a setting of great signs and wonders where she and those she was close to were filled with the presence of God. But what of what was usually a majority of the population? Faithless, idolaters, the wicked, the followers of what was popular at the time? How on earth could he use them? The answer to that was the rites and rituals, times\seasons feast days of the Mosaic Law imposed on them with great penalties for not keeping it. As the scripture says. Galatians 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before by God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect....19 How does the law serve then? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed (the messiah) should come to whom the promise was made...

A careful study of the Law, the first 5 books of the Bible will yield a lot of amazing things. Some of the most remarkable prophecies in the Bible. Eternal principles and some direct laws applicable to all ages and peoples that are in perfect accord with the laws of nature and natures God. A historical record of creation up to the founding of the nation of Israel. Then what would be known as the rites and rituals, days and seasons given to ancient Israel. Much of this is locked up in code, symbolic language and prophetic illustrations to be revealed to future generations. That is why when most think about the law of Moses they are usually thinking in terms of the rites, rituals, days feasts that pertain to the nation of ancient Israel. These were later to be revealed in both the OT and NT as the preaching of the Gospel and the Word of God in code. Look at it this way. The faithful in ancient Israel were given the Gospel, they were to believe in him that was to come. They like todays believers were given the Holy Spirit in the name of the Lord. They were given the honor and privilege of preaching, teaching and spreading the Word. As long as the sin of the nation as a whole did not rob them of it they partook of the benefits, the promises related to a nation that does righteousness. The rest of the people though? Those who did not share in the faith that comes through grace. Who did not partake of the precious gift of God and the power of the ages to come? They preached the Gospel in code through the keeping of the rites and rituals of the Mosaic law. This was imposed on them "....until the descendent should come to whom the promise was made...... Galatians 3:19. 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 fact that the law preached the Gospel symbolically or in code beforehand and illustrated the realties that were to come in prophecy is why it was referred to as a school teacher in Galatians 3:24 The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

In conclusion, since the nation of Israel is no longer being used to bring the Word of God into the earth, since the mission was completed. They as a nation or people are not longer under the "curse of the Law." Meaning there is no requirement to keep the rites and rituals, feast days and times and seasons of the Mosaic law. Further, since the physical city of Jerusalem was a type and shadow, an illustration of the New Jerusalem that was to come and only represented the reality of all the promises of God coming into the world; it is no longer being used by God to prophetically illustrate that which was to come. That is what these scriptures which are in the context of a question whether Christians would be keeping some of the these rites and rituals of the Mosaic law teach. Galatians 3: 5 He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, does he it by the keeping of the works (the rites and rituals) of the (Mosaic) law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know you therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel to Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them. 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Hebrews 12:18 For you are not come to the mount that might be touched, (Mt Sinai) and that burned with fire, nor to blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more.......22 But you are come to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant...... As these verses in Hebrews clearly state, the believers, Jew and Gentile come to Mt Zion the heavenly Jerusalem, the New Jerusalem, and not to Mount Sinai where the Mosaic law was given; as it also says in Galatians 4:21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the (Mosaic) 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, (the slave woman.) 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.

Then what of modern Israel?

It is understood that those who are caught up into the the pop culture end time teachings that pervade the Christian world right now could be a bit discombobulated by reading the section about being free from the curse of the law because modern Israel is the center piece of these teachings and prophecy. The article Symbolism in the Book of Genesis is designed to end the confusion and false teachings\prophecy that swirl around the modern nation. The scripture the article points out is indisputable and easily changes the most ardent end time prophecy purveyors minds on the subject. It clearly shows the place of modern Israel in the world in the prophecy that is actually talking about it. It also properly separates it from the prophecy about the New Jerusalem and places it where it belongs in regards to the end time prophecy of the last two ages.

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