Below are two charts which display the correlation between the temporal shadow of the wanderings of the children of Israel, and that for which it stood in shadow: the "last days" of the Old Covenant "aeon".
Posted on 08/19/2002 6:10:32 PM PDT by vannrox
By Todd D. Dennis (todd@preteristarchive.com)
There are many wonderful methods of Biblical study that help to dredge up the depths of the "mysteries of God". These methods allow the average Bible student to go beyond the typical superficial gleanings of New Testament Scripture, and find the great and numerous means employed by God to foreshow the events that would find their eternal fulfillment in the first century. Among these all, the most exciting and rewarding may be the study of Old Testament typology, compared with the New Testament fulfillments thereof.
Paul declared the fundamental principle of this means of study, by saying, "Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual" (I Cor. 15:46). God revealed the mysteries of the eternal plan of redemption through the usage of temporal shadows. We are told that "Abraham had two sons," and thereby are given a glimpse into the significance of Scriptural allegory and typology. It is through this relationship between the two sons of Abraham that we are shown the eternal purposes of God, in regards to the two covenants, revealed from its previously shrouded mystery. Of all the types and shadows of the Old Testament, however, perhaps none is as pervasive, and therefore important, as the shadows revealed in the relationship between "forty," and the fulfillment of promises.
Throughout the Old Testament we find this usage of the number forty- God, through numerology, allowing a glimpse into the nature of the eternal realities, through the framework of temporal shadows. Examples of this usage are the forty days and nights that God caused it to rain upon the face of the earth; also, in the length of the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon (Acts 13:21; II Sam. 5:4). Besides these, we see forty used as a temporal shadow in the duration of Jonah's preaching of judgment to the Ninevites (Jon. 3:4), and the number of days that the spies of Canaan searched out the land (Num. 13:25).
The New Testament underscores the importance of this typological number, by showing God's continuance of its responsibilities well into the New Testamentary time. Christ fasted for forty days and forty nights, and continually preached that the generation then living would see the judgment of God. In fact, Christ preached the very same judgment upon the city that Jonah did.
We find the most significant numerological type of all in one of the most striking events in the account of Scripture - the forty years of wilderness wandering leading up to the possession of the temporal land of promise. In fact, Paul himself wrote that the surrounding events of the wilderness wandering "were our examples" (I Cor. 10:6), and that "they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world (aion-age) have come" (v.11).
That this event would be considered one of the greatest (and plainest) allegories of the Old Testament, should be no surprise to Bible students. In fact, one of the first lessons a student of types and shadows will learn is the lofty place given to the Exodus out of Egypt. It is this event which presents the clearest correspondences to the redemptive work of Christ, and the time- frame of its fulfillment.
To be more specific, the exodus out of Egypt and into the promised land, by the children of Israel under Moses, is a direct shadow of the exodus of the New Testamentary generation from the cross to the entrance into the eternal land of rest. We will see a number of similarities between the two; not only in the area of principles and concepts, but also in the chronological time-frame of the periods under consideration.
Below are two charts which display the correlation between the temporal shadow of the wanderings of the children of Israel, and that for which it stood in shadow: the "last days" of the Old Covenant "aeon".
It is the proposition of this writer that the exodus out of Egypt, the forty years of wilderness wandering, and the inheritance of the temporal land of rest, stood as declaratory shadows of the "last days" of the Old Covenant, which saw the counterparts thereof- the cross, the forty year generation of the "last days," and the inheritance of the everlasting land of rest at the parousia of Christ.
In looking at the above charts, we find a number of very important conceptual correlations that display the relationship between (1) the typology of the Exodus to the land inheritance, and (2)the fulfillment from the cross to the coming of Christ in His kingdom:
1. The first established a temporary contract of God with the people He chose- the Old Covenant. The second established a permanent contract- the New Covenant.
2. One introduced the first Passover with the blood of lambs. The other fulfilled the type with the sacrifice of the final Passover Lamb (i.e. Jesus Christ).
3. One brought God's people physical deliverance by crossing through the Red Sea. The other brought God's people spiritual deliverance by the working of the cross of Christ, whereby we 'cross through' the Crimson sea.
4. The first was preceded by physical slavery- the bondage of the Hebrews in Egypt. The second was preceded by spiritual slavery, man's bondage to Spiritual Egypt (i.e. The elements of the Law [Gal. 4:3] and the 'body of sin' - [Rom. 6:6]).
5. Fifty days after the first Passover in Egypt, the Law was given to the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, written upon tables of stone. (according to Jewish tradition - searching for cite). Fifty days after the final Passover was sacrificed, the Law was given to the "Israel of God", written upon their hearts by the Spirit of God (II Cor. 3:3; Heb. 8:10).
6. On the day that the Law was given, 3,000 died for worshipping the golden calf, signifying the covenant of the law that brought death (Ex. 32:28; cf. II Cor. 3:16-18). On the day the Spirit was given, 3,000 were added into Christ and received life (Acts. 2:41), signifying the covenant of the Spirit that brought life.
7. When OT Israel departed from natural Israel it took the natural wealth of natural Egypt with it (Ex. 12:36) and when Christ, the true Israel, departed from spiritual Egypt (natural Jerusalem, Rev. 11:8) he took the spiritual wealth of spiritual Egypt with him, i.e., all of the OT promises that natural Jerusalem forfeited when it rejected and killed its Messiah.
8. OT Israel departed from natural Egypt in haste and therefore Christ departed from spiritual Egypt in haste -- Pilate marveled at how quickly he died (Mk. 15:44).
9. OT Israel was taken to the tomb of Joseph (Ex. 13:19) and Christ, the true Israel, was taken to the tomb of another Joseph.
Very few would disagree that the above points are fulfillments of the shadows given at the time of the Exodus. It is the opinion of this writer, however, that the correlation does not stop with the initial workings of the exodus, but also with the entrance into the land of temporal rest, forty years later. It is forwarded that, just as the children of faith were allowed to enter into the temporal land of rest the first time, the children of faith in the generation directly following the cross of Christ were given entrance into the eternal land of rest.
Therefore, besides the conceptual similarities, there is also a direct chronological solidarity between the two, for:
7. With each covenant, a 40 year transition period followed the initial act of deliverance, unto the entrance into the land of promise.
Christ specifically told the disciples at the "last supper," "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2-3). This reception was into, what is described in Hebrews as, "a better country, that is an heavenly" (11:16). The significance in this, is that the believers among the people of Israel did not receive the promises of the Promised land, when they entered into Palestine (Heb 4:6-9). This promise was in regards to the fulfillment of redemption and eternal life in the kingdom of God, which entrance was corporately given to all believers at the end of the 40 years from the cross to the coming of Christ.
The fulfillment, then, of the shadow of entering into the land of promise, was left to those of faith, who would be ushered into the kingdom when Christ returned to "bring them unto himself, that where he is they may be also." If Christ has not come yet today, then all believers are still waiting to be ushered into that eternal land of rest (Heb. 4:9, See also New Testament Eschatology). But we believe that He has returned, and has fulfilled all aspects of the "exodus shadow," using the very same chronology in the first century, as He did in the initial shadow; in fact, in addressing the actual generation of the "last days" of the Old Covenant (AD 30-70), the book of Hebrews (specifically chapters three and four) directly makes this argument.
The following points continue the shadow of the Exodus, and show the chronological similarities between the two. The purpose of this is to show the time-frame of the believers' entrance into the heavenly country, for which Palestine only stood in shadow:
1. Both forty year periods are described as a time of particular "temptation" (Heb. 3:8; Luke 8:13, 11:4, 22:40), through which they must needs endure unto the end, to be saved (Heb. 3:13-14; see also New Testament Eschatology).
2. During both periods, the people hardened their hearts, tempted God, and distinctly rejected the word of the Lord.
3. During both periods, the people saw God's works forty years (Heb 3:9; Acts 2:17-21). God manifested Himself to His people by signs and wonders; in the desert under Moses' leadership, daily manna, miraculous supplies of water or meat, and the appearance of the cloud and the fiery pillar revealed God's presence. In the transition period to the New Covenant, the apostles had special gifts of healing, prophecy, and tongues-speaking, and testified to the coming of the kingdom of God and the destruction of the wicked (I Cor 14:22, see Tongues, a Biblical View). These gifts were specifically slated to end, once Christ had come, and not until (I Cor. 13:8-10).
4. During both periods, God was particularly grieved with the generation of men then living (Heb 3:10; Matt. 23:34-36, etc.).
5. During both periods, the wicked were severed from among the just, and not allowed to enter into the land of promise (Heb 3:11,17; Matt. 12:30, 13:49 - see $10,000 Challenge).
6. At the end of the first 40 year period, the Israelites of faith entered the temporal land of promise, in which God enabled them to defeat their physical foes. At the end of the second 40 year period, salvation was complete, and God's people entered their eternal Promised Land in which God enabled them to defeat their spiritual enemies (I Cor. 15:26,54-57).
7. The natural judgment of natural Egypt occurred when OT Israel emerged safely from the Red Sea, and therefore the spiritual judgment of spiritual Egypt (natural Jerusalem) occurred when Christ emerged safely from the tomb. During the OT 40 years, those who lacked belief in God's ability to enable OT Israel to overcome the natural dominion of the usurpers in their natural promised land (Canaan) and yearned instead to return to the natural bondage of natural Egypt "fell in the wilderness" (Heb. 3:17) and during the NT 40 years, Paul warned that those who lacked belief in God's ability to enable them to overcome the spiritual dominion of the usurpers in the church's spiritual promised land (the world) and yearned instead to return to the spiritual bondage of spiritual Egypt (natural Jerusalem) "would fall from grace" (Gal. 5:1-4).
The physical illustrations in the Old Covenant are fulfilled in each case by the spiritual realities of the New. The second is a spiritual (rather, an eternal) covenant with victory over spiritual slavery and spiritual death, bringing eternal deliverance through a spiritual Passover resulting in our new eternal life and eternal salvation. Christ has allowed His people entrance into the Holiest of all through his very presence (parousia)!
One shocking but solidifying change that is brought into the parousia-conscious Christian is the realization that they do, indeed, see God face to face. This can be extremely jarring, but we must remember that in His presence is fullness and joy. The first comment made by the angel of the Lord to the people in His presence was usually something like "fear not."
Recognize, instead instead of turning back, that you have been called to a life akin to that of the Crusaders of long ago - except that our battles are those against spiritual wickedness. We are involved in the total domination of the earth by the zeal of our King -- there is a lot for you to do! And all you have to do to find your role is to petition the Commander in chief -- He'll have you in the battlefield soon enough (allow months and years for spiritual training - like that of Saul/Paul), so be careful for what you ask!
All of these types and shadows displayed in the Exodus, found their fulfillment in the exodus of God's people from the bondage of sin, to the eternal rest in Christ. Any expectation of another coming, or future fulfillment of these promises of rest reflects a lack of appreciation for (due to a lack of understanding of) what we now have in Christ - eternal life in His kingdom.
Rev.1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Things that must happen before His return:
Matt.24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matt.24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
2Thess.2:1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that] [Day] [will] [not] [come] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains [will] [do] [so] until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
Things that will happen at or immediately after His return:
1Thess.4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
2Pet.3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner [of] [persons] ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Rev.19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes [were] like a flame of fire, and on His head [were] many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He [was] clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on [His] robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 "that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all [people], free and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Rev.20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is [the] Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I] [saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received [his] mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy [is] he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number [is] as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet [are]. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is [the] [Book] of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev.21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them [and] [be] their God. 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Etc., etc., …
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