Parable Principle

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Parable Principle

             In the New Testament instances of the word, it is used of a story with a hidden meaning, without pressing, in every detail, the idea of a comparison.[1]

             I know of twenty-three parables in the Old Testament and forty-three in the New Testament.  Because this book is not about parables, but only just this one chapter, I will only discuss two here.  One parable in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.

             This likeness is generally only in some special point.  One person may be like another in appearance, but not in character, and vice versa; so that when the resemblance or likeness is affirmed it is not to be concluded that the likeness may be pressed in all points, or extended to all particulars.[2]

             For example, a lion is used as a resemblance of Christ, on account of his strength and prowess.  The Devil is likened to “a lion” because of his violence and cruelty.  Christ is compared to a thief, on account of his coming, being unexpected; not on account of dishonesty.[3]

            The resemblance is to be sought for in the scope of the context, and in the one great truth which is presented, and the one important lesson which is taught:  and not in all the minute details with which these happen to be associated.[4]

       The interpretation of the parable be must further distinguished from any application which may be made of it.  For example:  in the Parable of the “Ten Virgins” (Matthew 25:1-12), the interpretation belongs to some special point of time immediately preceding the return of the Lord to the earth.  This is indicated by the word “Then,” with which it commences, and by its place in relation to the context.  Any lesson for ourselves, as to watchfulness on our part, must come as an application of it to present circumstances.[5]

            Bad Vineyard.  Isaiah 5:1-7:  In this parable God, through the prophet Isaiah, is telling the people of Israel that He had carefully planted them in good soil and cared for them.  But they have been a bad vine and did not produce any good fruit and God is planning on pulling them up. God gave this prophetic parable just before the Babylonian captivity.

            The proceeding chapter, chapter four, is about restoring Jerusalem.  After this great hope then God explains His future judgment of Israel.  The first half of the fifth chapter is the parable in discussion.  The second half of the fifth chapter is about the evil that men do.  In chapter seven we have the calling in prophecy of the Messiah.  So, God gives the Jews great hope before and after this parable of judgment.

       “Now will I sing to my well beloved   a song of my beloved touching his vineyard.  My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:”

             And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a wine press therein:  and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

             And now, o inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

       What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?  Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard:  I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and brake down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

             And I will lay it waste:  it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns:  I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

       For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant:  and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

             The Two Sons- Matthew 21:28-32:  This parable is spoken by Jesus inside the Temple in Jerusalem to the chief priests and the elders.  Jesus reserved His harshest words for the self-righteous religious people who thought they had no need for mercy!

            But what think ye?  A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, son, go work today in my vineyard.

            He answered and said, I will not:  but afterward he repented, and went.

            And he came to the second, and said likewise.  And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

            Whether of them twain did the will of his father?  They say unto him, the first.  Jesus saith unto them, verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

            For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not:  but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

1.      [1] E. W. Bullinger.  Figures of Speech used in the Bible.  Baker Book House.  Grand Rapids, MI.  1968, p. 751.

2.      [2] ibed.

3.      [3] ibed, 751-2.

4.      [4]ibed.

5.      [5] ibed.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

Roop-Crappell Ministries

Literary Structure Principle

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Literary Structure Principle

            This is a principle where God, through His Bible writers, structures Scripture in an organized way to make a certain point, or communicate additional information.  Literary structure is common in literature and especially in poetry.  Books have been written about this subject, so I will just give a few examples of Alternation and Introverted Parallelism.

Examples of Alternation:

Joshua- 4:1-9:  An alternation pattern in describing a building of a memorial to God.

A. Twelve men.

            B.  Twelve stones.

                        C. The place.

A.  Twelve men.

            B.  Twelve stones.

                        C.  The memorial.

A.  Twelve men.

            B.  Twelve stones.

                        C.  The place.

The Book of Jonah:  The book of Jonah is a very organized writing done in an alternation fashion.

A.  Calling. 

B. Disobedience.

                        C.  Consequences.

                                    D.  Prayer.

                                                E.  Deliverance.

A.  Calling.

            B.  Obedience.

                        C. Consequences.

                                    D. Prayer.

                                                E. Correction.

            Proverb 31:  This proverb is written in an alternation fashion after a short introduction.

A.  Her husband.

            B.  Her occupation.

                        C. Her Character.

                                    D. Her household.

                                                E. Herself.

A. Her husband.

            B. Her occupation.

                        C. Her character.

                                    D. Her household.

                                                E. Herself.

2 Thessalonians:  The Apostle Paul used alternation in forming his thoughts in his second letter to the Thessalian church.  This is a very long example of alternation, so I will not write it out here, but it can be found in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-3:15.

A few other examples can be found in John 3:20-21; Matthew 23:16,17; Acts 2: 14-36; Ezekiel 36: 26,27; Jeremiah 17: 5-8; 1 Corinthians 3:6,7; Psalms 1; Isaiah 55:8-9.

Examples of Introverted Parallelism:

Isaiah 6:10:  Here is a small version of introverted Parallelism.

A.  Heart.

B. Ears.

            C. Eyes.

            C. Eyes.

B. Ears.

A. Heart

            Luke 1:68-79:  Here is a larger one given to us by the Apostle Luke.

A. Visitation.

            B. Salvation.

                        C. Prophets.

                                    D. Enemies.

                                                E. Covenant.

                                                E. Oath.

                                    D. Enemies.

                        C. Prophet.

            B. Salvation.

A. Visitation.

Other examples of Introverted Parallelism being used are in Genesis 3:19; Exodus 9:31; Numbers 15: 35,36; Deuteronomy 32:16; 1 Samuel 1:2; 2 Samuel 3:1; 1 Kings 16:22; 2 Chronicles 32:7; Psalm 8; Psalm 23; Psalm 76:1;  Psalm 117; Psalm 105: 4-8; Psalm 135:15-18; Psalm 150; Proverbs 1:26,27; Proverbs 3:16; Isaiah 5:7; Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 50:1; Isaiah 51: 8-9; Isaiah 60:1-3; Daniel 5:19; Matthew 6:24; Matthew 7:6; Romans 9: 21-23; 1 Corinthians 1:24,25; 2 Corinthians.

Okay, why is literary structure important in Biblical Hermeneutics you might ask?  Well, by seeing the literary structure of a book or a letter, or even a chapter, we can see a “birds’ eye” view of the text.  By seeing the “big picture” of a given text we can see the context more clearly.  We can observe the thought process of the author as he organized his work.  This is also very helpful in understanding the context of the writing.

           

Metaphor Principle

            Metaphor is comparison by direct assertion, in which the speaker or writer describes one thing in terms of something else.  Most metaphors are designed; IE., the author intends to make a direct comparison.  These can usually be identified from the metaphors are metaphors presumed to be unintentional.[1]

             The Bible is filled with metaphors.  It is probably the most common figure of speech used in the Bible.  God used them, Jesus used them, the apostles used them.  Locating metaphors and understanding how and for what they are being used is critical in the proper understanding and interpretation of the Bible.

             A metaphor should not be confused with a Simile.  The difference can be slight.  While the Simile says “All flesh is AS grass” (1 Peter 1:24), the metaphor carries the figure across at once, and says “All flesh IS grass” (Isaiah 60:6).  This is the distinction between the two.[2]

            The Simile says “All we like sheep,” while the Metaphor declares that “we are the sheep of His pasture.”[3]

            Let it then be clearly understood that a Metaphor is confined to a distinct affirmation that one thing, IS another thing, owing to some association or connection in the uses or effects of anything expressed or understood.[4]

             For example, “All flesh IS grass.” Here “flesh” is to be taken literally as the subject spoken of, and “grass” is to be taken equally literally as that which represents “flesh.”[5]

       Psalm 23- The Lord is my Shepherd:  Here, we have a Metaphor; and in it a great and blessed truth is set forth by the representation of Jehovah as a Shepherd.  It is He who tends his People, and does more for them than any earthly shepherd does for his sheep.  All his titles and attributes are so bound up with this care that in this Psalm we have the illustration of all the Jehovah-titles:

             In verse 1.  “I shall not want,” because He is JEHOVAH-JIREH (Genesis 22:14), an will provide.

            In verse 2.  “He loadeth me beside the waters of quietness, because He is JEHOVAH-SHALOM (Judges 6:24), and will give peace.

            In verse 3.  “He restoreth my soul,” for He is JEHOVAH-ROPHECHA (Exodus 15:26), and will graciously heal.

             In verse 3.  He guides me “in the paths of righteousness,” for He is JEHOVAH-TZIDKENU (Jeremiah 23:6), and is Himself my righteousness, and I am righteous in Him (Jeremiah 33:16).

            In verse 4.  In death’s dark valley “Thou art with me,” for thou art JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH (Ezekiel 48:35), and the LORD is there.

             In verse 5.  “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies,” for Thou art JEHOVAH-NISSI (Exodus 17:15), my banner, and will fight for me, while I feast.

            In verse 5.  “Thou anointest my head with oil,” for Thou art JEHOVAH-MEKADDESCHEM (Exodus 31:13, etc.), the LORD that sanctifieth me.

             In verse 6.  “Surely” all these blessings are mine for time and eternity, for He is JEHOVAH-ROHI (Psalm 23:1), Jehovah my Shepherd, pledged to raise me up from the dead, and to preserve and bring me “through” the valley of death into His glorious kingdom (John 6:39).[6]

        Salt- Matthew 5:13: “Ye are the salt of the earth” : I.e.., ye are (or represent) with regard to the earth what salt is to the other things, preserving it from total destruction; just as the few righteous in Sodom would have preserved that city.

            Body- Matthew 26:26: “This is my body.”  Few passages have been more perverted than this simple metaphor.  They offering at the Last Supper of bread and wine is not the body of Christ, it is just a metaphor.

             Bread of life- John 6:35: “I am the bread of life:  I.e., what bread does in supporting natural life is a representation of what Christ does in supporting and nourishing the new, Divine, spiritual life.[7] 

            Light of the world- John 8:12: “I am the light of the world.”  This is a beautiful metaphor.  He is not a natural light but a spiritual light.

            Door- John 10:9: “I am the door”:  I.e., I am what a door is.  I am the entrance to the sheepfold, and to the Father.  Yes, a door, and not a flight of steps.  A door, through which we pass in one movement from one side to the other.[8]

            Vine- John 15:5: “I am the true vine.”  Jesus Christ is not a vine, this is just a metaphor.

             Galatians 4:24: “Which things are an allegory:  for these are the two covenants.”

[1] A. Berkeley Mickelson. Interpreting the Bible.  Wm. B. Eermans Publishing House.  Grand Rapids, MI, p. 183.  1963.

[2] E. W. Bullinger.  Figures of Speech used in the Bible.  Baker Book House.  Grand Rapids, MI. 1968, p. 735.

[3] ibed.

[4] ibed.

[5] ibed, p. 736.

[6] ibed, p. 737-8.

[7] ibed, p. 743.

[8] ibed.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

Roop-Crappell Ministries

Illustrative Mention Principle

Illustrative Mention Principle

             This is where God shows His anger at certain kind of sins by judgment.   By doing this God highlights His displeasure of those sins, but sin in general.

            Disobedience: Genesis 3:14-19:  Adam and Eve disobeyed the Word of God and so God had to judge them to show His displeasure and for an example to the future generations.  The judgment was separation from God and the loss of security of the Garden.

            Corruption and violence:  Genesis 6-8:  The whole world was corrupt and violent, 6:11-13.  This highlighted sin was judged in Genesis 7-8.  The judgment was a world- wide flood that wiped out the earth so that God could start over.

            Pride:  Genesis 11:  Man had built a tower to walk into heaven, without an invite.  Man desired to “make a name” for himself, Genesis 11:4.  God judged man with their greatest fear at the time.  To be “scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.  Genesis 11:4.

           Homosexuality:  Genesis 18:16- 19:29:  This was by far the overwhelming sin of Sodom and Gomorrah.  We can see this in Genesis 19: 4-5.  The judgment for this sin was death and hell fire in the form of molten sulfur.  This area today has the second largest deposits of sulfur in the world!

            Lack of Faith:  Genesis 22:  Because of Abraham's lack of faith in Chapter twenty with Abimelech, God decides to judge Abraham and to prove his faith and obedience with the sacrifice of his only son.  The judgment was a severe test for Abraham to prove his faith.

            Blasphemy:  Leviticus 10:  Nadab and Abihu, the son's of Aaron offered strange fire before the Lord.  The Lord immediately judged them by a righteous fire, killing both of them!  This was done as an example to illustrate the importance of service before the alter.  Here, also, God shows that he will punish blasphemy most severely!

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

Grace Principle

Grace Principle

        This is where God suspends, or lays aside, His own Laws in order to show His Grace on a person or a nation.  The Apostle John wrote in John 1:16-17, “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”  Also, the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

            Noah:  Noah and his family lived in a wicked time.  “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  Genesis 6:5.  God set aside judgment for Noah, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”  Genesis 6:8.

            Abraham:  Abram was just an older man with no children in an average community.  God showed grace to him with a promise of greatness and vast lands.  God did not have to choose Abram, but he decided to show grace to him.  Genesis 12.

            Joseph:  Joseph was an arrogant and sinful young man, but God showed him grace from the life of slavery in which he had found himself.  Genesis 37.

            Moses:  Moses was a murderer and a sinful man, but God showed mercy and grace, to him, in the desert.

            Judges:  Throughout the book of Judges the people of Israel would fall into sin and God would extend grace to save them from themselves.

            Rahab:  Rahab was a prostitute and not worthy to receive God's grace until she helped the spy's of Israel and God extended His grace to her.

            David:  King David was caught up in sexual sin and then murder.  The penalty for those sins is death.  God, instead, after David's repentance, extended His grace to him.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

God's Glory Principle

God’s Glory Principle

             This is a principle were God will make an impossible situation just so that He can receive the glory for the outcome of that situation.  God likes to showcase His Glory and Mercy as a prelude to what He would do on the Cross!  The Apostle Paul understood this principle very well.  He told us in Romans 9:21-23.  “Hath not the potter power over the clay...if God, willing to shew wrath, and to make his power known...” 

             The Exodus:  God created all of the drama of Moses going to Egypt to free the Israelite's, all of the plagues, and the hardening of pharaohs heart to make it all seem impossible until the very end.  All of this was mainly done to maximize the glory for God, and show the Israelite's that He alone is their Savior.

            Jericho:  Joshua 6.  The city of Jericho was the strongest fortress city in Palestine.  The Israelite's could not take the city without heavy equipment.  God told Joshua something ridicules like marching around the city seven times!  All so that God could maximize the glory for Himself.

            Gideon:  Judges 6-8.  God instructed Gideon to attack a large, trained army with a very small and untrained group just to make things impossible.  God maximized the glory for Himself.

            David and Goliath:  1 Samuel 17.  God sent the little shepherd boy, called David to fight a large well trained giant.  It seemed impossible which maximized the glory for God.

             Jehoshaphat’s choir:  2 Chronicles 20:21.  King Jehoshaphat was fearful when he had gotten reports of invasion from all sides.  He called on the LORD for help, and God told him go to the place where the enemy would be, Moabites and Ammonites, and to just stand there!  They did that, singing as they went, and God had the enemy kill themselves.  God made an impossible situation in order to maximize the glory for Himself.

        Nehemiah’s Wall:  Nehemiah 6:16. Nehemiah was sent to reconstruct the walls of the city of Jerusalem.  When he saw all local political opposition and the peoples lack of will, it looked impossible.  God made it so, and provided the way to maximize the glory for Himself.

 Israel’s Light:  Isaiah 49:6. The prophet Isaiah said that Israel, and her Messiah, would be a light unto the Gentile world.  This seemed impossible at the times due to the fact that Israel was in a backslide condition!  But, seven-hundred years later Jesus did just that on the cross.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

Full Mention Principle

Full -Mention Principle

            The Full Mention Principle is a portion of Scripture where God speaks His mind on a certain subject.  Other areas of Scripture will, and can, deal with this same subject, but God sometimes gives the full mention of a subject in one location of Scripture.

             Holy Spirit:  Acts 2:  In the second chapter of Acts we have the Full Mention of the Holy Spirit infilling people.  The key verses of these three chapters are 2:4. And 2:38-39.  Other Scriptures mentioning the Holy Spirit are found in Isaiah 4:4, 28:11-12, 33:14-15, 44:3; Zephaniah 3:9; Malachi 3:3; 1 Corinthians, etc.  Before, only selected people received the infilling of the Holy Spirit, but in Acts 2 we have the mass infilling of thousands of people.

             Salvation:  Romans 10, 11, 12: These three chapters of the book of Romans give us the Full Mention of salvation.  The key verse of this subject is 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  The plan of salvation is found in Acts 2:38, and the application of that salvation is found the rest of the book, but salvation is explained in more detail in these three chapters of Romans.

            Christian Service:  Romans 12:  The twelfth chapter of the book of Romans gives us the Full Mention of Christian service.  The key verses of this chapter are 12:4-5, the rest of the chapter explains it in more detail.

            Duties to State and People:  Romans 13:  Paul tells the Roman Church to be obedient to the government authorities in all things, and to love people. He told them this when the government was persecuting them for being Christians.

            Judging: Romans 14:  Paul tells us to be patient with each other’s sins and shortcomings and to accept each other.  He then tells us to not do anything to make younger saints fall. This is a big subject and can be found throughout the Bible, especially in the Gospels, (Luke 6: 34-49).  But this chapter puts it all in a nutshell.

        Immorality in the Church:  1 Corinthians 5:  The city of Corinth was a port city, filled with sailors and the sinful business that surrounded this industry.  Certainly, the church in this city was made up of repentant drunks, prostitutes and con men, so Paul spends an entire chapter on this subject.

            Family relations:  1 Corinthians 7:  In this chapter Paul writes about marriage, slavery, the singles and widows.  He deals with all types of family relations which is so important.

            Rights and duties of ministers:  1 Corinthians 9:  The Apostle Paul teaches the church about the rights and duties of Apostles, pastors and any type of spiritual leadership.

            Idolatry:  1 Corinthians 10:  The Apostle Paul here deals with the practice of idolatry in the diverse Roman world in which they lived.   Idolatry is still with us today, we just worship different idols.  Abortion, sports, hobbies, jobs, or anything that unnecessarily takes up our time.

            Spiritual gifts:  1 Corinthians 12, 14:  The Apostle Paul talks about the spiritual gifts that church member receive from the Holy Spirit.  Two full chapters!  A healthy church will operate by the spiritual gifts of it's members.  It is divided by a chapter on love.  This was not an accident!  The active ingredient of our spiritual gifts is love.

             Love:  1 Corinthians 13:  The Apostle Paul teaches the church what is a Godly love.  It is a blueprint for our behavior to be based on.  It is sandwiched between two chapters on spiritual gifts.  This was not done by accident.  All spiritual gifts need to be done in love.

            Resurrection:  1 Corinthians 15:  The Apostle Paul teaches us about our resurrection by giving us Jesus Christ, and His resurrection as our example.  As He was resurrected, so shall we be resurrected.

             Christian Giving:  2 Corinthians 8, 9:  The first mention of organized giving money to God is found during the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness in Exodus 25:2.  The people are told to give willingly and with a happy heart.  The idea of giving happily and with a happy heart is the only requirement from God, and we see this over and over again.  We see this in Exodus 35:5,21; 1 Chronicles 29:9,14; Ezra 2:68; Nehemiah 11:2.  The Full Mention is of Christian giving in the New Testament is 2 Corinthians 8-9, but the key verse is 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

            Christian Liberty:  Galatians 5:  The Apostle Paul here starts this chapter telling us that we have liberty in Jesus Christ, and the last part of the chapter Paul tells us how to achieve that liberty that is available to everyone.

            Faith: Hebrews 11:  The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote a large chapter on faith.  In the proceeding chapter he tells us to come near to God.  Then he writes his chapter on faith.  Then the following chapter is who we need to have faith, God our Father.

            The Tongue:  James 3:  The Apostle James teaches us to be careful what we say and how we say it.  It is still an excellent chapter for today.

            False Teachers:  2 Peter 2:  The Apostle Peter teaches us what to look for in false teachers and the dangers and motivation of these people.  This chapter is still very much relevant for today.

            Second Advent:  2 Peter 3:  The Apostle Peter gives us an entire chapter on the promise of the Lord's coming back for His Church.

             God’s Love:  1 John 4:  All of the Apostle John's writings is a warning against Gnosticism.  This chapter he teaches us to discern the false spirit of Gnosticism.

                       

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com 

Four-Fold Principle

Four-Fold Principle

            The Four-Fold Principle is a reflection of God’s four-fold nature in His Word.  By understanding God’s four-fold nature we will understand our own nature, which is also a four-fold nature since we are all made in God’s own image.  Here are some examples.

            The Exodus:  When it became obvious that Moses could not lead so many people alone, God gave Moses a four-fold leadership plan that reflected God’s own nature.

            1.  Moses.  Moses was the ultimate leader and the final decision maker. Every organization needs to have someone where the buck stops.  That was the roll of Moses! Every family needs to have a Patriarch to make a final decision.

            2.  Aaron.  Aaron was the leader of all the Levites and the Tabernacle.  He was the religious leader of the Israelites. The father is the family priest and he is the one to make the religious decisions of his family.

             3.  Levites.  The Levites did all of the work of priests in the service of the Tabernacle.  They did all of the work of Tabernacle service. All of us need to pray and attend church service and support the church.

            4.  Elders.  The Elders made all of the small decisions for the people. They handled all of the secular, tribal, and personal issues with the people. The Patriarch of our families need to make any decision that cannot be resolved among the family members.

            When Israel camped and rested for the night, they were guarded by the four primary tribes; Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, Dan.  Four tribes of Israel.

            The four trees of Israel- Judges 9:7-15:  The four trees referred to- the Fig-tree, the Olive, the vine, and the Bramble- are the four which are used to combine the whole of Israel’s history.

             1.  Fig- tree.  The Fig-tree represents the National position of Israel, from which we learn (in the Synoptic Gospels) that it withered away and has been cut down.

       2.  Olive tree.  The Olive tree represents the Covenant privileges of Israel (Romans 11):  which are now in abeyance.

            3.  Vine.  The vine represents Israel’s Spiritual blessings, which henceforth are to be found only in Christ, the True Vine (John 15).

            4.  Bramble.  The Bramble represents the Antichrist, in whose shadow they will yet trust, but who will be to Israel a consuming fire in the day of “Jacob’s trouble”- “the great Tribulation.”[1]

            Ezekiel’s vision:  The prophet Ezekiel was active during the Babylonian captivity of the Jewish people.  He had seen a vision.  He had seen a whirlwind, and out of this whirlwind he saw the likeness of four living creatures.  This was a picture of the nature of God and the nature of the coming Christ, who is God in the flesh.  Well, that living creature had the likeness of a man (Ezekiel 1:5).  Everyone had four faces and four wings (Ezekiel 1:6).  They had four faces in four different directions.  They each had a set of wings for each direction.

             The four living creatures had four faces.   The face of a man, lion, ox, and eagle.

            These faces represent the four natures of God.  Let’s take a look at the four faces that Ezekiel had seen.

             1.  Man.  This is the face of humanity.  When Jesus Christ arrived, He was God, but He was also at the same time a man.  He loved, He cried, He hurt, He felt hardship.  He felt and experienced all of the emotions we feel every day.  God set the ultimate example for us in His humanity.  God understands our human nature.

             2.  Lion.  This is the face of authority.  God welds authority over Satan, demons, angels and mankind.  God is our ultimate judge.  Through Jesus Christ He is our ultimate Redeemer as well, but He will judge mankind the next time He arrives.  The lion is the “king of the jungle.”  A lion has authority.  God rules and judges like a lion.  So, should we as well.

        3.  Ox.  This is the face of labor.  God works to guide us, He worked to redeem us from our sins, and He will work with us to the end of the age.  We as Christians are also to work in the Kingdom.  The ox is a beast of burden.  The ox is an animal that works a plow or carries a load.  The ministry in the Kingdom is also work and a heavy load.

            4.  Eagle.  This is the face of spirituality.  Eagles are birds that soar high in the sky.  They are admired that they live higher than any other creature.  They are also birds of prey.  Eagles have always represented Spirituality and a higher spiritual order.  God dwells in a higher spiritual realm and as Christians, so should we.  Eagles have been known to soar to great heights, high into the heavens.  We Christians are to soar high in our spirituality in revelations, visions, prophecy, dreams, gifts of the spirit and miracles.  We are to soar high in the spiritual heavens in the presence of God.

             The Coming Christ:  The prophecies concerning Jesus Christ which are recorded in the Old Testament may be classed under four categories.

            1.  King-----------Lion----PS 2:6; Is 32:1; Dan 9:25. “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”

            2.  Servant--------Ox-------Is 42:1; 52:13. “Behold my servant...”

            3.  Son of Man---Man----Is 7:14; 9:6-7; Dan 7:13-14.  “...Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son...”

            4.  Son of God---Eagle---Is 9:6-7; 40:3-9.  “...The mighty God...”

            The Branch:  Jesus Christ is set forth in the Old Testament as the Branch four different times and for four different reasons.

            1.  The Branch--King-----Lion---Jeremiah 23:5. “...I will raise unto David a righteous Branch...”

            2.  The Branch--Servant--Ox-----Zech 3:8. “...I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

            3.  The Branch--Man------Man---Zech 6:12. “...Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH...”

            4.  The Branch--LORD---Eagle--Is 4:2. “In that day shall the branch of the Lord...”

            Behold:  Jesus Christ is introduced four times in the Old Testament by the word “behold.”

            1.  Behold, the King-----Lion---Zech 6:12. “...Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH...”

            2.  Behold, the Servant--Ox-----Is 42:1. “Behold my servant...”

            3.  Behold, the Man------Man---Zech 3:8. “...behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.”

            4.  Behold, your God-----Eagle--Is 40:9. “...Behold your God!”

             The Gospels:  The four Gospels reveal the four natures of God.  There is but one Gospel with four presentations.  Four pictures of one Christ are given.  The combined Gospel records set forth a personality rather than present a connected story of a life.

             1.  Matthew--Christ as King-----Lion---presented to the Jews to reveal Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

            2.  Mark------Christ as Servant--Ox-----presented to the Romans to show them the practical nature of Jesus Christ.

            3.  Luke------Christ as Man------Man---presented to the Greeks to reveal the Godly nature of the man, Jesus Christ.

            4.  John------Christ as God-------Eagle--presented to the Church to reveal the Divine nature of Jesus Christ.

            Four-Fold ministry:  In Ephesians 4:11-12 we see that the Christian Church is made up of four separate ministries that work together for the growth and health of the Church.

             1.  Apostles.  These are ministers that start new churches in non-Christian lands and strengthen existing churches.  After starting new churches, they see to it that it grows.  This can also include a church denomination superintendent or other Church leadership positions, since these positions deal with authority and growth into unchurched areas.

             2.  Prophets.  These are church members who have prophetic gift in order to strengthen an existing church.  Prophets deal with the spiritual side of ministry.

             3.  Evangelists.  These are ministers that travel the world and increase the faith and gain new converts for existing churches.  These men and women are the hardest working members of the Church.

             4.  Pastors/Teachers.  These are ministers or members who oversee a church.  Pastors and Teachers do the same ministry.  These members deal with people and their problems.  They minister to the human side of the Church.  They teach and preach the Gospel.

            1.  Apostles------------Lion---Authority

            2.  Prophets------------Eagle--Spirituality

            3.  Evangelists---------Ox-----Ministry

            4.  Pastors/Teachers---Man---Humanity

             Four-Fold Church leadership: Under the leadership of the Spirit, the apostles organized the early Church in a four-fold manner.

             1.  Bishops.  These are male ministers who had been pastors for many years and are now a leader over several to many churches in a grouping.

            2.  Pastors.  These are male ministers that lead a church.  They are the final authority of the local church.

            3.  Elders.  These are elder saints, men and women, who help the pastor lead a church.

             4.  Deacons.  These are men and women in a church who deal with ministry matters within a church.  These saints make the local church operate.

1.      [1] E. W. Bullinger.  Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI., Pgs 749-50.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

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