“FIGURES OF SPEECH: PARABLES, DARK SAYINGS, PROVERBS”
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A figure of speech relates to the FORM in which the words are used. It is a designed and legitimate departure from the laws of languages. This particular form or unusual manner may, or may not, be true to the LITERAL meaning of the words, but It is true to their REAL sense, and truer to truth.
In a figure of speech a word may be transferred from an object, to which it property belongs, to another, in such a manner that a comparison is implied though not formally expressed, or a sentence in which the principal subject is described by another subject resembling it in properties and/or characteristics. The principle subject is then kept secret. See:
Psalm 78:2 - “I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old.”
Matthew 13:34-35 - “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and a parable spake he not unto them.
35. “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things which have been kept SECRET from the foundation of the world.”
Parables (secrets) have been used since the Garden of Eden: things of the spirit.
Romans 16:2 5 - “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY, which was KEPT SECRET since the world began.”
I Corinthians 2:7 - “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the HIDDEN WISDOM, which God ordained before the world.”
Colossians 1:26-27 - “Even the MYSTERY which has been HID from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.
27. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ”
By spirit these mysteries are revealed to his followers.
Proverbs 25:2 - “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”
Nothing is hidden from those who seek.
Deuteronomy 34:10 - “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew FACE TO FACE.”
Psalm 103:7 – “He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.”
Moses knew God's secrets:
Exodus 33:11 - “And the LORD spake unto Moses FACE TO FACE as a man speaketh unto his friend” (dictated by the Holy Spirit Angel).
Numbers 12:6-8 - “And he said, Hear now my words. If there be a prophet among YOU, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
7. “My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8. “With him will I speak MOUTH TO MOUTH, even apparently, and not in dark speeches, and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
2 Peter 1:20-21 – “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Hebrews 1: 1-2 - “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2. “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.”
Matthew 4:4 - “But he [Jesus] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, Jesus knew God's words help. If God's truth is vague, why does it say “every”?) Every word can be understood if shown to us by God's spirit (not man's idea).
Deuteronomy 4:2 - “Ye shall not ADD unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
Deuteronomy 12:32 - “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not ADD thereto, nor DIMINISH from it.”
Revelation 22:18-19 - “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
19. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of things which are written in this book.”
Surely the Bible contains ALL the answers.
2 Timothy 3:16 - “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
All scriptures are perfect - complete.
These testimonies prove that for all intents and purposes the scriptures meet the full requirements of the “children of God.” Hence any vagueness or misunderstanding of the scriptures is primarily due to taking “figures of speech” as literal or vice versa.
Signs, types and symbols were used in dark sayings to keep secret (from the worldly wise) things of spirit.
Matthew 1 1:25 – “I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
John 6:45 - “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all TAUGHT OF GOD, Every man that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me [Jesus Christ].”
1 Corinthians 2: 10 - “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.”
John 6:63 - “The WORDS that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT and they are LIFE.'
2 Timothy 3:17 - “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
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Two symbols used in a figure of speech: (1) DOVE; (2) SERPENT:
“Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. be ye therefore wise as SERPENTS and harmless as DOVES” (Matthew 10: 16).
1. DOVE: Symbol of peace, because of its gentle, peaceful and harmless nature. Jesus used it in this proverb to signify the characteristics desired in his followers (Isaiah 66:2; Psalm 34:18) who humble themselves before YAHWEH (Matthew 18:4; James 4:10). God used the dove to signify the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16; John 1:32) thus anointing Jesus the 'Prince of Peace' (Isaiah 4:6) with Power' (Acts 10:38).
2. SERPENT: The serpent In whose mouth Is the poison of death, signifies a sinful person according to God's definition (given in Psalm 140:1-3; Romans 3:12-13; Matthew 12:34).
The name “serpent” was attributed to those MEN who Jesus and John the Baptist had encountered (Matthew 3:7; 12:34; Luke 3:7). Hence when the word serpent is used to indicate an intelligent reasoning creature having guile (deceit) in his mouth, It SIGNIFIES a man exhibiting such characteristics.
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Genesis 6:6 - “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”
QUESTION: Is It reasonable to presume that the God of love and mercy, whose thoughts are as high above the thoughts of man as the heavens are over the earth, would utilize a brute beast for frustrating his purpose right at the beginning? IF SO, then why did it repent him for creating man? (V. 6).
ANSWER: Genesis 6: 5 - “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.” EVIL: source of origin: man's heart (mind, imagination).
Matthew 15: 18-20 “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20. “These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Thoughts originating in the man's heart (V. 19) and issuing out of his mouth (V. 18) proved to be the venom of death.
Therefore, the Lord signifies his (the man's) words as those of a serpent. The spirit speaking through Jesus is the same spirit who spoke through Moses (Hebrews 1: 1). Therefore, the same type of dark sayings would be used in the beginning. For “God changes not” (Malachi 3:6; James 1: 17; Psalm 102:27). If God never changes, it would appear that his spirit would never change.
GENESIS: CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 3.
CHAPTER 1 - Reveals GOD'S activity in creating the heavens, the earth, and the living creatures of the earth.
CHAPTER 2 - Reveals GOD'S activity in creating the man and the woman and establishing them In the Garden of Eden, to dress and keep it.
ADAM, the son of God (Luke 3:38), was also a figure of the Christ to come (Romans 5: 1 4).
EVE, the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20), became his bride. She was out of Adam and thereby a figure of the church to be developed “out of Christ. The Church will become the Bride of Christ.
CHAPTER 3 - Reveals MAN'S activity with the results. It is the prologue to the saga of mankind upon the earth: his heart was evil from the beginning. This narrative was written approximately 2500 years later, so we can be sure it was written in the words of the spirit and not after the flesh.
Since the word “serpent” SIGNIFIES a MAN of PERVERSE SPEECH, WE WILL PARAPHRASE THE VERSES IN CHAPTER THREE:
1. “Now the serpent [man] was more subtle than any beast [living creature, RSV] of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
This Is the first place in the scriptures where the word “serpent” appears. To those who believe in a personal devil, the word “serpent” immediately suggests an animal, so it Is NATURALLY taken LITERALLY. Understood SPIRITUALLY it is a FIGURE OF SPEECH.
2. “And the woman said unto the serpent [man], We [you and 1] 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 hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, test ye die.
4. “And the serpent [the man] said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.-
5. “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened”
Literally her eyes were already opened. Here is a “spirit” of speech used all through the Bible. The Holy Spirit revealed these words to Moses; it is NOT the language of a brute beast.
“... and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that k was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and GAVE ALSO UNTO HER HUSBAND WITH HER,- AND HE DID EAT.”
7. “And the eyes of them both [simultaneously] were opened [spiritually]”... Literally, their eyes were opened before, or else they could not have seen that the fruit was pleasant to look upon.
“... 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 waiting in the garden in the cool of the day - and Adam and his wife hid thenuelves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9. “And the LORD God called unto Adam and said unto him Where art thou?
10. “And he said I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.
11. “And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?”
Hebrews 4:12-1 3 says concerning this: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discemer of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.“
God did not need to ask Adam and Eve questions - as is God's principal on Judgement Day (Acts 17:31; Matthew 12:37 - “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”) God will ask US on judgment day, just as He did Adam and Eve.
Romans 14:12 - “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
12. “And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”
This gives no indication that Eve deceived Adam or seduced him into eating. In fact, Adam is partially blaming God for the woman's presence. At the same time he was trying to place the responsibility on Eve for HIS disobedience. Yet there is NOT ONE accusation against Eve throughout the scriptures, except to state that she, being deceived, was in the transgression (1 Timothy 2:13-15 “For Adam was First formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”)
The Spirit (Bible) places the blame SOLELY on Adam - “Adam was not deceived.” See Romans 5: 12-14, 17, 19: 12. “Wherefore, as BY ONE MAN sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13. “[For until the law, sin was in the world.- but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14. “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transition, who is the figure of him that was to come ... 17. “For if by one MAN's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.] 19. “For as by ONE MAN’s DISOBEDIENCE many were made sinners.”
So, by Adam (man) - not Eve - sin (V. 12) entered the world by man's offense (V. 17), man's disobedience (V. 19).
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 - “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
One MAN (Adam); not WOMAN (or Eve).
13. “And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent [man] beguiled me, and I did eat.”
She and Adam ate TOGETHER (V. 6).
14. “And the LORD God said unto the serpent [man], Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast [living creature] upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.”
Penalty (figure of speech) signifies: death, return to dust of ungodly, disobedient man.
15. “And I will put enmity between thee [serpent, the sinful man] and the woman [the bride of Christ] and between thy seed [the men encountered by John the Baptist and Christ Jesus, Matthew 3:7; 12:34; Luke 3:7] and her seed [the righteous] it shalt bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Christ was crucified to put to death the devil, the serpent: sin in the flesh.
Cain of Genesis 4:16 and his descendants (seed of the serpent: sinful man) banished from the presence of God: these fall in the category of “serpent's seed' (as in 1 John 3:8-12 - “He that committeth sin is of the devil. for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”
And Jude 10-11 - “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsay of Core.”
The woman (Bride of Christ) and her seed are the descendants of Seth, the Sons of God by Faith (Genesis 6:2). Adam became one of these through repentance and faith. (Luke 3:38 - “... which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.”) A Son of God is one who does God's will (Mark 3:35 - “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”)
16. “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” The woman's penalty for her part in the transgression (1 Timothy 2:13-15 - “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”).
(GENESIS 3 : 17 - 19: CURSE OUTLINED:)
Psalm 104:21 -23 – “The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.” God provides for the living creatures of the field (also see Psalm 147:9; Matthew 6:26). God feeds BEASTS (creatures) while man must labour to eat.
Psalm 128:2 says, “For thou shalt eat the LABOUR of thine hands.- happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”
2 Thessalonians 3: 10 - “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
Man must labour to eat: Even Christians - 1 Timothy 5: 8 – “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
Serpent's curse continued in man's curse: “upon thy belly” is: to be geared to the earth: their (evil people) destiny downward into the dust (death). Wicked shall “lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee” (Micah 7:17).
17. “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: CURSED IS THE GROUND for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.”
(Figure of speech meaning because you accepted the fruit from your wife and ate with her. Eve did not seduce Adam into accepting the fruit. God (Elohim) knew this and recognized Adam's attempt to shift the blame to Eve, God reprimanded Adam. This figure of speech then ADDED to the death penalty - FOR THE LIE - the curses in verses 17-19.)
18. “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.
19. “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
20. “And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
21. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
Compare the covering provided by God (acceptable and showing faith and repentance) and the flg leaf (V. 7) which was after the imagination of flesh and was evil.
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.” Adam had access to the Tree of Life.
23. “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24. “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
Verses 23 and 24 disclose that Adam, because of disobedience, was banished from the tree of life, but they were taught of God through the covering provided for their nakedness (V. 21 ) and THEY taught Seth and his descendants. These were the sons of God.
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COMPARE GENESIS 4:2 AND 6:1-2:
Genesis 4:2 - “And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground “
Genesis 6:1-2 - “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were bom unto them,Tthat the sons of God saw the daughters of MEN that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.”
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Chapter Three is expressed by the Spirit (Bible) in Figures of Speech (dark sayings), thus concealing the Truth In a mystery as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:7-16:
7. “But we speak the WISDOM of GOD in a MYSTERY, even the HIDDEN wisdom, which God ordained BEFORE THE WORLD unto our glory.
8. “Which none of the princes of this world knew.- for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10. “But GOD hath REVEALED them to us BY HIS SPIRIT for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God
11. “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the THINGS OF GOD KNOWETH NO MAN, but the Spirit of God.
12. “Now we have receieved, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13. “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL.
14. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. for they are foolishness unto him. neither can he know them, because they are spiritually DISCERNED [examined].
15. “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
Personification
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A figure of speech relates to the FORM in which the words are used. It is a designed and legitimate departure from the laws of languages. This particular form or unusual manner may, or may not, be true to the LITERAL meaning of the words, but It is true to their REAL sense, and truer to truth.
In a figure of speech a word may be transferred from an object, to which it property belongs, to another, in such a manner that a comparison is implied though not formally expressed, or a sentence in which the principal subject is described by another subject resembling it in properties and/or characteristics. The principle subject is then kept secret. See:
Psalm 78:2 - “I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old.”
Matthew 13:34-35 - “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and a parable spake he not unto them.
35. “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things which have been kept SECRET from the foundation of the world.”
Parables (secrets) have been used since the Garden of Eden: things of the spirit.
Romans 16:2 5 - “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the MYSTERY, which was KEPT SECRET since the world began.”
I Corinthians 2:7 - “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the HIDDEN WISDOM, which God ordained before the world.”
Colossians 1:26-27 - “Even the MYSTERY which has been HID from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.
27. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this MYSTERY among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ”
By spirit these mysteries are revealed to his followers.
Proverbs 25:2 - “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”
Nothing is hidden from those who seek.
Deuteronomy 34:10 - “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew FACE TO FACE.”
Psalm 103:7 – “He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.”
Moses knew God's secrets:
Exodus 33:11 - “And the LORD spake unto Moses FACE TO FACE as a man speaketh unto his friend” (dictated by the Holy Spirit Angel).
Numbers 12:6-8 - “And he said, Hear now my words. If there be a prophet among YOU, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
7. “My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8. “With him will I speak MOUTH TO MOUTH, even apparently, and not in dark speeches, and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
2 Peter 1:20-21 – “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Hebrews 1: 1-2 - “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2. “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.”
Matthew 4:4 - “But he [Jesus] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, Jesus knew God's words help. If God's truth is vague, why does it say “every”?) Every word can be understood if shown to us by God's spirit (not man's idea).
Deuteronomy 4:2 - “Ye shall not ADD unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”
Deuteronomy 12:32 - “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not ADD thereto, nor DIMINISH from it.”
Revelation 22:18-19 - “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
19. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of things which are written in this book.”
Surely the Bible contains ALL the answers.
2 Timothy 3:16 - “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
All scriptures are perfect - complete.
These testimonies prove that for all intents and purposes the scriptures meet the full requirements of the “children of God.” Hence any vagueness or misunderstanding of the scriptures is primarily due to taking “figures of speech” as literal or vice versa.
Signs, types and symbols were used in dark sayings to keep secret (from the worldly wise) things of spirit.
Matthew 1 1:25 – “I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
John 6:45 - “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all TAUGHT OF GOD, Every man that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me [Jesus Christ].”
1 Corinthians 2: 10 - “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.”
John 6:63 - “The WORDS that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT and they are LIFE.'
2 Timothy 3:17 - “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
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Two symbols used in a figure of speech: (1) DOVE; (2) SERPENT:
“Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. be ye therefore wise as SERPENTS and harmless as DOVES” (Matthew 10: 16).
1. DOVE: Symbol of peace, because of its gentle, peaceful and harmless nature. Jesus used it in this proverb to signify the characteristics desired in his followers (Isaiah 66:2; Psalm 34:18) who humble themselves before YAHWEH (Matthew 18:4; James 4:10). God used the dove to signify the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16; John 1:32) thus anointing Jesus the 'Prince of Peace' (Isaiah 4:6) with Power' (Acts 10:38).
2. SERPENT: The serpent In whose mouth Is the poison of death, signifies a sinful person according to God's definition (given in Psalm 140:1-3; Romans 3:12-13; Matthew 12:34).
The name “serpent” was attributed to those MEN who Jesus and John the Baptist had encountered (Matthew 3:7; 12:34; Luke 3:7). Hence when the word serpent is used to indicate an intelligent reasoning creature having guile (deceit) in his mouth, It SIGNIFIES a man exhibiting such characteristics.
* * * *
Genesis 6:6 - “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”
QUESTION: Is It reasonable to presume that the God of love and mercy, whose thoughts are as high above the thoughts of man as the heavens are over the earth, would utilize a brute beast for frustrating his purpose right at the beginning? IF SO, then why did it repent him for creating man? (V. 6).
ANSWER: Genesis 6: 5 - “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.” EVIL: source of origin: man's heart (mind, imagination).
Matthew 15: 18-20 “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20. “These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Thoughts originating in the man's heart (V. 19) and issuing out of his mouth (V. 18) proved to be the venom of death.
Therefore, the Lord signifies his (the man's) words as those of a serpent. The spirit speaking through Jesus is the same spirit who spoke through Moses (Hebrews 1: 1). Therefore, the same type of dark sayings would be used in the beginning. For “God changes not” (Malachi 3:6; James 1: 17; Psalm 102:27). If God never changes, it would appear that his spirit would never change.
GENESIS: CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 3.
CHAPTER 1 - Reveals GOD'S activity in creating the heavens, the earth, and the living creatures of the earth.
CHAPTER 2 - Reveals GOD'S activity in creating the man and the woman and establishing them In the Garden of Eden, to dress and keep it.
ADAM, the son of God (Luke 3:38), was also a figure of the Christ to come (Romans 5: 1 4).
EVE, the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20), became his bride. She was out of Adam and thereby a figure of the church to be developed “out of Christ. The Church will become the Bride of Christ.
CHAPTER 3 - Reveals MAN'S activity with the results. It is the prologue to the saga of mankind upon the earth: his heart was evil from the beginning. This narrative was written approximately 2500 years later, so we can be sure it was written in the words of the spirit and not after the flesh.
Since the word “serpent” SIGNIFIES a MAN of PERVERSE SPEECH, WE WILL PARAPHRASE THE VERSES IN CHAPTER THREE:
1. “Now the serpent [man] was more subtle than any beast [living creature, RSV] of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
This Is the first place in the scriptures where the word “serpent” appears. To those who believe in a personal devil, the word “serpent” immediately suggests an animal, so it Is NATURALLY taken LITERALLY. Understood SPIRITUALLY it is a FIGURE OF SPEECH.
2. “And the woman said unto the serpent [man], We [you and 1] 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 hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, test ye die.
4. “And the serpent [the man] said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.-
5. “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened”
Literally her eyes were already opened. Here is a “spirit” of speech used all through the Bible. The Holy Spirit revealed these words to Moses; it is NOT the language of a brute beast.
“... and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that k was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and GAVE ALSO UNTO HER HUSBAND WITH HER,- AND HE DID EAT.”
7. “And the eyes of them both [simultaneously] were opened [spiritually]”... Literally, their eyes were opened before, or else they could not have seen that the fruit was pleasant to look upon.
“... 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 waiting in the garden in the cool of the day - and Adam and his wife hid thenuelves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9. “And the LORD God called unto Adam and said unto him Where art thou?
10. “And he said I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.
11. “And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?”
Hebrews 4:12-1 3 says concerning this: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discemer of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.“
God did not need to ask Adam and Eve questions - as is God's principal on Judgement Day (Acts 17:31; Matthew 12:37 - “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”) God will ask US on judgment day, just as He did Adam and Eve.
Romans 14:12 - “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
12. “And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”
This gives no indication that Eve deceived Adam or seduced him into eating. In fact, Adam is partially blaming God for the woman's presence. At the same time he was trying to place the responsibility on Eve for HIS disobedience. Yet there is NOT ONE accusation against Eve throughout the scriptures, except to state that she, being deceived, was in the transgression (1 Timothy 2:13-15 “For Adam was First formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”)
The Spirit (Bible) places the blame SOLELY on Adam - “Adam was not deceived.” See Romans 5: 12-14, 17, 19: 12. “Wherefore, as BY ONE MAN sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13. “[For until the law, sin was in the world.- but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14. “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transition, who is the figure of him that was to come ... 17. “For if by one MAN's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.] 19. “For as by ONE MAN’s DISOBEDIENCE many were made sinners.”
So, by Adam (man) - not Eve - sin (V. 12) entered the world by man's offense (V. 17), man's disobedience (V. 19).
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 - “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
One MAN (Adam); not WOMAN (or Eve).
13. “And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent [man] beguiled me, and I did eat.”
She and Adam ate TOGETHER (V. 6).
14. “And the LORD God said unto the serpent [man], Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast [living creature] upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.”
Penalty (figure of speech) signifies: death, return to dust of ungodly, disobedient man.
15. “And I will put enmity between thee [serpent, the sinful man] and the woman [the bride of Christ] and between thy seed [the men encountered by John the Baptist and Christ Jesus, Matthew 3:7; 12:34; Luke 3:7] and her seed [the righteous] it shalt bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Christ was crucified to put to death the devil, the serpent: sin in the flesh.
Cain of Genesis 4:16 and his descendants (seed of the serpent: sinful man) banished from the presence of God: these fall in the category of “serpent's seed' (as in 1 John 3:8-12 - “He that committeth sin is of the devil. for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”
And Jude 10-11 - “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsay of Core.”
The woman (Bride of Christ) and her seed are the descendants of Seth, the Sons of God by Faith (Genesis 6:2). Adam became one of these through repentance and faith. (Luke 3:38 - “... which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.”) A Son of God is one who does God's will (Mark 3:35 - “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”)
16. “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” The woman's penalty for her part in the transgression (1 Timothy 2:13-15 - “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”).
(GENESIS 3 : 17 - 19: CURSE OUTLINED:)
Psalm 104:21 -23 – “The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.” God provides for the living creatures of the field (also see Psalm 147:9; Matthew 6:26). God feeds BEASTS (creatures) while man must labour to eat.
Psalm 128:2 says, “For thou shalt eat the LABOUR of thine hands.- happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.”
2 Thessalonians 3: 10 - “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
Man must labour to eat: Even Christians - 1 Timothy 5: 8 – “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
Serpent's curse continued in man's curse: “upon thy belly” is: to be geared to the earth: their (evil people) destiny downward into the dust (death). Wicked shall “lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee” (Micah 7:17).
17. “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: CURSED IS THE GROUND for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.”
(Figure of speech meaning because you accepted the fruit from your wife and ate with her. Eve did not seduce Adam into accepting the fruit. God (Elohim) knew this and recognized Adam's attempt to shift the blame to Eve, God reprimanded Adam. This figure of speech then ADDED to the death penalty - FOR THE LIE - the curses in verses 17-19.)
18. “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.
19. “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
20. “And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
21. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
Compare the covering provided by God (acceptable and showing faith and repentance) and the flg leaf (V. 7) which was after the imagination of flesh and was evil.
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.” Adam had access to the Tree of Life.
23. “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24. “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
Verses 23 and 24 disclose that Adam, because of disobedience, was banished from the tree of life, but they were taught of God through the covering provided for their nakedness (V. 21 ) and THEY taught Seth and his descendants. These were the sons of God.
* * * *
COMPARE GENESIS 4:2 AND 6:1-2:
Genesis 4:2 - “And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground “
Genesis 6:1-2 - “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were bom unto them,Tthat the sons of God saw the daughters of MEN that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.”
* * * *
Chapter Three is expressed by the Spirit (Bible) in Figures of Speech (dark sayings), thus concealing the Truth In a mystery as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:7-16:
7. “But we speak the WISDOM of GOD in a MYSTERY, even the HIDDEN wisdom, which God ordained BEFORE THE WORLD unto our glory.
8. “Which none of the princes of this world knew.- for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10. “But GOD hath REVEALED them to us BY HIS SPIRIT for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God
11. “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the THINGS OF GOD KNOWETH NO MAN, but the Spirit of God.
12. “Now we have receieved, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13. “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL.
14. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. for they are foolishness unto him. neither can he know them, because they are spiritually DISCERNED [examined].
15. “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
Personification
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