Q & A

Questions:

Here are some contrasts that I see between the natural types and the spiritual antitypes. Please let me know what your thoughts are.

The Passing of the Law in History showing in Christ - Externally Done Away in the Past FOR ALL.. or Internally Done Away in Christ FOR SOME :

"Old & New Jerusalem" - External, Historical Cities showing the Internal Condition of the Heart (Bondage/Free)

Aion = "Age to Come" - External Material Age for All showing Internal Kingdom "Without End" for Redeemed

Eretz = World/ Land - External Geographic Locale (Planet or Palestine) showing Internal Locale (The Kingdom Within)

"End of the Age" - External Destruction of the Mosaic Law "in AD70" showing Internal Overthrow of Old Things (2 Cor. 5:17)

The "New Heavens and Earth" - External Material World for All showing Internal Spiritual Renewal for Redeemed

"The Parousia of Christ" - An External, Historical Event "in AD70" showing Internal, Spiritual Presence of the Word

"At Hand" - External Historical Proximity showing Internal Spatial Proximity

Mystery Babylon - External Material City showing Internal Spirit of Antichrist

"The Temple" / Mt. Zion - External Center of Worship in Building showing the Internal Center of Worship in the Heart

"the Death", "the Sin" & "the Devil" - Externally Defeated For All "in AD70" showing Internal Spiritual Defeat on Behalf of Redeemed

"The Millennium" - External, Historical Epoch for All (AD30-70) showing Internal Era of transition for Redeemed

"Day of the Lord" - A Single Temporal, Historical Period of Judgment showing the Never-Ending Spiritual Judgment Seat of Christ

"The Return of High Priest" - Externally to those alive "in AD70" showing Internally to Each as Kingdom Comes to Them

"The Resurrection" - An Historical Event "in AD70" showing Internal, Spiritual Awakening in Christ

"The House of Israel" / Tabernacle of David - The External, Historical Nation Which Ceased "in AD70" showing Internal, Spiritual Nation of Redeemed

"The Gentiles" - The External, Not Racially Jewish, Nations showing Internal "Children of Disobedience" of all Races/Nations


Answer:

Thank you for your questions. Sorry for such a lengthy delay in answering you. I had been exceedingly busy and finding it hard to keep up the pace.

Many of your questions center on AD 70 when the Romans came against Jerusalem and destroyed it. These questions I cannot answer as there is no biblical record of that historical event and really no Biblical record of any other chronological historical event. For example, the seven days of creation is not a chronological event. The scriptures do not deal with historical chronology. That was not their forte. They use multiple types to explain what is best described as an abstract noun – a description of the quality of characteristics in life.

The writers delineated history to show the spiritual application with qualities being best described as abstract nouns. The Jerusalem that the Romans destroyed had rejected the antitypical lamb. Jerusalem had long abnegated the Oracles of God. The tenets of Judaism were literalised by the Pharisees and implemented by the Sadducees, persecuting the Messianic Body. The significance of the tenets had lapsed. They were described as having become diverse and stranged doctrines. The writers to the Hebrews said, “Be not carried about with divers and strong doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” Heb. 13:9.

It is difficult to grasp that qualities are expressed by abstract nouns, that Biblical history is not chronological history. Antitypes using types point always to the elevated. Later the types recur, and again these qualities are abstract, perceived and just as real as former applications. These applications are seen working towards archetypes.

The Hebraic writings are directed at the height, breadth and, depth of the Spirit. The world that came to an end in the scriptural picture in the days of the Messianic Body was the world of the tenets of Judaism. The keeping of the Levitical laws, “a figure for the time then present” could not “save” anyone. The keeping of the strict laws and rituals disabled the creative element of society.


The form of spiritual antitypes are abstract but very real, they are genuine qualities of character. You see, spiritual things are intangible, you cannot put your finger on them literally. It is up to you to enliven them. The biblical writers did not pin any of their tutorial to a single historical chronological event, and each event pictured, portrayed the spiritual, through time – ever present. It can therefore be said that chronological history pertains to the flesh, and it is also very real in each age.

The narratives spelling out the success of transcendence and the downfall of mediocrity fill the pages of the Bible. An important point is that the Hebraic scripture is based on the days of the Jewish sacred year and do not align with the calendars. The Hebraic scripture pointed to the divine being played out alongside the secular. It is important to keep this methodology in mind when following the pathway bequeathed to us. Scriptural writers appealed to all sides of society as they sought genuine improvement.

For example, the Book of Daniel is full of numbers of days. They are all based on sanctuary or ceremonial in the sacred year over a seven-year-period. Many have erroneously calculated these days and endeavored to terminate them on a current calendar or an historical record. This is to miss the point.

Spiritual things are spiritually discerned – see 1 Cor. 2:14. And what are spiritual things you may well ask? It is a question each of us individually must strive to answer. It is like trying to interpret the statement, “Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fufil the lust of the flesh…” see Gal. 5:13-26. Here you see liberty versus license, reflective of duality in the great controversy. Rom. 8 is an excellent chapter on the Spirit and the flesh and is a good starting point.

A very brief answer to some of your questions:

Babylon - confusion and error – the Babylonians were idolatrous, today idolatry is literalism.

Temple - a pattern. Exd. 25:40 – we are the true Temple. 1 Cor. 3:16.

Millennium – one day is as thousand years. Ps. 90:4 and 2 Pet. 3:8
Lords day - Spiritual Pentecost in N.T. - day of new meat offering of O.T. – see Lev. 23: 15, 16 – 50th day after Passover.
Day of the Lord - see Rev, 1:10, 16:4 and 18:8.

High Priest – Christ Melchisedec high priest (spiritual of course) today – not Levitical now = Christ = King of righteousness, King of peace – see Heb. 6:19 and 7:1-3.

Gentiles and Jews today with circumcised heart are the spiritual Jew - see Rom. 2:28, 29, Gal. 5:13 and Eph. 2.

Do trust these few thoughts may help you.

Jean