Comparing Old Testament shadow to New Testament substance
Old Testament history as a roadmap to Christian history
It is hoped the reader can see at least a few parallels here between Old Testament history and Christian history. I hope to point these out in greater focus in each of the time categies under the heading "external support" or merely placing a date of the historical event.
Israelite history as a pattern for Christian history, 1 Corinthians 10:11
OLD TESTAMENT | NEW TESTAMENT |
---|---|
The Exodus |
The Tribulation |
The Journey of Transition Exodus 13-40, Leviticus, Numbers, Dueteronomy -- The 40-year Exodus from Egypt through the desert to the Inheritance/Promised Land; Moses the promised deliverer; Moses returns after 40 days of fasting with the 10 commandments written on stone; Moses, the Law-giver, delivers the Law of Moses. |
The Journey of Transition 30-70AD: The 40-year New Testament historical account: Acts-Revelation: The Second Exodus-Tribulation from the Law of Moses to the Kingdom of the Heavens; Christ our promised Deliverer/Savior, Christ our Passover, Christ returns from 40 days of fasting with the Gospel written on hearts with the Spirit; the Law of Christ; Jesus/Spirit, the Life-giver, delivers the Law of Christ; Christ our Rock for refreshing water, etc., "God has ordained that you should enter His Kingdom through much Tribulation." |
The Promised Land Joshua 1-6 |
The Kingdom of God 70AD: Jude 14-15, 1 Thess 3:13, 2 Thess 1:6-10, Rev 19:11-21, 2 Kings 6:15-17 |
Taking Possession of the Land for Israel Joshua 7-24 |
Taking Possession of the World for Christ 70-325AD Ante-Nicene Christianity: |
Establishing dominion over the Land Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1 Kings |
Establishing dominion over the World 325-590AD Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity |
Extending the reach of the kingdom 2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, establishing the temple of God in Jerusalem, reigning with kingly glory over the Land. The height of outward show of Israelite reign. Solomon's world traveling fleets, his worldwide fame and outreach, sharing his wisdom. Some regression into Golden Calf idolatry, division and decline. |
Extending the reach of the kingdom (Christendom) 590-1070AD: The regal rule of the Catholic Church in its glory. The missionary period from Gregory I. to Hildebrand or Gregory VII., A.D. 590-1073. The height of outward show of Christian reign. The conversion of the northern barbarians. The dawn of a new civilization. Later corruption & decline. Some regression into Islam (Old Testament style legalism). The schism of East and West. |
The kingdom threatened with extinction Isaiah (history accounts) Divine Deliverance |
The kingdom threatened with extinction 1070AD-REFORMATION: Pope Gregory VII to Martin Luther, et al : Divided schism between Roman Catholic west and Greek Orthodox east; saints under seige on every side, heretics and false leaders within and Muslim Turks and without; the Black Death Plague, etc. Greatest challenges to the survivial of faithful, holy, true-believer Christians since the Tribulation of 30-70AD; many true-believers in hiding. Divine Deliverance |
Decline, Exile, Return and final Destruction Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah (the historical portions) -- the decline in Jerusalem begins when Hezekiah asks for 15 more years to live. He then invites in the Babyloninan spies and begets evil Manasseh, to whom he leaves the kingdom. From there, it is a downhill decline into Exile, return, and struggle for existence as God reveals His will to destroy Israel beneath subjugation to four beastly (idol-worshipping) empires: Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman. Israel is then to be resurrected into a new and living spiritual kingdom that shall have dominion over all and shall have no end. That account is given in the right column of this table. |
*The analogy ends here* A Christian Exile (and return) never happens because our king, King Jesus, never makes the mistakes of King Hezekiah, (inviting in the Babylonian spies; leaving his kingdom to evil heirs like Manasseh and Amon). "His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom to which there shall be no end." REFORMATION-FOREVER: The "fire from heaven" continues as Martin Luther & John Calvin institutionalize the Reformation; Protestant denominationalism is established; World missions & Bible societies; 24-hour preaching worldwide; the Word of God directly rules over the hearts of estimated 2.5 Billion people and growing; return to simplicity of the faith, worship & practice, free men freely serving Jesus from their free consciences, Government of the People, by the People, for the People to the glory of the God of Peace .... |
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1 Corinthians 10:1-11 ~penned around 53AD by Christ's persecuted Apostle Paul to the Christians at Corinth
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
NKJV
1 Corinthians 10:1-11 ~penned around 53AD by Christ's persecuted Apostle Paul to the Christians at Corinth
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did — and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did — and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did — and were killed by the destroying angel. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
NIV
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