For the Eyes of Your Understanding"
INTRODUCTION TO SEVEN VOLUME SERIES
Types of Prophecy
This series of books is dedicated to reveal unique narrative prophetic characteristics of the Bible. Bible prophecy is sometimes spoken with imagery directly revealing the future, i.e. the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem - Micah 5:2 and Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection - Isaiah chapter 53. Bible prophecy is sometimes spoken in the form of people types, i.e., the events of Joseph's life beginning in Genesis chapter 37+. Bible prophecy is sometime revealed in the form of symbols, i.e., the "ram skins dyed red" covering in the wilderness tabernacle which represents the blood covering of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins - Exodus 26:14. Prophecy is sometimes revealed in the form of foreshadows, i.e., the sprinkling of the lamb's blood on the door posts of each Israelite home the night before they left Egypt (under the leadership of Moses) which foreshadows the covering of the blood of Jesus that protects Christians from spiritual death - Exodus 12: 22-24. Prophecy is sometimes reveal in the form of God's agenda, i.e., Jesus' statement to the Canaanite woman "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel" - Jesus' is saying the times of the Gentiles had not yet arrived.
Gaining prophetic understandings of biblical scriptures will enhance your discernment, your faith and deepen your understanding of God as your Creator and Father.
Hidden manna, in the form of biblical shadows, symbols and people types, is used to frame a bible big picture of God's agenda for His family. This series will provide you with new fresh revelations which form the edge pieces of the big picture of God. When putting a puzzle together the edge pieces are the most important pieces to first fit together because they provide a framework and general direction for fitting together all the other pieces of the puzzle. This series will be a valuable tool helping to understand God as the one and true Author of the Bible because the big picture is of Him and His family (Christians).
Luke 8:10 (KJV) - And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
The above scripture speaks of the mysteries or secrets of the kingdom of God which are given in figurative forms or parables to the body of Christ. But to those who are not a part of the body of Christ, they will not perceive foreshadowed messages or understand what is spoken in parables. No other book of any other religion is spiritually discerned. Meaning, God wrote the Bible in such a way as to require His involvement in understanding His truth, confirming scripture interpretation through the Holy Spirit. The Word of God is alive because it can't be truly understood apart from the Spirit of God. Amazing!! The Bible is truly a miracle in itself, because man is not capable of writing spiritually discerned narratives. Thus, the popularity of the Bible has stood supreme throughout thousands of years and transformed those who seek to know God in a relational way. Thus, the Word of God gives life to those who believe, far beyond mere knowledge of the Word - 1 Corinthians 13:2 (NIV) - If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Prophetic symbols, people types, foreshadows and parables are a literary method God employed for the narrative structure of the Bible. Discernment of symbols, people types, foreshadows and parables reveals hidden manna (messages) in the Word of God.
Often God spoke through the prophets in a hidden secretive manner in the Old Testament. Sometimes the prophets did not understand the message they received from God. Below are two examples of this phenomenon -
1) Daniel 12:7-10 (NIV) - The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed." (8) I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" (9) He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. (10) Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
Daniel was not given an answer to his inquiry as to the outcome of the matter. It was kept secret from him. But to the body of Christ this secret is revealed through the Holy Spirit in the book of Revelation because the book of Revelation is an account of the end time when Daniel's scroll is opened by Christ - Revelation chapter 6.
2) When Moses was given instructions to build the tabernacle in the wilderness, he was instructed to follow the exact pattern given him by God. God warned Moses to make everything exactly like the pattern shown to Him when he was on Mount Sinai with God for forth days and nights. But, Moses was not given the meaning of the tabernacle's pattern because the message of the tabernacle's pattern was kept secret by God. This pattern was a shadow of things in heaven, as revealed in the book of Hebrews:
Hebrews 8:3-5 (NIV) - Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. (4) If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. (5) They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
Throughout the Bible God uses foreshadows, parables, symbols and types to veil the future family of God from Old Testament prophets, yet reveal these secrets to the New Testament body of Christ. As one gains wisdom and knowledge by studying the Word of God, his foundation for faith grows because God's secrets are revealed.
"For the Eyes of Your Understanding" is a series of books written to help the believer understand some of the secrets and mysteries contained in the Bible. God kept "us in Christ" (the church) a secret from Old Testament prophets, but later revealed "us in Christ" to the Apostle Paul by revelation through the Holy Spirit after Jesus' ascension into heaven. Then Paul taught the church through his writings (epistles).
You and I were God's special secret! My heart swells with love for Him when I think about us being so special to Him! It's amazing to think we were in the heart and mind of God throughout the Old Testament! Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV) - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (5) he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. The church is the offspring of Christ Jesus because we were re-born in Him. Isaiah saw the offspring of Messiah in Isaiah 53:10 (NIV) - Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. Isaiah's prophecy is the scripture nearest to actually seeing the Spirit filled body of Christ.
Hidden manna in the Old Testament was veiled by God using foreshadows. This series of writings will enlighten and broaden your perception of the miraculous way the Word of God is written and convincingly lace all the books of the Bible together as coming from one Author, God Himself.
The Gospel is referred to as the "mystery of God"
This scripture is Ephesians 3:6 (NIV) - This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. The mystery is through the church (verse 10) and the church's ministry of the gospel, Gentiles will be united with the Jews into one body as heirs of God to the covenant promise that is in Christ Jesus.
God's Intention for the Gospel
Ephesians 3:8-11 (NIV) - Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, (9) and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. (10) His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, (11) according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. This New Testament scripture "zooms in" to open the eyes of our understanding to the manifestation of God's covenant promise to the body of Christ. Paul reveals the proper perception of God's New Testament methodology - the Christian's ministry of the gospel to those who need to know Him in order to share in God's covenant promise of eternal life available through faith in Christ Jesus, as the One God sent to us to show the Way to the Kingdom of God.
God's Methodology in the Gospel
This is God's intention for having created all things. It is the mystery of God - Through the church's administration (ministry) of the gospel the wisdom of God is made known to all rulers and authorities in the spiritual realm, God's eternal life giving purpose fulfilled in Christ Jesus. This truth is made known to satan and all his followers. There is no other scripture that reveals God's intention for having created all things. Paul the apostle offers another perspective of God's intention in Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV) - For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (5) he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
Note: "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world" will be used in this study to form a framework (window) through which perceptions of the Bible will be interpreted. In other words, "us in Him" is a guiding light that keeps Biblical interpretations in sync with the truth of God. Prior to Jesus' death and resurrection, He was "God with us". After His resurrection, He is "God in us" and "us in Him". From "with" to "in" is a huge theological understanding of New Testament principles.
God's agenda time for the mystery will end just prior to the time of His wrath in the book of Revelation verse 10:7 (KJV) But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
So, God kept His intention secret from Old Testament prophets and made it a mystery when seeking understanding of biblical times prior to Jesus' death and resurrection - Ephesians 3:3-6 (KJV) - How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (4) Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) (5) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (6) That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. God's method is to reveal this mystery through the church's ministry of the gospel. God's agenda for the ministry of the gospel will close in the end time prior to His time of wrath.
The only purpose of the Bible is to open the eyes of mankind to the mystery of God and His Son, Christ Jesus. Natural man is blind to the reality of God as Creator and the source of eternal life. If fallen man could understand why God created everything, he would change his mind about Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord. So, the church's ministry of the Word of God to fallen man is most important!
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Why does fallen man need to know the Biblical truth of life? The perfect man Adam became blind when he sinned. Meaning, his eyes were closed to spiritual truths and were opened to his five senses in the Garden of Eden. Adam fell (descended) into mortality! Adam turned inward to himself because his senses opened his awareness of himself and gave him a sense consciousness, a self-centered perspective of life. He was blinded (eyes closed to spiritual truth) as he turned inward from God. In the natural, he opened his eyes to the five senses and saw himself at the center of life. Thus, it was then required that God provide the Word of Truth (Bible) to open his descendents' eyes once again to God as the real source of eternal life. Through the Bible, the descendents of Adam can be restored to immortality.
Adam and his descendents, through the time of Noah, provided an undocumented living history of Adam's account of God in the garden, including Adam's confession of his sin and the resulting separation from God. Even Abraham learned directly from Noah (Abram was 50 years old when Noah died) and provided his descendants, up to Jacob and his sons (the nation of Israel), with verbal accounts of God, as told by Noah. As far as we know, prior to Moses' time the Word of God was preserved as living history spoken from elders to succeeding generations of men. The elders' account of Adam and God opened eyes to the reality and presence of God. Many years later, Moses met with God and God through Moses wrote the Law and its decrees for the Israelites (first known documentation of Biblical history). Without the Pentateuch's historical account of God and ancestors of Israel, those Israelites who were delivered from Egypt could never open their eyes to understanding God's truth. Why? Because there was no elder alive that was taught by Jacob, Isaac or Abraham. The four hundred captivity of God's chosen people broke the chain of living history teaching. Without the Pentateuch's documentation, Israel would remain in spiritual darkness.
Then many years later, God sent His Son to complete the Abrahamic covenant, openly be a light of His truth, which will open the eyes of those who are blinded by worldly wisdom and knowledge, and to free those who are held in bondage by sin.
Isaiah 42:6-7 (NIV) - "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, (7) to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
It was for this purpose God authored the Bible, "to open eyes that are blind". It was necessary that God author the Word of God so faith in Him would come to man. Fallen freewill man must hear the truth of God before he can choose to believe God. Foreshadows and parables concerning the truth of God enhance a deeper understanding of God through His Word. The deep things of God reveal a wisdom that is far beyond the mere intellect of man. Wisdom that is a light radiating from the heart of God through Christ Jesus.
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God's Secret Revealed to Paul
Paul was an unique person called by Christ and given great revelations to prepare him for the ministry of taking the Word of truth to the world outside of Israel (Gentiles).
Paul's (Saul of Tarsus) Calling By Jesus -
Acts 26:14-18 (NIV) - Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' (15) "Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' "'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. (16) 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. (17) I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them (18) to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
One of the revelations Christ gave to Paul was an explanation of the mystery of God, namely the church's ministry of the gospel. The Body of Christ are believer's who are "in Christ" by faith, a faith that came to them through the ministry of the Word of Truth which open their eyes to God. Without the Bible this faith would not be possible. Romans 10:17 (KJV) - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
As I read the Old Testament, the eye of my understanding is focused on this true Biblical presupposition "For He chose us through him before the creation of the world." Then all scriptures begin to reveal the heart and mind of God as He worked in the world, even from day one of creation. My understanding became prophetic because the church was in God's heart throughout ancient times; it is still in His heart today and will be in His heart tomorrow.The work of God in the Old Testament began to foreshadow what He would do at a later date in the New Testament, including the end time.
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Foreshadows
Many Bible scholars, teachers and new believers interpret scriptures literally much of the time. Their literal perspectives cannot form complete revelations needed to understand the whole counsel of the prophetic nature of the Word of God apart from understanding these secrets hidden in the form of foreshadows.
See Origin of the Hebrew Language for insight into legitimate use of language for forming foreshadows.
Foreshadowing unveils prophetic characteristics of the Bible by overlaying scripture upon scripture, precept upon precept. A foreshadow can only exist if it reveals something in the future. Foreshadows are validated by studying Hebrew word definitions. Foreshadowing goes beyond the scope of literal interpretation. My desire is to incorporate the whole counsel of God's Word in determining prophetic interpretations of key scriptures, which form an overview of God's plan and agenda.
According to biblical accounts, Christ came into the world approximately four thousand years after the creation of the world. Many things transpired during that period of time. All of which, in one way or the other, contributed to the fulfillment of God's objective for having created the world and mankind - the arrival, death and resurrection of Jesus - Messiah.
Galatians 4:4 (KJV) - But when the FULLNESS OF THE TIME was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law. The "fullness of time", as used in this scripture, means that certain things had to transpire in the world before Christ could come to fulfill God's plan. There had to be a people set apart by God. A people who believed Jehovah God was the one true Sovereign God. Then Christ would come as the "one sent by God" to complete the covenant work of salvation. If the people don't believe that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the one true, sovereign God, they will never be in a place of faith to believe Jesus is the Son of God and God's Messiah when He arrives to save them from mortality and death, fulfilling all prophecy.
God is on a schedule - Isaiah 46: 8-13 - "Remember this, fix it in your mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said (prophecy), that will I bring about; what I have planned (agenda), that will I do. Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness, I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed."
There are many Old Testament scriptures which foreshadow events taking place in the time of the New Testament. God has a plan for redemption and it is foreshadowed in the Biblical accounts of ancient times. The end is made known from the beginning. From the beginning, God makes the end time known through prophetic revelation. He also is on a schedule (set time) for the coming of Christ for the salvation of His people - "and my salvation will not be delayed".
I believe foreshadows of God's redemptive plan are hidden and recorded in Old Testament historical events. Upon close examination it becomes clear that the time and plan for redemption has been set in place, revealed in Old Testament accounts of ancient times, and it will not be delayed.
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What is Hidden Manna?
Exodus 16:15 (KJV) - And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, this is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
Manna (Strong's Concordance / Hebrew) # 4478 - man (mawn); from #4100; literally, a whatness (so to speak), i.e. manna (so called from the question about it):
# 4100 - mah (maw); or mah (mah); or ma (maw); or ma (mah); also meh (meh); a primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses:
Use in KJV - how (long, oft, [-soever]), what end, what good, what purpose, what thing, whereby, wherefore, where-in, where-to, where-with, for why.
When Jesus was tempted by satan in the wilderness, He stated in Matthew 4:4 (KJV) - It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Jesus sees every word spoken by God as the true bread from God.
Jesus' use of the word manna as a metaphor: John 6:31-33 (KJV) - Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. (32) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. (33) For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
When Jesus stated He was the true bread from heaven He was using God's provision of manna in the desert as a metaphor or foreshadow of God's provision of eternal life through Him as their Messiah. In the days of the desert, the Israelites did not appreciate God's provision of daily bread for life in the desert and wished it was something other than what it was. Jesus was referring to their rejection of God's provision for life. Even as the Israelites rejected God's manna from heaven, they also rejected Jesus as God's manna from heaven. Therefore, for them He was not God's provision for eternal life!
Manna in the desert is also a metaphor for us today as we need God's provision for daily life. Christ Jesus who is the answer for all our needs in our time in the desert! What? Why? How? When? are questions about life and life's issues that can only be answered by God's provision through Christ Jesus! Whether our needs are, emotional, physical, spiritual or what ever the need, Christ Jesus is the answer! Christ Jesus is the Word which (by faith) is our hidden manna for today! Amen!
Foreshadows are hidden manna about Christ and authenticate the divine nature of the Word of God. Hidden manna unveils the Bible as the only source of God's Truth and inspires the believer to conform to its teachings. Thus, the following material is presented.
This seven volume series entitled "For the Eyes of Your Understanding" takes key foreshadows in the Old Testament and New Testament and builds a foundation for a "Big Picture" of God's plan and agenda for the redemption of mankind. This overview will form an understanding from Genesis to Revelation and inspire you to grow in the knowledge of our Lord, Christ Jesus.
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