Synopsis "Unsealed: Understanding Old Testament Symbols and Types"
In order to understand God's Word more completely and effectively we must have our spiritual eyes opened. This "opening of spiritual eyes" involves correctly understanding and discerning the different symbols and figures of speech that God has employed in the revelation of his Word. The Bible is radically different from all other books in the world. God has divinely preserved the Bible for centuries and despite the fact that powerful leaders throughout the centuries have tried to destroy it, it is still the number one best seller! No other book comes close to the number and variety of contributors to a single cohesive message like the Bible. Diverse classes and occupations like kings, philosophers, poets, political leaders, priests, physicians, tax collectors and fishermen recorded their inspired messages some in the Sinai desert, others in the palace of Jerusalem, near the river of Babylon, in the prison of Rome, on the Isle of Patmos. Aside from the varied locations and types of writers, the message of the gospel was recorded across a span of nearly 1,600 years between the first and the last writer. The subjects presented include history, genealogy, law, ethics, prophecy, science, health, economics, politics and rules for personal conduct. All this forms a unit, revealing God's plan for the salvation of sinners.Genesis relates the beginning of things while Revelation explains the consummation of all things. From Genesis to Malachi the Holy Spirit reveals the necessity and the promise of salvation through types and symbols. In the four Gospels, we witness the fulfillment of the prophesied and promised salvation symbolized in the Old Testament. From Acts to Revelation the Holy Spirit reveals the implementation and consummation of our salvation.God through the Spirit of truth, uses figurative and symbolic language that we can understand as long as we consider the context and compare it to other passages on the same subject in order to reveal the truth of his message. Many biblical texts contain figures of speech that when properly understood and considered help to bring the text alive to our circumstances and situationS. God does this through many and varied figures of speed such as metaphors, similes, allegories, types and symbols. In Proverbs 25:2 Solomon declared "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter." The Bible calls the Church a nation of kings and priests. The Lord Jesus is the King of kings, because He is our king and has called us as kings to reign with him. Therefore, we can perceive that one of the aspects of God's Word is that he has concealed vital truths that enhance the quality of our life experiences within its pages. He does this for his glory through symbolic language and as kings, it is our glory to search them out and "discover" his ways.
