Christ and “His Christ” in the OT Shadows
(Compiled from prior church teachings and studies)
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Introduction
There are three offerings in the Law of the Offerings which reveal “the Lord and His Christ”. The scapegoat sin offering, the second bird sin offering in the sacrifice for leprosy and the male sacrifice for the rulers of the people; these offerings in the OT are all types/SHADOWS of Christ and “His Christ” and the two-fold work being done through them.
Christ tells us that He IS SENDING us “As My Father hath sent me”, but what does that mean? Here are a few of the things which Christ’s Father sent Him to accomplish, and these are a few of the things which Christ is sending us to accomplish:
Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
1) Christ tells us that He is “the Light of the world”. Likewise, He is sending us to be “the Light of the world”.
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
2) Christ tells us that He was sent to be “the Bread of life”.
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
1Co 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.
3) Christ tells us that He has the water of Life:
Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
We, too, as the Lord’s anointed and Christ have the same “Living water”.
Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
In Christ those who are IN Him are “1) the light of the world, 2) the bread of life, and 3) they have the water of life. This all being so, we see that Christ identifies Himself with us. We are being destined to inherit the Kingdom of God before the foundation of the world.
Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
The Father has sent Christ to accomplishes and save the world THROUGH Him.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
If the Father sent Christ to be the Savior of the world, and if our Savior has sent us “even as [His] Father has sent [Him]”, is Christ not sending us to be Saviors?
Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.
Christ’s died and for Him it is finished whilst in the clay, we are to “present our bodies as living sacrifices”, we are “dying daily” and count ourselves as being “crucified with Him”. He was given faith in full measure and we are being given faith in down payment form. He gave His life and we die daily.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So, we see many similarities between Christ and His wife, the Church of the Living God.
In this study, we are looking at the two-fold work of Christ and His Bride, the Church. God, the Father, has given ancient Israel, which signifies spiritual Israel, three sacrifices which are types and shadows of this two- phase work of Christ and “His Christ” being accomplished in our lives today.
A) The first Offering which reveals this two- phase work of the “Lord and His Christ” is the offering of the goat and the scapegoat:
Lev 16:5 And he [Aaron the high priest, a type for God’s Elect] shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
Lev 16:6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.
Lev 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Lev 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
By God’s design, “Israel” is NOT cleansed by the blood of the first goat alone. It requires the work of BOTH goats “to make an atonement” for the sins of the people. Are we told that we are to consider ourselves to be part of the sin offering which is made for the sins of the people?
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
“Bearing His reproach” is what the scapegoat, the OT type of “our Lord’s Christ”, do TODAY:
Lev 16:18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.
Lev 16:19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
Lev 16:20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:
Lev 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Lev 16:22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
“The hand of a fit man” refers to Christ Himself, living WITHIN “His Christ” “who are symbolized by the goat whose body is offered as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” As His elect, we are, at this moment, BEING “led by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness” that is this world.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
“As … the goat [on which] the Lord’s lot” fell, died for the sins of the people, “even so” is the “living sacrifice” (Rom 12:1), “crucified with Christ, nevertheless … liv[ing] … [as] Christ in [us] … filling up the sufferings that are behind of the afflictions of the Christ [of Christ]”.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice [the scapegoat], holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live [as the scapegoat]; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Why are we called the light of the world, the bread of life, and why are we being given the water of life? Why are we “being crucified with Christ”, why are we “filling up in our bodies the afflictions of the Christ”? And the answer is, “As [Christ’s] Father … sent Him, even so [Christ] IS SENDING us [to] fill up His afflictions in our bodies” for the same reason Christ suffered His afflictions, and for the same reason Christ Father sent Him. That reason is “for His Body’s sake, which is the Church”. Our stripes and afflictions are for the same purpose as His, “because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).
God, the Father, from “before the world began”, intended that the LIVING scapegoat ALSO be an integral part of “the atonement for the people”.
Lev 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
B) The Offering of the two birds for the healing of the Leper:
Lev 14:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 14:2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:
Lev 14:3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;
Lev 14:4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
Lev 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
Lev 14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
Lev 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
Again, just as the scapegoat is being released by a fit man into the wilderness, this live bird is being released by the priest “into the open field”, which is another symbol for the world into which we all are born and in which we all live. We have this interpretation of the meaning of “the field” in Scripture:
Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
The sacrifice for the healing of leprosy is not one, but two doves, and just as with the two goats, one bird is sacrificed to the Lord, and the other is kept ALIVE and is being released into the open field.
Let us notice again how this is all commanded to be accomplished:
Lev 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
Lev 14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
Lev 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
“Cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop are all symbols of the pains and afflictions, “which are behind of the afflictions of the Christ”.
Joh 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Heb 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
The requirements for the cleansing of “all the people” and the cleansing of the leper are the same. But in the offering of the cleansing of the leper, we find that there are two birds which are both required to be a part of this offering, before the leper can be pronounced clean. The first bird is to be killed “in an earthen vessel over running water”. We are clearly told that this “earthen vessel” is the physical body of sinful flesh and blood into which all in Adam are being born, including the Lord Himself:
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure [Being Christ’s Christ’s] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
The “running water” is the type of the Word and the Words of Christ, which “are Spirit” and which are being found in the mouths and hearts of all who are ABIDING in Christ.
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Flowing waters are “running waters”, and those running waters are a type and shadow of the Life that is in the Word of God. This bird which is set free in the field has the Spirit of Christ WITHIN and that bird as well as the cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop, have all been dipped in the blood of the first bird “in an earthen vessel over running water”. But these two birds constitute ONE sacrifice. “Take for him that is to be cleansed two birds” … (Lev 14:4).
This second live bird is as expedient to the cleansing of this leper as the first bird, for they are ONE sacrifice for the cleansing of the leper.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
This bird is another type of the second phase of the work of Christ, and it too, represents US, as we are filling up in ourselves the afflictions of “The Christ” as it is symbolized by the cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop, which are all dipped in the blood of the first bird. Christ and His Bride cannot be separated.
c) The third and final sacrifice which is the symbol of this two- phase work of the Lord and His Christ, is shown in the Offering for the sins of the ruler and the sins of the common people:
Lev 4:22 When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;
Lev 4:23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:
Lev 4:24 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering.
This sacrifice for “a ruler” must be “a kid of the goats, a MALE without blemish … it is a sin offering”. But notice that God wants to distinguish “a ruler” in this sin offering from the sin offering which is to be offered for “one of the common people”.
Lev 4:27 And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
Lev 4:28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.
Lev 4:29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.
This offering is for sins of “one of the common people”. It is to be a FEMALE goat, while the offering for the ruler is to be a MALE goat. Who in scripture is called “a ruler”? We will see that those who are called rulers are those who are called “The Christ of Christ”, and “a ruler” is always to be distinguished from “one of the common people” who are to be ruled over by the overcomers. The spiritual man always rules over the natural man.
Gen 41:40 Thou [Joseph, a type of “the Christ”] shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
Gen 41:43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
The Lord is preparing for Himself a nation of kings and priests, a peculiar nation.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
We are granted not only to believe on Christ but to also suffer with Him and “fill up the things lacking of the tribulations of “The Christ”, in our flesh (Php 1:29).
“The Christ of Christ” are the overcomers who “endure to the end” …. thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Another example/symbol of the ruler whose offering must be of a male goat, is found in Rev 12. We see a woman who brings forth a man child who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron:
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
The emphasis is on OVERCOMING because grace and Truth is coming with Christ and “His Christ”.
Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Summary:
This “man child, who is ruling the nations with a rod of iron” is the same as “he that overcometh [who is also promised to] rule the nations with a rod of iron”. This “man child” is another symbol for “the Christ of Christ”. It is this man child who Christ is sending forth as His Father has sent Him, to save the world by being the scapegoat, which “scapegoat” is an integral part of a sin offering, but is “a LIVING sacrifice”.
This “man child” is also the second bird which as an integral part of the sacrifice of the lepers in Israel, and he IS again the “living sacrifice” part of that sin offering, and is released into “the open field” to accomplish his part in filling up the afflictions of the Christ in his body for Christ’s Body’s sake, which is the Church.
And finally, the male kid of the goats is the sacrifice for those who are to rule, and this sacrifice is distinguished from that of “the common people” of Israel, as the type of “Him that overcometh”, our Lord’s Christ, who is promised to be a RULER over the nations of this world WITHIN and without at the appointed time.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. [“Our Lord and His Christ”].
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
The Lord is not complete without His wife; His wife is not complete without Him and those in whom He dwells and together, Christ and “His Christ”, accomplish the work which was ordained before the foundation of the world. What an incredible calling to be part of this journey!
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Sincere questions are welcome. Please email us at peterjwilson56@gmail.com
