GOD'S CODED LANGUAGE IS ALL ABOUT TRANSPARENCY

God’s world in the heavens is complex—a multi-dimensional, timeless quantum place. He has countless angels serving him; He has the four living creatures surrounding his throne; He has two guardian angels each side of the ark of the covenant; He has twenty-four elders; He has special angels: archangels, cherubim, seraphim, guardian and death angels; and He has many sons titled under various names: holy ones, morning stars and gods ruling in the heavens.

Mankind was created mortal and placed on a physical three-dimensional planet with significantly limited abilities compared to God’s creation in the heavens. God is transparent, yet—careful not to share every detail of His grand plan with His enemies. He, however, wants His newest creation to understand as much as can be possible through the limited lens given to them. Hence, the use of imagery, picturing, parallels, mirroring, stories, and parables to provide keys into God’s coded language.

“Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His plan to His servants” (Amos 3:7-8).

Having an understanding of God’s coded language, shines a bright light onto the scriptures in the books of the Bible. Let’s begin.

THE CREATION OF THE GENDERS: MALE AND FEMALE—ADAM AND EVE
ADAM was created to image God and the heavenly sons of God who all hold powerful positions of rulership. It is likely that both Adam and Eve’s body prior to their sin shone with the glory of God, which was lost after they sinned and they were then clothed by God. “A man ought not to cover his head, since HE IS THE IMAGE AND GLORY OF GOD...” (I Corinthians 11:7).

Scripture states: Adam was created before Eve (Genesis 2)

He was created before Eve intentionally to teach us that there exists a body of heavenly sons of God before mankind was created. Adam images these heavenly beings.

§  Adam named the animals before the creation of Eve, indicating the authority the sons of God hold before the creation of mankind (Genesis 2:19). The heavenly sons of God have rulership in heaven; they are members of God’s holy, royal, ruling family.

§  Adam’s body is different to Eve’s; he is physically stronger as one example and she can conceive and birth children. This difference reflects the role of Christ who will remain stronger than resurrected mankind. Her ability to conceive and birth children reflects her role as a church to teach the word of God and produce a congregation of God-fearing and God-serving members.

§  Adam finds no help-meet (Genesis 2:18). There does not appear to exist in heaven, at this time, complimenting partners for the heavenly ruling sons of God.

§  Adam was put to sleep (Genesis 2:21). After Adam sinned, phase two of God’s plan was activated and the first Adam was replaced by a second Adam. The first heavenly ruling sons who mirrored the first Adam were replaced by one Son of God who mirrors the second Adam. A tested Son of God, the tested stone of Isaiah 28:16 and I Peter 2:6 succeeded and became the Savior of mankind. Just as Adam was put to sleep, so this Son of God died [put to sleep] to pay the price for the sins of mankind. As a result, from him the newest creation has been redeemed and eternal life is once again an option.

EVE CREATED INTENTIONALLY AFTER ADAM TELLS THE STORY OF MANKIND.
EVE was created to image the rulership of mankind. “... but the woman is the glory of man” (I Corinthians 11:7).

Eve is created from a rib from Adam (Genesis 2:21). As Adam awoke to view Eve, his beautiful helpmeet made from one of his ribs, so our Savior after his resurrection, watches repentant mankind grow into a radiant church in him.
When Adam saw Eve, immediately he knew she was good for him (Genesis 2:23). Christ loves his church and died for it and all of mankind.

THE CREATION OF THE GENDERS ALSO DIFFERENIATES BETWEEN NATIONAL AND CHURCH LEADERSHIP.
MALE: National leadership is described using the male gender.

• The sons become the nations of today.
• Abraham was promised a son and the promise to a father of a multitude of nations (Genesis 17:5).
• Sarah was promised to give birth to a son and be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her—a promised of many more sons through her descendants.
• Jacob had 12 sons who became 12 nations.
• Ishmael had 12 sons who God prophesied would become 12 princes (Genesis 17:20).
  

In summary: the male gender pictures the god-kind and national leadership.

FEMALE: Church leadership (good and bad) is described using the female gender.

• Rachel is used to describe the church structure that God loves (Jeremiah 31:15).
• Christ’s bride is the righteous church that he marries (Revelation 19:7-9).
• The woman who rides the beast in Revelation is the great prostitute (Revelation 17:1).
• Jezebel is the wicked prophetess in Revelation 2:20.
  

In summary: the female gender pictures mankind and church leadership.

 Both of them: male and female/existing sons of God and resurrected mankind are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Resurrected mankind will rule as children of God in His holy, royal, ruling family. The sons of God prior to the creation of mankind and resurrected mankind are all created in the image of God; they are all children of God in His royal, ruling kingdom.

The heavenly domain and earthly domain are homes for the two separate creations within God’s family.

The domains: heaven and earth of each of these two groups of eternal children of God will remain their own domain and when all things are restored, both domains will be made new, for “God will create a new heaven and new earth and the first heaven and the first earth will pass away” (Revelation 21:1).

GOD’S ORDER OF AUTHORITY AS IT STANDS TODAY.
“But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife/woman is her husband/man, and the head of Christ is God” (I Corinthians 11:13).

In the heavenly world, God Almighty is King and Lord of all. Christ is his body and rules second in-charge with him. The church, Christ’s Bride, when she is resurrected will rule with Christ, but he will always have pre-eminence over her. The other righteous heavenly rulers will continue to rule as they have done before the creation of mankind. Resurrected mankind will not have pre-eminence over existing heavenly rulers. The order of authority is clear from I Corinthians 11:13:

1.    God Almighty is head of all

2a.  Christ rules second in-charge ruling over the existing heavenly rulers

2b.  Christ’s bride will co-rule with Christ as a unified body; he is the head and she is his body.

3.    Other heavenly rulers continue to rule and hold their original positions in their domain, but  now they are under Christ’s

       rule

4.   The remaining resurrected mankind will be subject to those above them.

CHRIST’S POSTION OF AUTHORITY IS ESTABLISHED.
Christ is the head of every man, which pictures Christ ruling the heavenly realm under Almighty God. The head of a wife/woman is her husband/man, as Christ is the head of the church/mankind.

“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior” (Ephesians 5:23).

Mankind owes their eternal life to Christ who paid the price for our sins. That is why God made Eve from the rib of Adam. Christ is the second Adam; through him repentant mankind receives eternal life.

THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF MANKIND/WOMEN.
Women were created with the ability to reproduce, so too, the church produces spiritual children of God. This is not done through national leaders. It is the role of a good mother to teach and correct her children. With the gift of God’s Holy Spirit, this reproductive ability gives birth to billions of potential children of God. The churches ability to provide spiritual food and birth children of God is an admirable quality admired in the heavenly realm. The angels rejoice every time a sinner repents (Luke 15:10). She is likely to continue after her resurrection, in a similar role—teachers and priests always pointing to the path of righteousness and teaching the ways of God. Whatever form she will take after her resurrection, she will be radiant and a beautiful compliment for Christ.

Click here for more information on the imagery of the male and female genders part 1 and part 2.

GOD HAS PRESERVED STORIES THAT MIRROR THE SPIRITUAL WALK OF GOD’S PEOPLE.

NAAMAN THE SYRIAN, a Gentile general went to Elisha for healing. He had leprosy and came with gifts: 10 changes clothes, 2,000 shekels of gold, 10 talents of silver. Jesus reminded the Jews, “there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:27).

There is special meaning in this story. Jesus did not say it to aggravate the Jews, but remind them that their brothers, now Gentiles would be healed of their spiritual decay. The story is rich in imagery:

• The meaning of the gifts he brought.
• The healing process was a baptism.
• The little girl of Israel, like a small voice from a righteous servant church told Naaman where to go to get healed.
• He images the leader of 10 nations who can with 10 sets of clothes—changed attitudes and mindsets.
• Gehazi, the servant of Elisha sought payment and he was cursed with leprosy.
  

 Click on this link for the transcript of the video on this story.

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL is the story of the repentance 10 tribes of Israel. This house of people was left to wander through the nations after their captivity, because they would not repent. Their stubborn and rebellious spirit eventually brought them to their knees. Their history was a scattering by historians as they came into contact with other nations; they were a lost people. In despair, the church of the 10 tribes called out and God heard them. This is the story of the woman at the well preserved only by the Apostle John.

• She is at a well in the heat of the day—an outcast.
• She is at the place of reviving.
• Jesus initially alone planned the trip and met her at the right time and place.
• He offered her “living water”.
• He knew her past having married four other men and the one she is with is not her husband—he reminded her of all of the gods they worshiped in the past, even still acknowledging a foreign god they presently worshiped.
• She recognized him as a prophet.
• Jesus told her to go and bring her town leaders.
• They came and talked directly with Jesus, believing immediately that he is the Son of God. The ten tribes accepted God’s grace and acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah.
  

Click on this link for the transcript of the video on this story.

SAMSON'S RIDDLE: “Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet” (Judges 14:14).
This riddle has teased readers for generations. The sight of a mighty lion, like the power of the Philistines over Israel, torn apart at the hands of someone given supernatural strength from God, decomposed into a lifeless—empty carcass pricked Samson’s curiosity, for within this decayed body, a community of bees appeared producing sweet eternal honey, like the Believers in this dark deceptive world speaking the eternal truth of God. The prophesy of the Philistine overthrow by God’s power through Samson was already at play.

God is able. He is able to cause bees to settle, live and produce honey in a place unnatural for them, so He is able to preserve truth within a community of Believers in a deceitful and corrupt world of wicked people. He is able to bring forth life-giving water in an unclean, dry place, so He is able to revive a dying people and bring them back spiritually through His Holy Spirit in a place that denies the existence of God. Samson ate the honey and drank the water. Eventually, all of Israel will eat the pure word of God and drink His Holy Spirit.

Click on this link for more of this story.

The imagery of THE FEEDING OF THE MULTITUDE of 5,000 and 4,000 in the gospels is another story preserved to show that Jesus fed both houses of Israel, himself.

• The numbers: 5,000 Jews and 4,000 Gentiles
• The place: Bethsaida and a Gentile region
• The hillside in both stories: a place of authority
• The organization of the people: one grouped the other scrambled
• The location: remote and away from false teachers and a desolate place
• Time of the feeding: late on the same day and the other after 3 days
• 5 barley loaves, 2 small fish and 7 loaves, few fish
• Remains gathered: 12 baskets and 7 very large baskets
  

Click on this link for the transcript of the video on this story.

Click on this link for the video.

THE STORY OF THE 153 FISH. What a miracle! What a wonder! God is at work with Christ transforming people into sons of God. When Christ returns, he will resurrect and transform the saints into sons of God, then what was long hoped for will become a reality and finally, people will begin to see and understand the magnitude of their calling.

The seven churches are the 21st century nations of Israel—all twelves tribes. Upon his return, Christ will gather all twelve tribes and teach them the word of God directly. They will not recognize him initially because they claim to be Christians—the national religion, but they do not know or live God’s way. The churches all teach hundreds of different doctrines and interpret scriptures through their own eyes. They are careless handling God’s word and do not seek to test and prove their teachings. It was the catch of the saints that was the proof for the Christians that Christ was standing before them. Christ will correct them and the resurrected saints in their glory will be by their side to guide them along the way. The survivors of 21st century Israel will enter a new and exciting chapter in their history. This time, they will obey God and enjoy abundant blessings: no sickness or war, riches and wealth, happiness and peace.

​Click on this link for more on this story.

The parallels in the story of JOSEPH MIRRORS THE STORY OF JESUS. 

Joseph, like many of God’s servants who are part of the greater story, was young when God began His work through him. He was a boy loved by his father. “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him” (Genesis 37:3). Joseph’s story images the greater story of God’s love for His Son, His beloved Son—the one of whom He is well pleased.

• Rachel’s oldest son—a miracle son
• He shared his dreams of rulership
• His brothers lowered him into a pit where he pleaded for his life and later sold him into slavery
• Joseph grew strong and remained loyal to God
• God blessed him and made him ruler in Egypt under Pharaoh
• He saved his brothers and preserved the remnant.
  

Click on this link for the transcript of the video on  this story.

Watch the video of the comparison of Joseph and Jesus Part 1 and Part 2.

Watch the sharing session with Janette and Gavin on this topic Part 1.

Watch the video of the 7 years of plenty and the 7 years of famine.

JACOB AND ESAU their story is a reminder to God’s people that salvation is not dependant on being a “covenant people” but upon their repentance, acceptance of God’s grace and OVERCOMING.

Click on this link for the transcript of the video of Jacob and Esau.

Watch the video of Jacob and Esau.

JACOB'S TWO WIVES AND THEIR HANDMAIDENS is a story about the church structure that God loves, the church structure that wanders off track and the two church structures among the Gentile nations. These women lived the roles of the churches within God’s covenant people. The tension, the competition, the loss and their achievements exist today as it did in ancient times.

Click on this link for the transcript of this story.

Watch the video on Jacob's Wives.

THE IMAGERY OF TREES IDENTIFIES LEADERS, KINGS, RULERS AND THOSE WITH AUTHORITY.
Ruling heavenly beings are described as “cedars”.  “Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon... The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it... no tree in the garden of God could match its beauty. I made it beautiful with abundant branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden in the garden of God... Because it towered on high, lifting its top above the thick foliage, and because it was proud of its height, I handed it over to the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness, I cast it aside... No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height, they are all destined for death, for the earth below, among mortal men, with those who go down to the pit” (Ezekiel 31).

The imagery of “cedars” in God’s garden are the strong and powerful heavenly and earthly rulers. Some are described as exceptionally tall, robust, with branches that span a large area all indicates the level and magnitude of the authority given to them by God.

The Bible interprets itself. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a tree that “grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth” (Daniel 4:11), which in his dream was cut down, branches trimmed, leaves stripped and fruit scattered (Daniel 4:14). Troubled, he asked Daniel to interpret the dream. Daniel identified the tree as King Nebuchadnezzar, “you, O king are that tree!” (Daniel 4:22)

LEBANON IS IDENTIFIED AS GOD’S CENTRE OF OPERATIONS.
God is at war. His center has collapsed. He is rebuilding his headquarters.

“In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field and the fertile field seem like a forest?” (Isaiah 29:17).

“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree; he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. PLANTED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, they will flourish in the COURTS OF OUR GOD. They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green” (Psalm 92:12-15).

Read more: What happened in God's headquarters?

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREES IDENTIFY THE VARYING DIFFERENT POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP.
“‘The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,’ declares the LORD… Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion… THE GLORY OF LEBANON WILL COME TO YOU, the PINE, the FIR and the CYPRESS together, to adorn the place of my sanctuary and I will glorify the place of my feet… all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you The City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 59:20, 60:10, 60:13, 14).

God is planting leaders with differing abilities and strengths in His new headquarters and holy courts. He describes them as cedars, acacia, myrtle, olive, pine, fir, poplar and cypress trees. The places void of truth and righteousness will be populated with people who are filled with God’s Holy Spirit and people will live righteously.

“I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the CEDAR and the ACACIA, the MYRTLE and the OLIVE. I will set PINES in the wasteland, the FIR and the CYPRESS together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it” (Isaiah 41:19-20).

THE STORY OF ABIMELECH USES THIS IMAGERY IN HIS SPEECH TO THE PEOPLE.
After Abimelech’s father, Gideon, died he sought to be the sole ruler of his people. He killed 70 of his brothers but the youngest brother escaped and returned when Abimelech was about to be crowned king under the great tree at the pillar [the coronation site] in Shechem (Judges 9:6)

“Listen to me [Jotham, youngest son of Gideon], citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. One day the trees [citizens] went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree [a priest], ‘Be our king.’ But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil [the teaching of the word of God], by which both gods and men are honored, to go waving over [ruling over] the trees?”

“Next, the trees said to the fig tree [productive, benevolent leader], ‘Come and be our king.’ But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to go waving over the trees?’”

“Then the trees said to the vine [a civic leader], ‘Come and be our king.’ But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and men, to go waving over the trees?’”

“Finally all the trees said to the thorn-bush [an inexperienced, bumbling leader that causes trouble], ‘Come and be our king.’ The thorn-bush [wicked leader] said to the trees [the civilians], 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade [take refuge under my leadership]; but if not, then let fire come out of the thorn-bush [the thorn-bush will go to war against a powerful and highly experienced nearly invincible leader—the cedars of Lebanon] and consume the cedars of Lebanon! [destroy the strongest leaders in headquarters]’” (Judges 9:7-15)

THE OLIVE TREE IS THE DESCRIPTOR FOR PRIESTS.

The two olives trees on each side of the two lampstands are identified in Revelation 11:4 as the two witnesses—the two anointed ones of Zechariah 4:14. From them, olive oil the source of light is shone to the world.

• Olive trees are priests
• Lamp stands are instruments of light: righteous churches and Christ who is the lamp of God. “I did not see a temple in the city… for the glory of God gives its light, and the Lamb is its lamp” Revelation 21:22).
  

King David said, “But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God” (Psalm 52:8).

Click here to read a mini book reviewing the imagery of trees as leaders into our 21st century.

THE BEASTS IN DANIEL AND REVELATION ARE UNREDEEMABLE COALITIONS OF ROGUE HEAVENLY RULERS.
The dazzling and awesome image of the great statue in Daniel parallels the rise and fall of four kingdoms described as beasts. Each beast corresponds to a section of the awesome statue:

• The head of gold partnered with the lion with wings of an eagle.
• The arms and chest of silver partnered with the bear that was raised up on one of its sides and it had three ribs.
• The belly and thighs partnered with the leopard, which had four wings on its back like a bird.
• The legs of iron and feet of iron and clay partnered with the final terrifying and frightening beast with large iron teeth that crushed and devoured its victims (Daniel 7).
  

A quest to win the kingdom is at play in the heavens, but mankind is oblivious to the challenge. Apostle Paul wrote about a kingdom that the faithful sought, “they longed for a better country—a heavenly one… the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:16, 10).

“The secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them,” Jesus said in Matthew 13:11. It is like the sower, but not all of the seeds fell on good ground and the farmer who took care of his field, but his enemy planted weeds among the wheat. It will begin small, very small, but it will grow into a kingdom that will fill the earth.

Click here for more on the battle for the kingdom.

This kingdom has not yet been awarded. Battles have been fought on earth for this kingdom, and still mankind is oblivious to the challenge. Satan’s plan is to keep mankind ignorant of their potential, but God is transparent. Unfortunately, most of mankind is not listening to God. There are, however, a remnant people who are listening and obeying God; they are the saints. God has already foretold His judgment. The saints will receive the kingdom and rule with Christ who has been anointed King of kings and Lord of lords.

“The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever… before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached he Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:18, 13-14).

Well, that clears up that issue. Unfortunately, one last great terrifying battle remains. The need to draw close to God is now, without delay.

The Bible is peppered heavily with imagery, parallels, stories, and mirroring. The reward of a scholar who finds the hidden things of God is like the honor given to the great kings. They have found precious treasures and shared them, discovered the lost and put it on display. Their drive could not be exhausted; their love for truth could not be snuffed out.

My summary list:

• The male and female gender reflect god-kind and mankind.
• Different trees image different leadership roles.
• The cedars of Lebanon are members of God’s headquarters.
• Olive trees are priests
• Lamp is the instrument through which light shines (the church and Christ).
• Oil is produced through crushing—like the suffering that comes before righteousness through testing and purifying.
• Fig trees are leaders with significant influence: good and bad.
• Mountains, hills and valleys image levels of government.
• The well is the place of reviving where access to God’s Holy Spirit is available.
• Water pictures God’s Holy Spirit.
  Jacob images repentant overcomers
• Esau images the rebels in the covenant family.
• Rachel images a religious order that births a righteous congregation.
• Leah images the church structure that often loses its way and births weak and often a misguided congregation.
• Joseph is a clear reflection of Jesus Christ.
• The sea images the place of wickedness.
• Deserts image places void of truth and righteousness.
• Many waters image the peoples and nations of the world.
  Bread images God’s word, knowledge and truth.
• Wine images sacrificial blood.
• Beasts are unredeemable rogue heavenly coalitions.
• The pit in Ezekiel is the prison in the earth where the overthrown heavenly rulers are kept until judgment.
  
• The great statue in Daniel images the redeemable human kingdoms.
• A lion images a royal prince or king.
• Wings of an eagle images a miraculous transportation.
• The jawbone used by Samson pictures the use of an unclean weapon. He did not give God the credit for his victory.
• The lion’s carcass was an unclean place—void of truth and righteousness.
• Honey images the eternal, sweet word of God.
  

In addition to these, Biblegateway.com provides a list below: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionary-of-bible-themes/1670-symbols

Symbolic objects
The rainbow: a symbol of God’s covenant See also Ge 9:13; Eze 1:28; Rev 4:3
A stairway: a symbol of the way to God Ge 28:11-13; Jn 1:51
Thunder, lightning, cloud and smoke: symbols of God’s majesty Ex 19:16-18; Ex 24:17; Ps 97:2,4; Rev 4:5; Rev 8:5; Rev 11:19
Thunder: a symbol of God’s voice Ps 29:3; Ps 68:33
Trumpets: a symbol of God speaking Ex 19:19; Rev 8:6
The pillar of cloud and fire: a symbol of guidance Ex 13:21
A throne: a symbol of God’s glory Isa 6:1; Eze 1:26; Rev 4:2; Rev 22:3
Dry bones: a symbol of spiritual death Eze 37:1-2,11
White hair: a symbol of wisdom Da 7:9; Rev 1:14
The wind: a symbol of the Holy Spirit Jn 3:8; Ac 2:2
Fire: a symbol of the Holy Spirit Ac 2:3
Stars and lampstands: symbols of God’s ministers Rev 1:20
A signet ring: a symbol of authority Est 8:10; Hag 2:23
Arrows: symbols of God’s judgments Ps 38:2; Ps 120:4
A sceptre: a symbol of God’s rule Ps 2:9; Rev 2:27; Rev 19:15
The capstone: a symbol of pre-eminence Mt 21:42 pp Mk 12:10-11 pp Lk 20:17; Ps 118:22
A rock: a symbol of stability Ps 18:2; Ps 40:2
The human body: a symbol of interdependence 1Co 12:27
Grass: a symbol of human frailty Ps 90:5-6; 1Pe 1:24

Symbolic creatures
The serpent: a symbol of Satan’s subtlety Ge 3:1; Rev 12:9; Rev 20:1-3
Locusts: a symbol of God’s judgment Ex 10:12; Joel 1:4; Rev 9:3
Beasts: symbols of earthly kingdoms Da 7:2-7,17; Da 8:20-22
A dove: a symbol of the Holy Spirit Mt 3:16 pp Mk 1:10 pp Lk 3:22
A lamb: a symbol of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice Rev 5:6

Symbolic actions
Breaking a jar: a symbol of the destruction of Jerusalem Jer 19:10-11
The cursing of a fig-tree: a symbol of judgment Mt 21:18-19 pp Mk 11:12-14
Washing hands: a symbol of innocence Mt 27:24
Being thirsty: a symbol of spiritual need Ps 63:1; Jn 7:37
Baptism: a symbol of salvation in Jesus Christ Ac 22:16; Ro 6:3-4; 1Pe 3:21
The Lord’s Supper: a symbol of union with Christ Mt 26:26-29 pp Mk 14:22-24 pp Lk 22:19-20 pp 1Co 11:23-26
Anointing: a symbol of empowering by God’s Spirit 1Sa 16:13; Lk 4:18; Isa 61:1
Harvesting: a symbol of judgment day Joel 3:12-13; Mt 13:29-30; Rev 14:15
Tearing garments: a symbol of anger and sorrow Ge 37:29,34; Jos 7:6
Spitting: a symbol of contempt Isa 50:6; Mt 26:67 pp Mk 14:65
Shaking off dust: a symbol of rejection Mt 10:14 pp Lk 9:5; Ac 13:51
Sitting in sackcloth and ashes: a symbol of repentance Ps 69:11; Isa 22:12; Jnh 3:5-6; Mt 11:21
Lifting of hands: a symbol of prayer Ps 63:4; 1Ti 2:8
Covering the head: a symbol of submission 1Co 11:3-10
Symbols expressing God’s nature and character
God’s face: a symbol of his presence Nu 6:25-26; Ps 34:16
God’s arm or hand: a symbol of his power Ps 21:8; Ps 89:13
God’s eyes: a symbol of his awareness Pr 15:3; 1Pe 3:12
God’s ear: a symbol of God listening Ps 31:2; Isa 59:1

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