Christ in By Dr. E.W. Bullinger
In GENESIS we shall understand the record of Creation (ch. i.),
for we shall see in it the counterpart of our new creation in Christ
Jesus (II Cor. v. 17). In the light which shined out of darkness (Gen. i. 2, 3) we shall see
the light which has shone "in our hearts to give the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face (or person) of Jesus Christ" (II Cor.
iv. 6). No wonder that those who know nothing of this spiritual light of
the New Creation know nothing of the light that was created on the first
day as revealed in the record of the old creation. (1)
The natural man sees only a myth and an old wives' fable in the Creation
record, and seems actually to prefer the Babylonian corruption of
primitive truth. These "other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their
mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life
of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness
of their heart" (Eph. iv. 17,18). Woe be to those who follow these
blind leaders, for "they shall both fall into the ditch" they
have prepared for themselves by their fleshly knowledge and worldly
wisdom. In the Creator we shall see Christ (John i. 3. Col. i. 16). EXODUS tells of the sufferings and the glory of Moses, as
Genesis does of Joseph, and in both we see a type of the sufferings and
glory of Christ. LEVITICUS gives us, in the offerings, a fourfold view of the Death of Christ (the Sin and Trespass Offerings being reckoned as one), as the Gospels give us a fourfold view of His life. NUMBERS foreshadows the Son of Man come to be lifted up" (ch. xxi. 9. John iii. 14, 15); the Rock (ch. xx. 11. I Cor. x. 4); the Manna that fed them (ch. xi. 7-9. Deut. viii. 2, 3. John vi. 57, 58); and the future Star that should arise "out of Jacob" (ch. xxiv. 17. Luke i. 78. II Pet. i. 19. Rev. ii. 28; xxii. 16). DEUTERONOMY reveals the coining Prophet "like unto Moses" (ch. xviii. 15. Acts vii. 23-26); the Rock and Refuge of His people (chs. xxxii. 4; xxxiii. 27). JOSHUA tells of "the Captain of the Lord's host" (ch. v. 13-15. Heb. ii. 10; xii. 2) who shall triumph over all His foes; while Rahab's scarlet cord (ch. ii. 12-20) tells of His sufferings and precious blood which will shelter and preserve His people in the coming day of His war. JUDGES tells of the Covenant Angel whose name is "Secret," i.e. "Wonderful" (ch. xiii. 18, margin; compare Isa. ix. 6, where the word is the same). RUTH reveals the type of our Kinsman-Redeemer, the true Boaz; and the question of ch. ii. 10 is answered in Prov. xi. 15. SAMUEL reveals the "sufferings" and rejection of David, who became a "Saviour" and a "Captain" of his followers (I Sam. xxii. 1, 2), foreshadowing David's Son and David's Lord, "the Root and the Offspring of David" (Rev. xxii. 16). KINGS shows us the "glory which should follow," and the "greater than Solomon" (Matt. xii. 42); the "greater than the Temple" (Matt. xii. 6), where everything speaks of His glory (Ps. xxix. 9 and margin). CHRONICLES reveals Christ as "the King's Son," rescued "from among the dead," hidden in the House of God, to be manifested in due time, "as Jehovah hath said" (II Chron. xxii. 10-–xxiii. 3). EZRA speaks of "a nail in a sure place" (ch. ix. 8), which according to Isa. xxii. 23 is used of Eliakim, who typifies Christ. NEHEMIAH tells of the "bread from Heaven" and "water out of the Rock" (ch. ix. 15, 20), which are elsewhere used as typical of Christ (John vi. 57, 58. I Cor. x. 4). ESTHER sees the seed preserved which should in the fulness of time be born into the world. His name is there, though concealed,( 3) but His will and power is manifested in defeating all enemies in spite of the unalterable law of the Medes and Persians. JOB reveals Him as his "Daysman" or "Mediator" (ch. ix. 33); and as his "Redeemer" coming again to the earth (ch. xix. 25-27). THE PSALMS are full of Christ. We see His humiliation and sufferings and death (Ps. xxii.), His Resurrection (Ps. xvi.), His anointing as Prophet with grace-filled lips (Ps. xlv. Luke iv. 22); as Priest after the order of Melchisedec (Ps. ex. Heb. v. 6; vi. 20; vii. 17, 21); as King enthroned over all (Ps. ii.), and His kingdom established in the earth (Ps. ciii.; cxlv., & c.). PROVERBS reveals Christ as the "Wisdom of God" (ch. viii. I Cor. i. 24); the "Path" and "Light" of His People (ch. iv. 18); the "Surety" who smarted for His people while strangers (ch. xi. 15. Rom. v. 8-10. Eph. ii. 12. 1 Pet. ii. 11); the "strong tower" into which the righteous run and are safe (ch. xviii. 10); the friend who loveth at all times, and the brother born for adversity (ch. xvii. 17). ECCLESIASTES tells of the "one among a thousand in the midst of all that is vanity and vexation of spirit" (ch. vii. 28). THE SONG OF SONGS reveals Him as the true and faithful Shepherd, Lover, and Bridegroom of the Bride, who remained constant to Him in spite of all the royal grandeur and coarser blandishments of Solomon. ISAIAH is full of the sufferings and glories of Christ. He is the "despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (ch. liii. 5); wounded for our transgressions, oppressed, afflicted, and brought as a lamb to the slaughter; cut off out of the land of the living (ch. liii. 2–9). Yet the glory shall follow. "He shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied" (ch. liii. 11). He will be His people's "Light" (ch. lx. 1, 2. Matt. iv. 16); "The Mighty God" (ch. ix. 6. Matt. xxviii. 18); Salvation's Well (ch. xii. 3); the King who shall "reign in righteousness" (ch. xxxii. 1, 2); Jehovah's Branch, beautiful and glorious (ch. iv. 2). JEREMIAH tells of "the Righteous Branch," and "Jehovah our Righteousness" (ch. xxiii. 5, 6); of the "Righteous Branch" and King who shall reign and prosper (ch. xxxiii. 15). EZEKIEL reveals Him as the true Shepherd (ch. xxxiv. 23), and as "the Prince" (ch. xxxvii. 25); the "Plant of Renown" (ch. xxxiv. 29), and "Jehovah Shammah" (ch. x1viii. 35). DANIEL reveals Him as the "Stone" become the Head of the corner (ch. ii. 34. Ps. cxviii. 22. Isa. viii. 14. xxviii. 16. Matt. xxi. 42, 44. Acts iv. It. I Pet. ii. 4, 6). Also as the Son of Man (ch. vii. 13, 16); and "Messiah the Prince" (ch. ix. 24). He is HOSEA'S true David (iii. 5), the Son out of Egypt (xi. 1); JOEL'S "God dwelling in Zion" (ch. iii. 17); AMOS'S Raiser of David's Tabernacle (ch. ix. 11; Acts xv. 16, 17); OBADIAH'S "Deliverer on Mount Zion" (v. 17); JONAH'S "Salvation" (ch. ii. 9); the "Sign" of Christ's resurrection (Matt. xii. 39-41); MICAH'S "Breaker," "King" and "Lord" (ch. ii. 13; v. 2,5); NAHUM'S "Stronghold in Trouble" (ch. i. 7);, HABAKKUK'S "Joy" and "Confidence" (ch. iii. 17, 18); ZEPHANIAH'S "Mighty God in the midst of Zion" (ch. iii. 17); HAGGAI'S "Desire of all nations" (ch. ii. 7); ZECHARIAH'S Smitten Shepherd; The Man, Jehovah's Fellow (ch. xiii. 7); Jehovah's "Servant-the Branch" (ch. iii. 8); "the Man whose name is the Branch" (ch. vi. 12); MALACHI'S "Messenger of the Covenant" (ch. iii. 1); the Refiner of the Sons of Levi (ch. iii. 3); "The Sun of Righteousness" (ch. iv. 2). Thus, the "Word" of God has one great subject. That one great all-pervading subject is Christ; and all else stands in relation to Him. He is "the beginning and the ending" of Scripture, as of all beside. Hence, the Word of God, at its ending, shows how the beginning all works out; and how, that to which we are introduced in Genesis is completed in Revelation.
This will be sufficient (4)
to show the unity of the "Word" as a whole; and to stimulate
Bible students to a further study of it on the line of this great
fundamental principle. Footnotes:
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