The Bible has hidden meanings such as types and, in this post, I will explain God’s plan told by types in the Bible.

Who is God?

Now the first question you may be asking is, Who is God? Well, God is a divine Family known as “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) in the Bible. The Godhead consists of three self-existent Persons, in that, they have life originating with themselves—life that is unborrowed, underived. The three Persons are known as the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

For those who are new to Bible notation, “Acts 17:29,” for example, is a reference to the Bible, which is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “Acts 17:29” is taken from the book of Acts in the Bible, the 17^th chapter, and the 29^th verse.

These members of the Godhead never contradict each other at any time, they speak with one voice. And so we can say, “there is one God.” Mark 12:32.

What is the main thing to grasp about God? God’s character is the very definition of love.

What is a Type in the Bible?

Let us now consider the question, What is a type in the Bible? Interestingly, a type is a prophecy that has already been fulfilled or has a future fulfillment. The fulfillment is known as the antitype.

What is a prophecy? It is a foretelling of the future by God for humanity’s benefit, comfort, to settle them and establish them in their faith in God, and to prove that God is all-knowing. For God would not have people being caught off guard by future events.

Now, a type is often a prophecy that is not explicitly stated in the Bible. Thus, types are not perceived by those who have only a superficial knowledge of the Bible.

That is, the many hundreds of types in the Bible, and perhaps even thousands of types, are only known by those who prayerfully and diligently read, study, and meditate, upon the Bible.

Now through the use of types and by other means, God condenses millions of his thoughts in the few pages of the Bible. There are many things that God has revealed to humanity that are as treasures in the word of God that must be unearthed by digging deep and thoroughly in the Bible.

Therefore, such a Bible student will exclaim, “I rejoice at thy [God’s] word [the Bible], as one that findeth great spoil [treasure].” Psalm 119:162.

Our Bible Verse of Focus

The following Bible verse will be the guide for our study in this post. For God says, “I have…spoken [to humanity] by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions [supernatural mental imagery from God], and used similitudes [symbols and types], by the ministry of the prophets.” Hosea 12:10.

The Difference Between Symbols and Types in the Bible

So, what is the difference between symbols and types in the Bible? Well, a symbol is the use of one thing, the symbol, to represent another thing. In other words, when reading the Bible, a symbol can be substituted in the Bible text by the thing it represents.

For example, water in the Bible in its many forms, such as a river or rain, often represents the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, as was said before, a type points to something in the future, its antitype. Both symbols and types occur frequently in the Bible.

How to Identify a Type in the Bible

We may ask, How can I identify types in the Bible? This question is just a variation on the more general question, How can I understand the Bible?

God tells us that every human being can say of themselves in truth, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” 2 Corinthians 3:5. This means that human intellect is insufficient for the task of understanding the Bible.

In other words, unless “we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] spirit which is of God…we…[cannot] know the things that are freely given to us of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12.

For “the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] teacheth [us, through us] comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Corinthians 2:13.

“But the natural man [the person who has not received the Holy Spirit] receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14.

Why is the Holy Spirit so essential to understanding the Bible? The reason is that the first human pair, a man named Adam and a woman named Eve, though created holy by God became sinful, that is, became evil. This was the result of the temptation of an angel named Satan who had been cast out of heaven with other “evil angels” (Psalm 78:49) for their rebellion against God.

Thus, humanity who have all inherited Adam’s and Eve’s disposition to sin, are destined for eternal death which is to be annihilated by God. But except the Holy Spirit works in human lives “to bless…[us], in turning away every one of…[us] from his iniquities [wickedness]” (Acts 3:26), we are unable to know the things of God given in the Bible to save us from eternal death.

Happily, the work of the Holy Spirit when brought to completion in our lives will result in us receiving eternal life from God! How? Because the Spirit of God works to “sanctify them [make people holy] through thy [God’s] truth: thy word [the Bible] is truth.” John 17:17.

Having received the Holy Spirit, when we prayerfully read, study, and meditate, on the Bible we will be enabled to use what we have stored in memory’s halls in our minds to identify types in the Bible.

Millions of God’s Thoughts in the Bible

Now the Bible was originally written in the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic languages, and today there are numerous English translations of the Bible. I recommend that you use the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) which was prepared in the year 1611.

Why the KJV? Because it is an excellent and faithful word-for-word translation of the original languages. The English of the KJV was updated in the year 1769, but it still contains words from an older form of English.

Nevertheless, the King James Version of the Bible is highly readable and understandable.

For an important point for you to grasp, is that there are no wasted words in the Bible. Every word found in the Bible is significant and intended by God to be studied in order to unearth the hidden meanings of the Bible and the millions of God’s thoughts found in it.

Adam, a Type of Christ

God says, “By one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and [eternal] death [which is annihilation] by sin; and so [eternal] death passed [came] upon all men [all human beings], for that all [humanity] have sinned.” Romans 5:12.

“Adam…is the figure [type] of him [Christ] that was to come.” Romans 5:14.

“The first man Adam was made a living soul [person]; the last Adam [Christ] was made a quickening spirit [a spirit that can give life].” 1 Corinthians 15:45. “The first man [Adam] is of the [dust of the] earth, earthy: the second man [Christ] is the Lord [God] from heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15:47.

“For as in Adam all [people] die [eternally], even so in Christ shall all [humanity] be made alive [eternally].” 1 Corinthians 15:22.

“For as by one man’s [Adam’s] disobedience many [all humanity] were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [Christ] shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:19.

What is meant by Christ’s obedience? Christ was born as a baby boy named “Jesus” (Matthew 1:21) over 2,000 years ago. He lived a perfectly holy life while He was on earth and His life stands before God in the place of humanity’s disobedience, so that humanity can receive eternal life from God.

Now the gift of eternal life from God is not automatically bestowed upon us because of Christ. As indicated, above only those people who become holy (sanctified) through the work of the Holy spirit will escape eternal death (annihilation) and instead have eternal life.

We see then that Adam was a type of Christ who was to come as the antitype of Adam (the fulfilment of the type). For God did not make humanity sinners, but God foresaw that sin could arise among the human race and so God made provision for such an emergency through Christ.

The Passover a Type of Christ

What is the Passover? How is it a type of Christ? Continue reading and we will now look at the answers to these questions.

The Type: Passover

“And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron [leaders of ancient Israel] in the land of Egypt, saying, Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house.” Exodus 12:1, 3.

“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.” Exodus 12:5, 6.

“And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.” Exodus 12:7.

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite [strike with death] all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token [sign] upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [kill] you, when I smite [strike] the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:12, 13.

“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover [the lamb]. In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought [any] of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.” Exodus 12:21, 46.

This then is the description of the Passover in the Bible which was a type of Christ.

The Fulfillment of the Type (The Antitype): Christ

“Then [Pilate] delivered he him [Jesus Christ] therefore unto them to be crucified [to be put to death by nailing His hands and feet to a cross which was a t-shaped wooden structure]. And they took Jesus, and led him away.” John 19:16.

“And he [Jesus] bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him [Jesus Christ], and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst [middle].” John 1:17, 18.

“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation [day], that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought [requested of] Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.” John 19:31.

“Then came the soldiers, and brake [broke] the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake [broke] not his legs…For these things were done, that the scripture [the Bible] should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.” John 19:32, 33, 36.

“For even Christ our [humanity’s] passover is sacrificed for us.” 1 Corinthians 5:7. “Who gave himself for our [humanity’s] sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Galatians 1:4.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed [bought back by God from bondage to sin and Satan] with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

And “this man [Jesus Christ who is also God], after he had offered one sacrifice for [the] sins [of humanity] for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12.

We see then that the Passover was a type that met its antitype, its fulfilment, in the death of Christ over 2,000 years ago.

The Rock a Type of Christ and the Judgment

Let us now consider the rock and how it is a type of Christ and the judgment.

Now “he [Moses, a leader of ancient Israel] said [to God], I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he [God] said [to Moses], I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD [God] before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew [show] mercy on whom I will shew [show] mercy.” Exodus 33:18, 19.

“And he [God] said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man [person] see me, and live.” Exodus 33:20. (You may ask, Why is this so? “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29. So, only those who have a received a spiritual body from God can “dwell with everlasting burnings” (Isaiah 33:14), that is, can see God’s face and live.)

“And the LORD [God] said [to Moses], Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift [cleft, fissure] of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.” Exodus 33:21-23.

This then is the type regarding the rock in the Bible.

Now then, God says, “That Rock was [a type of] Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:4. Thus, God says, “For ye [who have received the Holy Spirit] are dead [to sin], and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3.

Why do we need to be hidden? Because God says, “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast [past]. For, behold, the LORD [God] cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity [wickedness]: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain [dead].” Isaiah 26:20, 21.

That is, judgment from God is coming upon the world and only those people whose lives are hidden with Christ shall escape alive.

We see then that the rock was a type of Christ and the Judgment which will meet its fulfillment, its antitype, in the future.

Marriage, a Type of Christ and the Church

Let us now consider the significance of marriage in the Bible, that is, consider marriage as a type with an antitype in the future.

The Type: Adam was Married to Eve

Now “Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field [on earth]; but for Adam there was not found an help meet [a companion] for him.” Genesis 2:20.

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he [God] took one of his [Adam’s] ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man [Adam].” Genesis 2:21, 22.

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Genesis 2:23.

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:24, 25.

So, God married Adam and Eve to each other and this marriage was a type.

The Fulfillment of the Type (The Antitype): Christ, Married to the Christian Church

God says, regarding the Christian church, “As the church [the group of people who profess to be followers of Christ] is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” Ephesians 5:24.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself [died] for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:25, 26.

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27.

“So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord [Christ] the church.” Ephesians 5:28, 29.

“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:30-32.

We see then that the future marriage of Christ and the Christian church is a fulfillment, the antitype, of the type, which is the marriage of a man and a woman.

Moses and Elijah as Types

As we have seen so far, Moses was a leader of ancient Israel. Moses was a type in the Bible and so also a man named Elijah was a type. How?

Well, “Moses the servant of the LORD [God] died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD [God]. And he [God] buried him [Moses] in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre [tomb] unto this day.” Deuteronomy 34:5, 6.

Now “Michael the archangel [who was Christ appearing in the form of an angel], when contending with the devil [Satan] he [Christ] disputed about the body of Moses, durst [dared] not bring against him a railing [vilifying, defamatory] accusation, but said, The Lord [God] rebuke thee [Satan].” Jude 1:9.

With regards to Elijah, “it came to pass, as they [Elijah and Elisha] still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder [apart]; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” 2 Kings 2:11.

What does all this mean? It means that though Moses died, he was resurrected (raised to live again) by God, despite the opposition of Satan, and taken to heaven. Also, Elijah was taken by God to heaven without his first dying, that is, Elijah was translated. These then are the types in the Bible.

Now “After six days Jesus [Christ] taketh Peter, James, and John his brother [Christ’s disciples], and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured [changed] before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment [clothing] was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias [Elijah] talking with him [Jesus Christ].” Matthew 17:1-3.

This incident in the life of Christ when He was on earth is known as the transfiguration. At that time, Moses and Elijah appeared from heaven and spoke with Christ on earth. In other words, this was the fulfilment, the antitype, of the two types, Moses and Elijah.

For the transfiguration of Christ is itself a type of the future second coming of Christ to the earth, where Moses represents those who are resurrected and Elijah represents those who are translated. Both the resurrected and the translated are taken to heaven when Jesus Christ returns to the earth.

Enoch a Type of the Translated

We will now look at Enoch who himself was also a type of the translated. God says, “Enoch…[ was of] the seventh [generation] from Adam.” Jude 1:14.

God says, “And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat [had a son named] Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God [lived according to God’s ways of love] after he begat  [had] Methuselah three hundred years, and begat [had] sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch [on earth] were three hundred sixty and five years.” Genesis 5:21-23.

“And Enoch walked with God [lived righteously]: and he was not [he was gone from the earth]; for God took him [to heaven].” Genesis 5:24.

For “by faith Enoch was translated [taken to heaven without first dying] that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5.

Enoch was a type of the translated and so we will now consider the fulfillment of the type, its antitype.

“For if we believe that Jesus [Christ] died and rose [to live] again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus [which died as true followers of Christ] will God bring [to heaven] with him [Christ]. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord [Jesus Christ], that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord [Christ] shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep [which died].” 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 15.

“For the Lord [Jesus Christ] himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump [trumpet] of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord [in heaven]. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.

The fulfillment of the type, the antitype, represented by the translation of Enoch is yet future and, as was said before, and it occurs when Jesus Christ returns to the earth a second time.

The Feast of Tabernacles a Type

Let us now look at “the feast of tabernacles” (Leviticus 23:34) as a type in the Bible.

The Type: The Feast of Tabernacles

Now there was a time when “they [the people of ancient Israel] found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children [people] of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast [of tabernacles] of the seventh month.” Nehemiah 8:14.

“And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.” Nehemiah 8:15.

“So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.” Nehemiah 8:16.

“And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua [Joshua] the son of Nun unto that day had not the children [people] of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.” Nehemiah 8:17.

This then is a description of the feast of tabernacles which was a type in the Bible.

The Fulfillment of the Type (The Antitype): The Harvest of the Earth

Now according to God, “And I [John] looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man [Christ], having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.” Revelation 14:14.

“And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him [Christ] that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he [Christ] that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” Revelation 14:15, 16.

“And the ransomed [saved] of the LORD [God] shall return, and come to Zion” (Isaiah 35:10), “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Hebrews 12:22), “with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10.

What does this mean? It is when the type of the feast of tabernacles meets its future fulfilment of the type, its antitype, that there will be a gathering in by God from the earth of all the saved to live with God in heaven.

The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah a Type

Lastly, in this post, we will look at the story of two cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, which are a type in the Bible.

The Type: Sodom and Gommorah

“The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD [God] exceedingly.” Genesis 1:13.

“Behold, this was the iniquity [wickedness] of…Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Ezekiel 16:49.

In addition, “Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, [who were] giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of [God by] eternal fire.” Jude 1:7.

For “the LORD [God] rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone [sulphur] and fire from the LORD out of heaven; and he [God] overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.” Genesis 19:24, 25.

First of all, note that the “eternal fire” (Jude 1:7) is no longer burning. The statement in the Bible was figurative, meaning not that the fire would burn eternally but that the consequences of the fire were eternal.

Secondly, what is “fornication, and going after strange flesh” (Jude 1:7)? Fornication is sexual intimacy between unmarried persons, while adultery is sexual intimacy between a married person and someone other than their marriage partner.

“Going after strange flesh” (Jude 1:7) is to be disobedient to God’s command: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Leviticus 18:22. “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death [by God]; their blood shall be upon them.” Leviticus 20:13.

This then is the type represented by Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Fulfillment of the Type (The Antitype): The Destruction of the Wicked

God gave a man named John a vision, which is supernatural mental imagery from God, and John wrote down what He saw.

As was said before, there will be those who are saved by God to receive eternal life. That is, those who are resurrected and translated when Christ comes to the earth a second time. “This is the first resurrection.” Revelation 20:5.

So, according to God, “And I [John] saw thrones [in heaven], and they [those saved by God] sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls [persons] of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4.

“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” Revelation 20:5.

At the second resurrection, “I [John] saw a great white throne, and him [God] that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” Revelation 20:11.

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Revelation 20:12.

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15. “This is the second [eternal] death [which is annihilation].” Revelation 20:14.

“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD [God] of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch…And ye [the saved by God] shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD [God] of hosts. ” Malachi 4:1, 3.

Here, all the wicked—Satan, the root, and his followers, the branches—will be annihilated by God and brought to ashes.

For God says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind” (1 Corinthians 6:9), who are “them that defile themselves with mankind” (1 Timothy 1:10) and are called “sodomites” (1 Kings 14:24), “nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:10.

We see then that the type represented by the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah will meet its fulfillment, its antitype, in the annihilation of all the wicked in the future.

Conclusion

According to our Bible verse of focus, God says, “I have…spoken [to humanity] by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions [supernatural mental imagery from God], and used similitudes [symbols and types], by the ministry of the prophets.” Hosea 12:10.

So, we have seen, in this post, God purposes for humanity, that is, God’s plan told by types in the Bible.

God began to implement His plan from the time of Adam’s and Eve’s sin. God’s plan includes, in chronological order, the death of Christ for the sins of humanity, the judgment of the world by God, Christ’s marriage to the Christian church, the second coming of Christ to the earth for the saved (those who are resurrected and translated), the dwelling of all the saved in heaven with God, and lastly, the annihilation of all the wicked.

Who would have thought that all these seemingly separate incidents mentioned in the Bible tell the story of how God plans to save all humanity from eternal death which is annihilation?

My appeal to you is to prayerfully read, study, and meditate on the Bibl,e so you can know all that is revealed by God for humanity’s benefit. And not only this, but to take all the necessary steps to receive God’s help in becoming holy so that you may be saved by God to receive eternal life.

The Bible Teaches Us How to Obtain Eternal Life from God

“In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God, and the Word [Christ] was God.” John 1:1. “And the Word [Christ] was made flesh [was born as a baby boy named Jesus], and dwelt among us [human beings], (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father).” John 1:14. Thus, Christ, whose “name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13) is the One who gave the whole Bible to humanity, from the Bible’s beginning to its end. Further, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8), which is to say, Christ is love.

And every one of you as a human being are to “lay apart [put away] all filthiness and superfluity [abundance] of naughtiness [of wickedness], and receive with meekness the engrafted [the implanted] word [from God, which is the Bible and], which is able to save your souls [from annihilation by God as the penalty for sin].” James 1:21. For the word of God, the Bible, being implanted in us means that “the love of God is shed abroad [is poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [the Holy Spirit] which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5. So then, “love is of God; and every one [every human being] that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7. This is known as “justification” (Romans 4:25) which is accomplished by our repentance, that is, our deep sorrow for our sins and the gift of faith from God, which when exercised to believe God’s promise of forgiveness of sins and cleansing from sin brings us the gift of love from God. Note that everyone receives the gift of faith from God but without repentance people have a superficial faith and not saving (correct) faith that takes proper hold of God’s truth by the working of the Holy Spirit.

Immediately upon our justification, God tests our character to see if we will successfully resist all temptation to sin. Our success depends on our exercising faith in Christ’s keeping power through the Holy Spirit and, hence, we become sanctified (made holy) and thus receive eternal life from God.

And this is life eternal [everlasting life], that they [as human beings] might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent [to the earth as a Deliverer from sin].” John 17:3. Thus, when the whole Bible makes our character a character of perfect love, it means that we know God and, hence, we will receive eternal life from God.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

Image: Mick Haupt at unsplash.com.