The brilliance of God is seen in the types and figures found in the Bible. There are too many to study, but just take a subset of the types and figures seen in creation.
But first, I completely understand that types and figures are not spoken of in most of Christendom. You won’t hear of types in most churches, Bible colleges or Christian radio. I know. I’ve sat through my share of them all, and most messages focus on the single dimension of the verse at hand.
To get to types and figures, you have to compare scripture with scripture. Then you see a third dimension to the Bible, which has likely been missing from your Christian understanding to this point. The only type I ever heard of in my first 20 years as a Christian was that Egypt is a type of the world.
But I digress. I was talking about the brilliance of God seen in types and figures, to start with, in creation, beginning with the sun. It’s a picture of the Son. That one is probably the most obvious of all types. If you read your Bible with that little glimmer of understanding, you’ll see some verses in a new light.
First, when Jesus said “I am the light of the world” in John 8:12, what light do you think he was referring to? A flashlight? Start comparing verses. “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings” (Mal 4:2) Jesus, the Son of God, is called the Sun of Righteousness here. It’s not a misprint! It’s obvious.
Consider things about the sun. It rises. It erases darkness. From earth’s view, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Does any of this remind you of Jesus? Let’s go back to comparing verses:
- Isa 60:1-3 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
- John 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.
- Rev. 2:28 And I will give him the morning star.
That morning star. What is it? Jesus, the Sun/Son of God. “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16).
Oh, but wait. Isn’t there a connection somewhere with Satan as a morning star? In Isa. 14:12, he is called Lucifer, which means light bearer or morning star. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14) But read again the verse above. Jesus said, “I am…the bright and morning star.” So we have the true bright and morning star, and then there’s Satan the deceiver who wants people to follow him.
But back to the brightness of Christ. When He returns, it will be through the Eastern gate in Jerusalem. And when we’re with Him in heaven, “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.” (Isa. 60:19-20)
Right now, the sun represents the Son. But someday, the Son will be the actual sun. Do you see the brilliance of God yet?
Jody