Truth of Scriptures   
Bible Shadows: How they disclose hidden mysteries                                                     Issue 1 Copyright 1993, P.S.O.R. Inc.


                    

            Understanding Shadows and How
          They Operate Throughout the Bible.
      
Once shadows become a revelation (revealed to you) it will disclose hidden mysteries that open up the entire Bible where it is understandable to all!

     All Scripture is the King James Version and in Italics.    To understand these writings it is necessary to start with the writing concerning patterns and shadows.  Once this concept is comprehended it will open up the entire Bible where it is understandable to all.  The reason I state ALL, is because, contrary to most religious beliefs it is not necessary to go to Bible collages where men ordain us-God is the One who ordains us.
     Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead (Galatians 1:1).

     The Word plainly tells us, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him (James 1:5).   Plain and simple isn't it?  Ask for wisdom and knowledge of understanding the Scriptures and it shall be given.  The reason for this is because God is not a respecter of people.  He does not hold a higher esteem for the pope, preacher or teacher above us.  To God we're all the same, but we must be good stewards and diligently search the Scriptures to understand its truths.

     The Bible is written so we may interpret and comprehend its truth through the Spirit.  God is a Spirit (John 4:24) and therefore He speaks to us spiritually.  Carnal and literal reading of the Bible will never reveal it's spiritual truths. The Spirit itself will witness as it reveals it's spiritual meaning.

     Examples, patterns, parables, and shadowed metaphors are used throughout the Bible and they are intended for us to use as comparisons.  Jesus often spoke by using parables and using this directional path those parables were also referred to as a shadow, token, likeness, form, figure, symbol, image, allegory, or cloud.

     A parable is a short allegorical story, designed to convey truth or moral lessons.  It discloses saying conveying the intended meaning by a comparison or under the likeness of something comparable or analogous.  It is placing one thing by the side of another, juxtaposition (placing close together), positioned side by side, and this tells an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  An example and pattern is a representation, figure, or copy.  By demonstrations it forewarns us, which teaches and makes known future things.

     An object intercepting light causes a natural shadow and it creates a shaded image.  This image represents the form of that object.  A shadow is less illuminated and outlines the substance, which formed it.  Through reflected rays we see and distinguish what the shadow resembles.  It foreshadows and prefigures and because it is darker it is partially concealed.  A shadow from the Bible does the very thing the natural shadow does for it makes the same movements.  The shadows of the spiritual acts like a natural shadow.  They are not identical to the object, which formed them but similar enough to comprehend.  By applying this shadow concept we understand, Spiritually, what God is telling us.  Once we get a revelation (true spiritual understanding) of this the Bible will come alive with its shadows, parables, likeness, and images.  We will understand how the natural is telling us about the spiritual.

     Hebrews 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.

     The Law has a shadow, or forms a shadow, of the good things which were to come.  It plainly tells us they are not the very image of the things they were portraying, but a shadowed configuration.  Earthly things serve as a shadow and pattern of heavenly things.  Moses was instructed, when he was about the make the tabernacle,  According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it (Exodus 25:9). And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount (Exodus 25:40). �for, see, saith He that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount (Hebrews 8:5).

     God was showing Moses a heavenly pattern that he was to use to fashion the earthly substance with.  The Books of the Old Testament tell us stories, which are allegorical in meaning.  They tell earthly and natural stories, which are patterned from what will happen spiritually.  The earthly has a spiritual meaning.

    
 Psalm 91:1, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

     David relates God has a secret dwelling place.  The secret place is to abide, remain, or stay under the shadow of Almighty God.  For us to stay under the shadow of God we have to establish what this shadow is.

  
   1 Corinthians 15:44-49, It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.  There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  The first man is of the earth, earthly; the second man is the Lord from heaven.  As is the earthly, such are they also that are earthly: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

     This Scripture is a critical key to understanding shadows and how the natural reveals the spiritual.  Paul separates and distinguishes the spiritual from the natural.  He states the first man was named Adam and he was made a living soul.  God formed him from the dust of the earth and breathed the breath of life into him (Gen. 2:7).  By natural birth we are born earthly (like Adam) and have an earthly body.  The last Adam, who is the Lord from heaven-Jesus, was made a Quickening Spirit.  His birth was spiritual (supernatural).  He went from a natural body to a spiritual body giving us an example and pattern to follow.  They were both named Adam and they were both sons of God! (Luke 3:38, Mark 1:1).  

     What's so significant about what these verses tell us is that the first to enter in was not the spiritual one, but rather the natural was established first and afterward the spiritual would enter in. Therefore, the natural tells us about the spiritual.  This single detail determines the method for our understanding. This sequence is an established order of God and it will never deviate.  The first will always be presented as the natural and the second will always be the spiritual.  Read all of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 for it tells us of this established order.  There are two different bodies one is celestial (heavenly-spiritual) and the other is terrestrial (earthly-natural).  It states we are born with a natural body and will be raised a spiritual body and that our corruptible bodies must put on incorruption and the mortal must be clothed with immortality. 

     I would like to communicate and clarify some of the shadows found in the Bible.  In the Bible Jesus takes on many different forms as His pattern was revealed in the earth.  The Bible is a written form of Jesus.  He said, Then said I, "Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do thy will, O God" (Hebrews 10:7 and Psalms 40:7). 
Understanding that Jesus creates many different forms let us look into some of the shadows and patterns.

Natural and Spiritual circumcision

Natural circumcision: A misunderstanding.  They were able to see the natural, but not the spiritual

     Genesis 17:12, And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations�

     Genesis 17:23-24 & 26, � every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.  And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.  Verse 26, In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised and Ishmael his son.

     Acts 7:8, And He gave him the covenant of circumcision�

Spiritual Circumcision: is the same as from the beginning-a condition of the heart.

     Deuteronomy 10:16, Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart and be no more stiffnecked.

     Deuteronomy 30:6, And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

     Jeremiah 4:4, Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart�  

    Romans 11:4, And he (Abraham) received the sign (seal, covenant) of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe though they be not circumcised� Abraham received this sign of circumcision while he was yet uncircumcised.  He would be the father of all those who believe while they were uncircumcised too.

     Circumcision is a covenant given to Abraham as a symbol, token, or sign.  It is a natural story with a heavingly meaning.  This sign tells us of the seal of righteousness that comes to us by faith.  Circumcision is a spiritual condition, which will change the heart.  Abraham received this sign while he was physically uncircumcised.  Therefore, this covenant was established BEFORE Abraham was circumcised.

      It also tells us he would be a father of all those who believe (faith) while they were also uncircumcised (circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live).
 Until the heart is circumcised (remove hardness from heart) to love the Lord with all our heart and soul we are UNCIRCUMCISED.  God saw that the people were stiff-necked and stubborn and He wanted them to change their hearts.  He wanted them to remove the stubbornness, which had hardened their hearts.  Yet, the people interpreted circumcision as physical and literal when all the time the Lord was referring to a spiritual condition. God plainly tells them circumcise themselves by removing the foreskins of their heart.  

Natural and Spiritual Adam

Natural first Adam: earthly; made of the earth

     Genesis 3:19, � till thou (Adam) return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

     1 Corinthians 15:21, For since by man (Adam) came death, by Man (Jesus) came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all men die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

     The sin of Adam, which was his disobedience to God, subjected mankind to his same death, but by the obedience of Christ we can alter that course and be made alive.

Spiritual Last Adam: Spiritual of Heaven

     Romans 5:14, � after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who (Adam) is the figure (shadow-likeness-image) of Him (Jesus) that was to come (afterward).

     Scripture plainly tells us that Adam was a prefigured form of Jesus.  He was the first and natural and he tells us about the second and spiritual.  By watching the very things which occurred in Adam's life we will see specific details about the movements of the second and spiritual-Jesus. Although they are not exactly alike, they are similar (the similitude).  For an indept look at how the shadow of Adam reveals Jesus read: "The Bride of Christ".

Natural and Spiritual Father and Son

Natural father and son: Similitude of God and Jesus

     Genesis 22: 2, 9-10, And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.  Verse 9, And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

     Strong's Concordance defines Moriah with #4179: Moriah = chosen by Jehovah.  1) The place Abraham took Isaac for sacrifice.  2) The mount on the eastern edge of Jerusalem on which Solomon built the temple.  Moriah was the very spot where later years God would allow Solomon to build the natural temple.  This is the place Jesus Christ was crucified as the shadows of Abraham and Isaac revealed.  The next Scripture and Strong's clarify this further.

    
 2 Chronicles 3:1, Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father�

     Strong's Concordance defines Jerusalem with #03389: A dual [in allusion to its two main hills, the true pointing: Jerusalem-peace].  1) Jerusalem: the chief city of Palestine and the capitol of the United Kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.

Spiritual Father and Son:

     John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

     1 John 4:8-9� for God is LOVE.  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

     Hebrews 11:17, By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.  Of who is was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he (Isaac) received Him (Jesus) in a figure (shadow-likeness-image). 

     Here we see more about similitudes and figures.  Again the natural tells us about the spiritual.  This relates, by shadowed movements, that just as Abraham offered up his only begotten son Isaac; likewise God offer up His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  Scripture affirms that Isaac was a figure, image, likeness, or shadow of Jesus.  Isaac was the first and natural and Jesus was the second and spiritual. 
     We look at Isaac naturally to see the details of the second and spiritual-Jesus. Remember, these will not be literally alike, only similar.  God stayed the knife with Isaac, which was to slay him, but Jesus Christ was allowed to die so that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but could be offered everlasting life.  In the last verse it is speaking of Isaac, the first and natural, when it tells that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.  Just as the shadow reveals this is exactly what God did with the Jesus, the second and spiritual.

Natural and Spiritual Mount

Natural: the mount

     Exodus: 25:8-9, And let them make Me a sanctuary: that I may dwell among them.  According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

     Exodus 25:40  And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.

     Numbers 8:4, And this work of the candlestick ... according unto the pattern which the Lord had showed Moses, so he made the candlestick.

     1 Chronicles 28:11-12 & 19, Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat.  And the patterns of all that he had by the spirit...  To verse 19,  And this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.

     God is showing Moses heavingly patterns.  He then instructed Moses to use these heavenly patterns to fashion the physical, tangible, and earthly substances.  God tells him to make sure he fashions them after their (heavenly) pattern.  Likewise, David was shown heavenly patterns, which he used to create tangible objects.  The Lord allowed him to understand all aspects of these heavenly patterns, for he understood their spiritual purpose and plan.

Spiritual: the mount
  
     Hebrews 8:1 & 5 & 13, Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum:  ... To verse 5, Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, see, said He, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.  

     Paul tells us the whole purpose (the sole reason they were designed), of all the things he has been writing about, and the writings in the Old Testament, were ALL to serve as examples, shadows, and patterns of heavenly things.  He specifically adds the Scripture from Exodus concerning the patterns shown to Moses.

     Hebrews 12:18-25, For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them anymore, (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touched the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:),  BUT ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are writtten in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel.  See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh.  For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.

     
This plainly relates there are two different and specific mounts.  One is natural and the other is Spiritual.  The first and natural was the mount that Moses was able to touch, but it tells us the second and Spiritual can not be touched (verse 18) physically.  The first burnt with fire, and had the sound of a trumpet, for they audibly heard God speak.  They ask God not to speak to them anymore for they were not able to bear the things God told them.  They wanted Him to speak to Moses and he could tell them what God said.  Then it tells us about the spiritual mount we are nearing.  We are not physically able to touch this mount.  Its name is Mount Zion, and it is the city of the living God, which is called the Heavenly Jerusalem (so not to be confused with the natural Jerusalem, Israel).  Heavenly Jerusalem is inhabited with innumerable angels, the general assembly and church of the firstborn (Jesus the only begotton Son of God), for Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant and His blood that He shed speaks far better things than that of Abel (another pattern and example).

Natural and Spiritual Jonah.

Natural: Jonah in the belly of the whale:

     Jonah 1:15 & 17,  So they took up Jonah and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.  Verse 17, Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 

     Jonah 2:1, Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, and said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou hearest my voice.  To verse 10, And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

     The Lord had instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to them, but Jonah did not want to go there.  Instead Jonah got aboard a ship to escape God's instructions, and this caused God sent a fierce wind to the ship.  Being frightened, for Jonah told them he was trying to escape God, the men onboard the ship cast Jonah into the sea.  It tells us in Chapter 3 that after Jonah has been spit back upon the earth he decided to obey God and go to Nineveh. 
     Jonah began to preach and prophesy to them saying in forty days they should be overthrown through the wrath of God.  The people of Nineveh believed what God was saying through Jonah and they proclaimed a fast from greatest highest ranking of them to the least of them.  The king proclaims a decree that everyone will fast in sackcloth.  He stated who could decide if God would not change His mind, repent, and turn His anger away from them that perhaps they would perish.  It states God saw their works and that they had turned away from their evil way so God changed His mind and did not overthrow and destroy them.

Spiritual: Jesus in the heart (belly) of the earth:

     Matthew 12:38-40, � Master, we seek a sign from thee.  But He answered and said unto them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign: and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the Prophet Jonah.  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

     Luke 11:29-30, � This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet.  For as Jonah was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of Man be to this generation.

    
 
Everyone is always wanting a sign, even today.  Jesus told them the only sign they would get was the sign of the Prophet Jonah.  Everthing Jonah did Jesus did, metaphorically.  As Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, SO was Jesus in the heart of the earth.  The natural tells us what is happening spiritually.  As Jonah was a sign (symbolic), to the Ninevites, SO is Jesus to this generation.

     What else contrast yet compares the shadow of the natural Jonah to the spiritual Jesus?  God's mission for Jonah was for him to preach repentance to the inhabitants of Nineveh.  God was going to destroy them all for their wickedness unless they repented.  Repenting is a changing of the heart and turning from evil ways.  Jesus Christ and Jonah both preached repentance. 
Matthew 4:17, From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Natural and Spiritual: If I be lifted up

Natural: If I be lifted up:

      Numbers 21:5-9, Begins with the children of Israel who had spoken against God and Moses. They said, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  For there is no bread, neither is there any water; and out soul loatheth this light bread.  And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us.  And Moses prayed for the people.  And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

     
The people were complaining about being brought out of Egypt.  They wanted to go back where they had been.  They detested the food and water God supplied for them.  Therefore, the Lord sent a serpent, the same as He had in the beginning with Adam and Eve, and the devil influenced the people causing many of them to die.  Because of this the people came to Moses and admitted they had been speaking against the Lord and against Moses.  They ask him to pray to the Lord that He would remove the serpents from them.  When Moses prayed the Lord told him to make a serpent of brass and set it upon a pole and it would come to pass that everyone who was bitten would live IF he looked to this serpent of brass.  

Spiritual: If I be lifted up:

     John 3:14-15,  And as (shadow) Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

     John 8:28,  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.  

     John 31-33,  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the Prince of this world be cast out.  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.  This He said, signifying what death He should die.

     This begins with and as or JUST AS Moses lifted up the serpent even so (likewise) must Jesus be lifted up on the cross, for it states it was signifying (the likeness) how He would die.  Again, the natural shadow explains the spiritual.  The children of Israel who were bitten by the fiery serpent of death, what the disobedience of Adam brought, lived if they looked upon or looked to the serpent made of brass which Moses lifted up on a pole.  This is a symbolic portrayal of Jesus as the previous Scriptures relate.  It foreshadowed how Jesus would be lifted up on a tree (pole) and by looking to Him means we can have eternal life.

Natural and Spiritual: Defining unleavened and leavened.

Natural: - Eat no leaven

     Exodus 13:3, � there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
     Exodus 34:17, The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep�
     Deuteronomy 13:3, Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it

     Many religions teach that literal leavened bread is not to be eaten during the feast of unleavened bread.  They remove any leavened bread from their homes and will only eat unleavend bread.  Was this really speaking of literal bread or was it something else?

Spiritual: Beware of leaven:

     Mark 6:38-44, He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye?  go and see.  And when they knew, they say,  Five, and two fishes.  To verse 41, And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, He looked up to heaven and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.  And they did all eat, and were filled.  And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.  And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

     Matthew 15:36-38, And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.  And they did all eat, and were filled; and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.  And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children (Ref. Mark 8:5-9). 

     This next Scripture Matthew 16:5, tells of Jesus and His disciples being in a ship and arriving at the other side of the lake. In this instance the disciples had forgotten to bring along bread.

    
 Matthew 16:6, Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.  And they reasoned among themselves, saying,  It is because we have taken no bread.

     Matthew 16:8-10 & 12, Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?  Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?  Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?  How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?  To verse 12, Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine (tradition) of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

     The disciples had seen the miracle of Jesus multiplying the small amount of food, which fed thousands.  Therefore, He would not be concerned if there were no bread (food) to eat.  Until the disciples were granted spiritual discernment they did not understand what Jesus was saying to them.  They thought He was speaking of the literal, physical leaven of bread, when He was actually referring to the leaven of the religions of the world.    In this next Scripture Jesus is speaking to the Scribes and Pharisees who are the elite of the church world.
     
     Mark 7:6-8, He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written.  This people honoreth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots, and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

      Jesus relates that the Prophet Isaiah had spoken well of the religions of the world.  He tells them they are hypocrites.  He speaks of how they honor God with their mouth, but their heart is far from Him.  He states they are worshiping God in vain for they are actually teaching the doctrines and traditions of commandments of men.  Jesus tells how they have put away the Commandments of God so they can hold to the tradition of men.

    
 Mark 7:9-10, And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.  For Moses said, honor thy father and thy mother; and, whosoever curseth father or mother, let him die.

     Mark 7:11, But ye say (contrary to God's commandment)� he shall be free.  To verse 13, Making the Word of God of none effect through your traditions, which ye have delivered; and many such like things do ye (Ref. Matt. 5:3-9).

     Jesus proclaims, in Mark 7:9-10, how the church world has completely rejected the Commandments of God, so they could keep their own tradition in force.  Jesus relates how they have altered the Scriptures when He states, BUT YE SAY, which is going contrary to God's commands.  One may imagine it would not make that much difference since the Scriptures were not extremely altered, but the following Scripture clarifies this also.

     1 Corinthians 5:6-7, � Know ye know that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.  For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth.

     Apostle Paul offers us something we can understand naturally.  He tells us how literal leaven will leaven the whole loaf just as the leaven of doctrines and traditions will leaven (the church) people.  He instructs us to purge and rid ourselves of the old teachings of men's doctrines and traditions because they are leavened.  One may speculate on the effect of altering one little word.  They may assume the ramifications could not possibly create such dramatic difference.  With that thought in mind this next Scripture will relate how just one little word refashioned the destiny of the whole world.

   
  Genesis 2:17, But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

     Gen. 3:1-5, Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

     
Satan added one little word to God's instructions, NOT and it altered the world.

Under the Cloud

Natural: Shadow of the Cloud

     Under the shadow is also under the cloud.  Scripture states that as the Lord was leading the children of Israel out of Egypt He was preceding them.  He led them by a Cloud during the day and by a pillar of Fire at night.  When the Cloud stopped moving the people pitched their tents and stayed for however long the Cloud did not move.  When the Cloud moved again they pulled up their tent stakes and moved with Him (Exodus 13:21-22).

     Exodus 19:9, And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever.  And Moses told the words of the people, unto the Lord. 

     This Scripture affirms that the Lord first came to the people in the form of a Cloud.

    
 Nehemiah 9:15, And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which Thou hadst sworn to give them.

     Nehemiah 9:19-21, Yet Thou in Thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the Cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of Fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.  Thou gavest also Thy Good Spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not Thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.  Yea, forty years didst Thou sustain them in the wilderness, So that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.

     God's mercy never left them in the wilderness. The Cloud never departed from them by day, which lead the way and neither did the Fire by night, which lighted the way they were to go.  God gave them His Good Spirit to instruct them.  He did not withhold His manna (bread from heaven) from them and He gave them water freely for their thirst.  God totally sustained them in the wilderness for forty years.  They lacked nothing, material or spiritual.  Their clothes did now wear out and neither did their shoes.

Spiritual Shadow of the Cloud:

     God gave them Bread from Heaven.  The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the Bread which came down from heaven (John 6:41).  For the Bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world (John 6:33).  The Cloud never departed from them. � For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5).  The Cloud led the way, and the Fire gave them light, and showed them the path they should go Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No man cometh unto (approaches or nears) the Father, but by (through) Me John 14:6).

     1 Corinthians 10:1-2, Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the Cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the sea. 

     
All of their ancestors had been under the Cloud (under the rule of God) who had taken the form of a Cloud.  They were also all baptized under Moses (the Old Testament Law), and this happened when they crossed the sea. However, when Jesus came He fulfilled (brought it to completion), the Old Testament Law (Matthew 5:17).  For an indepth study about this topic read: "Baptism". 

    
 1 Corinthians 10:3-4, And did all eat the same spiritual meat (manna); And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.


      
The children of Israel had been feasting of the truth of the Word of God and yet, they were complaining that they would rather have been left in Egypt.  The bread from heaven was their spiritual food and they all drank from the spiritual Rock that would come at a later time in history. Scripture affirms the Rock they drank (received water) from was Christ.

    
 1 Corinthians 10:5-6, But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.  Now these things were our examples (patterns - shadows), to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

     Every move our Cloud (God) makes we have to move right along with Him if we intend to remain in and under His Shadow (Exodus 13:21).

     Ecclesiastes 1:9-10, The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us.

     The previous Scriptures makes a clear and distinct interpretation.  It expresses and defines what a shadow does.  God is not repetitious when He does something He needs to only do it once.  He never needs to repeat anything where it would be see this is new for it was complete and perfect the very first time He did it.  It was only when man was entrusted with freewill and choice that they began to destroy the things God had created, including themselves.  When man was created he was perfect for he was created in the image (likeness shadow) of God.  This freewill and choice began early.  As a matter of fact it was in the beginning when Adam and Eve chose not to follow God's commandment to them. 

     The Scripture reveals the things that have been done previously with the pattern, shadow, first, and natural is the same things which will be done again with the second and spiritual.  It states the things that have been done with the pattern and shadow is the very things, which will be done again in the second and spiritual.  There is nothing new under the sun!  It asks if there is any thing which may say, See, this is new?  Then proclaims it has already been done in ages of time which were before us.

     1 John 2:27-28, But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that ANY MAN TEACH YOU, but as the same anointing teacheth you of ALL THINGS, and is Truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.  And now little children, abide in Him � 

     The Bible brings our attention to a fact that proclaims we do not need ANY MAN to teach us.  It proclaims the same anointing, which taught the prophets of old, will teach us ALL the truths from the Scriptures.  God is Truth and therefore unable to tell a lie.  As King David proclaimed, anyone who dwells in the Secret Place of God, the spiritual patterned and shadowed mysteries, shall remain under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1).

     There are many shadows, patterns, images, likeness, metaphors, allegories, figures, forms, and examples throughout the Bible and they tell us eartly stories with spiritual meanings.  The spirit of God who dwells inside of us reveals these to us and He makes it possible for us to understand the truth written in the Scriptures.  Seek God for personal understanding of Scriptures.  He is faithful and will never let you down.  He desires people to come to Him for their instruction rather than running to a man who is capable of erring.  There are many churches that are regulated and governed by the traditions, doctrines, and commandments of men.  They tell them what to teach.  Anyone who totally depends on them is endangering their very souls making it possible to be forever severed from God.

     I ask that you read my material and then go to God and ask Him to reveal its truthfulness.  A man did not teach me the mysteries from the Bible.  The things I write were taught to me by the spirit of God, which will also teach you.  There are many more writing coming in the future so do not miss a single issue!  The next one due out will be Noah's Ark, the shadow it cast reveals the second and spiritual Ark. 

     Look for these exciting writings coming soon.  Of course these will NOT be popular with the religious world, but neither was Jesus for in them you will read Truth of Scriptures:  "The Third Day, The Bride of Christ, Gathering Baskets, Spiritual Garments, Leaven & Unleaven, If I Be Lifted Up, Lord & Saviour, Fasting, Elijah & John the Baptist, Baptism, Tithing, The Unforgivable Sin, Johsua & Moses, Law of God & Law of Sin, The Resurection, Two Covenants, Two Discciples, The Key of David, The Children of Israel, The Natural & Spiritual Jew, Walking On Water, Marriage, Spirits & Warfare, Melchezidek, Meat, The Napkin, Perfection, The Gospel of God, The Deadly Tongue, Obedience, Righteousness, Elder Shall Serve the Younger-The Blessings, Communion, The Unknown Tongue, Washing of Water".

Yours in Christ Jesus,
D.S. Mattingly

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