The Genesis Parable
Part 13
The Two Great Signs
In a few minutes, I will bring back my illustration of “The Two Great Lights” or “Signs” which we considered in previous studies which helps to clarify all that we have considered in this series. Since the number two is quite prominent in this illustration and study, let me share with you what Stephen Jones wrote concerning its spiritual meaning in his book, The Biblical Meaning of Numbers from One to Forty.
In Hebrew, two is signified by the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet which is called “bet”. Here’s what our brother Jones wrote, quote, “Beth is a HOUSE or HOUSEHOLD in Hebrew. God established the HOUSEHOLD with Adam and Eve, TWO people in a marriage. This provided direction, a DOUBLE WITNESS in the family to know the will of God. It takes TWO points to make a line and establish direction.
“The number TWO signifies either DIVISION or A DOUBLE WITNESS. God established TWO covenants in the Bible, first as a DOUBLE WITNESS of truth, but also TO ESTABLISH DIRECTION. Going from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant shows a progression of revelation from the LESSER to the GREATER.
“This same principle is found with Hagar and Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac, with Jacob and Israel, with David and Saul, and (in the New Testament) in the contrast between Saul and Paul. In each case, there is DIVISION with a resulting conflict between the TWO characters, yet also God establishes the pattern of moving from one point to another.”
As we see, two signifies either DIVISION or A DOUBLE WITNESS, and based on Jones’ explanation, what we really see in essence is that DIVISION leads to A DOUBLE WITNESS. In its simplest form, TWO helps define the divine process of God in each and every soul on this planet as stipulated by the divine and universal principle of sowing and reaping. Agreement is realized in the creation story, for there is clearly a DIVISION on each of the six days of creation, a SEPARATION if you will of one thing from another; light from darkness or day from night (Gen. 1:1-5); the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament (Gen. 1:6-8). Then the waters under the firmament SEPARATED into seas and dry land appears (Gen. 1:9-13). Finally, on the fourth day, we have the creation of the sun and the moon, our “two great lights” of Genesis 1:16. At this point, our Creator finished the FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, for on the fifth and sixth days of creation, He brings forth living creatures to populate the foundation He has established.
Now, let me emphasize and clarify an important point about the fourth day of creation. As noted, this was the creation of the “two great lights,” the sun and the moon, which serve as types of the Two Covenants of God. And what does scripture tell us? The two great lights were given to “rule” the “day” and the “night.” In keeping with this, consider the following from Psalms 136.
Psalms 136:7-9 (NASB95)
7 To Him who made the great lights, for His lovingkindness is everlasting: 8 The sun to rule by day, for His lovingkindness is everlasting, 9 the moon and stars to rule by night, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Note that verse 9 gives us “stars” as well. What do they represent? See Daniel 12:3 for understanding. Now, consider the following.
Psalms 145:13 (NASB95)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
See our word “dominion”? It’s the same word translated as “rule” in Genesis 1:16, verifying our types of the sun and the moon as the Two Covenants of our Maker. Our word “rule” is defined by Strong’s as, “Rule; also (concrete in plural) a realm or a ruler.” Beloved, the “realm” is the kingdom of God while the “ruler” is our heavenly Father through Christ. No wonder Paul said, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28; KJV). Friends, He is not far from any one of us for His “lovingkindness is everlasting.”
The idea of DIVISION continues in the creation of humankind, where we read in Genesis 1:26 and 27, “Let US make man in OUR image” and “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; MALE and FEMALE He created them” (NKJV). Not just male OR female, but male AND female, God’s DIVISION again evident in the fact that God DIVIDED the woman from the man, fashioning her from the “rib” or SIDE of Adam to be “a helper comparable to him” (Gen. 2:20; NKJV). What began as ONE became TWO in order to become ONE again; see Genesis 2:24.
Through the six days of creation, we have DIVISION, a necessary SEPARATION which, when brought together, gives WITNESS or testimony of God’s great wisdom and of His divine process which He has implemented in all creation.
In 1st Thessalonians 5:23, Paul prays that God will sanctify us COMPLETELY, stating that our “whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” but our number TWO is also prominent here, for our bodies are simply “containers” of the SPIRIT and SOUL, and it is the SPIRIT and SOUL which the LIVING and ACTIVE Word of God addresses. What is manifested in this world on a continual basis is ALWAYS a product of what LIES WITHIN and ISSUES FROM our MIND and HEART. No wonder Paul wrote, “Be renewed in the SPIRIT of your MIND” (Eph. 4:23; NASB).
When we truly grasp the significance of the DIVISION which leads to a WITNESS, then we gain a better understanding of God’s DIVINE PROCESS, His SPIRITUAL MECHANISM by which His purpose is accomplished every single moment of every single day.
How did creation start? God said, “‘Let there be LIGHT,’ and there was LIGHT. And God saw that the LIGHT was good. And God separated the LIGHT from the DARKNESS” (Gen. 1:3-4; ESV). This is NOT the creation of the sun or the moon since that was done on the fourth day. Beloved, the light of the first day was the “light” of the Spirit of Christ, for John wrote, “God IS LIGHT, and in Him is NO DARKNESS at all” (1st John 1:5; NKJV). Finally, we see that “God saw that the LIGHT WAS GOOD”; NOT THE DARKNESS, just the LIGHT, but remember, DIVISION is necessary to establish a WITNESS, and so it is that DARKNESS is a necessary component in our evolvement. After all, how can we perceive light if there is no darkness in which to perceive it? I am, of course, speaking spiritually.
In Deuteronomy 6:4, Moses told Israel, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is ONE LORD.” Is there a contradiction with our number two here? There is not, for again, Genesis 1:26 and 27 tells us, “Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness” and “MALE and FEMALE created He them.” Who is the “us” and “our” in this statement? Beloved, it is the SPIRIT and WORD of our Maker, our own makeup bearing witness, for we too are “beings” of SPIRIT and WORD. This is the “image” of God. No wonder Paul said in Acts 17:28, “For we are indeed His offspring”; see also Proverbs 4:23 and Luke 6:45. Though Spirit and Word are TWO, they are truly but ONE, for “God is Spirit” (John 4:24; NKJV) and out of His Spirit flows His Word. So it is that John wrote, “In the BEGINNING was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD was God” (John 1:1; NKJV).
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus said, “The SEED is the WORD of God” (Luke 8:11). I believe this establishes the Word or mind as the “male” or “masculine” component of His being which means that the spirit is the “female” or “feminine” component. This being the case, our divine principle of sowing and reaping rises to the surface and illustrates the power of creation itself. When the mind of God joins with the Spirit of God, male with female, there is CONCEPTION and a BEGINNING is REALIZED, and out of this BEGINNING a purpose evolves.
Two saturates the scripture, and one of the most important aspects of it is found in the following from Proverbs 18:21.
Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)
21 DEATH and LIFE are in the POWER of the tongue, and those who LOVE it (either death or life) will EAT its fruits.
In our story of Adam and Eve, they “ate” the “fruit” of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 3:6; ESV). What does this symbolize? Proverbs 18 shows us, for the tree of knowledge symbolizes the law of God, which Paul described as the “ministry of DEATH” in 2nd Corinthians 3:7. When Adam and Eve partook of the law, they fell into the realm of “death” in accordance with God’s Word in Genesis 2:17, coming under the “ministry of death” and “condemnation,” the administration of God’s divine law by means of their own conscience; see 2nd Corinthians 3, verses 5 through 11, and Romans 2:15. For this reason, some teach that the time between Adam and Moses was considered the “age of conscience” and I am inclined to agree; see Romans 5, verses 12 through 14.
Our word “power” in Proverbs 18:21 is the same word translated “hand” in Genesis 3:22. Immediately, I see a connection with the idea of the “left” and “right” hand of God. Does “male” and “female” come into play here? It does, for the “right hand” of God is the “feminine” side while the “left” is the “masculine.” I think most everyone would agree when I say that the “male” is the aggressor, typifying the “letter” that “kills,” while the “female” is the peacemaker, typifying the “Spirit” which gives “life.” We should see in this that both are necessary in order to truly conduct ourselves in accordance with the principles of the kingdom of God. Power without humility and the love of God will always be some form of tyranny.
Now, let me bring in my illustration of “The Two Great Lights.”
As you can see, I’ve added a few more things to improve our illustration. Note that on the left side of our “two-edged sword” or Word of God, we find “the mark of the beast,” revealed in type by the “mark” or “sign” of the “lesser light” of the moon, typifying the Old Covenant Law of God. As we see, this relates to the “present Jerusalem” or “city of God,” i.e. His people on earth, as Paul describes in Galatians 4:25. It is the “living” Word of God’s law which first challenges and addresses our “soul” and “thoughts.”
On the right side, we have our other “mark” or “sign” revealed in type as the “greater light” of the sun. As noted, this “mark” is called “the SEAL of God” and relates to “Jerusalem above,” i.e. His people in heaven, typifying the New Covenant Promise and the “active” Word of God which challenges and addresses our “spirit” and “intentions.” Both “marks” or “signs” are found in the following from 2nd Timothy, Chapter 2.
2 Timothy 2:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this SEAL: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
First, “the solid foundation of God stands,” typified by the foundation of the world which He established in the creation story, the natural creation testifying of spiritual realities, confirmed by Romans 1:20. Within this “foundation,” God has a “SEAL: The Lord knows those who are His.” So, as Paul continues, he speaks of a “great house,” that is the “house of God” and describes TWO classes of “vessels,” “gold and silver” and “wood and clay,” “some for HONOR and some for DISHONOR.” Beloved, the “vessels” of “wood and clay” denote the left hand of God and the “vessels” of “dishonor,” those who fall under the “mark” of the Old Covenant or “letter” of the law. The “vessels” of “gold and silver” denote the right hand of God and the “vessels” of “honor,” those who fall under the New Covenant or “Spirit” of the law, SEALED by the “Holy Spirit of PROMISE” as recorded in Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NKJV)
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Our word “sealed” in Ephesians 1:13 is derived from the root word translated as “seal” in 2nd Timothy. Strong’s defines the root as, “A signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication the stamp impressed (as a MARK of privacy, or genuineness), literal or figurative.” In Ephesians 1:13, our word “sealed” is defined as, “To stamp (with a signet or private MARK) for security or preservation (literal or figurative); by implication to keep secret, to attest.” To put it simply, God’s divine process is given to move us from the left hand to the right where we are “SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise.” This is the culmination of His New Covenant PROMISE where He puts His laws into our minds and writes them in our hearts as recorded in Hebrews, Chapter 8 and Jeremiah, Chapter 31. And what is the evidence of this “mark” or “seal”? The Lord reveals this in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats as CHARITY or “agape” love, the essence of the two great commandments which Jesus described in Mark 12, verses 28 through 31.
Returning to our illustration, we find that our number TWO brings everything together, beginning with the Word of God which is “LIVING and ACTIVE” and “sharper than any TWO-EDGED sword,” hence the sword in the middle of our illustration. I’ve also placed a faint oval outline around the two trees to show that the “Garden of Eden” is by no means literal, but illustrates the divine working of His Word and Spirit within that moves us from the lesser to the greater, from the Law to its spiritual nature. Beloved, this is the DIVINE PROCESS of our Creator in which EVERYONE participates and through which EVERYONE passes while in this life. As I’ve said many times, there are no exceptions. Jesus DID NOT say that “Christians shall live by EVERY WORD which proceeds from the mouth of God,” rather, He said, “MAN,” all-inclusive of everyone.
What do we have in our illustration? One “sword” with two edges; one “light” with two modes of government. One “garden” with two “trees.” One “law” in Two Covenants; one “city” in two “Jerusalem’s.” One “principle” of sowing and reaping with two “outcomes.” One “man” with two “states of being.” Finally, we see two “Adams,” where Adam is the “first” and Christ is the second and “last” and through His death accomplished and brought forth the essence of a “new creation.” Friends, what was established in the beginning remains true through the end; God’s divine process and purpose made evident through the division which leads to a witness.
So what do all of these “twos” have in common? They are, in fact, ONE. There is but ONE Word of God which is “living” and “active.” There is but ONE law of God but our spiritual position reveals whether we are moving by the “lesser light” of the “letter” or the “greater light” of His Spirit. There is ONE “garden” but two “trees” in the middle, which perfectly illustrate the divine mechanism of the sowing and reaping of God’s living and active Word within our being, producing two different results which are crucial to our spiritual journey. ONE “city” but two positions; earthly or heavenly; soulish or spiritual. No wonder Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, ON EARTH AS-IT-IS IN HEAVEN” (Matt. 6:10; ESV). My friends, I believe that God is moving us forward in accordance with His own divine purpose, little by little, so that we may all discover and realize our faith in His unconditional love which was never more exemplified than by His Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly and without reservation, delivered up His life for you and me. Once we learn to walk in His love, we will experience what it means to truly be free.