2009/08/11(Ark=Christ)

[대홍수]

Dear Bro. Kim

 

Greetings in our dear Redeemer. This is just to inform you that more DVDs were mailed today. 

 

4 or 5 "Where Was God On 9/11? " for you and distribution

2008 Florida Convention CD - "Spiritual Poetry" and The Holy Anointing Oil - discourses by Bro. David Rice

2009 General Convention 7.23 DVD - Priesthoods: - Aaronic_Bro. Jim Parkinson, Melchisedek _Bro. Richard Doctor

4 or 5 For This Cause DVD for distribution to ex-JW frinends. 

 

Bro. Jim Parkinson has read my testimony about you on the 23rd.

 

Love in our dear Redeemer

Sr. Chai

Bro. Aaron, please note the attachment. After sending my response, I noticed that the invalid character typed in Korean was transmitted as "?". So I produced a Korean file containing the invalid character and attached. It will go through.

 

Sr. Chai

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SECTION 1 - THE FLOOD (two Articles published in Herald)

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Subj:         Flood Articles

Date:        7/28/05 10:17:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time

From:        DavRice

To:            ChaiDrm

File:  Flood.wpd (24083 bytes)

DL Time (45333 bps): < 1 minute

Sr. Chai -- Here are two articles. The first one is in the current issue. The second is for an issue coming later (I do not recall when). Neither article goes to the full conclusion introducing all the dates including the Kingdom. Here is a listing of the dates which seem to apply.

Entering ark -- 33 ad

Coming to rest -- 1874

Tops of Mountains -- 1948

Covering removed -- 2043 (end of centuries)

from Coming to rest to Covering removed = 2043 - 1874 = 169 years (harvest period)

Exit ark -- 3043, end of Millennium

Bro. David

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Old Testament Types

Baptism

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.C1 Corinthians 10:1,2

 Baptism is a New Testament rite which is not mentioned in the Old Testament. But as the apostle Paul shows in the text above, it was represented in the Old Testament types.

Paul=s mention of this is a passing reference, building toward a greater point. In this first epistle to the Corinthians, Paul gives advice along many lines. In chapter 10 he warns the brethren in Corinth against involvement in idolatrous practices, such as inadvertent fellowship with paganism through participation in pagan feasts.

He builds his argument by showing that Israel=s baptism into Moses represents our baptism into Christ. Israel=s blessing in the manna from heaven represents our blessing in the Aliving bread which came down from heaven,@ namely Jesus, who gave his flesh Afor the life of the world@ (John 6:51), and all the accompanying spiritual nourishment day by day through the Word of God.

Paul mentions the water they drank in the wilderness, which came from the Aspiritual rock,@ the rock which pictured something spiritual. The rock represented Christ, who was smitten to produce the water of life for us. There was another episode, late in the wilderness wanderings, which represents the second occasion when Christ will issue forth the waters of life to the world in the kingdom. On that occasion God told Moses simply to speak to the rock, as a type that Christ need not be smitten again to produce this second blessing (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:8).

Then Paul reminds the brethren that after coming into God=s favor and blessing in these ways, Awith many of them God was not well pleased@ and Athey were overthrown in the wilderness@ (1 Corinthians 10:5). AThese things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted@ (verse 6). Then he gets directly to his point: ANeither be ye idolaters, as were some of them Y these things happened unto them for ensamples Y written for our admonition Y Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry@ (verses 7, 11,14).

Paul follows this with a lesson from the observance of the emblems of our Lord=s death. We jointly receive the cup, and jointly receive the bread, and thus are in fellowship together with our brethren and with our Lord, whose sacrifice we imbibe. Similarly, the priests of the Old Testament who ate of the offerings were in fellowship with God=s arrangements and service (verses 15-18).

So if we participate in pagan festivals, for the sake of the meat, we would sit in fellowship with pagans and devils: AThe things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord=s table, and of the table of devils@ (verses 20, 21).

Peter=s Reference to Baptism

The apostle Peter wrote about another picture of baptism. At the time of the flood there was water everywhere, as far as the eye could see, also beneath the ark, and of course in the clouds above. The ark represents Christ, and the eight souls saved in the ark represent those saved in Christ.

AThe like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh [as with the cleansings of the Law, compare Hebrews 9:13], but the answer of a good conscience toward God [baptism in Christ cleanses the Aconscience,@ the real person, compare Hebrews 9:14]), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ@ (1 Peter 3:21).

The picture of salvation is augmented by the dimensions of the ark given in Genesis 6:15. It was 300 cubits long and 30 cubits high, and three is the basic number of the atonement. It was 50 cubits wide, perhaps relating to the call of the saints during the first age of redemption, as five is the basic number of the new creation. Its perimeter was 700 cubits around, perhaps suggesting the 7,000 years for the entire plan of redemption.

Five Dates

There are five dates marked in the flood experience (Genesis 7:11; 8:4,5,13,14). These seem to represent progressive milestones in the plan of redemption. The dates are:

Year 600, Month  2, Day 17CFlood begins                               Entering ark -- 33 ad

Year 600, Month  7, Day 17CArk rests                                           Coming to rest -- 1874

Year 600, Month 10, Day  1CMountain tops appear                  Tops of Mountains -- 1948

 Year 601 , Month  1, Day  1CEarth is dry / Covering removed -- 2043 (end of centuries)

 Year 601 , Month  2, Day 27CExit the ark                                     -- 3043, end of Millennium

Entering ark -- 33 ad

Coming to rest -- 1874

Tops of Mountains -- 1948

Covering removed -- 2043 (end of centuries)

from Coming to rest to Covering removed = 2043 - 1874 = 169 years (harvest period)

Exit ark -- 3043, end of Millennium

If the ark represents Christ, and coming into the ark represents coming into Christ, then the first date evidently represents Pentecost. Then Christ=s sacrifice was applied to the church, commencing the first age of redemption, the Gospel age. This was in the year 33 A.D.

For the remaining date points we suggest the following: The ark coming to rest represents a significant ending point toward the close of the Gospel age, namely the second advent of Christ beginning in 1874. When Noah looked outside he still saw water everywhere, but knew the new beginning was at hand because the ark had come to rest. So in 1874 a glance about the world showed no special mark of the end of the age. But Bible students recognized they had arrived at the end of the 1,335 days of Daniel. The interval of five months for this Gospel age picture is a fitting span of time. The same number, five, was used in Matthew 25:6, where five wise virgins awakened to the cry, ABehold, the Bridegroom!@

The Atop of the mountains@ appeared at the opening of month 10. This is an expression‎ also used in Isaiah 2:2 and Micah 4:1, referring to Israel as the location of the kingdom of God. Perhaps the mention in Genesis refers to the reestablishment of Israel as a Amountain@ or nation among the nations of the world. This is a visible sign of the proximity of the kingdom.

At the very opening of the new year dry ground appeared and the covering of the ark was removed. This represents the opening of a new age by the establishment of Christ=s kingdom. Then the ark, atonement in Christ, will be revealed to all flesh. Then the world will appreciate the great blessings God intends for them (compare Isaiah 25:7-9).

But the ark was not yet vacated. This did not occur until month 2, day 27. This additional period evidently represents the kingdom of Christ. Mankind will remain in the ark, in Christ, until the end of the Millennium. Then, having achieved perfection, they can stand before God individually.

Months of 30 Days

The numbers in the account show that Noah counted months of thirty days each. This does not mean Noah was unaware of the true length of the year, 365 days. It was simply a matter of convenient calendar reckoning, which ancient Egypt and other nations employed as well. It was customary then to add five intercalary days at the end of the year, to accord with the cycle of the sun. This means the Gospel age is represented by a span of 150 days (15 ́ 10), and the kingdom is represented by a span of 56 days. Fifteen is 7 + 8, and 56 is 7 ́ 8.

The seven probably represents the heavenly salvation, eight the earthly salvation which follows the seven stages of the church. During this age we benefit from the ministry of the spiritual teachers appointed by God for us, and the Acloud of witnesses,@ the worthies of Old Testament times, who will lead the earthly kingdom. During the thousand-year kingdom of Christ the world will benefit by both as well.

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(Sent to Nekora June 9, 2005)

SECTION II

Noah's Ark

"And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits" (Genesis 6:15).

The dimensions of the ark were stipulated very specifically. Probably this was of great help to Noah, because he would not have known the best proportions for the service intended for the ark, namely stability in floating. The six to one ratio in length to width reminds us of a barge, whose object is similar, excepting some necessity for forward movement.

The specific numbers also have meaning respecting the lesson God intended to make about our deliverance in Christ. 1 Peter 3:20, 21 show that the deliverance of the eight souls in the ark is a picture of our salvation by being baptized into Christ. "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us ... by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." We receive this deliverance during the Gospel Age, and the world will receive their deliverance in the Kingdom, both by the same means, that is, coming into Christ. The whole plan of redemption, from paradise lost to paradise regained, will take 7000 years to accomplish. That is, from the fall of Adam, forward 6000 years of sin and death, and the Millennium of Revelation 20:6, make 7000 years in all.

This may be shown in the perimeter of the ark. It was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, making the total perimeter 700 cubits. This number is in a one to ten ratio to the whole span of years in God's Plan. Thus the representation is an order of magnitude less than the span of time represented, and this may seem an objection to the application. But recall that the redemption resulting from the sacrifice of Christ was also shown in numbers which varied by orders of magnitude, but always retained the same essential symbolic number -- in this case, three. Jesus was in the grave for part of three days, he was valued at 30 pieces of silver, he was anointed for his death by 300 pence of ointment (John 12:5), and the number of redeemed ones at Pentecost was 3000 persons (Acts 2:41).

In the representation of 700 cubits for 7000 years, a cubit is put for a year. These are two different kinds of units, one for distance, another for time. However, the same units are compared also in the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:27. "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" This is the King James rendering, but the Greek for "stature" is actually elikian, rendered "life-span" (Kingdom Interlinear) and "life's span" (NASB) by others. Thus a linear unit of linear measure is put for a period of time. Just so in the dimensions of the ark.

Such a mixing of units is also elsewhere in the Old Testament. Genesis 15:13 speaks of a period of 400 years before the seed of Abraham would inherit the promised land, which is probably represented by the 400 shekels of silver which Abraham later paid for the burial plot for his wife Sarah, as token that he was waiting for God's due time to grant the inheritance (Genesis 23:16).

As noted above, three is a picture of atonement. Thus it is fitting that this number also be represented in the dimensions of the ark, and it is twice. The ark was 300 cubits long, and 30 cubits high. The ark was three stories tall, making an average 10 cubits per level, which was also the height of the Tabernacle, another type of the Redemption afforded in Christ. The 50 cubit width of the ark matches the width of the Court of the Tabernacle. Five is a number sometimes associated with the New Creation, as in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, each class numbering five members in the parable. Thus the 50 cubit width of the Court may show that the atonement represented in that structure is for the development of the spiritual class during the Gospel Age. The appearance of the same number in the ark perhaps represents the redemption of this class as a prominent part of the 7000 year plan for redemption.

Wood and Pitch

The ark was made of "gopher wood" (Genesis 6:14). This is the only appearance in the Old Testament of the word "gopher." For this reason its meaning is obscure. Some suppose it was akin to cypress, or pine, others that "gopher" is a corruption of "kopher," pitch, and refers either to a wood with much sap in it, or wood later pitched for waterproofing, "and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch [kopher]" (Genesis 6:14).

But the essential point may be the wood itself. Jesus died on a cross of wood, thus uniting his redemptive sacrifice with the punishment of criminals under the law, "cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Galatians 3:13). Jesus carried his own cross to Golgotha, and this was represented centuries earlier, when "Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son" (Genesis 22:7). In both cases the Old Testament has something to say about "wood" as a symbol of Jesus' death. The ark is expressly said to be made of wood, fitting, since the ark represents our redemption through the sacrifice of Christ.

Perhaps wood is associated with the ransom given by Jesus, because it may be a picture of human nature. As wood is perishable, so human nature is perishable. Nations and people are sometimes represented in the scriptures as trees, for example, Israel is represented as the fig tree. In Ezekiel 17:24 the prophet said, on behalf of God, "all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree." In this the prophet uses trees to represent various peoples. Thus Adam, by nature perishable, forfeited his life by disobedience, and as the trees of the field eventually withered and died. Perhaps for this reason Jesus' death is associated with a tree, the wood of the cross. Jesus came to give his life for Adam, a perfect human life for a perfect human life.

The function of the pitch presumably was to make the ark water tight. The word "pitch" is Strong number 3724, Hebrew kopher. Strong's Concordance defines this word as "properly a cover, i.e. (literally) a village (as covered in); (specifically) bitumen (as used for coating), and the henna plant (as used for dyeing); figuratively a redemption-price." In the King James version it is translated bribe, camphire, pitch, ransom, satisfaction, sum of money, village. Of interest is that the word "ransom," in the King James version, is this word kopher in eight of the 10 instances of the word in the Old Testament. The connection is the thought of covering. The ransom is a covering for our sins, as the pitch was applied to the ark to cover the seams and enhance its serviceability.

There was another covering of the ark, of a different sort. It is mentioned in Genesis 8:13, at the end of the flood, "and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry." This is a different word. It is listed in Strong's Concordance as number 4372, mikseh, "covering." Perhaps it was to add some weathering ability to the ark, but it would have also obscured the ark visually, evidently. This covering was removed on the very first day following the end of the 600th calendar year of Noah's life (Genesis 8:13). Probably this represents the passage of six periods of time before the redemption in Christ is made apparent to the world during the Millennium, following 6000 years of sin and death. Isaiah 25:7-9 uses yet a different word for covering, but it refers to the same time, the unveiling of God's redemptive purpose to the world. "And [God] will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations ... And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD, we have waited for him, awe will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

Notice, incidentally, that the 6000 years of sin and death is here represented by 600 years, the same one to 10 ratio noted in the perimeter of the ark.

Building the Ark

The ark would have taken many years to build, so large a structure it was. If the cubits involved were like the ancient Egyptian cubit of about 20.6 inches, the 300 cubit length would be almost 172 yards. However, it did not take 120 years to build as sometimes supposed. Genesis 6:3 does mention 120 years, but the instructions to make the ark do not appear until verse 13. On this occasion Noah's sons were evidently of adult age. Their birth was mentioned in verse 10, and in verse 18, along with the instructions for building the ark, God said it would be for the rescue of Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives. Since the oldest son was 100 years at the close of the flood (compare Genesis 5:32, 8:13), this puts an upper limit of perhaps 70 years or so on the period left for constructing the ark. Probably it was substantially less. Otherwise wood laid down in the early stages of construction may have decayed from exposure during the lengthy years before the flood arrived. Nevertheless, some period of years must have been involved, not simply months.

Noah would have had the assistance of his three adult sons in building the ark. It is also possible Noah was a man of means, and used these means to finance laborers to assist. Such a massive project suggests the combined labors of more than four men. And whatever type of currency was used before the flood would have lost its value when but eight souls were left alive at its end.

The meaning of the 120 years of Genesis 8:3 [6:3] is unclear. Perhaps it was a 120-year prewarning of the flood. Or perhaps it meant that life spans would decrease from their usual 700-900 years plus range of Noah's day, dropping in a steep curve to a general upper limit of 120 in the centuries following the flood.

Much of the detail regarding the ark is unspecified, but must have been the subject of a large amount of thought and planning. The various levels had to be strengthened to hold some large animals. Perhaps the lowest level was for food storage for the animals, and second level for the animals and the third for the eight human occupants and a lesser number of animals. All three levels would need access to the light of the single "window" described in Genesis 6:16. "A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above." The allows the supposition that this "window" was of a substantial length, to allow light access to the length of the interior, and the floors perhaps open in the center to allow the light access to the lower two floors. This would also aid ventilation. Some thoughtful means of disposal to the outside waters also had to be devised.

All of these details were necessary for a functioning enterprise, to sustain life for many months at a time. The waters of the flood caused it to drift for five months, before coming to rest. It was another 74 days before the top of the mountains were seen, and perhaps 95 days further to the next new year day,* when the covering of the ark was removed. The occupants remained for another 56 days before disembarking, so that 10 days in excess of a year were consumed altogether.

Leaving the Ark

When Noah and his family did exit the ark, they constructed an altar to Jehovah and offered some of the precious cargo to him in gratitude for their lives. They "took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.** And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake" (Genesis 8:20, 21).

Wonderfully, the earth has never since suffered such a flood. The lovely bow which appeared in the sky after the flood, and from time to time ever afterward, is a token from God of his solemn pledge that such a universal disaster will never occur again (Genesis 8:12-15).

But this closing scene represents something even more wonderful. At the end of the Millennium, the entire world, having been perfected, can leave the protective shelter of the ark, their covering in Christ, and enter upon a new world. Their impulse will be to praise Jehovah for His wonderful providence, represented by the offerings of Noah and his family to God. And God, for His part, pledges never again to curse the ground, as he did for example in the Garden, at the fall of man. "There shall be no more curse" (Revelation 22:3). The former sin ridden world will be gone, and in its place a world "wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13).

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*The flood waters began on month 2, day 17 (Genesis 7:11), and the ark came to rest on month 7, day 17 (Genesis 8:4). This would be exactly 5 months. The number of days involved was 150, stipulated twice, Genesis 7:24 and 8:3. This shows that during this time months were counted as exactly 30 days each. This is different than the much later Jewish calendar, in which months lengths generally alternate between 29 and 30 days. It is the same as one of the most ancient calendars, that used in Egypt, which contained 12 months of 30 days each. However, the Egyptians knew that the 360 days thus covered was shy of the 365 days numbering a year -- just as Noah, and the people of his day would have known. The Egyptians included 5 extra days at the end of each year, just before the New Year day for the following year, thus reaching 365 days a year. Probably the culture of Noah's day did the same, and the later Egyptian practice may well have been but an extension of the ancient practice. In this case the three months between Genesis 8:5 (month 10, day one) and Genesis 8:13 (month 1, day 1, of the next year) would number 3 x 30 = 90, plus 5 extra days = 95.

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Bro. Michael -- Here is a paragraph modified to include an added footnote after the word "altar" -- followed by the footnote text covering the point you mentioned. Glad to have the thought included if you think good. -- Bro. David

**Genesis 7:2 says "of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female, and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female." Evidently this means seven pair and two pair respectively. The two pairs of unclean animals would ensure more than simply one breeding pair to preserve their kind. The seven pairs of clean animals would allow some for sacrifice, and perhaps for food, Genesis 9:3.

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