LESSON THREE

Quite often an object is used as the same type or a type of the same thing by several writers. This repetition confirms the object as a type and assures us of its true meaning.

Moses uses the rock as a type of Christ in <042008>Numbers 20:8. David uses the rock as a type of Christ in <191802>Psalm 18:2. Isaiah does the same thing in

<233202> Isaiah 32:2. The Lord Jesus also refers to Himself as the Rock upon which the church is built in <401618>Matthew 16:18.

Balaam used trees to represent the nation of Israel in <042406>Numbers 24:6. David used a tree to represent a godly man in Psalm 1. Jeremiah follows the same plan in <241708>Jeremiah 17:8. Daniel used a tree to represent the king in

<270410>Daniel 4:10. He received this message from God. Isaiah used the same type for the eunuch in <235603>Isaiah 56:3. Jesus used the tree as a type of the

people of Israel in <421306>Luke 13:6.

It is well also to note that an object cannot be a type of certain things. I heard a preacher use "Joseph's coat of many colors" as a type of the doctrine of sinless perfection. It was a very grotesque comparison, utterly without foundation or truth.

Leaven is often used as a type of the gospel which, of course, it could not be. The contexts concerning leaven all through both the Old Testament and the New indicate clearly that it is a type of some evil which should be removed.

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It will be most helpful for the student to ask himself or herself certain questions in regard to the study of types and this will guide him or her in the investigation:

1. How is this object or subject first used in the Scripture? What meaning does it have in the first place where it occurs?

2. To what does this object or subject refer in the last passage where it occurs in the Scripture?

3. What are the characteristics of this object or subject which make it a suitable type? Christ is compared to a lion in Revelation 5. In Isaiah 53, Christ is compared to a lamb. As the characteristics of these two animals are studied, then the likeness will be more clearly understood. This plan should be followed in each case.

4. Types should be grouped according to that which they represent. There are types of Christ, Israel, the nations, the Christian, the hypocrites, the worker, the state of the soul, Satan, and many others.

5. Types may also be grouped according to their character. There are types taken from the mineral kingdom, the animal kingdom, the vegetable kingdom, the celestial kingdom, the human family, human actions, human attitudes, postures, etc. It will help the student to understand types more fully if these groupings are made while the study is being pursued.

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