INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE STUDENT

My Study Plan:

The book of Revelation reveals Jesus Christ and shows how God’s final Gospel Day is understood through spiritual prophecy. Preparing a Study Plan before starting this Study Guide will assist you in completing it within a designated timeframe. It also helps in developing the discipline required for studying God’s Word effectively.

Proverbs 16:3:

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

My Study Guide Journal

Keep a record as you progress through your Study Guide, including the “Personal Responses”, for each section for future reference and goal setting.

Content

• INTRODUCTION
• TYPOLOGY – DEFINITION
• TYPOLOGY – ITS PURPOSE
• TYPOLOGY – KEY RULES
• A TYPE IS DIVINELY PREORDAINED
• A TYPE RESEMBLES THE ANTITYPE
• A TYPE IS BOTH A SYMBOL AND PREDICTION
• THE ANTITYPE IS MORE GLORIOUS THAN THE TYPE
• THE TYPE AND ANTITYPE CONTAINED THE SAME ELEMENT OF TRUTH
• ACCESSORIES TO THE TYPE OF NO ANTITYPE MEANING
• REVISION: DEFINITIONS AND PRINCIPLES
• TYPOLOGY EXAMPLES
• FURTHER EVIDENCE: THE GARDEN POINTS TO THE CHURCH
• SUMMARY

Important Points:

• COGMA does not claim to be infallible or the authority.
• Infallibility and authority belong only to God and His Word.

COGMA therefore strongly advises that you prayerfully study the content of each Study Guide with the heart of a Berean: “Acts 17:10-12”.

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INTRODUCTION

This is Study Guide 16 in The Disciple’s Toolkit series, and the second in the module “The Language of the Bible.” In it, you will learn about typology — a method of Bible interpretation where an element found in the Old Testament prefigures one found in the New Testament.

The Old Testament element is called a type. The New Testament element it prefigures is called the antitype. For example, the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham is a type that pointed to Jesus and the work of salvation, the antitype.

Both Jesus and Paul frequently used typology to convey spiritual truth from Old Testament examples. As you work through this Study Guide, you will come to understand what typology is, how to identify it, and how to apply it to your study of Scripture.

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TYPOLOGY — DEFINITION

Typology, as the term implies, is the examination of types within the Bible that point to and reveal a spiritual truth. An Old Testament type, sometimes referred to as a shadow, points to a New Testament reality or spiritual truth known as the antitype.

For clarity, consider that the reality — the spiritual truth in the New Testament — casts a shadow into the Old Testament to reveal the type.

Types and Antitypes

A type is a person, thing, or event from the Old Testament that means more than what it seems. It has a deeper truth portrayed in it than what the literal depicts.

Antitypes are the truths in the New Testament that these Old Testament examples point to.

Meaning of “Antitype”

“Antitype” does not mean against; it means “opposite” or “reverse.” A type in the Old Testament is something real that shows us something spiritual — the antitype.

Shadows and Reality

Sometimes, we call a type a “shadow” because a shadow can only exist if something real makes it. Things that are physical or of this earth will go away; only spiritual things last forever. That which is spirit and spiritual is eternal.

Typology vs. Symbolism

Typology shares similarities with symbolism in that both employ symbolic language. However, the difference is that typology is based on real Old Testament historical events or figures, while symbolism is based on imagery that is fictional, purely to paint a picture.

For example, the symbolism in the book of Revelation: you are never going to see a beast with seven heads and ten horns rise up out of the sea. Typology, by contrast, is always grounded in real history.

In the New Testament, both Jesus and Paul use Old Testament examples to teach spiritual truths. These truths are also called reality and are eternal.

An Example of Typology Jesus Employed: Jesus and the Manna in the Wilderness

In the sixth chapter of John, Jesus contrasts Himself with the manna the Israelites ate in the wilderness.

John 6:48 states:

“I am that bread of life.”

John 6:49 states:

“Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.”

The “manna in the wilderness” serves as a type from the Old Testament, while the “bread of life” represents the antitype — the spiritual truth in Christ. Just as the manna physically sustained the Israelites, the bread of life spiritually sustains God’s people, the true Israel.

Typology is the study of these types within God’s Word, where Old Testament people, things, and events called “types” point to New Testament spiritual truths we call “antitypes.”

An Example of Typology Paul Employed: Israel in the Wilderness

Paul often used typology. He would take someone or something from the Old Testament and use it to teach a spiritual truth in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians chapter 10, Paul talks about how Israel left Egypt and went into the wilderness.

He tells us that what happened to literal Israel from the Old Testament is a lesson for us today who are spiritual Israel.

1 Corinthians 10:11 states:

“Now all these things happened unto them (Old Testament Israel) for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition (New Testament spiritual Israel), upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

Old Testament literal Israel is the type, while New Testament spiritual Israel is the antitype.

The Literal Version for clarity:

1 Corinthians 10:11 (LITV) states:

“And all these things happened to those as examples, and it was written for our warning, on whom the ends of the ages have come.”

Paul is saying that what happened to the Israelites in the wilderness is a lesson for us — in fact, a warning for us.

Although the King James version uses the phrase “the ends of the world,” this is a mistranslation, as the Greek word for “world” in this verse is not KOSMOS but AION, referring to the New Covenant dispensation or Gospel Day.

Spiritual Israel Defined

All who are born again are the “spiritual Israel” or the true Israel of God. The church of God is the true Israel. Paul explains this in his letter to the Romans:

Romans 9:6-8 states:

“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”

The Israelites in the wilderness in the Old Testament were a type that pointed to the reality in the New Testament — the antitype: the church of God. The earthly Israel is temporary and will pass away, while the true Israel, which is spiritual and the church of God, is eternal and will never pass away.

Romans chapter 9 clearly says that the “true Israel” comprises all who are spiritual and born again. These are the true children of God.

Spiritual Israel and True Jews

Romans 2:28-29 states:

“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men but of God.”

Understanding the form of language used in the Bible helps make the truth clear. Using typology and reading Romans, we see that the true Israel and Jews are spiritual. The experiences of Israel in the Old Testament serve as examples for us in the New Testament dispensation. We often refer to this as the Gospel Day.

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TYPOLOGY — ITS PURPOSE

The purpose of typology is to illustrate how events, persons, or things in the Old Testament serve as foreshadows or prefigurations of the spiritual reality in the New Testament. Typology highlights the continuity and unity of God’s plan throughout the Bible.

Key Purposes of Biblical Typology

i.
Demonstrating Fulfilment of Prophecy

Typology shows how Old Testament events and figures anticipate and are fulfilled in the New Testament. This affirms the divine inspiration and consistency of the Scriptures.

ii.
Enhancing Understanding of Scripture

By studying typology, believers gain a deeper insight into the connections between the Old and New Testaments. This enriches their understanding of both.

iii.
Revealing Christ

Many types in the Old Testament point to Jesus Christ — his life, ministry, death, and resurrection. This helps believers see Christ’s central role in God’s redemptive plan.

iv.
Strengthening Faith

Seeing the intricate design and fulfilment of biblical types can strengthen a believer’s faith in God’s sovereignty and the reliability of the Bible.

v.
Providing Moral and Spiritual Lessons

Typological studies often reveal moral and spiritual lessons that are applicable to the believer’s life. This encourages growth in faith and godliness.

By using typology, Christians can see the Bible as a unified story of redemption, with the Old Testament laying the groundwork for the New Testament revelation.

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TYPOLOGY — KEY RULES

Typology involves interpreting the Scriptures in a way that sees certain events, persons, or institutions in the Old Testament as foreshadowing corresponding realities in the New Testament.

The type in the Old Testament must be a real historical event, person, or thing. Typology is not based on allegory or fiction but on actual occurrences.

To avoid confusion, there are clear rules and keys that help identify types and the truths they represent in the New Testament. Remember, “antitype” does not mean against; it means “opposite” or “reverse.” A type in the Old Testament is something real that shows us something spiritual — the antitype.

The Foremost Rule in Typology

The type must be divinely inspired because typology is based on the belief in the divine inspiration of the Scriptures. Therefore, types must form part of God’s intentional design and not be mere coincidences.

The following sections outline several keys to help you identify and understand typology.

A TYPE IS DIVINELY PREORDAINED

Trying to comprehend the antitype without knowing the type is like drawing conclusions without facts. It is akin to understanding the book of Hebrews without studying the types and figures in the Old Testament.

• The type and antitype must be preordained by God, designed to resemble each other.
• Types in the Old Testament are planned by God to reveal spiritual truths in the Gospel Day.

God’s omniscience is evident, as He knows all things, even the end from the beginning, as stated in the book of Isaiah:

Isaiah 46:10 states:

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.

Merely resembling something in the Old Testament does not automatically make it a type of something in the future.

• There must be more than just a resemblance; it must be preordained by God.
• You cannot understand the antitype before understanding the type.

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A TYPE RESEMBLES THE ANTITYPE

The type, also known as the shadow, always mirrors the antitype, which is the substance. A clear understanding of this principle is: a divine institution or action appointed to represent a spiritual truth and foreshadow, through resemblance, things or truths concerning Christ and the Church.

Key Points to Remember

• There must be a proper parallel between the type and its representation, the antitype.
• There must be an analogical relationship between the type and the antitype, or the truth it foreshadows.

Even if the type and the antitype appear different, there is a resemblance or similarity in their representation or meaning.

In Simpler Terms

• Good spiritual things are shown by good material things.
• Bad spiritual things are shown by bad material things.

Illustration: Leprosy in the Old Testament

Leprosy serves as an action or physical ailment that points to a truth in the New Testament. This truth it represents is the spiritual condition of “sin.”

Leprosy in the Old Testament, as the type, was a disease that caused severe skin sores, disfiguring the person’s skin and bones, twisting their limbs, and distorting their fingers. Those afflicted with leprosy were often isolated and separated from their families.

Similarly, sin — the antitype in the New Testament — has a comparable impact on individuals. While leprosy affects the body physically, sin affects and causes great harm to the human spirit and soul, resulting in separation from the family of God.

Typology Snapshot

Here are additional examples illustrating the resemblance between types and antitypes, where actions or events in the Old Testament foreshadow truths in the New Testament.

i.
Lamb in the Field

A lamb in the field does not symbolise the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. However, when a lamb is led to the brazen altar as a sacrifice, it points to Jesus Christ, the Lamb sacrificed for sin.

ii.
Melchisedec

Being from Salem, Melchisedec did not represent Jesus Christ. Instead, he portrays Christ as the “priest of the most high.”

iii.
Aaron the High Priest

Aaron does not represent a Christian minister or ministry. Instead, he signifies the priestly role of Jesus Christ, who mediates between God and humanity. A minister in the church of God does not take the place of Jesus Christ but, like a prophet, delivers God’s message.

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A TYPE IS BOTH A SYMBOL AND PREDICTION

A type serves two purposes: it symbolises a religious truth relevant to the time it is given, and it predicts future events that uphold the symbolised truth.

Example 1: Christ’s Atonement for Sin

The dying lamb at the brazen altar symbolised the truth that sin could only be forgiven through death. This also predicted Christ’s suffering to atone for humanity’s sins.

1 Peter 3:18 states:

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

The book of Hebrews extensively uses symbolism to illustrate our atonement in Christ through His shed blood.

Example 2: The True Tabernacle

The physical tabernacle built by Moses predicted the true tabernacle built by God, which is the Church of God. Referring to Jesus as our High Priest, Hebrews 8:2 states:

Hebrews 8:2 states:

A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

In this verse, we see that the true tabernacle has already been established. We are not anticipating a future kingdom; it is already here, and it is the Church of God.

Jesus declared in Matthew 16 that He would “build His church,” and in Acts 2, we see that “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

The type predicting that Christ would build the true tabernacle is found in the book of Zechariah.

Zechariah 6:13 states:

Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

The true tabernacle is the eternal Church of God, the body of Christ.

Example 3: The Sprinkling of the Blood

Another example of a type serving as both a symbol and a prediction is seen in the law of Moses and the sprinkling of blood.

Hebrews 9:19 states:

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

After Moses finished writing the law, both the book and the people were consecrated by the sprinkling of blood. This is also recorded in Exodus.

Exodus 24:7-8 states:

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

This act serves as a type or shadow. What does this type point to? Consider the following verses in the book of Colossians.

Colossians 2:13-14 states:

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

In the Gospels’ account of the crucifixion, there was no literal book nailed to the cross. Apart from Jesus, only a sign was nailed with the name “This is the King of the Jews.”

i.
So, What is the Reality?

Jesus Himself is the “book,” as He testified during His ministry.

John 5:39 states:

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

• Jesus is the fulfilment of all Scripture.
• The law of Moses pointed to Him. Jesus is both the Word and the fulfilment of the Word.
• During His crucifixion, He was sprinkled with His own blood.

Regarding the type where Moses “sprinkled the people,” this points to the reality that when we are born again, we are washed and cleansed with the blood of Christ.

Revelation 1:5 states:

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

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THE ANTITYPE IS MORE GLORIOUS THAN THE TYPE

The antitype is always higher and more glorious than the type. This means that what is symbolised or represented is more valuable than the symbol itself. Eternal spiritual truths hold greater worth than temporary material things and possessions.

In the Bible, Jesus is likened to Moses, being described as the mediator of a better covenant.

Hebrews 8:6 states:

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Once more, eternal spiritual realities hold greater value than temporary material possessions.

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THE TYPE AND ANTITYPE CONTAIN THE SAME ELEMENT OF TRUTH

The antitype must contain the same element of truth as the type. A clear illustration of types and antitypes containing the same element of truth is the brazen serpent lifted up in the wilderness to save the Israelites from physical death. In John 3, Jesus compares the serpent lifted up with Himself, explaining this concept.

John 3:14 states:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

The Old Testament reference is found in Numbers.

Numbers 21:8-9 states:

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looks 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.

Here, the “type” is the act of the Old Testament people looking at the serpent on the pole to be healed from snake bites, in faith, to be saved from physical death. The “antitype” in the New Testament is Jesus Christ, who we look to in faith to be saved from our state of being dead in sins or spiritual death.

Ephesians 2:5 states:

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

“Quickened” refers to being born again and raised up in Christ in heavenly places. It is the Greek word SUZOOPOIEO, which means “to make alive with” or to reanimate in Christ.

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ACCESSORIES TO THE TYPE HAVE NO ANTITYPE MEANING

When interpreting types, it is important not to seek antitype meanings in the accessories or extras of the type that are essential for its physical function and use.

Examples of Accessories Without Antitype Meaning

i.
Example 1: The Grate of the Brazen Altar

The grate of the brazen altar is necessary for the fire to burn and to separate the ashes. It serves a functional purpose without carrying deeper spiritual significance.

ii.
Example 2: The Rings on Tabernacle Furniture

The rings on various items of furniture in the tabernacle — such as the brazen altar, the altar of incense, and the Ark of the Covenant — were essential for transportation and do not represent spiritual truths.

Understanding the types and shadows of the Tabernacle of Moses greatly aids in comprehending much of the New Covenant, especially the book of Hebrews.

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REVISION: DEFINITIONS AND PRINCIPLES

Definitions of Typology

• A type is a real, literal Old Testament person, thing, or event that portrays a deeper truth than its literal meaning.
• God used literal Old Testament individuals, things, and events to reveal New Testament realities, which are the “antitypes.”
• The term “antitype” does not mean against but rather “opposite” or “reverse.”
• A type is literal and points to a spiritual reality, which is the antitype.
• God has provided these Old Testament examples to teach us spiritual truths.

Principles of Typology

• A type is divinely ordained — going beyond mere resemblance; it is pre-ordained by God.
• A type resembles the antitype, showing similarity in presentation or meaning.
• A type serves as both a symbol and a prediction, symbolising a religious truth in its timeframe and predicting future facts.
• The antitype is more glorious than the type.
• The antitype must contain the same element of truth as the type.
• Accessories to the type hold no antitype meaning.

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TYPOLOGY EXAMPLES

The following typology examples will help you grasp the concepts of typology, equipping you to further your study and understanding of the Bible.

Jonah — Example 1

In Matthew 12, we see scribes and Pharisees asking Jesus for a sign to prove His identity as the Christ and Messiah.

Matthew 12:38 states:

“Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.”

In response, Jesus states that the only sign of His authenticity is the sign of Jonah.

Matthew 12:39-40 states:

“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 Jonas: For as Jonas 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.”

Jesus is referring to Jonah the prophet and the book of the same name.

Jonah 1:17 states:

“Now the LORD had prepared a great whale to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

The resemblance between the two events is striking, and by Jesus using this sign to authenticate Himself, it certainly suggests that what happened to Jonah was divinely ordained by God.

Not only was what happened to Jonah a real and literal event, it foreshadowed Christ’s death and resurrection.

• Jonah’s Experience: Jonah spent three days and three nights in the whale’s belly.
• Jesus’s Parallel: Jesus spent the same amount of time in the “heart of the earth.”

Jonah’s experience is a type, and Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is the corresponding antitype. What happened to Jonah actually occurred and yet symbolised a deeper and more glorious truth. Jonah’s experience predicted the events of Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection.

i.
Timeline of Crucifixion and Resurrection

Not only does the sign of Jonah authenticate Jesus Christ, it also reveals the exact timeline between Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

• Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights.
• Jesus was in the “heart of the earth” for three days and three nights.

When you truly grasp the importance and power of typology, it sweeps away many of the lies and falsehoods that have been taught concerning what is called Easter.

• The belief that Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and rose on Sunday morning cannot be true.
• It is a tradition associated with Roman Catholic and Protestant religious beliefs that is rooted in paganism.

ii.
Testimony of Mary Magdalene

According to the testimony of Mary Magdalene, she arrived at the tomb on the first day of the week before sunrise, while it was still dark, and found it empty. Jesus had already risen.

John 20:1 states:

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.”

Knowing that in the Bible a day is defined from sunset to sunset, Jesus was crucified and died on Wednesday, the 14th Day of Nisan in thirty-one AD, and rose before sunset on Saturday, the 17th of Nisan. Jesus’ resurrection took place on the Jewish Sabbath to also signify that He is the Lord of the Sabbath.

This aligns perfectly with the Scripture where Jesus states that He is the Lord over the Sabbath and not the Sabbath Lord over Him.

Mark 2:28 states:

“Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.”

iii.
Power of Proper Typology Application

To repeat, the proper application of typology is powerful and a tremendous tool to sweep away lies and falsehoods as written in the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 28:17 states:

“Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.”

The hail represents the word of God powerfully taught and preached.

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THE GARDEN OF EDEN — EXAMPLE 2

Let’s explore the Garden of Eden as a type. Is it a symbol or representation? What does it mean and represent? What is the actual thing it symbolises?

God Made the Garden

Genesis 2:8 states:

“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

If the Garden of Eden is a symbol or shadow, what does it represent? While the garden God created is a real event, what deeper truth does it reveal? What is the spiritual meaning?

Keep in mind, the symbol always points to the truth. To grasp the spiritual truth, we must first comprehend the literal type and the truth it signifies.

The Facts

• God made the garden.
• The garden is of divine origin.
• The garden is divinely designed.
• The garden is a divine creation.

From these facts, you should start to see the antitype of the garden. Immediately, our mind goes to the words of Jesus where He said that “He would build His church”:

Matthew 16:18 states:

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

During Jesus’ 3½ year ministry, there is no record of Him constructing a physical church. However, on the day of Pentecost, the church was established. We know this because people have been added to the church since that day until now.

Acts 2:47 states:

“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

Although we will delve deeper into the church of God in the module “The New Testament Church,” its origin shows its connection to the Garden of Eden. In the book of Hebrews, chapter 12, we read:

Hebrews 12:22-23 states:

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, 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 written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,”

Paul reveals that the church of the firstborn, obviously the one built by Jesus, is the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.

Revelation 21:2 states:

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

This is a picture of the day of Pentecost when the new Jerusalem, the church of the firstborn, came from God out of heaven to earth, revealing its divine origin.

The Greater Glory of the Antitype

Remember that the reality the type points to must be more glorious.

Revelation 21:10-11 states:

“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;”

What is the glory of God? It is Paul who reveals that reality to us.

Ephesians 5:27 states:

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

It is evident so far that as a type, the Garden of Eden points to the church of God. However, there is more evidence from the garden to both reveal and reinforce this truth.

God Planted the Garden Eastward in Eden

Genesis 2:8 states:

“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

God was particular about where He would put His garden. Although we often refer to the “Garden of Eden,” God put it “in Eden.” It did not encompass all of Eden. The word Eden literally means “delight” or “pleasantness.”

It reminds us and points us to the truth that those whose delight is in what Eden represents will be led to God’s garden. The Psalmist said it well:

Psalm 1:1-3 states:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

God planted His garden on the east side of Eden for a specific purpose: to foretell a future reality. It is from the east that the light rises, which points us to the book of Malachi.

Malachi 4:2 states:

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”

Bible students know that the “Sun of righteousness” is a reference to Jesus Christ. Jesus referred to Himself as the light of the world.

John 8:12 states:

“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.”

Walking in the Light

John, in his first letter, urges the church to “walk in the light.”

1 John 1:7 states:

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

This portrays the wonderful truth that if a man’s delight is in the law of the Lord, he will “walk in the light as Christ is in the light” and come to the garden of God, the true church. The “Sun of righteousness” is always moving in the eastward direction, reminding us that to continue to abide in Christ we must “walk in Him.”

1 John 2:5-6 states:

“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

The Psalmist said it well:

Psalm 85:13 states:

Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

Moving Away from the Light

It is also interesting that when you study the building of the Tower of Babel in Genesis chapter 11, the people moved from the eastern mountains of Ararat to the plains of Shinar. They moved away from the light, which symbolically points to “false religion,” referred to as Babylon — meaning confusion — in the book of Revelation.

God Placed Man in the Garden

Genesis 2:7-8 states:

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

After God formed Adam from “the dust of the ground,” symbolising physical birth, God then breathed into him the “breath of life,” and man became a living soul, symbolising spiritual life.

It is evident that Adam was made spiritually alive before God put him in the garden, as both a type and symbol that we must first become new creatures through salvation before we can enter the church, the body of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 states:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Jesus, in the gospel of John, says that a person must be born again before they can enter the kingdom.

Acts 2:47 (LITV) states:

“Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the assembly, the ones being saved from day to day.”

Therefore, just as Adam was made “spiritually alive” before entering the Garden of Eden — symbolising the church and kingdom — likewise, one must be born again to enter the reality: the church of God.

i.
The Facts

• Salvation is a divine work of God.
• One must be spiritually alive to enter the church.

No Sinners in the Church of God

Just as disobedience — that is, sin — put Adam out of the Garden, in reality there are no sinners in the church of God. Salvation is God’s divine work. You must be born again, regenerated, and converted to be put in the true church of God.

To summarise, Adam being made a living soul and then placed in the garden as a type points to the born-again experience, and then being placed into the church, which is the spiritual reality. To further show that the Garden of Eden is a type of the Church that Jesus built, there is the “tree of life” in the centre.

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THE TREE OF LIFE

Before identifying the reality or antitype of the “tree of life,” sometimes a type can point to a symbol, and then the symbol will point or direct you to the reality. This is what we will experience with this symbol.

The Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden

The tree of life is the focal point of the entire Garden of Eden and points us towards the book of Revelation.

Revelation 2:7 states:

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

In the book of Genesis, the “tree of life” is in the midst of the Garden of Eden, but now the same “tree of life” is in the midst of paradise.

The book of Revelation is a collection of symbols that are similar to types in that they point to other Scriptures to provide clarity and reveal the spiritual reality.

When John described the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, in Revelation 22:2, he saw “in the midst of it the tree of life.”

Revelation 22:2 states:

“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, …”

As we have already studied, the heavenly Jerusalem from Hebrews 12 is the church of God. But we can further confirm the identity of the “tree of life” from the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 3:13 states:

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.”

This gives us the context of this portion of Scripture, and so we read a little further:

Proverbs 3:18 states:

“She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.”

From this, we understand that “wisdom” is likened to a “tree of life.” This symbolism directs us to a deeper truth, the reality. But who or what exactly is wisdom?

1 Corinthians 1:24 states:

“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

The truth and reality is that the “tree of life” symbolically represents “Jesus Christ.” Just as Jesus symbolically stands in the midst and centre of the Garden of Eden, it points to the reality that Jesus is in the midst and centre of His church.

Jesus in the Midst of the Church

Jesus confirmed this reality and truth in the first chapter of the book of Revelation. In the vision, John sees Jesus walking in the “midst of the candlesticks.”

Revelation 1:12-13 states:

“And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”

Then in verse twenty, Jesus Himself explains the vision.

Revelation 1:20 states:

“The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”

The “seven churches” symbolically represent the church throughout the seven periods of the Gospel Day.

In summary, from the study of types and antitypes it should be evident that the “Garden of Eden” as a shadow points to the spiritual reality being the church of God. It is also evident that the “tree of life” in the middle of the Garden of Eden as a type points to the antitype being Jesus Christ, who is in the midst of the church.

The Ground and the Trees

One of the main ingredients necessary for a fruitful garden is good ground.

Genesis 2:9 states:

“And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food;…”

The “good ground” as a type points to the “Parable of the Sower” and the fourth type of ground.

Luke 8:15 states:

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

The “good ground” which represents “honest and good” hearts will produce trees. Not literal trees but “trees of righteousness.”

Isaiah 61:3 states:

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

The trees as a type point to the redeemed, the born-again believers. The reality and antitype, the spiritual truth, is that the garden — a type of the church — is the place where God intends for those born again and new creatures in Christ to grow, flourish, and bring forth fruit.

While the literal garden was designed to nourish and sustain the physical man, Adam and Eve, the church of God is designed to nourish and sustain the spiritual man.

Jeremiah 3:15 states:

“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Jeremiah is foretelling the day of salvation, and the Gospel Day in the previous verse is a promise for restoration to “Zion,” a symbol that points to the church of God.

Paul’s final words to the elders of the church whom he met at Miletus before a journey to Jerusalem and ultimately Rome where he was martyred:

Acts 20:28 states:

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

To summarise, the language form of typology combined with the keys described in this Study Guide will unlock many hidden truths contained in the Old Testament to reveal spiritual reality and truth which is eternal.

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FURTHER EVIDENCE: THE GARDEN POINTS TO THE CHURCH

Further evidence that the Garden of Eden represents the Church of God can be found in what follows. As eager students, you should study this in more detail in your own time.

Who or What Remained in the Garden of Eden?

When Adam and Eve were forced out due to disobeying God and sinning, who or what remained in the Garden of Eden?

Genesis 3:24 states:

“So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

Adam and Eve as a “type” represent fallen man and a reminder that we cannot enjoy the presence of God with sin in our lives.

Ezekiel 18:4 states:

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

You must be born again, that is, spiritually alive, to be in and remain in the church of God.

The Tree of Life

As we have studied already, as a type, the tree of life points to the antitype, Jesus Christ.

The Flaming Sword

Although God drove man out of the garden, He did not leave man in a hopeless condition. In the midst of all the darkness surrounding men in that hour, God closed the scene with “Cherubims” and “a flaming sword.”

While it is true that when people succumb to sin, the god of this world blinds their minds and binds them in the “power of darkness,” there is hope if they are willing to turn and face the light and look to the “Sun of righteousness” who comes with restoration and healing.

Malachi 4:2 states:

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”

The flaming sword, singular as a type, points to the antitype, the Word of God. This is evident in both the book of Ephesians and Hebrews.

Ephesians 6:17 states:

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:”

Hebrews 4:12 states:

“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The flaming sword as a type represents the Word of God illuminating and revealing the way to “the tree of life,” representing Christ and salvation. To be saved and come to Christ, sinful humanity must turn away from darkness and embrace the light, accepting and living by the truth of God’s Word.

This symbol of the “flaming sword” highlights the importance of having an accurate picture by gathering the facts. While it is often thought that there are multiple swords in the hands of the cherubims, Genesis 3:24 does not say that.

The sword is singular because, as the Word of God, it also points to Jesus Christ, who declared Himself to be “the way” in John 14.

John 14:6 states:

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The phrase “to keep the way of the tree of life” does not depict the flaming sword blocking access to the tree of life. It is not about saying the way was shut, but that it was OPEN — to be a light and show the way to the tree of life and spiritual life. As David testified in the book of Psalms:

Psalm 119:105 states:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

In the Old Testament, those who trusted in Christ received imputed salvation through faith. Today, if people seek Christ and salvation, they must come through the Word. Man must pass through the “flaming sword” to reach the “tree of life.” James makes this plain:

James 1:18 states:

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

Even more clear are the words of Peter:

1 Peter 1:23 states:

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”

The way to Christ has never been closed. He is the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world. God’s will has always been that all be saved by coming to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 states:

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Cherubims

As a type, the “cherubims” represent the redeemed, also known as the “living ones.” Notice the number of cherubim is not given other than being plural, standing on the “good ground” before the “tree of life.” This draws us to the picture in the book of Revelation showing the redeemed of all ages before the throne of God.

Revelation 4:8-9 (LITV) states:

“And the four living creatures each one had six wings around, and within being full of eyes. And they had no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, the One who was, and is, and is coming! And whenever the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne, to the One living to the ages of the ages,”

The living creatures are the “living ones,” the redeemed of all ages, representing both the believers of the Old Testament age and the Gospel Day.

In Hebrew, the term “cherubims” comes from a root word meaning “brilliant appearance.” Ezekiel witnessed these living creatures in his vision in Ezekiel chapter 1, and it would be beneficial to read the entire chapter for context. They should be understood as God’s agents of light.

The cherubim signify God’s people, who are the “light of the world.”

Matthew 5:14 states:

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

It is through the witness and preaching of God’s people that the unsaved are pointed to Jesus, who is the “tree of life.”

The Serpent and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Without delving into specifics, the ongoing presence of the serpent, symbolising the devil and opposition, along with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, serves as a reminder that the Garden of Eden is not a portrayal of God’s Heaven. In a future module, we will cover Angels, Seraphim, and Cherubim in more depth.

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SUMMARY

Typology is a method of Bible interpretation where elements in the Old Testament prefigure those in the New Testament. The Old Testament element is called a type, and the New Testament element it foreshadows is called the antitype. Both Jesus and Paul used typology to convey spiritual truths through Old Testament examples.

Definition of Typology

Typology involves examining types in the Bible that point to and reveal spiritual truths. Types are Old Testament persons, things, or events that have deeper meanings, while antitypes are the New Testament realities they foreshadow. Unlike symbolism, which uses fictional imagery, typology is based on real historical events or figures.

Purpose of Typology

The purpose of typology is to:

• Illustrate how Old Testament events, persons, or things foreshadow New Testament spiritual realities.
• Demonstrate the fulfilment of prophecy.
• Enhance understanding of Scripture.
• Reveal Christ.
• Strengthen faith.
• Provide moral and spiritual lessons.

Key Rules of Typology

• Typology must involve real historical events or persons.
• Types must be divinely inspired and preordained by God.
• A type always resembles its antitype and serves both as a symbol and a prediction.
• The antitype is more glorious than the type and contains the same element of truth.
• Accessories to the type have no antitype meaning.

Examples of Typology

• Jesus and the Manna in the Wilderness: The manna that sustained the Israelites is a type, while Jesus as the “bread of life” is the antitype.
• Israel in the Wilderness: Paul uses the experiences of Israel as types to teach spiritual truths to New Testament believers.
• Jonah and Jesus: Jonah’s three days in the whale foreshadow Jesus’s three days in the grave.
• Garden of Eden and the Church: The Garden of Eden is a type that points to the church of God, with the tree of life symbolising Jesus Christ.

Typology, when properly applied, reveals deeper spiritual truths and the continuity of God’s redemptive plan throughout the Bible. It shows how Old Testament examples serve as foreshadows of New Testament realities, enriching the understanding of Scripture and illustrating the unity of God’s plan.

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SUBMISSION TO COGMA FOR APPRAISAL

Instructions