Christian
Churches of God
No.
142z
Summary:
The
Fall of Jericho
(Edition 2.0
19951109-20000710)
This paper deals with the prophetic implications of the fall of Jericho and explains how the sequence of the seven seals; and seven trumpets, with the seven vials of the wrath of God are prefigured in the story of Jericho. The significance of the story of Rahab is shown to prefigure the conversion of the Gentiles and points to Messiah as ruler of the nations.
Christian Churches of God
E-mail: secretary@ccg.org
(Copyright ã 1995, 2000 Wade Cox)
(Summary ed. by Wade Cox)
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The Fall of Jericho
The Book of Joshua deals with the establishment of Israel as a nation in its own land. There are parallels with the Book of Revelation, the restoration of the last days, and the fall of Jericho.
Joshua 1:1 shows Moses as a servant of The Lord. Christ was a son of The Lord. Joshua was Moses’ minister and Christ was the minister of God.
Moses was mourned for thirty days before the Israelites entered the promised land, which was allocated by God from the Euphrates river over to the west sea and down to Egypt. This is not talking of the boundaries of modern Israel (Jos.1:4).
God promised Joshua unfailing care and strength. This is a continuous promise to the commanders of Israel, dependent on their obedience to God’s laws (Jos.1:5-7). Keep the law and we will be successful. Failure is the result of abandoning the law, and this is all laid out in Deuteronomy 28 - the blessings and the curses. Whenever Israel’s leaders disobeyed, the nation was entrained upon by others. Be aware of the continuing misfortunes of the UK, USA and Australia since WW2, economically, socially, the loss of empire, the huge national debt and the tolerance of evil that passes for righteousness. Success is no longer assured (Jos. 1:8-9). God commands Joshua to be strong and of good courage while helping him. Joshua was an Ephraimite and it is required of Ephraim to be strong. The elect of God exist in the nation of Israel and must pray for our nation. If the people feared God and kept His Law they would succeed.
Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh inherited land outside the boundary of Israel (Jos. 1:10-15; Num. 32). The concept is that the land east of the Jordan River is also part of the inheritance of Israel, and these tribes will be given their rest prior to the rest for the remainder of Israel under Messiah. This securing of the land occurs before the salvation of Judah (Zec.12:1 ff). This means these tribes provide men for Messiah’s army in the establishment of the Kingdom in Jerusalem. As to the extent of the lands, it is speculative, but the promise is given.
Obedience to a national leader is paramount, insofar as the leader is obeying God’s laws, and is His instrument (Jos. 1:16-18). Thus we follow Christ, who is completely obedient to the Father (Phil. 2:8). Joshua sends spies to view the land west of the Jordan, especially Jericho (Jos. 2:1). The name Jericho means Moon City. The moon as a male figure was the centre of worship throughout the Middle East.
The concept of sending two men to Jericho fulfils the law of having evidence from the mouths of two witnesses (Jos. 2:2-5). Also in Revelation 11, we have two witnesses that preach to the world and have the power of God. Rahab was a gentile harlot and Christ is a direct lineal descendent (see the paper Genealogy of the Messiah (No. 119)). Rahab was given the opportunity to be part of God’s system. She was prepared to protect the servants of God, despite any eventuality of redress from her own Lord. This is the requirement of us as well, to protect and extend salvation to others through understanding.
Rahab understood that Israel was to take over the land and she asked a covenant with the men (Jos. 2:6-14). We extend this covenant to the Gentiles. The parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 deals with those who have acted kindly to the elect, so that the nations understand they are judged by the way they treat God’s people.
The scarlet cord, which was to mark Rahab’s establishment on the day of invasion was symbolic of the blood smeared on the doors of the Israelites homes on the night of the Passover (Jos. 2:15-19). The injunction was to remain indoors with the household, and salvation is thus extended to the Gentiles who will be brought into Israel and protected under the blood of the old covenant and the saving grace of Christ in the new covenant.
Rahab promises to keep the faith with the contract and the men departed to the hills hiding for three days (Jos. 2:20-23). The concept is of Christ in the grave for three days and three nights and the witnesses lying dead in the streets of Jerusalem in the last days. The further activities show the ark, which represents the power of God, which will go forward to subdue the world at the return of Christ.
The crossing through the banked up waters of the Jordan represents the baptism of Israel (Jos. 3:5-13). The first waters brought Israel from Egypt into the wilderness for forty years and this represented the 2000 years of the church in the world since Christ’s first advent. The second waters brought Israel into the promised land, and this is symbolic of Christ’s second coming, when spiritual Israel is proclaimed. It is to be noted that Elijah and Elisha also performed the separation of the waters of the Jordan (2Kgs. 2:8-10).
The Jordan was in flood at time of harvest (Jos. 3:14-15) symbolising the adversity and tribulation covering the harvest of the church at Christ’s return (Jos. 3:16-17). The priesthood’s responsibility was to protect the nation, and prepare the nation to take up its inheritance. How can this act happen under the false system of mainstream Christianity, whose priests don’t know God’s true plan of salvation?
Twelve stones are chosen, as were the twelve apostles who became judges, thus twenty-four, which constitutes the elders with Christ around the throne of God (Jos. 4:1-8; Rev. 4:1-4). Another twelve stones were placed in the Jordan (Jos. 4:9). The DSS and other Judaic writers consider these stones to symbolise 12 stars of the fallen host, which would not enter the kingdom in the restoration. The priests did their job and all Israel passed over into the Promised Land (Jos. 4:10). The priests must not fail or some of God’s elect will fail. The tenth day of the first month is when Israel crossed over (Jos. 4:11-24). The Passover lamb is also set-aside on this day and Messiah entered Jerusalem triumphantly. Joshua sets up the 12 stones at Gilgal, which means to roll away, and Christ (Yehoshua), rolled away the sins of the world.
All Israelite men were circumcised (Jos. 5:1-8). They symbolised the last generation before the restoration, and God as the flint will spiritually circumcise the hearts of all who enter the kingdom in the end time. The reproach of 2000 years of horrors and disobedience will be rolled away with Christ’s return (Jos. 5:9). The people ate the fruit of the promised-land, after 40 years of sustenance supplied by God in the form of manna (Jos. 5:10-12). God’s people have been fed with God’s word for the last 2000 years in the wilderness. When Christ restores the planet under His Father’s laws, we will all eat the fruit of the millennial system. Joshua recognises Jesus Christ as the captain of the army of the Lord. He was also the presence of God and thus God by delegation, so Joshua falls down before Him (Jos. 5:13-15).
These circumambulations of Jericho relate to the seals, trumpets and vials of the wrath of God in Revelation, and the great shout of the archangel when Christ comes to take over the world and brings down the fortresses of Satan (Jos. 6:1-5).
The seven priests bearing seven trumpets are symbolic of the seven angels of the seven church eras, which draw God’s people out and prepare them for the coming millennium (Jos. 6:6-7). The Assyrians (i.e. the northern powers and the Babylonian systems of the last days) are destroyed. Jacob’s false systems are also destroyed, nothing of the present world’s governments will be taken into Christ’s millennial rule (Mic. 5:5-14).
Originally the Ark of the Covenant contained Aaron’s rod, signifying the authority of the priesthood, the manna, and the tablets of the law. The ark went before Israel to signify we followed God’s law for the 40 years in the wilderness, i.e. the forty jubilees or 2000 years since Christ’s first advent (Jos. 6:8-9). His people have always followed God’s laws.
The mysteries of God were concealed from mankind until the end time when God has revealed them to the church and the host. There is a change in the order of the Ark. At this stage it is protected, forward and rear, meaning the law of God is under the guardianship and protection of the elect and not removed from the concepts of the church and nation (Jos. 6:10-14). Any church that abrogates this responsibility is no longer of God but a false religion.
The seventh trumpet and the shout herald the destruction under the vials of the wrath of God Almighty (Jos. 6:15-17). All metallic artefacts of value are taken and used in the service of God (Jos. 6:18-19). Similarly, all metals of the weapons used in the war at Armageddon will be broken down, providing resources for Israel in the establishment of the kingdom.
Destruction of the world’s system is complete, and only those who can be used to develop the new system are saved (Jos. 6:20-21). Rahab’s house, built in the wall around Jericho was saved intact which was a miracle of God (Jos. 6:22). The concept of a ‘place of safety’ is wherever God puts His hand on us, even in the face of utter destruction all around. Our bread and water are sure (Isa. 33:16), until Messiah puts His feet on the Mount of Olives and we shall be with Him. There has been no peace for Jericho. Any peace treaty will fail (Jos. 6:23-27). Achan broke faith with the command given, to leave any booty of the destruction alone. He was a Jew and this is symbolic of Judah’s perversion of the laws of God (Jos. 7:1). But Judah will be saved in the last days so none can boast against it.
Men were sent to spy out the land around (Jos. 7:2). In the restoration and the millennium we will go out and bring people to right understanding, nation by nation, and the world will be occupied in peace for the 1000 years under Christ’s government, based on the laws of God.
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