Genesis
Declaring the End from the BeginningBy Pastor F. M. Riley
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me.
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.”Isaiah 46:9-10
Introduction
Over the years I have studied the Book of Genesis many times. Each time I studied through this book, the Lord graciously showed me truths that I had missed in previous studies. How inexhaustible is the wonderful Word of God! In studying through Genesis again recently, the Lord graciously showed me a truth that thrilled my heart, and which I knew was meant to be shared with God’s people. This study is my attempt to share this wonderful truth the Lord graciously showed to me. I hope every reader will be as blessed with this knowledge as I have been. Study this carefully, and enjoy!
GENESIS
Genesis is the “book of beginnings,” exactly as the name implies. Genesis lays the “foundation” for every book in the Bible. By this I mean that every truth stated or taught in all of God’s Word is first found in “seed” form in the Book of Genesis. This includes the truth stated in our text; Isaiah 46:9-10. It is literal truth that the Lord has “declared the end from the beginning.” By God’s grace I want to demonstrate this wonderful truth for our readers…..GENESIS 1 – 11
The first 11 chapters of Genesis deal with the whole human race, from the creation of Adam and Eve in innocence in the Garden of Eden until mankind was scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth by the righteous judgment of God, Genesis 11:9. These 11 chapters verify the literal truth of Ecclesiastes 7:29, “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” In these first 11 chapters of Genesis, it is obvious that man’s “technological advances” caused fallen men to turn away from the Lord, just as they have done throughout human history.
It is significant that “eleven” is the Bible number associated with judgment throughout God’s Word. What began in innocence ended in judgment.
The parallel between these 11 chapters recording “the beginning” is also amazing when compared with those chapters in God’s Word that record the seven year Tribulation which occurs at “the end” of this age, Revelation 6 - 16. There are exactly 11 chapters that deal with God’s judgment upon all of humanity left upon the earth (including Israel) during the coming seven year Tribulation. Coincidence?
GENESIS 12-23
What followed the scattering of the nations in Genesis 11? The call of Abraham to be the father of the Hebrew people, the race whom God would choose for Himself to reveal His glory to all the other nations of the earth.
These next 12 chapters record the life and times of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, who was the father of Jacob, who was the father of the 12 sons from whom came the 12 tribes of Israel. These 12 chapters correspond with the 12 tribes of Israel, and typically represent the Dispensation of Law under which the 12 tribes lived for nearly 2,000 years.
Study these 12 chapters carefully and you will be able to find point after point set forth in type that corresponds with God’s dealings with Israel and the nations around them during the Dispensation of Law.GENESIS 24 – 28
What follows the Dispensation of Law in God’s great plan of the ages? The Dispensation of Grace!
These next five chapters record the life and times of Isaac. Isaac was definitely a type of Christ, as clearly set forth in chapter 22. Read John 1:17. Isaac, being a child of promise, also typifies those saved during this present Dispensation of Grace. Isaac is set forth as being typical of the grace of God by the inspired Apostle in Romans 9, Galatians 4, and Hebrews 11.
Since Isaac is clearly used as type of GRACE in the New Testament, these five chapters dealing with Isaac are typical of the Dispensation of Grace. Significantly, five is the Bible number for “grace.” There are five chapters dealing with Isaac, a type of God’s grace, and five is the Bible number for GRACE.
Carefully study these five chapters and you will find point after point that typifies God’s dealings with Israel and with the whole human race during this present Dispensation of Grace.GENESIS 29 – 35
What follows the Dispensation of Grace in God’s great plan of the ages? The seven year Tribulation period! Significantly, seven is the Bible number for completion.
These next seven chapters deal with the life and times of Jacob, who was the father of the 12 tribes who are repeatedly referred to throughout God’s Word as “the seed of Jacob” and “the sons of Jacob.” These seven chapters record Jacobs flight into a Gentile nation, and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” while he was in that Gentile country serving a heartless, greedy Gentile master. These chapters also record Jacob’s return from that Gentile land back to his own land where he wrestled with the Lord during a long dark night, ultimately coming to a saving knowledge of the Lord, so that the “God of his fathers” finally became “the God of Jacob.” Glory!
In chapter 33 Jacob had a brief reconciliation with Esau, who had intermarried with the Ishmaelites, 28:8-9. In chapter 34 Dinah is raped [a type of Jerusalem..?], and in the taking of vengeance, Jacob and his family becomes a “stink among the inhabitants of the land,” 34:30. Didn’t the Lord say that Israel would be hated of all nations? You know He did! Then in chapter 35 Jacob and his family returns to Bethel [the house of God; the law?], typifying a return of the Jewish people back to the God of Abraham, Genesis 12:5-8. Rachel dies bringing Jacob’s last son to birth, then Jacob and his family travel to Hebron [rest; fellowship]where Isaac [the type of grace] passes from the scene.
If you are a true believer, and you can’t see the types of Israel during the coming seven year Tribulation in these seven chapters dealing with Jacob, you either aren’t really looking or else you know nothing about studying the types and shadows of the Bible.GENESIS 36
What occurs towards the end of the coming Tribulation in God’s great plan of the ages? The enemies of Israel and of God and His people are destroyed. Who are these enemies?
This chapter is dealing with Esau, the enemy of Jacob and of God, Malachi 1:1-4. I remind our readers again that Esau intermarried with the Ishmaelites, making his descendants related to many [or all…?] of the Arab Muslim nations in the Middle East today. And all of these nations today hate Israel. Coincidence? Not hardly!
It is also not just coincidence that God so superintended and arranged the translation of the KJV English Bible that the enemy of Jacob is set forth in this exact chapter. Number 36 is the Bible number for “enemy.” Add up all the numbers from 1 through 36 and they will total 666. Check it out for yourself.GENESIS 37-50
What finally happens to Israel at the end of the coming Tribulation? The remnant of Israel comes to reconciliation with and a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
These fourteen chapters are all about Joseph, one of the most vivid types of Christ in the entire Word of God. These chapters tell us how Joseph was hated and betrayed by his brethren, just as Christ was. They tell us about Joseph being taken into a Gentile country and becoming a great man in that Gentile land, even as Christ was rejected by His own Jewish brethren and yet became a great man among the Gentiles. Read Malachi 1:11; Isaiah 60:3, and many other similar passages.
These chapters also tell us how that Joseph predicted the coming of seven “good years” upon the earth to be followed by seven years of “famine and evil,” just as the Lord during His personal ministry predicted that this present age would end with great prosperity followed by seven years of “famine and evil.” But folks, keep in mind that Joseph gathered in all the “corn” of the field before the seven evil years began. Read Matthew 13:30 and John 12:24 and rejoice. The ingathering of the “corn,” typifying the rapture of God’s people, is right at hand.
These chapters also tell us how that Joseph and his brethren finally looked upon one another face to face, and came to reconciliation, even as Christ and His Jewish brethren are going to look up one another face to face. Read Ezekiel 20:33-38, noticing especially verse 35. Also notice Zechariah 13:6 and 12:9-14.
These fourteen chapters end with Joseph taking an oath of his brothers to carry his bones into the promised land, even as Christ told the leaders of the Jews that they would see His face no more until they cried out, “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord, Matthew 23:39. That oath typifies the redeemed Jewish remnant going with Christ into the promised Kingdom. Glory!
If you are a student of Bible numbers then you know that fourteen is the Bible number for “salvation and deliverance.” These fourteen chapters give us a prophetic picture of Israels future salvation and deliverance through reconciliation and salvation with the Lord Jesus Christ, their Jewish Messiah that they betrayed and crucified so long ago.
It is also significant that Genesis contains exactly 50 chapters, and fifty is the Bible number for the Great Jubilee. The Great Jubilee is typical of the coming Millennial Kingdom when all of redeemed humanity shall be set free from sin and fear and death, and enter the glorious eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Daniel 2:44. Glory to God! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!Conclusion
There it is folks! Our great and gracious God, in type and shadow, declared the end from the beginning in The Book of Genesis, laying out His whole plan of the ages in the first book in the Bible. There is no one else in Heaven or in earth who could write such a book and use men and nations to perform such a thing. Give praise to our God!
If you are a true believer, then lift up your heart and voice to God and give Him praise and honor and glory. He is the Almighty God, and beside Him there is no other god. Let the earth be filled with His praise and His glory.
But if you are not a child of God, then let the Lord be pleased to use this study to help open your spiritual eyes and move you to call upon the Lord for forgiveness of sin and salvation for your soul before it is too late. Friend, time is running out and your opportunity to receive Christ may soon be gone. God’s Word says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…..,” Acts 16:31. And the Lord Himself said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life,” John 5:24. Friend, will you believe God’s Word today. Will you humble your own heart before God and men and call upon the Lord for the salvation of your soul? Will you do that right now? Right where you are at? I’ll be praying that you will, for I want to meet you in glory when our Lord comes for His people. I care! If you need spiritual help, please contact me. I’ll do everything I know how to help you find salvation and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God bless every reader is my prayer.<<<<<<< 0 >>>>>>>
NOTICE: Permission is granted, and I urge every true believer and Christian ministry, to make copies of this study to share with others. Feel free to forward this study, copy it, or quote from it in context as written.
This ministry is supported solely by the freewill offerings of those readers who feel led of the Lord to help us send forth God’s wonderful Word. Please address all comments, questions, or other correspondence to:
Last Call Gospel Ministry
Pastor F. M. Riley
3900 Clark Lane Lot 178
Columbia, Missouri 65202
We can be contacted by email at:
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