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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.—1 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 “living bread which came down from heaven,” namely Jesus, who gave his flesh “for 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 “spiritual 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, “with many of them God was not well pleased” and “they were overthrown in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:5). “These 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: “Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them … these things happened unto them for ensamples … written for our admonition … 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: “The 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. “The 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 “conscience,” 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:
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, “Behold, the Bridegroom!” The “top 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 “mountain” 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 “cloud 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. |