Genesis Segment 1

The Red Thread  

The greatest reason for studying the Old Testament is to see him, the living Word, Christ, the subject of the written Word from Genesis 3:15 to Revelation 22:21. He is found everywhere in God’s Word. 

He is the great design of the whole Word, like a red thread that binds together the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. 

We cannot separate Christ from the written Word. The Scriptures are all about him; who then leads us to the Father.  

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 

Declare is the Greek word hegeomai, [1834] meaning to make known, to reveal, expound. Jesus Christ makes known the Father. He reveals the Father.  

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Christ is the one great subject of the whole Word of God. Apart from him the Word of God cannot be understood because he is the master key of the Word that unlocks it by opening our understanding of it. 

Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Christ is the truth. He is the key that unlocks the truth of the Word that we might believe and have understanding.  

The Scriptures are the word of truth. They are the truth. But we only have the true Word, or a true understanding of the Word when we carry out the one great requirement given in II Timothy 2:15, rightly divide the Word of God. 

There are many keys to the Scripture’s understanding, but the master key that unlocks the truth of the Word and provides us with an understanding of the true Word is Christ. 

Everything in the Word of God is subordinate to, in subjection to, the coming one, the Lord Jesus Christ. He makes the written Word shine with the glory of the divine presence of God by opening our understanding of the Scriptures and the Father. 

The love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation believes all the truth, thus it looks for him everywhere in God’s Word.  

We see him first in Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

What is the seed of the women? 

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

The “seed of the woman” in Genesis 3:15, later referred to as the “seed of Abraham” is Christ. 

Genesis 3:15 sets forth the central theme of all the Scriptures, the red thread of the redeemer, which is interwoven throughout the Old and New Testaments.  

We can read passage after passage in the Old Testament that in some way foreshadows the coming saviour. 

God used the temple, the Law, the offerings, among other things to illustrate and to prepare His people for the Messiah’s, Christ’s coming. Even historical events in the Word of God are recorded in a way that illustrates the coming of Jesus Christ and his work. 

However, we must be careful not to go overboard looking for Jesus Christ in the Word of God. To avoid misapplying a scripture’s meaning, we first must understand the literal meaning of a passage from the scripture, then the proper relationship to Jesus Christ can be understood. For example: 

Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

This is a reference to Israel, the nation God had adopted as His son, and how He delivered them out of the bondage of Egypt. This literal truth in Hosea 11:1, is also a prophesy about Jesus Christ.  

Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child [Jesus] to destroy him.  
 

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:  

15  And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.  

The literal truth in Hosea must first be understood before the prophetic truth regarding Jesus Christ can be understood.

Many times prophecies fulfillment aren’t very clear until the time of the fulfillment draws closer and closer.  

Handout: The Red Thread 

I would like to give you many places throughout the Scriptures where we see Christ along with scripture references for consideration and further study. 

In Genesis, he is the promise seed of the woman. Genesis 3:15.

In Exodus, he is the Passover lamb. Exodus 12. Also the true priest and the tabernacle.

In Leviticus, he is the high priest. Leviticus 21:10-15 He is also the offerings.

In Numbers, he is the star to rise out of Jacob. Numbers 24:17-19. Also the manna. Numbers 11:6,7,9. And the rock. Numbers 20:8-11.

In Deuteronomy, he is the two laws; love God and love your neighbor. Also the true prophet. Deuteronomy 18:15,18.

In Joshua, he is the captain of the Lord of hosts. Joshua 5:13-15.

In Judges, he is the covenant angel named wonderful, or the covenant protector. Judges 13:1-24.

In Ruth, he is the kinsman redeemer.

In Samuel, he is the root and the offspring of David. Please compare Revelation 12:6 and the       books of Samuel.

In Kings, he is the greater than the temple. Please compare Matthew 22:16 and the books of Kings.

In Chronicles, he is the king’s son. II Chronicles 22:10-23:3.

In Ezra, Nehemiah, he is the rebuilder.

In Esther, he is the saviour of God’s people.

In Job, he is the daysman. Job 9:33.

In Psalms, he is the song.

In Proverbs, he is the wisdom of God.

In Ecclesiastes, he is the one among a thousand. Ecclesiastes 7:28.

In Song of Solomon, he is the bridegroom of the bride.

In Isaiah, he is Jacob’s branch. Isaiah 11:1.

In Jeremiah, he is our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6.

In Lamentations, he is the unbeliever’s judgment.

In Ezekiel, he is the true shepherd. Ezekiel 34:23.

In Daniel, he is the stone that became the head of the corner. Daniel 2:34. 

In Hosea, he is the latter rain. Hosea 6:3. Also what we looked at already in Hosea 11:1. He is God’s son that was called out of Egypt.

In Joel, he is God’s dwelling in Zion. Joel 3:17-21.

In Amos, he is the raiser of David’s tabernacle. Amos 9:11.

In Obadiah, he is the deliverer on Mt. Zion. Obadiah 17.

In Jonah, he is our salvation. Jonah 2:9.

In Micah, he is the Lord of Kings. Micah 2:13.

In Nahum, he is the stronghold in the time of trouble. Nahum 1:7.

In Habakkuk, he is our joy and confidence. Habakkuk 3:18,19.

In Zephaniah, he is our mighty Lord. Zephaniah 3:17.

In Haggai, he is the desire of the nations. Haggai 2:7.

In Zechariah, he is our servant, the branch. Zechariah 3:8.

In Malachi, he is the sun of righteousness. Malachi 4:2. 

This is Christ and when we look, we see we find him everywhere in the Word of God.  

Christ is the gotra, the red thread, you find him everywhere throughout the Word. 

Footnote: Gotra is a term from the Hindi Sanskrit that was used for a protected blood line, or a protected blood line seed or lineage in Hinduism among the Indians. This protected seed, this protected lineage was called a gotra. Christ is the protected lineage, the gotra from Genesis to Revelation. 

This red thread that binds together the whole Word is Christ, the promised seed, the redeemer. The one who shed his blood, gave his life to redeem you and me. He’s the protected lineage, the gotra from Genesis through Revelation. 

In Matthew, he is Jehovah’s Messiah. Also the king.

In Mark, he is Jehovah’s servant.

In Luke, he is Jehovah’s man.

In John, he is Jehovah’s son.

In Acts, he is the gift of holy spirit.

In Romans, he is the believer’s justification.

In Corinthians, he is the believer’s sanctification.

In Galatians, he is the believer’s righteousness.

In Ephesians, he is the believer’s heavenly standing.

In Philippians, he is the believer’s self adequacy.

In Colossians, he is the believer’s completeness. Completely complete completeness.

In Thessalonians, he is the believer’s soon glorification.

In Timothy, he is the faithful men. II Timothy 2:2.

In Titus, he is the fellow laborer.

In Philemon, he is the love of a believer.

In Hebrews, he is the high priest for sin.

In James, he is the royal law. James 2:8.

In Peter, he is the pastor. 

In John, he is as we are. I John 4:17.

In Jude, he is the beloved.

In Revelation, he is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16. 

He is the doom of the adversary, as promised in Genesis 3:15 and accomplished in Revelation 20:10.  

He is the no night of Revelation 22:5, of which Genesis 1:1 is night.  

He is the light of Revelation 21:13, of which Genesis 1:16 and 17 is the sun and moon.  

He is the no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying of Revelation 21:4, of which Genesis 3:16 and 17 is sorrow, suffering and death.  

He is the no more curse of Revelation 22:3, of which Genesis 3:17 is the curse.  

He is the welcome home to paradise of Revelation 22:2, of which Genesis 3:22-24 is the banishment of paradise. 

Who is this Jesus Christ? He is Abel’s sacrifice, Genesis 4:4, Abraham’s ram, Genesis 22:13. 

He is Isaac’s well, Genesis 26:25. He is Jacob’s ladder, Genesis 28:12. He is Judah’s scepter, Genesis 49:10. Moses’ rod, Exodus 4:20. Joshua’s rams horn, Joshua 6:4-13. 

Samuel’s horn of oil, I Samuel 16:13. David’s slingshot, I Samuel 17:40,50. Hezekiah’s sundial, Isaiah 38:8. Elijah’s mantle I Kings 19:13-19, II Kings 2:8-14. Elisha’s staff, II Kings 4:29.  

Who is this Jesus Christ? He is Job’s prayer, Job 16:17. Isaiah’s fig tree, Isaiah 34:4. He is Ezekiel’s wheel. 

In Daniel 6:10 he is Daniel’s Jerusalem window. In Jonah 1:17 Jonah’s great fish. Malachi’s storehouse, Malachi 3:10. 

In Acts 5:15, he’s Peter’s shadow Acts 19:12 Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons.  

He is the lily of the valley and the rose of Sharon in life’s deserts. Song of Solomon 2:1. 

He is the pearl of great price. Matthew 13:46. He is the rock for pilgrims in a weary land. Isaiah 32:2.  

He is the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6. He is the chief corner stone. Ephesians 2:20. 

Christ is the believer’s redemption. He is the believer’s knowledge. He is the believer’s wisdom.

The Christian believer’s all in all in all.   

In Revelation 22:16 he is the bright and morning star and he is our Lord and our Savior.  

He is the subject of the whole Word from Genesis 3:15 to Revelation 22:21. He is the key to understanding the whole Word. He is the one who makes known the God of truth. 

[More information STS 904 The Red Thread,  TSF 21 Love Believes All Things, Who is That Fourth Man by Oral Roberts, and EWB book on How to Enjoy the Bible chapter 2.] 

So why study the Old Testament? 
1. To see him, Jesus Christ, the subject of the whole Word who leads us to God.

2. That we might have hope.

3. To receive instruction in right teaching for right living.