The Pattern of Suffering and Glory

Before we dive into the Old Testament books, we need to understand the lens through which Jesus Himself read Scripture.

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were devastated, confused about His death. And Jesus did something remarkable:

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

Then He told them the key:

“Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke 24:26).

This is the pattern Jesus used to read the Old Testament:

→ Suffering/Death (or emblems of death) 

→ Burial (going down, being hidden, imprisonment) 

→ Resurrection (deliverance, being lifted up, restoration on the third day) 

→ Glory (exaltation, vindication, enthronement)

Dr. Warren Gage explains: “The whole theme of the Old Testament was the suffering of Christ, namely the cross and burial, and then the glory that would follow, which is the resurrection and the ascension. That together constitutes the gospel.”

This is crucial to understand: When we read the Old Testament, we’re not imposing meanings that aren’t there. We’re following the method Jesus Himself taught His disciples.

Jesus said the Scriptures “testify about me” (John 5:39). He told the Emmaus disciples that “everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44).

So as we walk through the Old Testament, we’ll be looking for this pattern—not because we’re reading things into the text, but because Jesus told us it’s there.

And here’s something remarkable: Throughout the Old Testament, God establishes a specific signature—a pattern that appears again and again, pointing to the ultimate deliverance that would come through Jesus.

That signature is the third day.

Before we walk through the Old Testament, we need to establish something crucial: Who is the Jesus that all these prophecies, types, and patterns point to?

This isn’t a minor detail. It’s the foundation of everything.

Shincheonji teaches that Jesus was a man—a special man, chosen by God, who fulfilled his mission and then passed the role to Lee Man-hee. In their system, Jesus is not God Himself, but a human mediator for his era, just as Lee Man-hee is supposedly the mediator for our era.

But this is not what the Bible teaches.

The Bible is crystal clear: Jesus is not merely a man chosen by God. Jesus IS God who became man.


The Old Testament Declares That the Coming Messiah Would Be God Himself

→ Isaiah 9:6 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” A child born… yet called “Mighty God.” Not “a mighty prophet.” Not “a man filled with God’s spirit.” Mighty God. 

→ Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Immanuel means “God with us.” Not “a man sent by God.” God with us. 

→ Jeremiah 23:5-6 – “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’” The coming King from David’s line will be called “The LORD“—Yahweh, the covenant name of God Himself. 

→ Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” The Messiah’s origins are “from ancient times“—He is eternal, not a created being.

The New Testament Confirms: Jesus Is God

→ John 1:1, 14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Not “the Word was like God” or “the Word represented God.” The Word WAS God. And that Word became flesh—Jesus. 

→ John 20:28 – When Thomas saw the risen Jesus, he declared, “My Lord and my God!” And Jesus accepted this worship.

 → Colossians 1:15-17 – “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” 

Jesus is not a created being. He is the Creator. Everything was created through Him and for Him. 

→ Colossians 2:9 – “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” Not part of God’s spirit. Not a representative of God. All the fullness of the Deity—everything that makes God, God—lives in Jesus bodily. 

→ Hebrews 1:3 – “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Jesus is not approximately like God. He is the exact representation of God’s being. 

→ Hebrews 1:8 – But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.” God the Father calls the Son “God.” 

→ Titus 2:13 – “While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Jesus is “our great God and Savior“—not two separate beings, but one. 

→ Philippians 2:5-6 – “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.” 

Jesus is “in very nature God.” This is His essential being, not a role He was given. 

→ 1 John 5:20 – “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” 

Jesus is “the true God and eternal life.”

Jesus Claimed Equality with God

→ John 10:30 – “I and the Father are one.” The Jews understood this as a claim to deity and tried to stone Him: “We are not stoning you for any good work… but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33). 

→ John 8:58 – “Very truly I tell you… before Abraham was born, I am!” Jesus used the divine name “I AM“—the same name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). The Jews understood He was claiming to be Yahweh, and they tried to stone Him (John 8:59). 

→ John 14:9 – “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus didn’t say, “I represent the Father” or “I’m similar to the Father.” He said seeing Him IS seeing the Father.

Jesus Has Attributes Only God Has

→ Eternal: “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1). Jesus existed before creation—He is eternal. 

→ Creator: “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3). Jesus created everything. 

→ Omnipresent: “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Jesus can be present everywhere simultaneously. 

→ Omniscient: “Jesus knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person” (John 2:24-25). Jesus knows all things. 

→ Forgives sins: When Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5), the religious leaders correctly understood that only God can forgive sins (Mark 2:7). Jesus forgave sins—proving He is God. 

→ Receives worship: Angels worship Him (Hebrews 1:6). The disciples worshiped Him (Matthew 28:9, 17). If Jesus were merely a man, He would have refused worship, as Peter did (Acts 10:25-26) and angels did (Revelation 22:8-9). But Jesus accepted worship—because He is God.

Why This Matters

If Jesus is merely a man—even a specially chosen man—then:

→ He could be replaced by another man → His work could be incomplete, needing someone else to finish it → He could be one mediator among many in different eras → Shincheonji’s system could make sense

But if Jesus IS God incarnate—God Himself in human flesh—then:

→ He cannot be replaced. You cannot replace God. 

→ His work is complete. God’s work doesn’t need supplementing. 

→ He is the final revelation. God cannot reveal Himself more fully than by becoming human. 

→ He is the only mediator. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus is the God-man—fully God and fully man—the only possible bridge between God and humanity. 

→ No human can take His place. Lee Man-hee is a man. Jesus is God. There is no comparison.

This is why the incarnation—God becoming man—is the central miracle of Christianity.

This is why Jesus said, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)—using God’s covenant name from Exodus 3:14.

This is why the Jews tried to stone Him for blasphemy—because they understood He was claiming to be God (John 10:33).

This is why we worship Jesus—because He is God, and only God deserves worship.

As we walk through the Old Testament, remember: Every prophecy, every type, every shadow is pointing not to a mere man, but to God Himself coming to rescue His people.

The scarlet thread running through Scripture is not the blood of a good man. It’s the blood of God incarnate, shed for the sins of the world.

This changes everything.

Why Prophecy Matters

There’s something remarkable about the Old Testament prophecies pointing to Jesus: They were written hundreds, even thousands of years before Jesus was born.

Think about that.

→ Isaiah prophesied about the virgin birth 700 years before Jesus.

 → Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem 700 years before Jesus. 

→ David wrote Psalm 22 describing crucifixion in detail 1,000 years before Jesus—and 700 years before crucifixion was even invented as a method of execution. 

→ Daniel prophesied the exact timing of the Messiah’s coming 500 years before Jesus.

This is not coincidence. This is not lucky guessing. This is divine orchestration.

And Jesus Himself explained why God does this:

“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am” (John 13:19).

“I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe” (John 14:29).

God tells us in advance so that when it happens, we will know it’s Him. Only God can promise something centuries in advance and then fulfill it with precision.

This is how God gives Jesus the credentials of deity.

The Mathematical Impossibility of Coincidence

Peter Stoner, a mathematician and astronomer, calculated the probability of just 8 Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled by one person by chance. The odds? 1 in 1017 (1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000).

To illustrate: That’s like covering the entire state of Texas with silver dollars two feet deep, marking one coin, mixing them all up, and having a blindfolded person pick the marked coin on the first try.

And that’s just 8 prophecies. Jesus fulfilled over 300 specific prophecies from the Old Testament.

The odds of 48 prophecies being fulfilled by one person? 1 in 10157.

That’s a number so large it’s beyond human comprehension. There aren’t even that many atoms in the entire universe.

This is impossible unless God orchestrated it.

Some of the Prophecies Jesus Fulfilled

Prophecies About His Birth:

• Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) → Matthew 1:22-23
• Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) → Matthew 2:1
• Called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1) → Matthew 2:15
• From the line of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Jeremiah 23:5) → Matthew 1:1; Luke 3:23-31
• Born at a specific time (Daniel 9:25-26) → Galatians 4:4

Prophecies About His Ministry:

• Preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1) → Matthew 3:1-3
• Would perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6) → Matthew 11:4-5
• Would speak in parables (Psalm 78:2) → Matthew 13:34-35
• Would be rejected by His own people (Isaiah 53:3) → John 1:11
• Would enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) → Matthew 21:4-5

Prophecies About His Death:

• Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9) → Matthew 26:47-50
• Sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12) → Matthew 26:15
• The silver thrown in the temple and used to buy a potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13) → Matthew 27:5-7
• Silent before accusers (Isaiah 53:7) → Matthew 27:12-14
• Struck and spit upon (Isaiah 50:6) → Matthew 26:67
• Hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16) → John 20:25-27
• Crucified with criminals (Isaiah 53:12) → Matthew 27:38
• Prayed for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12) → Luke 23:34
• People gambled for His clothing (Psalm 22:18) → John 19:23-24
• No bones broken (Psalm 34:20; Exodus 12:46) → John 19:33-36
• Side pierced (Zechariah 12:10) → John 19:34
• Buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9) → Matthew 27:57-60
• Would cry out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1) → Matthew 27:46

Prophecies About His Resurrection:

• Would rise from the dead (Psalm 16:10) → Acts 2:31
• Would ascend to heaven (Psalm 68:18) → Acts 1:9
• Would sit at God’s right hand (Psalm 110:1) → Hebrews 1:3

These Prophecies Couldn’t Be Manipulated or Staged

Jesus couldn’t control:

• Where He was born
• When He was born
• His ancestry
• That a virgin would conceive Him
• That Herod would kill the babies in Bethlehem, forcing His family to flee to Egypt
• That He would be betrayed for exactly 30 pieces of silver
• That the soldiers would gamble for His clothing
• That they wouldn’t break His bones
• That a soldier would pierce His side
• That He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb

These details were beyond human control. They could only be orchestrated by God.

This is why prophecy is so powerful. It’s God’s signature on Jesus’ identity.

The Witnesses to Jesus’ Identity

When Jesus began His ministry, He had witnesses testifying to His identity:

→ John the Baptist testified: “I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One” (John 1:34).

 → God the Father testified from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). 

→ The Holy Spirit testified by descending on Jesus like a dove (Matthew 3:16).

But the greatest witness was the fulfillment of prophecy itself.

Jesus said: “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39).

The Old Testament Scriptures are witnesses to Jesus. Every prophecy fulfilled is God’s testimony: “This is My Son. This is the One I promised. This is God in human flesh.”

What Makes Christianity Unique

This is what makes Christianity unique among all religions:

→ No other religious leader was prophesied in detail centuries before their birth. → No other religious figure fulfilled hundreds of specific prophecies. → No other faith has this kind of divine authentication.

Buddha wasn’t prophesied. Muhammad wasn’t prophesied. Joseph Smith wasn’t prophesied. Sun Myung Moon wasn’t prophesied. Lee Man-hee wasn’t prophesied.

But Jesus was. In detail. Centuries in advance. And He fulfilled every single prophecy.

→ This is impactful because it proves Jesus is who He claimed to be. 

→ This is inspirational because it shows God had a plan from the beginning and executed it perfectly. 

→ This is reflective because it invites us to examine the evidence and respond in faith.

When we read the Old Testament, we’re not just reading ancient history. We’re reading God’s promise—a promise He kept with precision and power.

A Question for Reflection

If God went to such lengths to authenticate Jesus through hundreds of prophecies fulfilled over thousands of years, wouldn’t He do the same for Lee Man-hee if he were truly God’s chosen one?

→ Where are the prophecies written centuries ago specifically predicting Lee Man-hee’s birth, ministry, and mission? 

→ Where are the detailed prophecies about a “promised pastor” in Korea in the 20th century? 

→ If God’s pattern is to announce His plans in advance through prophecy, why is there no clear Old Testament prophecy about Lee Man-hee?

This is worth considering: God authenticated Jesus through prophecy because Jesus is His Son, God in human flesh, the promised Messiah. The absence of such prophecies about Lee Man-hee invites us to examine whether his claims align with God’s established pattern.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

All of God’s promises find their fulfillment in Jesus. Not in an organization. Not in a human teacher. In Jesus alone.

This is why we can trust the Old Testament. It’s not a collection of vague symbols that can be twisted to mean anything. It’s a collection of specific prophecies that point unmistakably to one Person: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God in human flesh, the Savior of the world.

As we walk through the Old Testament, remember: Every prophecy you read was written hundreds of years before Jesus. And every single one was fulfilled with precision. This is the signature of God. This is the authentication of Jesus’ identity. This is why we can trust Him completely.

Now, it’s important to understand that Jesus’ mission wasn’t simply to fulfill prophecies so people could recognize Him. Prophecy fulfillment authenticated His identity, yes—but His mission went far deeper.

Jesus came to accomplish what no human could: to defeat death, destroy the power of Satan, break the power of sin, and restore humanity’s relationship with God.

The Bible speaks of three kinds of death:

→ Physical Death – The separation of the soul from the body (Genesis 3:19; Hebrews 9:27) 

→ Spiritual Death – The separation of a person from God due to sin, resulting in a life lived apart from God’s presence and facing the consequences of sin in this life (Ephesians 2:1; Romans 6:23) 

→ Eternal Death – The permanent, final separation from God after physical death, also called “the second death” (Revelation 20:14; 21:8)

Jesus came primarily to defeat eternal death—the eternal separation from God that sin caused.

The Problem: Eternal Separation

When Adam and Eve sinned, they didn’t just break a rule. They broke their relationship with God. Sin created a chasm between holy God and sinful humanity.

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).

The consequence of sin is death—not just physical death, but eternal separation from God:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Humanity’s fundamental problem wasn’t just bad behavior. It was a broken relationship with God that we couldn’t fix on our own. We were spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, under Satan’s dominion, and facing eternal separation from God.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 2:1-2).

The Solution: Jesus as the Bridge

God’s justice demands that sin be punished. But God’s mercy desires that sinners be saved.

How can both justice and mercy be satisfied?

The cross is where justice and mercy meet.

Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, became the bridge between God and humanity:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

On the cross:

→ Justice was satisfied – Sin was punished. Jesus bore the full wrath of God against sin. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

→ Mercy was extended – We were forgiven. Jesus took our punishment so we could receive His righteousness. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

The cross is the ultimate demonstration of both God’s justice and His love:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

1. Jesus Defeated Death

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Jesus didn’t just die. He conquered death through His resurrection:

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?… But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55, 57).

1. Jesus Destroyed the Power of Satan

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8).

On the cross, Jesus disarmed Satan and his demonic forces:

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15).

Satan’s power over believers is broken. He can tempt, but he cannot own. He can accuse, but he cannot condemn:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

1. Jesus Broke the Power of Sin

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone has died has been set free from sin” (Romans 6:6-7).

Sin no longer has dominion over those who are in Christ:

“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).

This doesn’t mean believers never sin. It means sin no longer has the final say. We are no longer slaves to sin—we are free to say no to sin and yes to righteousness.

1. Jesus Restored Our Relationship with God

“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10).

The barrier between God and humanity—sin—was removed:

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:13-14).

We now have access to God:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings” (Hebrews 10:19-20, 22).

“It Is Finished” – The Work Is Complete

When Jesus cried out “It is finished” (Greek: tetelestai) on the cross (John 19:30), He was declaring that the entire work of salvation was complete.

Tetelestai was used in ancient times to mark a debt as “paid in full.” When Jesus said this, He was declaring:

→ The debt of sin was paid in full → The sacrifice for sin was complete → The old covenant was fulfilled → The way to God was opened → Death was defeated → Satan was disarmed → Sin’s power was broken → Reconciliation was accomplished

“But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).

He sat down. The work is finished.

Not “part one” is finished. Not “the Old Testament part” is finished. THE work is finished.

A Crucial Question 

This brings us to an important question that Shincheonji raises: If Jesus defeated sin on the cross, why do people still sin? When will sin actually end?

Let’s be clear about what the Bible teaches:

The Bible distinguishes between:

→ The penalty of sin – Removed at the cross for all who believe (Romans 8:1) → The power of sin – Broken at the cross, though believers still struggle (Romans 6:6-7, 14) → The presence of sin – Will be removed when Jesus returns and creates the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:4, 27)

When Jesus died on the cross:

→ The penalty of sin was paid – “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)

 → The power of sin was broken – “Sin shall no longer be your master” (Romans 6:14)

But believers still live in fallen bodies in a fallen world. We still struggle with sin, though sin no longer has dominion over us:

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).

The complete removal of sin’s presence happens when Jesus returns:

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

So the biblical answer is: People will stop sinning when Jesus returns and we receive our glorified bodies in the new heaven and new earth.

Not when we join an organization. Not when we recognize a “promised pastor.” When Jesus Himself returns and transforms us.

Now that we understand the power of prophecy—how God authenticated Jesus through hundreds of prophecies fulfilled over thousands of years—and the completeness of Jesus’ work on the cross, we need to address how Shincheonji misuses these concepts.

Shincheonji’s strategy is sophisticated, but when examined carefully against Scripture, it reveals fundamental problems.

Step 1: They Use Jesus’ Credentials to Build Their Own

Shincheonji teaches:

→ “Look at how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies—that’s how we know He was sent by God!” → “The same pattern applies today: Lee Man-hee fulfills New Testament prophecies (Revelation)—that’s how we know HE is sent by God!” → “When Jesus said ‘It is finished’ on the cross, He meant He finished fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies” → “But the New Testament prophecies—especially Revelation—are for the Promised Pastor to fulfill in our time”

Lee Man-hee writes in The Creation of Heaven and Earth:

“The work of Jesus Christ can be easily divided into his two comings… the work of the first coming and the work of the second coming are different… Now, in this time of fulfillment, all believers must find the pastor, temple, and seminary promised by the Bible. They must unite with God’s promised pastor to attain salvation.” — The Creation of Heaven and Earth, Preface, p. viii

This sounds logical on the surface. But it’s built on a fundamental misunderstanding of what Jesus meant by “It is finished.”

What Did Jesus Really Mean by “It is Finished”?

When Jesus said “It is finished” (Greek: tetelestai) in John 19:30, He wasn’t saying “I’ve fulfilled some prophecies, and now someone else needs to fulfill the rest.”

He was declaring that the entire work of salvation was complete:

→ The debt of sin was paid in full (tetelestai was used in ancient times to mark a debt as “paid in full”)

 → The sacrifice for sin was complete (Hebrews 10:12: “But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God“) 

→ The old covenant was fulfilled (Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them“) 

→ The way to God was opened (Hebrews 10:19-20: “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body“)

Jesus didn’t finish “part one” and leave “part two” for someone else. He finished THE work—the work of redemption, the work of salvation, the work of reconciling humanity to God.

Yes, Revelation contains prophecies about future events. But those prophecies are about what JESUS will do when He returns—not about what a human “promised pastor” will do.

Revelation is clear:

→ Jesus Himself returns (Revelation 1:7: “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him”) 

→ Jesus Himself judges (Revelation 19:11: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war”) 

→ Jesus Himself establishes the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:5: “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'”)

Nowhere does Revelation say: “And Jesus will send a Korean man named Lee Man-hee to fulfill these prophecies on His behalf.”

Step 2: They Create a False Parallel

Shincheonji teaches:

→ “First Coming: Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies” → “Second Coming: Lee Man-hee fulfills New Testament prophecies” → “Same pattern, different era”

But this creates a false equivalence.

Here’s the difference:

Jesus’ Fulfillment of OT Prophecies: 

→ Prophesied hundreds of years in advance by multiple prophets 

→ Specific details (birthplace, lineage, manner of death, resurrection) 

→ Mathematically impossible to fulfill by chance (1 in 10157 for just 48 prophecies) 

→ Authenticated by miracles, witnesses, and resurrection 

→ Fulfilled prophecies that were beyond human control (where He was born, His ancestry, soldiers not breaking His bones, etc.) 

Lee Man-hee’s Alleged “Fulfillment” of NT Prophecies: 

→ Not prophesied by name or specific details anywhere in Scripture 

→ Interpreted symbolically after the fact to fit Lee Man-hee’s life 

→ No miracles, no resurrection, no divine authentication 

→ All “fulfillments” are things he could control or stage (starting an organization, claiming to be a witness, etc.)

 → Requires accepting Shincheonji’s allegorical interpretation as the only correct one

This is not the same pattern. When we examine the evidence, the parallel doesn’t hold.

Step 3: They Downgrade Jesus to Elevate Lee Man-hee

This is perhaps the most concerning aspect of Shincheonji’s teaching:

Shincheonji cannot elevate Lee Man-hee to a position of authority equal to Jesus without first redefining who Jesus is.

Here’s how they do it:

Shincheonji teaches:

→ “Jesus was a man chosen by God for His time” 

→ “Jesus fulfilled His mission and is no longer physically here”

 → “Jesus now works in spirit form, using Lee Man-hee as His vessel and spokesperson” 

→ “Christianity made a mistake after Jesus ascended—they started worshiping Jesus as God, but that’s false teaching” 

→ “Jesus was God’s messenger, just like Lee Man-hee is God’s messenger now” 

→ “Jesus is like a different body now—He uses Lee Man-hee to speak and work”

Consider what this means:

→ By reducing Jesus to “a man chosen by God for His time,” they can say Lee Man-hee is “a man chosen by God for our time.” 

→ By saying Jesus is no longer physically here but works through Lee Man-hee, they transfer Jesus’ authority to Lee Man-hee.

 → By claiming Christianity’s worship of Jesus as God is “false teaching,” they remove the one thing that makes Jesus unique and irreplaceable—His deity.

The result:

→ Jesus becomes one messenger among many (Moses, Jesus, Lee Man-hee)

 → Lee Man-hee becomes Jesus’ equal (both human messengers for their era) 

→ Lee Man-hee becomes necessary for salvation (you must recognize him to be saved)

 → Jesus’ finished work becomes incomplete (needing Lee Man-hee to finish what Jesus started)

This represents a significant departure from historic Christianity.

Shincheonji’s Teaching on Sin: When Does It End?

Shincheonji’s teaching on sin reveals how they reinterpret Jesus’ finished work:

According to Shincheonji materials:

“Jesus came 2,000 years ago and died on the cross for the atonement of sins. This atonement covered sins committed in the past, present, and future… Even though Jesus died for sins, sin is still rampant in this world… This persistence is attributed to the fact that the source of sin is still in this world.” 

“The permanent resolution of the sin problem is tied directly to the Second Coming and the creation of Shincheonji… The people whose blood is fully effective for will no longer sin when heaven comes down… The holy city of Shincheonji indicates that the world God lost through the sin of Adam has now been recovered.”

Lee Man-hee writes in The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation:

“Today, I have witnessed the fulfillment of the prophecies of Revelation… you should understand the time of the fulfillment of the prophecies… and realize what kind of relationship, if any, you have with these events.” — The Physical Fulfillment of Revelation, Prologue v–vi

And in The Creation of Heaven and Earth:

“We at Shincheonji have received the word, mastered the Bible, and become God’s kingdom and priests… all believers must come out of their churches, which are a part of the first heaven, and become a part of the twelve tribes of the new heaven.” — The Creation of Heaven and Earth, Author’s Note vi–viii

According to a former SCJ pastor quoted in Shincheonji materials:

“Salvation is obtained by receiving the opened Word, flocking to Mount Zion (Shincheonji), and strictly following the teaching of the one who overcomes… No one can come to Jesus, gain eternal life, or enter heaven, except through the one who overcomes. Salvation can only be obtained through: the one who overcomes.”

In summary, Shincheonji teaches that:

→ Jesus’ death covered sin temporarily 

→ But sin’s complete removal requires recognizing Lee Man-hee 

→ Salvation comes through joining Shincheonji and following Lee Man-hee’s teaching 

→ The “fully effective” blood of Jesus only works for those who unite with the “promised pastor“

The Bible teaches that Jesus’ work on the cross was complete:

“When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).

“But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).

He sat down because the work was done. Not partially done. Not “phase one” done. Completely done.

Shincheonji’s teaching suggests:

→ Jesus’ sacrifice was incomplete → His blood needs to be made “fully effective” through Lee Man-hee → Salvation requires not just faith in Jesus, but recognition of Lee Man-hee

But the Bible is clear:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Not “salvation is found in Jesus plus the promised pastor.” Not “salvation requires recognizing the fulfillment in Shincheonji.” Salvation is found in Jesus alone.

The Bible’s Teaching vs. Shincheonji’s Teaching

Why This Matters

If Jesus is God, He cannot be replaced. If Jesus is God, His work cannot be incomplete. If Jesus is God, no human can take His place or claim His authority.

But if Jesus is just a man—even a special man chosen by God—then Shincheonji’s system could make sense. Another man could come after Him. Another man could finish what He started. Another man could be God’s spokesperson for a new era.

This is why understanding Jesus’ deity is so crucial. It’s the foundation that determines everything else.

The Bible is absolutely clear: Jesus is not just a man. He is God. And because He is God, He is the final revelation, the complete Savior, the only mediator, the eternal King.

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9).

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

He doesn’t change. He doesn’t need to be replaced. He doesn’t need someone to finish His work.

He is God. And His work is finished.

Lee Man-hee, at 94 years old as of 2025, continues to travel and teach, urging people to “believe the Bible as it is” and challenging church leaders to examine Shincheonji’s teachings through Scripture.

In a recent seminar in Busan, he said:

“If you call us heretical while claiming you are orthodox, why won’t you accept my proposal to examine the Bible? It is time to prove it with evidence, not words.”

This is actually a fair challenge. And it’s one we should take seriously—not by avoiding examination, but by doing exactly what Lee Man-hee suggests: examining the Bible.

When we do examine the Bible—reading it in context, comparing Scripture with Scripture, following the scarlet thread from Genesis to Revelation—what do we find?

We find that:

→ Jesus is God, not just a messenger 

→ Jesus’ work is complete, not needing supplementation 

→ Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone, not through recognizing a human mediator 

→ The Holy Spirit is God Himself dwelling in believers, not a spirit working through one man 

→ Jesus Himself will return visibly, not spiritually through another person

These aren’t attacks. These are observations from Scripture itself.

Lee Man-hee says, “Simply saying you believe will not bring you heaven. It is time to wake up and enter the word.”

We agree that we must “enter the word“—but when we do, we must let the Word speak for itself, in its full context, without imposing predetermined interpretations.

One minister at the Busan seminar said Lee delivered his message “without even opening a Bible” and declared “there wasn’t a single wrong word.”

But the Bereans were commended for a different approach:

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

They didn’t just accept Paul’s teaching because it sounded authoritative. They examined the Scriptures daily to verify it.

This is what we’re invited to do with any teaching—including Shincheonji’s. Not to attack, but to examine. Not to dismiss, but to test against Scripture.

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

Testing isn’t lack of faith. Testing is faithful obedience to Scripture’s command.

The Core Question

The core question isn’t: “Is Shincheonji sincere?” Many in Shincheonji are deeply sincere.

The core question is: “Does Shincheonji’s teaching align with what the whole Bible teaches about who Jesus is and what He accomplished?“

When we examine this question through the lens of the entire Bible—not isolated verses, but the unified testimony of Scripture—we find significant concerns.

Not because we want to attack, but because we care about truth. Because we care about Jesus being rightly understood. Because we care about people building their eternal hope on the right foundation.

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Not Jesus plus Lee Man-hee. Not Jesus supplemented by Shincheonji. Jesus alone.

This is the foundation the whole Bible points to. This is the foundation we’ll see as we walk through the Old Testament.

A Word About Method

Unlike Shincheonji’s courses, which jump from selected passages to build a case, we’re going to move chronologically through Scripture.

We’ll group the books thematically into parts:

→ The Foundation (Genesis – Deuteronomy): God’s promise and covenant 

→ The Kingdom (Joshua – Esther): God’s faithfulness despite human failure 

→ The Wisdom (Job – Song of Solomon): God’s character revealed in suffering and love 

→ The Prophets (Isaiah – Malachi): God’s promise of a coming Redeemer

In each section, we’ll ask:

→ What does this book reveal about God’s character? → How does this book point to Jesus? → What is God’s consistent mission throughout?

And we’ll cite the verses—not isolated fragments, but in their full context—so you can verify everything for yourself.

Because unlike systems that require you to trust one man’s interpretation, the Bible invites you to test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Let’s begin.

Where God Makes Promises That Only He Can Keep

Genesis: The Book of Beginnings

Genesis means “beginning.” And in this book, we see the beginning of everything—creation, humanity, sin, and God’s plan of redemption.

Genesis 1-2: Creation

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

The very first verse of the Bible introduces us to God as Creator. Everything that exists came from Him. And then we read something remarkable: “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness'” (Genesis 1:26).

“Let us”—plural. God is speaking within Himself. This is the first hint of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The New Testament confirms that Jesus was present at creation:

→ “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-3). → “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:15-16).

Jesus is the eternal Word, the Creator, the one through whom everything was made.

Genesis 3: The Fall and the First Promise

Adam and Eve were created in perfect relationship with God. But they chose to disobey, eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Sin entered the world. Death entered the world. The relationship between God and humanity was broken. But immediately—before God even pronounces judgment on Adam and Eve—He makes a promise to the serpent (Satan):

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

This is called the “proto-evangelium“—the first gospel. It’s the first promise of a Redeemer. God promises that the “offspring of the woman” will crush Satan’s head, though Satan will strike His heel. This is Jesus. Born of a woman (the virgin Mary). Struck in the heel (crucified, His feet nailed to the cross). But ultimately crushing Satan’s head (defeating sin, death, and Satan through His resurrection). This is the first scarlet thread. The promise of a Savior who will undo what sin has done.

Genesis 3:21: The First Sacrifice

After the fall, Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame with fig leaves. But God provided something better:

“The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21).

Garments of skin. This means an animal had to die. Blood had to be shed. An innocent creature gave its life to cover their shame. This is the first sacrifice in the Bible—pointing forward to Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose blood would cover our sin. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). From the very beginning, God established this principle: Sin requires death. But God provides a substitute.

Genesis 4: Abel’s Sacrifice

Adam and Eve had two sons: Cain and Abel.

“Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain’s offering he did not look with favor” (Genesis 4:4-5).

Why did God accept Abel’s offering but not Cain’s? Cain brought produce from the ground—the result of his own work. Abel brought a blood sacrifice—the firstborn of his flock, acknowledging that sin requires death and only a substitute can atone.

“By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings” (Hebrews 11:4).

Abel’s sacrifice pointed forward to Jesus—the Lamb of God, the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Cain, in jealousy, killed Abel. The first murder. The first martyr. Abel’s blood cried out from the ground (Genesis 4:10). But there would come another whose blood would speak a better word:

“You have come… to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24).

Abel’s blood cried out for justice. Jesus’ blood cries out for mercy.

Genesis 6-9: Noah and the Ark

Humanity became so wicked that “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). God decided to judge the world with a flood. But He found one righteous man: Noah.

“Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD… Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God” (Genesis 6:8-9).

God commanded Noah to build an ark—a massive boat that would save Noah, his family, and representatives of every animal species from the flood. For 120 years, Noah built the ark and preached righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). But only eight people entered the ark: Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives. The flood came. Everyone outside the ark perished. Everyone inside the ark was saved. The ark is a picture of salvation in Jesus:

→ One door – Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved” (John 10:9 ESV) 

→ One way of salvation – Only those inside the ark were saved; only those in Christ are saved → Salvation by grace through faith – Noah didn’t earn salvation; he trusted God and obeyed → Judgment and deliverance – The same water that judged the world lifted the ark to safety

Peter makes this connection explicit:

“God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:20-21).

After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood. He gave the rainbow as a sign of this covenant (Genesis 9:13-17).

Genesis 12-22: Abraham – The Father of Faith

God called a man named Abram (later renamed Abraham) and made him extraordinary promises:

“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you‘” (Genesis 12:1-3).

Notice the last promise: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” This is a promise about Jesus. He is the ultimate “seed of Abraham” through whom all nations are blessed. Paul confirms this:

→ “The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you’… The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ” (Galatians 3:8, 16).

God’s promise to Abraham was ultimately about Jesus.

Genesis 15: Righteousness by Faith

God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars.

“Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

This is one of the most important verses in the Bible. Abraham was declared righteous—not because of what he did, but because he believed God. This is the pattern of salvation throughout Scripture: righteousness by faith, not by works. Paul quotes this verse repeatedly:

→ “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6).

Salvation has always been by grace through faith. Not by organizational membership. Not by special knowledge. By faith.

Genesis 22: The Sacrifice of Isaac

God tested Abraham’s faith with an unthinkable command:

“Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:2).

Abraham obeyed. He took Isaac to Mount Moriah, built an altar, bound Isaac, and raised the knife. But God stopped him:

“Do not lay a hand on the boy… Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12).

God provided a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute sacrifice. This is one of the clearest pictures of Jesus in the Old Testament: Abraham and Isaac foreshadow God the Father and Jesus:

• “Your only son, whom you love” (Genesis 22:2) → God’s “one and only Son” (John 3:16)
• Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice (Genesis 22:6) → Jesus carried the cross (John 19:17)
• Isaac asked, “Where is the lamb?” (Genesis 22:7) → John the Baptist declared, “Look, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:29)
• Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb” (Genesis 22:8) → God provided Jesus
• The sacrifice took place on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2) → The same region where Jesus was crucified (2 Chronicles 3:1)
• Abraham received Isaac back “as if from death” (Hebrews 11:19) → Jesus actually rose from death
• God provided a substitute (Genesis 22:13) → Jesus is our substitute

Abraham didn’t have to sacrifice his son. But God did. God gave His only Son as the sacrifice for our sins. “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

Genesis 37-50: Joseph – Rejected, Betrayed, Exalted

The story of Joseph is one of the most detailed foreshadowings of Jesus in the Old Testament. Joseph’s life parallels Jesus’ life in remarkable ways:

Rejected by his brothers:

• Joseph was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28)
• Jesus was rejected by His own people and betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15; John 1:11)

Falsely accused:

• Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned (Genesis 39:11-20)
• Jesus was falsely accused by religious leaders and condemned (Matthew 26:59-60)

Suffered with two criminals:

• Joseph was in prison with Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker; one was restored, one was executed (Genesis 40)
• Jesus was crucified between two criminals; one was saved, one was not (Luke 23:39-43)

Exalted after suffering:

• Joseph was lifted from prison to become second-in-command of Egypt (Genesis 41:39-43)
• Jesus was raised from death and exalted to the right hand of God (Philippians 2:9-11)

Saved his people:

• Joseph saved his family and all of Egypt from famine (Genesis 45:5-7)
• Jesus saves all who come to Him from spiritual death (John 6:35)

Revealed himself to his brothers:

• Joseph revealed himself to his brothers who had rejected him (Genesis 45:3-4)
• Jesus will reveal Himself to Israel who rejected Him (Zechariah 12:10; Romans 11:25-26)

Forgave those who betrayed him:

• Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20)
• Jesus’ crucifixion was intended for evil, but God used it for good—the salvation of many (Acts 2:23-24)

Joseph’s story is a beautiful picture of Jesus—rejected by His own, suffering unjustly, but ultimately exalted and becoming the savior of His people.

Exodus: The Book of Redemption

Exodus means “exit” or “departure.” It tells the story of God’s people enslaved in Egypt and God’s mighty deliverance.

Exodus 1-2: Moses – The Deliverer

After Joseph’s death, a new Pharaoh arose who enslaved the Israelites. In fear of their growing numbers, Pharaoh ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be killed. But one baby was hidden by his mother, placed in a basket, and set afloat on the Nile River. Pharaoh’s daughter found him and named him Moses. This parallels Jesus:

→ Moses was saved from a decree to kill Hebrew babies → Jesus was saved from Herod’s decree to kill babies in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16)

Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace but identified with his people. At age 40, he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew and had to flee to the wilderness.

Exodus 3: The Burning Bush and God’s Name

At age 80, Moses encountered God in a burning bush. God revealed His plan: “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their sufferings. So I have come down to rescue them” (Exodus 3:7-8). God commissioned Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand, “Let my people go.” Moses asked, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13). God answered:

“I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you'” (Exodus 3:14).

“I AM” – This is God’s covenant name, Yahweh (often translated “LORD” in English Bibles). It means “I am the self-existent one, the eternal one, the one who always was, always is, and always will be.” And Jesus claimed this name for Himself:

“Very truly I tell you… before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58).

The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was claiming—that He is Yahweh, the eternal God. That’s why they picked up stones to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:59).

Exodus 7-12: The Ten Plagues and the Passover

Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go. So God sent ten plagues upon Egypt, each one demonstrating His power over Egypt’s false gods. The tenth plague was the most severe: the death of every firstborn in Egypt. But God provided a way of escape for His people:

“Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household… The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect… Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs” (Exodus 12:3, 5-7). “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn… The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt” (Exodus 12:12-13).

This is the Passover—one of the clearest pictures of Jesus in the Old Testament: The Passover Lamb:

• Must be without defect (Exodus 12:5) → Jesus was sinless (1 Peter 1:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
• A male lamb (Exodus 12:5) → Jesus is “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29)
• Chosen on the 10th day, killed on the 14th (Exodus 12:3, 6) → Jesus entered Jerusalem on the 10th of Nisan (Palm Sunday) and was crucified on the 14th (Passover)
• Not a bone was to be broken (Exodus 12:46) → Jesus’ bones were not broken on the cross (John 19:33, 36)
• The blood on the doorposts saved from death (Exodus 12:13) → Jesus’ blood saves us from eternal death (1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19)

Paul makes the connection explicit:

“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The Passover wasn’t just a historical event. It was a prophetic picture of Jesus—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Exodus 14: The Red Sea Crossing

After the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go. But then he changed his mind and pursued them with his army. The Israelites were trapped—the Red Sea in front of them, the Egyptian army behind them. But God made a way:

“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left” (Exodus 14:21-22).

The Israelites passed through safely. But when the Egyptians followed, the waters returned and drowned Pharaoh’s army. 

This is a picture of salvation: Paul writes: “I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 

They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:1-2). The Red Sea crossing is a picture of baptism—passing through water, leaving the old life behind (slavery in Egypt), entering a new life (freedom in the wilderness, heading toward the Promised Land). 

It’s also a picture of resurrection:

→ Going down into the water (death) → Coming up out of the water (resurrection) 

→ The old life drowned (sin’s power broken) → A new life begun (walking in freedom)

Exodus 16: Manna from Heaven

In the wilderness, the Israelites complained about food. So God provided manna—bread from heaven that appeared every morning for 40 years. “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you'” (Exodus 16:4). Jesus identified Himself as the fulfillment of the manna:

“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:48-51).

The manna sustained physical life temporarily. Jesus sustains spiritual life eternally.

Exodus 19-20: The Ten Commandments

At Mount Sinai, God gave the Ten Commandments—the moral law that reveals God’s character and humanity’s sinfulness. The law is good and holy (Romans 7:12). But the law cannot save. It can only show us our need for a Savior.

“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin” (Romans 3:20).

The law is like a mirror—it shows us we’re dirty, but it can’t clean us. Only Jesus can clean us.

“For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering” (Romans 8:3).

Exodus 25-40: The Tabernacle

God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle—a portable tent where God’s presence would dwell among His people. Every detail of the tabernacle pointed to Jesus: The Outer Court:

→ The Bronze Altar – Where sacrifices were offered, pointing to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross → The Bronze Laver – Where priests washed, pointing to cleansing through Jesus’ blood

The Holy Place:

→ The Table of Showbread – Twelve loaves representing God’s provision, pointing to Jesus, the Bread of Life → The Golden Lampstand – Providing light, pointing to Jesus, the Light of the World → The Altar of Incense – Representing prayer, pointing to Jesus, our intercessor

The Most Holy Place:

→ The Ark of the Covenant – Containing the tablets of the law, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s staff → The Mercy Seat – The lid of the ark where the high priest sprinkled blood once a year on the Day of Atonement

The Most Holy Place was separated from the Holy Place by a thick veil. Only the high priest could enter, and only once a year, with the blood of a sacrifice. When Jesus died, something remarkable happened:

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50-51).

The veil was torn from top to bottom—by God’s hand, not human hands. The way into God’s presence was opened.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings” (Hebrews 10:19-20, 22).

We no longer need a human priest to mediate for us. Jesus is our High Priest. We can come directly into God’s presence through Him.

Before we continue through the rest of the Pentateuch, we need to pause and recognize a pattern that God establishes throughout the Old Testament—a pattern that points unmistakably to Jesus’ resurrection. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly delivers His people “on the third day.” This isn’t coincidence. It’s God’s signature—a prophetic pattern pointing to the ultimate deliverance that would come through Jesus’ resurrection on the third day. Dr. Warren Gage has documented over 40 major texts in the Old Testament where deliverance comes on the third day. Here are some of the most significant:

Genesis 22: Abraham and Isaac

“On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance” (Genesis 22:4).

Abraham traveled three days to Mount Moriah to sacrifice Isaac. On the third day, he saw the place of sacrifice. And on that third day, Isaac was spared—received back “as if from death” (Hebrews 11:19). This foreshadows Jesus, who was sacrificed and raised on the third day.

Genesis 42: Joseph and His Brothers

Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt for food during the famine. Joseph (whom they didn’t recognize) put them in custody for three days.

“On the third day, Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God'” (Genesis 42:18).

On the third day, Joseph released them and gave them life. This foreshadows Jesus, who gives life on the third day through His resurrection.

Exodus 19: Mount Sinai

Before God gave the Ten Commandments, He told Moses:

“Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people” (Exodus 19:10-11). “On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast” (Exodus 19:16).

On the third day, God came down and revealed Himself to His people. This foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection—when God revealed His power and glory on the third day.

Leviticus 7 & 19: The Peace Offering

“The meat of the fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; none of it may be left till morning. But if the offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day the sacrifice is offered, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day. Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up. 

If any meat of the fellowship offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted” (Leviticus 7:15-18). “It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. And if any remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire” (Leviticus 19:6).

The peace offering could be eaten on the first and second days, but anything remaining on the third day had to be burned. Why? Because the third day is the day of resurrection—the day when death is defeated, when what was offered is raised up. This points to Jesus, whose body did not see decay, who was raised on the third day.

Numbers 19: The Red Heifer

“A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp… Whoever touches a human corpse will be unclean for seven days. They must purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on the third day and on the seventh day, they will not be clean” (Numbers 19:9, 11-12).

The ashes of the red heifer were used for purification. And purification happened on the third day. This points to Jesus, through whose death and resurrection on the third day we are purified from sin.

Joshua 1-3: Crossing the Jordan

After Moses died, Joshua led the Israelites to the edge of the Jordan River, ready to enter the Promised Land.

“So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: ‘Go through the camp and tell the people, “Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own”‘” (Joshua 1:10-11). “Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people” (Joshua 3:1-2).

On the third day, the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the Jordan River, and the waters stopped flowing. The people crossed on dry ground into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:14-17). This is resurrection language:

→ Three days of waiting → On the third day, they passed through water (death) → They entered the Promised Land (new life)

This foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection on the third day, through which we enter into our promised inheritance—eternal life with God.

Jonah: Three Days in the Fish

“Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:17). “And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (Jonah 2:10).

Jonah was in the belly of the fish—a picture of death and burial—for three days and three nights. Then he was delivered onto dry land—a picture of resurrection. Jesus Himself made this connection:

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).

Dr. Warren Gage explains: “Jonah never died. He was emblematically dead and writes his psalm from Sheol, but he never clinically died, but nonetheless he becomes a picture of death, burial, and resurrection when he’s cast up on the shore.” Jonah’s experience was a sign—an emblem of death and resurrection. And Jesus said it pointed to Him.

Hosea 6: Resurrection on the Third Day

“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence” (Hosea 6:1-2).

This is explicit resurrection language: “After two days… on the third day he will restore us.” This prophecy points directly to Jesus’ resurrection on the third day.

Esther 4-5: Deliverance on the Third Day

Esther’s story contains one of the most complete pictures of the gospel in the Old Testament. The Jewish people faced extermination. Esther risked her life, asking the people to fast for three days:

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

After three days of fasting—facing what could be death—Esther approached the king.

“On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall” (Esther 5:1).

The king extended his scepter. Esther was accepted. And through her, deliverance came to God’s people. This foreshadows Jesus, who after three days in the grave, was accepted by the Father and brought deliverance to all God’s people.

Why the Third Day?

Why does God use this pattern so consistently? Because the third day is the day of resurrection. The day of deliverance. The day when death is defeated.

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

“According to the Scriptures”—Paul is saying that Jesus’ resurrection on the third day wasn’t random. It fulfilled the pattern God established throughout the Old Testament. The third day is God’s signature. His promise. His pattern of deliverance. And it all points to Jesus—who was crucified, buried, and raised on the third day, defeating death forever.

Leviticus means “pertaining to the Levites” (the priestly tribe). It’s a book about how sinful people can approach a holy God. The key word in Leviticus is “holy.” It appears over 80 times. “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). But how can sinful people be holy? Through sacrifice. Through substitution. Through blood.

Leviticus 1-7: The Five Offerings

God established five types of offerings, each pointing to different aspects of Jesus’ sacrifice:

→ The Burnt Offering (Leviticus 1) – Symbolizing complete dedication, pointing to Jesus’ total commitment to the Father’s will. 

→ The Grain Offering (Leviticus 2) – A bloodless offering, symbolizing the perfection of Jesus’ life and character. 

→ The Peace Offering (Leviticus 3) – Expressing thanksgiving and fellowship, pointing to the peace we have with God through Jesus (Romans 5:1). 

→ The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4) – For unintentional sins, pointing to Jesus bearing our sins on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

→ The Guilt Offering (Leviticus 5) – For specific sins requiring restitution, pointing to Jesus paying the debt we owe for our sins.

All five offerings find their fulfillment in Jesus’ one perfect sacrifice.

Leviticus 16: The Day of Atonement

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the sins of the nation. The ritual involved two goats:

→ The first goat was sacrificed, and its blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat. This symbolized payment for sin. → The second goat (the scapegoat) had the sins of the people confessed over it, then it was sent into the wilderness. This symbolized the removal of sin.

“Aaron is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness… The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place” (Leviticus 16:21-22).

Both goats point to Jesus:

→ The sacrificed goat – Jesus’ blood paid for our sins → The scapegoat – Jesus carried our sins away: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12)

The high priest could only enter the Most Holy Place once a year, with the blood of an animal. But Jesus, our Great High Priest, entered once for all with His own blood:

“He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).

Leviticus 17:11: The Life Is in the Blood

“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” (Leviticus 17:11).

This is the theological foundation for all sacrifice: Life for life. Blood for blood. The innocent dying for the guilty. This principle reaches its fulfillment in Jesus:

“In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).

Jesus shed His blood—His life—to atone for our sins.

Numbers records Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness due to their unbelief. When the Israelites reached the edge of the Promised Land, they sent twelve spies to scout it out. Ten spies returned with a bad report, saying the inhabitants were too strong. Only two—Joshua and Caleb—trusted God. Because of their unbelief, God decreed that the entire generation (except Joshua and Caleb) would die in the wilderness. Their children would enter the Promised Land.

Numbers 13-14: The Consequences of Unbelief

“Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun… For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you” (Numbers 14:30, 34).

This is a warning about unbelief:

“So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19).

The writer of Hebrews applies this to us:

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God… Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:12, 15).

Numbers 21: The Bronze Serpent

The Israelites complained against God and Moses. So God sent venomous snakes among them, and many died. The people repented and asked Moses to pray. God’s response:

“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.’ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived” (Numbers 21:8-9).

This is a direct picture of Jesus on the cross: Jesus Himself made this connection:

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him” (John 3:14-15).

The parallels are striking:

→ The people were dying from snake bites (we’re dying from sin) → God provided a way of salvation (Jesus on the cross) → They had to look at the bronze serpent to live (we must look to Jesus in faith to be saved) → It wasn’t the bronze serpent itself that saved them, but God’s promise (it’s not the physical cross that saves us, but Jesus’ sacrifice and our faith in Him)

Salvation is simple: Look and live. Believe and be saved.

Deuteronomy means “second law.” It’s Moses’ farewell sermon to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. Moses reviews God’s faithfulness, repeats the law, and calls the people to love and obey God.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5: The Greatest Commandment

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

This is called the Shema (Hebrew for “hear”). It’s the central confession of Jewish faith. Jesus quoted this as the greatest commandment:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

Deuteronomy 18:15-19: The Prophet Like Moses

Moses prophesied about a coming prophet:

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him… I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name” (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19).

This prophet is Jesus. Peter confirmed this on the day of Pentecost:

“For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you…'” (Acts 3:22-23).

How is Jesus like Moses?

→ Moses delivered Israel from physical slavery in Egypt; Jesus delivers us from spiritual slavery to sin 

→ Moses mediated the old covenant; Jesus mediates the new covenant 

→ Moses gave the law; Jesus fulfilled the law 

→ Moses led Israel through the Red Sea; Jesus leads us through the waters of baptism

 → Moses provided manna in the wilderness; Jesus is the Bread of Life

But Jesus is greater than Moses:

“Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself” (Hebrews 3:3).

Deuteronomy 21:23: Cursed Is Everyone Who Hangs on a Tree

“Anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse” (Deuteronomy 21:23). Paul quotes it to explain what Jesus did on the cross:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole'” (Galatians 3:13).

Jesus became a curse for us. He took the curse we deserved so we could receive the blessing He deserved.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14: The Word Is Near You

“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach… No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14). Paul applies this to the gospel:

“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:8-9).

Salvation isn’t complicated. It’s about believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

Where God Remains Faithful Despite Human Failure

Joshua: Entering the Promised Land

After Moses’ death, Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Joshua 1:1-9: God’s Promise to Joshua

“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites… No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:2-3, 5-6).

God’s promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” This promise extends to all believers:

“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid'” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

Joshua 2: Rahab the Prostitute

Before crossing the Jordan, Joshua sent two spies to scout Jericho. They stayed at the house of Rahab, a prostitute. Rahab hid the spies and asked to be spared, along with her family, when Israel attacked.

“Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death” (Joshua 2:12-13).

The spies told her to tie a scarlet cord in her window. When the Israelites attacked, everyone in her house would be spared. Rahab is a beautiful picture of salvation by grace:

→ She was a Gentile (not part of God’s chosen people) → She was a prostitute (a sinner) → She believed in Israel’s God based on what she had heard (faith) → She was saved by grace, not by her works → The scarlet cord symbolizes the blood of Jesus that saves us

Rahab is mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy: “Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab” (Matthew 1:5). A Gentile prostitute became part of the Messiah’s family tree. This is grace. She’s also commended for her faith: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31).

Joshua 3-4: Crossing the Jordan (Already Covered in Third Day Pattern)

As we saw earlier, the Israelites crossed the Jordan on the third day—a picture of resurrection and entering into new life.

Joshua 5:13-15: The Commander of the LORD’s Army

Before the battle of Jericho, Joshua encountered a man with a drawn sword.

“‘Neither,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.’ Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, ‘What message does my Lord have for his servant?’ The commander of the LORD’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:13-15).

This is a theophany—an appearance of God (specifically, the pre-incarnate Christ). Notice:

→ Joshua worshiped him, and he accepted worship (only God accepts worship) → He called the ground holy (only God’s presence makes ground holy) → He commanded Joshua to remove his sandals (just as God did with Moses at the burning bush)

Jesus is the Commander of the LORD’s army. He fights for His people.

Joshua 6: The Battle of Jericho

God gave Joshua unusual battle instructions: March around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, march around seven times, blow trumpets, and shout. The Israelites obeyed. On the seventh day, after the seventh march, they shouted—and the walls of Jericho collapsed. This teaches us:

→ Victory comes through obedience to God, not human strategy 

→ God fights for His people 

→ Faith sometimes requires doing things that seem foolish to the world

Joshua 24:15: Choose This Day

At the end of his life, Joshua challenged the Israelites:

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

This is the call to every generation: Choose whom you will serve.

Judges: The Cycle of Rebellion

After Joshua’s death, Israel entered a dark period. The pattern repeated: Israel served God → Israel forgot God and worshiped idols → God allowed enemies to oppress them → Israel cried out to God → God raised up a judge (deliverer) to save them → The cycle repeated The book of Judges shows humanity’s need for a perfect King—Jesus.

Judges 2:18-19: The Pattern

“Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived… But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, becoming even more wicked than their fathers” (Judges 2:18-19).

Human judges could only provide temporary deliverance. We need an eternal King who never dies. Some of the Judges:

→ Deborah (Judges 4-5) – Points to Jesus, who leads us to victory over sin and death. 

→ Gideon (Judges 6-8) – Showed that victory comes from God, not human strength, pointing to Jesus’ victory through the cross. 

→ Samson (Judges 13-16) – Defeated Israel’s enemies through his death, foreshadowing Jesus, who defeated our enemies through His death on the cross.

The book ends with this tragic statement: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25). This sets up the need for a king. But not just any king. The King—Jesus.

Ruth: The Kinsman-Redeemer

Ruth is a beautiful love story, but it’s also a picture of redemption. Ruth was a Moabite woman (a Gentile) who, after her husband died, chose to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and return to Israel. In Israel, Ruth met Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi’s late husband. 

According to Israelite law, a close relative could act as a “kinsman-redeemer“—buying back land and marrying a widow to preserve the family line. Boaz became Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer. He bought back Naomi’s land and married Ruth. Boaz is a picture of Jesus, our Kinsman-Redeemer:

→ He was a close relative – Jesus became human to be our kinsman (Hebrews 2:14-17) → He was willing to redeem – Jesus willingly gave His life to redeem us (Mark 10:45) → He paid the price – Jesus paid the price for our redemption with His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19) → He married the bride – Jesus is the bridegroom; the Church is His bride (Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-9)

Ruth, a Gentile, became part of Jesus’ family line:

“Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David” (Matthew 1:5-6).

This shows that God’s plan of salvation includes Gentiles. Jesus came to save people from every nation.

1 Samuel 8: Israel Demands a King

The Israelites demanded a king “such as all the other nations have” (1 Samuel 8:5). God warned them that a human king would disappoint them. But they insisted. So God gave them Saul. Saul started well but ended badly. He disobeyed God, and God rejected him as king.

1 Samuel 16: David Anointed King

God sent Samuel to anoint a new king—David, the youngest son of Jesse.

“The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart‘” (1 Samuel 16:7).

David was “a man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). 

David is the most significant type of Christ in the Old Testament:

→ David was a shepherd; Jesus is the Good Shepherd 

→ David defeated Goliath; Jesus defeated Satan 

→ David was anointed king; Jesus is the Anointed One (Messiah means “anointed”) 

→ David’s kingdom was established; Jesus’ kingdom is eternal

1 Samuel 17: David and Goliath

The Philistine champion, Goliath, challenged Israel. No one dared face him for forty days. Then David, a shepherd boy, arrived and volunteered to fight Goliath.

“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty… This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands… and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel'” (1 Samuel 17:45-46).

David defeated Goliath with a sling and a stone. This is a picture of Jesus defeating Satan:

→ Goliath taunted God’s people; Satan has taunted humanity since the fall 

→ No one could defeat Goliath; no human could defeat Satan 

→ David, the anointed king, defeated Goliath; Jesus, the Anointed King, defeated Satan 

→ David used Goliath’s own weapon (his sword) to kill him; Jesus used Satan’s weapon (death) to defeat him (Hebrews 2:14)

2 Samuel 7: The Davidic Covenant

David wanted to build a temple for God. But God said no. Instead, God made a covenant with David:

“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16).

This is the Davidic Covenant—God’s promise that David’s descendant would reign forever. This covenant is fulfilled in Jesus:

The angel Gabriel announced to Mary: “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus… The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:31-33).

Jesus is the Son of David, the eternal King whose kingdom will never end.

1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles: The Kingdom Divided and Destroyed

After David’s death, his son Solomon became king. But Solomon’s heart turned away from God, leading to idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-13). After Solomon’s death, the kingdom split: the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). Both kingdoms eventually fell into idolatry and were judged by God:

→ The Northern Kingdom was conquered by Assyria in 722 BC → The Southern Kingdom was conquered by Babylon in 586 BC

The temple was destroyed. The people were taken into exile. What do these books teach us?

→ Human kings fail. Even the best kings sinned. We need a perfect King—Jesus. 

→ God is patient, but judgment comes. God sent prophet after prophet, warning the people to repent. 

→ God keeps His promises. Despite Israel’s failure, the line of David continued.

A Few Faithful Kings:

→ Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-20) – Trusted God when Assyria besieged Jerusalem. 

→ Josiah (2 Kings 22-23) – Rediscovered the Book of the Law and led a revival.

The Pattern of the Third Day Continues:

2 Kings 20:5 – “On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD.” Hezekiah was sick unto death. God promised healing. On the third day, he would go up to the temple—a picture of resurrection.

The last king of Judah, Jehoiachin, is imprisoned in Babylon. But then, he’s released from prison and given a place at the king’s table (2 Kings 25:27-30). It’s a small sign that God hasn’t forgotten His promise to David. The royal line continues, even in exile. And centuries later, that line will produce Jesus—the King who will never be dethroned, whose kingdom will never end.

Ezra and Nehemiah: The Return from Exile

After 70 years in Babylon, God moved the heart of the Persian king to let His people return to Jerusalem. Ezra led the spiritual restoration, Nehemiah led the physical rebuilding of the walls. But the return is bittersweet. The rebuilt temple is nothing like Solomon’s temple. The people are weak and few. They’re still under foreign rule. What Ezra and Nehemiah Reveal About God:

→ God keeps His promises – He said 70 years, and after 70 years, He brought them back (Jeremiah 25:11-12) → God works through unlikely means – He uses pagan kings to accomplish His purposes → God’s people are defined by His Word – Ezra reads the Law, and the people weep and repent → God is rebuilding – But the ultimate rebuilding is still to come

The books end with the people back in the land, but still waiting. Waiting for the promises to be fully fulfilled. Waiting for the Messiah.

Esther: God’s Providence in the Shadows

Esther is unique—God’s name is never mentioned in the book. Yet His providence is evident on every page. The Jewish people face extermination under the Persian Empire. But God raises up Esther, a Jewish woman who becomes queen, to save her people. The story includes a remarkable “third day” pattern (already covered earlier): Esther approached the king on the third day after a fast (Esther 5:1). The king extended his scepter. Esther was accepted. And through her, deliverance came to God’s people. This foreshadows Jesus, who after three days in the grave, was accepted by the Father and brought deliverance to all God’s people. What Esther Reveals About God:

→ God is sovereign – Even when unseen, He’s working → God protects His people – No scheme against them will ultimately succeed → God uses ordinary people – Esther was “just” a young woman, but God used her to save a nation → God delivers on the third day – The pattern continues

Esther’s courage saved the physical descendants of Abraham. Jesus’ sacrifice saves all who believe—both Jews and Gentiles.

Where God’s Character Is Revealed in Suffering and Love

Job: When the Righteous Suffer

Job is one of the oldest books in the Bible, and it tackles one of the hardest questions: Why do the righteous suffer? Job is blameless and upright. Yet he loses everything. When God finally speaks, He doesn’t explain why Job suffered. Instead, He reveals His majesty, His power, His wisdom. What Job Reveals About God:

→ God is sovereign – He’s not obligated to explain Himself to us → God is wise – His ways are higher than our ways → God is present in suffering – He doesn’t abandon Job → God restores – In the end, Job receives double what he lost

But Job also points forward to Jesus—the truly innocent sufferer. Job says: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God” (Job 19:25-26). Job speaks of a Redeemer who will stand on the earth after death. He speaks of seeing God in his flesh after his skin is destroyed. This is resurrection hope. And it finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who is our living Redeemer.

Psalms: The Prayer Book That Points to Jesus

The Psalms are the prayer book and hymnal of God’s people. But they also prophesy about the Messiah with stunning detail. Messianic Psalms include:

→ Psalm 2 – “You are my son; today I have become your father” (quoted of Jesus in Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5) 

→ Psalm 16 – Prophesied Jesus’ resurrection: “You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay” (quoted of Jesus’ resurrection in Acts 2:27, 31)

 → Psalm 22 – Describes crucifixion in detail, written 1,000 years before it was invented: 

• → “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Jesus’ words on the cross – Matthew 27:46) 
• → “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment” (John 19:23-24) 
• → “They pierce my hands and my feet” (John 20:25, 27) 

→ Psalm 23 – “The LORD is my shepherd” → Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11) 

→ Psalm 110 – “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand…'” (quoted of Jesus more than any other Old Testament verse) 

→ Psalm 118 – “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (quoted of Jesus in Matthew 21:42)

The Psalms aren’t just prayers. They’re prophecies. They describe Jesus’ suffering and glory with precision.

Proverbs: The Wisdom of God

Proverbs is practical wisdom for daily life. But it also speaks of Wisdom personified—and the New Testament reveals that this Wisdom is Jesus.

“The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works… I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence” (Proverbs 8:22-23, 30).

Paul identifies Jesus as the wisdom of God:

→ “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24). 

→ “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).

Jesus is the Wisdom that was with God at creation. The Wisdom that calls out to humanity. The Wisdom that offers life.

Ecclesiastes: Life Without God Is Meaningless

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Ecclesiastes explores life “under the sun“—life without God at the center. And the conclusion? It’s all meaningless. But the book ends with hope:

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment…” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

What Ecclesiastes Reveals:

→ Life without God is empty – Nothing “under the sun” satisfies 

→ God is the source of meaning – Only He can fill the void 

→ Judgment is coming – Our lives matter because we’ll give account

Jesus addresses this emptiness:

→ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). → “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Apart from Jesus, life is meaningless. In Jesus, we find purpose, joy, and eternal life.

Song of Solomon: The Love Between Christ and His Church

Song of Solomon is a love poem celebrating the beauty of marital love. But it also points to the greater love between Christ and His Church. Throughout Scripture, God describes His relationship with His people using the imagery of marriage:

→ “For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name” (Isaiah 54:5). 

→ “As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5).

The New Testament explicitly identifies Jesus as the bridegroom and the Church as His bride:

→ “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy…” (Ephesians 5:25-27). 

→ “For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7).

Song of Solomon reveals:

→ The passionate love of Christ for His Church 

→ The intimate relationship God desires with His people 

→ The beauty of covenant love—faithful, exclusive, permanent

The beloved says: “My beloved is mine and I am his” (Song of Solomon 2:16). This is the relationship Jesus offers us—not distant, not transactional, but intimate and loving.

Where God Promises a Coming Redeemer

The prophetic books called the people to repentance, warned of judgment, and promised future hope. And woven through their messages are stunning prophecies about the coming Messiah—Jesus.

Isaiah: The Gospel Prophet

Isaiah is called “the fifth gospel” because it contains more prophecies about Jesus than any other Old Testament book.

Isaiah 7:14 – The Virgin Birth

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

This was fulfilled: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel‘ (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:22-23).

Isaiah 9:6-7 – The Child Who Is Mighty God

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne… from that time on and forever” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

A child born—yet called “Mighty God.” An eternal King from David’s line. This is Jesus.

Isaiah 11:1-2 – The Branch from Jesse

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him…” (Isaiah 11:1-2).

Jesse was David’s father. This prophecy promises a descendant of David—Jesus—on whom the Spirit would rest. At Jesus’ baptism: “At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him” (Matthew 3:16).

Isaiah 40:3-5 – A Voice in the Wilderness

“A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God… And the glory of the LORD will be revealed…'” (Isaiah 40:3-5).

This prophecy was fulfilled in John the Baptist:

“This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord…'” (Matthew 3:1-3).

Isaiah 42:1-4 – The Servant Who Brings Justice

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations… he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth” (Isaiah 42:1-4).

Matthew quotes this of Jesus:

“This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘Here is my servant whom I have chosen… and he will proclaim justice to the nations'” (Matthew 12:17-18).

Isaiah 50:6 – The Suffering Servant

“I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6).

This describes Jesus’ suffering before His crucifixion: “Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him” (Matthew 26:67).

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 – The Suffering Servant

This is the most detailed prophecy of Jesus’ crucifixion in the Old Testament. Written 700 years before Jesus, it describes His suffering, death, and resurrection with stunning accuracy.

Isaiah 52:13-15 – Exalted After Suffering

“See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted… his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being…” (Isaiah 52:13-15).

Jesus was disfigured by beating and crucifixion. But He was raised and exalted.

Isaiah 53:1 – Rejected by His Own

“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1).

John quotes this: “Even after Jesus had performed so many signs… they still would not believe in him… This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet…” (John 12:37-38).

Isaiah 53:2-3 – Despised and Rejected

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering… Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” (Isaiah 53:2-3).

“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11).

Isaiah 53:4-6 – He Bore Our Sins

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering… But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray… and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6).

This is the heart of the gospel:

→ He was pierced for our transgressions – Jesus was crucified for our sins 

→ The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all – God placed all our sins on Jesus

Peter quotes this: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross… by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

Isaiah 53:7 – Silent Before His Accusers

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter…” (Isaiah 53:7).

“When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer… But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor” (Matthew 27:12-14).

Isaiah 53:8-9 – Killed and Buried with the Rich

“He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death…” (Isaiah 53:8-9).

Jesus was crucified with criminals (“with the wicked”) but buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man (“with the rich in his death”):

“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph… and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock” (Matthew 27:57-60).

Isaiah 53:10-12 – His Death Was God’s Plan, Leading to Resurrection

“Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer… he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper… After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many…” (Isaiah 53:10-12).

Notice the resurrection language:

→ “He will see his offspring and prolong his days” – Jesus lives beyond death → “After he has suffered, he will see the light of life” – Jesus rises from death

This entire chapter, written 700 years before Jesus, describes His crucifixion and resurrection with precision that can only be explained by divine inspiration.

Isaiah 61:1-2 – The Messiah’s Mission

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… to proclaim freedom for the captives… to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor” (Isaiah 61:1-2).

Jesus read this passage in the synagogue and declared:

“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).

Jesus is the Anointed One (Messiah) who brings good news, freedom, and favor.

Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet

Jeremiah prophesied during Judah’s final years before exile.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 – The Righteous Branch

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely… This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior‘” (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

The coming King from David’s line will be called “The LORD” (Yahweh). This is Jesus—God incarnate, the righteous King.

Jeremiah 31:15 – Rachel Weeping for Her Children

“A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted…” (Jeremiah 31:15).

Matthew quotes this of Herod’s massacre of the infants in Bethlehem:

“Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah…'” (Matthew 2:17-18).

Jeremiah 31:31-34 – The New Covenant

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors… I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts… For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more‘” (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

This is one of the most important prophecies in the Old Testament. God promises a new covenant—not based on external law, but written on hearts. Not needing repeated sacrifices, but complete forgiveness. Jesus established this new covenant:

→ “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20).

The book of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31 extensively, showing that Jesus is the mediator of this new covenant:

→ “But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one…” (Hebrews 8:6).

The new covenant is not about joining an organization. It’s about Jesus’ blood, Jesus’ sacrifice, Jesus’ mediation.

Lamentations: Mourning and Hope

Lamentations is Jeremiah’s funeral song over Jerusalem’s destruction. It’s filled with grief, but also with hope.

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23).

Even in judgment, God’s compassion remains. His faithfulness endures. This points to Jesus, through whom God’s compassion and faithfulness are fully revealed.

Ezekiel: Visions of Glory and Restoration

Ezekiel prophesied during the Babylonian exile.

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 23-24 – The Good Shepherd

“I myself will search for my sheep and look after them… I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd” (Ezekiel 34:11, 23).

God promises “one shepherd, my servant David”—a descendant of David who will shepherd God’s people. Jesus identified Himself as this shepherd:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:11, 15).

Ezekiel 36:25-27 – A New Heart and New Spirit

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees…” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

This is the promise of regeneration—being born again. Jesus spoke of this to Nicodemus:

“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again… unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:3, 5).

This new birth happens through the Holy Spirit, not through a human mediator.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 – The Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel sees a vision of a valley filled with dry bones that come together and receive life. God explains: “These bones are the people of Israel… I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them… I will put my Spirit in you and you will live…” (Ezekiel 37:11-14).

This is resurrection language. God promises to bring His people back from death—both physically (return from exile) and spiritually (regeneration through the Spirit). This points to Jesus, who brings resurrection and new life.

Daniel: Prophecies of the Messiah’s Coming

Daniel was taken to Babylon as a young man. His prophecies are remarkably specific.

Daniel 2: The Kingdom That Will Never Be Destroyed

A rock “not cut by human hands” strikes a statue and becomes a mountain that fills the whole earth.

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed…” (Daniel 2:44).

This is Jesus’ kingdom—not established by human hands, but by God. Not temporary, but eternal.

Daniel 7:13-14 – The Son of Man

“I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He… was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion…” (Daniel 7:13-14).

“Son of Man” was Jesus’ favorite title for Himself. When the high priest asked Jesus if He was the Messiah, Jesus answered:

“I am… And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61-62).

Jesus was directly quoting Daniel 7:13-14, claiming to be the divine Son of Man who receives worship and eternal dominion.

Daniel 9:24-27 – The Seventy Weeks

This is one of the most detailed prophecies about the Messiah’s coming and death.

“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people… until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes… After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary” (Daniel 9:24-26).

This prophecy:

→ Predicts the timing of the Messiah’s coming (483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem) → Says the Messiah will be “put to death” (crucified) → Says Jerusalem and the temple will be destroyed after the Messiah’s death (fulfilled in 70 AD)

The precision of this prophecy is stunning. It predicted the exact timing of Jesus’ coming and His death.

The twelve “minor prophets” all point to the coming Messiah.

Hosea: God’s Unfailing Love

Hosea’s marriage to an unfaithful wife is a picture of God’s love. “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son” (Hosea 11:1).

Matthew quotes this of Jesus: “And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son'” (Matthew 2:14-15).

Joel: The Outpouring of the Spirit

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy…” (Joel 2:28-29).

Peter quotes this on the day of Pentecost: “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people‘” (Acts 2:16-17).

The Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers.

Amos: Justice and Righteousness

Amos promises restoration: “‘In that day I will restore David’s fallen shelter… and will rebuild it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name…” (Amos 9:11-12).

James quotes this, showing that God’s plan includes Gentiles: “…rebuild David’s fallen tent… that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name…” (Acts 15:16-17).

Jesus is the fulfillment of David’s restored kingdom, and His kingdom includes all nations.

Obadiah: Pride Comes Before a Fall

Obadiah’s message: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This points to Jesus, who humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).

Jonah: Death, Burial, and Resurrection

Jonah’s three days in the fish point to Jesus’ three days in the tomb. Jonah also shows God’s compassion for all nations—even Israel’s enemies.

Micah: Born in Bethlehem

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).

Written 700 years before Jesus, this prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus was born in Bethlehem:

“In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: “But you, Bethlehem… for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel”‘” (Matthew 2:4-6).

Nahum: God’s Judgment and Protection

Nahum declares: “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7). This points to Jesus, our refuge and salvation.

Habakkuk: The Just Shall Live by Faith

God’s answer to Habakkuk’s question about evil: Judgment is coming, but “the righteous person will live by his faithfulness” (Habakkuk 2:4).

This verse is quoted three times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38) as the foundation of salvation by faith. We are saved not by works, but by faith in Jesus.

Zephaniah: The Day of the LORD

Zephaniah promises restoration: “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). This is Jesus—the Mighty Warrior who saves, who delights in His people.

Haggai: The Desire of All Nations

The people were discouraged over the small, rebuilt temple. God spoke through Haggai: “‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty…” (Haggai 2:9).

This temple was greater because Jesus—God incarnate—would walk in it.

Zechariah: The Coming King

Zechariah contains numerous prophecies about Jesus:

→ The King riding on a donkey: “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey…” (Zechariah 9:9). (Fulfilled on Palm Sunday – Matthew 21:7-9) 

→ Betrayal for thirty pieces of silver: “So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver… So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter…” (Zechariah 11:12-13). (Fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus – Matthew 27:3, 5-7) 

→ The One they pierced: “They will look on me, the one they have pierced…” (Zechariah 12:10). (Fulfilled when Jesus was pierced on the cross – John 19:34, 37) 

→ A fountain for sin: “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David… to cleanse them from sin and impurity” (Zechariah 13:1). (This fountain is Jesus’ blood – 1 John 1:7)

Malachi: The Messenger and the Sun of Righteousness

Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. Followed by 400 years of silence.

→ The Messenger: “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me…” (Malachi 3:1). (The messenger is John the Baptist – Matthew 11:10) 

→ The Sun of Righteousness: “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays…” (Malachi 4:2). (Jesus is the rising sun, the light that shines in darkness – Luke 1:78-79)

We’ve walked through all 39 books of the Old Testament. And what have we seen? A single scarlet thread running through every book—the promise of a Redeemer, the blood of sacrifice, the hope of salvation.

From Genesis to Malachi:

→ Genesis – The seed of the woman who will crush Satan’s head 

→ Exodus – The Passover Lamb whose blood saves from death 

→ Leviticus – The sacrifices that atone for sin → Numbers – The bronze serpent lifted up to bring life 

→ Deuteronomy – The Prophet like Moses who will speak God’s words 

→ Joshua – The leader who brings God’s people into the Promised Land 

→ Judges – The deliverers who save God’s people, pointing to the ultimate Deliverer 

→ Ruth – The kinsman-redeemer who buys back what was lost 

→ 1 & 2 Samuel – David, the shepherd-king after God’s own heart 

→ 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles – The promise of an eternal King from David’s line 

→ Ezra & Nehemiah – God’s faithfulness to bring His people back 

→ Esther – Deliverance on the third day 

→ Job – The living Redeemer who will stand on the earth 

→ Psalms – The suffering and glory of the Messiah 

→ Proverbs – The Wisdom of God who was with God at creation 

→ Ecclesiastes – The meaninglessness of life without God 

→ Song of Solomon – The love between Christ and His Church 

→ Isaiah – The virgin-born child who is Mighty God, the Suffering Servant who bears our sins 

→ Jeremiah – The righteous Branch, the new covenant written on hearts 

→ Lamentations – God’s compassion that never fails 

→ Ezekiel – The Good Shepherd, the new heart and new spirit 

→ Daniel – The Son of Man who receives eternal dominion 

→ Hosea – God’s unfailing love for His unfaithful people 

→ Joel – The outpouring of the Spirit on all people 

→ Amos – The restoration of David’s fallen tent 

→ Obadiah – God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble 

→ Jonah – Three days in death, then deliverance 

→ Micah – Born in Bethlehem, origins from ancient times 

→ Nahum – The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble 

→ Habakkuk – The righteous will live by faith 

→ Zephaniah – The Mighty Warrior who saves and rejoices over His people 

→ Haggai – The glory of the new temple greater than the old 

→ Zechariah – The King riding on a donkey, the One they pierced, the fountain opened for sin 

→ Malachi – The messenger who prepares the way, the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His rays

Every book points to Jesus. Not to a pattern. Not to a system. Not to multiple mediators in different eras. To one Person: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God in human flesh, the Savior of the world.

The Old Testament is not a collection of disconnected stories or symbolic puzzles to be decoded by one man’s interpretation. It’s a unified testimony to God’s character, God’s faithfulness, and God’s plan of redemption through Jesus.

When we read the Old Testament this way—as Jesus taught His disciples to read it—we see:

→ God’s character never changes – He is faithful, patient, loving, just, and merciful from Genesis to Malachi 

→ God’s mission never changes – From the first promise in Genesis 3:15 to the last promise in Malachi 4:2, God’s mission is to redeem humanity through one promised Savior 

→ Salvation has always been by grace through faith – Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness… the prophets called people to trust in the LORD 

→ Every prophecy, type, and shadow points to Jesus – The sacrifices, the feasts, the tabernacle, the priesthood, the kings, the prophets—all point to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment → The third day pattern runs throughout – God’s signature of deliverance, pointing to Jesus’ resurrection on the third day 

→ Jesus is the fulfillment of all God’s promises – Not one promise among many, but the fulfillment of every promise God made

This is the story Shincheonji doesn’t teach. Because if they did, you would see that:

→ Jesus is not one messenger among many—He is God Himself come to save us 

→ Jesus’ work is not incomplete—He said “It is finished” and sat down at the right hand of God 

→ We don’t need another mediator—Jesus is the one mediator between God and mankind 

→ We don’t need to recognize a “promised pastor”—we need to trust in Jesus alone → Salvation is not about joining an organization—it’s about believing in Jesus

The scarlet thread through the Old Testament is not the blood of many sacrifices pointing to many mediators. It’s the blood of one perfect sacrifice—Jesus—who died once for all, who rose on the third day, who is seated at the right hand of God, and who is coming again.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes‘ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

All of God’s promises find their fulfillment in Jesus. Not in Shincheonji. Not in Lee Man-hee. In Jesus alone. This is the story of the Old Testament. This is the scarlet thread. This is the gospel.

In the next chapter (Chapter 25), we’ll walk through the New Testament and see how Jesus fulfilled every promise, completed every type, and accomplished everything the Old Testament pointed toward. 

But for now, let this truth settle in your heart: The entire Old Testament—all 39 books, written over 1,000 years by over 40 different authors—tells one unified story: God’s promise to send a Redeemer. And that Redeemer is Jesus. Not a pattern to be repeated. Not a system to be replicated. Not a role to be passed on. Jesus is the fulfillment. The completion. The final word.

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being… After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Jesus is God’s final word. His complete revelation. His perfect sacrifice. And He is enough.

THE BEGINNING: When Everything Breaks

Genesis – God creates with purpose and order. Everything is good, especially humanity made in His image. But Adam and Eve choose rebellion. Sin corrupts what God made good. Cain kills Abel, humanity becomes corrupt, and the flood comes.

But God never gives up.

Instead of abandoning humanity, He chooses Abraham to begin a new family—a covenant people through whom the world will be blessed. When the promise seems impossible (Abraham and Sarah are old and childless), God remains faithful. The promise passes to Isaac, then Jacob, then Joseph. Even when Joseph’s brothers betray him and sell him into slavery, God is working behind the scenes, positioning Joseph to save the very family that rejected him.

God’s character revealed: Even when humanity fails catastrophically, God doesn’t abandon His creation. He pursues restoration through a chosen family. His faithfulness doesn’t depend on ours.

THE RESCUE: When God Hears Their Cries

Exodus – The Israelites are enslaved in Egypt, crushed by oppression. They cry out. God hears them. He doesn’t say, “You failed, I’m moving on to better people.” He sends Moses to rescue them.

Through ten plagues, God proves His power and delivers them. At the Red Sea, when they’re trapped, He makes a way. At Mount Sinai, He gives them the covenant—not as a burden, but as a way to live in relationship with Him. He instructs them to build the tabernacle so He can dwell among them.

Leviticus – God doesn’t just rescue and leave. He teaches them how to live holy lives, establishing sacrifices and the Day of Atonement—a system that acknowledges their ongoing failure while providing a way back to Him. Even when they’re unfaithful, He remains faithful.

God’s character revealed: He pursues relationship even with enslaved, broken people. He provides a way for sinners to approach a holy God. His commitment isn’t based on their performance.

THE WILDERNESS: When They Rebel Again and Again

Numbers – The journey to the Promised Land is messy. The people grumble, rebel, and doubt God repeatedly. They complain about the food He provides. They build a golden calf while Moses receives the Ten Commandments. When they refuse to enter the land out of fear, God disciplines them—40 years of wandering.

But He doesn’t abandon them. He guides them with a cloud by day and fire by night. He provides food and water daily. Even when they are faithless, He remains faithful—He cannot deny Himself.

Deuteronomy – Moses’ final speech is a passionate plea: “Choose life by loving and obeying God.” It’s not about perfect performance—it’s about relationship. Moses reminds them of everything God has done and challenges them to remember, not just for themselves, but for future generations.

The message is clear: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). God’s character doesn’t change based on ours.

God’s character revealed: Discipline doesn’t equal abandonment. God stays with His people through their failures, teaching them to trust Him. His faithfulness is rooted in His character, not their obedience.

THE LAND: When They Forget Again

Joshua – God keeps His promise. Joshua leads Israel into the Promised Land. When they obey, they see victory. When they disobey, they face setbacks. But God doesn’t give up on them.

Judges – After Joshua dies, Israel forgets God. The cycle begins: rebellion → oppression → crying out → deliverance through judges. This happens over and over. Some judges are faithful (Deborah), others deeply flawed (Samson).

The pattern shows God’s heart: Every time they cry out, He sends a deliverer. He could have abandoned them after the first cycle. After the second. After the tenth. But He doesn’t. Instead, He rescues them repeatedly.

By the end of Judges, “everyone does what is right in their own eyes”—complete moral chaos. Yet God doesn’t walk away.

Ruth – In the midst of this dark period, a beautiful story emerges. Ruth, a Moabite outsider, chooses loyalty to God. Through providential events, she becomes part of David’s lineage—and ultimately Jesus’ lineage. God is always at work, even in small, ordinary lives, even when the nation as a whole is faithless.

God’s character revealed: He doesn’t just rescue once. He pursues His people through cycle after cycle of failure, always ready to restore when they turn back. When we are faithless, He remains faithful.

THE KINGDOM: When Even Kings Fail

1 Samuel – Israel demands a king, rejecting God’s direct rule over them. God could have said, “Fine, you’re on your own.” Instead, He gives them Saul, who starts well but disobeys. God’s response? He doesn’t abandon the nation. He chooses David, a shepherd boy after His own heart.

2 Samuel – David unites the tribes, captures Jerusalem, brings the Ark back. God makes a powerful promise: one of David’s descendants will rule forever. This isn’t conditional on David’s perfection—which is good, because David commits adultery with Bathsheba and has her husband killed.

Yet even in David’s failure, God’s promise stands. David repents, faces consequences, but isn’t abandoned. God’s covenant faithfulness doesn’t evaporate when His people sin.

1 Kings – Solomon builds the temple and receives wisdom. But even the wisest man falls—his heart drifts toward idols. After his death, the kingdom splits: Israel (north) and Judah (south).

2 Kings – Most kings lead the people deeper into sin. Prophet after prophet warns them to repent. God keeps calling them back. He doesn’t immediately destroy them. He sends Elijah, Elisha, and others to plead with them. For generations, while they are unfaithful, He remains faithful.

Eventually, the northern kingdom falls to Assyria. Later, Judah falls to Babylon. Jerusalem is destroyed, the temple burned, the people exiled.

But even this isn’t abandonment—it’s discipline with the goal of restoration.

God’s character revealed: Even the best leaders are flawed. Yet God’s promise for a righteous king—greater than David—still stands. Judgment comes, but it’s not the end. His faithfulness outlasts our unfaithfulness.

THE PROPHETS: Voices Crying in the Darkness

Throughout the decline, God never stops speaking. While His people are faithless, He remains faithful:

Isaiah – Warns of judgment but promises a coming Savior: a child born to a virgin, a suffering servant who will bear our sins, a king whose kingdom will never end. Even while they’re rebelling, God is already planning restoration.

Jeremiah – Weeps over Jerusalem’s fall but delivers hope: “I will make a new covenant, not written on stone but on hearts.” Even in judgment, God promises transformation. Jeremiah is called the “weeping prophet”—his tears reflect God’s own heartbreak over His people. But heartbreak doesn’t mean abandonment.

Lamentations – Raw grief over Jerusalem’s destruction. Yet in the middle of mourning comes this stunning declaration: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Think about that: In the midst of exile, with the temple in ruins and the city destroyed—the result of their unfaithfulness—the prophet declares God’s faithfulness is great. Not was. Not will be. Is.

Ezekiel – In exile, God gives stunning promises: a new heart, a new spirit, a restored people. The vision of dry bones coming to life shows God can resurrect what looks dead. Even when they’re spiritually dead, He remains the God who gives life.

Daniel – Shows faithfulness in exile. God’s kingdom will outlast all earthly kingdoms. Even in a foreign land, serving pagan kings, God hasn’t abandoned His people.

Hosea – God tells Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman to mirror Israel’s relationship with Him. Hosea’s wife repeatedly leaves him for other lovers. Yet God says through Hosea: “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?… My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my burning anger… for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst” (Hosea 11:8-9).

Later: “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely” (Hosea 14:4).

This is the heart of God: Even when His people are like an unfaithful spouse, He refuses to give up.

Joel – Warns of judgment but promises: “I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” Even after their failure, God plans to give them His very Spirit.

Amos – Demands justice but ends with restoration hope: “I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel” (Amos 9:14).

Micah – Calls out corruption but asks: “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” (Micah 7:18). Then prophesies a ruler from Bethlehem who will shepherd God’s people in peace.

Nahum – Shows God’s justice against Nineveh, but it’s justice for those who’ve suffered under evil. God sees, and He acts.

Habakkuk – Wrestles with God’s justice, but concludes: “The righteous will live by faith.” Even when circumstances don’t make sense, God is faithful.

Zephaniah – Warns of judgment but promises: “The Lord your God is with you… He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Even after discipline, God sings over His restored people.

Haggai – Challenges priorities but promises: God’s presence is what matters, and the glory of the new temple will surpass the former.

Zechariah – Gives visions of hope: a humble king on a donkey, a pierced servant, a fountain that cleanses sin. God is already planning the ultimate restoration.

The Minor Prophets – All echo the same themes: judgment for sin, but always hope for restoration. God pursues His people even when they run.

God’s character revealed: In the darkest times, God keeps speaking. He never abandons His people. While they are faithless, He remains faithful. He’s already planning their comeback.

THE RETURN: When God Brings Them Home

Ezra – After decades in exile, Persia’s King Cyrus allows the Israelites to return. They rebuild the temple despite opposition. Ezra teaches the law and leads national repentance. God is faithful to rebuild what was broken—not because they earned it, but because He promised it.

Nehemiah – Leads rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls in 52 days. But physical walls aren’t enough—he and Ezra restore the people’s hearts through teaching God’s law. God doesn’t just restore structures; He restores relationship.

Esther – Shows God’s hidden hand protecting His people from destruction even in exile. Though God’s name isn’t mentioned once in the book, His fingerprints are everywhere. Even when God seems silent, He’s never absent. Even when we can’t see Him, He remains faithful.

God’s character revealed: God brings His people home. He doesn’t just restore buildings—He restores hearts. His faithfulness brought them back, not their faithfulness.

THE WISDOM: Learning to Trust Through Everything

Job – Wrestles with suffering and learns to trust God’s sovereignty even without answers. Job’s friends insist suffering must be punishment for sin. But God vindicates Job, showing that His faithfulness isn’t transactional. Sometimes the righteous suffer, and God remains faithful even then.

Psalms – Shows how to worship through every emotion—joy, sorrow, fear, hope, anger, gratitude. Many psalms cry out: “How long, O Lord?” “Why have you forsaken me?” Yet they end with trust: “But I will trust in Your unfailing love.”

Psalm 136 repeats 26 times: “His love endures forever.” Through creation, through the Exodus, through giving the land, through everything—His love endures forever.

God invites honest conversation, not pretense. He can handle our doubts and questions. His faithfulness doesn’t require our perfect faith.

Proverbs – Teaches how to live wisely in God’s world. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Why? Because He is trustworthy, even when we don’t understand.

Ecclesiastes – Shows that meaning is found only in God, not achievement. Everything “under the sun” is meaningless without Him. But with Him, even our small lives have eternal significance.

Song of Songs – Celebrates love as God’s gift. “Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away” (Song of Songs 8:7). This is a picture of God’s love for His people—unquenchable, unstoppable, faithful.

God’s character revealed: He wants relationship, not performance. He welcomes our questions, emotions, and struggles. His faithfulness doesn’t depend on our understanding or our feelings.

THE PROMISE: Waiting for the King

Malachi – Closes the Old Testament with both warning and promise. The people have grown spiritually lazy. They’re offering defective sacrifices, divorcing their wives, and questioning whether serving God even matters.

God confronts their apathy: “Where is my honor?”

Yet He doesn’t give up on them. He promises: “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2).

And the final promise: A messenger will prepare the way for the Lord.

The Old Testament ends with anticipation—pointing forward to the promised Savior who will fulfill everything the prophets longed for.

400 years of silence follow. No prophets. No new revelation. Just waiting.

But silence doesn’t mean absence. God’s faithfulness continues even when He’s not speaking.

CONNECTING THE THREAD – What This Story Reveals

Now that we’ve walked through the entire Old Testament narrative, let’s step back and see what this reveals about God’s consistent character and mission.

The Pattern That Emerges

From Genesis to Malachi, one truth echoes through every book:

• God creates → Humanity rebels → God pursues
• People fail repeatedly → God keeps calling them back
• They break the covenant → God remains faithful to it
• They worship idols → God still claims them as His own
• They face consequences → But never final abandonment
• Exile comes → God brings them home
• They forget Him → He never forgets them
• Human kings fail → God promises a perfect King

Two Competing Narratives

As we saw in Chapter 24, there are two very different ways to read this same story:

Shincheonji’s Narrative: Betrayal → Destruction → Replacement with better people

• God tries with one group
• They fail
• He destroys them completely
• He starts over with new people who “get it right”
• This pattern repeats through different eras
• Each era requires recognizing the “promised pastor” of that time

The Bible’s Actual Narrative: Creation → Fall → Relentless Pursuit → Discipline → Restoration → Promise of Ultimate Redemption

• God creates and loves His people
• They fail repeatedly
• He pursues them through their failures
• He disciplines but never abandons
• He promises transformation from within
• All pointing to ONE ultimate Redeemer who will fix everything

The Bible’s Clearest Statement

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13).

God’s faithfulness isn’t a response to ours. It’s rooted in His character. He cannot be unfaithful because faithfulness is who He is. He cannot abandon His people because that would require Him to stop being God.

Why This Matters

This is why:

• Abraham’s failures didn’t cancel God’s promise
• Israel’s golden calf didn’t end the covenant
• David’s adultery didn’t revoke God’s promise of an eternal king
• Israel’s idolatry led to exile, but not abandonment
• Judah’s rebellion led to Babylon, but not the end of the story

Every time they were faithless, He remained faithful.

The Scarlet Thread

As Chapter 24 explains, there’s a scarlet thread running through the entire Old Testament—the promise of a Redeemer who would:

• Crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15)
• Bless all nations through Abraham’s seed (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:16)
• Be the Passover Lamb whose blood saves from death (Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 5:7)
• Be the suffering servant who bears our sins (Isaiah 53)
• Be born in Bethlehem as the eternal King (Micah 5:2)
• Be pierced for our transgressions (Zechariah 12:10)
• Establish a new covenant written on hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Every prophecy, every sacrifice, every type and shadow points to one Person: Jesus Christ.

Not a Pattern, But a Person

God doesn’t move on to “better people” who “get it right.” He transforms the same broken people through relentless love. He doesn’t abandon when they fail—He runs toward them when they return.

The Old Testament isn’t teaching us a pattern of “betrayal, destruction, and salvation through replacement.”

It’s pointing us to a Person—the coming Messiah who would:

• Not replace God’s people, but redeem them
• Not destroy the old and start fresh, but transform from within
• Not be one mediator among many, but the one and only mediator between God and humanity

The Question This Raises

If the entire Old Testament—39 books written over 1,000+ years—consistently shows God’s character as faithful, pursuing, restoring, and never abandoning His people…

If every prophet points forward to one coming Redeemer who will accomplish what no human could…

If God’s pattern is not “destroy and replace” but “discipline and restore”…

Then how can Shincheonji’s teaching—that God operates on a cycle of betrayal, destruction, and replacement with new people—be correct?

The two narratives are fundamentally incompatible.

What Comes Next

The Old Testament ends waiting for this God to do something unprecedented: to come Himself, in person, to finally and fully restore what sin has broken.

Not by destroying and replacing.

Not by starting over with better people.

But by transforming from within through the promised Messiah.

That’s the heart of God from Genesis to Malachi—and it never changes.

When we are faithless, He remains faithful. Always has. Always will.

And as we’ll see when we continue into the New Testament, this faithful God doesn’t send another messenger to finish what Jesus started. He comes Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, to complete the work once and for all.

The scarlet thread that runs from Genesis 3:15 to Malachi 4:2 doesn’t point to multiple mediators in different eras.

It points to one Savior, one sacrifice, one finished work: Jesus Christ, the faithful God who became man to rescue faithless people.

This is the story the Old Testament tells. Not a pattern to be repeated, but a promise to be fulfilled. And that fulfillment has a name: Jesus.