The Parable of the Raven and the Dove

[tsth]

(I'm not sure if I have posted this already or not, but I found it interesting. This is from another site, not myself. I had printed it off, and came back across it this morning.)

THE PARABLE OF THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE

A Mysterious Allegory Hidden In Genesis?

Many years ago, decades ago in fact, the Lord gave me a very

interesting revelation from the book of Genesis. I have only

shared this little gem with a few. Being the curious soul

that I am, I used to wonder about something which occurred

during the time of Noah's Flood. Maybe you have too. Here is

the verse from that story which sparked my interest:

"And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro,

until the waters were dried up from off the earth."

(Genesis 8:7)

While I have always believed that Genesis is meant to be

taken in a literal sense, I also believe, as is explained in

other articles, that some of it has deep spiritual

implications which few understand. It may take some degree

of faith on your part to accept this, but I believe the

above verse is an unfulfilled prophecy. Haven't you ever

wondered why Noah sent out a raven before the dove? Haven't

you ever been curious as to what happened to the raven? I

know I have, or at least I did. Well, I thought I had

understood this whole mystery years ago, but it wasn't until

just now that the Lord showed me that there is even more to

this than I could ever have possibly imagined! It is truly

fascinating! Let's talk about the dove first. Here are the

key verses:

"Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters

were abated from off the face of the ground; But the dove

found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned

unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of

the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her,

and pulled her in unto him into the ark. And he stayed yet

other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of

the ark; And the dove came in to him in the evening; and,

lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew

that the waters were abated from off the earth. And he

stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which

returned not again unto him any more." (Genesis 8:8-12)

Using my method of comparing Scripture with Scripture, we

can easily deduce that the dove represents the Spirit of

God:

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of

the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he

saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting

upon him:" (Matthew 3:16)

If the dove represents the Spirit of God, what might the

waters represent? Again, comparing Scripture with Scripture,

we find the answer:

"And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where

the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations,

and tongues." (Revelation 17:15)

The meaning of the Ark itself is a simple one. It represents

the salvation of God:

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as

yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his

house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir

of the righteousness which is by faith." (Hebrews 11:7)

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the

longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the

ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were

saved by water." (1 Peter 3:20)

The fact that Noah sent out the dove three times is

very significant. The first time is symbolic of God sending

out His Spirit, Jesus, (aka known as YHVH or Jehovah), to

witness to the people of the ancient world:

"And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me,

See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy

brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for

the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

(Revelation 19:10)

Those people, (waters), did not receive the testimony of the

Spirit of God, so the Spirit, (Jesus), returned to Him Who

had sent Him. Thus, those people were drowned and did not

receive the salvation of God. Two thousand years ago the

Lord God sent out His Spirit a second time. This time when

the Son, (dove), returned to His Father, (Noah), He had glad

tidings. Just as the dove returned with an olive branch in

its beak, Jesus returned to Heaven having accomplished His

purpose:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good

will toward men." (Luke 2:14)

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by

him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say,

whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

(Colossians 1:20)

By His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus had closed up the

breach between God and man and restored peace to their

relationship...at least to those who received Him. To

those who didn't and haven't, His words of peace were and

are a sword which pierces their hearts:

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not

to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34)

"Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell

you, Nay; but rather division:" (Luke 12:51)

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper

than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing

asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the

heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

On one final third occasion, Noah, (God) sent out the dove

(Jesus), to test the waters, and this time it did not

return. Do you know why? Because when Jesus returns the

third time, He will dwell with man!:

"And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me,

These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have

washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the

Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve

him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the

throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more,

neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on

them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of

the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living

fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from

their eyes." (Revelation 7:14-17)

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the

tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them,

and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with

them, and be their God." (Revelation 21:3)

Isn't that wonderful?! And exactly when is this going to

happen? That is where we get into the second half of this

prophecy which the Lord gave me many years ago. Let me

repeat the first verse I quoted concerning this mystery:

"And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro,

until the waters were dried up from off the earth."

(Genesis 8:7)

It should already be clear who the raven is: Satan! Why is

it that we hear nothing more about the raven in the rest of

the account of Noah's Flood? Because he NEVER returned! Just

as this raven in Genesis has been going to and fro

throughout the Earth until the waters of the Earth are dried

up, Satan too has been walking to and fro throughout the

Earth! This next verse will tie things together very nicely

for you:

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then

Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in

the earth, and from walking up and down in it." (Job 1:7)

Isn't God's Word absolutely wonderful?! Isn't it amazing the

way it all connects together like a great CrossWord puzzle?

The Bible is about the Cross, and it is about the

Word!...But unless you read the clues, you will never figure

it all out. God has already given us the clues and the

answers. It just takes the wisdom and the understanding of

God's Spirit to figure it all out. So, if the raven,

(Satan), is going to fly, (or walk), to and fro throughout

the Earth until the waters, (people), are dried up, all we

have to do is to find out where that happens to see what

happens to that raven...and here it is!:

"And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed

the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire

came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the

devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and

brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and

shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

(Revelation 20:9-10)

That's it folks! When the very last evil people, (or

waters), are destroyed off of the face of the Earth at the

battle of God and Magog, following the Millennial Rule of

Christ, that is when there will a bird fry! The waters,

(people), will be dried up when God sends heavenly fire down

upon them to consume them when they surround the camp of the

Saints; and then Satan, that evil black raven, will be cast

into the lake of fire and brimstone. Only then will this

prophecy from the book of Genesis be completely fulfilled.

I don't know about you, but that is one inspiring

revelation, the second half of which I received only moments

ago! And here another little tidbit you can add to it which

just this minute came to me. Isn't Jesus also called the

Bread of Life? Consider this also. We know that the manna

which the Lord gave to the children of Israel was symbolic

of Jesus' body broken on the Cross, right? We already know

that the waters symbolize people, and that Noah symbolizes

God. How many people were saved during The Flood of Noah's

day? Eight: Noah and his wife, and his three sons and their

wives. Consider this then:

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it

after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight;

for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth."

(Ecclesiastes 11:1-2)

...And that evil was Noah's Flood which saved eight people

to repopulate the Earth! Are all of these connections simply

a coincidence? I don't think so. I hope you have enjoyed

this interesting revelation from God's wonderful Word!

In His Love,

Suzanne

Edited June 14, 2005 by traveller

[Guest Zayit]

Very insightful, makes me wonder though why the raven was allowed on the ark in the first place?

[tsth]

Which takes us back to the ancient old question of why does Satan exist?

I have my take on it.

Job 41:34, Eze. 7:10-11, &27.

Ever heard of a necessary evil?

In His Love,

Suzanne

[EricH]

It is very enjoyable reading. Not to be a party-pooper, but I doubt Moses intended this interpretation when he wrote Genesis. It is very dangerous for instance to look at literature written after Genesis and assume becasue the dove refers to the Holy Spirit in the Gospels, it will also refer to it in Genesis. Moses would have had no way of knowing about the symbolism of the dove.

A great book to read in this regard is, Exegetical Fallacies by DA Carson. He describes common mistakes people make in this regard.

[tsth]

It is very enjoyable reading. Not to be a party-pooper, but I doubt Moses intended this interpretation when he wrote Genesis. It is very dangerous for instance to look at literature written after Genesis and assume becasue the dove refers to the Holy Spirit in the Gospels, it will also refer to it in Genesis. Moses would have had no way of knowing about the symbolism of the dove.

A great book to read in this regard is, Exegetical Fallacies by DA Carson. He describes common mistakes people make in this regard.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not to be a party-pooper either, but in defense of Moses, he didn't intend anything when he wrote Genesis, as it was not him, but God Who authored it, He merely used Moses' hand to convey what the Spirit led him to write. I'm VERY SURE that God knew in Genesis, what the symbolism of the dove would be in the NT.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[EricH]

It is very enjoyable reading. Not to be a party-pooper, but I doubt Moses intended this interpretation when he wrote Genesis. It is very dangerous for instance to look at literature written after Genesis and assume becasue the dove refers to the Holy Spirit in the Gospels, it will also refer to it in Genesis. Moses would have had no way of knowing about the symbolism of the dove.

A great book to read in this regard is, Exegetical Fallacies by DA Carson. He describes common mistakes people make in this regard.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not to be a party-pooper either, but in defense of Moses, he didn't intend anything when he wrote Genesis, as it was not him, but God Who authored it, He merely used Moses' hand to convey what the Spirit led him to write. I'm VERY SURE that God knew in Genesis, what the symbolism of the dove would be in the NT.

In His Love,

Suzanne

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So you believe the personalities and intellects of the human authors were completely suspended in the process of inspiration? That is a unique understanding of the inspiration process that has no presendent that I am aware of.

[tsth]

If you are asking me, who is the author of the Bible, I am saying it is not man............but only God Himself using obedient men to reveal Himself to obedient men.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Kansasdad]

What an interesting line of thought. I have never heard the story of Moses in that light. Say Eric lets not dismiss this too quickly, atleast for me this is new. And as far as inspiration, I see no problem with God inspiring one writer to use the symbolism of a dove and years later inspiring a different writer to use the same symbolism. Heck, maybe the later writers understood the verse of Moses and that is where they got the symbolism from.

Thanks suzanne, I love this stuff

Kansas Dad

[Guest Zayit]

Why did they have to be inspired? If they were told to write something, they wrote it, some like Daniel had no idea what they were writing about, and were told to not even worry about it because it wasn't even for their time. Every jot and tittle was put there for a prupose. Do you think Moshe was even there for any of Genesis? That book I believe was dictated letter for letter from the Holy one, blessed is he! That is why Moshe spent so much time up on the mountain, he didn't even know this language, he was raised as a n Egyptian and only knew hyroglyphic writing and the more daily form perhaps.

[Kansasdad]

What about the animals?

If the arck is the old testimate covenant with Moses then how do two of every kind of beast fit into the covenant?

Kansas Dad