The fall of Jericho, a “sign”of things to come.

[Stewardofthemystery]

In Joshua Chapter 6. verse 1 it says Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel.

The Lord commands Joshua to compass, or go around the city with the 7 priests and men of war once, and they were to do this for six days.

Seven priests x the first 6 days is “the sign” of 42 generations as seen in Matthew 1:17; or like the 42 months seen in the Revelation. (7x6 seals=42)

I believe the 6 days could also “symbolize” a 6 thousand year period as well, just as it is written a thousand years is “as” one day to the Lord.

In verse 4 the Lord commands on the seventh day seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams horns; this is like the 7x7 sabbaths leading up to Pentecost.

And on the 7th day they were to compass the city seven times, and on the seventh time around they were to blow the trumpets.

In Revelation 8 we see the symbolic meaning of this, after the opening of the 7th seal we see seven angels with seven trumpets, or again 7x7.

In verse 6 we see the seven angels prepare themselves to sound. And we see as each angel sounds his trumpet, and a plague is poured out upon the earth.

In Revelation 15:1 we see seven angels who carry the seven last plagues, and in them is filled the wrath of God.

So in a nutshell the Lord is comparing the fall of the city of Jericho and its fate to the fall of this world, which is to be “likened” to the fall of Babylon as is also shown in the book of the Revelation.

Again the Lord is showing a type and shadow, even a pattern and a time frame in all this, just as there were 7 seals opened by the Lamb before we see the 7 angels with 7 trumpets.

In the law there was to be a countdown after the first of the firstfruits were harvested, which is Christ the firstfruits and those who were ressurected with Him.
 

This countdown was to be 7 Sabbaths, or 7x7 showing this repeating pattern. This is kind of like the sign given with Noah as well, who was told to leave the door open 7 days more after he had entered into the ark.

These signs repeat over and over in scripture so we might better know what the Lord is going to do on a grand scale.

Back in Joshua 6:5 the Lord tells them when they make a long blast of the trumpet the people were to shout with a “great shout” and the walls of the city would fall, and the children were to “ascend up”.

With that lets go to 1 Thessalonians 4:16 it reads; “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven “with a shout”, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be “caught up” together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Again notice the wording ( in the KJV) at the end of Joshua 6:5 it said the children shall “ascend up”.

This is clearly painting the same picture of the ingathering at the end of this age, and the judgment of this world. I know a lot of people are confused about the timing of the resurrection, or the rapture as some would like to call it, but the timing is not as crucial as the being a part of the number.

But the Lord tells us clearly that it is at the “last day”, and the “last trump”, so I do not see any so called “pre-tribulation rapture” as some teach and believe.

Many are also confused about when the tribulation starts, but there are actually 2 tribulation periods mentioned in scripture. The first is to the Jews, the last is to the Nations. I wrote a study on this if anyone is interested.

For now let’s look at the order of events in Joshua 6:9, the men of war were to go “before”the ark and the priests, and the priests were to go “before”the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant represents Christ, as both contained “in them”the Testimony of God.

The men of war could be seen as the saints who were like God’s army or soldiers for Christ, or perhaps they could represent the heavenly host that go before the Lord, who seal up his servants, minister to them, and then finally separate and gather those that are the Lords at harvest time.

Jesus also spoke of this ingathering in the parable of the wheat and the tares.

Notice in Joshua 6:8 it is the Ark of the Covenant that follows the men of war and the priests. But also notice in verse 9 it says the “rereward” came after the ark.

The word rereward means “to gather” to “gather in” to “receive” to “collect”. So we can see how this signifies a “ingathering.”

I believe this also symbolizes the coming of Jesus Christ and His reward.

In Isaiah 40:10 it reads; “Behold, the Lord God will come with a strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold his reward is with him, and his work before him.”

And in Revelation 22:12 the Lord says, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

So we see the workers go before Him to gather, just as Jesus said “he that gathers not with me scatters.” And just as Jesus showed us when he sent his disciples out before him to the towns and cities proclaiming the Kingdom of heaven.

And this is what the Lord has been doing for the last six thousand years or so, he has sent out his workers to sow seed and to gather in those who belong to His Kingdom. But when He returns, His reward shall be with Him; remember all judgment has been given unto the Son.

Back in Joshua 6:15 it says on the seventh day, about “the dawning”of the day.

This verse is important because it is giving us an approximate time that this would come to pass. The Lord gives us this information for a reason, he did not say in the middle of the day, or at the end of the day, he makes note at “the dawning” of the 7th day.

So at the beginning of the seventh day in God’s time, this event will take place. God spoke of the 7th day, concerning His day of rest.

In Hebrews 4:4-9 we see mention of the 7th day and those who are yet to enter into His rest. This signifies the big sabbath rest of “a thousand years”, or as “a day” of rest for God and His people.

In verse 16 it says on the seventh day, when they had compassed the city seven times, when the priests blew the trumpets, the people shouted as the Lord commanded.

In verse 17 the Lord says the city shall be accursed and all that are therein, except for Rahab the harlot, because she kept the 2 messengers that were sent.

Which if we receive Gods 2 messengers, His Word and His Spirit, then we too shall be spared.

This sign of the city being accursed is shown in the fall of mystery Babylon. When after the fall it is called the cage of every foul and wicked spirit, and they shall not escape.

So when the people shouted the walls of the city fell down flat and the children of Israel went up into the city. In verse 21 it says all that was within the city was utterly destroyed.

This reflects on the complete and utter destruction of this world order when the Lord pours out His wrath upon it.

In verse 24 we see the city was burned with fire, except for the riches, which were to be the Lords.

And this will be the fate of this earth at the end of this age; it shall be cleansed with fire.

Peter tells us the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the heavens shall be on fire, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

So look to the patterns shown in the law and prophets to get a little better insight into future events.
 

Peace and God bless