Typology as prophecy: "Behold, it was Leah"

Now the commentary (as I'm able).
Note: Many things clearly stand out to me about this passage, but others are still a mystery to me. As always, I look for discussion about these posts. :-)



Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel


Gen 29:1  Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. 


In this passage, Jacob represents his descendent, Jesus Christ, Messiah. Yeshua, the Word, the onlybegotten Son of God, also went on a journey when He left His homeland (Heaven) and came to earth.

Jacob's name means "heal-catcher" or "supplanter." One who trips other people up. One who tricks people.

Gen 29:2  And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. 


The word for looked is very similar to the word "to shepherd" or a "shepherd." The root words are pronounced alike, but spelled differently: "Rah-ah." Interestingly, though shepherds are depicted, and Rachel is a shepherd, and flocks and sheep are seen, the word "Shepherd" is not seen in this passage. Jesus, like so many of His types in the OT is a shepherd. Here Jacob comes and looks, and though shepherds are present, the "word" "shepherd" is not present.

The local well is a famous meeting place for people in the Bible. Abraham's servant, Moses, and Jesus also met women at a well. This could be the very same well where Rebecca watered Abraham's servant's camels, we don't know.

Notice that in those days, sheep could not drink from a well unless someone drew water up for them-- they could not do it on their own. The water is understood to be salvation-- Jesus explains this in John 4 to the Samaritan woman. Without water, the sheep perish.

The three flocks I don't exactly understand. Why three? Israel, the gentiles, and. . . .? Possibly antediluvian believers? Regardless, they all waited at the well for the time when they might have the salvation of water.

A great stone is on the mouth of the well-- probably to keep enemies from quickly and easily accessing the water supply, to keep animals from falling in, and to keep water from being lost through evaporation. "Who will roll the stone away?" The point is, access to the well of salvation is not easy.

Gen 29:3  And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. 


The normal way to do things was to gather all the sheep together and "they" the shepherds would all have to work together to roll the heavy stone from the mouth of the well. Evidently it could not be done by any one man-- it was very difficult to move.

Gen 29:4  And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 


Jacob politely asks the shepherds where they hail from. They say they are from Haran, which means "parched." These shepherds waiting at the well were from a dry land indeed. This is a land where all the inhabitants desperately need the salvation of water from the well.

Gen 29:5  And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 


They know him, all right. Perhaps by the shepherds' reticence to comment further,  Jacob could have schooled himself on the nature of his uncle. Perhaps they were sizing him up and wondering what his business was and how he was connected to Laban-- a powerful man in the community whose reputation as a trickster and swindler may have already been common local knowledge. Laban can mean several things, including "white" or "to make bricks." I don't know if there is any significance to his name as a type, but let us not forget that in the future, Jacob's descendants will cry out for mercy from being forced to make bricks for a very harsh taskmaster and overlord-- the king of Egypt. Laban will prove to be a difficult master himself.

Gen 29:6  And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. 

Perhaps Jacob picked up some hesitation in the shepherds' voices, and saw some sneaky glances they made at each other at the mention of Laban's name. Jacob, thinking the best of the man and perhaps alarmed, asks quickly, "Is he well?" (Another funny English coincidence-- Is he well-- they are sitting around a well. Ha-ha. Never mind.) The shepherds don't have much time to elaborate before one of them manages to change the subject-- "behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep."

Rachel represents Israel in this account.

Rachel (Ra-khel) means ewe, a female sheep. Her name comes from the same route word as "journey." (See verse 1-- Jacob journeyed, we are told). The ewes were considered journeyers, those who traveled about to find pasture. We have a clue from her name that although Rachel herself is a shepherd, she is a sheep in need of a shepherd. Also she might be a good one to take along on a journey, as she would be willing to be led to greener pastures in the promised land.

Rachel, like her aunt Rebecca, is a real Proverbs 31 woman. She is industrious, and gets in there and does a hard day's work. Many might wonder why she, a female, would be out among the males tending sheep.  Perhaps it is significant that already God is protecting Rachel from the possible ill intentions of other shepherds and strangers in the area, not to mention wild animals. If David killed a bear and a lion while shepherding, what might young Rachel have had to face out in the wilderness with her sheep? Perhaps she had other helpers, this is not stated. Perhaps she had already learned to trust God. This does not seem likely when we read later passages and see that she seems to take stock in idols. Perhaps God had his special hand of protection on her and she did not even realize it.

Why would Laban send his daughter out into the wilderness to watch sheep when a wealthy individual such as himself could probably hire men to do it? Good question, but although it doesn't seem very nice to make your daughter have to do such a thing day by day, it is not unique to Laban-- Jethro also had his daughters tending animals in the wilderness. Quite possibly neither Jethro nor Laban had any sons to pass the family ranch down to, so they had their daughters learn the trade. I see no evidence of Leah, Rachel's sister, learning to care for sheep-- seemingly Rachel was the more robust, hardy, and energetic of the two, so Laban had her to learn the family trade.

Gen 29:7  And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. 

It would seem that Rachel's approach already stirs something up in Jacob. Whether he already is thinking romantically or not, and whether he has spied her beauty from afar, is not stated, but he knows his kinswoman approaches, and he is spurred into action. Wanting to help her get her sheep watered, he looks about at the lazy shepherds sitting about, and tells them to hurry up and be about their business. "Hey, guys, if you're going to water you sheep, get with it, my cousin's coming, and she wouldn't be coming if not to water her sheep." He is trying to determine the protocol. The lazy shepherds (probably representing the priests, levites, Pharisees, and rabbis of Jesus' day) are not doing their job, and Jacob is no dummy. Shepherds should not sit around a closed well with their sheep, when the sheep could be either drinking, or feeding in the pasture. These shepherds did not appear to be concerned for their sheep. Now that Rachel's wellbeing, representing the flock of Israel, is on the line, Jacob rises up and challenges the shepherds.

Jacob is no dummy. He knows the shepherding trade. He knows what is good for a flock. The shepherds were starving and thirsting and overheating their sheep by keeping them around the closed well. Perhaps Jacob wonders if they are standing around just waiting for Rachel, because they are interested in her. Rachel comes to the well in the middle of the day like the Samaritan woman, possibly hoping to avoid men. Jacob sees through the lazy shepherds' ruse just as Jesus exposes the pharisees' abuse of the Jews.

Gen 29:8  And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep. 

Please note how these multiple shepherds don't think their combined strength is enough to roll the stone away. "They" wait for other "they" to do this task. Perhaps it was never their intention to water the sheep anytime soon. Interestingly, the Pharisees in Jesus' day believed in the resurrection at the end of time. Here the shepherds seem to think the thing to do is wait until the end of the day, when ALL the flocks will be gathered together-- then the water of salvation will flow freely. Like Jesus, Jacob was not impressed with this lame excuse for not tending the flock. Jesus will later say, "The hireling careth not for the sheep." Regardless, this is the story they tell Jacob and they're sticking to it.

Gen 29:9  And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. 

Sure enough, here she is, the favored matriarch to be, of Israel.

Gen 29:10  And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 

And in one fell swoop, motivated by his beautiful cousin and the needs of her sheep, this young juggernaut takes on the strength of Samson and does something no one has ever seen done before-- he single-handedly removes the giant stone from the well. Imagine the looks on the faces of the lazy shepherds, who have just been shown up for what they are. A stranger has proven stronger, bolder, more industrious, and more noble than they. "Who will roll the stone away?" Jesus did something no one else had ever done before-- He rolled away the stone of his own tomb-- breaking the seal of death and Hell and opening up the well of the waters of salvation (Yeshua means salvation) for-- first, the lost sheep of the House of Israel.

Please note. Once the well was open, other flocks besides Rachel's could drink. But Rachel's flock (Israel) was Jacob's priority. They drank first.

Please note. If the shepherds had asked politely, maybe Jacob would have opened the well for their sheep, or helped them to open it. But no, they had their own plans, and it didn't involve him. Just like the Pharisees. Imagine their bile as they watched this supplanter shoe-horn himself right into their plans and supplant them. I suspect they had been hoping to interact with Rachel, and at the very least, get a good eye-full of her as they waited for "others" to come so "they" could roll the stone away. The Pharisees had this same feeling about Jesus.

Please also store away for later thought-- Jacob WRESTLED the stone away from the well. Later Jacob wrestles with God in another passage. God (Jesus, anyway) is likened many times to a stone. Here Jacob wrestles with a stone, later he wrestles with God. Is it any wonder that one of the strongest men in the Bible--able to roll away this massive well-stone-- was able to hold his own wrestling against God in a physical form (until God pulled rank and played the miracle card). Also remember that Jacob used a stone for his pillow-- symbolic of resting in God.

Gen 29:11  And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 

There are many places in Scripture describing how much God, and specifically Jesus, loves Israel.

Interesting here that it was either acceptable, or at least not hugely out of line, in this culture, for a man to kiss a woman he was related to but had never met before. By the story timeline, it almost seems as if he kissed her before he even told her who he was! Imagine the lazy shepherds' heartburn as they beheld this bold act! But they had beheld his brute strength, and they dared not oppose him even if they wished to.

We see in John 11 that Jesus wept, but also in other passages, He cried out specifically for Israel. How he would gather her under His wings, and she would not! But here, Rachel seems to be pleased with Jacob.

Gen 29:12  And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.

Now that he has explained why he up and kissed her out of the blue, Rachel spiritedly sprints off to tell her daddy.

Gen 29:13  And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 

Now we talk about Laban again, and I'm not real sure his exact place in this typology, except that there has got to be an element of him representing Satan, and/or sin, and/or the Law, but I am not real sure. This may be one of these areas where the illustration breaks down. Perhaps he partly represents Judas. Note how he runs to meet Jacob and kisses him, before (as we shall see) a great hour of betrayal.

Notice the use of the word tidings, and think of how this is used in the account of Jesus birth. Word started to get around that the "special one" had come.

Gen 29:14  And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. 

Gen 29:15  And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? 

Gen 29:16  And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 

The name Leah (pronounced like Princess Laia) means "weary." Throughout her life she seems to be weary.

In this account, Leah represents the Gentiles and/or the Church.

Gen 29:17  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. 

Tender-eyed means weak-eyed, or not having beautiful eyes. Have you ever noticed that a person's eyes will give you a huge clue about their intelligence, their character, and their personality? When you look into an intelligent person's eyes, or an honest person's eyes, you can tell it. At least that's the typical way of life. Whether or not Leah was intelligent, she was not beautiful, and her eyes gave her an undesirable, plain look. Rachel on the other hand, was a gem to behold. Israel is the apple of God's eye. Many times in scripture, Israel is likened to a beautiful woman.

Gen 29:18  And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 

Jacob set his own terms for his marriage to Rachel. God set the terms of salvation, not man. The price was a huge one to pay-- seven years of hard work for a beautiful maiden.

Why 7 years? I don't really know. However 7 years always reminds me of the Tribuation--- the time of Jacob's Trouble.

Gen 29:19  And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 

Hmm, sneaky sneaky. Laban thinks Jacob is a good catch, and is already trying to insure this will work to his advantage. At this point it is hard to say who (if anyone) Laban represents in the typology. My best guess is, he represents Satan and the law of sin and death. However, the extent to which Jesus or God actually negotiates with Satan about such things is questionable-- however, consider the account of Job. But there is the law of sin and death, and Jesus had to overcome that-- make a deal with God the Father, if you will-- the New Covenant-- to overcome for once and for all, sin and death. But the typology gets a little dicey here.

Just as a set time was made for the wedding of Jacob and Rachel, so a time was set for Messiah to enter into Jerusalem, according to Daniel the prophet. This entry was expected to result in His being crowned King of Israel. In both cases, people involved could count down the days and years.

Gen 29:20  And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

A day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is but a day. Also in some cases a day represents a year in prophecy.

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Jesus' great price he paid for Israel was the price of the cross.

Jesus was a Jew-- if Israel was/is to be His bride, you might say Jesus would be marrying His cousin. (which was not unacceptable in those days, and in spiritual typology, is certainly fine).

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame. . . ." As the joy of Rachel motivated Jacob to endure his labor, so the joy of the salvation of the saints motivated Jesus to endure the cross. 

Gen 29:21  And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

The time was fulfilled. When the appointed time was come, God sent forth His Son. The days were accomplished. It was time. This time was a long time in coming, and everybody knew it. Jacob asked for his bride. And when Jesus entered Jerusalem on the donkey, it was as if He were showing up to ask for His kingdom-- to become king of Israel.

Gen 29:22  And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 

Jesus was crucified at the time of the Passover feast season. Remember Passover was first celebrated in Egypt, when Israel left her bondage to follow God. Rachel was leaving her father, Laban, the one who forced people to make bricks (as his name means), the unfair one. This was time for a feast. Jesus came into Jerusalem at feast time, as if to assume the kingdom of Israel.

The word feast here is fascinating. Mishteh has the usual meaning of "feast" but it actually comes from a word meaning to drink, and it can be used that way as well. Think about how the Passion Week began, in the disciples' perspective, as a great feast celebration week, with exhilarating things ahead-- great promise-- the coming Kingdom-- Jesus taking Israel as His bride. But little did they realize Jesus would talk to them in the upper room about a cup-- the New Covenant in His blood-- and how they should drink it in remembrance of Him. Then as He went to the garden to pray, he prayed that this cup should be taken from Him, that He would not have to drink it. Yet that was what needed to happen. The disciples thought a joyous feast was upon them-- Jesus knew he had to "drink" a bitter draught. Many places in prophecy the symbolism of a cup is used for wrath and judgment. Laban made a feast-- but he also made a bitter cup for Jacob to drink.

Gen 29:23  And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 

The sordid deed is done. Notice we are not shown how either Leah or Rachel feels about this arrangement. Either because Jacob is drunk, or because it is dark, or because his bride is veiled, he does not perceive that he has the wrong wife. PLEASE NOTE: Unlike Jacob, Jesus knew exactly what He was doing, and what would happen.

Jesus came to woo Israel and, ostensibly, to become her King. (Yes, God planned it the way it ended up, from the beginning. But it plays out before a human audience as if Jesus thought He would become king. At any rate, most of his followers thought that was what was going to happen). But Israel was withholden from Him.

Gen 29:24  And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid. 

Not much to say here, but Zilpah is thought to mean "trickle" as if, the trickle of myrhh. Hmm, draw your own conclusions. . . . could also mean the trickle of Jesus' blood? I don't know.

Gen 29:25  And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? 

And it turned out that Jacob's work had been in vain, for He did not win Rachel with his seven years' labor-- He got something he didn't want-- Leah. Even so, Jesus came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But to as many as did receive Him, to them gave He power to be called by His name. Israel was not given as the kingdom to Jesus. Instead, something happened that the Jews were not expecting-- an unexpected age came upon them-- the Church Age-- the age of the salvation of the Gentiles-- the formation of a new and different bride for Christ-- the Church, comprised primarily of Gentiles.

The word beguiled is better translated in most cases "thrown," or "hurled." "Why have you thrown me like this?" In the modern vernacular, "Why did you throw me for a loop?" or "Why did you throw this at me?" Jacob the great wrestler was thrown by an even more skillful wrestler. Here we see not so much the typology, but Jacob's human weakness, and his come-uppance as a supplanter by the bigger swindler, Laban.

But in God's sovereign plan, there was no surprise to God. Jesus knew what He was doing. He knew His millennial reign would not begin until much later. But at the crucifixion, it took all His followers by surprise (except Mary, who knew what was coming because she had paid attention to what He was saying, and was allowed to comprehend His death ahead of time).

After Jesus ascended to Heaven, the disciples dutifully evangelized Israel with the Gospel. Some Israelites believed, but as a group, most of them resisted and would not have Jesus. At some point, God led both Peter and Paul, and the rest of them, to concentrate on the Gentiles since the Jews were not accepting the Messiah. Behold, it was Leah. The primarily Gentile Church.


Gen 29:26  And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 

Oh, now you tell me.

The word for younger, can also mean fewer in number. Keep that in mind, it may be significant later when we see that Rachel has fewer children than Leah. And when we see that ultimately, more Gentiles than Jews have come to salvation, and will have come to salvation by the end of this church age, and the end of the short Tribulation age to come.

The gentiles were truly firstborn-- Israel did not exist as a nation until the time of Jacob and his sons going down into Egypt-- the Gentiles were already on the scene. While God first singled out Israel in a special way (as Jacob met Rachel at the well, and kissed her), yet the gathering of His Israel bride must wait until after the time of the Gentiles' salvation.

Gen 29:27  Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 

And so, give the Gentiles their special time-- this "unforeseen" church age. Be a husband to Leah. Christ is fulfilling the special time of the Gentiles and will soon take His bride up to be with Him. For a week-- seven years-- He will celebrate with His bride the church, while also laboring seven more years for Israel-- the seven years of Jacob's trouble.

Oh and yes-- in case you are wondering, this word for week is exactly the same word used by Daniel to refer to the weeks of Messiah, including the all-important 70th week. Shibah-- Sheba-- Seven. Also means an oath.

Gen 29:28  And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 

And so Jacob gave Leah her celebration, her week, and then (I believe it means, immediately after this) Laban gave Jacob Rachel also. So he ended up with two wives.

Jesus ends up with two wives, evidently. The Church-- and Israel. Some would say this is blasphemous. Well, it may be that in the ages to come, we will all be one and the same. But the story of how Jesus got the two different brides is apparent in history.

Just as Rachel's seven years include her being married to Jacob already as He labors for her, even so, there will be a lot of interaction between Jesus and some in Israel even right away. The 144,000, for instance, if you noticed.

Gen 29:29  And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 

Bilhah means "timid," for what it's worth.

Gen 29:30  And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

And so yeah, it's no wonder we call the Tribulation "The Time of Jacob's Trouble." He sure had trouble enough. If we have time to look at more of the passage, we'll see some of the things that happen in, or as a result of, this time of tribulation-- in Jacob's life. But in the end, Jesus will have His bride, Israel. 

So tonight, my friend RJ and I were discussing prophecy, and I told him about this typology of Rachel and Leah.
He shed some possible additional light on the subject, especially regarding the two different sets of seven years. He says in his studies of Daniel, he believes that it is in the middle of the 69th week of Daniel that Messiah is cut off (crucified). That would mean that there was a period of 3.5 years or so of Jesus' earthly ministry, up to the cross, and then another period of about 3.5 years after the cross through the time of Stephen's martyrdom, and so these two times represent 7 years, or the 69th week of Daniel. If this is the case, it was seven years of Jesus, and then His disciples, laboring for Israel, only for the Jews to corporately reject Christ. At that time, Peter and the others conclude it is time to go unto the Gentiles. I have not studied this out in depth, but this may make sense.

Typologies are really neat to study. Bro. Jim let me say that was well done! What’s even more amazing is that we are discussing a 3,500 year old document that was written by a lowly shepherd, who became the patriarch leader of the nation of Israel, named Moses. However, it is so, so relevant even today! Amen.

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

I really like your first question about the three groups of sheep. It started my wheels moving, like the pistons of 1984 Chevy Citation. Ha, my first car, which happened to throw a rod, due to my tender care.

Gen 29:2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.

The three flocks I don't exactly understand. Why three? Israel, the gentiles, and. . . .? Possibly antediluvian believers? Regardless, they all waited at the well for the time when they might have the salvation of water.

For some silly reason when there is that number “3,” my scientific mind starts throwing up variables and patterns. Therefore, I must submit a suggestion about the three flocks.

Bro. Jim you already established a wonderful picture of how Jacob is a type of Jesus, our blessed redeemer. Hallelujah! Therefore I will spend some time with the sheep.

First I will give you and Old Testament passage then a New Testament passage.

Ezekiel 34:6,11-12 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. (11-12) For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

John 10:14-17 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.


So again who are his people (His sheep)? It has to do, with again, a warning to Israel; written by a shepherd. These next few verses, also have a direct connection with what you suggested in Rachel, as Israel and Leah, as gentiles.

Deuteronomy 32:21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Genesis 30:1-2 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger(tribulation, my words) was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?


The foolish nation that will bring Israel to envy is the Gentiles.

Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.


Leah is greatly blessed because of the love of Jacob and Rachel. Because Rachel is well favored and Jacob is so fond of her, Leah’s womb is opened by God Almighty. The Spiritual seed of the Messiah has been producing great fruit in abundance ever since his glorious resurrection.
This passage brings me back to the sheep of the Messiah’s Resurrection, the threefold order of his body of believers.

I Corinthians 15:20-24 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

The first “fold” was in my mind those Elders of the Old Testament and its ok to disagree with me. However, I don’t think it is by any means a “stretch,” that those that resurrected with Christ were taken with him as part of His blessed ascension.

Matthew 27:52-53 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

I like to think of these as the first sheep or rather the “firstfruits” or a crop of Saints. Ephesians 4 gives us some insight on this part also as we see a great pattern of “tri-unity” of our Holy Father.

Ephesians 4:3-10 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)


These men and women are the first fruits. They are of course, our elders. They are even mentioned in Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. (Enoch, Noah-Antediluvian-but also Old testament saints,)

Of course we also have an Elder order around the throne of God, but lets continue. My next fold is those that are Christ’s at his coming. We are told so many times to be watching. Some may ask for what are we to be watching for? I have the answer as to what and where you are to watch, from two men in white apparel.

Acts. 1:10-11 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Those “two men” witnessed something amazing. You might ask the question, who are they? Thus, we have another strand. Let’s continue.
They told us that Jesus is coming back and they suggested to us to look up for him, specifically in the clouds. Amen!
Christ also tells us in the gospel of Luke about where to look for your redemption.

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.


The apostle Paul also tells us about the clouds, so to speak.

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.


Again if we are with him forever we are his people, thus his sheep, or if would rather I can say Saints.

Revelation 7:13-17 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 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.


The host of Revelation 7 are escaped Saints just like Lot and his daughters came "out of the midst of the overthrow" in Genesis 19:29. Thus, it seems we have another strand but let’s continue. Our third fold of sheep comes at the end. They are given authority after their resurrection - The Saints. The First Resurrection is always in Christ and we will find it is a timing thing, thus three folds of sheep, his people, the Saints all in Christ. Hallelujah!

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.


These Tribulation Saints will rule and reign with Christ just like the 24 Elders and the Rev. 7 fold. They are his sheep because they hear his voice. We have three timings but we are all sheep and we are all one fold.

Thus my wheels have turned and thrown a rod. Thanks for reading.

Here's a rather unusual thought, watchmanjim: What if there is an overlapping of 7 years and 7 years? I'll explain...

There are 1260 days (3.5 prophetic years) from the 1st blood moon (15 April 2014) to 26 September 2017, just 3 days after the Revelation 12:1-2 sign. What if there are another 1260 days of "plenty" (to finish out the 7 years) in which Israel becomes that land of unwalled villages rich in livestock and goods described in Ezekiel 38? And what if this 1260 days of "plenty" is actually the 1st half of the 7-year tribulation. Israel is at peace under the covenant with the antichrist until the end of that 1260 days, which would be the time of the abomination of desolation, leaving a time of great trouble for Israel of 1260 days, which would be the end of the 7-year tribulation and the return of the Lord Jesus.

Basically the last half of the 7 years of plenty would be the 1st half of the tribulation. So there would be yet another half of the tribulation after that--the time from the abomination of desolation to the Lord's triumphant return.

It would look something like this:

2014 blood moon to Revelation 12 sign = 1st half of years of plenty for Israel
Revelation 12 sign + 1260 days (March 2021) = 2nd half of years of plenty for Israel, as well as 1st half of 7-year tribulation period (years of famine for the world)
March 2021 + 1260 days (October 2024) = 2nd half of 7-year tribulation (years of famine for the world)

Perhaps the imagery of Jacob's family being fed during the time of famine ties into this.