The Devoted Word

Scripture sees the dominion mandate from multiple perspectives, but there is one thing it is certainly not supposed to mean for God's people. . . .

What does it mean to be created in the Image of God, exactly? Theologians have been quite diverse on this, but we have at least some answers---some very interesting ones in fact! Join us as we consider the Image in Adam, both male and female, humanity as a whole, its ultimate fulfillment in Christ himself, and more!

Animal as symbols appear in crucial theological areas: God, man, sacrifices, case laws, nations, tyrannies, food laws, prophecies, and more . . . all for important reasons to which we really need to pay attention today.

God's language of fruiting trees appears over and over again as imagery of abundance, life, and blessing. We see them associated with the righteous man, trees planted by the waters, giving fruit in due season; and we see them as symbols of nations, culminating in the trees of life for the healing of the nations in Revelation 22. Along the way we get an interesting glimpse at their symbolism as ladders to heaven, in Jesus' words to Nathaniel.

The second discussion of the theological use of rock, precious metals, and gems in Scripture.

What about those glorified stones? What of those "stones of fire" as God calls them in Ezekiel? What about refinement and purity and holiness? What of these living stones and the stone cut out without hands growing to fill the earth? These are not just dull rocks.

Pay attention, because this is talking about you and your God!

God created the dry land. He also calls himself and Christ "the Rock" over and over again in Scripture. Rocks feature in many prominent and important ways, and we must pay attention. - Eden especially contained special "glorified" rocks such a gold an...

God placed the sun, moon, and stars in the heaven for "signs" and for "seasons." Their theological significance is much greater than you think, especially when we contemplate the "end time" "signs in the heavens," stars falling from the sky, and a New Jerusalem in which there is no need for the sun!

We discuss the creational aspects of dry land, plants, seed-bearing grasses, and fruit-bearing trees---and the biblical theology built upon them. We revisit Noah with his vineyard, Christ the vine and we his branches, the wedding at Cana, the Trees of Life and Healing of the Nations in this New Covenant, and much more. . . .

The Bible uses the Genesis 1 concept of the "firmament" or "expanse" which divides the heavens in various places. Understanding the theology and imagery of the expanse will help us understand several passages about the heavens and eschatology / end times much better.