Symbols That Testify of Jesus Christ

Title

Symbols That Testify of Jesus Christ

Book Title

The Jesus Christ Focused Old Testament: Making Sense of a Monumental Book

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Chapter

2 Year of Publication

2022

Authors

Parry, Donald W. (Primary)

Pagination

6-9

Publisher

Book of Mormon Central

City

Springville, UT

Show Full Text

Jesus Christ is the focus of all scripture. In presenting truths about Jesus, the prophets used a number of symbols to provide insight into His life, mission, character, and Atonement. They drew on the natural world, things in the heavens, the temple and its structures, the cosmos, flora and fauna, the animal kingdom, civil and religious positions, building and architectural components, and many others. This chart presents a sampling of symbols that point to Jesus Christ.

Symbol	Representation	Reference(s)
Advocate	“The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people” (Isa. 3:13).	John 2:1
Baptism	Immersion in and emergence from the water points to Christ’s death, burial, and Resurrection.	Rom. 6:1–6
Blood	The sacrificial animal’s blood anticipates Christ’s Atonement; it is His “blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11).	John 6:54; Rom. 3:25; Heb. 9:14, 22; 13:12
Blood, shedding of	The shedding of blood in animal sacrifices points to Christ’s Atonement.	Lev. 1–6
Blood upon the door at Passover	Christ’s blood provides deliverance (spiritual and temporal).	Ex. 12
Branch	A name of the Messiah.	Isa. 11:1–5; Jer. 23:5–6; 33:15–17
Brazen serpent	The brazen serpent is a special object lesson that pertained to the lifting up of Jesus Christ on the cross.	Num. 21:6–9
Captain	The Lord is the “captain of the Lord’s host” (Josh. 5:15).	Josh. 5:15; Heb. 2:10
Cities of refuge	Christ signifies the “refuge,” the “high priest,” and the “avenger of blood” (Hebrew “redeemer of blood”).	Num. 35:6–34; Deut. 4:42; 33:17; Ps. 46:1; 62:7; Heb. 6:18
Commander	The Lord is the “leader and commander of the people” (Isa. 55:4).
Cornerstone	The Messiah is the “head stone of the corner” (Ps. 118:22).	Matt. 21:42
Counselor	A title of the Messiah.	Isa. 9:6–7
Covert	The Messiah is like a “covert from the tempest” to His followers (Isa. 32:2).
Day of Atonement	Sacrifices and symbols of the Day of Atonement uniquely signified Christ’s atoning sacrifice.	Lev. 16; Heb. 7–9
Dew	“I will be as the dew unto Israel,” said the Lord (Hosea 14:5).	Ps. 110:3; Hosea 14:4–5
Eagle	The eagle represents the Lord’s power to protect His people.	Deut. 32:10–12
Fire	The Lord is described as a “wall of fire” and “consuming fire” (Zech. 2:5).	Deut. 4:24
Fortress	The Lord has the qualities of a fortress, with the ability to protect His people.	2 Sam. 22:2–4
Fountain of water	The Lord is the “fountain of living waters.”	Jer. 2:13; 17:13
Guide	God “will be our guide even unto death.”	Ps. 48:14
High priest	The high priest of ancient Israel served as a figure of “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus” (Heb. 3:1; 4:14).	Lev. 21
Horns of the altar	The horns of the altar in the ancient temple are representative of God’s power to bring forth salvation.	Ex. 29:12; 1 Sam. 2:10; 2 Sam. 22:3; Ps. 75:10; Jer. 48:25
Husband	“I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord” (Jer. 31:32).	Isa. 54:5
Judge	Just judges in the book of Judges were a type of the Lord’s anticipated eternal judgeship.	Gen. 18:25; Isa. 11:4
King	Moses, Melchizedek, and other righteous leaders were types of the Lord, “the King of all the earth” (Ps. 47:7).	Deut. 33:4–5; Ps. 44:4; 47:6
Lamb	The lamb signified Jesus, the lamb of God.	Ex. 12:5; John 1:29
Lawgiver	The Lord is “our lawgiver” (Isa. 33:22)
Law of Moses	All components of the law anticipated Christ’s Atonement.	Gal. 3:24
Light	The Lord is the light of the world.	Isa. 60:19
Lion	A lion has qualities, such as strength, fearlessness, and power, that belong to Jesus Christ.	Rev. 5:5; cf. Gen. 49:8–12
Manna from heaven	Christ is the “true” and “living” bread from heaven.	Ex. 16:11–35; John 6:32–57
Mediator	Moses was the mediator of the first covenant, Christ of the second.	Gal. 3:19–20; 1 Tim. 2:5
Ordinances	Various ordinances (sacrifices, shewbread, incense, baptism, etc.) pertain to Christ’s Atonement.	Lev. 18:4; 2 Chr. 2:4; Ezek. 43:11
Passover	Aspects of the Passover anticipated the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is “our Passover” (1 Cor. 5:7).	Ex. 12
Plagues	The Messiah will destroy death at His Resurrection: “I will be thy plagues, O death” (Hosea 13:14).
Plant	The Messiah has the qualities of a plant.	Isa. 53:2; Ezek. 34:29
Priest	The office of and the requirements placed on ancient Levitical priests anticipated Christ’s Atonement.	Lev. 8:5–10; 9; 16; 17; 21:1, 16–23; Heb. 7:11–12, 21
Prophet	All of God’s prophets are types of Jesus, the greatest of all prophets.	Deut. 18:15–18; John 6:14; Mark 6:4
Purifier	As a goldsmith purifies gold, the Lord purifies souls.	Mal. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:22; Heb. 9:13–14
Reverend	The Lord is to be revered, because “holy and reverend is his name” (Ps. 111:9).
Rock	The Lord is “the Rock.”	Deut. 32:4; Ps. 28:1; 62:2; 1 Cor. 10:1–4
Root	The Messiah has the qualities of a root, which gives life to the plant as He gives life to mankind.	Isa. 53:2; Rev. 22:16
Sacrifices	Ancient sacrifices prefigured Christ’s roles as offering, offerer, and priest.	Lev. 1–7
Sacrificial meal	The ancient sacrificial meal, which was eaten by the offerer and the priests in the temple, anticipates the modern sacramental meal; the former looked forward to Christ’s sacrifice, and the latter recalled it.	Lev. 7:11–36
Shepherd	“The Lord is my shepherd.”	Ps. 23
Shield	The Lord is a shield that protects His people.	Gen. 15:1; Ps. 28:7; Prov. 30:5
Shiloh	A title of the Messiah.	Gen. 49:10; 50:24
Star	The Messiah is the “Star out of Jacob” (Num. 24:17).	Rev. 22:16
Stem of Jesse	The Messiah, through the lines of Jesse, has the qualities of a stem.	Isa. 11:1–4
Sun	The Lord is the “Sun of righteousness” (Mal. 4:2).	Ps. 84:11
Temple	Jesus is our sanctuary and “dwelling place” (Ps. 90:1).	Isa. 8:14; Ezek. 11:16
Veil of the temple	The veil is a symbol of Christ’s flesh.	Heb. 10:19–20
Vestments, sacred	Various parts of the ancient priestly sacred vestments symbolize different aspects of the Atonement.	Ex. 28:6–30
Water	Jesus is the living water that saves Israel from death.	Num. 20:7–11; Jer. 2:13; John 4:10–14
Witness	The Messiah serves as a witness of the truth.	Isa. 55:4; John 18:37; Rev. 3:14

Table of Contents

Book

The Jesus Christ Focused Old Testament: Making Sense of a Monumental Book

Parry, Donald W.

56 Chapters

Introduction

Parry, Donald W. | pp. i-viii

Prophecies of Jesus Christ’s Mortal Ministry and Atonement

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 1-5

Symbols That Testify of Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 6-9

The Lord Jesus Christ: Conquering Hero

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 10-12

Jesus Christ Is the Lord of History: Nine Major Historical Eras

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 13-16

The Lord Jesus Christ: Potter, Captain, Shepherd, and More

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 17-21

The Lord Jesus Christ Controls the Nations: Book of Judges Case Study

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 22-23

Old Testament Passages Cited by Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 24-28

Messianic Prophecies in the Psalms

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 29-31

Psalm 22 and Its Fulfillment in Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 32-33

Isaiah's Prophecies of the Mortal Messiah

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 34–36

The Messiah in Isaiah 53: Four Recurring Themes

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 37-38

Names, Titles, and Metaphors of the Lord Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 39-43

Lord (Jehovah): The Most Frequently Used [Content] Word in the Hebrew Bible

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 44-47

Equivalent Designations of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old and New Testaments

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 48-50

God: Compound Names

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 51-53

Lord: Compound Names

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 54-56

The Lord Is Our Savior

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 57-59

The Lord (Jehovah) Is Our Redeemer

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 60-61

The Lord Is Our Atoner

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 62-63

Jesus Christ Is the Messiah

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 64

Jesus Christ Is the Lord

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 65-66

One, Three, and Seven: Sacred and Symbolic Numbers

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 67-69

Seven and Sacred Time

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 70-71

Eve: Life and Help: A Type of Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 78-79

Adam: "The Figure of Him that Was to Come"

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 80-81

Prophets and Prophetesses: The Lord's Messengers

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 72-77

Melchizedek: Type of Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 82-83

Isaac: Type and Shadow of Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 84-85

Joseph of Egypt: Foreshadow of Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 86-87

Moses: Type and Shadow of Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 88-89

Elijah: Symbol of Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 90-91

Job: Suffering Servant, A Type of Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 92-93

Hosea’s Family: Symbols of the Lord for Ancient Israel

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 94-95

The Sign of Jonah: Pointing to Christ’s Death

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 96-97

Priests and High Priests: Foreshadowing Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 98-99

The Lord Reveals Cycles of Sacred Time

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 100-101

Striking Blood on the Doorposts: The Passover Anticipates Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 1102-103

The Day of Atonement: Messianic Foreshadowing

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 104-105

"A Feast to the Lord": Sacred and Secular Meals

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 106-107

Parallelisms: Teaching About the Lord Jesus Christ Through Poetry

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 108-110

Chiasmus: Unique Presentations of the Lord’s Word

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 111-113

The Psalms: Praises to the Lord Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 114-115

Lord: Focused Prophetic Speech Forms

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 116-117

Prayers: Mortals Seeking the Lord's Divine Favor

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 118-119

Worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ through Music and Song

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 121-123

Law of Moses: Anticipated Jesus Christ and His Atonement

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 124-125

Manna: Symbol of Jesus Christ

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 126-127

Symbols of Christ in the Tabernacle of Moses

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 128-129

Sacrifices Under the Law of Moses: Six Acts

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 130-131

Sacrifices: Symbols of Jesus's Atoning Sacrifice

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 132-133

Diet Code: Unclean and Clean Animals

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 134-135

God Is a Holy Temple: Temples and Sacred Space

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 136-137

The Atonement-Focused Earthly and Heavenly Temples

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 138-140

Jesus's Royal Ancestry: Rulers of the Kingdom of Judah

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 141-142

Bibliography

Parry, Donald W. | pp. 144-145

Bibliographic Citation

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