Copyright © Brad M. Baker
All Rights Reserved
July 1st 2023
Poetry Vs. Allegory Vs Typology:
1 Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in American poetry. 2 Emily Dickinson once defined poetry this way: If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can warm me I know that is poetry. 3 If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.
4 Allegorical poems contain both a literal and a symbolic meaning. 5 The reader will have to interpret the text’s use of imagery and metaphor in order to get the full meaning. 6 Many fables and fairy tales use allegory, like The Three Little Pigs. 7 The pig that put in the most work builds the strongest house so the allegorical message is that if you work hard, you will see the rewards. 8 The story “Cinderella” is, basically, an allegory of Christian redemption. Cinderella is the soul, he said; her initial consignment to a place in the ashes represents the soul’s initial confinement to the flesh; the fairy godmother is Grace, the transformation of the pumpkin is transubstantiation. 9 Medieval scholars believed the Old Testament to serve as an allegory of New Testament events such as the story of Jonah and the whale, which represents Jesus’ death and resurrection. 10 According to the Old Testament Book of Jonah, a prophet spent three days in the belly of a fish.
11 Unlike allegory, which features an episode having many elements of metaphor and imagery to convey a truth or idea, typological patterns in Scripture are more discrete as real phenomena persons and events correspond and anticipate future fulfillment in similar, yet different persons and events—primarily Jesus Christ.
12 The Exodus of the Jews under Moses is the “type” of a future historical event, the redemption of humanity through the death and resurrection of Jesus. 13 In this view, Christians have replaced Jews as the chosen people, enslaved in the Egypt of sin and death.
14 The Feasts of the Lord in Leviticus 23 are the main example of typology both for the first coming of the Lord with His death and the first Fruits resurrection, then the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, then the second coming and Great White Throne Judgment and Whole Creation Worldview Jubilee.
15 It is our responsibility to like the Bereans were to study the word of God to see if things were so. 16 We should be rightly divide the word of truth though we may not fully understand the mysteries of God Kingdom and His word. 17 We must realize that there can be differences between what is literal like in Genesis 1 with the creation of the Heavens and Earth etc., what is poetic, what is allegorical and what is typology with it’s modelling types and Spiritual antitypes of fulfillment.
Acts 17:10Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2 Timothy 2:15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Flat Earth Poetry and Allegories:
18 Those who believe in the Flat Earth theory seem to use Job. 38:3 as a foundation for their Flat Earth with a foundation set in the Under Earth while the sky is suppose to be a dome over us with water above the dome, in what we know as the Universe. 19 It sounds silly but it is really just poetic and allegorical so that people back in the ancient days would be able to understand it by what they could see. 20 Keep in mind they did not have a full understand like we do today with the help of the technologies we have. 21 The problem is many today take the scriptures literally about the foundations of the Earth etc.
22 After seeing that someone I respected and valued for their teachings was convinced that the Bible teaches a Flat Earth and was asking others to show him otherwise, I realized that this problem must be addressed. 23 He did not seem totally convinced the Earth was flat but he would rather believe that is was because of what the Bible teaches then to disagree with it. 24 But does the Bible actually teach that or does it use poetic language…?
Luke 8:10And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’
1 Corinthians 1:27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; King James Version
25 When did the story of Job take place? 26 The numerous words and grammatical shadings of Aramaic spread throughout the mainly Hebrew text of Job make a setting in the Persian era (approximately 540–330) fairly certain, for it was only in that period that Aramaic became a major language throughout the Levant.
Job 38:3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
27 Isaiah served as a prophet in Jerusalem for about 40 years approximately 740–701 B.C. during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
28 Job seems to have lived after Isaiah the Prophet lived which was about two hundred years after Isaiah lived so Isaiah must have had an influence on him. 29 So let’s see what Isaiah has to say about the foundations of the Earth and other things related to the Babylon captivity and the return back to Jerusalem for a New Heaven and Earth. 30 This is where Isaiah 65 and 66 was fulfilled for after the Babylon captivity, which is what the Apostle John draws on for the final chapters of Revelation 21 and 22 for over 500 years later for the end of the Age in AD70.
31 The Earth’s foundations were laid when God created the Heavens and Earth but notice in Isaiah 51:13-14 how the Earth’s foundations had been laid and then Israel would become the captives in Babylon. 32 Then in verse 15 it says: that I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth. 33 This is Isaiah using the foundation of the Earth again as imagery and metaphor in order to get the full meaning of how a New Heaven and Earth would be created after the captives from Babylon returned to Israel and rebuild their nation. 34 In the Temple the Most Holy Place was a type for Heaven, the Holy Place was a type for the Earth and the Outer Courts was a type for the Sea or waters below and Under Earth where Hades was. 35 Now these allegories served as a purpose with literal manifestations as a type for the antitype of the Spiritual fulfillment for the New Heaven and Earth that is in Revelation 21 and 22.
Isaiah 51:13 And you forget the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth; You have feared continually every day Because of the fury of the oppressor, When he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor?14 The captive exile hastens, that he may be loosed, That he should not die in the pit, And that his bread should not fail. 15 But I am the Lord your God, Who divided the sea whose waves roared— The Lord of hosts is His name.16 And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’ ”
Isaiah 65:17For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
Revelation 21Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
The Heavens in Poetry and Allegories:
36 The Flat Earth theory does not rightly divide the word of truth when looking at the Heavens. 37 Paul mentions a third Heaven so there are at least three different Heavens. 38 Starting with the Universe and all of its galaxies, then our Solar System within the Milky Way, then the third Heaven that Paul talked about where a man in Christ was caught up into the Spiritual Kingdom of Heaven.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.
2 Corinthians 12:2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
39 If the Flat Earth theory is going to take everything so literal then why don’t the say the Earth is square with a medal mirror for a roof over it. 40 With the mountains as pillars for Heaven that has windows to let the water down from what we know as the Universe according to scripture. 41 As if God dwells in the water where he builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth.
42 When they read these things in the scriptures they should have known the writers were using poetry and allegories to describe what they seemed to have seen with their eyes; in order for others back then to partially understand the things they could not see. 43 If we do not rightly divide the word of truth we stand to look foolish in the eyes of those who have discernment where to know when things are to be taken literally or allegorically.
Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Job 37:18 With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror?
2 Samuel 22:8 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations “pillars” of heaven quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
Isaiah 11:12 He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth.
Revelation 7:1 After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
Revelation 20:8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
44 The Flat Earthier’s have to pick and choose which translation to use to suit their view. Here are three of them for an example from Amos 9:6. 45 The New American Standard Bible which is suppose to be the most accurate transition is the winner here for them as if the New American Standard Bible never used poetry or allegories but as you can see the other translations did not use “founded His vaulted dome over the earth”, but used troop or strata instead.
Amos 9:6 The One who builds His upper chambers in the heavens And has founded His vaulted dome over the earth, He who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth, The Lord is His name. New American Standard Bible
Amos 9:6 He who builds His layers in the sky,
And has founded His strata in the earth;
Who calls for the waters of the sea,
And pours them out on the face of the earth—
The Lord is His name. New King James Version
Amos 9:6Who is building in the heavens His upper chambers; As to His troop, Upon earth He hath founded it, Who is calling for the waters of the sea, And poureth them out on the face of the land, Jehovah is His name. Young’s Literal Translation
Examples of Poetry from Flat Earth Scriptures:
46 Here is an example of how ends of the Earth needs to be considered while Job 28:24 may not give us much of a clue Deuteronomy 28:64-65 does. 47 If the ends of the Earth are suppose to be the ice walls of Antartica then does that mean there will be nations of people there, and would God scatter those people from one end of the ice wall straight across to the other end of the ice wall…?
Job 28:24 For He looks to the ends of the earth,
And sees under the whole heavens,
Deuteronomy 28:64-65 “Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone. 65 And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul.
48 What is was, was that God was going to scatter Israel to places like Egypt and Babylon. 49 Places like Egypt and Babylon are not that far away by what seems to us, but to them back then that was far away, like to the ends of the Earth.
50 Here is another scripture that uses that term ends of the Earth we should look at because if Job 28:24 is to be taken literally then all these other places where it is uses ends of the Earth should also be taken literally. 51 According to the flat Earth theory heaven was beyond the ice wall which was the end of the Earth. 52 How does this mean that the Elect would be gather from the ice wall and beyond…?
Mark 13:27 And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven. New American Standard Bible
Nehemiah 1:8 Remember, please, the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I have chosen to have My name dwell.’ New American Standard Bible
53 Does Acts 17:6 mean that Paul and some other disciples went to every place on the Earth including the ice wall where supposedly there were nations there that God would scatter if we took these scriptures literally they in Antartica where Heaven is suppose to be according to there theory.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
54 As you see by taking these scriptures literally would make no sense. 55 Using poetry and allegories like this is like when someone is taking a long time, someone might say they are taking forever. 56 When reading these scriptures about the Earth we really need to take a look at what the context is talking about. 57 Is it context about the Earth or something else, and the Earth is just mentioned in it. 58 If the context is about the Earth then we should see many others things about the Earth in it, but if not then maybe it is really not focusing in on anything being literal. 59 It could be just using the Earth as in poetry or allegory form. 60 The whole book of Job was mostly written in poetry and here in chapter 38 is where flat Earth theory is taken from. 61 The New American Standard Bible seems to have added to that a lot, by using words like vault dome etc.
62 Does the sea have doors…?
Job 38:8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors,
63 Are clouds clothing…?
Job 38:9n When I made the clouds its garment,
64 Are the wicked shaken out of the Earth…?
Job 38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out of it.
65 Does death have gates, and does the shadow of death have doors…?
Job 38:17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
71 In the same way we must be careful not the make poetry and allegories out the things that are literal such as the creation of the Heavens and Earth in Genesis 1. 72 But typologies have been used like in Isaiah 51:16 for a New Heaven and Earth after the Babylon captivity and for Revelation 21 for the Spiritual New Heaven and Earth after AD70.
73 The Flat Earth theory just doesn’t stop there because there is a denial of many things that follow the Flat Earth theory that takes you into the twilight zone into a world where everything is fake and a hoax. 74 The Moon landing is fake, Air travel is fake, time zone change is fake, etc. I didn’t even touch on these issues or the science behind it all because I didn’t have to. 75 The scriptures with its poetry and allegories should be enough to convince anyone with a sound mind to reason things out, even it they are trapped into it to get themselves out of it. 76 We don’t need this theory to taint Christianity with when we have more serious issues to deal with when it comes down to presenting the truth.
Job 26:10 He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters,
At the boundary of light and darkness.
77 Now the outcome of the Covenant Creation View “CC” is based on their foundational errors; This is why the flood in Noah time was a world wide flood which CC says was a local flood; And for the Flat Earth’s, if there was an Ice Wall it wouldn’t have reached as high as Mt. Ararat and flowed right over the edge by at least a 804 foot flow rate over the top of Mount Vinson in Antarctica’s so-called Ice Wall.
Genesis 8:4 Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.
Greater Ararat is the highest peak in Turkey and the Armenian Highland with an elevation of 5,137 m (16,854 ft); Little Ararat’s elevation is 3,896 m (12,782 ft) …
Mount Vinson is the highest peak in Antarctica, at 4,892 metres (16,050 ft). … It lies in the north part of Vinson Massif’s summit plateau in the south portion …
78 Here is something interesting about our seven day week that comes from the mindset of the ancient people. The days were named after the classical planets of Hellenistic astrology, in the order:
Sun = Sunday
Moon = Monday
Mars = Tuesday
Mercury = Wednesday
Jupiter = Thursday
Venus = Friday
Saturn = Saturday
The Earth was not considered a planet because they believed it was flat and the centre of the known Universe with seven planets which included the Sun and Moon. The seven-day week spread throughout the Roman Empire in late antiquity. By the fourth century CE, it was in wide use throughout the Empire.
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