Bible Prophecy Fulfilled: God the Rock of Moses: Ex 17:6; 1 Cor 10:4
The water that flowed from Moses’ rock was a copy of the true “river of life” in heaven, just like the tabernacle Moses built was a copy of the true heavenly one. (Rev 22:1-2; Heb 8:1-2; 9:24)
Midrashic triple prophecy when Moses brought water from the Rock: Ex 17:6; 1 Cor 10:4
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The Rock of Moses as a Type of Christ and Christians |
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Jesus |
Christians |
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Stone mason (tekton) |
Heb 1:8-11; 12:2; Mk 6:3; Lk 6:47-49; Mt 7:26 |
1 Cor 3:10–11; Rom 15:20; Eph 2:19–22 |
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Moses’ Water of life |
1 Cor 10:4; Jn 4:13-15; Rev 21:6; 22:1-2 |
Jn 7:37–38 |
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David’ Fortress of escape |
Mt 7:24-25; Rom 8:35, 38-39 |
1 Tim 6:18–19; Rom 8:35, 38–39 |
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David’s Rejected cornerstone |
Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10-11; 14:58; Lk 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:7. |
Lk 10:16; 1 Cor 4:13; Jn 15:18–19; 1 Jn 3:13; Eph 2:19–22; 1 Pet 2:4–5 |
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Isaiah’s Stumbling stone |
Lk 2:34; Rom 9:33; 1 Pet 2:8; Dan 2:44–45 |
1 Cor 1:22–24; Gal 5:11 |
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Resurrected life from rock |
Mt 27:60; Mk 15:46 |
Mt 3:9 |
Introduction:
One day in 1446 BC, a group of angels, including Michael and Gabriel, gathered to watch what Moses was going to do next after parting the Red Sea. Suddenly, Moses strikes the rock of Horeb at the foot of Mt. Sinai and a large river of water gushes out (Exodus 17:6). This will supply “life-giving water” for the 3 million Hebrews and the large number of animals. The angels looked at one another, then they looked over their shoulder at the spiritual water flowing from the throne of God in heaven behind them. They looked at each other again and then Gabriel said to the rest of the angels, “That’s cool, Moses now has a mini replica of water flowing from the mountain of God on earth, just like the real one in heaven! It also kind of reminds me of the River that flowed out of Eden (Gen 2:10)” Israel left Mt. Sinai after 11 months and arrived at Kadesh Barnea in 1444 BC and once again, Moses struck another rock which again gushed a river of water for the next 38 years until they departed for the promised land in 1407 BC (Numbers 20:11). Water coming from the rock Moses struck is the origin of the messianic typology that Jesus is the “water of life”. After Moses commissioned Joshua as his replacement and just before he died, the “song of Moses” (Deut 32) typified the rock he stuck, as a metaphor and type of “God the rock”. In 1018 BC, Saul hunted David, who survived two near-captures, on two different mountains (Maon: 1 Sam 23:25-29 and Engedi: 1 Sam 24:1-2). Moses’ two rocks correspond to David’s two rocks of escape. This is the origin of the fully developed type of God as a “rock of escape and refuge” in the “song of David” (2 Sam 22; Ps 18). It was at the rock of escape when David thought Saul was about to capture him, that David said to God, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Ps 22:1; Mt 27:46) David escaped, Jesus did not and became our saviour as a result. Then during David’s 33 years as king in Jerusalem, he quarries the stone for the temple his son Solomon would take four years to finish in 967 BC. With all the personal care David put into stone selection for the Jerusalem temple, it is striking David would prophecy one of rejected stones of the physical temple, would become the cornerstone in the spiritual church temple built by Jesus Christ in AD 33 (Ps 118:22-23). It may have been that David chose the final corner stone for the temple, from among those rejected by the builders or that one of the stones that the builders had rejected, was never used in the temple. It is during this historical period that David creates, for the first time the messianic typology of Jesus as the “rejected stone”. In 740 BC, Isaiah creates the final messianic typology of “Jesus the stumbling stone” (Isaiah 8:13-15). Before Jesus began his ministry in the spring of AD 29 at the age of 30, his secular profession was that of a stonemason (Mark 6:3-tekton) and an expert at building foundations which is reflected in the technical terms he used in his teaching (Luke 6:47-49; Mt 7:26). Jesus had a bit of previous job experience when he laid the foundation of the world at creation (Heb 1:8-11). Paul directly connects Moses’ rock by type to Jesus in 1 Cor 10:1-4. Jesus fulfilled each of the four types of Moses’ rock. Jesus provided “lifegiving water” (Jn 4:13-15). Jesus was the “bedrock of refuge” (Mt 7:24-25; Rom 8:35, 38-39). Jesus was the rejected temple stone (Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10-11; 14:58; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:7). Jesus was the “stumbling stone of offence” (Lk 2:34; Rom 9:33; 1 Pet 2:8). In addition to sharing Christ’s stonemason role as both temple builders (archi-tekton-1 Cor 3:10–11), Midrashically, Christians fulfill each of the four types of Moses’ rock he struck. Out of Christians flows living water to save others through preaching the gospel by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit or non-miraculously today as we preach the Bible (Jn 7:37-38). Christians offer sinners a “fortress rock of refuge and salvation in Christ” through preaching the gospel (1 Tim 6:18-19; Rom 8:35, 38–39). Christians are hated by the world as “rejected temple stones” (Jn 15:18–19; 1 Cor 4:13; 1 Pet 2:4-5; Eph 2:19-22). Christians are stumbling stones to unbelievers who reject through evangelistic efforts (1 Cor 1:22-24; Gal 5:11). Finally, when Christians get to heaven, they will pause and stare in awe at the crystal clear, life-giving river of water coming from the throne of God (Rev 7:17; 21:6; 22:1-2). The angels Michael and Gabriel will join them and say, “It was really cool when Moses brought water out of the rock, but what do you think of the real thing?” Moses’ rock, therefore, has three Midrashic fulfillments first in Christ, second in Christians and finally in heaven. At the second coming, Christians will see the true river of living water that flows from the throne of God that served as a pattern for the copy of the rock Moses struck on earth. They will also see the real heavenly tabernacle which served as a pattern for the copy Moses built at Mt. Sinai (Heb 8:1-2; 9:24).
CREATION: spiritual water continuously flows from god’s throne from creation to eternity: Rev 22:1-2
"Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." (Revelation 22:1–2)
1. Before creation, during the time of Moses and after the second coming, a spiritual river of living water flows continuously from the throne of God.
2. The river that flowed out of the garden of Eden was a mini-replica and type of the true river that flows from the throne of God (Gen 2:10).
3. The rock of Moses that supplied the water of life is a type of Jesus from whom the true river of life flows from his throne in heaven.
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1446 BC: Moses brings water from rock: 1. 1446 BC at Mt. Sinai: “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." (Exodus 17:6) 2. 1444 BC at Kadesh Barnea: "Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank." (Numbers 20:11) |
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1407 BC: Song of Moses connects the two rocks he struck as a type of God in the "song of Moses:
1. “The Rock! His work is perfect, just, faithful, righteous." (Deuteronomy 32:4)
2. "The Rock of Israel’s salvation." (Deuteronomy 32:15)
3. “You neglected the Rock who begot you." (Deuteronomy 32:18)
4. "The gentiles rock is not like our Rock." (Deuteronomy 32:31)
5. It is inferred in Deuteronomy 32:37 that God is a “Rock of Refuge”, the very imagery championed by David 400 years later.
1098 BC: Hanna, Samuel’s thankful mother, echoed the typology from the Song of Moses:
1. “There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God." (1 Sam 2:2)
2. This proves the “God is our Rock” typology was common during the period of the Judges.
1018 BC: David’s 2 rocks of escape and refuge at the wilderness of Maon and Engedi:
Although David is the first person in the Bible to directly call God a “rock of refuge”, the typology originated with Moses. Although Moses never called God a “rock of refuge” it is inferred when he said of the idol worshippers, “Where are their gods, the rock in which they sought refuge?” (Deut 32:37). David’s primary "Rock of Escape" was at the wilderness of Maon (1 Sam 23:25-29) and the secondary “Rock of Escape” was at Engedi (1 Sam 24:1-2). From these two experiences, David fully adopts the God/Rock typology of the two rocks Moses struck for water in the wilderness.
1. Two times Saul had captured David:
a. Wilderness of Maon: "When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to seize them. But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.” So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape. David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of Engedi." (1 Samuel 23:25–29)
b. Engedi: "Saul came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave." (1 Samuel 24:3)
2. David wrote two Psalms (22 and 18) about his near capture by Saul at the Maon rock of escape: 1 Sam 23:25-29
a. At the beginning of the four years that Saul hunted David in the Judean wilderness (1018-1014), Saul had trapped David on a hill in the wilderness of Moan, 10 km east of Hebron and Ziph with no way of escape. God providentially sent a messenger to Saul that the Philistines had attacked nearby Keilah (for the second time: 1 Samuel 23:1-5), so Saul called off the final capture of David, who is then is able to escape.
b. David captured at Moan in Psalm 22: The great messianic Psalm 22 focused on David’s feelings that God had forsaken him when Saul had surrounded and almost captured him at the Maon rock of escape. The famous words of Jesus, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" were spoken by David he thought Saul was about to capture him (1 Sam 23:26). David escaped, Jesus did not. He became our savior through His divine shed blood.
c. God rescued David at Moan in Psalm 18/2 Samuel 22: The “song of David” was written in 995 BC after the three-year famine and is recorded twice in 2 Samuel 22 and Psalm 18. “For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said,” (Psalm 18:title)
3. David wrote two Psalms (142 and 57) about the Engedi rock of escape in 1 Sam 24. Although David never used the word “rock” in either Psalm, he did refer to “taking refuge in God” in both Psalms.
a. David captured inside the Engedi cave in Psalm 142: Ps 142 focused on David's feelings of near death when he first realized he was trapped inside the cave: “Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD … They have hidden a trap for me … There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my refuge … Bring my soul out of prison” (Psalm 142:title, v1-7)
b. God rescued David from the Engedi cave in Psalm 57: Ps 57 focuses on David's feelings of exhilaration and praise when he realizes that God has delivered him from what he thought was certain death: “For the choir director; set to Mikhtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by.” (Psalm 57:title-1)
4. Echoing Moses’ “Rock of refuge” typology in Deuteronomy 32:37, David’s typology of God as a “Rock of escape and refuge” is based upon two personal historical events at Maon and Engedi. Just as Moses struck two “rocks of refuge” at Mt. Sinai and Kadesh Barnea, David escaped death from King Saul in two different places.
a. David memorialized the original historical events where Moses struck the two rocks for water: Psalm 105:41; 114:8; Psalm 81:16
b. In Ps 78 David echoed the two part sequence in the Song of Moses (Deut 32) by first referencing the rock Moses struck for water (Ps 78:15-16,20 = Deut 32:13/Psalm 81:16), then secondly, by associating the rock Moses struck as a type of God (Ps 78:35).
c. In Psalm 81:16, David quoted the Song of Moses (Deut 32:13) to reference the rock Moses struck to bring out water which produced olive oil, honey, and grain. In this case, while the rock literally flowed water, David by literary hyperbole, says out the rock flowed the results of using the water in food production.
1003-970 BC: David in Jerusalem: David combines the typology of Moses’ rock with his own rock of escape from Saul in the wilderness of Maon and Engedi, and applied it to God:
1. The Rock of Stronghold and Salvation
a. Song of David: (995 BC): "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. … For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God … The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation " Psalm 18:2,31,46; 2 Samuel 22:32,47.
b. "Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress." Psalm 71:3
c. "But the Lord has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge." Psalm 94:22
d. "I will say to God my rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" Psalm 42:9
e. "He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God." (Psalm 62:6–7)
f. "He will cry to Me, 'You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.'" Psalm 89:26
2. The Rock who communicates:
a. "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me." 2 Samuel 23:3
b. "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle;" Psalm 144:1
3. The Rock who answers prayer:
a. " A Psalm of David. To You, O Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit." Psalm 28:1
b. "Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me." Psalm 31:2-3.
c. "From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2
d. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14
4. The Rock of worship:
a. "The Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." Psalm 92:15
b. "O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation." Psalm 95:1
970 BC: The “rejected temple stone” imagery, as David prepares the temple in Jerusalem: Ps 118 was written when David himself was selecting various foundation stones for the Temple that Solomon would assemble starting in 970 BC. With all the care David put into stone selection for the Jerusalem temple, it is striking David would prophecy one of rejected stones of the physical temple, would become the cornerstone in the spiritual church temple built by Jesus Christ in AD 33. It may have been that David chose the corner stone from among those rejected by the builders or that one of the stones that the builders rejected, was never used in the temple. Jesus fulfills Ps 118 in three different ways.
1. First, during the triumphal entry Sunday, Ps 118:26 is the source of, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”, that the crowds applied to Jesus as Messiah (Mt 21:9).
2. Second, two days later on Tuesday, the temple priests challenged Jesus “by what authority do you do these things” and Jesus replied with the “rejected stone” typology. "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:22–23)
3. Second, Jesus then applied Ps 118:26 to himself when he predicted the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (Mt 23:39)
4. David’s “rejected stone” typology echoes back to Moses and the rebellion of Korah who challenged Moses’ authority. Jesus directly applied the “rejected stone” to himself two days after his triumphal entry (Tuesday), when the temple chief priests and the elders challenged Jesus’ authority saying, “by what authority do you do these things?” (Mt 21:23)
5. David’s “rejected Christ stone” typology is widely used in the New Testament: Matt 21:42; Mark 8:31; 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:4-7.
740 BC: Isaiah creates the new typology of “Christ the stumbling stone” and combines them with all the established the Moses/David rock typology.
1. Isaiah echoes the Moses/David typology of God as the “everlasting impregnable Rock of mountain refuge”: Isaiah 17:10; 26:4; 30:29; 33:16.
2. Isaiah echoes Davidic typology of “Christ the Cornerstone”: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed." (Isaiah 28:16)
3. Isaiah creates new typology of “Christ the Stumbling stone of offence”: Isaiah 8:13-15 introduced a new “God the stumbling stone” typology which was widely applied to Jesus in the New Testament in Luke 2:34; Rom 9:33; 1 Pet 2:8.
a. “It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread. “Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. “Many will stumble over them, Then they will fall and be broken; They will even be snared and caught.” (Isaiah 8:13–15).
b. "And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed" (Luke 2:34)
c. "just as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”" (Romans 9:33)
d. "and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed." (1 Peter 2:8)
4. Finally, it is well documented that Isaiah applied “I AM” imagery to the Father, that Jesus applied to himself in the New Testament.
a. These included: "I am the first and last, I am the creator, I am the way, I am the rock".
b. In Isaiah 44:8, God is the only Rock but then 1 Cor 10:1-4 Jesus was that rock: "'Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none.' " Isaiah 44:8
606 BC: Habakkuk echoes the “God the rock” typology: Habakkuk 1:12.
446 BC: Nehemiah memorializes the original Exodus rock that supplied water: Nehemiah 9:15
AD 33: Typology of Christ as the rock of Moses: Paul says the Rock of Moses at Sinai and Kadesh was a type of Christ: "and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ." 1 Corinthians 10:4
1. Supernaturally, Jesus as creator, laid the rock foundation of the earth: Heb 1:8-11
2. Secularly, Jesus worked as a stonemason tradesman [Mark 6:3: Greek, tekton], and was an expert at laying stone foundations for house construction as seen in his teaching: Luke 6:47-49; Mt 7:26
3. Spiritually, Jesus the Stonemason [tekton], Master builder and Architect of our Salvation: “the architect [archegos] and completer [teleiotes] of our faith.” Heb 12:2
4. Providentially, Jesus provided the literal drinking water during the Exodus and lifegiving water for salvation: 1 Cor 10:1-4; Jn 4:13-15
5. Prophetically, Jesus is the stone that destroyed the four kingdoms of Daniel’s vision: Daniel 2:44–45
6. Messianically, Jesus supplied “lifegiving water” as the “fortress rock of refuge, deliverance and salvation”, that was the, “rejected stone foundation of the church” and the “stumbling stone” to the wicked.
7. Metaphorically, just as Moses brought forth water from a rock to give physical life, so too, Jesus was resurrected from a rock tomb to give eternal life: Mt 27:60; Mk 15:46
8. Eschatologically, life giving water flows from the throne of Jesus in heaven: Rev 21:6; 22:1–2
Summary of rock typology applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament:
1. Jesus was the spiritual water that flowed from Moses’ rock giving eternal life both now (1 Cor 10:4; Jn 4:13-15) and in heaven (Rev 21:6; 22:1–2).
2. Christ and water were brought forth from a rock: Just as Moses brought forth water from a rock to give physical life, so too, Jesus was resurrected from a rock tomb to give eternal life: Mt 27:60; Mk 15:46
3. Jesus was Moses’ and David’s fortress rock of salvation and security: Matthew 7:24-25; Rom 8:35, 38-39
4. Jesus was David’s rejected temple foundation rock: Matt 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; 14:58; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:7.
5. Jesus was Isaiah’s stumbling stone: Luke 2:34; Rom 9:33; 1 Pet 2:8
TODAY: Christians are a type of the Rock of Christ:
1. Christians are master-builder stonemasons [tekton] like Christ:
a. "Like a wise master builder [archi-tekton] I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:10–11)
2. Out of Christians flows living water to save others through preaching the gospel:
a. "Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37–38)
3. Christians offer sinners a “fortress of refuge and salvation” through preaching the gospel Christ:
a. "Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed." (1 Timothy 6:18–19)
b. "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35, 38–39)
4. Christians are the rejected stones chosen by God for the spiritual temple:
a. "“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”" (Luke 10:16)
b. "when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now." (1 Corinthians 4:13)
c. "“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you." (John 15:18–19)
d. "Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you." (1 John 3:13)
e. "And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4–5)
f. "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19–22)
g. "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:11–16)
h. "And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation." (Romans 15:20)
5. Christians are stumbling stones to unbelievers as they preach the gospel:
a. "For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:22–24)
b. "But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished." (Galatians 5:11)
Future in Heaven: Moses’ rock as a type of water from God’s throne in heaven: Rev 7:17; 21:6; 22:1-2
1. The river in the Garden of Eden was the first type of the true river in heaven (Genesis 2:10).
2. "Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." (Revelation 22:1–2)
3. "Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost." (Revelation 21:6)
4. "for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”" (Revelation 7:17)
5. Hell is a “waterless” place without access to the springs of life water coming from the throne of God: “When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’" (Luke 11:24)
Conclusion:
The water that has been flowing from the throne of God from before the foundation of the world became a type of the water which flowed from the rock Moses struck during the Exodus. The prophets Moses, David and Isaiah added four metaphoric typologies which were fulfilled in primarily in Christ and Midrashically as a secondary fulfillment, in Christians. At the second coming, Christians will see the true river of living water that flows from the throne of God that served as a pattern for the copy of the rock Moses struck on earth. They will also see the real heavenly tabernacle which served as a pattern for the copy Moses built at Mt. Sinai (Heb 8:1-2; 9:24).
By Steve Rudd 2020: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.
