Introduction:  As Dispensationalists we know that God has dealt with men differently in different ages.  God’s message to Adam was not to eat of the tree in the garden, His message to Noah was to build an ark and His message to Abraham was that he was going to have a seed.  None of these included in what God expects from us.  So it is obvious that God deals differently with people.  While studying this out we can find a most interesting picture of God’s dealing through the ages.

1. The Shadow – The Law
1. Restrictions (A shadow is two dimensional)
1. It’s Commandments
1. Pertaining to Murder (Exodus 21:12-14 [12] He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. [13] And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. [14] But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
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2. Pertaining to Adultery (Exodus 20:14Thou shalt not commit adultery.
   See All...; Leviticus 20:10And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
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3. Pertaining to Divorce  (Deuteronomy 24:1-4 [1] When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. [2] And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. [3] And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; [4] Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
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4. Pertaining to Swearing (Leviticus 19:12And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
   See All...; Numbers 30:2-16 [2] If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. [3] If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth; [4] And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. [5] But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. [6] And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; [7] And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. [8] But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her. [9] But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. [10] And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath; [11] And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. [12] But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her. [13] Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. [14] But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them. [15] But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity. [16] These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house.
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5. Pertaining to Vengeance (Exodus 21:22-27 [22] If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. [23] And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, [24] Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, [25] Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. [26] And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. [27] And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.
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6. Pertaining to Others (Leviticus 19:18Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
   See All...; Exodus 17:14-16 [14] And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. [15] And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: [16] For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.
   See All...; Deuteronomy 25:17Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;
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2. It’s Sacrifices
1. Could not put away sins (Isaiah 1:11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
   See All...; Hosea 6:6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
   See All...; Hebrews 9:8-10 [8] The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: [9] Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; [10] Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
   See All...; Hebrews 10:1-4 [1] For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. [2] For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. [3] But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. [4] For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
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2. Had to be done every year (Hebrews 10:3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
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2. Purpose
1. As a shadow it was Temporary (1 Chronicles 29:15For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
   See All...; Job 8:9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)
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   See All...; Psalm 102:11My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
   See All...; Psalm 109:23; Psalm 144:4)
2. It pointed to Something Else (Colossians 2:17Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
   See All...; Hebrews 8:4-5 [4] For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: [5] Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
   See All...; Hebrews 10:1)
3. To reveal sin in its total sinfulness (Romans 3:20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
   See All...; Romans 5:12-14; Romans 7:7, 12)
4. To condemn the sinner (Romans 3:19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
   See All...; Romans 4:15; Galatians 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
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5. To prepare the heart of the Israelites for the faith of Christ (Galatians 3:23-26 [23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. [24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. [26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
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2. The Image – The Man Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
   See All...; Colossians 1:15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
   See All...; Hebrews 1:3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
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1. His Restrictions
1. The Flesh
1. He got hungry (Luke 4:2Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
   See All...; Matthew 21:18Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
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2. He thirsted (John 19:28After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
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3. He needed sleep (Mark 4:38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
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4. He suffered pain (Acts 3:18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
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5. He understood temptation (Hebrews 2:18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
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2. He Gave up His Heavenly Glory (John 17:5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
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3. He Gave up His Heavenly Reputation (Philippians 2:5-7 [5] Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: [6] Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! [7] Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?
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4. He Gave up His Riches (2 Corinthians 8:9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
   See All...; Mark 13:32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
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2. Better Representation (An image is three dimensional and gives a more fuller representation of the object it represents)
1. His Commandments
1. Pertaining to Murder (Matthew 5:21-22 [21] Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: [22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
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2. Pertaining to Adultery (Matthew 5:27-28 [27] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: [28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
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3. Pertaining to Divorce (Matthew 5:31-32 [31] It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: [32] But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
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4. Pertaining to Swearing (Matthew 5:33-37 [33] Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: [34] But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: [35] Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. [36] Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. [37] But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
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5. Pertaining to Vengeance (Matthew 5:38-39 [38] Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: [39] But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
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6. Pertaining to Others (Matthew 5:43-47 [43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
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2. His Sacrifice
1. Conquered the sin problem (Hebrews 9:12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
   See All...; Hebrews 10:10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
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2. Was done once for all (Hebrews 9:26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
   See All...; Hebrews 10:12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
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3. His Purpose
1. An Image Gives us a Representation of Something We Cannot See as such Jesus Christ came to
1. Shew Us the Father (John 14:7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
   See All..., 9; John 15:24If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
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2. Reconcile men to the Father whom they cannot see (Colossians 1:15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
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2. Humble Himself to Become a Faithful High Priest
1. God versus Images
1. God condemned images (Leviticus 26:1Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
   See All...; Deuteronomy 4:23Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.
   See All..., 25; Romans 1:23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
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2. He hates images (Deuteronomy 16:22Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.
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2. He (Jesus Christ) hates Sin yet took on Himself the likeness of sinful flesh and then on the cross He bore our sins in His own body
3. The Sun – The Glorified Christ Jesus
1. No Restrictions
1. As the Sun, He alone will be the source of light for the whole world (Isaiah 2:3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
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2. When the Sun shows up all darkness must flee
3. As the Sun has both healing and damaging effects dependent upon what it shines upon, so will Jesus Christ rescue His own and judge the wicked
4. We shall see Christ in all of His strength and glory as the noonday Sun
2. His Purpose
1. Much like the going down of the sun in the scripture is a time of settlement of issues so will the coming down of the Sun of Righteousness settle the wrath of God