The History of Redemption Series Book 3

Eternally Unquenchable Lamp of the Covenant

Main Contents

▶Covenant - the means to save mankind

God is greater than“ all.”“All”cannot be defined by what we usually imagine as“ all things in heaven and earth.”

Sun is large enough to hold 1.3 million earths, but a star called Betelgeuse is even larger: it is large enough hold 5.1 billion suns!“ All”that God created and governs encloses such vast universe.

But what’s even more astonishing is that there is something God cherishes above“ all.”That is each and every one of us, who are more insignificant than a speck of dust in comparison to this vast universe! And to save such cherished mankind, God used the means called“ covenants.”

▶“Covenants”are all linked to Jesus Christ

The author meticulously analyzes the meanings of the Proto-Gospel given to Adam and Eve, Noahic covenant, Abrahamic covenant, Sinaitic covenant, Davidic covenant and the new covenant of Jeremiah. He then shows that every covenant is linked to Jesus Christ. Upon examining the relationship between the covenants and Jesus Christ, we can understand that the genealogy of the 42 generations precisely demonstrates the fulfillment of God’s covenants. That’s why the authors of the Gospel of Matthew and Luke state that Jesus Christ’s genealogy is the epitome of redemptive history founded upon the covenant.

▶Rediscovery of the genealogy in the Gospel of Luke

There is much dissimilarity between the genealogies in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke. Why are there such dissimilarities? The author so thoughtfully analyzes the two genealogies in full detail. This process rediscovered the spiritual profoundness in the genealogy in Luke Gospel, which has not received much attention to this day.

▶Focused analysis on the first period in the genealogy

The genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew is divided into three periods. The analysis of this book focuses on the first of the three periods. (The fourth series in History of Redemption analyzes the second period, and the fifth

series analyzes the third period.) The deeds and evaluations of these 14 generations of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse and King David are not mere stories of Jews in the past, but are stories of our lives today. When we trace back their lives of many vicissitudes, we can understand the directions and precise guidelines for our own lives as the saints in the last days.

▶King David, the Lamp of the Covenant

Protagonist of this book may well be King David. His is a type of Jesus Christ. He was cited twice among the 42 generations in the genealogy and was recorded in both the first and second period, implying his significance. God promised King David and his descendants that the lamp will be forever unquenchable. By believing in Jesus, who came as the son of King David, today’s saints become the central figures of the lamp of the covenant that was given to David.

Points You Cannot Miss

▶There are omitted generations in the genealogy of Jesus Is Amminadab Ram’s son? Is Boaz Salmon’s son?

A careful look into the Bible tells us that the answer is no. Genealogy of Jesus Christ does not entirely list biological relationships between the generations. Rather, some generations are altogether omitted. This phenomenon has been investigated for the first time in the history of biblical research.

▶The four women listed in the genealogy

It is quite exceptional that the genealogy of Jesus includes four women. They were all women with stories. They were all Gentile women unaccepted by Jews. Why would God want to record their names in the genealogy? There is a special explanation for every woman.

▶Complete overview on the period of the Judges

A Bible expert may be familiar with names like Deborah, Gideon and Samson, but not so much with the names like Shamgar, Jair, Tola. This book clearly organizes the 12 Judges’ deeds and their evaluations. Although this period is not included in the genealogy of Jesus, this period is important in understanding the genealogy and the covenants.

▶The route of David’s flight from Saul for 10 years

David had to preserve his life from Saul’s attempts to murder him for 10 years, from his age of 20 to 30. This was the period when God prepared him to be king, as well symbolizing the suffering Jesus would receive. For the first time ever in the history of biblical research, King David’s refuge sites were systematically charted and presented in a map.

Key Message

God’s covenants were passed down through the genealogy of Jesus. In the end, those covenants must be fulfilled through us, the saints, who are continuing the lineage by believing in Jesus. Today, God is still working zealously without any rest to carry on the lamp of God’s covenant. The saints must become God’s lamp that sends out His gospel to the world. Our lives must be taken and used by God as His lamp.