Looking at the whole Bible with the perspective of its oneness and the fact that the Old and New Testaments come from the same God and explain his One plan for the world and salvation, one can see the continuity of themes from beginning to end. These themes are like the warps of woven fabric, through which are woven the wefts of time and history. These threads will ultimately reveal God's finished plan but even now we can see how they all climax in Yeshua the Messiah, the Image of the invisible God.
I plan to look at Light, Water, Glory among other threads. All it needs is a good concordance and a heart open to the Holy Spirit's teaching.
Light
| Genesis 1 v4 & 14 | Creation of light - four days before the sun and moon |
| Exodus 10 v20-23 | Darkness plague for Egyptians (but not for Israelites) |
| Psalm 56 v13 | walking before God in the Light of life. |
| Psalm 104 v1,2 | God clothed in splendour and wrapped with light as a garment |
| Isaiah 9 v2 | Messianic prophecy - "the people walking in darkness have seen a great light. |
| Isaiah 42 v6 | Messianic (Servant) prophecy - . . . and a light for the Gentiles |
| Isaiah 60 v1 &19 | The Glory of Zion (NIV heading) Arise, shine for your light has come . . . . Nations will come to your light. Zion's light for the Nations) |
| Matthew 4 v15 | Jesus fulfils Isaiah 9 - bringing light |
| Mark 15 v33 | Light fails for 3 hours at the Crucifixion (not an eclipse - occurred at full moon and eclipses last less than an hour.) |
| Luke 2 v29-32 | Simeon's prophetic words ". . . for my eyes have seen your salvation (Yeshua) . . . a light for revelation to the Gentiles . . and for glory to your people Israel. |
| John 1 v1-5 | John's introduction to Jesus (the Word) "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." |
| John 8 v12 | Jesus - "I am the light of the world. . . .will have the light of life." see Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles |
| Acts 13 v47 | Paul "I have made you a light for the Gentiles." |
| Rev 22 v5 | "They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light." |
Clearly light is much more than just electromagnetic radiation or photons produced by hot objects like our Sun.
Water - Rivers
| Genesis 2 v10 | a river watering the Garden |
| Psalm 1 v3 | The believer "like a tree planted by water" - the essential for growth |
| Isaiah 32 v2 | "Streams of water in the desert" - life giving in the midst of dryness |
| Jeremiah 17 v13 | .....have abandoned YHVH, the source of Living water. |
| Jeremiah 2 v13 | "Broken cisterns" - people who have forsaken God trusting their own resources |
| Zechariah 14 v8 | Prophecy of water from Jerusalem - see Revelation |
| Ezekiel 47 v1 | Prophecy of Water from under threshold of Temple . . fruit trees along banks |
| Hebrews 10 v22 | Ref to Torah ritual - Entering most holy place .. washed with pure water |
| John 4 v10 | Jesus offering "Living Water" to woman at well |
| John 7 v38 | Jesus at Hosanna Rabba said, , "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him ** |
| Revelation 7 v17 | The Lamb . . their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. |
| Revelation 22 v1 | "The river of the water of life" - note the echo of Genesis |
Water is a major theme speaking of God's cleansing and life giving provision for his children.
** see also Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles
Glory
| Genesis | No mention until Man had fallen. Man had a close relationship with God. |
| Exodus 34 v29 | Moses face radiant after spending time with God. |
| Exodus 40 34 | The Glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter. |
| 2 Chronicles 7 v1 | The Glory of the LORD filled the Temple. Priests could not enter |
| Ezekiel 10 v18 | The vision of the glory departing from the Temple (to the East) |
| Ezekiel 43 v4 | Prophetic vision of the glory returning to the Temple. |
| Mark 2 v3 | Jesus transfigured - dazzling - the glory that had been veiled, shone through |
| John 2 v11 | re Jesus' miracles, "He thus revealed his glory". |
| Revelation 21 v23 | no need for Sun or Moon - the glory of God gives it light (The Temple) |
The Scarlet Thread
The most
important thread running through scripture is that of blood.
The blood covenant was and is the most binding form of agreement, and this is how God bound himself to redeem us.
In this book Richard Booker traces this thread from God's covenant with Abraham, through the covenant of Moses to the fulfillment through the blood of Yeshua / Jesus.
This book shows just how important the "Old Testament" scriptures are to a full understanding of the gospel and our salvation. (It also explains the basis of salvation for the Jew; something that often escapes the Christian.)