“Who Are The Levites” – Part 1
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Who Are The Levites?” – Part 1
As we proceed through this study of the camp, the Levites, the priesthood, and the high priest, I will remind you each time that types always have a positive and a negative application. It is through this system of apparent contradictions that God keeps the seven seals on His Word for the “many called.” And it is through this same system that he removes those seals and opens up the secrets of His Word to His few elect. So let’s review the opposing types we covered last time we were together.
God uses one type to reveal opposite spiritual realities
Because the Truth of God’s Word is so diametrically opposed to the doctrines of “historical orthodox Christianity” we will give five examples to demonstrate how God’s Word uses one type to typify exact opposites, thus keeping the multitudes from seeing “the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”
1) Pharaoh was both God the Father and the oppressor of God’s People.
Consider, for example, the fact that in the book of Genesis, the Pharaoh of Egypt, is used to typify God the Father lifting Joseph up out of the dungeon and placing him on the throne of all of Egypt. Then in the very next chapter of the Bible, Pharaoh is a type of the man of sin oppressing God’s people.
Gen 41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
Gen 41:41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
Gen 41:43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.Gen 50:7 And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
And then in the very next chapter of God’s Word we read:
Exo 1:6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
Exo 1:7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
Exo 1:8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
Exo 1:9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
Exo 1:10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
Exo 1:11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.Exo 1:22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born [of Israel] ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
2) A lion is both Christ and the Adversary.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
3) Christ is both a lamb and a lion.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
4) A lamb is both Christ and the Adversary.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
5) Adam is both the beast within us and Christ.
Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him [Christ] that was to come.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
The natural man simply cannot understand the portent of this method of teaching. It flies in the face of the very foundational doctrines of “historical orthodox Christianity,” which teaches that God is even now attempting to save this world.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
With all of this in mind, let’s answer the question: “What does the tribe of Levi, apart for the Aaronic priesthood, represent?” Notice what the scriptures tell us about the Levites:
Num 1:49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
Num 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that [belong] to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.Num 3:5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 3:6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
Num 3:7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.
Num 3:8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
Num 3:9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.Num 3:41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.
Num 18:2 And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
Num 18:3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.
Num 18:4 And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.
Num 18:5 And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.
Num 18:6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.Heb 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
According to Hitchcock’s Dictionary of Bible Names, Levi means “associated with him.” So Levi is to be thought of as being associated with God in the same sense as Leah was associated with Jacob.
Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
Leah was Jacob’s first wife. She is the wife he was given deceitfully, for his seven years of his labor. Leah, thinking that her labors would win her husband’s love has now born Jacob three sons, and she names this son Levi, thinking that because of all she has done for Jacob, surely he will now be associated with her. God, like Jacob, is not the least bit impressed with all of our good works for Him when we approach Him with the attitude which both Jacob and Leah have. We do not come to God with the attitude that we, the creature, have somehow obligated our Creator. It is through our Creator that we even have this self-righteous attitude which has been given us to be overcome.
This is what Levi represents. Levi is “associated with Him.”
Num 18:2 And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
Num 18:3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.
Num 18:4 And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.
Neither Levi nor “a stranger” were ever to “come near the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar.” Only the priests, the sons of Aaron, were allowed to go into the sanctuary and handle the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar. Here is how Paul puts it spiritual terms:
Heb 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Just how have those who “serve the tabernacle” performed that service? Why is it that “they have no right to eat” at our altar? What are the “meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein?”
Here is the answer to all these questions:
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Those who “serve the Tabernacle” are those who are given to us for our benefit. The reason they cannot “eat at our altar” is that they have been “carried about by different and strange doctrines.” About Levi we are told:
Thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi… may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. They [the Levites] shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar… and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you [the priests]. Why is a stranger not to come near the vessels with which the priests perform their service?
Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Those who are “given to us” have no right to eat at our altar.
Rev 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.
Rev 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Who are these who will experience having the synagogue of Satan come and worship at their feet and to “know that I have loved thee?” Here is what they are called.
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Just how much of an honor is it to be part of this priesthood?
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Act 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
“The kings of the earth…, and the rulers… gathered together; the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies.” All of these are those who are first within and then later, without, are typified by ‘the Levites.’
Other related posts
- What The Camp, The Court and The Tabernacle of Israel Foreshadow (April 22, 2007)
- Numbers 2:1-34 The Army of the Lord Encamping in Array (April 24, 2023)
- Foundational Themes in Genesis – Study 59 (August 21, 2014)
- "Who Are The Levites" - Part 2 (May 13, 2007)
- "Who Are The Levites" - Part 1 (May 13, 2007)
- "The Priesthood" (May 15, 2007)
- "Functions of The Priesthood" - Part 1 and 2 (May 13, 2007)