After being tempted in the wilderness, Jesus brought the kingdom of heaven to earth.  As part of the divine gift of grace to humanity, God Almighty allows one who is living on earth to enter His kingdom of light/heaven.

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  1Peter 2:9  NASB

Because of constraints of the physical realm, the full majesty of the kingdom of God/light/heaven is not available to or even discernible by humanity while on earth.  For instance, entrance into the kingdom of light while on earth does not prevent human reproduction from transmitting Satan’s spirit/life to offspring nor does it prevent the decay and death of the body.  Divinely, Jesus gave us insight regarding the kingdom of God/light/heaven on earth by similes, analogies, and parables.

We start with a simile that illustrates Jesus’ willing death for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys the field.”  Matthew 13:44  NASB

Because humanity was created from dust of the ground (Gen 2:7), it is easy to understand humanity as the field/ground that is purchased.  The treasure hidden in the ground (humanity) represents the church composed of those who are redeemed by grace and are members of the kingdom of God Almighty on earth.  Just as the man gave all that he has in order to purchase and possess for Himself the field/ground with treasure, so also Jesus gave all that He has, His life and blood, to purchase and obtain His treasure, the church.

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”  Acts 20:28  NASB

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.  1Corinthians 6:19-20  NASB

But notice that the man not only bought and obtained the treasure, but the entire field as well.  The apostle Peter confirmed that Jesus bought more of humanity than just those saved by the blessing of grace.

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.  2Peter 2:1  NASB

Therefore, the field purchased by Jesus Christ with His blood and containing the hidden treasure (the church) is all of humanity – past, present, and future.

Jesus described how His death gives life to His church in terms of the germination of a planted seed.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”  …  But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.  John 12:24,33  NASB

Jesus was planted as a seed in humanity when He joined humanity in the physical/ground realm.  Then, He as was literally planted in the ground when He was buried after His death.  Furthermore, just as the natural seed has the ability to produce new life (a plant) when placed in the ground, so also Jesus as the spiritual Seed has the ability to produce new (eternal) life when planted in humanity (dust of the ground).

“For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;”  John 5:26  NASB

Though the seed has life in itself, it takes a partnership of the seed and the ground in order to produce new life, for the life within a seed is released by the germination or destruction or death of the seed while in the ground.

You fool!  That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;  1Corinthians 15:36  NASB

The analogy of a planted seed illustrates that Jesus’ sacrificial death was necessary in order to bring forth in others the (eternal) life that was in Him.

For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal lives.  2Corinthians 4:11  NASB

Jesus is the life-giving Seed Who enables spiritual fruit and eternal life when planted in humanity.

Germination of a planted seed highlights the role of deity in the blessing of grace.  In contrast, branches attached to the plant which grows from the seed illustrate grace from the perspective of humanity.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”  John 15:1-6  NASB

Resurrected Jesus is the vine that grew from the divine Seed after germination/death, and humanity are branches attached to the vine.  An individual must abide in (be connected to) the resurrected Jesus in order to receive fruit-producing sustenance and to bear much fruit (of the Spirit).

so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;  Colossians 1:10  NASB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23  NASB

God Almighty is characterized as the vinedresser who prunes all the branches of the vine.  Sinners are branches with no (spiritual) fruit which are cut and taken away to be burned.  The redeemed are branches that are cut in order to produce more fruit.  Hence, both the fruitful and the unfruitful branches are cut, which suggests a commonality of difficult times for all humanity.  That is, both sinner and redeemed endure devastating experiences in life which cut deep in the soul.  However, there is a different purpose for these tribulations.  For the sinner, the cutting is preparatory to being thrown into the (lake of) fire.  For the redeemed, the cutting is with the intent that s/he produce still more fruit of the spirit, which will become evident with time.  This answer to the perplexing question–Why do bad things happen to good people?–is of little comfort to those experiencing heartbreaking tragedy or loss.

Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  And He answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered this fate?  I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, were worse culprits than all men who live in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:1-5  NASB

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28  NASB

The parable of the field of the good and bad seed tells us of the intermixing on earth of the mutual exclusive groups of the unrepentant sinners and the redeemed.

He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.  But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away.  But when the wheat sprang up and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.  And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field?  How then does it have tares?’  And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’  And the slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’  But he said, ‘No, lest while you are gathering up the tares, you may root up the wheat with them.  Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”  Matthew 13:24-30  NASB

Jesus, when asked by His disciples, explained this parable.

Then He left the multitudes, and went into the house.  And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”  And He answered and said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are the angels.  Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.”  Matthew 13:36-40  NASB

Here, Jesus states that the field is the world, which is consistent with the interpretation of the field in the simile of the treasure in the field.   The tares planted by Satan are his spiritual children who are born into and remain in the kingdom of darkness.  The wheat represents the spiritual children of God Almighty who have received the blessing of grace and who have joined the kingdom of heaven while on earth.  The harvest of these spiritual plants portends the resurrection for judgment.

Another parable illustrates that the impact of the gospel varies depending upon the individual hearing it (Matt 13:3-23, Mark 4:3-20, and Luke 8:4-15).  Here is the version in Matthew.

And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and devoured them.  And others fell upon the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil.  But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.  And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.  And others fell on the good soil, and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.  He who has ears, let him hear.”  Matthew 13:3-8  NASB

Jesus’ gospel (the word) is the good seed, and the plant growth that comes from the seed is dependent upon the kind of ground/soil it falls upon (the spiritual circumstance of the one who receives the word).  Here is Jesus’ explanation of the parable.

“Hear then the parable of the sower.  When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.  This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.  And the one on whom seed was sown on the rock places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.  And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  And the one on whom seed was sown on the good ground, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”  Matthew 13:18-23  NASB

This parable indicates that preaching Jesus as Savior of humanity has an inherent life force that produces a spark of life (plant growth) in the receiver.  In this parable, good seed (the word of God) is sown upon different soil types, which produce four different outcomes of fruit.  Even those who are not called and chosen for the blessing of grace exhibit a fading glory from hearing the gospel, like Moses’ face after being with God Almighty on the mountain (2Cor 3:13).  They may receive the word with joy but will fall away for different reasons and become unfruitful (no fruit of the spirit).  The seed upon the good soil (those who enter the kingdom) matures to produce spiritual fruit at three different levels, thirty-fold, sixty-fold, and hundred-fold.

“By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”  John 15:8  NASB

This parable offers a prophecy similar to that of the curse upon the man Adam, when we were told of three phases of the spiritual progression of humanity (thorns and thistles, plants of the field, and bread) within the kingdom of darkness during the Old Testament period.  Similarly, at the beginning of the New Testament era, we were told by this parable of three levels of spiritual attainment within the kingdom of God/light/heaven of humanity while on earth.  The good soil (those who receive the blessing of grace) produces fruit (of the Spirit), some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

In another simile, Jesus described the kingdom of God Almighty in terms of three, successive levels of plant growth.

And He was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the ground; and goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts up and grows –  how, he himself does not know.  The earth produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head.  But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”  Mark 4:26-29  NASB

Here again, we have a depiction of spiritual attainment for humanity within the kingdom of God Almighty while on earth in terms of three distinct levels–blade, immature head, and mature grain in the head.

The three levels of production of spiritual fruit indicated in these two teachings provide designated reference points within the continuum of spiritual growth of humanity available to those in the kingdom of God Almighty while on earth.  The following table coordinates the designated levels of production of spiritual fruit with several themes appearing in Scripture.  Where needed, we assign zero or none for the spiritual attainment for the unredeemed members of the kingdom of darkness.

With respect to a plant, the unredeemed have no spiritual fruit, and the thirty-fold level of production of spiritual fruit is paired with the blade which is first produced by the seed.  The sixty-fold level is paired with the head, and the hundred-fold level is paired with the grain of the mature head.

With respect to geography, the nations outside Israel are associated with no spiritual fruit, and the Land of Israel is associated with the thirty-fold level of spiritual fruit.  Jerusalem is associated with the sixty-fold level, and the temple is associated with the hundred-fold level.

The Mosaic tabernacle (Illustration 3.1) with its sequence of more restrictive spaces corresponds with the three levels of production of spiritual fruit.  Outside the perimeter wall of the tabernacle represents the unrepentant sinners with no spiritual fruit.  The outer court is associated the 30-fold level.  The Holy Place is associated with the 60-fold level, and the Holy of Holies is associated with the 100-fold level of production of spiritual fruit.

The three levels of spiritual attainment indicated by Jesus’ teaching have an association with the series of three feasts mandated by the Mosaic Law.  The Feast of Passover/Unleavened Bread is associated with the 30-fold level.  The Feast of Pentecost is associated with the 60-fold level.  The Feast of Booths/Tabernacles is associated with the 100-fold level.

The components of humanity are associated with the levels of production of spiritual fruit.  The spiritual dead have no spiritual fruit.  The body is associated with the thirty-fold level, the soul with the sixty-fold level, and the spirit with the hundred-fold level.  For instance, John in his revelation speaks of being in the Spirit, which is associated with the hundred-fold level.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet.  Revelation 1:10  NASB

The three levels of production of spiritual fruit have a natural association with the baptisms and adoption bestowed upon Jesus and later upon humanity.  The spiritual dead are unclean.  Baptism by water represents the salvation experience which brings the child of God Almighty to the 30-fold level of production of the fruit of the spirit.  Baptism by the Holy Spirit signifies an expanded empowerment by God Almighty and is associated with the 60-fold level.  Adoption as a son of God Almighty is associated with the 100-fold level of production of spiritual fruit.

The progression of spiritual fruit production is phrased in terms of family in the household of God Almighty.

but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of truth.  1Timothy 3:15 NASB

“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”  John 14:2  NASB

Before God Almighty calls and chooses one to be a member of His family, s/he has been a slave to sin in the kingdom of darkness.

knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;  Romans 6:6  NASB

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.  Romans 6:14  NASB

The blessing of grace and the born again experience moves one from a slave to sin to a child in Christ who is in need of instruction and correction after receiving the baptism with water.

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and mangers until the date set by the father.  Galatians 4:1-2  NASB

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,  Philippians 2:14-15  NASB

Though one born again is forgiven sin, s/he has not been completely freed from the poisonous beastly nature that Satan imparts to humanity, so one finds sin remaining in his/her life.

The gift of the Holy Spirit, delivered to those gathered on Pentecost following Jesus’ ascension, gives one power to combat one’s own nature and the ways of the world.  These, having received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, are the bride of Christ.

The adoption as a mature son by God Almighty is associated with the 100-fold level of production of spiritual fruit.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.  And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.  Romans 8:22-23  NASB

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  Ephesians 1:5-6  NASB

The levels of production of spiritual fruit are also described by attributes or characteristics of the individual.  Disbelief and fear are identified with the unsaved who face punishment.

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”  Mark 16:15-16  NASB

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  1John 4:18  NASB

Faith, hope, and belief are attributes/characteristics of those who have received salvation and who attain the designated, thirtyfold level of production of spiritual fruit.  These attributes refer to an attitude about the future and a conviction of unseen things, in spite of lack proof.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1  NASB

In the context of Christianity, it is difficult to establish a distinction between hope, belief, and faith.  Therefore, these terms are used interchangeably.

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.  Romans 8:24-25  NASB

And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.  1John 3:23  NASB

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.  Ephesians 2:8  NASB

Faith and obedience are attributes/characteristics of the sixtyfold level of spiritual fruit production.

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”  And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have the faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.”  Matthew 17:19-20  NASB

“And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”  Acts 5:32  NASB

Those at the hundredfold level of fruit production will have the dominate attribute/characteristic of love.

But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.  1Corinthians 13:13  NASB

Faith and hope are attributes that benefit the individual, but love is an attribute that benefits others.

And He said to him, “What is written in the Law?  How does it read to you?”  And he answered and said, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”  And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS, AND YOU WILL LIVE.”  Luke 10:26-28  NASB

These three values for the production of spiritual fruit should not be applied rigidly, for they are points of reference within a continuum.  For instance, one who is born again will not always produce spiritual fruit at the 30-fold level.  That is, some who have not received the baptism with the Holy Spirit might produce spiritual fruit near the 60-fold level.

The four levels of production of spiritual fruit allow a visual representation of the hierarchy of the two, spiritual kingdoms.  In the following illustration, the three levels of production of spiritual fruit attainable by those who enter the kingdom of God Almighty while on earth are shown as cells identified by the descriptions from the triplets which have been mentioned.  As we move vertically, these cells reflect the decrease in size of the enclosures within the Mosaic tabernacle and the increased restrictions on who may enter.  Here then we have the indication that some at each level of production of fruit will stagnate and not grow further.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:14  NASB

Therefore, there will be a winnowing of those who actually achieve another level of spiritual attainment.

We have identified three designated levels of production of spiritual fruit by members of the kingdom of God Almighty while on earth, and we will investigate aspects of each of these levels in the following sections in this chapter.  Before we do that, we describe the evolution of the church during spiritual day/age 5–the church era–in terms of these designated levels of production of spiritual fruit so that these characterizations will be available for our upcoming discussion of the transition from the Law to grace.

Having used Abram and Sarai as a pattern for the Old Testament era (Section 3-14) and then Isaac as a pattern for Jesus during spiritual day/age 4 (Section 4-75), we now use Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and Joseph to illustrate the decline of the church from the apostolic times into the apostate church of the Middle/Dark Ages.  Trends in various criteria associated with Isaac and Jacob and Joseph, shown in the following table, suggest the decline in the production of spiritual fruit of the church.  The Promised Land is symbolic of the kingdom of light/heaven on earth.  Mesopotamia/Babylon represents pagan religions with fleshly influences.  Egypt represents the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan, i.e., the physical realm where humanity is slave to sin.

The sequence of ages at milestones of the patriarchs suggests a decline in the level of production of spiritual fruit.  We start with Abraham and son Isaac.

Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.  Genesis 21:5  NASB

Next are Isaac and son Jacob/Israel.

And afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.  Genesis 25:26  NASB

Lastly are Jacob/Israel and son Joseph.  We do not have an age for Jacob at Joseph’s birth, but we are given the age at which Joseph was appointed to rule Egypt.

Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt.  And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went through all the land of Egypt.  Genesis 41:46  NASB

Hence the ages from 100 to 60 to 30 as we move from Isaac to Jacob to Joseph provide an association of the patriarchs with the decreasing progression of the designated levels of production of spiritual fruit that have been identified for the church.  Here then is an indication of a trend toward a zero level of production of spiritual fruit for the apostate church during the Middle/Dark Ages.

The generations succeeding Isaac are a deluding of Isaac’s bloodline.  Isaac’s seed must “pass through” Rebekah to produce their children, so Jacob had 50% of Isaac’s bloodline.  Consequently Joseph had 25% of Isaac’s bloodline, and Joseph’s children had 12.5%.  These numbers–100, 50, 25, 12.5–are similar to and show the same trend as God Almighty’s designated numbers of 100, 60, 30, and 0.  Here then is an indication of the deluding of the church traditions and doctrines from the holiness of Jesus’ ministry to the apostate church of the Middle/Dark Ages.

Notice that while God Almighty named Isaac before birth (Gen 17:19) and renamed Jacob as Israel (Gen 32:28), it is Pharaoh who renamed Joseph as Zaphenath-paneah (Gen 41:45).  Recall the implication of one naming another is that the one who names is dominant over the named.  Here then is an indication of the trend of the church toward domination by godless influences, represented by Pharaoh.

Isaac was born in the Promised Land and never left it.  Jacob was born in the Promised Land but was transient.  He spent 77 years in Canaan and then 20 years with Laban in Mesopotamia/Babylon.  He returned to the Promised Land for 33 years before his final 17 years in Egypt.  Joseph, on the other hand, was born in Mesopotamia and lived only a few years in the Promised Land before spending 93 years in Egypt.  The progression of birthplaces and residences of the patriarchs from the Promised Land to Mesopotamia/Babylon to Egypt suggests a decline within the church from the holiness of Jesus Christ toward slavery to human organizations with fleshly, pagan, and godless influences.

Characteristics of the mothers of the patriarchs suggest decline of the church.  The mothers of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph were from Mesopotamia, were initially barren, and were related to Laban, a grand nephew of Sarai/Sarah.  Laban, who is shown in scripture to be greedy and deceptive, was involved in giving of the wives of Isaac and Jacob.  Laban dealt honorably with Abraham’s servant and granted permission for his sister Rebekah to become Isaac’s wife.

Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The matter comes from the LORD; so we cannot speak to you bad or good.  Behold, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.”  …  And the servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; and he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.  Genesis 24:50-51,53  NASB

On the other hand, Laban sold his daughters to Jacob for a bride price.

And Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house?  Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners?  For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price.”  Genesis 31:14-15  NASB

Laban, like his sister Rebekah (Isaac’s wife), was a deceiver and dealt deceptively with Jacob.

“Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me.  Genesis 31:7  NASB

Here then is an indication of the deluding of church practices through fleshly influences of deception, greed, and self.

Rachel, the daughter of Laban and Jacob’s wife, brought Laban’s pagan idols into Jacob’s household.

When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.  Genesis 31:19  NASB

The presence of false gods in Jacob’s household is an indication that the early church was plagued by false teachings.

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.  2Peter 2:1  NASB

Later, while in the Promised Land, Jacob attempted to remove the Pagan traditions.

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments;”  …  So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.  Genesis 35:2,4  NASB

This is suggestive of times of revival of apostolic traditions.

Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian wife, a daughter of a pagan priest.

Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife.  And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt.  Genesis 41:45  NASB

Here then is the suggestion of Satanic godlessness that further diluted the church and facilitated the decline of the organized church into the apostate church of the Middle/Dark Ages.

God Almighty repeated His promise given to Abram to both Isaac (Gen 26:2-4) and Jacob (Gen 28:13-15).  In addition, God Almighty blessed Jacob

Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him.  …  Then God went up from him in the place where He had spoken to him.  Genesis 35:9,13  NASB

Then Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,”  Genesis 48:3  NASB

There is no scriptural record of God Almighty speaking to Joseph of the promises.  However, just before his death, Jacob in prophecy over his sons passed the blessing on to Joseph.

“The blessings of your father / Have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors / Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; / May they be on the head of Joseph, / And on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.”  Genesis 49:26  NASB

The diminishing communication from God Almighty of the promises is an indication of the growing separation of the church from God Almighty.

Each of the three patriarchs faced a famine.  Notice that a spiritual famine is the loss of connection to God Almighty.

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD God, / “When I will send a famine on the land, / Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, / But rather for hearing the words of the LORD. / And the people will stagger from sea to sea, / And from the north even to the east; / They will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, / But they will not find it.”  Amos 8:11-12  NASB

The church certainly faced a spiritual famine during the Middle/Dark ages.

Isaac faced famine, which suggests Jesus’ lose of connectivity to God Almighty while burdened with all the sins of the world.  Isaac did not leave the Promised Land during famine or at any other time, and thus we have the suggestion that Jesus submitted Himself to His Father’s will of suffering physically through crucifixion.

When famine threatened Jacob and his family, they left the Promised Land and went to Egypt to eat the food offered by Pharaoh.  Based on the concept of eating the food offered by someone is to do their will, here then is an indication of the trend, within the church, from following God Almighty’s will to following Satan’s will.

Joseph in Egypt faced the same famine as his father and brothers.  God Almighty gave Joseph knowledge of the coming famine.

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”  Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”  …  “It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh:  God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do.  Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; and after them seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will ravage the land.”  Genesis 41:15-16,28-30  NASB

However, after Pharaoh made Joseph ruler of all of Egypt, Joseph did not share this God-given knowledge of a coming famine with his subjects so that they could be prepared.  Rather, he used this God-given knowledge to enrich himself and his master.  Here then is an indication of the clergy using their church positions for personal gain.

Thus, Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and Joseph are associated with phases of the church as it declines into the apostate church of the Middle/Dark Ages.  Isaac is a type for Jesus at the 100-fold level of production of spiritual fruit as He forms the church during His ministry.  Jacob/Israel is a type for the apostolic church (35-100 AD) at the 60-fold level.  Joseph is a type for the organizing church (100-500 AD) at the 30-fold level that followed the apostolic church.  The Israelites as slaves in Egypt are a type for the apostate church of the Middle/Dark Ages (500-1500 AD) to which we assign a numerical value of zero for the production of spiritual fruit.  (Dates are approximate.)

Recall that Jesus characterized His death in terms of the cycle of a seed (John 12:24, 33), which when planted in the earth undergoes decay as it transforms into the new plant that emerges from the earth.  The rot and decay of the apostate church suggests the death of a seed as it produces the plant that will emerge from the soil.  Therefore, the cycle of the planted seed, decline into decay followed by increase into a mature plant, suggests that the decline of the church is to be followed by increase that mirrors the decline.  Thus, the Israelites passing through the sea after the exodus from slavery in Egypt are a type for the water baptism associated with the 30-fold level of production of spiritual fruit (See table p. 5-23.).  The Israelites meeting with God Almighty at His mountain and receiving the covenant of the Law is a type for the baptism with the Holy Spirit associated with the 60-fold level of spiritual fruit.  The spies in the Promised Land are a type for the adopted sons associated with the 100-fold level of production of spiritual fruit.

Therefore, the Old Testament events from Isaac to the Israelite spies in the Promised Land are an outline of the decline-increase in the production of spiritual fruit for the church era.  In addition, the sequence of letters to the seven churches in Chapters 1-3 of Revelation, long-believed to be a prophecy of the spiritual progression of the church, is the basis for segmentation of the church era into seven periods.  The combination of these factors suggests the representation of the production of spiritual fruit during the church era in spiritual day/age 5 by a seven-step, decline-increase illustration, similar to that used for the Old Testament era (Section 3-41).  The following illustration displays the association of events in the Old Testament with the levels of production of spiritual fruit of the church.

The levels of production of spiritual fruit from the New Testament are coordinated with the steps of the illustration and indicate the general condition of the church, except the first step when the church was at the 30-fold level but Jesus the Head was at the 100-fold level.  The movement between the declining steps was a gradual shift in the level of production of spiritual fruit, while there are specific events and dates in church history that correspond to the increasing steps in the illustration.

There have been individuals throughout the past 2,000 years who lived righteously and who were not governed by, nor affected by, the designated levels.  During the Middle/Dark Ages particularly, some of these were put to death for faithfully following Jesus and His teachings.  Unfortunately, despite our societal progress over the past centuries, saints still suffer death for their Christian beliefs.