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Joshua

The Army of God
The crucifixion has occurred and Satan has been defeated, yet we are still here on earth. Why? We are on the borders and we have several things to do before we can occupy the Promised Land. We have to clear the land little by little or the wild beasts will overwhelm us.
Like Moses, the Suffering Messiah has already died and gone to heaven. Now, like Joshua, the Conquering Messiah will lead Israel to the Promised Land.
Jewish Objections To Jesus (Not A Conqueror). Jews object to Jesus because He did not conquer the Romans. Seen in this context, the Messiah must first be the suffering shepherd who guided Israel and died because they sinned. Then He becomes the conqueror who takes them into the Promised Land, defeating all their enemies in the process.

- On the Eastern Border (Chapter 1). Israel will cross the Jordan in three days. Joshua reminds them that real success and prosperity can only be attained by obeying God and cherishing His laws.
  Success. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (Joshua 1: 8)
  He reminded the tribes who had already received their inheritance that they are obligated to fight with the other tribes until they also receive their inheritance.
  The Tribes Beyond the Jordan. Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise. (Joshua 1: 14-15)
  On the borders of Heaven, at the end of His wilderness exodus on earth, Jesus will cross the waters in three days. He will fight with us until we receive our inheritance. Then He will return from the sunrise.
- Rahab and The Two Spies (Chapter 2). Mary was a prostitute who helped Jesus, like Rahab helped Israel.
  Hiding Among the Stalks. But she had brought them up on the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. (Joshua 2: 6)
  Hiding in the Hills. So she said to them "Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way." (Joshua 2: 16)
  Jesus went to the hill country of Jerusalem but the pursuers caught Him and killed Him and a string of red poured out of His side.
  » Saved by the Red Cord. Rahab's house was saved because she had a red cord hanging out of the side of the walls, just like the red blood on the door protected those that lived in the house on the night of the exodus.
  Scarlet Cord. Then the men said to her, "We shall be free from this oath to which you have made us swear, unless when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father's household." (Joshua 2: 17-19)
  The stream of red blood coming out of the side of Jesus also saved us.
- Crossing the Jordan (Chapter 3). We must cross the baptismal water shortly before the exodus.
  Crossing with the Covenant. So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. (Joshua 3: 14-16)
  - Covenant. Jesus was fulfilling the covenant by submitting to death.
  - Priests Carry The Covenant. The priests took Jesus through the crowd.
  - The Overflowing River. The Jordan overflowed its bank at the harvest, symbolizing the huge crowd of people who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem during the Passover harvest.
  - Crossing Opposite Jericho. Satan's kingdom was about to fall and so was the temple of Jesus.
  - Baptism. Jesus compared the crucifixion to baptism because He would be buried and resurrected. The first generation were baptized in the Red Sea and the cloud as they crossed. The second generation were baptised in the Jordan. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples before He submitted to baptism by crucifixion.
    The Baptism. But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished. (Luke 12: 50)
  - Dry Ground. His baptism was also on dry ground because as He was lifted up on the cross, the sea of humanity passed by below Him, lashing at Him like angry waves.
    Baptism on Dry Ground. And the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan. (Joshua 3: 17)
- The Twelve Memorial Stones (Chapter 4). The ark crosses.
  Cutting Off The River. and Joshua said to them, "Cross again to the ark of the Lord your God in the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' then you shall say to them, 'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever." (Joshua 4: 5-7)
  - Waters Cut Off. As our enemies, the wicked will be cut off as a part of keeping the covenant.
  - Stones On The Shoulder. When Jesus took the cross on His shoulders He was literally carrying the burden of the sins of the twelve tribes.
  - Twelve Memorial Stones. Jesus appointed twelve tribes in Jerusalem on the same day.
    The Stones in The River. Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing and there they are to this day. (Joshua 4: 9)
  - Gilgal (Rolling Reproach). Our reproach was rolled away when He washed away our sins and shame. Israel reached Gilgal on the same day that the Passover lamb was chosen.
    Gilgal. Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth of the first month and camped at Gilgal on the eastern edge of Jericho. (Joshua 4: 19)
- Circumcision (Chapter 5). The second generation is circumcised because they were not circumcised during the exodus.
  - Cutting Away The Old Man. It was time to cut away sin.
    Circumcision. Their children whom He had raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised, for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way. (Joshua 5: 7)

    First Generation | Exodus | Second Generation
    --- | --- | ---
    Slavery | Joshua | Wilderness | Promised Land
    Jews |  | Jews and Gentiles | Clear Land | Occupy Land
    Circumcised | Uncircumcised | Circumcised

    Based on this pattern and legal precedent, it was appropriate for Paul to say that the Gentiles do not need to be circumcised. However, when we reach the Promised Land, there is a circumcision that will be required. We must circumcise our hearts.
    Surrender Your Heart. So circumcise your hearts and stiffen your neck no longer. (Deuteronomy 10: 16)
  - Gilgal (Nisan 10). The camped at Gilgal on the tenth, the same day that the Passover lamb was selected. On Passover the reproach of our sins was rolled away.
    No Reproach. Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day. (Joshua 5: 9)
  - Passover (Nisan 14). On Passover Jesus took the reproach of our sins with Him on the cross.
    No Sin. When the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho. (Joshua 5: 10)
  - Manna Ceased (Nisan 15). This was the day when Jesus was buried in the grave.
    The Fruit of the Land. On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year. (Joshua 5: 11-12)
  - The Captain of the Lord's Army. We have supernatural assistance to help us to clear out the land.
    Friend or Foe? Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" (Joshua 5: 13)
    Angelic General. He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my Lord to say to His servant?" (Joshua 5: 14)
    Revelation 12 tells us that after the child was caught up to the throne of God that there was war in heaven and Satan was cast out permanently to earth. So Jesus was anointed High Priest and King of Kings and now He is also the leader of the armies of the hosts of heaven and earth.
  - Holy Ground. The priests walk barefoot in the sanctuary. So this teaches us that after the resurrection, we are now officially on holy ground. We are warrior priests and we can enter into the sanctuary.
    Barefoot Warriors. The captain of the Lord's host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5: 15)

Clearing the Land
Several war tactics were used to defeat the enemies of God. Out of the thirty one kings defeated, the tactics of five nations were highlighted because they symbolize the battles we will have until the end of time. They completely destroyed these cities and executed all their kings.

(1) Jericho Falls | (2) Ai Wins | Ai Loses | (3) Gibeon Deceives | (4) Amorites | (5) Hazor
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Satan Falls | Papacy Rules | Papacy Falls | Antichrist | Second Coming | Third Coming
Arrested | Gethsemane | Arrested | A Slave Carries Cross | Darkness | Hamstrung

- Jericho Defeated by A Siege (Chapter 6). The wicked city will fall when the warriors of God besiege it.
  - Jericho Falls. The fall of Jericho just before they crossed over into the Promised Land echoes the fall of Babylon before we cross over into Heaven.
  - The Last Trumpet. After a series of wars in which we ask God to save us, we will be victorious when we hear the last trumpet.
    The Loud Trumpet. So the people shouted, and the priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city. (Joshua 6: 20)
  - Harlot. We are the harlot, unfaithful to God and living in Babylon, who must be rescued.
    Rescuing the Harlot. Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the harlot's house and bring the woman and all she has out of there, as you have sworn to her." (Joshua 6: 22)
  - Earth Desolated. Earth is the cursed city full of lepers. The earth will be desolated and it will not be rebuilt. It will be destroyed and a new earth will be created.
    Desolation. Then Joshua made them take an oath at that time saying, "Cursed before the Lord is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation; and with the loss of his youngest he shall set up its gates." (Joshua 6: 26)
    - Firstborn Dead (Foundation). Jesus was killed laying the foundation of the city.
    - Youngest Dead (Gates). When the city is completed the youngest will be killed. At the end of time the church is modeled after the youngest child, Benjamin. The church will die to self and to sin.
  Seige and Fall. Jesus was beseiged by the crowd in Gethsemane. After the cock crowed twice and the last disciple fled, Jesus officially fell. He was honored and anointed by a harlot who was the first to see Him after the resurrection.
- Ai Defeated (Chapter 7-8). Ai represents the past 2000 years of apostasy which have defeated us and kept the blessings of God from us. When we are faithful to God as a church and as a righteous nation our enemies will fall before us.
  - Ai Defeats Israel (Chapter 7). Achan from the tribe of Judah kept things that were under the ban. So he and his family and possessions were stoned and burned in a place which is now called the valley of Achor.
    Erasing Sin. Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, "Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the Lord, the God of Israel, has said, There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel, You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removes the things under the ban from your midst!" (Joshua 7: 13)
    For the past 2000 years we have been guilty of taking idolatry and the things of the world into the pure religion. Rome conquered the church by convincing it that it would be politically correct to incorporate paganism into Christianity and political suicide or martyrdom if we continued to isolate ourselves with our strange beliefs. This association with evil has deferred our blessings.
    Sin Conquered. Jesus triumphed in Gethsemane and took away our sins.
  - Ai Defeated By Ambush (Chapter 8). Jesus feigned defeat at the cross, by submitting to the forces of evil and losing all of His support. At the end of time an ambush will be arranged for Satan as the forces of good regroup and capture the armies of Satan in a vice. We will hold their attention long enough to mount the greatest evangelistic effort which will cause the greatest defection of people from the ranks of Satan into the folds of the merciful and righteous God of Israel.
    Feigning Defeat. Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them, and fled by way of the wilderness. And all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. So not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who had not gone out after Israel, and they left the city unguarded and pursued Israel. (Joshua 8: 15-17)
    Ambushed in Gethsemane. He was betrayed with a kiss and captured in Gethsemane.
  - The Mighty Arm. Moses defeated Egypt and Amalek with His arms stretched out. Now Joshua does the same thing to Ai.
    Arm Stretched Out. Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand towards Ai, for I will give it into your hand." So Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hands towards the city. The men in ambush rose quickly from their place, and when he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it, and they quickly set the city on fire. When the men of Ai turned back and looked, behold, the smoke of the city ascended to the sky, and they had no place to flee this way or that, for the people who had been fleeing to the wilderness turned against the pursuers.
    For Joshua did not withdraw his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had utterly destroyed the all the inhabitants of Ai. (Joshua 8: 18-20, 26)
    The Arms of God. Jesus Christ defeated Satan with His arms stretched out and nailed on a cross.
  - Two Groups. It is at this time that the world will be divided into those that are blessed and those that are cursed.
    The Blessings and Curses. He wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel. All Israel with their elders and officers and their judges were standing on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as the native. Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had given command at first to bless the people of Israel. Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. (Joshua 8: 32-34)
    Jesus Conquered. Then Jesus was taken by ambush from Gethsemane to be killed with His arms stretched out as He suffered the curses to obtain our blessings.
- Treaty With Gibeon (Chapter 9). Gibeon uses craft to make a treaty and became slaves.
  Treachery. They also acted craftily and set out as envoys, and took worn out sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins worn out and torn and mended, and worn out and patched sandals on their feet, and worn out clothes on themselves, and all the bread of their provision was dry and had become crumbled. (Joshua 9: 4-5)
  The priests used treachery to complete their goals and in a sense they were left in possession of the old because they would not embrace the new. The Gentiles were the new wine in new wineskins which could not be easily united with the old.
  They did not obey the laws or consult God when they crucified Jesus. In fact, they seemed to have violated almost every clearly stated law.
  Presumption. So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. (Joshua 9: 14)
  » Wood and Water Slaves. The Gentiles became those who made the wood for the cross and used a sword to draw the water of Life out of His body. In fact, the slaves became the priests of the sanctuary.
  Slaves of God. It came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living within their land. The leaders siad to them, "Let them live." So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them. Now therefore you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. (Joshua 9: 16,21,23)
  This time the Gentiles did not come with a treaty under false impressions, the Jews came with the treaty designed to rid themselves of God.
  » The Treachery of the Antichrist. At the end of time our enemies will use treachery to defeat us by pretending to be allies as he did with Eve. He will have a stale and dead version of all the symbols of Christ. We must consult God in all our dealings.
  Jesus in Disguise. Jesus was in disguise as a sinner and a serpent because He was carrying our sins. By the time they had finished abusing Christ, this was what remained.
  - Worn Out Sacks. His body was the worn out sack, full of blood and water.
  - Tired Donkey. He is the tired donkey who bore their burdens.
  - Old Wine Skins. They are the old wineskins that were too fragile to accept Jesus.
  - Worn out and Patched Shoes. He had no shoes and His hands and feet were patched using a nail.
  - Worn Out Clothes. He was naked. His clothes were torn or taken away.
  - Dry and Crumbled Bread. He was the dry Manna from heaven, drained of blood and water.
  » Wood and Water Slave. Jesus was accused of deceiving the people and became a slave who carried the wooden cross and poured water from His own body.
- Amorites Defeated (Chapter 10).
  The Defeated King of The Jews. When Jesus died on the cross, suffering the wrath of God for us, He also suffered the same set of experiences. He was the King who was being sought by Israel so that they could kill Him.
  - Hail. There was a hail of spit and harsh words.
    » Beth-horon (House of Wrath). He suffered the wrath of God.
    » Azekah (Strength of Walls). He steadfastly endured all the physical and emotional abuse.
  - Sun and Moon. There was darkness as the heavens worked against Him. Even the symbolic sun and moon turned on Him as God and Israel abandoned Him.
    » Gibeon (Hill, Cup or Thing Lifted Up). He was lifted up on a hill as the cup of wrath was drained. The sun stood still above representing God who was present.
    » Ajalon (Chain or Strength). The moon is a symbol of the church or Israel. The moon standing in the valley was the people below surrounding the cross.
  - King Hung On A Tree. Jesus was hanging on A cross until evening.
  - The King Sealed Behind A Rock. He was buried in a cave with a stone placed over it.
    Sealed In The Tomb. And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone. (Matthew 27: 66)
    » Makkedah (Worshiping, Burning, Raised or Crookedness). He was buried near the crucifixion site.
  - Under His Feet. Ironically, while suspended on the cross we were under His feet.
  The Triumphant King of The Jews. This is the day of defeat for Satan at the Second Coming.
  - Hail of Fire and Brimstone. God sends fire from heaven.
    Hail. As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw large stone from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword. (Joshua 10: 11)
  - Darkness. There will be no sun or moon visible for 1000 years.
    Sun Stands Still. Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
    "O sun stand still at Gibeon,
    And O moon in the valley of Aijalon." (Joshua 10: 12)
    The position and distance of the sun and moon shows that the events occurred some time before the first quarter, possibly a day after the new moon and the beginning of a new month.

    Battle
    Rocks (Hail) | Moon | Sun | Dead Kings
    --- | --- | --- | ---
    Beth-Horon | Azekah | Aijalon | Gibeon | Makkedah

    The events of the last two weeks on earth are the Battle of Armageddon and Second Coming which probably begin near the first of a month, most likely Tishri.
    The meaning of the names of the places also tell an interesting story.
    - Beth-horon. The Lord threw hail stones because He was pouring out His wrath.
    - Azekah. The righteous are not affected.
    - Gibeon. God is lifted up above the earth.
    - Ajalon. Israel is waiting below.
    - Makkedah. The wicked rulers are sealed in their tomb in a burning earth because they worshipped the beast.
  - The Kings of the Earth Sealed Behind A Rock. Jesus is the Rock from heaven who will crush all the kingdoms of the earth according to Daniel 2.
    Kings Sealed Behind A Rock. Now these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah. It was told Joshua, saying, "The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah." Joshua said, "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and assign men by it to guard them." (Joshua 10: 16-18)
  - Kings Hung On A Tree. All the kings of the earth, especially Satan, will be defeated and will be crushed under Jesus' feet.
    Kings Under Our Feet. When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, "Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came near and put their feet on their necks. So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening. It came about at sunset that Joshua gave a command, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and put large stones over the mouth of the cave, to this very day. (Joshua 10: 24, 26-27)
- Hazor Defeated (Chapter 11). The giants, the Anakim will be defeated. This is the defeat of Satan at the Third Coming when the final judgment is over. At this point, the whole spiritual world will be visible and the resurrected wicked will see Satan and his angels and the ancient men of earth. They will look like giants.
  » The Conglomerate of Evil. At this point they will all form an alliance to defeat the righteous nation of God.
  An Alliance of Kings. So all of these kings having agreed to meet, came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire."
  The Battle by The River. So Joshua and all the people of war with him came upon them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and attacked them. (Joshua 11: 5-7)
  Cutting Off The Head. Then Joshua turned back at that time, and captured Hazor and struck the king with the sword, for Hazor formerly was the head of all these kingdoms. However, Israel did not burn any cities that stood on their mounds, except Hazor alone, which Joshua burned. All the spoil of those cities and the cattle, the sons of Israel took as their plunder; but they struck every man with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them. They left no one who breathed. (Joshua 11: 10, 13-14)
  Every major battle of God involves a body of water which destroys the enemies of God. The Egyptians drowned in the Nile. The Euphrates parted to defeat both ancient Babylon and Babylon the Great. This final battle will involve a river of fire and Satan will be beheaded at some point.
  » The Promised Land of the New Earth. We can finally possess the earth in peace.
  Possessing The Land. Thus Joshua took all that land: the hill country and all the Negev, all that land of Goshen, the lowland, the Arabah, the hill country of Israel and its lowland. from Mount Halak, that rises towards Seir, even as far as Baal-Gad in the valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon. And he captured all their kings and struck them down and put them to death. Then Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab and from all the hill country of Judah and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. (Joshua 11: 16-17, 21)
  Peace and War. There was not a city which made peace with the sons of Israel except the Hivites living in Gibeon; they took them all in battle. (Joshua 11: 19)
  Giant Defeated. God was dead and He was hamstrung on the cross and pierced with a sword.
- The List of Defeated Kings (Chapter 12).
  - Land In the East. Before the crucifixion we will defeat two major kings and some of us will possess their lands.
    - Five Kings of the Amorites. We captured Jerusalem when the kings made war with us. We received the New Jerusalem when Rome went to war with Jesus Christ.
    - Land of The Giants (Bashan). We defeated Satan, the king of the north.
  - Land In the West (31 Kings). Between the crucifixion and the Second Coming, we will defeat 31 kings. Symbolically, this is a king each day for a whole month. This includes the fall of Jericho which is a type of the fall of Babylon the great.

Inheritance Distributed
Joshua was old and all the land had not been conquered. The lands of the Philistines and Geshurites in the west and Sidon and Lebanon in the north remained. So God told Joshua to distribute the land anyway and He would drive them out.
We will assume that you understand the meaning of the names of the twelve tribes.

- Assigning the Borders (Chapter 13-14). It is now five years after they had entered the Promised Land and forty five years after Joshua had spied out the land. 2.5 tribes had been given their inheritance across the Jordan in the east on the plains of Moab. Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh.
  For their faithfulness Joshua and Caleb were promised the land in which they walked as an inheritance. So Caleb received Hebron.
  » Unconquered Territory.
  At this time not all of the land had been conquered, but Joshua assigned them as an inheritance.
  Work Remains. Now Joshua was old and advenced in years when the Lord said to him, "You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed." (Joshua 13: 1)
  Almost 3500 years later, the land has still not been conquered and is in fact a source of war and strife.
  - 5 Lords of The Philistines (Gaza Strip). Part of the land of the Philistines is now known as the Gaza strip.
  - Lebanon. We do not possess the lower part of Lebanon.
  - Euphrates. We have never even been as far as this river. God will conquer it during the sixth seal when He defeats Babylon the Great.
  It is now 2000 years since our deliverer has been leading us and most of the world has not been conquered and His own people are rebellious. God Himself will drive out the inhabitants.
  Possession by Faith. ... I will drive them out from before the sons of Israel, only allot it to Israel for an inheritance as I have commanded you. Now therefore apportion the land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh. (Joshua 13: 6-7)
  The physical borders of the land also outline the spiritual borders of our experience with God.
  Inheritance by Law. I will fix your boundary from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River Euphrates; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out before you. (Exodus 23: 31)
  - The Red Sea. God took Israel from Egypt.
  - The Sea of the Philistines (Mediterranean). God will take us to the west in the end.
  - Wilderness. God took Israel through a faith experience.
  - Euphrates River. God rescues the final church by drying up the Euphrates.

  The Inheritance of the Twelve Tribes
  Sea | West | River | East
  --- | --- | --- | ---
  Sea of Glass | Israel (Converted) |  |  | Jacob (Unconverted)
  Manasseh | Ephraim |  | 12 Tribes
  Jews | Gentiles |  |  | Jews (Firstborn)
  Second Generation | First Generation

  » Map Prophecy. Looking at Gad, Judah and Simeon, the map itself may be the key to a prophecy, not only in the names of the sons, but in the shape of their territory and their location. If we assume that the east is the time of Christ and the first generation. Then the west is the final Generation at the end of time.

  - Eastern Tribes. This is the status of Israel at the crucifixion.
    - Reuben ("Afflicted, Lost Preeminence"). Israel fell into disgrace when they rejected the Messiah and the work was given to the Gentiles. They have been the target of affliction for 2000 years.
    - Gad ("Raider in A Pincer Movement"). He represents Christ being arrested by an army, then Christ becoming the one who raids and arrests His enemies. It describes Jesus Christ as the raider on the white horse coming with an army (Revelation 19).
      » Military Tactics. The territory of Gad, the warrior, is shaped like a pincer. The church is split into two groups since the time of Christ as a part of a mysterious military strategy. In studying the plans of God for the future of the two branches of the church, the plan seemed like a military pincer movement that opened up at the cross and will close at the end of time when the two branches of the church unite and it signals devastation for the forces of evil.
    - Half Manasseh ("Make Me Forget"). In a plan orchestrated by God, Israel was blinded and they forgot their Messiah. They did not see Him in the symbols of the sacrifices, sanctuary, feasts, laws and their seder. It was so obvious.
  - Jordan River System. When Jesus began leading the final exodus, He led us through water to baptize us just as Israel was baptized in the Red sea.
    Drinking From a Rock. For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (1 Corinthians 10: 1-4,11)
    - Sea of Galilee ("Upper Spring - Former Rain"). This sea also called Kinneret is the lowest fresh water lake. The pool of fresh water is the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave two pools of liquid to cleanse us, blood and water. He sent the Holy Spirit in the former rain to pour out on the young church.
    - Jordan River ("Stream"). Baptism and the continuous work of the Holy Spirit reminds us of the cleansing that has been occurring for 2000 years.
    - Salt Sea ("Lower Spring - Latter Rain"). At the end of time we will have the largest outpouring of the Holy Spirit which will convert the world. It will also lead Israel to their Messiah.
      » Salt for Flavor. The church will finally be the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5: 13).
      The fresh water needs salt to keep away the stench of decay as sin rots the world. The Salt Sea is also called the Dead Sea and is the lowest point on the earth.
  - Western Tribes. This is the church at the end of time when the Messiah comes.
    - Dan ("Serpent"). The tribe of Dan received the territory directly north of Judah next to the sea. However they were the only tribe who failed to drive out the wicked nations. Dan could not hold on to the Philistine territory so they relocated to the far north in Laish (Judges 18). Symbolically, Dan went from the frying pan into the fire. Dan refused to remove idol worshippers so they were contaminated by it. He is the serpent who corrupts the innocent church. In moving north they were even moving closer to the center of idolatry not away from it. Dan is the apostate church who joins with the idolatrous "king of the north" who persecutes the church at the end of time and he also persecuted Judah (Jesus) as the local king of the north.
    - Naphtali ("Prevailed") and Asher ("Happy"). The dead church will be raised up and they will flee from the north because of Babylon. They will prevail in their work and proceed with joy to wait for the Messiah.
    - Zebulun ("Good Gift"). The will receive the Holy Spirit as the gift from God. He is not only the moving force behind the successful evangelism, He is the agent who will cleanse us and make us ready for the Second Coming.
    - Issachar ("Donkey, Wages"). We will volunteer to go freely and bear the burden of the work.
    - Half Manasseh ("Make Me Forget"). Since God wanted them to be blinded and allow Jesus to die unjustly, God will let them forget their shame when they realize it was all part of the plan.
    - Joseph and Ephraim ("Fruitful"). A changed Gentile church emerges after they have been taught to respect the knowledge of the Jews. We will learn that there is one law for everyone.
    - Benjamin ("Son of the Right Hand"). The church is now the young child sitting securely on his father's shoulder.
      » Dan ("Serpent"). The church is now symbolically only two groups, the righteous and wicked.
    - Judah ("Praise The Lord"). Notice that Simeon is in the middle of Judah, indicating our current circumstances with the two branches of the church. The Gentiles came out of Judah and are symbolically seen as being in Judah even at the end of time. Together they will accept the Messiah and finally praise Him as king.
      The second lot fell to Simeon, to the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families, and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of Judah. (Joshua 19: 1)
    - Simeon and Levi ("Violent and Scattered"). The violent Christian church was also scattered throughout the world.
      » Levi ("Attached"). We are a nation of priests scattered throughout the tribes.
  - The Great Sea. When Jesus Christ comes from the east and leaves in the west with us, we will cross over the sea of glass at the end of the final exodus (Revelation 15).
- Territory of Judah (Chapter 15). Jesus is the first to receive His inheritance and the Jews are a part of this inheritance. Within the borders of Judah is Simeon. Simeon is a tribe that represents the Christian Church. Here, they are located within Judah as if Judah is the mother of the womb that births the Christian church.
  » The Upper and Lower Spring. In this narrative is a story about Caleb's daughter. She received property in the Negev and two springs. Since a woman represents the church and the water represents the Holy Spirit, then this is a picture of the inheritance of the church. We are wandering in the wilderness, a dry desert, but we have two springs.
  - Stream of Blood and Water. One is for washing away sin and the other is for impurities.
  - The Former and Latter Rain. Both are for evangelizing the world at the beginning and the end of the time since the crucifixion.
- Territory of Joseph (Chapter 16). The symbols show that his kingdom is even greater than Judah. He is the model of the righteous king whose inheritance is partly from Judah and from Joseph (Ezekiel 37: 19). It might be the inheritance given to Christ when He was crowned king of the universe. Daniel had a vision of this coronation (Daniel 7: 13-14). The inheritance includes not only earth (Judah) but heaven (Joseph).
- Territory of Manasseh (Chapter 17). The Jews on both sides of the Jordan and both sides of 2000 years are an important group to establish before the rest of the children of God can receive their inheritance.
- Territory of Seven Tribes (Chapter 18-19). Seven tribes had not divided their inheritance and they were distributed by lot in this order from Benjamin to Dan.
  1. Benjamin. The final church that has been born again as a child.
  2. Simeon. The Christian church in the middle of Judah.
  3. Zebulun. The church that is fleeing persecution.
  4. Issachar. The church waiting in temporary shelters.
  5. Asher. The dead.
  6. Naphtali. The resurrected.
  7. Dan. The wicked are rewarded.
- Cities of Refuge (Chapter 20). The city of refuge is a place set up for those who unintentionally killed someone. The blood avenger is the relative of the slain person who has a right to pursue and slay the killer anywhere except these special cities.
  Refuge. These were the appointed cities for all the sons of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unintentionally may flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the congregation. (Joshua 20: 9)
  The concept of a city of refuge is a larger model of the concept of the house of refuge during the Passover. When blood is applied on the doors and lintel, the destroying angel cannot kill anyone inside.
  Saving a planet requires a large house. The city of the New Jerusalem in heaven is the city of refuge for the righteous.
  Joshua set up six cities of refuge.
  » Western Cities (Righteous). The first three cities are west of the Jordan river in the "hill country".
  1. Kadesh in Galilee (Naphtali). The resurrected.
  2. Shechem (Ephraim). The Christian branch and Gentiles.
  3. Hebron (Judah). The Jews.
  » Eastern Cities (Wicked). The other three are east of the Jordan. The could represent refuge set up for the persecuted church at the end of time. It could also be the places set aside for the wicked who are given rest for 1000 years in the land of the dead when Jesus comes with the armies of heaven to raid the earth.
  4. Bezer (Reuben). There is a place in the wilderness for those who have lost preeminence.
  5. Ramoth in Gilead (Gad). There is a place in Gilead for those fleeing from the persecuting army.
  6. Golan in Bashan (Manasseh). There is a place in Golan for the forgotten.
  The guilty person flees to the city of refuge where he remains protected until the high priest dies. Then he will stand before the congregation for judgment.
  Judgment. He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the manslayer shall return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled. (Joshua 20: 6)
  The world will enter into final judgment after the righteous find refuge in the New Jerusalem. Jesus Christ is both the High Priest and the blood avenger who comes at the end of time. He will cut down all those who have not found refuge in the city. However, those in the city will never stand in judgment because our High Priest will never die.
- Cities for the Levites (Chapter 21). They had no inheritance but each tribe was supposed to give them land for cities. The distribution of this land was given in a familiar order that we learned from the prophecy of the twelve tribes. The land was distributed first in the east, south, west and then the north. This is the same way the Levites were distributed around the sanctuary.
  The priests are a picture of the actions of Jesus Christ at the Second Coming.
  - Kohath (Aaron) East. 13 cities in the south from Judah, Simeon and Benjamin.
    The eastern priests going to the people in the south is a picture of Christ at the Second Coming, taking the Jews, Gentiles and the united church.
  - Kohath (Others) South. 10 central cities in the west from Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh.
  - Gershon (Levites) West. 13 cities in the north from Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and half of Manasseh.
    The priest in the west taking these tribes is a picture of Jesus taking the firstborn of the dead and the resurrected to heaven.
  - Merari (Levites) North. 12 cities in the east from Reuben, Gad and *Zebulun in the north.
  » The Distribution of the New Earth. At this point the righteous are all in heaven and they are all a nation of priests. So the last distribution of the inheritance is given to priests. The scripture says that the priests have no inheritance except with God. This is why the new earth will become the new capital of the universe and the throne of God will be located here.
- Tribes East of the Jordan (Chapter 22). Two and a half tribes return to their inheritance after the other tribes have received theirs.
  Rest. You have not forsaken your brothers these many days to this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord your God. And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers, as He spoke to them. Therefore turn now and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan. (Joshua 22: 3-4)
  - Faithful To Their Duties. Israel kept the commandments entrusted to them according to a prophecy in Ezekiel. They remained faithful to the Torah and all its laws.
  - Return To Your Tent. Israel returned to the land of their possession in 1948.
  - Manasseh's Inheritance. This tribe was split in two across the Jordan. Notice how the spoils they received seem to be the treasures that they have taken when they conquered Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome.
    Conquered Nations. And he said to them, "Return to your tents with great riches and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and with very many clothes; divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers." (Joshua 22: 8)
    The clothes are the righteousness of Jesus Christ and the Jews of the present must learn from the Jews of the past.
  - The Altar. The other tribes almost went to war with the two and a half tribes because they had built an altar which they thought was intended for idolatry.
    The Altar At The Frontier. And the sons of Israel heard it said, "Behold the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, on the side belonging to the sons of Israel." (Joshua 22: 11)
    The Jews and Christians have been in a state of undeclared war and animosity for 2000 years because of a misunderstanding.
  - The Witness. A witness was set up as a message to the future, if the final generation should ever say that the Jews have no portion in the Lord Jesus Christ.
    A Memory Aid. If we have built an altar to turn away from following the Lord, or if to offer a burnt offering or grain offering on it, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offering on it, may the Lord Himself require it. But truly we have done this out of concern, for a reason, saying, "In time to come your sons may say to our sons, what have you to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? For the Lord made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad, you have no portion in the Lord." So your sons may make our sons stop fearing the Lord. (Joshua 22: 23-25)
    So a witness made of Rock was set up that would testify at the end of time that the Jews have a portion in the Lord.
    A Message Across Time. Therefore we said, "Let us build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice; rather it shall be a witness between us and you and between our generations after us, that we are to perform the service of the Lord before Him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings, so that your sons will not say to our sons in time to come, 'You have no portion in the Lord'" (Joshua 22: 26-27)
    » The Message in The Altar (The Crucifixion). Somehow, the Jews have a copy of the the events of the crucifixion which will bring the two together and I know exactly what it is!
    A Copy of the Altar. Therefore we said, "It shall also come about if they say this to our generations in time to come, then we shall say, "See the copy of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice, rather it is a witness between us and you." (Joshua 22: 28)
    So we can see "See the Copy of the Passover Seder which the Jews keep!" It proves that God has been with them all along. They had never been abandoned!
    The Passover Seder as practiced by the Jews in their oral tradition is a detailed, sequential prophecy of the crucifixion of Christ. It is an ordinance which the Christians have rejected in favor of the Pagan rituals of Israel. Now this ordinance proves to both Jews and Christians that the Lord Jesus Christ (Yeshua, the Mosiach) has been with them all along. It also coincides with another Jewish prophecy which teaches them that they will be introduced to the Messiah during Passover.
- The Land Has Rest (Chapter 23). Rest had been given, but not all the nations had been driven out. So Joshua reminded them of all the things that the Lord had done for them.
  Agreements With The Heathen Nations. For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know with certainty that the Lord your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish of this good land which the Lord your God has given you. (Joshua 23: 13)
  Because of their association with the Roman nation in their land, they made an agreement that caused Jesus to be killed.
  - Association With Heathens. The priests used Rome to execute Jesus.
  - Snare and A Trap. Judas laid a trap for Him.
  - Whip in Your Sides. They beat Him with a whip.
  - Thorn in Your Eyes. The crown of thorns on His head was in His eyes.
  - Perish. He was killed.
- Joshua's Farewell Speech at Shechem (Chapter 24). Joshua reminded them of how God had led them from the beginning.
  - Abraham Called. He called Abraham from beyond the Euphrates river, just as He will take the world from beyond the Euphrates river at the end of time (Revelation 16: 12).
    Beyond the River. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the river {Euphrates], and led him through the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac. (Joshua 24: 3)
  - Isaac, Jacob and Esau. The covenant went to Isaac and Jacob who both had rival firstborns with a claim.
  - Moses and Aaron. He used Moses and Aaron to deliver them from Egypt with plagues.
  - Exodus Through The Wilderness. He covered the Egyptians with the darkness and the sea in order that He might deliver Israel.
    Darkness and the Sea. But when you cried out to the Lord, He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them and covered them; and your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness for a long time. (Joshua 24: 7)
    God fought their enemies with the two things He declared to be "not good" at creation.
  - Amorites (Beyond the Jordan). He destroyed the Amorites and gave them their land.
  - Balak and Balaam. He delivered them from the Moabites and the prophet who tried to curse them.
    Delivered from the Curse. Then Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel, and he sent and summoned Balaam the son of Beor to curse you. But I was not willing to listen to Balaam. So he had to bless you, and I delivered you from his hand. (Joshua 24: 9-10)
  - Jericho (Crossed the Jordan). They crossed the Jordan and defeated five kings and collapsed the walls of Jericho.
  - Amorites Driven Out with Hornets. By Himself, the Lord will drive out some nations as we watch.
    An Army of Bees. Then I sent the hornet before you and I drove out the two kings of the Amorites from before you, but not by your sword or your bow. (Joshua 24: 12)
  - A Promise Kept. The inherited property already built just as we will enter Heaven with everything already prepared for us.
    Free Property and Lands. I gave you a land on which you have not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you have lived in them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant. (Joshua 24: 13)
  - Serve the Lord. With all this evidence of the goodness, faithfulness and superiority of God, it makes sense to serve the Lord God.
    Choose Your God. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24: 15)
  - Covenant Witness. The covenant has two everlasting witnesses.
    You and The Rock. Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the Lord, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses." Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us, thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God." (Joshua 24: 22, 27)
    - Self Incrimination. We will be a witness against ourselves.
    - The Rock. Rocks are not organic material that can decompose and disappear. So a carved Rock is a witness for a long time. The Ten Commandments are the witness and the covenant carved in sapphire. Jesus is called the Rock for the same reason.
      So there is a permanent witness who can last for eternity. The Rock is Christ, He is a witness to what we swore before God and how we responded to His intercession.
  - Dead. Our dead will be brought into the Promised Land.
    Joseph. Now they buried the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel brought up from Egypt, at Sechem, in the piece of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of money; and they became the inheritance of Joseph's sons. (Joshua 24: 32)

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29: 29) | Time: 60 minutes Print: 11 pages
Copyright First Created : September 2010. Updated: May 2006. Credits: All original material taught by the Holy Spirit. Author: Laverna Patterson. Editor: Patterson (October 2010).