History is all about “His Story” … the story of Jesus Christ.  Time is literally divided into two parts by the “birth of Jesus” into BC and AD.  But it’s not His birth that is the dividing point of History but His resurrection that separates Jesus from everyone else who has ever lived.  Because Jesus lives those who “believe” in Jesus live .. they have eternal life in Him.  Those who repent of their sin and make Jesus Lord of their life are “born again” and will one day be resurrected with a body and nature like Jesus (John 11:5).

And just like time, the Bible is divided into “two” parts by the Old Testament and the New Testament based on the birth of Jesus.  The Old Testament begins with the fall of the “first” Adam and the curse of all mankind with a sin nature that leads to physical death and Spiritual death (eternal separation from God).  The New Testament begins with the birth and life of Jesus, the “last” Adam, who lives a perfect life free from sin and pays for mankind’s sin on the cross, thus providing man a way to overcome the curse of sin.  Even the promise of salvation has two effects  (1) to be Spiritually connected to God eternally (to be reconciled with God) and (b) to overcome Physical death (to be resurrected like Jesus with a new body and a new nature free from sin!)

There are many examples where “two” parts make up “one” thing or “type” in the Bible.  The “first” man is born with a sin nature that is rebellious toward God and the “second” man is “born again” with a redeemed nature, willing and able to do God’s will.  The first son “Cain” was rebellious, offering a works sacrifice, the second son “Able” was obedient, offering a blood sacrifice.  The first born son of Abraham was born to a Sarah’s handmade, a rebellious man “Ishmael”, while the second son of promise “Issac” was born to Sarah.  The first born son of Issac was Esau who sold his birthright to the second son, Jacob, was the promised on who fathered the 12 sons/tribes of Israel.  The first king Saul, was handsome in appearance but disobedient toward God but the second king, David, was a man after God’s own heart.

The first bride of Christ, Israel, is unfaithful to Him, even shouting to crucify Him, while the second bride of Christ, the Church, is seen as pure, anticipating His appearance!  Yet, though there are “two” brides depicted in scripture, there is really only “one” bride who will be with Jesus forever … for the True Bride will be made up of both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus and they will all celebrate together the marriage supper of the Lamb.  Even the first earth, will be destroyed by fire to bring a second, born again, “restored” earth.

Here is another example, think of a day, how it is divided into two parts, night and daylight, darkness and light.  Note, darkness is not something that is created but it is the condition of existence when there is no light.  And this is a good way to explain the concept of good and evil.  Evil is not something that God created but it is the absence of His goodness or the result of not choosing God’s goodness, which is sin.  Remember the two trees in the garden of Eden, “the tree of life brought life”, the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought death”.  The “tree of life” represents a life that trusts God for what is best.  The “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” represents a life that trust self for what is best, in essence replacing God authority to rule over His creation with “self” on the throne acting like god deciding what is good and evil.

Another example of two in the Bible is that, at the minimum, the law stated that at least “two” people were needed to convict someone of a crime or sin (Deuteronomy 19:15).  And the Pharisee on several occasions challenged Jesus, saying that His claim to be equal to God was a sin and crime punishable by death!  But Jesus gave them several reasons and witnesses why His claim to be equal to God, the Son of God, the long awaited Messiah, was true.

John 5: 31“If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. 32“There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.

(1) Witness of John the Baptist

33“You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34“But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35“He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

(2) Witness of His Works

36“But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

(3) Witness of the Father

37“And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. 38“You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.

(4) Witness of the Scripture

39“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41“I do not receive glory from men; 42but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves

In Jesus case, there are double the number of witnesses “four things” that bear witnesses that He was the Messiah, sent by God to take way the sins of man.  A covenant or contract is made between “two” parties but God made the promise to bless Abraham with a great nation of people and give him the land of Israel by His word alone (Genesis 15:1-19).  Abraham laid out three animals cut in two (a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram) and a turtledove and a pigeon, making “four” pieces on two sides.  Then Abraham experienced a deep sleep as God Himself walked through these pieces as “a smoking oven and a flaming torch”.  In a similar way God appeared as a Cloud by day and a Fire by night to the Jews.  God alone sealed this contract and promise with Abraham, it cannot be undone by man.

In contrast, the blood covenant of the lamb, is between God and man.  If a Jewish family did not faithfully put the blood of the lamb on the door post, the first born male of the family would did and first born animal males died too (Exodus 13:1-2).  The first born son was the primary heir to the family and received a double portion from the father.  The first born male belonged to God (Exodus 13:2) and had to be purchased with a blood sacrifice of an animal.  The killing of the first born son in Egypt was a reminder of God’s first and only begotten Son that would willing die in their place.  And the blood animal sacrifices were to be offered by a Jew for sin “by faith” believing in the perfect Lamb of God that would come and take away their sin once and for all.

Today, those who believe in the blood sacrifice of the Lamb of God on the cross (Jesus), have the assurance of God’s promise that they will live and never die.  But those who do not believe in Jesus will perish.  This is the biggest “two” in all the world … to believe in Jesus as your personal Savior or to reject Jesus as your Savior.  

Another example of “two” in the Bible is the two witnesses of God will stand and preach the Gospel during the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period (Revelation 11:3-12).  These are “two” Olive Trees and “two” Lamp-stands that stand before the Lord of the earth (Jesus Christ).  Inside the temple of God there is only one Lamp-stand but outside the Temple “two” men bear witness of the truth of God.

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.  Matthew 22:35-40

Jesus divided up the whole law into “two” parts … love God and love your neighbor as yourself.  But Jesus also grouped these “two” parts of the law into “one” Great Commandment on which hangs all the law and the prophets.  And later Jesus gives His disciples the Great Commission, which is in two parts, (a) to make disciples of all the nations (b) teaching them all that Jesus said.  Do you see how the two parts make up “one” thing?  Like a man and woman are joined as one in marriage (Genesis 2:24).  For man is not alone but  woman is part of man, being made from his rib.  And man is part of woman being physically born from her.

Here is the chart comparing the two Adams taken from this article: http://www.breakpoint.org/2017/04/breakpoint-jesus-last-adam/  

Remember, Mary Magdalene was the first to see the risen Christ and she mistook Him for a gardener.  Jesus through His body and blood, the Last Adam, restored what the Forbidden Fruit destroyed, inviting us back to a restored Garden-City in the New Heavens and Earth, where the tree of life grows around the throne of God, free for the taking.  The Bible is the epic love story, that God so loved us that He left Heaven to pursue us (the very ones who rejected Him). Just as Adam longed for a bride, in rebellions to His Father, he ate the forbidden fruit so he would not be separated from Eve … Jesus longs to be united with His Bride, the Church.  Jesus, the last Adam, in obedience to His Father, ate the bitter fruit of our sin in order that through belief in Him, may not be separated from Him.

Hallelujah, He is Risen … He is Risen Indeed!   – Rogersings  

(click to view large image of this Clarence Larkin chart)

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