The Parable of the Two Trees Our subject this evening is one that spans from Genesis to Revelation – that deals with principles set out in Genesis – that investigates symbols explained in Genesis, expanded the in Psalms, brought forward by the prophets and sees their conclusion in Revelation. It involves two trees – one representing the kingdom of men and one representing the kingdom of God. It deals with 2 classes of animals beasts and birds. In the end we are left with just one class. Our endeavor this evening is discovering the meaning behind these two trees, to understand what is symobolized by these two classes of animals, and to understand what became of the beasts. The Parable of the Two Trees MACBS-2013

1st Tree – Daniel 4 “Thou are the tree” Beasts of the field shadowed Fowls of heaven dwelt Hew down the tree Band the stump with iron & brass Dan. 4:10-16, 20-22 – Beasts and Fowl = people finding refuge under Nebuchadnezzar’s reign Daniel 2:38 – Thou art the head of gold – kingdom of Babylon – head of the kingdom of men (Dan. 4:17)

2nd Tree – Matthew 13 The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed … becometh a tree Birds of the air lodge in its branches Matt. 13:31-32 Second represents the kingdom of heaven. Fowls – What happened to the beasts??? Need to back up to the beginning of the Bible

Uniqueness of the Human Being Image and likeness of God Image Hebrew = Resemblance Ability to reflect God’s character Likeness Hebrew = Similitude –At its root is to think or meditate Ability to discern between right and wrong Gen. 1:26-28 (Not that the we are a living soul – beasts are the same ) Image = brightness of his glory Glory? Exodus 33:18-19 -> Exodus 34:5-7 Likeness = express image of his person Express image = χαρακτήρ = character Person = steadfastness of mind

Without Discernment & God’s Character “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” Psalm 49:20 “I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast:” Ecclesiastes 3:18-19 Beasts – people taking refuge in the kingdom of Babylon Fowls – people taking refuge in the kingdom of Babylon – I Kings 17 - Ravens Both people

God’s Sacrifice (Great Supper) Ezekiel 39:17-24 Revelation 19:11-21

The Beasts Of Daniel Of Revelation 13 – beast of the sea and the earth 16 – 17, 19 – make war with the saints Psalm 2 “The slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth” as “dung upon the ground” (Jer. 25:33)

The Fowls Isaiah 34 Isaiah 60:5-8 They are those who will submit to the rulership of Christ – witness the destruction of the rest of the world

Parable of the two trees Missing beasts?

Our Obligation “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” I Peter 2:11-12