Biblical References
in the House of Heaventree series

The Firstborn

In the Old Testament, the firstborn of people and animals were often consecrated or set apart for the Lord. Blessings were bestowed on the firstborn. And Jesus is referred to as the firstborn. Luke 2:7 - “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger…”

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He is also the firstborn among brothers and sisters in Christ. Romans 8:29 - “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

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Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:15 - “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

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He is the firstborn of the resurrected. Colossians 1:18 - “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy.”

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And the book of Revelation refers to Jesus as the firstborn. Revelation 1:5 - “and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”

 

The mark

In Deuteronomy 6:8, the faithful are instructed to teach their children the commandments of God and to “Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” Those who belong to God are said to be sealed by God or marked by Him. Ezekiel 9:3-4 - “Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit as his side and said to him, ‘Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over the detestable things done in it.’”

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But the Bible says that the enemy of our souls often mimics the things of God. In Revelation 13:16, it describes a future dark system or government to mark people with the sign of the beast. “It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.”

 

The narrow door

Jesus is the narrow door, the gate. Luke 13:24- “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.”

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In John 10:7, Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.” And again in John 10:9 - “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”

 

Darkness and light

Jesus is the light in the darkness. 

Job 12:25 - “They grope in darkness without light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.”

2 Samuel 22:29 - “You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.”

John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in pastures; he leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

 

The number 144

In Revelation 7, those who are saved are sealed by God's angel.

"Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed from every tribe of the Israelites:

 From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed;

from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand;

from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand;

 from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand;

from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand;

from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand;

from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand;

from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand;

from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand;

from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand;

from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand;

from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed."

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These saved are also seen in Revelation 14: "Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion. With him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads."

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Revelation 21 also speaks of the new Jerusalem that will descend to the earth: "The city is square, and its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal. Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass."