The Parable Of The Raven And The Dove

THE PARABLE OF THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE

Copyright 1994 - 2008 Endtime Prophecy Net

Last Updated : July 23, 2006

A Mysterious Allegory Hidden In Genesis?

Many years ago, decades ago in fact, the Lord gave me a very
interesting revelation from the book of Genesis. I have only
shared this little gem with a few. Being the curious soul
that I am, I used to wonder about something which occurred
during the time of Noah's Flood. Maybe you have too. Here is
the verse from that story which sparked my interest:

"And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro,
until the waters were dried up from off the earth."
(Genesis 8:7)

While I have always believed that Genesis is meant to be
taken in a literal sense, I also believe, as is explained in
other articles, that some of it has deep spiritual
implications which few understand. It may take some degree
of faith on your part to accept this, but I believe the
above verse is an unfulfilled prophecy. Haven't you ever
wondered why Noah sent out a raven before the dove? Haven't
you ever been curious as to what happened to the raven? I
know I have, or at least I did. Well, I thought I had
understood this whole mystery years ago, but it wasn't until
just now that the Lord showed me that there is even more to
this than I could ever have possibly imagined! It is truly
fascinating! Let's talk about the dove first. Here are the
key verses:

"Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters
were abated from off the face of the ground; But the dove
found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned
unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of
the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her,
and pulled her in unto him into the ark. And he stayed yet
other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of
the ark; And the dove came in to him in the evening; and,
lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew
that the waters were abated from off the earth. And he
stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which
returned not again unto him any more." (Genesis 8:8-12)

Using my method of comparing Scripture with Scripture, we
can easily deduce that the dove represents the Spirit of
God:

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of
the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting
upon him:" (Matthew 3:16)

If the dove represents the Spirit of God, what might the
waters represent? Again, comparing Scripture with Scripture,
we find the answer:

"And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where
the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations,
and tongues." (Revelation 17:15)

The meaning of the Ark itself is a simple one. It represents
the salvation of God:

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as
yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his
house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir
of the righteousness which is by faith." (Hebrews 11:7)

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the
longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the
ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were
saved by water." (1 Peter 3:20)

Let's put together the different pieces of the puzzle now.
First of all, Noah is symbolic of God Himself. In fact,
if you read the description of Noah's birth in the book of
Enoch, it is quite interesting. Here it is:

"And after some days my son Methuselah took a wife for his
son Lamech, and she became pregnant by him and bore a son.
And his body was white as snow and red as the blooming of a
rose, and the hair of his head and his long locks were white
as wool, and his eyes beautiful. And when he opened his
eyes, he lighted up the whole house like the sun, and the
whole house was very bright. And thereupon he arose in the
hands of the midwife, opened his mouth, and conversed with
the Lord of righteousness. And his father Lamech was afraid
of him and fled, and came to his father Methuselah. And he
said unto him: ' I have begotten a strange son, diverse from
and unlike man, and resembling the sons of the God of
heaven; and his nature is different and he is not like us,
and his eyes are as the rays of the sun, and his countenance
is glorious. And it seems to me that he is not sprung from
me but from the angels, and I fear that in his days a wonder
may be wrought on the earth. And now, my father, I am here
to petition thee and implore thee that thou mayest go to
Enoch, our father, and learn from him the truth, for his
dwelling-place is amongst the angels.'" (Enoch 106:1-8)

The fact that Noah sent out the dove three times is
very significant. The first time is symbolic of God sending
out His Spirit, Jesus, (aka known as YHVH or Jehovah), to
witness to the people of the ancient world:

"And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me,
See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy
brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for
the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
(Revelation 19:10)

Those people, (waters), did not receive the testimony of the
Spirit of God, so the Spirit, (Jesus), returned to Him Who
had sent Him. Thus, those people were drowned and did not
receive the salvation of God. Two thousand years ago the
Lord God sent out His Spirit a second time. This time when
the Son, (dove), returned to His Father, (Noah), He had glad
tidings. Just as the dove returned with an olive branch in
its beak, Jesus returned to Heaven having accomplished His
purpose:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
will toward men." (Luke 2:14)

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by
him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say,
whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."
(Colossians 1:20)

By His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus had closed up the
breach between God and man and restored peace to their
relationship...at least to those who received Him. To
those who didn't and haven't, His words of peace were and
are a sword which pierces their hearts:

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not
to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34)

"Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell
you, Nay; but rather division:" (Luke 12:51)

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper
than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

On one final third occasion, Noah, (God) sent out the dove
(Jesus), to test the waters, and this time it did not
return. Do you know why? Because when Jesus returns the
third time, He will dwell with man!:

"And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me,
These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve
him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the
throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more,
neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on
them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of
the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living
fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes." (Revelation 7:14-17)

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with
them, and be their God." (Revelation 21:3)

Isn't that wonderful?! And exactly when is this going to
happen? That is where we get into the second half of this
prophecy which the Lord gave me many years ago. Let me
repeat the first verse I quoted concerning this mystery:

"And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro,
until the waters were dried up from off the earth."
(Genesis 8:7)

It should already be clear who the raven is: Satan! Why is
it that we hear nothing more about the raven in the rest of
the account of Noah's Flood? Because he NEVER returned! Just
as this raven in Genesis has been going to and fro
throughout the Earth until the waters of the Earth are dried
up, Satan too has been walking to and fro throughout the
Earth! This next verse will tie things together very nicely
for you:

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then
Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in
the earth, and from walking up and down in it." (Job 1:7)

Isn't God's Word absolutely wonderful?! Isn't it amazing the
way it all connects together like a great CrossWord puzzle?
The Bible is about the Cross, and it is about the
Word!...But unless you read the clues, you will never figure
it all out. God has already given us the clues and the
answers. It just takes the wisdom and the understanding of
God's Spirit to figure it all out. So, if the raven,
(Satan), is going to fly, (or walk), to and fro throughout
the Earth until the waters, (people), are dried up, all we
have to do is to find out where that happens to see what
happens to that raven...and here it is!:

"And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed
the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire
came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the
devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and
shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
(Revelation 20:9-10)

That's it folks! When the very last evil people, (or
waters), are destroyed off of the face of the Earth at the
battle of God and Magog, following the Millennial Rule of
Christ, that is when there will a bird fry! The waters,
(people), will be dried up when God sends heavenly fire down
upon them to consume them when they surround the camp of the
Saints; and then Satan, that evil black raven, will be cast
into the lake of fire and brimstone. Only then will this
prophecy from the book of Genesis be completely fulfilled.

I don't know about you, but that is one inspiring
revelation, the second half of which I received only moments
ago! And here another little tidbit you can add to it which
just this minute came to me. Isn't Jesus also called the
Bread of Life? Consider this also. We know that the manna
which the Lord gave to the children of Israel was symbolic
of Jesus' body broken on the Cross, right? We already know
that the waters symbolize people, and that Noah symbolizes
God. How many people were saved during The Flood of Noah's
day? Eight: Noah and his wife, and his three sons and their
wives. Consider this then:

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it
after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight;
for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth."
(Ecclesiastes 11:1-2)

...And that evil was Noah's Flood which saved eight people
to repopulate the Earth! Are all of these connections simply
a coincidence? I don't think so. I hope you have enjoyed
this interesting revelation from God's wonderful Word!