The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:8 ESV
Judging from many modern ministries, the sales of their books, DVD’s, and other merchandise, and the lavish lifestyles of the televangelists who run them, one might reasonably conclude from the above verse that God is quite the capitalist, notwithstanding that Jesus had only one set of clothes and no place to lay his head. But in fact the above reference is not to precious metals, but to precious people, who are metaphorically called “gold” and “silver”. The same is true in biblical references to “bronze” and even “iron”. In this post, we will look at the unfolding revelation that the treatment of precious metals in the Bible is prophetic of mankind in general.
We believe that gold corresponds to the barley harvest and symbolizes the believers in Jesus who are overcomers as referenced (for one short example) in the seven letters to the churches in Revelation, and who will rule with Christ for 1,000 years after the first resurrection; the silver corresponds to the wheat harvest and symbolizes those who are believers in Jesus, but who do not take part in the first resurrection but instead await the second resurrection; and the bronze corresponds to the grape harvest and symbolizes all of humanity that become believers in Jesus after the second resurrection. Much more could be said about these two resurrections, but they are beyond the scope of this post. We recommend the teaching of Dr. Stephen Jones as a model of clarity on the subject.
Abraham was promised to be the father of “many nations“. As a result it is easily predictable that he would be rich in both gold and silver. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, it was in YHWH’s mind not just to take the Israelites out of Egypt but also the gold and silver of the Egyptians. This is the prophetic pattern that shows us that Father intends for all men to be saved from sin (symbolized by the slavery of Egypt), not just a chosen people or denomination–His plan is that all men belong to Him. Furthermore, His plan was to put the gold and silver in His tabernacle/temple, to show that His house would be a house of prayer for ALL people.
One day the time came to take the Promised Land. Again, a prophetic pattern was being set and Father gave the instruction that all gold and silver and other loot captured in Jericho would be “under the ban“. Other translations have translated it “devoted to the LORD for destruction” or in the King James Version of the Bible, “accursed“. The actual Hebrew word used is “cherem“, a word apparently having much confusion surrounding it–unless one understands the prophetic picture. Note from the preceding link that the literal meaning is “a net”, while Genesius’ lexicon refers to the secondary figurative meaning as being devoted to “utter destruction”.
Here is why the meaning matters: a man by the name of Achan secretly violated the ban and took some of the silver and gold from Jericho and buried it beneath his tent. It is no coincidence that many people today believe the “gold” and “silver” people that God says are set apart and devoted to Him belong buried in the ground because the gold and silver people do not subscribe to a particular denomination, church, or belief-set. This is the functional equivalent of consigning people to the grave (or Gehenna, or Tartarus, or wherever you may think “hell” is) when Father says they belong to HIM! This has aptly been called “The Achan Doctrine.” Can you see why the definition of “devoted to destruction” is incorrect for cherem, and so is “accursed” for that matter–Father intends to “net” all people for Himself. And not for destruction, but for life (zoe)! The idea that some people belong in “hell”, Father has called “a disgraceful thing.”
We want to take one small aside to note that Jericho, like Ninevah, are prophetic-pictures (types) of the world apart from Christ, that is, at war and at enmity with God–completely unaware that the war is over, and that Christ has won it for all mankind. Had the Israelites gone into the Promised Land in the power of the Holy Spirit, no one in Jericho would have had to die! If you don’t believe us, ask Ninevah!
King David understood the true meaning of cherem and dedicated all gold and silver he captured to YHWH/Jesus. The references are too many to cite here, but note that the Bible records his faithful delivery of it to Solomon for the building of YHWH’s temple: 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver. Although there is some dispute about the meaning of “talent”, it is generally agreed that the totals equal 3,750 TONS of gold and 37,500 TONS of silver. Moreover, bronze and iron and precious stones are included in amounts without measuring! Are you getting the picture?
As massive as were the amounts King David collected through conquest, the amounts were overshadowed in comparison by the amounts collected by King Solomon in peace, offered freely by the kings of the neighboring countries, including the famous Queen of Sheba.
When Israel in general, and Judah in particular, began to believe that each of them was the chosen race, set apart by God to rule the rest of humanity (rather than serve humanity as Christ Jesus stated), Father began to arrange for the gold and silver to be removed from Israel, and then finally from Jerusalem, by conquest of neighboring countries. The prophetic pattern is set and easily ascertainable, once you know what to look for. First, there was Ben Hadad, king of Aram (Syria); then came Egypt; finally, what remained was carried off to Babylon when Jerusalem was sacked by Nebuchadnezzar. The prophet Joel made it clear to other nations that the gold and silver represented people:
Since you have taken My silver and My gold, brought My precious treasures to your temples, and sold the sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their territory, behold, I am going to arouse them from the place where you have sold them, and return your recompense on your head. Joel 3:5-7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
To make this point emphatically, Father revealed to Daniel that the rulership of the world (including Judah) had been given to a succession of kingdoms by men, all of which together formed one body, but the parts of which were made of different metals. First was the head of gold, representing Babylon. Next came the arms and chest of silver, representing the Medo-Persians. Then, the belly of bronze, which was of course, Alexander the Great of Greece. And lastly the legs of iron, representing the Roman Empire. Each of these kingdoms of men has a stipulated period to have sway, and then finally the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ shall arise and remain forever. During this time, Father says He will change men from whatever they were to something entirely new. If any man is in Christ, he truly is a new creation.
Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver, and instead of wood, bronze, and instead of stones, iron. Isaiah 60:16-17 NASB
In the last book of the Old Testament, God promises that He will be a purifier and refiner of the sons of Levi in particular, but most scholars believe that it applies to all men, because the gospel is given to all men. We mention it here, because it shows Father’s plans to purify and refine LIKE gold or silver–see for yourself:
Behold, I am going to send My messenger (a reference to John the Baptist), and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. Malachi 3:1-3 NASB
Dear reader, we urge you NOT to take whatever “talents” are given to you by our Master and bury them. You may succeed for awhile in “burying” them, but a day will come when they will be taken away from you and given to someone who will multiply them! Do you not see that there is no loss in the Kingdom of God–only waste! If you have ears, please hear.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God! How many ways You have showed us that all of mankind belongs to You by right of creation and by right of redemption. Blessed are You for You gave all You had to purchase the field (world) and all it contains! We will sing Your praises forever!