“He took captive those who had captured us”
(Efes 4:8, GW)
Despite the symbolic meaning of the snake on the pole – of Yahshua’s crucifixion (John 3:14-15; John 12:32-33) – I’ve still always found it strange that a snake was used as a symbol. Keeping in mind that everything in the old covenant “became types of us” (1 Cor 10:6, YLT), we also need to understand the snake as prototype.
Remember – it was snakes that had bitten the Israelites. It symbolically points to the snake which is always biting man’s heels (Gen 3:15), in other words, Satan responsible for defiling the flesh (Jude 1:23) of mankind. But does the copper snake then point to Yahshua? This can surely not be – indeed, “what accord has Christ with Belial?” (2 Cor 6:15).
The comparison is however not focused on the image of the snake as such. Leading up to the explanation of the image the focus in John 3:13-14 is very clearly established – “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up”. John 12:32 also emphasizes it – “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself”. This concerns the issue of elevation.
In the Scriptures elevation is often used to point out spiritual power and authority. Like Dagon, the idol (1 Sam 5:2-3), all gods and idols and spiritual powers will bow their knees before the living God (Rom 14:11). On account of his obedience to the Father, God had elevated Yahshua above all others (Phil 2:9).
Read John 3:14 again – no one ascended but Him, and Heb 1:3 explicitly spells it out that He is seated in the honourable position of being at the right hand of his Father. The focus here points to the fact that his elevation effectively dealt with Satan – He took up the superior position of authority, much higher than Satan had ever been positioned. Therefore Eph 4:8 states that “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” Other translations read: “He led away many prisoners” (CEV), “a host of captives” (ESV). The God’s Word-translation states that “He took captive those who had captured us”!
Then the Scripture continues – after He has taken captive those who keep us in captivity, He replaces this with “gifts unto man: “apostles, … prophets, … evangelists, … shepherd and teachers”. The five-fold ministry takes over the reign of Satan, who had ruled us all with an iron fist. The hand of God is filled with anointing oil.
We are in the wonderful dispensation of which Isa 10:27 (Darby) had prophesied -“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck; and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”
Remember how in a previous teaching it was said that the veil will be destroyed by the corporate body (Isa 25:7) – the five-fold ministry is the shadow of His hand – “And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.” What a joy!
- Sela: Explain the importance of this teaching to someone.
- Read: 1 Sam 28-31
- Examine how this has been fulfilled: 1 Sam 28 – what does this prototypically mean, within the
context of this teaching?
- For a deeper understanding: Read The Shadow of His Hand by Oswald Chambers.
