Topical Bible: Blood: (Preparing To) Ripening for Destruction

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In the biblical narrative, blood is a potent symbol that carries profound theological significance. It represents life, covenant, sacrifice, and atonement. However, in certain contexts, blood also signifies judgment and the ripening for destruction, particularly when associated with sin and rebellion against God.

Biblical Context and Symbolism

The concept of blood as a precursor to destruction is rooted in the understanding of blood as life. Genesis 9:4-6 underscores the sanctity of blood, stating, "But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it. And I will surely demand an accounting for your lifeblood; I will demand it from every animal and from each man, too. I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man." Here, blood is equated with life, and the shedding of innocent blood calls for divine retribution.

Judgment and Destruction

Throughout Scripture, the shedding of blood is often linked to divine judgment. In the prophetic literature, blood is a harbinger of impending doom. For instance, in Isaiah 34:6-8, the prophet speaks of the Lord's sword being "bathed in blood" as a sign of judgment against the nations: "The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood, it is covered with fat—the blood of lambs and goats, fat from the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in the land of Edom."

The imagery of blood in Revelation further amplifies this theme. Revelation 14:19-20 describes the angel's sickle harvesting the earth, and the resulting blood flow symbolizes the culmination of divine wrath: "So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia."

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The biblical portrayal of blood as a precursor to destruction serves as a stark warning against sin and rebellion. It underscores the seriousness with which God views the shedding of innocent blood and the moral decay that leads to divine judgment. The prophets consistently called Israel to repentance, warning that their bloodguilt would lead to destruction if they did not turn back to God.

In the New Testament, the sacrificial blood of Christ offers redemption and a way to avert destruction. Hebrews 9:22 states, "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." The blood of Christ, therefore, stands in contrast to the blood of judgment, offering salvation and reconciliation with God.

Conclusion

The theme of blood as ripening for destruction is a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the inevitability of divine justice. It calls believers to live in righteousness, heeding the warnings of Scripture and embracing the redemptive power of Christ's blood. In doing so, they avoid the path that leads to destruction and instead find life in the covenant relationship with God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 35:6
Therefore, as I live, said the Lord GOD, I will prepare you to blood, and blood shall pursue you: since you have not hated blood, even blood shall pursue you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Fourth Day in Passion-Week - Jesus in his Last Sabbatic Rest ...
... Mount of Transfiguration; [5560] the last, on preparing to make ... be left to the process
of inward ripening, till all ... had paid him the price of blood, would have ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii the fourth day.htm

The Withered Fig Tree
... In preparing the sermon, I have had great searchings of ... of God, never rested in the
redeeming blood, and have ... of the tree is essential to the ripening of the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/the withered fig tree.htm

Book ii.
... of the year is the fit time for ripening; and for ... from flesh, bone from bone, blood
from blood, the humours ... has said of God: "When He was preparing the heavens ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/book ii.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... was his name), It is the City of Destruction, a populous ... when I came in, I found
her preparing herself to ... righteousness to cover you, and spilt blood to wash ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm