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White as Snow

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The following is adapted from the works of F.E. Marsh, a commentary series coming soon to the Blue Letter Bible. At the BLB, we labor to provide free access to several thousand Bible commentaries and study resources. Please visit us here to find out how you can partner with us in the gospel.

The words “white as snow” occur in three connections in the Word of God, namely, in association with sin, the Saviour, and salvation.

1. Sin.

Leprosy is a pronounced type of sin. There are three persons who were stricken with leprosy, “white as snow,” and these were-Moses, for his hesitation (Exodus 4:6); Miriam, for her opposition (Numbers 12:10); and Gehazi, for his covetousness (2 Kings 5:27).

2. Saviour.

When Christ was transfigured, His raiment was “exceeding white as snow” (Mark 9:3); and when John saw Him, “His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow” (Revelation 1:14). White is here emblematic of Christ’s personal holiness and His righteous action.

3. Salvation.

“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). The one effectual cause that brings about this transformation is the blood of Christ (Revelation 7:14).

Comments

  1. We receive our intact full white robe (celestial body) when we see God’s right ehand on the Mercy Seat who judges us so we may receive his award and are granted our direction of the right hand. Pointing us to the right.

    I really relate to David. God’s priestly prophetic line was passed through Mary from David’s son Nathan. Named after the prophet Nathan who corrected David and humbled David to his knees. This is the incident that provoked David’s Psalm 51.

    Yhe right hand of God is Y’shua the YHVH God Saves.

    See these Psalms that help us understand better God’s right hand Prophet Y’shua High Priest.

    Psalm 118
    Psalm 17
    Psalm 21
    Psalm 63

    David was a prophet of which Y’shua came to us fully man and fully God.

    A human form perfect and without sin.

  2. Thoughout Human history our ability to create pigment was very
    primitive to super advanced. To be able to achieve a pure color
    required a lot of skill, knowledge and patience. Even white was
    difficult to come to, and very rare. As rare as the achivement
    of a sinless life, therefore it is rightly used to measure the
    sanctity of sin and salvation by discribing colors, it was as
    rare to see a pure white as it was to witness a miracle.

    I shall read verses discribing the robes of righteourness today
    and post details of it. Yet, the robe is not made of matter, but light, therefore it will not have the pigment quality to it.
    Jesus doesn’t deal with pigment, for it is matter, and matter is the realm of sin. Jesus uses light, and light color dinamics are very different from pigment. Using red, blue and green.
    rays of light will create white light. If red is the symbol of
    sin, sin is essential to creating righteousness. Blue is the
    color of repent, and green is the color of life, the source of
    healing (plant world), the return to paradise.
    I wonder if the substance of light Christ clothes us out of
    grace has the same dynamics as the light we experience with our
    human eyes on earth. I don’t know, but that will be my resurge today.

  3. I just got a cataract surgery on my right eye. The grey smokey lense was replaced by a corrective new lense.

    Has a great typing allusion.

    I am awaiting now my second surgery on my Left Eye.

    My vision after which will help my vision looking forward in the distance but will not perfect my reading vision close at hand.

    Perfection is both. Seeing and hearing perfectly God’s Word. Reading is our duty focus on the Word (Logos, Yesh’ua, Jesus).

    I look forward to seeing Y’shua face completely clearly on the Mercy Seat.

    God the Father I love you through the precious perfect mercy of God the Son. Help me Holy Spirit to see more clearly.

    Thank you for His gift Y’shua the Perfect One of vision.

    All my hopes rest in faith.

      • Ooops finger slip. I am typing haltingly with my surgery. Please forgive me.

        As I was attempting to say… we can see more closely God’s perfect light of YHVH only through our eyes with a hue of blue. We will not be able to to see God’s pure light until we see his righthand directly in front of us.

        Remember the Apostles present at Y’shua’s transfiguration could only see Y’shua surrounded by the blue of the firmament.

        I am SO looking forward to seeing God in his whole spirit the perfect light.

        Look forward!

        • God’s imperfect priestly line wore a robe with the blue tassles starting with Aaron.

          2Ki 23:4 And the king 4428 commanded 6680 Hilkiah 2518 the high 1419 priest 3548, and the priests 3548 of the second order 4932, and the keepers 8104 of the door 5592, to bring forth 3318 out of the temple 1964 of the LORD 3068 all the vessels 3627 that were made 6213 for Baal 1168, and for the grove 842, and for all the host 6635 of heaven 8064: and he burned 8313 them without 2351 Jerusalem 3389 in the fields 7709 of Kidron 6939, and carried 5375 the ashes 6083 of them unto Bethel 1008.

          The God’s perfect Priestly line is the one of Melchizedek. We are to be priests in the order of Melchizedek.

          When the temple curtain was rent is our invitation to the High Priest, the Right Hand of God. We need no manly intercessor.

          Y’shua the Son is our intercessor to God the Father.

          We may personally approach Him for His precious, precious mercy.

          Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek 4442 king 4428 of Salem 8004 brought forth 3318 bread 3899 and wine 3196: and he [was] the priest 3548 of the most high 5945 God 410.

          Psa 110:4 The LORD 3068 hath sworn 7650, and will not repent 5162, Thou [art] a priest 3548 for ever 5769 after the order 1700 of Melchizedek 4442.

          Hbr 5:10 Called 4316 of 5259 God 2316 an high priest 749 after 2596 the order 5010 of Melchisedec 3198. Whither 3699 the forerunner 4274 is 1525 0 for 5228 us 2257 entered 1525, [even] Jesus 2424, made 1096 an high priest 749 for 1519 ever 165 after 2596 the order 5010 of Melchisedec 3198.

          Melchizedek can be spelled Melchisedec. This spelling difference does effect our Bible search engines. Both spellings are of course our High Priest.

          • LexiCon
            http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/lexiconc.cfm?Criteria=Melchizedek&st=any&x=9&y=9

            Hebrew/Aramaic Results (Old Testament) Strongs # Translit. Pronunciation English Equivalent
            H4442 מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק Malkiy-Tsedeq mal·kē·tseh’·dek Melchizedek

            …
            7. The Law
            http://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/stewart.cfm?id=270

            A term used in the New Testament for the Old Testament Scripture is, “the Law.” The expression often refers to the entire Old Testament while at other times it is speaking the Law of Moses—the first five books of the Bible. In John 12:34, for example, we find it referring to the entire Old Testament.

            The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” (John 12:34).

            There is nothing in the Law of Moses, the first five books of Scripture, that says the Christ will live forever. In this context “the Law” is used of the entire Old Testament. The following verses teach that Christ will live forever.

            The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, you are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4).

            Isaiah predicted

            Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:7).

            The Lord predicted that the Messiah, David’s greater Son, would live forever.

            They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever (Ezekiel 37:25).

            Therefore the term “Law” can refer have a narrow meaning, the Law of Moses, or a much wider meaning, the entire Old Testament.
            …”
            …
            “Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God. ”

            king Psa 76:2; Hbr 7:1,2
            bread Mat 26:26-29; Gal 6:10
            the priest Psa 110:4; Hbr 5:6,10; Hbr 6:20; Hbr 7:1,3,10-22
            the most Rth 3:10; 2Sa 2:5; Psa 7:17; Psa 50:14; Psa 57:2; Mic 6:6; Act 7:48; Act 16:17

            English (KJV) Strong’s Root Form (Hebrew) Tense
            And Melchizedek h4442 מלכי–צדק Malkiy-Tsedeq

            king h4428 מלך melek
            of Salem h8004 שלם Shalem
            brought forth h3318 יצא yatsa’
            bread h3899 לחם lechem
            and wine: h3196 יין yayin
            and he [was] the priest h3548 כהן kohen
            of the most high h5945 עליון ‘elyown
            God. h410 אל ‘el

            “…Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia Melchizedek:
            http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/Dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?type=getTopic&topic=Melchizedek&DictList=1

            The history of the world, from the Biblical standpoint, naturally divides itself into three different periods, which for want of better terms I will designate,

            The Patriarchal dispensation,
            The Jewish dispensation,
            The Christian dispensation.
            Each dispensation is characterized by a priesthood peculiarly its own.
            …”

            More:

  4. Nicky, I wonder how you are today? From yesterday’s post, you said you could not catch your breath, or could not breathe,and you were scared. I hope you are not suffering today in any way.

    Regarding this lesson today, I have always thought this scripture amazing: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). And the song I heard when I became a Believer, “Are you washed? Are you washed?…in the blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”

    I find it amazing because I can barely forget my sins. I was an awful person! Now, I’m saved! And Jesus has wiped out all that filthy mess from my life and made my “garments” as white as snow!

    That’s pretty humbling! That is pride to say, “Wow, my sins are very bad! Are you sure you can make them disappear?”

    Because I say I am a Believer, and a Follower, of you, Lord Jesus, please forgive my audacity to remember my sins when you have sacrificed yourself and poured out your blood for me so that I can live life in a new way. Amen.

  5. Cont.

    Easton’s Bible Dictionary

    “… Melchizedek:

    king of righteousness, the king of Salem (q.v.). All we know of him is recorded in Gen 14:18-20. He is subsequently mentioned only once in the Old Testament, in Psa 110:4. The typical significance of his history is set forth in detail in the Epistle to the Hebrews, ch. 7. The apostle there points out the superiority of his priesthood to that of Aaron in these several respects, (1) Even Abraham paid him tithes; (2) he blessed Abraham; (3) he is the type of a Priest who lives for ever; (4) Levi, yet unborn, paid him tithes in the person of Abraham; (5) the permanence of his priesthood in Christ implied the abrogation of the Levitical system; (6) he was made priest not without an oath; and (7) his priesthood can neither be transmitted nor interrupted by death: “this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”
    …”

    You get the idea.

    Use the Blue Letter Bible Scripture and Word Searches liberally.

    Use the blue square button to the left of the KJV text with Strong’s on if you want to dissect a word or a whole verse in a literal fashion.

    WOW! Do we have a FINE source in the Blue Letter Bible Page, the Blue Letter Bible Institute, and the Blue Letter Bible Blog as well as the FINE tooling provided.

    Thank you so very much the Blueletter Bible Team!

  6. According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary:

    “..The question as to who this mysterious personage was has given rise to a great deal of modern speculation. It is an old tradition among the Jews that he was Shem, the son of Noah, who may have survived to this time. Melchizedek was a Canaanitish prince, a worshipper of the true God, and in his peculiar history and character an instructive type of our Lord, the great High Priest (Hbr 5:6,7; 6:20). One of the Amarna tablets is from Ebed-Tob, king of Jerusalem, the successor of Melchizedek, in which he claims the very attributes and dignity given to Melchizedek in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
    …”

    Still other “scholars” say that Melchizedek is Y’ahua. I fall into this particular camp understanding. However if the scholars don’t agree who am I to say one way or another with any sort of auchority.

    Melchizedek is described as the King of Salem (Peace) and King of Zion. He also had no (earthly) father or mother. It is not clearly stated exactly how He appeared to Abraham and Aaron.

    Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord who we learned in other Scripture is Y’shua (God saves).

    Why all this reference to Melchezedek? Jesus is the only awarder of Priestly garbs of PURE light.

    I look forward to seeing pure light which is insvisible to me at this time.

  7. Dear Lord,
    Please, save me from people whom you long given up on.
    What you acknowledge as a dead end, dear lord, give me the
    wisedom to see and descern, so I would not waste energy and
    time on them. Not because I am worthy of judging the situation,
    or because they are not worthy, but because you already closed their case. My life is infested with these individuals, even christians (they are not exception unfortunately) and save me
    from enduring those foolish paths. I would like to be on the
    straight path to you, the golden road to heaven, dealing with
    people you appoint me to deal with, not Satan, or my own foolishness. I would like to help those looking for the help from you, Lord, I wanna feed those, who long to be fed by You, Lord, I wanna share with Those, whom you wanna share Heaven with, Lord. I would lay down my life for them, or live for them
    as you will.

    Amen.

  8. Sin, Saviour, Salvation says it all.

    I know the real me and the thoughts that run through my head everyday. Hence the Sin.

    Jesus is either who He says He is or He is a liar and a lunatic.
    Hence the Saviour.

    He paid it all all to Him I owe.
    Hence the Salvation

    For by grace are we saved through faith and that not of ourselves. It is the gift of God and not of works lest any man should boast.

    Thank you Jesus.

    • Remember at sometime in our lives we followed the way to death.

      We did not seek the victory which is in Christ alone.

      It takes around 7 seed planters to help a sinner see the necessity to seek the Savior.

      Let us plant our seeds. The seeds are watered not by our doing.

      Salvation given by grace alone. Our unmerited gift.

      Let us gently fish.

      • Read the Parable of the Prodigal son.

        We are to stay in the field (keep planting) and help bring those lost sheep to Jesus.

        The people I avoid are the “Christians” who play church. They don’t read the Word. They follow false shepherds and false prophets. Are unwilling to eat of the Olivets and Revelation.

        Make sure you know the order of the Second Coming.

        Avoid the false prophets and shepherds. Discern the truth from the lies.

        I cannot add to, change, or delete these precious words. Each person must come to their own conclusions. I just point the way of which I have thus far learned.

        I try to lead them to the truth of Scriptures but they refuse to read citations.

        We can only try so many times with these people. Denial is a powerful force. They seek to shake us of our faith. Which of course is impossible no matter how they may try if we stay in the Logos Word. But they insist on trying… Misery loves company perhaps?

        Let us pray to Jesus that those refusers will receive Jesus in the Spirit to read the truth. If they have the eyes to see and ears to hear our Savior all will be well with them.

        No amount of ritualization of step 1, 2, 3, etc of man can save them. Only Christ alone the Anoited One.

        Keep planting those seeds in the field. Ask God to water them. Help the lost to find the Good Shepherd. He wants to save all of His children.

        Keep gently fishing. Celebrate each victory when the prodigal sons and daughters come home in repentance.

        Remember all of us were lost and at some time in our lives. Praise God for the people who helped us receive the way to the saving grace gift.

        All praise, honor, and glory to our Redeemer for dying for our sins!

    • After our salvation we can expect if we are good neighbors…

      (Revelation 14:4 KJV) These are they who understand true union with the Lord, these are they who know what it is to wash themselves and put their raiment on them—“the righteousness of saints”

      (Rev 19:8 KJV)—and get down to the threshing-floor, and claim from Christ the oneness of heart, and spirit, and mind, which He has made possible to His own disciples.