Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott  Isa. 11:6-8 reads: "6The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and the fatted beast together, and a little child shall lead them. 7And the cow and the she-bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the adder, and the weaned child shall put forth its hand to the viper's den."
[1] Is any part of this taken literally? Calvin says that this refers in part
a restoration of Eden-like circumstances in which literal animals do not prey on one another. He does not say when this would happen. He also explains that the primary thing represented here is peace among men.
[2] If this is a non-literal symbol of peace among men, how would you argue this? What other passages would you point to to show that animal symbolize
men? |
1) I suppose, first, I have a question which your questions presuppose. Should we assume that spiritual realities are not literal realities? I am disposed not to think in terms of that kind of dichotomy. I think we would do better not to accept the presuppositions (for example) of the dispensationalists who would argue otherwise. Perhaps expressing these realities as a distinction between physical and spiritual realities might serve us better, though the spiritual can affect/effect the physical outcome.
2) I know that in addition to Calvin, two other ancients (Jerome and Chrysostom) are in agreement with Calvin that the primary motif in view here is that of the peace of the people of God. It is no difficult task to find in one's Bible many instances where men are described under the imagery of different animals, or in terms of acting with animal-like features. A few examples...
"Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil." Genesis 49:27.
The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, Proverbs 19:12.
Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people. Proverbs 28:15.
"Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves." Luke 10:3.
"Feed my lambs" - John 21:15.
"For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Acts 20:29-30.
Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. Revelation 13:2.
3) Calvin does indicate
broadly the time frame he has in mind, when he states in his gloss on v. 11 of the passage that prophet is referring to "the future glory of the church", and that he has in mind the history of the progress of the church in the world, for he goes on to say: "We see that the Prophet speaks here not only of the deliverance which took place under Zerubbabel, (Ezra 2:2,) but that he looks beyond this; for at that time the Israelites were not brought back from Egypt, Ethiopia, and other countries. These words, therefore, cannot be understood to relate to the deliverance from Babylon, but must be viewed as referring to the kingdom of Christ, under whom this deliverance was obtained through the preaching of the gospel. Besides, it is proper to observe that this work belongs to God, and not to men; for he says,
The Lord shall stretch out his arm; thus ascribing to his heavenly power this work, which could not have been accomplished by human ability."
Our confessional standards speak of these realities in these terms...
WLC: Question 191: What do we pray for in the second petition?
Answer: In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come), acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan, we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fulness of the Gentiles brought in; the church furnished with all gospel officers and ordinances, purged from corruption, countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate: that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted: that Christ would rule in our hearts here, and hasten the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him forever: and that he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as may best conduce to these ends.
WSC: Q26: How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A26: Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
These, then, are my thoughts,
DTK