Jesus and the Symbolic Images of the Prophets

When the Israelites strayed from obedience to covenant union with God, He sent His prophets to call them to repentance and return to fellowship with Him. The prophets received vivid and frightening oracles and visions of armies of locusts, fiery chariots, monsters of land and sea, and the unstoppable force of God's divine wrath poured out like a flood to bring the people to repentance. However, there were four recurring images: covenant marriage, a fruitful vineyard or fig tree, shepherding domesticated animals, and drinking wine. Each recurring image group consisted of four parts: covenant unity, rebellion, judgment, and the promise of restoration. In His ministry, Jesus used the same four symbolic images to call humanity with the promise of eternal salvation in a new and everlasting covenant Kingdom.