Four

∞ God has spoken through four offices, each of which represents a role of Christ (Priest, prophet, judge and king).

The number four represents God's word as revealed through four 'voices'. Since it is two twos, the voices map to four combinations of heaven and earth. If we represent two as H,E, then we map four as HH, HE, EH, EE.

HH Priest

HE Prophet

EH Judge

EE King

         Priest HH
            |
 EH Judge-------Prophet HE
            |
            |
            |
          King EE

2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Sometimes one voice speaks more loudly than others and is easier to see. But they are all there.

God has revealed himself through four voices (Prophet, Priest, King, Judge). These voices not only speak from time to time throughout scripture, but they speak simultaneously through the same scripture. Every OT scripture has four legitimate meanings as each voice speaks. Most Christians have only read 1/4 of their Bible if they have read it from cover to cover.

The rod of Moses

For example, in the account of the rod of Moses turning into a serpent when he met God at the burning bush (Ex 4:2):

The voice of the king speaks literally

Moses's rod turned to a serpent, he cast it to the ground, and picked it up again.

The voice of the Judge speaks a judgement to Moses

God says in figure, Moses, you have wielded my authority wrongly when you killed the Egyptian, but you are forgiven, pick it up again and this time do it right.

The voice of the Prophet speaks of Christ in the flesh

When the final temptation of Christ came at Gethsemane, he did not want to be made to be sin (2Co 5:21) and balked from drinking of the cup placed before him (Lu 22:42; in figure, he threw the snake to the ground. But he resolved himself to follow the will of the Father and picked it up again.

The voice of the Priest speaks of the eternal Son

The priest tells us that the Son, in eternity before creation, did not wish to be made to be sin. He was the son who said he would not do it and then did in the parable (Mt 21:28).

Patterns

Whenever we see 4 things, they can be mapped to the 4 voices. This is useful for spotting patterns, but is more useful when used to interpret scripture. Here they are mapped to the four purposes of scripture:

Priest: Correction (he makes thing right)

Prophet: Doctrine (speaks of Christ and him crucified)

Judge: Reproof (confrontation of sin)

King: Training in righteousness (ruling over the flesh)

As you read the Book of John, see if you can interpret it in all four voices.

"You must be born again" Joh 3:3

What is the doctrine of Christ and the cross? (prophet)

How did it confront Nicodemas's sin and by extension; yours? (judge)

How does it remind you of how your sin is covered? (priest)

How does it help you rule your flesh? (king)

Four

Topic	Priest	Prophet	Judge	King
Four animals carried bread	ox // eagle	donkey	camel // lion	mules	1Ch 12:40
Four purposes for scripture	Correction	Doctrine	Reproof	Training in righteousness	2Ti 3:16
Four corners
Four directions	East - ancient (eternity)	South	North (Le 1:11)	West
First four sons of Judah	Levi - removed from count because he was a priest	Judah - the 4th who became 2nd	Simeon - removed from count because he was a judge	Reuben - of the flesh (Ge 30:14 )
Four gospels	John	Luke - the systematic record of prophecy fulfilled	Mark - Jesus upbraided them	Matthew - training sermon on the mount etc.