The Dispensation of the Olive Branch

Quit Quoting Jesus, He Was a Legalist Part 4:

All of the canonical Gospels account of Jesus’ baptism and collectively state that the Holy Spirit of God descended upon Jesus in the bodily form of a dove and remained. The dove is a very specific symbol of the Holy Spirit. Not only is this a personal revelation from reading scripture, but God gave us this symbolism of the dove in the Old Testament for the very purpose of showing us its three dispensations.

“Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters [were] on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth [was] an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.” [Gen. 8:8-12]

First, the dove was sent out and found no rest on earth because of the judgment and returned. Second, the dove was sent out and came back with an olive branch. The olive branch is considered throughout history – and was specifically for the Jews – a symbol of peace. Even today we use the phrase, “Extend the olive branch of peace.” Finally, the dove was sent out and did not return.

God wanted us to see these distinct dispensations so that we would understand Jesus’ ministry of the olive branch. His ministry was specific and transitional. It was the ministry of bringing peace between God and man and setting aside the judgment on the earth. It was the ending of the old and the birthing of the new.

PART 5