The study of creation can deepen our wonder of the Creator and point us toward Jesus Christ, the Word through whom all things were made. The seven branches of science are a picture of the seven-branched menorah and, in turn, a reflection of the seven days of creation. This connects the natural world, the biblical account of creation, and the spiritual significance of knowing God.
Ultimately, the purpose of studying science is not merely to accumulate knowledge, but to cultivate awe, wisdom, gratitude, and a closer relationship with God. Scripture and creation serve as complementary invitations to reflect on His works, with Christ remaining the central focus.
In the concept of Shadows of Messiah, the idea is that Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, is revealed everywhere in creation through shadows, types and parables. These are not the ultimate reality but point to and foreshadow the substance, which is Christ Himself.
The purpose of studying shadows of Messiah is to see Christ revealed in His creation. To show that all branches of science point to Him. They should provoke awe, wonder and a deeper relationship with God. They are used to teach Biblical principles through everyday observations and encourage us to constantly muse on His Word, Jesus Christ, through the Bible & creation.
“For even creation reveals Him who formed it, and the very work made suggests Him who made it, and the world manifests Him who ordered it.” (St. Irenaeus of Lyons – Against Heresies, II.9.1)
All things were created by, through, and for Christ (the Word), who is the exact Image of the invisible God. Creation embeds His image like an artist’s work or an author’s writings, so that studying the universe, nature, science, or everyday experiences reveals Him and draws people into relationship with the Creator.
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Science
Today, the study of creation/nature is considered science. The English word science comes from the Latin word ‘scientia’ which means “to know”. This corresponds to דע ‘dah,’ from whence both ידע ‘yada’ and דעת ‘daat’ come, both of which mean knowledge.
In Hebrew, knowledge literally means the door of the eye, or to “see the door”. Who is the Door? The Messiah.
Joh 10:7 Then Jesus again said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you that I am the door of the sheep.
The shadows of the Word and His Creation are there to lead us to the Door/His Eye, that we might know Him intimately, as the little guy in His Eye, abiding under the SHADOW of His Wings (Psalm 17:8; 36:7-9; 63:7; 91:5; Deuteronomy 32:10-11).
When we seek His Face, who is Messiah (Hebrews 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15), we will find Him.
Jer 29:13 And you shall seek and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Notice that Messiah Jesus links seeking Him with knocking on a door. Studying science is a form of that knocking, whether one knows it or not.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Mat 7:8 For each one that asks receives, and the one that seeks finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened.
All the treasures of science (knowledge) are in Messiah:
Col 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.
Jesus is the Wisdom of God.
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
The universe was created through Wisdom
Pro 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
Jer 10:12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Jer 51:15 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
The universe was created through the Word
Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
Heb 11:3 By faith we understand the ages to have been framed by the Word of God, so that the things seen should not come into being out of things that appear.
2Pe 3:5 For this is hidden from them by their willing it so, that heavens were of old, and earth by water, and through water, having subsisted by the Word of God,
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.
The universe was created through Messiah Jesus who is the Word/Wisdom of God.
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
All that we see points to Him. All that we see with our natural eyes, all that we see with our ‘spiritual eyes.’
The Eye is the doorway to His ‘soul’. The shadows of the Word and His Creation are there to lead us to the door/His eye. To know Him intimately, as the little guy in His Eye, abiding under the SHADOW of His Wings.
Psa 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
Jer 29:13 And you shall seek and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Notice that Messiah Jesus links seeking Him with knocking on a door.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Mat 7:8 For each one that asks receives, and the one that seeks finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened.
Studying His creation to grow in Wisdom
Wis 7:14 For she {Wisdom} is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.
Wis 7:15 God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me: because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.
Wis 7:16 For in his hand are both we and our words; all wisdom also, and knowledge of workmanship.
Wis 7:17 For he hath given me certain knowledge of the things that are, namely, to know how the world was made {Cosmology}, and the operation of the elements: {Chemistry}
Wis 7:18 The beginning, ending, and midst of the times {Mathematics}: the alterations of the turning of the sun {Physics}, and the change of seasons:
Wis 7:19 The circuits of years, and the positions of stars: {Astronomy}
Wis 7:20 The natures of living creatures {Biology}, and the furies of wild beasts: the violence of winds, and the reasonings of men {Psychology}: the diversities of plants and the virtues of roots {Geology}:
Wis 7:21 And all such things as are either secret or manifest, them I know.
Wis 7:22 For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,
Wis 7:23 Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.
Wis 7:24 For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.
Wis 7:25 For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.
Wis 7:26 For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.
Wis 7:27 And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.
Wis 7:28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.
Studying His creation to see Christ is also on the ‘Anagogical’/’sod‘ level of Scriptural understanding. The picture formed by the Hebrew word סוד ‘sod‘ is one of intimate friends conversing in a tent, entering the ‘door’, and having a close relationship with the Most High, as the little guy in His Eye.
Seeking His Face, looking into His Eyes
Psa 27:8 My heart said to You, Seek my face; Your face, O Jehovah, I will seek.
Psa 70:4 Let all those who seek You rejoice, and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation (ישועה ‘yeshuah’ – source of the name Jesus) forever say, Let God be magnified.
Messiah Jesus is His “Face” or “Presence”
2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
There are 7 Branches of Science corresponding to the Menorah which picture the Tree of Life. Wisdom is a tree of life (Proverbs 3:18) revealed in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:24).
Joh 17:3 And this is everlasting life, that they may know (γινώσκω ‘ginosko’) You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
G1097
γινώσκω
ginōskō
Thayer Definition:
- to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel
1a) to become known - to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of
2a) to understand
2b) to know - Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman
- to become acquainted with, to know
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: a prolonged form of a primary verb
The word for science in the Bible comes from this word γινώσκω ‘ginosko.’ It has the meaning of knowledge.
1Ti 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science (γνῶσις ‘gnosis’) falsely so called:
G1108
γνῶσις
gnōsis
Thayer Definition:
- knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding
1a) the general knowledge of Christian religion
1b) the deeper more perfect and enlarged knowledge of this religion, such as belongs to the more advanced
1c) especially of things lawful and unlawful for Christians
1d) moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G1097
G1108
γνῶσις
gnōsis
Total KJV Occurrences: 29
knowledge, 28
Luk_1:77, Luk_11:52, Rom_2:20, Rom_11:33, Rom_15:14, 1Co_1:5, 1Co_8:1 (2), 1Co_8:7, 1Co_8:10-11 (2), 1Co_12:8, 1Co_13:2, 1Co_13:8, 1Co_14:6, 2Co_2:14, 2Co_8:6-7 (3), 2Co_11:5-6 (2), Eph_3:19, Phi_3:8, Col_2:3, 1Pe_3:7, 2Pe_1:5-6 (2), 2Pe_3:18
science, 1
1Ti_6:20
Astronomy -study of celestial objects
Biology – study of living organisms
Chemistry – study of matter and its interactions w/ energy and itself
Geology – study of earth, structure, history
Mathematics – study of logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
Physics – study of the behavior and properties of matter
Psychology – study of behavior of living things
The 7 branches of science correspond to the 7 days of creation.
Day 1 – Physics – Let there be Light
Day 2 – Mathematics – Division of the waters
Day 3 – Geology – Earth & Plants
Day 4 – Astronomy – Sun, Moon & Stars
Day 6 – Psychology – Study of man
Day 7 – Chemistry – Change/Transformation
The natural is given to teach the spiritual
1Co 15:46 But not the spiritual first, but the natural; afterward the spiritual.
Joh 3:12 If I tell you earthly things, and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
Rom 1:20 For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things made, both His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse.
Rom 1:20
Address of Tatian to the Greeks
and of the forms that are in matter; He is invisible, impalpable, being Himself the Father of both sensible and invisible things. Him we know from His creation, and apprehend His invisible power by His works.[10]
Etheridge Aramaic translation:
2Pe 3:18 But increase in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and our Saviour Jeshu Meshiha, and (of) Aloha the Father, Whose be glory both now, and in all time, and to the days eternal. Amen.
Psa 8:1 To the chief musician, on the harp. A Psalm of David. O Jehovah, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth; You have set Your glory above (על – above/on/upon) the heavens!
His Glory is seen in the heavens…What is the Glory of the LORD? The Lamb of God (Revelation 21:23). The study of Astronomy leads to Jesus Christ in shadow picture or parable form. Astronomy reveals the Glory of God (Psalm 8:1), who is Jesus (Revelation 21:23).
Biology is the study of life, which Scripture defines as Jesus (John 11:25; 14:6; 1 John 5:12, 20). Through the study of biology, man is led to the knowledge of the Most High. Through the study of natural life, one is led to the source of that life and the ultimate definition of the word.
“Simply put, this whole branch of science is all about matter, which is anything that has mass and occupies space. Chemistry is the study of the composition and properties of matter and the changes it undergoes.” {Chemistry for Dummies pg 9}
Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Matter comes forth from the Word of God who is Jesus (John 1:1-2).
The English word matter comes from the Latin ‘materia’ which means the inner wood of a tree. As seen in Genesis 1:9-13, the Word/דבר ‘davar’ is linked to trees. The Bible, codex, liber, scroll etc., all trace back to trees. In Hebrew, one of the words for matter is דבר ‘davar’ which means Word.
Messiah is the Word (John 1:1-3, 14; 1 John 1:1-2)
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.
Geology is the study of earth, of which the image of Messiah is embedded throughout. He is described as the Living Waters (Jeremiah 2:13; 17:13; Isaiah 44:3; John 4:10; 7:37 etc), the Rock (Psalm 18:2, 31; 62:7; 92:15; Deuteronomy 32:3-4; Isaiah 44:8; 1 Corinthians 10:4, 9; Genesis 49:24), He is described as the Rain (Hosea 6:3; Deuteronomy 32:3; Psalm 72:6; Isaiah 45:8), Snow (Isaiah 55:10), His voice is likened to thunder, lightning and many waters (Revelation 1:15; Ezekiel 43:2). He is the Tree of Life (John 14:6; Proverbs 3:18) and the Spirit (wind) (1 Peter 1:11; Romans 8:9). He is described as flowers (Song of Songs 2:1) and the clouds point to Him (Isaiah 19:1; Psalm 104:3; Matthew 26:64; Daniel 7:13; Revelation 1:7; 14:14; Exodus 16:10; 40:34 etc). The grass, sand and seashore reveal Him. All of nature declares His Glory!!!.
Mathematics is the study of numbers, the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement. The Hebrew words for number and scroll/book are from the same root word (ספר ‘saphar’). The Word of God is strongly associated with numbers and in fact each Hebrew and Greek letter is a number as well. Therefore the Holy Scriptures are words as well as numbers. Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1-2), therefore all mathematics points to Him.
Physics is the study of the cosmos, the search for the “λόγος ‘logos’ and κόσμος ‘kosmos’” which points directly to the Word of God. λόγος ‘logos’ is the Greek word for “word” which the Bible defines as Christ Jesus (John 1:1-3, 14; 1 John 1:1-2; Revelation 19:13). κόσμος ‘kosmos’ is the Greek word for the universe, world and order but also means the ‘circle of the earth.’ This circle can be rendered as the Hebrew word דר ‘dar’ which means order as well and is the root of the word דבר ‘davar’ which is the Hebrew word for “word.”
Psychology is the study of mankind. The way in which our brains work, our emotions, human history, genealogy, religions, language, culture and all human institutions point to Messiah. Mankind was created in the image or “shadow” of God (Genesis 1:26-27). The study of man (Adam) points to the Messiah, the “Last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45-17).
A part of the study of man (Psychology) is history. The study of history brings forth wisdom (Psalm 90:12) which points us directly to Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).
Psa 90:12 So teach us to number our days, so that we may bring a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 literally says make us to know the number or time of our days that wisdom may enter our hearts. Who is Wisdom? The Messiah. (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).
Language is another unique aspect of the study of man. Christ is the Word (λόγος ‘logos’) made flesh (John 1:14)…all words point back to Him. Dictionaries show the meanings of words. Words reveal THE WORD. The study of words and their etymology is a tool for seeing Christ hidden in plain sight across languages and history.
Jesus is not just in the dictionary. He is the “Dictionary.” All things were made through Him, and by Him all things hold together… including language itself (Colossians 1:16-17; Isaiah 57:19).
Christ is the Word, He is the Alpha & Omega (every letter of the Alphabet). Dictionaries show the definitions of words pointing back to the Word made flesh who reveals the true meaning behind all things.
Holidays are a major aspect of the study of man. The holidays which God gave His people are shadow pictures of His Son (Colossians 2:16-17). Not only are the holy days in the Bible shadow pictures of Messiah, so too are the holidays instituted by man.
The Gospel
The Gospel is the promise to Abraham revealed through the Word (1 Peter 1:25; Psalm 68:11; Acts 10:34-36; Ephesians 1:13), the Promise to the fathers (Acts 13:32; Galatians 3:8).
The promise to Abraham is the Gospel/good news
Rom 4:13 For the promise was not through Law to Abraham, or to his seed, for him to be the heir of the world, but through a righteousness of faith.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
The Promise = the Word
Deu 6:3 Hear, then, O Israel, and take heed to do it, that it may be well with you, that you may increase greatly, as Jehovah the God of your fathers has promised {דבר ‘davar’ – Word} you, in the land flowing with milk and honey.
Exo 12:25 And it shall be, when you come into the land which Jehovah shall give to you, as He has spoken, you shall observe this service.
Deu 1:11 May Jehovah the God of your fathers add to you a thousand times more than you are, and bless you as He has spoken to you!
Deu 19:8 And if Jehovah your God shall enlarge your border, as He has sworn (שבע ‘sheva`’) to your fathers, and shall give to you all the land which He has spoken to give to your fathers,
Deu 26:18 And Jehovah has declared you today to be His people, a special treasure as He has spoken to you, and to keep all His commands.
Jer 32:42 For so says Jehovah: As I have brought this great evil on this people, so I will bring on them all the good that I am speaking to them.
Jer 33:14 Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that I will fulfill the good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
Jer 33:15 In those days, and at that time, I will cause a Branch of Righteousness to grow up to David. And He shall do judgment and righteousness in the land.
Jer 33:16 In those days Judah shall be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell in safety. And this is the name that shall be called on her: JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise which He promised us: everlasting life.
The promise to Abraham was also sworn as an oath. The word for seven and oath in Hebrew are exactly the same, again connecting the Gospel to time as the week consists of 7 days. This also connects to the 7 branches of science.
Deu 7:8 But because Jehovah loved you, and because He kept the oath which He swore to your fathers, Jehovah has caused you to go out with a strong hand, and redeemed you from the house of slaves, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Deu 7:9 Because of this, know that Jehovah your God, He is God, the faithful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to those who love Him, and to those who keep His commands, to a thousand generations;
Psa 105:8 He has remembered His covenant forever; the Word He commanded to a thousand generations;
Psa 105:9 which He cut with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac;
Psa 105:10 and He established it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel for a perpetual covenant;
Luk 1:68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He visited and worked redemption for His people.
Luk 1:69 And He raised up a Horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David;
Luk 1:70 even as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from the age before:
Luk 1:71 Salvation from ones hostile to us, and from the hand of all the ones hostile to us,
Luk 1:72 to execute mercy with our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant,
Luk 1:73 the oath which He swore to our father Abraham,
Luk 1:74 to give to us, that we being delivered out of the hand of those hostile to us, in order to serve Him without fear,
Luk 1:75 in consecration and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
Heb 6:13 For God having made promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, “He swore by Himself,”
Heb 6:14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” Gen. 22:16, 17
Heb 6:15 And so, being long-suffering, he obtained the promise.
Heb 6:16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath to make things sure is to them the end of all gainsaying.
Heb 6:17 In which way, desiring to more fully declare to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His counsel, God interposed by an oath,
Heb 6:18 that through two unchangeable things, in which it was not possible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, those having fled to lay hold on the hope set before us,
Heb 6:19 which we have as an anchor of the soul, both certain and sure, and entering into the inner side of the veil, Lev. 16:12
Heb 6:20 where Jesus entered as forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.
There are different aspects to the promise to Abraham, all of which can be used to display different aspects of the Gospel and shadow pictures of Messiah.
He was promised a Seed (Genesis 15:4). This Seed is referring to Messiah (Galatians 3:17) and is also described as the Word (Luke 8:11). Shadow pictures of Life (Biology)
His seed was to be as the stars (Genesis 15:5; 22:17) – Shadow pictures in the skies (Astronomy)
His seed was to be as the sand/dust (Genesis 13:16; 22:17) – Shadow pictures in the earth (Geology)
His seed was to overcome the gate of their enemies (Genesis 22:17; Matthew 16:18) – Exposing the beast and overcoming it by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11).
All families were to be blessed in him (Genesis 12:3) – Shadow pictures in people (Psychology)
All nations were to be blessed in him (Genesis 17:4-7; 22:18) – Shadow pictures in nations/history
He was promised the promised land (Genesis 13:14-17; 15:18-21; 17:8) – the Kingdom. (Psalm 145:10-13; Acts 28:23; Matthew 4:23, 9:35; 24:14; Mark 1:1, 14-15; 16:15)
The account of Abraham’s life culminates in Genesis 24 where a wife is found for his son Isaac, a picture of Messiah and His bride being joined together at His return.
The promise is the Word (Psalm 105:42) – Biblical studies & Etymology/Language.
Related Articles:
Daily Tidbits 7/8/26 – Shadows of Messiah
Daily Tidbits 7/9/26 – Two Books – Scripture and Creation
