Typology of the Dietary Law

April 3, 2025

Bible Study adapted by Logoswalk 

"Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord God, "When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the Lord." Amos 8:11

What will happen in the Last Days has been foreshadowed-taught in advance, if you will-by events that have transpired in history. In particular, what occurred in the last days of Israel before being carried off into captivity and what occurred leading up to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. are examples of the very final, Last Days.

At those times there were-and will be again-famines. And as we know, during a time of famine, people will eat anything to survive. Rules and prohibitions and preferences are all cast aside when a person gets hungry enough. But it's important to note that the physical famines of these times-and the one still to come-are symbols of the accompanying famine for the Word of God. In the examples of Samaria, Judah, and Israel in 70 A.D., the people were not only literally starving for lack of physical food, but spiritually starving for the lack of teaching of God's Word. Just as a starving person will eat anything to stay alive, a spiritually starving person will grab onto teaching that normally is no good, provides no lasting nutritional value, and never actually satiates the hunger. Biblically speaking, the difference between sound doctrine and false doctrine is expressed as "clean" and "unclean".

[Read through the entire chapter Leviticus 11 once before beginning. We are not following the strict order of verses during this study, skipping between sections. The order is purposely NOT sequential.]

44For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. 45For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy. 46This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, 47to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten.

Q: What does it mean to be "consecrated"?

A: The word "consecrate" in Hebrew is "qadash" and is very often translated "sanctify". It is removing something from its common, earthly environment and moving it into the sphere of the sacred-something made pure and acceptable for the presence and service of God. At its most basic, a common item is "unclean" and a consecrated item is "clean".

Q: Why might it be important that the command is "Consecrate YOURSELVES"?

A: Although God provides the rules and stipulations for people and things to become consecrated or "clean", they are undertaken by choice. We CHOOSE whether or not to be wholly devoted. It doesn't occur in the presence of God but in PREPARATION to come into His presence for worship and service.

Point: Consider some other Scripture concerning the relationship between the Word of God and food.

He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.       Deuteronomy 8:3

"How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:11-12

Application

Do you see that these laws which are meant to teach us to "make a distinction between the clean and the unclean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten" are not just limited to physical food, but spiritual? Are you prepared to cast aside political correctness in order to make these kind of distinctions? Do you see the need to prepare yourself-choosing to be consecrated-as a prelude to coming into God's presence? Discuss how the following Scripture is relevant to this discussion:

Observation

Animals are used throughout Scripture to describe not just spiritual things and conditions, but often to teach us about the qualities and nature of Christ. In the rest of this chapter, the "clean" animals teach something about the Messiah-an obvious example being the lamb; the "unclean" animals represent false teachers/leaders, such as when false teachers are referred to in Scripture as "wolves".

First, let's read and discuss what we CAN eat.

  1. Lamb. "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) The Passover lamb is a symbol of the Messiah.
  2. Goat. The Yom Kippur scapegoat was a picture of the Messiah.
  3. Beef. Such as oxen, the strong would die for the weak as the innocent would die for the guilty.

[Please Note: There are many more examples in Scripture than provided in this brief study and you're highly encouraged to explore Scripture for more. These are minimally given as examples to support the basic lesson.]

A. Fish. "And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights." (Jonah 1:17) Jesus Himself pointed out that Jonah's 3 days in the fish was a sign of His authenticity.

Q: Verses 13-19 list unclean birds. What are examples of "clean" birds? How might they typify the Messiah?

  1. Chicken. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling." (Mathew 23:37) 

  2. Dove. "John testified saying, 'I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.'" (John 1:32)

A: Locusts. "Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you." (Joel 2:25) When the people repent, the Lord will restore what the locust has eaten.

Next, let's read what we are NEVER to eat.

4Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these, among those which chew the cud, or among those which divide the hoof: the camel, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you. 5Likewise, the [1] shaphan, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you; 6the [1] rabbit also, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you; 7and the pig, for though it divides the hoof, thus making a split hoof, it does not chew cud, it is unclean to you. 8You shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.

Q: How might the unclean things typify false beliefs, false teaching?

  1. Camel. "You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!" (Matthew 23:24) These are bad spiritual leaders that focus on the tiniest of imperfections while ignoring the most glaring. Ironically, both the gnat and camel are "unclean", so they can't avoid being "unclean" regardless.
  2. Pig. "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6) Note: What was the meaning of Jesus casting the demons into the heard of swine at Gerasene and their running off the cliff? (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39) It's a picture of the judgment, sending them to the place prepared for Satan and his angels. Those who mock the Gospel will go into the lake.
  3. Donkey. "You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together."Deuteronomy 22:10) A repeated biblical teaching is to NEVER mix the "clean" with the "unclean" but to keep them separate and pure.
  4. Wild donkey. "For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey all alone; Ephraim has hired lovers." (Hosea 8:9) It's a picture of those given over to physical lusts.
  5. Horse. "Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you." (Psalm 32:9) Such animals are directionless, representing those that go from one teaching to the next with no authoritative direction or justification.
  6. Horse. "A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength." (Psalm 33:17) There are those that trust only in themselves and/or their possessions. They are a god unto themselves.

A: Shellfish. They're closed and at the bottom of the sea. Biblically the sea represents the nations. This represents people who are so far into the world that they won't get saved. They're too closed. Note the contrast to Christ's promise "I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19) wherein men are saved out of the sea-out of the nations-and into the kingdom of God.

  1. Vulture. "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."(Matthew 24:28) False teachers that feed off the flock without providing anything at all in return, happy to pick the bones clean until total consumption ensues.
  2. Eagle. "...They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour."(Habakkuk 1:8b) False teachers that are, in reality, predators themselves.
  3. Pelican and Owl. "I resemble a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl of the waste places. I lie awake, I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop." (Psalm 102:6-7) Those that actually prefer the absence of activity, the void of all spiritual endeavor, offering nothing but spiritual emptiness and desolation. They love doctrines of "vacuum"

26'Concerning all the animals which divide the hoof but do not make a split hoof, or which do not chew cud, they are unclean to you: whoever touches them becomes unclean. 27'Also whatever walks on its paws, among all the creatures that walk on all fours, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening, 28and the one who picks up their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening; they are unclean to you.

Q: How might the unclean things typify false beliefs, false teaching?

29'Now these are to you the unclean among the swarming things which swarm on the earth: the mole, and the mouse, and the [1] great lizard in its kinds, 30and the gecko, and the [1] crocodile, and the lizard, and the [2] sand reptile, and the chameleon.

Q: How might the unclean things typify false beliefs, false teaching?

Application

34Any of the [1] food which may be eaten, on which water comes, shall become unclean, and any [1] liquid which may be drunk in every vessel shall become unclean. 35Everything, moreover, on which part of their carcass may fall becomes unclean; an oven or a [1] stove shall be smashed; they are unclean and shall continue as unclean to you.

Q: What is this excerpt from v.31-40 expressing in the context of this lesson concerning "clean" and "unclean" teaching and teachers?

A: It's a teaching about people that attempt to live under two covenants, such as the Seventh Day Adventists or cults like the Ebionites that believed Jesus was the Messiah but not God. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 7 neither Jew nor Gentile should give up his identity-that's not the issue-but we are not to succumb to Satan's lie to get people's loyalty devoted to more than one covenant.

Point

This is a way of covering all the different variations of mixing the above things-clean or unclean-to create something that might have the appearance of legitimacy. Remember: Mixing is biblically prohibited. Would you drink a glass of water if it only had one drop of poison in it?

Overall Application

Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

A critical juncture in NATO's future

By David Passmore • April 14, 2026
A critical juncture in NATO'S future Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM NATO was originally established in 1949 to keep the Russian hordes at bay from toppling those European countries not forked over to the Soviet sphere of influence at the Potsdam conference. Europe lay in ruins. Britain had passed on the torch of global hegemony to the U.S. by tacitly acquiescing to the decolonization of its Empire when Churchill and Roosevelt agreed terms of the Atlantic Charter for the post-war new world order in 1941. So from its start NATO was very much an American driven endeavor. American money with the Marshall plan was propping up western European economies and its military might was forming the bulk of their defensive capabilities. The lopsided nature of this dynamic has informed how tensions have persisted and recently erupted in the Alliance. During the Cold War the U.S. felt obligated to shoulder the costs of underwriting Europe's security in light of the broader interests to keep the Soviet's in check. Following the fall of the Iron Curtain European complacency became a sticking point with the 'peace dividend' further exploiting American largesse. European NATO allies spent ever smaller percentages of their GDP on defense expenditure at U.S. expense. Now in a multi-polar world U.S. and European perceived threats are less aligned. This was first tested in the aftermath of September 11th when for the first time NATO elected to trigger its article 5 collective defense protocol. And since then the U.S. has sought to continue to expand the traditional theatre of operations beyond Europe's borders. No longer is Russia perceived by America as being a proximate existential threat to its interests, but rather containing Chinese expansion in the Pacific arena. Parallel to NATO a discrete 'five eyes' intelligence sharing alliance comprising the Anglo-sphere (the U.S., U.K., Canada and New Zealand) emerged. This stands at the center of the U.S. – U.K. 'special relationship'. A relevant question would be can this signals intelligence (NSA-GCHQ) partnership persist should the U.S. withdraw from NATO? Conventional thinking would have led one to believe that with Brexit the U.K. would naturally pivot towards closer U.S. relations but under Starmer the U.K. is distancing itself. European powers misrepresent the present conflict as an aggressive, rather than defensive U.S. adventure while they themselves are more likely to be at risk. In this the Starmer government resembles the Labor party led committee for nuclear disarmament in the 1980's. It opposed the Thatcher supported deployment of U.S. cruise missiles in response to the Soviet SS20's pointed at Britain's cities. The British left branded their response to Soviet strategic escalation to U.S. aggression. This time however there is for the moment no Thatcher to bring common sense into an equation dominated by emotionally driven ideologies in the face of an aggressor with definite aims. In terms of the Russian-Ukraine conflict we are reverting to the old question dating back to the Napoleonic war era: to what extent is London happy with the European nations fighting it out alone for dominance of the continent. Britain was never willing to accept a single power in control. Many variables will dictate what kind of world emerges from the current conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. How will power be extracted from potential gains? What will be the strategic impact of this? What is sure, in the age of Trump this pattern of reliance on U.S. muscle is becoming quickly exhausted. Dating back to the Roman Empire, a factor in the decline of major powers has always been astronomical military spending, a budgetary demand that the U.S. under Trump is no longer willing to shoulder alone. (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).

Urgent Prayer request for Malcom Betts, his daughter and others

By David Passmore • April 9, 2026
Please keep brother Malcolm Betts from the New Life Pentecostal Church, Winsford in prayer. He is suffering from heart failure, valve problems and spinal stenosis. Your prayers for healing and intervention are coveted. Also, Malcom’s daughter Laura-Louisa is having complications with her pregnancy. Her baby boy is due on the 22nd of April and was in a breach position, however he is now moved to an oblique position which carries serious risk and possible surgical intervention. Laura is also at risk of postpartum haemorrhage. Please pray for the midwives and obstetricians skill and wisdom. Please also pray for Malcolm’s sister Susan who has sepsis in her leg. And please pray also for Sheila Carlisle. She is undergoing knee replacement surgery.

Urgent Prayer Request for Teerth Sond

By David Passmore • April 8, 2026
Greetings Dear Brethren in Yeshua our Lord & God Hope your all well Further developments: The NHS and oncologist from day one got my Markers wrong which in result denied me access to the latest treatments such as immunotherapy and targeted treatment. After getting a second opinion from Royal Marsden they discovered my Markers were not zero but 13-14 and that I was also Claudine 18.2 which confirmed I was allowed to all the latest treatments such as targeted treatment. My local MP and Health secretary are now involved and have written to both the treatment companies and NHS trust. I have also spoken to doctors in the states. Dear brethren my family & I have been through so much in the past and the valley is truly a battle. I truly thank The Lord Yeshua for Him humbling us all, correcting us in His parental love (1 Cor 4-6 & 2 Cor 2). It’s been very hard but also a blessings to truly draw closer The Lord- cast of works of darkness/old garments and be washed in His Blood daily. Your prayers are vital and above all The Glory Of The Lord to be magnified. Please remember us in your love & prayers as we walk through this battle in The Lord. Praying for you all and much love in Yeshua. Your brother - Teerth & Family

The reliability of Asian and European oil coming through the straits of Hormuz in contrast to the US energy independence.

By David Passmore • March 26, 2026
Contrary to the near unanimous chorus of media coverage concerning the current impasse in the straits of Hormuz it isn't obvious that this is an American problem. The chief consumers of oil passing through this critical juncture are China, India, South Korea, Japan and the European markets. The U.S. has alternative reserves due to domestic crude from Alaska, the Permian Basin, the Gulf of America and domestic fracking. This is further augmented by Venezuelan heavy crude now refined in the U.S. and possible further supplementation with Canadian sand shale from Alberta. Based on those determinations if European powers won't contribute to efforts to keep the straits open, Trump can simply leave them to their own repercussions that will further drive up the price of Brent crude oil. The question may then become whether the U.S. can redefine the global oil market by legislatively mandating the West Texas Intermediate. Can America divorce the WTI from the Brent prices and from the Rotterdam spot market prices by maintaining a domestic market legislatively controlled? In so doing, keeping all oil being drilled from federal lands subject to a semi-interventionist price control system that in theory could average domestic gasoline prices at $2/gallon varied only by state taxes. Such a fundamental restructuring of oil markets will allow the U.S. to operate independent of global bench marks. This might be opposed by petroleum industry interests who would benefit from higher international prices, but would likely have public support. Such price regulation would not be government mandated price controls in the ordinary sense, but could be legally enforced as terms of condition in federal licensing policies for drilling on federal lands. Approximately 25% of oil pumped in the U.S. is drilled on federal land where contractual conditions can be easily implemented. These strategies would have a short to medium term impact on global markets and on domestic prices. Medium to longer term strategies however would require a national network construction of safer pebble cooled nuclear reactors, generating a viable source of electricity for electric vehicles. Additionally, similar to the energy company SASOL, the U.S. should begin domestic production of a coal conversion variant of gasoline, jet fuels and certain petrol chemicals. The Fischer-Tropsch process technology allowing for the production of cleaner synthetic fuels has existed since the 1930's and enhanced upgrades of this method are in active production use in South Africa. This would avoid the failed folly of moving towards 100% renewables that have crippled the German economy and driven energy costs punitively higher in order to placate Green Party-political interests. The Trump administration must lower domestic gasoline prices in an election year in the short term. However, in the medium to longer term the current conflict with Iran affords an opportunity to restructure the international oil market in such a manner that it will immunize the U.S. from surging oil prices. In theory such a fundamental revamping of oil markets could keep domestically produced oil under $50/barrel. Events are marching forward at pace. At time of writing some European nations have indicated a willingness to perhaps contribute towards a naval response. Trump himself has said that Iran is negotiating an end to the blockade. Irrespective of this, the situation has elucidated the vulnerability of European and Asian gas and oil supply and the opportunity for the U.S. to advance its energy independence in such a way that will directly translate into savings for domestic consumers. (Author is an Israeli American lawyer academically qualified in British and in U.S.A. law, and a graduate of the School of Oriental & African Studies, London. He is a Jewish believer in Jesus and is currently based in Israel).

An ex-catholic and bible scholar responds to the eucharist

By David Passmore • March 23, 2026
An ex-catholic and bible scholar responds to the eucharist

THE CONFGLAGRATION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND CURRENT RISING PRICES

By David Passmore • March 11, 2026
THE CONFGLAGRATION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND CURRENT RISING GLOBAL ENERGY PRICES. WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING? Rubin Rothler LLB, LLM The markets historically have responded with grave alarm at the prospect of disruptions in the major sea lanes for transporting fuel. So far, Iran has exercised a degree of reluctance to fully close this critical channel due to Chinese pressure for their major source to remain. The Chinese economy could be savaged should Iran fully attempt to shut down all shipping in its entirety. As the war continues, Iranian capability to realize these ends becomes less likely due to the severe damage inflicted upon maritime forces. The U.S. has strategically positioned their Armada in place so that they are effectively choking the deployment of the Iranian Navy at sea in all theatres. From the coast of Sri Lanka in the mid Indian Ocean to the outer reaches of the Persian Gulf, the Iranian Navy is simply out gunned and woefully inadequate technologically to pose any meaningful opposition. However, they may decide to go all in and actively concentrate directed attacks by their small boats at all incoming oil tankers in the Straights. If this scenario unfolds, we may see an impasse in the conflict. Fear in the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia has already greatly increased. These regimes continue to be actively targeted by Iran to cause maximum economic impact. They may lean on the U.S. to seek a negotiated settlement. Europe with the exception of Spain has so far largely fallen into line with the Washington consensus. But if prices rapidly increase policy may shift (as it has been with now over $100 per barrel of oil). The combination of Arab consternation, Chinese pressure and European pliability together with a collapse in global energy supplies could cause the U.S. to reconsider its objectives in terms of what can be realistically realized. Trump prepared for these repercussions and mitigated the damage by posturing accordingly. The City of London's traditional monopoly on ensuring the maritime industry is being effectively displaced by U.S. surety for transit in the Straights. Further, the operation to remove Maduro in Venezuela with the consequent assumption of their oil reserves lent handsomely to the aim of forging an alternate fuel supply to the global markets. Albeit there remain questions concerning the ability to refine thick Venezuelan crude oil as its refining is more costly and arduous than Saudi and Gulf oil. Trump gained an extension of time for getting these operations underway by drawing out the prior negotiations with Iran. Here we can see that contrary to popular comment Trump's actions are strategically calculated. Complicating matters, after the oil and natural gas embargo was imposed on Russia, Europe became increasingly reliant on Middle Eastern supplies. Qatar is the prime source of natural gas and its depots are being choked by Iranian strikes. If this persists Europe will find it extremely difficult to secure its energy needs. Similarly, India has been acutely impacted to such an extent that Trump was moved to allow Delhi to lift sanctions on Russian energy. It must also be noted however that at present there exists no shortage of ready refined petroleum supplies, not even including the embargoed Russian oil (much of it unrefined) stored in tanker ships due to Ukraine War sanctions. Trump Administration plans using US naval and allied naval assets to escort tankers through the Straights f Hormuz would easily allow Lloyds of London to provide usual insurance once those vessels clear the Persian Gulf. Hence, the upward trajectory of crude prices is in part being manipulated by certain City of London and Wall Street interests that are in some measure politically motivated to favour the American Democrat Party in upcoming mid-term congressional elections. In terms of supply actualities, crude increases should be no higher than 25% in terms of Brent and 20% in terms of West Texas Intermediary. Predictably the legacy media is misrepresenting the price surge as purely market driven, when it is to some degree being engineered. Certain questions can be raised regarding how current events will unfold. A catastrophic situation could plausibly embroil dragging in additional actors to the conflict. Serious commentators have actually cautioned that we are heading towards World War Three. Short of this, Qatar is warning of global economic disaster. At the very least we will continue to see instability in global energy markets that will increasingly hit everyday consumers at the gasoline pump.

Prayer request for Malcom Betts & Others

By David Passmore • March 9, 2026
There appears to be a number of good pastors in very serious health struggles at the moment in England. These include Pastor Tony Pearce (London), Pastor John Anglisse (reading area), and Moriel Pastor Teerth Sonde (Wolverhampton). To these we have just learned that another Moriel Pastor in Winsford, Pastor Malcom Betts has suffered a serious coronary and is likewise in deep need of prayer. This may or may not be a general demonic attack on pastors in the area of health, however Our God Is Indeed Able to undettake for all of them and each of them.

Urgent Prayer Request for John Anglisse

By David Passmore • March 7, 2026
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST Moriel has learned that Pastor John Anglisse of Ark Christian Fellowship in England, a long standing friend of Moriel, has been medically diagnosed as being pre terminal in his on going health battles. Moriel and Jacob Prasch earnestly request prayer for The Lord's intervention and prolonging of John's temporal life for the sake of his wife Mary and for his congregation and ministry. While "to Live is Christ and to die is gain" for John, his homecoming would be quite a loss for those of us who remain, and we ask The Lord for healing. We also thank our subscribers for their prayers for our friend & brother Pastor Tony Pearce in London. Tony is scheduled for two surgery procedures this week for skin cancer, one of which involves potential risks for his eye. Continued prayer is much appreciated.

Prayer Request for Sue

By David Passmore • February 19, 2026
Prayer request for Sue

Prayer Request for Sister Joan Philips

By David Passmore • February 17, 2026
Prayer request for Joan Philips