Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines [are] rulers over us? Judges 15:11
Samson is often seen as a type of the church. [He can also be seen as a type of the Lord Jesus, the patterns are similar.] There are several points of correspondence that are usually mentioned as proof.
Samson had a supernatural birth,
The Spirit of the Lord was come upon him,
He did many exploits for the Lord,
He became corrupted,
He lost his great strength,
He became a captive to his enemies
He lost his vision,
He gradually regained his strength,
He called upon the Lord once again and
He was revived at the end.
And he judged Israel 20 years, speaking of the 2000 years that we call the 'church age'. So these points of comparison are taken to be a picture of the history of the church during the church age, with final revival coming at the end, before the Lord returns.
At this point writers usually gloss over the manner of his death and go on to some other topic.
In this article we'll look at his death as a continuation of the comparison to the church and see in it an allegory of the destiny of the church and her role in the Second Coming of Christ.
If we look at how Samson died we can see three main points.
A. Samson willingly laid down his life!
B. His first purpose was to bring destruction to the Philistines.
C. His second purpose was a consequence of the first, to free Israel from bondage. Note that these purposes combine mercy and judgment.
Lets look at the text.
Judges 16
23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.
25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.
27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines [were] there; and [there were] upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with [all his] might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that [were] therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than [they] which he slew in his life.
31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought [him] up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
Now lets look at this text for comparisons to the end time church.
The Lords of the Philistines mentioned in verses 23, 27 and 30 are clear types of Demon Powers. The mention of many people on the roof, verse 27, speaks of heavenly places, another clue that this passage is about demonic princes.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
And these are specifically the ones that keep Israel blinded.
Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines [are] rulers over us? Judges 15:11
So here we have a portrait of wicked rulers in high places who are rulers over Israel. This is what makes up the veil over their hearts and minds, producing spiritual blindness.
The mention of the Philistine god and the people praising him, verses 23-24, speak of the worshippers of the Beast in Revelation
The situation in verses 23-25 has a parallel in the Book of Revelation.
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:4-8)
The Philistines are rejoicing that their enemy has been delivered into their hands. This has its parallel in revelation where it states in Revelation 13:7 that it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.
When they call for Samson out of the prison to make sport of him, it speaks of the great persecution to come against the end time church. Furthermore by their action of bringing him out and setting him between the pillars, they put Samson in the exact position where he can do the most damage to them. But Samson can only damage them if he is willing to lay down his life, which they never expected. But that is exactly what he does. And by his action achieves his greatest victory of all.
In our comparison, when the end time church comes under the persecution of the Beast, it will be in a place where it can do the most damage to Satan's kingdom.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)
By laying down our lives, willingly, we "give place to wrath". [Psalm 110 speaks of this willingness.] Thus opening the way for the Vengeance of the Lord, as it says in Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19
Samson prays, verse 28, and calls upon the Lord for vengeance, just as the saints under the altar in Revelation.
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:9-10)
Gaining the Greatest Victory
In verse 30, we see that "the dead which he slew at his death were more than [they] which he slew in his life."
Thus his moment of greatest defeat was really his greatest victory. Samson died in victory.
Jesus' moment of greatest defeat, on the cross, was really his moment of greatest victory.
The destruction of the Church will be Her moment of greatest victory!
We have said that the Lords of the Philistines represent heavenly powers. Samson brought destruction to the Philistine rulers of his time.
Likewise the martyrdom of the church brings about judgment on the powers of heaven at the end of the age.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Matthew 24:29
Samson's second purpose was achieved because by the destruction of the Philistine power base, the people of Israel were set free.
When the church lays down its life, it's for the purpose of setting the people of Israel free. The fall of the powers of heaven is what is needed to remove the veil of spiritual blindness over Israel.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. [Here the brethren speaks of Israel.] (1 John 3:16)
If we look at Romans 12:1-2, we see it speaks of laying down our lives.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
When the Lord uses the word 'therefore' it's there for a purpose. And the purpose for this is found a few verses back on Romans 11.
And so all Israel shall be saved…. Rom 11:26
As the power of heaven fall, Israel shall see clearly her need to repent and call upon Messiah Jeshua to come and save them. This is what will make them cry out Baruch Ha Ba B'Shem Adonai (Blessed be Him who comes in the name of the Lord.) It is then that Jesus will come again to His people.
In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. Jeremiah 50:4
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 12:10
Verse 31 mentions that "Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought [him] up....".
This is a reference to the Second Coming of the Lord and the resurrection. His brethren and all the house of his father are Christ and all the saints. When Jesus comes for the Church it will be to resurrect her. Bringing Samson up and burying him with his fathers speaks of resurrecting the church and setting her in a place of honor. This happens right after her death. "Destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19
The conclusion is that Samson knowingly and willingly laid down his life for the purpose of destroying his enemies and setting Israel free. That is exactly the pattern that Jesus followed to set his people free. That is the pattern that the Church is called to follow as we become conformed to the image of Christ.