And Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother (Genesis 24:67).

As Rebekah left her family, they blessed her. May she become the mother of thousands of ten thousands and her descendants possess the gates of those who hate them (Genesis 24:60). Rebekah and her maids then mounted the camels and followed Abraham’s servant (Genesis 24:61).

Isaac came from the way of Beer–Lahai–Roi. This is the well of the living one who sees me. A title indicating that the LORD actively beholds human distress, even in the most marginalized and desolate circumstances. Beer–Lahai–Roi was in the south and received its name when God met Hagar in her distress after she became pregnant and Sarah despised her for it (Genesis 16:14).

While Isaac was roving about in the field, he lifted his eyes and saw the camels coming (Genesis 24:63). As he went toward them, Rebekah asked Abraham’s slave who was this man that was coming to meet them (Genesis 24:64–65). Upon hearing this was his master, and the man to whom she was being brought as a wife, she covered herself with a veil and prepared to meet him (Genesis 24:65).

The servant then told Isaac everything that had happened on his trip. Thus, Isaac took Rebekah as his wife (Genesis 24:66–67).

Although Sarah had passed away, Isaac followed their customs and initiated the marriage in her tent. Thus, his actions indicated Rebekah’s position in the matriarchal lineage as the one taking Sarah’s place.

The concept of fulfillment refers to something that is filled up or brought to completion; thus, filled where it is lacking.

The term “fulfillment” is often employed in relation to the completion of a prophecy. In Matthew 1:22, Mary, a young virgin betrothed to Joseph, became pregnant apart from knowing a man so that Scripture could be fulfilled in what it lacked concerning the prophecy that a virgin will bear a Son and call His name Immanuel. The part of this prophecy that was fulfilled related to a virgin being found with child. In Matthew 2:15, Joseph is instructed to flee to Egypt, fulfilling what the LORD spoke through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I will call my Son.” This type of fulfillment is used because the actions bring the prophecy to completion by providing what it lacked—the events coming to pass.

Fulfillment is also used concerning a person’s actions relating to doing what is righteous. In Matthew 3:15, Jesus is immersed by John the Baptizer. At first, John refuses, recognizing that he needs to be immersed by Jesus. However, Jesus asks him to permit it to be done to fulfill all righteousness. How was righteousness filled up where it was lacking? It was time for Jesus to enter into His priestly service according to the Melchizedek order. For this to happen, He needed to be immersed to enter into service to God (Hebrews 7:11). As a shadow of heavenly things, the Levitical Priesthood showed the necessity of immersion before entering temple service (Exodus 29:4).

As Jesus explains the kingdom of the heavens in Matthew 13:47–50, He uses the term “filling” where “lacking” is used, related to a fishing net. When the fishing net is full of fish, it is drawn in (Matthew 13:48). When calling out the Pharisees for being hypocrites, Jesus states that they are witnesses against themselves that they are sons of those who murdered the prophets, filling to the full the measure of their fathers (Matthew 23:31–32).

Filling where lacking is distinct from filling in a mentally controlling manner. In the upper room on the day of Pentecost, the room where the disciples met was filled with the sound of a mighty rushing wind (Acts 2:2). This sound signaled the coming of the Holy Spirit. With the house filled with the sound of the wind, in the appearance of tongues of flames of fire that sat upon each of their heads. The Holy Spirit then mentally controlled (πίμπλημι) them to speak in other dialects (Acts 2:4). This filling describes a full mental control of a person. It relates to the manner in which the Holy Spirit came upon men before the dispensation of Grace. Once the dispensation of grace has been fully implemented—its steward, Paul, has been training and is teaching the household the rules—the Holy Spirit’s relationship with those of the Church changes from a mental control to a filling where lacking (Ephesians 5:18).

Because our English versions do not distinguish between the two Greek words for fulfillment confusion results, leading to a misunderstanding of Scripture. This befuddlement is seen in the, often misunderstood, events in the upper room used by some to justify the teaching that speaking in another language as a requirement for salvation. In the upper room on the day of Pentecost, the disciples did not receive a Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. Spiritual gifts fill a person where they lack (1 Corinthians 14:32). In the upper room, the Holy Spirit mentally controlled them to give a sign to Israel (Acts 2:6–8). Many did not continue to speak in tongues after this day. This sign is repeated when Peter brings the gospel of the resurrected Lord to the Gentiles, and the Holy Spirit falls upon them as a sign to the Jews. The Jews with Peter recognized the sign as the same one that was done among them in the upper room (Acts 10:44–46).

When something is filled where it lacks, this type of filling either relates to being filled to capacity, such as a fishing net, or being brought to completion, as with prophecy. When a person is filled where he lacks, he is given the ability to perform a duty he otherwise could not complete.

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And out from the throne went lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of the God (Revelation 4:5).

The seven Spirits before the throne represent the Holy Spirit’s seven ministries to the Church. Their position before the throne indicates His residence is now in the heavens. During His time on earth with the Church, He works out seven ministries relating to salvation. He regenerated those who believed the gospel for salvation (Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4). He then immersed the believer into the Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). As part of the Christian’s relationship with God, the Holy Spirit indwelt him (1 Corinthians 3:16). As a guarantee of complete salvation, the Holy Spirit served as the sealing and earnest for the Church saints (Ephesians 1:13–14). Through Him, the Church partakes of the first fruits (Romans 8:32).

Thunder, lightning, and voices from the throne relate to fear and to the Holy Spirit’s different ministry to the tribulation saints. When lightning is used by itself, it indicates judgment, as seen with Satan being cast out of the third heaven in Luke 10:18. Lightning is also seen at the second coming of Christ, representing coming judgment (Matthew 24:27). However, the purpose of lightning and thunder is to cause fear for the LORD. When God brought Israel to the mountain to meet with Him, there was thunder, lightnings, and the sound of trumpets upon the mountain, with a thick cloud of smoke covering it (Exodus 19:16). The purpose for the lightnings, thunders, and sounds was for the people to understand the necessity of fearing the LORD, least they are destroyed by Him.

In contrast, Christians are not to fear the LORD because mature love casts out fear of judgment (1 John 4:17–18). Those in the Church have boldness on the day of judgment. In Revelation 1:17, the Church is instructed not to fear. However, for saints outside of the Church, fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Psalms 111:10). With the Church in the heavens fully glorified, God is now dealing with Israel as a nation again. Just as the Holy Spirit gave Israel fear in the Old Testament, He is again causing this fear among those who believe in the tribulation period (Deuteronomy 28:58).

The saints in the Tribulation period are not part of the Church; therefore, their relationship with the Holy Spirit is the same as He had with saints before Christians (Revelation 21:9). In John 14:17, Jesus explains this difference in relationship with the disciples. During Christ’s earthly ministry, the Holy Spirit was with them. After Christ’s resurrection, He will be within them. Thus, the Holy Spirit indwells those of the Church, but comes upon and mentally controls other saints outside of the Church.

The lamps of fire burning before the throne represent the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation among the Tribulation saints (Revelation 14:6). They are instructed to fear God (Revelation 14:7; 19:5). Through Isaiah 6:5–7, we understand that the purpose of this fire is for cleansing from guilt those who believe for service.

The Holy Spirit’s seven ministries to the Church are complete. Now, He is again dealing with Israel and the Gentiles who believe in the coming of Christ in the same manner as before the Church, causing fear and cleansing them for service.