Doors
Dogs
A dream symbol of a vicious attacker or faithful companion. Which are they – wicked or faithful? Well both, depending on the behaviour of the dog and the context of the dream. They can also be faithful as in Matthew 15:21-28.
As a pet, it can be a favoured / pet belief. Dogs are FAITH-ful to those they belong to / align with as their “pack”. The belief can be truth or delusion.
Dogs also surrounded Jesus in the crucifixion when He was abandoned by His friends (Psalm 22). but these would be symbolise as vicious dogs / threatening.
Dogs can also represent Jewish legalism / circumcision demanded on non-Jewish Christians by ancient Jews. Philippians 3:2. This is because the Bible uses words like “the nations” and “ethnos” to describe those who are works oriented and add human effort to their salvation instead of trusting Christ alone.
Labradors can be symbols of leading the spiritually blind. They can also be a symbol of work, either good works in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:10) or human effort. This could apply to any “working dog”.
DOORS
Doors are openings. Sometimes they appear closed, hard to open. Sometimes the dreamer has the right to open a door; even being asked to open the door; sometimes there is another wanting entry; sometimes another is a dark entity who pushes his way through a door against the dreamer’s will.
Perhaps the most well-known door metaphor is in Revelation 3:20 where Jesus writes to lukewarm believers who have lost their first love. This would only apply to the dreamer if the one knocking is an entity with a name similar to Jesus, such as King, Basil, Joshua, etc.
Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
Doors are also spoken of metaphorically in the Bible in a number of places:
Job 3: 8 – Birth (being Job’s own birth in this verse) is seen as a door into the world. Rather as he sees death as the other door in Job 38:17.
Job 38:8 – the way the sea is limited in its access to the land is described as a prohibitive door.
Job 38:17 – physical death is described as the passing through a door.
Job 41:14 envisions a monster’s mouth as a door for his food.
Psalm 24:7 and 9. The Psalm is a prophetic picture of an ancient castle door rising for a returning Victor (Jesus Christ) as He enters heaven at the time of the ascension.
Psalm 78:23 These are the doors indicating God’s open hand of provision, also sometimes seen as the windows of heaven (see also Malachi 3:10 ).
Proverbs 8:34 – Imagery of one at home with the Lord in trusting relationship “O the happiness of the man hearkening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the door-posts of my entrance.” Youngs Lit Trans.
Isaiah 26:20 Amid the time for judgment of God’s wayward people, the faithful are charged to shut themselves in (doors closed) while His indignation does its work of removing the evil from the land.
Isaiah 57:8 Here, the Lord is symbolising the wickedness His people have done out in the open as well as in their very homes – idolatry in imitation of those nations around them. They were supposed to be a light to the nations and they did the opposite. “Behind doors” means “in your homes”.
Zechariah 11:1 ” Open your doors, O Lebanon,
That fire may devour your cedars.
2 Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen,
Because the mighty trees are ruined.
Wail, O oaks of Bashan,
For the thick forest has come down.” The judgment upon Israel (Judah / Jerusalem) is as through an open door to the north (the direction Israel commonly attacked from).
The secret place of worship between God and a believer, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6
Matthew 24:33 Jesus at the very “door” when He came as judge in in the 3 ½ year war ending with the destruction of the Old Covenant temple. Sacrificial system and law in 70AD – See Daniel 7:9 and Revelation 20:11. Where the word we now translate as “earth” should more correctly be translated as “the land” of those who crucified Jesus. Their house was rendered desolate; they went into the purifying fire as the “false prophet”. Rev 20:9 and 10.
2 Corinthians 2:12-14 Paul wrote of an open door to preach the gospel of Christ.
Revelation 3:8 Favour and safety for the faithful believers, “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”
