Job's Friends, a Three-Fold Union?
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Introduction
In previous studies, we saw how Job’s experience and character are typical (pre-figures) of God’s people at the end of the world.
His name which means, “hated” describes how God’s people will be hated at the end of the world. The scriptures warn us that the powers of evil, in particular, a three fold union, will attempt to destroy them like they did with Job. However, Job held his integrity and this is to be our experience as well.
In this study, we look briefly at Job’s three friends and make efforts to glean some understanding and wisdom for our time.
Three Friends
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. Job 2
Faced with a health crisis, Job in many ways typifies God’s people at the end of the world. He is “comforted” by his three friends. His three friends made an appointment or an agreement or covenant. They were of one mind on this issue of “comforting” Job. However, their so called comfort was misleading. We know this as God reveals to us that His wrath is kindled against them for the things they said.
7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
Biblically speaking true “comfort” comes from the Spirit of God, the Comforter. Therefore, applying the same principle here, which spirit of “comfort” was behind Job’s friends? Certainly, it was another spirit and not the Spirit of God.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14
Now, let us look at their names. These below are the names and meanings or interpretations of Job’s three friends.
Eliphaz, the Temanite - God of gold.
Bildad, the Shuhite - Confusing (by mingling) love.
Names in the bible are symbolic and have deeper meanings. One chief principle of bible interpretation from 1 Corinthians 2:13 is to compare scripture with scripture.
God of gold
The “god of gold” takes our minds to Daniel 3 which is the image of gold set up for worship (“a god”) by Nebuchadnezzar. This also represents the image of the beast.
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: Daniel 3
Confusion by mingling
“Confusion by mingling” takes our minds to the word Babylon which is interpreted as “confusion by mixing”. The mingling or mixings reminds us of the Daniel 2 image where at the toes, miry clay is mingled with iron, a symbol of an apostate church and state (civil power) union.
43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Daniel 2
Sparrow
“Sparrow” is a word translated in other scriptures also often as “bird”. In this context, we recall that Babylon is the “cage of every unclean bird and foul spirit”.
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Revelation 18
Job’s three friends point to the three fold union at the end of the world.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. Revelation 16
A Note on Symbols
These same friends were given a chance to repent in verse 8. How then do they represent the three fold union of the dragon, beast and false prophet?
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. Job 42
The answer lies in the rules of interpretation. A symbol in the scriptures can have more than one meaning depending on the use and context. For example, a lion can be a symbol of Christ, the Lion of Judah. However in another context, a lion can represent Satan.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5
Thus, in tempting Job, the three friends represent the three fold union, but in their possible repentance in verse 8, they represent those who will flee from Babylon to salvation under the preaching of the three angels message.
Concluding Thoughts
Spiritual Babylon
Job’s three friends’ names are all pointing to spiritual Babylon at the end of the world. We know from Revelation that Babylon is an entity composed of three powers, the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. Thus, in this sense, Job’s experience with “his three friends” is a representation or type of God’s peoples’ experience with the three fold union of Babylon. These powers will seek to cause God’s people to “curse God and die” by receiving the mark of the beast.
Recent History
The recent Covid-19 pandemic pre-figures the mark of the beast crisis. This crisis also had close similarities with Job’s experience which included a health crisis. Job’s own wife (a woman is a symbol of a church in bible prophecy), encouraged him to lose his integrity, to curse God and die. Shortly afterwards, he had to face his three friends, the three fold union. If the recent pandemic is a type of the mark of the beast crisis, who is the woman or church seeking us to curse God and die? How did we measure up to this “woman” and these “three friends”?
We ask the honest Reader to seriously contemplate these pertinent questions.