Purpose of Colors in Scripture

It is the visible spectrum of light, however, that is the part of the everyday vocabulary of most people. The seven colors of the rainbow paint our world with beauty. The shades and combinations of the seven basic colors yield thousands of colors to thrill and characterize our world. The question we must ask is, "If God created seven colors, what do they mean?" To get that answer, the scripture must be examined.

Light Production

God decreed, "Light be coming into existence, and there was light." (Gen. 1:3)

So, from the beginning light was production which manifested the glory of the Creator. The light divided the darkness, but the light could not be divided. The light had a visible spectrum which consisted of seven colors. Each one of those colors was a part of the production of the light. The seven colors represent a complete category as deduced from the meaning of the number, seven, from the seven days of re-creation.

Types of Colors

The light that was created on the first day was both visible and invisible.  We know that the spectrum of light contains seven distinct colors along with thousands of shades.  The colors of the rainbow as shown to Noah are the entire Visible Light Spectrum.  There is also an invisible part of the spectrum of light, which is not to be covered in this article.  Colors of visible light are found in the scripture.

The Colors in Nature are the colors of the objects and scenes in nature.  The colors include the color of objects, such as wood, apples, oranges, and rocks, as well as scenes, such as the sky, the ocean, the corn field.  So when a scene is described in the Bible, colors may be obvious even though they are not specified.  Why are these colors mentioned as a separate category from the Visible Light Spectrum?  It isn't because light is not the way we see them, but rather that nature combines colors in various ways that are not the pure colors of the rainbow.  Pigments and compounds may be mixed together in various ways to produce colors that are difficult to classify as one of colors of the rainbow.

The Artificial Colors are man-made.  They are the paints and dyes of the ancient world.  The Egyptians and Phoenicians discovered all kinds of ingenious ways of making dyes to color fabrics.  Blue, purple, and crimson were among the famous dyes.  The Assyrians used paint (especially vermilion) in their art.

Color Patterns are yet another factor for consideration.  The Pattern of a color may change the meaning significantly.  For example a spotted (or blemished) garment is not pure.  A spot represents an impurity (Ephesians 5:27; 1 Timothy 6:14; 1 Peter 1:19; 2 Peter 3:14).  A wrinkle may represent human good, but it is another example of an impurity. Multiples of horizontal bands represent  multiplication.  Those who expose faults in others may multiply, or magnify, the perceived faults.  Shimei did this to David (2 Sam. 16:7) as David was receiving installment discipline from God during the Absalom rebellion.  Vertical stripes may represent slicing, e.g. slicing cheese or carving meat.  Some of the common patterns include:
 
 

PATTERN	SYMBOL	EXAMPLES
Chaff	Deterioration and dead works	Exodus 15:7; Psalm 1:4; Malachi 4:1; Matthew 3:12; 1 Cor. 3:12
Chain	Bondage and slavery	2 Chronicles 33:11; Psalm 107:10; Ecclesiastes 7:26
Cross, or X	Crucifixion, or capital punishment	Luke 9:23; Acts 5:30; Ephesians 5:25; Philippians 2:8; 1 Peter 2:24
Diagonal	Plow, Wedge	Pushing aside
Fork	Separation in the path, or division	Genesis 32:7; 49:27; 1 Kings 16:21; Isaiah 34:17; 1 Cor. 7:33-34
Horizontal Bands	Multiplication	Exposure of flaws, faults; witness (Shimei, 2 Sam. 16:7)
Island	Isolation or separation	Isaiah 49:1; Acts 28:1; Revelation 1:9
Pentagram, 5-pointed star	Giant, e.g. Baal	2 Sa. 21:20-22; Isa. 14:12-13; Rev. 12:4
Pit	Intensified discipline, the grave, sin unto death	Job 9:31; 33:18, 22-24, 28-30; Gen. 37:23-24; Psa. 7:15; 40:2; Prov. 23:27; Isa. 36:6; Jer. 18:22; 2 Pet. 2:4
Plaid, Mesh, Net	Judgment; a trap	Net (Psalm 9:15; 10:9; 25:15; 31:4; 57:6; Ex 12:4; Job 19:5), Sieve (Isa. 30:28; Am. 9:9), Sifting (Luke 22:31)
Ring, Circle	A covenant	Gen. 41:42; Esther 8:8; Dan. 6:17; Luke 15:22
Spot, blemish	Impurity, defilement, guilt, suffering	Lev. 13:2, 4, 19, 23-28, 38-39; 14:56-57; Job 31:7; Eph. 5:27; 1 Tim. 6:14; Ja. 1:27; 1 Pet. 1:19; 2 Pet. 3:14
Square	Solid foundation, Tabernacle furniture was square or rectangular	Exodus 27:1; 28:15-16; 30:1-2; 37:25; 38:1; 39:8-9; Rev. 21:16
Star	Great and sudden brilliance	Rev. 2:28; 22:16, 2 Pet. 1:19; Nu. 24:17; Matt. 2:2
Triangle	Fire triangle; fire testing; metabolization; corporate production; sexual love/fire.	Brazen Altar, Ex. 27:1-5; John the Baptist, John 5:35; gold, silver, precious stones, 1 Cor. 3:12-13; sexual heat 7:9
Trident	Fruit bearing (good or bad)	Good Psa. 1:3; Prov. 11:30; Jn 15:1-8; Bad Prov. 1:30-31; Jer. 6:19; 12:1-2; 32:19; Matt. 7:17-19
Vertical Stripes	Slice off, cleave	Carving meat (Isaiah 9:20)
Wrinkle	Human Good	Eph. 5:27

White Light

In the Tabernacle of the Exodus generation, white was the color of the surrounding wall of linen. The eight-foot high wall of linen kept the people out, separated the Tabernacle from the world, and controlled the perimeter to afford only one port of access, the Gate. The curtain of the Gate was made of "blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen (white)" (Exodus 27:16). Isaiah defines the meaning of this white:

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

White is used to describe to the color of ripened grain in contrast to green before the ripening.

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. (John 4:35, NAS)

Something else that is pure and can never be adulterated is God's love. I Corinthians 13 is a description of love which clearly reveals this. The command for a husband to love his wife in Ephesians 5:25-26 also demonstrates that love must be pure.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself as a substitute for her;
26 that having purified her, He might sanctify her by the washing of water by the communicated Word (gospel)

WHITE means Pure (Isa. 1:18); sanctification (John 4:35, 1 Cor. 6:11; Eph 5:26); love (Eph. 5:25; 1 Cor. 13).

Darkness - Black

Darkness (which obviously has the characteristic color, black) refers to Satan's Cosmic System, cosmos diabolicus, the world. The world is separated from the light (John 1:5). Rejection of the light, thinking like a Gentile unbeliever, is described as darkness in the understanding (Eph. 4:18). The world system is characterized by the love of money (monetary reversionism), which will be judged symbolically by one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (the rider on the black horse) (Rev. 6:5).

BLACK means Death (2 Peter 2:17; Jude 13; Job 3:3-11); the world (John 1:5; Rev. 6:5).
 

Summary

Red

The red dye that was used in the Tabernacle, called "scarlet" (Exodus 25:4), Hebrew tola`ath, was crimson. The real color was crimson even though it is translated, scarlet, in the NASB.
 

The root meaning of the Hebrew word is worm.  It was used in various forms in Hebrew with meanings such as shining worm, glow worm¹, worm of brightness.  It referred to the insect, Coccus ilicis, qirmiz in Arabic, from which the English word crimson is derived.  The female insect, which feeds on the holm oak, laid eggs which contained a red substance from whence the dye was made.  The Greek name for the insect was kokkos, meaning berry because it was pea like and resembled a berry.²

Robes of crimson were worn by the wealthy (2 Samuel 1:24; Proverbs 31:21; Jeremiah 4:30; Lamentations 4:5; Revelation 17:4).  The Greeks and Romans used this color for military cloaks.  The cloak that the soldiers put on Jesus was crimson according to Matthew 27:28 and probably was one of the military cloaks.  Although Mark and John call it purple, this is not a contradiction since in the language of the people purple dye also produced the crimson color.

The crimson robe on Christ before His crucifixion calls attention to another meaning of the color.  Red means suffering.  The purple-red of crimson refers also to judgment - i.e. the justice of God.  The Lord Jesus Christ suffered the justice of God on our behalf.

Red in the human body is not only the color of blood but also indicative of a health problem where it means suffering, inflamed, anger, or a raw wound (Exodus 21:25; Isaiah 1:6; 30:27).

Pink

Orange

Brown

Yellow

However, yellow in the human body is not a sign of strength.  Yellow teeth may represent the first stage of decay.  Yellow in the body may also represent jaundice and bitterness (Job 16:13; Acts 8:23)

Green

Blue

Blue in the human body, such as a bluish color of the flesh, may mean cold or bruised (Exodus 21:25; Job 9:17; Isaiah 30:26).
 
 

The color, blue, used in the Tabernacle was called in Hebrew, t_ekeleth (Exodus 25:4).  The color is deep, dark blue.  It is described as "purple of a dark blue shade, approaching black."¹ According to Josephus (Ant. 3.7.7) and Philo this color blue symbolized the sky.  This is the color that is translated violet in Esther 1:6 because of its violet tint.  The color was worn by princes and nobles (Ezekiel 23:6).  The idols of Babylon were clothed in "violet (t_ekeleth) and purple" (Jeremiah 10:9).  Also the tassels on the corners of the Hebrew garments were to be this blue color to remind them of the importance of obeying the commandments of the Law (Numbers 15:39-40) whereby they were sanctified, set apart, from the world.  The blue tassels were reminders of the promises of Bible Doctrine and symbolized the heavenly calling (from identification with the blue sky).

Indigo

Violet

From the association of purple with royalty, there are derived meanings for the color.  Royalty has ruling power and is the source of justice.  Jesus Christ as the ruler of Israel in the Millennium will rule with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:11-16).  He will bring swift judgment upon the nations of the earth like smashing a clay pot with a rod of iron.  Thus, purple refers to justice.

For those who would seek to ascend the throne of royalty by their own ambition, the color purple also signifies jealousy.  Jealous ambition was the original sin of Satan, who said, "I will be like the Most High" (Isa. 14:14).  Jealous ambition seeks ruling power, which is the prerogative of God.  Thus, purple also is the color for jealousy.

The color purple used in the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:4) was made from purple dye.  The word in Hebrew is 'argaman.  The color was true purple of a dark red color.¹ The dye was made from the tiny mollusk, Murex trunculus, by the Phoenicians (Ezekiel 27:7, 16).  The dye was so expensive that only royalty and the wealthy could afford garments colored with it (Esther 8:15; Daniel 5:7; Luke 16:19; Revelation 17:4).²

The purple in the Gate of the Tabernacle (Ex. 27:16) represented Jesus Christ, the Royal Messiah.  But this Royal Messiah would first have to suffer the justice of God on behalf of mankind.  Thus, inherent in the color purple was the justice of God.  Jesus Christ satisfied the justice of God and thereby became the mediator between God and mankind.  After He had satisfied the justice of God, He arose victorious and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  He will return at the Second Advent to conquer the nations who are the enemies of Israel, and He will rule in the Millennium with an iron rod (which symbolizes his swift justice).

 As the Lamb without spot and without blemish, Jesus Christ was perfect (pure, sanctified) humanity - equal with man.  Jesus Christ, the Sanctified Servant, was portrayed in the Gospel of Mark.  He was the second Adam, and uniquely qualified to be our Redeemer and pay for the sins of the world.    Christ, our Redeemer, was portrayed as the Suffering Son of Man in Luke.  As the Son of God, Jesus Christ was equal with God.  He possessed deity.  In the Gospel of John He was portrayed as the Son of God who came down from Heaven.  As the Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ brought the two parties in conflict, God and man, together.  He paid for man's sins as the Redeemer and thus reconciled man to God.  He satisfied all the requirements of Righteousness and Justice of God as the Mediator.  God the Father was propitiated by the work of Christ on the cross on behalf of all mankind.  Just as the smoke went up from the animal sacrifice as a sweet smell to God and signified divine acceptance, the White color in the gate also signified the propitiation of God the Father with the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  When the work of the cross was finished, the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected and seated at the right hand of the Throne of God.  He will return in the Second Advent as the Royal Messiah (Gospel of Matthew) to rule the nations in the Millennium in fulfillment of the New Covenant to Israel.
 

The Universe was created (Gen. 1:1).  Then the angels were created.  Later, Satan sinned and took a third of the angels with him  (Rev. 12:3-4).  When Satan and his demons rejected God's solution to their sins, they were sentenced to the Lake of Fire (Matt 25:41; Jn 12:31; 16:11).  However, Satan appealed the sentence, and man was created to resolve the issue (Gen. 1:26).  To make the Earth ready for man, God first Judged it.  He destroyed it, and packed it in ice (Gen. 1:2).  The Earth had previously been created perfect.  It was not a wasteland.  It was called the Garden of God (Gen 1:1; Eze 28:13; Isa 45:18).  The Earth was renovated for Satan's Appeal Trial in the seven days of re-creation.

The re-creation sequence follows the colors of the rainbow.  God's Love and Sanctification are symbolized by white light.  Sin leads to darkness and death in contrast to the light.  God's perfect integrity cannot love sin; therefore, His Justice rejects it in a process of sanctification that requires death.  However, since Satan already had Eternal Life, his Judgment was spending eternity separated from God in the Lake of Fire.  Beginning with violet, each color of the rainbow symbolizes a different aspect of God's sanctification.  Before the first day of re-creation, the Justice of God (violet) had already Judged Satan and the Earth.  The Earth was a wasteland and covered in ice as symbolized by the color indigo.  The first two colors in sequence were violet and indigo.  The other colors would follow in sequence after light was created.

Day 1 - Light was created (Gen. 1:3).  The white light symbolized God and His Love in contrast to the darkness of Satan and death.
Day 2 - The waters on the Earth were separated from the waters of the Atmosphere (Gen. 1:7).  Both were blue.  Note, blue is the next color  in sequence after indigo.
Day 3 - Plants were created (Gen. 1:12), as symbolized by the color green.
Day 4 - Lights were placed in the heavens (Gen. 1:14).  The lights represented the glory of Eternal Life (Jn 1:4).  The Sun symbolized the Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of the world (Jn 8:12), and the Moon symbolized the congregation of believers.  The stars symbolized believers with Eternal Life in Resurrection bodies.
Day 5 - Great sea monsters, fish, birds created (Gen. 1:21).  Sea monsters, such as whales and sharks, symbolize a giant, such as Baal, who is evil.  This was symbolized by the color orange.
Day 6 - Man and animals were created on the Earth (Gen. 1:24-27), as symbolized by the color red.  The name, Adam, means red.
Day 7 - The seventh day was sanctified by God (Gen 2:3), as symbolized by the color White.
 

WHITE - Pure - man was created pure, sinless, blameless.
Adam was created perfect, i. e. pure and without sin.

VIOLET - Crown of Royalty (Psa 8:4-8)
Adam's hair symbolized rulership of the world (Gen 1:26, 28).

INDIGO - Covering, Face
The face is a unique covering for personal identification.

BLUE - Breath (Gen 2:7), sky, atmosphere
    a.  Respiratory system
    b.  Symbolizes spirit - Z-axis
God breathed into Adam's nostrils.  This was symbolic of giving him life, but it also activated the Respiratory System.

GREEN - Fruit, plant life, Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:11-13); Happiness
     a.  Digestive system
     b.  X-axis
Man ate fruit in the Garden as symbolized by the color green.  He had a Digestive System.  And man was very happy in the Garden.

YELLOW - Spiritual life, human soul life (Gen 2:7), light, glory (Psa 8:5)
    Y-axis
Adam was given Spiritual life and human soul life at creation.

The LORD God sculpted man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the spark of life (soul life of lives); and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

ORANGE - Bone
Adam had bones, a Skeletal System, at creation.  The woman was built from Adam's rib (Gen 2:21-23).

RED - Flesh, Earth, Adam
Adam was formed from the dust of the ground (Earth) (Gen 2:7).  Later, when Adam sinned, the color red also symbolized sin.
 

So therefore, as through one transgression (Adam's Original Sin), there resulted condemnation to all mankind; even so through one judicial sentence there resulted Justification of Eternal Life to all mankind. (Romans 5:18)

For as in Adam all die, even so by agency of Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)

RED - Blood of Christ; Redemption (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Heb 9:12, 28); Sacrifice (Eph 5:2; Heb 9:26; 10:12); Sins (Isa 1:18; 1 Pet 2:24)

The Father's Plan required the Jesus Christ go to the Cross where the sins of the world were imputed to Him by the Father and Judged (Isa 53:5-6; 2 Cor 5:21).

Isaiah 53:5-6
5 But He was pierced by means of our transgressions.
He was crushed by our iniquities.
The punishment that brought peace (reconciliation) was upon Him.
By His wounds, it was healing to us.
6 We all like sheep have gone astray.
Each one of us has turned to his own way,
And the LORD (Father) has caused to strike Him
With the punishment of all of us.

ORANGE - Separation of the Father (Matt 27:46; Rom 8:32)
 The Father Judged the sins of the world in Christ (Isa 53:4).  While Jesus Christ was bearing the sins of the world, the Father separated from Him as Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46).  Sin was abhorrent to the Righteous Son of God.  The work of Salvation was accomplished by Jesus Christ alone, and He is the sole source of Salvation.  There is Salvation in none other (Acts 4:12).

YELLOW - Eternal Life (Jn 3:16, 36; Rom 6:23; 1 Jn 5:11); Christ the Light (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46); Sun (Psa 19:4-6; 89:36) darkened (Matt. 27:45)
While Jesus Christ was bearing the sins of the world, the Sun was darkened (Matt. 27:45).  The darkness symbolized the substitutionary spiritual death of Jesus Christ.  This was symbolized by the color yellow, for the light of the Sun.

GREEN - Green wood of Cross (Luke 23:31); Happiness as Problem Solving Device (Heb 12:2); Blessing of victory of Cross (Matt 12:20); Blessing of Salvation (Rom 4:7-8)
As Jesus Christ was being led away to be crucified, He referred to the Cross as the "green tree" (Luke 23:31).  While He bore the sins of the world, He used Happiness as a Problem Solving Device (Heb. 12:2).   This is symbolized by the color green.

BLUE - Righteousness of God satisfied (Rom 3:25; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 1:19; 2:22-23) by Christ (Isa 53:11; Rom 5:21)
Jesus Christ, who Himself had divine Righteousness, came down from Heaven (Jn 6:41), as symbolized by the color blue.  The impeccable human nature of Christ satisfied the Righteousness of God.  The purification for sins by the Lord Jesus Christ satisfied the Righteousness of the Father.

whom God has displayed publicly by His blood at the Mercy Seat (the place of propitiation) through faith (in Christ),  a demonstration of His Righteousness, because of the passing over of previously committed sins by the clemency (delay in judgment) of God; (Romans 3:25)

INDIGO - Covering (Rom 4:7), Unlimited Atonement, Propitiation (Dan 9:24; Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10); Kenosis (Phil 2:6-8); Eclipse/Evidence Testing (Heb 2:9); Qualification for Resurrection Clothing (Heb 2:7-8)
     a.  Kenosis - Christ voluntarily restricted the independent use of His deity to obey the Father's will for Him to go to the Cross and bear the sins of the world.
     b.  Paradigm shift to Spiritual, leaving behind the world and symbolizing the Resurrection (Heb 12:2)
     c.  Use of Grace in Eclipse/Evidence Testing (Heb 2:9)

Jesus Christ satisfied all of the requirements of the Father for handling the sin problem.  This  is called propitiation.  And payment for all of the sins of the world had been completed.  This is called Unlimited Atonement.  Atonement and Propitiation were symbolized by the color indigo.

Indigo also symbolizes the Doctrine of Kenosis.  Kenosis comes from the Greek verb kenovw (kenoo), meaning to empty or divest of privileges.  The doctrine means that during the Hypostatic Union, the Lord Jesus Christ voluntarily restricted the independent use of His deity to comply with the Sovereign will of God the Father and the Sovereign Design of the Son.  He veiled His preincarnate glory and submitted to the authority of the Father.  He took upon Himself the robe of flesh to go to the Cross and pay for the sins of the world.  His deity was veiled, and the divine glory in His humanity was not seen.  He had the power to walk off the Cross, but He voluntarily stayed there until His sacrifice was complete (Phil 2:6-8).

The color indigo also relates personally to Jesus Christ, who was undergoing Eclipse Testing, or Evidence Testing, on the Cross (Heb 2:9).  He used Grace to pass the test.  The humanity of Christ suffered and died on the Cross as a substitute for His Bride, the Church.  It was the greatest suffering in the human race.  Passing the test qualified Jesus Christ for the highest promotion with a new title of royalty (Phil 2:9-10) and clothing to match in His Resurrection (Rev 19:16).

The color indigo indicates a paradigm shift to the Spiritual.  It symbolizes leaving behind the world and living, or dying, for the Resurrection (Heb 12:2).  It is characteristic of believers who are in Spiritual Rapport with God.

VIOLET - Justice (1 Pet 2:23), Royalty, King of Jews (Matt 2:2; 27:37; Jn 19:19); Verdict Justification available (Rom 3:24-26; 5:18)
Since God the Father had Judged the sins of the world that He imputed to Jesus Christ, the Justice of the Father was completely satisfied.  On the Cross Jesus Christ kept entrusting Himself to the Justice and Judgment of God the Father (1 Pet 2:23).  Violet is also the color for royalty, and Jesus Christ was the King of the Jews.  And in the suffering of the Cross, He was qualifying for an even greater title of royalty in Resurrection body - "King of kings and Lord of lords."  God pronounced the judicial verdict that Justification was available to all mankind because work of Christ on the Cross propitiated Him.

WHITE - Sanctification (Eph 5:26; Heb 1:3; 10:10; 13:12; 2 Pet 1:9)
The work of Jesus Christ on the Cross satisfied all the demands of God the Father for Sanctification.  Sanctification was then available to every member of the human race who wanted it (Heb. 10:10).  Sanctification is symbolized by the color white in the center of the rainbow picture.  Note that the sequence of re-Creation proceeded from inside to outside the rainbow, and the sequence of Salvation at the Cross proceeded from outside to inside the rainbow.  This symbolizes the beginning and the end.

BLACK - Death, Buried (Matt 27:60; Mk 15:46; Lk 23:53, 55; Jn 19:41-42; Acts 13:29; 1 Cor 15:4)

RED - Earth:  Resurrection body comes out of the grave (Matt 28:1-10; Mk 16:1-6; Lk 24:2-6; Jn 20:1-17)
A red Sunrise symbolizes identification with the Earth, which is symbolized by red.  The Sunrise symbolizes the relation of the Resurrection body to the Earth (1 Corinthians 15:41-49)

1 Corinthians 15:41-42
41 There is one glory of the Sun, and another glory of the Moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised an incorruption;

So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.”  The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45)

The first man is out from the Earth, made of earth; the second man is out from Heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:47)

1 Corinthians 15:48-49
48 As the dust of the earth, such are those who are of earthly origin; and as that which is Heavenly, such also are those who are of Heavenly origin.  49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly (human body), we shall also bear the image of the Heavenly (Resurrection body).

ORANGE - Resurrection body separates from the grave, or Earth, and rises into Heaven
     a.  Jesus Christ - Resurrection (Matt 28:6-7; Mk 16:6; Lk 24:6; Jn 2:22; 20:9; Act 2:24-27, 32; 3:15; 4:10; 10:40-41; 13:30-37; Rom 4:24-25; 6:4; 8:11; 1 Cor 15:4, 12-20); Ascension (Mk 16:19; Lk 24:51; Jn 20:17; Act 1:2, 9-11; 2:34; Rom 8:34; Eph 4:8-10; 1 Ti 3:16)
     b.  Church (1 Cor 6:14; 15:36, 42, 50-52; 2 Cor 4:14; 1 Thess 4:16-17)
     c.  Old Testament saints (Isa 26:19; Ezek 37:12-14; Dan 12:2; Hos 13:14; Jn 5:28-29; 11:24)
Jesus Christ received His Resurrection body on the third day after the Crucifixion.  He rose from the tomb before dawn.  Later He ascended to Heaven and was seated at the right hand of the Throne of God.  Orange symbolizes the Resurrection body rising from the Earth and going into Heaven.  The Church will receive Resurrection bodies at the Rapture.

in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)

YELLOW - Resurrection Life, glory (Jn 17:5, 24; 1 Cor 15:40-44; Col 3:4; Phil 3:21; 1 Pet 1:21; 4:13; 1 Ti 3:16)
     The Baptism of the Holy Spirit identifies the believer with the Resurrected Christ (Eph 2:6; Col 2:12; 3:1)

Resurrection Life is one of the seven Spirits of life from the Heavenly Control Room.  Resurrection Life is a new kind of life that differs from human soul life.

The Resurrection body has glory.  It emanates light.  The glory of the Resurrection body is Light production from God.  There is glory associated with Salvation in a human body, although it is invisible to most people.  The glory of the Resurrection body, however, will be highly visible just as will be the glory of Christ's Resurrection body (John 17:24; 1 Peter 1:21; 4:13), which radiates the glory of the Father (Heb. 1:3).  Resurrection bodies differ from each other in glory (1 Corinthians 15:40-44).   There will be clothing for the Resurrection body that sets winner believers apart and reveals eternal rewards (Rev 3:4, 18).

GREEN - Happiness (1 Pet 4:13), Blessing (Eph 1:20-23; Eph 4:8, 10; Phil 2:9; Heb 1:3-13; 8:1;  12:2)
     Triumphal procession (Eph 4:8; Col 2:15)

There will be great Happiness when the Church is resurrected to meet Christ in His Resurrection body.  Jesus Christ has great Happiness in His Resurrection body (Heb 12:2), and He received great blessing in His Resurrection body.  He was seated at the right hand of the Throne of God (Eph 1:20-23).  He received the spoils from His victory on the Cross (Isa 53:12; Eph 4:8, 10), which He can distribute to Church Age believers.  He received a new title of royalty (Phil 2:9).  And He became the High Priest of the Church (Heb 8:1).

BLUE - Righteousness (Psa 89:14; 96:13; Jer 23:5-6; Acts 17:31)
     a.  Robe of Righteousness (Isa 61:10)
     b.  Resurrection of the Righteous (Lk 14:14; Act 24:15)

The Lord Jesus Christ in Resurrection body will Judge the world from the Throne of David with Righteousness.  Those who belong to Christ will also have Righteousness in Resurrection bodies (Lk 14:14; Act 24:15) and will be clothed in robes of Righteousness (Isa 61:10).

INDIGO - Covering, Clothing (Matt 17:2; Mk 9:3; Lk 9:29; Rev 1:13; 19:13, 16), Eternal Security (Jn 10:28)
     a.  Bride of Christ (Eph 5:27; Rev 19:7-8)
     b.  Believer's resurrection clothing (2 Cor 5:1-4; 1 Pet 1:8; Rev 3:4-5; 19:14)

Christ's Resurrection body was clothed in a shining material as revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration.  John saw a vision of the resurrected Christ wearing a robe that reached to His feet with a golden sash (Rev 1:13).  At the Second Advent He will be wearing a robe dipped in blood (Rev 19:13).  The robe will bear His title, "King of kings, and Lord of lords" (Rev 19:16).

The color indigo also symbolizes the Eternal Security, which the Lord Jesus Christ provides (John 10:28).

The Church as the Bride of Christ in Resurrection bodies will be clothed in fine linen, which is snow white (Rev 19:7-8).  The fine linen symbolizes the "righteousness of the saints."  This doesn't mean that righteousness is symbolized by white but that the Greek hagios means sanctified ones, saints, or holy ones.  White symbolizes purity, or sanctification.

VIOLET - Justification (Rom 4:25), Royalty (Phil 2:9-11; 1 Ti 6:15; 2 Ti 4:18; Rev 1:5; 17:14; 19:16)
     a.  Royal Family (Matt 19:28; 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6; 5:10)
     b.  Millennial King (Psa 89:3-4, 146:10; Isa 24:23; Jer 23:5-6; 2 Ti 2:12; Rev 3:21; 20:6)

Violet is the color for Justice and Royalty.  The Lord Jesus Christ could not receive His Resurrection body until He had satisfied all the requirements of God for the Justification of believers (Rom 4:25).  After the victory of the Cross, the Lord Jesus Christ was given a new title of Royalty, "King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim 6:15).  However, since He did not have a royal family, God called out the Church to be His Royal Family (1 Pet 2:9).  He will rule as King of the Earth from the Throne of David in the Millennium.

WHITE - Ultimate Sanctification; Christ's clothing (Dan 7:9; Matt 17:2; Mk 9:3)
     a.  Saints (Rev 19:8)
     b.  Tribulational martyrs (Rev 7:9, 13-14)

The color white symbolizes the ultimate sanctification of the Resurrection body.  The clothing of Christ in Resurrection body is shining white.  And the resurrected saints and Tribulational martyrs will be clothed in white robes.
 

BLACK - Spiritual Death (Gen 2:17; Eph 2:1, 5; Col 2:13)
The spiritually dead person is identified with darkness, as symbolized by the color black.

RED - Blood of Christ; Redemption (Col 1:13-14; Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Heb 9:12)
The person's sins were all paid for on the Cross (Redemption), as symbolized by the color red.  Red also symbolizes the Blood of Christ, which is His substitutionary spiritual death for the sins of the world.  Red symbolizes the Holy Spirit beginning the Salvation and Sanctification process (Heb 10:10, 14, 29; 13:12; 1 Pet 1:2).  The Holy Spirit identifies the believer with the issue of the sins that were paid for on the Cross.  Looking back to the Cross is called Retroactive Positional Truth (Rom 6:3-4).  Next, the believer receives forgiveness of sins (Heb 10:17-18).

ORANGE - Sanctification process - separation from world, consecration to God (Acts 26:18)
When the person believes in Jesus Christ, he receives Salvation.  The Sanctification process at Salvation separates the believer from the world of darkness and death and consecrates the person to Jesus Christ.  This is symbolized by the color orange.  All of the colors in sequence symbolize additional aspects of the Sanctification process.

YELLOW - Eternal Life (Jn 3:16; 5:24; Rom 6:23); Light (Jn 1:4; Eph 5:8; Col 1:12; 1 Thess 5:5; 1 Pet 2:9); Jesus Christ Light (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46)
The Holy Spirit provides Spiritual regeneration (Tit 3:5) and Eternal Life to live with God forever.  This is symbolized by the color yellow.   The Baptism of the Holy Spirit enters the person into union with Christ, which is called Positional Truth and includes Positional Sanctification (1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:27; Col 2:12; 1 Pet 3:21).  The believer enters the Kingdom of the Light of God and receives glory (Jn 17:22; 1 Cor 11:7; 2 Thess 2:12, 14; Heb 2:10; 1 Pet 1:8; 4:14; 5:10).  Just as Christ received a Resurrection body, the believer will also be raised in glory as symbolized by yellow (1 Cor 15:40-43).

GREEN - Happiness (Matt 5:2-12; Lk 15:7); Blessing (Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3)
Next, the color green symbolizes the Happiness of God and the Angels over the Salvation of the individual.  Green also symbolizes the manifold blessings bestowed upon the individual believer, who is entered into union with Christ.  Blessings are allocated to the individual for Time and Eternity.  They include the promise of Resurrection and an Inheritance (Eph 1:11, 18; Col 1:12; 3:24; Heb 9:15; 1 Pet 1:4) and becoming a member of the Royal Family of God (1 Pet 2:9).

BLUE - God's Righteousness (Rom 3:22; 4:13; 5:17; 9:30; 2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9; Heb 11:7)
Because the believer has the forgiveness of sins and Positional Sanctification through the work of Christ at Salvation, the Father then imputes His Righteousness to the individual.  The believer also shares Christ's Righteousness, since he is in union with Christ.  This is symbolized by the color blue.

INDIGO - Propitiation of God (Dan 9:24; Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10)
Since God the Father sees the believer in union with Christ, the Father is completely satisfied with the work of Salvation.  God sees Jesus Christ and is propitiated, as symbolized by the color indigo.  Indigo symbolizes a covering, which is described by the Hebrew verb kipper, meaning to cover, propitiate, make atonement and the noun kippurim, for propitiation or atonement.

VIOLET - Justice of God; Justification
Having God's Righteousness and having met all the Father's requirements, the believer is pronounced Justified.  Justification is not a pardon in which sins were overlooked, but it is a pronouncement that the believer is vindicated, blameless, not guilty.  The pronouncement of Justification by the Father means the Father is free to accept the believer into His Love as a member of the family as a son (Eph. 1:5-6).  And God is free to bestow even more blessing upon the believer because he is fully justified in doing so.  Justification includes:
     a.  A public pronouncement (Rom 3:24-26)
     b.  Completion of Salvation process (Rom 8:30; Gal 3:24; Titus 3:7).
     c.  Necessary for Reconciliation (Rom 5:1).
     d.  Free gift of God's Grace (Rom 3:24; 5:16; Titus 3:7).
     e.  Guarantee of Eternal Security (Rom 5:9; 8:1, 31-34).
     f.  Prerequisite for Resurrection (Rom. 4:25; 8:29-30).

WHITE - Love of God, Sanctification
At the completion of the Salvation process, the believer stands sanctified forever and is the recipient of the Father's Love (Rom 8:39; 1 Jn 3:1; 4:16).  This is symbolized by the color white in the center of the rainbow picture.
 

BLACK - Spiritual death and darkness of an unbeliever.
Marriage of a Christian and unbeliever is unsanctified (2 Cor 6:14-15; 1 Thess 5:5).  A Christian should not marry an unbeliever.

RED - Marriage is for humans only, one man and one woman (Gen 1:27; 5:2; Matt 19:4)
Based upon the precedent of the first marriage in the Garden, Adam, which means red, came from the Earth, which was symbolized by red.  Since the woman came from Adam, and the marriage took place on the Earth, the color red is the beginning of the sanctification process for marriage.  It follows that marriage is not for angels (Matt 22:30; Mk 12:25).  They are not earthly creatures.  Marriage is for believers and unbelievers, although unbelievers are not bound by the Bible.  It is a divine institution for the human race.

ORANGE - Forsaking all others (1 Cor 7:4)
     a.  Fornication violates the divine design for marriage before marriage.
     b.  Adultery violates the marriage bounds in marriage.

YELLOW - Light, Glory (1 Cor 11:7); new life together as a corporate system
     a.  The Sun symbolizes the man, and Moon symbolizes the woman.
     b.  Marriage is a new life together in which the couple advance together as a corporate system.  The corporate relationship is different from two individuals.  God provides a life for the couple together - i. e. "we".
     c.  The husband has authority and the wife must obey and respect him (Eph 5:22, 33; Col 3:18; Titus 2:5; 1 Pet 3:1).  He leads her spiritually, and they advance together in the Spiritual Life.

GREEN - Happiness, Blessing
     a.  The wedding celebration is always a time of happiness (SOS 3:11; 5:1; Isa 62:5; Jer. 33:11; Matt 22:1-14).
     b.  Sex is God's special gift for happiness in Marriage.
     c.  God blesses Marriage, especially between Right Man and Right Woman.
     d.  Even the unbeliever can be happy in Marriage (Eccl 9:9).

BLUE - Right Man - Right Woman
Right Man - Right Woman is the basis for Marriage.  God creates the Right Woman for the Right Man per the precedent in the Garden (Gen 2:22; 1 Cor 11:9).  Divine design is based on God's Righteousness.  However, since Marriage is for the human race, God will still allow the marriage of couples who are not Right Man - Right Woman.

INDIGO - Covering, Consummation, Security
The married couple sleep under one blanket (Ruth 3:9) and under one roof.

He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your maid.  Spread your wing (of your robe) over your maid because you are a redeemer." (Ruth 3:9)

VIOLET - Justice of God, who personally Judges all marriage issues (Heb 13:4)
The Lord Jesus Christ performed the first wedding ceremony (Gen 2:22-24) and initiated the Divine Institution of Marriage for the human race (Matt 19:4-6).  The precedent in the Garden has never changed.  The Lord is the only One who can authorize a marriage (Matt 19:6; Mk 10:9).
     a.  No priest, rabbi, pastor, church, judge, or anyone else can authorize a marriage, per the Bible.
          The requirement for a priest to officiate a wedding in the Christian Church began with the decree on Matrimony of the Council of Trent #24 on February 11, 1563, Day 42, for Baal, the enemy of Marriage.  The council was an anti-Reformation council.
          The traditional vows date back to the first Book of Common Prayer (1549) of the Anglican Church.
     b.  A pastor should not waste his time performing weddings (Acts 6:2-4; 2 Tim 2:3-4).
     c.  No one except God can dissolve a Marriage (Matt 19:6; Mk 10:9).
     d.  Death of either spouse ends a marriage (Rom 7:2-3; 1 Cor 7:39).
     e.  Adultery violates marriage (Ex 20:14; Rom 7:3; Heb 13:4).
     f.  Marriage laws were removed from the theocracy of Israel (Laws of Establishment) by the Lord Jesus Christ during the Gospel period (Jn 8:1-11).  In the Church Age God personally judges all Marriage issues (Heb 13:4).

WHITE - Holy matrimony, sanctification (Eph 5:26; 1 Thess 4:3-7; Heb 13:4; Rev 19:8)
The love of a husband for his wife is symbolized by the color white, and white also symbolizes sanctification.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself as a substitute for her;
26 that having purified her, He might sanctify her by the washing of water by the communicated Word (gospel), (Ephesians 5:25-26)

1 Thessalonians 4:4-5
4 Each of you learn to possess his own wife by means of sanctification and honor.  5  For God has not called us for immorality, but into sanctification.

Divine Good Production

Warning Against Legalism

Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

Meaning of the Rainbow

The rainbow also symbolizes all of the aspects of the sanctification process, as illustrated by the colors of re-creation, the Cross, and Salvation.  God is Holy, and those who come into His presence must also be holy, which means sanctified.

Joseph's Long-Sleeved Coat

Conclusion

Light is one of the keys to divine revelation. Where there is light, there is God; but the true interpretation of that light is only possible by means of faith. Faith perception must precede faith-application. Colors can only be understood by means of accurate application of doctrine to experience. Those who attempt to understand the meaning of colors apart from grace will not succeed. For those who "walk in the light," colors emphasize and highlight divine good production.

As the believer walks in the light, the Plan of God provides an encapsulated environment.  The believer on the stage of life is surrounded by the production of the Plan of God.  Everything on the stage of life is color coded, numerically coded, and the production of the Protocol Plan of God by means of the work of the Holy Spirit.  The stage of life is guarded by angels.  Nothing enters or exits without the approval of the Director of Human History, the Lord Jesus Christ.  When evil enters the stage, it enters under the Justice of God, which means it is separated (e.g. into Cosmic, Ecumenical, and Political elements) and color coded appropriately.

Every scene of Life has meaning in the fulfillment of the Plan of God in the life of the believer.  Everything is integrated in each scene to communicate the meaning clearly to the believer who has divine viewpoint from Bible Doctrine circulating in the stream of consciousness.  God is not the author of confusion.  And the colors in the scenes are always consistent with the definition from the Word of God.  Of course, colors alone are only a small part of the meaning; but when combined with all the other component parts, they add a vivid artistic portrayal of the production of the Plan of God in the life of the believer.

Author: Larry Wood