The Covenant of Love

The colours of the rainbow throughout all the ages carried significant meanings. There are seven colours in the rainbow: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Red is also one of the three primary colours. From ancient times the Sumerians, who were the earliest civilisation in Southern Mesopotamia around 4100-1750 BC, associated the colour red with fire and divinity. According to tradition, the Arkanians were a cultural group around 2334–2154 BC who were apparently capable of seeing infra-red light. Because of this, they believed that they reached the pinnacle of civilisation.

Later empires like the Babylonians, who ruled the world from 1894–1595 BC, used the colour red in their spell work. It was also often used in rituals aimed at protection and vitality. It was believed that it warded off evil spirits and brought strength to the practitioner. Babylon was ruled by Nebuchadnezzar who died in 562 BC. He was succeeded by his son Amel-Marduk who was assassinated only two years later. In 560 BC Neriglissar took the throne. When he died in 556 BC, he was succeeded by his son who was assassinated shortly after he came to the throne. Nabonidus then assumed power appointing his son Belshazzar as co-ruler. It is in his reign, just as had been prophesied by Daniel, Babylon was defeated by the Medes and the Persians.

Red lead or lead tetroxide pigment was widely used as the red in Persian miniature paintings. To this day the colour red is the signature colour of Persian carpet weaving. It is used in the intricate patterns to represent vitality and passion.

But this great Empire led by Darius III of Achaemenid Empire, fell to the Greeks, under Alexander the Great, in the battle of Gaugamela 334-331 BC. Red, to the Greeks, conveyed the strength and courage that warriors embodied in battle. Citizens saw red as the colour of vitality and protection, linking it to blood and the essence of life itself.

His empire ruled the world until it was defeated by the mighty Roman Empire in 146 BC following the Battle of Corinth and marking the end of the Achaean War and the start of Roman dominion. 

Rome with its pomp and affluence liked bright colours, and many Roman villas were decorated with vivid red murals. The pigment used for many of the murals was called vermilion, and it came from the mineral cinnabar, a common ore of mercury. It was one of the finest reds of ancient times. Wool and flax provided the fibres for Roman clothing and dyeing was accomplished mostly in shades of red, purple, and blue. The Roman Empire, as predicted in the book of Daniel, ruled until 476 BC when it split into West and East.  

From the early 1900 hundreds, February became celebrated as the month of love. This was usually expressed by the anonymously giving of red roses to one’s loved one. Red roses since ancient times represented passion and love. In Roman mythology, it is said that from the blood of Adonis, the lover of the Roman goddess for love, Venus, roses sprang. This made the flower sacred to her and a lasting emblem of love and beauty.

Biblically, the colour red is associated with salvation. This dates to the days of Noah. God set the rainbow in the sky as the constant reminder of His covenant with Noah. God also sealed His covenant with Israel with the slaughter of the Passover lambs on 14 Nissan 1446 BC  when they put the blood on the lintels. God chose the people of Israel by demonstrating His salvation by the blood of the lambs sealing His covenant of love. Years later the prophet Jeremiah wrote these words of God pertaining to Israel “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you,” Jeremiah 31:3.

One thousand nine hundred and ninety-six years ago, Jesus, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, died on the cross, shedding His blood for the salvation of mankind. The blood that flowed from cross confirmed the gift of God because God so loved the world that everyone who believes in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life. Isaiah wrote, “Though your sins have stained you like the colour red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the colour scarlet, you can become white like wool,” NET Bible. Jesus sealed the New Covenant of Love in His own blood.

In His great love, the colour red speaks of redemption and life. Through the blood of Christ, the Son of God, the free gift to mankind, eternal life, is secured. He triumphed over evil and through Him is eternal life. The apostle Paul described this love as: 

God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.