Rainbow Meaning – What does a Rainbow Mean?

rainbow meaning Bible

Today, some use the colors of the rainbow to symbolize gay pride. But did you know that long before this came about, the true meaning of the rainbow was established by God Himself as being a token of His grace toward sinners like you and me? At one point in human history the wickedness of mankind was so great (Gn 6:5), and God’s heart was so grieved by it (Gn 6:6), that he judged the world in righteousness through a worldwide flood (Gn 7:23). Because of the humility and reverence toward God (which is the exact opposite of pride) that one man had (Noah) he spared him and his family by directing him to build what we know as, “the ark,” which saved him, his family, and many animals.

Before the flood “a mist from the earth” provided water (Gn 2:5-6). At the time of the flood God caused it to rain for the first time (Gn 7:12), producing rainbows ever since. God made a covenant with Noah, and with you and me, with the rainbow as the “token” of it, to never flood the earth again (Gn 9:8-17).

When we use the rainbow as a symbol of gay pride, we are, in a sense, spitting on God’s hand of mercy. Both pride and homosexuality are sinful (Prov 11:22; Rom 1:26-32). But to be proud of one’s homosexuality is sin on top of sin. Then to use God’s own token of the covenant of mercy that He made with sinners like you and me, as a token of gay pride, is a three-fold compilation of sin. This should be terrifying because, while another global flood will not come, a more severe judgment is coming.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Mt 24:37-39)

And in Acts 17:31 the Word of God says, “He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Jesus] whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

This judgment is deserved by us all, as we’re all guilty sinners (Rom 3:23). Whether we are homosexuals or not, we have all committed sin, and God in His righteousness must judge sin. That judgment ends in eternity away from Him, in hell, forever. That means we all have a big problem! That problem is our sin.

But because God is loving, merciful, and kind, He provided a way for all sinners who will humble themselves, confessing and forsaking their sin, to be saved from this eternal punishment, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ, became a man, but never sinned. He then gave Himself to be crucified, and judged by His Father, in your place!

2 Cor 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

The Lord Jesus Christ took the punishment we deserved, before defeating death and the grave, rising again three days later. He’s Alive! Because Christ Jesus fulfilled God’s requirement of perfect justice on your behalf, you can now come to Him and He will receive you, for Jesus’ sake!

Just as Noah was saved from God’s righteous judgment on sin in the ark, we can be saved from God’s coming judgment on sin, by being “in Christ Jesus.”

About 700 years before Jesus became flesh, the prophet Isaiah wrote this about Him, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed … He [the Father] shall see of the travail of his [Jesus] soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Is 53)”

Please consider these truths when you see a “gay pride” flag, and look to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is full of love and mercy and forgives all who come to Him in truth.