THE FOAL, THE VINE, THE LAMB, AND THE RETURNING KING
A Complete Prophetic Chain
1. Judah’s Prophecy — The Foal, the Vine, and the Blood of Grapes
Genesis 49:10–11
> “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
> Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.”
This prophecy contains **three elements** that reappear at the Second Coming:
-The foal
-The vine
-The blood of grapes
-The gathering of the people
2. The Lamb Redeems the Donkey — A Picture of Israel
Exodus 13:12–13
> “Every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb…”
The donkey (unclean) can only live if redeemed by a lamb.
This becomes a prophetic picture of **Israel’s redemption**.
3. The King Comes to Zion Riding the Foal
Zechariah 9:9
> “Behold, thy King cometh unto thee… lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”
4. Yeshua Fulfills It at His First Coming
Matthew 21:1–7
> “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee… sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”
5. The Vine Revealed — Messiah Himself
John 15:1
> “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”
The foal in Genesis is tied to **the Vine**, who is **Messiah**.
6. His Mission — Israel First
Matthew 15:24
> “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
7. The Nations Included After Israel
Isaiah 49:6
> “I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles…”
Romans 1:16
> “To the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
8. The Second Coming — He Washes His Garments in the Blood of Grapes
Genesis 49 says:
> “He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.”
At His return, this imagery is fulfilled **literally** in prophetic language.
Isaiah 63:1–3
> “Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel…?
> I have trodden the winepress alone…
> their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.”
Revelation 19:13–15
> “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood…
> He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”
This is the "blood of grapes" imagery from Genesis 49 — fulfilled at His return.
9. The Gathering of the People — Fulfilled at His Return
Genesis 49:10 says:
> “Unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
At His Second Coming, this gathering is described:
Matthew 24:30–31
> “He shall send his angels… and they shall gather together his elect…”
Isaiah 11:12
> “He shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah…”
Ezekiel 37:21–22
> “I will… gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land…”
Revelation 7:9
> “A great multitude… of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues…”
The gathering is:
-Israel regathered
-Nations brought in
-All under the reign of the King from Judah
FINAL SUMMARY
Genesis 49 gives the entire prophetic blueprint:
-The foal → Israel
-The vine → Messiah
-The Lamd → Redeems the unclean
-The blood of grapes → His garments at His return
-The gathering of the people → Israel first, then the nations
-The sceptre → His kingship
-Shiloh → The One to whom it all belongs
First Coming:
He comes lowly, riding the foal, redeeming Israel.
Second Coming:
He comes in glory, garments stained like the winepress, gathering Israel and the nations to Himself.
Written by
Christopher L. Kuntz, Founder, STM