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06.07.06: Light for the Day - "The
Bible Numerals"
There can be little doubt that Numerals are used in
Scripture as
Symbols; and by comparing the instances in which any Numeral
is employed the idea hidden in it may often be arrived at.
The signification of some Numbers is too obvious to be mistaken;
that of others is less apparent. In some cases the Symbolical Number may be discovered where the Numeral itself is not mentioned: as, for instance, under Three we may class the Law, the Psalms, and the prophets; spirit, soul, and body, &c. A few references only are given here for each Number.
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1 Oneness, One God, one family, one Relationship
2 Witness, Two Establishes the event as Fact
3 Fellowship, Triune (Trinity) Nature of God
4 Earth, the Physical realm, Earth and the things of it
5 Grace, (Individuality) Overcoming Obstacles in Life
6 Incomplete, Man's Number, Man without God is Incomplete
7 Complete, Man (6) + (1) God = (7)
= Completeness
8 Newness, New Beginnings, New Day, New Outlook, Jesus' Number
9 Ordained, Fullness of God's Ordained Plan (3) x (3) = 9
10 Trials, Temporary, a temporary affliction
12 Family, the family - tribe as defined by God
13 Evil, man attempting to be equal with God, Satan's number
40 Permanent, Life Change, a permanent new way of life
70 Administration, Government a functioning, shared and dispersed
authority
1000 Blessing, a multitude of blessings and opportunities provided by God
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ONE: Oneness, One God revealed to us as the Father, the Son Jesus, and
the Holy Spirit, one relationship with God, one life, also the oneness and the
commitment of the Husband and Wife relationship.
ONE. Supremacy,
exclusiveness. One Jehovah. (De 6:4 Isa 42:8
Zec 14:9.) One God and Father. (1Co 8:6 Ga 3:20 Mr 12:29 Eph 4:6
1Ti 2:5) "None other God but one," one Lord Jesus Christ. (1Co 8:4
Eph 4:5.) One Holy Spirit. (1Co 12:11,13.) One mediator. (1Ti 2:5.)
One body. (1Co 12:19,13 Eph 4:4.) One hope, one faith, one baptism.
(Eph 4:4,5.) One offering that has perfected for ever the sanctified.
(Heb 10:14.)
(Ephesians
4:4-6, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 19:17, Mark 12:32,
Romans 3:30; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1Timothy 2:4-5; Genesis 2:24; Mat 19:5-6)
(V)
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TWO: Witness, Biblically it is required by the Jews to have two people
witness an event before it is established as fact particularly in Biblical or
Legal matters. Peter and John both went to the tomb to "witness" and
establish the fact of the vacant tomb and of the Resurrection of Jesus.
TWO. Distinctness, and hence adequate testimony and fellowship
when in agreement. Two witnesses needful. (De 19:15 2Co 13:1.)
Caleb and Joshua witnessed for the land. (Nu 14:6-9.) Two spies
sent over Jordan. (Jos 2:1.) Two olive trees typical of two witnesses.
(Zec 4:3 Re 11:3,4.) God’s word and His oath shew the immutability
of His counsel. (Heb 6:17,18.) Two are to agree in asking. (Mt 18:19.)
Two or three can be gathered to Christ’s name. (Mt 18:20.)
(Genesis 1:16; 6:19-20; 19:1, 15; Matthew
18:15-20;
2 Cor 13:1;
1Timothy 5:19; Revelation 11:3-4) (V)
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THREE: Fellowship, the three measures of fellowship and hospitality,
embodied in the triune 3 in 1 relationship of God the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit. This is confirmed by the Holy Angels who proclaim
"Holy, Holy, Holy" designating that each the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit are each receiving Praise, Honor and Worship.
THREE. Divine fulness or completeness, and hence perfection in
testimony. God -- Father, Son, and Spirit. This fulness was pleased to
dwell in the Son of His love. (Col 1:19.) Three times the voice came
from heaven respecting the Lord Jesus. (Mt 3:17 17:5 Joh 12:28.)
The Lord Jesus is Prophet, Priest, and King; Son of God, Son of Man,
and Son of David. Three bear witness, the Spirit, the water, and the
blood, "and these three agree in one." (1Jo 5:7,8.) The scriptures,
comprising the law, the prophets, and the psalms, bore witness to
Christ. (Lu 24:44.) Faith, hope, and love are elements of christian life
here. A three-fold cord is not easily broken, (Ec 4:12) corresponding
to perfection in testimony: three also describes perfected experience.
(Lu 13:32 Ge 22:4 Ac 9:9.)
(Genesis 18:1-2;
40:12-14; Matthew 12:40; Mark 8:31; Matthew 28:18-20;
John 2:19; 1 John 5:7-8; Eccles 4:12; Revelation 21:13; Isaiah 6:3; Rev 4:8)
(V)
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FOUR: This physical world, the
earth, and the things of it i.e. the four
corners (quadrants) of the earth. An Earthly (worldly) focus vs. the
Heavenly focus we are supposed to have. In the garden of Eden four
rivers go out throughout the whole earth, likewise four winds and the
four directions of North, South, East, and West.
FOUR. Completeness in that which is created or ordained of God.
Four winds from the four quarters of the heaven. (Jer 49:36.)
Four quarters of the earth. (Re 20:8.) In the arranging the camp of
Israel there were four standards. (Nu 10:14-25.) Ezekiel saw four
living creatures, each had four faces, four wings, and four hands.
(Eze 1:5-8): compare the four living creatures in (Re 4:6.)
(Genesis
2:10-14; Jeremiah 49:36; Ezekiel 1:5-8, 10:14;
Matthew 24:30-31; Mark 13:26-27; Revelation 4:6-9, 5:12-14, 7:1, 20:7-8)
(V)
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FIVE: Grace (Individuality). King David picks up five stones and uses
one to slay Goliath the giant with. God provides the grace for us to
overcome the giants in our life.
FIVE. Human weakness in its appreciation of obligation. In the
dedication of the tabernacle each prince offered for a peace offering
two oxen, five rams, five he goats, and five lambs. (Nu 7:17-83.)
Weakness in contrast to the power of the enemy: five should chase
a hundred. (Le 26:8.) The disciples could only provide five barley
loaves and two small fishes when the five thousand were fed. (Joh 6:9.)
Paul said he would rather speak five words to teach others than ten
thousand words in an unknown tongue. (1Co 14:19.) In the parable of
the virgins there were five wise and five foolish. (Mt 25:2.)
(1 Samuel 17:40,
1 Kings 7:39, 49, Leviticus 26:8; Numbers 7:77;
Matthew 14:19, 25:1-2, 15, Luke 12:6; 1Corinthian 14:19)
(V)
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SIX: Incomplete,
the current state of man as man is incomplete without
God. Man was created on the sixth day. The Temple lamp is composed
of six branches and the one vine depicting man's dependence on God.
The Antichrist has the number 666 associated with him as he is totally
incomplete, a "trinity" of incompleteness, the Antichrist is totally without
God. Interestingly the Bible has 66 books, the Bible is complete in
knowledge of salvation for mankind but it is incomplete in recording on
paper all that God has done in the lives or every single person who has
ever lived, that information still remains with God.
SIX Incompleteness, imperfection (one short of the perfect number
seven). Solomon had six steps to his great throne, (1Ki 10:19;) but it
was not elevated enough to save him from idolatry. Six hundred sixty
and six talents of gold were brought him in a year, (1Ki 10:14;) yet he
had to confess that all was vanity and vexation of spirit. The Jews at
Cana had six water-pots for purification, (Joh 2:6;) but they expressed
the insufficiency of ordinances to meet man’s need. The number of
the imperial beast will be six hundred sixty and six, (Re 13:18;)
being imperfect in every particular.
(Genesis
1:27-31, Exodus 20:8-11, 24:16, 1Kings 10:14,19;
John 15:5 I, Revelation 13:18) (V)
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SEVEN: Completeness.
- Seven depicts a complete event but it does not depict Holiness.
- The Dragon/Satan is depicted as having seven heads (Rev. 12:3)
this is the complete Government system of Satan there is no more
to come but definitely this not a holy system.
- Man (6) + (1) God = (7) Complete or "perfect" as the Bible says
"Be ye perfect" (complete).
- The Feast of unleavened bread last for seven days symbolizing
the complete removal of sin.
SEVEN. Spiritual
completeness, generally in good but occasionally
in evil. It is the compound of three and four, and the highest single
indivisible number. Seven days in a week, every seventh day was
a day of rest, every seventh year was a year of rest for the land,
and every seven times seven years brought the jubilee.
Creation was complete on the seventh day, God’s rest being the
result. There were seven lamps to the golden candlestick.
(Nu 8:2: cf. Zec 4:2.) The blood was sprinkled before the Lord
seven times. (Le 4:6,17 8:11.) The Christian is exhorted to keep the
feast of seven days after the passover, which makes a perpetual
feast for him. (1Co 5:7,8.) John speaks of seven Spirits before the
throne of God. (Re 1:4.) There are seven abominations in man’s heart.
(Pr 26:25.) The first beast has seven heads and ten horns. (Re 13:1.)
In the Revelation ‘seven’ occurs frequently; the symbol is found
therein more than seven times seven. Forgiveness is to be
‘seventy times seven.’ (Mt 18:22.)
(Genesis
2:2; Exodus 20:11; 12:15; 29:37; Genesis 21:27-30; 29:18-20;
Gen 41:29-30; 41:53-54; Matthew 15:36-37; 18:21-22; Luke 17:4;
Revelation 1:4-5; 5:1; 8:2; 12:3; 13:1-2; 15:1) (V)
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EIGHT: Jesus, New beginnings. Seven is complete then the 8th is the
newone. Seven days is the completed week the eight day is the new
week. Jesus resurrected on the eight day (Sunday) of the week to
reveal the New relationship with man. The Hebrew male children are
circumcised the eight day for a new (old-covenant) relationship with
God. The disciple Thomas
didn't believe the first day of the Resurrection
of Jesus but on the 8th day it was a new day for the new belief of
Thomas in the resurrected Jesus.
EIGHT. A new departure outside of, but connected with, creation-order:
hence in resurrection. Circumcision was on the eighth day, when a new
communion was entered into. Eight souls were saved in the ark,
to commence a new world, (1Pe 3:20 2Pe 2:5.) The new form of the
future Roman empire will be the eighth. (Re 17:11.) The resurrection-day
may be called the eighth, the day after the seventh, the Jewish sabbath.
(1 Peter 3:20,
2 Peter 2:5; Luke 2:21, 9:28, John 20:26; Revelation 17:11)
(V)
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NINE: The
Ordained, fullness of God's plan.
(Numbers
34:13, Nehemiah 11:1, Luke 17:17, Acts 10:1-3, Galatians 5:22-23)
(V)
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TEN: Trials,
temporary difficulty that is to be overcome. Laban changed
Jacob's wages "these 10 times" the Saints of Revelation are to be tested
Ten days, yet in the end they will each get the victory. In a trial a person
is considered to have a double portion of God's Grace as
Grace (5) x 2 = (10) "Trials".
TEN. Complete ground of human responsibility.
Pharaoh was visited
by ten plagues. Exo. 7-12. The ten commandments. (Ex 34:28.)
Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchisedek. (Ge 14:20.)
The Israelites gave a tenth to the Levites, and they gave a tenth to
the priests. (Nu 18:21,26.) Ten virgins went forth to meet the
bridegroom. (Mat 25:1) There were ten servants to whom the pounds
were entrusted. (Lu 19:13.) In the last form of the Roman empire
there will be ten kings. (Re 17:12,16.)
(Genesis
31:7, 24:55, Exodus 34:28; Numbers 18:26; Heb 7:5; Luke 11:42;
Malachi 3:10; Daniel 1:14-15; Revelation 2:10; Psalms 33:1-2)
(V)
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TWELVE: Family, Mankind/Humanity
(6) x (2) = (12) Family; the families
and tribes of humanity are represented by their 12 leaders. Jacob's
family had 12 men/leaders/Patriarchs, so did Ishmael's family, Likewise
we the Family of the Church have our 12 Disciple Apostle leaders.
TWELVE. Completeness administratively, that is, in what is set forth
or displayed manward. (The first most divisible of the earlier numbers.)
There were twelve patriarchs, ancestors of the twelve tribes, who are
commemorated in the twelve loaves on the table, the twelve stones in
the breastplate and twelve names on the shoulders of the high priest;
the twelve stones taken out of Jordan, and the twelve stones placed
in the bed of the river; also in the woman with a crown of twelve stars.
(Re 12:1.) Through the twelve apostles the Lord fed the hungry
multitudes. The twelve apostles will sit upon twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes. (Mt 19:28.) The new Jerusalem will have
twelve foundations for its walls with the names of the twelve apostles;
it will have twelve gates, consisting of twelve pearls, with the names
of the twelve tribes inscribed, the gates will be attended by twelve
angels. (Re 21:12-21.) There are twelve hours in the day, in which
the children of light may walk. (Joh 11:9.) The flexibility of
administrative perfection may be seen in:
(Genesis
49:28; 25:16, Exodus 24:4, Joshua 4:9, Matthew 19:28,
Mark 6:7, 43, Luke 6:13, John 11:9-10, Revelation 12:1; 21:12-14, 21,
22:2) (V)
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THIRTEEN: Evil, man including himself as equal with God by bringing God
down in stature and nature. Human Family (12) + (1) God = 13. Man is in
the family of man which is separate and distinct from God. This would be
evident in including Jesus in with the (12) Apostles. Jesus is never counted
or numbered among the apostles or disciples, as Jesus is always separate
from them being their Master - Rabbi (teacher). The only group of humans
Jesus is numbered with temporarily is the transgressors including the two
who were crucified along with Jesus, but Jesus being righteous was
separated from them in His death.
(Genesis
14:4, 17:24-26; Numbers 29:13-14; 1 Kings 7:1;
1 Chronicles 6:60-62; Ester 3:13; Jeremiah 25:3) (V)
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FORTY: Permanent
change, where 10 is a temporary trial 40 is a permanent
life changing event. Jesus appeared to the disciples for 40 days after His
resurrection this is a permanent life change for the Christian as we always
have Jesus with us. There are many uses in the Bible for 40 and generally it
is in a new and continued relationship with God. Like eating the Manna,
Fasting, Praying, Resisting the Devil, and Seeing the Resurrected Jesus.
Also 40 days of resurrected life change plus 10 days of resisting trials and
tribulation equals Pentecost (50) and the pouring out of Gods' spirit upon
the believer.
FORTY = 10 × 4. Complete probation to bring to light good or evil.
Moses was forty years in the desert, being himself tried; he was in
the mount two periods of forty days, which were times of trial to the
Israelites. (Ex 24:18 34:28.) The spies were forty days searching
the land. (Nu 13:25.) The tribes were tested forty years in the
wilderness. (Ac 13:18.) Goliath challenged Israel forty days.
(1Sa 17:16.) Saul, David, Solomon, and Jehoash were each tested by
a reign of forty years. Elijah’s period of testing at Horeb was forty days.
Nineveh was given forty days for repentance. (Jon 3:4.)
The Lord Jesus was under temptation forty days. (Mr 1:13.)
(Genesis 7:4, Exodus 16:35, 34:28,
Deuteronomy 8:2-4, 9:9-11;
Judges 3:10-11, 8:28; 1Kings 2:10-12, 11:42; Matthew 4:2; Mark 1:13;
Acts 1:3; Hebrews 3:7-9) (V)
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SEVENTY: is a number for Government and
Administration.
A responsible government that is not a dictatorship but is a power
sharing, empowering, building up, system of representation.
(Genesis
46:27; 50:1-3; Exodus 1:1-7; 24:1, Numbers 11:14-17, 24-25,
Daniel 9:24; Matthew 18:21-22; Luke 10:1, 17-20) (V)
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ONE THOUSAND:
represents Blessings a multitude of blessings and
opportunities provided by God. The coming Kingdom reign of Jesus
here on earth is going to be highlighted as a time period of
unprecedented blessings as God pours out His blessings upon
the people.
(Exodus
20:4-6; Numbers 31:3-6; Deuteronomy 1:11, 7:9-11;Psalms 105:7-8,
1Corinthian 14:19; Revelation 20:1-10; Psalm 90:4; 2Peter 3:8-9;)
(V)
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-- Hebrews 4:16
(V)
Let us then Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence,
so that we may Receive Mercy
and Find Grace to Help us in our time of need.
-- 2
Corinthians 13:14
May the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
And the Love of God,
And the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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