BS 42 – ‘Numbers’
3 WHY not 1
The number 3 in the Bible represents divine wholeness, completeness, and perfection. It is the Devine stamp; only in the Christian Faith is Deity with the Father, Son, and Spirit known as the Holy triune GOD. Other faiths use only 1 god as their deity.
Why was Jonah in the belly of the fish 3 days and not 1? Why was Jesus 3 days in the grave before resurrection? Why was it that Jesus told Peter he would deny him 3 times; why not just 1? Why was Saul of Tarsus, 3 days without sight, as he approached Damascus and not just 1? Was it Gods way of speaking to them?
There is another 3; it’s the unholy trinity. They are named in the Christian bible; they are known as Satan, Antichrist, and the False Prophet. Just as the Holy trinity, which represents GOOD; the Unholy represents EVIL.
In our secular world today it seems like many – many are tolerant of the evil taking place. An example is that America tolerates legalized murder with thousands of babies murdered every year. It is EVIL; there is not another word to describe it.
Is it sinful to cheat on your taxes or be paid by the government a compensation that a person should not be getting? Kind of like; if you aren’t caught, it is ok to do it. But in the courts of LAW; still not ethical, right? Is the unholy trinity behind this?
My point is that small sin or large sin; it is still sin. Scripture written in Romans chapter 3, verse23, pretty much nails it. “All have sinned and fall short of Gods requirement or standard.” Then in a few pages later in Romans 6:23 it reads “The wages of sin is eternal death BUT the gift of GOD is eternal life through Christ Jesus the Lord.” What does it mean? Don’t people have to accept the gift before it is theirs to keep?
The Holy triune God gives mankind an out from the sin we commit; the unholy trinity has nothing to offer except eternity in HELL. You can choose Christ as your Savior & Lord; then travel the narrow road leading to the pearly gate. OR, a person can run with the secular crowd, which is on the wide road heading toward destruction rejecting God; then at judgement; the woeful fiery gate is at the end of its road.
Sometime in life each person, from their birth and before their death, must make a choice. They must repent and chose Christ or it defaults as rejection of Christ. He is the one and only one who can take care of the sin issue. He provides a Clean Slate.
Where do you think would be the best place to spend eternity? With the Holy trinity OR the unholy trinity, which in today’s world is influencing all of the evil? Another QUESTION; is it the ratio of 3 to a 100 or maybe 3 of 1000 that are actually traveling the narrow road? The road we travel is not always smooth; there are bumps; occasionally a U-turn; sometimes there is a Yield sign, but there is a reward at the end IF you stay on the road.
It’s just a question?
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7, ‘WHY not 3’
Recently I used the numbers 3 & 12 and presented a short study on some of the different scripture where the number was used. As I was reading the book of Revelation recently the number 7’ was used several times. So, what is seven all about? [The definition for 7 in the bible is perfection or completeness.]
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There are probably 50-60 examples of scripture using seven (7) as a description.
Here are a few to ponder. Scripture also follows.
After 7 days the creation; engineered by GOD, was complete. – Genesis 2:1-3.
Every 7 years there was a Sabbath year; the land was left barren to rest. – Lv. 25:5
The furnace was heated 7 times more hot. – Daniel 3:19.
Jacob served 7 years for a bride. – Genesis 29:18-20.
7 men chosen and ordained to assist the Disciples of the early church. – Acts 6:3-6.
There were 7 loaves provided; 7 baskets left over after feeding the 4000. – Matthew 16:34-37.
Mary Magdalene healed of 7 evil spirits. – Luke 8:2.
The 7 churches listed in the book of Revelation were each different. Rev. 2:1 – 3:22.
Ephesus – Rev. 2:1. [Attached below]
Smyrna – Rev. 2:8.
Pergamum – Rev. 2:12.
Thyatira – Rev. 2:18.
Sardis – Rev. 3:1.
Philadelphia – Rev. 3:7.
Laodicea – Rev. 3:14.
- These 7 churches had an angel as overseer; maybe the Pastor or Elder.
There were 7 Spirits identifying the completeness of the Holy Spirit – Rev. 1:4&4:5.
7 golden lampstands, which represented the 7 churches. Aren’t they to be the light shining in a dark world? – Rev. 1:12.
The book, in the hand of the Lord, with 7 Seals – Rev.5:1.
Seal 1 – Rev. 6:1
Seal 2 – Rev. 6:3
Seal 3 – Rev. 6:5
Seal 4 – Rev. 6:7
Seal 5 – Rev. 6:9
Seal 6 – Rev. 6:12
Interlude
Seal 7 – Rev. 8:1
7 Angels with 7 trumpets. Rev. 8:2
Trumpet 1 – Rev. 8:7
Trumpet 2 – Rev. 8:8
Trumpet 3 – Rev. 8:10
Trumpet 4 – Rev. 8:12
Trumpet 5 – Rev. 9:1
The 1st woe is past; two more to come.
Trumpet 6 – Rev. 9:13
Woe – woe – woe
Trumpet 7 – Rev. 11:15
7 Angels with 7 plagues. Rev. 15:1 & 15:6
Angel 1 – Rev. 16:2
Angel 2 – Rev. 16:3
Angel 3 – Rev. 16:4
Angel 4 – Rev. 16:8
Angel 5 – Rev. 16:10
Angel 6 – Rev. 16:12
Angel 7 – Rev. 16:17
7 Stars are the 7 angels of the 7 churches; maybe God provides Pastor as Angels. – Rev. 1:20
7 hills or heads on the 7 mountains with 7 kings; the beast is one of the 7. – Rev. 17:9-11
This isn’t in the bible but what do the 7 spikes on the head of the Statue of Liberty represent?
Attached Scripture
Revelation 2:1 – 3:22 [The churches]
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
2 ‘I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’
Message to Smyrna
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead [Jesus], and has come to life, says this:
9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the slander by those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’
Message to Pergamum
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold firmly to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. 15 So you too, have some who in the same way hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Message to Thyatira
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like burnished bronze, says this:
19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith, and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols [We are not to be tolerant of blatant sin in the world.]. 21 I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with plague, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24 But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. 25 Nevertheless what you have, hold firmly until I come. 26 The one who overcomes, and the one who keeps My deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations; 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are shattered, as I [Jesus] also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Message to Sardis
3 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead [Spiritually?]. 2 Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Then if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I [Jesus] will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ [If you confess Jesus; HE will confess you to the FATHER. Matthew 10:32-33.]
Message to Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. [Does this mean RAPTURE?] 11 I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ [What is the hour of testing; is it tribulation?]
Message to Laodicea [the last church mentioned]
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this:
15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth [This church were benchwarmers; not in the game, so to speak. They were never serving as a local church on-fire presenting the Gospel; just like many churches of 2020.]. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. [Jesus is saying when the Holy Spirit convicts your heart; invite Jesus into your life as Lord & Savior] 21 The one who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. 22 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Revelation 6:1 – 6:12 [The SEALS]
The First Seal: Conqueror on a White Horse
Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and the one who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
The Second Seal: War
3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come!” 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that people would kill one another; and a large sword was given to him.
The Third Seal: Famine
5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come!” I looked, and behold, a black horse, and the one who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.” [Is this inflation pricing because not much food is available?]
The Fourth Seal: Death
7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come!” 8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and the one who sat on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and famine, and plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.
The Fifth Seal: Martyrs [Those who serve Jesus unto death]
9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those [Christians] who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who live on the earth?” 11 And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was completed also. [A special blessing to us Christians who faithfully die for serving Jesus thru tribulation times; like Peter and Paul.]
The Sixth Seal: Terror
12 And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood
Revelation 8:1
When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
Revelation 8:7 – 9:13 [The trumpets sound]
The first sounded, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire [A meteor?] was hurled into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 9 and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. 11 The star is named Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.
13 Then I looked, [As time paused for a moment] and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star [Angel] from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key to the shaft of the abyss was given to him. 2 He opened the shaft of the abyss, and smoke ascended out of the shaft like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened from the smoke of the shaft. 3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a person. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death will flee from them!
7 The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like human faces. 8 They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. 10 They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt people for five months. 11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.
12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.
The Sixth Trumpet: Army from the East
13 Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Revelation 11:15
15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”
Revelation 16:2 – 16:17 (Angels pouring the bowls of wrath)
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and a harmful and painful sore [a]afflicted the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.
4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are YOU, the One who is and who was, O Holy One, because YOU judged these things; 6 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and YOU have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” 7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are YOUR judgments.”
8 And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given power to scorch people with fire. 9 And the people were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.
10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.
13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the entire world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.”) 16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
The Seventh Bowl of Wrath
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.”
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Several examples of God’s number 7 used in scripture; why not 3?
Are we ready for these 7’s to start?
Cont….to 12..
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‘12, WHY not 10’
A comment or two; a rabbit trail; before the questions:
If you were a computer geek what numbering BASE would a program be written in? Back in the early seventies when I did a little programing the binary numbers were used. Simple stuff; a 1 or a 0; you had a positive signal or you didn’t have a signal at all. Instead of the decimal system of 10 that I was taught in grade school as the base.
Then we learned Octal; it had a base of 8; it was numbered 0 to 7. The next thing taught was Hexadecimal which was numbered 0 to 15 or had a base of 16. Later I learned binary coded decimal. etc… it was called NEW MATH. Why are numbers important?
The number 12 is what the topic was meant to talk about.
Why are there 12 fundamental particles listed in Quantum Physics? Do they have meaning? The last one listed in 2012 has an unusual name (the God Particle).
Why 12 tribes of Israel and not 10? Genesis 35:22-26 & 42:13.
Why 12 disciples of Jesus and not 9 or 10? Matthew 10:1.
Why 12 gates, 12 foundations, and 12 angels at the gates going into the New Jerusalem; not just 1 or some other number? Revelation 21:10-14.
Why did God give Ishmael 12 princes? Genesis 17:20 & Gen 25:16.
Why did God provide 12 springs of water for Moses; why not 7? Exodus 15:27 & Num.33:9.
Why did Moses build 12 pillars; not 10 or 11? Exodus 24:4.
Why was Moses instructed to bake 12 cakes; not 8 or 9? Leviticus 24:5.
Why 12 stones out of the Jordan; why not 15? Joshua 4:8-9.
Elijah used 12 stones to build an alter unto the Lord; why not 10? 1 Kings 18:31.
Why did the woman have an issue of blood for 12 years; not 5? Math. 9:20.
Why was there 12 baskets of left over bread; was 1 for each disciple? Matthew 14:20.
Why 12 legions of angels; why not 50? Matthew 26:53.
Why was the age of 12 mentioned about Jesus; why not 16? Luke 2:42.
Why a crown of 12 stars on the woman; why not 10? Revelation 12:1
Why 12 fruits on the ‘tree of life’; why not 20? Revelation 22:2.
Why did the myan calendar stop in the 12th month of 2012?
Why are there 12 jurors on the court?
Why 12 Knights around the table?
Why 12 numbers on the clock? [60 seconds=1 minute; 60 minutes=1 hour etc. 12 x 5=60.??]
Why do we have 12 inches in a foot?
Why does the body have 12 organ systems?
Why 12 months in a year? [The Jews add an extra month [13] after 6 years of 360 days.]
Why 12? Does God use the base of 12 on calculating some of the mysteries?
Why did God provide 10 Commandments; why not 12? Exodus 20.
Remember, Jesus added 2 more in the N.T. Matthew 22:37-40. So 10 + 2 = 12.
WHY
A 12 sided polygon is called a dodecagon; is the universe held within a dodecagon; does the Father of creation have boundaries on the universe? A mystery..
My wife tells me I don’t have enough to do; she tries to find ‘stuff’ for me that’s not fun. Looking at several of these numbers have caused me to ask WHY? Is God trying to tell me something? Is there actually a bible code as some people talk about? God was a scientist, architect, and a builder besides being GOD. One day we will learn of ALL of his experiments’ and how the Galaxies were formed.
Selah
DG