The Bible and Numbers
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Numbers.html
The digital age has taken technology to new heights...it’s amazing how much can be done so quickly, and how huge blocks of information can be stored on smaller and smaller chips. And digital info. is basically just 2 numbers: 0 and 1 [nothing and something!]
So, what book of the Bible do you think of for us to turn to for this message? No, not ‘Numbers’! Actually, it’s Revelation.
Rev. 1:20—“7” is a key number in understanding the book of Revelation.
Chapters 2 and 3 talk about the 7 churches
Chapters 4-7 talk about the 7 seals
Chapters 8-11…7 trumpets are revealed
Chapters 12-14…7 persons
Chapters 15-16…7 bowls
Chapters 17-20…7 judgments
Throughout the Bible, but esp. in Rev. numbers mean things!
Have you ever noticed that you find the organized use of numbers all throughout the universe? Yes, we serve a God of order, design, balance, mathematical precision.
Stars and planets—scientists know exactly where they will be in the future…it can be calculated, they move according to mathematical law.
Trillions of cells in the body, yet each has exactly 46 chromosomes
Man did not invent math! Man discovered the principles of math and is still learning how to use them. God built numbers into all He created.
And the authors of the Bible knew that numbers are more than just a science…numbers have a deeper spiritual meaning…God uses numbers throughout the Bible in order to convey deeper spiritual truth. Each number we will talk about has a special meaning, symbolism, significance.
#1—In the Bible, #1 speaks of unity and primacy…it speaks of God.
Deut. 6:4
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD
Zech. 14:9
9And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
Eph. 4:4-6
4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
When it comes to numbers, God is #1!
God is a Trinity, and yet we serve One God! Don’t get the idea that we serve 3, that’s polytheism…that’s idolatry.
#2—Witness and Confirmation
Jn. 8:17
17It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
In the OT, it took 2 witnesses to establish a matter, to confirm something was true.
Business mtg.: 1 makes a motion, a 2nd person “seconds” the motion. If the motion is not seconded, it dies for lack of a 2nd. It takes 2 to confirm a motion.
The Bible is divided into 2 parts, the OT and the NT. The OT tells us what is to come, the NT “confirms” it.
Who is the 2nd person in the trinity? Jesus Christ.
Rev. 1:5—“faithful witness”.
When the disciples went to the empty tomb, how many angels were there to confirm he had indeed risen from the dead? 2 angels.
40 days later, Jesus ascended into Heaven from the Mt. Of Olives…how many angels were there witnessing that ascension? 2 angels.
Rev. 11:3
3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
When Jesus sent out the 70 to witness, how did he send them? 2 by 2. That’s God’s method, and it’s still the best method.
By yourself, you’re prone to discouragement / not as bold
More than 2, looks like you’re ganging up on them.
2 is the number of witness and confirmation.
#3—speaks of the Holy Trinity. #1 spoke of the unity of God, #3 speaks of the Tri-Unity of God.
Mt. 28:19
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mt. 3
16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
The whole trinity is present! Beautiful!! You say, “I don’t understand!” Me either, PTL!!! Don’t do like the cults and say, I don’t understand, so it must not be true, but rather believe it in faith, and thank God He’s bigger than our finite minds can grasp!
Rev. 4:8
8And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Is. 6
1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Man is created in the image of God, thus man is also a trinity: body, soul, and spirit. Physical, emotional, and spiritual nature.
I Thess. 5:23
I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God created us in His image...a 3 part being.
God also created time…which is past / present / and future
All are distinct, yet all are a part of the same, none can exist w/out the other 2.
God created space…which is height / width / and depth
All are distinct, yet all are a part of the same, none can exist w/out the other 2.
#4—the number of the earth / world / creation
Is. 11:12
12And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Liberals say, “See, the Bible isn’t true, the writers thought the earth was foursquare, not round like we know it to be”
[Ridiculous logic!]
Isaiah himself said in 40:22…
22It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth…
Isaiah [talking about the 4 corners of the earth] is using an idiom, talking about the 4 points on a compass, N/S/E/W.
He’s saying He’ll gather the Jews from every direction!
Ezek. 7:2
Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
Rev. 7:1
1And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
Rev. 20:7-8
7And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth…
Study the history of the world, and you’ll find 4 world empires:
Babylonian / Medo-Persian / Greek / Roman
You say, I’ve got you now, because there’s gonna be another empire in the last days…yes, but Revelation describes it as nothing more than a revival of the Roman empire, the 4th empire.
Dan. 2…Nebuchadnezzar’s dream…he saw an image…
The head was gold—Babylonian
Breast and arms were silver—Medo-Persian
Belly and Thighs were brass—Greek empire
Legs were iron—Roman empire
What about the feet? Iron mixed w/ clay…the revived Roman empire, made up of ten nations.
#4 is the number of the earth
Multiples of 4 carry a similar meaning:
Ex. - 40 symbolizes earthly trials and tribulations
It rained on Noah 40 days and nights
How long did Nineveh have to repent? 40 days.
Jesus fasting in wilderness?
Years Jews wander in wilderness?
#5 (#10) used interchangeably…ever heard of a 5 and dime store?
Symbolize fullness and completeness.
A complete person has 5 senses…5 fingers per hand equaling 10…5 toes per foot equaling 10. When God gave Israel his complete moral law, how many commandments were there? 10.
Rev. 13:1
1And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
Ten horns=complete dominion during this time.
Ten crowns=complete rule
#6 and #7—
Six is the number of man, man was created on the 6th day, and during the tribulation, no one will be able to buy or sell anything unless they associate themselves w/ the number 6.
Rev. 13:18
18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
666
Why 3 sixes? Because 3 is the number of the trinity! 6 is the number of man, and that 6 is there 3 times, the number of trinity…here is man pretending to be God!
Number 7 is the number of perfection
Rev. 5:6
6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
If you took this image literally, it would be hideous looking. Obviously, we’re dealing w/ symbolism again.
‘7 horns’ speaks of His perfect power. The antichrist had 10 horns…complete power, but PTL, the Lamb of God has perfect power.
7 eyes speak of His perfect omniscience…He sees everything…He knows everything.
How many times did Joshua and his host march around Jericho? 7 times.
How many churches are there to study in Rev. 2 and 3? 7
Peter asked the Lord about forgiveness. How many times should I forgive my brother? 7 times? He was really going out on a limb saying 7 times, for the Rabbi’s said, only 3 times, then let ‘em have it!
Jesus said, no, 70 times 7! That’s perfect forgiveness!
Dan. 9—Daniel said God’s prophetic calendar contains 70 weeks of years, that’s 70 ‘7 year periods.’
While 7 is the number of perfection, what do you have when you cut in in half? 3 and ½. That spells disaster and despair.
When Elijah prayed for God to shut up the heavens and stop the rain, how many years did the rain stop? 3.5
The antichrist will begin the 7 year tribulation by making a covenant w/ Israel. How long before he breaks it? 3.5
He will mimic perfection w/ his 7 year treaty, and then break it by breaking it in half!
#8—speaks of new things…new beginnings!
When a male Jewish baby is born, when is it circumcised? 8th day!
The eighth day on a calendar represents a new week!
The 8th note on a musical scale begins a new octave!
II Pet. 2:5
God spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the 8th person. 8 people were saved by God in that ark, and w/ those 8, God made a new beginning.
1 There is a God
2 He has witnessed to us
3 He has manifested Himself in 3 persons
4 This world is headed for judgment
5 God will finish what He started
6 All men are sinners
7 Perfect God
8 We can be born again.
When we see God’s fingerprint all over the world and nature…when we consider the precision with which the Bible is written and prophecy is fulfilled, it is just another evidence that these are not fables / fairytales we are following!
We serve a God of order / precision / design! And He is all about numbers, and wants to again see people saved by the multitudes and churches growing. It matters how many we have present and how many we baptize and disciple...and yet Praise God...He cares for each and every single ‘one’ individual!
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Numbers.html
