Number Patterns In Scripture

QUOTE (Christina @ Mar 7 2009, 04:53 PM) index.php?act=findpost&pid=70344
Number Patterns in Scripture by Susan Kanen Have you noticed how often certain numbers appear together in Scripture passages? Information that is not hidden in Hebrew or Greek letter values or in letters found after repeated spacings, but right on the surface as words in the text. A number code available to anyone who can read. The numbers 7, 12, 40, and 50 occur frequently within the same Bible passage. God as the master mathematician talks in number patterns. To begin a discussion on number patterns in Scriptures, first we need to see the pattern, then ask what does it mean? The numbers 7, 12, 40, and 50 are used right on the surface of the text in Bible stories (7 days of creation, 7 candles, 12 shewbread, 12 disciples, 40 days and nights of rain, 40 years of wandering, 50 days of Pentecost etc.). Often studies on Bible numbers proceed by ascribing certain attributes to each number; listing each number in turn with a brief paragraph. But let us limit our search to the numbers 7, 12, 40, and 50. Halley in his Bible Commentary, writing of the 12 disciples: (p. 465 1965 edition): "Why Jesus chose Twelve we do not know. Of these, three were an inner group. Besides the 12, he sent out 70 on a special errand. 3, 12, and 70 figure largely in Scripture symbolism. 12 tribes of Israel were the foundation of the Hebrew nation. 12 Apostles laid the foundation of the Church. Moses had 70 elders. Sanhedrin had 70 members. These numbers may have some mystic meaning unknown to us." Mr. Halley how right! More 7's listed by Halley's are: every 7th day a Sabbath, every 7th year a Sabbatic year, every 7th Sabbatic year was followed by Jubilee year, every 7th month was especially holy-having 3 feasts, there were 7 weeks between Passover and Pentecost, Passover Feast lasted 7 days, Tabernacles Feast lasted 7 days, at Passover 14 lambs were offered daily, at Tabernacles 14 lambs daily and 70 bullocks, at Pentecost 7 lambs were offered. Ivan Panin earlier this century, has written marvelous accounts of the numeric symmetry of the Scriptures particularly regarding the number seven. The mathematical probabilities of this all happening by chance are so remote that he believed his writings constituted scientific proof of God. E. W. Bullinger author of Number in Scripture, writes that "we have but touched the fringe of this great and important subject." Even outside the Bible, you can see this pattern (7, 12, 40, and 50) in the organization of time (7 days a week, 12 months a year, 40 years per generation, 50 year jubilee), 7 colors in the rainbow, 7 seas and continents, 12 divisions to the sky, an octave of piano notes has 7 white keys and 12 notes total, and gestational periods in multiples of 7 (man's is 7x40, sheep 21x7, dog 9x7, cat 8x7, hen 3x7, lion 7x7x3). Why did God bother with a number pattern at all? God has not used numbers haphazardly -every word is there intentionally. Why should Bible number patterns be studied and interpreted at all? Perhaps the strongest answer is because the pattern is there and if God chose to speak to us this way, we should choose to listen. In the book of Revelation, seven times God said let him that has ears to hear, hear what the spirit says to the churches. To communicate, we need to recognize language patterns: sounds, letters, words, phrases, etc. Words have meaning according to how they are used in relationship to each other. We have not recognized numbers as symbols, their use as letters to form "words" and as a language to communicate. Authors of this subject usually give one meaning to each number, but we don't use letters that way. The question should be: why have we not studied this number pattern before? Otherwise what difference could it make for the story? Who cares how many brothers, sisters, or days, or years, times to sprinkle the ark, numbers of candles, stars, stalks of wheat. God is marking His message with numbers in the hope we will ask why does God bother to number how many sneezes. There is a pattern for redemption; we just haven't seen it but it is there. It is not hidden at all, just sealed until we seek to find it. Perhaps God uses number patterns because they translate into any language without perversion over time. God speaks of things such as DNA, chromosomes, conception, egg, sperm, and the passage of time in a number language. These things were alluded to before man had words or knowledge to describe wonders yet undiscovered. God is indeed a "Wonderful Numberer" as spoken of by Daniel. There is great interest today in hidden Bible Codes where messages are concealed in evenly spaced letters found by computer searches. To prove this to be true requires careful statistical analysis beyond the reach of most Bible students. This study doesn't deal with formulas that need the help of sophisticated computer software but deals with the surface text of the Bible. These four numbers, 7, 12, 40, 50 are like a simple "alphabet" of God's number language. Some passages have some of these numbers and some have three: 7, 12, 40. The analysis of probability is simple. The chances of choosing a number at random is 1 out of the total. For example the chances of getting a 6 with one throw of the dice is 1 out of 6. To get two sixes out of two throws the chances are 1 out of 6X6 or 1 out of 36. If the numbers in Bible stories are random and without God's direction the probability of getting a 7, then 12, then 40 in a given story is 1 out of 7X12X40 or one out of 3360. Twelve of the main persons and events of the Bible have all three numbers of the pattern. The probability of the Bible's main twelve stories having all three numbers is less than 1 out of 40,000 (7X12X40X12). Within the main twelve events surrounding Jesus, Elijah, Moses, Elisha, Ezekiel, David, Solomon, Jacob, Joshua, Paul, the return from exile, and Jonah; there is imprinted three numbers (7, 12, 40). Only the Tabernacle/Temple, Moses, Elijah/Elisha, and the Miracle Feeding with Loaves and Fishes have all four. Maybe God is trying to tell us something here. The challenge is to see the pattern and then ask what does it mean. Jesus makes this challenge as He discusses the miracles of the loaves and fishes: Mark 8:19-21When I brake the five loaves among five thousand (50X100), how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. [20] And when the seven among four thousand (40X100), how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. [21] And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand? God is speaking in a number language. In Mark, Jesus is disappointed that the disciples have not understood yet. By the time God speaks in Revelation, He doesn't hold back using numbers to communicate. Sevens and twelves adorn the whole book. The pattern multiplies like a fractal throughout the Bible: twelve women have seven associated with their lives, twelve men are mentioned in groups of twelve, twelve time periods are mentioned for 40 days (not counting unrighteous mocking by Goliath) and 12 periods of 40 years. This discussion should generate the question, "What does the number pattern 7, 12, 40, 50 symbolize?" How God uses numbers can help us to hear what is closest to His heart. We do not hear because we really are not listening to what He is saying. Much of what is really on the surface of His Word regarding the use of numbers goes unnoticed. Noting God's use of numbers may open a door to the mysteries of God and His Holiness. For instance, we need to concentrate more on the first part of this oft quoted verse on the number 666: REV 13:18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number .... Actually the original question of this study is: What does it mean to be born spiritually? The author believes God answered by pointing out a number pattern throughout Scripture. This pattern does not change from Genesis to Revelation. This fact adds to a conviction that the Scriptures are divinely inspired. Since no men had control over all the persons and events that are recorded, numbers could not be controlled by man. Since they are not randomly distributed, God must have placed them intentionally to speak to us. As Christians, we know we are to be the Bride of Christ, we need to learn His language. Throughout Scriptures, God has apparently chosen to mark His message with numbers. This is spiritually speaking, a kindergarten lesson that as it is mastered can open up understanding throughout the Bible. Once the pattern is understood many Bible stories with numbers in them can be comprehended more fully. From space on earth and what is seen under the microscope (egg) appear to be a similar form. Jesus' genealogy is full of sevens as we are told of the Savior's birth. Interestingly, the Heavens are divided into 12 signs of the Zodiac and the earth is divided into 7 continents. In kindergarten classrooms, children sing of the 12 months of the year and 7 days of the week. How is it that God's pattern is so clear to children? He puts it in their hands. The numbers in the miracle feedings with loaves and fishes follow the same pattern and in their simplicity are actually the most profound in meaning. The Mercy Seat is flanked with cherubims described as having two wings up and two wings down. I see the cherubims to be types of chromosomes with the same physical description. With the help of Strong's book on the Tabernacle of Israel: embroidered on the curtains are 23 cherubims/chromosomes (7 on 3 sides +2 on the dividing curtain torn at the crucifixion). Man has 23 pairs of chromosomes. How well our Creator knows us and reveals information today that he has kept hidden for centuries. When the pattern of 7 and 12 became apparent, I thought how it was everywhere in the Bible and supposed that opening to any page I could find it. A random selection found 2 Chronicles 7 on Solomon's dedication of the Temple. Solomon offered a hundred and twenty thousand (12 x 10,000) sheep over a seven day feast. I then looked up the numbers used specifically in the main Bible events: birth of Christ, the Last Supper, Resurrection, Ascension and found the same phenomena. To get back to the subject, I Chronicles 23, 24, 25, 27 are loaded with 12's and 24's to mark the Temple with the number 12. God sure wasted a lot of print in those chapters if He wasn't trying to make a point. There is more ink and paper here than on the whole Christmas story . We really are hard of hearing. Hear again what Jesus said as He tried to explain the number pattern of the Loaves and Fishes: Mark 8:17-21... perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? [18] Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? [19] When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. [20] And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. [21] And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand? 1 Peter 1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. The parable of the sower tells us that the Word of God is the seed (sperma in Greek). Psalm 119 tells us that His Word is a Lamp (the special lamp or menorah of 7 candlesticks). Our Father created heaven and earth by the Spoken Word in 7 days. God is using numbers like adjectives to mark things with similar attributes. Seven is identified with maleness. In Revelation, we see Jesus, our Bridegroom, with 7 spirits before His throne, with 7 golden candlesticks speaking to 7 churches, holding 7 stars and a Book of 7 seals, with 7 angels and 7 trumpets, and 7 thunderings preparing 7 plagues and 7 vials, 7 horns, 7 eyes, 7 heads, 7 mountains, 7 kings, 7,000 men. You know, if the numbers are meaningless, there is a lot of wasted text here. Seven appears about 50 times. It seems to me that there has got to be something to explain what God is trying to say here. We also see the Bride adorned with 12 stars, the New Jerusalem with 12 gates, 12 angels, 12 tribes, 12,000 of each tribe, 12 foundations, 12 apostles, 12 pearls, 12 stones, 12,000 furlongs on 3 dimensions (this is lost in some translations and found in KJV), 12 fruits of the tree of life, 144 cubits the measure of the wall--12 things in all marking again the female, the Bride. No restraint of a number pattern here--by now we should understand God's number language. In Revelation, it is written 7 times to the 7 churches, "Let him that has ears to hear." There is no mixing of the use of 7 or 12. In other words all things associated with the Bride, the New Jerusalem, are by 12's--she's all girl. The Bridegroom likewise is surrounded with 7's--all boy. Our couple is in full maturity. This is a wedding! At times when I see in Scriptures an abundance of 7, 12, or 40's I see creation, procreation, renewal, redemption and life. God has adorned His message with a sprinkling of numbers. The Blood of Christ, we are told fell to the ground (female)--a type of conception. Christ on the cross spoke giving us his Word (His Testimony and His Blood) in seven phrases from the cross listed by Bullinger p181 of Number in Scriptures (of 300 pages, 41 devoted to the number 7):Often forty is seen representing a period of trial, probation or punishment. God uses 40 to show us redemption and this parallels the process of birth. Forty is the number of weeks of a human pregnancy and where this involves a time of probation and trial and tribulation, the pain is secondary to the joy of new life--ask any mother. The 40 lashes are not meant to just be punishment but perhaps the means to cause a change to a better way of life for a guilty man. In other words not a criminal way of life. Any more lashes would presumably bring death. Therefore maybe fewer than 40 lashes is meant to provide life. The 40 days and nights of rain were a time of isolation for Noah's family not unlike a womb or sanctuary experience. The volume of the Ark is 5x5x5x5x5x12x12 from the Biblical dimensions. I've been speculating the feminine nature of the number 12. Noah's family was sealed within the walls of the Ark to "gestate" for a season. The 40 years of wilderness was a punishment but also a probation which resulted in the still birth of that generation. They did not receive God's Word--male seed (they wanted Moses to hear for them). Joshua's generation was alive and they brought God's Word into Jericho (lots of sevens). They inherited the land (female) divided up for the twelve tribes. Jesus' fast was not a punishment as much as a trial and He was "born" out of it into His life of miracles and ministry. This discussion doesn't have the right to any private interpretation. But here is a value to searching out the number pattern in Scripture. In the way that 40 tells of the time necessary to bring forth physical birth (subject to death), 50 tells us of a second birth--redeemed and life anew immune from death. In the feeding with loaves and fishes, 40 is associated with 7 and 50 with 12. Creation sprang to life at God's speaking in 7 days and was tested with only the righteous surviving through 40 days and nights of Noah's Flood. Abraham looked for 50 righteous men to be saved from judgment. A trial of 40 didn't bring eternal life to Noah or Moses. We must wait another 10 days after the Ascension (40 +10=50), till Pentecost (50th Day after Passover) for another birth or process of redemption (conception). We must be born again. The Spirit of God rushed into the Upper Room to unite with the 120 believers (a type of Bride-female) to give us conception in the Spirit. We are called to 10 days of awe and repentance before the Feast of the Tabernacles to repent of our sinfulness before the Day of Atonement. We are given Ten Commandments that tells us of our sinfulness. We are redeemed from a enslaved and sinful life as the humbled woman is freed with the price of 50 shekels. The Tabernacle was held together by parts in groups of 50: Exodus 36:12-13Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another. [13] And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle. Exodus 36:17-18And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second. [18] And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one. The number fifty is used to communicated a uniting and gathering together to be one. We see the crowds gathered together by groups of 50 and 100 at the miracle feeding of loaves and fishes. At Pentecost, the body was gathered together. Redemption not just to an individual, but an incorporated body. NOTE THE USE OF NUMBERS IN THE FOLLOWING VERSES: Psalm 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psalm 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: Isaiah 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. Isaiah 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound. Amos 5:8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name: Zech. 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. Zech. 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: Zech. 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Matthew 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? Rev. 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; Rev. 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Rev. 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Rev. 5:5-6 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 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. Rev. 12:1-3 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: [2] And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. [3] And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. Rev. 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Okay, some of that was over my head, but the rest was great.Looking at what our INCREDIBLE and UNFATHOMABLE God did with the Laws of Physics and other elements of His creation, I'm not surprised by anything He might do with numbers.There was an interesting article a month or two ago in Discover magazine.It seems that many scientists, knowing what they've learned, concluded either there was a hand in Creation/our Universe, or there must be multi-universes. Hmmm..........Reckon which one is right. Where would those other universes be since this one is infinite?I'm reminded of something Billy Graham spoke of:Years ago, when the team of scientists at Los Alamos were working on development of the atomic bomb, they concluded given the incredible complexity and logic in the numbers etc., that there was a Higher Power behind it all. They asked Billy Graham to come tell them about God Praise the Lord!! His Majesty is - is - so..............perfect........undescribeable........wonderful............LOGICAL (numbers) too!Thanks Christina Jim