300 years after the last books of the New Testament were written it was decreed that the only canonical writings to be included in the Bible were the books that were the unquestionably authentic divine scriptures written by the prophets and apostles. Christians believe God determined the biblical canon through men who were filled by the Holy Spirit and today the Bible and all it's books are considered the inspired word of God. We don't really know how God insured exactly the right books were brought together to form the Bible, but we believe he did. So we know that more than 300 years after Jesus crucifixion and resurrection God was still making sure his Word was being constructed as he intended but after the canon was decided God was still not done inspiring men to complete the Bible. Within the next 100 years chapter and verse designations remained to be added and this book shows how these were also inspired by God. Today it is universally accepted these designations were simply the work of men, but there is compelling evidence God did not leave these details to chance. The evidence suggests God inspired every book to be written in a pattern that reveals his plan for the redemption of men and that even though chapter and verse numbers were not included in the original text, they had already been assigned by God to correspond to this redemption pattern. The evidence for the Redemption Pattern and Numeric Map are unmistakable and has been left right before our eyes for everyone to observe for themselves in the Bible's they use today. This book explains the numbers and patterns God is revealing to us today.
At first the patterns and corresponding numbers seem too complex for the average believer's use, but they are not about complex mathematicsthey are simply numerical digits corresponding to God's ten step plan of redemption. Understanding the number/pattern relationships unveils a new tool for understanding God's Word. Not Bible codes, and not in themselves adding any new meaning to Biblical text, they guide us to a more correct understanding of the interpretation of the text. Notice how the following amazing evidence have been sitting right before our eyes waiting to be revealed:
MIDDLE CHAPTER--Psalm 117 is the shortest and the only two-verse chapter of the Bible: Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! A very unique chapter in size, in text and in it's centerpoint location in scriptureplaced in the exact center of the Bible by God to highlight the miracle of the perfection of his word.
THE 1,000th CHAPTER--John 3:16, the keystone verse for Christianity, says, for God so loved the world. The keystone verse of Christianity in what some say can be called the most important chapter of the Bible and God assigned it to be the 1000th chapter--the number Jospehus wrote was God's number of perfection.
24,000th BIBLE VERSE --Matthew 24:42 says, be on the alertyou do not know the day nor the hour. This verse is at the intersection of five different references to the number 24. It is the 24,000th verse in the 24th chapter with verse number 42 (24) and with chapter and verse text both focused on The Day of the Lord. The statistical possibility of this happening by chance is in the billions to one.
This book reveals what could only be called a supernatural God created structure in the Bible pointed to by numbers that reveals God's ten step plan of redemption; validates the perfection of the Bible; and acts as a Numeric Map anyone can use to more accurately interpret scripture. It takes the reader through successive steps from understanding the basic symbolism of numbers in the Bible, to showing God's Redemption pattern pointed to by these number themes and then on to explain the incredible supernatural numbering and organization of the entire Bible.
v 2.99 w USD , > @@@@@@@ ) The Bible's Redemption Pattern and Numeric Map
Discovering the Bibles built-in concordance and DNA-like intersecting number patterns and how they point to Gods Plan of Redemption
Norm Patriquin
Post Office Box 51210
http://amazingword.com orders@amazingword.com email@amazingword.com
Copyright 2009 by Norman J. Patriquin
ISBN 978-0-9819630-0-6
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
First Edition 2009
Printed in the United States of America
Unless otherwise noted all scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)
1. Biblical Studies 2. Christian Religion
Im not a math guy. I barely passed first-year algebra in ninth grade andmany thanks to the
Anyway, while I dont like math, Ive always found numbers fascinating. If those statements seem contradictory to you, well, they did to me, too. Until I met Norm. In Norm I found a kindred spirit; someone who finds numbers fascinating. But math? Not so much. The other bond I found with Norm is a deep and respectful love of and curiosity about the Bible. Norm, a computer programmer, has a gift that allows him to see numerical patterns in the Bible, patterns Ive skimmed right past repeatedly. Norm has, Ive now come to believe, made some revolutionary discoveries in the Bible.
If youre now thinking, Good grief, more Bible-code speculations, well, I have two responses: First, some of the most respected and brilliant men in history have suspected that the Bible is full of number codes. Blaise Pascal said, The Old Testament is a cipher. By that he meant it has numerical encryptions that, with the proper insight, can be deciphered. Sir Isaac Newton spent more time working on deciphering Bible codes than on his noted scientific discoveries. And Dr. Ivan Panin devoted most of his life to painstaking exploration of the numerical structure of the Scriptures.
My second response, after defending the legitimacy of Bible code study, is that Norms discoveries are not really Bible codes anyway. The patterns Norm has found will not unlock deep, hidden secrets; messages no one has ever seen before in the Bible. They dont predict future events, but they might shed more insight on passages that refer to future events. Norms number discoveries would be meaningless apart from the text in which they appear. What Norm has found are fascinating and insightful patterns.
Whats the difference between Bible codes and Bible patterns? The equidistant letter sequence theory (an example of a Bible code) finds obscure messages embedded (hidden) within the Scripture text. For example (in very basic terms), we can find the letters for the word faith spaced equally in the words of this phrase: After Paul picked other theories. This fictional example is very basic, but the theory is similar to some military codes.
In 1994, Professor Elyahu Rips, from the Hebrew University, along with Doron Witztum and Yoav Rosenberg, used statistical methods and computers to research the book of Genesis. Using equidistant letter sequence methods, their computers found the names of dozens of Jewish sages who lived between the ninth and eighteenth centuries. According to their study, which was published in the scholarly journal Statistical Science (9:429-438), the probability of such findings is 62,500 to 1 (thats a .0016 percent probability). Those figures appear to give some credence to the equidistant letter sequence theoryand perhaps they pique your interest.
On the other hand, Norms number patterns (okay, really theyre Gods number patterns that Norm has discovered) are themes related to numbers. For example, whats the best known verse in the Bible? (Hint: Youve probably seen someone at a sports event holding up a shirt or a placard with this verse painted on it.) If you guessed John 3:16 (For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life), you are correct. This just happens to be the 1,000th chapter of the Bible, and one-thousand is said to be one of Gods numbers of perfection. Could the keystone verse of the Bible in the chapter with Jesus teaching on the plan of redemption just happen to be located in the perfectly numbered chapter?
Could it all just be coincidence? That was my assumption when Norm and I first talked, and when he first asked me to work with him on this project. But as I saw more and more of these amazing coincidences I finally concluded it takes more faith to believe these number patterns appeared coincidentally than to believe God inspired them. I dare you; read on and try to remain a skeptic.
Jerry Gramckow
For all their wonderful uses, words are a limited and often frustratingly imprecise form of communication. As explorers and missionaries ventured into new lands inhabited by peoples with cultures and languages strangely different from their own, they often spent years translating these languagesand made many mistakes along the way. So imagine a pre-Babel type of universal language with no need to translate. Only a pipe dream, right? Maybe not. Numbers are the same across cultures, and theyre more precise than words. (Although theyre not as romantic: 54, 258, 228, 312, 138, 204, 528, 192, 174, 6, 246, 174, 282, 210, 108, 210, 42, 354, 468, 138, 246, 234, 456, 210, 198, 462, 444, 480. That, for example, is the binary version for the lyrics of I Left My Heart in San Francisco.) But numbers precision is one reason computer languages (such as FORTRAN and BASIC) are based on them (algorithms, that is).
Nicola Tesla, a prolific inventor and one of the great geniuses of all time, was almost obsessed with trying to communicate with extraterrestrials via number codes. (After all, its unlikely little green men attended any ESL classes on Mars.) Back on earth, cutting-edge teachers now use numbers to communicate with autistic students. Numbers may not be romantic, but theyre perfectly practical.
Perhaps that practicality is at least part of the reason Sir Isaac Newton devoted so much of his life to looking for what we now refer to as Bible codes. Albert Einstein wrote of Newton, For Newton, the divine origin of the Bible is unconditionally certain. From this belief arises the firm conviction that the parts of the Bible that appear obscure must contain important revelations, which require only the decoding of the symbolic language used in them in order to be illuminated. Newton attempts this decoding or interpretation by means of his acute, systematic thinking, in which he carefully makes use of all the sources available to him.
And, I believe, that practicality is also why God, in His great mercy and love, did in fact give us number patterns in the Bible. (Im not referring here to Bible codes, although it is not my purpose to argue with those who have found such codes.) I call these number patterns Gods Numeric Map to the Bible.
Now, before I even begin to elaborate on this intriguing mapor even try to provide some compelling evidencesI know its necessary to assure many readers by explaining what these number patterns are not. First, they are not exclusive of the Bibles text. That is, they have no meaning apart from the text; they are not magic. For example, in and of itself, 1,000 is a nice, round number, but otherwise its nothing special. But the fact that the best-known and most-loved verse in the Bible shows up in its 1,000th chapter gives some special meaning to the number 1,000. (Yes, John 3, which is home to John 3:16, the very first verse most kids learn in Sunday school, is the Bibles 1,000th chapter.) The number patterns dont override the message of the text; they simply confirm and enlighten it.
The second reason not to fear the number patterns is that (unlike the claims of many who tout Bible codes) they dont uncover deep, hidden messages about future events. The patterns are neither magic nor are they mystical oracles. They are, I believe, compass points, road signs to direct our systematic study of Gods holy Word. So with those disclaimers, let me give you some compelling evidences that, I think, will have you shaking your head in wonder.
Because the topic of this book might seem unbelievable to begin with, and because you are deciding if you really want to read on, lets look at some surprising evidence that only God could have placed in the Bible. You can immediately confirm each of these evidences for yourself using any King James or similarly structured version of the Bible that has sixty-six books, from Genesis to Revelation. The following examples reveal the existence of a precise, DNA-like numeric map created and preserved by God in Bibles used by millions today. Yet these amazing features have been overlooked for centuries. Each of these evidences is compelling in itself, but together they present a difficult-to-dispute argument that the specific author and writer of every word of the Bible was God Himself. If these evidences are not chance, then the only reasonable explanation of their existence is that the Bible is a supernatural creation.
Praise the LORD, all nations;
Laud Him, all peoples!
For His lovingkindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the LORD is everlasting.
Praise the LORD!
Now, again looking at the Bible as an organic whole, we find that, from beginning to end, this ancient book has 31,102 verses. What verse do you suppose fits exactly in the middle of these 31,102 verses? The answer is Psalm 103:2; it is the hinge verse. So the last verse of the first half of the Bible is 103:1, and the first verse of the second half is 103:3. The middle verse of the Bibles 31,102 verses is found in Psalm 103:2!
At this point you may be saying, Okay, those are some fascinating coincidences, but theyre nothing more than coincidences. Besides, the chapter and verse numbers werent even added until centuries after the Bible was compiled. Its absolutely correct that chapter and verses were added long after the Bible was written and compiled, and that fits my point exactly. If God used more than forty authors over a span of more than 1,500 years to compose the books of the Bible and then guarded the compilation of those sixty-six books into one book, then why wouldnt He continue to guard its integrity even as chapter and verse numbers were added centuries later? What else could explain such precision? If your response is that Ive shown you just two coincidences, then lets continue.
The next compelling evidence I have for you is from another well-known portion of the BibleMatthew 24, which is the record of Jesus disciples asking Him about the end of the age: Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? Jesus gave them a long answer, but in verse 42 He makes this key statement: Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. Jesus says, you do not know which day your Lord is coming. A day is made up of twenty-four hours. So in Matthew 24:42 we have Jesus telling His twelve disciples they cannot know on which day (twenty-four hours) the end of the age will begin. Still sound like a coincidence? What if I tell you that all these 24 occurrences show up in the Bibles 24,000th verse? I asked a mathematician friend to calculate the probability of all these 24s lining up like this. His answer: 53 trillion to one, which also can be shown as .00000000000053 percent. By comparison, the probability of an intense hurricane making landfall in Cumberland County Maine is .1 percent.
In other words, Maine is trillions of times more likely to be hit by a major hurricane than the likelihood of all these numbers aligning by accident. By the way, during the entire twentieth century Maine was hit by seven relatively minor hurricanes; not one of them was more than a Category-one (minor) hurricane by the time it reached that northern New England state.
Ready for another one? Okay then, remember that the primary theme of the entire Bible is the coming of a Messiah to save sinful mankind. One of the key prophecies pointing to that theme is found in Daniel 9:24, which says, So you are to know and discern {that} from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince {there will be} seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. As I will demonstrate soon, the number 22 is associated with Jesus as the Suffering Servant, and 14 is associated with Jesus as the Avenging Redeemer. This most prominent verse about the prophesied Messiah is the Bibles 22,014th verse. The probability of these 22/14 alignments: 967,334,404 to 1.
Still not convinced? All right, lets look at another. The Bibles 2,214th verse is Exodus 25:18, which says, You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. Whats the significance? The Greek word for Mercy Seat is hilasterion. It is used here in Romans 3:25, where Paul says (literally) that God presented Christ as a propitiation or mercy seat. This means that Jesus Christ is the mercy seat.
Perhaps a better way to state that would be to say that the Mercy Seat was a foreshadowing portrayal of Jesus, the Messiah. At any rate, Christ, as both the Suffering Servant (22), and the Avenging Redeemer (14), is the subject of the Bibles 2,214th verse.
Okay, now an explanation is in order. Why do I say 14 refers to Jesus as the Avenging Redeemer and 22 refers to Him as the Suffering Servant? Ill begin with the most obvious examples.
I could list more examples, but these clearly establish the pattern for the number 14. So now lets look at the number 22 as it represents Jesus, the Suffering Servant. Twenty-two (exactly one-third) of the Bibles sixty-six books have a chapter 22. Lamentations, in which the prophet Jeremiah expresses his grief (he laments) over the destruction of Jerusalem, is the Bibles twenty-second full book (the one-third point). Whats more, each of Lamentations five chapters has twenty-two verses.
One of the best-known prophecies of Messiah is found in Psalm 22 (its about the Suffering Servant): My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?... I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots (Psalm 22:1 and 14-18). You just cant find a more certain prophecy of Messiah as the Suffering Servant.
Isaiah 22:22 says, Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open. What is that about, and what does it have to do with Jesus as the Suffering Servant? For the answer we have to fast forward from the past to the future. Revelation 3:7 gives us our first clue: 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.
From the context of the chapter and of the entire book of Revelation, we see that this can refer to no one other than Jesus. But for more specific clarification we can go to Revelation 5:6, which says, And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. Did you take note of the humble Lamb, almost lost among the throne, the elders, and the strange description? The humble Lamb is about to reveal that He is worthy to open the books seven seals. Throughout Revelation Jesus is seen mostly as the conquering Lion, but sometimes we see flashbacks to the Lamb, the Suffering Servant. This is such an occasion. So the One on whose shoulder the key of the house of David will be placed is Jesus, the Suffering Servant.
As with fourteen, I could list and expound on many more examples here, but instead Ill close with this poignant example. Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. He said, Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you (Genesis 22:2).
No doubt you know the story. God had long before promised Abraham that hed be the father of many nations, and that Hed give Abraham a special son. After many years of waiting, Isaac finally was miraculously born when Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children. Then, after all that wait, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his promised sonto give him back. This story has long been revered as perhaps the greatest foreshadowing of Messiahs sacrificial deathof Jesus, the Suffering Servant, and it is found in the twenty-second chapter of the first book of the Bible.
Heres one last example of hundreds of times in the Bible where chapter and verse reference numbers directly relate to verse text and thus form a type of validation check proving the accuracy and content of the Bible has not been compromised over the ages. One of the most well-known prophecies of the Bible is found in the book of Revelation: Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Thats 1,260 days, a number that directly reflects the chapter and verse reference of Revelation 12:6. Theres no mistaking that if God placed a validation criteria with every verse number in the Bible, this chapter and verse certainly matches the text is was designed to be with. This is one of thousands of examples where numbers associated with verses directly reflect the some aspect of the message in the text.
If Id placed the previous example of the 1,260 days first, you probably would have said, So what? The Bible is a big book and there are probably lots of chances for chapter and verse numbers to line up with the text. I hope by now youre at least saying, Wow, all these coincidences are starting to make me wonder if theres something to this number pattern thing.
Its not important that you believe these evidences are conclusive, but it is important that you see them as a collection of evidences rather than each individually as likely coincidences. Although very striking, there is no doubt each of these examples could exist individually through random coincidence, but when considered together they become strong evidence for supernatural design.
Consider that each of these examples is not randomly found in odd locations in the Biblelocations that happen to have some interesting anomalies. In each case it is as if God carefully placed the evidence where, when He chooses, it one day would be found. Each of these most compelling examples is in a unique, conspicuous, or well-studied location in Scripture.
Of course, these are only six examples, but if you read on youll see the Bible is full of this DNA-like pattern that exists across all 31,102 verses of the Bible. The pattern is not just within books of the Bible but crosses book boundaries perfectly, as if the Bible were written by one single author from beginning to end. It was.
1. What very famous verse is found in the Bibles 1,000th chapter? Why might that placement be significant?
2. The entire Bible has _________ chapters, so the ______th chapter is the midway point. What chapter is found at the midway point, and what is its specific characteristic?
3. The entire Bible has ___________ verses. In what chapter of the Bible is the exact middle verse found? Why might that placement be significant?
4. What similarities did the author find in Psalm 107 and the book of Jonah. What was the authors conclusion about these similarities?
5. List at least three facts listed by the author that make Matthew 24 an especially important chapter.
6. List and discuss at least three Bible passages cited by the author as evidence for the number 14 referring to Jesus as the Avenging Redeemer. Do the same for 22 referring to Jesus as the Suffering Servant.
In On the Trinity, Augustine (354-430) said no number in the Scriptures is arbitrarythat is, each represents something more than merely accurate reporting by the books author. (For example, John 21:11 says, Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Was that specific number of 153 merely a case of meticulous reporting, or was there something more to it?) Augustine wanted to create a dictionary of the Bibles numbers (but it seems he never actually published one). As stated in chapter one, he said 1,000 represents perfection.
As also stated in the previous chapter, Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727), who is widely recognized as one of the greatest geniuses of all time, devoted more of his life to Bible study in general and to looking for number-based codes specifically than he devoted to his scientific studies.
Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) had some views that are outside generally accepted Christian orthodoxy, but few would question his brilliance or his dedication to his views about the Bible. In Arcana Coelestia Swedenborg wrote, Since one thousand is a definite number in mathematics, it seems as if it simply means one thousand in the propheciesespecially when they are given in the form of historical descriptions. However, in prophecy a thousand means many, or countless, and not any particular number. Historical descriptions tend to limit our thinking to the most obvious and strict meanings of the words and names in them. But in the Bible, numbers, like names, mean real things.
(Swedenborg went on to claim that the 1,000 years referred to in Revelation 20 is not a literal millennium. I disagree; Bible numbers arent either literal or symbolic, they can be both literal and symbolic. But the point is, Swedenborg saw that numbers in the Bible can mean more than just whats seen at face value.)
E.W. Bullinger (1837-1913), a well-known and highly regarded Bible scholar to whom the Archbishop of Canterbury awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity in 1881, wrote in his book Number in Scripture,
We can have neither words nor works without number. The question which we have to answer isIs number used with design or by chance? Surely if God uses it, it must be with infinite wisdom and with glorious perfection. And so it is. Each number has its own significance; and its meaning is found to be in moral harmony and relation to the subject matter in connection with which it stands. This harmony is always perfect. Every word of Gods Book is in its right place. It may sometimes seem to us to be deranged. The lock may be in one place, and the key may sometimes be hidden away elsewhere in some apparently inadvertent word or sentence.
Dr. Ivan Panin (1855-1942), however, did more for the study of Bible numerics than any one else. Panin was born in Russia, and as a young man became involved in plots to overthrow the Czar. As were so many of the angry, young dissidents in that culture, Panin was an agnostic. Because of his ties to the dissidents, Panin was exiled from Russia. After studying in Germany for several years Panin moved to the United States. He graduated from Harvard, and after spending some time as a lecturer on literary criticism, his life took a dramatic turn. As he read, for the first time, the Gospel of John, in Greek, he noticed what seemed to be a strange inconsistency. The original text read, In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with the God and the Word was God. That wording includes one extra the. Panin was intrigued.
When the Holy Spirit inspired the men who wrote the Bibles many books He didnt give them a new language; they wrote in the common language of their era (Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament). However, neither of these languages had a separate number system, so Panin, who by this time had become a Christian, assigned numeric values to the letters of each of these languages. These numeric values formed the basis of Bible Numerics, which he and other scholars then used to decipher the meaning behind the Bibles numerical patterns.
In 1899, in answer to letters to the editor from a prominent agnostic in The New York Sun, Panin wrote the following letter:
SIR:- In todays SUN Mr. W.R.L. calls for a champion of orthodoxy to step into the arena of the SUN, and give him some facts:
1. The first 17 verses of the New Testament contain the genealogy of Christ. It consists of two main parts: Verses 1-11 cover the period from Abraham, the father of the chosen people, to the Captivity, when they ceased as an independent people. Verses 12-17 cover the period from the Captivity to the promised Deliverer, the Christ.
Let us examine the first part of this genealogy.
Its vocabulary has 49 words, or 7 x 7. This number is itself seven (Feature 1) sevens (Feature 2), and the sum of its factors is 2 sevens (Feature 3). Of these 49 words 28, or 4 sevens, begin with a vowel; and 21, or 3 sevens, begin with a consonant (Feature 4).
Again: These 49 words of the vocabulary have 266 letters, or 7 x 2 x 19; this number is itself 38 sevens (Feature 5), and the sum of its factors is 28, or 4 sevens (Feature 6), while the sum of its figures is 14, or 2 sevens (Feature 7). Of these 266 letters, moreover, 140, or 20 sevens, are vowels, and 126, or 18 sevens, are consonants (Feature 8).
That is to say: Just as the number of words in the vocabulary is a multiple of seven, so is the number of its letters a multiple of seven; just as the sum of its factors of the number of the words is a multiple of seven, so is the sum of the factors of the number of their letters a multiple of seven. And just as the number of words is divided between vowel words and consonant words by seven, so is their number of letters divided between vowels and consonants by sevens.
Again: Of these 49 words 35, or 5 sevens, occur more than once in the passage: and 14, or 2 sevens, occur but once (Feature 9); seven occur in more than one form, and 42, or 6 sevens, occur in only one form (Feature 10). And among the parts of speech the 49 words are thus divided: 42, or 6 sevens, are nouns, 7 are not nouns (Feature 11). Of the nouns, 35, or 5 sevens, are Proper names, seven are common nouns (Feature 12). Of the Proper names 28 are male ancestors of the Christ, and seven are not (Feature 13). Moreover, these 49 words are distributed alphabetically thus. Words under alpha epsilon are 21 in number, or 3 sevens; stigma iota 14, or 2 sevens; lamda upsilon also 14. No other groups of sevens stopping at the end of a letter are made by these 49 words, the groups of sevens stop with these letters and no others. But the letters, alpha, epsilon, stigma, iota, lambda, upsilon, are letters 1, 5, 6, 10, 12, 22 of the Greek alphabet, and the sum of these number (called their Place Values) is 56, or 8 sevens (Feature 14). This enumeration of the numeric phenomena of these 11 verses does not begin to be exhaustive, but enough has been shown to make it clear that this part of the genealogy is constructed on an elaborate design of sevens.
Let us now turn to the genealogy as a whole. I will not weary your readers with recounting all the numeric phenomena thereof: Pages alone would exhaust them. I will point out only one feature. The New Testament is written in Greek. The Greeks had no separate symbols for expressing numbers, corresponding to our Arabic figures, but used instead the letters of their alphabet: just as the Hebrews, in whose tongue the Old Testament is written, made use for the same purpose of theirs. Accordingly, the 24 Greek letters stand for the following numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900.
Every Greek word is thus a sum in arithmetic obtained by adding the numbers for which its letters stand, or their numeric values. Now the vocabulary to the entire genealogy has 72 words. If we write its numeric value over each of these 72 words and add them, we get for their sum 42,364, or 6,052 sevens, distributed into the following alphabetical groups only: alpha - beta have 9,821 or 1,403 sevens; gamma - delta, 1,904 or 272 sevens; epsilon - stigma, 3,703 or 529 sevens; theta - rho, 19,264 or 2,752 sevens; sigma - chi, 7,672 or 1,096 sevens. But the numeric value of the 10 letters used for making these groups is 931 or 7 x 7 x 19, a multiple not only of seven but of seven sevens.
Let Mr. W.R.L. try to write some 300 words intelligently like this genealogy, and reproduce some numeric phenomena of like designs. If he does it in 6 months, he will indeed be a wonder. Let us assume that Matthew accomplished this feat in one month.
2. The second part of this chapter, verses 18-25, relates the birth of the Christ. It consists of 161 words, or 23 sevens; occurring in 105 forms, or 15 sevens, with a vocabulary of 77 words or 11 sevens. Joseph is spoken to here by an angel. Accordingly, of the 77 words the angel uses 28 or 4 sevens; of the 105 forms he uses 35 or 5 sevens; the numeric value of the vocabulary is 52,605 or 7,515 sevens; of the forms, 65,429 or 9,347 sevens. This enumeration only begins as it were barely to scratch the surface of the numerics of this passage. But what is specially noteworthy here is the fact that the angels speech has also a scheme of sevens making it a kind of ring within a ring, a wheel within a wheel. If Mr. L. can write a similar passage of 161 words with the same scheme of sevens alone (though there are several others here) in some three years, he would have accomplished a still greater wonder. Let us assume that Matthew accomplished this feat in only 6 months.
3. The second chapter of Matthew tells of the childhood of the Christ. Its vocabulary has 161 words, or 23 sevens, with 896 letters, or 128 sevens, and 238 forms, or 34 sevens; the numeric value of the vocabulary is 123,529 or 17, 647 sevens; of the forms, 166,985 or 23, 885 sevens; and so on through pages of enumeration. This chapter has at least four logical divisions, and each division shows alone the same phenomena found in the chapter as a whole. Thus the first six verses have a vocabulary of 56 words, or 8 sevens, etc. There are some speeches here: Herod speaks, the Magi speak, the angel speaks. But so pronounced are numeric phenomena here, that though there are as it were numerous rings within rings, and wheels within wheels, each is perfect in itself through forming all the while only part of the rest.
If Mr. L. can write a chapter like this as naturally as Matthew writes, but containing in some 500 words so many intertwined yet harmonious numeric features, in say the rest of his dayswhatever his age now, or the one to which he is to attain: if he thus accomplished it at all, it will indeed be marvel of marvels. Let us assume that Matthew accomplished this feat in only 3 years.
4. There is not, however, a single paragraph of the scores in Matthew that is not constructed in exactly the same manner. Only with each additional paragraph the difficulty of constructing it increases not in arithmatical, but in geometrical progression. For he contrives to write his paragraphs so as to develop constantly fixed numeric relations to what goes before and after. Thus in his last chapter he contrives to use just 7 words not used by him before. It would thus be easy to show that Mr. L. would require some centuries to write a book like Matthew's. How long it took Matthew the writer does not know. But how he contrived to do it between the Crucifixion, AD 30 (and his Gospel could not have been written earlier), and the destruction of Jerusalem, AD 70 (and the Gospel could not have been written later), let Mr. L. and his like-minded explain.
Anyhow, Matthew did it, and we thus have a miraclean unheard or literary, mathematical artist, unequaled, hardly even conceivable. This is the first fact for Mr. L. to contemplate.
A second fact is yet more important: In his very first section, the genealogy discussed above, the words found nowhere else in the New Testament occur 42 times, 7 x 6; and have 126 letters, 7 x 6 x 3, each number a multiple not only of seven, but of 6 sevens, to name only two of the many numeric features of these words. But how did Matthew know, when designing this scheme for these words (whose sole characteristic is that they are found nowhere else in the New Testament) that they would not be found in the other 26 books? That they would not be used by the other 7 New Testament writers? Unless we assume the impossible hypothesis that he had an agreement with them to that effect, he must have had the rest of the New Testament before him when he wrote his book. The Gospel of Matthew, then, was written last.
5. It so happens, however, that the Gospel of Mark shows the very same phenomena. Thus the very passage called so triumphantly in today's SUN a forgery, the Last Twelve Verses of Mark, presents among some sixty features of sevens the following phenomena: It has 175 words, or 25 sevens, a vocabulary of 98 words, or 2 sevens of sevens, with 553 letters, or 79 sevens; 133 forms, or 19 sevens, and so on to the minutest detail. Mark then, is another miracle, another unparalled literary genius. And in the same way in which it was shown that Matthew wrote last it is also shown that Mark, too, wrote last. Thus to take an example from this very passage: It has just one word found nowhere else in the New Testament, theta, alpha, nu, alpha, sigma, iota, upsilon, omicron, sigma, deadly. This fact is signaled by no less than seven features of sevens, thus: its numeric value is 581 or 83 sevens, with the sum of its figures 14, or 2 sevens, of which the letters 3, 5, 7, 9 from the beginning of the word have 490, or 7 x 7 x 5 x 2: a multiple of seven sevens, with the sum of its factors 21, or 3 sevens. In the vocabulary it is preceded by 42 words: 7 x 6; in the passage itself by 126 words, or 7 x 6 x 3, both numbers multiples not only of seven, but of 6 sevens. We have thus established before us this third fact for Mr. L. to contemplate: Matthew surely wrote after Mark, and Mark just as surely wrote after Matthew.
6. It happens, however, to be a fourth fact that Luke presents the same phenomena as Matthew and Mark, and so does John, and James, and Peter, and Jude, and Paul. And we have thus no longer two great unheard-of mathematical literati, but eight of them and each wrote after the other.
7. And not only this: As Luke and Peter wrote each 2 books, John 5, and Paul 14, it can in the same way be shown that each of the 27 New Testament books was written last. In fact, not a page of the over 500 in Wescott and Horts Greek edition (which the writer has used throughout) but it can be demonstrated thus to have been written last.
The phenomena are there and there is no human way of explaining them. Eight men cannot each write last, 27 books, some 500 pages, cannot each be written last. But lets assume that one Mind directed the whole, and the problem is solved simply enough: by this Verbal Inspirationof every jot and tittle of the New Testament.
There remains only to be added that by precisely the same kind of evidence the Hebrew Old Testament is proved to be equally inspired. This the very first verse of Genesis has seven words, 28 letters, or 4 sevens: to name only two out of the dozens of numeric features of this one verse of only seven words.
By now your response may have shifted to something like this: Okay Norm, youve convinced me youre not some isolated nutcase. (You may be a nutcase, but obviously youre not alone.) So whats different about your discoveries?
Glad you asked.
Ill close this chapter with a brief introduction to one of my number discoveries (which, of course, Ill expand in the following chapters).
Im a computer programmer and software writer; Im not a mathematician. So, many years ago, as I began to see what appeared to be coincidental number patternsand as those coincidences became so numerous that I began to suspect they might not be coincidencesI wrote some programs to help me analyze them. As stated in the first chapter, I looked at the Bible as one book, rather than as sixty-six separate books. I let the program assign sequential numbers to each of the Bibles chapters and verses (without regard for separate book divisions). Then the program allowed me to isolate various patterns (such as the examples of 14 and 22 number patterns seen in chapter one) much more easily than the numerics pioneers were able to do in pre-computer days. So, with simple, everyday observations and computer-assisted programs, I found (among many other discoveries) this key pattern in the Bibles first ten books:
While the first ten books of the Bible contain many similar events, its clear that each book has a message different from the others. Genesis is about creation and also about the patriarchs and the beginnings of the history of Israel. Exodus is about God sending a deliverer to free His people from bondage (representing sin). Leviticus is about a holy and righteous God and learning about Him. Each of these books contains many details, but all are directed at an overall message. The definition of the numbers is the same, and you can generally think of the theme of a number matching very closely the themes of these books. Note: In the examples listed below I cite the themes as related to the first ten books of the Bible. However, as Ill demonstrate in the next chapter, my analyses show that these number themes are confirmed by tracing them through scores of other passages.
1) GENESIS: God has always existed, and He created everything. There are opposite sides to parts of creation and boundaries to keep those opposites separate. For example, God created both light and darkness, and there is always an expanse between them. He created the heavens and the earth as well as the land and the seas. He created the sky as an expanse to separate the waters above from the waters below. He created the birds of the air and separated them from the creatures in the sea, and He created the wild animals, which are separate from livestock. And, ultimately, with the Fall, evil arose and had to be separated from good. Throughout Genesis God teaches about the separation of good and evil and how we are to follow only Him.
2) EXODUS: God used Moses to deliverer His people from Egypt. Then, after their escape, God dwelled with His people, depicting His desire to deliver and dwell with everyone.
3) LEVITICUS: Gods laws, His organization, and His perfection are defined.
4) NUMBERS: The Wilderness Journey before entering the Promised Land pictures mans inability to keep the Law, and his lost state.
5) DEUTERONOMY: Moses proclaims Gods rules for living in the Promised Land of rest, which portray Gods holiness and mans need.
6) JOSHUA: Taking the Promised Land depicts defeating strongholds of sin and entering into Gods rest.
7) JUDGES: Demonstrates the up-and-down struggle for sanctification (as seen in Romans 7).
8) RUTH: Reveals abundant life with God and leading non-believers to Him.
Note: Although Samuel and Kings each appear as two separate books, Ive combined each set because while their content varies their themes dont. My analyses of the themes of these and other split books of the Bible revealed two numberings of books, both of which are both valid and intended. The sixty-six-book count we know, and a fifty-seven-book count, which corresponds to themes of the numbers. This alternate book count may be one of the reasons we did not uncover the DNA-like pattern before now.
9) 1&2 SAMUEL: The end is approaching. Transition to rule under Kings. Depicts preparing for Christs return
10) 1&2 KINGS: Endings; living under Kings. Depicts Christs return and victory over Satan.
1. Who said the number 1,000 represents perfection in the Bible?
2. In one sentence summarize the quotation from E.W. Bullingers Number in Scripture.
3. Neither Hebrew nor Greek have their own separate number system, so what did Dr. Ivan Panin do to help with his studies of the Bible?
4. List four or more of the unique features of the number seven Panin found in Christs genealogy in Matthew 1.
5. List four or more of the unique features of the number seven Panin found in Matthew 2.
6. Why did Panin write, Matthew surely wrote after Mark, and Mark just as surely wrote after Matthew?
You may be getting a bit uncomfortable as you read about number symbolism in the Bible, and for good reason: Even the best explanations about Bible numbers tend to provide technical details about what numbers may mean, but in the end their usefulness seems limited at best. Worse yet, weve become accustomed to mystery surrounding the use of numbers used for interpretation, so thinking of numbers within the spiritual realm immediately brings up thoughts of strange occult practices. But God made everything, including numbers and mathematics, and all things were intended for good purposes, so a healthy understanding of Bible numbers is desirable. And Bible numbers are not as complex as you might imagine, so lets look at some examples to develop some comfort with them.
Without exception God always uses numbers consistent with the message He wants to convey in His Word. Not only are individual digits associated with themes, but numbers greater than ten are also associated with common themes as well. People often ask if numbers in the Bible are symbolic or literal. It appears they are always used in a symbolic way and almost always in a literal way at the same time. The more you examine the Bible the more you become aware of its perfection in every detail. It certainly is possible that God may substitute symbolic for actual numbers, but Ive always assumed everything I read in the Bible is literal wherever it is not clearly solely symbolic.
An example of a symbolic number might be found in Luke 9:28, where the text says, Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. Here the text seems intentionally imprecise, and this seems to indicate the number eight is more important in symbolism than specifically in a number of days. Unlike a lawful requirement to wait eight days before circumcising a newborn, this text does not imply there was a requirement to wait a specified number of days to go up the mountain. Eight is a number for faithful servants or those who might be considered consecrated and godly ones. Thus this text seems to imply Jesus took His Godly ones up on the mountain to witness the transfiguration.
Numbers are meaningful in every place they are used. It is not feasible to do a number study every time you come across a number in your reading, but as you work with numbers their meaning will become more natural. We will try to cover some of the simple number basics before getting into the pattern of numbers in later chapters. Even learning just the basic meaning of the numbers one through ten will be of great value in increasing your enjoyment of reading and understanding the Scriptures.
It is well known that names in the Bible have meaning, but what is not so well known is how helpful knowing the meanings of the names can be in interpreting the Bible and its messages. Sometimes we get the meanings of names from Scripture itself. In Genesis 4:25 we see that Eve gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel. In Genesis 5:29 we see that he called his name Noah, saying, This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed. Meanings are also determined from the original Hebrew and the root meaning of similar Hebrew words. Unlike today, when we tend to ignore the meaning of names, in the Bible the meanings of names in the text can often provide key information in interpreting the full meaning of the text.
In the fifth chapter of Genesis we find a list of names given for the ten generations from Adam to Noah, and if we dont take the time to consider their meanings we miss a key message. On the other hand, by examining the names carefully we find a treasure. This message gives us a picture of Gods plan of salvation.
1 - Adam means Man/Mankind
2 - Seth means Appointed/A substitute (was appointed a substitute)
3 - Enosh means Mortal Man/Wickedness (for sin which caused)
4 - Kenan means Sorrow/Mourning (sorrow over separation from God)
5 - Mahalalel means Blessed of God (but the blessed of GodJesus)
6 - Jared means Shall come down (will descend to redeem)
7 - Enoch means Teaching/Commencement/Dedicated (and teach and give for us)
8 - Methuselah means His death shall bring (his death which shall bring)
9 - Lamech means the despairing (those condemned)
10 - Noah means Rest or comfort (salvation)
(Adapted from Cosmic Codes, by Dr. Chuck Missler, 1999, p. 75.)
Given the symbolism of each name, we can then string together the meanings and discern the message:
Man (1) was appointed a substitute (2) for their sin which caused (3) sorrow and mourning (4) over being separated from God. But God had his blessed (5) son Jesus descend (6) to earth to teach man so they might be dedicated (7) to Him. Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice to death (8) which brings those despairing ones (9) who are dedicated to him salvation (10).
Ive paraphrased the meanings of the names a bit to reveal the message, but the message is accurate based on what we know about name symbolism and number meanings. Whoever first discovered this message below the surface of Genesis was not aware they had actually uncovered one of the best examples of Gods Redemption Plan found in the Bible. The Redemption Pattern, which is a ten-part plan of salvation God has left throughout the Bible, will be discussed in the next chapter. This example reveals that names have meanings that help us understand the text and in this case they also reveal and confirm evidence for the consistent symbolic meaning of numbers that reveal Gods Plan of Redemption.I mentioned that God had left a ten-part plan for salvation in the Bible, and it was revealed in the list of ten names in Genesis 5. Although not specifically shown in the text, these ten names in sequence have the numbers one through ten associated with them, and there is symbolism in these numbers that matches the meanings associated with the names. This list is not a key to the names, but is an example of how number themes consistently apply to situations where the numbers are used. There are many types of lists in the Bible, and this is an example of a list without specifically noted numbers (an unnumbered list), but it appears that God considers every list in the Bible to be numbered, whether its outwardly numbered or not.
The next chapter will explain more about how we know the themes that go along with these numbers, and if you are wondering, yes, I will show that the Bible confirms the themes. As you might guess, the themes associated with numbers are probably more complex than a word or a phrase for each, but to show the concept, here are very basic themes associated with the numbers one through ten.
1 - God - kings, leaders, pride, self, separation
2 - Jesus the Savior - relationship, love, freedom, deliverer, redeemer and division..
3 - Holy Spirit - holiness, righteousness, the law, God in us, purity, wickedness and the presence of God
4 - Mortal Man - created things, men, time, days, places, people, earth and the universe
5 - Covenant instructions - blessings to followers; otherwise, consequences hardship and death due to sin
6 - Sin and Redemption - accepting offer to enter the land, taking action required, crossing over, confession, repentance
7 - Becoming complete - Gods shepherding and discipleship process, falling away, returning, adultery and reconciliation
8 - Fruitful Bondservant - obedient and blessed by God, Godly ones, baptism, circumcision, resurrection
9 - Watching for His return - persevering in service until Jesus returns, catching up of the Godly, being prepared for the end
10 - Last/Final things - ends and last things said, commands, The Day of the Lord, death, destruction, Jews coming to the Messiah.
In his book NUMBER in Scripture, E.W. Bullinger shared that the Lords Prayer breaks down into ten parts. He was not aware of the number associations shown here, but he revealed good examples of the symbolism of numbers and a glimpse of the Redemption Pattern, like the names of the generations in Genesis 5. He stated that each of the ten components have significance in their respective numbers.
1 - GOD: Our Father in heaven
2 - JESUS (Redeemer): hollowed be thy name, thy Kingdom Come
3 - HOLY SPIRIT: thy Kingdom Come
4. CREATION: thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven
5 - COVENANT: Give us this day our daily bread
6 - REDEMPTION: And forgive us our trespasses
7 - COMPLETENESS: as we forgive those who trespass against us
8 - FAITHFUL SERVANT: and lead us not into temptation
9 - PERSEVERING UNTIL JESUS RETURN: but deliver us from the evil one
10 - LAST THINGS: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen. (Note: Some translations omit this section because it might not have been in the original manuscripts. I believe its appearance in the Bible as we know it today is correct.)
Because this is such a new concept, lets look at one more example of the same symbolism of numbers in the ten I Am statements in the book of John. You may have seen these presented as the seven or eight I Am statements in other places, but Gods number patterns show us how the ten statements match the ten parts, thus helping us interpret messages about ten.
In each statement below, Jesus explains who He is and, as in the names of the ten generations from Adam to Noah, they follow the corresponding Redemption Pattern themes. These statements are often printed in little pocket encouragement cards sold in bookstores, but items two and three are always dropped from the list as they are considered restatements of the first line. But instead of saying He is simply the bread of life, Jesus says He is first the bread of lifeGod. He is also the bread that came down out of heavenJesusas well as being the Holy Spirit, the living bread that came down out of heaven to dwell inside believers. This is a direct statement by Jesus, declaring He is all three aspects of the Trinity. (The Trinity remains a mystery. Each member of the TrinityFather, Son, and Holy Spiritis a distinct person, yet the three are nonetheless One, so Jesus is at once Jesus the Son and Jesus the Trinity. No human fully understands this magnificent truth, but it is an undeniable truth found throughout the pages of the Bible.)
In the fourth statement, Jesus addresses the fourth part of the Redemption Plan (creation), and says He is the light of the world. By saying He testifies about Himself He speaks of what He taught and requires, thus applying to the fifth step. The sixth step of the Redemption Plan is often seen as a step of making a decision and crossing over to fully trust Jesus, and this can be seen as walking through the narrow door, which Jesus calls Himself. So in the sixth I Am Jesus again says He is the door to true rest. The seventh part is about Jesus guiding believers in becoming complete, and this is the role of the Good Shepherd, as He refers to Himself. The eighth part is about finally dying to self and turning ones life over to God, which is reflected here, where Jesus says He is the resurrection and the life. The ninth part speaks of persevering in service until He returns, and this I Am statement reminds us that in service He is the way and the truth and the life that should guide all of our efforts. In the tenth and last part, which speaks of the final judgment of men, Jesus reminds us He is the true vine, the only way to His kingdom.
1 - FATHER: I am the bread of life (6:35).
2 - JESUS (Savior/Redeemer): I am the bread that came down out of heaven (6:41)
3 - HOLY SPIRIT: I am the living bread that came down out of heaven (6:51)
4 - MAN/CREATION: I am the Light of the world (8:12).
5 - COVENANT INSTRUCTIONS: I am He who testifies about Myself (8:18).
6 - SIN/REDEMPTION: I am the door of the sheep (10:7)
7 - COMPLETENESS: I am the good shepherd (10:14).
8 - GODLY SERVANT: I am the resurrection and the life (11:25).
9 - WATCHING FOR HIS RETURN: I am the way, and the truth, and the life (14:6).
10 - LAST THINGS: I am the true vine (15:1).
Obviously, every number is made up of the ten basic digits, 0-9, and numbers 11 and higher each have their own meaning derived from some combination of the digits that form them. From the patterns Ive found in how numbers are used in the Bible I have discerned what I believe are the themes behind many numbers, but like everything we study in the Bible there can be variations, so take my definitions as a starting point and then investigate them for yourself as you study Gods Word.
There is a relationship between number multiples and the themes for each multiple. Although not exact matches, the themes nonetheless correspond. For example, the numbers 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, and so on have related themes, as do the numbers 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, and so on. Notice that both 7 and 9 are multiples of 63, and it appears that 63 takes on the themes for both 7 and 9. The themes of numbers are not discerned by mathematical calculation but by examining the common thread of themes where they are used. Since book, chapter, and verse numbers also represent the themes, there is a wealth of data for comparing and studying number themes.
Numbers 28:16 provides clues that 14 is a number for Jesus: Then on the fourteenth day of the first month shall be the LORDS Passover. Fourteen is specifically related to Jesus, the Avenging Redeemer, who will return to judge the earth. This verse alone is just one example of an abundance of 14 references that demonstrate this. Another example is 2 Kings 10:36, which contains an example in which the number 28 is shown to be related to 14: Now the time which Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria {was} twenty-eight years. We see the number 28 associated with a king who reigned over Israel. Fourteen and twenty-eight are both related to kings who reign over their people.
The Bibles pattern of using numbers clearly shows that numbers containing the same digits have similar meanings, and the same digit occurring multiple times in a number raises the intensity of that digits theme where it is used. For example, the number 828 would be stronger on the theme of Godliness than it would on deliverance or relationship.
In the same way that numbers have positive and negative values, symbolic themes associated with numbers also have sides opposite each other and often may be seen as positive or negative themes. The number 6 seems most often to be related to sin, but it also can be found in positive ways. Proverbs 6:16 states, There are six things which the LORD hates. Yet Mark 9:2 says, Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them. In both these examples we find the theme for six; it is evident in the sin we see in Proverbs and in the redemption and symbolic crossing over we see Jesus experiencing in the transfiguration.
One hundred and one thousand are special numbers; St. Augustine stated they are numbers of totality and perfection. Sometimes larger numbers, while always symbolic, are large because they refer to large numbers of things, but at other times adding 100 to a number such as 53 to make it 153 implies it is a number of totality. For example, in John 21, after Jesus crucifixion some of the disciples were in a boat, fishingwith little success. Then the resurrected Jesus appeared on the shore and told them, Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch. A few verses later the text says they hauled in 153 fish. Why that specific number? Why did they even bother to count them? No doubt they actually did catch 153 fish, but the number may be considered symbolically as 53, and the 100 is added to indicate none of them was lost. One hundred is often added to indicate totality.
Likewise, the number 1,000 may be associated with a number to imply the perfection or ultimate completion of something. Genesis 20:16 states, Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is your vindication before all who are with you, and before all men you are cleared. Can you see how 1,000 is used to make a special point? 2 Samuel 24:15 says, The LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand men of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. Here we see the combination of numbers 70 and 1,000, both of which indicate a number of dead, but the 70 tells us this was likely an act of discipline or consequences administered by the LORD. This is because seven is the number for becoming complete and being shepherded in Gods ways.
This process involves Gods disciplines and the consequences that bring us back to Him as we find shown over and over again in the seventh book (Judges). Numbers larger than 100 seem to be better understood when broken into logical pieces that seem to fit the text. I know thats an imprecise statement, but Ive seen so many combinations of different types of numbers I find it difficult to predict any one way to understand large numbers.
12 - Judgment - measuring, evaluating, judging, leadership/government of nations
14 - Jesus - the one who comes to fight for and redeem His people
17 - Raising/Lifting up - saving the remnant and destruction of the wicked (as in the Flood)
18 - Sin/Evil - Wickedness and goodness, suffering (related to 666)
22 - Jesus the Suffering Servant (prior to crucifixion)
30 - Holiness/Righteousness - Purity, holiness, righteousness
35 - Glory of God - Lifting up to heaven - to glory (see 53)
37 - Perfection/Salvation - Saved by sacrafice of Jesus (actually compares to the number 777)
53 - Glory of God (catching up to save, as in the 153 fish)
144 - Witnesses - 2 x 72 is also a number for witnesses, but it is of greater intensity than 72
The number eighteen is used twice in Luke 13, first to speak of the eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them and later in reference to a woman who had a sickness for eighteen years. Of the twenty-two times eighteen is mentioned in the Bible, most of the other references have to do with suffering or affliction, so its not too difficult to see that eighteen in one way or another refers to suffering that is caused by sin. Assuming that is the case, then you are probably asking why or how that may be of value to you. Later in this book we will explain that there are many different kinds of number associations we are typically not aware of. And, since God uses numbers consistently, if we know the commonly used theme for eighteen, then when we encounter it anywhere in the Bible it can help us understand the meaning of what we are reading.
The purpose of this chapter is to make the point that numbers are both symbolic and literal and that they point to themes that aid in understanding or validating the text. Explaining all the aspects of how numbers are used is too complex a subject for this book, and too much to try and absorb from a single study. Numbers cannot predict the contents of text and do not have meanings in themselves. They are simply map-like pointers to themes that validate and help interpret the text. Understanding the symbolism of numbers will help uncover treasures in the Bible because they are a roadmap to the proper interpretation and provide valuable clues to text, and in some cases add even more meaning to the text than many of the words.
Understanding the symbolic value of numbers alone is an invaluable tool for biblical interpretation, but the real power of the Redemption Pattern is knowing how all the symbolic meanings of numbers fit together to guide our overall understanding of every text we read. Thats where knowing the Redemption Pattern, covered in the next chapter, pays off.
1. Explain why the author cited Luke 9:28 as an example of a passage in which a number is used symbolically.
2. What statement did the author come up with by combining the meanings of ten names from Adam to Noah?
3. Why does the author say that Jesus declares He is all three aspects of the Trinity?
4. How does the author relate the ten I am statements in Johns Gospel to the ten parts of the Redemption Pattern?
5. What is meant by In the same way that numbers have positive and negative values, symbolic themes associated with numbers also have sides opposite each other and may be seen as positive or negative themes.
6. Why does the author say that 53 and 153 can refer to the same theme? What does the 100 add to the 53?
7. Why is it important to remember that numbers are simply map-like pointers to themes that validate and help interpret the text?
In 1956 Bill Bright, of Campus Crusade for Christ, developed the Four Spiritual Laws as a way to communicate the concise message of Christianity to the unchurched world. These four precepts were communicated as a brief story that laid out Gods basic message for the world.
1 - Law One: God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.
2 - Law Two: Man is sinful and separated from God, thus cannot know and experience Gods plan for his life.
3 - Law Three: Jesus Christ is Gods only provision for mans sin. Through Him you can know and experience Gods love and plan for your life.
4 - Law Four: We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience Gods love and plan for our lives.
If you ask a Christian about Gods plan for the world he likely will recite some version of these laws. These four steps are a great way to begin to explain Gods most basic plan of salvation, but they fall short of being a full picture of the plan God has for us. If we attend a typical new members class at just about any church we will get a more extensive version of these laws, but in the absence of knowing Gods specific plan, there are as many ways to explain this as there are those who teach it.
I refer to this as Gods Redemption Pattern, and it can be thought of as Gods Ten Spiritual Laws. Ive found it permeating Gods Word, and, incredibly, it is found in every book, chapter, verse, and list in the Bible.
The Redemption Pattern is an amazing structural organization underlying all text in the Bible. In the simplest terms the Redemption Pattern is a set of ten general themes or concepts God uses to summarize His plan for mans redemption. These ten themes outline the most important components of every Christians walk. They point to the steps each person goes through from first realizing God exists until Jesus returns for His people.
The basics of these ten spiritual laws are described in the following simple way:
Each of the ten points in Gods pattern is associated with the numbers one to ten. Although the pattern is not about numbers, God associates numbers with each point in His pattern. This is always the case in the Bibles use of what I call numerics. Every number can be broken down into its numeric digits, and the association of these digits to Gods plan point to themes associated with numbers.
Now that we understand some basics about Gods ten-part Redemption Pattern we will examine the ten points in more detail, explain why it is of God, show where we can see it in the Bible, and explain why it is valuable for us to know.
1 - Separated from God: God created everything, including the heavens above and the earth below, and we are separated from Him. Man cannot truly live apart from God.
2 - A loving Redeemer: God sent a Redeemer to free us from our bondage and enable us to live with God in His kingdom. This Redeemer, foreshadowed in Moses of the Exodus, is Jesus Christ.
3 - Gods righteousness: God is holy, righteous, pure, powerful, and perfect. His laws are perfect, and He has a way for man to live with Him. One way is to live a perfect life, which, of course, is impossible. Three is also about the presence of God (the Holy Spirit) in us.
4 - Man is lost and on his own: Even though God sent a Redeemer, mans desire to do things his own way will condemn him to be lost in the wilderness until death. We must learn that following God by faith is the only way to life and to one day enter Gods Kingdom.
5 - The Covenant: God made a covenant that He would bless those who come to Himto care for them and make them prosper. Those who do not come to Him will not be blessed and their lives will end in death.
6 - The decision for Jesus: To enter the Promised Land of Gods rest, we must decide to follow Him, cross over to His land, and faithfully begin to rid ourselves of the strongholds of sin.
7 - Making us complete: Once we are in the Promised Land, God will stand by us when we fail and provide discipline designed to draw us back to Him. This is Gods training ground that prepares us for serving Him and delivering fruit for the kingdom.
8 - Faithful servants: When ready, we become Godly servants, living an abundant Christian life. Our work is blessed here on earth, and, of course, there will be great blessings in heaven.
9 - Persevering until the end: Service to God may be difficult, and surely will result in some tough times, but we are to persevere, knowing our hope in Jesus return is sure. All throughout our battle on earth we are to be looking forward to His return and making sure were ready for that day, when He will catch up the faithful to be with Him.
10 - Jesus return: Our time on earth will be complete and our success celebrated when Jesus comes for His Church. Every person ever on earth will be judged; the saved will forever be in Gods kingdom, and the unsaved will go to eternal death. During these last days Jesus will again call His chosen people, the Jews, and some will recognize Him and accept Him as Messiah.
Each of these matters is important to each person on earth. Every number and item represented by God's Redemption Plan has both a good theme and an opposite theme that reflects the consequences to those who do not accept Gods plan. This book concentrates primarily on the positive aspect of the Redemption Pattern, but examples will be revealed showing both sides.
Ill not presume to be a Bible scholar and assume my definitions of the Redemption Pattern are well-defined and fully correct. As with any commentary on the Bible, there will be different views and explanations that each person can evaluate for himself. Whats important to take away from this book is that the pattern does exist and is there to help man learn to live with God. It also helps us learn the basics of how to observe and use the pattern in our study of Gods Word.
These are the basic explanations of each of the patterns ten points. In the next chapter we will review how the numbers one to ten are used in the Bible in a consistent way to always refer to these ten Redemption Pattern themes and will go into even more detail to explain how the themes work.
I discovered the Redemption Pattern as I observed clues to numeric patterns in Scripture several years ago. I observed coincidences where numbers in Scripture seem to follow similar themes. It was not a study on numbers or patterns that began this adventure; it began simply as interesting things to note about the Bible. As I began to pile up more and more notes about such coincidences, and a full two years after my first observation, I began to notice it was a consistent pattern in the use of numbers that appeared throughout the Bible. I then began to come up with descriptions for the themes I saw related to different numbers and their themes.
It was months later when I observed the pattern of number themes being used in the same order in various lists within the Bible. The patterns I saw seemed related to observations other scholars had made about such things as the Lords Prayer being broken down into ten parts, about the generations from Adam to Noah seemingly revealing a redemption story, and about the correlation between the division of the Psalms and the five books of the Pentateuch. I even began to notice that the teachings in the first ten books of the Bible seemed to correspond to the same themes of numbers and patterns. Such observations went on for many months.
More than four years ago I was amazed when I realized for the first time these numbers and themes have a progressive nature. That is, they not only were always in the same order, but they were in a logical order that seems to explain the steps in the learning process. Then I observed that the first ten books of the Bible, from Genesis to Kings, each seemed to be related to the progressive ten steps. I should note that over the years Ive come to understand that for the purpose of seeing the numbers relate to the themes, the books of the Bible are numbered in two different sequences. Of course we are all familiar with the sixty-six-book count, but there is also a second God-intended way of counting every full book that had, over time, been split into multiple parts as one single book. So books such as 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings are counted as single books, thus giving a second fifty-seven count of Bible books. Often it is the fifty-seven count that seems to consistently fit number themes more clearly, but I believe God intended both the sixty-six and fifty-seven countseach reflects different aspects of number-related themes.
Once I saw that the overall themes of the ten books, Genesis through Kings, reflected the Redemption Pattern it became much clearer how God had structured His Word using the Redemption Pattern as a ten-part template, with each part being a step in a set of progressive themes outlining Gods plan of salvation. Having this better understanding, I began to observe the pattern in virtually every aspect of the Bible.
Since theres no one place in Scripture that defines these ten steps of Gods Redemption Plan, I had to determine the definition of each of the ten themes by studying the pattern in thousands of examples to discern the common threads of theme related to each number. So, by looking at the themes for the first ten books and comparing them to the ten parts of the Lords Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the ten I Am statements from Johns gospel, and many other lists the themes, I saw the pattern.All that to say that the idea of a Redemption Pattern is not the result of an epiphany that came upon me one day, or a theory based on random thoughts. Rather, it is the result of eight years of observing what I once thought were coincidences in the Scriptures. But after seeing so many of them I could no longer dismiss them as products of chance. After many months of struggling with them I finally concluded God had written His Word in a pattern that reveals His plan of salvation.
The Bible says and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book (Revelation 22:19).I take this verse very seriously and with great concern. So for years after I began to see what I thought was something too remarkable to believe, I kept my discoveries largely to myself for fear I might be mistaken. I had no desire to face God one day and have Him ask me what in the world I thought I was doing. So Ive made every effort to understand these things and to be consistent with the Word of God. The themes and number relationships I present here are all deduced from thousands of examples found in Gods Word. So I believe what I am writing about is from descriptions left by God and not from the creativity of my own mind, but you can be the judge of that.
Every fact presented here can be confirmed through your own study, but of course I am human and therefore apt to make some mistakes and misinterpretations. I strive to be accurate with Gods Word, and I believe the core premise of the Redemption Pattern is accurate. I pray continued research on these discoveries will continue to ferret out the specific truths. Like anyone sharing their study of the Bible, my understanding of what I see can only be considered an opinion, so I offer them as such, assuming readers will examine any conclusions for themselves, as is expected of every Christian. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so (Acts 17:11).
Each of the first ten books of the Bible is a key source for understanding Gods ten spiritual laws. Below is a brief thought about each book of the Bible and how it relates to the associated teaching in the theme of the Redemption Pattern. The following explanation is not intended in any way to change our understanding of these books but reveals anothr way I believe God wants us to understand His message. We esee in each book examples of both the godly way to live and the consequences for turning away from God. Each book becomes a model of one of the progressive steps and walking with God.
1 - Genesis: The first book of the Bible (1), refers to God as the creator of all things, and to mans separation from God (as a result of sin). We learn that God makes and keeps things after their kind. We see in the story of the patriarchs that God continually separates the faithful from the unfaithful and causes destruction of the unfaithful. Genesis is the story of God, of patriarch leaders, of kings, and of mans desire to do things his own way. We learn about an awesome God and that we are separated from Him, but at the same time He never leaves His people.
2 - Exodus: The second book of the Bible (2), refers to a deliverer (redeemer) from bondage (through a Messiah figure). This book shows Gods desire for a relationship with people, which is why He appointed His Son to respond to our calls for deliverance. He comes and frees us, and leads us out of the hands that keep us in bondage, and begins us on our way to the Promised Land. Throughout this book we see the deliverers constant struggle to deal with a stubborn people, who want to do things their own way and need to learn many lessons, such as that only by following Gods rules will they survive.
3 - Leviticus: The third (3), and it refers to the Law, which reveals Gods righteousness and purity (expressly ministered by the Holy Spirit). We learn about the holiness and power of God as well as about His presence among us, which is now reflected through His Holy Spirit. We also learn God cannot dwell with us if we deny our sin and fail to repent.
4 - Numbers: The fourth (4), and it refers to broken man, wandering in the wilderness and waiting to enter the Promised Land. In the forty years of wilderness wanderings God both tested and prepared His people to be able to follow His will and enter the land, and at the same time cleansed Israel from those not willing to trust Him.
5 - Deuteronomy: The fifth (5), and it refers to rules and regulations for life in the Promised Land (as well as blessings and curses for obedience or disobedience). We learn that before we can truly make a sincere decision to follow God we must know His statutes and ordinances, the covenants He made, and consequences of our decision. If we accept these we are ready to cross over. Deuteronomy is also a book of instructions for entering the land, instructions that inform and prepare us for making the final decision to enter. And, most importantly, Deuteronomy is about acting on that decision by stepping out and trusting God. These instructions also make clear what is expected of each person should they decide to enter. Entering the Promised Land immediately involves battles to remove strongholds of sin, thus cleansing the land so we may fully serve God and not be drawn away to false worship of other nations.
6 - Joshua: The sixth (6), and it teaches us about crossing over into the Promised Land, turning away from our old ways and beginning to live as God intends. This is a model of repenting of our old ways and making the decision to walk in total faith (and find rest), and while God goes ahead of us, we take the first steps to enter the Promised Land and then proceed actively to remove strongholds of sin from our lives.
7 - Judges: The seventh (7), and it refers to the sanctification process (turning away from God, then repenting and returning to Hima struggle Paul discussed so passionately in Romans 7). In Judges we see the repeating cycle where Gods people began by following Him but then began associating with the world and as a result fell away and eventually started worshiping the idols God had warned them against. As a result of their sin God allowed them to suffer. Eventually they called out again for His deliverance. God then came and reminded them of who He is and of their sin and they were restored again. The cycle repeated many times. We see here a model of how Jesus, the Good Shepherd, never leaves us after we accept him as our Lord. Even though we follow this cycle of failures in our lives, His goal for us is to die to ourselves and become faithful, obedient servants. In this process we are becoming complete and prepared to serve God with all our heart, mind, and soul.
8 - Ruth: The eighth book (8), and it refers to a faithful servant clinging to God. Ruth returned with Naomi to follow the true God in the Promised Land, and her servants heart and faithfulness led her to become the wife of Boaz, the model of Jesus in this story. As a result, they were privileged to be a part of the physical lineage of the coming Messiah. This is the story of the path of coming to be Godly, in which we finally give up our own ways and become totally dedicated to serving and obeying God.
9 - Samuel: The combined books of Samuel make up the ninth book (9), and they refer to our hope in waiting for the Lords return. The contrast of King Saul, an unfaithful king, with David, a broken and simple king who retained his faithfulness to God, demonstrates how our walk with God can fail if we dont follow Himor be successful in spite of sin, if we seek to do His will. During this time we are constantly looking forward to the day when the temple will be rebuilt and the Lord will return to dwell among us and be our king.
10 - Kings: The combined books of Kings make up the tenth book (10), and they refer to completion; the last things. As Solomon drifts away from the faithfulness of his father he builds the temple, but as he dies the kingdom divides and the Israelites become slaves of their enemies, as God had warned them through the prophets, and as a model of the events we are headed for in the last days.
1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1).
2. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery (Exodus 20:2).
3. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:3).
4. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4).
5. Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, that you may learn them and observe them carefully (Deuteronomy 5:1).
6. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and {that} none may cross over from there to us. (Luke 16:26).
7. but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1John 1:7).
8. He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day {there was} a solemn assembly according to the ordinance. (Nehemiah 8:18).
9. "Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever ( Exodus 19:9).
10. the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, And the nations cannot endure His indignation (Jeremiah 10:10).
Of course, each of these examples may at first appear contrived through the selection of convenient passages, but as you read on and examine your own Bible, you will discover similar evidences matching the patterns of Gods Redemption Plan.
The Redemption Pattern is an intentionally created structure of the Bible God left for us to discover and use in understanding and confirming His Word. The themes and their meanings are discerned from observing the structure throughout the Bible to fully understand the concepts of the themes. We know its real when, after we become aware of it, we come to observe it virtually every time we read the Scriptures.
Imagine you are taking a course in school and are asked to write a thesis that contains ten progressive themes of Gods spiritual laws. You are to write this theme in ten sections, and every line in the theme in any section was to be numbered. And every line of text is required to reflect the meaning of the number of that line and also to reflect the number of the ten sections being written. In addition, the entire thesis has to be numbered line by line, and every line of text also had to reflect the thesis line number. Then, whenever a list is presented in the thesis, each item in the list must reflect the ten progressive themes. Already sounding impossible? Imagine that every repeated phrase in your thesis has to be numbered by its occurrence, and where used it must reflect the appropriate theme. And the occurrence of every use of every significant word must be numbered and the use of that word must be consistent with the theme. Of course youve been given an impossible task that, even if it were attempted, would result in an unreadable document. This example begins to reveal the complexity of the DNA-like Redemption Pattern structure in the Biblea pattern that can come only from an flawless God.
Every book in the Bible reflects the progressive theme of the Redemption Pattern, and every list of the Bible and every number of the Bible reflects the theme symbolically and in the order of Gods ten spiritual laws. Every line of text in one way or another follows the pattern of the themes, and even words and phrases are counted. And if you observe how words and phrases are used youll see they reflect Gods ten spiritual laws. This ten-part theme overlaps in innumerable ways throughout the Bible, and every verse and possibly every word in some way or another reflects the theme. Incredibly, the themes survive translation, as they are not dependent on individual characters or words, so we are able to clearly discern the structure in every reasonable translation of the Bible.
One of the most amazing facts resulting from this discovery is that the themes of these ten spiritual laws are perfectly consistent in their implementation in the Old and New Testaments of the King James and similar Bibles. This is an incredible testimony that the Bible is one continuous perfect volume brought together by God over thousands of years. Only God could have authored and constructed such an amazing pattern, and, before the first word was ever written down, He must have designed it as evidences, as the perfectly placed center chapter of the Bible reveal.
Each of these following well-known Bible passages can be examined as parts numbered sequentially from one to ten. All these lists can be broken into ten parts, which progressively represent the ten steps of the Redemption Pattern.
1. Why did the author say the Four Spiritual Laws are good for leading people to salvation in Christ but not so good for moving beyond that point.
2. Copy the ten steps of the Redemption Pattern and discuss whether you see pattern.
3. In Great 1-10 Verses That Reflect the Pattern, what verse did the author select to represent point three of the Redemption Pattern? Discuss why you agree or disagree that that verse confirms point three.
4. From the list of Well-known Passages That Fit the Pattern choose two, read them, and discuss why you think they do or do not fit the pattern.
The Christian Bible consists of sixty-six books, of which thirty-nine are in the Old Testament and twenty-seven are in the New Testament. Theologians use the term canon to describe the books that are considered divinely inspired and that, therefore, belong in the Bible. The Bible does not provide a list of the books that belong in it, so the process of determining the inspired Torah (Old Testament) books was undertaken by Jewish rabbis and early scholars. Later, early Christians met and prayed in order to do the same for the New Testament. Many believe it was ultimately God who decided what books belonged in the biblical canon. They believe God, in His supernatural way, determined the canon of the Bible and worked through men to insure that the correct books were chosen. We dont understand how God does such things, but we commonly accept that He is the ultimate author of the Bible.
When the books of the Bible were originally written, they did not contain chapter or verse references. The Bible was divided into chapters and verses to allow for easier reference, and most scholars assume that the positions of these divisions are uninspired and at some points even incorrect and harmful to the interpretation of the text. Some claim incorrect assignment of some chapter and verses separate important text that must remain together for correct interpretation.
The chapter divisions used today were developed by Stephen Langton, an Archbishop of Canterbury. Langton put the modern chapter divisions into place in around AD 1227. The Wycliffe English Bible of 1382 was the first Bible to use these chapter assignments. Since the Wycliffe Bible, nearly all Bible translations have followed Langtons chapter divisions. One interesting story emphasizes the apparent lack of inspiration by explaining Langton actually made his assignments from horseback while traveling on a long journey.
The Hebrew Old Testament was assigned verses in AD 1448 by a Jewish rabbi named Nathan. Robert Estienne (also known as Stephanus) divided the New Testament into standard numbered verses in 1555. Stephanus began with Nathans verse divisions for the Old Testament. Beginning with the Geneva Bible, the chapter and verse divisions employed by Stephanus have been accepted into most Bible versions.
Virtually everyone today assumes as truth that men assigned chapter and verse numbers to Gods Word for our convenience and that, while helpful, the chapters and verses are an imperfect addition to the God-inspired Bible. This is a reasonable assumption based on what men understand about the creation of Scriptures, but it is interesting that we take as truth that God inspired all Scripture and even influenced those who brought together the canon of Scripture to create the sixty-six books in the Bible we know today. We believe God somehow influenced the order and selection of Bible books, but at the same time do not consider the same possibility for the assignment of chapter and verses.
Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
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This chapter will present compelling evidence that, like the supernatural influence God exercised in bringing together the books of the Bible, He also did the same in the assignment of verses in both Old and new Testaments. This evidence is not a result of an attempt to prove the inspiration of chapter and verses but is a result of observing thousands of biblical reference numbers that tie together the text of Scripture in a perfection that could be orchestrated only by God. The number references in Scripture are much more than an interesting anomaly of the Bible but are key tools for interpreting and understanding the Bible.
Recommended Resource: The Canon of Scripture, by F.F. Bruce.
Evidence for Divinely Inspired Reference Numbers
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:21).
God says His Word is perfect and true, and while Christians agree with this, at the same time we somehow dismiss that God could have intended this to include the Bible we have in our hands today. God is incomprehensible: He is the creator of the universe, the one who names the stars and at the same time numbers the hairs on our heads could surely create and preserve His perfect Word for us today.
The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times. You, O LORD, will keep them ( Psalm 12:6).
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away (Luke 21:33).
In the same way God supernaturally inspired the writing of His Word, the perfection of the Numeric Map suggests He also supernaturally preserves and protects His Word. So, even though it is not generally believed that Gods divine inspiration applies to the interpretation and copying of it, verses about the perfection of Gods Word might imply he actively prevents His Word from being modified or even being counterfeitedat least for some versions. I am not suggesting the Bible cant be corrupted, but it seems God has supernaturally preserved precise copies of his Word, and the Redemption Pattern and Numeric Map can serve to validate which Bibles are properly preserved and inspired works.
Until I encountered Gods perfection in Biblical numbers, I probably would have said this all sounds a bit like fantasy or something out of science fiction. Math and numbers do not lie, and whether we think it is impossible or not, somehow the perfection of the DNA-like intersecting numbers of the Numeric Map seem to prove that God has supernaturally created and preserved versions of His original Word. In regard to the chapter and verse designations, as well as books contained in the Bible, it seems Bibles such as the King James, New American Standard Version, and other similarly translated and structured works qualify as valid and preserved copies of the actual Word of God.
The Redemption Pattern and Numeric Map also help confirm the translation of messages in verse text, but to how much accuracy we cannot be sure. I do believe our God is capable of creating a Bible whose interpretation can cross the boundaries of language, so it would not be necessary for precise word-for-word translation to occur for the message of His Word to remain accurate.
With an intelligence we cannot comprehend, it appears God has written His Word with the pattern of His plan for creation underlying every book, chapter, and verse. I sometimes refer to the Redemption Pattern as the DNA of the Bible because there does not seem to be an end to its amazing complexity and depth.
Evidence for Inspired Chapter and Verses
The following example verses are taken from like-numbered chapters in the same nine books of the Bible. They demonstrate how like-chapter numbers contain common themes. Knowing this helps in determining the overall messages in each chapter of the Bible. Once you understand the themes for numbers you can use them to help interpret themes associated with Bible chapters of the same number. As impossible as that sounds, when you begin to investigate it for yourself youll wonder why youve never before noticed a common relationship in commonly numbered chapters.
Ive given only a single example below, using the theme for the number eight as compared to chapter eights. The number eight is related to being ready to become an obedient and faithful servant and also to receiving blessings God has promised. We know eight is related to baptism, to the eight days normally waited before circumcision, and to resurrection, which is on the eighth day. In addition, eight is associated with the remnant of eight in the ark who were saved from the flood. The theme for number eight speaks of the Godly, who are consecrated to the Lord, and who humble themselves before God and give up their own ways to follow and obey Him. Associated with eight and relating to each of these themes is also a strong aspect of abundance or lack of abundance, such as famine. It is important to note that although chapters usually have very strong content associated with their number-related theme, there may be multiple valid themes or subthemes found in chapters, and themes related to chapter numbers do not necessarily contend with other themes also found within the text.
Below is a list of chapter eights with a notation of some eight-related themes found within the text. Together they reveal messages consistent with the chapter number. Test the themes using your own Bible by examining other chapter eights, comparing the message of the chapter with the theme for eight.
Chapter Eights: godly, remnant, resurrection, blessings and abundance or lack
Ive shown in previous chapters that theres no shortage of evidences pointing to something well beyond mere coincidence in the alignment of chapters and verses. As we revisit some examples and look anew at some others, ask yourself whether God could have inspired chapter and verse assignments, just as He inspired the composition of the text and the canonization process.
Revelation 14:4 is the key verse in the Bible that describes the 144,000 witnesses. It is located precisely among all verses within the entire Bible to line up with the biblical text designed for this numbered location.
These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These {are} the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb (Revelation 14:4).
The 144,000 are mentioned in only three verses: Revelation 7:4, 14:1 and 14:3. To learn who these people are, look at the next verse and then carefully examine the verse reference numbers....
St. Augustine believed 1,000 is Gods number of perfection. The message in the Bibles 1,000th chapter is truly a special onemany would say its the most important chapter of the Bibles 1,189 chapters. As we saw in previous chapters, the 1,000th chapter is John 3:16 (For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life).
If God were looking for specific, likely-to-be-found locations to place evidence for His supernatural authorship, the exact middle chapter of the Bible would be one of the best places to do so. Evidence found there would be less likely to be an example contrived by men. As seen in chapter one, Psalm 117 is placed at exactly the halfway point in the Bibles 1,189 chapters. Psalm 117the shortest chapter in the entire Bible (just two verses) says, Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.
Like the middle chapter of the Bible, the middle verse of the Bible is a unique location to place evidence for a intelligently designed complete book of God. Of the 31,102 verses in the Bible, the 15,551st verse is the last verse of the first half. The chapter and verse numbers we find there are strong evidence that we have the correct total of verses in the Bible, and the verse text also fits the special nature of this one-of-a-kind Bible location.
Psalm 103:1-2 are the precise middle verses of the Bible, which has 31,102 verses. God has positioned the two center verses of the Bible, declaring the earth and everything in it are to bless Him. Their unique position also shouts to us, Look Here!
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name (Psalm 103:1).
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Psalm 103:2).
For these numbers to fall in just the right place requires that every book, chapter, and verse of the Bible be properly positioned and numbered, as well as requiring that the corresponding verse text be positioned and written exactly as it appears. God is Amazing.
There are many number counts and sequences that reveal the Bibles God-designed structure. The 24,000th verse of the Bible is one of the most obvious locations where multiple counts and sequences all line up in a single place, demonstrating the DNA-like web of perfection of the Bibles intersecting numbers and text.
Matthew 24 is the chapter in which Jesus explains the Day of the Lord, and verse 42 is the key verse: you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
There are five separate twenty-four-related numbers that all intersect at this precise location of Matthew 24:42five coincidences that all happen to occur on a super-twenty-four verse in the Bible:
1. The chapter is 24.
2. The verse is 42, which is 24 in reverse.
3. The chapter theme is about The Day of the LORD (a day, of course, is commonly seen as 24 hours).
4. The 42nd (24 in reverse) and key verse of the chapter is about not knowing the DAY/HOUR (24-hour day) Jesus will return.
5. Most incredibly, the precise location of this passage: the 24,000th verse in the Bible.
The calculated probability of all these 24s coming together in this one location is .0000000000053 or .53 billionths of 1 chance.
The probability is a number too small for most of us to understand, but it might help you ponder the perfection in Scripture. The Bible has a level of perfection we cannot comprehend. Not only was it written in perfection, but the 66 books, 1,189 chapters, and 31,102 verses were all perfectly written, organized, and formed into the Bible we have today. And, most importantly, God preserved it since the day the first word was written.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away (Matthew 24:35).
Ruth 4:9 is one of those very special locations in the Bible where so many numbers all line up as if to say, Look here for a special message! In this case the message seems to shouting out the theme of the number 72. Notice the theme of witnessing in the verse. This example shows that numbers have themes that aid in our interpretation.
Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi (Ruth 4:9).
Witnessing is part of the ninth step of Gods Redemption Pattern, and its no coincidence that 8 x 9 = 72 and 72 has a theme of witnessing. See how the following intersecting numbers for this verse confirm the Bibles perfection and also help confirm the number 72 is related to witnessing. The verse is about witnessing and paying the purchase price of redeeming the gentile Ruth.
1. This happens to be the 72nd verse in the book of Ruth.
2. Its the 236th Bible chapter (2 x 36 = 72)
3. Its Ruth 4:9 and 4 x 9 is 36, which is a factor of 72 (2 x 36)
4. Most incredibly, its the 7,200th verse of the Bible.
I believe numbers that line up so precisely are Gods highlighting, placed there so at the right time in the future the world would recognize the supernatural authorship of His Word.
This evidence is one of many examples where there is too much coincidence to reasonably dismiss as a product of chance. Its a good example of numbers that line up in the Bible yet are not in themselves irrefutable proof of a supernatural structure in Gods Word. This example is so strong that the preponderance verifiable facts sometimes overwhelms even the most strident skeptics ability to dismiss as chance. Often, when I present such compelling evidence most people simply cannot comprehend the possibility of it being the work of an intelligent creator and at the same time have no explanation of how the perfection can exist. Usually this results in the person dismissing the example as inexplicable and then wanting to move on to discuss another subject.
Fifty-three refers to the glorification of Jesus, who ascended to heaven to dwell with God and also refers to the glorification of men who will also one day be glorified when Jesus lefts up His faithful to dwell with Him. There is a special uniqueness to this number due in part to its curious use in John 21, referring to exactly 153 fish that were brought up in the net when Jesus was on the shore and His disciples were out in the boat.
We might not wonder so much if the number was fifteen or twenty or even 150, but the number 153 implies they counted each and every fish, and John felt it was important to be precise in recording the number. Why? Because Gods numbers are precise and add important information to interpretationin this case the net full of 153 fish is a reference to a full catch of many that would be one day be lifted up (glorified) to heaven without a single one being lost. What makes looking at the number 53 compelling is how God has supernaturally highlighted it throughout the Bible so one day we might take note of his amazing DNA-like numeric map. Following are examples of impossible coincidences of 53 that together declare the numbering in Gods Word cannot be accidental or contrived by men.
In John 21:11 Peter (The Rock) drew up 153 fish into the boat, representing men who would one day be glorified: Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
In the 53rd verse of Exodus 3 (which happens to be the 53rd chapter of the Bible) God declared his name to Moses, who was unable to look at Gods Glory and was afraid: I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God (Exodus 3:6). Again, in Exodus 3:15 the chapter and verse contain the numbers that form 53, and in this verse God again declares His name: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.
Many consider the 53rd chapter of Isaiah to be one of the holiest chapters of the Bible; it tells of how Christ suffered and took on our sins before entering His glory in heaven. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being {fell} upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
1. Psalm 53 is not coincidently also the Bibles 531st chapter, and it declares that the Savior who will restore Israel will come from Jerusalem: Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores His captive people (Psalm 53:6).
2. The 53rd verse in the Bibles 53rd book (57 count) tells us our spirits are dead (cannot be glorified) For just as the body without {the} spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead (James 2:26). (I speculate the verse reference of 2:26 is no coincidence, since 2 x 26.5 = 53). Ill explain in a later chapter how the cross-Bible verse number (30,320) is also a number that corresponds to 53.
3. The Bibles 153rd verse contains the numbers 300, 50, and 30 in the text (353), and refers to the dimensions of Noahs Ark that will lift up and save the remnant from the flood. This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits (Genesis 6:15).
4. In the Bibles 1,053rd chapter Paul tells the Romans that believers have died to the law so they can serve in the newness of the spirit (glorified): But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit (Romans 7:6).
5. During research I happened to stumble over the discovery that the word cloud occurs in 153 verses in the NASB, and in examining these verses one of them (Job 26:8) paralleled John 21:11, where the net was brought up to shore with 153 fish, but the net did not break. Job 26:8 has a very similar and related message: He wraps up the waters in His clouds, And the cloud does not burst under them. Job 26:8 helps interpret John 21:11, and the relationship to the word cloud, which occurs 153 times, is further evidence the comparison is reasonable.
6. The only verse 153 in the Bible is in Psalm 119 and, along with verse 154, it has direct numeric associations with fifty-three, and text supporting the message of crying out to God to be saved. Look upon my affliction and rescue me, For I do not forget Your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word. Verse 154 is associated with the specific number 53 in two ways: First, subtracting the one taken from verse number 154 gives us a result of 53 (such subtraction will be explained in a later chapter). Second, and even more compelling is the cross-Bible verse number of 16,053, which ends in 53. Of course we cannot be sure about all our interpretations about Scripture, so I am not claiming this as positive proof, but rather as evidence the number 53 has a theme relating to raising up, saving, or glorifying, as in the case where one is being caught up into heaven.
A Multitude of Number Combinations With no Formula
Ive found other number patterns I dont fully understood, because its not as if God uses an algorithm for determining number placementat least not as far as I can figure out.
I believe God has hidden numbers within the Bible in such a way that they can be discerned only by the engaged human mind and not through computer calculations. For example, Revelation 14:4 contains the description of the 144,000, but Revelation 14:3 begins the passage by expressly mentioning the 144,000 by number. If God had arranged the text in this and many other places such that the number in the text precisely lined up with the verse number, people might have seen these patterns long ago. But I suspect God has His reasons for not revealing them until now, and one of His ways of delaying these discoveries is to disguise them just below the surface of our casual comprehension.
Likewise I think many of the uses of numbers are apparent in the patterns but not easy to predict or even to explain. For example, Revelation 13:18 says, Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. It is not a coincidence that this is the 18th verse in the 1,180th chapter of the Bible. And no doubt you noticed that 6 + 6 + 6 = 18, so the verse number matches with the number in the text as well as the cross-Bible chapter number. Ive found these subtle connections to be common but not necessarily consistent.
Second Kings 2:24 includes this text: Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number. The numbers 2 and 42 are in the text, and the chapter and verse numbers are 2 and 24 (which is the reverse of 42). Again, the number relationship to the text is slightly hidden from the casually observing eye. Whats more, the word lad appears forty-two times in an NASB. Its impossible to know precisely if any one of these things might be coincidence.
Revelation 12:6 says, the woman fled into the wilderness she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Did you notice the verse reference was an exact match to the 1,260 days in the text? There are so many relationship coincidences in so many places that sometimes I wonder what is significant and what may not be. The number of obviously significant ones is so overwhelming that Im tempted not to ignore anything. For example, Revelation 8:1 says, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Notice this specifically says about half an hour. This happens to be the Bibles 30,829th verse. Twenty-nine is about as close to half an hour as you can get without being an exact match. I suspect its no coincidence, but its impossible to be sure.
Ive shown that the Bible has an amazing organization; that every word, phrase, and verse was written in an overlapping and perfect pattern that fits a template reminding us constantly of Gods Redemption Plan. I believe that although the chapter and verse numbers were not physically assigned to the text as it was written, God had planned them from the beginning and was waiting for the proper time for them to be revealed. He arranged for men to assemble the books in the correct order and later supernaturally supervised the numbering of all the chapters and verses.
Little did we know that behind all the numbering we see there are many more levels of numbering and counting that form an intricate DNA-like web of perfection that maps all the text of Scripture. But you might be asking, Why would God do this? Is it simply to demonstrate an intelligence beyond our comprehension?
As you begin to understand the numbers you will discover their usefulness beyond what you imagined. As I see the amazing value I wonder why God has kept them hidden for so many years. But then, as I ponder it, I remember that its really only been relatively recently that such numbering could be put to use.
Its probably only been in the last 100 years that these numbers could have been put to work by the general reader of the Bible, and maybe only in the last thirty years that we have the tools to begin to observe them. Although Ive not found any computer algorithms that would help me automatically discern number meanings, it has been the amazing power of the computer to quickly locate and analyze sets of related verses that has enabled me to examine thousands of examples to discern the intelligence of the patterns.
I also suspect that God knew when we would most need this numerically based evidence to bolster and renew our confidence in His Word. In this media-biased society where the worlds intelligence is forced on us everywhere we turn, it is understandably difficult for many seeking God to know where to turn, with so many stories about so many beliefs all sounding so similar and compelling. Millions of people who have not had the benefit of learning about God from family and friends in their early years are lost in a sea of confusion. Might God have given us this Redemption Pattern and Numerical Map to the Bible to begin a new revolution of understanding Him that would empower believers in their faith and give them new tools for proclaiming the God of the universe and the story of his son Jesus Christ? I like to believe this is what God is doing.
These new discoveries are valuable. I place their value into five categories:
1. The role in validating the Bibles accuracy and inspiration
2. The role in teaching and reminding believers of Gods plan of redemption
3. The role in providing new tools for scholars and laymen to better understand and interpret Scripture
4. The role of providing a Numeric Map to the Bible that reveals in ways weve never understood before the cross-referencing of the text to expose relationships and biblical text we would not otherwise have been able to see.
5. The role of better understanding our world as we discover Gods Redemption Pattern. The numbers extend to how the universe was created.
Well look into these roles a little more deeply in the next chapter.
The Bibles perfection is revealed as we comprehend that it is one complete volume, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, and that each of the 31,102 verses has been assigned a cross-Bible verse number associated themes that line up perfectly with the text (as, for example, we saw in Matthew 24:42 being the Bibles 24,000th verse). Without the Numeric Map being available to reveal this structure, we never would imagine the Bible is in perfect order, with not a verse out of place, none added and none removed. This is an unfathomable miracle only the confirmable perfection of numbers can reveal. Gods Numeric Map provides us with mathematical evidence validating God prepared and preserved the Bible exactly as He intended.
As has been mentioned earlier, the numbers are not simply a way to see the perfection of the Bible; they also guide in interpreting it. Before getting into more about numbers as a guide to interpretation it is worthwhile to consider the taboos generally associated with the study of numbers as well as the perception that bringing numbers into the study of Gods Word would make understanding it more difficult rather than simplifying it.
Numbers: Complex or Dangerous?
Thinking about the study of numbers immediately causes us to either imagine a new-age mystical type of study drawing conclusions without valid facts or to imagine mathematicians pouring over thousands of numbers to come up with evidence for their latest project. Thus the concept of studying biblical numbers immediately brings up similar thoughts, which can cause us to avoid any attention to them before we know what they are about.
Numbers in the Bibles text are in one sense no different from words or phrases we carefully consider during our study, as we know God gave them all literal and symbolic meanings. We should no more avoid the study of numbers than we would discourage considering the symbolic meaning of the text, but the common tendency is for the average person to steer away from numbers as they might lead us down a dangerous path.
Im not big on conspiracies, but I believe Satan, who is a great counterfeiter, has, over hundreds of years, set out to discredit the healthy study of numbers through our awareness of all the strange and even evil uses of numbers, such as in the occult. He has turned our minds against them so strongly that the first thought of a study of biblical numbers is so distasteful we immediately want to run the other way. God made numbers, and they have uses and meaning far beyond our understanding, and to study them is a wonderful study of a part of His creation.
But just because we can study numbers does not mean we should. The average person simply desires to spend time in Gods Word to learn about God and draw closer to Him. Does the study of biblical numerics take us farther from the healthy study of Gods Word or does it truly move us toward a better understanding?
Although much of the content of this book is great food for scholars, my intent in sharing the Numeric Map is to tell others the amazing joy Ive found in learning how a simple knowledge of numbers has profoundly changed my study of Gods Word. It has transformed my struggle of understanding His Word to a great adventure in discovering His truths. Numbers have been like a set of eyeglasses that open a new world of adding a third dimension of seeing the messages in the text where I was before only seeing in two flat dimensions.
Numbers Move Us to Contextual Based Study
One of the most important interpretative tools for understanding Scripture is to know to study everything in context. That is, not to quickly draw conclusions from verse text without first considering the surrounding context they are a part of. The context of a passage verse does not only include the understanding of the chapter and book it is found in, but also to understand who wrote it, when it was written, who the target audience was and even the cultural situation at the time of the writing. All these factors help us better understand the intended messages in the text.
At first glance it would seem the study of numbers would draw us away from seeing the overall context of Scripture, rather than taking us deeper into numerical analyses of words and phrases. This certainly can happen, but the beauty of numbers is their ability to point out context at any level desired, from the most general to the most detailed. Every number is a guide to an associated theme, and since numbers are associated with books, chapters, verses, lists, and words, they can illuminate and simplify any level, as opposed to further complicating it. We need only pay attention to numbers when we desire more information to enhance our understanding.
Numbers of the Redemption Pattern and Numeric Map naturally help us study the Bible in context, as their themes guide us to context at every level. They help more quickly and accurately discern the themes of the text and stay closer to its intended messages. Numbers are not an infallible guide, because we will misunderstand their meanings in the same way we do with the text, so in that sense they are no more exact than other tools. But numbers enhance our ability to more correctly understand Gods Word.
A simple example of how knowledge of numbers can provide insight into your study is realizing that John 3 is at the special location of being the 1,000th of 1,189 Bible chapters and contains the most often shared verse about Gods message to people: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Assuming it is a very unlikely coincidence that the keystone verse of Christianity happens to be found in a chapter stamped with Gods number of perfection, consider what supernatural highlighting of this chapter tells us. It suggests it is Gods idea to share this verse around the world, as opposed to an idea dreamed up by men. It confirms the critical importance of the verseand other messages of John chapter 3, as the thirty-six verses of this chapter probably provide the best overview of the plan of salvation found in the Bible. And if we wondered if there was any more important place to look, the highlighting of this chapter by aligning it with this special 1,000th position indicates God wants us to especially notice its message. This unusual numbering also makes it more compelling and can open conversations with others to share Gods message because it can cause people to pause to think about the possibility of this supernatural marking.
This is just one of thousands of examples where Gods numbers speak to us in incredible ways when we become aware of them. They are too valuable to ignore.
The Bibles Built-in Concordance
In the previous example we did not need an understanding of Greek and Hebrew or access to volumes of commentaries to reveal the important message revealed through knowledge of a simple number association. No sophisticated computer-based algorithms were necessary to make use of these biblical numbers. By realizing that the numbers of the Bible all consistently point to meaningful themes and are designed for anyone to use, we can immediately put them to work to bring new excitement and adventure to understanding the Bible.
The Numeric Map is an incredible numeric cross reference built into the Bible by the Author Himself. You might think of it as the new appearance of a God-developed concordance implemented beside every chapter and verse. God is amazing; He has provided the best concordance and biblical index and left it right before our eyesall we need to do is learn how to use it. The Numeric Map can be used as simply a table of contents-like tool, and its amazing DNA-like attributes allows you to stretch the value of this God-given index to any depth your abilities allow.
Validating Biblical Text
As amazing as it sounds, I believe it is possible to determine which of our ancient biblical manuscripts are most accurate by using the Numeric Map to compare them to Bibles we use today. The Numeric Map mathematically proves itself to be correct, so the ancient texts that most accurately correspond to it are likely the best texts to depend on. If we can better judge the accuracy based on correctness of chapter and verses, then we may then be able to decide if we want to consider other differences in the texts as useful or not.
As we gain confidence in the Numeric Map, one important validation role is its ability to contrast our interpretation of Scripture against the themes suggested by numbering. If our interpretations do not agree with the map, then we should reevaluate or at least reconfirm what we believe the text to be saying. There are at least four different reasons why the themes may not line up with the text. 1) Our interpretation of the text may need correcting. 2) Our understanding of the theme related to numbering may be incorrect. 3) The translation from the original text is inaccurate. 4) There are errors in the original text used for translation.
I imagine it is likely the DNA-like numeric mapping is so precise that it can validate biblical text down to verse text, words or even letters, but as was mentioned in an earlier chapter, I have not discovered any consistent algorithm that might allow us to unravel its full meaning. I suspect any algorithm-like method implemented by God in the Numeric Map is far too complex for human understanding and will never be reverse engineered to such a degree we could use it to make absolute decisions on the proper interpretation of the text. So, while the numbering and related themes are very precise, our use of them will be much less accurate. For now we can make use of it to the level of understanding we achieve.
The Role of the Redemption Pattern
Weve already covered the basics of the structure of the ten-part Redemption Pattern and how the pattern teaches us about the steps on the path of spiritual growth. These ten themes, which match up with the foundational numbers one to ten, reveal the patterns of these laws of God wherever we read them in the Bible. The themes each of them represents help guide us to more correct understanding of the messages in the text. If we understand the nature of the progressive themes in the pattern we will see this same progression in the messages in the text, which often creates a flow of understanding we otherwise would not experience. The Redemption Plan has a way of clarifying the meaning of each part the text, and through this better understanding we develop a more accurate understanding of passages we read.
Like many people, I get concerned when people say they have ways to reveal hidden messages in the Bible. I want to be sure everyone knows the Numeric Map is not a code to be deciphered and thus does not, like a code, reveal hidden messages. The Redemption Pattern does make us aware of relationships in the text that help us recognize meanings we have been missing, so while it does not expose hidden messages, it often results in revealing meaning not previously understood. For example, Genesis 14:14 tells us: When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. There is no great mystery about this verse except that the presence of the very specific number 318 causes many to wonder why such an exact number was shared. Common sense tells us there is likely a reason, and knowing what it is may add to our understanding. Numbers reveal this to be true. By using simple tools of the Numeric Map we can examine other Bible numbers related to this verse and the number 318 to see if they tell us anything.
To shorten this example we will explain just the results of the research. How these tools are used is explained in a later chapter. This is the only verse in the Bible containing 318 in the text, so to understand what 318 may signify, we can examine other verses associated with the number 318. The 318th verse of the Bible gives a clue; it is the second half of a passage that begins in Genesis 12:18: Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, She is my sister, so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.
As you learn more about the Numeric Map you will be watching for special little treasures such as the one you may have missed while reading this verse. Look at it again and see if you notice anything special. Give up? We are examining the 318th verse in the Bible and by adding the one and two from the chapter number and sliding the result of three over next to the verse number we again see the number 318. I refer to these special little coincidences as Gods highlighting, where He somehow specially marks verses to tell us we are on the right track in our investigations. So we find Genesis 12:18 marked with the number 318 twicea good indication this verse reveals an aspect of the numbers theme. By comparing the verse text with our original we find both tell of an event where women or wives are being restored to their husbands, which is a good clue to the theme for 318.
The next verse I examined was Ruth 3:18, whose chapter and verse again reflect our number of interest. Here again we see a theme where Boaz, a type of Jesus, is going to a man at the city gate to make sure Ruth and Naomi are redeemed. As this is about to happen Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz will not rest until the matter of her redemption is settled: Then she said, Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today. Again, we see the similar theme of a woman being redeemed.
Our study of these and other 318-related verses seems to confirm that 318 has a theme of a husband or bridegroom fighting for and redeeming his bridea picture of Jesus who fights for His bride. As you can see, the numbers have not decoded any part of the verse, but understanding how numbers relate to themes gives us a new understanding we had not realized before. There is nothing difficult about this research once you try it for yourself a few times.
The Redemption Pattern maps the Bible at the book level, the chapter level, and the verse level, but it goes well beyond. The many different levels of numbers reveal new divisions and sections not previously seen. For example, the Bible has just over 31,000 verses, and numbers reveal that at one level God has divided the Bible into 31 parts, each of 1,000 verses, and each of these sections contains a mapped-out Redemption Pattern message in itself. These are not messages we are unaware of, but when we observe the context within this layer of mapping we gain new understanding.
I will explain later how every 1,000th verse is a turning point where we see a major event that ends one section of the story and begins the next. Notice three different elements contained in the transition from the 3,998th to the 4,000th verse of the Bible (Numbers 10:9-10). First, God instructs that before Israel goes into battle, and before celebrations and at the beginnings of months, the people were to blow a trumpet reminding them that God is with them and goes before them. Next, in the 4,000th verse the pillar of cloud that would lead Israel moves out for the first time, and the wilderness wanderings begin. Finally, this is confirmed by the 4,001st verse, which states the sons of Israel set out on their journeys, and the wilderness wanderings actually begin. We have transitioned from the 3,000 set of verses, where God was preparing Israel for the journey ahead, and then in the 4,000 series of verses the story of the journey is told.
The Pattern is a Tool for Interpreting Scripture
Ive found its difficult for people to seriously consider the possibility of the pattern when they are not convinced theres any value in knowing of its existence. In previous chapters I wrote about knowing Gods plan of salvation and of how this DNA of the Bible changes how we think of Scripture, but this is only the beginning of the patterns value.
The pattern is a perfectly repeating template of ten progressive elements of Gods plan that are woven precisely into His Word. Because it is perfect and repeatable, it has incredible uses to help us understand Gods messages. It is not a code or a cipher, and it does not to my knowledge bring any predictive power to those who know it (other than what might be predicted by simply understanding Gods Word more thoroughly).
Each of the ten points in Gods pattern is associated with the numbers one to ten. Although the pattern is not about numbers, God associates numbers with each point in His pattern. This is always the case in the Bibles use of numerics. Every number can be broken down into its numeric digits, and the association of these digits with Gods plan points to themes associated with numbers. This sounds like a complex statement, and Im sure the implications are more intricate than I can even imagine, but even taken in its simplest form, where the numbers one to ten are associated with ten themes, provides great tools for understanding Gods Word.
I have found that, without exception, God always uses numbers consistent with the message He conveys in His Word. Not only are individual digits associated with themes, but numbers greater than ten are also associated with common themes as well. So when we see any number in the Bible and wonder if it has some special meaning, one simple study method we can use is to look at other places where the same number is used to determine if we perceive a theme for the number. For example, number thirty-six always seems to be associated with some sort of covering or enclosure, and it is even associated with statements about the world we live in. Thirty-six is related to things like being surrounded, or to entire sets of things. So if we read Mark 8:36, For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? and notice the reference to whole world and the verse number of 36, we get a sense of the intensity of this statement, as well as reassurance we are reading the direct words of God. It may seem like a little thing, but my experience is that, during my reading, these little reminders of Gods authorship help me stay focused and interested in every verse I study.
By using the knowledge of numbers and their theme associations we observe things and see God in His Word like we have never done before. This is a small sample of how knowing Gods pattern and His perfect implementation of it adds adventure and increases our faith in the study of His Word.
Following Number Trails
I continually remind people that Gods inspired numbers are not codes, but sometimes numbers by themselves can lead us to discover mysteries in Scripture. In such examples numbers serve as directional pointers to highlight aspects of Scripture. During our Bible study we may casually observe a number and find something we did not expect, then as our interest is piqued we may examine other numbers associated with the text, which often results in observing unexpected relationships that communicate surprising messages. For example, Job 37:7 says, He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. The verse text alone might get our attention, as it speaks of a very important action of sealing someone for redemption. The special number thirty-seven associated with this interesting text might prompt us to take a second look at the chapter and verse numbers, which reveal it has very strong occurrences of the number seven. The thirty-seven in the chapter number is related to the number 777, which is a number of perfection and often of the Trinity. If you are as interested in Scripture treasures, as I am, such numbers will prompt you to check out other numbers for the verse, and you would find this is the 473rd chapter and the 907th verse in Job as well as the 13,777th Bible verse. The analysis of these numbers and all the sevens associated with them suggests the verse tells us one day Jesus will mark each redeemed persons hand so that others may know we are His. This seems similar to Satans mark of 666, which will be placed on those who put their trust in him. It seems Satan has again counterfeited what God has ordained. Thats not too difficult an analysis, and its probably been seen by others before, but its striking that 777 is associated with this verse and actually may refer to the meaning or number of the mark Jesus will put on His redeemed. I would not declare this to be undoubtedly a hidden mystery of God, as only He could know for sure, but once you become more familiar with the preponderance of number evidences, such examples begin to reveal some amazing treasures in His Word. In this case we may have seen valuable information about a number and a mark that could lead to other discoveries in the Bible, in archaeology, and in the worlddiscoveries that tell us more about God.
Numbers Reveal Chapter Themes
Another simple insight numbers provide is in guiding us to more quickly discern chapter themes. The theme associated with numbers will be somehow found in chapters having that number. For example, knowing that number 14 is about Jesus, the one who returns to redeem us, you can use that information to watch for this theme in chapter 14s. Matthew 14 fits this theme well. Several aspects of this chapters contents declare Jesus is the son of God. Some wonder if John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. Jesus feeds the 5,000 with a few loaves and fish, and calms a storm and heals the sick. Verse 33 is the key verse of the chapter: those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, You are certainly Gods Son! By watching for a theme closely related to Jesus the redeemer we are more apt to notice the events in this chapter focus on the point that only God could do these things and, as the disciples declared, Jesus truly is the Son of God. Even if we already suspected this theme the chapter number further confirms it.
Every chapter 14 in the Bible somehow relates to this theme of Jesus the redeemer, or on an opposite meaning of a counterfeit redeemer. To summarize a few of them: In Genesis 14 Abram goes to battle to rescue relatives captured by the enemy. Exodus 14 tells the story of Moses delivering the Israelites through the Red Sea. Leviticus 14 tells of the laws of being cleansed from sin. Numbers 14 speaks of those not willing to enter the Promised Land being struck down. Judges 14 tells when the spirit came upon Sampson mightily to kill and destroy. And in Revelation 14 we see Jesus, the Lamb/Lion of God, standing on Mount Zion with a sharp sickle in his hand.
Chapter numbers are an amazingly quick way to get an idea about the potential theme of any chapter. I find it especially useful when listening to sermons or finding myself in Bible studies studying unfamiliar passages of scripture. It is rewarding to let the number based chapter theme guide you to better understandings of verses being discussed.
Cross-Bible and Book Verse Numbers
There are 31,102 verses in the Bible, so, just as cross-Bible chapter numbers aid in chapter theme interpretation, cross-Bible verse numbers add valuable insight into the themes for verse text. Cross-Bible verse numbers are simply the sequence number of verses according to their location. The Bible verse number for the first verse in the Bible (Genesis 1:1) is 1 and for the last verse in the Bible (Revelation 22:21) is 31,102. The details of how to use this number to find associated themes is discussed in a later section.
As it does with cross-Bible verse numbers, the DNA-like Numeric Map also counts and assigns numbers to each verse within books of the Bible. These are referred to as book-verse numbers. Revelation has 404 verses, so the last verse in Revelation (22:21) has both a book verse number of 404 and a Bible verse number of 31,102, each of which contributes to understanding the verse theme.
You will begin to see there are many numbers associated with a verse, and they all have clues to the messages the verse text participate in. Sometimes all the numbers associated with the verse confirm very similar themes, but they also can reveal very separate themes found in the same verse text. For example, book-verse numbers such as 660-669 may reflect a theme of sand or of repentance, while the same verses may have Bible-verse numbers 88,801-88,889, which reflect attributes of a mature servant of God. Both these number themes can be true because the same sets of verses that reflect sin and redemption can also reflect sin and redemption as it relates to a mature believer.
Try to avoid making the numbers fit the text. Doing so often results in frustration. The numbers help reveal the theme, but we cannot make the text fit the numbers. Gods numbers are designed to aid in understanding His Word. The words in Scripture are whats important. Always think of the numbers as Gods pattern for helping us know what the words mean and as Gods way of validating the truth and perfection in His Word.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
Author note: Jerry Gramckow is the editor of this book, but he has become much more than that over the course of its writing. In addition to becoming a great friend, hes the one who makes sure my content is consistent with the messages of Scripture we both believe. Jerry has a passion for the book of Romans, which is the model used in this chapter to walk the reader through the parallels of a full book of the Bible and the Redemption Pattern. Since Jerry knows Romans better than I do, and at the time of this writing is the only other person I know who is beginning to grasp the Redemption Pattern and Numeric Map, I asked him to be the author of this important chapter. As I did, I think you will enjoy how he shows that each of the sixteen chapters of Romans matches the parallel number in the Redemption Pattern, and together they form an amazing body of evidence that this pattern is integral to every part of the Bible. When Jerry and I began working together he was as doubtful as anyone that such a pattern really did exist in the Bible. His constant questioning and needing to be sure has been a great encouragement to me as I know now what he writes is what he sees, and the slow-but-sure path he has taken to experience the pattern is the path we must all take to truly comprehend it is real and God is its source.
Romans is Pauls treatise; it lays out his God-inspired view of the Gospel. Romans is the Bible in a nutshell; if you want a one-book summary of the entire Bible, read Romans.
Frederic Godet, a Swiss theologian, said, Every movement of revival in the history of the Christian church has been connected to the teachings set forth in Romans ... and it is probably that every great spiritual renovation in the church will always be linked, both in cause and effect, to a deeper knowledge of this book.
While Paul is known for (and sometimes derided for) what some see as rambling parenthetical thoughts, he really was a logical thinker, and his letters follow a logical progression. Lets look at his logical flow through his letter to the believers in Romeand examine how it fits the Bibles numerical patterns.
Romans One: Universal Guilt
After his introductory salutations in the first fifteen verses of the first chapter, in the next two verses Paul launches into the meat of the message: the Gospel. He wasnt ashamed of the most powerful truth ever told. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. The Gospel has the power to bring spiritually dead people to lifeto righteousness. The connector for that power is faith: The righteous man shall live by faith (verse 17). That message of righteousness by faith is, then, the summary introduction to this historic message.
The Gospel is all about bringing the dead back to life. But because were dealing with spiritual life and death, and because the conduit for life-giving power is faith, Paul must first convince his readers of their deathof their spiritual separation from God. So, beginning in 1:18, Paul jumps right in to his argumentGod is angry! Does that sound harsh? Perhaps it is, but isnt it better to know of Gods anger than to pretend it doesnt exist? Besides, Gods wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. The verse doesnt say Gods wrath is against men; its against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. In other words, Hes angry at sin. No doubt youve heard the term Hate sin, but love the sinner. That precisely describes Gods heart: He hates the sin and wants the sinner to be separated from the sin. But those who refuse to be separated from sin through accepting the gift of Christs atonement will perish with their sin.
At what verse did Paul begin his argument of Gods universal indictment of mans ungodliness and unrighteousness? The answer, of course, is that it begins in verse 18. Do you remember what Norm wrote earlier about the number 18? In chapter three of this book, for example, he wrote, its not too difficult to see that eighteen in one way or another refers to suffering that is caused by sin.
Through the remainder of chapter one (verses 19-32) Paul then describes the downward spiral from suppression of truth to gross sins as seen in pagan societies. Essentially, in this chapter Paul says God the Creator created humans with an innate knowledge of Him, but we chose to suppress that knowledge in order to follow our own desires. Isnt that exactly the truth expressed in Genesis, the first book of the Bible?
Romans Two: Specific Guilt (the Jews)
Chapter two then transitions from universal condemnation to a focus on the guilt of the Jews specifically: There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek (2:9). Paul says that while everyone has the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, the Jews rely upon the Law and boast in God. Paul seems to have followed the flow of the Pentateuch in that he moved from the general (creation and fall in Genesis) in chapter one to the specific emphasis on the Jews and the Law in chapter two (just as Exodus, the second book of the Pentateuch, moves to the specific focus on the Jews and the Law).
For a time, this chapter seemed to present a challenge to Norms theory in that it also refers repeatedly to circumcision, while Exodus (surprisingly) mentions circumcision in just this one instance: At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met {Moses}and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her sons foreskin and touched {Moses} feet with it. Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me, she said. So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said bridegroom of blood, referring to circumcision) (Exodus 4:26). But while Exodus refers to circumcision just once, what a dramatic reference it is!
Before Moses, when God made His covenant with Abram (and changed his name to Abraham) He told the great patriarch,
This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant (Genesis 17:10-14).
In that one passage in Exodus that mentions circumcision we see that Moses had failed to circumcise his son (probably at the insistence of his Midianite wife, Zipporah). Clearly, such a failure was a big issue to Godso big He was ready to kill Moses! As Paul makes clear in Romans 2, circumcision means nothing if it is not accompanied by faith, and the point here is that Moses failure to circumcise his son was evidence of his weakening faith. (Faith is verified through obedient action, as James taught.)
So, then, how closely connected are Romans 2 and Exodus, the second book of the Bible? Both focus on the Jews and the Law, and both show that God wants an inward change of heart revealed through outward obedienceeven if obedience is painful.
Three: The Jews Relationship to the Law
Norms Notes: Leviticus, the third book of the Bible, which we associate with God's Law, is a primary model for the number three and the third part of God's Redemption Pattern, whose theme is the holiness and righteousness of God and God's Holy Spirit.
And when you take a closer look at Leviticus you see that, despite the many laws, theres abundant provision for human imperfectionthrough Gods grace. Three full chapters (4-6) are dedicated to provision for sin and guilt (through sin and guilt offerings). Clearly, God was showing His people that while He demands perfection, He knew they were incapable of it, so He gave them a temporary way to atone for their imperfections. But the permanent solution to the sin problem comes through faith. So, back in Romans, Paul then asks, does faith nullify the Law? His answer, of course, is, May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
How does faith establish the Law? I like John Pipers answer from Justification by Faith Establishes the Law: I think it means that what the moral law of God requires of us, we will do, if we pursue it by faith, as those who are already justified, and not by works, in order to be justified. If we get right with God first by faith alone, and then live in that freedom of love and acceptance and justification, we will be changed from the inside out and will begin to love the very things the moral law requires so that they become established in our livesnot as works of merit, but as the fruit of faith (1Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11) and the fruit of the Spirit.
Just as Leviticus focuses on the Jews, the Law, and Gods call to holiness, so does Pauls third chapter of Romans. The difference, of course, is that in Romans Paul states explicitly what Leviticus states implicitly: No human can keep Gods righteous laws on his own. By these standards All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Now lets move on to Romans 4 and see how it relates to Numbers, the Bibles fourth book.
Norms Notes: As we look at Romans 4 6, remember that 4 refers to wanderings and testing; 5 is truth and grace, instructions and covenants; and 6 is making the decision and taking action to accept Gods provision for sin by trusting Jesus and entering Gods Rest.
Four: Outside the Land Promised to Their Father
Genesis records Gods promise to Abram of a special land and numerous heirs (see 12:1-2; 15:7; and 17:7-8). Abram (whom God renamed Abraham) was in the Promised Land, but a famine drove his descendants out of the landto Egypt. After 400 years in Egypt (as had been prophesied to Abram in Genesis 15), through Gods intervention, his heirs escaped and were on their way back to the Promised Land. But their lack of trust in God kept them wandering in the wilderness (as seen in Numbers, the Bibles fourth book). Now, in Romans 4, Paul turns the focus of his letter to Father Abraham.
Norms Notes: Chapter 4 reflects the fourth part of the Redemption Pattern theme of creation and man wandering before being prepared to leave his own ways and to begin to walk faithfully with God.
Verse 3 says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. At what point did this credit to his account occur? Genesis 15:6 says, Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Thats before circumcision and before Abrahams test of faith with his son Isaac. Pauls point, then, is that God credited Abraham with righteousness for his faith alone.
The key elements of Gods promise and Abrahams faith were 1) an abundance of descendants and 2) a Promised Land. Here in Numbers we see the numerous descendants (who had become numerous while in Egypt) wandering through the desert in a vain effort to get into the Promised Land. Their efforts were vain because of their lack of faith: Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your corpses lie in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33).
So the parallel between the Bibles fourth book (Numbers) and Romans chapter 4 is this: Numbers records the fulfillment of Gods promise to Abraham of many descendants. It also records the inability of those descendants to attain the promise of a special land because of their lack of faith. In Romans 4 Paul uses the example of Father Abraham to show that Gods promises cannot be gained by works; they can be attained only by faith.
Norms Notes: This is the message of the fifth part of the Redemption Pattern, which is about the covenant God makes with us and instructions about our choice to accept by grace the gift He offers and enter the land, or to remain wandering and suffer the consequences of that decision.
In the Bibles fifth book, Deuteronomy, a new generation of Abrahams descendants are encamped just outside the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 18:15, the Israelites leader, Moses, tells them, The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. While the people no doubt saw Joshua as the fulfillment of this promise, Bible scholars also see this verse as a Messianic prophecy (referring to Jesus, whose Jewish name is Joshua or Yeshua). Moses, who had interceded for the people when God was about to wipe them out for their unbelief (see Numbers 14), would soon die, and their new leader, Joshua, would lead the new generation into the Promised Land.
Meanwhile, the fifth chapter of Romans zeroes in on the one Moses had prophesied about in Deuteronomy 18:15. In Deuteronomy Moses recounts for the (saved) people how they got to the border of the Promised Land, and how they should conduct themselves as inhabitants of the Promised Land. In Romans 5, Paul explains how (saved) believers got where they are (through Jesus/Yeshua). Adams sin had placed all mankind in wilderness wandering, but Jesus sacrifice had provided salvation to all, and those who choose to accept that provision are saved and able to enter the Promised Land of abundance and rest.
Romans Six: Dead to Sin and Alive to God
In Romans 6 Paul explains that believers in Christ are dead to sin and alive to Christthese are accomplished facts upon which believers are to reckon (place their trust). To the degree that believers do in fact reckon on these truths we see victory.
Norms Notes: Romans 6 parallels the sixth part of the Redemption Pattern, which is the turning point or step of crossing over we make when finally deciding to fully trust God.
Romans Seven: Struggles With the Flesh
The lone failure noted in the book of Joshua, recorded in chapter 7, occurs when Achan succumbs to his fleshly lust for wealth. When he saw among the spoil [from one of their victories] a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them. The Israelites paid for that sin with a defeat at the hands of the tiny and weak city of Ai. Joshua 7 seems to be a preview of things to come (in the Bibles seventh book, Judges).
Norms Notes: This parallels the seventh part of the Redemption Pattern, which speaks of the struggle to follow Gods ways (which one encounters after entering the Promised Land). But God has promised to deliver us through this struggle: Jeremiah 32:38, the Bibles 777th chapter, says, "They shall be My people, and I will be their God.
Meanwhile, in Romans 7 Paul pictures the believers ongoing struggle with the flesh: For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. And the chapter concludes with a plaintive question hauntingly reminiscent of the Israelites plight at the close of Judges. Just as were left wondering who might deliver the wayward Jews from themselves, Paul asks, Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Victory seems to be a futile hope.
But while the Bibles seventh book trails off with apparent hopelessness, in Romans 7 Paul tacks on a glorious preview of a coming attraction: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans Eight: Married to Messiah
Norms Notes: The marriage to Messiah in Romans 8 (and Ruths marriage to Boaz in the eighth book) reflects the eighth part of the Redemption Pattern, whose theme is that of escaping the cycle of falling away from God (7) and finally committing to Jesus, whom we promise to love, serve and obey (as in marriage).
As the Bibles eighth book, Ruth, begins, the title character is accompanying her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel. Both of the women are widows, so they are now free to remarry. Naomi and her now-deceased husband, Elimelech, along with their two sons had previously traveled to Moab to escape a famine in Israel. Elimelech and Naomis sons had married Moabite women. But, while in Moab, all the men of the family died, so Naomi chose to return to her homeland, where the famine had ended. And Ruth, a God-fearing and honorable woman, chose to accompany her elderly mother-in-law.
In Israel, Ruth, a Gentile, goes to glean from the leftovers in the field of a wealthy and honorable Jewish man named Boaz. (Note: Matthew 15 records that a Canaanite [Gentile] woman asked Jesus, Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed. He answered, It is not good to take the childrens [Israelites] bread and throw it to the dogs. She then replied, Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters table. Jesus then commends her for her faith and tells her that her daughter has been healed.)
Boaz, a type of Christ, then chooses to marry the widowed Ruth (she could not have married him if her husband had not died), and nothing can separate her from his love, just as Paul writes of the Saviors unbreakable love for His bride in Romans 8: For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).
Norms Notes: Romans 9-11
Romans 9 reflects the ninth part of the Redemption Pattern showing the need to persevere in waiting for Messiahs return. Verse 9 says, At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son." In the same way we are to wait for the Lords return..
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The tenth part of the Redemption Pattern speaks of the coming Day of both Salvation and Judgment and Romans 10 reflects this theme as it speaks of how God desires the salvation of Israel.
Romans 10:1: Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for {their} salvation.
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Eleven is a number of warning and Romans 11 warns that God will save a remnant of Israel but they must come fear the Lord.
Romans 11:20-21: but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
If nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, then how do we explain the nation of Israel, which seems to be separated from its Lord and His love? Paul now uses the next three chapters to review Israels history and to show that God has not utterly abandoned His chosen nation.
Its important to remember that Norms research has found that we may count 1 and 2 Samuel as one book, 1 and 2 Kings as one book, and 1 and 2 Chronicles as one book. So, based on that alignment, the Old Testament books that parallel chapters 9 through 11 of Romans are Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. Interestingly, the Jews arrangement of Tanakh (the Old Testament) ends with 2 Chronicles.
Paul begins his three-chapter section about Israel with his pain-filled lament for the unbelieving nationhis people. Paul recounts that the Sovereign used the obstinate Gentile Pharaoh for His purposes in saving Israel, and now Hes using obstinate Israel for His purposes in saving the Gentiles. He quotes Hosea, a prophet from the times recorded in Kings and Chronicles, to show Gods long-range plan to reach the Gentiles: And I will say to those who were not My people, You are My people! And they will say, You are my God!
Paul continues through Romans 10, quoting from another prophet, Joel, from the time of the kings, when he writes, Whoever shall call on the Lord shall be saved. Significantly, in Romans 10, and throughout this three-chapter section, Paul quotes extensively from the latter half of Isaiah, the most prominent prophet during the time of the kings. Many Bible scholars have noted that the latter twenty-seven chapters of Isaiah (out of the total of sixty-six chapters) focus on end-times prophecies, and particularly about the Millennial Kingdom, when Israel will be at the head of the nations. More than coincidentally, in Romans 11 Paul focuses on Israel in the end times. He writes, For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mysteryso that you will not be wise in your own estimationthat a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written. Then, to give authority to his words, he quotes from Isaiah 59:20-21.
In Romans 9-11 Paul laments the faithlessness and consequent captivity of his people, but he ends on the positive note that one day all Israel will be saved. Likewise, the historical books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles trace the rise and pitiful fall into captivity of Israel, but the books end on this positive note:
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persiain order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiahthe LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up!
Is it any wonder that Paul concludes his parallel section of Romans with this exclamation: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
Norms Notes: Romans 12:1-2 may best sum up the theme for the Redemption Patterns number twelve: Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. In other words, Behave as redeemed people.
Romans 12: Practical Living in the Promised Land
The Bibles twelfth book, Ezra, follows the Israelites return again to the Promised Landand reveals whats needed to live there. The once-captive people were back, and free to live for their God, so they needed to learn to present themselves in a manner acceptable to Him. In addition, if they were to restore the city and the temple, theyd have to learn to work togetheras a body. Similarly, Paul writes in Romans 12, do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Paul closes Romans 12 with this admonition: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good, which is exactly what the returning Jews would have to do to prosper in the Promised Land.
Romans 13: Submission to Authority
In Romans 13 Paul moves, sensibly, from advice about personal conduct (present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to Godovercome evil with good) to advice about conduct within society: Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. That seems to be the same progression the Holy Spirit chose for the Bible itself. Ezra, the twelfth book, saw its title character helping the people move back to freedom from bondage, and in that freedom they would need to know how to conduct themselves, just as Romans 12 teaches. Now, in Nehemiah, the Bibles thirteenth book, we see the parallel to Romans 13but with a twist.
While in Romans 13 Paul addresses believers about their need to submit to God-established authority, in Nehemiah we see this principle of submission from the other side, from that of the leader. Back in the freedom of the Promised Land, the people need a leader, and Nehemiah is Gods chosen man for the task. But, as well see, submission to authority does not always come naturally to people. First we see that the citys walls, its defenses, are down. The society is in danger; cooperation will be needed to rebuild its defenses. But the work was not without opposition, external (2:19) and internal (3:5). It soon became necessary for Nehemiah to require half the building force to stand guard while the other half did the building.
Before long, another issue arose: The nobles were taxing the working class excessively. Nehemiah, the leader, had to confront those causing the problem. He said, The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? (5:9). They responded well: Then they said, We will give it back and will require nothing from them; we will do exactly as you say (5:12). In other words, they submitted to his authority. In these chapters of the Bibles thirteenth book we see a clear and practical example of Pauls counsel in Romans 13: For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same (13:3).
Romans 14: Leave Judgment to the Avenging Redeemer
Sometimes Id wondered about (translate that judged) Esthers agreement to marry the Persian king Ahasuerus (better known in history books as Xerxes 1). As a Jew, she knew she shouldnt marry a Gentile, especially one who leads the most powerful pagan nation on earth at the time. But, then, what choice did she have? She was but one young woman in a weak nation of captive people. She could have resisted and paid the priceeither imprisonment or death. Thats pretty drastic, but it would have been honorable. But God had other plans for herplans we can see in hindsight, but that her contemporaries could not have seen. If Id been one of those contemporaries, I probably would have judged her.
Meanwhile, in Romans 14 Paul writes, Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand (14:4). God is the master who judgesand who directs human events toward the fulfillment of His plans. God used Esthers marriage to the Persian king to rescue His Chosen People from the evil plot of Haman, who wanted to destroy them. God, the Avenging Redeemer (14), directed events so that Haman choked out his last breath on the gallows he had built for the purpose of hanging Esthers older cousin, Mordecai, who had adopted Esther as his daughter. The ultimate message of both the Bibles fourteenth book and Romans fourteenth chapter is this: Leave judgment of other believers to the one who directs history and who one day will take vengeance on those who oppose His plans.
Romans 15: Its Gods World
In the Bibles fifteenth book, Job, a man described as blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil, finds his entire world crashing down around him. Hed always assumed good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. His behavior hadnt changed; he was still a good man, but bad things were happening to him. He had to deal not only with the loss of his wealth, his servants, his children, his health, and the respect of his wifehe also had to deal with the loss of his long-held worldview. Job was learning that life did not revolve around him; it revolves around the sovereign God and His plans.
In Romans 15 Paul, Gods great New Testament servant, is winding down his letter to the church in Rome. He writes, For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain (15:22-24). For all of Pauls faithful obedience (we might use the same wordsblameless and uprightto describe him that were used to describe Job), he didnt always get what he wanted. Most scholars believe Paul never got to Spain, and when he finally did reach Rome, after having been prevented, it was as a prisonerprobably not the circumstances hed hoped for. Like Job, Paul learned that life revolves around the sovereign God and His plans.
Romans 16: Two Views
Norm and I struggled with this chapterwell, mostly I did. As I moved through each chapter of Romans I began with skepticism: Will the pattern really fit this chapter, or will I find myself pushing to try and make it so? With each of the first fifteen chapters it didnt take long to see the pattern working. But when I got to this last chapter in Romans (16) I hit the proverbial wall. How can we equate a list of people to greetand one admonition to beware of divisive peopleto the theme of Psalms (the sixteenth book)? And how could anyone possibly zero in on one theme in a book of 150 chapters that seem to express the full range of human emotions, along with doctrine, prophecy, and more?
I read, reread, prayed, and read some more. I couldnt see an answer, so I called Norm. The next day Norm sent me several e-mails; hed found the link. I read through the e-mails and didnt see the link. We discussed it on the phone. I still didnt see it. But thats okay. As Norm often says, we may not see everything lining up perfectly, but we look at the preponderance of the evidence. Indeed we do. I see a clear pattern connecting the first fifteen books of the Bible to the first fifteen chapters of Romans. Should I dismiss all the evidence I saw through ninety-four percent of the book because I didnt see evidence in the last six percent? Of course not, so with that disclaimer (that I dont see the connection) here are the evidences Norm sees for a connection in Psalms (the sixteenth book, based on the 57 count of the Bible) and Romans 16:
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The themes in Psalms are foundational for the number sixteen, as it is the 16th book of the Bible, and Psalm 1:6 gives a good general summary: For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish. The 16,000th verse (Psalm 119:101) also defines 16: I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. The number sixteen tells us God knows all of our waysand the ways of the righteousand reminds us to keep to His Word and statutes so we may avoid wandering from the path of righteousness. Romans 16 fits this topic but has a slightly more refined theme of noting those whose names are written in the Book of the Lord. In the first sixteen verses of Romans 16 there are sixteen specific uses of the phrase greet, requesting individuals or groups be greeted. For example, verse 3 says, Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. The word greet refers to a sincere and heartfelt welcome, which I believe is reserved for those who are written in the Book of the LORD. This is further confirmed in verse 16, which says, Greet one another with a holy kiss. This is a reference to a special greeting or salute of acknowledgment to brethren sharing in the struggle but who one day will be together with the Lord. The 1928 edition of Websters Dictionary includes the following in its description of the word Holy: We call a man holy when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly. The reference to a holy kiss in Romans 16 tells us these special believers were marked in a very special way; they regarded each other as holy in the true sense of the word. Together they will one day join God in His kingdom.
The similarity of Romans 16 to the book of Psalms reminds us to be of the godly ones who will one day be in heaven and at the same time to watch out for evil: keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them... (16:17). This is in reference to Psalm 1:6, which reminds us the wicked will perish. Romans 16 closes with an assurance that Satan will be crushed soon and that all is going according to Gods plan revealed ages before. The last verse reminds us to trust the only wise God who will bring all this to pass. The number 16 and the 16th book and 16th chapter of Romans all reflect a theme of the struggle of the godly who are constantly under attack but still are to persevere because Gods planHis justice will prevail in the end.
Chapter Questions
Try not to be overwhelmed by all the details of this book; learning something new always seems a daunting task. I worked on computers since long before the invention of PCs. My initial exposure to computers was cleaning up and dusting around them while I was in high school. That took no special skill, but from that time, day by day, for thirty years, I learned more and more about computers, until eventually I found myself running software development groups for large organizations. While there I saw many new, inexperienced employees join our teams and most were immediately overwhelmed by all the things they didnt know. Im sure it seemed like an impossible task for them to learn what everyone else already knew. We often had to remind them that many of us had been in the industry twenty to thirty years, and nobody expected them to learn everything, even in their first couple of years.
Learning is a long, gradual process, even after you graduate from high school or college. I can only imagine what people think the first time they pick up a book like this, with so many details being explained. Its likely you dont know where to begin. Dont worry about the details; if you learn only the basic ten numbers of the Redemption Pattern and the themes that go along with them you have a great start and already have valuable tools for making future Bible study an adventure. Get comfortable with the basics; the additional details will come with experience.
In previous chapters I explained the basics about numbers, what they mean, and how they are found in Gods DNA-like web of Bible numerics. Weve reviewed the different types of Bible numbers and already seen the examples of how they work. This chapter moves beyond learning about the structure of numbers to learning how theyre put together and how to observe and find their relationships as you study Gods Word. To start using Bible numerics you can simply use the numbers one to ten, understanding their definitions. That step alone will help you in your Bible study. This section helps use the knowledge of number themes along with consistently formed patterns as tools for interpretation.
Among the more amazing things about understanding Bible patterns are the many new and unique discoveries youll make when using them. This is not a book about the discoveries found in the Bible, although many of them are included in these pages, but its about how you can use numbers to make your own discoveries, and there are plenty of discoveries to go around. My editor, Jerry, and I can discover new things about the Bible every time we open it, because a radical map is connected to everything we read, and the map leads in more directions than we can keep track of. In a previous section I mentioned that it seems every verse and word, and perhaps even letters of the Bible, are connected in an amazing number of ways. This section discusses some of those connections.
Yesterday I discovered twenty-one unique verses in the Bible in which cross-Bible chapter numbers match the cross-Bible verse number. I suspect theres a pattern to these verses, though Ive not quite unraveled it yet. A couple days ago I realized that the phrases six years, six months, six days, and six hours all occur exactly six times in the Bible. I suspect its no coincidence that these time-related phrases each occur six times (because, as you know, every minute is made up of sixty seconds, and every hour is made up of sixty minutes). When you understand the numbers and their relationship, such discoveries will happen almost every time you read the Bible. While God has likely associated a very significant message with all of these discoveries, some will appear as merely interesting, while others will jump right off the page and tell you to pay attention. If nothing else, the discovery of these time-related phrases occurring six times is a constant reminder that Gods Word is perfect and we need not worry about its accuracy.
You may not think of yourself as a discoverer; you may wonder if youll ever make unique discoveries not found by others, but you are virtually assured of making many never-seen-before discoveries on your own because of the billions of connections and discoveries waiting to be found in pages of Scripture. Sometimes people are amazed when I share with them some of the interesting finds Ive run across. They probably give me more credit than I deserve because, as the old saying goes, Even a blind squirrel will find an acorn every now and then. When you open the Bible all you have to do is begin reading and youll discover Gods Numeric Map is a constant guide and reference to understanding its messages. As I have mentioned a couple of times, Bible numerics has turned my study of the Bible into an adventure that is renewed each time I read ita series of great adventures I expect will never end.
The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple (Psalm 119:130).
The Bible is already difficult enough to study without adding the additional burden of understanding numbers, but it does not have to be seen as an impossible undertaking as we can learn all these complexities one at a time. Theres an old saying I mustve heard 1,000 times while growing up: How do you eat an elephant? The answer, of course, is, One bite at a time. If we break our obstacles and projects down into digestible pieces we can eventually solve almost any problem. The study of numbers can be broken down into the study of individual patterns. The Bible says God makes things according to pattern. Hebrews 8:5: see that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain. Our God is consistent, and this consistency can be put to good use when we recognize how different patterns appear. The examples that follow will show some of these patterns and how to use them.
Among the most valuable and easiest patterns to put to use are the common themes running through like referenced verses. To observe these patterns for yourself, simply identify all the verses in the Bible with the same chapter and verse number. Like-referenced verse sets have a thread of common themes running through them, and the count of these verses as well as their ordinal number within the set all are numeric tools for interpretation.
For example, there are forty-nine verses in the Bible with a reference number of 3:16, including the well-known verse John 3:16. This count of forty-nine surprisingly provides meaning as well, as forty-nine is a number of transition from ending one period of time and entering another. In this case, 3:16 verses will have some part of their theme that is about such a transition, and we can see that John 3:16 says, shall not perish, but have eternal life. This is possibly the text in this verse that lines up with forty-nine, as it speaks of going from this life to the next.
By considering the ordinal count of each item in this set of 3:16 verses we can use the occurrence number of each verse to help reveal meaning in the context of the passage. For example, we would expect the ninth 3:16 verse in the Bible to have something to do with the theme for number nine, which is about our serving faithfully while watching for the Lords return. The ninth 3:16 verse is 1 Samuel 3:16, which says, Then Eli called Samuel and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, Here I am. Do you see how this seems to directly relate to our waiting until Jesus comes and calls us to heaven? We can see an example of the common theme running through these verses by comparing John 3:16 and 1 Samuel 3:16. The verse in John says, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life, which when compared to the call of Samuel reveals that a theme of being called may be running throughout the 3:16 verses. Sometimes it takes some pondering to find the common theme, but it is often very obvious. Like-referenced verse sets help interpret one another.
This same pattern concept can be applied to chapters with the same numbers, like cross-book verse numbers and even chapters with the same number of verses. Lets look at some more patterns we find in the Bible and how they might be used.
When trying to determine the theme or message in any list, one of the first things to look into is the count of items in the list. This number corresponds to the Redemption Plan themes and helps give some indication about what that list contains or is about. My favorite examples of counts corresponding to themes is of the number of chapter 22s in the Bible: There are twenty-two. Twenty-two is one of the most obvious numbers relating to Jesus, and the presence of twenty-two chapter 22s is a doubly strong indication that all these chapters are about Jesus.
In a sense, a chapter is a sort of list of a group of verses, and like all other lists, the number of verses in a chapter is an indication of the theme of the chapter. For example, the sixth chapter in Esther is in the fourteenth book of the Bible and also has fourteen verses, so there are two number-fourteens associated with this chapter, which suggests an especially strong theme surrounding the conquering Redeemer aspect of Jesus, who will one day come for His people and judge the world. Along with the number fourteen, I suspect the following verse within the chapter validates the theme. So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor (Esther 6:11).
In this chapter Haman describes all the ways he felt he should be honored. But, as it turned out, all these honors went to Mordecai, a Jew. And in verse 11, we see Mordecai, a type of Jesus, being honored as the Lord will be honored one day. The count of fourteen verses in this chapter confirms the perfection of Gods Word as well as the message of this chapter.
1. Verses in Chapters: As mentioned above, the number of verses in a chapter is a good indicator of an overall message youll find in the chapter. A couple of ways this number can be used is first to keep the number of verses in mind when you begin reading a chapter to see if thinking about that theme helps you see the message of the chapter, and then, once youve studied a chapter, you might compare your conclusions with a theme for its number of verses. You wont always understand the numbers and the themes, so I would not advise rejecting your present understanding of the chapter just because it doesnt seem to fit the numbers you see. But if your understanding does not match the theme, at least consider if its possible that you might have missed or not understood a major message intended.
2. Chapters in Books: Themes corresponding to the number of chapters in a book are also good indicators of the books overall message and often are helpful in cases where there are multiple messages and youre undecided if theres a more important message you havent seen. A good example of this is the book of James, which has only five chapters and is commonly described as a book of ethical instructions to believers. The number five can be seen in the fifth book (Deuteronomy), where the people are given a set of instructions to follow and things to remember before they enter the Promised Land. Number five is often associated with truth and grace, light and dark, and life and death. James, with five chapters, includes instructions to correct various misperceptions of believers. The definition of James as a book of instructions to believers corresponds perfectly to the theme for the number of chapters we find.
In addition to the number of items in a list pointing to the lists theme, the occurrence, number, or position of an item within the list also sheds light on the items meaning. So not only does the book chapter and verse number contribute to understanding the theme of a verse, but also the location of the verse gives clues to the meaning of that verse as it pertains to the list. This can get a little confusing, so lets use the second commandment in Exodus as an example: You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth (Exodus 20:4).
The second commandment can be viewed as related to the number two; it fits the theme for two, as it declares we must not put our trust in any idol to save us; our trust must remain in God. But this is also the fourth verse in Exodus 20, so the theme for the number four will be found in this verse, as well as the theme for number two, and we see creation in this verse very clearly in the mention of water once and earth twice. Any number related to this verse will be reflected somewhere in its text.
Since the occurrence number of any item in a list of any kind has meaning, its worthwhile to point out that words and phrases are counted in parts of lists throughout the Bible, and the number of their occurrence will tell you something about the items meaning at that position in the list. The phrase generation to generation occurs ten times in the Bible, and the eighth occurrence fits well with a theme for number eight:
You, O LORD, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation (Lamentations 5:19).
Eight is associated with Godly or faithful servants, and we certainly can see in this verse the writer speaking from this sort of Godly heart. As if things arent already confusing enough, the same list can be broken into multiple parts, each one becoming a unique list on its own. (Remember, previously I said that, while the basics of numerics are simple, some aspects can be mind-stretching.) As an example, phrases that occur across the Bible may be considered a list of n items, from the beginning to the end of the Bible. Meanwhile, another list of n items might be contained in a book or maybe even a list of those same items within a chapter. Of course this all sounds much too complicated to really be possible, and common sense would agree, but my years of study seem to confirm the impossible exists. When we remind ourselves of the DNA-like complexity of the Numeric Map these myriad intersections of numbers cease to surprise us. You can judge for yourself if all these relationships are possible, but of course nothing is impossible with God.
Did you notice anything tucked away in Revelation 12:6 (above) that might give you a clue to the perfection of Scripture? At first, all the examples Ive cited in this book can individually appear as coincidence, but once you start stacking them up next to each other, the preponderance of evidence becomes overwhelming. Revelation 12:6 has the number 1,260 in the text. To help you see that this is not just an odd coincidence, here are a few more examples of verses in which the text numbers resemble the chapter and verse numbers.
1. after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off (Daniel 9:26).
2. The priests of the house of Jeshua, 973... (Nehemiah 7:39).
3. He sent letters to the 127 provinces (Esther 9:30). Note: 3 x 9 = 27
4. There are sixty queens and eighty concubines(Song of Solomon 6:8).
5. after seven more days, I will send rain forty days and forty nights (Genesis 7:4).
6. two female bears tore up forty-two lads(2 Kings 2:24).
You might suspect these are coincidences rather than Gods doing, but as you begin to take note of numbers in the text and the numeric references, the preponderance of evidence will begin to convince you of the miracle God has left. Dont expect this to happen suddenly; over time and through endless examples you will stumble upon, your personal belief in supernatural numbering will become stronger.
For the sake of simplicity, these examples use only chapter and verse numbers to compare to the text, but when we consider the numbers behind the verses, such as the cross-Bible and cross-book verse numbers and the cross-Bible chapter numbers, we find an enormous number of hidden indications of the perfection of Gods Word.
No doubt youve never seen these patterns before, and thats for good reason: God did not intend for us to see these things until the right time. I believe were seeing them now not because our human intelligence has dug them out of the Scriptures, but rather because God has allowed them to be seenHe veiled our eyes until now.
Here are two more examples of how Gods supernatural Numeric Map is often just out of our sight but still right in front of our eyes.
- In Revelation 13:18 the number of the beast is given as 666, and 6 + 6 + 6 equals the verse number, 18. For good measure, this is the 1,180th chapter of the Bible, so we find 18 and 666 tightly related. This verse is stamped with the number 666 in multiple ways. I suspect it is God’s way of making sure there is no mistaking its meaning and also of validating that He chose the number in the text, and it cannot be explained away as a product of translators or misunderstanding of the original text. In addition, this verse reveals the relationship between 18 and 666, which can be confirmed throughout the Bible. But we might not have observed that relationship without the supernatural highlighting God placed here.
- Daniel 10:6 describes Jesus Christ in striking terms: “His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult.” This verse has been supernaturally placed as the 22,022nd verse in the Bible, and as you probably remember, twenty-two is a number strongly associated with Jesus. If anyone wondered if this appearance is the Messiah of the New Testament, this very unique cross-Bible verse number is like a spotlight placed by God to confirm the prophecy of Daniel as well as to declare Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
In this chapter well see many examples of how to spot these divinely created elements of the Numeric Map, and the point here is to remember to look beyond the obvious. In fact, we need to look for things that are not quite so obvious. It seems clear that God has arranged the number patterns in such a way that we must expend a bit of effort to see them. But it is well worth the effort; each new discovery you make will stir your excitement in Bible reading.
Intersecting Numbers Validate Number/Text Synchronization
It is an incredible thought that the Bible is full of so many types of relationships between numbers and text, and each relationship corresponds to an ever-repeating pattern of the numbers one through ten and their themes. For all of these number typessuch as cross-Bible verse number, cross-book verse number, and chapter and verse numbersto be perfectly repeating sequences of one to ten, they must all line up or intersect with each other perfectly as well.
An example of this perfection in intersecting numbers is in John 17:17, which says, Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Both the chapter and verse number are 17, which is a number of completeness or truth, and the text strongly matches the number definition, so we already see this verse is special. But there are even more numbers that intersect perfectly with this verse. For example, the cross-Bible verse number is 26,777, and three sevens is a number of perfection. In addition, the cross-Bible chapter number is 1,014, and 1,000 is a number of perfection. Furthermore, 14 is 2 x 7, which also relates this to completeness. Finally, this is the 732nd verse in John, and the numbers 37 and 73 are synonymous with perfection (three sevens, 777). So the text of this verse lines up within the book of John to three numbers: chapter and verse number, as well as cross-book verse number. It also lines up with two Bible-sequence numbers, the cross-Bible chapter number, and the cross Bible-verse number.
As I wrote previously, in the 72nd verse of Ruth (4:9), Boaz says, You are witnesses today. Seventy-two is a number associated with witnesses. In addition to the text of the verse referring to witnesses, five numbers associated with it are factors of the number 72: Chapter 4 multiplied by verse 9 equals 36, which is half of 72. In addition, it is in the 236th chapter, and 2 x 36 = 72. Its also the 72nd verse in the book. And, finally, its the eighth book of the Bible, and 8 x 9 = 72.
For these numbers to line up perfectly with text very specific to them, seven different independently numbered lists all had to converge on these verse locations. If this happened only a few times in Scripture it might be considered a coincidence, but examples such as this that God seems to have left for us to stumble over are scattered throughout the Bible.
Comparing the verse references to the text of Scripture confirms that an intelligent Creator prepared the Bible in a mathematically perfect way. The depth of this complexity of synchronization demonstrates that the Bible could not be of human origin but is the work of a supernatural God. More importantly, the numbers give us insight, and in a special way remind us we are reading the exact words of Godthe two-edged sword that pierces us to our soul. The numbers restore the sharp cutting edges that change us as we study His Word.
Numbers and Text Highlight Special Passages
To explain this point Ill refer again to an example I used in the last chapter. Hebrews 3:4 is the Bibles 30,000th verse. As I stated before, the Bible contains thirty-one sections of verses marked by thousandth-verse boundaries. I refer to these thirty-one verses as transitional or pivotal verses because they are associated with events or passages that end one section and begin a new one. Looking solely at the text is not always enough to reveal their special nature, but when you discover that each is one of the thirty-one transitional verses, you begin to pay special attention to them. So the placement of Hebrews 3:4 on a precise thousandth verse boundary not only denotes a transition taking place in the text, but it also highlights it with themed numbers so well take notice. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God (Hebrews 3:4).
This verse in Hebrews is the specific transition point where God says the Old Covenant was made with Abraham, and up until this point he represented the spiritual leader. But Jesus is the priest of the New Covenant. Hebrews 3:4, along with the surrounding verses, reveals that Gods people are under a New Covenant. Not only does the 30,000th verse number serve to highlight this verse, but its also specially noted by being the 36th verse in the book of Hebrews, as well as being in the Bibles 1,136th chapter. In the same way that 37 (777, three sevens) indicates perfection, 36 can be seen as a number of crossing over, or a boundary, and is associated with 666. A way to remember the meaning of 36 is to think about the 360 degrees in a circle, which can be thought of as a sphere or an enclosure or covering, which separates what is outside from what is inside. So this 30,000th verse is also marked by the number 36, indicating new boundaries being set by the New Covenant.
Lets look at one more highlighting verse related to the New Covenant: Behold days are coming, says the Lord, when I will effect a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah (Hebrews 8:8).
It isnt difficult to see that this verse is related to establishing a New Covenant, but it is worth noting that the chapter and verse references highlight this verse. Eight is the number for Godly, dedicated servants of God, and is often thought of as a number for new beginnings. That chapter and verse are both eight further confirms this as a New Covenant. In addition, this is also in the Bibles 1,141st chapter. We see in the two number ones the number for God, and fourteen is the number for Jesus the Avenging Redeemer. Even the Bible verse number of 30,101 can be broken into two parts: Thirty is a number associated with holiness and righteousness, and 101 points to a new beginning, as it is the first set of a new set of 100 verses. One hundred is a number of totality, so 101 implies a starting over or beginning of a new time or set of events.
Look at me phrases...
Another way in which God highlights verses is through text that should slow us down in our reading of His Word. Take, for example John 10:7: So Jesus said to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
The phrase truly, truly is found twenty-five times in the Bible, and each instance calls us to attention. In this case, the verse, 10:7 is found in the Bibles 1,007th chapter, and seventeen is a number related to lifting up or resurrection (as is number eight, and 1 + 7 = 8). The number 17 associated with this verse directly confirms the message that Jesus is the only way to enter Gods Kingdom. God uses various phrases and words in the text to get our attention. In the same way, numbers can highlight special words and phrases within the text.
Following is a short list of words and phrases that highlight text. (There are thousands of others; these are only examples of the type of things to look for):
Truly, truly; Behold; Indeed...; Therefore, surely; astonishing; mystery, it happened, Trust in the LORD; fear the LORD; The LORD sent, I am God almighty; mighty; Angel of the LORD; I Am, Woe; you shall; you shall not; it shall come about, three days; stone/rock; consecrated. revealed; hidden; departed; declare/declares
There are probably endless ways God has used numbers and words to get our attention, so there is no formula for understanding Gods highlighting of verses, except to say to be on the lookout for any unique or special-looking number or word combinations related to the text.
In addition to numbers in the text, also be on the lookout for numbers we consider unique in our world, such as 9/11, which we think of as related to emergencies, or to special dates in history, or even special numbers in mathematics or geography. One of the interesting geographical numbers is that Mount Moriahwhere Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed, and where it is thought Jesus was crucifiedis 777 feet above sea level. Does that get your attention? Numbers in the Bible are not specific to the Bible; I believe they are Gods numbers and themes, and they will be found throughout His creation.
If we were able to fully understand Bible numbering I suspect wed be able to use the numbers associated with a verse to come very close to deciphering its exact message. Not that the numbers would translate to words, but they would translate to all themes, subthemes, and messages contained in the verse. Im fairly confident well never understand numbers to this detail because first wed have to determine all the numbers related to the verse and know how to interpret them. In the previous chapter we explained the number types we know about, but there are surely many more we dont know. As was we saw earlier in this book, Ivan Panin found that every word, letter, and even phrase of the original text somehow calculated to multiples of seven and the text corresponding to those words and letters also related to occurrences of multiples of seven. We can see enough of Gods perfection in numbering to validate His Word and use numbers to guide in interpretation, and these same numbers provide a deep series of cross-references to the Bible.
The basics of numbering in the Bible are so predictable that even those who dont understand numbers at all can use them with a few simple instructions. The best example of this is to learn how to use like-referenced verses to give additional insight to nearly any verse in the Bible.
There are 4,532 different combinations of chapter- and verse-number references, which I refer to as like-referenced-verse sets. These are verses in different books that have the same chapter and verse number, such as the 28:14 verse set, in which there are, coincidentally, fourteen different verses. Due to the predictability of numbers with their themes, we can examine sets of like-referenced verses to get an understanding of the common theme that runs through them. This is not to imply that every verse in the set has the same theme, but every verse in the set does have themes relating somehow to the verse reference number, and by examining all of those in the set we can observe themes running through them. One of the most helpful examples of where these like-referenced verse sets have guided me is in examining John 21:7, where Peter throws himself into the water when he sees Jesus on the shore: So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.
Every commentary I find seems to believe Peter was in such a hurry to see Jesus that he jumped into the water to swim to the Lord. But thats not what the verse says. It says he threw himself into the water. When other people did not understand why I questioned the common interpretation I decided to look at like-referenced verses to see if there were clues to helping understand it. I was amazed as I began to see the strong evidence for the theme of 21:7 verses relating to the shame of sin. Following are examples:
1. the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned (Numbers 21:7).
2. Then he set the carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house (2 Kings 21:7).
3. God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel (1 Chronicles 21:7).
4. Why do the wicked {still} live (Job 21:7).
5. The violence of the wicked will drag them away (Proverbs 21:7 ).
The verses in this 21:7 set helped me confirm that Peter didnt throw himself into the water because he was eager to see Jesus, but because he had just denied Jesus three times, and upon seeing Him, much like Adam and Eve in the garden, he threw himself into the water to hide from the Lord. This gives amazing meaning we can relate to regarding Peters action, as we all can understand such shame. Knowing Peter was afraid to see Jesus gives new understanding to the significance of John 21:15, where Jesus restores him: Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me. Analyzing verse sets does not interpret verses for you, but it gives valuable insight to better understand the messages in the Bible.
Hyper-verse Sets
I use the term hyper verse to refer to sets of verses in which the chapter and verse numbers are the same. There are hyper verse sets for the numbers one through thirty-three, and they correspond to the verse sets 1:1 through 33:33. In a way similar to like-referenced verses, hyper verses all contain a strong common theme, and since chapter and verse number are the same, they give stronger and more-easily-seen evidence for themes. When Im trying to understand themes for numbers hyper verses are one of the first places I look. Below are a few of the twenty-seven hyper verses for number fourteen, which relate to the Jesus who comes in revelation to redeem His faithful:
Another technique for examining verse sets for common themes is to study verses with like cross-book-verse-numbers. These numbers are simply a sequential count of verses across a single book. They function in the same way like referenced verses reveal themes. One advantage of examining verses with common book-verse numbers is that there are often more verses to examine in each set for helping to discern a theme. So if we wanted to find the common theme related to Luke 19:34, there are only eight such verse references, but there are fifteen other verses having common cross-book verse number of 872. Here are examples giving evidence for a common theme of holiness, righteousness, and the Holy Spirit, which are found in the thirtieth verse of each book. Note that where any chapter one contains thirty or more verses, the cross-book verse number will be thirty, but when the first chapter of a book has fewer than thirty verses, the thirtieth book verse likely will be found in chapter two. Notice how these thirteen of the sixty-one in the set reflect the theme for thirty:
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).
Gematria is a term for a system of calculating the numerical equivalence of letters, words, or phrases, and, on that basis, gaining, insight into interrelations of different concepts and exploring the interrelationships between words and themes. In Hebrew, each letter is associated with a numerical value, and these numbers can be calculated to produce values of numerical equivalence to their original words or phrases. By using gematria, we discover word relationships and find themes relating to numbers. For example, the words lustfulness, drunkennesses, uninstructed, and stubbornness all have a gematria value of 168, and knowing this relationship may help determine a theme.
There are many ways gematria-related calculations are used to find numerical equivalents for words, so the same word can have multiple gematria values, depending on the system of gematria being employed. A common gematria value many have seen is the association of 888 and the name Jesus. The gematria value of 888 is determined by transforming the letters of Jesus name in Greek to numbers associated with each letter. In Greek Jesus is spelled I H S O U S. By substituting each letter with its numerical equivalent we reveal the numbers 10, 8, 200, 70, 400 and 200. The sum of these numbers is 888. This technique of generating a gematria value uses the sum of numbers. Other gematria techniques use different types of calculations, such as reducing multi-digit numbers to a single digit, using different increments of numbers assigned to letters (such as A = 6, B = 12 and C = 18), and some by excluding selected letters and numbers before calculating the result. The various methods of calculating gematria are learned from ancient sources or are from the results of research.
We may not understand all methods of gematria, but evidence reveals at least some of them have a reliable source and produce results that can be scientifically validated. So what does gematria have to do with the Bibles Numeric Map?
The methods of gematria demonstrate how the supernatural text of the Bible has God-intended numerical and mathematical relationships, and that numbers related to the text can be mathematically manipulated to point to themes and meanings. Depending on how these calculations are performed, gematria demonstrates that the order of digits in numbers is not always relevant to determining the theme associated with a number. For example, the digits in the numbers 1,234 and 4,213 both add up to ten, which then might be seen as pointing to a single theme for both numbers. Having an understanding of gematria helps us accept how patterns observed in biblical numerics seem to show themselves in so many different ways.
The DNA-like Numeric Map reveals the God-intended structure of numbers and relationships in more ways than we can possibly understand. Observable patterns reveal many overlapping ways numbers are manipulated and relate to themes. This chapter explains some of the methods observed and gives examples of their existence. There is no guide book for understanding these patterns, so our only way to understand them is through observation. The transformations explained here are validated through hundreds of textual evidences. Many other suspected transformations are not presented here because they still remain unproven or are too complex to cover in this general overview. Use the knowledge of number transformation methods presented in this chapter as both a guide to using these techniques to determine number themes and as a source of understanding transformations so you can be aware of others you will run across in your studies.
Significance of Digit Order
Themes do not always relate to a specific number but instead to the collective digits of a number. Each digit in a number contributes some aspect to its theme, and although each number seems to have its own unique theme, changing the order of digits in numbers usually results in a new number with a very a strongly related theme. It also seems very often that the text of a verse will be written in a sequence of words that match the sequence of the digits in the verse reference associated with it.
When comparing the theme of 7:8 verses against 8:7 verses we find the sequence of the numbers does seem to correspond to the sequence of the related themes in the text, but the overall themes of both these numbers are the same or strongly related. In Matthew 7:8 we find the first part of the verse refers to asking for salvation and the second part the giving of salvation, thus it fits the suggested verse reference of seven followed by eight: For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. In Proverbs 8:7 we find the theme for eight best matches the first part of the verse and then the theme for seven follows: For my mouth will utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. Eight is a number often referring to the Godly, and this would fit with a word of truth. Seven is a number for Gods shepherding and consequences for sin and thus fits the description of the wicked.
The themes for 78 and 87 are both often related to Israels sin and redemption. Both these numbers are extensions of the theme for 39, as 78 is a multiple of 39another transformation. It appears 78 is a number more often associated with redemption or coming from sin to salvation, and 87 is often associated with falling away from God to sin.
These examples show how numbers with the same digits but in a different order are very closely related. Although there seems to be a relationship to the digit order that changes the direction of the theme, I often find I can interchange numbers when comparing related verses and their themes. Often a number and its complement are found associated with the same verse, such as in Exodus 3, which is the fifty-third chapter of the Bible. A verse that stands out as a key to the chapter is verse 3:5: Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. So in this verse, with text strongly related to number 53, we also find a direct number association to 35.
Another example in which digits in another arrangement connect to numbers is found in Daniel 9:25: from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. This is the 276th verse in Daniel. When the digits of the book verse number are rearranged we find 7 and 62, which are specific numbers also found in the text.
The value of digits in a number is more important than the order of digits, but the order of digits is still often indicative of the order of themes found in the text. This can be helpful in interpretation as it more precisely points to the location of themes in the text.
Joining Numbers
There are many ways multiple numbers associated with a verse can be read and transformed into other numbers. These associations are not always apparent. For example, the digits of chapter and verse number may be combined and transformed together as a single number to determine the most appropriate theme for the verse. Taking the verse reference from 1 Chronicles 13:5 and rearranging the numbers in a different order creates the number 153, which is a number related to the glory of God and the gathering of His people to be taken to His kingdom, and we can see some possible relationship to this rearranged number in the text. But is this a valid conclusion? 1 Chronicles 13:5 says, So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
Other numbers associated with this verse help us to know with a little more certainty if this conclusion is feasible or unconfirmed. This verse is from the 351st chapter of the Bible, and this chapter number can also be arranged into the number 153, which, coincidently, supports this possibility. But the numbers are not done telling their story. This also is the 513th verse in the book of 1 Chronicles, and 513 can also be written as 153. Of course this all could be coincidence, but, as you might imagine, its incredibly unlikely that this single verse happens to have three numbered references all with the digits 153, and, interestingly enough, none of them actually is written as the number 153 itself. It appears that all these numbers are pointing to the one hidden number not mentioned, which would be consistent with how God subtly hides His Numeric Map and Redemption Pattern numbers. To be able to spot the unique message conveyed by the numbering of this verse we had to understand how numbers can be transformed into other numbers and how we can attempt to confirm the transformations we come up with.
Numbers Modified by Text
Numbers are not always easily visible in the text and often are not what they first appear to be, so its important to consider the context of all numbers encountered. The phrase seven days later first appears to be a reference to seven, but is actually a reference primarily to eight, and then to seven. The time expressed in the phrase three years and six months shows the numbers three and six, but more importantly are a reference to forty-two months, which is three years of twelve months plus six months.
Heres another verse that first appears related to seven until you take another look at the text. Genesis 8:10 uses the phrase he waited yet another seven days. In other words, they waited until the eighth day before sending the dove out of the ark. This happens to be chapter 8, and we also know that the remnant on the ark consisted of eight people. Furthermore, eight is the number of new beginnings, so it would make sense that the number this verse emphasizes is eight and not seven.
There are many ways words can be used to modify how we read numbers, and its important to carefully consider any numbers we read because God intentionally hides His number mysteries as sort of a treasure for the diligent to discover.
Sum of Numbers
Adding Numbers in Verse Text: Genesis 46:27 contains both the number two and the number seventy in the text. the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt were two; all the persons of the house of Jacob, who came to Egypt, were seventy. If we add these numbers together we come up with the number 72, which is equal to the reverse of the verse number (27). This calls us to pay special attention to the number 72 in this verse. As further confirmation, this is also the 1,414th verse of the Bible, and as well see later, one or more digits can be set aside in a number. So 1,414 can be seen as 144, which is 2 x 72. When looking at numbers in text, consider adding them to see if the result helps point you to clues about the verse.
Words Related to Numbers
Many words can be converted to numeric values. Days, months, and years are some of the most common and obvious ones we find in Scripture. Consider converting these words and the numbers with them to numeric values to determine if there is a relationship to other verse-reference numbers. For example, 2 Samuel 24:8 includes the words nine months and twenty days: So when they had gone about through the whole land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. Nine thirty-day months plus twenty days equals 290 days. The text specifically says at the end of 290 days. That means they came to Jerusalem on the 291st day, and this happens to be the 291st chapter of the Bible. This seems to confirm the reference to 290 in the text, and that validates the precision of the Numeric Map. Its also interesting that multiplying chapter and verse (24 x 8) gives the number 192, which is 291 in reverse. Watch verse text for numbers and consider transforming words having related number association when comparing numbers in text to other verse related numbers.
Approximate or Imprecise Numbers
There are occasions when the text includes references to what appear to be imprecise times or numbers, such as we see in Luke 22:59. After about an hour had passed, another man began to insist. Look closely at this short phrase along with its verse reference again and see if you notice anything that helps make it even more imprecise? Did you consider the verse number? Its no coincidence this happens to be verse number 59, and of course fifty-nine minutes is about as close to an hour as you can get, so it seems this phrase refers specifically to fifty-nine. There are other indications fifty-nine is special: Luke 22 is the Bibles 995th chapter, and ninety-five is fifty-nine in reverse.
A little less compelling, but still interesting is the Bible verse number of 25,924, which contains the number fifty-nine. In case you might be wondering if this still may be coincidence, the phrase about an hour occurs nowhere else in the Bible, and there are only twenty-five verses numbered 59, so theres a remote 1-in-1,244 chance of this phrase landing at this specific location. Another phrase that occurs only once is for about half an hour. This phrase occurs in Revelation 8:1 at Bible-verse number 38,029, which, of course, ends in 29 (about half an hour). These are the only two verses referring to parts of an hour and they both have significant indication they refer to a specific number. When encountering words that suggest imprecise times or numbers take the time to investigate why this type of wording was used, because God is not imprecise.
Just as we find numbers hiding in the text, we can also find even more ways numbers are hidden in all sorts of other numbers. Again, dont worry about learning all the details, but it is useful to understand how numbers are often right before your eyes but still subtly hidden. Following are some of the various ways we will encounter these numbers. Much like rearranging a numbers digits produces numbers with similar themes, multiples of numbers also have themes similar to the natural number for which the number is a multiple. The multiples of a number are the result of multiplying it by each of the natural numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc. The multiples of 9 are 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72etc. Common multiples are multiples that are common to two or more numbers. For example, multiples of 2 are 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18etc. Multiples of 3 are 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 etc. So, common multiples of 2 and 3 are 6, 12, 18etc. Knowing the multiples of a number can help resolve number questions. For example, those who wonder about numbers often will ask about the meaning of the 318 mentioned in Genesis 14:14: he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen.
This number is curious because its so specific, the only reason for such a precise number is to communicate some meaning to us. We have some tools we can use on this number in the text along with verse reference numbers to help us explore for an answer.
To begin, well examine number multiples 318 might be part of. Some simple calculations tell us 318 can be found in multiples of 2, 3, 6, 53, 106 and 159. Fifty-three stands out in importance, so it may be significant that 6 x 53 = 318, but we cannot be sure. The cross-Bible verse number is 351, which is another way of expressing 153 or 53, so it seems this number may be a way to highlight this verse location as an especially noticeable intersection of numbers. This also being a 14:14 verse highlights it even more, as 14 is a number for Jesus, who will return again for His people, and 14:14 is an extra emphasis on this being strongly emphasized in the theme. All these numbers are clues to something, but the answer is still not obvious.
I have studied this 318 reference intermittently for a couple of years, but have never gotten to the point of being satisfied with its meaninguntil today. As I spent some time looking at it again the meaning finally came: I strongly suspect the 318 is a reference to the number 39, whose theme is that of the sons of Israel. This association seems so obvious but had eluded me for a long time. It is easily seen by looking at 318 as 3 and 1 + 8, which is 39.
Elsewhere in this book theres much evidence for this theme association. I realized this as I noticed the events of this chapter reminded me of a possible scenario of The Day of the LORD, which is associated with the number twenty-four. In addition there happen to be twenty-four verses in this chapter. So bringing all these clues together it seems the theme of the chapter is of Jesus return in the last days and how He will save Israel again in the same way Abram won the battle and saved the people. Many clues elsewhere in the chapter seem to confirm this. In this example, the precise number 318 has caused us to stop and take it apart to understand its meaning. Meanwhile, my research of the numbers 14, 53, and 351 has lead to my discovery that 318 refers to 39. As Im writing this I happen to notice that 53 -14 = 39. Interesting, but thats a study for another day.
Using Selected Digits and Ignoring Others
When looking for connections or relationships between numbers it isnt important that all digits of numbers match for there to be a relationship between the numbers. In the following example were looking for numbers with connections to 37, and we find this is the 372nd verse of Revelation, so we would consider this a possible connection. There are other 37s related to this verse as well: Adding the chapter and verse numbers (21:16) yields a sum of 37, and we see the digits 3 and 7 in the five-digit Bible verse number, which is 31,070. The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal (Revelation 21:16).
When comparing numbers for connections, dont be concerned if some digits in the numbers are not used in the comparison.
Calculations Within a Number
When comparing relationships between numbers, be aware that one or more numbers from either text or verse references may be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided to create a result with meaning significant to the text. In the following example the entire text of Luke 24:48 is included. The text of the verse is very specific about being witnesses, and we know from other studies that 72 is very often associated with witnesses. But theres no 72 to be found in this verse. You are witnesses of these things (Luke 24:48). However, if you add the chapter and verse reference (24 and 48) the result is 72, which we are not surprised to find associated with witnesses.
So when you dont find other connections you may be expecting, consider mathematically manipulating digits in the numbers to determine if the results tell you anything.
Special Triple-digit Numbers: 555, 666, and 777
Theres a special nature in three-digit numbers that all have the same digit value. The numbers 111, 222, 333, 444, 555, 666, 777, 888, and 999 each have a property in that if you multiply the amount of any digit by three you receive the same result as if you added the same digit three times. Of course this is rather obvious and seemingly of little consequence, but theres another related way of expressing these numbers you would not expect: In Gods numbering, thousands of examples have shown that 31 can be a reference for 111, 32 for 222, 33, for 333 and so on. So the number 37 can be interpreted as 777 or three sevens. This may seem to be a circular argument, but the major point is that these three-digit numbers each seem to be associated with especially strong themes that relate to the theme of the digit and they are sometimes expressed as the two-digit number of equivalence.
Job 37:7 really brought this to my attention. This verse, the Bibles 13,777th, says, He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work. The verse also is in the Bibles 473rd chapter, and the text suggests perfection, which is associated with number 777. A second of many examples of this is in 1 Corinthian 15:58: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not {in} vain in the Lord. Adding the chapter and verse numbers yields a sum of 73. In addition, this is the 28,777th verse. Thousands of examples confirm this number relationship, so watch for these special three-digit numbers as well as their alternate way of being expressed with two digits.
Numbers Found Within Numbers
As if things are not complicated enough, be aware that numbers, especially those with three to five digits, may be transformed into multiple numbers. For example, the number 273 may point to themes related to any of the numbers 27, 23, 73, 32, 37 or 72. As strange as it appears, evidence in real examples strongly supports this pattern.
The five-digit cross-Bible verse numbers are the best example of where to consistently see multiple numbers in a number. For example, 1 John 4:10 has a Bible verse number of 30,614 and reveals multiple numbers all relating in one way or another to the verse text: In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. The five-digit number 30,614 can be transformed into these multiple individual number parts. The first two digits of 30 represent purity and can be seen in the verse text this is love. The last two digits of 14 represent the Lord, who delivers us and can be seen in the text he loved us. The digits at each end may be combined to reveal 34, representing being lifted up or saved and can be seen in the text the propitiation for our sins. The middle digit of 6 represents crossing over and can be seen in the text sent his son. This is not to say this is the only way this number can be transformed or that my explanation is as God would have us understand it, but the point is that any number potentially represents many numbers.
The five-digit cross-Bible verse number, which spans the sequence from 1 to 31,102, reveals many types of number possibilities in its content. Theres no way of knowing how deep its meaning goes. There are many ways to use this number that are easy to understand and use, and that provide amazing results. The number can be broken down by any digits to find number relationships, but it seems very often it can be seen as a three-part number beginning with two digits, a middle single-digit and then ending with two more digits (nn-n-nn: when the number is less than five digits, similar but different formats appear).
When seen in this three-part format, very often the first two digits represent some aspect of the first part of the verse and the last two digits the last part of the verse, while the middle single-digit appears to be a theme digit that applies to the verse in general. This is not a specific formula for analyzing the cross-Bible verse number since it can be seen in so many ways, but this 2-1-2 digit breakdown so often reveals great number associations it is worth taking special note of. In a similar way, using the first and last digits to form a number often produce numbers relating to the verse theme. For example, the cross-Bible verse number of 3,857 would form the number 37, which may be an additional clue to the verse theme. Following are examples of the three-part Bible verse number transformations:In our everyday language we use numbers we automatically associate with other numbers, and the meanings we associate with them very often reflect the same meanings we find associated with them in the Bible. Thus, finding in the Bible numbers we believed were of human invention should make us marvel at our amazing God who is obviously very active in our world today.
You will be surprised to find the number we associated with emergencies and disasters appears to be used the same way in the Bible. It seems that 911 might be one of Gods number themes we somehow now use for our own purposes. Following are a few of the thirty-seven 911 verses that have a theme of death and destruction to those who do not follow God as well as a theme of life for those who do follow Him.
We associate the number 360 with the number of degrees in a circle and thus use terms such as 360 degree view to indicate a full viewing area that covers everything around us. We often attribute the invention of 360 degrees with the Babylonian empire but was it really a creation of God? The theme for 36 is about things that are all encompassed, surrounded, enclosed, all inclusive as well as round things such as the world. Notice how these verses seem to show a very definite relationship to 36, 360 and these themes:
This chapter explains several ways numbers are transformed, and how numbers are subtly hidden in both text and other numbers. It also explains methods for comparing numbers found in text and in number references to determine if their number relationships give us clues to themes or other messages we might find related to the text. As you examine the Redemption Pattern and Numeric Map, remember that numbers are not always as obvious as you might imagine. Most number transformations are fairly simple to understand and those who watch for them are sure to uncover nuggets of gold in the Scriptures and even meet God face-to-face as we perceive the miracles of His Word.
Chapter Questions
Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN (Hebrews 8:5).
When I tell people about the Redemption Plan and the Bibles Numeric Map, first theyre amazed. But when I continue with a few more examples they begin to get a blank stare. When I ask how I lost them they often say they already believe the Bible is Gods Word, and although the information Ive given them is fascinating, its probably more helpful to those who are not yet convinced God and his Son, Jesus, are real. Theres so much to tell about the Redemption Plan and Numeric Map, yet the natural tendency is to dismiss it as interesting, but not important. By this point in the book you may have bought into the possibility of the Numeric Map, but you may be thinking its not some-thing that will enhance your Christian walk or Bible studyor that it might even detract from it. This chapter leaves the theoretical concepts of the Redemption Pattern and demonstrates how its easily put to use and how it provides value that will change your walk with God.
Five Indispensable Values of the Redemption Plan
Weve covered these five values previously, but it is worthwhile to show them again and explain five major areas where the Redemption Plan helps us in our everyday spiritual growth process.
1-PLAN OF SALVATION: Maybe the most important value of the Numeric Map is in its revealing of Gods Redemption Pattern. This pattern reveals ten stages of our spiritual growth, which in turn clarify the process of our walk with God. Learning these growth stages helps us see the logical path of growth God has set before each person. In each of the stages we learn important concepts and teachings that prepare us for understanding as we enter the next stage. Instead of seeing the Bible as a book of many teachings for our spiritual growth, the ten stages of the Redemption Pattern organize and shepherd us through the steps of the pattern, teaching us in a progressive way and guiding us to becoming faithful and obedient servants who will eventually to go to dwell with Jesus in His Kingdom.
2-REVEALING THE BIBLE IS THE EXACT WORD OF GOD: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, "you received the word of God you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God.... Most Christians will agree the Bible is Gods Word, but this over-generalized claim for the source of Scripture helps very little in learning how much someone really trusts Gods Word. Many Bible scholars also agree the Bible is the Word of God authored by men, but declaring this position on the authorship of the Bible is not useful in understanding what men think about the accuracy of its contents.
The divine inspiration of biblical text is a term used in so many different ways it has lost its meaning. To some it simply means God gave the information to a writer who then put it in his own words and according to his own point of view. Others assert the original text is divinely inspired, but the problem with this stance is then to identify what versions of the original text they believe are inspired as there are many variations of early texts of every book. With these many debates about the nature of the Bibles authorship it is impossible to define what inspired means beyond the general belief that the Bible is somehow the work of God. This is not a very compelling argument to seekers who are sincerely trying to know what religious belief is correct. But with Bible Numeric's we can actually let the Bible prove itself to be inspired or not.
Consider how the following examples demonstrate the divine authorship of the Bible available to us today. Job 37 is the 473rd chapter of the Bible, and in verse 37:7 we read that God seals the hand of every man that all men may know his work. This is a reference to a mark of perfection God gives to men. This is precisely the Bibles 13,777 verse, and the verse text is specifically about Gods seal of perfection placed on the hands of men. Its location in the 473rd
Bible chapter and also being in the 37th chapter of Job all point to an unbelievable perfection where five different intersecting reference numbers all line up at this one single location. For this to occur the verse must be in the precise seventh verse location within its chapter; and the chapter in the precise thirty-seventh position in the book of Job; and the book of Job must fall in its eighteenth position of sixty-six books in order for chapter 37 to become the 473rd chapter of the Bible, and every verse in all 472 preceding chapters must be properly delineated and numbered in its correct position.
The numbers that line up with this verse alone are strong evidence for divine authorship and divine preservation of Gods Word. If all this were coincidence it would be quite an incredible one, beyond all human comprehension. If there were but one such incidence in the Bibles 31,102 verses we might wonder if this is merely a coincidence, but every verse of the Bible lines up perfectly with the text, and there are several other compelling examples having the same list of intersecting verses that mathematically confirm they could only be the result of a God who does wonders beyond our imagination:
At the time of this writing no Bibles contain references to the numbers of the Numeric Map, but, assuming God desires to get this message out, Im confident they will be available. We are working on producing one to be offered through AmazingWord and also working on getting online Bible software producers to include number references in some of their offerings. Until then, the charts and cross-references in the appendix of this book provide guides relating the numbers with book chapters and verses of the Bible. There are also a continually updated set of references and helps located on the www.amazingword.com Web site.
Trust Gods Word is Gods Word
I hope that through the examples youve seen in this book your understanding of who wrote the Bible is beginning to change. I hope you no longer see it as men communicating Gods messages, but rather as the perfect and perfectly preserved exact Word of God. There is precision in the text, and its meaning is beyond our full comprehension. Study the Bible without wondering if the words really mean what they saythey do. There was no human author: Gods Word is Gods Word. To clarify this, I absolutely believe God led men to pen the Bible, and it is likely each author thought he was writing his own words, but the evidence in numbers is clear, the text of the Bible and how it fits Bible Numeric's is a wonder beyond our comprehension and can be explained only as being accomplished by an intelligence outside this worldGod. Although the Bible is often difficult to understand and at times does not seem to make sense or seems to contradict itself, resist the temptation to reject what you dont understand as having been caused by the work of imperfect authors. Such notions take away much of the sharpness of Gods Word and cause us to dismiss portions instead be digging in deeper to understand them.When you come to know in your heart that what you are reading is directly from God you will no longer dismiss any aspect of Gods Word. There are no extra sentences or unnecessary words, every verse is there for a purpose and is somehow important to the message God is communicating.
For example, in the first sixteen verses of Romans 16 Paul asks sixteen times that his recipients greet various individuals, as in this example from verse 9: Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Commentaries dont address these verses, or they explain them simply as greetings to those loved and commended by Paul. When we read them we tend to skim over them without thinking. But is there a message here, or are these unnecessary verses, normal salutations as found in most letters?
If you noticed the three relationships to sixteen I just mentioned, you should see a clue that something special is going on. I believe this chapter contains these very specific sixteen greetings to sixteen individuals, and sixteen reasons why they are special, to give us an example of those whose names are written in the Book of the Lord. There are no unimportant parts of Scriptureeverything has a message. Trust that the Bible was written by God so men could not only know about God, but literally meet and discover His presence in the miracles hidden in His Word.
Tools and Methods for Using the Redemption Pattern
There is no denying that sometimes discerning the theme of a number can be a struggle. When you cant decide between multiple themes or cant find a common theme at all, its important to have some foundational source for your core definition of numbers. This foundational definition comes from the books of the Bible themselves. Earlier in this book we explained the relationship between the first ten books and the numbers one to ten. Keep this information handy, as you may want to come back to this when you are struggling with themes. The question I commonly ask myself is if my definition of a theme fits with the message of the corresponding Bible book.
Using the Bible book count of fifty-seven, there are fifty-seven books, each containing one or more messages corresponding to their number. If you come to trust in this organization as I do then you will come to trust that whatever you might decide a theme for a number is, the theme should somehow fit the message of the book. I say should since we may not always understand the theme for a book and our conclusion about a number theme understood from other sources may even help us to understand a book theme.
Looking at the themes for chapters verses and other number-text relationships are less pure because there arent many numbers associated with each of them. For example, examining a chapter-number theme requires you consider other import numbers associated with the chapters, such as cross-Bible chapter number, cross-Bible verse number, the number of verses in a chapter, and others. There is nothing higher in numerical importance than a Bible-book number, so consider books your highest in primary definition for numbers.
Chapters Themes are the Quickest Way to Observe Themes
Though the themes for books are the foundations for understanding number themes, studying chapter numbers and themes is the quickest way to observe the relationships between numbers and themes and their consistency across books of the Bible. The compact nature of chapters allows quick analyses of several of them in a relatively short period of time. When researching number themes, first understand the theme of the corresponding book of the Bible and then read through a few chapters with the same number to confirm the overall theme. There are at least two different approaches to reading chapters to understand number themes.
Sequential Chapter Themes Reveal the Redemption Pattern
The following set of theme verses from Psalm 101 through Psalm 110 demonstrate how progressive chapter numbers correspond to chapter text in reflecting the Redemption Pattern. To demonstrate that this correspondence is no coincidence, Ive intentionally selected just the first verse from each chapter that by itself reflects the chapter theme. Examining the remaining portion of these chapters will further confirm the themes. For each of these ten chapters, the following lines show the theme number, a couple of words of reminder regarding the theme and how it fits this chapter, and the verse with a pertinent part of the theme highlighted.
1-GOD (SINGING PRAISES TO GOD ALONE): Psalm 101:1 says, I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
2-JESUS THE REDEEMER: Psalm 102:1 says, Hear my prayer, O LORD! And let my cry for help come to You.
3-HOLY SPIRIT (Gods righteousness in our presence): Psalm 103:1 says, Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, {bless} His holy name.
4-MAN, CREATION, UNIVERSE (Passover and 14 are reminders of Jesus, who comes down to redeem us): Psalm 104:1 says, Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty.
5-GRACE AND TRUTH, COVENANTS (thanking God for His provision and protection): Psalm 105:1 says, Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.
6-CROSSING OVER TO GOD'S REST (praising God as our only way to salvation; choosing God): Psalm 106:1 says, Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
7-CHILDRED OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD (learning and acknowledging Gods ways are best): Psalm 107:1 says, Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
8-OBEDIENT AND FAITHFUL SERVANT (having completely turned oneself over to the Lord): Psalm 108:1 says, My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.
9-PERSEVERANCE WHILE AWAITING HIS RETURN (we faithfully serve and tell others about Him while we watch for his return): Psalm 109:1 says, O God of my praise, Do not be silent!
10-DAY OF THE LORD/LAST THINGS (looking toward the future, when Jesus will return, the faithful will be redeemed, and enemies will be punished): Psalm 110:1 says, The LORD says to my Lord: Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.
Were you able to see how the chapter numbers lined up with themes within the chapters? Another way to experience the themes corresponding to chapter numbers is to locate any ten progressive chapters in the Bible to compare them with the themes for numbers one to ten.
Chapters With the Same Number Reveal Number Themes
Knowing the foundational number themes is amazingly helpful in understanding potential themes of chapters. There are three numbers I often go to first when desiring to get a quick concept of what the chapter generally is about: first the chapter number, then the number of verses in the chapter, and then the cross-Bible chapter number. All of these numbers indicate the messages contained inside. The Bibles chapter numbers are among the easiest numbers to use for determining themes, as they provide a general indication of an entire set of verses, and themes between like-numbered chapters can quickly be examined for common themes. Chapter number twenty-twos are my favorite examples for revealing the value of chapter numbers.
Twenty-two is a number associated directly with Jesus the Suffering Servant. Examining almost any twenty-two related book, chapter, or verse in the Bible confirms this association. Not coincidentally, there are twenty-two chapter 22s in the Bible, and they all point to Jesus as the redeemer who came to save us through His death on the cross. The following lines show the nine most obvious examples of how chapter 22s reflect the theme. Of course, many chapters in the Bible are directly or indirectly about Jesus, but if you examine these examples carefully you will notice how these contain very special references to Jesus. Of special note are the chapters in Genesis, Isaiah, and Psalms, which are often referred to as key chapters revealing Jesus in the Old Testament. Its no coincidence they are numbered twenty-two.
These examples show how chapters with number 22 relate to the theme of Jesus. To begin using chapter themes, keep in your Bible a reference of the foundational numbers to refer to during your normal study times, in formal Bible studies, or even while referring to passages presented in sermons. Dont worry about learning them at their deepest level, but simply observe how chapter number themes reveal aspects of the text.
Patterns in Chapter Words and Phrases
Be aware of patterns in words and phrases in Scripture text that help in determining the theme or context of passages. It often amazes me how ignorant we are about those aspects of the Bible that are of great use during study. One of those concepts I wish someone had pointed out to me years ago is to watch for words or phrases that help reveal messages God wants us to understand and take joy in knowing.
All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them (Nehemiah 8:12).
One of the ways for discerning the themes associated with chapters or sections of Scripture is to carefully observe how words are used to teach us. The Bible is written in such a way that if we are not watching for word and phrase patterns the guidance they are intended to provide is lost. The following examples show how word usage patterns are strong clues to themes in the text.
The theme for number one is often mistaken to be that of unity, but it would better be described as things that are separate or set apart, and things that can be counted as a single entity. God the Father is associated with one and is the ultimate example of one, as there is only one God. Mark 10:8 provides a good explanation of the difference between unity and separateness and explains that when two are brought together in unity they are no longer two but one: And the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. Mark is saying that when two are joined or unified in marriage, their distinctness is gone. After things are joined they can no longer be seen as two things because joining them removes any hint of separateness. For example, if you join two glasses of water into one the result is one glass of water; two glasses truly no longer exist.
Genesis 1 is the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, so you would expect it to be very strong in revealing the theme for number one. Verse one of this chapter would define the ultimate theme for number one: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Book one, chapter one, and verse one include references to three things related to one; beginning is always related to number one, as one is the first number and is related to all first things; the heavens and the earth are specifically referred to as separate things, and in this verse are clearly set apart as different from each other. So we can see three unique things associated with this first verse of the Bible. This same concept of separation and uniqueness is seen throughout chapter one.
If you examine this chapter you will find that all thirty-one verses very specifically speak of things that are different and set apart from each other: heavens and Earth, darkness and the Spirit of God, light and darkness, day and night, fruits and seeds after their kind, the sun and the moon, evening and morning, and the beasts of the Earth after their kind. God has gone to great extremes to reveal to us in Genesis 1 how things are separated and numbered after their kind. Thus we see that Genesis 1 not only fits the definition of the theme for number one but also helps define it. The first and second verses seem to capture the essence of the entire chapter: God created both the heavens and the earth, and in verse two the Spirit of God was separate from and moving over the darkness.
Every chapter of the Bible seems to have messages communicated with words and text we are not generally aware of. When examining chapter themes be very aware of the specific use of words and what they might be communicating just below the surface of the text. For those who might be somewhat concerned by such statements about new understandings just below the surface of the text, remember that Gods Numeric Map does reveal more understanding about things we thought we understood and will also reveal new understandings about what we were not aware of.
Anyone who has ever studied the Bible knows the pitfalls of misinterpreting it and is likely already careful in too quickly drawing conclusions as to what it teaches. The clues to meanings provided through the Numeric Map sometimes cause fears these new understandings will result in more misinterpretation of Scripture, but Ive found the opposite is true. The Numeric Map actually provides more clues to help us reduce our misinterpretation. And while there are new concepts to be learned, the end result is a more accurate understanding of Gods Word. Nonetheless, be sure to work out all your interpretations of Scripture with study partners so you can be more sure to arrive at the truth and to share in the joy of Gods Word.
The clarification the Numeric Map brings will change how we think about some things, but only in a way that reveals more truth. We are not modifying any text in Scripture, were only using Gods Numeric Map to help us interpret it more accurately. We cannot be afraid to dig for more truth out of fear that we might be wrong in our understanding. More appropriately, we must verify every new truth with other parts of the Word of God. It has been my experience that whenever I suspect a new understanding of something it most often is a clarification of what I already knew and makes other Scriptures clearer. I cannot assume any single new finding by itself is right.
To give a personal example, at the time of this writing I believe the two Cherubim at each end of the Mercy Seat somehow relate to two aspects of Jesus: Jesus the Suffering Servant who came to offer Himself as a sacrifice for sin, and the resurrected Jesus who will one day return to take His people to heaven and judge the earth. I suspect this because the cross-Bible verse number for Exodus 25:18 is 2,214 (22 and 14): You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. Because this verse about the seat Jesus will rule from is associated with both the numbers 22 and 14, and there are also two cherubim, one at each end of the Mercy Seat, it appears there is some correspondence to the two cherubim with the two aspects of Jesus.
This is new information I think is quite amazing, and yet I cannot make any assumptions about what it means until I learn more. Everyone who uses the Numeric Map must be just as careful using it to interpret Scripture as they would interpreting Scripture in the normal wayverified and cross-verified with other Scripture and with others who will help us interpret the truth.
Number of Verses in Chapter Reflects Theme
In the same way that chapter numbers indicate the chapter theme, the number of verses in a chapter also reflect the chapter theme. An example of this can be seen in Leviticus 12, which has eight verses and whose theme is about the process of a woman becoming clean after she gives birth. She is unclean for seven days after birth, and on the eighth day the male child is to be circumcised. The eighth and last verse of the chapter declares the priest shall make atonement for her and she will be clean. When a woman gives birth and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean for seven days ( v. 2). On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised (v. 3). the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean (v. 8).
It is interesting that while this is chapter 12 of Leviticus it is also the 102nd chapter of the Bible, and twelve is related to living under the Law and the need for atonement for sin. So both the theme for chapter 12 and for the number of verses (eight) can apply to the chapter.
This might cause you to wonder if the theme for the chapter is related more to eight or to twelve. I believe the answer is that it is some combination of the theme numbers. In the instance cited above, three major numbers are chapter 12; Bible chapter 102 (12); and eight, for the number of verses in the chapter. There are other numbers as well, so the theme is more about living under the Law and needing atonement for sin, but also recognizing atonement is available through the priests and today through Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as atonement for sin.
When looking for the theme of chapters, consider the count of verses in the chapter along with the chapter number and cross-Bible chapter number, all as guides to the overall chapter theme.
Other Chapter Tools
In addition to watching for chapter-related numbers, also look at cross-Bible and cross-book verse numbers, which can highlight verses. And watch patterns in the related series of these numbers, which can be another factor in finding the chapter theme.
Judges 6 contains a series of cross-Bible verse numbers, from 6,660 to 6,669, and verse six has a strong reference to sin and the need for redemption. Judges 6:6 says, So Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the LORD. The chapter begins with this phrase: Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and ends with Gideon being called as the judge who will deliver them, so the theme for this chapter is of sin and deliverance, and the 666n series of cross-Bible verse numbers both highlights these verses regarding sin and confirms other numbers pointing to the chapter theme.
Jeremiah 39 spans book-verse numbers from 978 to 995, and its cross-Bible verse numbers from 19,925 to 19,942, so noticing the pattern and cross-book verse numbers can cause you to look at other numbers that reveal a strong nine theme for this chapter. Even the first two verses mention the ninth year and the ninth day. These numbers may have gone unnoticed if attention had not been paid to the cross-book verse number pattern.
Watch for multiple special numbers associated with verses, which often cause you to notice what might otherwise be overlooked. Psalm 22:9 is in the 500th chapter of the Bible, and its Bible verse number is 14,214 (14-2-14). Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust {when} upon my mothers breasts. Many will not agree this is a reference to Jesus, but this single verse has at least three separate verse references suggesting it refers to the coming Messiah. These three noticeable references are like three road signs that say, Slow down; notice me. If you missed one of the road signs, there are still two others to help you see what God has highlighted. In addition to these three signposts being there to cause us to notice special meanings, they also serve as three confirmations of the same message: the chapter number of 22; or this being the 500th chapter of the Bible; or by noticing the uniqueness of the cross-Bible verse number of 14-2-14. Each give us an indication this text is about Jesus, and together they confirm the interpretation. As you become aware of significant numbers that highlight verses, using them to help notice patterns and messages requires only a small amount of effort to glance at numbers associated with text as you study. At first this may seem like work, but as you realize the value of numbers you will not be able to stop observing the numbers any more than you would ignore the text.
Many of the tools presented in this section about analyzing chapters for themes also apply to analyzing individual verses, but there are few tools that apply to the analysis of individual and lists of verses for determining number and verse themes.
Verse numbers produce less-certain results:
Ive spent endless hours attempting to find patterns in verse numbers that demonstrate their meaning is consistent across the Bible, but analyses of verse numbers, although very useful for interpretation, are less clear than analyzing chapter and book numbers to determine number themes. This is because the verse number, although directly associated with verse text, is only one of many numbers that contribute to the validation and understanding of verse text. A simple way to look at this is to understand that a verse reflects the theme of the chapter it is a part of, the book it is a part of, as well as other numbers, such as cross-book and cross-Bible verse numbers. Trying to factor all these numbers to determine the underlying theme of a verse can be confusing. Verse numbers are still very important as long as one remembers it is only one number that reflects a verse theme. Using logical groups of verses related by number is a more reliable way to study verse-number themes. For example, by looking at all 3:16 verses you have a collection of 49 verses related by verse reference that will have a common theme running through all of them. If you find a common theme you suspect runs through these verses then you have many examples from which to confirm your theory. This also applies to other verse numbering analyses, such as examining verses with like cross-book verse numbers (for example, looking at all the 222nd verses of books of the Bible, of which there are thirty-three).
Verse related numeric pattern references:
The following elements of a verse are useful to examine for better understanding of the message in the text:Using Numbers to Clarify Verse Interpretation
Youve probably heard debates and unresolved questions about the meaning of specific texts in the Bible, and so far no tools have allowed us to resolve most of these age-old questions about biblical interpretation. I suspect God planned this to cause us to be more diligent when studying His Word and thus spend time with Him in the process. But the tools of Bible numeric's provide amazing results in guiding our interpretation so we can be more sure than previously possible in our understanding. A simple example of using numbers to help interpretation is found in Matthew 3:9: and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. By knowing that combined chapter and verse numbers often form meaningful theme numbers we can see that Matthew 3:9 may be related to the theme for 39, which is most often a reference to The Sons of Israel. The Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah because they considered Abraham to be their spiritual father. By knowing the association of 39 with the Jews we can better understand that Jesus is directing this message at them in an effort to show them Abraham cannot compare to Jesus.
Using the tools of numbers were often able to add information that helps guide our understanding of Scripture, sometimes providing evidence compelling enough to settle questions of interpretation never previously answered. Its worth noting that this is an example of how numbers do not interpret Scripture and do not bring new meaning to Scripture, but rather help us to understand and interpret whats always been there.
Weve seen many examples of how numbers stand out and sometimes draw our attention to text associated with them. I refer to this as Gods highlighting. Its as if God has taken a yellow highlighter to certain verses so well be sure not to miss them. I think He does so both for the content these verses provide and also as a way to shout out that His numbering is not coincidence and has been designed not only logically so that we might validate and use them for interpretation, but also to declare His glory and perfection. There are several ways God highlights numbers as well as text to get our attention, as if to say, Look at me, Im special. These are built-in tools or handles God has provided so that we dont miss messages He especially wants us to heed.
Hyper-cross-Bible verse numbers with like digits (such as 111; 1,111; 11,111)
Cross-Bible verse numbers containing three or more consecutive like digits are associated with especially strong messages related to that digits themes. Watch for such numbers that might have special messages; they are amazing evidences for the supernatural character of the Bible.
The number one is of course about God, but also is used in the context of counting or numbering or measuring things, which includes being counted as part of groups and even has been counted as one of Gods own. The following three examples show the consistency of meaning in these strong 111-type verses.Sevens - 777; 7,777; 17,777 (Perfection, sanctified, purified)
The number seven is related to becoming complete and ready to serve God, and multiples of seven are related to increasing levels of completeness and even perfection or sanctification. Notice how the following strong 777-type verses shout out this perfection through the association of especially appropriate verse text.
Words That Shout, Look at me.
Be aware of words and phrases God attaches to verses to give them emphasis or special meaning. Use these special Look at me words and phrases as tools to help point out special number-text relationships as well as the extraordinary messages in the text. Notice that each of the following verses have look at me phrases that should slow you down to take special note of the message in the text:
Researching Word and Phrase Themes
When reading any document, including the Bible, analyzing words with a dictionary or concordance can be a problem because the definitions in them dont account for the meaning as it is used within the context of the sentence. For example, the dictionary definition of the word times has multiple definitions depending on the context in which it is used. It may mean something being weighed or counted, or it might refer to a specific time or event. Even though the same form of the word is used, the only way to know if the word time is used in respect to a specific time or as a reference to an event is to examine the context in which is used. So we cannot always depend on dictionaries and concordances alone to discern the meaning of words or phrases.
Assuming human authorship is also a problem if we place too much importance on specific words used to describe something. Human authors may select many different phrases that communicate the same message equally well. For example, the author might describe the time of an event using phrases such as at that time or on that occasion or at that moment. The author may have chosen any one of these phrases and communicated the exact same message, so to assume the human author placed his special meaning behind the words would be assuming more precision than the author possibly could have constructed into the text. But what if God is the author?
If we assume the perfection and supernatural authorship of the Bible, then we may no longer dismiss as arbitrary the choice of words or phrases that express a message. Instead, we watch for the counts of occurrences of word or phrases used, as often those counts are additional clues to interpretation. Of course, this depends on the accuracy of the translation you are using as compared to the original text. I have found the NASB to be amazingly meaningful in its translation of original thoughts into words, and so it is a good source for studying word counts and phrase counts for those who are unable to go back to the original text. Consider the NASB or other more similarly literal translations of the Bible when studying these counts.
The numbers 3, 30, and 300 are often associated with holiness, purity, righteousness, refining fire, and other similar sub themes. Using the NASB word counts below notice how these words and phrases that occur thirty or 300 times are also consistent with the theme of 3, 30, and 300:
Words and Phrases Correspond to Verse References and the Message in the Text
Its no coincidence that Jeremiah 25:12 says, Then it will be when seventy years are completed I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation. This is the Bibles 770th chapter, in the twenty-first book, and the verse reference (25:12) added together equals 37. So here we find the word seventy used in the 770th chapter and in a verse reference (37) that is often associated with 777. We also find the word completed, which occurs 37 times in the Bible. Too many numbers line up with this chapter and verse for them to be considered coincidence.
The counts of phrases also are significant and precise; the phrase the LORD appeared is found twenty-two times in the Bible and is often associated with other numbers pointing to Jesus. 1 Kings 3:5 says, In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, Ask what {you wish} me to give you. This is the Bibles 8,822nd (22) verse, and is the 104th (14) verse in 1 Kings 3. The verse reference of 35 (53) is also a reference to the presence of the glory of God. Like words, even phrases found in the Bible are supernaturally constructed to Gods pattern.
The point of this is not to further confirm that the Bible is Gods supernatural work, but rather to explain that words as well as phrase-occurrence counts are significant, and knowing this can be a useful interpretation tool.
Using Word Counts to Assist Interpretation
As stated earlier in this chapter, Romans 16 is commonly seen as merely being Pauls closing statements to his original audience. Verses 1 to 16 contain a series of requests by Paul to greet various individuals serving the Lord, and the remainder of the chapter encourages them to watch out for deceivers and refers to God, who is making Himself known through believers to all the nations. But there is much more to this chapter than meets the eye, and examining words and word counts leads to some amazing discoveries.
Whenever I see words repeated often in chapters, and especially when I dont understand the chapter theme, I tend to count and otherwise analyze some of the words to see if they point me to clues in the text. Counting the word greet in Romans 16 yielded real treasure in understanding the chapters theme.
In the first sixteen verses of Romans 16 Paul asks sixteen times for his readers to greet various individuals. At first glance there appears to be more than sixteen references to greeting, but the other citations refer to Paul greeting his audience. Observing sixteen greetings statements in chapter 16 through verse 16 led to the further analysis of these greetings statements, which were the core message of the chapter and are intended to reveal to us those who were written into the Book of the Lord, and to one day enter His kingdom. They also reveal the things these people were doing that contributed to their acceptance by God. Note: I realize this statement can sound like salvation by works, but I believe salvation is only through accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Works or deeds are only evidence of our faith. The efforts of those mentioned in Romans 16 appear to be evidence of their faith rather than reasons for their salvation.
Use the tools of counting word and chapter occurrences and consider how those counts might fit other accounts related to chapters and verses and what those counts may tell you. God has left amazing evidences and clues to understanding His Word, if we take the time to look.
The tools mentioned in this chapter are just a few of the techniques related to numbers and the Redemption Pattern that can be used to better understand the Bible. At first it appears a daunting task to turn a quiet time with God into a major analysis of numbers phrases and patterns, but the rewards are amazing and turn the study of Gods Word into an amazing adventure with God to understand the mysteries He has hidden for us to discover.
None of these tools is especially difficult to use, but they do require some perseverance, especially when first learning how they work. To avoid being discouraged by the combined complexities of the relationships of so many numbers, begin with one or two simple tools to learn their value and notice how they motivate you to want to know more. Just being aware of basic number themes and their relationships can lead you to amazing discoveries youll want to share with others.
Chapter Questions
1. In what five major areas does the Redemption Pattern help us in our everyday spiritual growth process?
2. How did the author address those who might be somewhat concerned by such statements about new understandings just below the surface of the text?
3. What are elements of a verse that are useful in gaining a better understanding of the message in the text?
4. List some special elements about Jeremiah 25:12.
5. The author wrote, The numbers 3, 30, and 300 are often associated with holiness, purity, righteousness, refining fire, and other similar sub themes. List at least five important words found exactly thirty times in the Bible.
6. What was the authors point in citing verses such as Jeremiah 25:12 and 1 Kings 3:5?
He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. (Proverbs 16:20)
People told Thomas Edison that transmitting a voice over airwaves without the listeners being able to respond was a ridiculous ideathey simply had no concept of the usefulness of radios, which we now take for granted. Being the technology geek I am Im often in line to buy some of the newest electronic devices, and often find myself trying to explain why Ive bought the latest gizmo that seems to have little practical use. I remember trying to explain to my wife when I wanted our first mobile car phone. She, like most people at that time, could not understand why anyone would want a portable phone when pay phones were on every corner. Few if any envisioned that it would not be long before nearly everyone would be carrying a cell phone, and those who dont have one would seem backward. Often we dont understand the value of new discoveries until we observe how they can be used. Suddenly we need things we previously thought were little more than curiosities.
Thats been my experience when explaining the value of the Redemption Pattern and its numbers. As I tell people about the Bibles pattern and the numbers that point to it, one of the first responses I hear is, So what? I already believe God wrote the Bible. What value is there to this pattern? Its a fair question, and sometimes without much time for thought its not obvious how the knowledge of such a pattern is beneficial. Most Christians I speak to already agree the Bible is the inspired Word of God; they also believe in Jesus Christ and the Trinity, and feel they have an adequate grasp of Scripture. So their first reaction is that they dont need a pattern because they dont need more convincing about God. But if we push beyond our first reaction and think about the consequences of such a discovery, the value we realize actually becomes overwhelming.
While I can imagine a time when every Bible printed will have extensive numeric cross references as an aid to study, others imagine this discovery will quickly go the way of the clapper or lava lamps. I imagine when the first Bibles were printed with chapter breaks and page numbers they were generally thought of as a frivolous idea, but we could not do without them today. Lets look at some of the many reasons the Redemption Pattern will soon be indispensible.
Blessed Assurance
Its difficult for me to explain adequately how knowing that God wrote His Word and that we can have confidence He has guarded it right through to today changes my personal Bible study. Thanks to my discoveries of the Redemption Pattern, Im personally convinced God wrote His Word for us today, and that He wrote it in such a way that it can be understood by average people. Im also convinced nothing in Scripture is left to chance, and that there are no unimportant words in the Bible. God wrote every word for us to understand and learn from. Because I believe so strongly in the accuracy of Gods Word I can no longer dismiss what I dont understand. When Im unsure about any passage I try hard not to press ahead in my study but rather study a little more to see what God is saying. Its often in these times of struggling with Gods Word that I meet Him personally there. These are times when the sharp edge of His sword pierces my soul. There is an incredible value in knowing in your heart Gods Word is perfect, and the incredible pattern He has left for us teaches us it is so.
Chapter and Verse Numbers: Guides to Interpretation
As I touched on in previous chapters, the Bibles chapter and verse numbers guide us in confirming the meaning of the text. This can appear to be, as youve seen before, a bit circular, but it works. As we observe like-numbered chapters and verses we see similarities that soon emerge as themes. Once we see and confirm a chapter or verse numbers theme we can then refer to that theme as confirmation for interpretation of other passages with the same chapter or verse number(s). For example, lets say youre studying Job and you read this passage in 4:12-17. (These are words from Eliphaz, a friend of Job who was trying to convince him God was punishing him for his sins):
Now a word was brought to me stealthily, And my ear received a whisper of it. Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, Dread came upon me, and trembling, And made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed by my face; The hair of my flesh bristled up. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; A form was before my eyes; There was silence, then I heard a voice: Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?
You ask yourself, Who was this spirit and did it bring Eliphaz true and good advice to pass along to Job? The advice seems reasonable and even biblical. After all, Can mankind be just before God? Certainly not on his own. But, eventually, when you get to Job 42:7, youll see that God says Eliphaz advice was wrong (It came about after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right.
But for 38 chapters you likely read on under the false impression that Eliphaz advice had been correct. Could you have known soonerwithout waiting to get to the end of the bookthat Eliphaz had been wrong? Possibly. First, we know this passage is in chapter 4. Numbers is the Bibles fourth book, and 4 refers to mans lost state (wandering in the wilderness, as seen in Numbers). A lost and wandering man likely wont have a good answer. In addition, we see that the passage in question is 4:12-17, while the passage that answers the question is in 42:7 of the same book. So we might have guessed to look in chapters 41 and 42 for answers to this question. This may not be the best example, but the point again is that numbers associated with a passage provide more clues to its interpretation.
The numbers can be instructive on a level even more basic than that. In fact, you dont have to know anything about Bible number themes to benefit from this understanding of how God has structured His Word. Because the contents of every verse somehow reflect the themes associated with the book, chapter, and verse numbers associated with them, like-referenced verses have common theme elements. For example, even though the book number for all 3:16 verses will be different, the same chapter and verse number still results in being able to find a common theme for all 3:16 verses. With this knowledge, we can examine like-referenced Bible verses to find a theme or subject that helps discern the meaning of more-difficult verses.
One popular radio Bible teacher made me chuckle once when he spoke of how similar a certain 3:16 verse was to John 3:16. After noting the similarity he said, Sometimes youve got to wonder about verse numbering; there seems to be something about 3:16s.... Then he caught himself and said, No matter, and went on with his teachings.
Many have noticed the similarities and coincidences surrounding Bible chapter and verse numbers, but as soon as they realize what they said, they back peddle, as if to say, Impossible; thats a foolish thought. They dont realize they just dismissed one of the wonders of Gods Word. Like all other Bible numbers, the combination of three and sixteen as chapter and verse number always refer to text containing at least one element with specific meaning. The number three is about the Holy Spirit, purity, and righteousness, while sixteen is about sin and the need for redemption. Just look at a few examples:
Of all the values I can think of for understanding the numbers in the Bible, the one that stands far in front of all the others is that of realizing that God has essentially written down for us His plan of redemption in ten specific and well-defined steps. You may think you already understand Gods plan of redemption, but when you see each of the ten parts and how those parts help us to see our lives and our walk, and help us to evaluate where we are, you realize how much we actually dont know about His specific plans. Its not that we dont understand the basics (such as we see in the Four Spiritual Laws), but these basics are not very useful in a Christians daily walk (after salvation). However the Redemption Pattern provides more specific instructions. I believe we often oversimplify Gods Redemption Plan. Yes, salvation is as simple as trusting Jesus atonement for us on the cross, but God wants more for us than just our salvation from hell.
For example, the sixth point of the Redemption Pattern reveals that God has more for us than merely escaping from Egypt through the Red Sea (salvation, as seen in Exodus). He wants us to move on to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land of rest. But even then, after weve entered the Promised Land (as we see in the sixth book, Joshua), the struggles can continue. The seventh point reveals (as seen in the seventh book, Judges) that even after we accept Him we will be tempted by and fall to sin. In this process of falling away and crying out to Him (as the Jews did in Judges), and Him responding to our cries (as He did for the Jews), we will one day truly see our inability to follow Him and obey His laws on our own. We then cry out as Paul did in Romans 7:24, Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? The answer, of course is, Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
At this point we have graduated to the eight step in the plan (which corresponds with the book of Ruth, the eighth book, and is also seen in Romans 8). In Romans 7 Paul compares the believers releases from struggle to an incompatible marriage. As long as I try to please my old husband (the Law) I fight a losing battle. But when I realize that I died with Christ (to the Law), then I understand I am a completely new person, free to marry Christ. Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, are widows as they return to the Promised Land. Because shes a widow, Ruth is free to remarry and move into the place of rest as Boaz bride (Boaz represents Christ). And now Ruth, representing the believer, can rest in the assurance (as seen in Romans 8) that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (as represented by Boaz).
The ninth step of the Redemption Plan speaks of persevering in service and at the same time keeping careful watch and looking forward to the time of Christs return when He will come and gather His people and take them to heaven. This portion requires some detailed explanation, so bear with me. The Bibles ninth book is 1 Samuel (and for reasons explained elsewhere, I count both books of Samuel as one). As 1 Samuel opens we see Hannah, a sad and barren older woman, pitifully waiting (persevering) for God to grant her prayers for a son. Hannah promises to give her son back to the Lord if only He will allow her to give birth. The Lord answers Hannahs prayer with Samuel, who becomes Israels last great judge. Samuel then serves as the transition to the rule by kings.
Meanwhile, if we look at Roman 9 we see a transition to a new section of this book. Paul had closed Romans 8 by asking (rhetorically) who (or what) can separate a believer from his Lord. The implied answer is nothing. But then the obvious response to that is, Then what happened to Israel? Didnt Israels rejection of her Messiah separate her from the Lord? So, to answer that question Paul lays out Romans 9 through 11. And in chapter 9 we see the need for perseverance. In verse 6 Paul writes, For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel. Then in verse 9 he writes, For this is the word of promise: at this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son. (Recall Hannahs desire for a son.) In other words, Gods family is made up of those who join it in His way, according to His promise. He wanted Abraham and Sarah to persevere and do things His way. Finally, in verse 27 (3 x 9) Paul writes this key conclusion: Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved. In other words, not everyone who appears to believe proves it through persevering. The remnant are those who persevere in faith.
This can also be seen in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (or Maidens) in Matthew 25. All ten maidens (necessarily childless) had been invited to the wedding ceremony, but only five of them were thoughtful enough to bring extra oil for their lamps. When the bridegroom finally arrived, the five foolish maidens who hadnt brought extra oil had to go try to find some, but by the time they return the door to the wedding has been closed. Ray Stedman explains it this way: The foolish, then, are those who reckon no deeper than a superficial knowledge of scriptural truth. They look for moral enlightenment or for comfort in some hour of uncertainty and doubt. They read to gain reassurance when life seems to be a senseless tangle of threads without apparent purpose. They believe in the Bible but not in the Lord of the Bible. But faith must go deeper than doctrine. Orthodox knowledge is worthless unless it leads to the surrender of self. And that surrender requires perseverance.
I would be remiss if I failed to clearly point out the difference between salvation and rewards for obedient perseverance. In some cases perseverance proves faith unto salvation, but perseverance can also prove faith leading to rewards. For example, assume two brothers both sincerely accepted the truth that they are sinners and need salvation through Christs atonement on the cross. Both sincerely receive that gift of salvation. Both sincerely move forward in their Christian walk (sanctification). But one day persecution comes to their village. Both brothers are told to stop attending church services or they will face death. One brother defies the order and is shot in the back and killed as he steps through the church doors. Seeing this, the other brother runs away and stops attending church. Both brothers will be in heaven, but the martyred brother will have a reward for his perseverance unto death.
When we observe this Redemption Pattern written down and repeated on every page of the Bible we see how important it is to God, and it will change our walk as a believer; it will help us to measure ourselves and how we are doing. At the same time it will be a compelling tool to help explain to those seeking to know what Gods plan is, and we can present His plan using the Bible itself.
If there were no other value to understanding Gods Redemption Pattern, this alone is reason enough. For although every believer may rightfully expect to enter heaven, we may not realize that there are other rewards available to those who persevere in faith.
Strengthening Faith and Energizing Evangelism
I know many people who say they are convinced the Bible is the Word of God, and I sincerely believe them. But when you see Gods fingerprints on every page of the Bible, that conviction takes on new meaning. Something changes in your heart when you stare God in the face. And when you understand the numbers in the Redemption Plan and begin to see it for yourself, thats exactly what happens. One day youll be reading the Bible and somehow Gods Holy Spirit will communicate to your heart that God just literally spoke to you through His Word and He will be more real to you than Hes ever been.
I might compare the experience to my first visit to the Grand Canyon. I was casually walking up to the edge of the canyon, not paying much attention to where I was. Suddenly the view of the entire canyon filled my eyes and literally shocked me. I had flown over this wonder many times and seen it in movies and pictures. I thought I knew what to expect, but what I actually saw took my breath away. I couldnt believe my eyes. Nothing I had ever seen or heard about the Grand Canyon compared to my experience in being there.
Previously, when people had asked me if Id been to the Grand Canyon I said I hadnt, but that Id like to go there someday. But while it seemed like an interesting place to see, it was not so compelling that I was ready get in my car and take a simple six-hour drive to see it. Now, if I talk to people about the Grand Canyon and they have not yet seen it, I tell them of my experience. I tell them no picture or description or movie can do justice to the experience of being there. I feel even more strongly about the Redemption Pattern and the numbers of the Bible. You cannot imagine experiencing Gods Word like this until one day you wander up on it and you get the surprise of a lifetime. You will not be the same.
Having such an experience changes much about what you think about God and what you think about eternal life and, maybe most importantly, what you think about sharing with others the incredible gift of salvation. The Redemption Pattern is an amazing tool for explaining Gods plan to people, and then using their own or perhaps their grandmothers Bible to show them Gods fingerprints.
Interpretation
I recently watched a TV program about Moses and the Ten Commandments. The narrator said historians and scholars couldnt explain why in Deuteronomy Moses reiterated the Ten Commandments as the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land. I cant tell you how many scholars believe they know the answer to this question and how many are mystified, but I can tell you with confidence why the Ten Commandments were recited again, and the reason I know the answer to this question is because the ten steps of the Redemption Pattern reveal the progressive steps of Gods plan. Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible, which represents the fifth step in Gods Redemption Plan. When all of its parts are brought together they explain the story behind the first ten books of the Bible and progressively how each step builds the experience and knowledge to proceed to the next step.
To understand the book of Deuteronomy and its message we need to remember that the book of Numbers records the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for forty years after all but two of the people were afraid to enter the Promised Land. So God tested them and cleansed them of the unbelieving generation before they got another chance to enter the land. I like to compare what happened next in the book of Deuteronomy to my days as youth group leader when taking my high schoolers to summer camp. All the kids were excited as we hopped into the vans and headed up to the mountains. As the one in charge I knew that upon arrival, before I let everybody break from the vans and run wildly into the camp, I had to stop the group and spend some time laying down the ground rules. So as we pulled to a stop in the parking lot I would let everyone know that we would first calmly get out of the vans and have our initial assembly. Then I would give the rules of the camp and let everybody know where they could go where they were to sleep and eat, as well as what was allowed and what was not. As many of you who have also been in this position no doubt have done, I emphasized that those who did not care to follow rules, or those who broke them, would immediately be packed up and taken home. This talk broke some of the initial excitement of arriving, but set the expectations and, I like to think, made camp a smoother and better experience.
This is exactly the picture I envision when Moses brings the people in sight of the Promised Land. After forty years of wandering, this was now a new generation; therefore, before the people were allowed to simply run into the land and claim their territory, everyone had to be given instructions and reminded why they were finally there. They had to remember it was God who had rescued them from the Pharaoh in Egypt and who had delivered them through the parted seas, and it was God who has seen them this far. The only way they would survive in the new land would be to honor God and realize that God went before them. They were also instructed as to what inheritance they were given and where they were to go, as well as the many other instructions they received in the second book of the law we find in Deuteronomy.
During this assembly Moses reiterated the Ten Commandments to make absolutely sure everyone knew the rules and there was no mistaking the expectations. All needed to understand that anyone not obeying Gods instructions and following His ways would suffer the consequences, which included death.
The fifth step in our Christian walk, then, is to understand the principles that reflect Gods character and that are seen in the statutes and instructions first given in Exodus and repeated here. These statutes and instructions reveal Gods holy charactera character that values righteousness and compassion. The Israelites had been saved when God parted the Red Sea and rescued them from Egypt, but because of their hard hearts they spent forty years wandering in the wilderness. Here we see the people on the doorstep of the Promised Landthe land of rest from their captivity and wilderness wanderings. But if they are to have rest, they will need to live Godly lives, lives that reflect Gods character. (Unfortunately, all too often they did not live lives that reflected Gods characterthey disobeyed His lawsso they didnt find the promised rest in the land, see Hebrews 4:3-6.) These statutes and ordinances could guide them. However, as Paul stated in Romans 6 and 7, trying to keep them in their own power leads only to frustration and even desperation. Deuteronomy, the fifth book, teaches us that we can live a godly life and find rest only when we surrender to the Lord.
As you can see, when you understand Gods Redemption Pattern and the numbers that line them up with the text, the progressive themes have a way of guiding you in understanding the Bible. As is shown elsewhere in this section, the themes in the numbers in several ways guide our understanding and provide tools we can use to find our way around the Bible and even find cross-references that clarify our understanding of most parts of the Bible.
Chapter Questions
#1 GodCreator of All Things
Number One: God: The overall theme associated with number one ultimately is about understanding God, who was the beginning and creator of all things, and understanding He must be number one in our lives, above all leaders or things we might be tempted to follow. The first step in God's Redemption Plan is for us to learn about God.
Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God (3 John 1:11).
We try to understand the incomprehensible God of the universe, who created all things; to learn about the nature of this one who arranges everything, separating good from evil. God gave His statutes and covenants, and they will not be violated without consequence. Our sin nature separates us forever from God; on our own we are unable to dwell with Him. Each person must choose whom to follow and trust, and in the end only two choices exist: Accept Gods one and only Son, Jesus Christ, as our personal Lord and Savior, or choose some counterfeit idol and spend eternity separated from God.
One is the only number not made up of any other number, and it is, of course, the source of all other numbers. One stands by itself; it is the beginning of numbers and a part of every number. One is expressed by many terms, including God, I Am, the first and last, the one and only, the beginning, and the source. Other expressions include The leader, the king, one way, one chosen or selected, every one, no one, one to another, one people, one way, one place, and more. One can also be used as a reference to any one of many, as in the phrases one said or one day.
The theme for number one is often depicted as unity, but it is better described as things that are unique, separate or set apart as a group or entity. Unity is sometimes thought of as two things joined as one, and although this definition is correct, it confuses the difference between two and one. Mark 10:8 helps clarify: and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. Since they are no longer two they are no longer seen as unified or in any way joined. No single thing can be seen as unified. A place or a date, or even a person, is not seen as unified, so groups or entities can be counted as one and at the same time consist of individual elements of people or things.
One is often associated with separation or things set apart or by themselves. This is seen throughout Genesis, where every verse in chapter one speaks of difference, separation, or creation of things of opposite or unlike kinds. Among the patriarchs families, God repeatedly split those who followed Him from those who rejected Him. Genesis 12:1 says, the LORD said to Abram, Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your fathers house, To the land which I will show you.
Things that can be counted can also be numbered, sorted, or ordered with a beginning and an end, or a first and last. One is the number given to the first in every list, so one is also associated with beginnings. Leaders are related to one, as they are the single one leading or going ahead of the group and determining their direction. The ultimate leader of all things is God, and He is the main association with one. The three parts of the Trinity are all one and yet have an order individually that associates them with 111 as well as three, for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Psalm 111:3 says, Splendid and majestic is His work, And His righteousness endures forever.
In the Bible, the number one can be found reflecting themes in all the ways mentioned above, but when it is not found in its normal role, pointing to a specific or unique thing, it most often points to themes about ones who lead or ones whom others follow, or the one we chose to follow. God of course is the ultimate one association, but we also often see one associated with kings, priests, commanders, heads of households, and leaders of all types. In the same way as in references to leaders, one is also related to pride and trust in self, as seen in words such as his, mine, my, I, and myself.
Example verses
Following are some example verses that have strong content pointing to the theme of one:
The number one is often found associated with the following words and phrases: God, Lord, Priests, king(s), pharaoh, leaders, fathers, husbands, households, patriarchs, taskmasters, groups (the Amalekites), first, beginning, a certain man, pride, ownership, self, himself, I, reigned, blameless, upright, the man, the son, the king, lonely, the word, set apart, gold, only, alone, myself, lonely, single and individual.
There are also many statements that imply one: When words such as that, this or the are placed before nouns, implying a reference to it as a specific one; when words like all are used to collectively reference a group, such as in all the articles of gold; when possessive words such as their, my, or mine are used in reference to things owned.
#2 JesusThe Appointed Redeemer
Number Two: God's Son, Who Died for Us: The theme for number two is primarily associated with revealing to us Jesus, the appointed redeemer, who came down to this world as God in the flesh to fight the battle with evil and free His people from bondage, teach us about God, and lead us to the Promised Land. The second step in God’s Redemption Plan is to learn about Jesus, God’s Son, whom He put in charge of all things and who gave Himself up so that men might again have relationship with Him.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).
The number two is about love, relationships, families, friends, things joined together, things divided, and differences. Most importantly, however, the number two is about the second person of the Trinity, Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, whom the Father appointed to come down and save His peopleto repair the relationship severed when Adam and Eve disobeyed. Exodus 29:46 says, They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God. God frees His peoplefrom Egypt, and from the enslavement to sin it representsso that we may dwell with Him.
To accept His atonement for our sins we must accept Him and trust Him as our only Lord and Savior, thus reestablishing our relationship with God by removing the barrier of sin. Number two is about love, relationship, unity, and many other relationships we have in this world. It is also about their opposites: hate, divorce, and division, and is even related to the counterfeits and forces against Jesusforces that want to be God in His place. The second step in Gods Redemption Pattern is about knowing Jesus, the Son, and our need to accept His gift of eternal life.
The supernatural numbering of the Bibles 2,000th verse is one of the most important declarations in Scripture, highlighting a key theme for number two as being the eternal battle between Jesus and Satan. The Lord had just won the battle against Amalek, which symbolize the struggle between God and Satan, and which will continue until the last days. This 2,000th verse, Exodus 17:6, says, The LORD has sworn; the LORD will have war against Amalek from generation to generation. God is warning us His war against evil will continue throughout every generation. The divine numbering of this 2,000th verse is Gods way of highlighting it for us to take special note of it as a key to the theme for number two.
In the same way that Exodus, the second book of the Bible, gives us an overview of twos theme of a redeemer coming to free us, this 2,000th verse consistently points us to the same theme of Jesus battle with evil. We find this confirmed yet again in the 20,000th verse of the Bible, where those of the devil accuse Jeremiah of lying when he tells the people that God warns them not to enter Egypt. Jeremiah 43:2 says, Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, You are telling a lie! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, You are not to enter Egypt to reside there; but Baruch the son of Neriah is inciting you against us to give us over into the hand of the Chaldeans, so they will put us to death or exile us to Babylon. Here again God has highlighted in one of the strongest numerical associations with two the battle between Jesus and Satan, who is the father of lies. John 8:44 says, for he is a liar and the father of lies. The theme for number two is about our appointed redeemer, who fights this battle to free us from bondage with evil and restore our relationship with God.
This relationship with God, which Jesus is restoring, is consistent with the more simple associations with two commonly thought of as things joined, united, brought together or in pairs, thus things in relationship. Two also speaks of things that can be separated or split apart, such as in the phrase divide in two. In Gods Redemption Plan, the number two points to the relationship of Jesus sacrifice to save, and the love and care he has for His people. Two also speaks of the Jesus who separates, as shown in Luke 12:51: Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.
Two often refers to sons, brothers, sisters, daughters, wives, and husbands. Two speaks of things or people that have come together because of a shared feature or interest, and it also points out differences, and that where we are not alike we may be seen as separate. One of the most important aspects of the number two is in showing us the difference in who we are and who we will follow in our lives. We would all like to believe we could live in one big, happy world, but from the first day of creation there has been difference: There is light and dark, and we cannot follow both. Jesus came to declare the difference. 1 Samuel 2:2 says, There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
Following are verses revealing the concepts associated with the number two, and some explanation for each:
Two, and things being split apart: To tear something down or split something in two speaks of traumatic and painful consequences. Luke 12:52 says, for from now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.
Jesus and the Father: The following verse twos show us Jesus has always been with the Father. John 1:2 says, He was in the beginning with God. Hebrews 1:2 says, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
Jesus, the appointed savior/redeemer: Two is about Jesus, the redeemer who came to save His people. Exodus 20:2 says, I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 1 John 2:1 says, My little children And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:2 says, and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
Messengers/witnesses and division: The following verses speak of two witnesses or messengers doing Gods work. Revelation 11:3 says, And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days. Genesis 19:1 says, Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening. Joshua 6:22 says, the two men who had spied out the land, Go into the harlots house and bring the woman and all she has out.
Two is about Love: Two is associated with love. 1 Corinthians 13:2 says, If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. Colossians 2:2 says, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love. Philippians 2:2 says, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Two and relationships: Two is associated with relationships, both good and bad. Galatians 2:20 says, I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in meI live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Ezekiel 37:22 says, and I will make them one nation in the land...they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms.
Separation/division/death: Here the number two is mentioned in text associated with death or separation from our lives on earth. Matthew 24:41 says, Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 2 Samuel 8:2 says, he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. Luke 23:32 says, Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.
The number two is often found associated with the following words and phrases:
Jesus, redeemer, Savior, son, daughter, born, love, relationship, appointed, Lord, brought out, freedom, slavery, possession, children, the Word, searching/spying, King of the Jews, propitiation for our sins, delivered from bondage, the truth, hospitality, Spirit of God, doorpost, narrow door, gate, marriage, division versus peace, companions, brothers, sisters, pairs, double, second, twice, double-tongued, double-minded, things joined, and more.
You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead (Deuteronomy 11:18).
#3 Holy SpiritPurity, Righteousness and Presence of God
Number Three: God's Holy Spirit: The overall theme associated with number three is that of the holy and righteousness nature of God and the reflection of that nature in his Holy Spirit. Three reminds us of all aspects of God’s presence and ways in which his Holy Spirit both speaks to us on behalf of God and to God for us. God’s Holy Spirit is God’s presence in those considered Godly.
The captain of fifty and the honorable man, The counselor and the expert artisan, And the skillful enchanter” (Isaiah 3:3).
The standard is Gods holiness, perfection, and purity, because God is perfect, holy, and pure. Man does not possess the ability to please God by living up to His Law. We must rely on His substitute, as we cannot live up to the Law. The third part of the Redemption Pattern reminds us of the perfect and powerful nature of God as well as our need for atonement to live in His presence. The third part of the Trinity, Gods Holy Spirit, is a reflection of these attributes of God and is His presence left within those who know Him as their personal Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit is our mediator who counsels us; guides us; prepares the way as we go; and is the part of God that sees all that is inside us.
Theme for Number Three
The number three is associated with so many things you might wonder if its definition is too broad to be useful. Three is found associated with many physical things, but all are somehow related back to Gods holiness and righteousness, and the Holy Spirits presence, as well as what is inside us or comes out of us. Although these definitions seem lengthy, they help to see the many aspects of Gods greatness and His presence among us.
In the same way that number one often represents God and two often reflects aspects of Jesus, the number three is most often associated with spiritual and Holy Spirit-related things of God. Three is a number of Gods holiness, righteousness, power, and majesty, and we often find it related to most holy things. In Genesis 3:3 God forbids eating from the tree in the middle of the garden. In Exodus 3:3 we see the bush (tree) that burns but is not consumed. And in Isaiah 6:3 Seraphim called out, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory. Leviticus, the third book of the Bible, teaches about the righteousness and holiness of God and about the Law, which shows us we can never live up to Gods standards. It also teaches us how we can live in His presence through sacrifices and offerings.
Because number three is associated with the Holy Spirit, it is often also associated with themes and subthemes reflecting His roles and actions in two ways: The good things provided through the Holy Spirit, and the consequences or opposite (negative) side of these same things. The following list reminds us of the role of the Holy Spirit and those things we will find number three associated with: He is the Helper; gives fellowship; puts the love of God in our heart; testifies through our conscience; reminds us of things in Gods Word; communicates prayers; comforts us; forbids us; seals us for the day of redemption; gives us power; teaches us and gives us what to say; lets us boldly speak Gods Word; gives gifts of the spirit; enables us to declare Jesus is Lord; gives prophecy through men; physically moves on Gods behalf and sends us out (see Matthew 1:18, John 14:26, Act 1:8, Act 4:31, Acts 9:31, Acts 13:4, Acts 16:6, Romans 5:5, Romans 9:1, 1 Corinthians 12:3, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Ephesians 4:30, Hebrews 2:4, 2 Peter 1:21, and Jude 1:20).
Following are verses revealing the concepts associated with the number three and some explanation for each:
The 3,333rd Bible verse in the third book is an especially strong example for the theme of number three. Leviticus 20:14 states, If there is a man who marries a woman and her mother, it is immorality; both he and they shall be burned with fire, so that there will be no immorality in your midst. The words immorality, burned, fire, immorality, and midst are all strong theme words associated with number three.
The 30,333rd verse and the sixty-sixth verse in James, at reference 3:13, is also very strong in relationship to number three. It states, Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
The phrase three days is found in sixty verses, and the first is in Genesis 30:36 And he put a distance of three days journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks. The distance of three days journey mentioned in this first use seems to imply references to three days in other verses may also be about taking a similar actionthat this is about creating distance and a journey or preparation involved during this time of waiting. One of the most well-known of these times of waiting is the three days between Jesus crucifixion and His resurrection.
The Holy Spirit is Gods presence inside us and is often related to things in us or things going in or out. Three also speaks of our mind, heart, and soul. Psalm 6:3 says, And my soul is greatly dismayed. Matthew 5:3 says, Blessed are the poor in spirit. Mark 1:3 says, THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS.
Three is associated with eyes, ears, mouth, and tongue, and other metaphors reflecting the actions and presence of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 15:3 says, The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. Genesis 3:7 says, the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked. Isaiah 32:3 says, Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded, And the ears of those who hear will listen.
Three is about sin inside us. Mark 14:30 says, that this very nightyou yourself will deny Me three times. Exodus 33:3 says, I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way. Ezra 9:3 says, When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled.
Three is associated with purity and righteousness and things that sanctify us, purify us, enlighten, or teach us. Leviticus 10:3 says, By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy. Proverbs 17:3 says, The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts. In Genesis 1:3 God said, Let there be light. Deuteronomy 14:3 says, You shall not eat any detestable thing. 2 Kings 9:3 says, take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and sayI have anointed you king over Israel. 1 John 3:3 says, And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Leviticus 1:3 says, If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD. Matthew 28:3 says, And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
Three is related to resurrection. John 2:1 says, On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Luke 18:33 says, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again. Acts 5:7 says, Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Luke 13:7 says, And he said to the vineyard-keeper, Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground? Acts 10:16 says, This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky. (Peter was learning about clean and unclean foods.) 2 Corinthians 13:1 says, This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. Daniel 1:5 says, The king appointedthat they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to enter the kings personal service.
Three is related to majesty, greatness, and power. Psalm 95:3 says, For the LORD is a great God And a great King above all gods. Jonah 3:3 says, Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days walk. Psalm 24:3 says, Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place?
Three is related to wisdom and knowledge. Proverbs 1:3 says, To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity.
Three is related with groups or lists of three things. Ecclesiastes 3:3 says, A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. Genesis 15:9 says, Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram. Job 32:3 says, And his anger burned against his three friends.
Words and Phrases Associated with Number Three
Holy Spirit, righteousness, purity, refining fire, ashes, things inside or within, our senses and related organs such as ears, eyes, nose, mouth, fingers (touch), presence of God, counselor, clean, washed, midst, went in/out, center, wisdom, understanding, tears, spirit, sadness, joy, mourn, weep, overseer, mortal, mercy, servants, immoral, wicked, comforter, baptized, peace, heart, discerning, anoint, consecrate, fruit
#4 Man, Creation, Wandering in the Wilderness
Number Four--Creation/Wilderness Wanderings: The fourth step in God’s Redemption Pattern is to understand our position as men and women in His creation. Since the fall of Adam and Eve we have been doomed to wander and struggle, wi th our lives ending in death. Or if we trust God and follow His ways, we can have life through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the “living bread” that came down from heaven. In the fourth step we each personally realize our weakness and helplessness to save ourselves and hopefully then become ready to give up our own ways, accept God’s son, Jesus, as a gift of salvation and enter God’s Promised Land—the process that begins in the fifth step.
…It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE…” (Matthew 4:4).
Now that we understand about God and His desire to redeem us, and our inability to live with His holiness and righteousness due to our own sin, we believe we are ready to enter the land God has chosen for us. So we set out to enter the land but have still not given up our own ways. We cant really understand what it means to follow God without having our own wilderness experience where we learn about our desire to do things our own way and how our fears prevent us from receiving what God is offering.
In our wilderness wanderings God provides living bread (a foreshadowing of Jesus) in the form of manna to sustain us while we journey to the Promised Land. Through this wilderness experience God replaces our fears with the desire to trust Him, even though we cannot understand His ways or see how they can lead us to a good and peaceful life. The theme associated with number four highlights and reminds us of our humanity, weaknesses, and fears. It also reminds us of Gods provisions and the consequences that are ever present in our wilderness wanderingsconsequences that will one day lead us to trust God enough to again consider the hard choices of entering His land.
Four is a number related to all the aspects of Gods creation in which we exist. A compass has four points, representing directions we can travel, and this relates to other aspects about our creation that we find in fours: the elementsfire, air, water, and earth; the seasonsspring, summer, autumn, and winter; the parts of a daynight, morning, afternoon, and evening; and the cardinal directionsnorth, south, east, and west. We are generally aware of a world of four dimensions, including three spatial (height, width, and depth) and the fourth is time, so Gods creation is experienced from these four points of view.
Number four is also about Jesus, the bread of life that came down from heaven. John 6 is the Bibles 1,003th chapter (1 + 3 = 4) and uses the word bread in reference to Jesus seventeen times in thirteen verses. John 6:31 (3 + 1 = 4), the 244th verse of the book, is key to understanding the comparison of Jesus the bread of life with the manna God provided in the wilderness: Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT. This fits with both Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4, which both declare, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE. Exodus 16:14 (14 being a number for Jesus the redeemer) is where God provided the bread from heaven in the form of manna to come down to feed the people (which is symbolic of Jesus one day coming down to be the living bread He offers to all so they might have eternal life). When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. So the theme for number four is also about the living bread, Jesus, God incarnate who came down to be with the people He created and lead them through the wilderness to the Promised Land.
The theme and subthemes of four are about things of creation and events and actions happening to these things. They include dates, time, earth, heaven and stars, plants, animals, and, most importantly, man. Numbers, the forth book of the Bible, is about the wilderness and hopeless wandering because of failure to trust God. The forty years (4 x 10) reflects times of testing and trials that help prepare us to finally realize that whatever we try on our own eventually fails and leads to death. When we finally see our sins, weaknesses, and limitations, we are ready to cry out to God again to deliver us, and at this point God has prepared us to desire to live in the land He has chosen for us and consider the hard choices we must make to enter it. We are then ready to move on to the fifth part of Gods Redemption Pattern.
The following examples demonstrate some of the different ways the number four follows its theme in the Bible.
Very well-known fourth points: Notice how the fourth point of these most-well-known sections of the Bible clearly fit the theme for number four:
Four in Creation: In Genesis 1:4 we read that God separated the light from the darkness. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:4). Later, in verse 14, we see that the fourth day of creation begins and God creates time, days, and dates, as well as the four seasons. God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.
Four in wilderness wanderings: It is not until the tenthchapter of Numbers that the pillar of cloud moves, signaling the beginning of the wilderness wandering. Amazingly, this is the 4,000th verse, making it one of the most compelling theme verses for number four. Numbers 10:11 says, Now in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, the cloud was lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony wilderness wandering begins. Jesus had His own wilderness experience when the devil led him into temptation. This same verse is found in like-referenced 4:1 verses in Matthew and Luke. Matthew 4:1 says, Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Luke 4:1 says, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness. Other wilderness experiences are often found associated with verse fours. Lamentations 4:14 says, They wandered, blind, in the streets. Notice that these verse fours in 1, 2, and 3 John all refer to our walking in our world. 1 John 4:1 says, false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:4 says, greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 2 John 1:4 says, children walking in truth. 3 John 1:4 says, children walking in the truth.
Four in our lack of trust in God: Numbers 14:4 says, So they said to one another, Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt. Ezekiel 2:4 says, I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children. In this following example the writer declares the fourth of four things he does not understand, and that is the relationship between man and woman or man and God. Proverbs 30:18 says, There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand.
Growth through suffering: A major reason for our wilderness wandering and time on this earth is to learn the things of God, and He reminds us this will teach us not to sin. 1 Peter 4:1 says, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. We become productive for the kingdom by walking with God and seeking to do His will. John 15:4 says, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither {can} you unless you abide in Me.
Relying on God and God responding: In Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4 Jesus makes the same statement: MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE. In Matthew 15, the 944th chapter, Jesus feeds the 4,000 who came up to meet Him on the mountain. These 4,000 had been in the wilderness three days. Matthew 15:32 says, I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry.
Jesus came as a man to give himself up for our sins: Jesus is associated with creation in that He came down to earth as a real man, and we even find Him related to the number four of creation, as well as the number 14. These verse fours point out His purpose was to rescue us from this world because we are chosen. Galatians 1:4 says, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. Ephesians 1:4 says, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love.
When you see the number four in verse text, in Bible reference numbers, or as the fourth item in lists, knowing they are about things of this universe or creation can confirm the divine nature of the Redemption Pattern as well as provide clues to interpretation.
Man, creation, universe, earth, world, men, groups, time, dates, days, months, years, places, cities, towns, nations, space, plants, animals and anything we know if that is part of Gods creation. The compass points North, South, East and West, the four seasons, bread, living bread, manna, wilderness, suffering, work, four winds, ends of the earth and darkness and light
#5 Covenants, Statutes, and Ordinances; Fear, Blessings, and Curses
Number Five: God’s Statutes and Ordinances: We are ready to make the hard decision to follow God and His instructions for entering the land, but first God tells us again the price of entering the land, along with the promise of blessings and the guarantee of consequences if we turn away from Him and ignore His statutes and ordinances. God warns us to obey Him so He may bless and prosper the work of our hands and multiply us in the land He has provided. In Deuteronomy 30:19 He makes a solemn promise: “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live.”.
Then Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: ‘Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, that you may learn them and observe them carefully” (Deuteronomy 5:1, the 5,055th verse).
In the fifth step of the Redemption Pattern the ones who still remain after the purging experience of the wilderness wanderings are finally ready to trust God and enter into the Promised Land. Before they are allowed to proceed, through Moses God reminded the people of the bondage they had been in, how God came and delivered them, and about the great miracles that demonstrated Gods power to them and their enemies. He also reminded them that there was only one God capable of such miracles, and that the God of Israel is the creator and owner of all, that God has led them to the Promised Land, and that they must continue to obey and trust God to survive in the land He has given them. Then Moses gave instructions for entering the land and about the inheritance the people would receive. Entering the land is more than simply crossing over; it involves trusting God to go ahead of them and fight their battles to remove strongholds of sin. They must take the initial steps, always trusting God is with them. The people win great battles but fail in others as it is when we decide to accept Gods offer of salvation. We make the decision with the best of intentions to do whats right but dont always succeed. But God is faithful to bring us through to the eternal life He has promised.
This step of the Redemption Pattern prepares and warns us of the expectations for entering the Promised Land, which can be compared to our accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We are not to take this step lightly and are to understand the blessings for those who follow Gods ways and the consequences for those who turn away from Him. Once the history is retold and the ground rules laid out and their inheritances promised, they were ready to make the final decision to commit themselves, trust God and take the steps to enter the land, remove strongholds of sin, and take over the land God had set before them.
God has prepared the perfect explanation of the message of Deuteronomy and the theme for number five. Rather than try to put it in my own words, I have included a part of the instructions Moses gave to Israel just before he died and gave to Joshua the task of leading the people into the land.
And you shall again obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments which I command you today. Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers; if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.
For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it? Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it? But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it. See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.
But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them (Deuteronomy 30:8-20, NASB).
The number five is associated with instructions, statutes, and covenants, along with blessings and consequence-type statements that remind us of the seriousness of our decision to follow Him into the land. With the understanding of the theme for number five we are ready to proceed to the Redemption Pattern step for number sixcrossing over.
Following are good examples of text following the theme for five.
Instructions and reminders of the Lords blessings: The Fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:12): honor your father and your mother. The fifth part of the Lords Prayer: give us this day our daily bread. The fifth verse in the 23rd Psalm: you prepare a table before memy cup overflows. The fifth Beatitude: blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Set before us is dark and light, fear and joy, life and death: We read in Genesis 1:5, God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. John 1:5 says, The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Jonah 1:5 says, Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god.
Warnings to watch ourselves: Haggai 1:5 says, Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, Consider your ways!
God is always with us: Joshua 1:5 says, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Nehemiah 1:5 says, I the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness. Hebrews 1:5 says, I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME. And in John 15:5 we are taught, I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Consequences of falling away and not obeying: Lamentations 1:5 says, the LORD has caused her grief Because of the multitude of her transgressions . Psalm 1:5 says, Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment.
Teaching and instruction: Proverbs 1:5 says, A wise man will increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. 2 John 1:5 says, writing to you a new commandmentthat we love one another.
Words and Phrases Associated with Number Five
Statutes, ordinances, rules, blessings, curses, consequences, life, death, darkness and light, covenants, instructions and teaching, promises, oath, swear, curse, vineyard, vine, branches, obedience God, guilt, confession, judgments, commands and declarations, testimonies, learn, be strong and courageous, territories, reminding and exhorting
"For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light (Luke 8:17).
#6 Sin and Need for Redemption; Crossing Over
Number Six: Sin, Repentance and Accepting Jesus: The sixth step of the Redemption Pattern regards sin and repentence and thus many verses related to six seem to speak of evil or sin that result in death. The number of the beast is 666, which speaks of great evil, and the theme for six warns of us evil we are to seek forgiveness from and of the battle not only to turn from sin in repentence but also the battles to remove strongholds of sin from our own lives. Six is the step in which we coreagously decide to take the steps to cross over into God’s land, which is the event where we publically declare our allegiance to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Once we cross over, the land is ours for the taking, but first we must go in and remove strongholds of sin,which for us is identifying and turning away from our sins. The sixth step of the Redemption Pattern is where we commit to God’s plan of salvation and take the first steps to take the land. But we will not be fully successful. Even so, we have made a commitment to God and have agreed to be His children, which leads us into the seventh step, where God shepherds us to become complete and ready to serve Him..
Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’” (John 14:6).
The themes associated with number six often strongly refer to sin, and for that reason are among the easiest numbers to notice in the Bible. If you remember six is related to sin and redemption, you will spot verses that confirm again and again the supernatural numbering of the Bible. Also remember that other numbers, such as twelve, eighteen, twenty-four, thirty-six and forty-eight, relate directly to six. Eighteen and thirty-six are very strong six numbers (18 = 6 + 6 + 6), and thirty-six can be read three sixes, as in the infamous 666. At first it might seem like were conveniently contriving numbers, but so many examples of eighteen and thirty-six verses follow a pattern of strong sin that it makes for a compelling argument. Exodus 22:18 says, You shall not allow a sorceress to live. Lamentations 1:8 says, Jerusalem sinned greatly. Acts 1:18 says, this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness. Acts 16:18 says, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! 1 John 2:18 says, you heard that antichrist is coming. Revelation 13:18 says, the number of the beastis six hundred and sixty-six.
There are multiple aspects to the sixth step of Gods Redemption Pattern, and each is related to the process of redemption from sin. All of them can be seen in the sixth book of the Bible, Joshua, where the people of Israel finally enter the land, participate in the battle for Jericho and go on to take the land, gain their inheritance, and continue to remove Canaanites from the land and make commitments to follow God all the days of their lives. God never lets them forget that to fall away results in death, but at the same time, He will never leave them and will fight their battles for them. The following example verses reveal the pattern association for number six.
Revealing our sin and need for redemption; where our sin all began: Genesis 3:6 says, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
No one is free from sin: Isaiah 53:6 says, All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.
We are separated from God by sin: Luke 16:26 says, And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed.
Six is found in text is associated with sin and need for refuge:
The wicked shall perish: Psalm 1:6 says, For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish; Those not accepting Jesus sacrifice for salvation will be destroyed. John 15:6 says, If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
God has no tolerance for our sin: Ezekiel 44:6 says, You shall say to the rebellious ones. Enough of all your abominations.
They cried out to God and He delivered them: Judges 6:6 says, So Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the sons of Israel cried to the LORD.
The way to being redeemed: John 14:6 says, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 1 John 4:2 says, By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.
Crossing over: Joshua 3:6 says, And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people. Jonah 3:6 says, When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered {himself} with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.
Commiting to obey the LORD: Joshua 24:15 says, choose for yourselves today whom you will servebut as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Ephesians 6:6 says, not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 1 John 1:6 says, If we say that we have fellowship with Him and {yet} walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
Sin, repentance, crossing over, evil, wickedness, darkness, rebelliousness, battles, strongholds, gone astray, iniquities, perishing, death, destruction, fools, lies, thief, stealing, abominations, confession, flesh, trouble, distresses, the way of the righteousness and the way of the wicked, ashamed, harlot, cities of refuge, foe, enemy, reckoned, redeemed, forgiveness, consecration, sanctification, turn away, idols, the dead, sluggard, entering through the door or the gate, and be strong and courageous
The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times (Psalm 12:6).
#7 The Shepherding Process
Number Seven: God’s Shepherding Process : We have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and now are ready to begin a new life in the land He has prepared for us. It is our responsibility to go forward with Him to cleanse the land by “…tearing down altars, smashing sacred pillars, destroying idols and burning graven images with fire. Of course, for us this is not literal but refers to equivalent things in our minds, hearts, and lives. “The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly…” (Deuteronomy 7:22). In this seventh step we have arrived, having chosen to be one of God’s children, making him our heavenly Father. In 2 Samuel 7:14 we see that God promises when we make the decision to be His, He will be faithful to discipline, guide, and otherwise shepherd us to the right paths. This shepherding process will guide us to finally arrive at eight—being a Godly servant..
I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men…” (2 Samuel 7:14).
The seventh step is a time to obey and listen to God so we may one day be ready to faithfully serve Him. God tells us not to expect quick results. He will go ahead of us, removing evil influences in our lives, little by little, because He knows we would not be able to tolerateor maybe even survivethe effects of massive changes in our lives. When we are ready we will find ourselves in the eighth Redemption Plan step of being a faithful and Godly servant, producing fruit for the kingdom while receiving Gods abundant blessings.
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I {would} like to {do,} but I am doing the very thing I hate (Romans 7:15).
The number seven is often associated with spiritual perfection or being complete, and although these are closely related, the more appropriate symbolism is that of becoming more complete or spiritually mature by walking faithfully with God, submitting to His shepherding process and learning His ways.
The Bibles chapter sevens provide good examples for its message. In Genesis 7 we see that God brought the flood that cleansed the earth and delivered a remnant of eight people to again begin to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. In Exodus 7 we see God turning the water into blood as one of the plagues that would demonstrate His power and eventually lead to freeing His people from bondage so they might go serve Him. In Deuteronomy 7 God tells the people of Israel they are to go in to dwell in the land and tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire (7:5). In 7:22 He cautions this will be a gradual process in which He will not clear the land for them immediately but will do it little by little because they would be overwhelmed by the beasts in the land if He did it all at once.
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him (1 Samuel 3:7).
The seventh step is a difficult time of growth as we realize the need for God but have not had enough time to give up our old ways of living. In the seventh book (Judges), Israel gradually drifts away from God in a cyclerepeated six timesthat finds them eventually suffering and even being taken captive before God sends judges to bring them to repent and learn to serve Him again. The book of Judges does not end in Israel finally learning the only way is to follow God but rather seems to leave them in this cycle endlessly. This never-ending cycle in Judges is reflective of our walk with God, which can end with us never really learning what it means to surrender to God.
Ruth, the eighth book of the Bible, was written sometime during the Judges and its story is of how a Jewish widow (Naomi) and a Gentile widow (Ruth) finally return to Gods land from Moab, where their lives had come to disaster. Naomis story shows how Gods people fall away when trying to live on their own. But at some point they realize they are better off submitting to Gods ways and living with Him, where He will care and provide for them. The relationship of the stories of Joshua and Judges suggests there is no set path or amount of time that prepares us to finally submit to God. Instead, everyones path is different, and people will give up to God when they finally have had enough bad experiences so that they dont trust their own ways any longer.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).
The seventh step of the Redemption Pattern tells us we will be ready to serve the Lord when we finally understand our own weaknesses and doom apart from Gods leading and thus raise the white flag in our rebellion, signaling we are ready to give up doing things our own way. Even though we will always encounter failure, we will have a sincere desire to follow and obey God and serve Him in bringing fruit to the kingdom. Then we are ready to enter the eighth step of serving God with all our heart.
Examples
The major subthemes associated with seven correspond to the many aspects of how God shepherds us, which are reflected in the following areas:
Entering The Lord's Rest: Matthew 17:1 says, Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. Leviticus 23:3 says, For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation.
Adultery, turning away, unfaithfulness: The number seven speaks either of God drawing us to Him for sanctification, or of us turning away from Him in adultery. Judges 3:7 says, The sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.
Affliction/consequences/discipline: When we turn away from our perfect Father, He uses the consequences to turn us back to Him. Or He might intentionally provide trials, tests, or other problems designed to cause us pain to turn us back to Him. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation.
Destroying the wicked and saving the remnant: The best-known event related to seven is the great flood of Genesis 7, when Noah and seven others were saved, with all the animals on the earth to one day serve God again. While our goal of the seventh step is sanctification and godliness, it is also a time when the unfaithful will fall away and even be destroyed. Genesis 7:10 says, It came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth.
Consecration, sanctification, sacrifice, atonement:Isaiah 6:7 is the 17,777th verse, and it confirms that when we seek God as our Father our sins are immediately forgiven (sixth step) and we then become His child whom He loves, cares for, and guides to becoming complete through His guidance and discipline: Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.
Seven in confession and admitting unworthiness: When we humbly come to the Lord, confessing our sins and admitting our unworthiness, He immediately responds. Confession is a necessary part of receiving healing. Micah 7:1 says, Woe is me! For I am Like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat; Luke 7:7 says, for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Seven in the good shepherd: The Lord desires to be our Father and teach us His ways. Jeremiah 24:7 says, I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.
Seven in obedience and courage: God commands us to follow Him and be courageous in our actions as He is with us as we go. Joshua 1:7 says, Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.
Becoming complete and ready to serve: At the end of the seventh step we are ready to move into the next step of the faithful, obedient servant. Mark 7:8 is a good overview statement of the relationship between 7 and 8 (I dont believe the 7:8 reference is a coincidence). For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.. Notice how the text helps us see how we proceed from the 7th to the 8th step --asking, seeking and knocking.
The following words and phrases are often found associated with the theme for eight, and many of them occur eight times in Scripture:
Judge, discipline, strive, teaching, admonishing, rod, staff, shepherd, learning, turning around, turning away, leaving, returning, following.
#8 Becoming a Godly Servant
Number Eight: The Goal of Becoming Godly: The first seven steps of the Redemption Pattern all lead up to the goal of the eighth step, which we are to be looking forward to from the beginning—that of becoming a “Godly” believer, committed to obeying and serving God. In the seven prior steps we learned about the God the Father, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, our own weaknesses, God’s covenants, deciding to accept God’s offer and then about our need to trust and depend on Him because, through painful experience, we learned we are unable to succeed on our own. At some point in our walk we finally “get it” and fully give up our own ways of doing things and decide to obey God. Of course, we are never are fully successful at serving God, but this step represents a place we arrive at in our lives where we truly desire to serve God even though we continue to sin despite all our efforts. God never expects us to be able to stop sinning, just to have a heartfelt desire to serve Him in all our ways. “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5)..
I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8).
In the prior steps we have been at various stages in our growth, and even though we were walking with God, we were not fully prepared to serve Him. Back in the fifth step, where we are given instructions for entering the land, we learn of what God expects of us:
Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today (Deuteronomy 8:6-11).
Somewhere in our walk with God we finally get it and then cross over to try and serve God with all our heart, soul mind, and strength. The eighth step is about finally reaching the goal of being Godly but also serves to define this goal, which we are ultimately to be working toward. Number eight reveals Gods requirements for becoming a Godly servant; shows the processes leading up to being anointed or consecrated by Him; gives instructions on being proceeding on to the next steps; and, finally, shows the blessings of living the Spirit-filled, joyful life while bringing abundant fruit to the kingdom.
Eight also speaks of the condemnation of those who do not come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. That condemnation is seen in Deuteronomy 8:12-20.
Theme for Number Eight
The eighth step is arriving at the point where we finally decide the best and only way to live is to submit to God and live out His plans for our lives. Eight is symbolic of the point at which we begin serving and persevering, which will continue through our remaining steps in the redemption process.
Eight has so many different aspects to its makeup that the definition might appear so broad and general as to not be useful, but, when viewed as a whole, these parts come together and relate to a very specific message about becoming Godly and walking as a Godly believer. Of course, as with all numbers, the opposite is also true, and eight speaks of the ungodly and the doom and ultimate destruction of their lives.
One of the key attributes is that of abundance. As we observe things related to eight we typically find them spoken of in terms of large quantities, extreme situations, massive power, and both awesome goodness and great evil. Theres also abundance of suffering, and lack, such as is seen in famine, disaster, and other storms of life. Most importantly, with eight we see life with and without God, which encourages us to persevere through trials, knowing that God sees all these things and is constantly with us and, thankfully, no matter what our situation here, we can be confident that all things work together for good. Its no wonder one of the most encouraging verses in the Bible has a strong eight message
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Eight is a number about being reconciled to God and is found associated with many aspects of the process of becoming reconciled and of our life as anointed believers. Following are additional subthemes associated with eight.
Commencing to a new beginning: The most commonly mentioned symbolism for eight is its relationship to new beginnings, but this is only part of a larger overall theme that might be more accurately referred to as commencing to the next level, which in the Bible is often related to some form of spiritual newness. Covenants, baptisms, circumcisions, and resurrections are associated with the number eight, and each of these has a spiritual connotation of starting fresh or new. Each of these events associated with eight is preceded by a period of preparation or readiness, confirming the association with a commencing from one place or relationship to another. Eight is symbolic of having reached a new spiritual beginning that occurs only when one somehow becomes equipped to be there. In the case of being born again, which is one of the primary messages of this theme, subthemes with eight define several aspects of the process of being born again and spiritual birth.
Circumcision: The first use of eight in the Bible is in reference to circumcision, where all the men in the Lords house were to be circumcised as a sign of their covenant with God (Genesis 17:12). In addition, Leviticus 12:3 says, On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. The new covenant tells us we are circumcised today through Jesus. Colossians 2:1 1says, and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.
Baptism and the indwelling of Gods Holy Spirit: There are two resurrections in a Christians life. The first is through faith and is symbolized through baptism. The second is through death and resurrection of the body. Both of these are associated with eight. Maybe the most important aspect of the symbolism of eight is that of being born again and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is given to everyone Jesus approves to enter the Kingdom. The eighth verse of Acts 1 speaks of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit through baptism, and 1 Peter 3:21 explains baptism. Mark 1:8 says, I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 3:21 baptism now saves younot the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Once baptized we are born a second time into a new life, and in the eightieth verse in the book of John (the 2,980th New Testament verse) Nicodemus asks how someone can be born a second time. John 3:4 says, Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born, can he?
Eight and the New Covenant: The last of eight major covenants is found in Hebrews 8, and it declares that Jesus replaces Abraham as high priest and when we accept Him He puts His presence in our minds and hearts, which refers to the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. The new covenant tells us the only way to be reconciled to God is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 8:10 says, for this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their god, and they shall be my people. Heres another interesting eight note: This passage in Hebrews 8:8 was quoted from Jeremiah 31, starting specifically at verse 31. Thats Jeremiah 31:31. Add those four digits and, once again, you get eight.
Returning to God/taken from (stolen from) God: The eighth commandment is generally interpreted very literally: You shall not steal (Exodus 20:15) is taken as a command not to take from others, but do we really think God wrote as one of his top Ten Commandments such a common and obvious law that is simply about stealing? There must be hundreds of things more important He could have included in list of most important laws, that is unless there is more to the message in this commandment than we realize. I believe this is the case.
This may sound very strange, but it seems that through examination of the themes for other eight-related passages the numeric map suggests the eighth commandment is not just about stealing but includes a more specific message about the stealing away of Gods chosen people. Evidence for this is found in Ruth, the Bibles eighth book, which focuses on the returning and restoring of Naomi and Ruth back into Gods land. Ruth 1 contains the word return in eight of its twenty-two verses, and several other verses have phrases that refer to the concept of returning: taking, leaving, departing, and going back. The often-read words of Ruth refusing to let Naomi go without her reveal this major theme in Ruth of returning back to Gods land from where we were originally takenor chose to goand then being reconciled to God. Ruth 1:16 says, But Ruth said, Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go. Verse 17 says, Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Other examples of chapter eights containing messages about restoring those taken can be seen in Genesis 8:18, Exodus 8:8, Leviticus 8:8, 2 Kings 8:2-3, Esther 8:7-8, Song of Songs 8:8, Matthew 8:14-15, Luke 8:42-48, and John 8:3-11.
Resurrection: John 20 is the eighty-eighth chapter of the New Testament, which is our first clue that this chapter has some relationship to the theme for eight, and this is quickly confirmed by it sometimes being referred to as the resurrection chapter. It contains details, from the discovery of the tomb being empty, to Jesus appearing twice to the disciples, and in the second visit giving them the Holy Spirit. Not coincidentally, Jesus resurrection is the eighth of eight resurrections recorded in the Bible (1 Kings 17:22, 2 Kings 4:34, 2 Kings 13:21, Luke 7:15, Luke 8:55, John 11:44, Acts 9:40, and Acts 20:10). John 8 also records Jesus prophecy of His resurrection, and His first appearance occurred on the first day of the week (which would be the eighth day), and then He appeared eight days later to the disciples, when he gave them the Holy Spirit. John 20:8 says, So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. Then verse 18 says, Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, I have seen the Lord. John 20 documents the eyewitness testimony of the resurrection.
Remnant: 1 Peter 3:20 confirms a remnant of eight people were saved on the ark during the cleansing flood: a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. The exiting of this remnant from the ark is recorded in the eighth chapter of Genesis, where we see that the flood waters finally receded: Genesis 8:1 says, But God remembered Noahand God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided. Another example of a remnant being taken up is when, after a period of eight days, Jesus took only Peter, John, and James up the mountain, where Jesus supernatural spirit was revealed to them. Luke 9:28 says, Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.
Following are more examples relating to the themes for number eight:
A remnant promised: God wants to give us hope and a reason to persevere in becoming obedient servants by reminding us of a remnant of the Godly ones who will be preserved. Proverbs 2:8 says, He preserves the way of His godly ones. In Ezekiel, when the people of Israel turned away from God and He could no longer tolerate their disobedience, He destroyed them and their land, but, as He did with the cleansing flood in Genesis 7-8, God preserved a remnant. This remnant was for the sake of His name and also as a remembrance for people to learn of His strict justice and compassion on believers. Part of the subtheme for eight is for us to know the Godly are to be saved, thus helping to encourage us to become and remain faithful and obedient. Ezekiel 6:8 says, I will leave a remnant, for you will have those who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered among the countries. Ezekiel 6:9 says, Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive.
Jesus reveals Himself to us: In John 8:18 Jesus says, I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me. Before we can truly have faith and trust in Jesus power to save us, He must be revealed to us, and Jesus demonstrates He will reveal Himself to every person who seeks to know Him. In John 13 we see that Jesus washed Peters feet, explaining that Peter would understand later, which is a way of saying, You will realize later who I am. John 13:5 says, He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples feet. Then verse 6 says, So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, Lord, do You wash my feet? Verse 8 follows with this: Jesus answered and said to him, What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter. This subtheme for eight promises we will not be asked to believe in Jesus without evidence, and Jesus Himself provides the evidence.
Another example where Jesus speaks of how He has given evidence of who He is can be found in Mark 8, where the disciples were worried about not having bread after Jesus had just demonstrated who He was when He fed both the 5,000 and the 4,000 with plenty to spare. Why worry about bread when you have one who can supernaturally make bread? At their worry Jesus said, having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember (Mark 8:18). Jesus points out in a sort of condemning way what they had just witnessed. This subtheme of eight tells us we are to watch for and be aware of Jesus miracles and blessings so we may have true faith and heartfelt knowledge that He is the Son of God.
Testing, discipline, trials, and destruction: Even though each follower will have an abundant life as a Godly person, no one can completely escape persecution and suffering. God gives His children trials and suffering for multiple reasons: to test us so we may see the sincerity of our belief and have a chance to recognize what is in our hearts and change. Deuteronomy 8:2 says, You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
God disciplines us so we may come to Him for healing, but also after anointing, as even the Godly are children and need discipline to grow and stay faithful. Deuteronomy 8:5 says, Thus you are to know in your heart that the LORD your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.
Living a godly lifedoing what is right and good: Also associated with number eight are instructions for and examples of living a Godly life, doing what is right and good. Of course if the believer is truly Godly this will happen automatically, and we see evidence of this associated with number eight. The following two passages are such examples: Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much (Luke 19:8). You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the LORD swore to {give} your fathers (Deuteronomy 6:18).
The following words and phrases are often found associated with the theme for eight, and many of them occur eight times in Scripture:
New covenant, affliction, almighty, appearance, binding, blessed of the Lord, book of life, calm, choicest, circumcision, circumcised, crippled, discovered, disgraceful, dove, dwelt, eighteenth year, eighth, elect, equity, everlasting covenant, exceedingly, fasting, fell, flowing with milk and honey, foot soldiers, foreign gods, forgiven, genealogies, glorify, glory of the Lord, godless, good news, greatness, heal, hide yourself, his brethren, his glory, holy one, inheritance, in the eighteenth year, interpret, is holy, kinsman, laughter, Levite, lifted up his eyes, lights, measuring, Messiah, millstone, mystery, not ashamed, on the eighth day, outstretched arm, perishable, plow, preparation, proclaiming, proclamation, profitable, rest, reveals, revived, scorching, self-control, signet, sixteen, sober, solemnly, stubborn, supplication, the beloved, the glory of the lord, the testimony, unaware, uncircumcision, unloved, uprightness, what do you see, what have you done, wisdom and knowledge.
#9 The Future: Watching For Jesus’ Return
Number Nine: The Godly wait/persevere: For the Godly believer, the Redemption Pattern theme for number nine is an encouragement to keep faithfully serving while we watch with anticipation for the return of the Lord. The ninth commandment, found in Deuteronomy 5:20, says, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” In its relationship to the Redemption Pattern, step nine seems to be telling us that while we are serving and waiting for the Lord’s return we are to be a good witness to others in setting examples and sharing our testimony so they may also come to know Jesus. The evidence surrounding number nine suggests the catching up of the Church occurs related to this step and and is already complete when the Lord finally returns to earth in the last days.
Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place” (Daniel 9:24).
This verse in 1 Corinthians 6:3 (9) points out the great significance and role we have once we enter Gods kingdom. Thus it warns us not to worry about the matters of this life. The Redemption Pattern theme of number nine gives us instructions for preparing for whats important, our future lives with Jesus in his kingdom.
The themes for number eight teach us what it means to be a Godly believer who has given up living our own way and is seeking to live by Gods direction. We also saw that Godly believers hope is not in this world but in the coming of Jesus to take His own to His kingdom. Our life in this world as we know it will disappear, with all our worldly possessions, so there is no longer any value in investing in treasures here; our goals are to be about preparing for the coming of Jesus and the eternal life to come. In addition to the admonition for Gods people to persevere in serving it is overall a theme associated with the return of Jesus to take His people from earth before the judgment that takes places related to number ten.
A major subtheme of nine speaks to what is often referred to as the catching up of the Church, or taking up of the faithful prior to the wrath of Godwhich is part of the tenth stepand how the unbelieving remnant of the Jews will be left behind. But God will not forget the disbelieving sons of Israel who remain. He has promised to restore at least a remnant of them before the end, which is found associated with step number ten. The numbers suggest the actual catching up of the Church happens in the context of number nine and before the tenth step begins, and that after this event the world will be full of wickedness because all presence of God and His faithful will be gone, leaving the wicked to reign unrestrained until the end.
Nine is the number about the end, last things, coming to the finish, or completion. A mother carries a baby in her womb nine months before birth, and in the same way we can think of the ninth step of the Redemption Pattern being the last step before our new life in Gods kingdom. It was the ninth day when Jesus took three disciples up the mountain to see Him in His glory, which foreshadows the rapture: Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray (Luke 9:28 ). Again, on the ninth day, Jesus appeared to His disciples in the upper room: After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst (John 20:26). Nine and ninety-nine are often found associated with those who are saved and under the care of the Good Shepherd. But these numbers also sometimes refer to those who are not saved.
Nine is also found in relationship to the nation of Israel, and to Jews who rejected Jesus as the Messiahthose who will not be taken when the Lord first returns for His Church. The number thirty-nine (39) is even more specifically related to unbelieving Jews.
Nine is a number about keeping watch and becoming prepared and ready for the end and is found associated with many aspects of the activities, issues, and events related to those who are faithfully serving and watching for the return of the LORD. It is also about the judgment to come for those not believing Jesus is the Son of God.
Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else? And He answered and said to them, Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM (Luke 7:19-22).
In Luke 7:19 John the Baptist is seen preparing and watching for the Lords return, and when he heard Jesus had appeared, John wanted to make sure He was the one John had been waiting for. By quoting the Torah, and by the miracles He performed, Jesus confirmed He was the Messiah Israel had been waiting for.
Nine is about faithful believers as well as those who are not following Gods ways. In Samuel 1 and 2, the ninth full book of the Bible, Saul and David portray the struggling believer versus the sold-out-to-God believer. We can see King Sauls struggling-but-still-believing path. On one hand he knows God is there, so he makes half-hearted attempts to follow Him, but when things dont go as Saul thinks they should, he decides for himself what is best. He tries and then fails. As a result of his unfaithfulness, God removes him from the throne, replacing him with David, who through his battle with Goliath had clearly proven his faith and trust in God. (See 1 Samuel 15 for more on Samuels unfaithfulness.)
Also associated with number nine are topics related to our watching for Jesus return. These topics tell of who is to be waiting and why and also what we are to be doing during this waiting/serving time, as well as other aspects of being in this ninth step of the Redemption Pattern. Following are some of these things related to nine.
Nine is about the future: Daniel 9 is a good example of this theme. Daniel receives a vision of the seventy weeks, which describes the most important future event for all Christians, where in the last days Jesus will return a for His faithful and then judge the world. The chapter is specifically about looking forward to and being ready for the coming of Jesus Christ, and is more generally related to future events or things we are to be doing. Number nine is not just about prophetic events in the future but can also simply refer to things that are yet to happen or may be related to instructions of things to be done. For example, Acts 10:9 says, On the next day Peter went. And Matthew 23:9 says, Do not call anyone on earth your father. Very often you will find chapters and verses associated with nine being stated in reference to future events or things to be done. Notice that 1 John 1:9 speaks in terms of what we are to do: If we Confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Waiting with anticipation for the Lords Return: The ninth part of the Lords Prayer also reminds us of a key theme of nine, which is that our focus is to be watching and preparing for the Lords return: but deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13). Believers are not of this world and are always to remember that our real home will be with Jesus, in His kingdom. This is both a hope and encouragement to continue serving faithfully until He appears.
Persevering through suffering: The life a Godly Christian is commanded to live is full of work, strife, and rejection, as well as other hardships, and with instructions to do the things causing this suffering. God warns us not to be surprised at suffering and trials, but to persevere to the end, when we will reap a reward. Gods encouragement to endure the suffering is right alongside other nine-theme verses that tell us of the work we are to be doing. Mark 13:9 says, But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in {the} synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. Galatians 6:9 says, Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Jesus comes first to rescue (catch up) the Godly to a safe place: Significant evidence related to number nine suggests that before Jesus comes to judge the wicked, He first appears and calls the Godly out of the world to a special place He has prepared. Several places in Scripture foreshadow this raising up of the faithful, and all seem to parallel what is commonly referred to as the rapture. These passages suggest people are not raptured directly to heaven but instead to a special place prepared for them to wait while Jesus deals with those left on earth. To learn more about this, study the events surrounding the following noted passages.
Notice that in each of these passages Gods people were sent to a safe place before destruction began. In Genesis 19 Lot and his family were allowed to escape to Zoar, and the angels could not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until they were safely there. In Exodus 9 we see that men and beast in the field were called home before hail destroyed the land. In Joshua 2:9 and 2:19 (Joshua 2 is the 189th chapter) we see all the inhabitants of the city were destroyed except the two men Rahab had hidden on the roof. In Judges 9 Abimelech captured Thebez, but all the people of the city saved themselves in and on the roof of a strong tower: But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower. In Matthew 24:41 (the 23,999th verse) a woman in the field is seen taken up into heaven just before the Day of the Lord begins: Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. And in Revelation 18:4-5 (ending at the 30,999th verse), Jesus calls His people up immediately before His wrath on earth begins: I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.
Without their common association with number nine, these passages might be considered coincidentally similar, but with Gods divine placement of these passages associated specifically with Scripture references relating to nine, it seems the similarity of them is intentional, and together they teach us an important truth. One of the key sub-themes associated with number nine is how God will appear and take his Godly to preserve them in a safe place just before He judges the world.
Israel:Israel and the Jews are Gods chosen people and are not forgotten, even after those who have still not accepted Jesus have missed the rapture. 1 Peter 2:9 says, you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR {God's} OWN POSSESSION. But Jeremiah 3:6 (3 + 6 = 9) points out Israels sin. Have you seen what faithless Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she was a harlot there. God is still punishing Israel for turning away from Him, so most Israelites (those who have not trusted Yeshua Ha Masiach) will remain on earth for Jesus return and judgment of the earth. But similar to the way God has protected the Godly by removing them to a safe place above, He also plans to save at least a remnant of the Jews through the tribulation. Zechariah 9:16 tells us, And the LORD their God will save them in that day As the flock of His people; For {they are as} the stones of a crown, Sparkling in His land.
Jesus never forgets Israel and promises He will save his beloved. Zephaniah 3:9 reminds us, For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder. Gods intentions for gathering Israel to Him are scattered through the Bible and often associated with the number nine. These sub-themes are present so we will not forget this important part of Gods plan for the last days.
Jesus coming to judge the world: The most frequent verse theme associated with nine is related to Jesus returning or coming down either to rescue His people or to judge the world. Psalm 98:9 says, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with equity. Mark 12:9 (the parable of the vineyard) shows us why Jesus will one day return in wrath: What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others. The most prominent theme associated with nine is reminding us that the entire world, both believers and unbelievers, will one day stand before Jesus when He returns, as promised.
Being ready: We are to be ready when the Lord comes, as we see, for example, in Exodus 19:11: and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And in 1 Corinthians 9:24 Paul reminds us we are in a battle that can be compared to a race where there is a prize to be won at the end: all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Like the five virgins who had their lamps ready, trimmed and filled with oil for the return of the master, we are also to be prepared for His return at any moment.
Following are more examples relating to the themes for number nine.
The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God: As it relates to salvation, the theme for number nine is often related to the contrast of good versus evil, making clear the consequences of sin. In this number, where God tells us of the salvation to come, He also tells us there is no escape for the wicked. Romans 2:9 says, There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek. Similarly, 1 Corinthians 6:9 reminds us the same rules apply to all, saying, Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals.
Remember we are sinners (saved by grace): As saved believers, we are never to forget we are sinners and are saved only by Gods grace and our faith in Jesus to save us: Micah 7:9 (the 900th chapter) says, I will bear the indignation of the LORD Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me.
Salvation available to all: We are reminded salvation is available to everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike. God is not partial, and Jesus will judge everyone equally. Psalm 9:8 says, And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity. Romans 9:24 says, He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. In Ephesians 6:9 Paul reminds us, masters give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
Confessing and repenting: Many references related to nine are about the covenant God made with His people and our need to confess our sins and repent and be Godly, reminding us this is a part of our life as believers. Luke 15:7 says, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. And 1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Falling away or insincere commitment: Also related to salvation and nine are Gods warnings to those insincere or even deceiving religious leaders and people who lead others to death. Matthew 23:27 says, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. And Ezekiel 13:9 tells false prophets, So My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will have no place in the council of My people, nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel.
The presence of the Holy Spirit: In Matthew 25:9-10 we see that five wise virgins had oil (the presence of the Holy Spirit) both in their lamps and also in a flask with them; they had more than enough for the bridegrooms return. The foolish ones whose lamps were going out asked to have some of their oil and were refused: But the prudent answered, No, there will not be enough for us and you too. And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut (Matthew 25:9-10). We are to be diligent and always ready and filled with the Holy Spirit when the LORD comes.
Witnessing by telling and discipling others:Paul never stopped telling others about Jesus Christ, and this is to be the work of believers as well. Acts 28:23 (the books 999th verse) says, he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
Witnessing through example: Scripture associated with nine often reminds us to be examples to others. 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9 says, For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.
Each of the Redemption Pattern numbers has a major theme that represents a stage or step in Gods growth process, and each step contains many aspects. The major theme to remember about number nine is its message and reminder that every believer is to be working toward being personally ready for Jesus return as well as witnessing and telling others about Jesus so they might choose to follow Him. Of course, we are also reminded of the consequences to those who turn away from God or those who say they have accepted His offer but have not taken it seriously.
according to faith, adversity, afflicted, appeared, appointed, arise, be fruitful and multiply, be ready, beloved, blessed, blind/could not see, called by name, come, come down, come to you, coming, consuming fire, covenant, day of calamity, daybreak, deceit, depths of the earth, desolation and waste, destruction, dispute, down, enduring, escape, evil, face shone, falsehood, feast, fell on faces, fire devoured, flask of oil, follow me, get up stand up, glory of the LORD, go down, go up, godly, great and strong wind, greed, hands on their mouths, in the pit, hardship, head, hidden, high place, holy garments, holy mountain, in the field, insincere, into the depths, last days, lifted, LORD will come, mercy, name of the LORD, neglect, not lose heart, palms of hands, partiality, passed through, persecuted, perseverance, rapture, rebellious, redemption, remembered, remnant, remnant, repent, rescue, resurrected, rise again, rise up, risen, safe, salvation, skull, snatch away, stubborn people, that eventful day, thief, three days, three years, thrown down, time, tribulation, unrighteous, went down, went up, who are you?, wicked ones, wickedness, written in the book, you are dust, to dust you shall return.
#10 Last Things, Day of the LORD, The End
Number Ten: Last Things, Ends of Things and the Day of the Lord: As we enter the tenth and last foundational step of God’s Redemption Plan, as Godly believers we are already caught up and waiting in a special place, while Jesus returns to Earth to judge and punish the unbelievers and, at the same time, returns to His Chosen People (Israel) one last time to show them He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings—the Messiah for whom they had awaited. Jesus desires to convince every Jew He is their Savior so they will finally come to Him, as He is always longed for them to do. The tenth part of the Redemption Plan has basic themes relating to things that are coming to an end, such as waiting for events to take place after ten days have elapsed. The number ten is also seen in reference to the last things in the list, such as the last of ten generations. Ten is often found related to passages speaking of complete groups or the total of many things by using words such as everyone, or all things, or everything..
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
Ten speaks of authority, such as the authority of kings or the authority of Jesus, and about commands given by such authorities, commands that are to be obeyed without question. Whenever number ten is found in the text, in virtually every use, there is an intentional relationship to some aspect of the themes for ten. The number never appears as a simple number standing on its ownthere is always some relationship to the context of the surrounding text.
Without doubt, the most prevalent theme associated with number ten surrounds the last days or end times and the second coming of Jesus. This includes many of the aspects of what will happen in these times and on The Day of the Lord, which is referred to throughout the Bible. Subthemes for number ten tell us who God is and how His Son died so that we might one day dwell in His kingdom. They remind us of the covenants we were to obey and that every man will one day stand in judgment before Jesus Christ, and of the consequences of ignoring Gods covenants. We are reminded of the terrors and unthinkable deaths due to the judgments of Gods wrath and of the utter destruction of the ungodly.
Themes for number ten also tell how God has not forgotten His Chosen People, and even though they have rejected Him and taken foreign wives and followed idols, He is prepared to forgive those who recognize Jesus as the Messiah; who confess their sin and repent. The sons of Israel who do these things will be with Jesus in His kingdom, with all of these sins forgotten. But still, only a remnant of the Jews will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and those that do not accept Him will suffer the same consequences as all peoples: death.
The tenth step of the Redemption Plan is designed to help us understand these last days, which God had planned from the beginning. Our understanding of these events helps us persevere to the end and also helps us witness about Jesus, telling everyone of the severe consequences as well as indescribable blessings waiting in the last days. The details in the many subthemes for number ten help us make sense of all these events so we may better comprehend them for ourselves and be able to explain them to others.
Ten is the last of the foundational numbers, and it is often found associated with a variety of types of last things or ends of things. Ten is also found in reference to completeness or a full set of things, such as when it is used to refer to the Ten Commandments. In the same way St. Augustine said the number 100 is a number of totality and 1,000 is Gods number of perfection, ten is often used in references to all things or something being fully complete, as is mentioned in Hebrews 10:10, which states sanctification is fully complete through Jesus sacrifice: By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. We also find this in the parable of the ten virgins and the ten lepers, where ten is a general indication the parable is about everyone.
Commands and commandments: Ten is also associated with the last or final things said, as well as specific commands to be done. A command is to be followed without question and thus is an order to be followed, with no exception or deviation. A command is a complete set of instructions to be followed, such as the list of Ten Commandments God gave to Moses to give to Israel (as seen in Deuteronomy 10, where the covenant with Israel is renewed): He wrote on the tablets, like the former writing, the Ten Commandments which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to me (Deuteronomy 10:4). We see in Leviticus 10 that Nadab and Abihu took matters into their own hands, thus not obeying the commands of the Lord, and for that they suffered death: Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them (Leviticus 10:1). This tenth chapter of Leviticus teaches a hard lesson regarding the consequences of disobeying God. Verse 2 says, And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
Holiness and Greatness: Also in Leviticus 10 we are told God says, By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored (verse 3). The number ten is associated with a holy, powerful, and righteous God, who is to be honored and revered. We see this in biblical accounts where ten or multiples of ten are often associated with greatness or even great evil. Ten is a special number indicating the best of things or the greater or holiest of things. 1 Samuel 21:11 is one of several places in the Bible where the number ten thousand is used in reference to greatness: Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?
The Tenth Commandment: Exodus 20:17 says, You shall not covet your neighbors house; you shall not covet your neighbors wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor. This commandment is often explained in a fairly specific way, as it is written that we are simply not to desire the property of others, but when considered in what it is instructing Israel to do it more clearly fits the theme for ten, which is to become separated to the Lord, as we see mentioned in Leviticus 10:10: and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean. In Ezra 10 we see Ezra praying and confessing Israels unfaithfulness to God, and in verses 10 and 11 he declares, You have been unfaithful and have married foreign wives, adding to the guilt of Israel. Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives. In the same way ten is associated with the separation of the Godly from the ungodly and I suspect the tenth commandment conveys the same message through the concept of coveting.
I realize comments such as the above suggesting additional meaning to the tenth commandment can come across as wrong or even heretical and have struggled about including such observations in this book. I decided to include them because I would rather give others opportunities to decide for themselves rather than not disclose what may be important concepts. This book is not intended to redefine or alter peoples beliefs but rather to communicate as best I can the possibilities of the interpretations considering the relationship of biblical text to Gods Redemption Pattern. I leave it to the reader to decide for themselves what it communicates to them.
Jesus second coming:The tenth number of the Redemption Pattern points to the second coming of Jesus Christ, and the theme for number ten is found associated with many aspects of His return. These include the following:
We see this in Revelation 10:1: I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. Matthew 25:10 says, while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Ten is associated with both the ascending of Jesus and His people into heaven, as we find in Acts 1:10: And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. We also see it in Mark 1:10: Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him.
Jesus is the Messiah: The theme for ten contains many declarations and reminders about who God is, and many of those reminders seem associated with Jesus restoring Israel in the last days. God clearly reminds His people who He is so they might finally recognize and receive Him. Jeremiah 10:10 states, the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. John 1:10 says, He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. John 10:11 reminds us, I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:10 differentiates Jesus from false prophets: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have {it} abundantly. John 10:30 states, I and the Father are one.
The Day of the LORD: The Day of the Lord is often associated with the number 24, which I believe corresponds to the 24 hours in a day, and in Daniel (the 24th book), chapter 10 verse 4, on the 24th day of the first month, a certain man appeared to Daniel and gave him a vision of what would happen during the last days. In the sixth verse of chapter 10 (the 22,022nd Bible verse) this man, whom I believe to be an Old Testament appearance of Jesus, is described: His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult. This man had come to Daniel to describe to him the last days: Verse 14 says, Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future. (It also does not seem a coincidence the reference for this verse of 10:14 adds up to the number 24). Daniel 10 relates directly to the Day of the LORD, as do many other parts of the Bible associated with the number 10.
The Day of the Lord signals the end of Earth as we know it, so it fits with the theme for number ten about the end or last things. 2 Peter 3:10 reminds us, But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Revelation 3:10 tells us that Jesus can preserve us from this day of His wrath: Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that {hour} which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth Daniel 12:10 says, Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.
The number ten is strongly related with the final days and what will happen on those days, as we will also see in other subthemes associated with number ten.
Utter Destruction and Death: Ezekiel 24:10 says, Heap on the wood, kindle the fire, Boil the flesh well And mix in the spices, And let the bones be burned. Its no surprise that the same number ten that speaks of the Day of the Lord would also warn strongly of the destruction that will come in that day.
Joshua 10:1 (the 6,066th Bible verse) tells how Joshua (a type of Jesus) utterly destroyed cities he entered: Joshua had captured Ai, and had utterly destroyed itas he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king. The phrase utterly destroyed is found twenty-four times in the Bible, and the word utterly sixty-six times in the NASB. Of the twenty-four times, six are in Joshua 10. In Matthew 10:34 Jesus tells us He did not come to the Earth to give peace: Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. In Revelation 20:10 we see Satan being thrown into the lake of fire: the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Requirements to be saved: Along with various teachings about the return of the Lord, the theme for number ten also points out what must be done to be saved. In Romans 10 Paul teaches the Jews how one can be saved: Verse nine says, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Verse 10 says, for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Then, verse 13 says, for WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED. In Luke 10 we see a lawyer asking about eternal life. Verse 25 says, And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus replies, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
Putting on a new self:The Bible teaches that when a person is saved he becomes a new person in Jesus, a concept we often find associated with number ten. The often-quoted Psalm 51:10 says, Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. In the book of Jonah we see that the people of Nineveh turned from their wicked ways and were saved from death. Jonah 3:10 says, When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. Colossians 3:10 says people are changed by knowing Jesus: put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. In Acts 3:10 we find people in awe of a changed person: they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to {beg} alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Testing: Ten is also associated with times of testing. Daniel and his friends asked to be allowed to eat their own diet for ten days. At the end of this test they were in better health than the others. Daniel 1:15 says, At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king's choice food. In Revelation 2:10 we see people warned of ten days of testing to come: Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Malachi 3:10 is the only verse in the Bible where the Lord invites us to test Him: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
Israel; Restoration of Gods Chosen People: A significant part of the theme for number ten and activities surrounding the return of the Lord speak of Jesus efforts to restore the remnant of His Chosen People. In the preceding ninth step of the Redemption Pattern the Godly were caught up and taken to a safe place to wait until the Day of the Lord was finished. So only the ungodly remain on the earth, along with Jews who have rejected Jesus as the Messiah. The theme for number ten points to Jesus again offering Himself for their salvation, teaches who He is and that those who finally realize Jesus is the Son of God come to Him confessing and repenting. The ten theme reveals that, although many of Israel will continue to reject Jesus, many will also will be saved.
Israel will be restored: In Zechariah 10 and many other similar passages God declares He will restore His Chosen People, whom He loves: Verse 6 says, I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph, And I will bring them back, Because I have had compassion on them; And they will be as though I had not rejected them, For I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
Israel rejected Jesus: Numerous ten-themed passages reveal God lamenting over Israel, who has rejected Jesus as the Savior. In Romans 10:21 Paul declares, But as for Israel He says, ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE. Ezekiel chapter 44:10 tells of their specific sin: But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity. Jeremiah 44:10 tells of their refusal to see: But they have not become contrite even to this day, nor have they feared nor walked in My law or My statutes, which I have set before you and before your fathers. The ten theme reminds Israel why God has rejected them.
Israel is to know Jesus: Jeremiah 10:10 declares Jesus as the Messiah who will deliver them: But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, And the nations cannot endure His indignation.
The Sons of Israel confess: The theme for ten says in the last days some will come to Jesus in confession and repentance, as we see here in Judges 10:10: Then the sons of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, We have sinned against You, for indeed, we have forsaken our God and served the Baals.
A Remnant of the Sons of Israel saved: Beginning with verse nine, 1 Peter 2 presents the first remnant of Jews saved, which will be followed by many more in the last days: Verses 9 and 10 tell us, But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR Gods OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
Following are more examples relating to the themes for number Ten.
Jesus appears with a loud voice: Jesus seems to appear and leave with a loud voice, and people call out to Him in a loud voice, as in Revelation 1:10: I was in the Spirit on the Lords day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like {the sound} of a trumpet.
The Marriage Feast of the Lamb (as in Matthew 25:10): And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
The hidden will be revealed: Not only will mysteries of God be revealed, but nothing is hidden from God, and all mens secrets will be revealed: 1 Corinthians 2:10 says, For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
An axe and other symbols of cutting down (as in Matthew 3:10): The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
A number of anointing and authority: 1 Samuel 10:1 says, Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him and said, Has not the LORD anointed you a ruler over His inheritance?
The tithe and tenth part, which is holy to the LORD: Malachi 3:10 says, Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
People live in darkness: Psalms 107:10 says, There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, Prisoners in misery and chains.
Mighty or valiant ones: References to mighty and valiant ones are found related to those chosen by God. Joel 3:10 says, Let the weak say, I am a mighty man.
Hands are a source of deliverance or suffering: Nehemiah 1:10 says, They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.
The following words and phrases are often found associated with the theme for ten:
anger burned, anger of the Lord, appointed, arose, ashamed/humiliated, ashes, beast, blessings, book, bowls, came down, cast into the pit, commands, Day of the Lord, confession, wrath, destruction, last days, tithe, confession, consuming fire, covenant, cried out, darkened, deceived, defeated, delivered, departed, descending, destruction, despair, displeased the Lord, distinction, dust, eat, false prophets, fear, fear of the Lord, fell on face, fled, foreign wives, generations, godly and ungodly, hardened heart, hidden, hidden, high priest, holy and unholy, I am the Lord your God, I will return, inheritance, judgments, knowledge, lightning, loud voice, marriage feast, naked, numerous as sands in the sea, plagues, presence/appearing of the Lord, records, refined as gold and silver, refused, rejoice, remainder/remnant, repentance, returned, revealed, righteous/ unrighteous, risen, sacrifices and offerings, Savior, secrets, separation, stood before the Lord, stretched out hands, stubborn, survived, tenth, the Lord fought the battle, they will know I am the Lord, three days, threshing floor, thrown down, thunder, tithe, turned away, uncovered, wicked, wisdom, worshiped idols, wrath, you shall obey
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
The intent of this book has been first to introduce the God-written, supernatural structure of the Bible and the Redemption Pattern that lies behind every part of Gods Word. Just being aware of this miracle gives us more confidence in what the Bible says and will help us to read it more intently. The second and more complicated goal was to explain the specifics of how this supernatural structure all fit together; how it could be used, as well as the value it brings to the everyday study of Gods Word.
I can only imagine how tough a read this book may have been, as Ive struggled for years to put all these pieces together for myself. I suspect it is the rare individual who can come to this last chapter with a clear understanding of what it all means. No doubt if youve reached this point, your brain is now weary and a bit confused; you wonder where to go next with all this new knowledge. It might help to sort this out by thinking about what was presented.
This book began with some compelling evidences, which I hope you have remembered (if not they are worth reviewing again in chapter one). These first evidences point clearly to different parts of the numeric map, and they verify that these patterns found in the Bible could not be a product of chance. These examples grounded me when I questioned my own understanding of the patterns. I recalled them when my mind became confused in trying to fit together so many facts. I found that going back to the basics would remind me of the treasures to be learned and the value in pushing myself through to find them. The sequence of topics in this book were organized to encourage readers with a gradual building of knowledge, one concept upon another, with little gems of discoveries scattered throughout to try and keep readers interested and wanting to learn more. Its worth remembering the good stuff to help you want to persevere through the complexities.
Each chapter presented topics that are part of an overall picture of the numeric map and how each aspect fits logically together, creating a numerically indicated DNA-like, intersecting structure in Gods Word. Each part is a building block to construct a complete image. If you are interested in understanding the numeric map at a deeper level but do not yet feel you have a grasp of the topics presented, as painful as it may sound, reviewing them again will be a great help in clarifying the picture. Its difficult to connect all the pieces while you are learning them initially, one at a time, and now that you have an overall awareness, a second review will often bring the pieces together in a clearer way.
Doubt is Natural: Let The Facts Drive You to Investigate
Another common reaction to reading about these patterns is wondering if they are real. It would almost be unnatural not to question Bible numerics after first reading about them. Even thinking about them can be uncomfortable enough to tempt you to file this all away as simply an interesting theory. Assuming you remain understandably cautious about the reality of these finds, dont dismiss the possibility too soon. First, be convinced there is value in understanding the numbers and also that even a simple understanding of them can be a great help in interpreting Scripture. It is also encouraging to realize that once you begin to understand the simplest concepts, your study of the Bible will become a new adventure and more-rewarding, thus worth taking the time necessary to begin putting them to use.
Dont Let Unconvincing Evidences Stall You
Because theres too much evidence to ponder at one time, it will be impossible to resolve this blur of facts, some of which might appear valid and others not. This deluge of details can cause us to give up trying to resolve what we cant decide on as a whole. The problem is likely not that the evidence is contradictory or inconclusive, but rather that it is simply too much to consider all at once. People are surprised when I tell them my learning of the patterns caused me to struggle through untold cycles of discovery, disappointment, and doubts, with a bits of the joy of success scattered along the way. As I persevered, the picture became clearer and I finally became convinced. Dont let evidence you dont agree with or understand lead you to dismiss the entire concept. Try to remember that as you continue to work through the facts, it is only the preponderance of credible evidence that will gradually convince you. Isaiah 28:9-10 reminds us God does not reveal Himself or teach us all at once, but instead through a gradual process: To whom would He teach knowledge, And to whom would He interpret the message? For He says, Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there.
It is my experience that there are no singular pieces of evidence that irrefutably prove the reality of the Numeric Map. The only way to fully comprehend it is to experience it over time. This seems as God intended, because it has the affect of hiding His Word from curious observers who are just seeking knowledge. It draws those who sincerely want to know God deeper into His Word, and not only results in knowledge, but also into a true, intimate relationship with our creator.
The Greatest Gift of the Redemption Pattern
For {as} the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).
I must have gasped when it first hit me that only God could have assigned chapters and verses to His Word. Some internal part of me seemed to shudder at the thought that God had used men in ways Id never imagined, and that He was actually closer than I imagined. It was as if Jesus was suddenly standing beside me, looking over my shoulder. Realizing God gradually developed His Word over thousands of yearsthrough many authors, while at the same time supernaturally including a perfect pattern He would not reveal for hundreds of yearssuddenly caused me to experience Him in a new way. I saw how all these efforts of men were being guided at a very precise level by the hand of God. I realized I had the direct writings of God in my own hands. The Bible speaks of how the hand of God works.
The phrase the hand of God is found just fourteen times in the Bible, and fourteen is the number for Jesus, the redeemer who came to Earth to save us. Jesus is The Hand of God, and his Holy Spirit might be seen as the fingers of God working in us. These fourteen verses referring to the Hand of God seem to tell a story about who He is and how He works. The first four verses with this phrase tell of the works of the Hand of God, and the last nine all very clearly point to it being Jesus Himself. Ecclesiastes 9:1, the single verse separating these references, declares how the Hand of God is active for the righteous man: For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him. These verses are found at the following places: 1 Samuel 5:11; 2 Chronicles 30:12; Job 19:21; Ecclesiastes 2:24 Ecclesiastes 9:1; Mark 16:19; Acts2:33; Acts 7:55; Acts 7:56; Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 10:12; 1 Peter 3:22; and 1 Peter 5:6. They tell us when the Hand of God is upon us we cannot know the outcome or where it will lead. No matter what we experience that may seem good or bad, we can trust that Godly men are being directed by Jesus Himself.
As I explain the Redemption Pattern I tell of its values, with examples of it being a guide in interpretation and a built-in cross reference to the Bible. I explain how it validates the Bible and how it reveals the ten-part plan of redemption. But as important as all these elements are, they are secondary to the most amazing gift Ive received, which is comprehending God in ways Ive never known before. The most life-changing of these is seeing His work in preparing the Bible. God really does work through us, directing our paths without our being aware. This has been one of the great ah-ha experiences of my life. All these years Ive struggled and worried about how I can truly know what God desires for me to be doing; it never seemed clear to me. Seeing how He has worked firsthand has caused me to get it.
If we are living for God, then we need not worry if we are doing His will. Proverbs 3:5-6 takes on new meaning: Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. God says trust in Him and He will make our paths straight. It does not say He will tell us what to do, but that He will make it happen. Today, when Im faced with difficult decisions, I make the best choice I can and trust that God is ultimately in control. He can guide us to do the right things as well as work all the while to accomplish His goals, even though we may not be aware of how He does it. God is more real to me than ever, and this realization that came through seeing His work is now a heartfelt truth and a true gift from God. I hope and pray other readers may receive this gift as they learn it for themselves. God is awesome!
Encouragement to Find Sufficient Time to Study
One last encouragement is for you to find sufficient time to spend in Gods Word, whether it is the study of Gods patterns or simply your own personal Bible study. So many times, the most amazing treasures I receive come only after an extended time of pondering and struggling to understand His Word. The best discoveries seem to happen after forty-five minutes or more of pouring over the Scriptures. I cannot be sure why, but I suspect these special discoveries are like treasures given by the Holy Spirit as a reward for seeking to know God. One of my favorite verses (Daniel 10:12) seems to confirm this: Then he said to me, Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. Determine to know God and understand His Word and you will be rewarded with a special relationship with God, as well as heartfelt knowledge about Him.
For more information about the Redemption Pattern, along with downloadable helps and references, go to http://amazingword.com
Norm recently retired from his SVP role after thirty-seven years in mainframe software development. He stumbled on the first hints of this discovery in the year 2000, during his own Bible study. Since then he has been researching and documenting the evidence of the incredible interpretative tools found in the Bibles Numeric Map and, most importantly, Gods plan of redemption. For the last two years, Norm has worked full time researching and writing about Gods Word. He resides in Southern California.
First, I must praise and acknowledge my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, who for some reason decided to give this unworthy servant an incredible opportunity to serve. I cant measure how much of the knowledge shared here came directly from Him, but it must be considerable, because I know my imaginative mind never could have observed the amazing perfection in His Word on its own. God is Good!
Many people have helped over the course of development of this work, and without their support this might well still be just years of electronic notes scattered throughout my computer hard drive. I thank my wife, Kristie, who always tolerated my wacky ideas and never failed to support me in my efforts. I also thank my daughter, Shannon, who is a constant source of encouragement and strength. She and my son-in-law, Chuck, have made her mother and me very proud parents and grandparents. Without my editor, Jerry Gramckow, I would still be writing endless chapters, never knowing when to quit. His much-valued friendship, spiritual guidance, and writing and editing talents were key to this book finally reaching completion. Special friends Blaise Bonin and Dr. Robert Whitcomb have listened to my ideas hours on end; their feedback has helped shape many of the ideas presented. Finally, thanks to my many family and friends who have had a listening ear and encouraged me throughout this process. Without all of these mentioned, this book might never have been completed.
Norm Patriquin
This chart is an aid to researching numbers mentioned in this book that are not found in your Bible. It provides numbers and counts related to every book of the Bible. It provides both the fifty-seven- and sixty-six-book count number, the number of chapters in each book along with their starting and ending cross-book chapter number, and the number of total verses in each book along with starting and ending cross-Bible verse numbers. With these numbers you can confirm the numbers used in this book for yourself as well as use them for your own numbers-related research. The Web site www.amazingword.com includes more extensive reference information for those interested.
The following chart is another aid to researching numbers mentioned in this book that are not found in your Bible. It gives the Bible chapter number, the cross-Bible verse number, and the fifty-seven- and sixty-six-book sequence numbers for every tenth chapter of the Bible. Because there are 1,189 chapters, this chart attempts to give a short reference card for numbers associated with chapters no farther than five chapters away from any chapter in the Bible. To find the numbers associated with any chapter simply find the row on this chart closest to the one you are referencing and add/subtract chapters and chapter-verse counts from there to obtain the values you desire. The Web site www.amazingword.com includes more extensive reference information for those interested.