The Numbers and the Tabernacle
Numbers are important in Gods mind. Numbers are throughout
the scripture’s and are worthy of study, as they have significance.
Job 31:4.
Does He not see my ways and count my every step
Psalm 147:4
“The lord determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”
Numbers 23:10.
Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel?”
Revelation
13:18 “This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the
number of the beast, for it is mans number. His number is 666.
Genesis
15:5 God said to Abraham, “look up at the heavens and count the stars, if
indeed you can count them.”
There are approximately 350 references in Strong’s
Concordance for numbers and numbering.
Patrick Fairbairn said:
"If God has given all things their significance,
and defined their bounds according to time, space, power, and number, and
if He has appointed certain measurements to regulate things and times, Biblical
numbers must be symbolical, and be worthy of our study; and if a fit subject
for study, the laws by which this symbolism of numbers is controlled, require
to be ascertained."
The
Number 1:
The Absoluteness, Complete, Unified person and character
of The God.
God in His boundless, infinite personality.
God is One!
John 17:17
“Now this is eternal life; that they may know You, the only True God.”
1 Corinthians
8:4 “That they may know You, the only True God.”
Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”
Jesus
white under garment was made in one piece, just like the Levitical priest’s.
The undergarment indicating God as a man, perfect righteousness.
The number one permeates the Tabernacle completely
and totally.
- There is one Tabernacle
- There is one Entrance Gate
- There is one Law Broken
- There is one alter and one blood sacrifice
- There is one price to payed for sins
- There is one solution for sins
- There is one person who paid that price
- There is one way of cleansing
- There is one church, one body
- There is one acceptable righteousness
- There is one final judgement
- There is one sin, which casts a person into hell
- There is one way to heaven
Isaiah
45:22 “Come to Me and be saved all you ends of the earth, for I Am God and
there is no other.”
John 14:6 “I
am the Way, The Truth and The Life”
1Timothy 2:5 “There is One God and One mediator between God and Man, the
man Christ Jesus.”
The
Number 2:
The number two witnesses
of the Truth\truth.
Numbers 9:15
“One witness shall is not enough to convict a person accused of any crime
or offence they may have committed. A matter must be established by the
testimony of two or three witnesses.”
Jesus’ Resurrection
Luke 24:4-6
“Two men in clothes that gleamed like lightening stood beside the women,
They said, why do you look for the living among the dead.. He is not here He is risen.”
Two disciples on the road to Emmaus
were witnesses to the resurrection.
Luke
24:13-32
Hebrew 6:17-18
By two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the Hope offered to us
may be greatly encouraged. We have this Hope as an anchor for the soul,
firm and secure.”
The Church as witness,
as the pillar and foundation.
1Timothy
3:15
“If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves
in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and
foundation of the truth.
The
Number 3
Represents Gods complete Person,
His Will and His Purpose.
Revelation
1:8 “I am the Alpha and Omega, “says the Lord God “who is, and who was and
who is to come, the Almighty”
2 Corinthians
13:14. “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
Trinities appear many times in the
scriptures
·
Three angels tell
Abraham of the upcoming birth of Isaac. Genesis 18
·
Darkness covered the
land of Egypt three days. Exodus 10:21-29
·
Three times a year
males had to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem.
Exodus 23:14-17, Deuteronomy 16:16
·
Fruit was harvested
three years after the tree was planted. Leviticus 19:23
·
Elijah spreads His
body over the widow’s dead son three times, a shadow of Christ’s resurrection.
1 Kings 17:21
·
Three men were thrown
into the Nebuchaddnezzers furnace of fire. Daniel 3:24-25
·
Jonah was in the belly
of a fish three days. Jonah 1:17
·
Peter denied Christ
three times. Matthew 26:69-75
·
There were three crosses
on Golgotha’s Hill. Matthew 27:32-38
·
Jesus Christ bore
our sins on the cross for three hours. Matthew 27:45
·
Jesus Christ was in
Paradise three days. Matthew 27:63
·
Jesus re-instates
Peter three times. John 21:15-18
·
Paul was blind for
three days and did not eat or drink. Acts 9:9
·
The sheet was sent
down to Peter three times from heaven. Acts 10:16
·
Paul pleaded with
God to take the thorn in the flesh away three times. 2 Corinthians 12:8
Other Trinities in the Bible
·
The Heaven, the Earth,
and the Underworld.
- The law, prophets, and writings.
- Body, soul and spirit.
·
Past, present and
future.
- The trinity of blessing- grace, mercy, and peace.
- The trinity of evil- the dragon, antichrist, and false prophet.
- The trinity of wickedness- The world, the flesh, & the devil
The
Number 4
Represents God’s universal, absolute control on earth,
providing needs, deliverance and disaster.
- The four rivers of
paradise – Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and
the Euphrates Genesis 2:10-14
- Directions – north,
south, east and west.
Isaiah 45:22
“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and
there is no other”
- Seasons – spring, summer,
autumn and winter
2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach
the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and
encourage-with great patience and careful instruction.”
- Universe – time, energy, space and matter
- Provisions for mankind – earth, air, fire and water
- Day – Morning, noon, evening and night
- Lazarus was in the
tomb 4 days John 11:39
- Jesus garments were
divided into four parts
Prophecy: - Psalm 22:18 “They divided my
clothes among them and cast lots for my undergarment.”
Prophecy fulfilled: -Luke 23:34 “They divided up His clothes and cast lots for
his undergarment.”
- The fourth man in
the fiery furnace Daniel 3:16-25
- The four horsemen
of the great tribulation Revelation 6:1-5
- The four horns of
the altar. Exodus 27:2
- Length, width, depth
and height.
Ephesians
3:18 …may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and
long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
The
Number 5
This represents human weakness and God’s power to overcome human weakness
Mankind having all their five senses of seeing, touching,
hearing, tasting and smelling, still is completely unable to resolve weakness,
sin and evil in life.
All speak of man’s weakness and inability.
- 5 loaves were not
enough to feed the crowd, yet Christ fed all. John 6:1-13
- 5 brothers couldn’t
keep themselves out of Hades, yet Christ saved Lazarus Luke 16:19-31
- 5 Husbands couldn’t satisfy the Samaritan woman. Yet Christ does satisfy
her with the spring of the water of eternal life. John 4:17
The
Number 6
Represents work and labour
- Six days of creation
of the earth Genesis 1:3-3
- “Six days shall labour
and do all your work.” Exodus 20:9
- There were 6 Curtains
around the tabernacle, denying man access. Men gained access through the
seventh curtain the entrance curtain. The perfect way to come to The Lord
God is through that one curtain, which speaks of Christ. Man is barred
access except through the one entrance.
John 14:6 Jesus
say’s “ I Am The Way, The Truth and The Life”
- Solomon’s throne had
six steps leading up to the throne. Kings
10:19
Hebrews 4:11
“Let us labour to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after that same
example on unbelief.”
Revelation
14:13 “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes says the
Spirit, they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.”
The
Number 7
The number seven speaks of the totality of completeness,
freedom and rest
- On the seventh days God’s work in creation was completed
Genesis 2:1 “God blessed
the seventh day and made it Holy, be cause on it He rested from all the
work creating that He had done.”
Jeremiah 34:14 “Every seventh
year each of you must free any fellow Hebrew who has sold himself to you.
After he has served you six years, you must let him go.”
- The Seven churches
in Revelation represent the totality of the churches completeness.
Revelation 2-3
- When the four thousand
were fed, seven baskets full were collected indicating that God’s provision
was complete enough remaining to toss the dogs, sufficient for them to
eat also in mutual blessing.
Mark 7:28
- Satan has complete power
and control during the tribulation (a seven year period).
Revelation 12:3 “Behold
a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns
upon his heads.”
- There are 7 days in a complete week, 7 colours in a rainbow, 7 great
landmasses form a complete earth, 7 weeks between Passover and Pentecost
- The Passover feast
lasted 7 days.
Exodus 12:15
- At Pentecost 7 lambs were offered
- The time for mourning the dead was 7 days in Israel.
·
On the Day of Atonement
the priest dipped his finger in the blood and sprinkled it seven times before
the Ark of the Covenant, demonstrating a complete work for all.
Leviticus 16:14
·
Jesus said we are
to forgive sins 7 X 70 times, indicating complete and total forgiveness
Matthew 18:22 Then Peter said, how many times must
I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered,
I tell you, not seven but seventy times seven.”
·
Seven speaks of the
seven aspects of the Holy Spirit work in the life of Christ, and now complete
in us.
Isaiah 11:2 “A shoot will come up from the stump of
Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit, The Spirit of the Lord will
rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel
and of power, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.”
- Seven speaks of freedom
Jeremiah 34:14
“Every seventh year each of you must free any fellow Hebrew who has sold
himself to you. After he has served you six years, you must let him go.”
- The Passover feast
lasted 7 days and demonstrated freedom through Christ through His perfect
sacrifice.
Exodus 12:15
- Seven demons were
cast out of Mary Magdalene. She was free of demon control.
Luke 8:2, Mark
16:9 “Now when Jesus was risen early, the first day of the week, He appeared
to Mary Magdalene, out of whom went seven demons.”
·
The Seven Horns represent
rule and authority
Revelation 5:6
o
Seven Horns – Omnipotence
of total power
o
Seven Spirits – Omnipresence
of being everywhere
o
Seven Eyes – Omniscient
of all knowing
The number 7 continues many times throughout the bible.
The
Number 8
Represent “new beginnings”
- A child was circumcised
on the eighth day
Leviticus 12:3
- The church met on
the eighth day or first day, the new day.
Acts?
The Number 10 (10 or 100 or 1000)
Number ten represents human failure and God’s strength
and fullness, in its totality. This number being both
literal and figurative.
- The 10 spies failed
to see God’s power and provision and produced an evil report.
Numbers 13:3
- The 10 tribes failed
to walk with God and established a separate kingdom given to idolatry.
1 Kings 11:31
- The magicians and
astrologers were 10 times weaker and insufficient as Daniel, who was ten
times stronger than they, because he depended in the Lord.
Daniel 1:20
- The 10 lepers couldn’t
cure themselves they needed Jesus.
Luke 17:12
·
The 10 test of Israel prior to leaving Egypt and after leaving Egypt demonstrate
failure and weakness. They ended up testing the Lord.
Numbers 14:22 Not one of the men who saw My Glory and
the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed
Me and tested Me ten times.”
Deuteronomy 6:16 “Do not test the Lord your God.”
·
Ten horns of the beast
of revelation representing total power and strength
Revelation 17:7
·
Ten indicating totality
dilligence and care
The dilligent woman searched for One missing coin.
Luke 15:8
·
Ninety Nine Sheep
Safe, and one strayed and got lost.
Luke 15:3-5
·
Totality of faithfulness
Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the Lord you God
is God; He is a faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand
generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.”
·
During the Millennial
reign of Jesus Christ, the entire earth and universe will be brought into
the blessing of the freedom of the Sons of God being released from its bondage
of decay.
Romans 8:20-23
The
Number 12
Points to the assembly, gathering and congregation
of God.
·
Israel had twelve tribes
Genesis 49:28
·
The twelve stars reflecting
the twelve tribes of Israel
Revelation 12:1-2
·
The New Jerusalem,
the eternal city had twelve gates.
Revelation 21:12
·
The New Jerusalem,
the eternal city had 12 foundations.
Revelation 21:14
·
Jesus had twelve legions
of angels whom the Father had put at his disposal to come to His help at
the cross if He wished to call on them.
Matthew 26:53-54
·
A twelve-year-old
damsel was raised from the dead, reflecting the resurrection of Israel?
Mark 5:42
·
A woman with a bleeding
problem had been sick for twelve years before she was healed; she had suffered
much under doctors. One touch and the woman is healed. We are made righteous
by faith. She touched the hem of His garment believing she would be healed.
She came to Him.
Mark 5:25 & Matthew 11:28
The
Number 40
The number is descriptive of preperation, trial and
testing.
·
Moses was in the palace
in Egypt for forty years,
he was in the dessert forty years before God used him to deliver Israel. He led
Israel for forty
years
·
Growing up in Pharaohs Palace –
·
In the desert in Midian
–
·
Leading Israel -
Deuteronomy 8:2
·
It rained for forty
days and nights during the flood
Genesis 7:17
·
Jesus Christ was in
the dessert forty days tried and tested by Satan.
Matthew 4:1-11 – Mark 1:13
·
Jesus proved His resurrection
for forty days, to many people
Acts 1:3
The point about highlighting the numbers must not be
missed, as we look at God’s system of math, it should fill us with wonder,
awe and respect for Him who has already worked things out and should create
within us awe, respect and an understanding that GOD KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING!
And thoroughly understands the math He created.
We can simply need to trust Him at His Word.
Scripture
taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Zondervan. All rights reserved.
The "NIV"
and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use
of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.