Note: The key to page one applies to this appendix.
Section One – One Through Thirteen
One – Has reference to the unity of the Trinity; to Christ, the embodiment of the Trinity; and to Christ’s death.
Two – The grave of Christ [3] (see the footnotes in numerical order)
Three – The resurrection and high priesthood of Christ (compare Acts 13:32-33; Heb 5:5; Rom 6:5) [1]
Four – The kingdom of God (see Mark 1:14-15; Ro 5:12-21; Rev 1:4-6; Mt 26:26-29) or the foundation of the kingdom of God. This foundation, the foundation of the church, is comprised of “the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Eph 2:19-22).
Five – The inheritance in the land (Mt 5:5) or the building of the church by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-47), the “pledge” of the inheritance (Eph 1:13-14), upon the foundation. See also and compare Heb 1:1-2 and Rom 8:16-17.
Six – The completed church. Completion is reached in two stages, at the first and second resurrections.
Seven – God’s remaining “Sabbath rest” (Heb 4:9), including the millennial kingdom (Rev 20:1-6; Is 11:1-10), the final stage of the kingdom in the new heaven and new earth (Rev 21:1-7; 22:1-5), and the perfection of the church, the spiritual inheritance of the saints. Perfection is in two stages, simultaneous with completion, at the first (compare Php 1:6; 1 Cor 13:1-13; 15:42-57) and second (compare Rev 20:11-15; 21:22-27) resurrections.
Eight – The inheritance in this present earth following the establishment of the millennial kingdom (Mt 5:5; Ezk 47:1-14 ff.) as well as the postmillennial inheritance in the new heaven and new earth (Rev 21:1-7) [4]
Nine through Twelve – See five through eight, respectively
Thirteen – The portion of Christ [2]
1 In the numbers one through three are also seen the three persons of the Trinity. Indeed, in the death of the son, Jesus, is seen the death also of the father (John 14:9), the first person of the Trinity; in the grave is seen the body of the son (compare John 1:1,14; 3:16), the second; and, in the resurrection is seen the power of the Holy Spirit (John 6:53-63), the third person of the trinity.
2 While retaining their respective meanings, the series of numbers one through twelve and thirteen also refer to the church. A foreshadowing of the church may be seen, for example, in the twelve sons of Jacob, or tribes of Israel, that is, “His chosen ones” (Ps 105:6)(compare Ps 105:6; Luke 6:13; Ro 11:1-6). Furthermore, according to Eph 1:22-23; 4:4-6; the church is the body of Christ and, there- fore, these numbers are a representation of Christ, as well. Christ’s own body, although one, was to be divided into many portions (John 6:1-14; 25-69; Luke 22:7-19), foreshadowed by the division of the inheritance into twelve portions for the tribes of Israel (Jos 13:7-8).* It is evident that, when the land is divided in the millennial kingdom, thirteen portions will be distributed to Israel, with the portion of Christ initially set aside, being both first and last (Nu 18:8-32; Ezk 48:1-29; also compare Nu 32:1-42; Dt 33:20-21; Jos 22:1-9 and Ezk 48:27-29 concerning Gad).**
* Although Levi was omitted (Jos 13:14), Joseph received two portions through his sons Ephraim and Mannasseh (Gen 48:20-22).
** Note, as well, that, since the numbers are a representation of Christ, and, since Christ is so evidently seen in each number, each number will contain the entire numerological allegory, the allegory each number, and so on, to infinity.
3 The number two also indicates division. In Christ’s grave is seen division, or a cavity, in which the living cornerstone and foundation lie, the church is built, and the portions also divided. Division in Christ’s grave is seen, as well, in the division between believers and unbelievers in that grave. Furthermore, from Nu 16:23-33, the grave, salvation to believers, swallows up unbelievers.*
* Since the rebellion in the angelic realm and the fall of man, a larger view of the grave of Christ includes Satan and unbelievers. So also a larger view of the kingdom (Is 66:1-2), and the numerological allegory reflects this fact. For example, according to Rev 13:18 NIV, the number of the antichrist involves the number six.
However, the allegorical numbers are often also used to refer to the fearful meaning to the unbeliever, as well as to the meaning to the believer, of the establishment of the true kingdom. The meaning to both, of one, the death of Christ, is foreshadowed, for example, in the first of the ten plagues in Egypt, the waters of Egypt turned to blood (compare Ex 7:14-24; 12:21-41; Eph 1:7). Christ’s blood, salvation for the believer, becomes judgment for the unbeliever. Furthermore, since the process of establishing the kingdom often includes chastisement of those who delay and of believers as well (Rev 3:19), this will also be reflected, in similar fashion, in the usage of the numerological allegory. An example is found in Nu 12:1-15 where it states that Miriam was “shut up outside the camp for seven days”.
4 An important application of * of footnote 3 arises when numbers proceed beyond eight (e.g. a sequence of one through twelve). Perhaps especially in such a case, the numbers five through eight need to be understood in light of footnote 3, including the fact that they point to a delay, by many, in believing and possessing the land. This will become more evident in Section Three.
Section Two – Other Numbers
One method by which other numbers can be interpreted is by converting them, as with the following : 144 = 12 x 12; 84 = 7 x 12; 50 = 5 x 10; and 52 =2 + 50. [1] All possible such conversions are valid. See section three (N) for more on this subject.
1 The numbers 1 – 13 are also convertible. 9 may be seen as 3 x 3, for example.
Section Three – Examples
A – The Seven Days of Creation Week
Day One – The creation of light (Gen 1:3-5) foreshadows Christ’s death after darkness was turned to light – Mt 27:45-50
Day Two – Just as the water at baptism, the water under the “expanse” (Gen 1:6-8) symbolizes Christ’s grave* – compare 2 Pet 3:5-6; 1 Pet 3:18-22; and Col 2:11-12
* Clearly, the water above, the “expanse”, and the water below also represent the grave of Christ with the “expanse” representing the cavity.
Day Three – When God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place” (Gen 1:9), he foreshadowed the opening of Christ’s grave and the revealing of his empty tomb – Mt 28:1-7
Day Four – The creation of “the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night” foreshadows the kingdom (compare Gen 1:14-19; Mal 4:2; Luke 1:76-79; Ps 89: 35-37). Yet, the “greater light”, set in the “expanse”, is also the living cornerstone in the grave, the stone upon which the church is built.
Day Five – The creation of fish in the waters and birds in the “expanse” (Gen 1:20-23) foreshadows building on the foundation.
Day Six – The creation of man (Gen 1:26-31), God’s “house” (Heb 3:1-6), foreshadows the completed building.
Day Seven – God’s rest (Gen 2:1-3) foreshadows the perfected building – Ex 31:12-13
B – The Seven Days of History (see the page 1 chart below)
Day One (4175-3143 BC) – The creation of light foreshadows the death of Christ
Day Two (3143-2110 BC) – The global flood (Gen 7:17-20), in 2519 BC,* foreshadows Christ’s grave – compare 1 Pet 3:18-22; Col 2: 11-12
Day Three (2110-1078 BC) – The parting of the waters of the Red Sea (Ex 14:21) in the year of the Exodus, 1446 BC,** foreshadows the empty tomb.
Day Four (1078-46 BC ) – The establishment of the kingdom of Israel in 1050 BC,*** the reign of David (Luke 1:30-33) from 1011 BC–971 BC,*** and the laying of the foundation of the first temple (1 Kings 6: 1,37), in 967 BC,*** foreshadow the kingdom and the foundation of the kingdom.
Day Five (46 BC-988 AD) – In 29 AD, building in the age of grace begins.
Day Six (988-2021 AD) – The coming temple (Rev 11:1-2) foreshadows the completed building.
Day Seven (2021-3053 AD) – The perfection of the building on the Sabbath of history – Heb 4:9-10
* Noah, who was born in 3119 BC (see the page one chronology), was in his 600th year when the flood began (Gen 7:11).
** Consistent with the page one date for the Exodus.
*** Consistent with the page one date of Ziv, 967 BC for the laying of the temple foundation, the page one date of Tishri 968-Tishri 967 BC for the fourth year of Solomon, and the 40 year reigns of Solomon’s predecessors, Saul and David (Acts 13:21; 2 Sam 5:4).
C – The Grain of Wheat
“unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.“ – John 12:24
One – The grain, Christ, dies.
Two – The earth is its grave.
Three – From the earth comes forth the plant and the resurrection is illustrated.
Four – The development of a plant (John 15:1-11; Mark4:30-32), including its leaves (Rev 22:1-5), represents the kingdom.
Five – As part of the fruit of the land, the fruit represents the inheritance. See Mt 21:33-38; Lev 20:24
D – The Instruments of the Five Senses
One – the eye – The eyes receive light and, because of his substitutionary death and his resurrection, Christ is “the Light of men” (John 1:4). According to Mt 6:22, Jesus said, “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.”
Two – the ear – The hearing ear receives, into its cavity, the word of God, which is Christ, the “Word” (John 1:14) and the cornerstone. See Mt 13:3-23; Rom 10:14
Three – the nose – According to Gen 2:7, “the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”. Through the nose, man breathes the air that causes him to live. However, the “breath of life” is more than the air breathed. It is also the Holy Spirit, the third person of theTrinity (John 20:22).
Four – the tongue – According to Mt 12:34, Jesus said, “the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” The word, spoken with the tongue, reigns, and, according to Heb 8:10; Col 3:15-17, it reigns in the heart of the believer.
Five – the hands – In addition to a spiritual inheritance, the believer in Christ is promised a tangible inheritance (Heb 10:34; Gen 12:7 KJV; John 14:1-3; Rev 21:1-7). With the hands, man is able to touch and to possess. Thus, the hands speak of the believer’s coming possession, including his tangible inheritance in the land.
E – Seven Colors of the Rainbow
Red (1st) – The blood of Christ.
Yellow (3rd) – The rising sun, the resurrected Christ. Luke 1:78
Orange (2nd) – A color intermediate between red and yellow, as Christ’s grave is intermediate between his death and his resurrection.
Green (4th) – On the third day of creation week, after gathering the waters, God brought forth green vegetation (Gen 1:9-13), a representation of the kindom of God by the resurrection of Christ (see C (three and four), above, and compare 1 Pet 1:3-4; Pr 11:28; Rev 20:11-21:3; 22:1-5).
Blue (5th) – The building, upon the foundation, of the kingdom, represented by the royal color blue (Est 8:15).
Indigo (6th) and Violet (7th) – As the color shifts from blue to the more reddish shades of indigo, and then violet, shades of the royal color purple (Est 8: 15; John 19:1-3), the addition to blue of the blood of Christ is suggested just as it is sanctification by the blood of Christ (compare Heb 10: 29; 1 Thess 5:23) that builds the kingdom to six, the completed church, and to seven, the perfected church. Thus it was also that, according to Ex 26:1, the Lord commanded, “you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material; . . . the work of a skillful workman.”
F – Seven American Presidents
Washington (1st) – As he was dying, Washington discarded one of two wills, two covenants. Soon thereafter, having been bled repeatedly, he expired. See Heb 9:15-28
Adams (2nd) and Jefferson (3rd) – On the fourth of July, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence, with Jefferson having died just hours before on that day, Adams, representing the grave, unwittingly referred to the resurrection when he uttered his final words, “Thomas Jefferson still survives”.
Madison (4th) – The spiritual freedom which came with the writing of God’s law on the hearts of the believers in Christ (Heb 8:1-10) was illustrated when Madison fathered the U.S. constitution, became an author of the bill of rights, and ratification bestowed political freedom to a nation to which the gospel had been given.
Monroe (5th) – The Monroe Doctrine made it clear that the lands of the American continents were not to be colonized by European powers.
J. Q. Adams (6th) – A faithful reader of the Bible, once a leader of the American Bible Society, and morally upright, Adams also rejected the early nineteenth century separatist sentiments of his state and party, sentiments concerning the Union, a representation, like Israel, of the church (Ro 4:13-5:2).
Jackson (7th) – The only administration in which the national debt reached zero. See Dt 15:1
Watch no. 42 (6×7) meet no. 35 (5×7)
G – The Twelve Years to the Inheritance
Year 1 – The death of Moses, in the year 1407 BC*, is a type of the death of Christ.
Year 8 – The division of the inheritance in Canaan began in 1400 BC.**
Year 12- The division of the inheritance was completed in 1396 BC.***
Because of Israel’s long spiritual delay, both before and after the first passover (Ex 12:1-32), the distribution of the inheritance in Canaan did not begin until 1400 BC, six years after they had, at last, entered the land. Continued delay (Joshua 18:1-10), in fact, meant that the division of the inheritance would not be completed for about four more years, not until 1396 BC.
This delay foreshadowed the delay which was to take place both before and after Israel’s crucifixion of Christ in 29 AD. Concluding this foreshadowed period totaling more than 2000 years of both building and delay, furthermore, is another period of about four years (2021-2025 AD), beginning with the 1260 days of the great tribulation and concluding in the 70th year of jubilee, when, once again, the inheritance will be divided. See examples B and K charts.
* This date is consistent with the page one date of 1406 BC for Israel’s entry to Canaan since, from a comparison of Dt1:3; 34:7-8; Jos 4: 19-5:6, Moses died late in the fortieth year after the Exodus, near the end of forty years of wandering, before the entry to Canaan on the tenth day of the following year.
**Consistent with the page one date of 1446 BC for the Exodus since the inheritance began to be divided 45 years from the year after the Exodus, the second year of the wilderness wandering, the year of God’s promise concerning Caleb (compare Jos 14: 1-13; Nu 10:11-13:3 (see esp. 10:11-12 and 13:1-3)).
*** In Acts 13:17-19, Paul states that the division was completed “about four hundred and fifty years” after Israel’s stay in Egypt began, which, from page one, was 1846 BC.
H – Twelve Years of the Reign of Solomon
Year Four – The foundation of the first temple was laid in the fourth year of Solomon (1 Kings 6:1,37).
Year Ten – The temple was completed in Solomon’s tenth year * (or eleventh year – 1 Kings 6:38).
Year Eleven – The temple was filled with the glory of the Lord in Solomon’s eleventh year* (or twelfth year- from 1 Kings 6:38; 7:13-8:11).
* The laying of the foundation of the temple, the completion of the temple, and the filling of the temple with the glory of the Lord are reckoned as occurring in the fourth, tenth, and eleventh years, respectively, in terms of the Abib to Abib calendar given in Ex 12:1-13:4. This is under the assumption that the years of Solomon are given in terms of regnal years beginning with Tishri (Ethanim, or Sept/Oct), the seventh month (see, for example, Nehemiah’s reckoning of events from Kislev, the ninth month, to Nisan (Abib), the first month, as transpiring within Artaxerxes’ 20th year – Neh 1:1-2:6) as is held by Edwin R. Thiele and others.
Note that this is a biblical, but nonexclusive reckoning of the allegory since the events described in 1 Kings 6:38; 7:13-8:11 may clearly be seen to fit the numerology using the given years, as well. The description of the completed temple is such that perfection may be seen, and the glory of the Lord, even the Lord himself, is the spiritual inheritance of the saints and often symbolized by the inheritance in the land.
I – The Twelve Sons of Jacob
Reuben (1st) – The birth of Reuben, who was born to Leah because the Lord saw her affliction (Gen 29:32), foreshadows the birth of Jesus, “the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:1-32), who would die so that men could be healed (1 Pet 2:24).
Simeon (2nd) – It was Simeon who was held hostage in Egypt (Gen 42: 18-26) and, according to Mt 2:13-15, it was out of Egypt that God called Jesus, a foreshadowing of the resurrection of Christ from the grave.
Levi (3rd) – According to Gen 29:34, upon the birth of Levi, Leah declared, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” From a comparison of John 3:22-30 and Rom 6:1-5, the church, the bride, will be united with Christ, the groom, through Christ’s resurrection.
Judah (4th) – Zechariah prophesied that the cornerstone would come from the line of Judah (Zec 10:3-4) and, concerning this son, Jacob prophesied, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the rulers staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” (Gen 49:10)
Dan (5th) – Upon the birth of Dan to Rachel’s servant, Bilhah, Rachel declared that God had vindicated her (Gen 30:4-6). According to 1 Tim 3:16, “He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit”. It is by the Holy Spirit that the church is built (Acts 2:1-47).
Naphtali (6th) – As Jacob was subsequently blessed when wrestling with God (Gen 32:24-30) and as will be the completed church, Rachel stated that she was, “With mighty wrestlings”, blessed with another son (Gen 30:7-8).
Gad (7th) – After Gad, with his brothers, took from Sihon, the land of the Amorites, and from Og, the land of Bashan (Num 21:21-35), and after his portion had been reserved (Dt 33:20-21), he fulfilled the will of the Lord concerning his role in the conquering of the land of Canaan (Nu 32:1-36; Jos 22:1-4). Thus, Gad foreshadows Christ, who will defeat the nations (Rev 19:11-21), and whose portion will be reserved, when he comes to begin his millennial reign.
Asher (8th) – Upon the birth of Asher to Zilpah, the servant of Leah, Leah declared, “Happy am I! For women will call me happy.” (Gen 30:12-13)
As indicated, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher, sons five through eight, foreshadowed the building of the church, the completed church, God’s rest, and the inheritance in the land. As the four sons of the two maidservants (Gen 30:1-13), they allegorically pointed, as well, to the bondage of sin and the law (Ro 7:4-6) and toward Israel’s delay in receiving grace and the inheritance.
However, Asher, of whom Moses said, “may he dip his foot in oil” (Dt 33:24), also foreshadows Christ, whose head and feet were anointed by Mary (compare John 12:1-8 and Mt 26:6-13), as the anointed cornerstone, and is fourth in another sequence in which Dan, the firstborn of the maidservants, Naphtali, and Gad, are allegorically Christ’s death, grave, and resurrection/ high priesthood, respectively. Additionally, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin, sons nine through twelve, are also, allegorically, five through eight:
Issachar (5th/9th) – As the birth of Issachar was an unmerited reward of Leah’s for a God inspired act of faith (Gen 30:18 NIV), the indwelling builder, the triune God, is both the giver of and an unmerited reward resulting from, faith itself.
Zebulun (6th/10th) – When Leah gave birth to her sixth son, she believed that she would be honored (Gen 30:20 NIV) and, from 1 Chr 29:12; 2 Tim 2:20; and 1 Pet 1:3-9, as the church is completed by the Holy Spirit it receives and will receive the unmerited honor of God.
Joseph (7th/11th) – Moses said, ” … Let it come to the head of Joseph, And to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers. As the firstborn of his ox, majesty is his, And his horns are the horns of the wild ox; With them he will push the peoples, All at once, to the ends of the earth.” – Dt 33:16-17
Benjamin (8th/12th) –Among the sons of Jacob, it was Benjamin alone who was born in Canaan, the land of the inheritance (Gen 29:1-30:24; 31:17-18; 33:18; 35:9-19).
J – The Twelve Disciples of Christ
Note : The disciples James through Matthew (below), with the possible exception of James, are given in the order in which they met Jesus (John 1:35-51; Mt 9:9). The omission of James, one of the prominent disciples, from this record and possibly also in fact (he is mentioned, of course, as following Jesus later (e.g. Luke 5:1-11)), is allegorical of the death of Christ, while the omissions of Judas Iscariot, Thomas, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James are allegorical of the delay. Furthermore, the unnamed follower of John 1:35-40 is clearly John, who never mentions his own name in the gospel he wrote (for another example, compare John 13:23; 21:20-24).
1- James – With the exception of Judas Iscariot, James is the only disciple whose death is recorded in the scriptures (Acts 12:1-2).
2- John – Just as it was Simeon, the second son of Jacob, who, having been held in the grave of Egypt, had descendants who “received an inheritance in the midst of Judah’s inheritance” (Jos 19:1-9), the inheritance of the tribe of Jesus (Luke 3:23-33), so it was John who reclined next to Jesus at the last supper, who was “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20-24), and who saw an inheritance in which he would live with God and his son (Rev 21:1-22:5).
3- Andrew – As one whom God used to provide the five loaves and two fish to the crowd of five thousand (John 6: 5-15; 25-63) and, as the one God used to bring Peter to Jesus ( John 1:35-42), Andrew foreshadows the resurrection and high priesthood of Christ.
4- Peter – According to Mt 16:17-18, Jesus stated, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona . . . I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church”.
5/9- Philip – It was the very next day that, according to John 1:40-43, Jesus found Philip, a foreshadowing of the beginning of the building on the foundation.
6/10- Nathanael – According to John 1:45-47, Philip then found Nathanael, whom Jesus called “an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit”, the completed church in view. See also and compare John 1: 48-51 and Gen 28:10-22
7/11- Matthew – As Matthew left the tax booth (Mt 9:9), Jesus will forgive the debts of his people (Jer 50:18-20), and, as Matthew (Levi- compare Mt 9:9 and Luke 5:27-28) held a great banquet (Luke 5:29-32), so also will Jesus , when he comes (Rev 19:6-9).
8/12- James son of Alphaeus – Just as Benjamin (the 12th son of Jacob), who received more than fivefold that of his brothers from his only full brother, Joseph (Gen 43:34; 45:17-23)(the 11th son), represents the inheritance, so also James son of Alphaeus, the brother of Matthew (compare Luke 6:13-15 and Mark 2:14) (compare Mark 3:31-35 and Romans 8:16-17).
Christ’s disciples Judas Iscariot, Thomas, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James point to the delay in taking possession of the land:
5- Judas Iscariot- As the betrayer of Christ, Judas, like Dan (Gen 49:17), the fifth son of Jacob, is a type of the antichrist. Yet, as he who “had the money box” (John 13:29), Judas also foreshadows the heavenly treasures, the inheritance he forfeited.
6- Thomas- Thomas was the last of the disciples to believe in Christ’s resurrection (John 20:1-29). Yet, as the last to believe, Thomas also foreshadowed the completed church.
7- Simon the Zealot- Simon the Zealot (Luke 6:13-15) had, undoubtedly, been of the Jewish sect called the Zealots, resisters of Roman rule who eventually saw Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Yet, because Simon became zealous for Christ, he foreshadows the coming kingdom in which Christ and his saints will rule forever (Rev 22:3-5).
8- Judas son of James- In response to a question from Judas son of James (John 14:22), Judas’ only recorded words, Jesus refers to the disobedient (John 14:24), but also states that he and the father will make their home with those who love and obey him (John 14:23).
Judas Iscariot through Judas son of James as disciples one through four in the sequence of eight, above:
1-Judas Iscariot- The disciple, other than James, whose death is recorded in the scriptures (Mt 27:3-5).
2- Thomas- Although Thomas, having believed, would not be classified as an unbeliever because of his temporary doubt, division, representing the division characteristic of Christ’s grave (section1, note 3), nevertheless resulted between Thomas and the other disciples (John 20:1-25).
3- Simon the Zealot- The saints will enter the coming kingdom (see Simon the Zealot, above) at the resurrection.
4- Judas son of James- The law, including the ten commandments, written on tablets of stone, is Christ, the “Word” (John 1:1-18) and the cornerstone. This law the Lord would write on the hearts of his people (Jer 31:33) and they would love and obey him. To them, Jesus said to Judas son of James, he and the Father would come. See John 14:21-23
K – Twelve Years of the Life of Christ
Year 1-22 AD-The Death of Christ Foreshadowed
Year 2-23 AD-The Grave of Christ Foreshadowed
Year 3-24 AD-The Resurrection and High Priesthood of Christ Foreshadowed
Year 4-25 AD-At His Baptism, Christ is Anointed Corner Stone, Cap Stone, and King by the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:16-17)
Year 5 & Year 1 [1]-26 AD-Christ’s Ministry Begins-Building on the Foundation is Foreshadowed
Year 6 & Year 2-27 AD-The Second Year of Christ’s Ministry-The Completed Church is Foreshadowed
Year 7 & Year 3-28 AD-The Third Year of Christ’s Ministry-The Perfected Church and Coming Kingdom are Foreshadowed
Year 8 & Year 4-29 AD/2021 AD [2]-The Death of Christ; Christ, the Living Corner Stone; Pentecost and the Pledge of the Inheritance; Israel’s Delay in the Age of Grace Begins/Great Tribulation Begins [2]
Year 9 & Year 5-2022 AD [2]-Building on the Foundation by the Holy Spirit
Year 10 & Year 6-2023 AD [2]-The Completed Church is Foreshadowed
Year 11 & Year 7-2024 AD [2]-God’s Rest Begins
Year 12 & Year 8-2025 AD [2-The Inheritance in the Land
1 As well as a reference to the building of the church to perfection, the years 5-7 are years 1-3 of Christ’s ministry and, as such, foreshadow his death, grave, and resurrection/ high priesthood. In the first year of his ministry, the year foreshadowing his death, Jesus’ first miracle was the turning of water into wine (John 2:1-11), signifying his shed blood (Mt 26:27-29). He also cleansed the temple, signifying the cleansing power of his blood (compare John 2:13-22; 1 Cor 3:16; 1 John 1:7), and when, shortly after, he said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (John 3:14), he spoke of his crucifixion.
By the second year of his ministry, just as the Israelites went into the grave of Egypt at the time of the famine, and just as Jacob went to the grave of Haran (Padan-aram) when his brother Esau planned to kill him (Gen 27:41-28:5), so had Jesus withdrawn into Galilee having “heard that John had been taken into custody” (Mt 4:12). Furthermore, as God blessed and multiplied the Israelites in Egypt (compare Gen 46:1-27 and Ex 12:29-38), and Jacob in Haran (Gen 29:31-30: 43), so is the Galilean ministry characterized by many great healings and a growing following (e.g. Luke 6:17-19; 7:11-22).
At the beginning of the third year of Christ’s ministry (John 6:4), Jesus foreshadowed that he would conquer the grave through his resurrection when he walked on the waters of the Sea of Galilee (John 6:16-21). Subsequently, his resurrection and that of the saints was foreshadowed when he came up from Galilee to Judea for the Feast of Booths (Feast of Tabernacles)(John 7:1-10). Then, near the end of the third year, having proclaimed himself “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), he raised his friend Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44).
2 See Appendix A (1) and example G.
L – The Seven Churches of Revelation 2-3
1 – Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7) – A works oriented church is called back to grace (Rev 2:2-5)(for similar warnings, see Gal 5:1-6; 3:1-5), which, according to Rom 3:21-26, is through faith in Christ, including faith in the redeeming power of his shed blood.
2 – Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11) – As in the building of the nation of Israel in Egypt (Ex 1:1-20), God would allow persecution as a means of building this church. Furthermore, as God made distinction between his people and the Egyptians (Ex 8:20-24), so did he make distinction between the believers and unbelievers (Rev 2:9,11) in the grave of Smyrna.
3 – Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17) – A church which remained true to Christ would receive life (compare Rev 2:13,17 and John 6:31-35).
4 – Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29)
” ‘I am He who searches the minds and hearts’ ” – Rev 2:23
” ‘He who overcomes, and keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.’ ” – Rev 2:26-28
5 – Sardis (Rev 3:1-6) –
” ‘I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.’ ” -Rev 3:2
” ‘you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments’ ” – Rev 3:4
6 – Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13) – The church in Philadelphia, the church of brotherly love, a church loved by God, foreshadows the completed church. See Eph 4:14-16.
7 – Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22) –
” ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.’ ” – Rev 3:20-21
M – Eight Sabbatic/Jubilee Cycles
The material below, designed to help establish the existence of sabbatic/jubilee cycles designated here s1-s8 (chronologically according to their reference points (see below)) has been adapted to this writing through the addition of brief notes, introduced by “N”, concerning the biblical numerological allegory involved.
s3- The entry of the Israelites into the promised land was to trigger the counting of sabbatical years and years of jubilee ( Lev 25:1-13). Since the Israelites entered Canaan in 1406 BC, that year is year one of a jubilee in a sabbatic/jubilee cycle and a point of reference [1] for that cycle, termed here s3.
N – The Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground and entered the land of Canaan. See 1 Pet1:3-4
s1- Among the commandments given to Moses were God’s commands concerning the observance of Sabbath days (Ex 20:8-10) and sabbatical years. Yet, just as the seventh day of creation week was the first Sabbath day (Ex 20:11), so was the seventh year from creation the first sabbatical year. The year of creation, therefore, was a fiftieth[2]/ first year, verified by the fact that it was the year of man’s appearance on the earth (Gen 1:1-31), that is, in the land, all of which is the inheritance (Mt 5:5). S1 refers to the sabbatic/jubilee cycle with a reference point of 4175 BC (see the page 1 chronology), the year that man appeared on earth.
N – Jesus is “the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world” (Rev 13:8 NIV)
s2- In the year in which man was removed from the earth by the global flood, man returned to the earth when “the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat” (Gen 7:11-8:4 NIV). This year, 2519 BC (see page one, footnote 5(H)), is a point of reference for the s2 sabbatic/jubilee cycle.
N – Again, the waters of the flood represent the grave of Christ.
s4- In 538 BC, the Israelites returned to their land from captivity in Babylon. S4 indicates the sabbatic/jubilee cycle with a reference point of 538 BC.
N – The fall of Babylon (Dan 5:22-31) in the sabbatical year 539 BC foreshadows the fall of Babylon and the kingdom which immediately follows at the time of the end (Rev 16:17-20:6).
s5- In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes (Neh 2:1-11), or 444 BC, not long after the return from captivity in Babylon, Nehemiah went to Jerusalem to rebuild the city. Lev 25:8-55 and Neh 5:1-13 as well as a comparison of Lev26:27-35; 2 Chr 36:11-21; and Neh 9:1-10:31 indicate that Nehemiah hastened to observe a fiftieth/first year at this time. Thus, 444 BC is a reference point for the s5 sabbatic/jubilee cycle.
N – The building of Jerusalem represents the building of the church (Rev 21:2)
1st s6- Sometime after the days of Nehemiah, a new sabbatic/jubilee cycle was begun. Herod’s conquering of Jerusalem in 37 BC took place, according to Josephus, in a sabbatical year, and the noncanonical book of 1 Maccabees indicates a defeat of Beth-zur in the 150th year of the Seleucid era , during a sabbatical year (1 Maccabees 6:20-50 NRSV). This would have been the year 163 BC. A number of examples exist. However, the 50th (jubilee) years in this cycle, including the prescribed rest for the land in those years, were not observed and this was not the result of neglect, but of institutionalization [3].
N – An evil sixth cycle, during which the land was worked in the 50th year, bears a number representing man (Gen 1:26-31; Rev 13:18). Recall section 1, footnote 3.
2nd s6- During the days of Antiochus Epiphanes, after a great debacle, a great ingathering of the Israelites occurred (see 1 Maccabees 5:45-54 NRSV). The year of this event, 164 BC, is a reference point for a new s6 cycle. Although observance of the previous cycle continued, it was a cycle instituted by man only to be rejected and replaced by God. See also Mt 15:1-9; 1 Sam 13:2-14; and Acts 1:15-26
N – The year before this ingathering, a sabbatical year, the temple was cleansed (1 Maccabees 4:36-58 NRSV), a foreshadowing of the completed church.
s7 – In 1948 AD, after many centuries in which the Israelites were scattered among the nations, the nation of Israel was reborn, and another ingathering took place. 1948 AD is a reference point for the s7 cycle.
N – The rebirth of Israel as a nation points to the remaining “Sabbath- rest” (Heb 4:9 NIV) (John 3:3).
s8 – There is coming a time when Jerusalem will be captured and emptied of its people followed by a final great ingathering of Israel (Zec14:1-11; Jer 23:5-8). The inheritance will then be divided among God’s people; first, the inheritance in this present earth (Mt 5:5); then, after the millennial kingdom, the inheritance in the new heaven and new earth (Rev 21:1-7). 2025 AD (see section three (B) chart) is a reference point for the s8 sabbatic/jubilee cycle. [4, 5]
N – Eight signifies the inheritance in the land.
1 The year to which each sabbatic/jubilee cycle is pegged is referred to as a reference point, rather than the beginning, since it is a fiftieth (jubilee) year, as well as a first year. The return from Babylon in 538 BC (see s4 above), for example, as a return to family and property, or the land, constitutes a fiftieth year (Lev 25:10). See also Lev 25:11-12; cf. Jos 5:1 -12.
2 Thus, in fact, the s1 sabbatic/jubilee cycle and God’s design for the history of this creation precedes creation itself.
3 In addition to non observance of the jubilee year, some believe that the sabbatical years in the first s6 cycle are Tishri to Tishri years. While it is held here that the years of this cycle were originally observed as Nisan to Nisan years, they may have, at some time, been observed as Tishri years, further perverting the cycle.
Although this cycle is clearly evil, as with all of history, including the evil, it is certainly being used by God, as some have suggested, to send a message. Most of mankind has not entered God’s rest, a rest signified by, for example, a sabbatical year and many manifestations make clear the Church’s need to enter more fully into that same rest (Heb 4:9 NIV; Zec 4:6).
4 With the exception of their reference points, the s3 and s8 cycles are synchronous. Once again, see 1 Pet 1:3-4
5 Note that when it is a sabbatical year in the s1, s5, or 2nd s6 cycle, it is a sabbatical year in all three and that when it is a sabbatical year in the s2, s3, s4, s7, or s8 cycle, it is a sabbatical year in all five with the result that only two of every seven years is a sabbatical year in any of these eight cycles. Interestingly, only the first s6, the evil s6, places sabbatical years in any other years.
N – Examples of Thirteen
A- Jacob and his twelve sons
B- Christ and his twelve disciples
C- After Jesus’ ascension and, after Matthias replaced Judas Iscariot and became the twelfth apostle, Paul became the thirteenth.
D- Solomon, the son of David, a foreshadowing of Christ, the son of David, built his house in thirteen years (1 Kings 7:1).
E- David, the father of the Christ type Solomon and, thus, a type of God the Father, had thirteen children in Jerusalem (compare 1 Ch 14:3-7 and Ro 8:14-17).
F- “All the cities of the sons of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen” (Jos 21:4,19).
G- Heb 1:1-13:25 – Note the one for one correspondence between the 13 chapters of Hebrews and the 1-13 numerological allegory.
O – Conversions
a) 49 as 7×7 (Lev 25:8) *
* Note that each of the seven sevens, while containing the allegorical sequence one through seven, is also part of a one through seven sequence.
b) 42 as 6×7
See the 42 month church-building persecution of the great tribulation – compare Rev 13:1-18 and Dan 12:1-10
c) 21 as 3×7
See and compare Ex 12:17-20 and John 6:1-63
d) 78 as 6×13
See Luke 3:23-38 – note that Jesus, that is, God (John 8:58), is listed both first and last
e) 75 as 3x5x5
See Gen 12:4-5 – at the age of 75, Abram was allegorically resur-rected from the grave (Haran) into the land
f) 144 as 12×12
See Rev 21:1-21 NIV concerning the new Jerusalem and its 144 cubits thick wall
g) 84 as 7×12
See Luke 2:36-38 – Anna, the prophetess, was 84 years old when she spoke of Jesus “to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
h) 33 as 3×11 and 1+20+12
According to Luke 3:23, “When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age”. Therefore, an age for Christ of 33 at the conclusion of his three year ministry, and at his death, burial, resurrection, the foundation of the kingdom, and the giving of the pledge of the inheritance may be inferred.
Note also:
The birth of Obed, the 33rd from Adam (Luke 3:32-38), meant, the women said to Naomi, that she was not “without a redeemer” (Ruth 4:13-17).
Lev 12:1-4 1 Kings 2:10-12 Jos 12:1-24
i) 30 as 3×10
The moon, or “lesser light” (Gen 1:16), currently completes an orbit of the earth from new moon to new moon, on average, every 29.5306 days or in the thirtieth 24 hour period as measured from the previous new moon, a representation of the priesthood of the old covenant of the law which began in the priest’s thirtieth year and a foreshadowing of its eventual disappearance due to Jesus, “the greater light” (Gen 1:16), the high priest of the new covenant (compare Rev 12:1-5; Col 2:8-17; Heb 7:11-8:13).
See also: Luke 3:23 Jer 38:1-13 Nu 4:46-49
j) 40 as 4×10
compare Ex 16:4,35; Jos 5:12; and John 6:25-33
compare Dt 9:9-11 and Heb 8:6-12
compare Gen 7:11-23 and Mt 24:37-41
compare 1 Kings 2:10-11* and Luke 1:26-33
* In fact, each of the first three kings of Israel, Saul, David, and Solomon, reigned forty years (Acts 13:21; 1 Kings 2:10-11; 1 Kings 11:42). In the divided kingdom which followed, forty more kings reigned, twenty over Israel and twenty over Judah.
k) 70 as 7×10
Dan 9:24 NKJV
compare Jer 25:8-14; Dan 5:1-31; and Rev 16:17-19:16
l) 50 as 5×10 and 7×7+1*
Lev 25:1-13
compare Nu 4:1-3 and 1 Pet 1:3-4
* For confirmation of the fiftieth year as also year one of the next cycle, see Heb 9:15.
m) 52 as 2+50
Beginning with the day of Christ’s death as day one, and the following day, the Sabbath (Luke 23:44-54), as day two, it was another fifty days, for a total of fifty-two days, to the giving of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This was foreshadowed in Lev 23:1-21 and is itself a clear foreshadowing of the coming inheritance of the saints (Eph 1:13-14).
1 This material is not presented as necessarily exhaustive on the subject of biblical numerological allegory.
2 Symbols often, at least, have multiple meanings and the use of a particular meaning to confirm the numerological allegory is not meant to deny accurate, further meanings. For example, a mountain can symbolize God, the pride of man, an obstacle, etc., while wine can symbolize both the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit.
3 This numerological allegory is found throughout the scriptures, creation, and both biblical and extrabiblical history.