NUMBER IN SCRIPTURE
For those of us who are not familiar with this
principle, the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ DOES NOT
use numbers in a haphazard or random manner.
There is a SPECIFIC PURPOSE for the use of numbers in most
situations. I would like to introduce
you to a new idea that will fascinate and bless you. You will be amazed at the decency and order of the Word of God.
I Corinthians 14: 40 -- Let all things be done decently and in order.
Most of this teaching will come from E. W. Bullinger’s
work entitled “Number In Scripture”.
I look forward to preparing this teaching for you since it is such an
interesting and exciting field. A
knowledge of this field will help you to manifest the more than abundant life
that Jesus Christ promised.
John 10: 10b -- I [Jesus Christ] am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Let us begin with the number ONE
(1) and go through to the number (10).
ONE as a cardinal number denotes UNITY.
***
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (College
Edition) defines a cardinal number as:
“ A number such as 3, 11, or 412, used to indicate quantity, not order.”
The
word ‘unity’ is defined as: “The
state of being one; singleness.”
ONE as an ordinal
number (a
number written out - see below) denotes PRIMACY.
An
ordinal number is defined as “A number indicating a position in a series or
order”. The ordinal numbers are first
(1st), second (2nd), third (3rd), fourth (4th),
fifth (5th), sixth (6th), seventh (7th), eight
(8th), ninth (9th), tenth (10th), . . . and so
on.
The
word ‘primacy’ is defined as: “The
state or condition of being first or foremost.”
In all languages, it is the symbol of UNITY. It is INDEPENDENT of others and it is
the source of all others. It excludes
all difference. It marks the BEGINNING.
TWO affirms that
there is a DIFFERENCE implying that there is ANOTHER. It is the first number that can be DIVIDED
reinforcing the idea of DIVISION or DIFFERENCE. Where man is
concerned, this number testifies of his fall.
It most often denotes the difference which implies OPPOSITION, ENMITY,
and OPPRESSION. (See Genesis
verses one and two).
THREE is
the symbol of a cube, a solid figure in its simplest form. It stands for that which is SOLID, REAL,
SUBSTANTIAL, COMPLETE and ENTIRE. Things that are substantially COMPLETE
are stamped with the number three (3).
God has three (3) attributes:
omniscience (knowing everything), omnipresence (being present
everywhere) and omnipotence (all powerful).
There are three (3) great divisions of time: past, present, and future.
In regards to God's Word, this completion becomes DIVINE and marks DIVINE COMPLETENESS or PERFECTION.
Three denotes
DIVINE PERFECTION, but it will be easier for you to remember it
as the number that represents COMPLETENESS.
THREE points
us to what is REAL, ESSENTIAL, PERFECT, SUBSTANTIAL,
COMPLETE and DIVINE.
FOUR is the number of CREATION; of man in his relation to
the world as created while six (6) is the number of man in his opposition to
and independent to God.
FOUR is the
number of things that have a BEGINNING, of things that are MADE,
of MATERIAL THINGS, of MATTER ITSELF. It is the number of MATERIAL COMPLETENESS. It is the WORLD NUMBER.
The fourth day saw the material creation finished. There are four (4) great elements: earth, air, fire, and water. There are four regions of the earth: north, south, east, and west. There are four (4) divisions of the day: morning, noon, evening, and midnight. There are four (4) seasons.
Four can also
illustrate division since it can be divided.
It is also the first square number and marks a type of completeness
which is called material completeness.
There were four (4) cherubims which always have to do with CREATION.
FIVE is the number of GRACE which means favor shown to
the unworthy. We are in the Age of
Grace which is the Church Administration (the FIFTH [5th] ADMINISTRATION).
SIX is the number
that has to do with MAN. It is
the number of IMPERFECTION; the human number; the number of MAN as
destitute of God, without God, and without Christ. Man was created on the SIXTH day.
SIX DAYS were appointed to him for his labor. Six then is the number of LABOR also, of man's labor as apart from God's rest. It marks the completion of the creation of God's work, and therefore the number is significant of SECULAR COMPLETENESS.
SIX is the number stamped on all that is connected with HUMAN LABOR. It is stamped on measures used in labor and on time during which man labors especially in multiples of six. Some examples are: 24 hours = 4 X 6; 12 months = 2 X 6; 60 seconds = 10 X 6 and so on.
SEVEN is the number of SPIRITUAL PERFECTION as
contrasted to that which is human.
EIGHT is the number
meaning to make fat or SUPER-ABOUND.
NINE is the LAST
OF THE DIGITS and marks THE END; it is
significant of the CONCLUSION of the matter. It is the number of FINALITY or JUDGEMENT especially
DIVINE JUDGEMENT. It also
denotes FINALITY IN DIVINE THINGS. There are nine (9) fruit of the spirit. There are (nine) 9 manifestations of the
spirit.
TEN
is one of the perfect numbers and
signifies the PERFECTION of DIVINE ORDER and begins an
altogether new series of numbers. The
whole system of numeration consists of so many TENS.
TEN signifies COMPLETENESS
of ORDER, marking the entire round of anything. It implies that nothing is wanting; that the
number and order are perfect; that the whole cycle is complete. Some examples would be the ten commandments
and the tithe.
++++++++++++++++++++
This completes our teaching on Number
In Scripture. If you apply these
principles in your life, you will truly be amazed at the results.
God bless you in the name of JESUS CHRIST.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~