|
|
|
Your Questions Answered
|
|
| Date: 7/14/2009 2:44:00 PM |
| Question: |
|
Just read your article on numbers in the Bible (I follow you on Twitter). When I was in school, we were taught in a literature class that whenever the King James scholars could not determine a number, they inserted the number "40". So anytime you see "40" in that version or any extrapolated version, it just means "uncertain". I agree with much of what you believe (from what I have read on the website) and it's wonderful to know that I am not the only one who reads the Bible and understands it the same way you do. What is your take on the number "40" in the Bible? Thanks!
Cheery wave from
Bev Bryan
|
| |
| Answer: |
Any Bible student can quickly see that there are certain numbers that continually reappear as prominent numbers. The numbers seen most often are 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 40.
Three is the number that represents the triune nature of God. The angels sing "Holy, Holy, Holy", giving recognition to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So the number three will often be found representing something about God or the counterfeit god. The three unclean spirits in Revelation are a sort of counterfeit trinity.
The number 3 and a half is also significant and was seen in the period of famine during the time of Elijah, and the time that Jesus ministered. It usually represents a time of rejection and apostasy.
The number 5 is often a symbol of the word of God, the Pentateuch, which were the first five books of the Bible written by Moses.
Seven is a number that represents a complete cycle of time. The creation story is the first cycle of seven. There are several sevens in Revelation which represent the cycle of the church's history. The seven seals are the political history; the seven trumpets are the military history. So all through the Bible you see the number seven representing a perfect cycle. It is also the prophetic time period allotted to the Jewish people with Christ being crucified in the middle of the last "week" (or seven years) of that period. (Daniel 9:26).
The number 10 often represents the law of God. A woman in the New Testament had 10 silver coins. When she lost one she searched until she found it. The lost one may have some significance in representing the Sabbath commandment. Of the ten lepers who were healed, one comes back to glorify Jesus, which again could be a symbol of the Ten Commandments, with the Sabbath being the only one that identifies the God we worship.
12 is representative of God's church. You see a woman in Revelation standing on the moon, clothed with the sun, but 12 stars above the head. This represents leadership. There are twelve tribes, twelve judges, twelve patriarchs in the Old Testament, and 12 apostles in the New Testament. All of these represent church leadership. In the book of Mark a story is told of a girl twelve years of age dying and then being raised to life, right after a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years was healed by touching Jesus. These represent the Old Testament church, which had the flow of blood for so long through the sacrificial system, and then the New Testament church who like the little girl who is raised to life and fed.
The New Jerusalem is the Bride of Christ and represents God's church as well. The number 12 figures prominently in this holy city?12 foundations, 12 gates, the tree of life that produces fruit 12 times a year.
Then the number forty, of course, symbolizes a generation. The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and then as you look at the book of Judges you will see that the cycles of highs and lows in the experience of Israel came in periods of 40 years. Jesus said in the New Testament "this generation will not pass away until all these things be fulfilled." Within 40 years, by 70 AD, these things had taken place.
> - |
|
|
| Date: 7/14/2009 1:41:00 PM |
| Question: |
|
who are the 12 tribes of Judah
|
| |
| Answer: |
I think you mean 12 tribes of Jacob, right? Judah was one of the 12 tribes. They are Jacob's sons listed in Gen. 35:23-26. However, when it came to land in Canaan, the tribe of Levites were the priests
and they lived in all the tribes and lived by tithe. So to get 12 land divisions, Joseph never got land in his name but his two sons did (Ephraim and Manasseh). Then in Rev. 7:5-8 there is no Ephraim or Dan,
but Joseph and Levi are listed. Of course, Joseph and Levi were sons of Jacob. Dan was a son of Jacob but Manasseh was his grandson.
The Twelve Tribes
Perhaps one of the first things we should ask is whether or not the 144,000 are actually 12,000 literal Israelites from each of these respective tribes. I don't want to be tedious, but to really understand this subject we should briefly review what the Bible says about the Old Testament tribes. First, there were actually 13 tribes. Twelve tribes came from the 12 sons of Jacob, who the Lord renamed Israel. But because Joseph was sold into slavery by his older brothers, he was separated from his family for many years. After Joseph finally reunited with his father, Jacob promised to compensate by adopting Joseph's two sons as his own, to be numbered with his sons in place of Joseph. "Now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine." Genesis 48:5. Hence, Joseph would be numbered twice through his sons.
One reason you still find only 12 tribes mentioned throughout the Bible is that after the Levites were chosen to be the priests for Israel, they were excluded from receiving a specific territory inheritance (Deuteronomy 10:8, 9; 18:1) and from census figures (Numbers 1:49). Instead, they were to spread out among all the tribes as teachers and priests.
There are several reasons why the tribes mentioned in Revelation chapter 7 can't possibly be literal Israelite tribes. The Old Testament reveals that 10 of the 12 tribes were carried away by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. "In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes." 2 Kings 17:6.
History records that long before the time of Jesus, some of the 10 tribes returned to Samaria after intermarrying with the Assyrians. Their descendants, known as Samaritans, were hated by the Jews because they were no longer "pure" Israelites in blood or religion. In fact, because the 10 tribes have been so thoroughly scattered around the world and absorbed by their host nations, today a person would be hard pressed to find even one pure descendant from the tribe of Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, or Simeon?much less 12,000 of them!
Another strong clue that Revelation is not speaking of the literal Israelite tribes is that in the Old Testament, the 12 tribes were very unequal in population numbers. Judah was very large, while Benjamin was very small. God divided the promised land in proportion to each tribe's needs. But the 144,000 is composed of 12,000 per tribe, right across the board.
So who does make up this group? I believe the answer to this question lies in the fact that God's promises to literal Israel now apply to spiritual Israel. Since the year A.D. 34, the prophecies and attention of Scripture have focused on the children of faith?either Jew or Gentile. "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit." Romans 2:28, 29. "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:29.
What's in a Name?
My first clue that there must be a spiritual meaning to the 144,000 was the way in which the tribes are listed in Revelation 7:5-8. This is the only time in Scripture that the names of the tribes appear in this order. Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob, is listed as second while Judah, fourth in birth order, is listed as first. Joseph and Levi are included, while Ephraim and Dan are left out. Why?
Because "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder [viper] in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward" (Genesis 49:17), and "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone" (Hosea 4:17).
In the Bible, a serpent is a symbol of Satan. The critical, backbiting nature of Dan aligned this tribe with the kingdom of Satan instead of the kingdom of God. Likewise, the tribe of Ephraim had forsaken the God of Israel and had embraced paganism. Hence, Ephraim and Dan are left out of the 144,000.
> - |
|
|
| Date: 7/13/2009 9:30:00 AM |
| Question: |
|
In Rev.2:10, where it says 'tribulation for ten days', is this a symbolic number or a literal number. And does the 10 days=10 year rule apply? Is this for the end church as well as the church at Smyrna? In other words, will God's people at the end of time, go through this time in an actual 10 days or 10 year period? Thank-you
|
| |
| Answer: |
This is not referring to the Time of Trouble or the Tribulation to come, since it is in the message to the 2nd of the 7 churches, and we are living under the 7th church now.
In the messages to the 7 Churches, Jesus unfolds the religious history of the Christian era. The 7 Seals unfold the social history of the Christian era and trace especially the great apostasy. The 7 Trumpets depict the military history of the Christian era as it affects Christ's church.
The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Trumpets portray the breakup of the original Roman Empire (both East and West). In symbolic language, we see the barbaric tribes which carved up the Pagan Roman Empire and prepared the way for the Papal Roman Empire. The 5th and 6th Trumpets with the imagery of the swarming locusts picture the onslaughts of the Mohammedan tribes, under various leaders, which gave rise to another religious power that warred against Christianity?
The 7th Trumpet presents the final period of time, when God's last day church gives the everlasting gospel and the Three Angels Messages of Revelation 14:6-10 to the entire world!
1st Trumpet (Rev. 8:7) Alaric & Goths vs. Western Rome 395-419 A.D.
2nd Trumpet (Rev. 8:8) Genseric & Vandals vs. Western Rome 419-456 A.D.
3rd Trumpet (Rev. 8:10) Attila & Huns vs. Western Rome 456-476 A.D.
4th Trumpet (Rev. 8:12) Odoacer & Heruli vs. Western Rome 476-? (Fall of Western Rome in 476 A.D.)
5th Trumpet (Rev. 9:1) Saracens & Islam vs. Eastern Rome 1299-1499 (150 years) (Rise of the Ottoman Empire 1299 A.D.)
6th Trumpet (Rev. 9:14) Turks & Islan vs. Eastern Rome 1449-1840 (391 years & 15 days) (Fall of Eastern Rome in 1453?Ottoman Empire collapse 1840)
7th Trumpet (Rev. 11:15) Jesus vs. the wicked 1844-NEW EARTH (Judgment in Heaven begins in 1844?7 Last Plagues & Armageddon?2nd Coming?Holy City Descends?Wicked Destroyed?New Earth)
Islam brought another false Sabbath (Friday), a false prophet (Mohammed), and a counterfeit Bible (the Koran). They reject Jesus as the Messiah and teach righteousness by works.
Revelation 9:15 states the Ottoman Empire would continue, "an hour, a day, a month, and a year." This prophetic time period equals 391 years and 15 days. The Empire was established as of July 27, 1449. Adding the 391 years and 15 days would reach to August 11, 1840?
Based on this calculation Josiah Litch, an American clergyman, predicted in 1838 that the Ottoman Empire would lose power on August 11, 1840! Egypt was threatening Turkey and was well able to conquer her. Hopeless and helpless, Turkey appealed to the European nations which agreed to protect her. The ultimatum they sent to Egypt arrived on the dot, on August 11, 1840! The Ottoman Empire was finished.
Now, back to your question. Some say those 10 days could be literal during the Smrna represented time period, other say prophetic and was from 303-313 when there were campaigns to wipe out
Christianity. We do not know for sure.
> - |
|
|
| Date: 7/8/2009 8:55:00 PM |
| Question: |
|
who are the two witnesses of revelation 11.3? and i have other question who are seraphim the cherubim and angels do they have diferent aparence?
|
| |
| Answer: |
> - |
|
|
| Date: 7/6/2009 7:52:00 AM |
| Question: |
|
Please explain Revelation 22:2. Why will there be a need for the leave for the healing of he nations?
|
| |
| Answer: |
Great question! The Greek word for 'healing' is "therapeia" which also means "service". In classical Greek "therapeia" has the various meanings of "service," "nurture," and "care." Therefore it appears to
be telling us that as we partake of it, we are continually being nurtured. God bless you.
> - |
|
|
| Date: 6/16/2009 10:45:00 AM |
| Question: |
|
In Zechariah 14, Is it talking about the 2nd or 3rd coming of Christ and the part where it refers to celebrating the feast of tabernacls. Is it still refering to the same event? Or different? Thanks for your many blessings, Michelle
|
| |
| Answer: |
> - |
|
|
| Date: 4/20/2009 5:43:00 PM |
| Question: |
|
What exact historic time periods do the different churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 represent? I need to explain to my friend..I used to know but i forgot..:( Thank you. God Bless you
|
| |
| Answer: |
Ephesus A.D. 31-100; Smyrna A.D. 100-323; Pergamum A.D. 323-538; Thyatira A.D. 538-1517; Sardis 1517-1798; Philadelphia 1798-1844; Laodicea 1844-2nd Coming.
Those transitional dates have significance, according to the messages given to the church identified. God bless you.
> - |
|
|
| Date: 4/5/2009 6:53:00 PM |
| Question: |
|
Who is the dragon from Revelation 13:1,2
|
| |
| Answer: |
> - |
|
|
| Date: 4/2/2009 11:16:00 AM |
| Question: |
|
Revelation 6 v 9 talks about an alter. Where is this alter right now? and what alter is it?
|
| |
| Answer: |
Hello Vuyo
The altar is up in heaven, in the sanctuary of God. There is a sanctuary in Heaven that God showed Moses in Exodus 25. It is this sancuary that has the altar. It is before this altar that Jesus is interceding for us as our Great High Priest. It is because of this current watching over us and interceding for our poor sinful lives that we are not consumed. Hebrews 7:25, Lamentations 3:22,23
Jesus is coming back . Those who have been killed for His name sake are not forgotten. They are remembered as if they are under the altar where the Lamb was slain. REvelation 6:9
This study of the heavenly sanctuary is worthy of your attention. It may be the difference you seek.
For more information on the sanctuary see our website: www.AmazingFacts.org
Til we meet together in the clouds
Mike S
Amazing Facts Team
> - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|