A Numbers Game
Today my topic of sharing is “the Bible number game”. Come to think of it, the number 40 is interesting. In Noah’s time, it rained for 40 days, the Israelites roamed the desert for 40 years, Jesus fasted 40 days, Jesus resurrected and stayed 40days with the disciples. Usually, 1,3,7 are God’s number. 4, 10 are human numbers, and so forth.
In prophecies, especially in the Book of Daniel, you can find many ways God played the number game. All that is to tell in an interesting way when something will happen as God planned. For example, when it says,”in one year, or two, or half”, most people will add them up and think it is 3.5 years. However, be careful, it can also mean something else, try this, “in one year, may be more, maybe less”(Daniel 7:25, 12:7).
Daniel chapter 8 described an anti-Christ who desecrated the holy temple of the Jews, and 2300 days after the holy temple will be cleaned. You may read up the history and find the Meccabeans desecrated the Jews’ holy temple, can you not find historical evidence several years after that, something happened to clean the desecration? At Daniel’s time, the interpretation was sealed, but in our time, we simply study the historic events and testify that the prophecy has been fulfilled.
Daniel 9:24-27 mentioned the 70 7’s, 62 7’s, another 7 and the last 7. What does all these mean? You can find various versions of the interpretation in sermons and talks, but you should write down the versions you accept as most reasonable and helpful to your understanding the Bible.
Historically, you know the Jews returned to Jerusalem after captured to Babylon for 70 years. The Persian king took over Babylon and released the Jews back to rebuild the holy temple, with the King’s blessing, because God told the king to do so! There was 400 years of God’s silence after that, no more prophets, and then Jesus came. 70×7=490, I find this number somehow matched. (Daniel9:24)
Daniel 9:27, “in the middle of one seven” has been said twice. My interpretation of it is: Jesus preached for 3.5 years, and within 3.5 days, Jesus died, resurrected and brought an end to all previous ceremonial sacrifices in the Old Testament! Is this the last 7? Then it is the 7 AFTER the 7 7’s! Why does God divide 490 years by 62,7,and 1? These numbers had some significance for people in the past. For example, it could be the kings and ruling government, but why do we care to find out?
Yesterday a 95 year old patient of mine suddenly died in hospital of Covid pneumonia. Her aorta the biggest artery of the body bursted beyond salvage. I am not reading from her medical record, that will be unethical. I am remembering her fondly who saw me for decades, now only requiring every 6 months osteoporosis shots, her health otherwise well controlled. She had 2 Covid shots, did not get to receive her third yet. That might eventually kill her.
Why do I give her a mention? Because 95 is the only number significant to her. What then is the number significant to you? I remind you this because I want you to hurry finish whatever goals you fancy in your life, do not waste more time doing meaningless activities. Consult the Holy Spirit in your daily fellowship with God.
Daniel 12:11 described 1335-1290=45 days. 1290 days turns out to be 3.5 years. 45 days turned out to be the number of days since Jesus died and resurrected until the Holy Spirit came to stay in Christians, taking Jesus’ place as our Lord Jesus Christ has promised and fulfilled. Hallelujah!
I find the number game interesting. All that counts is, God is in charge of what is to happen regardless of small variations in between. It only strengthened my faith, my lack of understanding of every number mentioned cannot disprove God at all. History has already happened, what concerns us now is our future. Hold fast to God and your faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing can get out of His control. Hail, the almighty all loving God, all knowing God!