Monday, March 25, 2013

on Leave a Comment

Numbers In The Word Of God

A practical guide: revised and updated form my original writing, in 1983.

To my wife Ginger, who constantly inspires me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Many thanks to Col. H. Speed Wilson (U.S.M.C. Ret.), for his assistance in acquiring much of the resource material used in the preparation of this work, and who was the original inspiration for it.

It should be noted that attaching special mystical meaning to words, word groups, and phrases in the Bible, when not clearly indicated in the scripture, has led to repudiation of Bible numerics study. It is the opinion of this author that mystical interpretation of the Bible by numerics, since it is open to personal interpretation, should be avoided just as personal interpretation of scripture intent should be avoided. Many thanks, to the Holy Spirit, for this revelation.

The intent of this work is to provide a short, ready reference to Bible Numerics. When I first became interested in the subject, I found that a good overall picture of the subject could not be obtained without lengthy in-depth study. Therefore, I felt a work of this type was a needed tool in the Christians’ armamentarium of Bible study aids. I have divided this work into seven sections.

1. Why Numbers?
2. Numerical confirmation of Bible authority
3. What do the numbers mean?
4. Significant dates
5. Significant numbers – a potpourri
6. 666
7. Numeric equivalents of letters

Section 1: Why numbers?

How do we judge time: By numbers. How do we think of size and shape: numbers. How do we think of God? He is three in one: numbers. Our lives are centered on numbers and the significance these numbers hold for us. At the same time, we are afraid of them, when it comes to what they mean. Just who do you think it was that created numbers? God is the creator of all. Therefore, it stands to reason that He created the numbers. Because Satan came up with a perversion of God’s numbers, we are frightened away from learning about the meanings that God gave the numbers He created.

Bible numerics and numerology are vastly different subjects. The subject of this work is the numerics, as they relate to God, the Bible and man. Since the beginning, God has used numbers to give us greater insight into His Word and His will. Numbers have meaning and purpose, because all of God’s creation has meaning and purpose. Truth is truth, no matter where you find it – God is truth and Satan’s perversion is the lie.

We don’t overlook the real Christ just because Satan presents us with false Christ’s. In the same way, we shouldn’t overlook the numerics of the Bible just because Satan brought about numerology as a false religion.
It has been said that there is a special angel named Palmoni “a wonderful number” who makes known the things of God (1). Isaiah 40:12 says: “Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?”
The tendency, when delving into a new Bible aspect, is to go somewhat overboard in our zeal to interpret the scriptures in light of our own prejudice. We should not therefore, take Bible numerics ‘one step beyond’ the Bible, but rather it gives us an excellent chance to see how God used a certain number in relation to a date, number of objects, or persons, or things; to give us a clearer understanding of His meaning and intent. There are many examples of this that become readily apparent, such as the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles representing the divine order of government, thirteen representing rebellion by adding something to God’s divine order and eleven representing incompleteness by subtracting something from that divine order.
Section 2: Numerical confirmation of Bible authority
Dr. Ivan Panin was a devout agnostic that set out to prove that the Bible was a hoax. He was a scholar in Greek and Hebrew, as well as a doctor of pure mathematics. As is often the case, it is interesting to see the result of such an undertaking.
Dr. Panin found uniformity through comparison of hundreds of biblical manuscripts. This uniformity led to the discovery of some amazing numerical facts about Bible structure. In no other writings are these attributes manifest as in the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation. The following are some of Dr. Panin’s findings –
A. The Following are divisible by seven-
The number of words in the vocabulary used in the Bible
The number of words beginning with a vowel
The number of words beginning with a consonant
The number of letters in the vocabulary
The number of vowels
The umber of consonants
The number of words, in the vocabulary, occurring more than once
The number of words, in the vocabulary, occurring only once
The number of words occurring in more than one form
The number of words occurring in more only one form
The number of nouns
The number that are not nouns
The number of proper names
The number of male names
The number of female names
The number of words beginning with each letter of the alphabet
It may bear stating now, as well as described later, that the number seven stands for spiritual perfection.
B. The following are divisible by eleven -
The number of books in the Bible - 66, 6 x 11
The anonymous books - 22, 2 x 11
The non-anonymous books – 44, 4 x 11
Writers of more than one book – 22, 2 x 11
The writers of only one book – 22, 2 x 11
The sum of the numbers of the 66 books – 2,211 or 201 x 11
Divided as follows –
22 books of the authors of more than one book, 946, 86 x 11
The other 44 books have 1,265 or 115 x 11
Of the 66 books, 21 are epistles and 45 are not
Epistles have 1,155, 115 x 11
Non epistles have 1,056, 96 x 11
There are many other examples found by Dr, Panin and others, however, in an effort to keep to the goal of a shortened work I have not enclosed them. For further research, I would recommend the reading of any of the books in the bibliography.
As I stated before, the results of this type of undertaking are often interesting. Dr, Panin came to know the Lord Jesus, as well as others did, as a result his work.
Section3: What do the numbers mean?–
For the sake of ease of reference I have listed the numbers, and a brief meaning or definition for each. Following these I have giver more complete listings for the numbers.
In determining the meanings of the numbers, I have gone to great lengths of research to determine the best and closest definitions according to God’s Word. I have not listed all numbers, for lack of confirmed meaning.
1. Unity, alpha
2. Division or difference
3. Complete
4. Transition or change
5. Grace or redemption
6. Man
7. Spiritual perfection
8. New beginnings
9. Judgment or maturity
10. Tribulation or testing
11. Incomplete
12. Divine order
13. Rebellion
14. Double dose of perfection
15. Redemption through purification
16. Mans testing
17. The elect, the saints
18. Life
19. Perfection of divine order connected with judgment
20. Trouble or conflict
22. Disorganization and disintegration
24. Heavenly government or heavenly worship
25. The essence of Grace
27. The essence of completeness
28. Satisfaction in works
29. Expected judgment
30. Maturity
31. Gentiles or deity
40 Transition or testing
42. Connection between man and the Spirit of God
50. God’s jubilee
51. Divine revelation
60. Mans testing
65. Apostasy
67. Mans perfection
70. Perfect testing
80. New
90. Maturity through testing
100. Full total given or fulfilled
111. YHWH Elohim, the Lord is one
120. A divinely appointed number
153. The sons of God
200. Insufficiency or not enough
276. The number of flesh and sin
300. The faithful remnant
355. Days in a lunar year
360. Days in a prophetic year
365. Days in a solar year
390. The number of Israel
400. Redemption
444. The world
490. The product of spiritual perfection
552. The number of both Satan and religion
600. Darkness
666. Spirit of antichrist, wrath of God
700. The Church
777. Perfection, spirit soul and body
800. Faith, omega
888. New beginnings, spirit soul and body, Jesus name in Greek = 888
999. God’s wrath for mans wickedness
1000. Millennium, I day in God’s time, an infinitely large number
1500. In Greek, the number for light and power
2000. Length of a biblical age
144,000. Multitudes upon multitudes of those who have come to know Christ, number of Hebrew witness in the millennium
Expanded Definitions
1. A. unity, B. beginning, C. alpha, D. one true God, E. God’s uniqueness, F. the exclusion of difference, G. the trinity is one, H. Yahweh Elohim adds up to 111 – 3 1’s, I. the beginning, perfection, J. new beginnings

2. A. division or difference, B. witnesses sent out 2 by 2, C. 2 kingdoms – kingdom of the beloved Son and the kingdom of the devil, D. pairs such as left hand – right hand – earth and heaven – day and night, E. symbolizes opposites, such as God and Satan – Cane and Able, F. opposition, G. enmity, H. oppression, I. on the second day God divided the firmament, J. witnessing

3. A. complete, B. Father, Son sand Holy Spirit, C. number of divine perfection, D. solid, E. real, F. substantial, G. entire, H. fullness, I. actuality, J. reality, K. realization, L. Spirit, soul and body, M. Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, N. the way the truth and the life

4. A. transition or change, B. four seasons, C. Genesis 1:19 – fourth day, D. comprehensiveness, E. four periods – Abraham to Exodus, Exodus to dedication of the temple, temple to Nehemiah’s return, Nehemiah to the second advent, F. material completeness, G. significant of that which yields itself up to division as material to the hand that fashions it, implies weakness, H. north, south, east, west, I. the number of creation

5. A. Grace and redemption, B. power to do God’s will, C. wall of the outer court of the tabernacle – entering was a typology of getting Born Again by Grace – five cubits high and five cubits wide – they knew when they entered they were walking into the forgiveness of God’s Grace, D. five fold ministry for the maturing of the saints, apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors, E. Pentateuch – first 5 books of the OT

6. A. man, B. mortal and unredeemed man, C. God created man on the sixth day, D. six days to work as a curse. E. Jesus hung on the cross six hours, F. Revelation 13:17-18 number of man, G. Speaks of divine limit imposed or restraint of mans will which breaks out against it (2)

7. A. perfection, B. three major and four minor feasts, C. Hebrews 6:1-3, seven foundations of a full gospel church, D. spiritual perfection, E. spiritual completeness, F. satisfying, g. perfect divine accomplishment, H. God’s beautiful number

8. A. new beginnings, B. new birth, C. resurrection, D. when bringing the Ark of the Covenant back, they found out they weren’t doing it right so they would take eight steps back to start over, E. eight people in the ark of Noah, F. to make fat or cover with fat, G. to super abound, H. one who abounds in strength, I. super abundant fertility, J. the resurrection is a new beginning, K. Born Again is a new beginning, L. Revival, M. Renewal

9. A. a double meaning, depending on your standing with the Lord, Judgment for the wicked or maturity for the righteous, B. nine gifts of the Spirit, C. nine fruits of the Spirit, D. last of the pure numbers 1-9, nine planets in the Jupiter effect – Genesis 1:14-18:“I gave you the stars and the bodies of the heavens for a sign”, F. finality

10. A. tribulation, B. tenth day of the tenth month – Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, C. wrath for the wicked but for the righteous it’s a time of testing, proving and purifying – the testing of your faith is more precious than gold, D. testing – Gen.16:3, Dan.1:12 and 15, Rev. 2:10, Num. 14:22, Ex. 12:3, E. Time of testing, proving, and purifying of the saints, F. ordinal perfection, G, the perfection of divine order, H. ten commandments, I ten curses of God upon Egypt

11. A. incomplete, B. Armistice was signed on the 11th. hour of the 11th. day of the 11th. month after Jerusalem was freed from the Turks, C. disorder, D. disorganization, E. imperfection, F. disintegration, G. incomplete 12 apostles then 11, 12 tribes then 11 when Joseph was in Egypt

12. A. God’s divine order, B. God’s divine government, C. 12 apostles, D. 12 tribes, E. months in a year, F. New Jerusalem dimensions – 12 foundations, 12 gates, 12 by 100 furlongs in each direction, 12 by 100 height of walls, G. signs of the zodiac, H. governmental perfection

13. A. rebellion, B. iniquity, C. 13 colonies rebelled against England, D. Lucifer in Hebrew = 13, E. apostasy, F. defection, G. corruption, H. disintegration, I. revolution, J. ill-omen, K. depravity

14. A. a double dose of perfection, B. double dose of spiritual perfection, C. Elijah’s double portion, C. deliverance, D. salvation

15. A. redemption through purification, B. acts wrought by the energy of divine grace, C. rest

16. mans testing

17. A. the elect or the saints, B. God’s protection of His people in time of testing or tribulation, C. the perfection of spiritual order, D. Noah’s ark- rain began on the seventeenth day of the second month (2=division) and came to rest on the seventeenth day of the seventh month (7=spiritual perfection)

18. Life

19. A. the perfection of divine order connected with judgment, B. in Hebrew Eve = 19, C. in Hebrew Job = 19

20. A. trouble or conflict, B. expectancy, C. 2 x 10 = division x tribulation, D. double meaning – trouble or conflict for the wicked or double dose of divine order for the righteous, E. alteration

22. A. disorganization and disintegration in an intensified form, especially in connection with the Word of God

24. A. heavenly government or heavenly worship, B. twenty four elders fell upon their faces and sang holy, holy, holy – Lord God almighty = the angelic leaders of heavenly worship – Rev.4:4

25. The essence of grace

27. The essence of completeness

28. Satisfaction in works

29. Expected judgment

30. A. age of maturity, B. David became king at thirty, C. Joseph came to power at thirty, D. Jesus entered ministry at thirty, E Levitical priests were able to minister from age thirty to fifty, F. a high degree of divine order

31. A. the number of the gentiles, B. Peter entered Cornelius house in the thirty first year of the jubilee, C. the Hebrew expression of thirty one in El, the name of God, and its signification would be deity

40. A. Transition, B. forty years in the desert, C. it rained on the Ark for forty days and forty nights, D. Jesus was tested forty days in the wilderness, E. length of a biblical generation, F. forty days Elijah was in Horeb, G. forty days of Jonah and Nineveh, H. forty days Jesus was seen after His resurrection by His disciples, speaking about the kingdom of God, I. probation, J. trial, K. chastisement, L. forty years from the crucifixion to the destruction of Israel

42. A. shows connection between man and the Spirit of God, B. the working out of mans opposition to God, C. flesh mixing in spiritual things

46. The number of Adam in Greek, Hebrew and English

50. A. jubilee, B. 49 years – business as usual, 50th year jubilee, B. acceptable year of the Lord, C. deliverance, D. the word Pentecost means 50, E. Hebrew’s leave Egypt – 50 days to receive the Law, F. Jesus taken up to Heaven – 50 days to Pentecost to receive the Holy Spirit

51. Divine revelation

60. Mans testing

65. Apostasy

67. A. mans perfection, B. human spirituality = example – the man-God, Jesus

70. A. perfect testing, B. Babylonian captivity = 70 years, C. perfect spiritual order carried out with all spiritual power and significance, D. Daniel’s 70 weeks, E. members of the Sanhedrin

80. A. new, B. a new creature

90. Maturity through testing

100. A. 100 fold return, B. Abraham begat Isaac at 100 years of age, C. full total given or fulfilled

111. A. YHWH Elohim = 111, B. all things in the Bible pertaining to Jesus work out to multiples of 111, C. the only light in the Ark came through a window 1 cubit by 1 cubit by 1 cubit

120. A. 120 high priests in the book of Judges, B. mans normal span of years – Gen. 6:3, C. 120 9n the upper room, D. divinely appointed number of people, E. a divinely appointed period of probation

153. A. the sons of God, B. the creation of God, C. the number of the sons of God, D. in Hebrew – Bani Elohim = The Triumph of Elohim, E. 153 fish in the net Peter drew in at the order of Jesus – 153 is significant of Jesus getting all of His fish (sons of God) in the net and none of them slipping away, F. The Hebrew expression for ' Sons of God' has a numeric value of exactly 153, while the Greek equivalent adds up to 3,213, .or 3 x7 x153. Another Greek phrase with a similar meaning is 'joint heirs' which comes to 1,071; or 7'x 153. In Mark there is a complete list of the twelve disciples. The total numeric value of the names as there given is 9,639 or 7 x 9 x 153 (5).

200. A. insufficiency, B. inadequate, C. not enough, D. John 6:7 – 200 pieces of silver not enough, E. expectancy tenfold, F. division multiplied by 100 – total division

276. A. the number of flesh and sin, B. the Satanic kingdom

300. A. the faithful remnant, B. Ark was 300 cubits long

355. A. length of a lunar year, B. Moslems and Arabs are on a lunar cycle and are called lovers of darkness.

360. A. length of a prophet year, B. 360 degrees in a circle

365. Length of a solar year – sun cycle

390. A. the number of Israel, B. 390 years from the division of the 23 tribes to the captivity

400. A. redemption, B. a divinely perfect period
430. Number of years from the “promise” to the “law” Galatians 3:17: “And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.”
444. Represents the world
490. A. Daniel’s 70 weeks = 490 years, B. denotes the product of spiritual perfection, C. The 70-year captivity was the debt Judah owed Yahweh for the 490 years in the Promised Land that the 7th year Sabbath rest had not been observed, D. 490 = number of times to forgive someone – 70 x 7
552. The number value for both Satan and rebellion
600. In Greek is the number of darkness and of the world
666. A. antichrist spirit, B. natural mind, C. wrath of God, D. “If 6 is the number of secular or human perfection, then 66 is a more emphatic expression of it, and 666 is the concentrated expression of it, E. the trinity of human perfection - the perfection pf imperfection – the culmination of human pride in independence of God and opposition to His Christ.”(1)
700. The church
777. A. Jesus in Hebrew = 777, B. cross in Greek = 777, C. love of God = 777 – agape love, D. perfection – spirit, soul and body, the height of Mt. Golgotha is 777 meters above sea level, the perfect number – the beginning and the end
800. A. faith, B. omega – last letter in the Greek alphabet
888. A. Jesus in Greek = 888, B. new beginnings, could be for the saints – a combination of born again, spirit filled, deliverance, and transformation – all representing new beginnings
999. A. God’s wrath for mans wickedness, B. My wrath = 999 – Heb.3:11, C. Sodom = 999
1,000. A. the millennium, B. 1 day in God’s time – 2 Pet.3:8, C. an infinite number, D. could mean forever, E. may not be a specific number, F. Abraham’s seed was promised to be 1,000 generations – 40,000 years
1,500. In Greek is the number of light and power
2000. Biblical age, Adam to Abraham, Abraham to Jesus, Jesus to second coming or millennium?
144,000. A. number of Hebrew’s that will be witnesses of Jesus - during the tribulation, B. 12 x 12 – an infinitely large number, C. correct translation from the Greek is 144,000’s, D. multitudes of those in God’s order
Section 4: Significant dates –
May 14, 1948 Israel became a nation again
Grace double dose new beginnings of perfection transition time of maturity Almighty God
June 7, 1967
Man perfection God’s perfection Man Maturity Almighty God
1967 – Israel took possession of Jerusalem
1978 – Israel was 30 years old – Pentecost Sunday
1982 – Jupiter effect – nine planets lined up – five planets lined up at the birth of Jesus
1821 – End of 6000 Lunar years six days in God’s time – 7th day?
2001 – End of 6000 Solar years


1983 1 9 8 3
God’s maturity of new beginnings of completeness

Three major feasts – Passover – Jesus, the Passover Lamb
Pentecost – Holy Spirit given
Tabernacles – Rapture or Second Coming

Very interesting years will be 2015 – 2030 = end of 3rd. biblical age?
9 AM, third day of Feast of Tabernacles?
Purely conjecture - don’t count on anything!

Section 5: Significant Numbers –

Jesus in Hebrew = 777
Jesus in Greek = 888
Cross in Greek = 777
Lucifer in Hebrew = 13
Sodom in Hebrew = 999

Everything to do with Jesus works out to multiples of 111
Everything to do with the Law works out to multiples of 700 (3)
Everything to do with Satan works out to multiples of 276

Adam = in Greek, = 46 = Αδάμ
Adam = in Hebrew, = 46 אדם הראשון =
Adam = in English, = 46 = Adam

Jesus in Greek =888 = Ιησούς
Jesus in Hebrew =777 = תשווע
Jesus in English = 11 = Jesus --- J =1, E =5, S=1, U=3, S=1 ==11

Love of God = 777

Wrath of God = 666

David, in Hebrew, could be spelled DWD-420 or DWYD-490
490 denoted the product of spiritual perfection

The city of my God = 144 x 24 or 3456

Jerusalem = 144 x 6 or 864

New Jerusalem = 144 x 8 or 1152

Revelation 21:2, The Holy City – New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven = 144 x 27 (3) or 3888 – completeness of the elect

The elect in Greek = 144,000 = ηεκλογη – 12 x 12 x 1,000 = 144,000’s = the amount of the multitudes of the elect

Body of Christ = 144 x 8 or 1152

House of Israel = 144 x 5 = 720 ---- 700 = the church, 20 = tribulation or conflict

Gospel = 144 x 4 or 576

Abraham = 144 = אברהם

Blessings of Abraham = 144 x 10 or 1,440 = אברהם ברכתו של

Mark 10:30 Blessings in this lifetime for the elect =144, with tribulation = 10 Faith = 144 x 7 = elect x perfection (3)

The seed of faith = 144 x 24 or 82944, the elect x heavenly government or worship

Adversary = 666

Christ, in Greek = Χριστός = 1480

In Hebrew, Yahweh Elohim = 111 = אלהים יהוה

As you have noticed, there are differences between the numeric value of words and phrases and their number in definition. A good example of this is “The Elect”. Its definition meaning is represented by the number 17. The addition of the value of each of the letters comes to 144. Although I don’t feel it’s my place to explain God’s wisdom, I present the following mathematical example.
8
17 144
136
8
Using the first 8, which will wholly go into 144, we can get by definition, new beginnings. By using the amount remaining, 8, we can get by definition, new birth. Thus, new beginnings by new birth = the elect.

Section 6: “666”-

Revelation 13:17 – calculate the number of the beast – 666

666 = anyone who does not come to be for Christ is anti-Christ

The main Social Security Administration switchboard in 1983 was 594-6660

Computer = 666 – 111 x 6

Cesar Nero = 666

New York = 666

Kissinger = 666
1 Corinthians 12:3 – can’t say Jesus is Lord – “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”
1 John 2:22 - denies Jesus is Lord - “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.”
1 John 4:3 the spirits that don’t confess Jesus “And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
2 John 7 – “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
666 “The repetition may simply designate the number of the man who refuses to enter into the designs of God and to advance to the perfection of 7.” (4)
666 is the spirit of Anti-Christ
666 = wrath of God in Hebrew
666 in Greek is έξι έξι έξι = six, six, six
ϛʹ ϛʹ ϛʹ = 666
χ = 600, ξ = 60, ϛʹ = 6.

E. W. Bullinger defines 666 as follows –
“If six is the number of secular or human perfection, then 66 is a more emphatic expression of it: 666 is therefore the trinity of Human perfection: the perfection of imperfection: the culmination of human pride in independence of God and opposition to His Christ. 666 was the secret symbol of the ancient pagan mysteries connected with the worship of the devil. It is today the secret connecting link between the ancient mysteries and their modern revival in Spiritism, theosophy, etc.” The secret symbol was ϛʹ ϛʹ ϛʹ, the Greek representation of 666. Notice the similarities in the satanic and the Hitler and the rock group Ki .

In Roman numerals, only six letters are used –
D = 500
C = 100
L = 50
X = 10
V = 5
I = 1
666

The duration of the Assyrian empire was 666 years
Jerusalem was held by the Roman Empire for 666 years. BC 31 to AD 636

Goliath……. Height – 6 cubits
6 pieces of armor
His spear weighed 600 shekels of silver
Nebuchadnezzar.....image was 60 cubits high
6 cubits broad
Was worshiped when 6 instruments were heard

1 Kings 10:14, the talents of gold brought to Solomon in a year numbered 666

Ezra 2:13, the number of Adonikan, who returned from the captivity, numbered 666

666 = the sum of the numbers from 1 to 36

The same 36 numbers can be arranged in the form of a square, with 6 figures each way so that the sum of each figures in any direction shall be another significant trinity = 111



All seven references in the book of Revelation, to the mark of the beast, are structured in multiples of 666. (3)

World = 600
Earth = 60
Man = 6
666
Three words – the natural mind = 666
Section 7: Numerical Equivalents of Letters -

The language of today’s world is, without a doubt, English. Having been stationed overseas, in the service, I found that while shopping (especially in large cities with large U. S. military bases) the clerks often couldn’t speak English until you showed them that you could speak their language or you showed your money. An airport can’t be classified international unless it has at least one air traffic controller who can speak English.

As most people know, the language of the Old Testament was Hebrew and Greek for the New Testament. Although, in the days of Old Testament times, most people could not speak Hebrew, however, the only people that needed to know the scriptures were the Israeli’s. In Jesus time on earth, in and around Israel, three languages were commonly used: Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. Aramaic was the general language in the streets, Hebrew was used by the Hebrew people (especially associated with their services) and Greek was used as the universal language of trade. Because of this, I have included all three languages and their numerical values by letter. In going over the Greek values I found that two letters had been dropped from the language in all except mathematics.
Hebrew

letter numeric value letter numeric value letter numeric value
א 1 י 10 ק 100
ב 2 כ 20 ר 200
ג 3 ל 30 ש 300
ד 4 מ 40 ת 400
ה 5 נ 50 ך 500
ו 6 ס 60 ם 600
ז 7 ע 70 ן 700
ח 8 פ 80 ף 800
ט 9 צ 90 ץ 900

Greek

Letter Value Letter Value Letter Value
α 1
Ι 10
Ρ 100

Β 2
κ 20
Σ 200

Γ 3
Λ 30
Τ 300

δ 4
Μ 40
Υ 400

ε 5
Ν 50
Φ 500

ϝʹ or ϛʹ or στʹ 6
Ξ 60
Χ 600

Ζ 7
Ο 70
Ψ 700

Η 8
Π 80
Ω 800

θ 9
ϟ 90
ϡ 900






English

First method Second method third method
A 1 1 1
B 2 2 2
C 3 3 3
D 4 4 4
E 5 5 5
F 6 6 6
G 7 7 7
H 8 8 8
I 9 9 9
J 1 10 10
K 2 11 20
L 3 12 30
M 4 13 40
N 5 14 50
O 6 15 60
P 7 16 70
Q 8 17 80
R 9 18 90
S 1 19 100
T 2 20 200
U 3 21 300
V 4 22 400
W 5 23 500
X 6 24 600
Y 7 25 700
Z 8 26 800

I have listed all three methods I have seen used for English in Bible numerics.








2013- Could we be living at the time of the end of the third biblical age?
2000 years is a Biblical age, Adam to Abraham, Abraham to Jesus, Jesus to second coming or millennium?
20. A. trouble or conflict, B. expectancy, C. 2 x 10 = division x tribulation, D. double meaning – trouble or conflict for the wicked or double dose of divine order for the righteous, E. alteration

13. A. rebellion, B. iniquity, C. 13 colonies rebelled against England, D. Lucifer in Hebrew = 13, E. apostasy, F. defection, G. corruption, H. disintegration, I. revolution, J. ill-omen



2014? A. a double dose of perfection, B. double dose of spiritual perfection, C. Elijah’s double portion, C. deliverance, D. salvation

2015? A. redemption through purification, B. acts wrought by the energy of divine grace, C. rest

It is extremely difficult to come up with an exact date for today or any other. The calendars all have their idiosyncratic differences. Between mistakes over the years, leap years, differences in (Solar, Lunar and Biblical) types, I rest my case.

“Did the biblical authors ever use the letters of the Hebrew alphabet to represent numbers? No. They used words for amounts, not numbers.
If this is so, was it possible for them to write numeric codes in the Bible using the letters of the Hebrew alphabet for numbers? No. They could not do so because they did not know of numbers. The first documented time the Jews used letters to represent numbers was on some Maccabean coins minted around 200 BC.
Did the authors of the New Testament ever use the letters of the Greek alphabet to represent numbers? No. Was it even possible for them to place hidden numeric codes in their writings? No.
The New Testament followed the Old Testament in using words instead of numbers: one = eis, two = duo, three = treis, etc. Even in Rev. 13:18 the “mark of the beast” is written out in the Greek words, “six hundred sixty-six.”
The historical facts are clear that it was simply not possible for Moses, the prophets or the apostles to use numeric codes in their writings. There is no simply archeological or literary evidence that the pre-exilic Jews ever used the letters of the Hebrew alphabet to represent numbers.

The Jews in Moses’ day had words to correspond to the amount of things. These words were treated like any other Hebrew word.

one =. ehed.
two = senayim.
three = salos.
four = arabaa.
five = hames
six = ses.
seven = seba.
eight = smoneh.
nine = tesa.
ten = eser.
hundred = meah.
thousand = eleph.
ten thousand = rebabah” (6)
All things considered, God’s word does say: “The very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30).
As with all of my writings, everything must be compared to the Bible, for verification.

Warning
I do not wish to give credence to those who apply secret mystical meanings to Bible numerics or supposed hidden codes in the Bible. Although there may be some truth in those areas, that is not the purpose of this work. I wish, at this point, to say that “Numbers in the Word of God” is meant to show the consistency in God’s Word, as a proof of its infallibility.

Footnotes
(1) Number In Scripture, by E. W. Bullinger, 1894, Kreggel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
(2) The Numerical Structure of Scripture by F. W. Grant, Loizlaux Brothers, Neptune NJ, 07753, first edition Oct. 1887
(3) Theomatics, God’s Best kept Secret Reveled, by Jerry Lucas and Del Washburn, 1977
(4) New Catholic Encyclopedia, McGraw- Hill Book Co., New York
(5) http://asis.com/users/stag/numerics.html#153
(6) http://www.faithdefenders.com/bible-numerics/bible_numerics1.html


Bibliography

1. Bible Numerics, by Oswald Thompson Allis, 1979
2. The Numerical Structure of Scriptures, by F. W. Grant, 1887
3. Absolute Mathematical Proofs Of The Divine inspiration Of The Bible, by Dr. Keith L. Brooks
4. Biblical Numerology, by John J. Davis, 1968
5. Number in Scripture, by E. W. Bullinger 1894
6. Theomatics, God’s Best kept Secret Reveled, by Jerry Lucas and Del Washburn, 1977
7. The Interlinear Greek – English New Testament, with Lexicon and Synonyms, by George Ricker Berry
8. The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of The Bible, Merrill C. Tenney, PhD – general editor
9. Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible, by Robert Young, LL.D.
10. An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, b y W. E. Vine
11. New Catholic Encyclopedia, McGraw- Hill Book Co., New York
12. Theomatics teaching tapes, by Rabbi Harvey Cohen, Bosko Ministries,
www.boskoministries.com
13. Bible Numerics – Mr.666, teaching tapes, by Col. H. Speed Wilson, (U.S.M.C Ret.)
14. The American Peoples Encyclopedia
15. Multiple Internet Sites
16. The Holy Bible, King James Version

Rick Rahn
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>

Friday, March 22, 2013

on Leave a Comment

Who Do You Say That I Am?

        Who do you say Jesus is? Do you say that He is Lord, the Son of God, Messiah, or a first century liar who fooled the whole world? Is Jesus not Lord because you don’t believe in Him? If that is the case, it must be your belief system that determines if He is God or not God. Let’s see now, if we don’t believe He’s God, therefore He can’t be? If that is the case, we must be all powerful, and all knowing. Perhaps the world doesn’t revolve around me, or you, and what we determine our beliefs to be.

        Atheists say there is no God, because they don’t believe He exists. People who do believe in God are backed up by thousands of historical documents, both biblical and non biblical, which testify to the existence of God. The preponderance of evidence, regardless of our beliefs, falls to the fact that the Bible is the word of God and therefore trustworthy.

        In the Bible, the lineage of Jesus is given twice, and appears to be contradictory. The lineage given in Matthew 1:1-16 and the lineage give in Luke 3:23-38 seems to give credence to those who say there are mistakes in the Bible and therefore the Bible is not trustworthy. Because of this, we must investigate the reasoning of God in supplying the two different lineages. In Matthew we see the line of ascension to be from Abraham, to David, to Nathan, to Mary, to Jesus. The Luke ascension is from Abraham, to David, to Solomon, to Heli, to Joseph, who was the husband of Mary. The division is based on which son of David is taken. Joseph’s line came through David’s son Solomon, while Mary’s line came through David’s son Nathan. Jesus’ human bloodline was through Mary, while His Heavenly bloodline was from God. Jesus, through the marriage of Mary and Joseph, was called the son of Joseph; in the same way that Ruth, by marriage, was called the daughter of Naomi, as explained in the book of Ruth 1:11-13. In the Jerusalem Talmud, Mary is called the daughter of Heli, by marriage, to Joseph. Jesus was both the Son of God and the Son of Man. Jesus was the ‘real’ Son of God (through the Holy Spirit), and the legal son of Joseph (through the law). The relationship of Jesus, through the ‘seed of the woman’, was first announced in Genesis 3:15, and fulfilled in the birth, through Mary, by the Holy Spirit, without the seed of man being involved.

          John, the Baptist, said stones could be turned into sons of Abraham. Matthew 3:9 says: “And think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” In Luke 19:40, when Jesus was asked to silence his followers He said , "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!" In Matt. 15:8 they say Jesus is Lord but they don’t believe it, “This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me”. In Matthew 12:39-40 and 16:4, when the people asked for a sign that He was God, His answer was that the only sign He would give would be the sign of Jonah; in that He would rise again on the third day. In essence, this was the same response He gave to Satan in the wilderness when He said “tempt not the Lord thy God”. In Matthew 16:15-20 Jesus said: “But who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock (that rock being the fact that He was the Christ) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then He told His disciples to tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.”

       When Jesus was here on earth, He couldn’t be everywhere at the same time. Because He rose again from the dead, and ascended to the Father, He was then able to send His Spirit to be with us, and throughout the whole world (Omnipresent). His Spirit testifies of Him in the same way He testified of the Father, when He was among us. That yet still voice, that urges you to wonder about Jesus, is the Holy Spirit: then you ask yourself, ‘who do I say that He is’?

       The foundation of the Christian experience is not the fact that Jesus lived here as a man on earth. Jesus always was, is now and will be forever. The foundation of Christianity is that He, who lives forever, for a short time, came to be with us, in the flesh, to establish the personal relationship with us that He intended to have when He created the heavens and the earth. Throughout the years it has been man turning his back on God; not God turning His back on man. That was the reason Jesus had to sacrifice Himself, to reestablish the relationship that was lost, by man, in the Garden of Eden. He accomplished this task when He rose again from the dead, to make eternal life available to us. He gave us free will, so now we have to make the choice, either to accept Him or to reject Him. The lack of making the choice is considered to be rejection of Him. Therefore, we see that sitting on the fence in not a choice. The choice is simple: reject Him or do nothing and live life your own way, or accept His free gift and live eternal life with Him.

This same question is being asked by Jesus today. Who do you say that He is? Is He your Lord and Savior, or are you yet to enter into the kingdom of Heaven by the only means possible? The fact is that Jesus is “the Son of God”, the “Savior of the world”, The Alpha and Omega and the “Creator of the World”. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and He is the only way to salvation. No one was ever perfect, except for Him, and therefore he was the one who had to pay the price for our transgressions. When, after He rose from the dead, well over five hundred people saw Him there was no doubt in any of them. Thomas did not believe his fellow apostles about Jesus’ resurrection, until he saw for himself and touched Jesus’ wounds. Now, the choice is yours. “Who do you say that I am?”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>

Thursday, March 7, 2013

on Leave a Comment

Defending Mohammed


          We have to give Mohammed credit: he started with only the wealth of his wife’s family and built an empire based on his teachings, the same as the Romans and the Greeks. The fortunes of Islam were gained, at first, by robbing the Jews.  It seems that the same thinking is rampant today.  The most prosperous country in the Middle East is Israel.  Perhaps that is the essential reason the Islamists want to take possession of it.

 

          Mohammed was exposed to both the old and new testaments.  He took parts of the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible, much of the old Arabian pagan religions, tossed in some Zoroastrianism, and came up with a religion that suited him.  We know that Mohammed was an Arab of the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe.   He used, as his heavenly father figure, Allah which was the moon god worshiped by his family.  Jehovah created the heavens and the earth.  In that creation was the moon.  Why would you worship Allah, the moon god, instead of the creator of the moon?

Mohammad was subjected to misinformation by the deceiver, whom even Mohammad referred to as Satan.  Several times in his life he believed he was demon possessed but was talked out of this belief by members of his family.  We do know that Mohammad was exposed to the Gospel of Christ, although probably through the Gnostic slant (which is the view that you can become divine yourself).  Since Mohammad could not read or write, we can believe the stories about his receiving the stories about the old and new Testaments of the Bible through word of mouth by passing caravans.  The Koran states that Allah had no sons.  Jesus, as we know from the Bible, is the Son of God.  The pagan moon god, Allah, supposedly got together with the sun goddess and had three daughters.

 

          Islam is similar to Mormonism in its founding.   In both cases, an angel figure brought ‘the word’ to a single man.  In Mormonism, the supposed angel Moroni came to Joseph Smith.  In Islam the being ‘appearing to Mohammed’ pretended to be the angel Gabriel. We can see that Satan will use a proven method to establish his deceptions. 

 

          Supposedly taken up to heaven from the Dome of the Rock, “according to Islamic tradition, the rock is the spot from which Muhammad ascended to Heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel.  Further, Muhammad was taken here by Gabriel to pray with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.  After Muhammad's return, he called all who would believe him to join with him and be Muslim”[1].  I hope he got in all the fellowship he wanted with these three, because he won’t be able to communicate with them from Hell.

 

          Apparently Mohammed was an epileptic, who claimed Allah spoke to him during his seizures.  I have known several people with epilepsy and they don’t remember much if anything that happens during their seizures.  There were some Native American tribes that believed people who had seizures were touched by The Great Spirit. I just can’t believe that God would work through a disease state to issue vital information, but I could be wrong. 

 

          Islamists today say that the Bible has been corrupted.  This is hard to believe because we can prove that the Bible, except for some of the New Age Versions based on the Alexandrian texts, is the same today as it was in Mohammed’s day.  The Koran, on the other hand, can be proven to have been corrupted as there have been additions, subtractions and “abrogations”               to it.  A Moslem will tell you that only a Moslem, reading the Koran in its original language (600-700AD) can understand the Koran.  God says that unless someone is Born Again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God (30 AD).  Another plagiarized idea?

            I am not against the Moslems.  To be against Moslem’s would be against God (All have sinned and come short of the glory of God).   There will be former Moslems in Heaven just as there will be former gentiles.  Jesus gave Himself, once for all.  The kingdom of Heaven is open to all whom so ever will receive Him.  James 2:1 says:My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons”.  James 2:8 says: “If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well”.

          The real crying shame, and it is worth crying about, is that the deception Mohammed was under and caused him to miss out on a relationship with the True and Living God, has also caused millions to also miss out on this relationship, and be lost.  Christians must have compassion on those who are blinded to the truth.

 

          There are in reality two Islam’s: Regular Islam (the moderates) and the political Islam of the Jihadist’s.  The problem is that the Koran says there is only one Islam. 

 

          Mohammad used a method of teaching similar to what Jesus used: referring back to knowledge well known in the area because the stories referred to have been part of all the people’s lives.  Many of the stories mentioned in the Islamic scriptures do not explain what is behind them because the people knew the pagan stories they referred to.  Jesus, on the other hand, when He did His hinting (referring back), was referring back to things in the Old Testament.  What Jesus referred back to had a foundation in the Old Testament books of the Bible; whereas, Mohammad’s referrings were based on the pagan stories of the religions of his ancestors.

 

          Allah supposedly said that Mohammed was the same as any other man (Sura 18:110).   If that is true, Mohammed could not have been a prophet or apostle any more than any other man.  “It is no surprise to find that most of the elements of his religious upbringing were transferred into the religion of Islam and did not come from a ‘new’ revelation from Allah as Islam claims.”[2]   If Mohammed was a prophet, he should have been judged as any other prophet.  Everything a prophet said must come true or they would be judged a false prophet and be stoned to death.  Maybe we should require Mosques in the US to register as non-prophets.

 

          Since the Jehovah of the Bible and Allah are not the same, we must not confuse the issue by saying they are just different names for the same God.  Allah is the name of the ancient pagan moon god whereas the God of the Bible is the “Lord God Almighty”. 

 

          Although Islam tries to place Mohammed on the same level as Jesus, he was clearly inferior.  Even if he truly was a prophet and apostle of God, he would have been inferior to Jesus, who is God.  In the same way, the prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New Testament were inferior to Jesus because they were not God.  Some religions, such as Krishna and Islam, have invented stories in later years to elevate their deity to the status of Jesus; however, none of them died for your sins or rose from the dead (Jesus, having risen from the dead, was witnessed by over 500 people and was seen ascending up to Heaven).  The greatest form of flattery is imitation; therefore their actions simply recognize the true status of Jesus.

 

          Since he couldn’t write, how do we know what he said was written down?  How did he know what he said was written down properly?  Since the consensus is that Mohammed could not read, how could he have known what was written on the table of stone he received from Allah which is said to have been the Koran?  Supposedly, Allah wrote the Koran on a stone table and gave it to Mohammed.  This is, however, only one story about how Mohammed got the Koran.  Also, why, if the Koran was given in perfect Arabic as claimed, are there so many grammatical errors, words from other languages and why was it written in the dialect of Mohammed’s tribe? 

 

          The Muslim scriptures say that when Jesus returns, He will recant what He said about His divinity and His relationship with the One True and Living God as well as execute all those who will not convert to Islam.  Today, there are many stories circulating in which Moslems are being visited by Jesus in dreams and visions explaining to them that He is the way to a true relationship with God.  We must look into the motives and methods of the inventor of Islam.  In essence, Mohammed invented Islam in the following ways:

          1. The Pagan god Allah figure was around a long time before Mohammed and was the moon god worshiped by his family.  The moon god Allah was part of Ba-al worship. 

          2.  Mohammed incorporated quite a bit of the Old Testament and the New Testament regulations in the formulation of this new religion; although he distorted them.  Today we call this plagiarism.  Whatever suited his wants and needs was used, rejecting the truth of the Bible.

          3.  Many of the medieval traditions that were present in his day were included such as the traditional dress and treatment of women. 

          4.  The cult of the moon god, which worshiped Allah, was then transformed into a monotheistic faith by Mohammad. 

          5. The symbol of the crescent moon was adopted to help convert people in the Middle East. 

          6. Mohammad couldn’t seem to make up his mind as to which direction to face when praying; sometimes Mecca, sometimes Jerusalem, etc.

          7. Islam enriched itself by attacking other cultures; especially the Jews. 

          8. Mohammad adopted many pagan rituals and beliefs such as the evil eye, placing curses, fatalism and genies.

          9. Mohammed said that Jesus was a prophet of God and would come back to say how wrong He was, and that Allah is the true god.

          10. “Isa never was the Arabic name for Jesus before Muhammad came along. Isa is not the Arabic name for Jesus; it is the Quranic name for Jesus. 

The Christians never used Isa but Yasu' which is the proper equivalent of the Hebrew Yeshua.  That is not only a minor technical quibble.  There were Arab Christians before Muhammad.  Why does Muhammad not use the established Arabic name for Jesus but changes it to something else? --- disconnecting his quranic Jesus from the Jesus of the historical Arabic speaking church? Moreover, "Isa" is not a proper Arabic word at all.
It has no meaning in Arabic.”[3]

 

          We can see from the information available, that Mohammed, having been deceived himself, was at best a very disturbed soul.  I titled this Defending Mohammed because we must realize that he was not in control of himself, but rather under the influence of Satan.  During his lifetime he believed this at different times but was talked out of it by family members.  Perhaps, if it wasn’t for his outside influences, he could have come to Jesus and been saved. 

 

          If you don’t know Jehovah you know no God.  There is only one God, and His name is Jehovah.  The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all in Jehovah and they are one.  A god by any other name is no God at all.  “By thy words thou shall be justified, and by thy words thou shall be condemned.”[4]  By the Bible you can be justified, but by the Koran you will be condemned. 

 

          Islam is truly a religion, however, because something is a religion, doesn’t mean it represents the creator of the universe.  In Islam there is no:

1. Personal relationship with God

2. Salvation through Grace

3. Fulfilled prophesy

4. No personage interceding for you with God

5. No coherent scriptures, equivalent to the Bible

6. Holy Spirit to guide you

7. No Bible to show the Word of God

          The Arabs are not all descended from Ishmael, any more than all Moslems are descended from Abraham.  “Most standard reference works on Islam reject the Arab claim to Abrahamic descent.  The prestigious Encyclopedia of Islam traces the Arabs to non-Abrahamic origins. Even the Dictionary of Islam questions the whole idea that the Arabs are descendants of Ishmael.”[5]

          Concerning the control of women, Sura 4:34 says: Men are guardians over women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).—

          Islam’s Role in American History: In a recent speech, President Obama declared that “Islam – like so many faiths – is part of our national story.” While his claim is “technically” true, it isn’t entirely accurate, at least not in the way he, or most Muslims would like you to interpret it. In his prepared remarks at this year’s Iftar dinner, Obama incorrectly pontificated:


As I’ve noted before, Thomas Jefferson once held a sunset dinner here with an envoy from Tunisia – perhaps the first Iftar at the White House, more than 200 years ago. And some of you, as you arrived tonight, may have seen our special display, courtesy of our friends at the Library of Congress – the Qur’an that belonged to Thomas Jefferson. And that’s a reminder, along with the generations of patriotic Muslims in America, that Islam – like so many faiths – is part of our national story.

It is true that Thomas Jefferson owned a Qur’an, so based on that, is it possible one could reasonably infer that Muslims were a vital part of America’s founding? Only if one was grossly uneducated about American history. You see, there were no Muslims waiting here in America when the first Pilgrims landed at Plymouth on December 21, 1620. There were none among the arriving Pilgrims. Even the first Thanksgiving celebration was entirely devoid of Muslims. In fact, their first appearance was shortly after we penned the Declaration of Independence.

How did they get involved at that pivotal point in our early history? It was a little event called the First Barbary War.

Until the American Declaration of Independence in 1776, British treaties with the North African states protected American ships from the Barbary corsairs (i.e. pirates). Morocco became the first Barbary power to seize an American vessel after our independence, which led directly to the creation of the United States Navy in March of 1794. While the United States managed to secure peace treaties, these treaties obliged us to pay tribute for protection from attack. Payments in ransom and tribute to the Barbary states amounted to roughly 20% of the United States government’s annual expenditures in 1800.

So why exactly did Jefferson own a copy of the Qur’an? That’s a bit of a trick question, as he did not own “a” copy of the Qur’an; he owned hundreds; perhaps even thousands of copies. After facing ongoing hostilities from Muslims and being forced to pay tribute to them equaling 20% of our total government expenditures for several years, Jefferson decided it would be wise to find out what we were truly up against, so he obtained a copy of the Qur’an. He was shocked and horrified by what he learned.

They were not content to simply live their lives and practice their faith. According to their religion, they were required to make war with anyone who didn’t live by the laws of Islam, and to demand that all non-believers pay jizya, the additional Islamic tax, or financial tribute, required of non-Muslims; something that hasn’t changed, even today. In other words, they sought to kill all non-believers or demand that they pay a tribute for the permission to exist.

As few people had encountered such barbaric practices in the modern world, this was a foreign concept to most, even the worldly Jefferson. So he set out to educate the American citizens about the magnitude of the threat we were facing. His answer was to print and distribute copies of the Qur’an so that everyone could understand the culture and religion of the Muslim people. This wasn’t just some group of thugs who wanted to steal a few trinkets. This was a murderous cult, bent on our outright destruction and enslavement. There was no negotiating; no common ground. Logic, compromise and decency was lost on the Muslims.

Their own scripture shows they are a hateful and violent cult, not the “religion of peace” that the PC police constantly claim. Here are just a few gems from the Qur’an:

“Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an evil fate.” -Qur’an 9:73

“Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them. Know that God is with the righteous.” -Qur’an 9:123

“Muhammad is God’s apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another.” -Qur’an 48:29

“When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly.” -Qur’an 47:4

“Believers, take neither the Jews nor the Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship shall become one of their number. God does not guide the wrong-doers.” -Qur’an 5:51

In response to a declaration of war on the United States of America by the Barbary Coast caliphates, Thomas Jefferson sent the USS Constitution to the Mediterranean in 1803. Then, in 1805, the Constitution supported the landing of Marines “on the shores of Tripoli” in an action that was subsequently immortalized in the Marine Corps Hymn. The Americans and their allies destroyed the harbor citadel at Derna, which served as the headquarters for the pirates.

The dinner to which President Obama referred took place on December 9, 1805, and Jefferson’s guest was Sidi Soliman Mellimelli, an envoy from the bey (chieftain) of Tunis who spent six months in Washington. The context of Mellimelli’s visit to the United States was a tense dispute over piracy on American merchant vessels by the Barbary states, and the capture of Tunisian vessels trying to run an American blockade of Tripoli.

The First Barbary War in 1801 and the Second Barbary War in 1815 led to more favorable peace terms ending the payment of tribute. After a resounding military victory, we were largely free from the terror of Islam for hundreds of years, but that was far from the end of its role in America.

Islam was responsible for bringing millions of men, women and children captured throughout Africa, to America to be sold into slavery. It showed up again during World War II; its followers supporting Adolf Hitler’s efforts to exterminate the Jews and conquer Europe. And of course, who can forget its pivotal role in atrocities like the Iran hostage crisis, 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, 1993 World Trade Center bombing, 1998 United States embassy bombings, USS Cole bombing, September 11 attacks, or the Fort Hood shooting, to name just a few?

So yes, Mr. President, Islam – like so many faiths – is part of our national story. But it is not a positive part.[6]

          I think that most people would agree that Mohammed was a very sad personage.   He spent his life worshiping a god who never existed, much less offering a personal relationship, and he died without accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  It’s not that he wasn’t exposed to the message of Jesus.  We know that he at least heard stories about the old and new testaments, and even declared them to be the Word of God.  Because he couldn’t read or write he was unable to check out the Bible for himself.  He would have known that Deuteronomy 6 says: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” and “Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; For the Lord thy God is a jealous God ( implying vigilance and reverence) among you lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth”.  The “Hear of Israel” mentioned here also implies the Christians, which are branches grafted into the vine of the Hebrew God: the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon and of Jesus who is the “Son of God”.  The “Lord our God is one Lord” refers to the Trinity.



[1] Wikipedia
[2] The Islamic Invasion by Robert Morey
[3] Eric Barger
[4] Matthew 12: 36-37
[5] The Islamic Invasion by Robert Morey
[6]http://jeremyknauff.com/islams-role-in-american-history/
 http://bravepatriot.com/islams-role-in-american-history/   August 21st, 2012 by Jeremy Knauff  
 
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>

Friday, March 1, 2013

on Leave a Comment

What Truly Sets A Person Free?

In today’s world, we often seem to relate our ability to live a successful Christ filled life to the level to which we can raise our understanding of a situation through the basis of labels and terminology. I am really seeking to gain an understanding of the relationship of the importance of the practice of labeling or defining everything and the degree of importance it may play in the final outcome of success that may be obtained in attaining a positive change, deliverance or healing in one’s life. For example, there is a teaching that one must label alcoholism as a disease, and it must be recognized as such before a person can be totally healed of this condition. However, to prove or disprove the validity of this statement of belief is not the ultimate goal of my search for understanding. Instead, I am searching for God’s overall view of any condition in life that could possibly be an obstruction to fulfilling God’s purposes in our lives.

Could it be that in our search to understand the conditions often found in our daily lives that we may be creating an imbalance between the importance of establishing terminology to define those conditions and circumstances in life as opposed to the importance or significance of one’s willingness to accept personal responsibility for our own choices, circumstances, actions, or conditions in life, regardless of what label or terminology that may be used to define any given condition? I happen to be a person that has a condition that has the label of epilepsy. Other possible labels are: seizures, fits, or terms such as sudden bursts of electrical brainwave activity. The cause of the condition could be a genetic predisposition, brain damage due to an accident, or even pressure in the brain caused from another source, or an abnormality in a certain part of the brain, etc.
In the Bible, demonic activity was presented as a possible cause when an account was given of a man was miraculously delivered and healed of epilepsy. Regardless of the cause, or whatever terminology may be used to describe the condition, the level of control attained over the adverse effects of the condition, is not dependent upon my understanding of the cause or the terms used to define it. I don’t deny that they may be helpful, but my understanding or even awareness of such terms or root causes do not take priority over the importance personal responsibility of my own actions necessary to be successful in overcoming its effect in my life. I must acknowledge that the condition exists and be willing to take whatever action is necessary to gain control over its influence in my life. In my case, I know that this is going to require personal commitment to make changes such as getting enough rest and the discipline of taking required medication. Without my acknowledgement and related choice of action, no level of dominion over the condition can be attained regardless of my understanding or acceptance of the validity of any of the terms used to define and describe it. I can’t deny that it exists in my life, but I don’t have to let it define me either.

According to the Bible, isn’t anything that separates us from God a sin? When God created the earth and all that is within it, He looked at it and said it was good. That says there was no sin or evil in it. It was the fall of man that opened the door for sin to exist in the world. God did not create it that way. Because of the fall of man, all of us are subjected to the consequences of sin in the world. Yes, bad things even happen to ‘good’ people. None of us is ‘good’ in the pure sense of the word, for none of us is free from sin. Only Jesus was sinless, and being God incarnate, He alone was qualified Him to be the sacrificial Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world for whoever would believe in Him as Savior and Lord.

Terms and labels for the conditions of mankind can often be used in perverted ways, resulting in the rewriting of what is right and wrong for the purpose of condoning what seems right in man’s eyes as opposed to recognizing the truths of God. We don’t like it when our sins of the flesh are called sins. Instead of calling the condition of gluttony a sin, we are much more comfortable with calling it an ‘eating disorder’. Lying is no longer referred to as a sin, but rather it is said that we ‘misspoke’. Homosexuality is no longer a sin, but rather merely a different or ‘alternative lifestyle’ that is just as valid, right, and acceptable as the ‘heterosexual lifestyle’. Some have even argued that being a homosexual is how God made them. According to that way of thinking, the alcoholic/drug addict who may have been born with a predisposition to becoming addicted to alcohol/drugs was also ‘created’ like that by God and so nothing is wrong or has to be changed to overcome the condition. Abortion, the killing of an innocent unborn baby, is not a sin but simply a woman’s right of choice. I don’t argue that there is never a reason to abort a pregnancy; however, though its original intent may have been prevention of the death of the mother, it has become a right to terminate the unborn for little or no cause, or simply because the pregnancy is viewed as an inconvenience, or even because it’s the wrong gender. When we get into the game of compromising the will of God revealed in the word of God, we set ourselves up as gods giving ourselves permission to rewrite right and wrong as it suits our own agenda at any given moment.

In my daily reading of the word, I found a scripture that was especially helpful to me for settling the question of what was more important between definitions and labels of conditions found among mankind and the significance of personal responsibility. I don’t mean to imply that this should be the answer for everyone, but merely that, for me, it seems to put my quandary about this subject into perspective. It is written: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; (emphasis mine) who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” (Hebrews 12: 1 – 4) For me this sheds light to my understanding. Any adverse condition of life could be labeled as a ‘weight’, ‘sin’, ‘disease’ (Did not disease enter the world as a direct result of sin in the world?) For me, this tells me my first response should to acknowledge the ‘weight’ as something that is detrimental in my life, something that I need to take action to do all that is necessary to cut it out of my life, or as the scripture says, to “lay it aside”.

For further insight and encouragement, I found helpful the following commentary notes concerning Hebrews 12: 1 – 4 written in the Life Application Study Bible pg. 2469 – 2470:

12: 1 “Their (the cloud of witnesses) faithfulness is a constant encouragement to us. We do not struggle alone, and we are not the first to struggle with problems we face. Others have run the race and have won, and their witness stirs us to run and win also. What an inspiring heritage we have.”
12: 1-4 “The Christian life involves hard work. It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run patiently, and to struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit. To live effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We stumble when we look away from him to stare at ourselves or at the circumstances surrounding us. We are running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep him in sight.”
12:3 “When we face hardship and discouragement, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture. But we’re not alone; there is help. Many have already made it through life, enduring far more difficult circumstances than we have experienced. Suffering is the training ground for Christian maturity. It develops our patience and makes our final victory sweet.”
12:4 “This verse can also be translated, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” These readers were facing difficult times of persecution, but none of them had yet died for their faith. Because they were still alive, the writer urged them to continue to run their race. Just as Christ did not give up, neither should they.”

In addition, further assurance that our response and/or choices of action are of more importance than labels, terms, or definitions. We are encouraged to keep our focus on Jesus as our first and foremost priority as seen in the following scriptures: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4: 7, 8, 10) “Neither give place to the devil.”(Eph. 4: 27) “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (I Thess. 5: 21, 22) “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph.6: 10 – 13)

I am not presumptuous enough to expect others to come to same conclusions as I have concerning being set free from the “weight(s)” that can so easily ensnare and enslave us. I don’t claim that what I have determined for myself is a ‘program’ that others must adhere to. For the Christian, we all know that the first step in truly being set free from the conditions and temptations of life is to repent and be born again. For it is the gift of the Holy Spirit who indwells us and gives us understanding and power to stand against the temptations of the flesh, world, and Satan. If using certain terms, labels and definition helps one to gain understanding into a situation is helpful as a tool and step towards being set free, then I say by all means make use of them. But for myself, I choose not to place the use of terms in as having any top priority to be concerned about, and again I urge the use of terms can also be used to pervert and rewrite or rename conditions so as to depict ungodly views as right and Godly views as wrong in order to place the views of the secular world as acceptable and Godly views as mean, bigoted, intolerant and unacceptable. I refer back to such examples as discussed on page 2 paragraph 2 of this article.

My personal choice, with God’s help, is to focus more upon my need to recognize that I have a problem that needs to be removed from my life, no matter what term is used to describe it. According to my understanding, anything that may draw me further away from God is a sin and, for my own good, I must ask His help to “lay it aside” that I may rest peacefully (even in the midst of the storms of life) safe and secure under His wings of protection when the circumstances, conditions, and fiery darts of the enemy may seek to destroy me. He has promised me “life more abundant” if I will trust in and be obedient to Him. Does this mean that putting my trust in the Lord places me in a realm where I will never face trials and tribulations? No way, for I know Satan is real and he never gives up on trying to devour, destroy, and even kill any one that he can. The scriptures also remind us not to fear who or what can destroy the body (for it is only temporary), but to fear that which can destroy the soul. We will all exist for eternity, be it in Heaven or Hell depends upon whether we accept the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

I also know that I must submit all of my ways to the will of the Lord if I am to be successful in my daily struggles against the temptations of my own flesh. I know that if I make provision for ready access to harmful and destructive things, I am contributing to my own downfall. When it comes to bringing snacks and goodies (or ‘badies’, as in my case) into our house, for me they are detrimental and I struggle against the sin of gluttony. Someone else may be able to have a bag of potato chips, eat only a few, and a month later there’re still a few left. But in my house, if I ‘provide’ it, I am setting my own self up for failure. By my own hand, I have opened the door that leads to my own destruction. When it comes to some foods, I don’t seem to be able to practice the Godly principle of ‘moderation in all things’. For someone else, the trigger might be drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, adultery, and so on. It’s like choosing to buy a gun to shoot myself in my own foot, or worse. I just had a glorious thought. How wonderful it would be to ‘over eat’ from the word of God. Though I don’t think it’s possible to have too much of the word in one’s life. Like the scripture says: “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” What an absolutely glorious and fantastic meal, and the only kind that is truly satisfying to one’s soul. I think that’s what it must mean by ‘keep being filled’ by the Holy Spirit.

I don’t deny that Jesus has, and still does, miraculously deliver some from their situations, etc. But, for His reasons and purposes, that is not always the case. His ways are higher than ours. Some addictions, sins, weights, diseases, whatever you want to call them, can create such a stronghold in one’s life that one must seek the help of others in order to remove the destructive ‘weight’ from their lives. It could be one of those ‘thorns in the flesh’ that one may constantly struggle against. giving into it. No one ever promised us that life was going to be easy. The shame is not in failing to succeed in the struggle to succeed. The shame is giving up in the race to endure, and not even trying to overcome that which would ensnare us. I think the motto is, “If at first you don’t succeed, then try and try again.” Or as the scripture says, having done all to stand, stand. “With God’s help all things are possible.” All God asks of us is to have a willing heart, and He will help us through it all. He is not going to put your shoes on for you. Being a Christian does not mean one gets a free pass to just sail through life with no action on our part. It’s all a process. No one should be so prideful as to think that their sin is so great that the blood of Jesus is not sufficient to cover it. Seeking help from God and others is courageous, not a sign of weakness or something for which to feel ashamed. Letting pride stand in the way is itself a sin. Refuse to take part in it; get rid of it!!

Am I making the assertion that only Christians can be set free from addictions, disease, etc.? Absolutely not!! Am I saying that you have a disease as a direct result of sin in your life? No, not necessarily. I may have a disease simply because I live in a fallen world where disease exists as a result of the fallen state of our world. Remember, when God created the world, he said “It was good.” Mankind is the one that caused the fall of the earth giving entrance of disease, sin and other evils. Neither can we just claim; O, the devil made me do it, or act as if we have no personal responsibility when it comes to what we allow in our lives. We can’t always control all factors, but we can have control over our personal responses and actions as we learn to submit ourselves to the will of the Lord. We are not alone in our struggles. This is the way I look at it. The law of gravity exists and works whether one knows the word or even understands all of the labels that could be used to define and describe it. So it is with Godly principles. They work and affect the life of all who practice them whether they believe in the One who established them or not. Though a person may not trust in the Lord for things of eternal value, practicing Godly principles can make a difference at least in their temporary life on earth.

We have three scriptures posted in different areas of our home. Above the entrance to our family room it is written: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”(Phillip. 4: 13) On the back door exit it is written: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”(Psalm 139: 24) On our back porch you will find written the following scripture: “I am the true vine, and ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15: 5) Doesn’t that really say it all? Mankind can do his best to define, describe, and promote understanding, but in the end all depends on the power of the One who is the source of all deliverance and healing. In our kitchen there is written on a plaque a true statement, even though it may not be a direct quote from scripture, it asserts the following: “Earth hath no sorrow that Heaven can not heal.” May we always have a contrite heart that seeks the kingdom of God first that we might forever praise the Lord and do that which is pleasing in His sight.

Finally, this is my basic question; In seeking healing or deliverance from any adverse condition in life is it more important to accept a certain definition for that condition, or is the greater priority to recognize it as something that has either a positive or negative affect in my life. If it is negative, based on the wisdom of God’s standards, it is my responsibility to do all that I possibly can to rid my life of it, or at least reduce it as much as is possible, in order to live the “more abundant life” that God has purposed and intended for me. For me personally, I have concluded that the latter is of far greater importance whereas the former is simply a tool that may or may not be helpful in determining the final outcome in my life. With God, all things are possible, regardless of our human ability to have complete understanding. Some things in life may forever remain a mystery to us. I put my trust in God, not in the terminology created by mankind. Mankind’s ideas and thoughts are always changing, but God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Virginia Rahn

PS
Look at the Serenity Prayer which is relevant to many conditions in life:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.

It seems to me that this prayer settles the point that definitions or labels are not of the utmost significance. The focus seems to be entirely upon seeking God’s help to recognize what needs to be changed and the power to change what can be changed.
I have a ‘condition’ that is said to be as a result of a concussion, yet the doctors shake their heads and have no specific definition, name, or cure for it. In spite of that, if I am willing to ‘change’ certain things, I can still lead a ‘reasonably happy life.’ So I don’t focus on whether it’s a disease, genetic disorder, brain damage, or whatever any one might want to call it, but rather upon doing all that I can, with God’s help, to live the ‘more abundant life’ that God has purposed for me, one day at a time.

Ginger Rahn
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE >>