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Numbers:
Prophecy is interpreted by rule. God does not change and His rules and laws are fixed.
Understanding the rules and applying them consistently helps not just understandingRevelation and the Word of God ,
but helps our relationship with God.
Revelation, because the prophetic book is largely unfulfilled is the one book that provides a deeper view of all other books.
It s prophecies are written in context to the end.
It is the end of the love story which is the bible but it is a happy ending.Though some may think of the apocalypse as being a time of doom.
For us it is the time of promised redemption.
Science on the other hand, creates rules for what it understands.
Whenever an optimistic result occurs with science, it creates an applicable rule.
Therefore science can never justify itself as the bible does because making rules apply rather than applying rules, leads to ever changing rules.
The scientific result therefore is always,more questions than answers.
Everything proven by mankind can be disproven by mankind and any "cure" mankind creates based upon scientific rule, is temporary.
There are some profound and drastic courses of action being taken by science today and though some results hold fast for
5 years, 10,years, 50 years, or more, none of them have proven to last the ages.
Evolutionism and how the universe began or for lack of a better term, "the big bang theory" stretches the limits of the imagination even further.
Nothing is fundamentally sound in science. Nothing has been proven. Except that it is impossible to "create" life from energy and chemicals.
No species has evolved, there are no genetic roadmaps. A tyrannosaurus rex was always a tyrannosaurus rex. An ape was always an ape.
Today, with our own eyes, we clearly see nothing evolves. Birds are still birds. The trout in the streams where we fish are still
trout and the only thing happening is decay. Species are becoming extinct, they are not evolving per the "survival of the fittest" theory.
Yes, nothing on earth lives one day beyond the measure of life the Lord has determined for it. Not one day less, not one day more.
Nothing, including the earth as we know it today.
Rules of Prophecy:
In prophecy, the people being spoken to, are actually involved in the prophecy,
ex. Jer 51:6 was spoken before Babylon was destroyed. Mat 24,Mk 13, Lu 21;
Jesus wasn't just speaking to the 4 disciples when He uses ,"you" or "your", He's speaking to His peoples at all times.
Jesus re-establishes that prophetic principal has no specific time element for in God's eternal economy,
it is all in the present.
God speaks of the future as though it happened.
Revelation concerns the time between the crucifixion and resurrection and Christ's return.
Therefore it is very helpful to understand some of God's rules and constantly apply them:
1. Symbolic language is always literal. Only the subject matter is symbolic.
2. Events numbered occur in succession and in the order they are numbered.
3. When Christ is mentioned throughout, reference is made to the first chapter.
(Therefore Christ may be identified whenever He appears, though He may be called an Angel,etc.)
4. Christ has various names according to His work; Lion, Lamb, Angel.
5. The saints have various names according to their work or position(s): elders, living ones, horseman, angels, bride but they are no longer temporal human beings.
6. Saints are identified by their clothing, crowns, throne, work and songs.
7. Angels do not sing in Revelation. Singing is confined to redemptive themes which only the saints sing.
8. White- White hair, white stone or white garments are the outward appearance of inward qualities. Purified hearts- these and new names are new names of the restoration of our perfect relationship with God (Rev 2:17) and our new God given name.
When we do not understand text or it appears inconsistent, these numbers are always clear.
1-one-The number of God-Deut. 6:4
3-three-The trinity. Mat 28:19. Prominent when redemption is involved.
4-four-World/Earth number. 4 directions,4 winds,4 seasons.
The 4 world empires of Daniel are symbolic of mans rule over earth from Nebuchadnezzar to Christ. 4 gospels record the
life of Christ. 4 cherubim of Ezekiel present the heavenly organization for the judgment of earth.
4 living ones of Revelation relay the judgment to the 4 horseman who in turn translate them into action upon the earth.
6-six- The number of evil. Satan's number-Dan 3:1,Rev 13:18.
7-seven-The number of completeness not perfection. Dragon has 7 heads indicating complete reign over the earth, typified by 7 great empires.
7 churches-the whole church of all time, the flaws the body of the church must overcome to become the one true church
7 spirits-Holy Spirit,Seven shows the subject in its entirety, from beginning to end.
10-ten-An indefinite number or a round number or number subject to change, Rev 2:10, Mat 25:1.
12-twelve- The number of the redeemed.
Old testament-12 tribes
New testament- 12 apostles
In the holy city there are 12 gates and 12 foundation stones named for the saints of the old and new covenants.
