1. INTRODUCTION
Numerals/numbers when used in the Word of God are never used carelessly.
As with all that is written if Scripture they take on a spiritual significance and have meaning in a symbolic sense in addition to measuring or denoting quantity.
All creation as known by mankind is limited under time. Man has become a creature of time and as such is effected by the concept of number and numbering.
God reveals Himself in a universe that has a basis in mathematics and His Word is no exception to this universal principle. Throughout the Scriptures there may be found a consistency in the use of numbers and a harmony is revealed in the symbolism which numbers reveal. Even over the many centuries that were occupied in writing the Bible these principles were maintained and are found to be consistent.
2 Tim 3:16 (NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2 Pet 1:21 (NIV) For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
(here we are not talking about the false teachings of cult beliefs like numerology which are inspired by the occult in an attempt to introduce a counterfeit of the true principles of God’s mathematical creation.)
2. INTERPRETATION OF NUMBERS. Some principles.
i..the numbers from 1 to 13 are significant.
ii.. multiples of these numbers, by doubling or tripling carry basically the same meaning intensified.
iii.. Generally the first use of a number in Scripture conveys its scriptural meaning.
iv.. God is consistent, what a number means in Genesis it means through to Revelations.
v. The spiritual; meaning is not always stated it may be veiled or hidden or seen by comparison with other Scriptures.
Prov 25:2 (NIV) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
vi. Generally there are, good and evil, true and counterfeit, Godly and satanic, aspects in numbers.
3. IN THE BEGINNING.
Gen 1:20-23 (NIV) And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning–the fifth day.
On this fifth day the first live creatures were created after the flesh.
In the redemptive week the fifth day brought forth resurrection life through the cross.
4. THE CHALLENGE AND THE ANSWER.
Isa 14:12-14 (NIV) How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
There are five challenges in the above statement against the will of God.
The comparison with Jesus is…….
| Lucifer said | The Answer |
| I will ascend to heaven 9; 9; | Jesus descended from heaven to the earth. |
| I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly | J esus made His home with the lowly. |
| I will raise my throne above the stars of God | Jesus became a servant. |
| I will ascend above the clouds | Jesus descended into the grave. |
| I will be like the Most High | Jesus took the likeness of flesh |
| The result | The result |
Jesus is the fullness of God’s grace to us. Grace means unmerited favour -redemption – atonement.
5. GRACE FORESHADOWED IN THE FIVE OFFERINGS.
Gen 15:9 (NIV) So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”
– 5 Five animals were offered = grace
8 pieces = resurrection
In Lev. Chap.1 to 5 are outlined the five offerings the priests were to concern themselves with in instructing the people of Israel.
i. Burnt offering
ii. Meal offering #9; The first three were voluntary.
iii. Peace offerings.
iv. Sin offerings. These last two were compulsory.
v. Trespass offering.
All of these pointed to the cross. In the days of Moses these five offerings were the way to receiving God’s favour or grace to the people.
6. FIVE MINISTRIES
Jesus gave these when He ascended back to the Father. They are channels of God’s grace to His people that all may be built up in their work of ministry.
Eph 4:11-12 (NIV) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
7. OTHER EXAMPLES.
Gen 7:24 (NIV) The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.
Noah and his family were saved by the grace of God. (150 divided by 30 = 5 months.)
Exo 30:23-24 (NIV) “Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 24 500 shekels of cassia–all according to the sanctuary shekel–and a hin of olive oil.
5 ingredients in the anointing oil.
Exo 30:34-38 (NIV) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices–gum resin, onycha and galbanum–and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred.”
Five ingredients in the incense. grace in prayer.
1 Sam 17:40 (NIV) Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream,
Five stones…grace in victory
Exo 27:1-3 (NIV) “Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. 2 Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. 3 Make all its utensils of bronze–its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and firepans.
Five cubits by 5 cubits. Grace in the atonement.
Other examples are found in Aaron & his four sons, The five instruments of service. pans,shovels,basons,fleshooks,firepans. The five offerings were burnt on this altar.
Exo 26:37 (NIV) Make gold hooks for this curtain and five posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold. And cast five bronze bases for them.
Five posts or pillars at the entrance to the Holy Place (by grace are you saved.)
John 5:2 (NIV) Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.
Five colonnades at Bethesda. (the house of bread.) Grace and the Word.
1 Cor 14:19 (NIV) But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Five words of instruction. Ministry is by God’s grace.
Mat 14:17-21 (NIV) “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Five loaves fed thousands. Grace is infinite.
8. SUMMARY .
The summation of the revelation associated with the number five is found in the gospel of John. Jesus said.
John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
This began to be revealed in Genesis on the fifth day when God brought forth the living creatures in abundance (teeming) This was the first mention of LIFE. The spiritual fulfilment of this life began to flow at Calvary from five wounds. the life of the natural and spiritual creature is in the blood. First the natural after that the spiritual
Lev 17:14 (NIV) because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off.”
The spiritual came in the blood of Jesus which brings life to those dead in trespasses and sin. His blood shows God’s grace (unmerited favour) to a dying and sinful mankind in the returning to them eternal life.
Eph 2:8 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–