~ THAT YE MAY MARVEL or THE SIGNIFICANCE of BIBLE NUMBERS ~
places ascribe FOUR words of praise to God? (Rev. 5:13). Why did they not ascribe FIVE or SIX? In Rev. 7:12 there are seven words of praise ascribed unto God, but the word CREATURE is not found in that connection. How did it happen that some of these writers did not make a slip and connect some other number with the CREATION? Let the atheist and infidel answer if they can? There can be but one answer. All these writers were guided by Him who makes no mistakes, and who never contradicts Himself. “This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.” (Matt. 21:42). No wonder Paul exclaimed, “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments and His ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:33). Greater things than these shall be seen as this study progresses, which will cause the child of God to marvel and rejoice in the hidden wisdom “Ordained before the world unto our glory.” (1 Cor. 2:7).
The Incarnation of The WORD Both the pre-incarnate existence of Jesus Christ, and His incarnation are proven by Bible numbers. “In the beginning was the (1) WORD, and the (2) WORD was with (1) GOD, and the (3) WORD was (2) GOD. The same was in the beginning with (3) GOD.” (John 1:1-2). As has already been pointed out, we find Christ, the WORD, mentioned THREE times in this connection, and the word GOD occurring THREE times. This shows the existence of Christ, the WORD, in the beginning as one of the THREE persons in the Godhead. This establishes the pre-incarnate existence of Christ. The FOURTH time the “WORD” is found is in John 1:14. “And the WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. FOUR is the number for the flesh, or first creation. So the first THREE times Christ is called The Word is in the place where He existed as one of the Trinity in the beginning. The FOURTH time it is mentioned is where the WORD became FLESH. Here there is set forth the doctrine of the incarnation of Christ. This verse connects the doctrine of His incarnation with number FOUR. Here the Creator became also the creature. John said, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” (John 1:10). This shows Christ as the Creator. In Col. 1:15 He is said to be “The image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature.” So He is the creature as well as Creator. He became the creature, when He, the WORD became flesh.
Number Five—Grace FIVE is the number in the word of God that is associated with God's GRACE. FIVE is FOUR plus ONE. It is the next number after FOUR, which is the CREATION number. Before God created man He purposed to manifest His GRACE. Proof of this is found in 2Tim. 1:9. “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and GRACE, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” The word GRACE is used FIVE times in succession in Rom. 11:5-6. “Even so at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of GRACE (1). And if by GRACE (2), then it is no more of works: otherwise GRACE (3) is no more GRACE (4). But if it be of works, then it is no more GRACE (5): otherwise work is no more work.” Here the word GRACE occurs FIVE times in two verses. The word is not found again in this chapter. Is there not a significance in this? If the reader will check again on the above quotation he will see that the words “work” and “works” are found FOUR times. Why is GRACE mentioned FIVE times and “work” FOUR times? GRACE is of God. The works mentioned here are of man. The natural man, man of the first
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