2014 PROPHETIC FOUR (1)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) It is interesting to note that, on average, ONE in every FIVE scriptural verses contains a number. The meaning of such frequently used numbers found within the Bible reveals the mind of God and the divine design of His revelation to man.
b) Numbers are the secret code of God's Word. God is 'The Great Geometrician' and does everything after a plan by number, weight, and measure. If God is the Author of the Scriptures and the Creator of the Universe (and He is) then the Words of God and the Works of God should and will harmonize"
c) An essential key to understanding the design of God’s Word is through the meaning of Biblical numbers. The connections and patterns of numerals, when we search them out and understand them, reveal the handiwork of God. Thus, it is necessary for us to specially be aware of this Prophetic Four for 2014.
1. The meaning of Number 4
i) Now 4 is made up of three and one (3+1=4), and it denotes His creative works. He is known by the things that are seen. Hence the written revelation commences with the words, "In the beginning God CREATED." Creation is therefore the next thing - the fourth thing, and the number four always has reference to all that is created. It is emphatically the number of Creation; of man in his relation to the world as created; while six is the number of man in his opposition to and independence of God. It is the number of things that have a beginning, of things that are made, of material things, and matter itself. It is the number of material completeness. Hence it is the world number, and especially the "city" number.
ii) The fourth day saw the material creation finished (for on the fifth and sixth days it was only the furnishing and peopling of the earth with living creatures). The sun, moon, and stars completed the work, and they were to give light upon the earth which had been created, and to rule over the day and over the night (Genesis 1:14-19).
a) Four is the number of the great elements: earth, air, fire, and water.
b) Four are the regions of the earth: north, south, east, and west.
c) Four are the divisions of the day: morning, noon, evening, and midnight.
d) Four are the seasons of the year - spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
e) Four are the great variations of the lunar phases.
iii) Or in our Lord's words, when He speaks of His coming at evening, midnight, cock-crowing, or in the morning (Mark 13:35). We are never to put off His coming in our minds beyond tomorrow morning.
iv) In Genesis 2:10, 11, the one river of Paradise was parted, and became into four heads, and "the fourth river is Euphrates." Here, as so often elsewhere, the four is made up of 3 + 1. For three of these rivers are now unnamed, while one is still known by its original name "Euphrates."
2. How does the number 4 mark DIVISION?
i) Four marks division also. For the river was "parted." It is the first number which is not a "prime," the first which can be divided. It is the first square number also, and therefore it marks a kind of completeness as well, which we have called material completeness. In the next chapter of Genesis (Genesis 3:22-24) the cherubim are first mentioned. These are four, and they have to do with creation always. They are first seen here, keeping, i.e., guarding (Genesis 2:15), the Tree of Life, and thus preserving the blessed hope of immortality for creation. They are next seen in connection with atonement, showing the only ground on which creation could hope for the end of its groaning. They are seen on the veil and on the mercy-seat, binding up the hope of creation with Him who is called "the Hope of Israel." So that there is no hope for a groaning creation apart from atonement, apart from Christ, or apart from Israel.
ii) In the book of Revelation the same four cherubim are called "the living creatures" (Revelation 4). These announce the Coming One; these sing of creation and of Him who created all things, and for whose pleasure they were created (Revelation 4:11). Whenever they speak it is in connection with the earth. These call forth and announce the judgments or plagues (Revelation 6) which issue on the ejection of the Usurper from the earth, and the destruction of them which destroy the earth, and in the exaltation and enthronement of Him when all the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of our Lord and His anointed, and when the LORD God omnipotent reigns.
iii) Hence it was that these four cherubic forms were placed in the Signs of the Zodiac, and so placed that they divide it into four equal parts, thus uniting in one the twelve signs which set forth the blessed hope of a groaning creation, which waits for the Promised Seed of the woman to come and crush the serpent's head and bring in universal blessing.
iv) They are the four heads of animal creation: the lion, of wild beasts; the ox, of tame beasts; the eagle, of birds; and man the head of all. Again we have the four divided into 3 + 1: three animal, and one human. They mark the purpose of God from the moment the curse was pronounced, and are the pledge that it will one day be removed.
v) Other characteristics mark the cherubim off from all else. They are not Divine, for they are never worshiped, and all likeness of God was forbidden; moreover the God-head is presented at the same time with them, for they are connected with His throne. They are distinguished from angels, and they are never dismissed on errands. They are distinguished from the Church in Revelation 5:9, 10, a passage which is supposed to prove their identity with it; for in verse 9, the word "us" should be omitted, with Lachmann, Tischendorf, Alford, Westcott and Hort, and the Revised Version ; and the words "us" and "we" in verse 10, should be "them" and "they" (with all the textual and ancient authorities), the verses reading as in Revised Version : -
3. What is the 4-fold division of Mankind?
i) In Genesis 10, "the generations of the sons of Noah" are comprised in a four-fold description. However the order may be varied, the number is preserved.
a) Verse 5: lands, tongues, families, nations
b) Verse 20: families, tongues, countries, nations
c) Verse 31: families, tongues, lands, nations
ii) In Revelation there are seven similar descriptions, and though no two are alike, yet the number four is preserved. See Revelation 5:9, 7:9, 10:11, 11:9, 13:7,* 14:6, 17:15.
iii) The three in Genesis, and seven in Revelation make ten such descriptions in all, which is the number of ordinal perfection.
4. What are the 4 great Prophetic World Powers?
i) The great prophetic world powers are four, and these are divided into 3 + 1, where the one stands out in great and marked contrast to the other three. The first three wild beasts are named (lion, bear, leopard); while the fourth is only described and not named (7:7,23).
ii) So in the image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, three are metals; one is a mixture of metal and mire!In Daniel 7:2, 3 we read,
iv) No sooner are mankind divided in Genesis 10, than Abraham is called out from them to walk with God (Genesis 11, 12). But he soon finds it to be a world of strife and enmity, for Genesis 14 opens with the names of four kings, and "these made war" with five others which are named afterwards.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) It is interesting to note that, on average, ONE in every FIVE scriptural verses contains a number. The meaning of such frequently used numbers found within the Bible reveals the mind of God and the divine design of His revelation to man.
b) Numbers are the secret code of God's Word. God is 'The Great Geometrician' and does everything after a plan by number, weight, and measure. If God is the Author of the Scriptures and the Creator of the Universe (and He is) then the Words of God and the Works of God should and will harmonize"
c) An essential key to understanding the design of God’s Word is through the meaning of Biblical numbers. The connections and patterns of numerals, when we search them out and understand them, reveal the handiwork of God. Thus, it is necessary for us to specially be aware of this Prophetic Four for 2014.
1. The meaning of Number 4i) Now 4 is made up of three and one (3+1=4), and it denotes His creative works. He is known by the things that are seen. Hence the written revelation commences with the words, "In the beginning God CREATED." Creation is therefore the next thing - the fourth thing, and the number four always has reference to all that is created. It is emphatically the number of Creation; of man in his relation to the world as created; while six is the number of man in his opposition to and independence of God. It is the number of things that have a beginning, of things that are made, of material things, and matter itself. It is the number of material completeness. Hence it is the world number, and especially the "city" number.
ii) The fourth day saw the material creation finished (for on the fifth and sixth days it was only the furnishing and peopling of the earth with living creatures). The sun, moon, and stars completed the work, and they were to give light upon the earth which had been created, and to rule over the day and over the night (Genesis 1:14-19).
a) Four is the number of the great elements: earth, air, fire, and water.
b) Four are the regions of the earth: north, south, east, and west.
c) Four are the divisions of the day: morning, noon, evening, and midnight.
d) Four are the seasons of the year - spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
e) Four are the great variations of the lunar phases.
iii) Or in our Lord's words, when He speaks of His coming at evening, midnight, cock-crowing, or in the morning (Mark 13:35). We are never to put off His coming in our minds beyond tomorrow morning.
iv) In Genesis 2:10, 11, the one river of Paradise was parted, and became into four heads, and "the fourth river is Euphrates." Here, as so often elsewhere, the four is made up of 3 + 1. For three of these rivers are now unnamed, while one is still known by its original name "Euphrates."
2. How does the number 4 mark DIVISION?
i) Four marks division also. For the river was "parted." It is the first number which is not a "prime," the first which can be divided. It is the first square number also, and therefore it marks a kind of completeness as well, which we have called material completeness. In the next chapter of Genesis (Genesis 3:22-24) the cherubim are first mentioned. These are four, and they have to do with creation always. They are first seen here, keeping, i.e., guarding (Genesis 2:15), the Tree of Life, and thus preserving the blessed hope of immortality for creation. They are next seen in connection with atonement, showing the only ground on which creation could hope for the end of its groaning. They are seen on the veil and on the mercy-seat, binding up the hope of creation with Him who is called "the Hope of Israel." So that there is no hope for a groaning creation apart from atonement, apart from Christ, or apart from Israel.
ii) In the book of Revelation the same four cherubim are called "the living creatures" (Revelation 4). These announce the Coming One; these sing of creation and of Him who created all things, and for whose pleasure they were created (Revelation 4:11). Whenever they speak it is in connection with the earth. These call forth and announce the judgments or plagues (Revelation 6) which issue on the ejection of the Usurper from the earth, and the destruction of them which destroy the earth, and in the exaltation and enthronement of Him when all the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of our Lord and His anointed, and when the LORD God omnipotent reigns.
iii) Hence it was that these four cherubic forms were placed in the Signs of the Zodiac, and so placed that they divide it into four equal parts, thus uniting in one the twelve signs which set forth the blessed hope of a groaning creation, which waits for the Promised Seed of the woman to come and crush the serpent's head and bring in universal blessing.
iv) They are the four heads of animal creation: the lion, of wild beasts; the ox, of tame beasts; the eagle, of birds; and man the head of all. Again we have the four divided into 3 + 1: three animal, and one human. They mark the purpose of God from the moment the curse was pronounced, and are the pledge that it will one day be removed.
v) Other characteristics mark the cherubim off from all else. They are not Divine, for they are never worshiped, and all likeness of God was forbidden; moreover the God-head is presented at the same time with them, for they are connected with His throne. They are distinguished from angels, and they are never dismissed on errands. They are distinguished from the Church in Revelation 5:9, 10, a passage which is supposed to prove their identity with it; for in verse 9, the word "us" should be omitted, with Lachmann, Tischendorf, Alford, Westcott and Hort, and the Revised Version ; and the words "us" and "we" in verse 10, should be "them" and "they" (with all the textual and ancient authorities), the verses reading as in Revised Version : -
"Thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with Thy blood, men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,* and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon the earth."
vi) The fact, therefore, of the living creatures being four (and no other number) marks them as connected with Creation, and as a symbolical representation that its hope of deliverance from the curse is bound up with the blood-shedding of the coming Redeemer.* Note the four-fold description.
3. What is the 4-fold division of Mankind?
i) In Genesis 10, "the generations of the sons of Noah" are comprised in a four-fold description. However the order may be varied, the number is preserved.
a) Verse 5: lands, tongues, families, nations
b) Verse 20: families, tongues, countries, nations
c) Verse 31: families, tongues, lands, nations
ii) In Revelation there are seven similar descriptions, and though no two are alike, yet the number four is preserved. See Revelation 5:9, 7:9, 10:11, 11:9, 13:7,* 14:6, 17:15.
iii) The three in Genesis, and seven in Revelation make ten such descriptions in all, which is the number of ordinal perfection.
4. What are the 4 great Prophetic World Powers?
i) The great prophetic world powers are four, and these are divided into 3 + 1, where the one stands out in great and marked contrast to the other three. The first three wild beasts are named (lion, bear, leopard); while the fourth is only described and not named (7:7,23).
ii) So in the image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, three are metals; one is a mixture of metal and mire!In Daniel 7:2, 3 we read,
"The FOUR winds of the heaven STROVE upon the great sea, and FOUR beasts came up from the sea DIVERSE one from another."iii) Such is the history of man's power in the world - strife and division!
iv) No sooner are mankind divided in Genesis 10, than Abraham is called out from them to walk with God (Genesis 11, 12). But he soon finds it to be a world of strife and enmity, for Genesis 14 opens with the names of four kings, and "these made war" with five others which are named afterwards.
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