NUMBER FOUR

(Message by Tanny Keng)

0. Introduction

a) 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.

b) 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).

i) Four is the number of the great elements: earth, air, fire, and water.

ii) Four are the regions of the earth: north, south, east, and west.

iii) Four are the divisions of the day: morning, noon, evening, and midnight.

iv) Four are the seasons of the year - spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

(Note: Four are the great variations of the lunar phases).

c) 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.

d) 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."

e) The Number 4 represents creation, which marks God’s creative works. It is the signature of the world.

f) The material creation was finished on the 4th day — with the sun, moon and stars ordained for 4 things:

i) Signs.

ii) Seasons.

iii) Days.

iv) Years.

g) The 4th commandment, which is "Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy," was given to man at creation.

h) There are 4 gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry, each one of which emphasizes a different aspect of Jesus' ministry and sacrifice:

i) Matthew: Jesus as the Son of David and King.

ii) Mark: Jesus as the Suffering Servant.

iii) Luke: Jesus as the Perfect Man.

iv) John: Jesus as the Only Begotten Son of God.

The End ...