More watermarks of God

More watermarks of God (Session 10)

Iessous – 888

Jesus was a Jew. Jews need to know that Jesus is the Messiah.

The New Testament was written by Jews. They wrote in Greek. They called Jesus Iessous.

Every letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numeric value. Knowing this, we can work out a numeric value for each word in the Old Testament text.

Greek also has this feature. Every letter of the Greek alphabet has a numeric value. Knowing this, we can work out a numeric value of each word in the New Testament text.

The numeric value of ΙΗΣΟΥΣ is 888. The first verse of the Bible is: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Read in Hebrew).

The value of these two words is 999. The value of these three words is 999. The value of these three words is 777. And the value of these three words is 888 ... just like the value of Iessous ... 888.

In Genesis 1:1, the word for God is Elohim ... the first word of the three words that add up to 888. The value of Elohim is 86. 888 can be expressed as 86 + 401 + 401

What is the significance of 401? 401 is the value of the middle word ... (Hebrew - et). "Et" is an untranslatable word in Hebrew grammar. ALEF and TAV are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Jesus said He is the first and the last. Et(ALEF TAV) hints of Jesus.

"In the beginning God, (the alef tav), created the heavens and the earth." The New Testament, written by Jews, says that Iessous created the heavens and the earth. (see John 1:2, etc.).

ALEF TAV occurs twice in Genesis 1:1 ... the middle word, and the sixth word. Et (ALEF TAV) connects the heavens and the earth. Jesus connects the heavens with the earth.

The value of is ET is 401. The value of VE'ET is 407. 401 + 407 = 808. 808 is 8 x 101. 101 is the 26th prime number. And 26 is the value of YUD HEH VAV HEH.

YUD HEH VAV HEH is the word that we say as "the LORD". Jesus is the LORD.

Throughout the creation account in Genesis chapter 1 and the beginning of Genesis chapter 2, the only word that is used for God is Elohim. Immediately after that passage, we get Genesis 2 chapter 4: "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven."

"the LORD God made" (Read in Hebrew). Adonai: the LORD. Elohim: God. Elohim ... numeric value 86. The LORD ... YUD HEH VAV HEH ... numeric value 26.

YUD HEH VAV HEH is not the name of the LORD. YUD HEH VAV HEH hints at the name of the LORD. It was Jews, writing the New Testament, who brought the revelation of exactly who is the LORD, and what is His name.

The value of this phrase (the very first use in the Bible of YUD HEH VAV HEH and the phrase that identifies YUD HEH VAV HEH as the Creator) is 888. The value of ΙΗΣΟΥΣ is 888.

The Jewish writers of the New Testament told us three times that Iessous is the Creator. (see Scripture references)

This is interesting: Psalm 23 is well known ... "The LORD (that's YUD HEH VAV HEH in the text) is my Shepherd." Verse 3 says: "He will restore my soul. He will guide me." (Read in Hebrew) The total value of the phrase is ... 888.

In the Hebrew arrangement of the Old Testament Scriptures, the last chapter of Isaiah ... (Isaiah 66) ... is the 400th chapter of the Hebrew Bible. In this last chapter of Isaiah is the prophecy of the re-formation of the State of Israel (Isaiah 66:8). It's a prophecy that has been fulfilled in our days.

"Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her sons."

The opening phrase: "Who has heard such a thing?" (Read in Hebrew). Numeric value of the phrase: 888

John 3

We read a Bible, written by Jews, that comprises 39 books of the Old Testament, and 27 books of the New Testament. A total of 66 books.

Even though Jesus was a Jew, and even though the writers of the New Testament were Jews, most Jews today have yet to accept that faith in Jesus is the only way tobe reconciled with God. God intends that they will come into this faith.

That means they will come to accept the writings of the New Testament ... writings, recorded in Greek, but done by their own people ... Jews.

In the 66 books of the Bible there are 929 chapters in the Old Testament and 260 chapters in the New Testament.

260 is 26 x 10. 26 is the numeric value of YUD HEH VAV HEH ... the word that represents the name of the LORD, the name of Iessous.

10 in rabbinical thought is the full manifestation of something. 26 x 10 ... the 260 chapters of the New Testament are the full manifestation of Jesus ... the Jewish Messiah.

In this arrangement, the 1000th chapter of the Bible is John chapter 3. The gospel of John was written by John ... a Jew. John chapter 3 is a story of an observant Jew, Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Ruling Council, coming to Jesus in the night to ask questions that others were afraid to ask.

Jesus told him: You must be born again. And then, four times, the chapter spells out the condition for coming into a living relationship with God:

1. (John 3:15) Whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life.
2. (John 3:16) Whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but will have eternal life.
3. (John 3:18) Whoever believes in Jesus is not under judgment.
4. (John 3:36) Whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life.

Important chapter. There are 999 chapters in the Bible before John chapter 3. And there are 189 chapters in the Bible after John chapter 3.

999 can be expressed as 3 x 3 x 3 x 37. 189 can be expressed as 3 x 3 x 3 x 7. And in the original text of John chapter 3 there are exactly 657 Greek words. 657 can be expressed as 73 x 3 x 3. Surely anyone can see that there is a pattern here ... and surely they can see that the pattern could not have occurred by accident.

In John chapter 3, there is a record (see John 3:29) of John the Baptist, a Jew, speaking of his joy at the coming of Jesus. In the text, the Greek word for joy is chara. The numeric value of chara is 702. That's interesting. It takes us back to Psalm 120 ... the first of the Psalms of Ascent, where we saw the Scriptural first steps for coming to God.

702, 18 and 66

In the first verse of Psalm 120, I called to the LORD ... I now know that it means that I call on the name of Jesus. I turn to Him. I have been going my own independent way. It has gotten me into trouble. I call on Him. And He answers.

Step 1 ... I turn to Jesus.

In verses 2 to 6 of Psalm 120, I confess my shame. I take responsibility for my sin. No excuses. It's my shame. In confessing, I give my shame to Jesus, and He gives me His righteousness.

I am accepted. I receive His peace (verse 7). I come into rest.

It's not up to me to perform in order to find acceptance. I rest from my own works of trying to measure up through observance of rules. I rest in what He has done ... He has paid the price for my shame. Resting from any reliance on my deeds of righteousness is an important principle in the life of faith. It's what the Sabbath symbolises ... Sabbath ... Shabbat in Hebrew.

There is a passage in the Book of Hebrews (see Hebrews 3:7-4:16) where we see that faith is defined as trusting in the work of the LORD. Twelve times in the passage it speaks of "rest". The Greek word is "katapavsin". But, one of those words for rest is the Greek word for Sabbath ... "sabbatismos" ... (Hebrews 4:9).

It is vital, having turned to Jesus, and having confessed shame and, therefore, need of His righteousness, to continue in that faith in Him. It's called rest ... Shabbat.

Amazingly, three Hebrew words ... all spelled with the letters BET, SHIN and TAV, and each having a numeric value of 702 ... are found near the end of the Psalms of Ascent. They are a reminder.

In Psalm 132 verse 10, we find the word "tashuv". "Tashuv" means "turn". Turn to Jesus.

In Psalm 132 verse 18, we find the word "boshet" ... shame. I have confessed my shame.

And in Psalm 133 verse 1, we find the word "shevet" ... rest. Same spelling, pronounced "Shabbat" ... the day of rest.

TAV ... numeric value 400. SHIN ... numeric value 300. BET ... numeric value 2. Total 702.

And the Greek word for "joy" (in the New Testament) is "chara" ... same numeric value ... 702.

702 can be expressed as ... 18 x 3 x 13; or 26 x 3 x 3 x 3. But, note, this can also be expressed as: 18 x 39; or 26 x 27.

There are 39 books in the Old Testament, and there are 27 books in the New Testament. Total ... 66 books. I don't think that these numbers are occurring by accident.

What about these two numbers? 26 is the numeric value of YUD HEH VAV HEH ... the LORD. So, that's significant. That's not an accident. And 18 ... 18 is a number that is significant to Jews. Many consider it to be a "lucky" number, because 18 is the numeric value of the Hebrew word for life ... chai. CHET ... value 8. YUD ... value 10. Total ... 18. "chai" ... life.

The Greek word for rest ... "katapavsin" (in the past tense), occurs three times in the passage in Hebrews (see Hebrews 4:4, 8, 10). The numeric value of this word is 1062 ... a number divisible by 18.

And the Greek word for Sabbath ... sabbatismos ... in the passage (see Hebrews 4:9) has a numeric value of 1026 ... also a number divisible by 18.

18 is a number that shows up in significant words and phrases in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, and in the Greek text of the New Testament. Go to our website, where this video session is embedded, and you can download pdf's with examples.

In the Psalms of Ascent, there are two key phrases that are worth highlighting.

In Psalm 129:8 is the expression "(the) blessing of the LORD". (Read in Hebrew). Total numeric value: 648, which can be expressed as 18 x 18 x 2. Life ... and Life again.

And, for Jews, in the promises of the LORD, they will find life as they come into the blessing of knowing Jesus, their Messiah.

Also. in Psalm 132:17 there is the expression "a lamp unto My Messiah" (Read in Hebrew). Total numeric value: 648 (again). 648 is 18 x 18 x 2

In English, we speak of "having a light-bulb moment" ... an instant when suddenly there is understanding ... "A lamp unto My Messiah". A time is coming when the lamp of the LORD will be illuminated for Jewish eyes. They will see the Messiah ... Jesus ... and it will bring them into life, and life everlasting.

In Psalm 122, we saw the importance of Jerusalem. Psalm 122 is the 600th chapter of the Bible. There are 260 Hebrew letters in the original text of Psalm 122.

In a running total of Hebrew letters in the first three Psalms of Ascent, there are 185 letters in Psalm 120, 203 letters in Psalm 121, and 260 letters in Psalm 122 ... a total of 648 Hebrew letters. As we have already seen, 648 is 18 x 18 x 2.

Psalm 122 reflects the LORD's heart, to have a people for Himself from among the Jews, and from among Gentiles of all nationalities ... one new man ... united in faith in Jesus. Life for Jews. Life for Gentiles.

We saw in Psalm 122 that the LORD has a particular heart for Jerusalem, and for the salvation of the Jewish people. Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem. Jesus was buried in Jerusalem. Jesus rose from the grave in Jerusalem. Jesus ascended to heaven from Jerusalem. And Jesus is going to return to Jerusalem. Jesus is going to reign from Jerusalem. Jesus is going to judge from Jerusalem.

Verse 5 of Psalm 122 says: "Because there are set thrones unto justice, thrones unto (the) house of David." (Read in Hebrew). Total numeric value of the verse: 2592, which can be expressed as 18 x 18 x 8

The LORD calls on us to knit our hearts with His purposes.

Verse 2 of Psalm 122 says: "Our feet have taken a stand within your gates, Jerusalem." (Read in Hebrew). There are 26 Hebrew letters in the verse. The numeric value of all the words is 2028, which can be expressed as 26 x 26 x 3. And the numeric value of the final phrase "within your gates Jerusalem" (read in Hebrew), is 1188. Note: 18 inside 18. Life within life.

You may recall that we pointed out the importance of John chapter 3 ... the 1000th chapter of the Bible. There are 999 chapters before John chapter 3, and 189 chapters after John chapter 3 ... a total of 1188 chapters. There's the same number ... 1188. 18 inside 18. As believers in Jesus, our lives are hidden in Him (see 1 John). We are in Him ... and He is in us.

Also note: 1188 can be expressed as 18 x 66. There are 66 books in the Bible, made up of 39 books in the Old Testament, and 27 books in the New Testament.

And, you may recall, 702 can be expressed as 18 x 39 ... or 26 x 27. 39 books in the Old Testament. 27 books in the New Testament. Total: 66 books.

We should also point out that the numeric value of all the Hebrew words in all fifteen Psalms of Ascent is: 202,620 ... which can be expressed as 66 x 10 x 307.

When Jews come to accept Jesus as their Messiah, they will come into the revelation that their Scriptures are completed with the writings of their own people, who brought the revelation of Jesus.

We saw, in the early video sessions of this seminar, that the River Jorden flows from Mt Hermon, in the north of the land of Israel, and descends down down to the lowest place on earth ... the Dead Sea. There, at Gilgal, we made a sharp right turn to head up to the mountains of Jerusalem. There, at Gilgal, is where our journey through the Psalm of Ascent began. There, we turned to Jesus.

The Jordan, in Hebrew, is "yarden". The numeric value is 264. 264 is 66 x 2 x 2.

The Jordan River has brought us to an end of ourselves. Jews and Gentiles have to come to this point.

At Gilgal, we start our journey to our completed state. The numeric value of Gilgal is 66. May I say that the Word of God, the 66 books of the Bible, reveal our need of Him ... that in ourselves we are not worthy but, by taking hold of Jesus, we come into life. The life that is truly life.

With this in mind, we return to the middle verse of the Psalms of Ascent. We examined this in session 7 of this series ... Watermarks of God in the Psalms of Ascent.

Psalm 127 verse 3 says: "Behold, a heritage of the LORD is sons; a reward is fruit of the womb." (Read in Hebrew). Everyone who has experienced the blessing of parenthood is happy to take hold of this verse and recognise the miracle of new birth. The verse does have this meaning. But, it also conveys spiritual meaning. The apostle Paul, for example, had no children through natural birth. But he has multitudes of spiritual offspring.

"A reward is fruit of the womb". (Read in Hebrew). The womb: "ha-beten" Numeric value 66. The place of our new birth, spiritually speaking, was when we turned to Jesus. In turning to Jesus we came into the revelation that we have life in the Word ... 66 books, written by Jews.

I do appreciate that it is not easy for Gentiles to grasp the original languages of the Bible and to accept the numeric structure that underlies the Scriptures. But, if the LORD has a purpose in sealing His Word with these mathematical patterns, then one important reason must be to reach Jewish hearts with the Truth. Jews, of all people, are aware of the numeric value of the letters of their alphabet, and Jewish rabbis have pondered on the meaning of this for centuries.

So, here is my final word of the watermarks of God ... for Jewish listeners.

There is one place in the Old Testament writings where there is a promise of a new covenant. It's Jeremiah, chapter 31:31-32. "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah ..."

A new covenant, in Hebrew, is: "Brit chadasha". The numeric value of "brit" (covenant) is 612 ... a number that is divisible by 18.

The numeric value of the two words is 929. 929 is the number of chapters in the Old Testament.

And the numeric value of "chadasha" (new) ... a new covenant ... is 317. And 317 is the 66th prime number.

May the Holy Spirit give light to Jewish minds and hearts ... that they will take up the Scriptures ... Old and New Testaments ... because every page testifies of their Messiah.

Go now to the next session: Psalm 125: Maturing faith.