Biblical Numeric Keys: Interpreting Numbers in Scripture

By R. J. Plugge

God does things by the numbers. He knows the number of hairs on your head and the number who will be saved. He sets dimensions, durations, designs, definitions, and destinations. He numbered six (6) days for his work of Creation, then he sanctified the seventh for mankind. The numeric 7 has ever since been used as the number symbolizing perfect in the eyes of heaven and of those things expressing the actions of God.

Throughout the scriptures, God has communicated through numbers, which are both symbolic and literal counts. The message in a scriptural text is often as much, or even more, within the symbolism of the associated numbers as it is within the words or actions depicted. The numbers often help explain or even interpret a written text.

In this book are the most likely symbolic revelations to be associated with forty numbers, including 153, 666, 1290, and 1345. It will help you appreciate the depth of messages conveyed throughout Gods Word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512766066

R. J. Plugge

Mr. Plugge was an Aerospace Engineer for 40 years primarily designing microwave systems and their unique components. He’s now writing Bible studies from the perspective of an engineer, not a theologian or story teller. His other books include: Daniel’s Five Visions and On Zechariah. He has degrees in Engineering and Divinity.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-6607-3 (sc)

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2016919621

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/28/2016

CONTENTS

Nuggets in Numbers

Abstract

Preface

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 Numerics 1 to 9

Chapter 3 Numerics 10 to 19

Chapter 4 Numerics 21 to 37

Chapter 5 Numerics 40 to 51

Chapter 6 Some Larger Numerics

Chapter 7 Frequently Discussed Numbers

Chapter 8 Summary: Keys to the Biblical Numerics

Appendix A

References

Jesus is the Key to ALL

of the Scriptures and

all of Life

Dedicated to the ‘3+1’

gifts from the Lord:

My lovely wife and 3 brilliant children

NUGGETS IN NUMBERS

by: R.J. Plugge ©1996

Numerology?.. such a bad connotation.

Perhaps it’s occultic…a topic to shun.

Like mystical studies, or star gazer’s tools,

a topic for cunning, a playground for fools.

       Forty, Four Hundred, Seventy and Two;

       God’s purpose in Three, His presence too.

       Fifty, Three Ninety

       Oh, there’s really quite a few.

But God uses numbers and quite carefully.

Woven gold threads in the Word’s tapestry.

Nuggets of crystal, defining as walls,

Numbers specific, His consistency calls.

       Five for grace, a Three-point-five for trial,

       Seven for order, whole, perfect, or style.

       Twelve a complete in the Family of Grace,

       contrasts with Ten in this worldly place.

Jesus is Lord! Get with the scheme!

The study of numbers revealing the theme.

Four for inclusive, Twenty three’s warn.

Six for mankind, but not the reborn.

       Orders of magnitude, Times Ten’s indicate;

       humbled to gratitude, by new starts in Eight.

       Eden-to-earth complete and reborn,

       Heaven’s seven plus ten you should not scorn.

Our God has infinite ways to connect,

when He reveals His presence to the Elect.

His numbers unending, beyond you and I;

We label pretending, h, k, c, e, and pi.*

       Sevens and sevens, and sevens by the score;

       but other numbers too, hold something in store.

       Dates and periods, counts and times,

       predictions, fulfillments, and numbers of lines.

Praising Jesus with numbers, a novel approach,

thankfully, it was first done by our Coach.

God started with numbers, one for each day.

Forward to Jesus, numbers pointed the way.

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Copyright: R. J. Plugge, 4/1/96; as an insert into Numbering Through Daniel

       *pi = π = ratio of circumference to the diameter = 3.14159…;

       c = speed of light = 2.998x10¹⁰ cm/sec = 3x10⁸ m/sec = 186272 mi/sec

       e = Napierian base = base for natural logarithms = 2.718….;

       h = Planck’s constant = 6.6256x10-27 erg-sec

       k = Boltzmann’s constant = 1.38x10-16 erg/deg = 1.38x10-23 j/deg K;

       g = Gravitational constant = 32.16 ft/sec²

ABSTRACT

BIBLICAL NUMERIC KEYS

Bible readers know that the number 7 somehow symbolizes perfection and that the numbers 12 and 40 occur frequently.

But, why?

What do the numbers 43 and 23 symbolize?

And when did God choose to use them?

What do the frequently publicized numbers 666 and 1000 imply?

These, and many other questions, are good reasons to know these keys.

Symbolic numerical associations, keys, for better Biblical understanding and interpretation are given. The symbolic associations of many of the Biblical numerics are explained and examples given.

God does things by the numbers.

Most of the numbers woven into Scripture are symbolic. They sparkle within the text often holding it together; and they help clarify, expand, and properly divide the words of truth.

PREFACE

Numbers are a fascination for me and for a great percentage of the population; especially engineers and mathematicians. During a lunch time Bible study with a collection of engineers and their support personnel several years ago, I rather rudely interrupted the leader to note that the text being read had numerous collections fitting the numeric 3, and that I had just counted 21 words identifying Jesus; collections like was, is, and will be and the words included Word, Truth, and Light (Rev.1; Jn.1, 14). Being numbers oriented, the group left the present topic and asked, So what? And, Why was that interesting? The subject of numerology occupied the next several lunches, and I soon handed out a list of numeric associations.

A few years later, I handed out spiral bound texts similar to this particular document. It generated a lot of discussions, questions, and concerns. Within this text, several particular numbers are usually given with the number, i.e. 8, instead of using the spelling of the name of that number, i.e. eight, to emphasis it is a number.

In addition to the unique numeric 3.5, there are forty numbers discussed as given in the matrix below:

Table.jpg

Bible quotations have primarily been taken from the American King James Version translated by M. P. Engelbrite and placed into the public domain during 1999. Inserts and bold print have been added into the texts for clarifications and emphasis.

Biblical Numeric Keys

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Keys to Biblical Numerics offer an increased appreciation of Scripture.

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So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Teach us we pray; so we may enjoy a closer walk with Jesus the Christ who lives and reigns today. Amen. (Matt. 7:21)

Psalm 90:12 says we should number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord (Job 28:28; Psalm.111:10). We are to know God (Matt.7:23). We are to acknowledge Him with faith in His mercy, and in Jesus our Lord for He is the Wisdom of God (1Cor.1:24). God reveals Himself, in part, within the scriptures. Some of that revelation occurs through Biblical numerics and in the consistent use of numerics, symbols, and types. Numbers often appear within the various revelations of God’s ways and messages. Many of the numbers, if not all of them, are used both literally and symbolically. Thus recognizing the numerics within a text is often helpful for expanding the interpretation and understanding of a particular Biblical passage. This book will include only a few numeric examples to encourage your appreciation of their contribution.

Of course, by telling us to be numbering our days, God was telling us to be conscious of our human frailty and that He grants us only a few days or years on this earth. Joseph, the patriarch whom God greatly blessed, numbered the last days of his father Jacob, also called Israel (Gen.32:28). Those days lasted 17 years. That is numerically symbolic of being like heaven, but on earth. During his last days, Jacob/Israel lived off the fat of the land in Gentile Egypt. He lived there under the protection of his son, Joseph, who had been elevated and prospered by God (Gen.50:20). Joseph himself enjoyed the glory of Egypt for a perfect 70 years. The numeric 70 indicatives that this time was apart of God’s perfect plan (indicated by the 7) and manifests some worldly completeness (by the numeric 10).

God does things by the numbers. He numbered 6 Days for the work of creation; Days are indicated with a capital D for being days within heaven’s accounting. Then He sanctified the seventh (7th) Day for humanity (Gen.2:3; Mark.3:27; Matt.12:12). The numeric 7 has been used ever since as the number symbolizing perfect in the eyes of heaven and those things expressing the actions of God.

Throughout Scripture, God has communicated through numbers which are both literal counts as well as symbolic numerics. In fact, the message is often as much, or more, within the symbolism of the numbers as it is within the words. Symbolic numbers, like golden threads within a garment, run all through the scriptures. They are especially apparent in the books of Daniel, the Gospel of John,