SIGN OF WISDOM?

From a message of 10Jun1994 from a Curious Questioner--
>CQ> Subj: THE NUMBER NINE

>CQ> It would also be interesting to note that Biblically numbers have a significance.

The "wisdom" of numeric "signs" is interesting, but remember:

"For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; But we preach Christ crucified..." (1Cor1:22,23p)

Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Remember that "it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." Before delving into the depths of the mysteries of numerical signs of wisdom, it is best to first be certain that your feet are firmly planted on the solid Rock of our salvation in Christ Jesus the Lord, and keep your heart set on things above, "where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."

>CQ> ...Bullinger's "Numbers in scripture". It states that the number nine is the number of rebellion.

What? Appendix 10 in Bullinger's "Companion Bible" makes reference to his work on "Number in Scripture" and gives summarised comments about some of the significance of numbers. He claims there that, not NINE, but THIRTEEN (13) denotes rebellion (apostasy, etc.) and comments: "The first occurence fixes this (Gen. 14. 4)..."

"Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled." (Gen.14:4)

The number THIRTEEN definitely has some bad connotations. Nimrod, the rebel, type of the antichrist, was the 13th from Adam. There are 13 letters in "Judas Iscariot", the son of perdition, the antichrist. In Revelation chapter 13, the number of the beast (666) is found in verse 18 (6 plus 6 plus 6 equals 18). That beastly 666 also appears in verse 13 of Ezra 2, and in verse 13 of 2Chron 9. The word "dragon" appears 13 times in Revelation. (And it was 13 American colonies that rebelled against the English "powers that be".)

Before the greeks that are "too superstitious" flood the echo from breaking out in a sweat due to the dreaded triskadekaphobia syndrome, peradventure we should briefly look at the more fruitful number NINE.

We see the NINE blessings of the FRUIT of the Spirit in Gal.5:22,23. (Galatians is the ninth book of the new testament.) NINE is what is left for self after you give a TITHE (1 out of 10) to God. There are NINE gifts of the Spirit in 1Cor.12:8-10.

The Lord give thee greater understanding of the things that are needful. Grace be to thy heart for Jesus' sake. Amen. --Richard