I Am the First and the Last
Hi Everyone,
Today I have three visions to share with you. I believe that the Lord would have us consider our walk with him. Are we where we are supposed to be? Are we keeping our eyes upon him? Do we trust him as we should? Is there compromise in our lives? The Lord may be calling us to repent.
The Visions
The Numbers
In this vision I saw six small wooden square game pieces, each stamped with a number. The numbers were the digits 1 through 6. There were no larger digits like 7, 8 or 9. The square wooden game pieces were like those that I use to play SUDOKU.
Numbers have meanings in Hebrew, somewhat like Roman numerals, using letters for numbers. Some of the data below I found on the website: Biblestudy.org which you can check out for more information.
The Number 1
The number One stands for unity, as it is divisible only by itself. It represents the unity of the God head: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Deuteronomy 6:4
“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30
The number one also represents what is first and most important. For example, the first of the Ten Commandments is foundational to our faith:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2-3
Jesus said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One…” Revelation 1:17-18
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:15
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23
Jesus is of primary importance for:
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
The Number 2
The Number 2 represents both union and division.
Union is demonstrated by the number 2 as in the marriage of a man and a woman, the union of the body and the Spirit, and the union of Christ and the Church.
Division is seen as in separating the sheep from the goats, the clean from the unclean, the saved from the unsaved. It is seen in the Old Testament Law giving the promises of blessings and curses for obedience and for disobedience. (Deuteronomy 27-28)
We see the importance of 2 in the following:
Truth is established by the testimony of two witnesses. Under the Mosaic Law, no one could be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. (Deuteronomy 17:6)
Jesus sent his disciples out two by two.
And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. Mark 6:7
The Number 3
The number 3 represents completeness and perfection but to a lesser degree than 7.
We see the God head again as it is three in one: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
We see sets of 3, like triplets in many instances throughout the Bible:
The 3 patriarchs after the flood: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (God changed his name to Israel).
Jesus prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest.
He was placed on the cross at the 3rd hour of the day and died at the 9th hour.
There were 3 hours of darkness that covered the land while Jesus was suffering on the cross
Christ was dead for three days.
3 disciples, James, Peter and John experienced the Lord’s transfiguration
3 were seen in the cloud at the transfiguration: Jesus, Moses and Elijah.
The Number 4
The number 4 is significant for God created the sun, the moon and the stars on the fourth day. Their purpose was to divide the day from the night, and mark time by seasons and years.
There are four seasons in a year.
God’s name in Hebrew is written without vowels, and represented by four consonants: YHWH
In Ezekiel’s vision of heaven, he saw four living creatures each with four faces, and four wings.
Also out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And each had four faces, and each had four wings. And the likeness of their faces was this: the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side of the four of them; and the face of a bull on the left side of the four of them; and the face of an eagle toward the rear of the four of them. Ezekiel 1:5-6, 10
The Number 5
The number 5 represents God’s grace, goodness and favor toward his people.
Examples of the use of five:
The first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch) were written by Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
God mandated 5 different types of offerings: the Burnt Offering, the Sin offering, the Trespass offering, the Grain offering and the Peace Offering
The holy anointing oil used in the consecration of the temple and the priests was made with 5 ingredients.
The tabernacle in the wilderness uses the number 5 in its design: 5 curtains, 5 bars, 5 pillars, and 5 sockets. The altar was 5 cubits long and 5 cubits wide. The height of the interior court was 5 cubits high.
The Number 6
The Number 6 refers to man, for man was created on the sixth day.
God had appointed man to work for six days and rest on the Sabbath.
A Hebrew slave/indentured servant worked for 6 years and was released in the 7th.
The land was to be worked for 6 years and rested in the 7th.
In the book of Revelation, the adversary known as “The Beast,” was a man whose name in Biblical numerology (gematria) summed 666 or 616. Both numbers represent Nero, the most cruel of all the Caesars. According to evidenceunseen.com and Wikipedia:
Both 666 and 616 are believed to refer to Nero through a method called gematria, where letters correspond to numbers. The name "Nero Caesar" can be transliterated into Hebrew, yielding 666, while a Latin version can result in 616, suggesting that early Christians used these numbers to encode references to Nero to avoid persecution.
This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. Revelation 13:18
I believe that by showing in various early texts that both 666 and 616 refer to Nero, it gives confirmation that Nero was the beast. For what other person’s name could be shown to add up to both these two specific numbers? After all there can be only one straight line that connects two points.
The Number 7
The number 7 is the number used most often in the Bible. The word "seven" and its variations as seven-fold, seventy or seventh, occurs a total of 591 times. The number seven means completion and perfection.
As God created his perfect and complete universe, he established a 7 day week. He created all things within the first 6 days, and then rested on the seventh. Because he said it was good, we know that his creation was both complete and perfect.
We see the number seven being used throughout the Bible. In the book of Revelation we see many sets of sevens.
John was told to share the revelation that he saw with 7 churches and their 7 angels, or overseers.
There were seven seal judgments against Jerusalem.
There were seven trumpet judgments against Jerusalem
There were seven bowl judgments against Jerusalem
There were mentioned 7 Spirits of God
There were also seven thunders
At the last or seventh trumpet, the resurrection of the dead occurred which brought completion and perfection to God’s plan of salvation.
The Number 8
The number 8 represents new beginnings, a new order, and the new spiritual birth. Whenever a person who is dead in his sins, turns to God and repents, acknowledging the Lord’s sacrificial death as payment for his sin, he becomes born again and receives a new life in Christ.
In water baptism, we die to our old selves as we go under the water, and we are raised to a new spiritual life in Christ, as we are raised from the water. This symbolizes the spiritual resurrection, that takes place the moment we become born again and receive the Holy Spirit. We were dead in our trespasses and now we have been made alive in Christ. Having declared our belief in Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit, we begin a new life in him. He lives through us.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
There is one other very important new beginning which happened at Jesus’ second coming, the consummation, when he came to terminate the Old Covenant and establish the New Covenant in his blood. The New Covenant could not be fully established until the Old Covenant was permanently revoked. The religious leaders that “killed the prophets, and stoned those sent to her,” had to be destroyed, along with their pride: the Temple by which they profited, and the city of Jerusalem which was their seat of religious authority.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate.” Matthew 23:37-38
The Number 9
The number nine conveys the meaning of divine completeness and finality.
Christ died at the 9th hour of the day, (3 PM), making the way of salvation for those who believe. The temple curtain that separated men from the presence of God was torn, top to bottom so that now it is possible to enter the presence of God, not with the blood of animals, but freely, because of the Lord’s blood, which was shed for the remission of sins.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:28-30
The Day of Atonement, (Yom Kippur), considered by many Jews to be the holiest day of the year, begins at sunset on the 9th day of the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar. (Leviticus 23:32).
The number 9 also represents the fruit of God's Holy Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
There are other examples of the number nine that indicate completion or finality from God’s perspective.
According to BibleStudy.org :
Friday March 31 in 30 A.D. (Nisan 9 on the Hebrew calendar) fell within the last week of Jesus' earthly life. It was the day he threw the money changers and other crooks out of the temple just like he had done at the start of his ministry (Luke 19:46). It was also the day children shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" when they saw him (Matthew 21:15).
Jesus’ actions on Nissan 9, were prophetic. As he drove out the money changers from the temple, and overturned the tables his actions were fore-telling what would befall Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70. Jesus’ actions portrayed finality, for they prophesied the end of the Old Covenant age.
But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:2
While Praying for Greater Understanding
To understand more concerning the vision the Lord gave me, in which I saw the numbers 1 through 6, I asked the Lord to tell me why the last three numbers: 7, 8 and 9, were missing. He gave me two more visions in response.
The Dance Turners
Turners are special toe coverings used by dancers when they dance barefoot but need to be able to turn. Bare feet will stick to a wood dance floor because they sweat. The turners cover the toes and the ball of the foot so that a turn can be made gracefully. They are secured to the foot by an elastic band that wraps behind and above the heel.
The turner represents a change in direction. It represents repentance because repentance means to change one’s mind. The turner and the number seven that was missing in the first vision, brought this scripture to mind:
“I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.” Revelation 3:1-3
The Church of Sardis was criticized by God for its incomplete works of faith, and it needed a change of direction, God was calling them to repent. When we repent, God forgives us and we are given a new beginning. The number eight that was also missing means new beginnings. So when we repent, we are given a chance to beginning again, to start over.
By this vision, I believe that the Lord is asking the Church to repent and turn to him for reconciliation and a new beginning. The Church of Sardis, in the 1st century, reminds me of many of our churches today that have a reputation for being alive, but are “powerless” and lack true faith. Too many people have no fear of God and come to church, not to enter the presence of God in a powerful way, but as a social opportunity to make friends and to feel good about themselves by hearing an uplifting sermon and getting re-charged by the musical entertainment. But the Lord was not about filling pews, and making us feel good. His messages were not to indulge us, and to appeal to our flesh. His messages were sober and were able to cut to the quick.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Matthew 16:24-27
The Lord speaks about what needs to change, but always promises hope and rewards for those who turn to him in repentance. He encourages us to overcome our obstacles and weaknesses and trust in him.
The Church of Laodicea
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:14-22
The Lord offers us new beginnings when we repent. He gives us his Holy Spirit to help us overcome our flesh and the schemes of the wicked one. Let us repent of the sins and the things that have tripped us up.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10
The Leaves
In the last vision I saw a plant with many green leaves. Every green leaf contains chlorophyll which absorbs sunlight and causes the cells of the plant to produce glucose for nourishment. Because the leaves are sensitive to the rays of the sun, they turn in the direction of the light. The leaves represent those who are willing to turn toward God as their source of life and sustenance. The leaves also represent the turning away from sin or darkness and seeking the light of Christ.
When we look at the three visions together, we see that God is asking us to turn towards him. And what seems to be missing, the 7, the 8 and then 9, he alone can provide.
As the Lord rested on the seventh day, the Lord gives us his divine rest and peace:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-29
The Lord is more than willing to give new beginnings to those who turn to him with a change of heart.
The number nine, which was also missing in the first vision, represents finality. We see that Jesus was focused on the final event. His purpose in coming as a man was to reveal the Father’s heart, and to be the sacrificial lamb of God, to die for the sins of the world. Everything he did proclaimed his deity and the sovereign will of God. He was focused on his purpose: to die in our place. The purpose in his second coming was also expressed in this one statement:
“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Luke 12:49-50
Jesus did not come to bring peace to the earth. He came to cast fire, to cause division, and to shake up the status quo. He had a baptism to undergo which was his painfully torturous death on the cross. He knew that not only would he bring division among people, but he would bring destruction to what they held dear, to their source of prestige, wealth and influence — the temple economy. These are the words that followed immediately after the above passage:
“Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. “They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Luke 12:51-53
Jesus warned them in another passage:
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Matthew 10:21-23
Our focus is upon the Lord and his purpose, which is to bring his name glory. We have to live with the end in mind – not the end of the universe or the planet, like so many are misled to believe. No, the Lord already came to fulfill all that was spoken of him. We are to focus on finishing our personal race of faith, and to finish strong.
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6:-8
Paul was anticipating his death which happened in AD 64. He longed for the appearing of the Lord as you can hear in his final words to Timothy:
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:1-2
The Lord’s coming was imminent, it was “in view.” Paul saw the end of the age coming to a close and knew that the Lord would be coming to bring judgment.
We should look at our own lives and see God’s purpose for us. We are not here to collect dust, sit in our pews and look pious. The Lord gave his disciples direction and purpose, and as we are his followers, we should consider our lives to have divine direction and purpose. We need to ask God, “Am I on track? Am I doing your will? Help me to live my life for your glory. Holy Spirit, live through me; let me be a vessel that you can use, an instrument in your hands. Let my life bring you glory. I submit myself to you.”
Let us keep our eyes upon the Lord for he is the perfecter of our faith!
A Prayer for Salvation
Dear Jesus,
Please forgive me for going my own way and doing my own thing. Forgive me for living as the world does with no concern to please you. Please forgive me for all my sins. I repent, I choose to change my mind about what is important. You are my God, my Lord and my Savior. Thank you for dying on the cross for me. Thank you for making it possible to be reconciled to the Father. I know that because I have decided to turn to you and live for you that you will make me a new creation and filled me with your Holy Spirit. I thank you that you will never leave me nor forsake me, and that the Holy Spirit will lead me into all truth. I ask that you write my name in the book of Life and that when I pass from this life to the next, I will be with you for all eternity. Thank you Jesus. Help me to read your Word and spend time in your presence. I know that what you have begun in me, you will bring to completion. I thank you for giving me new life in you! Amen!
Thank you for reading. I ask that you share this post with those who will appreciate the Lord and his great love for us. May God richly bless you with every spiritual blessing!
