Articles

"The Babushka Doll Principle" by Tricia Tillin (4c)

Other Vital Numbers: The Three Principle ++PLUS++

We have already considered how SEVEN and SEVENTY are prophetic numbers; also we have seen how the THREE and the THIRD DAY (including the three-and-a-half) prophetic type works, and found that three days initially means testing and tribulation followed by one day divided where the crisis or climax takes place, and then three days of being rescued, raised or hidden from harm.

This becomes even more striking when added to the prophetic number/date sequence 14-18.

The Number or Date Fourteen

The FOURTEENTH day is significant for being the middle of the Jewish month (see footnote on the Hebrew Lunar Calendar) because the first day of the month had the new moon and the 14th day was therefore the full moon. Passover is a spring festival, so the 14th day of Nisan begins on the night of a full moon after the vernal equinox. Thus Passover (the death of the firstborn) was on the night of the 14th as we would reckon the dates.

As you probably know, the Jewish day actually began at twilight (or 6pm for convenience in counting) so 6AM would have been the middle of each day. The "watches" of the night were three-hour periods, so that the first watch of the night was from 6-9PM and so on. When Jesus hinted that those waiting for the "Master to return" had to stay awake through the darkness of the evening and night even to the third watch, he meant up to midnight and beyond. This is another hint of the "midnight cry" when Jesus returns! [compare Exod 11:4-5, Psalm 119:62, Matt 25:6-7 and Acts 16:25-27.]

Luke 12:35-40
"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Jesus fulfilled this same prophecy, being our Passover Lamb who died at the midway mark of the 14th Nisan just before the Passover lambs were consumed. Although it was daytime not night when he died, still "from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land". (Matt 27:45) which is midday to 3PM at which time he died.

This locates the central point of the date sequence. As the earlier charts and studies showed, Jesus died "in the middle of the week", in the middle of his last seven days. If you need to look again at the timing, click HERE.

Overlaying the Three and a Half with the Number/Date Sequences

This is going to sound a tad complicated, for which I apologise. I think when you take a look at the illustration and chart it will become clear.

As we said above, the mid-point or climax is half of the seven (either days, years or whatever else.) Add to this the fact that Jesus died on the eve of Passover the 14th Nisan, and the Egyptians were judged on the night of the 14th Nisan (and other examples), then we can overlay the week of seven with the number or date sequence and find that it reinforces prophecy!

Chapters 10-20 of Exodus including 14-18

Now for this particular exercise below, the overlaid number/date sequence is the 10th to the 20th, because it includes the core sequence of 14-18. I have compared the chapter numbers of Exodus with the events of the last week of Jesus and the first Passover. As you see, there is an astonishing correlation between them that cannot be coincidental!

Chapter numbers are not inspired as is the bible text itself, but they often - in God's miraculous way - do provide another confirmation of the truth. (For instance, the chapter of Revelation about the Antichrist and the False Prophet is Chapter 13).

So here is the full sequence this time, from 10 to 20. Remember that the Jewish day started at twilight, so the dates here imply half of the following day. Remember also that in the command of God, celebrating Passover started on the 10th Nisan with the choosing of the lambs, culminated in the Passover feast on eve of the 15th, and the feast of Unleavened Bread was for seven days from the 14th to the 20th. [but see footnote 2]

So let us begin at Chapter ten of Exodus.

CHAPTERS EXODUS SCRIPTURES DATE IN
JEWISH CALENDAR
FIRST PASSOVER and JESUS
10 Moses & Aaron challenge Pharaoh - the plagues befall Egypt 10 Nisan Lambs chosen - Jesus anointed for burial
11 The final plague is announced 11 Nisan Jesus announces his death, and judgement on hypocrites
12 The Passover commanded 12 Nisan Jesus prepares for his last Passover
13 The consecration of all firstborn commanded in remembrance of the death of the firstborn. 13 Nisan Lambs prepared - Jesus the firstborn son set aside for death. The "Night of Watching"
14 The crossing of the Red Sea and faith in God 14 Nisan Leaven cleansed, Midnight death, lambs eaten -
Crucifixion & Burial
15 Songs of praise, deliverance and leading onward to the wilderness 15 Nisan Exodus, Passover Day - Jesus in tomb "it is finished!" Memorial Day for ever; Holy Assembly (Exodus 12:14)
16 Manna and quails provided at a time of need 16 Nisan Israel in wilderness - Jesus hidden in tomb
17 Water provided at a time of need and enemies vanquished 17 Nisan Israel in wilderness - Jesus hidden in tomb
18 Elders chosen to rule 18 Nisan (Sunday) Israel in wilderness - Day of Wavesheaf; Firstfruits; Jesus risen from dead as LORD
19 God gives the Law 19 Nisan Israel camps at Red Sea
20 The Law. 20 Nisan Red Sea Crossing - Last day of Unleavened Bread; Holy Assembly * see note

 

So from this initial chart above it can be seen that the 14-18 section deals with the SAME events (prophetically) as the LAST three and a half years leading up to the final victory. The FOURTEEN mid-way marker is the CLIMAX event of the sequence.

Before moving on, I want to see what happens when we ADD to the above the relevant chapters from the Book of Revelation. Is there the same sequence, and hints at the same events? I think so!

CHAPTERS EXODUS REVELATION DATE FIRST PASSOVER and JESUS
10 Moses & Aaron challenge Pharaoh - the plagues befall Egypt Announcement of climactic seventh trumpet 10 Nisan Lambs chosen - Jesus anointed for burial
11 The final plague is announced Temple measured, two prophets announced, seventh trumpet blown for the final Woe. 11 Nisan Jesus announces his death, and judgement on hypocrites
12 The Passover commanded Woman revealed and child raptured, Dragon cast down, woman rescued, Kingdom announced. 12 Nisan Jesus prepares for his last Passover
13 The consecration of all firstborn commanded in remembrance of the death of the firstborn. Beasts seen and given authority; his mark announced. 13 Nisan Lambs prepared - Jesus the firstborn son set aside for death. The "Night of Watching"
14 The crossing of the Red Sea and faith in God The Lord stands with the firstfruits on Mount Zion; Babylon has Fallen! The Harvest. 14 Nisan Leaven cleansed, Midnight death, lambs eaten; Crucifixion & Burial
15 Songs of praise, deliverance and leading onward to the wilderness Songs of praise in Heaven, heavenly Temple seen. Bowls announced. 15 Nisan Exodus, Passover Day - Jesus in tomb "it is finished!" Memorial Day for ever; Holy Assembly (Exodus 12:14)
16 Manna and quails provided at a time of need Bowls poured out on the earth and antichrist worshippers. 16 Nisan Israel in wilderness - Jesus hidden in tomb
17 Water provided at a time of need and enemies vanquished Judgement of the Harlot seen 17 Nisan Israel in wilderness - Jesus hidden in tomb
18 Elders chosen to rule Angel with authority announces fall of Babylon 18 Nisan (Sunday) Israel in wilderness - Day of Wavesheaf; Firstfruits; Jesus risen from dead as LORD
19 God gives the Law Praises, marriage of Lamb has come! Jesus returns on white horse in victory. 19 Nisan Israel camps at Red Sea
20 The Law. Judgement 20 Nisan Red Sea Crossing - Last day of Unleavened Bread; Holy Assembly * see notes

 

Finally let's consider the relevant numbered PSALMS and put those alongside the previous sequence. Once again, the sequence of events is confirmed!

EXODUS REVELATION No. PSALMS 10-20 and 110-120
10 Moses & Aaron challenge Pharaoh
- the plagues befall Egypt
Announcement of climactic seventh trumpet 10
110
God seems hidden when ungodly prosper
Promise of Messiah's coming rule
11 The final plague is announced Temple measured, two prophets announced,
seventh trumpet blown for the final Woe.
11
111
Testing and promise of rescue
God's works remembered and praised
12 The Passover commanded Woman revealed and child raptured,
Dragon cast down, woman rescued,
Kingdom announced.
12
112
God arises when faithful are nearly defeated
Patient endurance for the righteous
13 The consecration of all firstborn
commanded in remembrance
of the death of the firstborn.
Beasts seen and given authority;
his mark announced.
13
113

How long? tears and sorrow
God lifts the poor and needy

14 The crossing of the Red Sea
and faith in God
The Lord stands with the firstfruits
on Mount Zion; Babylon has Fallen!
The Harvest.
14
114
All are ungodly but God is deliverance
Israel went forth from Egypt with miracles
15 Songs of praise, deliverance
and leading onward to the wilderness
Songs of praise in Heaven,
heavenly Temple seen. Bowls announced.
15
115
The godly walk with God and are blessed
God in heaven is Lord, idols defeated
16 Manna and quails provided
at a time of need
Bowls poured out on the earth and
antichrist worshippers.
16
116
Idolatry rejected and judged; righteous saved from death
Righteous delivered from death with great joy
17 Water provided at a time of
need and enemies vanquished
Judgement of the Harlot seen 17
117
Judgement finds the righteous blameless
Praise for his steadfast love
18 Elders chosen to rule Angel with authority announces
fall of Babylon
18
118
Mighty earth-shaking deliverance
Deliverance and victory when surrounded by enemies
19 God gives the Law Praises, marriage of Lamb has come!
Jesus returns on white horse in victory.
19
119
Glory of God; Law of God is perfect
Blessed are those who walk in his Law
20 The Law. Judgement 20
120
Perfect trust in God
Judgement on the enemy

 

The number sequence identical to the last three and a half years

The 14 sub-divides the "week" so if we consider just the climax and look only at the "second half of the prophetic week", we find it is equivalent to the three and a half years we studied earlier.

This sounds complicated but in fact is not. The following chart will describe things graphically, using four different sequences: Esther and the Plot of Haman, the Exodus, Mount Sinai, and the Last Days of Jesus. In addition it shows the year sequence from 2013-2018. Please click on the chart to see the full-page version.

chart four

Another strange coincidence relating to these numbers

We've seen throughout this study how important the numbers 14 and 15 are in the prophetic scriptures. As well as being the turning-point (the middle of the week event) as seen in the charts above, the 14th/15th days are the crucial point of redemption in history and the feasts of the Lord.

The 14th/15th of the month is Passover (as part of a seven-day festival) and the only other seven-day festival also has the 14th/15th as the high-point of redemption - it begins on the 10th (like the number sequences above) with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and in the middle of the month at full moon 14th/15th day, is Tabernacles (booths) which symbolises the presence of God dwelling with his people, after the time of testing in between the "days of awe".

Therefore, I think it is significant that for only the third time since Jesus died we are going to see four 'blood-red' total lunar eclipses that fall on Passover and Tabernacles in 2014 and 2015! (We have had blood-red moons on the first day of Passover and the first day of Tabernacles on back-to-back years only seven times since 1 A.D. Two of these were in 1948 (statehood for Israel), and 1967 (the Six-Day War) - some of the most significant days in Jewish history.

Solar eclipses of 2008, 2009 and 2010 — and their connection to the month of Av

Additionally, on the first of Av in 2008, 2009 and 2010, there were total solar eclipses. The Jewish month of Av - and especially the 9th of Av - has been the most calamitous period throughout history for the Jewish people. In the time-period of the four blood-red moon eclipses there are also two solar eclipses, one total eclipse on 20th March 2015 which is the 1st day of the Jewish month Nisan (Passover month) and a partial eclipse on 13th September 2015, which is the Feast of Tabernacles.

Chart of 2014-2015: four blood-red moons and two solar eclipses (footnote 3)

Christian News

Putting it all together

All-in-all, this page and the other pages looking at the THREE, the SEVEN and the SEVENTY give ample proof that prophecy is not just a one-time statement but an onion-skin layer of different meanings.

Many more instances in scripture demonstrate the "third day" principle (which speaks ultimately of redemption, resurrection and deliverance - see the third-day deliverance of the Jews from the plot of Haman, recounted in the Book of Esther, in the Babushka Chart Four above for instance). Equally we could consider more seven-day types from scripture such as the seven-day period of cleansing for anyone defiled, with a command to be purified both on the THIRD day and the SEVENTH.

All of these types have significance when we come to consider the final redemption both for the Gentile church and the Chosen of God in Israel. but now we return to the article thread in Page Five, which considers the Jubilees of God and the Jews.

FOOTNOTES

(1) The Hebrew calendar (הלוח העברי ha'luach ha'ivri), or Jewish calendar, is a lunisolar calendar used today predominantly for Jewish religious observances. It determines the dates for Jewish holidays and the appropriate public reading of Torah portions, yahrzeits (dates to commemorate the death of a relative), and daily Psalm reading, among many ceremonial uses. In Israel, it is an official calendar for civil purposes and provides a time frame for agriculture. Originally the Hebrew calendar was used by Jews for all daily purposes, but following the conquest of Jerusalem by Pompey in 63 BCE (see also Iudaea province), Jews began additionally following the imperial civil calendar, which was decreed in 45 BCE, for civic matters such as the payment of taxes and dealings with government officials.

The Hebrew calendar has evolved over time. For example, until the Tannaitic period, the months were set by observation of a new crescent moon, with an additional month added every two or three years to keep Passover in the spring, again based on observation of natural events, namely the ripening of barley to reach the stage of "aviv" (nearly ripened crop). Through the Amoraic period and into the Geonic period, this system was displaced by mathematical rules. The principles and rules appear to have been settled by the time Maimonides compiled the Mishneh Torah.

Because of the roughly eleven-day difference between twelve lunar months and one solar year, the length of the Hebrew calendar year varies in a repeating 19-year Metonic cycle of 235 lunar months, with an intercalary lunar month added according to defined rules every two or three years, for a total of 7 times per 19 years. Seasonal references in the Hebrew calendar reflect its development in the region east of the Mediterranean and the times and climate of the Northern Hemisphere. The Hebrew calendar year is longer by about 6 minutes and 25+25/57 seconds than the present-day mean solar year, so that every 224 years, the Hebrew calendar will fall a full day behind the modern solar year, and about every 231 years it will fall a full day behind the Gregorian calendar year.

(2) There is confusion over the length and dates of this Festival. Some scriptures seem to imply that the Passover was one day in length on the 14th of Nisan (Num 28:16, Lev 23:5) while Unleavened Bread lasted seven days from the 15th to the 21st of Nisan. This made the entire festival eight days in duration (Num 28:17, Lev 23:6). Confusion arose because, although the lamb was commanded to be slain on the 14th, the instruction that it was to be eaten during the night necessarily meant that it was consumed during the early part of the 15th, the Jewish day beginning at sundown. The Rabbis (before the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD) after much debate, came to the conclusion that the day of Passover and the first day of Unleavened Bread were the same day (the 15th of Nisan) which made the combined two festivals only seven days in length and this Rabbinical interpretation seems to be supported in the NT by Mark 14:12 which notes that ‘...on the first day of Unleavened Bread...they sacrificed the Passover lamb...’ and it’s clear that the statement relies upon the 14th Nisan being taken to be what was normally attributed to the fifteenth. Compare Ex 12:15 which commanded the Israelites ‘Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; on the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses, for if any one eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel’. Leaven would have been removed on the 14th, the day before "Passover".

ALSO: Please note, that two interpretations are given here of the Red Sea Crossing - one in the table that gives the crossing on the 20th Nisan, after the camp at Baal-Zephon on the 19th, and one in the graphic which gives the prophetic "third day" interpretation. In the bible it is not exactly stated how many days passed between the leaving of Egypt (which happened shortly after the death of the firstborn at midnight, probably early on the morning of the 15th Nisan). The Jews themselves disagree. In Josephus ’Antiquities of the Jews, II xv 1 he claims that “Babylon of Egypt was where they came first, then followed a hasty three day travel to the Red Sea at Baal Zephon.” and the Wikipedia list of celebrations for the month of Nisan gives the 17th Nisan as the commemoration of the Red Sea Crossing which would be the THIRD day) yet that same account says "after SEVEN days, the Israelites cross the Red Sea...". So this contradiction suggests that either seven or three days was the length of the journey. Prophetically both are important, so both are given on this page. The journey according to the bible and Jewish writers was:

  • Rameses to Succoth (15th)
  • Succoth to Etham (16th)
  • Etham to Baal Zephon (17th)
  • Baal Zephon and Red Sea Crossing (18th, halfway through day four = three and a half days)

(3) Source here http://www.watch.org/showart.php3?idx=104119&rtn=/index.html&showsubj=1&mcat=24

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© 2013 Tricia Tillin-Booth. All rights reserved. Birthpangs Website: http://www.birthpangs.org/  This document is the property of its author and is not to be displayed on other websites, redistributed, sold, reprinted, or reproduced in printed in any other format without permission. Websites may link to this article, if they provide proper title and author information.   One copy may be downloaded, stored and/or printed for personal research. All spelling and phraseology is UK English.