Tag Archives: Matthew

The Messiah Factors (Part I): Decoding 13 & 14

If YHWH intended to leave irrefutable proof of a coming Messiah, what do you think it would look like? Would we recognize it if he did? In this article I am going to look for that proof. Proof, I believe, can be found in what I call the Messiah Factors.

If you’ve read any of the articles at this blog, you know I have spent a great deal of time building a congruent picture of the 2nd temple era and Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s place in it. By now most of you have realized this chronology is indispensable to an accurate understanding of the prophecy of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks. In my article The Fifth Command I showed there is only one “commandment” which could have possibly begun the countdown to the coming of the Messiah as described in Daniel 9.  That “commandment” was the Divine command given by YHWH in the 2nd year of Darius, “the great” Artaxerxes, circa 520 B.C. For the next five centuries the Scriptures are silent until that silence is broken by these words of the apostle Matthew:
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Think about that for a moment. Five centuries of silence bridged only by an amazing prophecy about the coming of the Messiah.

The first chapter of the first book of New Testament rightly establishes the lineage of Yeshua as a son of David and Abraham. As I hinted at in my article, The New Testament Cipher, there is much more to the lineage of Yeshua in Matthew 1 than meets the eye.  Let’s take a look. I believe this simple list of names is one of the greatest proofs that Yeshua is the Messiah promised in the Scripture.  Take a moment to look at the chart below. A couple of points which have caused scholars no end of debate are worth noting here. First the list is described by Matthew as three sets of 14 generations each (14+14+14). Yet, when all the names are counted there are only 41 (14+14+13).  Notice in the 3rd column, Yeshua is listed as the 13th generation. Symbolically, Yeshua upon his resurrection, becomes the 14th generation and completes the list.

Another point of contention for scholars over the centuries has been the fact that four Old Testament kings are missing from the lineage of Yeshua. In the list below they are represented by two red lines.  Further below in the single column the missing kings are listed as they should have appeared in the list.  What immediately becomes apparent is the names are missing in two peculiar places.  Their omission brings attention to the numbers 13 & 14. Also, as you will see shortly, the single missing name between the 13th and 14th generation is not an accident. That missing king happens to be Jehoiakim.  In Daniel 1:1-6 it states that Daniel was taken captive during the reign of this Jehoiakim.  Keep that peculiar fact in mind.

In summary then, we have a lineage of Yeshua which was purposely arranged to show that He was both the 13th & 14th generation. Further it brings attention, in a subtle manner, to those same numbers in relation to a young Judean captive who would someday record the greatest Messianic prophecy in the Scripture.  It is here, in this strange list of Yeshua’s generations that we first find evidence of the Messiah Factors. Did you know that this is not the only place in the Biblical record where they are found? Lineage of Yeshua Matt 1

                 
We found the Messiah Factors in Matthew 1, now we will look for them in the record of his birth as given by Luke. If you’ve read my article The Course of Abija you know that it provides us with the only place in the entire New Testament where we can reasonably identify the timing of the birth of Yeshua. For the sake of brevity I won’t reproduce the entire article here. But in short, based upon the time of the conception of John and the priestly service of his father Zacharias (during the course of Abija) we can determine the month of the Messiah’s birth. Take a look at the list below. Can you find the Messiah Factors?

In John 1:14 it talks about Yeshua as the “word” that was made flesh and “dwelt” or tabernacle with mankind. Based upon Luke 1 and the course of Abija it shows that in fact Yeshua was born during the 13 or 14 priestly course of service most likely during the feast of Tabernacles. Those courses were most appropriately called Huppah (Canopy) and Jeshebeab (Dwelling of the Father). Now how awesome is that!  (For more details please see my article The Course of Abija)

Isaiah 7:14 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Course_Of_Abijah

While we’re on the subject of the Feast of Tabernacles, there is another place where the Messiah Factors are hidden.  In this case they are hidden in the “Burnt Offering” sacrifices which YHWH commanded Israel to make in Numbers 29:13. Keep in mind the reference as you will find it is another one of those “coincidences” which we find associated with this subject.  In Numbers 29 YHWH gave Moses some unusual instructions concerning the Burnt Offering (burnt = ascent) sacrifices for the first seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles. Take a look at the chart below. On the first day there are 13 Bullocks, 2 Rams, & 14 Lambs for a total of 29 sacrifices. Also notice that the Bullock sacrifices are offered in a descending order from 13>7 for a total of 70.  Notice above in the linage of Yeshua that 7th to 13th names in the list are set out by the missing names. As you will see this was not an accident. The total number of Burnt Offerings for the first seven days is equal to 182 (13×14).  Clearly these numbers are all intentional but what do they mean? I asked you above to remember the reference Numbers 29:13. Now I am going to ask you to remember the numbers 13, 14, 29 and 70. Shortly you will see why they are so important.

Burnt Offering Sacrifice

After reading my articles on Ezra: Priest and Scribe, Nehemiah: The Governor, or The “Artaxerxes” Assumption some of you must be asking yourselves why Christian chronologists have failed to address the chronology of Ezra and Nehemiah in terms of the 2nd temple era.  The simple answer is they believe; there is no other way to prove that Yeshua fulfills the prophecy of Daniel 9 unless Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries of Artaxerxes Longimanus. Out of necessity they made an assumption which few of them thought necessary to verify.

What if there was a more elegant solution which was intimately connected to the religious calendar of the Jewish people, the very calendar YHWH gave to Israel through Moses.  As I showed in my article Ezekiel’s 13th Month, Biblical time as understood during the 2nd temple era was based upon a lunar/solar calendar. Most years their religious calendar had 12 months of 29.53 days for a total of 354.36 days per year. Once every third year or so they had a 13th month of 29.53 days which made the year 383.89 days long . Any of these “Numbers” look familiar?

For a moment put yourself in the shoes of the 2nd temple era Judeans. How did they keep track of their religious calendar? How did they know when it was time to keep Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles?  Their “mow’ed” or appointed days were regulated by “lights in the firmament” as described in Genesis 1:14. Each month they watched the 29.53 day lunar cycle to determine where they were in YHWH calendar. For thousands of years that cycle has had 13 or 14 days of waxing light followed by 13 or 14 days of waning light.  2 cycles of 13 or 14 days of visible light in every 29.53 day cycle.  Take a look again at Numbers 29:13 and the Burnt offering sacrifices.

Every time I look at this information it still thrills me. Years ago I remember reading about the next big thing in corporate advertising. The idea was to put huge solar powered billboards in space which could be seen by us on earth.  We’ll, YHWH beat them to it. Since recorded history He has been broadcasting the Messiah Factors for all who have eyes to see.  These very numbers which are closely associated with Yeshua. Can’t help but think of the words of King David. He sure had it right:

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  Psalm 19:1-3

There are two more places I would like to look for the Messiah Factors before I move on to part II of this article. The first is found in what some  might call another coincidence. I will let you decide.

How many of you remember Ephesian 2:13-14 where Paul talks about the “middle wall of partition” between Jews and Gentiles?

Ephesians 2:13-14  13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

This wall was a partition build between the Court of the Gentiles and the Temple proper. On pain of death no Gentile could enter the inner court of the temple. Paul describes how the blood of Yeshua, in a symbolic sense, granted Gentiles access to the presence of YHWH once only reserved for the Jewish people. What is so fascinating about these verses is that during the time of Yeshua the “middle wall of partition” was accessed by 14 steps and entry was granted by one of 13 gates.

I am sure with time we will find more evidences of the Messiah Factors, but in this article I want to address just one more. To me what I am going to show you convinces me YHWH has an awesome sense of humor.  According to mathematicians Pi is an irrational number whose decimal representation never ends. Pi express the relationship between a circles circumference and its diameter.  For centuries mathematicians have tried to solve or explain its nature but have been unable to do so. In the Bible the number 7 represent divine perfection. Curiously in Numbers 29:13 we saw the numbers 7, 13, 14 and 29 featured prominently. What are the odds the first 7 numbers of Pi, reversed, gives us the same values? The very same values which have been expressed in the cycles of the moon for thousands of years.

3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971

Here you go: 295/14/13. Funny where the Messiah Factors turn up, don’t you think? Just to make it a little more interesting, note that the first 7 found in Pi is in the 13th decimal digit. Then next 7 is found in the 29th  decimal digit. And just for you skeptics, it just happens to be between the 2 & the 9. The third 7 of Pi is found in the 39th decimal digit (13×3).

So does all of this have some purpose or is it just a big coincidence as skeptics might claim. In my next article, The Messiah Factors (Part II): The Countdown I will show that the numbers 13 & 14 do in fact provide reasonable proof that Yeshua/Jesus was and is the Messiah promised in the Scriptures.

Updated 4/6/2014: For more evidence of the Messiah Factors I encourage you to read my latest article The 14th Sacrifice. Did you know there were 13/14 sacrifices in the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Take a look and see what you think.

Book 1
Book I - Description

The 13th Enumeration
"A book that will change how you look at the Bible's Messianic Symbolism."

Book 2
Book 2 - Description

Daniel's 70 Weeks -
"A book that will forever change how you understand the Bible's greatest Messianic prophecy."

Book 3
Book 3 - Description

The Jubilee Code -
"A book that will show you real Biblical evidence for Yahweh's guiding in hand history bringing about His redemptive plan for mankind."

 

 

 

More Articles related to the prophecy of 70 Weeks and 2nd temple era chronology:
The “Artaxerxes” Assumption – The best kept secret of Old Testament chronology.
The Fifth Command – Why do prophecy teachers ignore it?
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part I – Defining “Artaxerxes” in the context of Ezra.
Ezra: Priest & Scribe – Part II – Ezra, Darius even “Artaxerxes”.
Nehemiah: The Governor– Nehemiah’s place in the 2nd temple chronology
Queen of Persia – Part I – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
Queen of Persia – Part II – Defining Esther is the context of the 2nd Temple era.
A New Testament Cipher – The key to unlocking the prophecy of Daniel’s 70 Weeks.
Ezekiel’s 13th Month– Key to understanding Biblical “time” in the 2nd Temple era
6 milestones – Seventy Weeks – Defining the purpose of the Messiah within Daniel’s 70 “weeks”.
The Messiah Factors (Part I): Decoding 13 & 14 – Symbolism of the Messiah

An Old Testament Enigma

I have always enjoyed trying to solve the unexplained.  No matter what you believe about the Bible it is full of puzzles, enigmas and the unexplained.  Okay, I know some of you have it all figured out but this post is to the rest of us mere mortals.  Throughout the Old Testament, sacrifice was connected to atonement for sin.  This symbolism started in Eden when YHWH killed the first animals to clothe Adam and Eve after their sin and continued up to the New Testament symbolism of Jesus who was as the apostle John describe: “the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.

For those familiar with the Old Testament sacrificial system it is obvious there is some symbolic importance to the number of sacrifices during the Biblical holy days.  Even if you don’t believe the Bible is inspired you can’t deny the fact that there had to be symbolic importance connected to the number of sacrifices during these religious celebrations.

The Biblical festival of Succoth is illustrative of my point.  In the table below I have laid out the sacrifices for the “burnt offering” during the 1st seven days of the feast.  The pattern is obviously intentional and it is also unique.  There is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the Scripture.  So what is it’s purpose?

In the New Testament the apostle Paul when discussing the “law” and the sacrificial system as it related to Christ, indicated it was a “shadow of good things to come.” He went on to describe how Jesus fulfilled those Old Testament pictures.  It seems more than coincidental that the Biblical festival most likely associated with the birth of Christ would also have in its ordinances an expression of the very same numerical symbolism as found in the list of Jesus’ lineage in Matthew 1(as discussed here) as well as the chronology associated with his birth and the course of Abijah in Luke 1(as discussed here). .  The numerical symbolism expressed in all three places is but part of a large picture of which the 13th Enumeration is the key.

_________________________________________________
Below is the first and last usage of the term “Burnt Offering”. (Gen 22 & Heb. 10 respectively)

Genesis 22:1-2  And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Genesis 22:11-13
  11 And the angel of YHWH called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.  12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.  13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

Hebrews 10:1-13  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.  3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:  6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.  7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.  8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;  9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.  10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:  12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;  13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Numbers 29:12-14   12 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto YHWH seven days:  13 And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto YHWH; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:  14 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,

 

Book 1
Book I - Description

The 13th Enumeration
"A book that will change how you look at the Bible's Messianic Symbolism."

Book 2
Book 2 - Description

Daniel's 70 Weeks -
"A book that will forever change how you understand the Bible's greatest Messianic prophecy."

Book 3
Book 3 - Description

The Jubilee Code -
"A book that will show you real Biblical evidence for Yahweh's guiding in hand history bringing about His redemptive plan for mankind."

 

 

The Course of Abija

How many of you have heard of the course of Abija (Abijah)?  Did you know it is one of the only ways to date the birth of Jesus in the Bible?   95% of Americans will celebrate the birth of Christ this year, so I thought some might be interested in the Biblical case for the timing of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Most are familiar with story of the birth of Christ from Luke 2.  But it is Luke 1 that provides the means by which the timing of the birth of Jesus can be determined.   In Luke 1 we have the story of Zacharias, the priest, and his wife, Elisabeth.  Zacharias and Elisabeth were well on in years and without children.  As it is told in Luke 1, Zacharias was performing his duty in the temple when the angel appeared and told him they would have a son and to call his name John.  Needless to say Zacharias was somewhat incredulous considering their age.  As proof of his message the angel told Zacharias he would be unable to speak until the day the message was fulfilled.

The passage goes on to say that Elisabeth conceived after Zacharias’ service ended.  Then 6 months later Mary, the mother of Jesus, conceived.   Zacharias performed his priestly service during the course of Abijah which fell during the latter part of the 4th month.  From this it is a simple matter to determine the general time of the birth of Jesus.  The chart below gives the priestly courses in relation to the conception of Elisabeth and Mary.

Luke 1:35-37  35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.  36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.  37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

(Click to enlarge picture)

The birth of Jesus fell during the 7th month of the Biblical calendar which is our September/October.   It is during the 7th month that the Biblical holy day of Succoth is celebrated.  The term Succoth comes from the Hebrew word “cukkah” which literally means booth or tabernacle.  The Jewish people were commanded to dwell in booths during the 8 days of this feast.  Succoth is one of the Biblical holydays which all adult males were commanded to observe in Jerusalem.  This is likely the reason the only lodgings which Mary and Joseph found were in a stable.

Further confirmation of the evidence of Luke 1 is found in Luke 2.  The shepherds were still in the fields keeping watch over their flocks when the angles announced the birth of Christ.  This places the birth of Jesus sometime between the spring and fall. It was not common practice in Israel to stay in the fields with the sheep during the winter months.

John 1:14 makes a possible allusion to the birth of Jesus during the feast of Succoth.

John 1:14   14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The “Word” (Jesus) “was made flesh” (conceived) “and dwelt” (skenoo – from the Greek meaning to dwell or fix ones tabernacle.)

Now look at the priestly courses again.  Jesus “dwelt” with man at his birth during the 13th and 14th priestly courses.  The names of these courses were Huppah (Canopy) and Jeshebeab (dwelling of the father). Pretty neat if you ask me!  Now take a look again at my blog post A New Testamen;t Cipher,  note especially the missing names and their arrangement in the list.  Matthew’s lineage of Jesus was intentional wasn’t it?   The 13th Enumeration is the key!

 Isaiah 7:14 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 

 

You Might also Appreciate my article:
Hanukkah, Christmas, & the Backstory of the Messiah’s Birth

 

 

 

Authors Note:
Over the years some of you have written in asking about the priestly courses and their order. This article was based upon the assumption that King David organized the courses in the same manner he did the other courses of service. (i.e. the courses each served their complete term in one service.) Some believe that the priestly courses served only 1 week then returned home and then approximately 6 months later came back and served another week. In the following chart I’ve tried to work out such an organization included the feast days when all priests were required to serve. Please note, neither of the charts in this article account for a 13th month or other required intercalations.

– WS

You Might also Appreciate my article:
Hanukkah, Christmas, & the Backstory of the Messiah’s Birth

 

 

 

Book 1
Book I - Description

The 13th Enumeration
"A book that will change how you look at the Bible's Messianic Symbolism."

Book 2
Book 2 - Description

Daniel's 70 Weeks -
"A book that will forever change how you understand the Bible's greatest Messianic prophecy."

Book 3
Book 3 - Description

The Jubilee Code -
"A book that will show you real Biblical evidence for Yahweh's guiding in hand history bringing about His redemptive plan for mankind."

Colossians 1:19   19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

1 Chronicles 24:1-19  Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.  3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.  4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.  5 Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.  6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.  7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,  8 The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,  9 The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,  10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,  11 The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,  12 The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,  13 The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,  14 The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,  15 The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,  16 The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,  17 The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,  18 The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.  19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of YHWH, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as YHWH God of Israel had commanded him.

1 Chronicles 27:1-15 Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.  2 Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.  3 Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.  4 And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.  5 The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.  6 This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son.  7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.  8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.  9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.  10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.  11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.  12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.  13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.  14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.  15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.

1 Kings 4:7 7 And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.