Questions On The Bible

Answer To fully answer to your question would take an entire book, but I will try to briefly discussed the symbolic use of some of the numbers common in the Bible. Homer Hailey in his commentary on Revelations deals with numerology, and I am referring to his book for most of my answer.

Mr. Hailey makes the following statement regarding the interpretation of numbers, "In learning the use or significance of something, one may be told plainly what its use is, or he may learn by observing the use made of it. If told plainly that something is a sign or that it signifies a certain truth, there is left no question in the reader's mind. But if not specifically declared, the symbolic sense, if there is a symbolic significance, must be determined by the use made of the object considered. It is from the use made of numerical figures that we are to determine any symbolic significance." So, you have to look at the context of the passage containing a number reference to determine if it is
symbolic or literal.

Mr. Hailey does not deal with 40 in his book. I believe most references to 40 are literal - 40 years reign of Saul, David and Solomon, 40 days and nights flood, 40 days fasting by Jesus in the wilderness.

In Revelation 3, 5, 7, 10, 12 and multiples of these numbers are frequently symbolic. 3 occurs hundreds of times in scripture. It appears to have been symbolic in many places of a complete and ordered whole. As all completeness and fullness n the absolute are found in God or the Godhead, 3 is thought of as a divine number, the number of deity.

As 3 represents completeness, 4 suggests beyond the fullness of God, or of the world or creation, as in 4 winds, 4 world kingdoms in Daniel 4, Ezekial's 4 living creatures, 4 faces, 4 wings, 4 sides, 4 wheels, 4 sore judgements.

The most obvious symbolism for 6 is in 666 in Revelation 13:18. Here is a symbol for the number of the beast. In the original the article "a" in not in front of "man". So, it the number of man, not a man. The number 666 represents that which is human, as opposed to what is of God (7). Since many of the numbers in Revelation refer to ideas rather than persons or literal quantities, the same principle should be followed here. 6 is less than the sacred 7, therefore imperfect and destined to fail. To the Jews the number 6 was a number of dread and doom. So, 666 was tripled dread and doom. If the beast is the Roman empire, then its opposition and persecution of Christians, was destined to fail. The whole theme of Revelation is the reward of those who overcome Satan, and the condemnation of those who give in to Satan.

7 throughout scripture symbolizes completeness or perfectness - 7 churches of Asia, 7 spirits, 7 angels, seventy times seven.

10 in both the old and new testaments represents a rounded total, large or small. Multiples of 10 , 1,000, 144,000 and larger numbers indicate fullness to a superlative or unlimited degree.

12 is thought to be a religious number, bearing a religious idea or concept - 12 tribes of Israel, 12 stones in Aaron's breastplate, 12 cakes of shewbread, 12 apostles, 12 thrones, 12 foundations on the city in revelations,etc. Contact Larry

Question 2. Dear Sir/Madam,can you please tell me if there are 73 or 66 books in the Bible? If 66 then what is the status of the other 7 and why aren't they included?

Answer I assume you are talking about the Apocrypha which were 14 books written between the close of the Jewish Old Testament and the New Testament. They are, in the order they appear in the English versions:

1. 1. 1 Esdras 2. 2 Esdras 3. Tobit 4. Judith 5. The Rest of Esther 6. The Wisdom of Solomon 7. Eccelsiasticus 8. Baruch, with the Epistle of Jeremiah 9. The Song of the Three Holy Children 10. The History of Susanna 11. Bel and the Dragon 12. The Prayer of Manasses 13. 1 Maccabees 14. 2 Maccabees Of these 14 books the Roman Catholic Church declares 11 canonical, omitting Prayer of Manasses, 1 and 2 Esdras. SEVEN of these are enumerated: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees. The Rest of Esther is added to the canonical Esther and the Three Holy Children, Susanna and Bel and the Dragon are combined with canonical Daniel.

Reasons for rejecting these books:

1. The Jews all over the world accept the same Canon and this is found without variation in all copies of the Hebrew Bible and has been from the beginning. No apocryphal book has ever been in the Jewish Canon.

2. The Septuagint Version which was completed in 180 B. C., was a translation of the entire Old Testament into Greek. We do not know when the Apocryphal books were written, nor when they were put into the Septuagint version, but it is doubtful if they were in the original Septuagint version. Jesus often quoted form the Septuagint version, but never from the Apocrypha. Neither did any New Testament writer ever quote from them.

3. They are not found in any catalogue of canonical books made during the first four centuries.

4. None of the writers claim to be divinely inspired, but some do claim not to be.

5. None of the writes write with a message from Jehovah and are without the true prophetic element.

6. It contains many historical, geographical and chronological errors and distortions of the Old Testament, contradicting itself and secular history.

7. It teaches doctrines and upholds practices contrary to the canonical Scriptures such as lying, suicide and assassination are justified. Salvation by works, magic, prayers for the dead, etc. are taught and approved.

8. The so-called miracles and the description of the deeds and supernatural beings are silly and unbelievable.

9. They were not considered canonical and authoritative for doctrine until the Roman Catholic Council of Trent in 1546 A. D.

10. Just to read the Old Testament and then the Apocryphal one can see a vast difference in the spiritual and moral content.

So there are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament.Contact Danny

Question 3. What relevance does the Bible hold for Christians today compared to when it was written 2,000 years ago?

Answer The Bible was not only written to those that first received it, but it was written for future generations so that we might know how we can be saved and how to live a life that would bring us eternal life. The writers tell us that their writing was for the future as well as the present. John 20:30-31.

Since man's greatest problem is still sin and his greatest need is still forgiveness, the Bible will always remain relevant. Rom. 1:16-32. Man has always tried to guide himself in how he lives and has always fallen away from God. God, in His love, has always sought to save man and has provided His ultimate effort in the death of Jesus. Rom 3.

Beyond telling us how we can be saved, Acts 2, the Bible teaches how we should worship and live before God. John 4:23-24, Eph. 4-6. The more we try to guide ourselves, the worse off we are and society is. Contact Gary

Question 4. Is the Bible written in chronological order? If not, please outline how it was written.

Answer No, the Bible is not written in chronological order. Basically, the Bible is divided into two testaments, the Old Tesatament and the New Testament. The Old Testament includes, among other things, the laws God wanted His people to follow until Christ instituted His church. The New Testament includes the law God wants us to follow today.

The Old Testament is broken down into three divisions: Historical (17 books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther), Poetical (5 books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes), and Prophetic (17 books: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekial, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi).

The New Testament is divided into four categories: the Gospels (4 books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), Acts (1 book: Acts), the Epistles (21 books: Romans, I &II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Collosians, I&II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, I&II Peter, I&II&III John, Jude), and Revelation (1book: Revelation).

Halley's Bible Handbook discusses the timeframe of the divisions of the Old Testament on page 280 of the Revised Edition published by Zondervan Publishing House. The Historical Books of the Old Testament are the story of the rise and fall of the Hebrew Nation. The Poetical Books of the Old Testament belong to the Golden Age of the Hebrew nation. The Prophetical Books of the Old Testament belong to the Fall of the Hebrew Nation. The chronology of the Old Testament is easiest when based on the major characters or events. Historcal Books Genesis - Creation (Adam, Eve, Cain, Abel, Seth) Flood (Noah and his family) God's promises to Abraham Genesis/Exodus - Egyptian Captivity and Deliverance of the Israelite people(Moses) Wilderness Wanderings (Moses, Aaron, Joshua) Leviticus-Law for the Israelites given during the wanderings Deuteronomy-Recounting of History Joshua - Conquest of Canaan Judges-Israel ruled by Judges Ruth-Great-grandmotrher of David 1 Samuel- Beginning of Kings/Saul as King 2 Samuel- David as King 1 Kings-Solomon as King Division of Kingdom into North and South 2 Kings-Divided kingdom Assyrian Captivity Babylonian Captivity 1&2 Chronicles-Chronicle the era of the kings - David and Solomon Ezra-Nehemiah-Esther-Return from captivity, Jerusalem Rebuilt Poetical Books Job- A man's trials and victory Psalms- Proverbs-Ecclesiates-Thought to be written by David and Solomon Major Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial, Daniel Minor Prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obabdiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

The New Testament generally covers the life of Christ in the Gospels, some of the acts of some of the apostles in Acts, the writings and teachings of Christ's apostles in the epistles, and the revelation made to John in Revelation. Contact Michael

Question 5. I have a question about prophets, how do you know if they are false or actual prophets?