Israel and the Number 12 in Scripture Parts 1 and 2

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I found this interesting and wanted to share.

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Israel and the Number 12 in Scripture – Part 1
May 28, 2023
Bible Study

Israel and the Number 12 in Scripture – Part 1
By Randy Nettles

In 2018, I wrote a series of articles called God's Perfect Numbers, based on the numbers 3, 7, 10, and 12 and their biblical significance or representation. In this article, I will expound upon one of these "perfect" numbers.

The number 12 signifies the perfection of rule or government. "It is found as a multiple in all that has to do with rule. The sun which rules the day; and the moon and stars which govern the night, do so by their passage through the 12 signs of the Zodiac which completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 x 30) degrees or divisions and thus govern the year (there are 12 months in a normal year for most calendars). Twelve is the product of 3 (the perfectly Divine and heavenly number) and 4 (the earthly, the number of what is material and organic)." (1)

The number 12 represents Israel in many ways. Jacob had twelve sons whose descendants eventually formed the kingdom of Israel. Jesus, a descendant of King David of the tribe of Judah, had 12 disciples from different tribes of Israel. It's not hard to find Israel in the Bible as Abraham's descendants, the Jewish people of Israel and Judah, are located throughout the Old and New Testaments. However, several chapters, in particular, highlight Israel and their relationship and communion with God as no others do, and they are mostly located in chapter 12 of their respective Books. But first, let's review the significance of the number 12 in my earlier article.

Review Of God's Perfect Numbers – Part 2
There were 12 patriarchs from Noah's son, Shem, to Jacob (Israel): Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abram, Isaac, and Jacob.

The number 12 is also the number signifying the perfection of government. Jacob had 2 wives and 2 'substitute' wives. With these 4 wives, he had 12 sons and 1 daughter (Genesis 35:22-26). These sons of Jacob and their descendants eventually became the nation of Israel. Jacob's sons' names were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. Jacob's only daughter's name was Dinah.

Abraham's son, Ishmael (by the Egyptian bondwoman Hagar), was the father of 12 princes. His sons and their descendants became a great nation (Genesis 17:19). Ishmael's sons' names were Nebajoth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

There were 12 persons that were anointed in the Old Testament (5 of them were priests and 7 were kings): Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar, Saul, David, Absalom, Solomon, Jehu, Joash, and Jehoahaz. David was actually anointed 3 times.

In the New Testament, there were 12 apostles of Jesus: Simon (Peter); James the son of Zebedee; John the brother of James; Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot (Mark 3:14-19).

At the Garden of Gethsemane, when the religious leaders came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest. Jesus told Peter to put up his sword, for he could call down 12 legions of angels to help him if He wished (Matthew 26:53).

Every year, Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Jesus' first visit to the Temple in Jerusalem was when he was 12 years old. "And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast" (Luke 2:42). On their trip home, after 1 day's journey, they noticed Jesus wasn't in their company; so they returned to Jerusalem seeking him. "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (Luke 2:46-47).

When Jesus fed the multitude (5,000 men, not counting women and children) in the desert, all they had were five loaves and two fishes (a total of 7 food items). Jesus then looked up to heaven and blessed the meal and broke the bread, and gave the food to his disciples for distribution. "And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full" (Matthew 14:20).

At the time of the Great Tribulation, after the sixth seal, a mighty angel comes to the earth and proclaims: "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred, and forty and four thousand (12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10) of all the tribes of the children of Israel" (Revelation 7:3). Of the 12 tribes of Israel, 12,000 servants from each tribe will be sealed for service in the days of the Tribulation.

In Revelation 21, 12 is the dominant number concerning the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven: "And (it) had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels and names written thereof, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Revelation 21:12,14).

"And the city lies foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four (12 x 12) cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel" (Revelation 21:16-17).

"The twelve foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass." (Revelation 21:19-21).

God showed John another vision of the New Jerusalem. Here is a part of the description: "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manners of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:1-2).

Chapter 12 In Different Books Of The Bible
Genesis 12
In Genesis 12, the Lord makes a covenant with Abram (later named Abraham) who would become the patriarch of the nation of Israel and other nations as well. Here are the promises and blessings the Lord made to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and your father's house to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-3).

Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed Haran with his wife Sarai and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. Abraham and Sarah had one child between them, Isaac, in their old age and this began the God-favored nation of Israel.

Abraham is called the father of faith. He was the father of many nations, as God had promised him, for he was faithful to hear and obey the word of God. Abraham and Sarah are both members of the Hall of Faith in the Book of Hebrews. "By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:8-10).

"By faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore" (Hebrews 11:11-12).

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had the opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them" (Hebrews 11:13-16).

Exodus 12
The Passover was instituted in Exodus 12. "On the tenth of this month, every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails. You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover" (Exodus 12:3-11).

The Passover was the 10th and final plague of the Lord against Egypt before Pharoah relented and let the children of Israel go free. "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance" (Exodus 12:3-12). This was the first of seven Feast of the Lord memorials to be observed annually by the Israelites.

The 2nd Feast of the Lord, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was also observed at this time. "Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you. So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land" (Exodus 12:15-19).

Numbers 12
Numbers 12 occurred evidently after Moses divorced his wife and married an Ethiopian woman (which was considered taboo according to God). I believe Aaron and Miriam used this event to try and gain more leadership authority with the children of Israel. "So they said, "Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth. Of course, Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible (and possibly Job), so I think this sentence in parenthesis is highlighting Moses' humor regarding how humble he was.

Here is what happened next, which I find extraordinary. Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the Tabernacle of Meeting! So the three came out. Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward" (Numbers 12:4-5). Then He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?" (Numbers 12:6-8).

I think the LORD answered Aaron and Miriam's question ("Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?") very adamantly. Throughout Israel's history, the LORD spoke to his prophets mostly through dreams and visions. Moses was unique in that God spoke to him in a more personal way, face-to-face. Of course, the LORD's form was obscured by a cloud or he appeared in the form of a man (or angel) as a theophany (Christophany). The following verses describe the Lord's anger at this question and then He departs. At this point Miriam became leprous. This leads me to believe she must have been the one who asked the question. Aaron cried out to his younger brother, Moses, and said, "Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb!" (Numbers 12:11-12).

So Moses cried out to the LORD saying, Please heal her, O God, I pray! The LORD answered Moses' petition but made Miriam remain leprous for seven days, in which she had to remain outside the comp for those days. Aaron and Miriam never questioned or challenged Moses' authority again.

Deuteronomy 12
God ordained that there was to be only one designated place of worship, where sacrifices were to be made, for all 12 tribes of Israel. "But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety, then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord. And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion nor inheritance with you. Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; but in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you" (Deuteronomy 12:10-13).

During the time of Joshua and the judges, the Tabernacle of Meeting (which contained the ark of the covenant) was located in Shiloh. After many centuries, the place of worship and sacrifice at Shiloh was moved to Jerusalem during the time of David. When Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem, all of the Jewish people were required to assemble there for worship and sacrifice.

1 Kings 12
After Solomon's heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, God informed Solomon that He would tear away the kingdom from him and give it to his servant, Jeroboam. However, for the sake of David, the LORD wouldn't do it in Solomon's life but in his son's life. The LORD also said because of His servant David and the city of Jerusalem, which He had chosen, He would leave two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, with Solomon's son, Rehoboam. This division of the United Kingdom of Israel into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, is described in 1 Kings 12.

One of the first things King Jeroboam did in the northern kingdom of Israel was to build two idols of gold that resembled calves. He set one up in Dan and the other in Bethel so his people would not return to Jerusalem to worship there. He instituted a new feast day to replicate the Passover, only this feast would start on the 15th day of the eighth month, in which sacrifices would be offered to the Golden Calf god. The great apostasy that God (and later Moses) had predicted the children of Israel would commit (according to Deuteronomy 31:16-19) had begun.

Daniel 12
Daniel 12 is a prophecy of the end times. It is referring to the last 3.5 years of Daniel's 70th seven (seven years), found in Daniel 9:27. Jeremiah refers to it as the time of Jacob's Trouble in Jeremiah 30:7. Isaiah refers to it as the Day of the Lord in Isaiah 13, and likewise so does Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Zechariah, and Malachi. Here is how the angel describes this time of Great Tribulation: "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:1-3).

In verse 4, Daniel is told to shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and from, and knowledge shall increase. I believe the book or scroll is not seen again until its reappearance in Revelation 5:1, where it is sealed with seven seals. The only one in heaven or earth (or under the earth) who was worthy to open or read or even look at the scroll is Jesus Christ. It's interesting that He is described as the Lion, of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David in Revelation 5:4, and just one verse later in Revelation 5:6, He is described as the Lamb of God. It is as the Lamb of God and His sacrifice for mankind that He is worthy to open the scroll.

Daniel 12 is a vision in which Daniel sees three persons; two angels, and Jesus Christ (the man clothed in linen). The two angels are on each side of the riverbank and Jesus is above the waters. One of the angels asked Jesus how long will these wonders last. Jesus answered "That it shall be for a time, times, and half a time (or 3.5 years), and when the power of the holy people (the Jews) has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished" (Daniel 12:7).

"Daniel heard this statement but still did not understand, so he asked the Lord, What shall be the end of these things? Jesus answered, Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand" (Daniel 12:9-10).

However, Jesus gave Daniel (and us) one last clue of how long this time period would last. "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days" (Daniel 12:11). Jesus gives Daniel the exact number of days of the "time, times, and half a time" which He referred to earlier. The end time of Jacob's Trouble will start when the evil abomination of desolation occurs in the Temple of Jerusalem (as described in Daniel's earlier prophecy contained in Daniel 9:27) and will end 1290 days later.

Jesus then tells Daniel, "Blessed is he that waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days" (Daniel 12:12). No explanation is given for what will occur on this 45th day after the 1290 days have expired, only that those who experience it will be blessed.

We will examine more of the number 12 in Scripture in part 2.

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Israel and the Number 12 in Scripture – Part 2
May 28, 2023
Bible Study

Israel and the Number 12 in Scripture – Part 2
By Randy Nettles

Zechariah 12
Zechariah 12 is a prophecy of the future deliverance of Judah/Israel from the Antichrist's forces when they attack Judah and Jerusalem during the end days of the Day of the Lord. Zechariah 14 foretells the eventual outcome of the battle: "The city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished, and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, but the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city" (Zechariah 14:2). However, it will be a very costly victory for the Antichrist, as he will lose many men in this battle. Zechariah 12 describes how the Lord will intervene by empowering the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah/Israel with His Holy Spirit giving them supernatural strength and fighting ability, as he did in the days of old with Samson, Shamgar, and David and his fighting men (as described in 2 Samuel 23:8-39).

"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. In that day, says the Lord, I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of hosts, their God. In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place — Jerusalem.

The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah. In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem" (Zechariah 12:1-9).

Jesus will not return to save the remnant elect until the Jewish people call on Him as their Messiah to save them. "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction, they will seek me early" (Hosea 5:15). When Jesus returns to the earth on the Feast of Trumpets, he will go first to Bozrah/Petra Jordan and destroy the Antichrist's forces that are gathered there to kill the Jews who are taking refuge there. He will fight them all the way back to Jerusalem and then save the remnant Jews that are still living there.

I believe this will happen on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) 1260 days after the abomination of desolation. "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo" (Zechariah 12:10-11). It is thought that the mourning at Hadad Rimmon is referring to King Josiah who was killed in battle at the plains of Megiddo. He was greatly mourned by his people, as he was a righteous and beloved king of Judah.

John 12
Jesus' triumphal entry on Palm Sunday before his crucifixion on Passover is discussed in John 12. "The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! The King of Israel!" (John 12:12-13). This is the fulfillment of the 69th "seven" of Daniel's prophecy found in Daniel 9:25.

"And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat on it; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, your King comes, sitting on an ass's colt. These things his disciples didn't understand at first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him" (John 12:14-16). Jesus' entry into Jerusalem fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey."

Although Jesus gave many signs that he was the Jewish Messiah by performing healings and miracles, the majority of the people and religious rulers of Israel did not believe he was their Anointed One. John said, But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed" (John 12:37-38). John was quoting from Isaiah 53:1 here. This amazing prophecy in Isaiah, which was made over six centuries before Jesus' time, is called "the sin-bearing Messiah" as it describes the torture and crucifixion of Jesus for the sins of mankind. Here is how Isaiah finishes this prophecy (of 12 verses) in verse 12: "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

John quoted Isaiah again, "Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again, He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory and spoke of him" (John 12:29-31). Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord (and His Seraphim) in the year King Uzziah died. This amazing encounter is recorded in Isaiah 6. The Lord asked Isaiah who should He send to prophesy to the people. Isaiah said, "Here am I; send me. And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear you indeed, but understand not; and see you indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed" (Isaiah 6:8-10). The Jews of both generations were similar in their unbelief of the Lord's word through His prophets. They all had eye, ear, and heart problems.

Hebrews 12
The Old Testament members of the Lord's Hall of Faith are discussed in Hebrews 11. The last verse in chapter 11 says, "And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us." This is the promise of the heavenly inheritance of the New Jerusalem.

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2). The cloud of witnesses is the Old Testament members of the Hall of Faith described in Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 12:18-24 compares the "gathering" of the children of Israel unto the LORD at Mount Sinai to the gathering of the saints unto the LORD at Mount Zion (New Jerusalem) after the Rapture. Because of their unbelief, the children of Israel had to continue their journey in the wilderness for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land. Because of their faith, the Church of Jesus Christ will go directly to the Promised Land of Heaven and the New Jerusalem after their translation at the Rapture. The Mt. Sinai experience with the LORD was terrifying while the Mt. Zion experience will be joyful beyond comprehension. "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Mt. Sinai: "For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. (For they could not endure what was commanded: And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow. And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.)" (Hebrews 12:18-21).

Mt. Zion: "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22-24). The spirits of just men made perfect are the Old Testament "cloud of witnesses" who have not yet received their translated heavenly bodies.

Here is the best advice you will ever get! "See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:25-26;28-29).

Revelation 12
Revelation 12:1 takes place after the two witnesses (with supernatural abilities) of Revelation 11:3 are killed, resurrected (after three-and-a-half days), and ascend to heaven in a cloud. Immediately after their ascension, the seventh angel sounds the seventh trumpet judgment. This is approximately at the mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation, known as the Great Tribulation. Revelation 12:1-5 is a depiction of events that have happened on the earth and in heaven in the past, and which will lead up to events in the future end times (verses 6-17).

"Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth" (Revelation 12:1-2). This woman is an allusion to Israel by way of Joseph's dream in which he saw the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down to him (Genesis 37:9). The sun represents Jacob (Israel), the moon represents Rachel, the eleven stars represents Joseph's brothers. Of course, Joseph would be the twelfth star. Mary, representing Israel, would eventually give birth to Jesus, the Messiah.

"And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron" (Revelation 12:3-5). In these verses, John is comparing Satan to a great, fiery red dragon. The seven heads and ten horns represent the final form of the Gentile World Empire (prophesied in Daniel 7:7), now shown to be under Satan's control and authority.

Jesus was born through Mary, who was a descendant of Israel and specifically the tribe of Judah. Jesus Christ is destined to rule the nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9). The vision is of the nation of Israel just before the birth of the Messiah. Satan brings his demonic host with him, from heaven to the earth, in an attempt to kill the Messiah shortly after his birth. This attempt to destroy the child was the slaughter of the babies of Bethlehem by Herod in Matthew 2:16-18. There was a tremendous amount of demonic activity in the Gospels during the time of Jesus.

"And her Child was caught up to God and His throne" (Revelation 12:5). The wording of this verse is very interesting. Most scholars believe it is referring to Jesus' ascension into heaven as recorded in Acts 1:9, "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." The English word "taken up" is "epairo" in Greek. However, John uses the same word Paul used for the rapture (in 1 Thessalonians 4:17), which is "caught up" or "harpazo" in Greek. This makes me wonder why John used harpazo (caught up or seized forcibly) instead of the more generic word epairo (to raise or lift up). Some scholars see this as a reference or a hint to the Rapture, in which Jesus and His church will be caught up into heaven. However, the woman is not the Church, she is Israel. The Church doesn't give birth to Jesus. Jesus gives birth to the Church.

After Jesus is caught up to God and His throne, John's vision moves forward to events that will occur in the Tribulation. The next event is one that takes place in heaven and swiftly moves to the earth. It occurs at the "in the midst" point of the seven-year Tribulation when the Antichrist commits the abomination of desolation in Jerusalem's new Temple (as prophesied by Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15). Meanwhile in heaven: "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:7-9). At this point, Satan and his fallen angels fight against Michael and the faithful angels. Satan and his forces lose and they are cast to the earth. They no longer have access to heaven or God's throne.

"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time" (Revelation 12:10-12).

The inhabitants of heaven are ecstatic after Satan and his demonic angels are ejected from heaven. They consider this as the start of the kingdom of God and His Christ, as Satan will no longer have access to God. There will no longer be any accusations levied against the children of God. Unfortunately, Satan and his evil horde are cast to the earth, and man, are they angry! He knows the Bible and all the prophecies concerning the end times and realizes he only has 1260 days to accomplish his evil agenda.

"Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth" (Revelation 12:13-16).

The Jews in Jerusalem who witness the abomination of desolation by the Antichrist are instructed to flee to the mountains quickly, if not sooner, by Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24:15-22. "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21). This is the evil event that begins the Great Tribulation or Jacob's Trouble.

Just like when Israel was pursued by Pharoah and his Egyptian army during the Exodus, she will be pursued by the Antichrist and his forces at this time. And just like God supernaturally intervened then to save His people, so will He do again in the future. "You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them" (Exodus 15:12). As the A.C. sends some of his forces to chase after the Jewish people who are fleeing to Petra, Jordan, the earth will open up and swallow them. The Jews who escape at this time will arrive safely in Petra and will remain there for the duration of the Great Tribulation. "Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days" (Revelation 12:6).

Another typological example of "a flood" against the children of Israel is found in Daniel 9:26, "And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood." Of course, this verse is referring to the destruction of the Temple and the sacking of Jerusalem in 70 AD, as described in Luke 21:20-24.

"And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:17). The "rest of her offspring" will include all the Jewish believers among the Jews at that time, as well as the 144,000 Jews of Revelation 7. Matthew writes about these Messianic Jewish believers in Matthew 24:22, "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened."

Revelation 12 is an allegoric description of Satan's persecution of the Jews during the approximate mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation. It begins when he is cast down to the earth and indwells the Antichrist, who performs the famous abomination of desolation in the newly built Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. He organizes a worldwide anti-Semitic campaign to try and destroy the Jewish race once and for all, but he will fail because of God's supernatural intervention. Satan's hatred of humankind has been going on since time immemorial, ever since he instigated man's fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. This was when the first prophecy was given by the Lord, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15).

Part of this prophecy has been fulfilled. Satan's influence on ungodly men led to Jesus being tortured and crucified. He was attempting to stop Jesus (the "seed of the woman" and the Holy Spirit) from usurping his authority as the current "ruler of this world." Evidently, Satan didn't fully comprehend the Lord's prophecy. Had Satan known Jesus's death would bring about the new covenant (For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins – Matthew 26:28), and that Jesus would be resurrected three days later, he wouldn't have had him killed. "None of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:8). Instead of denying Jesus (and the elect) his Kingdom, Satan had only managed to "bruise his heel."

The second part of this prophecy is yet future but is as sure to come true as the first part. At the beginning of the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ on the earth, Satan will be bound and cast alive into the bottomless pit. A seal will be set on him so he can't deceive the nations anymore for a thousand years. After the thousand years are finished, Satan is released for a little season and will attempt a comeback coup. "Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them" (Revelation 20:7-9).

The Lord will complete the prophecy of Genesis 3:15, given approximately 7000 years ago, by "bruising his (Satan's) head."

"The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10).

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 11:31).

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (Revelation 22:12-13).

Amen, Even so, Come Lord Jesus!

[Wycliffes_Shillelagh]

I am always skeptical of gematria, but even I will concede that there's something special about the number 12 in the Bible.

However, this article contains a lot of junk.  Let's sort through this article and separate the good stuff from the crapioso.

The number 12 signifies the perfection of rule or government.

I can't disprove that theory.  But I would offer an alternate theory.  12 is the number of fertility, or at least the number of children at which one was considered to have a large family.  Jacob has 12 sons, so does Ishmael, etc.  12 often just indicates "a large number."

Many of occurrences of the number 12 in the Bible are because of the 12 tribes.  What I mean is... when they made an altar, they used 12 stones, because 1 for each tribe.  12 oxen under the Bronze Sea, again to represent the tribes.  12 golden lions on Solomon's palace, same reason.  And so on...

The sun which rules the day; and the moon and stars which govern the night, do so by their passage through the 12 signs of the Zodiac which completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 x 30) degrees or divisions and thus govern the year (there are 12 months in a normal year for most calendars).

There are 12 signs of the zodiac because the Babylonians who invented the zodiac used a base-12 mathematical system.  Also, the zodiac doesn't appear in the Bible.  There are some oblique references to people practicing astrology, but it doesn't explain the zodiac or even enumerate the constellations.

Twelve is the product of 3 (the perfectly Divine and heavenly number) and 4 (the earthly, the number of what is material and organic)."

Historically, the number 4 has significance because it is the number of cardinal directions and the winds named for them (north wind, south wind, east wind and west wind).  By extension one can extrapolate it to mean the whole earth.  Randy seems to have stumbled into a mostly right answer here, but then worked backwards to create his own logic to explain it.

The number 3 doesn't have much special meaning.  It appears that the number is sometimes used to mean "a few" or "not many" rather than a literal 3.  The Israelites often travel "3 days" during the Exodus before something significant happens, and it just appears to mean "they hadn't gone far when..."  The giant has 3 sons, but really it just means "there weren't many giants."  Several times the Israelites sent "3,000 men" to battle and each time they lose because they sent "the small army."  By contrast, when they send 12,000 men (the big army) they always win.

The number 12 represents Israel in many ways. Jacob had twelve sons whose descendants eventually formed the kingdom of Israel.

The Bible's insistence that Israel is 12 tribes, when there are clearly 13 or 14 tribes is noteworthy.  Shall we count?

1 Reuben
2 Simeon
3 Levi
4 Judah
5 Dan
6 Naphtali
7 Gad
8 Asher
9 Issachar
10 Zebulun
11 Joseph
12 Benjamin
13 Ephraim
14 Manasseh

To make that math work...

When counting the sons of Jacob, Joseph is left out (why?) and Ephraim and Manasseh are each counted as only 1/2 a tribe, despite the Bible recording them being adopted as Jacob's sons.

When counting the physical territories of Israel, Levi and Simeon are left out.  It is explained that these two tribes didn't receive lands because these patriarchs committed a sin.  Levi instead received some cities in each territory.  Simeon... doesn't.  Sucks to be Simeon.

The end result is that the 12 physical territories of Israel are not the same as its 12 (*cough13cough*) patriarchs.  ::confused::

Jesus, a descendant of King David of the tribe of Judah, had 12 disciples from different tribes of Israel.

The Bible's stated reason for Jesus choosing 12 disciples was that they are intended to each rule over one tribe.  Also, they aren't ALL from different tribes.  There are several from Judah.

There were 12 patriarchs from Noah's son, Shem, to Jacob (Israel): Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abram, Isaac, and Jacob.

Arbitrary.  Why'd he start at Shem?  Shem isn't exactly a major figure.  Why'd he stop at Jacob?  The story doesn't end there. 

There were 12 persons that were anointed in the Old Testament (5 of them were priests and 7 were kings): Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar, Saul, David, Absalom, Solomon, Jehu, Joash, and Jehoahaz. David was actually anointed 3 times.

Randy has forgotten a few.  Hazael king of Syria (1Kings 19).  And all the captives of Judea that were taken by the Samarians (2Chr 28).  Cyrus king of Persia (Isa 45).  The prophet Isaiah (Isa 61).  King Zedekiah (Lam 4).  The whole city of Jerusalem (Eze 16).  The Prince of Tyre (Eze 28).  Jesus (Dan 9:24).  An anonymous king (Hab 3:13).  Zerubbabel and Joshua (Zec 4). 

Apparently, Randy only sees what Randy wants to see.

At the Garden of Gethsemane, when the religious leaders came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest. Jesus told Peter to put up his sword, for he could call down 12 legions of angels to help him if He wished (Matthew 26:53).

The big army, then.

Every year, Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Jesus' first visit to the Temple in Jerusalem was when he was 12 years old. "And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast" (Luke 2:42). On their trip home, after 1 day's journey, they noticed Jesus wasn't in their company; so they returned to Jerusalem seeking him. "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (Luke 2:46-47).

12 or 13 years old was the age of adulthood.  The feasts are prescribed only for adult males, so it makes sense that He attended his 1st feast at 12.

When Jesus fed the multitude (5,000 men, not counting women and children) in the desert, all they had were five loaves and two fishes (a total of 7 food items). Jesus then looked up to heaven and blessed the meal and broke the bread, and gave the food to his disciples for distribution. "And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full" (Matthew 14:20).

In other words, there were a lot of leftovers.

At the time of the Great Tribulation, after the sixth seal, a mighty angel comes to the earth and proclaims: "Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred, and forty and four thousand (12 x 12 x 10 x 10 x 10) of all the tribes of the children of Israel" (Revelation 7:3). Of the 12 tribes of Israel, 12,000 servants from each tribe will be sealed for service in the days of the Tribulation.

In Revelation 21, 12 is the dominant number concerning the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven: "And (it) had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels and names written thereof, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Revelation 21:12,14).

"And the city lies foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four (12 x 12) cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel" (Revelation 21:16-17).

"The twelve foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass." (Revelation 21:19-21).

God showed John another vision of the New Jerusalem. Here is a part of the description: "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manners of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:1-2).

All of these follow the same patterns.  12 can either be read as "many" or else is a reference to the tribes of Israel.

Chapter 12 In Different Books Of The Bible

I'm not going to read this drivel.  The chapter divisions of the Bible weren't even added until the 15th century AD.  The idea that the 12th chapters all have something in common is entirely contrived. 

I guess if you look hard enough for something, you can usually find it... even if the original author never intended it whatsoever.

Jarrod