You’ll want to sit back and enjoy the symbolism and awesome detail our Creator and Savior has put into Sunday. While this post is lengthy, the biblical richness is incredible. The more I discovered, the more I was amazed by the grand detail of the Creator of the Universe and Author of our Salvation. Sunday is represented in the Bible by Creation Day 1 (where Light enters the darkness), Creation Day 3 (where seed-bearing plants are created and the day which the resurrection takes place), and The Day Which the Lord Has Made – Day 8!
FIRST, we need some background in various Scripture passages
Key Point: Humanity is in Darkness of Sin and LIGHT is symbolic of Salvation
Colossians 1:13-18
We read the astounding glory of our King Jesus. What we learn from those verses includes:
v. 13 He “Delivered us from darkness”
v. 15 He is the “firstborn of creation”
v. 16 “by Him all things were created in heaven and earth”
v. 18 “He is the head…the beginning, the firstborn from the dead that He may have preeminence.”
Then, in John 1:1-5
v. 1 He (the Word, which is Jesus) was “In the beginning”
v. 4 “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
v. 5 “light shines in the darkness”
What do we learn from John’s Gospel about Jesus?
- Jesus existed in the beginning.
- In Jesus was life.
- Light was light of men
- Light shines in the darkness.
- John mentions “light” in his gospel 23x (contrasted with Mt 7x, Mk 1x, Lk 7x)
- John mentions “water” in his gospel 24x (Mt 7x, Mk 4x, Lk 7x)
- John mentions “believe” in his gospel 106x (Mt 15x, Mk 14x, Lk 9x)
- John mentions “life” in his gospel 36x (Mt 7x, Mk 4x, Lk 5x)
John 3:19-20
v. 19 “light has come into the world”
v. 19 “men loved darkness.”
v. 19 “men’s deeds were evil.”
What did we learn?
1. Light has come into the world.
2. Marked contrast between light and darkness.
3. Light is intended to save.
Genesis 1:1-10
v. 1 “In the beginning” – The Old Testament books in Hebrew are often named by the first or first few words of the book. So, in Hebrew verse one begins, “B’ Resheet” where…
* “B’ ” means “in” and
* “Resheet” means “beginning.”
* “Beginning” or as we say in English, “Genesis.” So, the name of the book in Hebrew is literally, “In the beginning.”
v. 2 What is viewed in the background of this verse? Darkness
v. 2 In the verse, what comes to the forefront?
* Spirit of God
* Waters
* Light
v. 4 “light…was good”
v. 4-8 God divided 2 times:
* v. 4 light from darkness (the Day ends with no statement of “good”)
* v. 7 waters from firmament (the Day ends with no statement of “good”)
v. 9 – 10 Day 3: God gathers the waters together and pronounces that gathering, “good” (v. 10). Day 3 also has something very special we will see later.
So, in Genesis 1: verses 5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31 All the days in those verses contain the phrase, “and the evening and the morning were the X day.” Not so for the 7th day. Why? Sabbatarians say it’s because humanity is supposed to observe the 7th day Sabbath. But, wait! What does the number 7 represent in the Bible? Completion or perfection, right? So, how do the two symbolisms of that 7th day compliment one another? Or do they? Hold that thought.
John 3:5
v. 5 “unless one is born of the water and Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”
Pattern: Water -> Spirit -> comes to Light
Before we proceed any further, let’s talk about figures of speech, symbolism, and parables. This is something Jesus did often – He spoke this way so much He frustrated the disciples:
John 16:25, 29; 10:24; Matt 13:10-17; Isa. 6:10
NOTE: Jesus hid truth in symbolism, figures of speech, and parables.
Question: What is the first event in the Bible where people are saved by water? Genesis 7-9 (the great flood and Noah’s ark, right?)
1 Pet. 3:20-21
Peter says something striking in the New Testament about the flood: He says, 8 souls were saved through water.
v. 21 How were they saved? “Baptism (water)…through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
In regards to water: Is there another event in OT where people are saved through water? Exodus 14:13-14 (see also, 1 Cor 10:1-2 where Paul references Israel being “baptized” in the sea) Israel and Christians are in a sense saved through water, which God says to Israel, “Stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord!”
The Lord will fight for you
Remember what God proclaimed as “good” on Day 3? The waters were “gathered” together just as baptism waters gather God’s people together. That is incredibly “good.
“What number is connected with salvation in 1 Peter 3:20? The number 8.
Does the number 8 hold any special significance in the Bible?
John 7:37-39
Background – The Feast of Tabernacles was an 8-day Feast of Israel in the autumn of the year where Israel would gather together at Jerusalem and where God commanded them to rejoice (Lev. 23:40). God connects that celebration back to the Exodus (salvation by the Lord) for Israel to remember in Lev. 23:43.
The 8th Day of this Feast was a holy Sabbath rest. It occurred…
1. In the 7th month (the number 7 being symbolic of perfection and completion);
2. At the end of three 7-day weeks (symbolic of perfection three times; 3 being another number symbolic of God). It is important to note that in Hebrew there is no superlatives in the Hebrew language like we have in English. For example: in English to magnify the meaning of “great,” we would use the word, “greater.” To further magnify the word, “great” to its highest form, we would say, “greatest.” Hebrew does not contain superlatives like “great” then “greater” then “greatest.” To emphasize something, the word is repeated. For example, in Hebrew, the angels proclaim Holy, Holy, Holy 3x, which means, the greatest, instead of proclaiming, “Holy, Holier, Holiest.”
Water Drawing Ceremony
Taken from Jonathan Cahn’s Book of Mysteries, Day 55, 2016.
For seven days during the Feast of Tabernacles (FOT), the priest would go to the Pool of Siloam (where the blind man was sent to receive his sight – John 9:7-11). And on the 8th day the priest did the same. He would take a golden pitcher to the Pool of Siloam, draw it full of water, ascend the Temple Mount up to the altar and pour it out in a dramatic ritual. Cahn says, “The Water Drawing Ceremony was a central part of the Feast, as water, or the lack of it, was a matter of life and death in a middle eastern land.”
Cahn hearkens this event back to Isaiah 12:3 “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” where the word salvation in Hebrew is actually, “Yeshua,” or “Jesus.” “Wells” mean abundance! So, how much water did Jesus say in John 7:38 would proceed forth from one who is thirsty and comes to Him? Rivers, which are an abundant ongoing flow from the unseen (like God) source. Also, remember God required by command that the people were to rejoice at the FOT (Lev. 23:40). And for good reason!
RECAP: Thus, salvation through water begins with the 8 on Noah’s ark in the midst of God’s judgment and wrath on the earth.
* Water salvation is also tied to the prophetic declaration by God to Israel before He opens up the Red Sea: “The Lord is your salvation” (Ex 14:13)
* Water salvation is also tied to “The Lord will fight your battles.” (Ex. 14:14)
* Isaiah prophesies, “with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (or Yeshua).
* Jesus stands at the joyous 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacles at the Water Drawing Ceremony and offers His salvation to all people (Gentiles) who are thirsty for water (salvation)!
* John writes that Jesus spoke these words on that 8th day concerning the Holy Spirit (7:39)
* This is fascinating for numerous reasons.
1. The Old Testament prophet, Joel, foretold (2:28) that the Holy Spirit would be “poured out” like water so to empower the disciples to release the gospel upon the entire world (Luke 24:47). Jesus was sent to the House of Israel; the disciples to the world. Acts 1:8
2. The Spirit (symbolized by water) would bring life to a dry, dead, & thirsty world
3. The disciples had to wait until that pouring out and power would come (Luke 24:49).
4. What day did the Holy Spirit come? Pentecost
5. Another name for Pentecost is “Feast of Weeks” Why?
6. Lev. 23:15-16 Count 7 weeks of 7 days (completion of weeks, completion of days), specifically seven Sabbaths (rest periods). Then Pentecost occurs on…
7. What day does Pentecost always fall on? Sunday.
8. Pentecost reverses the curse of the divided languages at the Tower of Babel (the word, “Babel” or “Babylon” means, “confusion”) in Genesis 11:1-9, esp. 7 where humanity was commanded by God to scatter into all the earth and reproduce. But instead, the humans decide to remain together, defensively build a city, and build a tower to reach the heavens (where God is). In an act of merciful and gracious judgment, God divides the people’s unified language. The people then obey God’s command by scattering to the ends of the earth. At Pentecost, God performs a miracle to gather the diverse languages by the “pouring out” of His Spirit, thus gathering His people and disciples to scatter to the ends of the earth with the joyous great news of His salvation!!!
9. Pentecost is similar to the Year of Jubilee in the Old Testament law where every 50 years in Israel, any debts which people owed were forgiven. If any Israelite was a slave to another brother, the slave was freed. If anyone had lost land, they received it back. What rejoicing that would be for those in bondage!
10. But the specific point we’re making is not about all that. It is about Sunday.
“The New Day Which the LORD has Made!”
1. The Grain of Wheat (or Seed) – John 12:24
“Most assuredly (you can count on this truth), unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” Here, Jesus speaks of His entrance into the darkness of the cursed ground. He will die, and it is implied (as a grain of wheat) that He will spring forth with life everlasting as the head (Col 1:18) of grain and produce an abundance of wheat.
2. Day 3 Genesis 1:11-12
Now, the reader might be quite skeptical of anything thing having to do with the resurrection here on Day 3. But on Day 3 in Genesis 1 what happened? God created seeds and trees that yield its fruit. This is important. In Genesis 1, Day 1 and Day 2 are not proclaimed to be “good.” Only the light in Genesis 1:4 is said to be “good.” Then on Day 3, “good” is mentioned twice! A double portion! Double the increase. Light is good, Dry land and water were good. And the seeds and trees (things which have seeds, die in the earth, and bring forth life) are pronounced as, “good” by God. This is the third day (see 3rd Day motif message at https://mmwise.com/2020/04/11/the-third-day-motif/).
So, when was Jesus “planted” in the ground? On the day in which man was created (Friday), also called “the Day of Man,” the 6th day. What did Jesus wear on His head? The crown of thorns (the curse of mankind) – Gen. 3:18 “Thorns and thistles (the ground) shall bring forth for you.” As part of the curse of man’s sins, the ground would bring forth thorns and thistles. On that sixth day, Jesus wore a crown of thorns on His head (meant to be a mockery, but it resulted in His glory for bearing God’s punishment of humanity).
Further Background about Friday (Day 6): Traditionally for Jewish families on Friday nights as the sun set in the west, a traditional Jewish Sabbath would begin with the mother of the family lighting a candle at sunset (the Light entering the World of Darkness to rest on the Sabbath in the grave in the ground as a Seed of wheat which would not only save mankind, but produce abundantly! Thus, Jesus said, “I am Lord of the Sabbath.” He was saying, “I am Lord over the RESTING of death!”
There is also a further connection between Day 1 and Day 3. The spring holy days. The Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Feast of Firstfruits all are commanded to be observed in the first month of Abib (aw-beeb’). The Hebrew word, Abib, is a masculine noun used in the OT and translated once as “fresh heads” and once as “fresh heads of grain.”
Hebrew calendar = lunar based (which is symbolic of Moses reflecting light of the true sun – Jesus Christ)
Roman calendar = solar based (the True Light or “Sun of Righteousness” shall arise with healing in His wings as Malachi refers to Him in Mal. 4:2)
3. Joel 2:23-24, 26 “Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you – the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.”
Here in Joel, water is now in the context of rain – the former and latter of the calendar year. Rain (water) is a picture of life and revival. The Hebrew for “former” can be translated as “Teacher of Righteousness.” God has given that Teacher (Jesus) faithfully regardless of our sin and out of abundant grace.
Verse 24 What is produced? Wheat! How much? “Full of wheat!” What is Jesus known as? “The Bread of Life.” Bread in Bible times was made from wheat flour.
Verse 26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied.” No more frustration, toil, and failure. The old man has passed away and the new creation has come. Jesus says, “Whoever eats My flesh (He is the bread of life) and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54).
God’s work of perfection and completion would not be thwarted by humanity’s fall into sin. He would enter this sinful world and even become sin and “make a new day” bringing abundant life as a Teacher of Righteousness to those who would trust and believe in Him.
Although God rested on the 7th day, once humanity fell into sin, God went back to work again. How do we know that? Because when the Pharisees had a problem with Jesus healing on the Sabbath (the 7th day), Jesus responded with His mission, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5:17).
The New Genesis (the 1st and the 8th)
During the Passover week, when Jesus dies – there is a 7-day Feast of Unleavened Bread which the Jews celebrated in the spring annually. The Sunday during that week (which always fell after the Sabbath) is called the Feast of Firstfruits (Lev. 23:10-11). So, what day did Jesus resurrect? Sunday. What Feast was it? The Feast of Firstfruits! What is the word in Hebrew for “firstfruits”?
As we described earlier, the first Hebrew words of the Bible is: B’ Resheet (“In the beginning”)? The Hebrew word for “day” is “Yom,” as in “Yom Kippur” (Day of Atonement). Well, the word for Day of Firstfruits is “Yom Resheet.” In other words, “Resheet” is the same word as the beginning in Genesis 1:1. As Jonathan Cahn says, “The day on which Messiah rose (Sunday) contains the exact same word that begins the Scriptures, the universe, and the creation. The day Messiah rose was ‘The Day of Genesis’ (a new creation). The resurrection IS the new Genesis.” Darkness was on the face of the deep (the tomb was dark). Jesus, the Light of the world, entered. And on the third day, our Savior came forth on that Sunday. In the same way, when we come to “the Light” our old man dies and we become a “new creation” in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Old things have passed away (the physical week is complete. And behold “all things” are new for the Christian by the power of the resurrection symbolized by what is the 8th day (Sunday).
Day 103 (Jonathan Cahn’s Book of Mysteries about Sunday being Day 1)
4. Jesus Becomes the Firstfruit (the good Seed) of Many
Remember Col 1:15-19 where “firstfruit” is mentioned twice? Now you understand how Jesus became the Firstfruit of creation. But there is MUCH more! Firstfruits means “the first and best of the harvest.”
In the Mosaic law (in the Old Testament), firstfruit offerings were commanded by God. The people were to bring their first and best from their initial harvest, and that was used for the support of the Levitical priesthood. What day did the Levitical priesthood start? Lev. 9:1-6
* Lev. 9:1 Priesthood started “on the 8th day.”
* Ezek. 43:27 The LORD will accept us on the 8th day.
* Lev. 9:4,6 “The LORD will appear to you”
* Lev. 9:5 Before all the congregation on the 8th day
Up from the ground He arose on Sunday! 1 Cor. 15:20 “Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (died).”
After literally and symbolically resting in the grave on the 7th day Sabbath, Jesus bursts forth as the first fruit (1st day symbolic of Light as in Genesis and the 8th day symbolic of Life in the Law and Prophets), thus, truly and fantastically becoming both the Alpha and the Omega! Jesus does this even in His entry into Jerusalem as He enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (the 1st day) and rises from the dead on the 8th Day (the Day of Firstfruits). Again, He demonstrates He is the Alpha and Omega.
Again, the Day of Firstfruits (wave sheaf) ALWAYS falls on the Sunday AFTER the Sabbath in the Passover week. Pentecost is also prophetically always on Sunday because it is the start (the birthday) of the NT church, which begins “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood” as Peter describes in 1 Pet. 2:9 . That’s why the wave sheaf is on Sunday. Jesus would logically RISE as the Seed (after His death) on the Day of Firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20; Acts 26:23) since He is THE Firstfruit of all. It is the POWER of resurrection (victory over death). So, logically, the firstfruits gather on the 8th day, Sunday, the start of the royal priesthood!
This resurrection (bursting forth) was prophesied in Hosea 6:2-3 Notice what is recorded there –
Verse 2A: “After two days He will revive us.” In other words, Jesus enters the tomb on Friday evening before sunset (Day 1). Sabbath is Day 2. After two days (that would be Sunday), He will revive us (His people). – by the power of the resurrection, those who repent, believe, and trust in Jesus will experience a revival (from death to life; from sleep to awakening).
Verse 2B: “On the third day He will raise us up.” 3rd Day “raising up” is like a seed on the 3rd day of creation. Like Jesus, we have new life (a new creation). Old things have passed away, behold all things are new when we are born again!
Verse 2C: “That we may live in His sight” – John 3:3 “Unless one is born again (death to life) he cannot see (His sight) the kingdom of God.”
Verse 3C: “His going forth is established as the morning.” Jesus rises in the morning (before sun rise). Note: in Jewish reckoning of days, the day begins at sunset. So, Friday (Day 1) ended by Hebrew reckoning after Jesus was placed in the tomb. Saturday ended on our Saturday night at sunset. Jesus was raised before dawn on Sunday morning, “on the 3rd day” as the gospels proclaim.
Verse 3D: “He will come to us like the rain” (water, both latter and former, like Joel 2).
Isaiah 60:1-3 also prophesied this for the Gentiles. “Arise, shine!” Light! “Your light has come!” By the way, did you know science just in the last 5 years discovered that when the sperm impregnates the egg in a woman’s body, there is a tiny burst of light? That’s the first birth (of light). And the second birth is of Jesus’ light. “The glory of the Lord is risen upon you” and “The Lord will arise over you.” Glory is seen. Gentiles come to the light.
What does this say about our past?
* We, like Christ, are a new creation (firstfruit) “in Him, raised on the Feast of Firstfruits (Day 8, Sunday).
* Sunday: Day 8 (symbolic of resurrection Life) is also Day 1 (symbolic of Light entering the world on Day 1). As Jonathan Cahn says, In Hebrew Day 1 is “Yom Rishon” – the day “everything begins.” It comes after the Sabbath (perfection and completion; Lord of the Sabbath). “For all who reach their end, for all who let their old lives end in Messiah’s end, the resurrection is the beginning that comes after the end. Sunday commemorates creation, beginning and fruitfruits, all things new, all things old beginning with Yom Rishon.”
James 1:18 We (with Jesus) are a firstfruit of God’s creatures.
We’ve talked about a “Feast of Firstfruits” (Lev. 23:9-12).
Wave Sheaf
The wave sheaf offering is always on the Sunday during the Passover week, the priest would wave a sheaf of grain up toward heaven. When he would wave it on Sunday in the midst of the Passover, the day Jesus arose from the dead, the priest would wave it up and down (symbolic of North and South over the earth) and left and right (symbolic of East and West over the earth). Such motions incredibly make the sign of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified bringing Light and Life to the world during this Feast of Firstfruits.
5. Psalm 118:24 the Lord works to make a new day, the Lord’s Day! “We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Note the reference to joy again.
Background:
Psm. 118 is the last of 6 collective psalms (113-118) composed after the Exile called the Hallel. The unit is recited together during major Jewish holy days. Matthew records that after the Passover meal, the disciples (Matt 26:30) “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Scholars believe this hymn (Psm. 118) was the one sung that night. It would have been the last thing said in unity that Passover night. The verses are incredible. Read verses 21-29.
Binding the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. The “Book of Mysteries” (Day 332) contains an incredible symbolic illustration of the horns of the finite space in the rectangular altar (118:27), and how the closed, finite spaced contained in the 4 corners of that altar is reversed in the cross of Jesus Christ to open into the 4 corners of the cross for an infinite opening to the entire world. As Jesus went to the tomb, the Lord was about to make a “new day.” Paul later calls it (to the Gentiles), “Today” (2 Cor. 6:2), as in “Today is the day of salvation.” And the writer of Hebrews (to the Jews) solemnly warns Israelite believers in the New Covenant (Heb 3:7-15) “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Today is THE Day of Salvation! “This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes” (Psm. 118:23). This “new day” was prophesied in Psm 118 to be created as symbolic in both “Today” (the day of salvation) and in the new day of worship, Sunday (the 1st, 3rd, and 8th day).
6. 8th (Shemini) & the Holy Spirit (oil = Shemen)
Birthday of the church was on Sunday, the 8th day, Pentecost. Not only does the number 8 have connections with water and firstfruits, but also with oil.
The Hebrew word for oil is Shemen. The substance of oil was used to “set apart” a person who was called by God. They were “anointed” with oil to recognize God’s calling or “God staking a claim” as Robert Bergen says. Ironically, the Hebrew word for oil (Shemen) is similar to the Hebrew word for eighth, which is Shemini. Thus, there is a connection between oil, Holy Spirit, and the number 8 in new life, new heavens, beyond full and overflowing, power to grow, expand and increase.
For God’s people who are “in Christ Jesus” (as Paul references 168 times in his 13 letters), the Holy Spirit are being conformed to the image of His Son as a new creation with godliness and holiness by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Much more could be said here that we have already mentioned – for example, the priesthood beginning on the 8th day in Leviticus and how priests were anointed with oil. But time and space is limited.
7. God’s Grace and Blessings in Symbolic Numbers Are Reversed in Divine Judgment
We have said that Sunday is represented by the numbers:
Day 1 Light enters;
Day 3 In OT the 3rd day motif is used for God’s deliverance of a nation or righteous person (Gen 22:4; 42:18; Ex 19:11, 16; Joshua 1:11; 2 Kings 20:5; Esther 5:1; Hos 6:2). In NT = Resurrection; and
Day 8: Born Again to New Life (eternal). Also, an octave in music (defined as “a musical interval embracing eight diatonic degrees.” The interval having a frequency (in physics) of twice the original (referred to as the “basic miracle of music” – Wikipedia). The inverse of an octave is unison.
It has been said that there is no truer science than math. If we apply math to the symbolism of numbers found in Sunday, does the Holy Spirit reveal anything with these three numbers (1, 3, and 8)? God is about addition and multiplication. In the book of Acts Luke records, “God *added* (with baptism) to the church daily” (Acts 2:41). Biblically, “multiplying” has to do with blessing (Gen. 1:28; 22:17; 26:3-4; Jer. 30:19; Acts 12:24; Heb. 6:14), while subtraction results in loss. Finally, division is a work of the flesh.
Addition: 1+3+8 = 12 has the biblical meaning of God’s power and authority. There are 12 tribes of Israel and 12 disciples. There were 12 unleavened cakes of bread in the temple which the priests were to change out every Sabbath day (Lev. 24:5-9). The New Jerusalem which descends out of heaven has 12 gates, each with an angel (Rev. 21:12).
Multiplication: 1x3x8 = 24 The number 24 is associated with the priesthood in the Bible – they served in 24 courses (1 Chronicles 23-24) and as mentioned there is no coincidence that the priesthood began on an 8th day (Lev. 9). In Luke 1:5 Zacharias was of the division of Abijah (based on 1 Chron 24), which was the 8th course. His son (John the Baptist – remember, he baptized with water) would announce in a dry wilderness the entrance of Light into the world. There are also 24 elders in Revelation.
Division 1/3 = .3333(to infinity) / 8 = .04166666667 (repeating number of man). Divide the 3 numbers and the result is .041666667, which is a number known to science. It is the 1/24th or 1-hour out of a full day. In science it is known as the “mitotic phase” of the human cell cycle and it takes approximately 1 hour or .041666667. “Cell division is the driving process of reproduction at the cellular level.” Mitosis is the phase of the cell cycle where the nucleus of a cell is divided into two nuclei with an equal amount of genetic material (DNA) in both the daughter nuclei. Mitosis is essential for the growth of cells and the replacement of worn-out cells.” www.byjus.com/biology/mitosis
Subtraction 1-3 = -2 – 8 = -10 (negative 10). The number 10 is viewed like 3, 7, and 12 as a complete and perfect number. It is made up of 4 (number of the physical creation) and 6 (number of man). 10 signifies testimony, law, responsibility, and completeness of order. The Passover lamb was selected on the 10th of the 1st month (as was Jesus). Day 10 of the 7th month = Day of Atonement. But the function of 10 when subtracting is a negative (judgment). What we want to examine is the complete judgment of God upon pagan Egypt so to free his people (God will divide and subtract His people from Egypt).
God’s judgments (condemnation and wrath) are the opposite of God’s blessings (life and light).
Furthermore, the 8th day motif is strikingly reversed with the 8th curse on Egypt under God’s divine judgment. That symbolism is simply stunning and striking. We have established that 8 represents “Born Again to New Life” (in Noah’s ark of 8 people through the water; the Last Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles; fruitfulness with seeds; wave sheaf; and the start of the gospel and church on Sunday).
When the 10 plagues reach the 7th plague (Exodus 9:13-35), there is thunder, lightning (which is light in a quick, striking, electrifying manner) and hail (water – a means of grace in salvation – is hardened by freezing, which is the absence of heat or energy, symbols of God). God (represented by warmth and energy) is totally and completely (#7) rejected by Egypt. By the way, “absolute zero is the lowest temperature theoretically attainable (0 Kelvin or -459.67 F) where kinetic energy of atoms and molecules is minimal.” The result of such a judgment and rejection of God by the Egyptians is devastation.
The 8th Egyptian curse was the opposite of abundant life and reproduction – locusts would devour “every green plant” killing life and the green food sources for it – a clear reference to life in seeds being devoured as Jesus was the true seed planted in the grave and food (bread of life, think grain of wheat).
In another judgment of the Bible, in Joel 2:25, it is no coincidence that in the same section we looked at before about the former and latter rains, the prophet makes the prediction of God to His people, “So I (God) will restore to you (His people), the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.” For His people, in grace, God restores what the locusts have devoured from His people in His judgment.
The 9th plague then follows (darkness) reversing the Light (Genesis Day 1) to Life (Resurrection Day 8) spiritual chronology in God’s plan to death and darkness.
The tragic result then was the 10th plague – the death of the firstborn – the very first-born being who was intended to bring light and life to a family. Jesus being the firstborn bringing life while in the plague, the firstborn is killed by God’s judgment.
So, God reverses His plan of salvation into a curse. God’s plan was this:
1. Jesus (first born over all Creation);
Curse = 10th plague (death of firstborn).
2. Jesus brings light to the world in Day 1;
Curse = 9th plague (darkness)
3. Jesus brings life and fruitfulness Day 8.
Curse = locusts devours green plants and leaves (no pun intended) barrenness.
One final tidbit that doesn’t mean a whole lot, but interesting anyway. Remember in Revelation that the number of a man is 666. Man was created on the 6th day of the week and triple 6 would presumably be the ultimate or greatest “man” (a mark of the beast) in man’s fallen nature. Well, what number does Jesus have using Greek letters? In Greek, Jesus’ name sums up to 888 (heaven and eternity’s number).
IESOUS = Jesus
Iota = 10
Eta = 8
Sigma = 200
Omicron = 70
Upsilon = 400
Sigma = 200
Total = 888 (not 777, even though Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath). 888 is symbolic of never-ending (eternal) life, ongoing growth, reproduction and a HUGE harvest through the greatest Life-giver of all, Jesus Christ to whom is the kingdom, the power and all glory. Come Lord Jesus, Amen!
Wises In Jinja, Uganda 