Vernon,
I don't have the NIV footnotes handy, so I will take your word for it that
"times" means "two times."
My comment about the A4 size paper was made with my tongue firmly planted in
my cheek. I simply wanted to extrapolate what might happen if "we" were all
"forced" to use A$ paper rather than the NA standard 8.5" x 11" paper. To
some, this might be another example of "world government" or "the mark of
the beast." I don't see any connection between the metric dimension of A4
paper (210 x 297 mm) and Gen 1:1. Yes, I know that 297/210 = 1.41, which is
the square root of 2. So what? I would think that the "golden ratio" is
esthetically more pleasing than the dimensions of A4 paper.
As to my reference to a "circular argument," what I wanted to convey,
Vernon, is that you start with the premise that there is some mathematical
framework in the Scriptures and then set out to show it. At times, your
quest looks like "grasping at straws" and I'm not so sure that the Almighty
had this in mind when the Bible was written. But, I've been wrong before.
The upshot of all of this is whether your approach is the best way to
proclaim the good news that God gave his son to die for our sins. That's not
for me to decide but you may want to give it some thought.
Shalom!
Chuck
Chuck,
Thanks for your comments.
1) Regarding the meaning of 'a time, times and half a time', you
will
find my interpretation substantiated by the experts in a footnote to
the
NIV Daniel 12:7.
2) Then, with respect to your comments re A4, I read nothing
sinister in
the fact that NA has not (yet) followed the European lead. What is
significant, I believe, is the fact that this artefact (whose metric
dimensions echo the Bible's opening words) is exceedingly prolific
in
our day.
3) You suspect I am using some circular arguments. Can you
elaborate?
May I suggest that you set the contents and claims of this page
against
the backcloth of the earlier pages of 'The Other Bible Code'.
God does indeed work in mysterious ways! My hope is that we
Christians
will reject the view that the age of miracles is past, and gone
forever;
that we will allow for the Almighty acting as he will, and respond
accordingly; that we will resist the now almost automatic tendency
to
'filter out' of our input stream all hints of the miraculous.
Again, thanks for writing!
Shalom!
Vernon
Vandergraaf, Chuck wrote:
>
> Vernon,
>
> A few points: Rev 12:14 in my NIV software version reads: "The
woman was
> given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the
place
> prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of
for a time,
> times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach. " Nowhere does
it say
> that 'times' means two time periods. IMHO, unless you can
substantiate your
> 'leap of faith,' you are grasping at straws. Deut 12:7, again in
my NIV
> version, reads: "There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you
and your
> families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put
your hand
> to, because the LORD your God has blessed you." No mention of any
time
> period, period! Is there an error in your web page or do you use a
different
> version of the New Testament?
>
> As to your reference to A4 paper, the standard in non-North
American
> countries (and a royal pain to me when I wait to print out a
manuscript sent
> to me by a non-NA correspondent because the printer prompts me to
insert the
> proper sized paper), does this suggest that the choice of A4 paper
has been
> divinely inspired? IOW, are we, NA inhabitants, "beyond the
pale?" Or,
> could it possibly be that the use of A4 paper is "mark of the
beast" and
> that, in time, no one will be able to buy or sell or do commerce
unless
> (s)he has the "mark of the beast" i.e., A4 paper?
>
> Some points to ponder.
>
> I'm not sure where you are heading with your approach. If you can
see God's
> wisdom, power, and glory in this, good for you. I would guess,
though, that
> you present some circular arguments and that it is unlikely that
it will
> bring (m)any to realize the saving power of Jesus's death on the
cross.
> But, God does work in mysterious ways.
>
> Shalom!
>
> Chuck Vandergraaf
> Pinawa, MB
>
> > ----------
> > From: Vernon Jenkins[SMTP:vernon.jenkins@virgin.net]
> > Reply To: vernon.jenkins@virgin.net
> > Sent: Thursday, December 30, 1999 5:01 PM
> > To: asa@calvin.edu
> > Subject: Exceptional Measures
> >
> > To the forum:
> >
> > The Book of Revelation speaks of a harrowing period of time in
three
> > distinct ways: first as 1260 days (12:6), then as
three-and-a-half years
> > (12:14), and finally as 42 months (13:5). This intriguing
variety of
> > expression used by the author leads, on closer examination, to
some
> > interesting conclusions involving in particular a latter-day
artefact:
> > the ISO standard A4 sheet of cut paper.
> >
> > Details may be found under the heading "Exceptional Measures" at
the URL
> >
> > http://homepage.virgin.net/vernon.jenkins/index.htm
> >
> > With all good wishes,
> >
> > Vernon
> >
> >
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