RE: Exceptional Measures

From: Vandergraaf, Chuck (vandergraaft@aecl.ca)
Date: Tue Jan 04 2000 - 14:15:41 EST

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    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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