You wrote:
>Numerology is one of the worst ways to prove God and inspiration that I >know of. It assumes that God was trying to communicate to us >mathematically...
My prime purpose is not to 'prove God' but to point to a remarkable
series of phenomena that are foundin the opening verse of His book. If
we can all agree that that is so we might then proceed to infer certain
things from it. I trust we are not in a situation where certain
observational data is labelled 'taboo' for no good reason. Wasn't this
your complaint respecting YEC - viz that they wouldn't face up to what,
in your opinion, was firm evidence that evolution had occurred?
>...and I don't see that stated anywhere in Scripture.
In the context of an offer of wisdom to the researcher, we read of the
numbering of a name in Rev.13:17,18; 15:2; and are informed that the
number of the beast is 666 (=18x37). Remarkably, the whole of the Bible
in the original tongues (principally Hebrew and Greek) may be fairly
represented as a set of numbers. Don't you find this interesting?
Numbers differ from words in that they require no interpretation; each
has an absolute value; represented as a collection of uniform counters,
relatively few may exist as symmetrical geometrical figures. 666 (a
triangle standing on a base of 36) and many multiples of 37 are to be
found in sequences arising from the 7 words of Gen.1:1, read as numbers.
> ...since it takes the wise to understand the message...
Not so. The evidence is largely, and essentially, geometrical.Most
people are capable of understanding the symmetrical pictures arising
from Gen.1:1. I suggest that a courtroom jury would have little
difficulty in 'getting the message'.
> ...I would say that it is unlikely that God would choose this medium >for communication.
Clearly, none of us know the mind of God. We glibly state that His ways
and thoughts are far and away beyond ours (another mantra?) - and that
must be true.. How then can you be so sure that He wouldn't do such a
thing? On what basis are you suggesting that the possibility shouldn't
even be considered?
> ...it might be that they (the translators of the King James' Bible) >conspired to have this coincidence by careful writing.
With respect, I was not referring to any specific translation; the
phenomena exist in the original Hebrew text - not in the translation.
The problem that must be grasped is that the Hebrew words predated their
interpretation as numbers by many centuries!
Again, with respect, the example you quote of an interesting coincidence
is not in the same league as the Gen.1:1 phenomena.
Glenn, I take it that we are both in the business of seeking Truth
rather than defending strongly held views about origins. I have drawn
your attention to some empirical data which cannot be written off, as
you appear to suggest {you were rightly disturbed when YEC treated your
observations in that way). Won't you, therefore, give these matters
serious and close attention? I provide below a little more empirical
data which synchronises powerfully with that from Gen.1:1 :-
The Name 'Jesus' fairly evaluated from NT Greek is 888 (=24x37); and the
Title 'Christ', 1480 (=40x37). The Hebrew word 'erets' (meaning 'earth')
which you have quoted in defence of your 'local flood' theory is found
as the 7th of Gen.1:1. Read as a number it is 296. This number is a
factor of both 888 (=3x296) and 1480 (=5x296); the symbolism is striking
for a number of reasons, thus:-
1) Jesus Christ is the Creator (John 1:3,10, Col.1:16), and is therefore
the 'elohim' of Gen.1:1.
2) He is linked numerically with 'the earth' - confirming his manhood.
3) The ratio, Name:Title, is 3:5 - identical with the sides of the mercy
seat (Ex.25:17).
Of course, one would be tempted to ascribe these links to some plot
hatched by the NT writers. However, that is ruled out by the historical
fact that both name and title are found in the Septuagint - a Greek
translation of the OT - dated c300 BC! Creator and Creation are thus
integrated numerically - the essential 'bonding number' being 37 - a
number possessing unique and absolute symmetry!
Vernon