Bible Prophecy Numbers
The Writing on the Wall

Bible Prophecy Numbers---Belshazzar in Babylon.

"Yes, it is I"

 

 

Chapter One 'A'

To ch. 1b

Back to intro. B

 

 

Ten Epoch Events

 

"Therefore my people will know my name;
therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it.
 Yes, it is I."
(Isaiah 52:6)

 

(Bible Prophecy Numbers: Intro., Chapters One, Two, Three)

 

 

Begin here!
"Bible Prophecy Numbers"

 

 

 

 

 

The message of Isaiah 52:4 furnishes 10 epic events with which to unravel all the prophecy numbers. Though all of the bible contains numerical patterns, however, we have chosen Isaiah 52 since it best addresses the very central core of the Bible itself, that is, the theme of redemption. Jesus Christ is the very source and goal of bible prophecy numbers. Jesus is the mystery "name" of our text. "Yes," says Jesus, "it is I."

Part "A" of this two-part book applies that system in the numbers built upon the Biblical concept that, "one day is as a year," (Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:5-6). Part "A" in turn, is repeated in part "B," except using that other great numeric system, that is, "one day is as a thousand years" (Ps. 90:4; 2Pet. 3:8; cf. Revelation 7:4-8 with 21:16-17).

There are two parts to this book. Everything in the numbers, down to the minutest detail, have at least "two or three witnesses" that vindicate them (Deut 19:15). This is because every pattern must be repeatable in at least two or three distinct ways in order to be authentic, and of course they must agree thematically as well.

Before we continue, a brief outline of Isaiah 52:4 is necessary. It’s text (and context) will supply us with all the principal dates that we will use to demonstrate the flawless symmetry of bible prophecy numbers.

Isaiah 52:3-6 (NIV)

    (v. 3) For this is what the LORD says: "You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed."
    (v. 4) For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them.
    (v. 5) "And now what do I have here?" declares the Lord. "For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock," declares the LORD. "And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.
    (v. 6) Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I."

     

     

How Ten Epoch Dates
are Deduced from this Passage

Verse 4 contains a brief summary of the oppression and exile of God’s people, with Egypt and Assyria specifically named. That Babylon is to be included is certain by the context (cf. vs. 5). G. Grogan represents a typical interpretation of this passage:

    "Verses 4-5 trace a history of oppression and a sequence of oppressors, with Babylonia, it is implied, to be added to Egypt and Assyria." (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, F. Gaebelein, General ed., Vol., 6, p. 296)

In Isaiah 52:3, the important phrase "without money" refers to the ransom paid to rescue Israel from exile. The New Testament (NT) interprets the blood of Messiah to be this payment made "without money" that ransoms from sin and death (1Pet. 1:18). Moreover, Isaiah 53 (the very next chapter in Isaiah) is quoted from in the NT more than from any other Old Testament (OT) passage. Therefore, the suffering and redemptive theme of our text (Isaiah 52:4) qualifies the life of Christ to be listed as the climax of our "ten epoch events.

 

(The dates used are common among modern scholarship, secular and religious alike.{2} They are found in most modern commentaries and study Bibles. Importantly, they are not those of my own making!)

 

 

Next, to chapter "1b"

 

Ten Epoch Events {1} 

  1. Abraham enters Canaan (2091 BC)

  2. Israel enters Egypt (1876 BC)

  3. Israel leaves Egypt (1446 BC)

  4. Fall of Israel (725-721 BC)

  5. Near fall of Judah (701 BC) 

  6. Fall of Assyria (614-612 BC) 

  7. Fall of Judah (589-586 BC)

  8. Fall of Babylon (539-536 BC)

  9. Birth of Christ (5 BC or 1 BC)

  10. Death of Christ (AD 30)

 

Next, to ch. 1b

 

 

 

For a full explanation about each epoch, click here

 

Notes:

{1} The initial exiles from Israel and Judah (before their complete destruction in 722 and 586 BC), are of secondary importance and will be treated as such. This holds true for Judah’s subsequent returns from exile as well, (after the main return of 538 BC).

Sennacherib’s catastrophic invasion of Judah in 701 BC is listed among our "epoch events" because it is the very focal narrative of the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 36–39), and therefore especially applicable to our text of Isaiah 52:4. (Note the importance granted it by the rest of Scripture as well, 2Kgs. 18–20; 2Chr. 32).

{2} Many secular scholars refuse to believe the exodus really occurred and therefore do not assign it any date.

Also, there are believing scholars who place the exodus around 1290 BC instead of the customary 1446 BC, but they must reject the literal meaning of "the 480th year" of 1Kgs. 6:1 to do so.

In any case, "1290 BC", too, is significant since 1290 is the number specifically mentioned in Daniel 12:11. Also, the 1290 exodus date amounts to the same as 3 x "430" years (of Ezekiel 4:4-6), which further combines with the previous "430 years" just spent in Egypt till this exodus (Exodus 12:40)! Moreover, 1290 BC is approximately the same as the Jewish traditional date for the exodus of 1313 BC––an important date that will be examined later.

The New International Version Study Bible, (in the Introduction to the "Exodus"), outlines the main argument for the 1290 BC date.

    "The appearance of the name Rameses in Exodus 1:11 has led many to the conclusion that the 19th-dynasty pharaoh Seti I and his son Rameses II were the pharaohs of the oppression and the exodus respectively…(and) lead to a date for the exodus of c. 1290"

In spite of that, the NIVSB still strongly favors the traditional view of adhering to the "480th year" of 1Kgs. 6:1, pointing out that "Rameses" (Exodus 1:11) is very likely a late editorial-update, just as in Genesis 47:11.

However, since all Scripture is inspired of God, the insertion of "Rameses" into the text is meant to draw our attention (among other things) to the time of Rameses as being symbolically related to the exodus.

Symbolic (idealistic) dates LOGICALLY deduced are consistently significant in bible prophecy numbers, and are usually more obvious in meaning then the actual literal dates themselves.

Next, to ch. 1b

For a full explanation about each epoch, click here

 

 

To ch. 1b
 Back to intro. B

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