"Knowing God by the Numbers"

"Knowing God by the Numbers"

(Note: Be sure to see the introductions by Steve Shultz and Rick Joyner above about this word and the event associated with it.)

"August 8, 2008"

There are times in life when God requires a person's obedience before He reveals His plan to them. I experienced this on January 1, 2008, at 1:30 AM. After a very exciting New Year's Eve celebration at my church in Charlotte, North Carolina, Father gave me instructions to have another celebration service on "August 8, 2008."

WHY A CELEBRATION ON 8-8-08?

At that time, this was all I heard as our church family exchanged hugs and celebrated the coming of a New Year. This wasn't the right time or venue to share these instructions, so I just hid it in my heart, understanding that there would be a much better time later in the year.

I understood the significance of the number 8 (eight is the number for new beginnings), plus we had just entered 2008 and had just spoke to our church about removing the old and entering into the new.

The Church has always understood the significance of the number eight as it relates to our Lord and the new beginnings of the New Covenant that have been made available (Jesus was raised on the 8th day of the week, for instance).

Little did I know how this simple word would change my life in ways that no one but the Lord could prepare me for.

One week after the New Year service, I was driving to a city leaders meeting and Father spoke the instructions to me again. However, this time I sensed another level of importance and an urgency to get started on preparations now. It was strong enough for me to immediately start telling those people around me that I am to have a celebration on August 8, 2008.

At that time I had no idea what it would look like or why this date was so important to the Lord!

Leonardo Fibonacci

Several weeks later, while studying some financial information, I came across the name Leonardo Fibonacci.

Leonardo Fibonacci was a talented mathematician during the Middle Ages. He compiled and supplemented the mathematical knowledge of classical, Arabic and Indian cultures. He was also known for the significant contributions he made to the mathematical fields of algebra and number theory.

Despite my background in computer electronics, with a heavy emphasis on math-related subjects, I had never heard of him or his work. Naturally, my curiosity was piqued. Yet in no way did I think this would have any bearings on what Father told me to do weeks before. Wrong again!

What I did not realize at the time was that God was leading me down a road to find Him in a way I could have never imagined.

What Fibonacci sparked in my heart was the understanding which God has placed in HIS Creation: a multitude of mathematical equations and sequences. They are found in the food; the plant life; the human structure, including the face; and much, much more. What I realized was the fact that everything we see, hear, touch, taste or even smell has mathematic equations associated with them. This understanding became clearer as I continued to study Fibonacci's work as it relates to finances.

Dr. Michael Brown, a Hebrew Scholar

Weeks into this study, I was led to call Dr. Michael Brown, a well-known Hebrew scholar and leader of the Fire School of Ministry. He has relocated to the Charlotte, North Carolina, area.

I spoke with Dr. Brown about the new and exciting information I'd learned while studying the Fibonacci number sequence and rules. But a thought had come to my heart and mind, which was: "Are there mathematic sequences in the word of God from a Hebrew perspective?"

Dr. Brown explained the difference between Hebrew alphabets and our English alphabets and numbers. Unlike the English alphabet, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet also represents a numerical value. Dr. Brown indicated that many books he'd read had alphabets at the bottom of the page instead of a number - because the letters are numbers.

Later I would find out that there was also a name associated with the numerical values of Hebrew and Greek alphabets, which is known as "Gematria."

Dr. Brown introduced me to another person I had never heard of named Dr. Ivan Panin (Dr. Brown and I were having this conversation while I was driving to a speaking engagement in Richmond, Virginia). He told me how Dr. Panin had discovered mathematic sequences in the Bible in the late 1800s and had given his life to Jesus as a result of his findings. Panin was known as a firm agnostic - so well known, that when he discarded his agnosticism and accepted the Christian faith, the newspapers carried headlines telling of his conversion!

This conversation piqued my excitement all the more, and I couldn't wait to arrive at my hotel room in Richmond, Virginia, and dive deep into the information. But I still didn't see the connection with what Father told me to do on the first day of the New Year. This was just information I could use to further my Biblical understanding that could be used in sermons and other teachings, right? Wrong again! God was leading me, even though I didn't know I was following.

The Search Begins

I will never forget turning on my computer and performing the search for Dr. Ivan Panin and being amazed at what he found - without a computer. He learned Hebrew and Greek in four years, and from there he discovered number sequences. Panin says the laws of probability are exceeded into the billions when we try and rationalize the authorship of the Bible as the work of man. He once said: "If human logic is worth anything at all we are simply driven to the conclusion that if my facts I have presented are true, man could never have done this."

He challenged those who read his findings to attempt to write a simple paragraph that would meet the numerical qualifications of the Bible that are simply found in the genealogies of the Bible. He also challenged the readers of the local newspapers to give a natural explanation or rebuttal to his findings. There were no takers!

In my hotel room, I was like a child in grade school again! And then it suddenly happened - while reading Dr. Panin's work on the number 8.

He revealed that the number associated with the name Jesus was 888.

I could hardly believe it! Father had instructed me to have a celebration on the date that reflects the number of His Name. Even after a long drive and a speaking engagement with double services the next morning, it was 2:30 AM before I could pull myself away from the computer, and it was even later before I could actually fall asleep.

The Master Mathematician - the Number of His Name

Even though we seldom (if ever) think of Him in these terms, the Creator of the Universe is the Master Mathematician. He has spoken in the language of math for centuries, but we haven't been listening simply because no one realized it was His voice.

As the pieces began to fall into place, I could clearly see why God had directed me to hold this celebration on August 8, 2008.

Again, in the Greek language, the numerical value for the name Jesus is 888, and most of the names or titles of our Lord are also multiples of 8. The Lord was instructing us to celebrate "the number of His name." August 8, 2008 represents more than just new beginnings; this number, which will not appear on our calendar again for one thousand years, identifies Him.

After considering this (along with the fact that every letter, word, phrase, sentence, paragraph and book in the Bible are more than just words, they are also numerical values), my only conclusion was that the Bible is not just a literary book - but the Bible is also a math book.

The internet has a wealth of information on the subject of Gematria and I have studied, researched, and found much of it. There were many times that my wife asked me to come to bed and leave the study for another day. But it had all come together, and now at every turn, I was finding more of God - in the study of both the Bible and its many numerical meanings.

Several words and phrases in the Bible have the numerical value of 888, which include: Jesus, Messiah, I am the Lord, I change not, the Lord art exalted forever, I am the Life, the Priest with Urim and Thumim, the salvation of our God, the mercy of the Most High, My Beloved, the heavens declare the glory of God, they shall be comforted, and the third day. Also, the names of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from the tribe of Judah together equal 888. The book of Revelation, which is the revelation of Jesus, has 888 words in Greek.

Acts 3:16, "And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."

The Language of Math

In my research, I learned about others who were experts in Gematria and Biblical numbers, including Bonnie Gaunt.

Bonnie Gaunt has published several books exploring the awesome revelation locked in the Scriptures through Gematria. Jesus is our new beginning and the King of a new and awesome Kingdom, which we have the opportunity to enter into - to live a new existence.

Most of the Church understands that our Lord JESUS is the new beginning for our life and the entire world. The numbers of Gematria help to further prove this fact.

For example, this is the way to write as the Greek would, using English letters and the Greek values:

The name Jesus (Iesous in Greek) adds up to 888:
Iesous =
I (10) + e (8) + s (200) + o (70) + u (400) + s (200) = 888

Most of the names in the New Testament referring to Jesus are multiples of 8. See the list below:

Lord = 800 = 8 x 100
Jesus = 888 = 8 x 111
Christ = 1,480 = 8 x 185
Savior = 1,408 = 8 x 176
Messiah = 656 = 8 X 82

The title Lord (800) + Jesus (888) + Christ (1,480) has a numerical value which equals 3,168.

The numbers should help to further increase our faith in the fact that Jesus has provided for us a new life and we don't have to live in our old existence any more. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

We clearly understand how important the title Lord Jesus Christ is in the Church, and it is equally as important in the universe. Think about this for a moment, if God wanted everyone in the entire universe to understand that He is God and if HE wanted to speak a language all could grasp, what language would He use? The language of mathematics is an elevated language and it can't lie. If one number is changed, then the entire meaning would also change!

Mathematics in Scripture

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

All of the authors I know sign their work. In this respect, the Lord is no different. The universe in which we live bears His signature; that is, the numerical value of 3168.

For example, the city of Bethlehem is located at 31.68 degrees north latitude on the earth. We would have to dig 10 miles below the earth's crust before reaching lava, and we would have to travel 50 miles above the surface of the earth before entering outer space. The sum of these 2 distances is 60 miles. If we convert 60 miles into feet, the numerical value is 316,800 feet (5,280 feet x 60 = 316,800).

Notice the continual occurrence of 3168!

Acts 17:28 says, "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'"

The Bible states that we live and move and have our being in Jesus and the numbers prove it.

If a box is placed around the earth so that the four sides touch each side of the earth, the perimeter around that box would equal 31,680 miles.

Placing the moon directly on top of earth at the North Pole and drawing a circle around the earth and the moon, the perimeter of the circle would equal 31,680 miles.

3,168 = Mediator between God and men, the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities" (Isaiah 53:11).

"To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth." Isaiah 40:25-26

How Do We Celebrate the Number of His Name?

Finding God in the numbers sealed even more the fact that He wanted the celebration on August 8, 2008. But there was one little detail that He hadn't given me. What type of celebration, and how do you celebrate the number of His name?

Early one morning I was awakened and knew it was the Father calling me. Finally, the instructions were given and I knew what to do and how to do it.

We are to have a 12-hour celebration and walk the people through the tabernacle of Moses. Allow each section of the tabernacle to speak of the Lord. The first number that can be cubed is the number 8 (2 x 2 x 2 = 8).

The tabernacle is built in cubit squares. I was instructed to stay 4 hours in each section starting at 8 AM and ending at 8 PM that night.

THE NUMBER "12" IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT

God has used the number 12 throughout the Bible, because the number "12" also represents Him.

You may recall there were 12 tribes of Israel. The 12 pillars, the 12 stones, 12 chargers, bowls of silver and spoons of gold, 12 spies, 12 disciples, 12 foundations, and 12 gates just to name a few.

Aaron the High Priest wore a breastplate with each of the tribes represented by a precious jewel. Also, remember that each name has a numerical value.

The sum of the last three tribes Benjamin, Manasseh and Ephraim equals 888.

The place where the Cross is found is on the last of the four rows of jewels on the breastplate, where Jacob crossed his hands while blessing Ephraim and Manasseh. Also, Benjamin was Joseph's only brother from his mother to whom he gave a double portion. This is the generation who is living in the blessing of the Cross and will walk in the double portion anointing of our Lord.

Below are the twelve tribes of Israel on the breastplate of Aaron. Each tribe has a numerical value from the Hebrew alphabet. For there to be numerical values that relate to Jesus, would mean that Father God knew these names before they were ever born.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."

JUDAH (30) SIMEON (466) REUBEN (259)
GAD (7) NAPTHALI (570) DAN (54)
ZEBULUN (95) ISSACHAR (830) ASHER (501)

MANASSEH (331)
EPHRAIM (395)
BENJAMIN (162) = These last three equal "888"

Each of the rows in the breastplate are important, but the last row is the one that we will emphasize here. Remember, Benjamin was named Benoni by his mother, before Jacob changed it, which means "Son of Sorrow." The numerical value of the name Benoni is 119, which would have brought the last row value total to 845 (not shown here).

HOWEVER, when Jacob changed his name to "Benjamin" and the numerical value increased to 162 (as illustrated above), the total value of the last row increased to 888, which equals the value of Jesus' name.

Father never wanted His name to be the "son of my sorrows," but rather "Son of My right hand."

While speaking at a MorningStar men's conference, I shared this information with Rick Joyner, Bishop Wellington Boone, and Bob and Bonnie Jones.

Bonnie shared with me that she just had a dream several nights before about the date August 8, 2008. In the dream, God told her that she would find the Joseph Company on that date. He also told her that it would take her 40 days to find them, which started on June 29, 2008. I knew she was looking for the people who would attend this celebration, and the 40 days leading up to August 8, 2008 was a time of preparation and cleansing.

Saved and Safe in His Name

(Note by Steve Shultz: Remember that only AFTER an event passes do we often see the full meaning. So we don't know if this event referred to below - this famine - refers to an actual famine, a spiritual famine, or both. Of course, many will not be able to attend, but you might want to seek the Lord as to how you can align yourself with God's purposes for ANY given date on the calendar!)

Larry Jackson Continues:

I believe Father told me a famine is coming to our land and this celebration will prepare His people for it. It will place them in a position where they will be protected; that is, in His NAME!

We are about to face a season of uncertainty and the Church must know Jesus and the power of His name. We must take the power of Jesus into the streets and marketplace. We are about to enter into one of the most important seasons of harvest man has ever seen.

After the resurrection, Jesus instructs the disciples - who had returned to fishing and had not caught anything all night - to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. When the disciples did what He told them to do, the nets filled immediately.

The Bible tells us that there were 153 fish in the nets. Have you ever asked why 153 fish? 153 = the number of these:

"Passover"
"He is faithful"
"Sons of God"
"He shall cause to inherit" and
"I am the Lord thy God"

Could it be our Lord was telling us that the Sons of God would be revealed in the last days of the great harvest? We are in one of the most important seasons the Church has ever experienced, and most of the time our experiences are reserved only for church services. I believe it is time for the Kingdom to be manifest in the streets and the marketplace where more of the harvest can be caught - not only within the walls of the church buildings.

THE WORLD OLYMPICS BEGIN AUGUST 8, 2008 BUT...  Beginning August 8, the world will be focused on the Olympics, its glory and excitement, while the people of God must also be focused on the King of Glory and the power of His NAME! This is a prophetic date that will come and go with this calendar year, but the number 888 is forever, because Jesus is forever.

Again, Acts 3:16 says, "And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."

I invite you to come and join the celebration where the complete focus will be on Jesus. I've also been instructed not to sell anything at this celebration. There can be nothing that takes away from who He is and why we came together on the number date of His name - August 8, 2008.

For more information about the celebration on August 8, 2008, visit our website at www.BethelOIC.com. There is no fee to register. The celebration will take place at MorningStar Ministries in Fort Mill, South Carolina. To register, email us at frontliners1999@aol.com or click here.

If you cannot join us, have your own celebration on this day and enter into the number of His Name!

Bishop Larry Jackson, Senior Pastor
Bethel Outreach International Church (BOIC)
Email: info@betheloic.org

Other resources for further study:http://biblewheel.com
http://www.hebrew4christians.com

About Bishop Larry Jackson: Bishop Jackson is a Regional Bishop with the Fellowship of International Churches. Bishop Larry Jackson is the founding pastor of Bethel Outreach International Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bishop Jackson is a nationally known Promise Keepers speaker and has also ministered across the nation and internationally as a keynote speaker. Bishop Jackson had a pivotal role in establishing Unified 2000, a ministry designed to break down the denominational and racial barriers that divide the Body of Christ. Bishop Jackson currently serves as the Executive Director of Charlotte Awake in Charlotte, North Carolina, with the focus of city unity and Kingdom advancement through the structure of prayer, care and share.

Bishop Jackson is the author of several books including, Numbered with the Transgressors, which gives insight into how to pray from Jesus' vantage point to see the hard cases come to the saving grace of the Lord; Guilt Free Living, which gives practical instruction on how to be free from the spirit of lust in every area of life; and Beyond Reconciliation, co-authored with Pastor Michael Fletcher, gives an account of the unity that took place in the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and how the leaders in the city worked together for city advancement.