Post by ResLight on Feb 19, 2021 23:17:36 GMT -5
I am reproducing this from Present Truth and Herald of Christ's Epiphany, January 1935, pages 13,14
LIKE letters of the Latin alphabet, the letters of the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic alphabets have not only sound, but also number values. Thus the first letter of the alphabets of these languages stands for 1, the second for 2, the third for 3, etc. This same phenomenon occurs in other, especially Semitic, languages. This results in every Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic word standing not only for an idea, but for a number, which is the sum of the numeric values of its component letters. Accordingly, every word in the Hebrew and Aramaic of the Old Testament and every word of the Greek of the New Testament stands not only for an idea, but also for a number, which is the sum of the numeric values of its component letters. God, knowing this, has constructed the sentences of the Bible in its original languages in such a way as to make the sum of the numeric value of their words multiples of the number 7. This same principle of the occurrence of the number 7 is often used apart from the numeric values of letters, e.g., the number 7 underlies the whole book of Revelation, not only in the numeric values of its sentences, but of its visions and of the objects treated in its visions, e.g., 7 churches, 7 stars, 7 spirits (teachings), 7 horns and 7 eyes (of the Lamb), 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 vials, etc. In fact there is a sevenfold picture given of each general vision of that book. Thus the number 7 underlies it.
Another example of the use of sevens is in the genealogy given in Matt. 1, which helps to overcome one of the difficulties of the genealogy. In this genealogy there is a threefold mention of 14 generations, thus a threefold occurrence of 14, i.e., a total of 42, which is a multiple of 7. Actually this genealogy omits the names of three of the royal ancestors of Jesus. Why is this done? Did God make a mistake therein? Assuredly not! Why then was it done? To give us a clue on the structure of the Bible as consisting of numerics, especially of the numerics of 7, which God worked into this feature of Matt. 1, even to the extent of abbreviating the genealogy to work the multiple of 7 into the genealogy. Accordingly, every sentence of the Bible consists of words the sum total of whose numeric values in their letters is a multiple of 7. And when these values in our present manuscripts are not a multiple of 7, there has some change occurred from what the sentence was as originally given by God. This change may be in the omission of letters or of words, or of phrases, or of clauses, or of sentences, or it may be in the addition thereof. Hence Biblical numerics furnishes us a fine criterion whereby we can determine whether a letter, a word, a phrase, a clause or a sentence as it stands in our present Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek Biblical manuscripts is genuine in whole or in part, or which reading is genuine when there are variant readings in the manuscripts. The celebrated interpolation in 1 John 5: 7 on the three that bear witness in heaven under the test of Biblical numerics breaks down. So does every other interpolation in our Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts of the Bible. The failure of the American Armageddon to set in before Oct. 1934, while every other feature of the first six of the eight large wonderful days did fulfill before that date, moved us to examine Matt. 27: 51-54 by the numerics of 7 and we find thereby that the references to the earthquake and the rent rocks in vs. 51 and 54 and the entirety of vs. 52 and 53 to be interpolations. Hence, of course, the involved type as God gave it did not contain the reference to the earth quaking and the rocks rending, and therefore did not refer to the American Armageddon, which, accordingly, the inspired type did not teach would occur during the sixth large wonderful day, but which, accepting as genuine the involved words of vs. 51, 54, we had set forth in the picture of the sixth large wonderful day as to come before Oct. 1934.
In our last issue among the questions proofs were given that the last two clauses of Matt. 27: 51 and the whole of vs. 52 and 53 were interpolations. Hence we give in this article the proof of the same thing from the standpoint of Biblical numerics. We will quote the entire section from the Improved Version, italicizing and bracketing the interpolated words: (51) "And, lo, the vail of the temple was rent into two [parts]; [and the earth was shaken, and the rocks were rent, (52) and the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints that have slept were raised; (53) and after coming forth out of the tombs after his rising, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many;] (54) but the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus, after seeing [the earthquake and] the things that happened, were greatly affrighted, saying, Truly this was God's Son." We first added all the numeric value of all the words as they occur in the Greek of the entire passage above quoted. They totaled 39,506, which divided by 7 = 5,643 5/7. This showed that there was something wrong with the passage as it now stands in the Greek. We then added the numeric value of the suspected words and found that they totaled 18,583. This we divided by 7, getting as a result, 2,6545/7. Both results being 5/7 out of line, we knew, before we divided them, that the numeric value of the unsuspected words were divisible by 7. The numeric value of the unsuspected words is 20,923, which divided by 7 = 2,989. This, again, divided by 7 = 427, which in turn divided by 7 = 61. Thus the unsuspected words are not only a multiple of 7, but a multiple of 7 x 7 x 7. This is trebly convincing.
To test this result by the other possibilities of the situation, we decided to work on them further. Thereupon we added the numeric value of the unsuspected Greek words and the numeric value of the suspected Greek words in v. 51: 20,923 + 2,298 = 23,111. This divided by 7 = 3,3014/7. This is in line with the thought that the suspected words are interpolations. Thereafter we added the numeric value of the unsuspected words and the suspected words in vs. 52 and 53: 20,923 + 17,602 = 38,525, which divided by 7 = 5,503 4/7, which shows vs. 52 and 53 to be interpolations. The interpolation of vs. 52 and 53 has for years been recognized, but here for the first time is proven so by numerics. The crucial test would be the total of the unsuspected words in the entire passage and the suspected words in vs. 51 and 54; for the suspected words in these two verses are inseparably interlinked. The numeric value of the suspected Greek words in v. 54 is 981. Hence 20,923 + 2,298 + 981 = 24,202, which divided by 7 = 3,4573/7. Hence the suspected words hitherto not known to be interpolations are hereby proven to be such. There is another possibility-that the suspected words in v. 54 are interpolations, but that the rest of the suspected words are not such. But this possibility was disproven by the numeric total of the passage minus the suspected words in v. 54: thus (as above) 39,506 - 981 = 38,525, which divided by 7 = 5,503 4/7. This disproves the thought that the whole passage as it stands, except the interpolated words of v. 54, is entirely genuine.
Another set of considerations proves that the unsuspected parts of the whole passage form but one sentence, which is another way of proving that the suspected parts form no part of the genuine original; for every sentence of the genuine original is based upon Biblical numerics. Thus the numeric value of the unsuspected part of v. 51 is 8,038, which is not a multiple of 7. Hence that part is not a full sentence. Since the numeric value of the unsuspected part of v. 51 is 8,038, and of its suspected part is 2,298, their total is 10,336, which is not a multiple of 7. Therefore they do not form a complete sentence. Neither does the total numeric value of the unsuspected and suspected parts of vs. 51-53 form a multiple of 7, for 8,038 + 17,602 = 25,640, which is not a multiple of 7. Hence vs. 51-53 do not form one sentence. The first point that we presented above proves from the numerical value of all four verses that they do not form one sentence. From the data given as the last point of the preceding paragraph, we see that the omission of the suspected words in v. 54 does not result in the rest of the vs. 51-54 forming one sentence. The only other possibility is the omission of all the suspected parts of these four verses, and that possibility yields the following results: The numeric value of the unsuspected part of v. 51 is 8,038 and the numeric value of the other unsuspected words of this section (parts of v. 54) is 12.885. The total of the numerics of these two members is 20,923, which, as shown in the first paragraph, is not only a multiple of 7, but a multiple of 7 x 7 x 7. Accordingly, Biblical numerics proves that no one sentence can be formed, harmonious with Biblical numerics, out of vs. 51-54, except by combining into one sentence the Greek words for the words that we have left unitalicized and unbracketed in our quotation of vs. 51-54 above. Thus Biblical numerics proves that the reference to the earthquake and the rending rocks, as well as vs. 52 and 53, in the passage of vs. 51-54, is an interpolation. Hence these involved words are no part of inspired Scripture, hence do not belong to the types of the sixth large wonderful day, and hence the Bible does not in the eight large wonderful days forecast the American Armageddon as coming before Oct. 1934. The mistaken forecast was based on the very natural assumption that the pertinent words were genuine Scripture, which Biblical numerics and the fulfilled facts prove them not to be. This interpolation crept into the Bible before our oldest extant manuscripts of the Greek New Testament were written.
I have not tested the above to see if it is accurate, nor do I necessarily agree with all statements given. It is an interesting observation. Assuming that the theory of such Biblical Numerics is valid and assuming that the calculations are accurate, it would seem to indicate the record concerning the earthquake and bodies being raised from the tombs was not originally written by Matthew.
Nevertheless, even if Matthew wrote the events as found in the extant manuscripts, as we have pointed out elsewhere, the verses do not say that anyone was raised to life (only that bodies were raised), and there are several viwpoints related to this. There is definitely nothing in these verses that the "first resurrection" took place at that time, nor is there anything that says that the resurrection of saints in the "last day" has to be back into their former bodies, etc. See my studies:
See also my studies:
The Tombs That Were Opened
Bodies of Saints Raised
NUMERICS AND MATTHEW 27: 51-54
LIKE letters of the Latin alphabet, the letters of the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic alphabets have not only sound, but also number values. Thus the first letter of the alphabets of these languages stands for 1, the second for 2, the third for 3, etc. This same phenomenon occurs in other, especially Semitic, languages. This results in every Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic word standing not only for an idea, but for a number, which is the sum of the numeric values of its component letters. Accordingly, every word in the Hebrew and Aramaic of the Old Testament and every word of the Greek of the New Testament stands not only for an idea, but also for a number, which is the sum of the numeric values of its component letters. God, knowing this, has constructed the sentences of the Bible in its original languages in such a way as to make the sum of the numeric value of their words multiples of the number 7. This same principle of the occurrence of the number 7 is often used apart from the numeric values of letters, e.g., the number 7 underlies the whole book of Revelation, not only in the numeric values of its sentences, but of its visions and of the objects treated in its visions, e.g., 7 churches, 7 stars, 7 spirits (teachings), 7 horns and 7 eyes (of the Lamb), 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 vials, etc. In fact there is a sevenfold picture given of each general vision of that book. Thus the number 7 underlies it.
Another example of the use of sevens is in the genealogy given in Matt. 1, which helps to overcome one of the difficulties of the genealogy. In this genealogy there is a threefold mention of 14 generations, thus a threefold occurrence of 14, i.e., a total of 42, which is a multiple of 7. Actually this genealogy omits the names of three of the royal ancestors of Jesus. Why is this done? Did God make a mistake therein? Assuredly not! Why then was it done? To give us a clue on the structure of the Bible as consisting of numerics, especially of the numerics of 7, which God worked into this feature of Matt. 1, even to the extent of abbreviating the genealogy to work the multiple of 7 into the genealogy. Accordingly, every sentence of the Bible consists of words the sum total of whose numeric values in their letters is a multiple of 7. And when these values in our present manuscripts are not a multiple of 7, there has some change occurred from what the sentence was as originally given by God. This change may be in the omission of letters or of words, or of phrases, or of clauses, or of sentences, or it may be in the addition thereof. Hence Biblical numerics furnishes us a fine criterion whereby we can determine whether a letter, a word, a phrase, a clause or a sentence as it stands in our present Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek Biblical manuscripts is genuine in whole or in part, or which reading is genuine when there are variant readings in the manuscripts. The celebrated interpolation in 1 John 5: 7 on the three that bear witness in heaven under the test of Biblical numerics breaks down. So does every other interpolation in our Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts of the Bible. The failure of the American Armageddon to set in before Oct. 1934, while every other feature of the first six of the eight large wonderful days did fulfill before that date, moved us to examine Matt. 27: 51-54 by the numerics of 7 and we find thereby that the references to the earthquake and the rent rocks in vs. 51 and 54 and the entirety of vs. 52 and 53 to be interpolations. Hence, of course, the involved type as God gave it did not contain the reference to the earth quaking and the rocks rending, and therefore did not refer to the American Armageddon, which, accordingly, the inspired type did not teach would occur during the sixth large wonderful day, but which, accepting as genuine the involved words of vs. 51, 54, we had set forth in the picture of the sixth large wonderful day as to come before Oct. 1934.
In our last issue among the questions proofs were given that the last two clauses of Matt. 27: 51 and the whole of vs. 52 and 53 were interpolations. Hence we give in this article the proof of the same thing from the standpoint of Biblical numerics. We will quote the entire section from the Improved Version, italicizing and bracketing the interpolated words: (51) "And, lo, the vail of the temple was rent into two [parts]; [and the earth was shaken, and the rocks were rent, (52) and the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints that have slept were raised; (53) and after coming forth out of the tombs after his rising, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many;] (54) but the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus, after seeing [the earthquake and] the things that happened, were greatly affrighted, saying, Truly this was God's Son." We first added all the numeric value of all the words as they occur in the Greek of the entire passage above quoted. They totaled 39,506, which divided by 7 = 5,643 5/7. This showed that there was something wrong with the passage as it now stands in the Greek. We then added the numeric value of the suspected words and found that they totaled 18,583. This we divided by 7, getting as a result, 2,6545/7. Both results being 5/7 out of line, we knew, before we divided them, that the numeric value of the unsuspected words were divisible by 7. The numeric value of the unsuspected words is 20,923, which divided by 7 = 2,989. This, again, divided by 7 = 427, which in turn divided by 7 = 61. Thus the unsuspected words are not only a multiple of 7, but a multiple of 7 x 7 x 7. This is trebly convincing.
To test this result by the other possibilities of the situation, we decided to work on them further. Thereupon we added the numeric value of the unsuspected Greek words and the numeric value of the suspected Greek words in v. 51: 20,923 + 2,298 = 23,111. This divided by 7 = 3,3014/7. This is in line with the thought that the suspected words are interpolations. Thereafter we added the numeric value of the unsuspected words and the suspected words in vs. 52 and 53: 20,923 + 17,602 = 38,525, which divided by 7 = 5,503 4/7, which shows vs. 52 and 53 to be interpolations. The interpolation of vs. 52 and 53 has for years been recognized, but here for the first time is proven so by numerics. The crucial test would be the total of the unsuspected words in the entire passage and the suspected words in vs. 51 and 54; for the suspected words in these two verses are inseparably interlinked. The numeric value of the suspected Greek words in v. 54 is 981. Hence 20,923 + 2,298 + 981 = 24,202, which divided by 7 = 3,4573/7. Hence the suspected words hitherto not known to be interpolations are hereby proven to be such. There is another possibility-that the suspected words in v. 54 are interpolations, but that the rest of the suspected words are not such. But this possibility was disproven by the numeric total of the passage minus the suspected words in v. 54: thus (as above) 39,506 - 981 = 38,525, which divided by 7 = 5,503 4/7. This disproves the thought that the whole passage as it stands, except the interpolated words of v. 54, is entirely genuine.
Another set of considerations proves that the unsuspected parts of the whole passage form but one sentence, which is another way of proving that the suspected parts form no part of the genuine original; for every sentence of the genuine original is based upon Biblical numerics. Thus the numeric value of the unsuspected part of v. 51 is 8,038, which is not a multiple of 7. Hence that part is not a full sentence. Since the numeric value of the unsuspected part of v. 51 is 8,038, and of its suspected part is 2,298, their total is 10,336, which is not a multiple of 7. Therefore they do not form a complete sentence. Neither does the total numeric value of the unsuspected and suspected parts of vs. 51-53 form a multiple of 7, for 8,038 + 17,602 = 25,640, which is not a multiple of 7. Hence vs. 51-53 do not form one sentence. The first point that we presented above proves from the numerical value of all four verses that they do not form one sentence. From the data given as the last point of the preceding paragraph, we see that the omission of the suspected words in v. 54 does not result in the rest of the vs. 51-54 forming one sentence. The only other possibility is the omission of all the suspected parts of these four verses, and that possibility yields the following results: The numeric value of the unsuspected part of v. 51 is 8,038 and the numeric value of the other unsuspected words of this section (parts of v. 54) is 12.885. The total of the numerics of these two members is 20,923, which, as shown in the first paragraph, is not only a multiple of 7, but a multiple of 7 x 7 x 7. Accordingly, Biblical numerics proves that no one sentence can be formed, harmonious with Biblical numerics, out of vs. 51-54, except by combining into one sentence the Greek words for the words that we have left unitalicized and unbracketed in our quotation of vs. 51-54 above. Thus Biblical numerics proves that the reference to the earthquake and the rending rocks, as well as vs. 52 and 53, in the passage of vs. 51-54, is an interpolation. Hence these involved words are no part of inspired Scripture, hence do not belong to the types of the sixth large wonderful day, and hence the Bible does not in the eight large wonderful days forecast the American Armageddon as coming before Oct. 1934. The mistaken forecast was based on the very natural assumption that the pertinent words were genuine Scripture, which Biblical numerics and the fulfilled facts prove them not to be. This interpolation crept into the Bible before our oldest extant manuscripts of the Greek New Testament were written.
I have not tested the above to see if it is accurate, nor do I necessarily agree with all statements given. It is an interesting observation. Assuming that the theory of such Biblical Numerics is valid and assuming that the calculations are accurate, it would seem to indicate the record concerning the earthquake and bodies being raised from the tombs was not originally written by Matthew.
Nevertheless, even if Matthew wrote the events as found in the extant manuscripts, as we have pointed out elsewhere, the verses do not say that anyone was raised to life (only that bodies were raised), and there are several viwpoints related to this. There is definitely nothing in these verses that the "first resurrection" took place at that time, nor is there anything that says that the resurrection of saints in the "last day" has to be back into their former bodies, etc. See my studies:
See also my studies:
The Tombs That Were Opened
Bodies of Saints Raised
