If you have ever had a difficulty opening a door in your house or in a hotel you will understand what this next 12 months is all about. You recognize that your destiny is on the other side of the door so you have to keep going wherever you have to go to get that door opened for a doorway into your future. You have to go wherever you have to go to redo the keys to gain access to the future. You are created for a purpose. We may not know what it is. You may not believe that it is possible to attain your purpose because of your present circumstances. You must understand that your life’s last chapter has not yet been written. Many people fail to arrive at their divine destination because they fail to understand the process. People have an experience with God and believe that God will insure that they arrive at his planned purpose for them. Yes and No! We have to be involved. There may be some hindrances along the way. ⁃ You have the power over the hindrances ⁃ We can arrive and we must arrive.
There are two gates in Matt 16:18 1. The door to life and 2. the doorway to death. In Rev4:1 we see also a doorway to life. God leads to this door / gate to life. In Matt 16:18 there is a door to death and Jesus resurrection UNLOCKED the Door of death. ⁃ Jesus led the dead from OT times into life at his resurrection. In Matt 27: 45-46;50-54. We see first the sign of an eclipse-the earth was totally dark like August 21, 2017. There was also an earthquake and rocks were rent and “many bodies of the saints which slept arose. They were released from captivity. ⁃ It was the first Adam that led the way into the hades. Those that belong to the Lord were released from that doorway to death. Death and the grave are defeated by the resurrection. ⁃ Rev 1:17-18; John 10:9. We learn that this season of 5778 is a doorway: –
- The doorway of light from heaven. It is fresh word concerning Jesus being the light of the world and you being the light of the world. We will not be surprised if some of you and are opening the eyes of the blind. This can only be possible through the DOORWAY OF GRACE. The doorway of life. As marked by the blood of the lamb in Exo 12:7.
- The “Chet” word is wedding word hence love unifies in true fellowship as Jesus taught in John 17:22-23. This is a year that The COVENANT DOORWAY is important. In the next 12 months, it will of no benefit for you to be isolated. Marriage will be very important. Covenanting with God-making binding relationships strong. Covenant means that God is committed to us and willing to lay down His life. We also must remember that our covenant partner is always there and we must lay down our lives for Him. Loyal love is amplified at this time.
God will not fail and He is absolutely committed. It is the basis of faith (1 Chronicles 20:21). Covenantal connections will determine your future in coming seasons. David was a man who loved God and knew God, when he heard and saw Goliath he did not see a giant but a target for God almighty to bring down. David had nothing to boast of except in God.
- This is also a year of joy, of singing a new song. Please declare Psalms 8; Ps 29; and Ps. 68. The way to respond to revelation in this season to shout back praises to God. To testify of God’s revelation to us. We have to walk through the DOORWAY to WORSHIP in 5778. Praise God and draw your weapon and know that God is greater than the any enemy.
- DOORWAY OF WARFARE. We must be prepared because this is still a season of warfare. There will be religious conflicts in many nations. There will be attempts in Nigeria to override the faith of many in Nigeria by her rulers. Nationalism will dominate the next election. Take up your armour and fight. Ephesians 6 and James 4 are very instructive on how to fight. Don’t say if “I don’t bother Satan he never bothers me”. The devil will try to destroy any one who is passive. “Chet is a military word-Amor , Sword, Force, army, strong, valiant are words associated with Ayin Chet (5778) reject fear in your life. Revelation 21:8 is a serious warning. Jeremiah 29:11 is instructive, say with me: –
I recognize that, every day, I count myself as dead. I die to the things of the world. I die to the things of the flesh, but I am alive to God. I am dead to sin. Sin is not my friend; it is my enemy. It is not to be coddled; it is to be resisted, even unto blood. Sin is death. It is bondage. It is not my master, and I am not its servant. I am God’s son, I am man’s servant, and I am the devil’s master. All power has been given unto Jesus, and therefore, since my life is hid in Christ, the authority and power of Jesus Christ is the power and authority that I walk in. It is not my authority. It is His authority, for it is no longer I that live, but Christ who lives through me. The life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who lived and died and gave Himself for me.
- Chet represents the number 8- a new beginning
– circumcision happens on the 8 day in the life of a boy-marking the beginning of his life
– there were 8 souls saved in the flood of Noah.
– the Lord re-affirms His covenant with Abraham 8 times.
– David was the 8th son of Jesse.
– the day of Pentecost was an 8th day festival ushering in the world to come.
– Jesus was resurrected on the 8th day.
– Discipleship to Jesus. Jesus is the crowned man who wields the sword of the Holy Spirit. We are yoked with Jesus and are His disciples to walk and do like Him. Matt 11:28-30.
– the value of love –to move and work together-loving the Lord and one another.
The numeric value of Chet is 8 and the pictogram or shape behind Chet is a DOORWAY not only a Door. The doorway allows you to move from space to another space. The letter Chet points to Jesus as the sin bearer for us. He who knew no sin: – 2 Cor. 5:21. In Christ we crossover from death to life. Jesus is the only way to God. We have to give him our sin and He gives us His righteousness.
A doorway or entrance.
Jesus said … \”I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.\” (John 14:6)
The shape of the letter, according to the rabbis, is formed through a Vav ו and Zayin ז side by side.
Note that the shape of the Vav ו (nail) and Zayin ז (sceptre) are nearly identical. Joined together they form the entranceway to God.
Vav (6) + Zayin (7) = total value 13 (Jesus is the cure for sin)
Jesus is the connector between heaven and earth. Jesus is the King of kings.
Jesus is also our sin-bearer. He paid for us. We give Him our sin. He gives us His righteousness.
8 represents resurrection life-new beginnings. We receive new life and we are born again in Christ.
We enter into a covenant with God the promise of the forgiveness of our sin. Matt 26:28 Jesus: This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 8 is the number of new beginnings. Blood is the seal of God\’s covenant.
Transitioning from 5777 into 5778
Seven means, as we have seen, according to its etymology, that which is spiritually complete or satisfying; while eight denotes that which is superabundant or satiating. Hence, we often find these two numbers associated with these distinctions.
- JEHOVAH\’S COVENANTS WITH ABRAHAM were eight in number; seven before Isaac was offered up, and the eighth when he had been received \”in a figure\” from the dead.
- Gen 12:1-3, sovereignty. 2. Gen 12:7, the seed. 3. Gen 13:14-17, Divine assurance, rising and walking on resurrection ground. 4. Gen 15:13-21, the limits of the land; the 400 years; the 4th generation. 5. Gen 17:1-22, invincible grace. 6. Gen 18:9-15, human failure and imperfection. 7. Gen 21:12, Spiritual blessing headed up in the seed. 8. Gen 22:15-18, resurrection blessing. The first three are marked off from the others by the words \”after these things,\” 15:1. The next four are marked off from the eighth by similar separating words, repeated in 22:1. It will be noted that each covenant blessing is stamped with the character of its numerical significance. Now we must learn these things. The fact many do not love God anymore (but want to use God for their own end) they do not study the word. Remember the covenant.
- JOSEPH\’S TYPICAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH HIS BRETHREN were eight in number. Seven times before Jacob\’s death, and an eighth time after.
- i) In Genesis 37:6, he tells his dream about the sheaves of wheat (earthly glory). ii) His second dream about the sun, moon, and stars (heavenly glory, completing the double witness of John 3:12). iii)His message of love to them from his father, when he is rejected and cast into the pit, but raised (unknown to them) to the right hand of power. They are compelled to go to Joseph, Genesis 42. iv) Again, they go, Genesis 43:15. v) A third time (Gen 44:13), when Joseph proclaims himself. Three times they had denied Three times they have to go to him; and the third time, after deep exercise of heart, reach the place of blessing.
- 3. THE GRACE OF GOD KICKS IN 5778. DO NOT TAKE GOD’S GRACE FOR GRANTED. FEAR GOD-EXODUS 21:23-25
There are eight particulars in connection with punishment; but seven stands in a different category, not being possible if the eighth were inflicted, viz., \”Life for life.\”
| 1. Life for life, | 8 |
| 2. Eye for eye, | 7 |
| 3. Tooth for tooth, | |
| 4. Hand for hand, | |
| 5. Foot for foot, | |
| 6. Burning for burning, | |
| 7. Wound for wound, | |
| 8. Stripe for stripe. |
- THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES was the only feast which was kept eight days. The eighth is distinguished from the seventh. See Leviticus 23:39, and compare verses 34-36; Numbers 29:39, and Nehemiah 8:18.
September 30, 2017; Tishrei 10, 5778
Living in the Here and Now: Having a Mindset of Fullness and Overflow
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
One of the main reasons God wants us to celebrate the feasts is to help us have the correct mindset. We must have our thinking aligned with His. Two weeks ago, I wrote about having a mindset of rejoicing (see update for Sept. 14). Today, I write about a mindset that is perhaps even more important. I refer to the mindset of “here and now.” Specifically, the Lord wants us to walk in abundant, overflowing life today—right now. We must align our thinking with God’s truth that He is giving fullness and overflow.
It’s not hard to believe that God will bless us in the future. In fact, someone once said that the farther away something is from us, either in time or space, the easier it is to believe. Thus, it’s easier to believe God doing miracles in far-off Africa or China than to believe for a miracle for yourself at home. Likewise, we have no trouble believing that we will have abundant and overflowing lives someday in the future, but not right now.
Such thinking is actually kind of a deception. The truth is God is good to us now. He has fullness and overflow for us now. He wants us to know this and believe it. This believing is actually “resting” in Him. Yes, there is such a thing as going through trials and tribulations (1 Pet. 1:6), and there is also learning obedience through suffering (Heb. 5:8). But the bottom line is that God wants us to rest in the mindset that increase, fullness, and blessing are there for us daily. A brief summary follows:
- We must have the mindset that His fullness and blessing are for me now. “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it” (Heb. 4:1).
- To not have this mindset is actually unbelief and disobedience. “Those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience … ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts’” (Heb. 4:6–7).
- It does require discipline and effort to keep our mindset aligned with Him. “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest” (Heb. 4:11). To me, this is primarily why God gave the feasts, to help us think correctly. This month, Tishrei, is about fullness and abundance. Simply accept it and walk in it.
The Day of Atonement – Setting Us Free from Condemnation
In this seventh Hebrew month in which we passed into the new Hebrew year 5778, there are three notable “feasts”:
- Feast of Trumpets, Sept. 21
- Day of Atonement, Sept. 30
- Tabernacles, Oct. 5–12
The Day of Atonement is mainly about breaking condemnation and does it in two ways, both connected to the two goats on the Day of Atonement. One goat was slain and its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat (Lev. 16:8, 14). This foreshadowed the blood of Christ, which “cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Heb. 9:14). In other words, we are set free from trying to “earn” blessing. We don’t have to let our conscience condemn us. We are cleansed!
The second goat was taken before the high priest, and on it were placed all the sins of the people. It was then taken and released somewhere unknown in the wilderness. This signifies that our sins are not only remitted by the blood of Jesus, but are also forgotten—God doesn’t remember them anymore. “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Heb. 10:17). We don’t have to put up with condemnation. God not only forgives our sins, but He also chooses to not remember them.
- EPHESIANS 4:4-6
Seven unities, but the seventh is two-fold—\”God and Father\”—making eight in all.
- COLOSSIANS 3:12, 13
There are seven graces, but (v 14) over all these there is \”love,\” which is the bond of perfectness, the upper garment which completes and unites the others.
- JAMES 3:17
\”The wisdom that is from above\” is enumerated in seven particulars, but the fifth is double, making eight in all (\”full of mercy and good fruits\”).
- THE CONSECRATION OF AARON AND HIS SONS was on the eighth day, after abiding \”at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation day and night seven days\” (Lev 8:35, 9:1).
Looking at this season the number 5778 ends with 8. 8 is a dominion number so the Lord plans that you in your sphere of calling and influence.
It is 7 plus 1. Hence it is the number specially associated with Resurrection and Regeneration, and the beginning of a new era or order. When the whole earth was covered with the flood, it was Noah \”the eighth person\” (2 Peter 2:5) who stepped out on to a new earth to commence a new order of things. \”Eight souls\” (1 Peter 3:20) passed through it with him to the new or regenerated world. Hence, too, circumcision was to be performed on the eighth day (Gen 17:12), because it was the foreshadowing of the true circumcision of the heart, that which was to be \”made without hands,\” even \”the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ\” (Col 2:11). This is connected with the new creation.
The first-born was to be given to Jehovah on the eighth day (Exo 22:29,30). But RESURRECTION is the great truth which is signified. Christ rose from the dead on \”the first day of the week,\” that was of necessity the eighth day. And it is remarkable that the Bible contains the record of Eight individual Resurrections (other than the Lord and the saints):
3 in the Old Testament 3 in the Gospels 2 in Acts 9 and 20
The three in the Old Testament correspond to the three raised by our Lord.
- The son of a widow— Zarepta (1 Kings 17:17-25) and Nain (Luke 7:11-18).
- The child of a rich person— Son of the woman of Shunem (2 Kings 4:32-37), The daughter of Jarius (Mark 5:35; Luke 8:49).
- A full-grown man…after burial— In Elisha\’s tomb (2 Kings 13:20,21), Lazarus (John 11). THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES lasted eight days, with a special reference to the Incarnation (John 1:14). Pray that His church will be raising the dead. If our translation happens in this season be sure you are not left behind.
THE TRANSFIGURATION also took place on the eighth day (inclusive reckoning) after the first announcement of Christ\’s \”sufferings,\” and it was the showing forth of the \”glory\” which should follow at His coming again. Don’t backslide if you encounter persecution 5778.
THE FIRST CUBE -Eight is the first cubic number, the cube of two, 2 x 2 x 2. We have seen that three is the symbol of the first plane figure, and that four is the first square. So here, in the first cube, we see something of transcendent perfection indicated, something, the length and breadth and height of which are equal. This significance of the cube is seen in the fact that the \”Holy of Holies,\” both in the Tabernacle and in the Temple, were cubes. In the Tabernacle, it was a cube of 10 cubits. In the Temple, it was a cube of 20 cubits. In Revelation 20 the New Jerusalem is to be a cube of 12,000 furlongs.
EIGHT IS A DOMINION NUMBER, for everywhere it has to do with the LORD. It is the number of His name, ΙΗΣΟΥΣ(Greek), Jesus: —
Ι= 10
Η =8
Σ =200
Ο =70
Y=400
Σ =200
= 888
OTHER DOMINION NAMES OF JESUS are also marked by gematria and stamped with the number eight as a factor:
- Χριστος, Christ, 1480 (8×185).
- Κυριος, Lord, 800 (8×100).
- Κυριος ημων, Our Lord, 1768 (8×221).
- Σωτηρ, Saviour, 1408 (82x 32).
- \’Εμμανουηλ, Emmanuel, 25600, (83×50).
- Μεσσιασ, Messiah, 656 (8×82).
- Υιος, Son, 880 (8×110). We ought also to note that the other factors, beside the prevailing eight, are full of significance. All this speaks to us, if we have \”ears to hear,\” that \”God hath glorified His Son Jesus\” (Acts 3:13), and \”hath made that same Jesus…both Lord and Christ\” (Acts 2:36). THIS IS THE AUTHORITY WE CARRY FORWARD THROUGH THE DOORWAY INTO THE FUTURE.