Perfect Number 7? - Page 2
Thanks Wes for you reply,
I will try to give answer with what I know.
Numerology has been around for a very long time. The Hebrews are not the first to use it. We can find it being used on cultures older then the Hebrews. The Egyptians for example. For example the number seven can by found in the story of Gilgamesh, a text much older then the bible. Just like in our day numbers have meaning other then numerical value. For example lucky number 7 or the unlucky number 13. just like in our day colors, numbers, body parts have meaning or symbolic meaning prescribed by culture. They have no logical numeric value that makes them lucky or unlucky. It is a cultural idea or symbol that has been put upon the numbers. Therefore for example 7 in the ancient world had the meaning of perfect, perfection, wholeness, completeness. Thus by using the number 7 in the creation story, we are giving the image that the world was complete, perfect, whole, without having to say such things. To an ancient Hebrew seeing 7 creative periods would have told them something about the earth in that it is completed, and perfect. The number 7 is not perfect per say rather it symbolized perfection.
Now your question I think is did God ordain numerology, or create it? Who knows, since we have had written texts we have had numerology. I tend to think that it is more cultural. Many cultures use it. The Hebrews numerology is very influence by Babylonian and Egyptian numerology. Will it play a part in the Eternities who knows. I feel that the earth was not created in 7 days literally, but rather by saying that the earth was created in 7 days tells us something about the condition and quality of the creation then a literal explanation of its creation. now that opinion may be a minority one here, and you may disagree with that and that is fine.
Now some of your questions about the eternal significance of numbers and God's use of them has been studied. In fact Cabalism- a type of Jewish mysticism actually looks at Hebrew numberings very seriously, and shows the eternal effects of numbers and letters within this world and the eternities and kingdoms to come. It gets very complicated and to do any serious work with it you would need to know Hebrew, but it is fascinating and views numerology in the lines that you are asking about. It sees every line of the Torah and every letter placement having eternal significance to the eternities and Godhood. By deciphering them you can understand the mystical knowledge of God, even understand his power and the name of God which unlocks the secrets to the universe. Some of it relates to things we say and due in our temples, but much of it is very complex Hebrew grammar.
\Now has our prophets said much about numerology? Ancient prophets used it frequently, even modern scriptures hint at it. But modern prophets today do very little with it from what I have seen. Its more used in textual work, done to help understand text. It is not going to reveal any knew doctrine from it, rather it helps to explain the text and the authors message. I hope this helps.
Rather off topic, but... I do not want to get off topic of 666, because I am sure there are posts already on the subject, but since you asked about the numerical value. 6 is less then perfection, thus three sixs represent an unholy trinity or false god per say. also the number 666 is also a mathematical sum of the numeric value of someones name. Every name has a numeric value, and it is clear that this is also is a numeric value of a name. Whose name is debatable. But most likely is is the roman Emperor Nero who persecuted the church and killed such leaders as Peter and Paul. |
Message Edited... Edit by LDS_forever: I just corrected your offtopic tags. |