Philologos
Bible Prophecy Research
Title: The Number 13
Submitted by: research-bpr@philologos.org
Date: Sept 4, 2000
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr/files/n018.htm

The Number 13

4th of Elul
September 4, 2000

Excerpt from:
Number in Scripture
E. W.Bullinger

that we may afterwards compare and contrast the two. For this purpose we must consider the number thirteen here, and out of its otherwise proper order.

As to the significance of thirteen, all are aware that it has come down to us as a number of ill-omen. Many superstitions cluster around it, and various explanations are current concerning them.

Unfortunately, those who go backwards to find a reason seldom go back far enough. The popular explanations do not, so far as we are aware, go further back than the Apostles. But we must go back to the first occurrence of the number thirteen in order to discover the key to its significance. It occurs first in Gen 14:4, where we read "Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and the thirteenth year they REBELLED."

Hence every occurrence of the number thirteen, and likewise of every multiple of it, stamps that with which it stands in connection with rebellion, apostasy, defection, corruption, disintegration, revolution, or some kindred idea.

The second mention of thirteen is in connection with Ishmael, Gen 17:25. He was thirteen years old when Abraham circumcised him and admitted him into the covenant to which he was a stranger in heart, and which ended in his rebellion and rejection.

We see it stamped upon the very fore-front of Revelation. For while the opening statement of Gen 1:1 is composed of seven words and twenty-eight letters (4x7), the second verse consists of fourteen words, but fifty-two letters; fifty-two being 4x13 tells of some apostasy or rebellion which caused the ruin of which that verse speaks.

But it is when we come to

that the most wonderful results are seen. These results may be stated thus, briefly: That the names of the LORD's people are multiples of eight, while the names of those who apostatized, or rebelled, or who were in any sense His enemies, are multiples of thirteen. This statement, if it be proved, is one of the greatest evidences of verbal inspiration which the world has yet seen. The discovery of the great principle is due, we believe, to the late Dr. Milo Mahan, of New York, who has given many examples of it in his work already referred to, now long out of print. The effect of this law can hardly be estimated in establishing the presence of an ever-present working of the Holy Spirit in inditing the very words and even the letters of Scripture. No human foresight or arrangement could have secured such a result beforehand; no human powers could have carried it out in such perfection. No matter where we look, we find the working of the law without cessation, without a break, without a flaw from beginning to end. Only one conclusion is possible, and that is that the Bible has but one Author, an eternal, omniscient Author, designing, superintending, working, and carrying out His own infinite plans.

Let us take a survey of this wondrous field

The numerical value of the Seth line of names collectively is a multiple of 8; whilst those of the Cain line collectively is a multiple of 13.

* Japheth was the eldest son of Noah, though Shem was chosen for the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Taking the Noah group separately, we have:

Without Ham, the three names, Noah, Shem, and Japheth, equal 888. With Ham they equal 936, as above; but this, though it is a multiple of 8, is at the same time a multiple of 13, and of 9 also, the number of judgment.

The gematria of the whole Scripture, Gen 5:6-24, which contains the record of these names, amounts to 62960 (or 8x7870).

The family of Lamech is also significant if looked at separately:

The history of the Cain family is given in Gen 4:1-25, and spreads over 130 years (13x10). See Gen 5:3.

Further, the whole Scripture which records the history, Gen 4:1-25, yields by gematria 76882 (13x5914). There is, however, a remarkable exception which "proves the rule." Verse 25 records the birth of Seth, and its value is 6560 (8x820); verse 26, also, which records the birth of his son Enos, and tells how men began then to "call upon the name of the LORD," yields 3064 (8x383).

Contrast this with verse 1, where the numerical value of the words "and she conceived and bare Cain" is 1612 (13x124).

The years of Adam during the days of Cain, before the birth of Seth, were 130 (13x10): see Gen 5:3. While after the birth of Seth he lived 800 years (8x100), Gen 5:4.

in Gen 4:23,24, is 4667 (13x359); while the sentence pronounced on Cain in vv 10-13 is 10283 (13x791).

The record in Gen 6, which gives the apostasy of man, leading up to the judgment of the Flood, is stamped and branded throughout with significant numbers:

The whole passage (Gen 10:25-29) yields the number 10647 (13x13x63). Such are the pains taken to emphasise the rise of the progenitors of the Saracens, for Joktan settled in S. Arabia, while Ishmael settled in Arabia Petrea.

Thus the entire generation is 4832 (8x604).

Abraham had eight sons. Seven of them were born "after the flesh," while the eighth was "by promise."

* Isaac's household was a divided one, as well as Jacob's; hence we have the 13 as a factor as well as 8.

Add parents' names (Jacob 182, and Leah 36), and we have 1944 (8x243).

The whole family of Jacob, including Ephraim (331) and Manasseh (395) = 4512 (8x8x8+4000).

are enumerated in some 18 (3x6) different ways, in which one is always omitted. For there were 12 tribes; but there were also 13, telling of God's design for perfect government, and of man's apostasy from that government.

Gen 36:40-43 is by gematria 9880: thus--

The phrase which concludes the lists, "All these are the sons of Keturah," has for its value 468 (13x36), making with the numbers above 5213 for the whole group, or 13x401.

The whole passage is also a multiple of 13.

The whole passage (Gen 19:31-38) is a multiple of 13

It will be observed how we have here not only the number thirteen, but also the number nine, which...is the number of judgment.

is also stamped with the number thirteen, though not by gematria, for the city was compassed once each day for six days, and seven times on the seventh day, making 13 times in all (6+7). "Jericho" is 234 which is 13x2x9 (nine being the number of judgment).

who were raised up as saviours in a time of apostasy and rebellion exhibit both these factors, 8 and 13

Abimelech the usurper (Judges 9) by his name

The Judges period ends under Samuel, 377 (13x29), and the last three names which come before us are--

Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas, which together amount to 462 (42x11).

are stamped in a remarkable manner with these numbers.

There are two periods specially marked with regard to Israel.

The number 65 is associated with the separate existence of the Ten Tribes in Isa 7:8, "Within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people." From that time, that is to say, from the last year of Jeroboam II to the carrying away of Israel was exactly 65 years, or 5 times 13, which characterised the disintegration which was going on in the nation.

But, more than this, the number 390 was also stamped upon Israel as being the whole duration of the separate existence of the Ten Tribes from the day they rebelled against Rehoboam to the day they were led away captive. This we see from Eze 4:4, 5, where the command was given to Ezekiel, "Lie thou upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it; according to the number of the days that thou shalt be upon it, thou shalt bear their iniquity. For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel."

Now 390 is thirteen times thirty,* and the duration of Israel's rebellion is sufficiently and appropriately branded upon it.

* Commentators entirely miss the point when they say that 390 = 10x39, instead of 13x30!

On the other hand, when we turn to Judah we see the number 8 pervading it. For the same prophet, in the next verse, is commanded to lie on his right side forty days to bear the iniquity of the house of Judah--each day for a year. We ought to note in passing that the name of Ezekiel, who foretells the duration and end of this apostasy, is 156 (13x12); while the words of the prophecy, Eze 4:1-6, amount to 36673 (13x13x7x31), and the whole passage, 4:1-8, to 43069 (13x3313).

The fulfillment ought also to be noted. The 390 years were to signify not only the years of apostasy, but were also to signify the 390 days of the siege of Jerusalem; viz., 13 months (30x13). The siege commenced on the 10th day of the 10th month of the 9th year of Zedekiah (2 Kings 25:1-4), and it was taken on the 9th day of the 4th month of the 11th year of the same king. This gives a period of 18 months. But the siege was raised for about 5 months (see Jer 37), while Nebuchadnezzar's army was withdrawn for fear of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who had come up to meet him.

Thus we have the two numbers stamped by the history; upon Judah 8, and upon Israel 13.

Now look at

1. The spelling, which sometimes varies, is taken according to the first occurrence of the name.

2. In the 39th (3x13) year of his reign he forsook the LORD (2 Chron 16:12).

3. Amaziah = 146 or 152 according to the spelling. If 146, then the total will be 4394 (13x13x13x2). But if we add Saul 337, David 14, and Solomon 375, it is 5120 (8x8x8x10).

4. He had reigned 52 (4x13) years when he apostatized (2 Chron 26:3,21).

* In the Hebrew Text Mizpar is repeated again after Baanah. If we count this in, then the total, instead of 3008, will be 3388, which though not a multiple of 8 is very significant.

Other chiefs mentioned in other connections are--

It is difficult to observe a strict order in the presentation of these phenomena, because the results are best shown by direct contrast. For example, if we take out the names of the adversaries who came in direct opposition to the Lord, the law will be more clearly seen.

Together they all make 6578 (13x506).

The men who took strange wives (Ezra 10:17-44) were in number 113. The gematria of their names is 38194 (13x13x226).

as mentioned and named in 2:19, 4:7, and 13:4:

But their Chaldean names, given by Nebuchadnezzar, make a number of no significance whatever.

as named in Scripture are generally multiples of thirteen.

Let us begin with the great enemy himself, always remembering that though we may give the English for the sake of clearness, the gematria always refers to the original Hebrew or Greek:

where the Devil is first mentioned and revealed. The opening words:

present the same peculiar phenomena:

reveals the same law in operation. Having diligently cast the horoscope (as Pur means: see Isa 47:13), Haman found the most favourable time for carrying out his designs as "the Jews' enemy."*

* A term applied to none but Haman. See Esth 3:10, 7:6, 8:1, 9:10,14.

Esther 3:7 tells us that for 12 months the horoscope was consulted "in the first of the month...from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month." Then (v 12) on the thirteenth day of the first month (i.e., the thirteenth month from the time they commenced) the favourable day was found. Then (3:13) the letters were prepared, and upon "one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month" (at the end of the second year), the Jews were all to be put to death. On that day came the deliverance (8:12, etc.). Thus we have three thirteens connected with this gigantic effort of the great enemy to destroy the Lord's people, and with them, of course, the promised seed. This is the ultimate object of the great enemy in all his designs against God's people.

On the other hand, we see the multiples of the dominical eight in the Lord's people:

On the other hand we have:

This peculiarity has been preserved not only in all the manuscripts, but in every printed edition of the Hebrew Text. No scribe or editor has ventured to change this form of their presentation.

Various conjectures have been made both by the ancient Jewish and modern commentators as to the reason why these names are always presented thus; but no one seems to have looked upon the names as an addition sum (regarding of course each letter as a figure). Treated thus the sum of the names amounts to 10244 or 13x788.

The whole family is 10868 or 13x836.

was 250 + 14700 = 14950 (13x1150). See Num 16:35,49.

(or of the son or children of Hinnom) occurs 13 times. It was the scene of the idolatrous and inhuman rites of Moloch introduced by Solomon (1 Kings 11:7). The casting of children into the fire in that valley made it the fit symbol of the future punishment of sinners, who are to be cast into the lake of fire, and gave rise to the word Gehenna, from the Hebrew Gee-Hinnom, Valley of Hinnom. The 13 occurrences, which contain the whole history of the valley, are worthy of connected study (Josh 15:8,18, 18:16, twice; 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chron 28:3, 33:6; Neh 11:30; Jer 7:31,32, 19:2,6, 32:35).

Thus the two numbers 8 and 13 are like two threads--gold and crimson--which run through the whole of Divine Revelation, continually crossing and recrossing each other.

There is, however, one very important branch of this part of our subject still remaining, and that is:--

The Saviour, though without sin, was "made sin," or a sin-offering, for His people. He was "wounded for our transgressions," and bruised for their iniquities. He was, in fact, "NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS" (Isa 53:12).

Therefore this number is not only the all-pervading factor of SIN, but also of sin's atonement. It is not only the number which brands the sinner as a rebel against God, but it is the number borne by the sinner's Substitute.

His very names in the Old Testament, before the work of Atonement was entered on or accomplished, are all multiples of 13, just as His names, afterwards in the New Testament and when the work of Atonement was carried out, are all multiples of 8.

which records the first type of this Lamb of God, the sinner's substitute, exhibits the number 13.

Their whole history (Gen 4:1-25) amounts to 76882 (13x5914).

The great chapter on Atonement is most remarkable. We cannot give the whole chapter; but note--

It may be observed that the serpent (Ha-Seraph) is also 585, exactly the same number as the scape-goat.

who was the type of Christ in substitution, has, as the factor of his name, 13 as well as 8. It is 208 (13x8x2).

Isaac's history, too, in Gen 22:1-19 (the eighth of the Divine interviews and covenants), amounts to 54808, or (13x8x17x31).

Numbers 16, "When Aaron stood between the living and the dead."

was seen by 512 persons. And 512 is the cube of 8 (8x8x8).

gathered in the upper room (Acts 1:15) was 120 (8x15).

We see not only the number seven stamping the book throughout with spiritual perfection, but as it contains also the history which leads up to resurrection and the new heavens and earth, the number eight is also seen.

of the word "zumee", "leaven," in the New Testament is thirteen, and it is significant of its connection with corruption, as denoting apostasy from the truth.

It is surely impossible to explain all this evidence on the doctrine of chances. There must be design. And design so perfect, so uniform, so significant can only be Divine. And being Divine is an unanswerable argument in favour of the verbal and even literal inspiration of the Scriptures of Truth.

[Please see Reference Guide if you'd like to buy a copy of this book.]

FATIMA, a small settlement in Portugal, approximately 70 miles north of Lisbon. In a nearby pasture, known as Cova da Iria, the Virgin Mary was reported to have appeared six times between May 13 and October 13, 1917, to three children...during the visions, repentance for sins and frequent recitation of the Rosary were urged upon the world...[it was] also reported the Virgin's request that the world, and especially Russia, be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart. Devotion to Our Lady of Fatima has spread throughout the world and has been approved by the Roman Catholic Church.

(Collier's Encyclopedia, 1963)

She appeared on the 13th of each month between May and October.

Excerpts from:
The Sign for the Church - Part II
By Bob Schlenker

God uses historical events to foreshadow other events in order to teach His people important truths in preparation. What is of particular interest as we seek to understand the seasons and appointed times of the prophetic Word is the fact that the events foreshadowed and those which have preceded them are often found to occur on anniversaries of the same days on the Jewish Calendar. In this study, we will find that the revealing of the lawless one is foreshadowed in numerous events that have occurred on one particular date, the thirteenth day of Nisan. I'm going to present the record of three biblical characters who each played a foreshadowing role as the Beast and bring your attention to the day these accounts have in common with its numerical significance. Perhaps you will reach the same conclusion I reached, that the Lord has appointed a day and revealed his intent in advance of that day in preparation for it.

Haman

In the drama of the book of Esther, the character named Haman is a popularly recognized type of the lawless one.

So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. {11} "Keep the money," the king said to Haman, "and do with the people as you please." {12} Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman's orders to the king's satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. {13} Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews--young and old, women and little children--on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. {14} A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day. Esther 3:10-14

The name Haman means, "the rager: their tumult." Tumult means "disorderly commotion of a great crowd or tempestuous uprising - a riot." This is an appropriate name for a pattern of the lawless one, wouldn't you say? What I want to bring to your attention is the fact that it was on the thirteenth day of the first month (by name - Nisan) that Haman decreed death for God's people throughout the land. All the media was called in for the event. Receiving the King's gift of the signet ring represents Haman's receipt of the authority of the throne. Haman made known the authority he had received in the wicked act performed on Nisan 13!

Barabbas

The next type of the lawless one I'd like to introduce is rather obscure. This particular character is introduced in the Gospels in the account where Jesus was delivered up before Pontius Pilate and the Jews had just been given one final opportunity to receive him as their King. A choice was offered to them according to the custom of releasing one prisoner to the Jews at Passover time. Although Pilate was highly motivated to release Jesus, the Jews demanded another.

So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, 'Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?' Matthew 27:17.

All four Gospels record this event, which, of itself, makes it quite significant. Mark records the following:

Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. {7} A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. {8} The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. {9} "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, {10} knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. {11} But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. {12} "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them. {13} "Crucify him!" they shouted. {14} "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" {15} Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:6-15

The Jews rejected Jesus who is called Christ and accepted one Barabbas, a robber, murderer and insurrectionist. According to several of the Caesarean manuscripts, Barabbas was actually known as Jesus Barabbas. This is very telling because the choice offered by Pilate was between two named Jesus; one Jesus who is called both Christ and the king of the Jews and one "Barabbas," whose name means "son of the father." This Jesus Barabbas, or, Jesus son-of-the-father was involved in political insurrection, in robbery, murder and rebellion, showing him to be the antithesis of the only begotten son of the Heavenly Father. Jesus Barabbas foreshadows the lawless one of II Thessalonians 2, the one who is soon to be demanded by the spiritual leaders of the Jews as well as the great majority of the Gentile world. This counterfeit who brought death to his enemies was presented and received on the day before Jesus was crucified, an anniversary of the date Haman issued his decree to bring death to his enemies - the ominous Nisan 13.

This rejection of Jesus and acceptance of another who comes in his own name according to what Jesus had previously declared:

I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. John 5:43

Judas Iscariot

Another shadowy type of the wicked man to come is Judas Iscariot. These two figures are the only ones described by the term "doomed to destruction."

While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. John 17:12:

Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 2 Thessalonians 2:3:

As we investigate the scriptural record of Judas Iscariot, we find two outstanding events by which he is popularly known. These both relate to his interaction with Jesus, concern a revealing of identity and occur on the 13th of Nisan. In the first, while in the presence of his disciples at the last supper, the Lord rather mysteriously identifies Judas as the one who would betray him. In the second, Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss that was a sign to reveal his identity to those who would arrest him. The Author of the Bible draws our attention to these events rather dramatically. Why? Prophecy, my friend. These things are prophetic!

First, a little background on his name. The name Judas is the Greek form of Judah. The royal bloodline of Israel stems from Judah. The lawless one is shown in the books of Daniel and Revelation as having rulership authority. This one with the label of the correct lineage for a king of the Jews portends the one who comes to rule the world kingdom. This is an attempt to usurp the authority of the true King, the lion of the tribe of Judah. This Judas is further identified as Iscariot, which indicates that he is "from Kerioth," the town whose name means cities. This alludes to Nimrod (whose name means he will rebel), an early type of the antichrist ruler who first began to build cities. (Genesis chapter 10) The first-listed center of Nimrod's kingdom was Babylon, the symbol of the Beast's kingdom given plainly in Revelation. Nimrod is also associated with The Assyrian type in Micah 5:6.

Let's consider the significance of the first event involving Judas and Jesus on the 13th of Nisan, the one in which Judas is revealed as the one who would betray Jesus.

I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' 19 "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. 20 I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." 21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray 2 me." 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means." 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. John 13:18-30

As Nisan 13 began, our Lord was having his final meal with his disciples. The subject of this time at the meal is the revealing of the one who would betray Jesus, but let me make the point that, in the larger context, the purpose of the betrayal is actually to reveal Jesus. To betray Jesus is to identify or reveal him. Later, when Judas would betray Jesus, he identified him as the one those watching were looking for with a kiss, the agreed upon sign.

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." Matthew 26:48

Again, the outcome of all this is that, by means of the counterfeit, everyone's attention is placed upon the genuine. As verse 19 states, "so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He." Y'shua HaMashiach! Baruch haba b'shem Adonai - Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

...

The betrayer's identity was revealed in a very intriguing manner. I had often wondered why Jesus didn't just come out and say Judas was the betrayer, or perhaps, point to him. What's all that bread dipping activity about; was Jesus being theatrical? I don't think so, but rather that it's an allusion to baptism and anointing so that we don't miss the hidden teaching about the counterfeit. Key to understanding the lesson is an awareness of the symbol of bread. John 6:35 records Jesus' declaration that the true bread from heaven is he himself. The Greek word translated dipping in verse 26 is bapto. That's right! Dipping, or, baptizing is for the purpose of revealing. Remember, when the true bread from heaven was baptized, he was revealed! When Jesus dipped the bread, it was a symbolic baptism. When he gave the bread he had just dipped to Judas, he revealing that disciple as the betrayer. As I have stated now in numerous ways, the appointed baptism of the counterfeit Bread will reveal his identity to the observant Bride. Consider the message of verse 27: As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him. As none of the disciples at the meal understood what was going on, so will the great majority of the church fail to realize the true significance of the event when it happens.

Note that the narration calls the betrayer, "Judas Iscariot, son of Simon." The label is given here in the context of his anointing. The name Simon (Greek for Simeon) means hearing. The breaking and the giving of bread often symbolizes the opening of the ears for hearing that which had been hidden. Are you listening? Verse 30: As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Herod

In a related observation, the exact day on which Herod (meaning heroic, another type of the underdog's hero) began to persecute the Church isn't mentioned, but based upon the account given in Acts 12:1-3, we may note the implication.

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

How much would you wager against Nisan 13 as the day persecution was decreed? Me either.

...

Hale-Bopp/Hyakutake - A Special Alert

The evidence I've presented connecting the appearance of the lawless one with the thirteenth of Nisan has come from the types presented in scripture, with an additional association drawn from Jewish tradition. Now, I'm going to share a recent phenomena connecting the same event with the same date. If what I already shared speaks rather loudly, this should shout! Vary the facts, if you want, but don't miss the message!

A comparison of the paths the comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp traced in the sky shows that they intersect. My friend Bob Wadsworth made this important discovery in 1997, bringing to my attention some relevant facts. Where and when they intersect is very provocative! The two comets reached the point of intersection exactly one solar year apart - to the day! The point of intersection was very close to the variable star Algol, the beta star of the constellation Perseus. Hyakutake was there on April 11, 1996 and Hale-Bopp, on April 11, 1997. We might ask if this could this have been just a coincidence, but let's not ask stupid questions, Okay? The Lord has gotten our attention!

The first thing we should know is that, from ancient times, comets have been thought to be a bad omen. Of course, we don't want to appear unenlightened or superstitious, but more importantly, lets use our spiritual insight and wisdom, acknowledging that the celestial lights have been assigned meaning by their Creator. We do well to note the wisdom from ages past. Now, if you think about how a sign such as the crossing of two comets paths might be interpreted, you might reasonably expect that the meaning of that place of intersection and the time of intersection would be important, and related, and in harmony with the general signification of a comet.

The paths intersected in an area of the sky that represents the lawless one, the anti-messiah beast. The general region is the constellation Perseus, pictured in the sky charts as a man with a sword held high, with the severed head of the Gorgon Medusa in his other hand. If you recall from mythology, one look at the snake-haired Medusa turned men to stone. Perseus represents the Lord Jesus Christ, victorious over his enemy. If you superimpose the charted paths of the two comets, you see that an X is formed, the paths being nearly perpendicular. The picture looks rather like the cross-hairs of a rifle scope, focused right between the eyes of the severed head of what the Greeks called Medusa. The Hebrew name for the head is Rosh Satan, "the head of the adversary." Other names for it are Al Ghoul, "the evil spirit," and Al Oneh, "the subdued." The beta star in Perseus is located very near the intersection in Rosh Satan and is named Algol, which means, "rolling round." The Starlore Handbook says that, according to tradition, Algol is the most malevolent star of the heavens. This star is notably a variable star, cycling every 69 hours between a brightness of the fourth magnitude and the second. This is one of several variable stars with names signifying the enemies of God. The meaning of the place of intersection is unambiguous.

The perpendicular intersection of the two comet's paths near Algol also appears like a cross; a cross right between the eyes or in the forehead of Rosh Satan! That's rather familiar symbolism, isn't it? The appearance of the cross speaks to me of the church, with which the Beast will be identified as noted earlier (1 John 2:19). The appearance of the cross on the forehead also speaks of the mark of the beast in the forehead of his followers (Revelation 13:16).

In 1996 and 97, the comet's paths crossed on the same Gregorian calendar date, April 11, but the corresponding Hebrew dates were Nisan 22 (in 1996) and Nisan 4 (in 1997). I was curious about how closely associated April 11 and Nisan 13 might be, so I cross-checked the calendar years for a thirty year period (from 1981-2010). Because the Hebrew calendar is a lunar-based calendar, Nisan 13 corresponds to a different date each year on our solar-based "Gregorian" calendar. April 11 coincides with Nisan 13 in only one year, 2006. As a plot of all the dates would show, April 11 falls in a fairly random distribution across the whole month of Nisan. This approach didn't produce the fruit I thought it might, suspecting some connection with Nisan 13.. However, when I ignored the Gregorian date and simply considered the two Hebrew dates designated by the comets, it became apparent that the mean date was the thirteenth of Nisan. The difference between Nisan 22 and Nisan 4 is eighteen days. 18/2=9. 4+9=13. 22-9=13. Nisan 13 preceded Hyakutake's arrival at the point of intersection by nine days, and followed Hale-Bopp's arrival by nine days.

It is no stretch of the imagination to interpret the crossing of the comets' paths as a portent of the coming of the lawless one. It is a fact that the mean Hebrew calendar date of the crossed paths of the comets is the very date given in the Bible when at least three distinct foreshadowing types offer a view of the revealing of the lawless one. It is a fact that the comets crossed paths in the area of the sky known in Hebrew as "Rosh Satan"- the head of Satan, with the nearest bright star being traditionally known as the most malevolent star in the heavens. There really are signs in the heavens. The lights in the celestial heavens are given for signs and appointed times. Isn't it time we paid attention to their message?

( http://users.cwnet.com/crm/sgnfor2.htm)

I went looking for people born on the 13th of any month and didn't find too much except for Jack Kemp (July), Fidel Castro (Aug) and Margaret Thatcher (Oct). I then went looking for people born on Nisan 13. This Jewish date seems to fall anywhere between March 25 - April 23. People born in this "window" of time who are interesting (only 30-70 year olds): John Major (March 29, 1943); Al Gore (March 31, 1948); Colin Powell (April 5, 1937) and Queen Elizabeth (April 21, 1926). There were no direct hits but I'm unsure of my calendar program's track record. Other notables in this time period are: Gloria Steinem (Marh 25, 1934); Zbigniew Brzezinksi (March 28); Hugh Hefner (April 9, 1933); Oppenheimer (nuclear expert), Lenin (April 22) and Shakespeare (April 23).

Here are the dates I've been working with--Nisan 13 falls on:

September 13, 1993 Israel and Palestine Sign Historic Agreement
October 13, 1993 Agreement goes into force
September 13, 2000 Arafat threatens to declare state

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