Evidence for inspired chapter/verse numbers: The 144,000

There's tons of evidence in the Bible that demonstrates God has actually inspired chapter and verse numbers assigned to scripture--a claim we would imagine impossible since history says these were arbitrarily assigned back in the 14-1500s as an aid for us to reference the text. Little were we aware that even though men thought they were doing this, God was silently working to make sure everything in the Bible was being prepared exactly as he intended.

This is just one evidence of 1000s so I'm only presenting it as such and not expecting anyone to believe inspiration of verse references because of this example. But I am presenting it to hopefully get your interest through fun examples.

Note that Revelation 14:3 mentions the 144,000 as the only ones who could learn the song being taught. This sets up the next verse to describe the 144,000 and is the best description of them in the Bible. Note the verse reference:

Rev 14:3 ...no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. Rev 14:4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

Did you see the verse reference that is evidence for God inspired chapter and verse reference numbers? Do you think it coincidence the reference is 14:4 (144)? Of course, it could be, but the preponderance of so many evidences like this overwhelm our ability to dismiss this miracle as happenstance.

God is Good. Look at the following additional examples and note how the numbers in the text just happen to line up perfectly with chapter and verse references. Note that in Hebrew numbers, the order of the digits was not important when calculating the number meanings of things--thus 24 is the same as 42 and 26 the same as 62.

Gen 7:2 "You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female;

2Kin 2:24 When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number.

Dan 9:26 "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

The Bible is precise and God inspired for all of it's 31,102 verses and 1189 chapters. Nothing out of order, nothing missing, nothing added and all references have direct symbolic relationship with the text.

My new book The Bible's Redemption Plan and Numeric Map

I have 200 copies printed for my promotional efforts but the official publishing via Xulon will not be complete until April. Keep watching for more details and public reaction to this understandably impossible claim. There is no doubt everything we humanly understand about the Bible says the Redemption Pattern and Numeric map cannot exist...but evidence for it is well documented and too preponderous to dismiss. We will see what the public has to say.

Following is back cover text...

Not a code, but the discovery of an unbelievable pattern in the Bible!

The Bible's Numeric Map reveals God not only inspired the Bible's text, but also divinely numbered every book, chapter, and verse to point to His ten step plan of redemption. An astounding claim we cannot imagine to be true—but it is. Here are a few of thousands of surprising clues revealing the Bible's supernatural organization.

• MIDDLE CHAPTER: Psalm 117 is the shortest and only two-verse chapter: "Praise the LORD, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples!" is divinely located exactly as the center chapter.
  
• THE 1,000th CHAPTER: John 3:16, the keystone verse for Christianity, says, "…for God so loved the world…." God strategically placed it in the Bible's special 1,000th chapter.
  
• THE 24,000th VERSE: Matthew 24:42 "be on the alert…you do not know the day nor the hour…." The verse at the intersection of five different references to number 24. It is the 24,000th verse in the 24th chapter with verse number 42 (24) and chapter and verse text both focus on The "Day" (24 hours) of the Lord.
  
• REDEMPTION PATTERN: The Ten Commandments, Lord's Prayer, Beatitudes—every list and number in the Bible as well as book, chapter and verse numbering—all follow the ten-part redemption pattern. This pattern validates the Bible's perfection, reveals God's redemption plan and guides biblical interpretation.
  

This book reveals themes for numbers and how they clarify our understanding of God's Word. See many examples such as how the Bible's 22 chapters, numbered 22, all contain themes pointing to Jesus. Observe the amazing Numeric Map and Redemption Plan God placed in the Bible you use today. This book guides anyone in discovering the truth of these patterns for themselves and how they are easily put to use.

Bible Study-Chapter Themes-In Plain Sight

In all my 30+ years as a Christian I've never been taught how words found in a chapter can help us find the chapter theme. It seems so clear to me that I find it hard to believe I'm the only one that has seen this...no matter...look how easy it can be to see below the obvious to unearth chapter themes.

Using Colossians 4 as an example - look at my highlights below to see if a chapter theme seems to emerge... One bible I have labels this chapter "Prayer, wisdom and personal greetings" and it is true, these things are there, but every chapter has a message and this title is not much help to understanding it. I think the overall message of this chapter is to share the word and encourage others to do the same. It's about communication, writing, speaking, making contact. I've used the KJV here for copyright issues so you may find in your own translation the message is even more clear.

Watch chapters for content that seems related in any way that would suggest a theme. The Bible communicates more than what we first observe...look deeper for the treasures!

Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Col 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Col 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

Col 4:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Col 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

Col 4:8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

Col 4:11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Col 4:13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

Col 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Col 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

Col 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

Col 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

Matthew Chapter 6 - Seeking God from our hearts

A theme of Matthew chapter 6 is that we can only receive God's rewards by seeking God and his approval from the secret place in our heart. "Practicing our righteousness" for men to see will not result in the reward we truly need which is to receive the incredible gift Jesus gave as his life for us as payment for sin.

The chapter keeps reminding us those who seek approval and the notice of men will not be rewarded--IE given eternal life but will only receive the rewards men can give. Joshua the 6th book of the Bible is about crossing over the Jordan into the new land and six is symbolic of our finally deciding to accept God's plan of redemption, cross over the "River of Life--Jesus" to the new land. God goes ahead of us but we must make the decision and take the action to cross which involves turning from sin thus making sacrifices and going and fighting battles to remove strongholds of sin in our life. Then we can enter step seven of God's Redemption Plan in which God promises to shepherd us to becoming complete.

Matt 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (NASB)

The Bible tells us we are judged by what the Holy Spirit reveals about our heart condition. Verse 6:6 uses the word "Secret" which might better be said as "inwardly" or from the heart. The reference to our inner rooms seems a reference such as go to our heart and soul and talk to god from there. The phrase "WHO IS IN SECRET" seems a reference to the Holy Spirit which is there dwelling in us and this presence of God in us will see our actions and thus will reward us (The HS is the part of God in us that speaks/reports to God on our behalf).

WILL REWARD YOU: Strong's defines the word used for reward as to Give something of one’s self to another or to pay off a debt or things promised under oath. Thus, this fits the chapter theme which is about seeking God alone for our reward which as he promised is the eternal life he gives to us as a gift paying off our debt for sin.

Of course, this does not mean not to do good things people can see, but that our reward can only come from an internal heartfelt relationship with God.

The closing verse tells us we need not worry about tomorrow if we do these things, but take care of today which is having a relationship with God. Once we have done that God considers us his children and as a faithful parent will lead us to becoming complete. Thus, no need to worry about tomorrow (IE Eternal Life) if we have taken care of these things today.

Matthew 20:6, 12 - Jews accepting Jesus at the 11th hour

Matthew chapter 20 in the parable of the workers of the vineyard tells how the man that worked all day was paid no more than the man who did not begin serving until the eleventh hour, something most of us would consider unfair. But the story is not about getting paid fairly but rather about those who are called to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior. This parable is about Jews who have in their own minds worked hard for God for so many years and one day finally accept Jesus as contrasted with Jews who may have ignored god altogether and in the last hour before the end - finally come to Jesus. The point is that it was not about the work but about doing what was agreed on and expected. There will be rewards in heaven regarding our fruit which will be fair but as far as salvation goes, that's a basic agreement we either meet or we don't.

Waiting until the last hour will likely cost us in rewards but the important part is that we don't wait until it is too late. Most importantly, we don't get into heaven through effort - those who say to themselves "...I'm not perfect but am a pretty good person..." are definitely in trouble with their eternal status. Nobody is good enough, God only accepts those that accept his terms which are actually very simple--accept Jesus as Lord and savior, then serve him demonstrating your sincerity.

Matt 20:6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?' ... v12 saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.'


Of course, the same verses apply to all who have not yet accepted Jesus -- there is still time before the end...


--Matt 25:13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.