Part 3 - On Twelves and Thirteens - Signs of Time and its Mastery

Series Links: On Twelves and Thirteens - Signs of Time and its Mastery

Time signaling number signs are all around us. They are naturally embedded in the world; they appear throughout the Bible, and certainly, the signs are also embedded in Occult ways nearly everywhere you look in the media that wallpapers our environments. As you come to recognize these things and interpret what you see in the various contexts where the signs appear, let it speak to you about this strange and unique season as the spirit of the Lord makes it known.

The most obvious associations with the number 12 in the Bible are with people, with the tribes of Israel and with the Lord's Apostles. Both of these sets imply a 13th member, a ruling member that is central and foundational to the 12. With regard to the tribes of Israel, isn't that label always naming the father from whom they were brought forth? Hidden in plain sight, he's the fundamental member, and we may well include him in the full count of the set. Likewise, when the Lord's Apostles are named, it's the Lord Himself who is the implicit 13th with the 12. The numbers of these sets are fixed, and while there are probably reasons for this we don't yet know, what we have learned recently about the numbers connected with space-time and the mastery of it demonstrates that this is of particular importance in this season.

It is notable that the biblical listings that name the individual tribes of Israel vary but their number remains fixed at 12. The Patriarch Joseph was granted a double honor with an accounting of each of his two sons as a tribe. With the division of Joseph's one into two, the net increase should have brought the number up to 13 plus Israel, but no. There are several versions of the list but the count is only ever just 12. That must be important. With regard to the Lord's Apostles, the number was diminished to 11 due to the loss of Judas Iscariot but the full count was restored when Matthias was chosen as a replacement. These observation invite further exploration, and in doing so there is insight to be gained on the theme of space-time and its mastery.

What is it about the Patriarch Jacob and qualification or credentialing for space-time mastery? Consider the record of Genesis 28 with this in mind.

10 Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. 12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 So Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on its top. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel; however, previously the name of the city had been Luz.” ~ Genesis 28:10-19

Did you note the verses numbered 12 and 13 above? Have you been paying attention to what we've been writing recently about stones and water crossings and interdimensional transits?

Consider Jacob's history in the record of Genesis 32.

32:1 Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him. 2 Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim. ~ Genesis 32:1-2

The record continues with a story about Jacob's fear of and attempt to appease his brother Esau, and we come to Jacob's declaration in verse 10.

I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. ~ Genesis 32:10

Wow! Okay. Then, after the gift for Esau is sent on ahead, we read the following account of Jacob.

22 Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had. 24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. 32 Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip. ~ Genesis 32:22-32

There's another crossing of the water, of the Jabbok, a tributary of the Jordan with a name that means, “a pouring out or a wrestling.” Another cryptic stargate transit? The youngest son, Benjamin, had not yet been born. Could it be that by prevailing in this wrestling match the Patriarch Jacob was somehow qualified for space-time mastery? The names of the places Bethel, Mahanaim and Peniel commemorate these extraordinary occasions of interaction. Jacob's own name was changed, and the name Israel therefore hearkens back to when he saw God face to face and his life was preserved. Did you notice how the wrestling and blessings and crossing over Penuel are all distinctly tied to daybreak, a time transition? Consideration of the water crossings, the stone, the ladder and transits and communication at the gate of heaven, the engagements with heaven dwellers in earthly places, these suggest how Jacob may have qualified to become the central one or 13th of that special 12.

With regard to the 12 Apostles, their Lord is implicit as the 13th member of that group, and He is the Lord of Time and Space. Consider this account of the Lord's ascension and what happened afterward.

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 15 At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, 16 “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out. 19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, and let no one dwell in it’; and, ‘Let another man take his office.’ 21 Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— 22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” 23 So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. ~ Acts 1:9-26

One conspicuous number was given for the people who were engaged in that season, 120, which is 12*10, an amplified 12. This has to do with time. The upper room in the city suggests a heavenly room or compartment of heaven. Space-time.

As before, note the time numbered verses 12 and 13 and 21 above, and also the 22nd in connection with the 21st. Verse 12 specifies a distance in terms of time, even making a connection with the time number 7 through the Shabbat. In verse 13, the 11 men named in the upper room are about to exercise mastery by the Lord's grant of authority in acting to bring their number back to 12. The time transition number combination of 21 and 22 is so notable in this passage!

21 Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— 22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” ~ Acts 1:21-22

A specific period of time was a basis for the selection process in the bringing of another witness of His resurrection into their number. The One who had resurrected and just ascended quickly attended to the legal business of restoring the full count of 12 witnesses as the 13th member. Time is a key to resurrection. It had to happen at the appointed time, after three days and three nights, and on that particular day of the Pesah, and in that very year because legal requirements had to be met. Time seems key to the mechanics or physics of resurrection, which is a testimony we're perceiving in this season of vivid signs.

Here's a relevant observation. The following is a record of what happened shortly after Y'shua was baptized. He was in the desert wilderness, fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. Familiar theme, right? He was being tempted by the devil.

And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ~ Luke 4:5

When the devil subsequently offered those kingdoms to the Lord Y'shua on a condition, He didn't call the devil's bluff because he wasn't bluffing. Not only that, the devil presented his exhibit in a moment of time. That required a mastery of time and space, and he did have authority over all the kingdoms of the world. He still has authority but, as Y'shua knew, it won't last. The devil isn't sovereign. He's only the boss of what's he's been granted authority over, and only for as long as it is necessary for the purpose of fulfilling all things that are appointed for it by the sovereign Lord. The devil is a lord of time, and he and his agents are identified with the number 13 - yet, so also is what he counterfeits, the true God and his agents with Him.

In closing this post, I call your attention to the verse reference above, the 5th verse of the 4th chapter of the 3rd book of the New Testament, the 3rd gospel. Does the numbering of 3.4.5 seem familiar? I have to think yet one more layer of the esoteric 47th Problem of Euclid involves a reference to that verse. The devil loves to boast. He also lies, but claiming a certain mastery over space-time is not false bravado.