Eight and our new beginning in Jesus Christ  Part One
 
As I study the meanings of numbers in the Bible, this is revealing to me because it shows the primary, practical and prophetic implication of Scripture at all different levels of the Bible. As I study the application of the number 8 in different biblical contexts, not only do I learn about Jesus Christ, myself but the prophetic plan of God is shown so clear as the eighth millennium of human history becomes very evident to me.God starts a sinless new Jerusalem on planet earth. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (2) And I John saw the holy city,new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Revelation 21:1-2.
 
As I went over the meanings of numbers 1 through 7, this became exciting because I learned something about life, how I should respond and parts of the infinite wisdom of God. I was able to clearly see how near Christians are to the rapture and how close this world is to the 7 year tribulation period and the 1000 year millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
 
I studied this number and started to write about it but the words would not come out for some reason. I will confess to you that when God remains silent it is frustrating and sometimes even helpless. It turned out that the reason for the void was to make me think.The Holy Spirit impressed upon my heart that "Lord willing" (James 4:13-15) if I ever received the privilege of writing about this, I will be explaining the meaning of the hebrew  word "Chet" which has a definition of a new beginning; new life; a meta physical letter above this existence.
 
The meaning of this number is the hope of "every" true believer in Jesus Christ. It is what us Christians should be showing an unregenerate world because the meaning of this number goes straight to the very heart and core of Jesus Christ.
 
If this study does not prompt an unbeliever to a holy jealousy as to what a Christian has both now and in the future, I would almost have to believe that an individual reading this article just simply would not have any interest in asking the Lord into his or her heart. I think you might see what I am talking about as I show you this supernatural,superabundant number that has its' origin in the very Person of Jesus Christ and speaks of that special intimacy that God has with His children.
 
The one thing that attracted me to Jesus Christ was not the fear of hell but the hope of knowing Him. Don't get me wrong,hell is a horrible place.By the way don't believe the slant of anybody who says that Hades is a bad country club. This is not what the Bible teaches. Going through part or all of the 7 year tribulation will be almost unbearable on planet earth. Both of these realities (the tribulation and hell) are the wrath of God.This time period is very close; however, as the article progress I believe readers will be so drawn to the love of Jesus Christ. I will explain the meaning of the number "888" especially from the backdrop of different contexts of Scripture which were written by numerous authors in different time periods of history yet they say the same thing. How could this be true? The Bible was written by the Holy Spirit. No person could portray the divine magnificence of this number (8) and the incomprehensible love of God if this were of earthy origin.
 
There are only three transcendent numbers in the Bible (1,8,and 50). This means these numbers are so holy that it is beyond the grasp of a human being to fully comprehend the magnificence and Splendor of God.
 
I said the meaning of this number is the hope of "every" person. Why would I make such a statement? The meaning of the number "8" is a new beginning in Jesus Christ.The old is abolished and the new stands in contrast as a gift from God through His Son, imparted freely to us better known as grace. I would like to go back to my original statement. It is the hope of every person. If a human being is not a true authentic sincere believer in Jesus Christ, he or she has an opportunity to accept Him into his or her heart. If an individual says "yes" then this person has a new beginning In Jesus Christ. If one is already a Christian then the opportunity to pursue new "beginnings" in Jesus Christ is available to him or her all the time. For the unbeliever it is a singular pursuit (beginning). For the believer it is a plural experience (beginnings).
 
I noticed that many of the articles I am reading focus on the prophetic signs of the times. These eager Christians are looking for the rapture of the Church (Blessed Hope). We are pursuing one of the many "new beginnings" in Jesus Christ. In my opinion, this one is the most exciting! We know our identity in that we were saved from our sins (we already had a new beginning in Jesus Christ) but we desire more because we love Him. We desire to be with Jesus Christ in heaven. The rapture very much involves the meaning of the number "8" and "888". What could be better than being airlifted (raptured) into heaven with Jesus Christ for all eternity?
 
When the Lord impresses upon my heart and says that this particular number "8" applies to everyone you are talking to, then I really start to think.This principle (the biblical meaning of the number 8) is worth seeking out because it involves the supernatural strength and resurrection of Jesus Christ in our lives.The pursuit level becomes more curious and intense as I study this subject. By the way this is why "watchers" look for the rapture of the Church.Our sense that the blessed hope is near will not only be true but real (a new beginning).
 
Many people will interpret me as doom and gloom. I never understood that because I have the "good news of Jesus Christ." Does being snatched (raptured) into the loving arms of Jesus Christ in heaven sound like bad news? The rapture is one of many new beginnings Christians have in Jesus Christ. The excitement of this prospect is worth searching because eternity is new as opposed to time being old. Solomon said "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." Eccl.1:9. He was referring to planet earth (old). Everything in this world is fading and dying.
 
We are called to new beginnings in Jesus Christ as we pursue our Savior and Lord because of His pure holy unconditional love. This motivates us to seek the Lord with all our heart. I hope we are inspired to learn more about this transcendent number in Scripture. This will have to end Part One of Three. Tomorrow I will get far more specific with examples on why the meaning of this number"eight" is so important to us.
 
Bob D.