Eight and our new beginning in Jesus Christ  Part Two
 
Did you know that the very name of Jesus has a gematria
equivalent of 888?
I----10
e---8
s--200
0--70
u--400
s--200
888. It's amazing to me that our Saviors' name would add up to this number. Let me explain this through examples. Before I talk about this let me give you an analogy. If I say hi to someone that is one thing but if I say my name is Bob, I have always wanted to meet you then this goes far deeper than just a simple hello. Keep this in mind as I compare,
4 to 444
6 to 666
   and
8 to 888.
 
Damascus has an equivalent of 444 because it is the oldest inhabited city in world history. Remember four is the number of this world system. Do you see the connection (4; World System) and Damascus (444; oldest city in the "world")?  Six is the number of man in all of his evil. 666 epitomizes the rebellion of people against God through blatant false worship. In Revelation chapter 13 the number of the antichrist is in three forms of 6. 888 in a triple form is the first resurrection of the saints. The Perfect Man (Jesus Christ) in all of His Resurrection Power will one day soon call His children home to heaven. Remember "8" people walked into the Ark of Safety in the days of Noah. There were 4 men that walked into this Ark but Ham was cursed for something evil he engaged in after he departed the Ark. Three men had the blessing of God (Noah,Shem and Japheth) and their names have a numeric value of 888. The number 888 seems to be associated with people that are faithful to God. There were four individuals that believed God in the day of Daniel from judgment by staying faithful to true worship and all their names combined had a numeric value of 888. As you can see 8 and 888 is a very pure number in Scripture. Take one look at all the numbers I just went over and look at what they all have in common. 4 (world) to 444 (a deeper meaning in the world). 6 ( the number of man and sin) to 666 ( a deeper more sinister meaning that progresses into ultimate evil). 8 ( the number of a new beginning/beginnings in Jesus Christ) to 888 (Jesus Christ Himself). By understanding the root we can comprehend the progression.
 
If you were to just look at Noah in the Ark as he performed his daily duties, he did nothing but pursue new beginnings. He sent three doves out with the hope of starting a new beginning.The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit and Noah watching for dry land represents Christians pursuing "new beginnings" in Jesus Christ.True born again Believers are the one group in this world that have the opportunity of pursuing "new beginnings" in their Savior Jesus Christ and nothing or nobody can stop them. Even the rainbow after the flood spoke of a new beginning for those 8 people. God put His signature of this lifestyle in the sky.
 
The principle Christians have to understand is we are not under the wrath of God (1st Thes.5:9) and we are not under His condemnation (Romans 8:1) because we have passed from death to life in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:8) when we accepted Him into our hearts as our personal Savior. God has already opened the door for His children to pursue new beginnings (8) in His Son Jesus Christ.
 
Let me give you some examples. We as Christians can walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8),give thanks to God (Ephesians 5:20) expressing a new gratitude,be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) to experience a "new" guiding,draw near to God (James 4:8) to have a "new" enhanced fellowship with God, endure suffering with a patient spirit to characterize a "new" maturity, or look for the soon coming rapture for our "new" home in Paradise. Notice I made that sentence long to prove a construction point. God has called His children to "new beginnings" in His Son Jesus Christ. Unbelievers could not possibly pursue this because they don't know Him and according to Ephesians 5:8 are still in darkness. "For ye were sometimes in darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light."
 
This is one of the reasons that if a Christian is reaching out to you as an unbeliever, then listening to what he or she has to say is not only important but eternal.This was a covenant that I could not refuse. Taken out of darkness into the glorious light of Jesus Christ and now able to pursue new beginnings in Him. We see so much evil in this world but look at what I am writing about in position and practice. Accepting Jesus Christ into one's heart is an opportunity for grace. Darkness and a curse go hand in hand but light and blessing also blend together perfectly. The Bible says there are only two options.I would rather be blessed than cursed.
 
We can look for the meaning of eight as a new beginning. We could also look at the understanding of eight as a new order. I thought about this point long and hard. Why would certain people desire a new world order so bad? The devil runs this world."In whom the god of this world hast blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2nd Cor. 4:4. The devil, ever since the rebellion in heaven (eternity past) has always desired to usurp the throne of God. The number eight has a primary meaning of a new beginning in Jesus Christ. Being born again (John 3:3). "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily,verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
 
Try and follow my logic on this thought. Satan being the great imitator desires his own version of the world being born again with a new world order - a beginning as it were. He desires to take the old and make it into something older. History is doomed to repeat itself. Just read Genesis chapter 11 regarding the tower of Babel. The whole world joined as one in false worship and they all became confused and confounded in speech. The devil is just saying it is new. All he can do is copy God who is the originator of all things new and through His Son Jesus Christ.
 
The reason why the number "8" is so important is because it actually shows us born again  Believers in Jesus Christ who we are in all of His Resurrection Power because our Savior rose from the dead and was victorious over sin.
 
Creation of this world was beautiful before the fall but this first creation had more to do with the meaning of the number four. 4+4=8. Eight stands for our regeneration when we chose to receive salvation from Jesus Christ for our sins. 444 is the ultimate world number which has its' proof in Damascus (the oldest city in the world). This principle is amplified when we look at 444 compared to 888. This particular city has a gematria value of 444 because the dwelling place is so steeped in history. If we were to double 444+444=888. As I said this is the gematria equivalent of the sacred name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Once again my point is if creation was beautiful (4; the number of the world) than salvation ( 8; the number of being a new creation through our resurrected Savior) than being born again through Jesus Christ must be magnificent. The evidence is in the contrasting numbers (4 compared to 8 or 444 compared to 888). Can you imagine what is in store for us after the rapture when we will actually see with our own eyes what God has prepared for us? Blessings beyond our ability to comprehend or experience because we will be in heaven. "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 2nd Cor. 2:9.
 
This will have to end Part Two in this very exciting subject because the real us as true Believers in Jesus Christ is expressed in the biblical meaning of eight not only in definition but in context. Part three will be out tomorrow. I will once again give specific examples of our new creation in Jesus Christ and relate this number to end time biblical prophecy.
 
Bob D.