The Completeness of Three  Part Two
 
It has been a real blessing for me to study the meaning of the number three because God has so much to say regarding this subject from Genesis to Revelation. If you missed Part One and desire some background here is the link.
 
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/feb2007/bobd213.htm
 
In this particular article I will be talking about the good and the evil.I will show how both tie in with the meaning of the first perfect number in the Bible (3).
 
Before Jesus Christ started His earthly ministry, He was lead by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days. The wilderness in the Old Testament was symbolic of trials and the number 40 stands for testing. So we see a picture in the life of Jesus. He was enduring temptation from the devil in a period of testing. I believe that Jesus Christ was incapable of sinning but He still felt the weight of the temptation so He could identify with us. Hebrews 2:18 says "For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted." The Bible also says "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15. You see Jesus is very close to us.He is not a God that can not identify with our problems.Do you remember how many times the devil chose to entice Jesus Christ ? Three times. All three temptations were to the point but directly opposed to the will of God the Father. Jesus quoted the Word of God all (3) three times.Three evil (the devil) and three good (Jesus Christ). Are you starting to see a picture of how good and evil fight against each other? By nature they are opposed to one another.It is very interesting that the devil decided to leave after the third temptation. Somehow he knew that his evil plan had been defeated. God being Sovereign would only allow three enticements to make his point concerning good and evil. One is the truth (Jesus Christ), the other is a lie (Satan). Is it by accident that the devil left in verse 13? This is the number of apostasy.You decide whether that was a coincidence in Scripture. In Revelation chapter 13 I will show you how the devil will set up his own demonic trilogy and attempt to copy (1) God the Father (2) His Son Jesus Christ and (3) The Holy Spirit.
 
Anything that is complete is stamped with this particular number in Scripture. Past,present, future or thought,word,deed or our makeup which would be body,soul and spirit. No wonder the devil desires to copy and complete his mission in a series of three. He wants to usurp the throne of God. I will give you an example of something that Jesus said about Himself. Jesus saith unto him," I am the way,the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6. (1) Way (2) Truth (3) Life. I believe the devil understands that three is especially stamped with completeness. This is why I say understand the authentic and we will be able to discern the counterfeit.
 
It is amazing to me that three people were raised from the dead in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ raised three people in the New Testament which comes to a sum total of six.This is the number that stands for the weakness of man. Jesus Christ being perfect was the 7th person to be raised. The number 7 means spiritual perfection. This is why a good evangelist will put his or her emphasis on the atoning death of Jesus Christ because He never sinned; therefore, He was the only One that was qualified to die on the cross for us. He rose from the dead on the (3) third day according to "1st Cor.15:4. Even if a person was sincere and tried to do this, it would not matter because Jesus Christ was the only one that was (7) spiritually perfect. He is our perfect sacrificial atonement for our sins. There is a reason for this. Jesus Christ was on the cross and there were (3) three hours of darkness. This is when God the Father turned His back on His very own Son so He could pay for our sins.
 
I started this article by explaining how good and evil war against each other in association with the contextual meaning of this number. Peter faced his greatest temptation that he ever went through right before the crucifixion.It was in a trilogy of three. Peter denied Jesus Christ three times. Jesus prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane.There is a principle here. When God has completed something, and we desire the will of our Father in heaven, there will be spiritual warfare from the devil. So if we are living right and desire to do the will of God, and if all kinds of problems erupt in our life, understand that this is what the Bible teaches.Iron sharpens iron. This refines us so we can truly give God the Glory.
 
I will show you an example of how the devil will attempt his very own (3) trilogy on earth in the future 7 year tribulation period. He will attempt to set up a utopia on earth and overthrow the throne of God. If one were to read Revelation Chapter 13, there is a (3) demonic trilogy that will work in connection with each other. The devil, the antichrist and the false prophet. Satan is not original. He copies God. The Trinity in heaven is (1) God The Father (2) His Son Jesus Christ and  (3) The Holy Spirit. He will deceive many people with this false demonic trinity because the Bible says in 2nd Thes.2:11 "And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie." All this "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." 2nd Thes.2:10. Since these people did not know the Originator (Jesus Christ) they will be deceived by the counterfeit (the devil). Come to know Jesus Christ today so you won't be deceived tomorrow. This is what the Bible teaches.
 
To end on a more personal note I would like you to look at the very warm example of John chapter 21. Peter denied Jesus Christ three times and the cock crew according to John 18:27. Peter realized his sins. Do you know that according to this chapter Jesus asked Peter three questions to reconcile the whole problem? All three questions were about the relationship of Peter to Jesus focusing upon the subject of love. God used something bad in the life of Peter and turned it into something good. That is why Romans 8:28 says "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." After the (3) third question Peter was convicted and grieved. This is a picture of agreement.The matter was "completed." Like every article on biblical numerics there is too much to mention in one sitting. Hopefully we will realize this perfection living on the inside of us and respond accordingly. Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord is a God of divine completion.I am so joyful as I contemplate this truth. When God completes something, there is something about our understanding as He imparts this precious truth to us. We serve a perfect God who always focuses upon a loving relationship with Him as His children. How much better could it get? He has our best interests in mind and is always working everything out for good in our lives as His children with purpose.
 
Love and Joy, in Jesus Christ
      Bob D.