The judgment and objective good of nine  Part One
 
The biblical meaning of the number 9 is very intense but necessary for our lives because God is Sovereign and we are not. In simple terms God knows what is best for our lives and we don't understand objective good from a divine point of view. If you are a true authentic believer in Jesus Christ, that point I just made is paramount to understanding how the number 9 applies to your life. In fact I would even take this subject to another level. In simple terms we don't know what is truly good for us.We may think we know, but would we give approval for God to sanction all of these strange hardships to happen in our life?
 
Only God sees the whole picture from beginning to end. I used to think I saw my life but then realized the impossibility of this task.This should be of great comfort to us because regardless as to what happens to us, God is in the process of working out objective good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. If life is going very fast and we don't understand what is happening to us, then think back to the meaning of this very important number (9) in the Bible. It is more probable than possible, that if a bad hardship comes your way as a true believer in Jesus Christ, by understanding this principle you will have the peace of God through His Son Jesus Christ. It is very difficult for me to believe that anybody who understands this principle that God is working "good" in their life regardless as to what "bad" takes place, that he or she would not have some peace of the Holy Spirit flowing through their inner being.
 
Sometimes when I study this number I have to remind myself that to grasp the magnitude of what God is doing is pretty much impossible; however, the principle of the wheat (true believers in Jesus Christ) and the tares (unbelievers) is a reality that starts in the book of Genesis and goes all the way into the book of Revelation. In fact it is the last book of the Bible that enhances the whole biblical meaning of nine as Believers and Unbelievers coexist together with a different purpose.
 
I am so excited as I research this number in the Bible because there is indeed evidence that we are very close to the rapture of the Church from the backdrop of this subject. I would like to talk about that now but I can't because this would be putting the cart before the horse. I need to give you some background before I get to the foreground of end time biblical prophecy and current events.
 
Let me just say that the biblical interpretation of nine is very interesting because it has two meanings at the same time.Judgment for the unregenerate (Unbelievers) but a refining process for the regenerate (Believers in Jesus Christ) which ultimately leads to true fruit bearing for God. Most biblical numbers books seem to be one sided in that the author will take a position or stand that nine exclusively means judgment from God. Another will say that this number is referring to fruit bearing for the true believer in Jesus Christ. The problem with this approach is there are two different categories of people on the earth (believers and unbelievers) and the context of nine always speaks to "one" because God sees a born again saved person for the purpose of pruning away the bad through refinement.God in all of His love confirms His children to the image of his Son Jesus Christ. God sees an unbeliever as separated from Him.To speak in blunt terms the unbeliever is under judgment and the believer is in boot camp. As I continue with this subject ask yourself one question. Why is it that good and evil cohabitate in this world right next to each other? Where are you in this scenario? A look into this subject will help us understand the answers to these questions.
 
One of the obvious things I can say is the number nine is the last of the unit digits. It seems pretty clear to me that a conclusion is implied.I can give you some examples to show you that nine in Scripture means judgment. In the ninth year of Nebuchadnezzar the house of God was burnt. In the day of Hosea, Samaria was taken by the king of Assyria and Israel was carried away in the ninth year. It was the ninth hour that Jesus Christ died on the cross. Our Lord was being "judged" for our sins.The New Testament is broken down into 3 sections of nine. The first nine books (Matthew to Galatians) seem to be jewish in nature. The second nine books (Ephesians to Philemon) seem to be a collection of writings that is more to the gentile with overtones of the rapture of the church taking place in the last book (Philemon) which is the middle section ending the age of grace. The third section of nine (Hebrews to Revelation) is Jewish in tone. Hebrews starts the "nine" remaining books describing and unveiling the mystery of Melchichek probably for the 144,000 jews right before or at the beginning of the 7 year tribulation period. James through Jude (books 2 through 8 of the last collection) in the New Testament describe each year of the tribulation prophetically (year 1 through 7) in chronological order from year 1 (James) and ending with year 7 (Jude). The book of Revelation is the "ninth" book which primarily describes and focuses on the "judgment" of God.
 
God looks at His children in a different way because they received the new birth (8) or accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Eight stands for our salvation experience in Jesus Christ. Obviously the number 9 is after 8. From the eyes and will of God, He loves us too much to just save us and leave His children alone.His desire is for us to bear fruit for Him (9)."Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." Matthew 12:33. From our eternal salvation experience (8) Jesus Christ is the only one that can produce the fruit of the Spirit through us (9) as we live our life.
 
The order, meaning and context of the numbers in the Bible reveal this to us.Stay with me on this because that is such great news for us Believers in our faithful Savior. "But the fruit of the Spirit is (1) love, (2) joy, (3) peace, (4) longsuffering, (5) gentleness, (6) goodness, (7) faith, (8) meekness, (9) temperance: against such there is no law." If you are not a Believer in Jesus Christ please understand that you have no ability to rest in these (9) because you are not saved or born again. This is why eight is first (our new birth in Jesus Christ) and then nine (the option of walking in the fruit of the Spirit after our new birth).
 
Other examples would be the nine gifts of the Spirit, the nine beatitudes, and the verses in Leviticus chapter 25 where the people ate fruit in the "ninth" year. For the Christian, their life is of value because they can bear true fruit for God (a harvest ) which will last for eternity. In fact it could not be by coincidence that there are "nine" characteristics according to the Bible that will be evident in the New Jerusalem surrounding heaven. The presence of God (Revelation:21.3), we will be His; ownership (Revelation 21:3,7), we will know and be fully aware that Jesus Christ will be our God (Revelation 21:3), no tears (Revelation 21:4), no death (Revelation 21:4), no mourning (Revelation 21:4), no weeping (Revelation 21:4), no night (Revelation 21:23), and no more curse (Revelation 22:3). Do you see the correlation between us as born again Christians bearing fruit for Jesus Christ (9) and the nine characteristics of the New Heaven? We bear fruit for Jesus Christ for our reward in heaven to enjoy "9" distinct paradise realities that are not present in this sinful world system.I certainly hope you enjoyed and learned from Part One on "The judgment and objective good of nine." Our faith in Jesus Christ will skyrocket if we understand the biblical meaning of nine. Our peace and comfort will be enhanced in our loving Savior. Tomorrow Part Two will come out. I will follow up on this biblical principle and delve into end time Bible prophecy from the backdrop of the number 9 and once again show you how very close we really are to the rapture of the church. God bless you on this subject. I hope tomorrow will be just as informative as today for your exhortation and encouragement not only in your faith but your blessed hope.
 
Bob D.