Animals, Colors, Metals, Numbers and Signs in Scripture.

3½   Covenant Age

In the scriptures, the number seven is a complete number and represents completion. Sometimes we see the number three and a half used in the scriptures. When seven is divided by two we get three and a half. Two halves make a whole. Thus, three and a half is half of a completion. The scriptures teach us that there are two covenants of worship that God has given: Gal. 4:24 "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." We commonly refer to these two covenants as the Old Testament and the New Testament. Together these two covenants make up the complete revealed word of God.

The following scriptures using the number three and a half speak to us of one or the other of these two covenants of worship:

    1. Luke 4:25 "But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;"
    2. James 5:17 "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months."
    3. Rev. 11:2 "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months."
    4. Rev. 13:5 "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months."
    5. Dan. 7:25 "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."
    6. Dan. 12:7 "And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished."
    7. Rev. 12:14 "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."
    8. Rev. 11:3 "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."
    9. Rev. 12:6 "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days."
    10. Rev. 11:9 "And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

    11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them."

By examining the above, we note that three and a half can be represented in different ways such as forty-two months; a time, times, and a dividing of time; and a thousand two hundred and three score days.

In the next several essays, we will consider many of the above scriptures quoted and see how that they are associated with one of the two covenants.

Elijah Prays for Drought 

Luke 4:25 "But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;"

James 5:17 "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
1 Kings 17:1 "And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."

Ahab was a very wicked king over Israel and he caused Israel to sin above all that were before him. Because of his wickedness and the sins and rebellion of the children of Israel, God brought the drought upon Israel for three years and six months. At the end of this period, Elijah prayed again and God sent a great rain upon the land. Now all of this actually happened in the land of Israel during the days of Ahab the King and Elijah the Tishbite. However, the use of the period "three years and six months" indicates that these happenings were a type of a covenant. The number three and a half is associated in several places with the subject of a covenant or covenant age.

The covenant these events are a type of is the law covenant that God made with the children of Israel on Mt. Sinai. The law brought sin unto remembrance, but it did not do away with sin:

    1. Rom. 3:19 "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
    2. Heb. 7:19 "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
    3. Gal. 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
    4. Gal 3:10 "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."
    5. Heb. 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."

It is plain to see that throughout the age of the law covenant there was no spiritual food or water for the children of God under the covenant of the law. There was only famine. Yet at the end of the law covenant, just as at the end of the three and a half years of drought during Elijah's day, there was a great rain that brought forth much fruit. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law to a jot and a tittle and to bring in everlasting righteousness to the elect family of God:

    1. Mat. 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
    2. Gal. 3:13 "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"
    3. Rom. 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
    4. Rom. 3:21 "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"
    5. 2 Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

We conclude that that Jesus Christ fulfilling the law to a jot and a tittle and bringing in everlasting righteousness to the elect family of God is the anti-type of the rain ending the drought and the famine in Elijah's day.

Prophecy of the Covenant Work of Christ           

Dan. 12:6 "And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished."

The only man that is righteous in himself is Jesus Christ, therefore, the man clothed in linen must be Jesus Christ. Since, the man clothed in linen is Jesus Christ, and he sware by him that liveth for ever, then the man that liveth for ever must be God the Father.

There were several things that were prophesied in the twelfth chapter of Daniel. These things come under the heading of the covenant work of Jesus Christ. Three and a half in the scriptures is associated with a covenant. While we may make covenants with one another and often those covenants are flawed, yet the God of glory has made a covenant with himself that we refer to as the covenant of redemption. The covenant of redemption is set forth for us in Rom. 8:29, 30: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

Christ came into this world as the executor of the covenant of redemption. There are both an Old Testament passage of scripture and a New Testament passage of scripture that tell us plainly that Christ is the executor of God's covenant:

    1. Is. 46:9 "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."
    2. John 6:37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."

Christ is the ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes the counsel of God from the far country of heaven. As we also read in John, he is the one who came to execute the will (covenant) of the Father. The use of the figurative "time, times, and a half" tells us that the accomplishment of the prophesied things in Daniel chapter 12 were according to the covenant work of Jesus Christ. In the covenant work of Christ as set forth for us in Rom. Chapter 8, verses 29 and 30, Christ came to deliver us from the bondage of sin by calling us to spiritual life. He also came to deliver us from the condemnation of sin by justifying us with his shed blood on the cross. Further, he came to deliver us from the corruption of sin by the resurrection in the last day that will render us glorified before God. This is all the covenant work of God that Christ came to execute and of which we are informed in figurative language in Daniel chapter 12.

The Gentiles Tread the Court for Three and a Half Years            

Rev. 11:2 “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.”

In the scriptures, the court is the gathering place of the people. (See Lev. 6:16, 26; Jer. 19:14; 26:2; 36:10; 2 Chr. 6:13; 20:5) Also in the court the king spoke to the people (See 2 Chr. 6:13; 20:5). In addition, the court was the place that the priests were to eat the meat offering (Lev. 6:14-18) and the sin offering (Lev. 6:25, 26). Sometimes the prophets spake to the people in the court (Jer. 19:14; 26:2; 36:10). God’s glory filled the court (Ezek. 10:3-5). The people worshipped in the court (Jer. 26:2; Ezek. 8:16). Offerings were made in the court (2 Chr. 7:7). The gate of the court had hangings of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, and pillars and sockets of silver and brass (Ex. 27:16). The dimensions of the court of the tabernacle were 100 cubits by 50 cubits, the same as the dimensions of the king’s house (Ex. 27:9-19; 1 Ki. 17:2). The dimensions of the court in Ezekiel’s vision were 100 cubits by 100 cubits, the same dimensions of the house of the Lord (Ezek. 40:19, 23, 27, 47; 41:13-15).

There are a great number of similarities between the court and the New Testament church. For instance, the church is the gathering of the Lord’s people (not the building, but the people themselves). (See Matt. 13:2, 47, 48; 18:20; 22:10; 23:37; Lk. 24:33; Acts 12:12; 14:27; 15:30; 20:8; 1 Cor. 5:4). Thru the preaching of the gospel, King Jesus speaks to the people: 1 Thes. 2: 13 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” The Lord has made his people kings and priests unto God: Rev. 1:6 "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” As priests unto God according to 1 Pet. 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Thus as in the court, we are to offer up spiritual sacrifices in the church.

As we have already seen the Lord speaks to his people in the church and he does this thru the gospel ministry. As the people worshipped in the court, today we worship God in the church (Eph. 2:20-22). The gate of the court was the place of entrance to the court. The colors of the hangings all have a significance. For instance the color blue is associated with the law. The color scarlet is associated with the blood of Christ. The color purple is associated with royalty. The color white is associated with righteousness. Brass is associated with suffering and affliction. Silver is associated with redemption. By taking these things all together, we can see that, Christ, the righteous one (white) kept the law (blue) to a jot and tittle and became the perfect sacrifice for his people (scarlet), thus thru his sufferings on the cross (brass) and his shed blood (scarlet), he redeemed (silver) his people from their sins, thus making them righteous (white). He also made them kings and priests unto God (purple). This is in perfect harmony with Rev. 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” It can also be noted that the church is the King’s house which is the house of God: 1 Tim. 3:15 "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

The holy city in the Old Testament is identified as the city of Jerusalem in the following verses of scripture:

    1. Neh. 11:1 "And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities."
    2. Is. 52:1 "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean."
    3. Dan. 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."

The holy city in the New Testament is identified as the Lord’s church or New Jerusalem in the following verses:

    1. Rev. 21:2 "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
    2. Rev. 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
    3. Rev. 22:10 "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God."

To tread under foot means to possess or have the victory as the following verses show:

    1. Ex. 24:10 "And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness."
    2. Deu. 1:36 "Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD."
    3. Deu. 11:24 "Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be."
    4. Jos. 1:3 "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses."
    5. Jos. 14:9 "And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God."

Based on the above verses we can conclude that the Gentiles have been given to possess the holy city or New Jerusalem (the church) for "forty two months."

The scriptures express in four different ways the period of time three and a half years. One of these ways is "forty two months." Three and one half plus three and one half equals seven. Seven represents completion in the scriptures. There are two testaments and only two testaments. Taking both the Old Testament and the New Testament together gives us the complete word of God. By studying the two witnesses in Rev. 11:3 we come to the conclusion that they represent the law and the prophets. Thus, they are the Old Testament. By studying the woman in Rev. 12:6 we are drawn to the conclusion that she represents the New Testament. By studying the times in which three and a half years is used in the scriptures we are drawn to the conclusion that regardless of the form in which it is presented it represents either the New Testament age or the Old Testament age. During the New Testament age, the Gentiles are to tread under foot (possess) the holy city (church) and to walk the court thereof.  

The Opposing Beast in this Covenant Age           

Satan is the archenemy of the Lord's obedient children. He routinely seeks to deceive, devour, and destroy them. Yet he cannot touch their eternal life. His trouble that he causes them is in this life. One of the devices of Satan is to gather together a multinational government under his spiritual control to attempt to wreck havoc upon the Lord's obedient children. There is a prophecy in the book of Daniel and another in the book of Revelation that speaks of this multinational beast that stands in opposition to the Lord's people who worship him in spirit and in truth in His kingdom:

    1. Dan. 7:25 "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."
    2. Rev. 13:5 "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months."

The phrases "time and times and the dividing of time" and "forty and two months" speak to us of this beastly opposition to the saints of God would continue throughout the New Testament covenant age. Both phrases are equivalent to three and a half years. Three and a half is the bible number representing a covenant. There are two covenants of worship: Old Testament and New Testament. The number three and a half represents both these two covenants. Three and a half plus three and a half makes a total of seven. Seven is the bible number of completion. Thus, the two covenants together are the complete revealed word of God.

It is apparent in the above quoted verses that the beast is in opposition to God's obedient children. The beast seeks to wear out the saints of the most High and to change times and laws (this is designed to make it impossible according to man's laws to worship God in Spirit and in truth). The beast also speaks great things and blasphemies against the Most High and seeks to enslave the Lord's obedient children. While we can expect this opposition to continue throughout this New Covenant age, we also recognize that our help comes from God and it is he who delivers us and helps us in our struggles against this beastly opposition.  

Two Faithful Witnesses Represent the Old Testament

Rev. 11:3 "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven."

The description of the two faithful witnesses point us to Moses and Elijah: "And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will." During Elijah's day, he called fire down from heaven and destroyed the two captains and their fifties. Also, Elijah prayed that it rain not on Israel and it rained not for the space of three years and six months. During Moses day, God turned the waters of the river of Egypt into blood. Also, God poured out ten plagues on the land of Egypt during Moses day. Moses was the representative of the law. Elijah was the representative of the prophets. Together they represented the Old Testament also known as the law and the prophets.

Christ said in Luke 16:16: "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." The law and the prophets were God's testimony during the age of the law covenant that God made with the children of Israel on Mount Sinai. This testimony stood throughout the Old Testament age represented above by "a thousand two hundred and threescore days." A thousand two hundred and threescore days is three and a half years, which is the book of Revelations' figurative language for the Old Testament age.

The despisers of the law and the prophets sought to destroy the testimony of the Old Testament by destroying the Lord Jesus Christ. They thought that if they could get him to sin or to violate one of the prophecies or if they could kill him, then the Old Testament would become null and void. They were unable to get Jesus to sin and he fulfilled all that was written concerning him, but then he went to the cross and died and was in the grave for three days and three nights. These despisers thought they had accomplished their goal and rejoiced over what they thought were the dead bodies of the law and the prophets.

When Christ arose three and a half days after he was led out to be crucified, then the law and the prophets were no longer dead, but fulfilled to a jot and a tittle. The righteous judgment of God was proven and fulfilled. These despisers no longer had an excuse for their sins. They stood guilty before a just and holy God.

In both instances above, the three and a half represented the law covenant age and the covenant work of Jesus Christ.

Woman Clothed with the Sun

Rev. 12:1 "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:"

Rev. 12:6 "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days."

Rev. 12:14 "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent."

The above verses speak to us of a woman who was clothed with the sun and who had a place prepared of God in the wilderness where she is fed or nourished for three and a half years.

The scriptures speak of two covenants of worship: Gal. 4:24 "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all."

The "woman" in Revelation chapter 12 is the same as the "Jerusalem which is above." The "place prepared of God" is the Lord's church here on earth. There the Lord's covenant people are nourished with spiritual food in the midst of a world that has no spiritual food for the children of God. The church truly is located in the wilderness of this world. The food the Lord's people eat of in the church is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The remnant of the Lord's people take refuge in the church and are fed there throughout this New Covenant Age. Three and a half years or "a time, and times, and half a time" represent the covenant age. Since the book of Revelation is written in sign language, the three and a half years is not to be taken as a literal three and a half years, but as we have already shown the three and a half years actually represents a covenant age of indefinite length.

MAIN MENU