Genesis 1:1
Part 2
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
 God reveals that He is — He reveals who He is through the name that He chose to introduce Himself — ‘elohiym. There are a few things about this first sentence that has always amazed me. First, and foremost, His choice of the name — ‘elohiym — the plurality of the name ‘el.’ Secondly, the numbers in this seemingly simplistic sentence are planted beneath the surface as hidden jewels. (Wow – that was an accidental use of extreme alliteration – think I will leave that sentence just as it is for your amusement). Seven (7) words form this sentence in Hebrew. (No, I am not a linguist, I have trouble with my own language, I am not about to delve into a language beyond my capabilities, but — and this is a big but — I must mention these 7 Hebrew words. As God not only introduces Himself as the plural of ‘el,’ He also introduces us to the number 7. (CLICK HERE for an interesting point concerning Genesis 1:1.)
 The number of perfection, seven (7), His number. He rested on the 7th day, His work was complete in the creation — He viewed it “as good.” Thus, seven (7) marks the end of the week, complete wherein nothing can be added. If you follow the 7’s throughout scripture, you will find that this number is stamped with God’s Glory. The following are only a few mentions of this number of perfection. Scripture gives us 2 views in the presentation of numbers, one view and this is the most prevalent one is from the side of ‘good,’ then we sometimes see the ‘evil’ side of the number also presented to us; much like a two-edged sword that cuts going and cuts coming. In the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ there are the seven (7) vials prepared, and complete for the evil and unrighteous world, “filled with the wrath of God.” The number seven (7) also completes the history of the Church, which ends with the apostate church of the Laodiceans. (Revelation 3:14-19). Also, in Revelation, we have the seven (7) trumpets, the seven (7) seals, and the seven (7) Spirits of God; and the evil side of this number can be seen in the seven (7) heads of the beast in Revelation. The last mention of this number can be found with seven being recorded three times in the very last mention of the number seven. Let me clarify what I mean when I say that there are two sides to numbers — there is only one side, and that is God’s side. He acts in His Righteousness and Holiness against sin. His wrath is complete, His judgment is complete and perfect. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:25)
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. (Revelation 21:9) One of the seven angels bearing the seven vials filled with the last seven plagues now speaks, and we go from fulfillment of judgment (or judgment completed in it’s entirety on a deserving world), on to the fulfillment of the promise of the marriage of the Lamb; where the unseen church, the church unnamed, the church born from the pierced side of her crucified Savior, the completed Church is fully presented to her glorious Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I have deliberately repeated the words of ‘fulfillment’ and ‘completely’ to emphasize the meaning that we cannot ignore in the number seven (7). The good side of this number is much more numerous; as the Holy Spirit reveals more to us of the hidden treasures that abound beneath the surface of this perfect book we call the Bible.
  The following is just a meager look of the number 7 in Scripture. There were seven (7) sprinklings of blood on the Day of Atonement in the Old Testament. There are seven (7) titles of Christ in the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament. The seventh man from Adam was Enoch (whose name meant ‘dedicated/dedication’), and God took him. And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. (Genesis 5:23, 24) Through this seventh man from Adam we see the Spirit of God revealing not only a number meaning, but we are brought into a New Testament principle and type of the translation of those who walk, fellowship and commune with God. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3) To walk with God implies; 1) one must love God, 2) one must agree with God, and to agree with His assessment of our sin, that we are sinners, and by believing God, and having faith in God, we know by grace through faith that we are saved, 3) moral fitness — in that God is Holy, He never departs from His Holiness in order to walk with man, 4) a surrendered will — God doesn’t force us to surrender our will to His will, and 5) spiritual communion — all the previous elements now fits one to have fellowship with the Holy One.
  All New Testament principles are first declared in the Old Testament through types. And we are first introduced to the doctrine of the translation through the seventh man from Adam, Enoch. In Genesis, chapter 5 we have the record of the generations of Adam, as you read, please note that after the mention of each name in this list of the godly seed, you will see the words ‘and he died,’ that is except for the seventh man from Adam, Enoch. The Holy Spirit simply says, “and he was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52) (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)
  Bear with me while I continue with Genesis 1:1 and the amount of words written by the Power of the Holy Spirit, when He not only wrote the words in Hebrew, but He maintained His Word through His power in our English language. There are 10 words in our English language, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Earth is the 10th word and in this last and 10th word we see an added dimension to the instruction and message from God to the earth; that in this number ten (10) we have responsibility from our side, and perfection of Divine order from God’s side. Ten is the first of the double digits, it is the beginning of a new series of numbers. It is the beginning of what we call in the system of numbers, ‘decimals.’ It is the first of a new type of order of numeration. It also denotes completion in another order. Let us now look at some scriptural illustrations of this number ten (10). We have the 10 commandments, from God’s side directed to man’s responsibility towards God. In Genesis 5:32, we find that Noah was the tenth generation from Adam; therein we see the completion of God’s order in the godly seed ending or completing the antediluvian age of man. It is no co-incidence that Noah’s father, Lamech lived 777 years. Do you not see the filling up of the cup of God’s wrath against an evil world? This number in triple form 7 • 7 • 7 connects us to the very last book of the Bible in Revelation where the fullness of the 7 Spirits of God and the 7 angels bearing the 7 vials of the 7 plagues are preparing to pour out judgment onto a godless and evil world as in the days of the antediluvian; thus, through the age of Noah’s father, Lamech, we see the message of a coming judgment upon the world that then was, and now that which is. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke of Noah, the flood and judgment on a godless world in Luke 17: 26, 27 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (Read other documentation in Matthew 24:37-39)
  How perfect is God in recording His purpose and plan through the ages and history of His creatures. God in His great mercy allowed a space for the evil world to repent of their sins, and spoke to them, and to us not only through words, and actions, but also through numbers. The Old and the New Testaments are woven tightly together in doctrine, principles, truths, types, and numbers.
  It has been truly said by an unknown source that Genesis is ‘the seed plot’ of the entire Word of God. All that follows in Scripture has it’s beginning and foundation in this book of origins.
In the Beginning
There are three (3) ‘beginnings’ in Scripture.
• First, in Genesis 1:1, we have the beginning of the origin of matter. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. God is preparing a realm, a sphere, a location for man to dwell in.
• Secondly, in the Gospel of John 1:1, we are directed back into eternity before the material creation. We have the eternal beginning stated in John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (For your further study read Revelation 19:13; Colossians 1:17, John 17:5)
• Thirdly, in 1 John 1:1 we have the beginning of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (Read Luke 24:29; John20:27; 2 Peter 1:16, 1 John 2:13, John 4:4)
  Isn’t it interesting that these three (3) beginnings are in Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, and 1 John 1:1. Even though we have three (3) beginnings in Scripture, don’t forget that there will also be an end, when I begin, I will also make an end. ( 1 Samuel 3:12b)
  Since All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16) would not all scripture be maintained by God, kept by God, and preserved by God — even the very locations of His words would be under His directive, preservation, and control, if not — then you have a very small God indeed. Next article to follow soon on Genesis 1:1- Part II.
© Copyright 2015, Mary Haigh
Article can be used, but not for gain. “Freely ye have received, freely give.”
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)