Notes: Number 12, according to the Dictionary of Biblical Imagery
As a symbol, twelve is one of the most important numbers in the Bible.
-The importance of this number derives from the emergence of the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen 49:28).
-Following the exodus, Moses built twelve pillars on Mount Sinai, according to the twelve tribes (Ex 24:4).
-In anticipation of the conquest of the Promised Land, twelve spies were sent to spy out the land (Num 13:1–16; Deut 1:23).
-When Joshua led the people of Israel across the Jordan River, twelve men, one from each tribe, were commanded to gather twelve stones as a memorial of the crossing (Josh 3–4).
-Twelve stones were attached to the breastpiece of the priestly vestments, bearing the names of the twelve tribes (Ex 39:8–14).
-Solomon’s various building projects, including the temple, involved numbers and measurements of twelve (twelve district governors, 1 Kings 4:7; twelve thousand horses, 1 Kings 4:26; two bronze pillars, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits around by line, 1 Kings 7:15; the Sea stood on twelve bulls, 1 Kings 7:25; twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step, 1 Kings 10:20).
-In his contest with the prophets of Baal, Elijah built an altar with twelve stones (1 Kings 18:31–32).
The number twenty-four is significant. As the picture here is of the throne room in the heavenly temple, the elders may be based on:
-David’s twenty-four orders of priests (1 Chron. 24:3–19)
-Twenty-four Levitical gatekeepers (1 Chron. 26:17–19)
-Twenty-four Levitical worship leaders (1 Chron. 25:6–31), in which case they represent the church at worship.
The significance of twelve carries over into the NT.
-Jesus appointed twelve apostles (Mk 3:14), probably as a symbol of the restoration of Israel.
-Jesus’ promise that the Twelve would someday sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Mt 19:28; Lk 22:30)
-James’s refers to the twelve tribes of the Dispersion (Jas 1:1)
The symbolism of twelve appears frequently in the book of Revelation.
-Twelve thousand persons from each of the twelve tribes of Israel are sealed, totaling 144,000 in all (Rev 7:5–8).
-The woman (= Israel) who gives birth to the child (= Jesus) is crowned with “twelve stars,” probably an allusion to the twelve tribes (Rev 12:1–2).
The new Jerusalem, which will descend from heaven (Rev 21:1–4), is rich with symbolism, much of which revolves around the number twelve.
-The eschatological city will have twelve gates, twelve angels as gatekeepers, and the names of the twelve tribes written on the gates (Rev 21:12).
-We are told that these gates are twelve pearls (Rev 21:21).
-The wall of the city will rest on twelve foundations, on which will be inscribed the names of the twelve apostles (Rev 21:14).
-The city will be twelve thousand stadia square (Rev 21:16).
-Finally, the tree of life will stand in the city and bear twelve kinds of fruit every month, for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2).

Apr 13, 202301:35:34

Reclining with the Repentant - Luke 5:27-32

James Medina, Pastor - Easter Sunday Morning Service 4/9/23

Apr 10, 202358:55

#12 Systematic Eschatology & The Book of Revelation

James Medina, Pastor - Wednesday Night Ekklesia 4/5/23

Apr 08, 202301:33:32

The Paralysis of Sin and the Power of Faith - Luke 5:17-26

Steve Neal, Elder - Sunday Morning Service 4/2/23

Apr 08, 202301:03:09

#11 Systematic Eschatology & The Book of Revelation

Wednesday Night Ekklesia 3/29/23

Mar 31, 202301:35:35

You Can Make Me Clean - Luke 5:12-16

James Medina, Pastor - Sunday Morning Service 3/26/23

Mar 28, 202355:01

#10 Systematic Eschatology & The Book of Revelation

Wednesday night Ekklesia 3/22/23

Mar 23, 202301:37:55

#09 Systematic Eschatology & The Book of Revelation

Wednesday night Ekklesia 3/15/23

Mar 22, 202301:35:57

#08 Systematic Eschatology & The Book of Revelation

Wednesday night Ekklesia 3/8/23

Mar 22, 202301:06:55

#07 Systematic Eschatology & The Book of Revelation

After a few weeks off due to weather, we're back in The Book of Revelation!

Wednesday night Ekklesia - 3/1/23

Mar 22, 202301:23:53

The Big Catch - Luke 5: 1-11

James Medina, Pastor - Sunday Morning Service 3/19/23

Mar 22, 202351:15

The Good News of The Kingdom - Luke 4:42-44

James Medina, Pastor - Sunday Morning Service 3/12/23

Mar 22, 202352:57

The Possession of Authority - Luke 4: 31-41

James Medina, Pastor - Sunday Morning Service 3/5/23

Mar 22, 202355:44

Christ Rejected or Received? Luke 4:22-30

James Medina, Pastor - Sunday Morning Service 2/26/23

Feb 28, 202347:15

This Scripture Has Been Fulfilled - Luke 4:14-21

James Medina, Pastor - Sunday Morning Service February 19, 2023

Feb 20, 202301:02:27

The Faithfulness of Jesus During Temptation (Part 2) - Luke 4:1-13

James Medina, Pastor - Sunday Morning Service 2/12/23

Feb 14, 202347:34

#06 Systematic Eschatology & The Book of Revelation

James Medina, Pastor - Breathe Reformed Baptist Church

Wednesday Night Ekklesia 2/8/23

Feb 09, 202301:34:26

The Faithfulness of Jesus During Temptation (Part 1) - Luke 4: 1-13

James Medina, Pastor - Sunday Morning Service

Note from Pastor James on this message during Sermon delivered on 2/12/23:

"I need to address something that I said last week that was very poorly worded and therefore in

error.

o Later on in the message, in an attempt to reinforce the humility of Jesus, having become in

the likeness of men, I misspoke.

o I said, “Adam failed without the supernatural ability to produce food; Jesus was faithful by

setting aside His divinity.”

§ This statement was pointed out to me and as a minister of the gospel under the

authority of the Word of God, I’m obligated to explain and correct this.

o Some make the mistake of neglecting the humanness of Jesus and emphasize His divinity.

Others make the mistake of neglecting His divinity to emphasize His humanness.

§ Jesus did not set aside His divinity, as I stated last week. Never once did Jesus give

up all, or some of His divine nature when He came to earth. He never stopped

being God. The heresy that espouses that He did is called kenoticism.

• Forgive me for not being precise in my statement.

o At best, what I said last week was a sloppy explanation of Jesus “not counting His equality

with God a thing to be grasped, but emptying himself,” by becoming a man.

o So I’ll end my correction by rephrasing the statement: “Adam failed without the

supernatural ability to produce food; Jesus was faithful by submitting to God’s will, not

turning the stone into bread.”

§ He suffered the temptation, experiencing the full brunt of satan’s attack, and

remained faithful to the Word of God.

• He quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” In other

words, we trust the Word of God, that He will provide for our every need."

Feb 06, 202352:45

The Confirmation of Jesus - Luke 3:21-38

James Medina, Pastor -

Sunday Morning Service 1/30/23

Jan 30, 202353:47

The Herald of The Messiah (Part 2) - Luke 3: 1-20

James Medina, Pastor - Sunday Morning Service 1/22/23

Jan 23, 202353:26