The Design of Scripture

The Numbers Forty-Two and Fifty


The Number Forty-two - The Advent of the Seed

Mattityahu 1:17
"So all the generations from Avraham to David are FOURTEEN generations; and from David until the carrying away unto Babylon are FOURTEEN generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Messiah are FOURTEEN generations."

Mattityahu reveals to us that there were forty-two generations between Avraham and the Messiah. We certainly know from scripture that the Messiah is the seed of the woman, but this same seed is consistently identified with Avraham and Yitz'chak as well.

Galatians 3:16
"Not to Avraham and his seeds were the promise made. He said not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Messiah."

Galatians 4:4
"When the fullness of time was come (forty-two generations), God sent forth His Son, made of a woman."

It may also be notable that this same number, forty-two, is repeatedly associated with the second coming of Messiah.

Hitgalut 13:5
"And power was given unto him (the beast) to continue FORTY and TWO months"

Hitgalut 11:2
"But the court that 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."

Hitgalut 12:40
"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."

Dani'el 12:7
"It shall be for a TIME, TIMES, and a HALF; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people; all these things shall be finished."

Time, times and half a time is agreed upon by most prophetic commentators to be a reference to the mention of 1260 days (Hitgalut 11:3,12:6). A biblical year is 360 days. Time, times and half a time seems to mean three and one half years, so here are several occurrences of the relationship between the coming of Messiah and the number forty-two. It may be of interest to know that the number forty-two occurs fourteen times.

The Number Fifty - The Ruach HaQodesh

Here we have a number that does not take much revelation from me to be able to see in scripture. The Spirit of God and His work are easily connected with the number fifty. I suppose the obvious connection is with the fifty day period between the head of the harvest (called First Fruits by many) and the feast of Shavu'ot. It was during this period of time that the Spirit, or the active presence of YHVH, prepares His people for His manifestation in power and glory. This was seen at the first observance of the feast of weeks in Sh'mot 19 and the observance of the feast by the early disciples of Yahshua in the book of Acts. The followers of YHVH were made one by His presence on Mt. Sinai, just as they were in Jerusalem some 1500 years later.

However, there are other interesting appearances of the number fifty as well. In the description of the tabernacle in Sh'mot we read that the curtains of the inner veil were five in one group and five in another. These curtains were 'coupled' together by FIFTY gold taches. Now, keeping in mind that we as brethren are to keep the unity of the SPIRIT (Ephesians 4:3), there are two fascinating revelations given to us in this passage by the Ruach HaQodesh. Remember the prophesies of the new covenant in Yirmeyahu 31 and the bringing together into one of the house of Israel and the house of Judah in Ezekiel 37? Remember that ‘Amos teaches us that in the last days the tabernacle of David will be rebuilt (Amos 9:11)? Well, YHVH tells us about this great day in the building of the tabernacle in Sh'mot. The first set of 5 curtains (house of Israel) and the second set of 5 curtains (house of Judah) are coupled together with these FIFTY taches or rings. The word for 'coupled' used here is chavar. This is the Hebrew word for companions and fellowship, used also to describe those who are 'joined with the house of Israel and the house of Judah in the two sticks prophecy of Yechezk'el 37. These brethren are joined together with FIFTY loops and rings (the Holy Spirit) as pictured in the curtains of the tabernacle. Weaved within these curtains are three colors: blue, purple, and scarlet. Blue, the color of the holy God of Israel, scarlet or red, the color of sinful man, and the middle color of purple, the union of blue and red, God and man, THE MESSIAH!

The bringing together of the two houses by the Ruach HaQodesh, as seen in the tabernacle furnishings, can also be seen in another occurrence of fifty called the JUBILEE.

Vayikra 25:10
"And ye shall hallow the FIFTIETH year, and proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a JUBILEE unto you: and ye shall return every man to his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his FAMILY."

The physical return of the whole house of Israel is also directly associated with the Spirit of God.

Yechezk'el 39:25-29
"Therefore, thus saith YHVH ’Elohiym: Now will I bring again the captivity of Ya‘aqov, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; after they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; then shall they know that I am YHVH their ’Elohiym, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have POURED OUT MY SPIRIT upon the house of Israel, saith YHVH ’Elohiym."

The 50th year, the year of jubilee, is when every man will return to his possession, when Israel will return, and the SPIRIT of YHVH will be poured out upon us. Glory to the God of Israel!

Shalom Alecheim!