The Meaning of the Number Three in Scripture—Part 7

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Introduction and Review

This is the seventh part of a series that examines the number three and how it categorizes themes in Scripture. The previous lesson studied the life of Christ, Miracles, signs, and wonders, and their association with this number. (Links to all articles in this series are listed at the end of this installment.)

This lesson will explore the themes of resurrection and its association with the number three.

The Number Three and Resurrection

Tony Robinson, with Restoration of the Torah Ministries, has a YouTube video series discussing this revelation about how the number three connects with the idea of resurrection. He notes three resurrections by prophets in the Old Testament and three by Jesus in the New Testament. In his online series, he also discusses how they pair together. The first event recounted the widow of Zarephath's son, who had died, and the prophet Elijah, who was part of his resurrection from the dead.

... he (Elijah) stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived ...Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.
— 1 Kings 17:21-22

Notice the reference to the "truth" in the above passage. Also, "stretched himself out" is reminiscent of Christ's outstretched arms on the cross. This theme continues in the following example.

The second event is found in 2 Kings chapter four and involves the prophet Elisha and the Shunammite woman's son, for whom Elisha prayed to be born, who also died.

When Elisha came into the house, there was the child lying dead on his bed. He went in, therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. And he went up and lay on the child, and put his

mouth on his mouth, his
eyes on his eyes, and his
hands on his hands;

and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.”

So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.

— 2 Kings 4:32-37

The third account is in II Kings 13. Elisha, the prophet who succeeded Elijah, had died and was buried. Another later prophet who had died was placed in Elisha's tomb.

Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year (Passover time). So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
— 2 Kings 13:20-21

The New Testament Resurrections done by Jesus begin at Nain.

Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.
Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
— Luke 7:11-17

The second New Testament account was the occasion of Jairus' daughter.

... behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples ... When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.
— Matthew 9:18-26

The third resurrection is recorded in John 11 and concerns Lazarus.

“Lazarus is dead ... Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days ...
Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” ... Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” ... they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying
And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”
Now, when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
— John 11

The story continues into John chapter 12, with three uses of the phrase "raised from the dead," referring to Lazarus's resurrection.

1. Then, six (3 x 2) days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus, who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead
— John 12:1

At this point, Mary anoints Jesus with costly (worth 300 pence) ointment (mentioned three times in this account).

2. Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead
— John 12:9

The next thing that occurs is that the people coming to the feast begin to worship Jesus in three ways.

The next day, a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

took branches of palm trees
and went out to meet Him,
and cried out

“Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!”

The Hosannah portion of this text is taken from Psalm 118, which includes three mentions of "LORD."

Save now (Hosannah), I pray, O Lord;
O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

— Psalm 118:25-26

Backing up a few verses in Psalm 118 confirms that this is the work of God, who is a Spirit.

This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous (miraculous) in our eyes.

— Psalm 118:23

This theme matches John's account.

For this reason, the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign.
— John 12:18

There are also three sets of triple phrases in this Psalm—the first addresses three groups of people.

Let Israel now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord now say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

— Psalm 118:2-4

These three mentioned groups connect with Psalm 115, for a total of three mentions. These concern the futility of idols and the trustworthiness of God.

O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.

— Psalm 15:9-11

He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.
He will bless those who fear the Lord

—Psalm 115:12-13

The next set of triplets concerns the "name of the Lord."

All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord, I will destroy them.
They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord, I will destroy them.
They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns.
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them

— Psalm 118:10-12

The final set of triplet phrases again confirms that God's hand alone saves and reiterates His wonderful work of resurrecting the dead to life.

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the Lord.

— Psalm 118:15-16

The next verse is the third mention of the "raised from the dead" phrase in John chapter 12.

3. Therefore, the people who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness.
— John 12:17

Both Psalm 118 and this twelfth chapter of John, which includes the people's high praises, are also laced with plots to kill Jesus by the religious rulers. The triples in this story reveal that it is indeed part of a larger spiritual plan. John caps off these events with the following.

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
— John 12:31-34

The above portion speaks of a spiritual victory over the "ruler of this world." After the transfiguration, just shortly before his death, the three disciples with Him did not understand the plan that included His death. Immediately following the transfiguration, Jesus gives them a demonstration when a man approaches him with his demon-possessed son, whom the other disciples could not deliver. In this account, the boy appears to be dead, but Jesus raises him up. This event again gives us a facet of the purpose of His death and resurrection: to deliver us from the kingdom of darkness by raising us from the dead.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
— Mark 9:25-27

Jesus Himself is the Resurrection and the Life and was noted for three witnessing testimonies of miracles, wonders, and signs.

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by

miracles,
wonders, and
signs

which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

— Acts 2:22

1 Corinthians 15 expounds on this in significant detail. I encourage you to read the entire chapter, as it concerns the necessity of a resurrected man and Christ's fulfillment of that.

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures
— 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
— 1 Peter 1:3

The Spirit is the attributed power that enacts this feat.

.. if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you
— Romans 8:11

Romans 8 is another excellent book that references the Spirit 21 times (3 x 7) in its 39 chapters (3 x 13). Jesus Himself speaks of His death and resurrection three times, all presented in three of the Gospels beginning with Matthew.

1. From that time, Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. (Matthew 16:21)
2. “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up. (Matthew 17:22-23)
3. The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again. (Matthew 20:17)

Mark

1. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31)
2. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise on the third day. (Mark 9:31)
3. Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again (Mark 10:33- 34)

Luke

1. The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. (Luke 9:22)
2. Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. (Luke 9:44)
3. Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again. (Luke 31-33)

Three Post-Gospels Resurrections

The first of these occurrences is recorded in Acts chapter nine.

At Joppa, there was a certain disciple named Tabitha ... it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room ... Peter ... When he had come, they brought him to the upper room ... Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

— Acts 9:36-42

The resurrection is repeatedly God's tool for substantiating His dependable, trustworthy, and true salvation and deliverance.

The second post-Gospel resurrection is in Acts chapter 20 during Paul's three-month stay in Greece.

Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep, and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” Now, when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
—Acts 20:7-12

Once again, this chapter is themed around the Holy Spirit, as Paul discusses his mission and faith in suffering for Christ's name's sake.

... see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
“And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, from among yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore, watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
— Acts 20:21-31

Paul's command to "watch" is reminiscent of the earlier section on prayer when Jesus asks His disciples to watch and pray three times shortly before His ultimate suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane (oil press)

All Bible scholars believe the third resurrection is less evident and inconclusive. Still, I think it's fair to assume that it was, considering that God is faithful to His patterns, and this would be the third, not to mention that a few verses earlier, Paul was in this region for three months.

Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day, he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
— Acts 14:19-20

Allegory of the Creation of the Cosmos
Domnicus van Wijnen

An Old Testament Creation Resurrection

The first resurrection recorded in Scripture occurs on the third day of creation, with the earth, in type, resurrected from the chaotic waters.

“Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together (qavah) into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together (qavah) of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

— Genesis 1:9

This verse has an interesting connection with Psalm 40, tying us to the resurrection concept of the third day.

I waited patiently (qavah קוה, qavah קוה) for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set (arose in Hebrew) my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.

— Psalm 40:1-2

When comparing the two accounts, there is a double "qavah קוה" in each. In the Psalm's presentation, these two "qavahs קוה" translate as "waited patiently." Doubling a word in Hebrew emphasizes it. It could be better read in English: "I looked for and expected with all that I have." The Psalmist is focused and expectant to be brought up from a miry, slimy, muddy pit just like God brought up the dry land out of the watery chaos in the beginning.

Also, notice that the word translated as "set" is the Hebrew word for "arise." He resurrects us and sets our feet on a solid foundation. The Exodus story finds one more verse connected with this word and the concept of water.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools (miqvah root qavah) of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.

— Exodus 7:19

This scene links us with the foundation of our hope: the waters of chaos were stricken when the blood of Christ was shed. The following New Testament verse includes the theme of resurrection.

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
— 2 Corinthians 2:11-15

The hope that we have as believers centers on the resurrection.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
— 1 Peter 1:3

The 2 Corinthians verse above also explains the double "qavah" in the creation account, which translates as "gathered together." Christ's death and resurrection included the idea of our spiritual enemies being gathered together and destroyed.

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
— Revelation 19:19-20

The rivers that flowed out of Eden

A Further Account of Creation and The Third River

Chapter two of Genesis begins a more detailed account of the creation narrative, thick with threes and references to God and heavenly things.

A. Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.

1. The seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and

(central axis of the entire section) He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

1. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

(center use of heavens and earth) This is the history of the heavens and the earth when

A. they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens

— Genesis 2:1-4

This particular three-part literary sandwich is a little more complex than most of the others we have examined because it contains another three-part chiasm, which I identified numerically to set it apart. In this section, the central theme is sandwiched between "heavens and earth" and "earth and heavens," with the third mention being at the very center (represented by "B") of this portion.

The chiasm within the chiasm gives a central theme involving three mentions of the "seventh day." This makes the seventh day, the Sabbath day, a highly spiritual one, a holy one set apart from all the rest of what we have studied. It is the acknowledgment that.

The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
— Psalm 24:1

In this portion of the text, many things are mentioned in threes. I was going to highlight them for you, but then I realized there were so many of them that the whole thing would be in bold, so it might be more helpful to list them. Then we will look at its literary structure, as it is significant.

There are three "heavens and earth" or "earth and the heavens," there are three "seventh days," there are three "His works," and there are three" which He had done (created and made)." "finished" and "rested" taken together occur three times. It is also in this chapter that four rivers are mentioned. The third is the following.

And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria.
— Genesis 2:14

This river is mentioned again in the book of Daniel during the third year of Cyrus, while he fasted and prayed for three weeks.

Third Day—Plants and Seeds

The third day also images death and resurrection for us in bringing forth plants from seed, which are listed in three categories.

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth

grass,
the herb that yields seed, and
the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth";

And it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day.

— Genesis 1:9-13

This concept is reiterated in the New Testament.

“How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies ... So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption ...
— 1 Corinthians 15:35,42

The book of Exodus follows this same pattern in a sort of resurrection of a people who were promised the land but were dead in slavery in Egypt. God determines to resurrect these people from their hopeless bondage by sending them a deliverer, making Moses a type and Shadow of the forthcoming Messiah. He is given three signs to perform: turning his staff into a serpent, his leprous hand healed, and water from the Nile poured out, turning to blood on the ground, symbolizing Satan, sin, and the blood - life spilled on the ground. Their deliverance/resurrection follows the creation account, beginning with light.

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
— Genesis 1:3-5

Exodus follows suit after the slain Passover Lamb, illustrating Christ's death; they set forth to go to the promised land.

... the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
— Exodus 13:21

The second day of creation involved the dividing of the waters.

“Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” ... So the evening and the morning were the second day.
— Genesis 1:6-8

The second event and possibly the second day of Israel's deliverance included the parting of the waters.

... the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But

lift up your rod (wood - cross),
and stretch out your hand (Christ's arms stretched out) over the sea
and divide it.

— Exodus 14:15-16

As noted above, the third day of creation records the resurrection of land and plant life through the death of a seed.

The parting of the waters in Exodus, which exposes (resurrects) the dry land so the children of Israel may cross over to the other side, is once again a type of resurrection.

... the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
— Exodus 14:16

Resurrection and faith go hand in hand, as the section on truth and God's trustworthiness exhibited.

... so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.
— Exodus 14:31

The heavenly bodies were created after the resurrected land and herbage.

There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies, but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
— 1 Corinthians 15:40-45

It was also a fulfillment of the prophecy that God made to Abraham.

Then He brought him (Abraham) outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.
— Genesis 15:5
... blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven.

— Genesis 22:17

He reiterates the promise to Isaac, his son.

I swore to Abraham, your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven.
— Genesis 26:3-4

This promise was made three times.

A Further Account of Creation and The Third River

Chapter two of Genesis begins a more detailed account of the creation narrative, thick with threes and references to God and heavenly things.

A. Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.

1. The seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and

central axis of the entire section) He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

1. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

central axis of the heavens and earth)This is the history of the heavens and the earth when

A) they were created in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens

— Genesis 2:1-4

The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

— Psalm 24:1

There are three "heavens and earth" or "earth and the heavens," there are three "seventh days," there are three "His works," and there are three "which He had done (created and made)."

It is also in this chapter that four rivers are mentioned. The third is the following.

And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria.
— Genesis 2:14

This river is mentioned again in the book of Daniel during the third year of Cyrus, while he fasted and prayed for three weeks.

In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, [a thing (davar דבר or word)] was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and [the thing (davar דבר or word)] was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the [thing (davar דבר or word)], and had understanding of the vision.
In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks.
I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
And on the four and twentieth day (3 x 8) of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel (the third river in Genesis),
— Daniel 10:1-4

Three mentions of "three" or "third" are presented here, along with three phrases I parenthesized: a thing or word revealed, a thing or word that was true, and a thing or word understood.

It is worth noting as well that the Hebrew word for "word" is "davar (דבר)" and is used, in English translations, interchangeably with "thing" or "matter."

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
— John 1:1

God's Word is spirit.

... the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
— John 6:63

Next, there are three uses of the word vision.

And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision. Therefore, I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
— Daniel 10:7-8

These three mentions reveal that this vision is a heavenly spiritual event that occurred in Cyrus's third year after three weeks of prayer and fasting, once again connecting the concepts of prayer and spirit.

The language of "lifting up" or being lifted up is used consistently throughout the text. During Daniel's vision, he describes his posture.

... while I heard the sound of his words, I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
— Daniel 10:9

When Daniel is visited, he lifts up his eyes.

I lifted my eyes
— Daniel 10:5

He is then, later, resurrected, in a sense, at the command of the heavenly visitor.

Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright.
— Daniel 10:10-11

Their conversation continues concerning the vision and ends with a beautiful three-word statement.

I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth.
— Daniel 10:21

The underlined phrase uses three Hebrew words to express "harashoom bikatav emet (הרשום בכתב אמת)," which could be rendered "the inscribed written truth." Three words are verifying the truth itself.

James Tissot's illustration of Jacob's daughter Dinah being seized by the prince of Shechem

A Third Day Resurrection Accomplishment at Shechem

A dramatic accomplishment of Christ's resurrection emerges in Genesis chapter 34 with Shechem, the prince of Shechem, "taking" Dinah. The narrative begins at the end of chapter 33.

Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city.

— Genesis 33:18

The pattern in Scripture follows that parking up next to an evil city, though seemingly advantageous at the time, never turned out well in the end. We saw this with Lot in the Sodom and Gomorrah event, which uses very similar language to express that it wasn't just somewhere around there that they pitched. It was very near. We see that Lot ends up in the city, and what happens there is not good.

This pattern may invite another question, as it concerns the Garden experience. Why were Adam and Eve hanging out near or next to the tree they were instructed not to eat from, and conversing with a beast of the field? In this case, immediately following this announcement of Jacobs' pitching, we see his daughter Dinah go hang out with the girls of the city, and the unspeakable happens.

Now Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her.

— Genesis 34:1

After Dinah's defilement, Shechem wants to marry her. Therefore, he keeps her in his possession while he and his father go to Jacob to strike up a deal for her. Shechem and his father also propose that they enter into a covenant and become a united group through the exchange of daughters in marriage. Jacob's response is reminiscent of the garden event. While the serpent propositions his wife, Adam remains silent.

And Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter, Dinah. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came.

— Genesis 34:5

This whole proposal reveals a contrast in cultures. While Shechem and his father behave as if this event of taking Dinah is normal, Jacob's sons are appalled and livid.

And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing which ought not to be done.
— Genesis 34:7

They, however, pretend to agree on one condition.

If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised, then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.
— Genesis 34:15

Shechem and Hamor, his father, returned to the city, informing the men of the deal to unite the tribes. They rehearsed the benefits they would gain from the union, to which they all agreed. What happens next is shocking.

Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males. And they killed Hamor and Shechem, his son, with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city because their sister had been defiled. They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field, and all their wealth
— Genesis 34:25-29

On the third day, they rescued their sister, took vengeance on her enemies, and plundered the city. This image shows what the resurrection of Christ did for us. He brought us out of our captivity, defeated our enemies, and took the spoils of the enemy.

“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.

— Ephesians 4:7

God's appearance on Mount Sinai

A Resurrection in the Wilderness

Exodus chapter 19 opens with some stunning imagery of resurrection and number three, with some keywords and phrases.

In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai...So Israel camped there before the mountain ... Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

— Exodus 19:1-4

My favorite of these images is the last bold phrase. God's purpose in the resurrection is to bring us to Himself. Mountains are often used to image heavenly things. The mountains of Jerusalem are three (Ophel, Moriah, and Zion)

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
— Hebrews 4:22-24

"Going up" is a phraseology for a heavenly meeting referring to this particular experience.

... the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
— Exodus 20:22
Out of heaven, He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you, on earth.
— Deuteronomy 4:36

This resurrection life results in an elevated position.

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
— Exodus 19:5-6

Another significant revelation in the following verse shows that resurrection occurs because God came down.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people ... And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day (third day three times).
— Exodus 19:10-11

This next portion brings together the whole concept of God coming down so that He could raise us up,

Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were

thunderings and
lightnings, and a
thick cloud on the mountain.

and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

— Exodus 19:16-19

So we have Moses (lifted from the water), the third son of Amram (My people are lifted up), who is thirdly descended from Levi, who became the priesthood by his three sons.

Gershon,
Kohath, and
Merari

and they were

chosen,
gifted,
and anointed by God

— Numbers 18:6-8

They were separated for three reasons

to be brought near to God
to do the service of the Tabernacle (three-part structure - outer court, inner court, and Holy Place)
to stand before the congregation and minister to them.

— Numbers 16:9

Levi was the third son of Jacob, the third patriarch of God's covenant with Abraham, sanctifying the people (priests, Levites, and common people) to bring them up before the Lord on the third day of the third month.

Just an additional note: Jochebed, Moses' mother, was also a Levite, and her name means "Yahweh's glory." Its pictograph includes a nail between "Yah," God's name, and "kavod," meaning glory. The nailing of (three nails) Christ to the cross for our sins purchased our redemption and forgiveness, making us fit for resurrection. It is to His glory that we are forgiven and lifted up.

A Word From Bullinger

Bullinger notes that Moses makes two sets of three ascents and descents to receive and give God's laws and ordinances. These three are separated by the giving of the Law and the setting up of the Tabernacle. As a whole, the phrase "third day" is repeated four times, indicating that God came down to the earth (4) to resurrect us (3), which images for us the most notable and essential resurrection of all.

No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
— John 3:13
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures
— I Corinthians 15:3-4
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world ...“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
— John 6:51

Another event that follows with three and a revival occurs in Exodus chapter 15

So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now, when they came to

Marah, they could not drink the waters of
Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore, it was called
Marah, and the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree (think cross). When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.

— Exodus 15:22-25

It is noted that water is the issue of complaint with the children of Israel on three occasions (Exodus 15, 17, and Numbers 20). Water symbolizes life and the Holy Spirit, as we shall look at later.

In his book "Connections," Glen Carpenter makes an interesting observation concerning this text and compares it to another wilderness experience in the New Testament.

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.
— Matthew 15:32

Glen writes the following.

"We see the spirit of the multitude being revived after three days" in both accounts.

Later in the book of Numbers, Moses invites his father-in-law to accompany them as this wilderness journey continues. After this event

And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.

And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.

And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.

And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.
— Numbers 10:33-36

Once again, we see a hint of the purposes of Christ's death and resurrection.

You were buried with him through baptism and raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead because of the things you had done wrong and because your body wasn’t circumcised, God made you alive with Christ and forgave all the things you had done wrong. He destroyed the record of the debt we owed, with its requirements that worked against us. He canceled it by nailing it to the cross. When he disarmed the rulers and authorities, he exposed them to public disgrace by leading them in a triumphal parade.
— Colossians 2:12-15

King Hezekiah is essentially resurrected from his death sentence of dying by infection or disease.
Erhard Altdorfer

King Hezekiah's Third Day Resurrection

King Hezekiah, the thirteenth King of Judah, was noted for his religious reform, including removing idols, restoring the Temple and the priesthood, and reinstituting the Passover. He was known as a good king, but fell ill with an infectious sore that the prophet Isaiah told him he would not recover.

Hezekiah was sick and near death.
— 2 Kings 20:1

This ominous report profoundly grieves Hezekiah.

Then he turned his face toward the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how

I have walked before You in truth
and with a loyal heart,
and have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly

— 2 Kings 20:2-3

God replies with three things.

And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Return and tell Hezekiah, the leader of My people, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father:

I have heard your prayer,
I have seen your tears;
Surely I will heal you

— 2 Kings 20:4-5

He details this with a promise of a third-day resurrection.

On the third day, you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add to your days fifteen (3 x 5 - 5 is the number of grace) years

— 2 Kings 20:5-6

Isaiah further develops this account with Hezekiah's response to what God has done for him in the language of a resurrection from the dead. We can see how death is illustrated once again by a pit.

... in all these things is the life of my spirit;
So You will restore me and make me live ...

... You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption,
For You have cast all my sins behind Your back

For Sheol cannot thank You,
Death cannot praise You;
Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth

The living, the living man, he shall praise You,
As I do this day.

— Isaiah 38:16-19

Notably, there is healing through God's resurrection, as illustrated in Acts.

“Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.”

— Acts 4:8-10 NASB

Jeremiah's Resurrection by Thirty Men

In the above video, Tony Robinson also expounds on Jeremiah chapter 38, which concerns the prophet Jeremiah's being thrown into a pit for prophesying an unpopular message about submitting to the captivity that was about to occur.

... they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon (pit - same Hebrew word used of Joseph's pit) of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the court of the prison, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. And in the dungeon (pit) there was no water, but mire. So Jeremiah sank in the mire.
— Jeremiah 38:6

The pit is a picture of death.

O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

— Psalm 30:3

An Ethiopian eunuch named Ebed-Melek (servant of the king) appeals to King Zedekiah for Jeremiah's life, and the king responds in language that suggests resurrection.

“Take from here thirty (3 x 10) men with you, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he dies ... So they pulled Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the dungeon (pit). Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the Lord.
— Jeremiah 38:13-14

Another Psalm of David expresses what Jeremiah might have felt for this deliverance.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.

— Psalm 40:2

Greek papyrus manuscript of the Gospel of Luke
Austrian National Library

Luke the Third Gospel and Acts

The third gospel was written by Luke, the physician, making him a dependable technical recorder.

In his book The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament (1915), Sir William Mitchell Ramsay said the following.

"You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historians, and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment ... Luke's history is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness."

Luke also wrote the Book of Acts, which explains why the two books are very related in theme and function. Both contain numerous references to the Holy Spirit. The Book of Luke contains 12 mentions of the Holy Spirit, which is twice as many as in any other Gospel. The Book of Acts contains 44 references to the Holy Spirit.

Luke makes it his mission to validate the claims of Christ and His followers.

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He, through the Holy Spirit, had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs.being seen by them during forty days (post-resurrection) and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

— Acts 1:1-3

Following this account, the Holy Spirit is promised, and a new apostle is chosen to replace Judas. One requirement for the new apostle to be a valid witness was that he had witnessed the resurrection.

... of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.

— Acts 1:21-22

The resurrection is mentioned 10 times in the book of Acts, more than in any other book of the Bible.

Luke was the only Gentile to write a book of the Bible.

Sources used for all parts of this series can be found in Part 20, the final installment.