More lessons from the Jordan crossing

In regard to the 17,300 Israelites crossing the Jordan River after sundown, a reader informed me that 173 is the 40^th Prime Number.

A Prime Number is not divisible by any number except for itself and one.

https://byjus.com/maths/prime-numbers-from-1-to-1000/

Since God invented mathematics, it is hardly surprising that 173 would reveal a mathematical application of the number 40 after the Israelites ended their 40-year wilderness journey.

Blocking the Jordan River

The Israelites followed the Ark across the Jordan River. It appears that they were 2,000 cubits behind the Ark, which prophesied of the 2,000 years from Christ to the present time. We follow His lead. The priests carrying the Ark stepped into the river, and immediately the water level dropped. Joshua 3:12, 13 says,

¹² Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. ¹³ It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”

Cutting off the flow of the river was highly unusual at any time of the year, but at the time of Passover, it was especially unusual, because “the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest” (Joshua 3:15).

The Ark led the way, carried by the priests, who remained standing in the middle of the dried-up Jordan River all day. No doubt they were replaced every hour or so by another shift of priests. In effect, the Ark (Christ) stopped the flow of death. When Christ was baptized in that spot many years later, it signified His death, and when He came out of the water, it signified resurrection.

So the (second) dove appeared over His head, representing the dove that was to be released alive in the field (Leviticus 14:6. 7). That second dove was to be dipped in the blood of the first dove that had been killed over running water. (This is the origin of baptism.)

This is the law on which is based the prophecy of Christ’s second coming (Revelation 19:13), for there we see Him coming with His robe dipped in blood. This also represents Him coming in His role as Joseph, the only man in Scripture whose robe was dipped in blood (Genesis 37:31).

The point is that the pattern of Israel’s Jordan crossing teaches us that Christ’s second coming also involves the sons of God, who are also crossing over into resurrection life. On an individual level, many have been doing this throughout history, but on a historic level, there is a group fulfillment. That is why the dead must be raised. It is so that we all may cross the Jordan at the same time as the body of Christ.

Twelve Men and the Priests

What is most interesting is that there were 12 men, one from each tribe, who crossed the Jordan first (Joshua 3:12). They were singled out from the rest of the tribes (church), but nothing further is said of them. The pattern is tantalizing but remains unexplained. The number 12, of course, signifies divine government, so we can surely identify them as sons of God. They are “priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6). These leaders in Israel are thus united with the priests carrying the Ark, and this suggests the Melchizedek Order (King-Priests).

Perhaps this Melchizedek Order is also represented by the Prime Numbers, which are of a higher order and distinguished from regular numbers. If so, that would be an added dimension to the number 173, the 40^th Prime Number.

Flooding in the city of Adam

We also note the manner in which the flow of the river was blocked. Joshua 3:16 says,

¹⁶ the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho.

The blockage took place “a great distance away at Adam.” This is a picture of overcoming death going back all the way to Adam, through whom death was passed down to us all (Romans 5:12). In that the waters were cut off above the Salt Sea (or Dead Sea), it signifies that some will cross over into life (immortality) prior to their death. These are the “changed” ones who are alive at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Zarethan means “their distress.”

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6891/nasb95/wlc/0-1/

Hence, the flow of death was blocked from Adam, which is beside “their distress.” Prophetically, this refers to the distress (corruption, moral and physical) stemming from mortality. When mortality is turned into immortality, then also corruption will be turned into incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:53 KJV).

In the South African province of Kwa-zulu, a huge rainstorm began on Monday—the day of the Jordan crossing. The area had 5 months’ worth of rain in a single day, which caused flooding. More than 250 people are dead, with many more still missing. The rain lasted 2 days.

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/kzn-floods-death-toll-keeps-rising-ramaphosa-says-its-a-catastrophe-of-enormous-proportions-20220413

This draws attention to the biblical story of the city of Adam, which surely experienced a catastrophic flood when the Jordan River was blocked at their doorstep. Normally, we think only of the good things that happened with the Israelites that day, but we should also remember the catastrophic flood occurring among those worshiping false gods. Ultimately, however, even in the midst of divine judgment, there is hope, because this flood also signifies an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s job description is given in John 16:8-11.

⁸ And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment, ⁹ concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me, ¹⁰ and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me, ¹¹ and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

We see that the Holy Spirit brings judgment as well as truth (John 16:13). John the Baptist said the same thing, using a different metaphor in Matthew 3:11, 12,

¹¹ As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The same Spirit that gathers His “wheat” also burns “the chaff.” We experience this in our personal lives as well as in the bigger “group” picture. Chaff is flesh, the origin of the works of the flesh. Ultimately, God intends to save all mankind—mostly through judgment, whose purpose is to forcibly remove the chaff from unbelievers. Divine judgment is always corrective in nature and thus has a positive effect in the end.

Present Revelation

What is now happening in 2022 is that we are re-running the same parallel as seen with Israel’s Jordan crossing. Think of it as a precedent-setting experience that prepares the way for the final fulfillment when we are changed into His likeness at the feast of Tabernacles. At the present time, I have no particular reason to think that this event will happen at Tabernacles of 2022, but surely we are getting close.

At the present time, the fundamental principle of the 10^th day of Abib is being applied to the current situation in which we find ourselves. It is the first Passover after my own completion of the 40-year wilderness journey, and so we are seeing the release of funds to build the Kingdom. I can write only a few details of what is actually transpiring behind the scenes, so as not to alert or help our enemies. Nonetheless, we are steadily pushing back the giants in the land.

We may even see another rerun of the Jericho battle next week. As of now, we do not know. We are being given revelation that is needed immediately, and this is enough to keep us very busy.