Contributed by Craig Paardekooper: Published 10/21/2002
[Edtorial comments in square brackets. This article is an excellent example
of the interweaving of all three Threads: BibleWheel, Isaiah-Bible Correlation and Gematria. -- RAM]
Isaiah 43, John, and Genesis
Isaiah Chapter 43 is on the Spoke 21 of the Inner Wheel of Isaiah. According to the Bible Wheel,
Isaiah 43 should correspond with the 43rd book of the Bible - the Gospel of John. Let's
see.
The Seven 'I AM' Sayings:
There are seven 'I AM' sayings in Isaiah 43:
| v 3: |
"I am the Lord, your God" |
| v10 |
"so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he" |
| v 11 |
"I, even I, am the Lord" |
| v12 |
"I am God" |
| v13 |
"from ancient days I am he." [KJV: Before the day was, I am he.] |
| v15 |
"I am the Lord" |
| v25 |
"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions." |
There are the seven [distinct] "I AM" sayings in John:
| 6v35 | "I am the bread of life" |
| 8v12 | "I am the light of the world" |
| 10v7 | "I am the gate for the sheep" |
| 10v11 | "I am the good shepherd" |
| 11v25 | "I am the resurrection and the life" |
| 14v6 | "I am the way, the truth and the life" |
| 15v1 | "I am the true vine" |
It seems far beyond chance coincidence that the greatest frequency of I AM sayings should occur in
Isaiah 43 and that there is a correspondingly high frequency of I AM sayings in John. [Cf.
Isaiah 43 - John: The Eternal I AM for details and graphs.]
In fact, the I AM sayings are central to the theme of the Gospel of John - the 43rd book of the Bible.
The sense that this is a deliberate/planned coincidence is greatly amplified by the finding that
there are precisely seven "I AM" sayings in Isaiah 43 and 7 [distinct] "I AM" sayings in the Gospel of John.
John records the signs or miracles that Jesus performed. John records seven of these signs, echoing the work
of creation:
| 2v1 | Turning water into wine |
| 4v46 | the official's son |
| 5v1 | the sick man |
| 6v5 | the feeding of the 5000 |
| 6v16 | walking on water |
| 9v1 | the man born blind |
| 11v1 | the raising of Lazarus |
Jesus's death and resurrection is the 8th sign - the "first day" of the New Creation (John 20.1).
Isaiah 65 is also on the Spoke 21 of the Inner Wheel of Isaiah. [Craig now is discussing the interweaving
of Thread 1 (Bible Wheel) with Thread 2 (Isaiah-Bible Correlation)] The phrase "call on my name" is found
only in Isaiah 65 and the Gospel of John. Very similar phrases - "I have called you by name" and "everyone
who is called by my name" are found in Isaiah 43. [Cf. Isaiah 43:
Known By Name]
[RAM: Craig now interweaves all three Threads: BibleWheel, Isaiah-Bible Correlation, and Gematria.]
And what is the name of God - "I AM THAT I AM"? The gematrical value of the phrase "I AM" =
21 = 7 x 3.
Once again this is appropriate, since the I AM sayings occur on the 21st Spoke.
The WORD = 373 makes it's appearance in the Gospel of John found on the 21st Spoke,
and 21 = 3 x 7. [RAM: The Number 373 is also congruent to 21 modulo 22 becuase 373 = 21 + 16 x 22. Cf.
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