THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING THE NUMBER 120 (SERIES 2)

Today we want  to take a study of the dedication of Solomon’s temple and mystery behind the number 120 as it signifies the HOLY SPIRIT.

The glory of God came down to fill Solomon’s Temple precisely 490 years after the glory came down upon Mt. Sinai to fill the Ark of the Covenant. Chronologically speaking, a 490-year period is what we call “Blessed Time”. In dealing with the glory of God, we would always expect it to manifest according to Blessed Time, for it is a Jubilee event.

We  know by proof that the Exodus occurred from Adam likewise Passover  and  the people saw the glory of God manifest on what became known as the day of Pentecost (Ex. 19-20).

In 1 Kings 6:1, we are told that Solomon laid the foundation of his Temple “in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt.” We are then told that the Temple itself took seven years to build (1 Kings 6:38). So the Temple structure itself was completed 487 years after the glory had rested on the Tabernacle of Moses

We are then told in 1 Kings 7 that Solomon hired Hiram to do the work of casting the pillars, the molten sea, and the ten lavers of brass. Each of these items was decorated with engravings. It is not difficult to conclude that this work took about three years, which would indicate that the Temple dedication itself took place after 490 years. The only difference is that while the glory came at Pentecost under Moses, it came on the eighth day of Tabernacles in Solomon’s day (2 Chron. 7:9) .

At the dedication f the temple, Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep (2 Chron. 7:5). These numbers are highly significant. The number 22 is the number of “Light” according to Bible numerology (there meaning of numbers in the Bible). Recall that all the firstborn of Israel belonged to God, but he redeemed them with the tribe of Levi, taking Levi on their behalf to serve him. The number of Levites that were available to redeem the firstborn of Israel were precisely 22,000 (Num. 3:39). Thus, the number 22,000 signifies the firstborn Sons of God, and they are associated with his light, or Transfiguration

Solomon also offered 120,000 sheep to God. The number 120 deals directly with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as we have already seen.

When all the vessels of the Temple were set in order and cleansed properly, then they brought the Ark of the Covenant itself into the Temple and placed it in the most Holy Place. The staves by which the ark had been carried were then removed, signifying that the Ark had finally come to its “rest” in a fixed habitation, a house.

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course; 12 Also the Levites which were singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jehuthum, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white Linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the alter, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) 13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of Musick, and praised the Lord, saying, for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever; that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; 14 so that the priest could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.( 2 Chronicles 5:11-14).

And so we see that there were 120 priests blowing trumpets when the spirit of God filled the Temple of Solomon. This is very much an appropriate number, since it always seems to accompany an outpouring of the spirit. It is also important to note that the spirit came down after they all came into one accord, or harmony, making “one sound”. This same terminology was used later when the spirit was sent at Pentecost in the second chapter of Acts. Do well to visit our website for more update on this biblical mystery . God bless you.

 

 

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