Hi Mike,

I was wondering if the other part of the significance of the Num 33 and 66 could also relate to what we have already covered in regard to this prophecy in Dan 9 and Rev 11.

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Christ’s ministry is three and a half years, as is the ministry of the two witnesses. So in this case, we see ‘the dream is one’ in that all men have to experience 66, because we all ‘come out of her my people’ except for Christ, for to come out of Babylon is to come out of sin, and we know that Christ never sinned. However Hos 11:1 speaks of the journey of all men in time who have a symbolic 66 year journey to come out of sin.
Christ’s flesh (33) goes through the process of judgment as a true witness, and we live every word by being both a false witness in our time as well as a true witness eventually. (33+33=66) Or put another way we are both the maid child and the man child in our appointed time, and those who are the maid child in this present evil age, as scriptures show, are the elect of God.
The one part I can’t confirm in scripture is that Christ was actually 33 when he died. I’ve read many places that scholars say this is an approximate date and that there is no way to actually prove by scripture that he was 33 when he died.
It’s very clear that all flesh is sinful flesh when you start looking at these numbers and consider that Christ had to learn obedience by the things which He suffered.
I hope I’m looking at this correctly. I would appreciate your feedback, but don’t ever worry about getting back quickly. I understand better than ever how many joyful burdens our Lord has allowed to be placed on you and Sandi for the joy of body of Christ.

Your brother in Him,
T____

Hi T____,

First of all, thank you for your patience. Thank you also for sharing your thoughts here with me.
You are right when you say Christ’s flesh goes through the process of judgment as 33 indicates. I have never in my life made that connection between Christ’s age and the process of judgment, so thank you for that thought.
You also make this statement:

The one part I can’t confirm in scripture is that Christ was actually 33 when he died. I’ve read many places that scholars say this is an approximate date and that there is no way to actually prove by scripture that he was 33 when he died.

It is true that there is no scripture that says Christ was 33, but we are told that He was ‘about 30’ when he began His ministry.

Luk 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,

“About thirty” is not ‘about 29, or ‘about 31’. Jesus was ‘about 30’ years old when He began His ministry, and I am unaware of anyone who denies that John’s gospel records three separate Passovers.

Joh 2:13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

This is the first passover mentioned in John. It is followed by this passover:

Joh 6:4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

This second passover mentioned is followed by this feast of tabernacles in the next chapter:

Joh 7:2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.

Tabernacles is the fall festival at the end of that year. So here is the third Passover, which is mentioned after the feast of tabernacles there in John seven:

Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

So we can say with complete certainty that Christ’s ministry included three Passovers or three years.
It really is not at all ‘adding to’ the word to deduce from the fact that if the ministry of the two witnesses is three and one half years, then the ministry of Christ must also have been three and one half years.
Here is why we should do so:

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

“A thousand two hundred and threescore days” is three and one half years. If we are as He is, then He is as we are described to be in His own Word. Our ministry is symbolized by three and one half years, because we are “as he is… in this world”.
As you pointed out some time back, the three and one half years of Christ’s ministry, plus the three and one half years of the ministry of “His body”, His “two witnesses” completes a symbolic seven years of ministry, and completes His work within His people.
This is no doubt far too spiritual an approach to this question for most, but I feel sure it will resonate with the spirit of Christ in those with that spirit.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike