The Number 13
What follows is a very basic summary of SOME of the Chapters attached to the number 13.
Genesis Chapter 13: The conflict between Abraham and his nephew Lot – as Lot was drawn closer to Sodom. In this Chapter Sodom is mentioned three times. But the men of Sodom [were] wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. (Genesis 13:13) In this first thirteenth Chapter of the Bible, the sin of rebellion reveals itself first as a seemingly bad decision by Lot that led to his enticement to become a citizen of one of the most corrupt and immoral cities on the earth at that time. As he becomes entrenched in the political workings of this city, and engulfed by family concerns, rebellion appears as a slow growing cancer within Lot. However, Scripture informs that Lot was righteous in the sight of God. Thus, this Chapter is a warning to both saved and unsaved, believer and unbeliever, that the sin of rebellion begins slowly and almost undetected until it destroys the believer’s testimony (Lot), and it consumes the unbeliever’s soul, But the men of Sodom [were] wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. (Genesis 13:13) Consider this Chapter as an introduction to the sin of rebellion in both the righteous and the unrighteous. (More about Lot and the number 13.)
For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king.(1st Samuel 15:23)
Leviticus Chapter 13: The first mention of the plague of leprosy: on a person, on clothing, on objects, and on and in a building. Sin is typified in the plague of leprosy, as sin (in man) effects all around him.
Numbers Chapter 13: Israel refused to enter into the land of promise because they did not believe that God was able to accomplish what He had promised. The first time that Anak is mentioned is in this Chapter. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. (Numbers 13:33) Sin again raised its head in rebellion against God.
Deuteronomy Chapter 13: Moses warned Israel concerning the sin of listening to false prophets. [Certain] men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; (Deuteronomy 13:13) This is the first mention of Belial. The meaning of Belial is ‘worthlessness,’ and ‘wickedness,’ also it is rooted in the concept of utter destruction.
Joshua Chapter 13: Jehovah assigned the inheritance of the land of promise to nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh with the assurance that He would drive out their enemies. Again, we have rebellion against God in their refusal to obey God because they feared men more than they believed God. The result of this sin would plague their nation for centuries. Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day. (Joshua 13:13)
1st Samuel Chapter 13: Saul refused to follow Jehovah’s instruction to wait for Samuel. Saul took it upon himself to act in the place of God’s appointed priest, and he offered a sacrifice to God when it was not his place to do so. Here again we have rebellion against God, and Saul’s kingdom became lost to him. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. (1st Samuel 13:13)
2nd Samuel Chapter 13: Sin reaches past the act of sin and stains many who were never involved in the act of sin. Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar, and later he was murdered by his half-brother Absalom. Tamar, Absalom, David, and the nation of Israel were all affected by one man’s sin.
1st Kings Chapter 13: This Chapter reveals the depths of rebellion that the priesthood had descended into. A false prophet, living in Bethel (the house of God), caused a man of God from Judah to die because of his lies, but there is much more to this story. The sin of rebellion was at the core of this tragedy. 1st Kings 13:33 sets the state of corruption within the priesthood. Priests were politically assigned by government instead of by the laws of the Levitical system. Rebellion against God’s system of priesthood became evident. After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.
2nd Kings Chapter 13:God’s prophet Elisha died. This is a Chapter of death and rebellion. In verse 13:13, God the Holy Spirit separates the death and burial of Joash, a king of the northern ten tribes called Israel, with these words and Jeroboam sat upon his throne. And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam (Jeroboam II) sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. The first king over Israel (the ten northern tribes) was Jeroboam. His name is mentioned four times in this Chapter. Three times the sins of Jeroboam and his influence of generations to come is noted by the words and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin . . . . Jeroboam, who made Israel sin . . . sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin. He had set up a golden calf and an altar on the northern border of Israel, and a golden calf and an altar on the southern border in opposition to the worship of God in the Temple in Jerusalem. The message is clear: that what began in the beginning in the rebellion against God in setting up altars and golden calves on the borders of Israel continued on in Jeroboam II while surrounded by death (Joash slept with his fathers, and Joash was buried). Rebellion against God is a seed that never dies until judged by God.
1st Chronicles Chapter 13: As the oxen stumbled while bearing the Ark of God on the new cart, Uzza put out his hand to steady the Ark, and there he died before God. The Ark had been placed in the house of Abinadab for twenty years waiting for Israel to get to the point to be able to move God’s Ark to a proper place. Uzza was one of the sons of Abinadab moving the Ark under the direction and guidance of king David; however, doing things in a wrong way does not make things right. And adding familiarity with the things of God into the mix did not go well for Uzza. Familiarity with the things of God produces irreverence. And irreverence can become rebellion in refusing to properly show respect and honor to the things of God. Lightly taking the Ark (Christ) as merely an object to be carried is rebellion.
Nehemiah Chapter 13: This Chapter reveals the complete breakdown of society caused by rebellion and disobedience to God. When many former captives returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, they discovered betrayal, corruption, and total disintegration of social and family life. The Temple was not only in ruin, but what little remained of the Temple, Gentiles had been allowed to take control over the inner workings of the Temple, especially the treasury. Not only had the priesthood become polluted, but families had also become polluted, children could no longer speak in the Jew’s language, but spoke in the language of Ashdod, and in the languages of the mixed group that assimilated into the Jewish culture. This Chapter shows the results of rebellion.
Isaiah Chapter 13: God’s judgment against Babylon is called the burden of Babylon. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. (Isaiah 13:13) And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:19) This entire 13th Chapter is about Babylon’s destruction. (Prayerfully, I will be writing about Babylon in another article connected to Nimrod.)
Jeremiah Chapter 13: Judah’s brutal destruction is prophesied by Jeremiah. The entire Chapter is judgment against both Jerusalem and Judah; judgment is pronounced against the prideful religious system and against the pride of the people. God declared both the religious system and the people good for nothing (Jeremiah 13:10). Although God had instituted the Aaronic priesthood, the sacrifices and the offerings; nevertheless, God judged them all. Do not be under the delusion that God will not judge His people. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1st Peter 4:17) Although Jeremiah Chapter 13 was directed against Israel, it is also applicable to the Church. Jeremiah 13:13, Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David’s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them. (Jeremiah 13:14)
This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. (Jeremiah 13:25) Rebellion has consequences.
Ezekiel Chapter 13: This is another Chapter saturated with the bitter truth about those who profess to serve and follow God but lie. Judgment awaits ALL false prophets. (Note that before this side note began, we were discussing Ezekiel Chapter 13, and we will continue in Ezekiel 13 after this side note.)
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 13:8)
And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.(Ezekiel 13:9)
Hosea Chapter 13: Judgment against Ephraim and Judah is pronounced. Judgment against those who wickedly commit acts of murder, lewdness and whoredoms while pretending to serve God under the banner of religion is the core of this 13th Chapter. God’s utter distain against the corruptness of the priesthood is revealed.
O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. (Hosea 6:4)
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)
But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. (Hosea 6:7)
And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness. (Hosea 6:9)
I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled. (Hosea 6:10)
Zechariah Chapter 13: This Chapter has such depths of spiritual wealth buried within each sentence that it is truly beyond summarizing. Nevertheless, let’s follow the spiritual principles laid out in the number 13, and see where the Spirit of God will lead. In this Chapter we see two sides of number 13. From one side we see man’s blatant refusal to obey God. Mankind is in constant rebellion against His Creator. From the other side of number 13 we have God’s reaction to man’s rebellion, and that is judgment. God MUST judge sin. God’s righteousness requires that He judge sin. In this Chapter we have both sides of number 13. God not only judges, but He supplies the sinner with a way to escape His judgment. The Judge judges and He also provides a judicial means through which the guilty can be forgiven. The solution is that someone else must bear the judgment instead of the guilty. Zechariah 13:1 provides the solution, In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. God opens a fountain to the house of Judah to cleanse them from their sin and uncleanness in their rebelliousness. Then in Zechariah 13:9 God informs us that although judgment is upon Israel, He has provided an escape route. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
False prophets, idols, unclean spirits will cease to exist. God will judge them all. But notice that these prophets (under the guise of servants of God) will be cut off from the land of the living. And when THAT DAY of judgment has come, these false prophets and ministers of righteousness will no longer wear liturgical ceremonial garments to deceive the people. Clothing of religiousness will come to a shameful end. Wearing the robe of righteousness by a deceitful prophet is the epitome of rebellion. As Adam and Eve could not hide their rebellion against God by covering themselves with fig leaves, neither can ‘men or women of the cloth’ hide their rebellion and sedition against God by draping themselves in liturgical ceremonial garments of fig leaves.
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. (Zechariah 13:2)
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: (Zechariah 13:4)
God presents man’s most heinous rebellious act against God, when they cried, Crucify him, crucify him. And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. (Zechariah 13:6) After the Lord’s resurrection, when He confronted Thomas, the Lord said, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (John 20:27) Christ bore the evidence of God’s judgment. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1st Peter 3:18)
The 13th Chapter of Zechariah presents another aspect of God’s judgment. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. (Zechariah 13:7) God’s sword of judgment fell on His Shepherd because of man’s sin. In John 10:11 the Lord Jesus Christ stated, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Yes, God judges rebellion. Yes, God supplied (through the judgment upon His Shepherd) the only solution to man’s dilemma . . . the just must bear the judgment for the unjust. However, although man can be forgiven, he also bears the responsibility in this life for his actions and for his words. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:25) And in Zechariah 13:7 we have God’s reply to His blood be on us, and on our children even centuries before those words were spoken. This was God’s reply, and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. In 2nd Samuel 1:16 David pronounced judgment on a man who thought that he would achieve honor and recognition by lying about having slain king Saul. However, David said, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’S anointed. Judgment resonates throughout this last 13th Chapter in the Old Testament.
The New Testament
Matthew Chapter 13: The first time that the phraseend of the worldis used is in this 13th Chapter. This is also a Chapter of parables: Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (Matthew 13:13) It is in this particular Chapter that Christ three (3) times mentioned the end of the world and the end of this world.
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (Matthew 13:39)
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. (Matthew 13:40)
So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, (Matthew 13:49)
Then the very last verse in the book of Matthew adds assurance in that Christ Jesus will be there with you always, even unto the end of the world. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20)
Mark Chapter 13: Reading Chapter 13 of the gospel of Mark is extremely difficult for both the believer and the unbeliever. For the believer, it is a deeply sad prophecy detailing the agony that this world will go through because of sin. For the unbeliever it becomes a major point to acknowledge that the world deserves all that it will receive at the hand of a holy and righteous God. Follow the Scriptures about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the abomination of desolation that Daniel mentioned in his prophecies that was situated over the Holy of Holies. This verse sets the tone of the religious, political and society atmosphere at this specific time against the people of God, especially Israel. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Mark 13:13)
And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! (Mark 13:1) And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Matthew 13:2) This prophecy has already been fulfilled when Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A. D.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Mark 13:6) And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. (Mark 13:7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: (Mark 13:14)
For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. (Mark 13:19) And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. (Mark 13:20)
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:22)
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, (Mark 13:24) And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. (Mark 13:25)
Luke Chapter 13: The Lord Jesus Christ twice said, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:5) With this Chapter opening on the plea to repent you know that what is to follow is not going to be pleasant to hear.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (Luke 13:34) Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Luke 13:35)
This is the last warning (through the number 13 in the gospels) of God’s approaching judgment against Jerusalem and the house of Isael.
John Chapter 13: This Chapter identifies Judas as the betrayer of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 13:13 presents Christ as Master and Lord. Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. All hinges on His time, His purpose, and His will in this Chapter. Satan, through Judas, cannot annul Christ as Master and Lord.
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. (John 13:1)
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. (John 13:21)
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. (John 13:26) And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. (John 13:27)
He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. (John 13:30) The rebellious world (even before the Lord’s birth) tried to stop God’s plan in the manifestation of God with us: Emmanuel. And from His birth onward the haters of God and of His Christ never stopped trying to extinguish His Light and Life. John 13:30 summarizes what then occurred, and it was night. It was night when Christ was born, and it was night when He was betrayed, and it was at night when He was taken. Mankind has been in the day of night from the moment that the first man sinned and brought sin into the world.
Revelation Chapter 13. What can I write that has not already been written? What can I say that has not already been said? (Not much!) The 13th Chapter reveals the original facilitator of rebellion: Lucifer. This 13th Chapter uncloaks the manifestation of Lucifer/Satan in the name of 6 – 6 – 6, the trinity of evil. The number of man in the number six reaches it climatic point when MANKIND IS COMPLETE EVIL. Therefore, he has to be revealed in the 13th Chapter, there can be no other Chapter suited for the revelation of the man of sin but in the number 13. And in Revelation 13:13 we see his power on the earth. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Revelation 13:14)
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:15)
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (Revelation 13:16)
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:17)
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:18) Of course, there can be more to be written about Six hundred threescore and six, but this side note began with the number 13. Therefore, it is proper to end at the 13th Chapter of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Every Chapter that is labeled with the number 13 reveals the sin of rebellion and judgment for the sin of rebellion. Coincidence? There is no coincidence in the word of God. Although many other chapters in Scripture deals with judgment and rebellion, the Chapters labeled with the number 13 shows the progression of rebelliousness. ♦ End of Side Note on number 13.
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© Copyright 2022, Mary Haigh
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All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)