- The 12 tribes of Israel: God chose 12 tribes of Israel. The 12 apostles: Jesus chose 12 apostles, each representing one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
- The 12 gates of New Jerusalem: The 12 gates and foundations of the New Jerusalem point to God's reign.
- The 12 priestly divisions: God ordained 24 (12 x 2) priestly divisions.
I have put together a far more complete list of significant uses of the number 12 in the Bible, arranged in biblical order by book, along with groupings by theme. Some could be missed, however this is certainly sufficient for the point on my mind.
Genesis (2x)
- 12 Princes of Ishmael - Genesis 17:20
- 12 Tribes of Israel - Genesis 49:28
Exodus (2x)
- 12 Wells at Elim - Exodus 15:27
- 12 Stone Pillars - Exodus 24:4
Leviticus (1x)
- 12 Loaves of Showbread - Leviticus 24:5
Numbers (3x)
- 12 Spies - Numbers 13:1-16
- 12 Robs - 17.17
- 12 Princes of Midian - Numbers 31:8
Joshua (2x)
- 12 Stones from the Jordan - Joshua 4:3, 9
- 12,000 People Died in Ai - Joshua 8:25
1 Kings (3x)
- 12 Governors of Solomon - 1 Kings 4:7
- 12 Years of Solomon’s Reign - 1 Kings 11:42
- 12 Oxen of Elisha - 1 Kings 19:19
Ezra (1x)
- 12 Priests in Ezra - Ezra 8:24
Daniel (1x)
- 12 Months in Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream - Daniel 4:29
Matthew (4x)
- 12-Year-Old Daughter of Jairus - Matthew 9:18-26
- 12 Apostles - Matthew 10:2-4
- 12 Baskets of Leftovers - Matthew 14:20
- 12 Legions of Angels - Matthew 26:5. Matthew is written for the Jew and in Matthew 26:53-54 Jesus is explaining his willingness to be arrested, not because he is powerless, but because his arrest is part of God's plan for the fulfillment of scripture. He could have summoned a vast angelic army, but he chose not to. It is notable that Jesus says "12 Legions." The message of these versus is that the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles were part God's plan, just as He is.
Mark (2x)
- 12-Year-Old Daughter of Jairus - Mark 5:21-43
- Woman with 12-Year Issue of Blood - Mark 5:25-34
Luke (3x)
- 12-Year-Old Daughter of Jairus - Luke 8:40-56
- Woman with 12-Year Issue of Blood - Luke 8:43-48
- Luke 18.31 -- And taking the TWELVE, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. That includes Judas!! He was necessary for the prophecy to be fulfilled.
Luke 24:12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. The 12 got it!
Revelation (10x)
- 12,000 from Each Tribe - Revelation 7:4-8
- 12 Stars on the Woman’s Crown - Revelation 12:1
- 12 Gates of New Jerusalem - Revelation 21:12
- 12 Angels at the Gates - Revelation 21:12
- 12 Tribes of Israel on the Gates - Revelation 21:12
- 12 Foundations of New Jerusalem - Revelation 21:14
- 12 Names of the Apostles on the Foundations - Revelation 21:14
- 12 Pearly Gates - Revelation 21:21
- 12 Fruits of the Tree of Life - Revelation 22:2
- 12 Months of Fruit - Revelation 22:2
These 10 references emphasize the symbolic significance of the number 12 in Revelation. Even the number of references (10) to the number 12 is meaningful.
- 12 Princes of Ishmael (Genesis 17:20)
- 12 Tribes of Israel (Genesis 49:28)
- 12 Governors of Solomon (1 Kings 4:7)
- 12 Apostles (Matthew 10:2-4)
- 12 Wells at Elim (Exodus 15:27)
- 12 Baskets of Leftovers (Matthew 14:20)
- 12-Year-Old Daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40-56)
- Woman with 12-Year Issue of Blood (Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48)
- 12 Stone Pillars (Exodus 24:4)
- 12 Loaves of Showbread (Leviticus 24:5)
- 12 Stones from the Jordan (Joshua 4:3, 9)
- 12 Gates of New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:12)
- 12 Foundations of New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:14)
- 12 Fruits of the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:2)
- 12 Princes of Midian (Numbers 31:8)
- 12,000 People Died in Ai (Joshua 8:25)
- 12 Legions of Angels (Matthew 26:53)
FROM THE BEGINNING
Declaring the End from the Beginning: The last chapter of the last book in the bible which describes the "End-times," makes multiple times more uses of 12 than any of book.
There are 6 days of Creation in Genesis 1. On the last day of Creation, the 6th day, God created Man. Then he rested. That is the origin of Shabbat. Genesis chapter 1 is certainly "In the beginning," but let's go to the very beginning, Genesis of Genesis 1.
Genesis 1:1-3 -- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
God planned our day of rest, after the 6th day, from "In the Beginning."
Here on this very special planet, with life, we have an "Evening and Day" that is 24 hours. 12+12. God established our day, our calendar with 12 months and 12 Constellations, all from the beginning.
From before God created the heavens and earth in Genesis 1.1, God planned for the Day of Rest on the 7th day, after the 6th day.
On the 6th day, God creates Man in his image. Most people have 24 ribs, arranged in 12 pairs.
One More 12
Here is the "One More 12" -- the 12th Hebrew letter is Lamed. The Lamed is shaped like a Shepherd's staff.
The Sabbath before Passover is called Shabbat HaGadol (the Great Sabbath). It commemorates the miracle when the Israelites took the Passover lamb on the 10th of Nisan (a Sabbath).
The day before Passover (14th of Nisan) is called the Day of Preparation. It involves tasks like slaughtering the Passover lamb and removing leaven.
Remember that the Hebrew day begins in the evening. On the first day of Passover (15th of Nisan) and the seventh day (21st of Nisan) are considered High Sabbaths, days of rest with special significance. These are distinct from the weekly Sabbath but share the same prohibition of work.
12 = Cried Out
Cried Out in Hebrew is יב. Yod Bet (10+2) =12!! Here are some related bible verses:
- Exodus 15:25 - Moses "cried unto" the LORD;...
- Judges 10:10, the Israelites "cried out" to the LORD, Ezekiel 21:12, where God tells the prophet to "Cry out and wail."
- Psalm 34:17: The righteous "cry out," and the LORD hears.
- In Psalm 77:1 the psalmist "cries out" to God in their trouble.
- Psalm 107:6, which notes that people "cried out" to the Lord
- Matthew 27:46 - About the ninth hour Jesus "cried out" in a loud voice.
- Mark 10:48 - Many people admonished him to be silent, but he "cried out" all the louder."
To "cry out" is to become like 12.
Conclusion
Nisan and Passover are just around the corner and this topic has been on my mind. I write to think. If what I wrote suggests to you that God declares the future from the past, maybe what I have written gives you something to think about.
So to my original question, what do you think..."Is their Shabbat on Venus" even if there's no body there to celebrate it?
Psalm 23:1-3 -- The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
