The Most Interesting Fraction in the Bible

Not too long ago, I wrote about the number seven. Our God is a fantastic mathematician and seven seems to be one of his favorite numbers. It’s used over and over again throughout the bible; especially in Revelation and the books of Moses.

What happens if you break seven in half? You get 3 ½. This fraction isn’t used anywhere near as much as the number seven, but it’s a very important time frame. I’m going to list all the verses I found about 3 ½ because there’s only around one dozen of them.

Before I start, I have to point out that the examples I found were all in relation to years. Three and a half years is obviously one half of seven years.

I’ll begin with Elijah. These are two verses I found:

Luke 4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was through-out all the land;

James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by a space of three years and six months.

Next, we’ll go to the two witnesses.

Revelation 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. (KJV) (That’s 1260 days / 3 ½ years)

Hmmm. Is this a coincidence or is the story of Elijah a foreshadowing of the two witnesses? Elijah had power to shut up the sky and to stop the rain. The witnesses will also have this power. Interesting.

The bible talks about the last seven years and what will happen then. Some people refer to this as the Great Tribulation, but to me it sounds like the last half of it (3 ½ years) will be when the tribulation will be as it never has before. Anyways, it sounds like the witnesses will be here for the first half of those seven years. The Anti-Christ will kill them so I’m thinking their time frame will at least go into the second half for a few days. I’m not sure on that. That brings me to another 3 ½ that I just remembered.

Revelation 11:11-12  And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.  

Three and a half days after they kill the witnesses, they will come back to life. That will freak out the unbelievers who aren’t expecting it! Hopefully they’ll repent.

So, my question is: is that a literal 3 ½ days or do the days represent years? Will they let the bodies lay there for 3 ½ years and then they will be raised? I don’t know. Some things we will never know for sure until they happen – or don’t happen.

Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Who is this woman? Most believe the woman represents Israel, so the Jewish believers that flee to the wilderness will be protected.

This time frame will be the last 3 ½ years. Time (one year) times (two years) and half a time (half a year). It adds up to 3 and a half years.

Revelation 11:2 But the court that is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Daniel 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

The above verses are about the last half of the last seven years (end times).

Different terms are used for a period of around 3 ½ years. I have them listed below.

42 months = 1260 days = 3 ½ years = time, times and half a time.

Just a few more verses I want to mention.

Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (1260 days)

Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (1290 days)

Daniel 12:12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. (1335 days)

I always used to think that for the last seven years, everything would either start at the beginning of the seven years or in the exact middle of it. The above three verses prove that was wrong. The 1290 is 30 days longer than 1260 and 1335 is 45 days longer than 1290. So, some things are either going to start a little earlier than others or end a little later.

I’m paying more attention lately to the numbers in the bible and possible parallels and fore-shadows. It’s very fascinating when I discover new things and the bible is opening up to me more and more all the time. If there’s something I missed, please share. I’m always hungering for more knowledge. Thanks for reading!