Numbers are words within the Bible. They are just as important and portray specific meaning to the context. The #3 has a meaning of God's plan and/or purpose throughout the scriptures. The Lord has also shown us that both the numbers 3 and 3 1/2 share the same meaning. We find this in the following verses concerning the same historical occurrence of Elijah:

We also have seen through scripture that God frequently utilizes the #37 to portray the ending period of His plan. We see the #37 within Noah's Flood as it lasted for 370 biblical days. We see it again as the Lord depicts these final days after M21 as Noah's symbolic Flood.

What's amazing is that we also see the #37 within the final days of Jonah's waiting period in Nineveh and again within the final days of Jesus' waiting period before He ascended.

But why does Elijah's waiting period of 3.5 years match our 3.5 "days" of waiting but not Jonah's?   Well actually it does.

The 2 Witnesses' 3.5 "days" of being killed (silenced) after Judgment Day is the exact same time period represented as Noah's symbolic Flood after May 21, 2011. Noah's Flood lasted exactly 370 biblical days. Noah and his family had to wait 370 days until the door of the Ark was opened. The #37 is what's in view here. Jonah's waiting period of 37 days is equal to Noah's 370 days of waiting! So, essentially the #37 = 3.5. Not only that, but the 2 Witnesses' 3.5 "days"/Noah's symbolic Flood period end within the year 2025 which is the 13,037th year from Creation.

There is a 4th example of great tribulation then rapture. But not on a human scale. Jesus' rapture was not only Godly but also a little different in some cases. But the basics are the same. It matches the other 3 but especially Jonah's exactly. Just as Jesus declared in Matthew 12:39-41.

Jesus - 3 days of no testimony (in earth), 3 days of testimony (to disciples), 37 days (cumulative) of waiting.

The Bible declares that Jesus ascended to Heaven 40 days later. Acts 1:3 declares He was seen or appeared to the disciples through, throughout or during (Strong's #G1223) this period of time (here on Earth). John 21:14 - the very last chapter - specifically states that this was the third time that Jesus was seen. If we assume these 3 times (of communication - testimony) were 3 days out of the 40 days, it leaves 37 days of waiting until Pentecost. Jesus told them to wait (tarry) until the promise at Pentecost (Acts 1:4). This matches exactly with Jonas' 3 days of testimony and 37 days of no testimony/waiting to which Jesus Himself compared for these End Times.

This single salvation plan has always remained consistent from the Old Testament through the New Testament. The Lord has used different ways of broadcasting the Truth throughout time such as through individuals, then the Temple, the Church Age and finally back to individuals with the Great Multitude which no man can number. But the theme has always remained the same... the Lord chooses whom He wants to save for His kingdom. It is not by the works of any person.

As shown below, the Lord has given us 4 separate examples showing His salvation plan has 4 distinct periods of time before receiving the promise.

Period of famine

"three years and six months"

Period of time in the fish

"three days and three nights"

Time within the earth

"three days and three nights"

Period of rain

Warning the people

"three days' journey"

Preached to disciples

"the third time"

Period of waiting upon the Lord

Period of waiting outside the gate

Period of waiting

(non-consecutive)

These 5100 days of this GT

370 days of this symbolic Noah's Flood

37 years = 23 + 14 years of this GT

13,037th year of Creation ending at 2025

Raptured to the Promised Land

Became citizens of the Promised Land

Ascended to the Promised Land

Will be raptured to the Promised Land

The Great Multitude preaches

"a time, times, and a half"

Period of famine within Church

Believers are tread upon