Twelve

1             12/12/12 is the last of the consecutive type dates for 100 years. This is a once-in-a-century date. The lucky couples who have succeeded in booking 12-12-12 are amongst a very select few in the world with such a memorable wedding anniversary. It is interesting to learn why the number 12 has such deep significance to our lives. The number 12 is a number of perfection and completeness. I thought I would take a minute to discuss the number 12 and the great significance of this number.

2             Do you realize how often we see and use this number? There are 12 eggs in a dozen. There are 12 months in a year. 12 people in a jury.  When you give roses how many do you give - 12 of course. An octave in music has 12 pitches.  A deck of cards has 12 face cards.  Donuts and Sodas come in a group of 12 at the store. Beer, most commonly packaged in a 12 pack. A perfect game in bowling is 12 strikes in a row.  Is it a coincidence that the greatest football player ever wore no. 12? (Roger Staubach)

3             The human body has 12 cranial nerves. And twelve pairs of ribs. Our body has 12 openings. (you have to count the belly button and nipples for those trying to check me on that) The human vertebral column or spine has 24 vertebrae. Counting them is almost like counting the hours in a day. And then of those 24, there are 12 central vertebrae making up the spine.

4             There are twelve signs of the Zodiac - 24 hours in a day, the hours are numbered 1 to 12. The basic units of time, 60 seconds, 60 minutes, 24 hours, all units of 12. There are 12 inches in a foot.

5             The number 12 is a most dominant number in the Bible. As you will see, twelve is the perfect number, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

6             Old Testament:

-There were 12 sons of Jacob, whose families formed the 12 tribes of Israel.

-The high priest’s breastplate, used for judgment, had 12 stones representing the 12 tribes.

-The showbread was always on a specially dedicated table in the temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God and consisted of 12 loaves.

-Solomon appointed 12 officers over Israel.

              New Testament

-At age 12, Jesus appeared at the temple.

-Jesus ordained 12 apostles, who were sent with authority to preach the Gospel and to be witnesses of His resurrection.

-The Book of Revelation speaks of the coming of Christ in the last day and we find the number 12 over and over.

            -At Christ return the number of the Sealed will be 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel,         
            totaling 144,000.

            -A second 144,000 are gathered from the earth to serve the Lamb and follow Him.

            -The bride of Christ is pictured with a crown of 12 stars.

            -The New Jerusalem has 12 gates of pearls, 12 angels at the gates and the names of the 12 tribes 
            of Israel over the gates.

            -The wall of the city has 12 foundations of precious stones; in them are the names of the 12 apostles.

            -The wall is 144 cubits high (12 x 12). The city is 12,000 furlongs square.

7             In the beginning, when God created the world, there were 12 steps. The creation story outlines how he carefully created one after the other:
            1. Heavens and Earth
            2. Day
            3. Night
            4. Sky
            5. Land
            6. Sea
            7. Vegetation
            8. Lights in the sky, that would mark sacred times, and days,
            seasons and years.
            9. Every creature of the sea.
           10. Birds of all kinds.
           11. Livestock and animals of all kind.
           12. Mankind in his image and likeness

8             The numbers 1,2 and 3 are all prime numbers and are symbolic of creation through the holy trinity. The number 12 would be reduced in numerology as 1+2=3, which means that the number 12 is also symbolic of the trinity.

9             The number 12 is our Lord’s number of completeness. And with careful analysis you’ll notice that Man, a Divine creature, is linked to Heaven both spiritually and physically, even eternally, through the number 12.

10            And then, there are of course the 12 days of Christmas.

11            All successful endeavors should be crafted around the number 12. If you are writing a book, it should have 12 chapters. If you are releasing a CD, put 12 songs on it. If you are making a documentary, divide it into 12 episodes. If you start a rent-a-car business, start out with 12 cars. Divide a difficult work into 12 phases. If you are forming a committee or board, try to choose twelve members. Everything a group of twelve does will become important. Their activity could even change history, at least within a certain micro-world. If a group of 12 stands up against you, you have to know that it is impossible to break down such a group and you should take their activities very seriously.

12            You will soon discover how much better your life is because you took time to attune yourself to the number 12. You will take great satisfaction in these choices and that all your work emerging from such a start will be much more successful if centered around the number 12. I urge all to think of all the many ways you can start incorporating this great number into your life. If you make a list, make sure that list has 12 items. I made sure this article had 12 paragraphs. The number 12 can be a great great blessing in your life. God used the number over and over because it is significant. We can do the same in our life. And a wedding on the date of 12/12/12 has to have special blessings for sure.