The number three permeates Sacred Scriptures - it is accepted it is the number of perfection since God is Trinitarian. The Scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus for a ‘sign’ which would validate his claim that His authority to teach the people came from God and that He was indeed the Messiah. In response to their request, Jesus told them: 'For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth’ (Matthew 12v40) In the Old Testament: 3 times the Seraphim cry "Holy, Holy, Holy" (Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8). After the Great Flood mankind descended from the 3 sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 3 "men" announced to Abraham that his barren wife would bear a son (Genesis 18:14). Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son after a 3-day journey to Mt. Moriah (Genesis 22:1-4). Baby Moses was hidden by his mother for 3 months (Exodus 2:1), and the adult Moses requests of Pharaoh that he let Moses take his people on a 3 day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifice to their God (Exodus 3:18). Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of the great fish (Jonah 1:17); Jonah took a 3 day journey across the city of Nineveh (Jonah 3:3) In the New Testament: Mary stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months (Luke 1:56). Jesus was missing for 3 days when He was twelve years old (Luke 2:46). Jesus took 3 men, Peter, James and John, up on the Mt. of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1; Mark 2; Luke 9:28). Jesus prophesized that He would arise from the dead on the 3rd day (Matthew 16:21: 17:23; 20:19; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34; Luke 9:22; 18:33). Saul was blinded for 3 days (Acts 9:9). There are 3 theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity (1 Corinthians 13:13). The heavenly Jerusalem has 3 gates on each of its four sides (Revelation 21:13) God is Trinitarian Father, Son and Holy Ghost (thrice holy) Jesus – 3 years ministry died at 33 In the symbolic language of the Bible, a three day period points to an act of divine intervention which impacts Salvation History. Are you looking forward to the three days of darkness? (WINK)
I think the 3 days of darkness will be actual darkness as it was with the Israelites. I think it will come about because of the 3 years of the Antichrist. Mystics have given too explicit instructions for it to be anything else, as in only Blessed candles will give light during the 3 days of darkness.
Just worth noting: From St. Faustina's diary: I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first — by deed, the second — by word, the third— by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy (Diary, 742). Also: Write: I am Thrice Holy, and I detest the smallest sin. I cannot love a soul which is stained with sin; but when it repents, there is no limit to My generosity toward it. My mercy embraces and justifies it. With My mercy, I pursue sinners along all their paths, and My Heart rejoices when they return to Me. I forget the bitterness with which they fed My Heart and rejoice at their return (Diary, 1728). Interestingly, there is that word "thrice" again, Like "Mother Thrice Admirable"... and it may well not be Schoenstatt who came up with this first but that is where I heard it from: Mater ter admirabilis - Wikipedia It was never clarified whether the triple prayer refers to the Holy Trinity, to the triple virginity of the Virgin Mary (before, during and after birth), or, to the Mother of God, mother of the Redeemer and mother of the redeemed. So, I think this is important that at least, for the Mother of God, there does not seem to be one definite meaning as to "Thrice Admirable", three times in what ways?? (Tres Veces <three times> Admirable in Spanish)
I think of the daily 3 Hail Marys to honor Our Lady's purity: daughter of the Father Mother of the Son Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Thrice admirable!
This is an explicit sign of the Triunity of God in the Holy Scriptures. I don't understand how Jehovah's Witnesses do not see this.
