Numbers
The Significance And Symbolism Of Numbers
In The Book Of The Revelation
Study of the Book of Revelation, Part 2
Timothy C. McKeown
What the significance of numbers in
Revelation is a matter of interpretation, but that the numbers have significance is not in dispute. Revelation
It is incorrect
to call the study of numbers in the Bible “numerology.” Such a name conjures up
practices in the occult which are inconsistent with the Bible. However, to
ignore or fail to study the repeated use of numbers, especially three, six,
seven, and twelve, and multiples of those, would be a disservice to the
Scriptures and an incomplete study of the book. This study is by no means
exhaustive, but it will delve into the most significant elements of numbers and
their symbolisms. The practical relevance of the study is to affirm the
divinity and wonder of the Scriptures, to alert us to the corresponding
significance (for instance, upon seeing a theme of the number three, we should
look for the holiness or heavenly significance of the passage), and to help in
interpreting the objects corresponding to the numbers.
Perhaps the
most discussed number in the book of Revelation comes from Rev. 13:18: “Here is wisdom. Let him who has
understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man:
His number is 666.” The speculation that this number refers to Nero Caesar
is a forced and false interpretation, since Nero had been dead for nearly 30
years by the writing of Revelation and also because the number is only arrived
if you spell Nero as “Neron Kaisar”. More recent false designations have been
Ronald Wilson Reagan (six letters in each name), Henry Kissinger, Hitler,
Mussolini, the Pope, you name it.
The most
repeated number in Revelation is seven and its multiples and divided in half,
it is 3 ½ or sometimes seen as 42 months or 1260 days (a Jewish month is
exactly 30 days). The number seven is used 31 times in the Greek, and
represents a holy completion by God. With the Tribulation period existing for
seven years in length, it is the final pouring out of wrath from God upon the
earth, but it is also the time when an almost innumerable amount of persons
will possibly come to Christ from every part of the earth.
Of all the
significant words used in the book of Revelation, the singular and plural form
of “angel” is one of the most recurring. From the Greek word aggelos, the word
literally means messenger. It is likely that the angels of the seven churches
are in fact the pastors, or messengers of the church, since the Lord Jesus
would not need to communicate with them via a letter from John. The following
study will show that the word angel is used exactly 72 times in the Greek, a
holy number signifying three times 24, or the number of representatives from
the Old Testament tribes of
When the angels
are not grouped together, there are exactly:
7 angels who
stand alone
3 groups of
angels which are in threes (the number of heaven and holiness)
2 groups of
angels grouped in fours (the number of the earth)
3 groups of
angels which are in sevens (including the seven “angels” of the churches)
7 groups of
numerous angels which are only mentioned once in Revelation.
If this seems
confusing, realize that this is merely one study of numbers as it relates to
one group: angels. Volumes could be written on other divine numberings within
the book of Revelation.
At the end of
this study, we will see that Revelation also contains three signs in
heaven, three voices from the throne in heaven, seven voices from
heaven, and exactly 21 “great” (Greek: mega)
voices from heaven (21 is the heavenly number of 3 times the completed by God
number of 7).
We would be
wise to listen to what the voices say…
Any of these numbers squared (times itself) intensifies the significance. The division of these diminishes and incompletes the significance (half of seven years is 3 1/2 years or 42 months or 1260 days). A multiple of one number to another number combines the two; for example, Jerusalem comes to earth from heaven with three (heavenly) gates on four (earthly) sides.
Number |
Significance |
Example |
1 “One” |
Unity, Shortness, Suddenness |
1 mind ( 1 day (18:8); 1 hour ( |
2 “Two” |
Companionship, testimony, |
2-edged sword, 2 olive trees, 2 lampstands, 2 witnesses, 2 eagle
wings, 2 beasts (1 out of the sea, 1 out of the earth), 2 horns like a lamb,
2 beasts cast into lake of fire alive, 2 causes of persecution (word of God
and testimony of Jesus—1:9, 6:9, 12:17, 20:4) |
3 “Three” |
Holiness, divinity, heaven, Holy Trinity Refers to “Unholy Trinity” of Dragon, Beast and False Prophet A short completion |
“Holy, holy, holy” (4:8), “woe,
woe, woe” (8:13), 1st woe, a star from heaven (9:1), 2nd woe, an angel from heaven, and 3rd woe,
Satan, the accuser cast down from
heaven (12:12), 3 signs in heaven (12:1, 3, 15:1), 3 gates on each side
of the holy, heavenly city (21:13); after three days, witnesses ascend to
heaven (11:11) |
4 “Four” |
The Earth (Four seasons: fall, winter, spring, summer; four
directions: North, South, East, West), Creation. Creatures on earth and under the earth give four ascriptions of praise
to the Lamb ( |
4 winds, 4 compass directions, 4 signs on earth (13:13, 13:14, 16:14,
19:20), 4 sides on holy city (21:13), 4 squared city (21:16), 4 times there
is a 4-fold description of the world (nation, tribe, people and tongue, 5:9,
11:9, 13:7, 14:6), 4 living creatures, 4 angels to harm the earth (Rev. 7:2),
4 angels bound on earth (at Euphrates, where creation began, 9:13ff and Gen.
2:14) |
5 “Five” and 10 “Ten” |
Mankind, human government, able to be counted, measured, finite completion
by or for mankind. |
5 months to torment men ( 10 crowns (13:1), 10 horns/kings ( |
6 “Six” |
Short of holiness of God. Fall of humanity, |
666, falling short of complete number of seven three times. |
7 “Seven” |
Holy Completion by or for God (beginning with the days of creation); Those in heaven give seven ascriptions of praise to the Lamb ( |
7 lampstands, stars, angels, churches, lamps, spirits,
seals, eyes, horns, trumpets, plagues, vials, bowls, thunders, heads of the
beast, crowns/diadems, mountains, kings; Blesseds (1:3, 14:13, 16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7, 14) “I ams” (1:8 Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, 1:11 - the
first and the last, 1:18 - he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am
alive for evermore, 2:23 - he which searcheth the reins and hearts, 22:16 -
the root and the offspring of David, 22:16 - the bright and morning star) |
12 “Twelve” 24 “Twenty-four” 12,000 |
God’s people, God’s Rule |
12 stars (12:1); gates, angels, tribes ( 24 elders; 12,000 sealed in 12 tribes (7:5-8); 12,000 furlongs ( |
42 months |
42 months (same as 1,260 days) or 3 ½ years |
Number of months Gentiles will tread the holy city underfoot (11:2),
time authority given to AntiChrist (beast out of the sea) to continue (Rev. 13: 5) |
1,260 days |
42 months times 30 days, or 3 ½ years |
Days given to two witnesses to prophesy (11:3), Days woman is fed in
wilderness (12:6) |
144,000 |
12,000 times 12 |
Rev. 7:4; 14:1, 3 |
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