Bible Basics

Symbolic Numbers

It was pointed out last week that the book of Revelation communicates through the use of signs and symbols as these things were “signified” to John by the Lord (Rev. 1:1).  To understand the meaning of the book we must recognize this language as symbolic.  This is especially true with reference to the use of numbers. The apocalyptic writings employed numbers in a symbolic manner, with certain numbers carrying a definite meaning.  To take these numbers literally, is to miss the teaching of the book and pervert the message. The numbers one, two, three, four, six, seven, ten and twelve are all used in symbolic fashion throughout the book.  For instance, the number three became the symbol of the “divine” as it represented the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  In contrast, the number four represented the “world in which men lived, worked, and died.”  Reference is often made to the four corners of the earth: north, south, east and west.  By combining numbers, other symbols resulted.  When the number four (“world”) is added to the number three (“divine”), the result is seven, the most sacred number among the Hebrews.  Seven was considered to be the “perfect divine number” and indicated that which was whole.  The careful student will recognize the symbolic nature of numbers in the book of Revelation.

                                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

Bible Basics