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Many of the numbers in the Bible
have deeper prophetic or spiritual significance. Both in the Old and New Testaments,
numbers reveal hidden concepts and meanings that commonly escape the casual
reader. And throughout history, men with great minds, like Augustine, Isaac
Newton, and Leonardo Di Vinci, showed more than just a passing curiosity
regarding the importance of biblical numbers. Once more, Jesus said, “The very hairs of your head are numbered”
(Matthew 10:30). So obviously, Bible numbers should be carefully considered.
At least 12 numbers in the Bible stand out in this regard: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 40, 50, and 70. In order to express this truth, one or two biblical examples have been given below. However, much more can be said on this subject, so these examples serve merely as an introduction and are not exhaustive by any means.
1 – represents absolute singleness and
unity (Ephesians 4:4–6; John 17:21, 22.) (We presume readers need no more than
these two citations, as most of the biblical information regarding unity and
singleness is common knowledge.) 2 – represents the truth of God’s Word;
for example, the law and prophets (John 1:45), two or three witnesses (2
Corinthians 13:1), and a sword with two edges (Hebrews 4:12). See Mark 6:7 and
Revelation 11:3. It is also used 21 times in the books of Daniel and
Revelation. 3 – represents the Godhead / Trinity.
The angels cry “Holy” three times to the triune God (Isaiah 6:3). See also
Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7, 8. 4 – represents universal truth, as in
the four directions (north, south, east, west) and the four winds (Matthew
24:31; Revelation 7:1; Revelation 20:8). In acts 10:11, a sheet with four
corners symbolizes the gospel going to all the gentiles. 5 – represents teaching. First, there
are the five books of Moses. Second, Jesus taught about the five wise virgins
and used five barley loaves used to feed the 5,000. 6 – represents the worship of man, and
is the number of man, signifying his rebellion, imperfection, works, and
disobedience. It is used 273 times in the Bible, including its derivatives
(e.g, sixth) and another 91 times as “threescore” or “60.” Man was created on
the sixth day (Genesis 1:26, 31). See also Exodus 31:15 and Daniel 3:1. The number is especially
significant in the book Revelation, as “666” identifies the beast. “Here is
wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it
is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six”
(Revelation 13:18). 7 – represents perfection, and is the
sign of God, divine worship, completions, obedience, and rest. The “prince” of
Bible numbers, it is used 562 times, including its derivatives (e.g., seventh,
sevens). (See Genesis 2:1–4, Psalm 119:164, and Exodus 20:8–11 for just a few
of the examples.) The number seven is also
the most common in biblical prophecy, occurring 42 times in Daniel and
Revelation alone. In Revelation there are seven churches, seven spirits, seven
golden candlesticks, seven stars, seven lamps, seven seals, seven horns, seven
eyes, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven thousand slain in a
great earthquake, seven heads, seven crowns, seven last plagues, seven golden
vials, seven mountains, and seven kings. 10 – represents law and restoration. Of
course, this includes the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20. See also Matthew
25:1 (ten virgins); Luke 17:17 (ten lepers); Luke 15:8 (healing, ten silver
coins). 12 – represents the church and God’s
authority. Jesus had 12 disciples, and there were 12 tribes of 40 – represents a generation and times
of testing. It rained for 40 days during the flood. Moses spent 40 years in the
desert, as did the children of 50 – represents power and celebration. The
Jubilee came after the 49th year (Leviticus 25:10), and Pentecost occurred 50
days after Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2).
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