In reading the Bible, it soon becomes apparent that certain numbers occur more frequently than we would expect. From the context it is soon apparent that some of these numbers have symbolic as well as literal meaning.
The Number 2
When we look through the scriptures we find that God often uses the number two as a signification for agreement, and by implication, truth. And because God has declared that the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth (1st Timothy 3:15), this number is also often used in association with it. It's the numerical symbolism of a faithful (truthful) witness or testimony. i.e., one being in agreement or a "confirming" witness of another. For example, the two witnesses spoken about in the book of Revelation chapter eleven. They are the Lord's faithful witnesses who bear testimony to the truth! Therefore are they spoken of as "two" witnesses, signifying that they come with the truth. In fact, we can readily see that the designation of two witnesses has always been the guide post that God has used for "establishing agreement of truth." From scripture we see that from the very beginning God instituted this number as the guide post for truth.
Numbers 35:30 "Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die." Matthew 18:16 "But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." John 8:17 "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.." Luke 10:1 "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them Two and Two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come." Mark 6:7 "And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits." Acts 1:10 "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel: Or again, God illustrates truth with this number in Hebrews six. Hebrews 6:17-18 "Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, Confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to LIE, we might have a strong consolation..." 1st Timothy 3:15 "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth". The Church is identified with the number two because it is the Pillar and ground of the truth. The faithful servant and witness of God.
The Number 3
Another of the numbers where we can readily see God use it in a spiritual sense to signify something, is the number three. It is used of God to signify His Purpose or His Will! The same illustration is seen as God brought a thick darkness upon the land of Egypt (exodus 10:22-23) for three days. In this, God's purpose and sovereign will of judgment is worked out. The number three illustrated that it was for God's purposes that they were in darkness while all the Children of Israel had light!
We can see this in the three times in a year God commanded that the men of Israel were to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem (Ex. 23:14,17 Deu. 16:16). This illustrated the will and purpose of God in the feasts Laws, which all pointed to Christ! In 2nd Samuel 21:1 the Lord sends famine in the land for three years, and says it was because of Saul and his bloody house. In other words, it was God's will that this happen, and the purpose of God in doing this was to bring judgment because of Saul's bloody House. Another example is in 1st kings 17:21 as Elijah stretches forth his body over a dead child three times, and the child lives again. This signified that it was God's will and for His own purpose that the child should yet live again, a type or spiritual "shadow" of things to come. Again, as the Lord said His servant Isaiah walked naked and barefoot three years as a Sign (signification) and a wonder upon Egypt (Isaiah 20:3), once more indicating God's will and purpose for Egypt. Even when we look at the three men who were cast into the furnace of fire, and a fourth who was there like the Son of God (Daniel 3:24-25), we see that it was God's will and purpose that these three men would not be harmed by the fire because of the presence of the Son of God. This was demonstrating that by the presence of Christ, the will and purpose of God that His people not be harmed in the fire, will be accomplished. These are just a few of the examples, and we could go on and on about this. These places where the number three is found is numerical symbology which is putting forth spiritual truths, that we can learn from as we consider them. For in three, God works out His purpose and His will. As Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so it indicated it was for God's purpose, and that His will would be worked out in this (Again, a type of Christ).
Acts 9:9
"And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink."
Acts 10:16
"This was done thrice (3 times): and the vessel was received up again into heaven."
One of the greatest places to see this numerical symbology is in that there is only one God, and yet there are three in the Godhead. The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
1st John 5:7
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one".
2nd Corinthians 12:8:
"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice (three times) that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My Grace is sufficient for thee.."
Matthew 18:19-20
"Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered in My name, there Am I in the midst of them."
The Number 4
There are many other numbers which carry great spiritual significance, just as the numbers two and three does. The number four for example illustrates the universality of something. Derived from the four compass directions being all points, all directions, or everywhere.
Ezekiel 7:2
"Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God unto the land of Israel; an end, the end is come upon the four corners of the earth."
The earth of course doesn't have four corners, but God uses this language to show that the end is come universally upon the all the land. On every compass direction, on every part. The number four illustrates this universality.
Acts 10:11, 11:5
"And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth."
And of course, with further study we come to understand that this was to show us that Salvation was going to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. I.e., there would be universal Salvation! Salvation to all parts of the earth, to every nation and kindred and land. Again,
Revelation 7:1
"And after these things I saw four Angels standing on the FOUR corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree."
Again, four angels, four corners of the earth, four winds of the earth. Universal judgment over the earth everywhere, being held back by the angels of God. The Earth, universally is kept from this "until" God seals His servants in their foreheads. Then and only then will this universal judgment occur. The number four (Winds, Angels, Corners of the earth) signify this is a worldwide judgment. It is everywhere present.
Revelation 20:8
"And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, God and magog, to gather them together to battle..."
The nations from the four quarters of the earth is again a picture illustrating universality. I.e., all the nations of all parts of the world. Jesus uses the same type language as he speaks of his return, declaring,
Matthew 24:31
"And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a Trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another."
In other words, all the Elect (chosen) universally will be gathered together from all parts. This symbolism is seen consistently in scripture. We see the same principle demonstrated in scriptures about the four carpenters, the the four horns of the Altar, the four Spirits of Heaven, the four beasts, etc., etc. They are all illustrative of the universality of whatever is in view.
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, it was giving us a picture of the resurrection wherein we all (believers) would be made alive.
John 11:17
"Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already".
The Number 6
One number which there has been a couple of popular ideas about what it might represent, is the number 6. When we look at the number six in scripture, it most often deals with the application of "work" in the world. In fact, even in the chapter of Genesis that many use to claim it represents man, it clearly signified the completion of work days. i.e., in six days, work was complete, and on the seventh there was Rest! The emphasis was on the number 6 being days of work, not on it being the day man was created (which was a work of God). And this theme of work is what is usually seen being illustrated by the number six all throughout scripture. It was the time that God spent doing His Work, and it is the time we are likewise told to work!
Genesis 1:31 - 2:1
"And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
And on the seventh day God ended His WORK which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made."
Exodus 20:9-11
"Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord Thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."
Jeremiah 34:13-14
"...I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying,
at the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee..."
Hebrews 4:11
"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after that same example of unbelief."
This is also seen in verses like,
Revelation 14:13
"...Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may REST from their labours; and their WORKS do follow them."
Exodus 23:10
"And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor and the needy shall eat."
Sometimes the meaning of the number 6 is less conspicuous. For example in a verse like Ezekiel 46:1 when talking about the Sanctuary,
"Thus saith the Lord God; the gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened."
1st Kings 10:19
"The Throne had six steps, and the top of the throne round behind:...."
Deuteronomy 16:8
"Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord Thy God: thou shalt do no work therein." This is the prevailing illustration of the number six in scripture. It's the time that God has assigned in the world for work. Whether it be us, or God Himself. The number six
The Number 12
The number twelve is another prime example of spiritual significance. In other words, God uses this number to show us some spiritual truth in it's application. Would we be prudent Bible students in thinking that it has no meaning besides a count, and it's mere coincidence the places which it is found? No, we would be negligent to think so. In my studies I have found that the number twelve spiritually points to the Congregation of God. A good example would be the twelve brothers, the twelve sons of Jacob who were the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. This was the Old Testament congregation, or Children of God. The number twelve spiritually signified this! These twelve sons were not a coincidental number of births, they were God ordained! Likewise, the significance is passed on after the cross as the twelve apostles became the New Testament representative of the congregation or Children of God. The exact same spiritual number attached to God's congregation on both sides of the cross. We can see this brought forth Gloriously as in Revelation 21, the Bride of Christ, the New Jerusalem (Thee Church) comes down from Heaven.
Revelation 21:12
"And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the Twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel:"
Revelation 21:14
"And the wall of the City had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the Twelve Apostles of the lamb."
Mark 5:42
"And straightway the damsel arose and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. and they were astonished with a great astonishment."
Matthew 26:53-54
"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve Legions of Angels?
But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"
Mark 5:25
"And a certain Woman which had an issue of blood twelve years.."
Mark 5:30
"And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press and said, who touched My Clothes."
The Number 40
The number forty in scripture often illustrates a time of trial or testing. For example as the Lord tried/tested Israel in the wilderness.
Deuteronomy 8:2
"And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments or no."
The Lord tried (proved) them forty years in the wilderness. The word proved means to test! It was God's testing program to see if they would keep His commandments and be faithful. The number forty signified this. we see the same testing as Jesus Christ was tried of Satan forty days in the Wilderness.
Mark 1:13
"and He was there in the Wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan."
likewise, after Christ was killed, He proved Himself forty days.
Acts 1:3
"to whom He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of things pertaining to the Kingdom of God."
The Numbers 10, 100, 1000
The Numbers ten and it's multiples (100, 1000) often illustrates the Fullness of whatever is in view, without it "necessarily" being the totality. As a practical illustration, monday would be a full day, but not the totality of the week. Likewise ten would represent the fullness or completeness of that particular day, but not necessarily the totality of the whole week which that day is part of. A perfect Biblical example is the Beast of Revelation chapter 12 and chapter 17, with it's 7 heads and 10 horns. The number seven illustrates the totality or total length of time of Satan's authority (heads) and rule (crowns), while the ten horns illustrates His rule only near the end of the world. i.e., as said in Revelation 17, the ten horns had no kingdom as yet (when revelation was written), but is prophesied to reign one hour with the Beast. The ten horns signified the fullness of time (10) that these kings would have power (horns) to reign with the beast. It's called a short season, but it is the fullness of time within the time context of the rule of this Beast! That number ten signifies that fullness of time.
Likewise, the multiples of ten, as ten times ten (100) or ten times one hundred (1000) illustrate the completeness or fulness of whatever is in view, without it necessarily being the totality of it. As an example, look at the parable of the silver money.
Luke 15:8
"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?"
,
Luke 15:3-5
"And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing".
Isaiah 7:23
"And it shall come to pass in THAT DAY, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns. With arrows and with bows shall men come hither; because All he land shall become briers and thorns."
Deuteronomy 7:9
"Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;"
1st Chronicles 16:15
"Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,"
Psalms 105:8
"He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations."
The Significance of the Number 7 would be given under a different heading
