Symbolic Numbers and their meanings

Researcher Raven (HeavenLeigh)
SYMBOLIC NUMBERS AND THEIR MEANINGS.

One

This number when used figuratively, conveys the thought of singleness, uniqueness, as well as unity and agreement in purpose and action "Jehovah our god is one Jehovah" said Moses (Deut 6:4) He alone is sovereign. He does not share his glory with another as with the case of pagan trinitarian gods (Acts 4:24 Rev 6:10 Isa 42:8). There is oneness in purpose and activity between Jah and Jesus Christ (John 10:30) and complete unity of christs disciples with god and his son and with one another (John 17:21 Gal 3:28) such "oneness" is illustarted in the marriage arrangement (Gen 2: 24 Matt 19:6 Eph 5:28-32)

Two

The number two frequently appears in a legal setting. The accounts of two witnesses agreeing add to the force of the testimony. Two witnesses or even three were required to establish a matter before the judges. This principle is also followed in the christian congregation (Deut 17:6 19:15 Matt 18:16 2 Cor 13:1, 1 Tim 5:19, Heb 10:28 )God adhered to this principle in presenting his son to the people as mankinds savior. Jesus said "In your own law it is written "The witness of two men is true I am one that bears witness about myself and the father  who sent me bears witness about me" (John 8:17 18 ) In Daniels prophecy the beast having "two horns" symbolised duality in rulership of the Medo-Persian Empire (Dan 8: 20 21 compare also Rev13:11 )



Three

While two witnesses testifying to the same matter established proof sufficent for legal action, three made the testimony even stronger. The number three therefore is used  at times to represent "intensity" emphasis or "added strength" "A threefold cord cannot be quickly torn in two." (Eccl 4:12 )Emphasis was achieved in Jesus` threefold questioning of Peter after Peters three denials of Jesus (Matt 26: 34 75, John 21: 15- 17 ) The intensity of Jah`s holiness and cleanliness is emphasised by the declaration of heavenly creatures "Holy Holy Holy is Jehovah" (Isa 6:3 Rev 4: 8 )Before taking the last earthly king of the line of David off the throne, Jah said "A ruin, A ruin, A ruin I shall make it. As for this also it shall certainly become no ones  until  he comes who has the legal right, and I must give it to him".  Here he emphatically showed there would be no Davidic Kings sitting  upon the throne at Jerusalem in his name, the throne would be absolutely vacant until gods time to establish his Messiah in Kingdom power (Ezek 21:27 ) The intensity of woes to come to those dwelling on earth is forecast by the triple repetition of the declaration "woe" (Rev 8:13 )



Four

Four is a number sometimes expressing universalness or foursquareness in symmetry and form, it is found three times at Rev 7:1 Here the four angels (all those in charge of the "four winds" ready for complete destruction) stood on earths "four corners" (they could let the winds obliquely or diagonally and no quarter of the eath would be spared) (Compare Dan 8:8 Isa 11:12 Jer 49:36 Zechariah 2:6 Matt 24:31)  The New Jerusalem is "foursquare" equal in every dimension being in fact cubical in shape. (Rev 21: 16 ) Other figurative xpressions using this number four are found at Zechariah 1:18-21 - 6:1-3 Rev 9: 14.



Six

This number at times represents imperfection. The number of the wild beast is six hundred and sixty six, and is called a "mans number" indicating that it has to do with imperfect fallen man and seems to symbolise the imperfection of that which is represented by the wild beast.  The number six being raised to the third degree (the six appearing in the position of units, tens and hundreds) therefore emphasised the imperfection and deficiency of that which the beast represents or pictures (Rev 13: 18)



Seven

Seven is used frequently in the scriptures to signify completeness. At times it has reference to bringing a work to completion, or it can refer to a complete cycle of things as established or allowed by God. By completing his work toward the eath in six creative days and resting on the seventh day, Jehovah set the pattern for the whole sabbath arrangement from the seven-day week to the Jubilee year that followed the seven-times seven -year cycle( Ex 20: 10 Lev 25: 2, 6, 8)  The "seven congregations" of Revelation with their characteristics, give a complete picture of "all" the congregations of god on earth Rev 1:20 to 3:22. The "seven heads" of the wild beast (Rev 13:1 ) show the limit to which the beast would be allowed to develop, no more, no less, true the scarlett colored wild beast is called an "eighth" king,  nonetheless it springs from the seven and does not exist apart from the seven-headed wild beast (Rev 17: 3, 9: 11 )  The book of Revelation abounds with the use of the number seven in connection with the things of god and his congregations, and also the things of gods adversary Satan the Devil in his all out fight to oppose god and his people (Rev 1:4 12 16 5:1 6 8:2, 10: 3, 12:3, 13:1, 15:1 7, 17: 3 10 and numerous other texts.



Eight

The number eight was also used to add emphasis to the completeness of something (one more then seven, the number generally used for completeness thus sometimes representing abundance Jah reassured his people of deliverance from the threat of Assyria, saying that there should be raised up against the assyrian seven shepherds, yes (not merely seven, but ) eight dukes of mankind (Mic 5:5 )


Ten

Ten is a number denoting fullness, entirety, the aggregate, the sum of all that exists of something. It may be noted also that, where the number seven and ten are used together, the seven represents that which is higher or superior and ten represents  something of a subordinate nature. The ten plagues poured upon Egypt fully expressed Gods judgements and were all that was needed to humiliate fully the false gods of Egypt and to break the hold of Egypt upon Gods people (the israelites). One of the beasts in daniels vision and certain beasts described in Revelation had ten horns, These evidently represented all the powers or "kings" of earth making up the beastly arrangment (Dan 7: 7 ,20, 24 Rev 12:3 13:1 17:3,7,12 )

Twelve

The patriarch Jacob had twelve sons who became the foundations of the twelve tribes of Israel, their offspring were organised by god under the law covenant as  Gods nation. Twelve therefore seems to represent a complete, balanced, divinely constituted arrangement (Gen 35: 22 49: 28 ) The twelve apostles also were a divinely constituted arrangement (Matt 10: 2-4 Rev 21: 14 )  Multiples of twelve are also sometimes significant, David established twenty four divisions of the priesthood to serve by turn in the temple later built by solomen (1 Chron 24: 1- 18 ) this may assist in identifying the twenty four older persons seated roundabout gods throne in white outer garments and who were wearing crowns (Rev 4:4) these older persons could not just be the twelve apostles they may therefore represent the entire body of the royal priesthood the 144,000 (as represented in the twenty four priestly divisions serving at the temple) in their positions in the heavens, as crowned kings and priests. 1 Peter2: 9 Rev 7: 4-8 20: 6.

Forty

Periods of judgement or punishment seem to be associated with the number "forty" in a few instances Gen 7: 4 Ezek 29: 11, 12) Nineveh was given forty days to repent (Jonah 3: 4 ) Another use of the number points out a parallell in the life of Jesus Christ with that of Moses, who typified Christ. Both of these men experienced forty day periods of fasting (Ex 24: 13 34: 28 Deut 9: 9, 11 Matt 4: 1, 2.