The book of Revelation, rich in symbolism and prophecy, uses numerous numerical values to convey divine messages. Modern translations strive to preserve these original numerical values, though interpretations may vary. This expanded examination will explore all the numerical values in Revelation, their significance, and scholarly insights to highlight their accuracy and meaning within biblical prophecy.
Word Count: 1448 / Time to read: 8 minutes
Commonly Used Numbers in Revelation
The Number 7
The number 7 appears frequently in Revelation, symbolizing completeness and divine perfection.
Examples:
- Seven Churches: Revelation 1:4 mentions seven churches in Asia, representing the complete body of Christ.
- Seven Spirits: Revelation 1:4 also speaks of seven spirits before God’s throne, often interpreted as the Holy Spirit in His fullness.
- Seven Lampstands: Revelation 1:12-13 describes seven golden lampstands, symbolizing the seven churches.
- Seven Stars: Revelation 1:16 identifies seven stars as the angels of the seven churches.
- Seven Seals: Revelation 5:1 introduces a scroll sealed with seven seals, representing the unfolding of God’s judgment.
- Seven Trumpets: Revelation 8:2 details seven angels with seven trumpets, heralding further judgments.
- Seven Bowls: Revelation 16:1 speaks of seven bowls of God’s wrath, poured out upon the earth.
Scholarly Insight:
- John Walvoord: Walvoord emphasizes that the number 7 consistently signifies completeness and perfection in God’s purposes.
- Charles Ryrie: Ryrie points out that the frequent use of 7 underscores the divine orchestration of the events described in Revelation.
The Number 12
The number 12 symbolizes God’s people and divine governance.
Examples:
- 144,000 Sealed: Revelation 7:4 mentions 144,000 (12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel), representing a remnant of Israel.
- New Jerusalem: Revelation 21:12-14 describes the New Jerusalem with 12 gates and 12 foundations, symbolizing the unity and completeness of God’s people.
Scholarly Insight:
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum: Fruchtenbaum emphasizes the symbolic importance of 12, relating it to the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles, indicating the fullness of God’s people.
- John MacArthur: MacArthur highlights that the number 12 signifies organizational completeness and divine authority, especially in the context of the New Jerusalem.
The Number 1,000
The number 1,000 often denotes a large, complete, or perfect quantity.
Examples:
- Millennium: Revelation 20:2-7 describes a 1,000-year reign of Christ, known as the Millennium, a period of peace and divine rule.
Scholarly Insight:
- Lewis Sperry Chafer: Chafer discusses the literal interpretation of the 1,000-year reign, emphasizing its significance in dispensational premillennialism.
- John Walvoord: Walvoord supports the literal understanding of the Millennium, seeing it as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ’s earthly reign.
The Number 666
The number 666 is the most infamous number in Revelation, symbolizing imperfection and the mark of the beast.
Examples:
- Mark of the Beast: Revelation 13:18 mentions 666 as the number of the beast, representing ultimate human imperfection and rebellion against God.
Scholarly Insight:
- Tim LaHaye: LaHaye interprets 666 as symbolic of humanity’s fallenness and opposition to God’s perfection, represented by the number 7.
- Mark Hitchcock: Hitchcock notes that 666 emphasizes the contrast between God’s divine completeness and human imperfection and rebellion.
Other Numerical Values in Revelation
The Number 4
The number 4 often represents universality or completeness in creation.
Examples:
- Four Living Creatures: Revelation 4:6-8 describes four living creatures around God’s throne, symbolizing all of creation.
- Four Corners of the Earth: Revelation 7:1 mentions four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds.
Scholarly Insight:
- John MacArthur: MacArthur notes that the number 4 signifies the universality of God’s creation and His authority over the entire world.
- Charles Ryrie: Ryrie emphasizes the completeness of creation as represented by the four living creatures and the four winds.
The Number 3
The number 3 often symbolizes the divine or completeness in terms of God’s presence and actions.
Examples:
- Three Woes: Revelation 8:13 announces three woes that are to come upon the earth, representing severe judgments.
- Three Frogs: Revelation 16:13 describes three unclean spirits like frogs, symbolizing evil spirits leading kings to battle.
Scholarly Insight:
- John Walvoord: Walvoord highlights that the number 3 often emphasizes the intensity and completeness of divine judgment.
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum: Fruchtenbaum connects the use of 3 to the Trinity, symbolizing divine completeness and authority.
The Number 10
The number 10 represents completeness in terms of human government and responsibility.
Examples:
- Ten Horns: Revelation 13:1 describes the beast with ten horns, symbolizing complete political power.
- Ten Kings: Revelation 17:12 mentions ten kings who receive authority for one hour with the beast.
Scholarly Insight:
- J. Dwight Pentecost: Pentecost discusses the number 10 in relation to human government, emphasizing its completeness and the totality of power given to the beast and his kingdom.
- Tim LaHaye: LaHaye interprets the ten horns and ten kings as symbols of complete political authority under the Antichrist.
The Number 24
The number 24 is associated with the representation of God’s people in heaven.
Examples:
- Twenty-Four Elders: Revelation 4:4 describes twenty-four elders seated around the throne, representing the redeemed of God.
Scholarly Insight:
- Charles Ryrie: Ryrie notes that the twenty-four elders symbolize the totality of the redeemed from both the Old and New Testaments.
- John Walvoord: Walvoord emphasizes that the number 24 signifies the complete representation of God’s people in worship.
Measurements of Armies, Distances, and Horsemen
200 Million Horsemen
Revelation 9:16 mentions an army of 200 million horsemen, one of the most enigmatic figures in the book.
Scripture Reference: “The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand—I heard their number.”
Scholarly Insight:
- John Walvoord: Walvoord sees this massive number as emphasizing the overwhelming and unstoppable force of this judgment.
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum: Fruchtenbaum suggests that this number could symbolize a massive demonic army rather than a human military force.
1,600 Stadia (Distance)
Revelation 14:20 describes the distance over which the blood will flow up to the horses’ bridles.
Scripture Reference: “They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.”
Scholarly Insight:
- Charles Ryrie: Ryrie explains that 1,600 stadia is approximately 180 miles, symbolizing extensive and severe judgment.
- John MacArthur: MacArthur interprets this as a vivid depiction of the magnitude of God’s wrath during the end times.
12,000 Stadia (Measurement of New Jerusalem)
Revelation 21:16 gives the dimensions of the New Jerusalem.
Scripture Reference: “The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.”
Scholarly Insight:
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum: Fruchtenbaum notes that 12,000 stadia is approximately 1,400 miles, signifying the vastness and perfection of the New Jerusalem.
- John Walvoord: Walvoord emphasizes the cube shape of the city as symbolizing the holy of holies, indicating perfect fellowship with God.
144 Cubits (Wall Thickness of New Jerusalem)
Revelation 21:17 describes the thickness of the wall of the New Jerusalem.
Scripture Reference: “He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by human measurement, which the angel was using.”
Scholarly Insight:
- Charles Ryrie: Ryrie interprets this as approximately 200 feet, emphasizing the security and strength of the New Jerusalem.
- John MacArthur: MacArthur highlights the significance of this measurement in showcasing the grandeur and divine protection of the city.
Modern Translations and Numerical Values
Modern translations of Revelation strive to accurately convey the numerical values found in the original Greek text. Generally, these translations do not alter the numerical values but may vary in how they interpret the significance of these numbers.
Examples:
- NIV, ESV, KJV: Major modern translations like the New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), and King James Version (KJV) and others retain the original numerical values. Differences may arise in the footnotes or commentary provided by study Bibles associated with these translations.
Conclusion
The numbers in Revelation are carefully preserved in modern translations and are interpreted with a view toward their symbolic and theological significance. Scholars such as John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, Arnold Fruchtenbaum, and others emphasize the importance of understanding these numbers within the context of biblical prophecy and divine revelation. The consistency in numerical values across modern translations underscores the effort to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the biblical text. As such, the numbers used in Revelation should be understood as both accurate and profoundly meaningful in their prophetic context.
This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
Revelation 13:18
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
