Numbers in Revelation

Numbers in Revelation

Mark W. Wilson

Numbers play an important literary and structural role in Revelation. Whether the numbers are to be interpreted literally or symbolically is a much-debated hermeneutical problem. The meaning of some numbers is interpreted. For example, in 1:20 the seven stars and seven golden lamp stands are identified as seven angels and seven churches. However, most numbers are not interpreted. Revelation’s numerology draws on ancient Jewish cosmology in the Old Testament. The numbers four, seven, twelve, and their multiples have particular significance. Four stands for cosmic completeness, and is the number of living creatures around the throne. Four angels restrain the four winds in the four corners of the earth from prematurely harming the earth before the saints can be sealed.

Seven is the most frequently used number and symbolizes perfection and completeness. The Holy Spirit is repeatedly called the “seven spirits” or “sevenfold Spirit.” Seven is also used as a structuring device. Revelation is addressed to seven churches in Asia (1:11; 2:1—3:22). The three judgment cycles feature seven seals (6:1—8:1), seven trumpets (8:2—11:19), and seven bowls of seven plagues (15:1—16:21). The great prostitute sits on a beast with seven heads. The number’s meaning here is polyvalent: the seven heads are interpreted both as Rome’s seven hills and also as seven kings who ruled the empire in the first century (17:3, 9). The identity of these seven emperors is much debated by scholars.

Probably the best-known number in Revelation is 666. John exhorted his audience to calculate the number of the beast—a man—using this isopsephism, or gematria (13:18). In the Greek and Hebrew languages, letters were also used as numbers. The sum of the letters in a name could thus be converted to a number (see the article on Bible Codes). Throughout church history there has been much speculation about this individual’s identity, and various antichrist figures have been associated with 666. Many scholars believe that 666 refers to the Hebrew gematria of the Emperor Nero, NERON KAISAR. Nero conducted the first general persecution of Christians after the fire in Rome in AD 64, and during his reign both Peter and Paul were martyred.

The number twelve likewise represents completeness as well as unity in diversity. Twelve doubled equals the twenty-four elders on twenty-four thrones around the heavenly throne (4:4). There are twelve gates in the heavenly city inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There are also twelve foundations; on them are the names of the twelve apostles (21:12, 14). The square of twelve is the thickness of the city, 144 cubits; twelve times one thousand is the size of the city cubed (21:16—17). Twelve squared times one thousand equals the number of God’s servants from the twelve tribes of Israel, the 144,000 (7:4;14:1,3).

The Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook - New Testament