Chapter 7 – Numbers the Ultimate Sign
When folks discuss Eschatology – the study of last-day events, multiple signs and events are usually sighted; wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes in diverse places, famine, pestilence, natural disasters and the number one listed occurrence; deception (Matt. 24:5,11). However, one category that is rarely if ever mentioned are the numerical considerations, (numbers). There are numerous numbers mentioned in Scripture and bring to the table tremendous significance, however, these are often ignored by Bible scholars. The main reason for the disregard is all the past predictions that have failed. It’s time to take a closer look at the numbers. If you were ever asked to list the most important and prominent numbers in the Bible, what would your list include?
Take a minute and jot down a few that come to mind. There are many numbers that are used over and over again in Scripture which is a revelation of their importance and significance; others even apply specifically to God Himself. Just to see how your list compares with one I’ve put together, take a look at this baker’s dozen; 1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 40, 50, 120, 666, 1,260, 2,300, 144,000. Right away you’re saying, well what about this number or that other number, one that I was thinking of, but was not listed. There are certainly others, I’ve only listed some of the most prominent.
Numbers are significant because they are both literal and symbolic, as with the numbers listed in the book of Revelation. As an example, take one of the first mentioned numbers in chapter one, the 7 churches. There was a host of literal churches around Asia Minor during the 1st century, however, just seven specific ones were selected for a specific purpose. These 7 literal churches would also be symbolic of 7 specific periods of church history, extending even to the 2nd coming of Christ. Incidentally, all the numbers listed in the book of Revelation are both literal and symbolic, though folks like to debate only one perspective or the other with some of them.
Numbers also establish boundaries, set parameters, guide us to logical conclusions, assist in communications; indeed, it could be stated that numbers are the universal language. It should come as no surprise that God would use numbers to communicate important and significant events that would transpire throughout history.
There are many who are familiar with a numbering code called Gematria, also called the Bible code. This code is only possible due to the numerical value of the Hebrew letters themselves. Greek letters as well possess numerical value, and with the advent of the computer, it is easier now to calculate what could be hidden codes within the Old/New Testament Scriptures.
*Just a note – with the English language we have separated letters from any numerical equivalent, this could be one reason why those studying Scripture fail to see the Plan of Salvation as a blueprint.
Books have been written to describe the process of Gematria. Even though many swear by this method (others swear at it), there may be some possible hidden codes detected. However, I don’t believe God would make things so difficult for any one of us to discover gems of truth, by necessitating a computer to calculate what many of the obvious numbers in Scripture are already truly indicating.
Some when processing information some are more wired for the details, while others are more global in their thinking and assessments, this is just a difference in thinking and perspective, and one is no more correct than the other, both are important and necessary. Within each of these extremes falls all humanity in how we process information. When considering how God uses numbers in Scripture, the larger the perspective to start with the better and certainly this means keeping in mind the Hebrew exegesis, multiple applications pointing to the ultimate fulfillments.
Let’s consider an example of how God uses numbers in His word; the number 70 is the number representing the nation Israel, why would I suggest this? How do we come to this conclusion? This might sound obvious to some or absurd to others but let’s examine from Scripture why this turns out to be a perfect number representing the Jewish nation; the Bible reveals the circumstance of the theory.
Abraham was selected by God as the father of the Jewish nation; Terah his father was 70 years of age when Abram was born, (Gen. 11:26). Perhaps this could be just coincidence. Once the Promised Covenant mantle had been passed to Jacob and he eventually moved his family to Egypt, at Joseph’s request (due to the great famine), his household included 70 souls, (Ex 1:5). Once the Jewish nation was delivered from Egyptian bondage 70 elders would be chosen as leaders over the people, (Num. 11:16). This ordinance would carry over to the time of Christ with the Sanhedrin, and the 70 Jewish Elders.
Even during their exodus journey to Mount Sinai, after crossing the Red Sea, they (the Jewish nation) come to Elam where there were not only 12 wells of water, but 70 palm trees for shade. A silver bowl of 70 shekels was required with certain sacrificial offerings in their Tabernacle services. The Babylonian captivity of the Jews was 70 years, the resulting judgment for their disregard of the Shemitah cycle; when the land was to rest every 7th year. The nations closing probationary years are depicted as 70 weeks (70 x 7 or 490 years) in the book of Daniel (chapter nine), this total became also highly symbolic of God’s forgiveness not only for the Jewish nation but the entire world. Also, after the original 12 disciples, Christ also sent out 70 Jewish disciples to minister to the Jews, (Luke 10:1).
You can see why it becomes obvious that seventy is a number associated with the Jewish nation, and these are the obvious connections. Even when Jacob died the Egyptian nation was in mourning for 70 days (Gen. 50:3). One perhaps less obvious but also true example is that the number seventy is a total of 7 (God’s perfect number) times 10 (the number of His Law), it was in the Jewish dispensation that God’s Law was highlighted, being recorded on tables of stone written by God Himself and given to Moses. So now we begin to see perhaps the why behind that particular number and that it makes perfect sense for the Jewish nation to be identified by this number. This numerical tag for Israel also carries over into eternity, as the Holy city (New Jerusalem), displays a 70-degree angle at the base corners, formed as a result of the Isosceles triangle or Pyramid design of the city. This is the power of numbers!
Numbers not only are associated with individuals or groups or nations, but can also be instrumental in helping us to be prepared for Christ’s return. If you really think about how numbers impact our very lives, consider currently that the entire world is now being run basically by just two numbers (zero and one), but it’s the numbers in Scripture that are really the most important for us now.
Throughout the Bible, even concerning the plan of Salvation, numbers become relevant, for they provide a measured amount of time for God to run His wonderful plan to save humanity. Scripture records that at just the right time numerous aspects of the plan were implemented or terminated. God’s plan to save us was not some hit or miss, casually thrown together hodge-podge plan, that would run some random arbitrary course and maybe fulfill some divine purpose. His plan is a divinely coordinated, highly calculated, specific plan laid from eternity, with precision timing, with the Son of God Himself playing the lead role, with the full cooperation of billions of heavenly angels, all to save an undeserving, unknowing, and at times unwilling world, and it could all be summed up in a single word, at-one-ment (Atonement)! It is the numbers that reveal precisely when this would occur in History.