Numerology

There is a lot of confusion about the use of numbers in the book of Revelation.

Do numbers have some special meaning?

Letter / Number Relationships

● We use numbers / letters / words or symbols● Early childhood books● A = apple; B = ball; C = cat● The 4th letter = D = dog● In early alphabets letters were used for

numbers. The first 9 letters (1-9) The next letters (10-90); then (100-900)

Letter / Number Relationships● In early cultures they did not have numerals.

They used their alphabet.● Here is the Greek alphabet and numbers

Letter / Number Relationships

● Try this in English● A=1 B=2 C=3 D=4 E=5 F=6 G=7 H=8 I=9● J=10 K=20 L=30 M=40 N=50 O=60 P=70● Q=80 R=90 S=100 T=200 U=300 V=400● W=500 X=600 Y=700 Z=800

Letter / Number Relationships

● We are more familiar with the system of Roman numerals where letters stood for numbers.

Addition of letter equivalents

● The second step in the process was to add up the letter values.

● CAT = 3 + 1 + 200 = 204● MANLY = 821● JESUS = 10 + 5 + 100 + 300 + 100 = 515● When under persecution one might have said,

“We met at 515 and had a good discussion.” ● Translation: “The church met and learned

about Jesus.”

Addition of letter equivalents

● Here there has been a lot of spiritual calculations trying to create a theory

● Take a Latin name – give each letter its value in Hebrew alphabet – and come up with an American name.

● The most famous is the number – 666 in Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Number Symbolism

● Numbers also came to represent concepts and ideas.

● 1 = unity, independence, alone● 2 = strength, energy, courage● 3 = God (trinity), triangle, divine power● 4 = world (4 directions, 4 corners) this world

and where we work, live and die● 5 = Completeness, well-rounded, all members

intact (5 fingers, 5 toes)

Number Symbolism

● 7 = is thought to be a perfect number, perfection, completeness, the total of combining 3 (man) and 4 (God)

● Multiply – Next came the multiples of numbers● 10, 70 = multiples to emphasize the single digit● Matthew 18:22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say

to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Number Symbolism

● Numbers and the calendar● The early calendars had equal 30 day months● In Revelation – 3 ½ years = 42 months = 1260

days – all refer to the same length of time● Some numbers seem to be important.

Conclusions

● Don't play with your spiritual calculator● Some numbers seem to have some importance

and connection– Think about the number 40 in OT and NT– Think about the number 7 in Revelation

● Think about how we use numbers to represent ideas – He did a 180 in the road. The 4 corners of the earth. I told you a million times.