This is Part 4 (of 5).
To read Part 1 Purpose and Approach go here.
To read Part 2 Outline and The end go here.
To read Part 3 Symbol vs Spiritual go here.
The significance of Numbers in Revelation
Numbers are significant, especially 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12
2 is the number of witness or testimony
3 is God’s number
4 is earth’s number
6 is man’s number
7 is the perfect number
10 is the number of completeness
12 is the covenant number
Seven
This is perhaps the most important number in the Book of Revelation. There are seven:
Blesséd 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14
Churches 1-3
Seals 6:1-8:1
Trumpets 8:2-11:19
Signs 12-15
12:1 woman clothed with the sun
12:3 a great red dragon
13:1 the beast
13:11 another beast
14:1 the Lamb on Mt Sion with 144,000
14:14 one like unto the Son of man on a cloud
15:1 seven angels with seven last plagues
15-16 Vials or Bowls
The book consists of seven visions, each one (after the first one, of course) introduced by the phrase μετὰ ταῦτα εἶδον [meta tauta eidon] “after these things I saw”, except for the last one which is μετὰ ταῦτα ἤκουσα [meta tauta eekousa] “after these things I heard”. The seven visions are:
1-3 Christ and the Seven Churches
4-6 The Seven Seals
7:1-8 The Sealing of the Servants of God
7:9-15:4 The Seven Trumpets
15:5-17:18 The Seven Bowls of Wrath
18:1-24 Babylon is Fallen, is Fallen
19:1-22:21 The Consummation
There is another number that is presented three different ways:
11:2 the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
13:5 And there was given unto him [the beast] a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
As you can see these three numbers are forty and two months (42 months); one thousand two hundred and threescore days (1,260 days); a time, and times, and half a time. All three are the same length of time, three and a half years.
There are two basic questions concerning this period of time:
(1) Where does this three and a half years come from?
The answer, The Book of Daniel, 7:25, 12:7
Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Daniel only mentions a time and times and the dividing of time. Revelation obviously picks up on this number, stresses it, and presents it different ways.
(2) Is there any significance to the different forms of this number?
I confess, I don't know. I am persuaded however that this is all linked to or connected with the prophecy of the 70 Weeks. The last thing we read about the 70 weeks is:
Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
The 70th week is presented as broken - in the midst of the week, that is after 3 ½ years, leaving 3 ½ remaining. Is it just a coincidence that the last week is divided (3 ½ years), the horn of Daniel 7 wears out the saints of the most High for a time and times and the dividing of time (3 ½ ), and the time covered in the book of Revelation is 3 ½ years? I don't think so, but I will let you decide!
Next: Praise & Worship In Revelation
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