Numbers in the Bible

Today’s topic is about numbers. You will find this quite interesting. There are so many numbers found in the Bible and if you study them you will see they have meaning and often times when numbers are used they are also linked to other events in the Bible. We can find their meaning in the spiritual realm. 

For instance, the number four is very symbolic. In the visions and dreams the prophet Daniel received the number four was used. It was associated with reign, or kingdom. It was also used for creation including things in heaven and earth. Evening and morning were created on the fourth day. 

And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. Genesis 1:19 KJV

Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. Daniel 7:23 KJV

The number one is also symbolic. The bible refers to this number as alpha. It means beginning or new.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8 KJV

In the Old Testament the number 40 was used when the Israelites wandered through the desert looking for the promise land. The Israelites were in the desert for 40 years. 

And the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the Lord, was consumed. Numbers 14:33 KJV

If you look in the New Testament for a connection you will find it after Jesus resurrected he stayed and ministered  to the disciples about the kingdom for 40 days. 

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: Acts 1:3 KJV

If you look at the spiritual connotation of these two scriptures you will see that after 40 days or years the people of Israel entered in to a promise the Lord gave them. I share these connections with numbers because the Bible also shows us how long the antichrist will be in power over Israel and also tells us when the Lord will return.

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. Daniel 12:10 KJV

This passage lets us know that during the end times there will be different things happening between the righteous and the wicked. The righteous will be tried and tested, the wicked will do wicked things and not understand what is really going on. 

* 1,260 Days *

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. Revelation 12:6 KJV

In Revelation chapter 12 the apostle John gives us some background information about Mary’s escape from the devil when Jesus was soon to be born. She spent one thousand two hundred sixty days (1260) 3.45 yrs in hiding. In a spiritual connotation we can see that anyone related to Mary and Jesus is part of the church. The church is also known as the remnant of her seed. 

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17 KJV

This scripture tells us how the dragon, which is also known as Satan, went to make war with the remnant of her seed. These would also be the followers of Christ. 

* 2,300 Days *

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? (14) And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:13-14 KJV

Daniel reveals another number for us. He tells us the antichrist will trample the Lord’s people and over the sanctuary of Israel for 2300 days. This equals 6.3 years.

* 1,290 Days *

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Daniel 12:11 KJV

The antichrist will be putting his strategy into motion to remove the daily sacrifice. The prophet Daniel tells us the abomination will be completely set up in Israel in 1290 days (3.5 yrs). So far with this scripture and the one from Daniel chapter 8 show us there are a total of 6.3 yrs (2300 days) where the antichrist will be involved somehow. 

If you add the time from 1260 given in v12:6 of Revelation to 1290 in v12:11 of Daniel there is a difference of 30 days. But there seems to be 30 days that are showing us something, possibly an event in that time frame. I always believe there are reasons why the Lord says and does certain things. We know the church will be intensely persecuted in the end times. 

Does this mean during the 30 days the church will need to go in to hiding because they will be severely persecuted and hunted? This will be more intense than we have seen in the past. Jesus even said it would be more than it had ever occurred on earth. If you recall when Jesus resurrected His followers were severely persecuted and even executed. Many died but many also escaped captivity or even death. The Lord provided a way to escape for many.

And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. Daniel 11:35 KJV

The ones with understanding means, people who are of God will fall (will die), some will be tested and some purged so they can be made pure all the way until the Lord comes. In the Strong’s dictionary the word “purge” is the Hebrew word “bârar” and is defined as purify, polish, cleanse, test or prove. Some followers of the Lord will need to prove themselves when faced against the enemy. They must not deny the Lord Jesus in order to live or under any other circumstance.

Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. Daniel 12:12 KJV

On this scripture Daniel tells us blessed are the people who wait another 45 days and comes to that time. This number is counting from the time the antichrist has destroyed the sanctuary and set up his kingdom until the point in this scripture. What do you think will happen in 45 days? Where are the “blessed ones” coming from? If you take everything that you know about the Lord and His promise to Israel into consideration it would make sense the Lord would be on His way back. You can see the abomination is complete and it is now time for the Lord to get rid of this atrocity. 

* The Great Earthquake *

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. Revelation 11:13 KJV

Right before the events of this scripture take place, we are told the two witnesses known as Elijah and Moses were resurrected to life then they were taken up to heaven. These two witnesses do their ministry for 3.45 yrs, v11:3 below. These same numbers match the ones we read in Revelation chapter 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. Revelation 12:6 KJV

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Revelation 11:3 KJV

According to the next scripture in v11:15, the seventh trumpet sounded. We know that once the seventh trumpet is blown the dead in Christ rise and the rest of the followers of Christ which are alive are transformed. Once the witnesses finish their testimony they die and then they resurrected after 3.5 days and finally raptured to heaven.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:15 KJV

The church has gone into hiding as the antichrist will have come in to full power of his dark kingdom. The scripture in v12:6 says, “where she hath a place prepared of God.” Spiritually speaking, Mary was taken to a place of hiding God prepared for her to be taken care of. If we look at this scripture in the end time setting, Mary would be symbolic for the church. The church is not actually “hiding” from fear at this point. According to the scriptures this place prepared of God can be viewed in the spiritual context as heaven. The church will have been taken up to heaven when the seventh trumpet sounded. 

In heaven, the redeemed will be standing on the sea of glass mingled with fire as the army of the Lord is getting the seal of God on their forehead. You need to realize the antichrist’s kingdom will be set up all around the world. There would be no way the followers of Christ could survive but thank God they will have been removed from this dark kingdom. 

Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Revelation 7:3 KJV

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Revelation 7:4 KJV [this is the army of the Lord]

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. Revelation 15:2 KJV [these are the followers of Christ]

* Events On Earth *

From the time the abomination is set up in Israel, I believe for 45 days the people left on earth will be experiencing the worst of the wrath of the Lord Jesus and will be killed. They will experience the third woe. There will be giant rocks of hail falling upon the men and women with the mark of the antichrist. Up to this point many of the wicked were tormented, afflicted and wanted to experience death so it would stop but death was gone.

* Events in Heaven *

In heaven the redeemed of the Lord’s army, the 144,000 will be getting sealed and on their way down to earth with the Lord Jesus. This is when the Lord Jesus will capture the antichrist, the false prophet and throw them into the Lake of fire. The Lord will bind Satan with chains and put a seal for him not to be able to deceive for 1000 yrs. 

We pray that you would be able to see these insights with numbers and that they have been explained in a way to help you understand them as well. Until the next time, we hope you are blessed!