There is confusion around the use of numbers in Revelation. In early alphabets and cultures, letters were also used as numbers, such as A=1, B=2, etc. Words could be assigned numerical values by adding up the individual letter values. Some numbers came to symbolize concepts - for example, 7 represents perfection. While numerology should not be overemphasized, some numbers like 40 and 7 appear frequently in the Bible and may have significance in Revelation.

1. Numerology
There is a lot of confusion about the use of
numbers in the book of Revelation.
Do numbers have some special meaning?

2. Letter / Number Relationships
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We use numbers / letters / words or symbols
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Early childhood books
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A = apple; B = ball; C = cat
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The 4th letter = D = dog
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In early alphabets letters were used for
numbers. The first 9 letters (1-9) The next
letters (10-90); then (100-900)

3. Letter / Number Relationships
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In early cultures they did not have numerals.
They used their alphabet.
Here is the Greek alphabet and numbers

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

5. Letter / Number Relationships
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We are more familiar with the system of Roman
numerals where letters stood for numbers.

6. Addition of letter equivalents
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The second step in the process was to add
up the letter values.
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CAT = 3 + 1 + 200 = 204
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MANLY = 821
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JESUS = 10 + 5 + 100 + 300 + 100 = 515
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When under persecution one might have said,
“We met at 515 and had a good discussion.”
Translation: “The church met and learned
about Jesus.”

7. Addition of letter equivalents
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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.

8. Number Symbolism
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Numbers also came to represent concepts and
ideas.
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1 = unity, independence, alone
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2 = strength, energy, courage
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3 = God (trinity), triangle, divine power
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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)

9. Number Symbolism
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7 = is thought to be a perfect number,
perfection, completeness, the total of combining
3 (man) and 4 (God)
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Multiply – Next came the multiples of numbers
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10, 70 = multiples to emphasize the single digit
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Matthew 18:22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say
to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy
times seven.

10. Number Symbolism
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Numbers and the calendar
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The early calendars had equal 30 day months
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In Revelation – 3 ½ years = 42 months = 1260
days – all refer to the same length of time
Some numbers seem to be important.

11. Conclusions
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Don't play with your spiritual calculator
Some numbers seem to have some importance
and connection
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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.