April 8, 2019
Adrian Rogers
Scripture Passage: Revelation 1:4, 20
The Book of Revelation is full of signs, analogies, and hyperboles; every detail mentioned is symbolic of a grand bigger picture. In chapter 1, our faith is symbolized through numbers, and if we make these numbers count, we can grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:20 says, “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”
We must consider the scientific matter of numbers. God’s mathematical precision is evident in our studies of chemistry, biology, zoology, and astronomy. Adrian Rogers says, “God is a God of order and design; numerical laws have come out of the mind of God, and He is the One who put the science of numbers in the Universe.”
If we interpret Scriptures both literally and symbolically, we can decipher what numbers mean in specific passages. If we look closely, we can see the symbolic meaning and spiritual messages tied into numbers.
1 – Unity: there is one God, Jehovah; there is no one like Him.
2 – Witness: Jesus is the faithful and true witness, promised in both the Old and New Testaments.
3 – The Divine Triunity: our Only God is a God of three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
4 – Earth: this is our Father’s world, where we experience directions, seasons, and testings in fourths.
5 and 10 – Completeness: everything is in God’s full control; He will complete what He has begun.
6 – Man: we are sinners; God demands absolute perfection, and we cannot provide it ourselves.
7 – Perfection: though we fall short, God has provided perfection through Jesus.
8 – New Birth: we can be born again and have a brand new start. God is a God of new beginnings, who makes all things new.
12 – Government: the number of patriarchs and apostles, of ruling and reigning; and one day we will see the Lord rule and reign in glory.
All of nature is built on numbers; if we study what numbers bring to Scripture, they can serve the story in a divine way.
Spend some time studying the symbolic and spiritual meaning of numbers in Scripture and what they say about your faith in God.
