Keys to understand prophecies

Just like symbols, many of the numbers contained within the pages of the Bible have a special significance. Naturally, when one reads a portion of scripture numbers will not stand out to mean more than they normally do. After all, they're just numbers. However, when a diligent Bible student studies more and more, he ends up seeing that the Old and New Testament actually reveal that certain numbers may at times have a deeper prophetic or spiritual meaning in addition to the one that is naturally given to them. This is especially true of Bible Prophecy. It is through careful study and comparison of scripture that God thus allows us to understand the messages that are contained in association with a particular number, a message that usually escapes the casual reader.

Literal or Symbolic?

It is very important to understand that, unlike symbols, numbers in the Bible are never symbolic in and of themselves. Meaning that a number will always retain its literal, original meaning even if it has an additional symbolic significance.

When it comes to symbols, when a white robe, for example, is mentioned in the Bible, it is generally understood to be a symbol for the righteousness of Jesus(Isaiah 61:10), but it is also a literal robe that the saved will wear after the Second Coming(Revelation 7:9). In this instance the white robe has a double meaning at the same time, literal(a literal robe) and symbolic(the righteousness of Christ). In other instances, such as concerning the 'rock' in Matthew 16:18, it will only have one meaning, literal or symbolic. In this passage Jesus uses the 'rock' to describe Himself as the foundation of the church. He is not referring to any literal rock in front of Him or 10 miles away on which He wished to build a literal church. Here, the 'rock' was used only as a symbol and not any literal item. Thus, a symbol can be either literal, symbolic, or both depending on the context!

With numbers we don't get such flexibility. A number in the Bible will always primarily be a literal number, whether it has a deeper meaning or not. In other words, numbers are either just 'literal' or 'literal and symbolic'. For example, the 12 tribes of Israel are literal tribes born of Jacob. Yet, on top of the 12 literal tribes the number 12 also signifies God's authority as given to the foundation of the spiritual church which are the 12 tribes. The Bible stays consistent in this principle throughout the entire book. This is a very important issue to remember when it comes to deciphering prophecy.


There are 12 primary numbers in the Bible which, at times, have special meaning: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 40, 50, and 70. This small list is, of course, not exhaustive. Below is a small introduction on the meanings behind these numbers.


1 – Absolute singleness and unity (Ephesians 4:4–6; John 17:21, 22).

2 – The truth of God’s Word, such as the law and prophets (John 1:45), two or three witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1), or a sword with two edges (Hebrews 4:12). See Mark 6:7 and Revelation 11:3. It is used 21 times in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

3 – The Godhead. The angels cry “Holy” three times to signify the glory of each personage of the Godhead. (Isaiah 6:3). See also Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7, 8.

4 – Universal truth, or fullness of the earth. As in the four directions (north, south, east, west) and the four winds (Matthew 24:31; Revelation 7:1; Revelation 20:8). In acts 10:11, a sheet with four corners symbolizes the gospel going to all world.

5 – Teaching. First, there are the five books of Moses. Second, Jesus taught about the five wise virgins and used five barley loaves used to feed the 5,000.

6 – The number of man, also signifying the worship of man, his rebellion, imperfection, works, and disobedience. It is used 273 times in the Bible, including its derivatives (e.g, sixth) and another 91 times as “threescore” or “60.” Man was created on the sixth day (Genesis 1:26, 31). See also Exodus 31:15 and Daniel 3:1. The number is especially significant in the book Revelation, as “666” identifies the beast.(Revelation 13:18).

7 – Perfection and completeness. It is also the sign of God, divine worship, obedience, and rest. 7 is the “prince” of Bible numbers, it is used 562 times, including its derivatives (e.g., seventh, sevens). (See Genesis 2:1–4, Psalm 119:164, and Exodus 20:8–11 for just a few of the examples.)

The number seven is also the most common in biblical prophecy, occurring 42 times in Daniel and Revelation alone. In Revelation there are seven churches, seven spirits, seven golden candlesticks, seven stars, seven lamps, seven seals, seven horns, seven eyes, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven thousand slain in a great earthquake, seven heads, seven crowns, seven last plagues, seven golden vials, seven mountains, and seven kings.

10 – Law, restoration(both physical and spiritual). This includes the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20. Also ten virgins(Matthew 25:1), ten lepers(Luke 17:17), ten silver coins(Luke 15:8).

12 – The church and God’s authority. Jesus had 12 disciples, and there were 12 tribes of Israel. In Revelation 12:1, the 24 elders and 144,000 are multiples of 12. The New Jerusalem city has12 foundations, 12 gates 12 thousand furlongs, a tree with 12 kinds of fruit 12 times a year eaten by 12 times 12,000 or the 144,000. (See Revelation 21.)

40 – Preparation, purification, and testing. Often seen immediately prior to the Glory of God being revealed with power. Jesus fasted for 40 days before starting His earthly ministry. The disciples spent 40 days with Jesus after His resurrection being taught in truth and scripture before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit(Acts 1:3). Moses spent 40 years in the desert before leading Israel out of Egypt, as well as 40 days on Mount Sinai before receiving the Ten Commandments. Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness before entering the promised land. It rained 40 days and 40 nights during the flood.

50 – Power and celebration. The Jubilee came after the 49th year (Leviticus 25:10).

70 – Human leadership and judgment. Moses appointed 70 elders (Exodus 24:1); The Sanhedrin was made up of 70 men. Jesus chose 70 disciples (Luke 10:1). Jesus told Peter to forgive 70 times 7.