Revelation #7 John’s use of numbers

In this episode, Rob and Vinnie explore the book of Revelation and John's use of numbers. John often uses numbers such as 3, 4, 7 and 12. In fact, his lists often have 4 or 7 items in it. Names for God often have 3's: such as "The One who is, who was, and who is to come"; or Jesus is given 3 titles: "The faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth." Recognizing that John is doing this, what these numbers represent, and how they are enhancing the meaning of text is an important part of understanding the meaning of the book of Revelation. Besides all that: it is fun! 

(See notes below) 

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Show notes: 

The divine title “the Alpha and the Omega” occurs three times (1:8; 21:6; 22:13).

The parallel title “the First and the Last” also occurs three times (1:17; 2:8; 22:13).

The divine title, “the One who lives forever and ever” (4:9, 10; 10:6; 15:7)

3x God is the “One who is and who was and who is to come” (1:4, 8; 4:8).

Four references to the “Bride” (19:7; 21:2, 9; 22:17).

There are also four occurrences of “the Holy City” (11:2; 21:2, 10; 22:19).

“every tribe, tongue, people, and nation” (5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6; 17:15).

“love” occurs four times in the book of Revelation (1:5; 3:9; 12:11; 20:9).

“shepherd” occurs four times (2:27; 7:17; 12:5; 19:15)

four references to the seven Spirits (or seven-fold Spirit: 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6).

The “second death” occurs four times (2:14; 20:6, 14; 21:8)

There are “seven churches” (1:4, 20; 2:1-3:22). 

John refers to the “seven churches” four times (1:4, 11, 20*)

“seven stars” (1:16, 20*; 2:1; 3:1).  

Jesus has “seven horns and seven eyes” (5:6).

The title “Christ” occurs seven times (1:1, 2, 5; 11:15; 12:10; 20:4, 6).

The name “Jesus” occurs fourteen times (seven times two: 1:1, 2, 5, 9*; 12:17; 14:12; 17:6; 19:10*; 20:4; 22:16, 20, 21).

John uses “Lamb” a total of twenty-eight times (5:6, 8, 12, 13; 6:1, 16; 7:9, 10, 14, 17; 12:11; 13:8, 11; 14:1, 4, 10; 15:3; 17:14*; 19:7, 9; 21:9, 14, 22, 23, 27; 22:1, 3)

The divine title, “the Lord God Almighty” occurs seven times (1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 19:6; 21:22).

John uses “servant” fourteen times (1:1*; 2:20; 6:15; 7:3; 10:7; 11:18; 13:16; 15:3; 19:2, 5, 18; 22:3, 6)

There are seven blessings in the book of Revelation (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14).

Jesus indicates, “I am coming” seven times (2:5, 16; 3:11; 16:15; 22:7, 12, 20).

The Twenty-Four Elders and the Four Living Creatures are paired together seven times (5:6, 8, 11, 14; 7:11; 14:3; 19:4).

The “mark” occurs seven times (13:16, 17; 14:9, 11; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4)

“overcome” occurs seven times in the seven messages (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21)

Seven instances in which the people of God are depicted as those who have “patient endurance” (1:9; 2:2, 3, 19; 3:10; 13:10; 14:12).

“to show” occurs seven times (1:1; 4:1; 17:1; 21:9, 10; 22:1, 6)

“sign” seven times (12:1, 3; 13:13, 14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:20).

“scroll” twenty-eight times (1:11; 3:5; 5:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9; 6:14; 10:2, 8, 9, 10; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12**, 15; 21:27; 22:7, 9, 10, 18*, 19*). 

7 occurrences of “the war” (11:7; 12:7, 17; 13:7; 16:14; 19:19; 20:8).

“the Word of God” occurs seven times (1:2, 9; 6:9; 17:17; 19:9, 13; 20:4).

John is commanded to “write” 12x

The description of the New Jerusalem (21:9-22:9) is replete with the number twelve.

John uses pneuma (“breath” or “spirit”) twenty-four times in the book of Revelation (1:4, 10; 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:1, 6, 13, 22; 4:2, 5; 5:6; 11:11; 13:15; 14:13; 16:13, 14; 17:3; 18:1; 19:10; 20:10; 21:6; 22:17).

John uses “worship” twenty-four times (3:9; 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 9:20; 11:1, 16; 13:4*, 8, 12, 15; 14:7, 9, 11; 15:4; 16:2; 19:4, 10*, 20; 20:4; 22:8, 9).

There are Twenty-Four Elders (4:4, 10; 5:8; 11:16; 19:4)

There are four instances in which the Twenty-Four Elders worship before the throne (4:10; 5:14; 11:16; 19:4).

here are twelve references to the “Elders” (4:4, 10; 5:5, 6, 8, 11, 14; 7:11, 13; 11:16; 14:3; 19:4).

John uses “repent” twelve times (2:5*, 16, 21*, 22; 3:3, 19; 9:20, 21; 16:9, 11)

“write” occurs twelve times as a second-person singular command (1:11, 19; 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14; 14:13; 19:9; 21:5).

 

1:4-5: Grace to you and peace,

from Him who is and who was and who is to come,

and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth

 

5:12 Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing

 

7:12: Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen

6:15: the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains