How God has used Numbers, Symbolically, in The Book of Revelation.

Bible Numerology is the study of numbers in The Bible, as they are used to represent and express various truths God has chosen to reveal to us in this way, by having numbers sometimes represent certain truths, symbolically. These are some of the examples of Bible Numerology in the book of Revelation and an explanation for what God wants us to understand from them.

The Seven Golden Lampstands (1): The seven churches in Asia, symbolize, through the use of the number seven, all of The Lord's churches, throughout the entire New Testament Era of The Church Age, in all times and places.

The Seven Stars (1, 2, 3): The seven messengers (or angels) of the churches, likely sent to John to receive the Revelation and take it home to their respective cities; a symbol of all church leaders, and their privilege and duty to share the contents of this message with God’s people.

The Four Living Creatures (4): Symbolizing the seraphim, who manifest the Attributes of God and Christ, and who are caught up in the contemplation and Worship of the Glory of God (Is. 6:2). However, the fact that they are four in number signifies that these too, like all the other angels, have a ministry to the four corners of the earth below; that is, to all the heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:4).

The 24 Elders, Seated on 24 Thrones (4): The Elect of God, comprised both OT saints (symbolized by the number 12, for the patriarchs), and NT saints (symbolized by the number 12, for the apostles). Here The Elect of God are styled as a company of elders, perhaps because, by God’s Eternal Decree, she has a share in the Eternity of the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:9, 13, 22); but certainly because being seen on 24 thrones surrounding the one throne of God, she has a share in His Authority and Power; and because, through Christ, she is destined to reign in life with Him (Rom. 5:17).

The Seven Lamps Before the Throne (4): Explicitly identified as the seven spirits of God, which is yet another symbol pointing to the complete (7), many-faceted work of the One Holy Spirit in the earth below. Revelation 3:1 pictures the seven spirits of God in the Hand of Christ, Who, through the Spirit, is now at work, both in His Churches and in the (history of the) world, to fulfill the Purpose and Plan of God (John 15:26-25; Acts 2:33).

The Lamb with Seven Horns and Seven Eyes (5): The Redeemer, the exalted Lord Jesus Christ. In the days of His Humiliation, He served His people both as High Priest and Sacrifice: as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Now, through His Exaltation, the Lamb has Perfect Power (symbolized by seven horns) and Perfect Knowledge (symbolized by seven eyes), especially of the happenings on the earth below (5:6).

The 144,000 Sealed Israelites (7, 14): The Lord's people of all times and places, comprised of all the OT saints (12, for the patriarchs) and all the NT saints (12, for the apostles). 12 x 12 x 1000 = 144,000, a number symbolizing both the Fullness and the Largeness of the ALL OF THE WITNESSES FOR GOD, THROUGHOUT OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY. As John’s next Vision reveals, she is comprised of a Great Multitude of Jewish and Gentile believers, predestined to Worship God forever before his throne, and upon the eschatological Mountain of God: the new heavens and the new earth.

The 42 Months / 1260 Days/ a Time, Times, and Half a Time (11, 12, 13): These numeric symbols all stand for the Era of Gospel Proclamation, from Jesus' First Advent and Ministry on Earth, until Jesus' Second Advent, when He Returns to earth, for the second time, at The End of The World, to which may be added the words "one thousand years", as we will see below. Their meaning is illuminated in Revelation 12, a chapter that combines allusions to Israel’s exodus from Egypt with allusions to Elijah’s 3 1/2-year sojourn in the wilderness of Judea. Thus, the numbers characterize the Era of Gospel Proclamation as a temporary season of eschatological journey, persecution, and exile (from the world’s favor), but also as a season of Divine Provision and Protection, supplied from Heaven above (1 Kings 17:2-6; James 5:17).

The Number of the Name of the Beast (13): The number of the Beast is 666. Here the Spirit exhorts the saints to work out (the meaning of) the number, explaining that it is the number of man (13:18). According to Biblical numerology, six is the number of man (Gen. 1:24-31) and three is the number of the Trinity (Matt. 3:16-17). Therefore, 666 is the number of fallen man aspiring to, and usurping the place of, the Triune God.

Then, with these examples, as background, we'll look at the symbolic use and meaning of, "a thousand years", in Revelation 20, as well as, several examples from The Old Testament where God used the number, "one thousand", symbolically, and the meaning we can then derive from them, when applying that same meaning to, "one thousand", in the book of Revelation.

Please, see here: The Meaning of "One thousand years", in Revelation 20, when Comparing it to the Rest of The Bible.

 

Plenty about the gnostics and I could care less about any hermeneutics they were presumed to have, or didn`t have.

"Take the passage literally, unless it needs to be taken spiritually", is enough of an inconsistent, and, therefore, none existent, lack of a viable hermeneutic that people brag about holding that is more than enough for me to be concerned about.