|
One
third
|
The symbol
for incompleteness
|
8:7;
9:15; 12:4
|
|
Four
|
The symbol
for anything that concerns the earth (the earth regarded as
a square with four corners
|
20:8;
4:6; 7:1; 9:14 (Cf. Matt 24:31; Prov. 30:18-31)
|
|
Five
|
The symbol
for smallness. (Cf. Isa. 30:17)
|
9:5
|
|
Six
|
The symbol
for sin, six falling short of seven, the symbol of
perfection; also six heathen nations were deposed by Israel
(Cf. Dan. 3:1)
|
13:18
|
|
Seven
|
The symbol
for perfection, perfect unity in diversity; e.g., the seven
colours of the rainbow, the seven days of the week (Cf.
Prov. 9:1)
|
1:4;
1:12; 4:5; 5:1; 5:6; 12:3; 13:1
|
Three and one half' always refers to the Gospel Age. It has both a
vagueness about it (a time and times and half a time) befitting a
period whose duration no-one may know, but enough precision to
suggest that it is fixed in the determinate counsel and foreknowledge
of God. It is referred to as ...
|
|
1,260 days
when it concerns the Church
|
11:3;
12:6
|
|
|
42 months
when it concerns the God's enemies
|
11:2;
13:5
|
|
|
'a time and
times and half a time' when oppression is in view
|
12:14
|
|
Ten
|
The symbol
for fulness or completeness achieved in aggregation, not
integration as was the case with seven (Cf. Gen.
24:55)
It thus
becomes a symbol also for limitation. To come up to ten is
to reach the limit (it is as many fingers as you may count
on) (Cf. Dan. 1:12)
|
17:12
2:10
|
|
1,000
|
is the
intensification of the meaning of 10, whilst ...
|
|
|
7,000
|
is the
intensification of the meaning of ten along with the meaning
of 7.
|
11:13
|
|
Twelve
|
The symbol
of the Church (twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles
)
|
Note
repetition of 12 in 21:9-27.
|
|
Twenty-four
|
(12 x 2)
symbolises the continuous Church of God through both Old and
New Testament ages
|
4:4
|
|
144,000
|
The
intensification of twelve and ten, both squared, so
signifying the whole People of God, a great multitude of
whom not one is lost or missing.
To square a number is to intensify the meaning of the
symbol.
|
7:14;
14:1 etc.
|
|
10,000 x
10,0000
|
The symbol
for innumerable. The highest number Greek notation could
represent was 99,999,999
|
5:11;
7:9
|