In many places the writer interprets the meaning of the symbols. In other places, the reader is left to make his or her own interpretation, thus, the ten “Principles of Interpretation” on that handout [which appear in Section 1 above] that I gave you.

One of the most frequently used types of symbols, or imagery, we see in the book of Revelation is the frequent use of numbers. Listen to the list of numbers that are used in the book. These are not just incidental uses—there is some purpose for using these numbers. Included in the numbers we will see as we go through the book are the numbers: “2,” “3,” “3 ½,” “4,” “5,” “6,” “7,” “10,” “12,” “24,” “42,” “144,” “666,” “1,000,” “1,260,” “1,600,” “7,000,” “144,000,” “100,000,000” [one hundred million] and “200,000,000” [two hundred million].

There is a prominent number in the book of Revelation, and that number is “7.” The number “7” occurs fifty-four times. In the Jewish mind, the number “7” was a very special number. It was a number which represented “perfection.” We’ll talk a little bit more about that in just a moment.

The number “12” is the next most-often-used number in Revelation. It has a number of multiples of 12, such as “24,” “144,” “1,260,” and “144,000.” All those numbers are multiples of the number “12.”

The number “4” occurs often. The number “3” is less prominent. “4” added to “3” makes “7.” And “4” times “3” makes “12”—the two most often used numbers in the book: “7” and “12.”

Here’s some significance associated with these numbers:

The number “3” is associated with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—that is, the “God-head.”

The number “4” is connected with “earthly things,” the “major points of the compass,” the “force of the universe.” It also symbolizes “completeness” and the “four sides of a square.”

The number “6” is associated with man and man’s endeavors. The rationale there is that it was because man was created on the “sixth day” by God, Genesis 1, verse 27 [“So God created man in His Own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” verse 31: “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”].

As we go through the book, we will look at these numbers that we run across, and we will see what significance the symbol has in that particular place.

Lastly, let me review with you a little bit about the purpose and the message of the book. The purpose has been differently stated by different writers according to their approach. It seems, though, that a number of respected writers agree that the purpose has to do with showing to the seven churches of Asia, and to other churches there in the 1^st Century and beyond, the things that must come to pass hereafter. The message was meant to be an encouragement and an assurance to them while they were struggling amid their persecutions. It pointed them to the victory that they had waiting for them—the victory that was made possible because of what Christ had done for them—the victory made possible because they were His children. Though they were few in number, though they were poor, though they were distressed, the mighty forces of evil that surrounded them would not overwhelm them. Christ had conquered and He guarantees their ultimate triumph.

We’ve talked a little bit about, and will have occasion as we go along through the study to talk some more about, the nature of the persecution that these ones would have experienced in that day and beyond as well. There is a contrast here and we must not overlook the contrast. While they are encouraged, while they are uplifted, while they are assured of victory, there is, realistically, suffering to be done. More persecutions await them. But regardless, the Lord demands faithfulness—faithfulness to His Will—in spite of the pressures, and in spite of the persecutions that come their way.

In a succinct way, I think that points us to the purpose of the book. But the purpose—not just of depicting this purpose for those early Christians—also has the effect of pointing out the very same things to Christians of all ages. It focuses attention on the last days when God’s justice will be evidenced and the cause of His people will be fully vindicated as well. One cannot escape the view where a number of times in the book, one is taken to the end time and allowed to see under various symbols, various figures and so on, the conclusion of the world and the promises that await the faithful.

We had mentioned this in our Introductory studies, pointing out that, as we are reading and studying this book, we are seeing what John saw and witnessed almost 2,000 years ago. And furthermore, we’re also seeing the end of history. I think that is an important perspective for us to keep in mind. What we’re seeing and what we’re reading about is the end of time, and though it is couched in symbols, which sometimes may be strange to us, its message is still very relevant to our time. It calls for us, like them in the 1^st Century, to stand firmly and courageously with the Lamb of God and His struggle with the great beast, the great dragon, Satan. It inspires courageous deeds and strength of faith so that we might patiently endure in hope. It assures the church of its place in the purposes of God and of the victory of its people. It reminds us once more that the ultimate triumph of righteousness will not be brought about through some gradual evolution, if you will, toward some perfect society; but, rather, it will be brought about by the return of Jesus, the Christ.

In no other book in the New Testament is there such encouragement for us as Christians. As I have said before, we will never understand, nor fully appreciate, the struggles and the persecution that these people endured. In our day, we do not face the same struggles and persecutions. BUT, in principle and in character, we do face many of the same things that they did. We don’t worry about the civil government forbidding us to meet. We don’t worry about being challenged to bow down and worship a government figure or an idol of some sort and given the choice of “either you do this or you will be killed.” No, we don’t face those kinds of things, but I submit to you that many of the things that we do face today are equally as challenging and equally as difficult for us to deal with, because Satan is still alive and well. With the depictions that we see in the book of Revelation—those characterizations of the great dragon, of the beast, and so on, and all of the things that Satan was doing, and in all of the ways that he is characterized—we know that he is still alive and well today. The struggle between good and evil is just as real and just as ongoing today as it was then.

So, while difficult to understand, and while, perhaps, not being able to fully relate to some of the things that we will see in the book, the message for us is the same. It is a message of encouragement, a message of assurance, a message of hope, and a message to “keep on keeping on.”Even though we’re now 2,000 years closer to the end, just as they got a glimpse then of the end of history, so do we now. And we get a glimpse into Heaven, and of the assurance that that is what waits for us as well!

Our study of this book, I trust, will be all of those things for us. As we get to know the book of Revelation better, as we understand more about it, we can be just as encouraged and just as uplifted as those dear saints in the long ago.