NUMBERS
7, 12, & 666
IN THE BIBLE
NUMBER 7
note 11:3, page 1968
The seven-fold Spirit is another name for the Holy Spirit. The number seven is used throughout the Revelation to symbolize completeness and perfection.
note 11:3, page 1986
In the book of Revelation, numbers are likely to have symbolic rather literal meanings. The 42 months or 1,260 days equal 3 1/2 years. As half of the perfect number, 7, 3 1/2 can indicate incompletion, imperfections, or even evil.
note 11:3, page 1986
NUMBER 12
The Revelation 21:18-21
The city itself was pure, transparent gold like glass! The wall was made of jasper, and was built on twelve layers of foundation stones inlaid with gems: The first layer with jasper; the second with sapphire; the third with chalcedony; the fourth with emerald; the fifth with sardonyx; the sixth layer with sardus; the seventh with chrysolite; the eighth with beryl; the ninth with topaz; the tenth with chrysoprase; the eleventh with jacinth; the twelfth with amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls--each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure, transparent gold, like glass.
The Revelation 22:1,2
And he pointed out to me a river of pure Water of Life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew Trees of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month.
note 21:15-17, page 2001
The city's measurements are symbolic of a place that will hold all God's people. Given in cubits, these measurements are all multiples of 12. Twelve is he number for God's people--there were 12 tribes in Israel, and 12 apostles who started the church. The walls are 144 cubits across (translated "216 feet across"); there are 12 layers in the walls, and 12 gates in the city; and the height, length, and breadth are all the same, 12,000 stadia (translated "1,500 miles"). The new Jerusalem is a perfect cube, the same shape as the Holy of Hollies in the Temple (1 Kings 6:20). These measurements illustrate that this new home will be perfect for us, and the image portrays God as our Holy of Hollies--we will live in him forever.
NUMBER 666
note 13:18, page 1990
The meaning of this number (666) has been discussed more than that of any other part of the book of Revelation. The three sixes have said to represent many things, including the number of man or the unholy trinity of Satan, the Creature, and the False Prophet (16:13). If the number seven is looked upon as the "perfect number" in the Bible, and if three sevens represent complete perfection, then the number 666 fall completely short of perfection. Whatever specific application the number is given, it symbolizes the worldwide dominion and complete evil of this unholy trinity designed to undo Christ's work and overthrow him.
Reference:
Life Application Bible, The Living Bible