With the number three pointing directly to the trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the fourth number is what the Trinity added, when “in beginning, God created!” He created the world, and all that is in it. We can see that significance of four in the Bible, yet it is also apparent by looking at the world God created.
The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
Psalm 24:1
On the fourth day, God finished creating the world, while on the next two days He furnished it! This would be similar to building a house, which has to occur before filling it with curtains, furniture and people. We can see four throughout God’s creation. There are four directions or regions: north, south, east and west. Similarly, there are four elements: earth, wind, fire and water. Additionally, there are four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. Most animals are four-legged. Mathematically, four is the first number that is not a prime, the first number that can be divided and the first square. Biblically, there are too many occurrences of four to mention in a devotional, but here are a few:
2 Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.
Daniel 7:2-3
Noted preacher J. Vernon McGee said that, “The ‘winds’ speak of agitation, propaganda, public opinion, and disturbance. The ‘sea’ suggests the masses, the mob, and the peoples of the Gentiles.” God granted Satan dominion over this earth for a time and in this dream, we can see what exists in Satan’s world, strife and division. In this prophetic dream, the Lord gave Daniel a picture of all of the kingdoms of the world to come, including a more powerful version of the Roman Empire just before this world ends.
In references to heaven, the perfect number of seven applies. In Revelation, when speaking of Jesus, 10 million voices speak loudly together:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Revelation 5:12
Notice seven different aspects of that praise: power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing. Yet in the next verse of Revelation, when the earth creatures praise Him, it involves only four aspects: blessing, honor, glory and power.
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Revelation 5:13
Once again, four points to the world. When God pours out His wrath upon a sinful earth, the judgments of Revelation will begin with another four: the four horsemen of the apocalypse (Revelation 6). Additionally, there are many other fours throughout the Bible. Here are a few of those:
In the tabernacle, there are four rings of gold on the ark of the covenant, one on each corner (Exodus 25:12); there are four ornamental bowls on the lampstand (Exodus 25:33); there are four pillars in the gate of the court of the tabernacle (Exodus 27:16); when Nehemiah is rebuilding the wall surrounding Jerusalem, the enemies of Israel send him four messages concerning the wall, and Nehemiah responds four times that he will not meet with them, which would cause the work to cease (Nehemiah 6:3-4); and finally, there are four, strange beasts mentioned in both Ezekiel 1:5 and Revelation 4:5.
By adding one, pointing to God, to the number four, pointing to the world, we see the number for grace. By taking one away from the number of the world, all that remains is three, significant of the Trinity! If the significance of all these numbers shows us anything it is that our God is a God or order. He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit living inside of us; He speaks to us through the words of the Bible; and He even speaks to us through all of creation. How can people not believe in Him, or more importantly, how can people not trust in Him? He is so big that He breathed all that we can see and all that we cannot see into being. By looking at the immensity of that creation in the stars, planets and galaxies, we see His enormous power. Yet by looking through a microscope, we can see the attention to detail. Just by studying a strand of DNA boggles the minds of the earth’s greatest scientists. When we see the world, we should know above all else that He is above all else. He is worthy of all praise in power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing!
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Romans 1:18-23
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