Rec'd this in an email.
Enjoy!
Our Christian
Symbols
Numbers are used frequently in the Bible (especially in prophetic
and apocalyptic works) and in Christian pictorial symbols to
signify various theological concepts. Following are the most
commonly accepted interpretations of numerical symbols.
One signifies unity; both the unity of God and the
unity of members of the Church.
The number two represents duality. Specifically,
it can symbolize the divine and human natures of Christ or the
material and the spiritual.
The number three represents the Trinity (Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.)
Four can represent the Four Evangelists (authors
of the Gospels), the four corners of the earth, or the four
seasons. Its association with the latter sometimes make it the
number of earth.
Five symbolizes the five wounds Christ suffered on
the cross (hands, feet, and side), and by extension represents
sacrifice.
Six represents creation, because God created in
six days, or imperfection, because it falls short of the perfect
number seven.
Seven is the number of perfection. God rested on
the seventh day, Paul lists seven gifts of the Spirit and Jesus
spoke seven utterances from the cross. The number seven is
especially prominent in the apocalyptic Book of Revelation, in
which there are seven seals, seven churches and many other things
numbering seven.
Eight represents regeneration or resurrection.
Thus many baptismal fonts are eight-sided, as is the baptismal
cross.
Nine is the number of mystery or angels, since
there are nine choirs of angels.
Ten symbolizes completion, since there are Ten
Commandments, Ten Plagues, etc.
Twelve is often used to signify the whole church,
since there were 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles.
Thirteen represents betrayal since there were 13
people at the Last Supper.
Forty symbolizes trial or testing, since Noah's
flood, Israel's wandering in the wilderness, Moses' stay on Mt.
Sinai, and Jesus' temptation in the wilderness all lasted forty
days. The Lenten Season is forty days in duration for this
reason.
One hundred usually denotes completeness or
plentitude, since it is ten times ten.
One thousand represents a very large number,
infinity or eternity.