About Those Angel Numbers

What should you make of randomly glancing at your watch and reading 5:55 a.m., only to glance randomly again later that day and have it read 5:55 p.m.?

Or perhaps you run by the grocery store for a couple of things, and the receipt is $22.22. Or you fill up your car with gas and it comes to exactly $77.77.

Some would see such things as completely random, but to others, the repeating numeric sequences are known as “angel numbers” and are filled with meaning and significance as signs of “confirmation” and “directionality.”   

Seeing angel numbers may mean you are getting a “green light” to do something or to take a particular path. This can involve any aspect of life, from relationships to job opportunities. The key is for the number to come in a set of three, and for you to come across it more than once. The more the angel number is repeated in your life, the more significance it holds.

It is without question that the Bible clearly affirms the symbolic significance of certain numbers. The number “1” is used throughout the Bible to convey the unity and uniqueness of God. The number “2” reflects the basic units of creation and of multiplication, such as the creation of man and woman as husband and wife, or the animals entering the ark in pairs of two. The number “3” refers to things that are finished or completed, such as the full, complete nature of God being triune. The number “7” is symbolic of fulfillment and perfection—e.g., God finished and fulfilled His perfect, creative work on the seventh day. Then there’s the number “12,” which is tied to the purposes of God. Israel was made up of 12 tribes who would be His chosen people to do His work on Earth, and Jesus selected 12 apostles for His time of ministry and who later founded and shaped the Church. 

That is only a sampling of the numbers of significance found in Scripture. We could have included numbers like 70, 666, 1,000 and 144,000. The most prevalent would arguably be “40”:

• The great flood lasted for 40 days.
• Moses was on the mountain with God for 40 days before he brought down the Ten Commandments.
• The establishment of the Kingdom of Israel was founded on its first three kings – Saul, David and Solomon – and each ruled for exactly 40 years.
• The prophet Elijah fasted for 40 days.
• Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness for 40 days.
• Jesus walked the earth for 40 days following His resurrection before returning to heaven.

The common thread tying all of these together is that each period of 40 days or years is associated with something new: a new development in the history of God’s activity or new beginnings. In the Bible, almost every new chapter of God’s work was marked, at the onset, by some period of time related to 40:

• the cleansing of evil from the world through the flood
• the journey of the people of Israel out of bondage and into the Promised Land
• the entire prophetic era
• the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus
• the birth of the Church

It is for this reason that 40 days has taken on a special significance, particularly through the season of Lent.

But this is very different than what is going on with angel numbers. That is not spiritual symbolism tied to biblical truth, much less something marking sacred time for reflection or preparation. No, with angel numbers, you have entered the world of numerology.

Numerology is often deemed an “ancient esoteric science that deals with numbers and letters and the energy, intention and vibration behind them.” But numerology is no science. It is part of the world of the occult. In fact, viewing numbers in this way is the essence of both astrology and palm reading. So why are they called “angel” numbers? Because they are viewed as being sent from the spiritual realm, such as by some type of spiritual guide or a deceased loved one.

The first characteristic of something occultic is the disclosure or communication of information unavailable to humans through normal means. This involves things like horoscopes, fortune-telling, psychic hotlines and tarot cards.

And yes, angel numbers.

The information they claim to possess comes from somewhere—and if it’s not from God through the sources God has ordained, then it is from the evil one and his forces. There is no “power” floating around out there that just exists, neutral and impersonal, that has a voice or that can be tapped into; some kind of cosmic consciousness for secret knowledge about the future of a human life. Everything falls under heaven or hell, good or evil, God or the evil one.

Numerology is part of the world of the occult. The biblical warning on dabbling with such things is clear:

“You have trusted in your wickedness... your wisdom and knowledge mislead you.... Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away... keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorceries... let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month... they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves... each of them goes on in his error.” (Isaiah 47:10-15, NIV)

“... diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain.” (Zechariah 10:2, NIV)

“I am the Lord, the Creator of all things. I alone stretched out the heavens.... I make fools of fortunetellers and frustrate the predictions of astrologers.” (Isaiah 44:24-25, GN)

“Let no one be found among you who... practices divination or... interprets omens.... Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, NIV)

So, the next time you see a number in Scripture, feel free to chase after its significance both symbolically and exegetically.

But when you see 11:11 a.m. on your watch, the only thing you know – or should care about knowing – is what time it is.

James Emery White

Sources

Olivia Munson, “What Are Angel Numbers? Beginner's Guide to Angel Numbers and What They (Could) Mean.” USA Today, January 4, 2023, read online.

About the Author

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His forthcoming book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available for pre-order on Amazon. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org, where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of CrosswalkHeadlines.

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.