22 Letters Hebrew Alphabet, 22 Chapters Revelation, First 5 Chapters
written by Will Schumacher
There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Since God spoke creation into being using words made up of the 22 letters, it is said that the Hebrew alphabet is the building block of creation. Each letter has its own meaning not like our English language. Hebrew words are formed from the meaning of the letters.
My belief is that the meaning of numbers are tied to the numbers pertaining to each Hebrew letter such as by gematria or positioning.
Most people are familiar with Psalm 119 written in order of an acrostic.
The book of Lamentations follows somewhat of an acrostic also. The first chapter has 22 verses corresponding to the 22 letters in order. Chapters 2-4 follow the acrostic but put the pey before the ayin. Chapter 3 has 66 verses and is in sets of 3. The last chapter has 22 verses but is all jumbled up.
So in the Bible there is the thought process of writing in the order of the Hebrew alphabet.
The book of Revelation has 22 chapters corresponding to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
A cursory look at the book shows a door in chapter four. The fourth letter is the dalet and is a picture of a door. The sixteenth chapter mentions a fountain. The sixteenth letter is the ayin meaning “eye” or “fountain”. Jesus calls Himself the “alpha and omega”. In hebrew He would be calling Himself the “aleph and the tav”. The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the aleph. The 22nd letter is the tav. Jesus calls Himself the “aleph and tav” in both the 1st and 22nd chapters.
These 4 incidents made me wonder if the book of Revelation was written following the thought process of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and then divinely broken up into 22 chapters corresponding to the 22 letters. And if so do they add and understanding to the chapter.
1) ALEPH The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is called aleph. The Aleph is a picture of the Ox or Bull meaning “strength” or “leader”.
God the Father is the aleph or the strength and leader of the house. In the first chapter of revelation Jesus presents Himself as God Himself, the leader of the house, the Aleph, and therefore worthy to inspect and ultimately judge the house.
In Chapter 1 John gives greetings from the Father, the Spirit, and Jesus.
Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ
The Father is called the one “which is, and which was, and which is to come”
Later Jesus calls Himself the same.
Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Jesus also calls Himself the Alpha and Omega which in Hebrew would be “the Aleph and Tav” or “the first and the last.”
God the Father called Himself “the first and the last”.
Isa 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last
Jesus is seen walking among the 7 candlesticks which is the church. He is inspecting it.
Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle
He is describes as the Father is in Daniel.
Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
His eyes “as a flame of fire” means He is inspecting the church with “Holy Spirit” eyes, not as man sees with his superficiality but as God sees the true heart.
Jesus has feet of brass, meaning judgement, as they burned in a furnace.
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters
In Daniel “one like a son of man” walked through the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
One of the main themes of the bible is that we go through this tribulation with Christ so that the bride is purified. God is separating the wheat from the chaff, the dross from the silver.
Proverbs 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Matthew 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Jesus as the leader of the house holds the 7 messengers of the 7 churches in His right hand. The right hand denotes the power of the works of God in action. The 7 messengers are being used by Christ through His power to complete His desire. In this case the 7 messengers are rebuking and encouraging the 7 churches as we see in chapters 2 and 3.
Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
The first chapter of revelation is about Jesus establishing Himself as the Aleph. He is God Himself and is therefore worthy to judge His house.
This is much like the first chapter of the bible. The word for God used exclusively in the first chapter of the bible is Elohim and it carries with it the idea of God as the ruler and judge of the earth. Elohim establishes Himself as the creator and life giver of everything so yes He would be worthy to be called the ruler and judge of all.
2) BET The second letter of the Hebrew alphabet is called beit. The beit is the picture of a House, or dwelling.
The Father sent His Son Jesus to build a house, the church.
Jesus has established Himself as the Aleph and therefore leader of the house. He is therefore worthy to inspect and judge the house. In chapters 2 and 3 Jesus inspects and judges the house represented by the seven churches.
3) GIMMEL The third letter of the Hebrew alphabet is called gimmel. The gimmel is a picture of a Camel. The camel was used in the bible to carry a person through the wilderness just as the Holy Spirit carries us through the wilderness. John the Baptist, as a type of the Holy Spirt working through man, was dressed in camel’s hair, symbolically he was full of the Spirit.
The word gimmel means reward and recompense and comes from a root meaning to deal out, to give, or to wean. The reward or recompense can thus be a blessing or a judgment. This again is a picture of the Holy Spirit convicting and encouraging, blessing and judging.
Chapters 2 and 3 of revelation combine the beit and gimmel. The 7 churches are the house the Son is building. Jesus established Himself as the aleph or strong leader of the house in chapter 1. As the leader, He sends His Spirit to His house to call them, teach them, judge them and encourage them.
Each letter to the seven churches is organized the same way. Jesus describes a symbolic attribute of Himself as the Leader of the House worthy to judge. He then gives a statement about the condition of the House. He tells of the reward/recompense for following or not following Him. He lastly tells each church to listen to the Spirit.
The central theme is His House is to be Holy, to be like Him. Do not be seduced by the world, the false prophets, the Jezebels. If you choose not to follow judgment is coming.
Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation seem to also follow chapters 2 and 3 of the bible. In chapter 2 of the bible God starts building His house-Adam. His house is given boundaries, you can not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
In chapter 3 of the bible His house rebels and is judged, but is also given the first messianic promise of redemption. This is all very similar to the message to the seven churches.
4) DALET The fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is called dalet. The dalet is a picture of a door. A door acts as a divider between what is inside and what is outside. You use a door to go in and out or back and forth. The number four throughout scripture is used in conjunction with division. The essence of holiness is division, setting something special apart from the common. God is Holy or set apart and has made His church holy or set apart by Jesus’ blood, and He wants us to learn to act holy or set apart by obeying His holy laws which reflect His Holiness.
In the fourth chapter John is shown a door opened to the holy temple in heaven. He sees the holy throne of God with 24 elders sitting on 24 seats around the throne. There are seven lamps burning before the throne. There are 4 living beings also in the midst of the throne and around the throne. The one on the throne is like a Jasper and sardine stone. This is the first and last stone of the breastplate of the High priest. The first and the last represent all. The stones of the breastplates stood for the 12 tribes-all Israel-the House of God-the church throughout history.
The rainbow is a reminder of God’s covenant with Noah. It is like an emerald, the 4th stone of the breastplate. Judah is the 4th son. Jesus, our redeemer and covenant maker, is from the tribe of Judah.
Rebekah the virgin bride is the type of the 24 elders seated before the throne of God. This is the holy, set apart, divided out bride seated in the heavenlies as Ephesians calls us. This is our future and what we are now.
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
The four living beings, which are the Holy Spirit and His power in action, are full of eyes representing the omniscience and omnipresence of God. The wings represent their power and therefore the power of God. There are 4 beings representing the concept of division and holiness. The goal of the Holy Spirit is to call and refine the house or bride of Christ. There are 6 wings to each being. The 6th letter is the vav. It means to join. The number six also denotes physical completion. The Holy Spirit is completing and joining the bride to Christ. There are a total of 24 wings just like there are 24 elders.
The Holy Spirit dwells within us, the 24 elders, to give us His power. When you read revelation you find that the 24 elders do what the 4 living beings do. We follow the Spirit as He leads.
The fourth chapter is seen as a picture of the Holiness of the Father, the heavenly temple, the agent of holiness in His people, the Holy Spirit and the holy bride seated in the heavenlies.
It is interesting that the fourth chapter of the bible is also about division and a setting apart. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted and Cain’s was not. Cain was sent away from the presence of the Lord and marked.
5) HEY- The fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is called hey. It means to reveal or behold.
What does the fifth chapter of revelation reveal?
First, a book written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals.
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
It is written on the front and back means that it is full or complete.
It is sealed because the seal shows who the owner is. It is the Father’s seal. He is the owner.
The next revealing of chapter 5 is the Lamb - Jesus Christ. Only because of His redemption can the book be opened. Without His redemption there is no book to open.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The lamb has 7 horns. A horn represents power. He has spiritually perfect power,
The lamb has Holy Spirit eyes, not the eyes of man. He sees the heart perfectly.
This book is the book of life. In it contains the church through all history, the virgin bride. The 24 elders symbolize this virgin bride. They fall down and worship Jesus, the Lamb, for He was slain and redeemed the virgin bride on the cross. Through His death we become kings and priests reigning with Him. That is why the 24 elders are on seats around the throne with golden crowns.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
So the fifth chapter reveals the book of life, the bride, redeemed by the Lamb. There is no bride without the Lamb, period. Inherent in this thought is that God reveals Himself through all creation, but only those who are His take that revelation to heart and are written in the book.
The fifth book of the Bible is the” revelation” of the “redeemed” line of Adam through Seth to Noah.
Many commentators have talked about the hidden message within the names linking to the redemption of Jesus.
Adam=man Seth=appointed Enosh=mortal man Cainan=dwelling place Mahalalel=praise of God Jared=descend Enoch=train up or disciple Methuselah=missionary man Lamech=despair, jumbled kingdom Naoh=rest
Man is appointed mortality in his dwelling place. To the praise of God He desended to disciple man and send him on a mission(indwelled by God) to the despairing lost kingdom to bring them rest.
The hidden message is the explanation of the gospel and is a picture of the book of life-the bride redeemed by the Lamb.
