Certain numbers in the Bible, such as 7 and 40, play an important role. With this in context, it’s easy to believe that when the same numbers show up repeatedly (angel numbers) in your life, it’s a good thing. In fact, people assume that since these numbers are repeatedly seen, they are not coincidental but a message from angels. But are angel numbers biblical?
The idea of angel numbers has no scriptural foundation. While the Bible places a lot of significance on certain numbers, it does not point to any number being an angel number. Additionally, angels are primarily created to minister to God and not humans. The Holy Spirit is the only helper that Jesus Christ asked God for when he was about to ascend to heaven. Besides, the role of angels is not to help humans but to serve the will of God.
Why Are Angel Numbers Popular?
According to numerology, repeating numbers tend to occur in a sequence of three or four. That means 1212 or 555 can be considered angel numbers with specific meanings. People who believe in this new age practice view the repeated numbers as a form of fortune telling, spirit guides, or angels trying to warn, bless, tell you about a future event, or get your attention. A simple search on the internet will also give you an idea of what the angel numbers you’ve seen mean.
People assume that when they see angel numbers more than once, it means they are getting the green light to go ahead with something, be it in love, relationships, or life. And the more the angel number is repeatedly seen, the more significance it holds.
Angel numbers are also viewed as being sent from the spiritual realm, such as some spiritual guide or a deceased loved one. So, the core value of angel numbers is the same as palm or psychic reading, tarot cards, fortune telling, or astrology. In short, they are all occult practices.
Why Are Angel Numbers Unbiblical?
It’s easy to see angel numbers as some form of prophecy. After all, in the Old Testament, prophets such as Samuel and Elijah spoke their divine messages to the people or king. However, the prophets in the Bible were speaking for God and would end or start with, “This is what the Lord says.” God also gives Christians the gift of prophecy, but only through the Holy Spirit.
What’s more, the information you get from angel numbers comes from somewhere else, not from God or the sources God has ordained. Any other type of prophecy, spirit guide, fortune-telling, or divination comes from the power of Satan.
In the Bible, when angels communicated with people, it was to deliver a message from God. We see this when Angel Gabriel talks with Elizabeth and Mary. On the other hand, angel numbers use a series of repeated numbers to signify angels communicating with humans. This doesn’t fit the biblical narrative of how angels talked with humans.
So, the meaning or prophecy you get from angel numbers could be from the devil because it forces you to rely on anything other than God. The Bible says: “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14–15).
They Are Occult Practices
Occult practices were also common in the Old Testament among the pagan nations. We see this in the Canaanites, who had corrupted and perverted God’s truth to the point that they were beyond saving. The Bible says they exchanged the truth of God with lies (Romans 1:21-25). These detestable practices were among the reasons why God ordered the destruction of the Canaanites and replaced them with the Israelites (Deuteronomy 18:12, 14).
When we choose to believe in angel numbers, we fail to rely on God for guidance. Instead, we should remember the true power that God has over our lives and our future. Scripture declares: “The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd” (Zechariah 10:2). Scripture also warns engaging in occult practices leads to believing in false information (Isaiah 44:24-25; 47:10-15).
Some preachers and pastors assume a prophetic mantle and tell you what your angelic number means, but that message is not from God but from their own understanding. Yes, God did use numbers in the Bible, but nowhere does it tell us what those numbers signify. Scholars and numerologists who have explained what those numbers mean are only guessing or giving us their version of how they understand things. When we need to understand the meaning of any number, we should remember to lean on God and not on our own understanding.
Divination and consulting spirit guides were specifically forbidden by the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 19:26). In fact, Moses warned the Israelites against all forms of occult practices: “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead” (Deuteronomy 18:10–11). The penalty for engaging in occult practices was death (Leviticus 20:27). God also warns that those who consult spiritists will be cut off from Him (Leviticus 20:6).
What To Do When You See Repeated Numbers
There is a high chance that when you see patterns in repeated numbers, it’s because of patternicity or Apophenia (a tendency to interpret random patterns as meaningful). That’s because humans tend to have a difficult time distinguishing between random and nonrandom.
We seek information consistent with what we already believe and ignore what’s inconsistent. Once we see a pattern, we pay attention to things that confirm it and ignore everything else that suggests otherwise. So, we interpret patterns as meaningful when, in the real sense, they are not.
But if you still believe that there’s much more than what you’re seeing, it’s best to pray about it and filter the meaning through the word of God. You can also test the spirit by referring to the Bible to see if they shy away and you end up more confused, fearful, or uneasy. If indeed it’s angels from God communicating with you, it will rejoice in truth, and you will have peace because God doesn’t cause confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Conclusion
There are many false beliefs and teachings in the world that, as Christians, we need to be careful of, and angel numbers are one of them. Yes, when repeated numbers occur more than once in the most ordinary places, they grab our attention. However, angel numbers are not biblical, and we should not read too much into it. Otherwise, we are not much better than the Canaanites, who were destroyed because of their occult practices.
