Meaning of Numbers: The Number 999
The English word "nine" used for number 9 appears 50 times in the King James Bible. The phrase "ninety years old and nine" or "ninety and nine" appears only six times (Genesis 17:1, 24, Matthew 18:12 - 13, Luke 15:4 - 7). The phrase "nine hundred and ninety nine," or similiar, for 999 does not appear anywhere in Scripture.
The meaning of number 999 centers around God's Holy Spirit, the power (not person) through which he accomplishes his will. It can symbolize the prophetic spiritual glory of the Godhead and the expression of its perfect character in the life of every called and converted Christian.
To a much lesser extent than above, 999 can also represent the manifestation of spiritual power from either a good or an evil source. It can also symbolize God's righteous judgment.
The first nine of number 999 reveals the primary gifts of God's spirit as delineated by the Apostle Paul in the book of Galatians. Note below that Paul says that these are the fruit, not fruits, of the spirit. This singular form of the word means all the characteristics he lists are available through the unifying power God generously offers to all true believers.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love (1), joy (2), peace (3), long-suffering (4), kindness (5), goodness (6), faith (7), meekness (8), self-control (9); against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22 - 23).
The second nine of the number 999 are the administrations (abilities) the spirit can give a Christian at God's discretion. These gifts of service are not meant to increase a person's ego or to justify feelings of spiritual superiority. They are, rather, to be used in humility for the common good of others and for building up the body of Christ (his church).
For to one, a word of wisdom is given by the Spirit (1); and to another, a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit (2); And to a different one, faith by the same Spirit (3); and to another, gifts of healing by the same Spirit (4);
And to another, the working of miracles (5); and to another, prophecy (6); and to another, discerning of spirits (7); and to a different one, various languages (8); and to another, the interpretation of languages (9) (1Corinthians 12:7 - 10).
The last nine of 999 is the spiritual power represented by the righteous spirits at God's throne in the third heaven. The Apostle John tells us these are God the Father, Jesus Christ, and seven spirits.
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are before His throne; And from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth . . . (Revelation 1:4 - 5).
Appearances of Number 999
According to "Number in Scripture" by Bullinger, the Greek Gematria of the phrase "my wrath" found in Hebrews 3 is 999.
So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest (Hebrews 3:11, KJV).
This fact dovetails, according to the book, that the Hebrew Gematria of the name Sodom is also 999 and lends to its association with God's judgment.
Good, Evil and Number 999
In the Bible, the number 999 might also represent the manifestation of any spiritual power regardless of whether its source is good or evil.
The nine primary fruits and the nine gifts given through the same spirit, mentioned above, are a righteous expression of God's perfect love and are good. There are, however, nine Old Testament examples (999) of those who practiced sorcery or other black arts that clearly are influenced or powered by the forces of evil.
These examples, of those who used the power of darkness, completing our 999, are the following. The first example is mentioned through God's promise to punish Egyptian magicians and charmers for their works (Isaiah 19). The second is Pharaoh's use of Jambres and Jannes who supernaturally opposed Moses and Aaron (Exodus 7 - 8).
The third example of the use of evil powers is Balak's hiring of the soothsayer and prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites (Num. 22 - 23). The fourth is Jezebel's use of witchcraft to fulfill her will (2Kings 9:22). The fifth comes from Nineveh, which is labeled "the mistress of witchcrafts," whose works deserve God's wrath (Nahum 3).
The sixth example is Babylon's use of sorceries, enchantments, astrologers, stargazers and monthly prognosticators for its own ends (Isaiah 47:12 - 13). The seventh is Belshazzar demanding that his astrologers and soothsayers interpret the famous "handwriting on the wall" written by the hand of God (Daniel 5:6 - 7).
The eighth are the heathen who are troubled by "the signs of heaven" through astrologers whom God warns Israel to avoid (Jeremiah 10:2, Micah 3:6 - 7).
The final use of the powers of evil in our 999 is the frequent use of divination by false prophets in order to deceive people into believing they represent the true God (Jeremiah 14:14, Ezekiel 13:6 - 9).
More Info on Biblical Meaning of 999
Listing 999 in the Hebrew section of Strong's Concordance (#H999) is the word biynah. The word, which is recorded only once in Scripture, is actually of Chaldean origin. It means "discernment" or "understanding" and is translated as such in the book of Daniel.
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding (biynah) (Daniel 2:20 - 21, KJV).
Listing 999 in the Greek section of Strong's Concordance (#G999) is the word bothunos. Used only three times in the Greek New Testament, the word refers to a hole in the ground like a pit or ditch.
And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit (bothunos) on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? (Mark 12:11, KJV).
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch (bothunos)? (Luke 6:39, KJV).
999 is the product of 3 x 3 x 3 (3 cubed) x 37. Both 3 and 37 are prime numbers. 999 is also the largest decimal integer.
The New Testament, in most modern Bible translations, is composed of 27 books or 9 + 9 + 9 or nine times three (999).