The number Seven
The number seven holds significance in human culture, reflected in the seven days of the week, the seven classical planets, seven colours of the rainbow, seven wonders of the world both ancient and modern etc. In ancient mythologies the significance of the number seven is in relation to the seven sages of Greece, known for their wisdom and virtue. Also, the Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione. It was understood that there were seven Heavens and mention was made of the seven deadly sins (pride, greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony and sloth), and many more.
Seven is commonly regarded as the number of God. God ceased from His works on the seventh day. The number ‘777’ is therefore attributed to God from the following verses;
Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Gen 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Seven represents the end of something- the limit that can be reached, hence fullness, completeness, perfectness; full circle. It also represents wholeness which the Sabbath signifies( Lk 14:1-6). Therefore, a state of not being in lack which again expresses the idea of wholeness, fullness and completeness. Also, it represents that which is indefinite- the blessing pronounced by God is for unstated period.
Some Scriptural examples that help understand the meaning, significance and usage of seven are briefly highlighted:
- Gen 7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty night. The end of one week before the beginning of another.
- Gen 8:10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
- Gen 21:28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. A perfect witness of the covenant between them.
- Gen 29:27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. Completeness
- Gen 41:2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fat fleshed ; and they fed in a meadow.
- Others like seven Sabbaths, bowing seven times, eating unleavened bread for seven days etc are all descriptive of something that is full, complete, whole and full circle.
As we study ‘the sevens of Revelation’, we shall bear in mind these significations and indications for our understanding, as it may be applicable.
To undertake a study of the individual ‘Sevens’ in the Book of Revelation will take a long while. There are eighteen of these sevens in the book. But for a quick study, we shall categorize them as they are related under three headings:
- Church– Churches, Spirit, Candlesticks, Stars, Lamps, Eyes
- Misery– Seals, Vials, Angels, Last plagues, Trumpets, Thousand men, Thunders
- Babylon– Horns, Heads, Mountains, Kings, Crowns
We shall begin with the Church and the related 6 sevens. May the Lord bless His word that we may understand His end-time programme and how we are to respond to what the Spirit is saying. Amen