Introduction To God’s Magnificent Sevens
One thing that has intrigued me the last few years in my Bible studying especially is all the sevens that I and others have found in the Bible. Of course, we all know the mainstream ones people talk about, such as Jesus’ seven I Ams in the Gospel of John; Jesus’ seven sayings from the cross; the seven churches, seals, trumpets and vials in the book of Revelation. Even though the word seven and sevens occur 54 times in Revelation, there are countless more, such as a word or phrase occurring seven times in that book (or a multiple of seven, which has the same symbolic meaning), seven people or groups in view, a passage having seven things happening in it, a sevenfold list given, seven names or types of statements, a sevenfold approach to the whole book. We can also find all of these and so many more in the Bible as a whole.
Sevens (or a multiple of that number) means completion or perfection in the Bible. Often it is used to show a complete range of things - such as 14 kings shown between each part of Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew one or 14 judges from Othniel to Samuel, seven good kings in the Southern Kingdom, 77 generations of man from the creation of Adam until the coming of Jesus Christ in Like 3:23-38.
But there are many more kinds of sevens, some using that number, others just occurring that many times. It is God’s stamp upon His Book, showing it is a supernatural Book written by the Holy Spirit Himself. No man could ever write a book and include that many references to sevens (and all the other numbers that are used, each with their associated meanings) and still have their writings makes sense and flow so beautifully together.
God rewards diligent studying and research, and I believe He intended His people to find many of the things He has hidden in His Word.* I’m sure His children will be learning things from the Bible for all eternity. The depth of this Book is so immense.
*I am not referring to hidden meanings or messages found by rearranging verse references or esoteric meanings when someone allegorizes the Bible, but simply things already in the Word of God and revealed to those who walk with the Lord and take the time to dig in and compare spiritual things with spiritual things.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
See also Proverbs 2:1-7 and 1 Corinthians 2:9-16.
Let me give you a teaser of what you will find in this blog. This is by no means a complete list.
There are so many kinds of sevens: from the actual number or a multiple of it;
A word or phrase used only seven times in the whole Bible, in one book, or in one chapter - such as take no thought;
Seven people that have something unique about them - such as seven people that were named by God before they were born;
A sevenfold promise or covenant of God - such as the Abrahamic covenant seen in Genesis 12:2-3;
A sevenfold statement - such as Ruth's declaration of faith in Ruth 1:16-17;
Seven commands or exhortations in a section - such as the commands, when thou doest alms, when thou prayest, when ye fast used in Matthew 6:2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17;
Seven of a type of Psalm - such as the seven penitential Psalms or seven Psalms that begin with the word Blessed;
A sevenfold list of objects, people, character traits - such as the seven aspects of Paul's heritage he gave up so that he may know Christ, in Philippians 3:5-6;
A sevenfold progression of events - such as Peter’s seven downward steps to his denial of Christ;
A list of seven ideas or phrases that give a picture of a person - such as the seven different terms used in Psalm 37 to refer to the righteous;
The many times seven is associated with forgiveness of our sins - seventy times seven stated by Jesus and the seventy weeks of Daniel (and the sevenfold reason for them) in Daniel 9:24-27...
Well, you get the drift!
If sevens intrigue you, please check out my newest blog where I started posted so many of the various sevens that I am finding - plus, I list all the verses and passages for all the ones I do post, so you can verify them yourself.
Please check out this blog and bookmark it if this type of thing interests you. You can click on the tags that list the themes or Bible books referred to, so you can find similar sevens to the ones that most interest you. And don't forget to leave a comment on your favourite ones or pass them on to others.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and check out my newest blog.
To God be the glory,
Jerry Bouey
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