Greetings! This is the third post in our study of numbers in Scripture. As we discovered, God is the master mathematician, and in His creation, you will find many repeating numbers that are there by design… not by accident. Likewise, there are many repeating numbers found in scriptures that have meaning and purpose. In this post, we’re going to talk about the most obvious and frequently used number in the book of Revelation… Seven! Keep reading if you want to learn more.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU STUDY REVELATION
Third in a Four-Part Series
by Karen Thompson
The Number Seven in Revelation
Let’s go on and consider all the ways the number seven appears in the book of Revelation. Revelation is about the great consummation! Consummation is the very essence of fulfillment, perfection, and completion. That’s why the number seven permeates Revelation, because as Daniel 9:24 states, it is when every vision and prophecy ever uttered about the covenant people will be consummated!
Let’s look at the overwhelming presence of the number seven that permeates Revelation. There are the obvious sevens and then there are the less obvious sevens. Here are the obvious sevens:
- Seven churches 1:4
- Seven spirits before the throne of God 1:4
- Seven candlesticks 1:12
- Seven stars 1:16
- Scroll sealed with seven seals 5:1
- Lamb with seven eyes and seven horns 5:6
- Seven angels with seven trumpets 8:2,
- Seven thunders 10:3
- At the sound of the seventh angel’s trumpet, the mystery of God will be finished 10:7
- Seven thousand men slain in an earthquake 11:13
- Seven angels with seven vials 15:7
- Red dragon with seven heads wearing seven crowns 12:3
- Beast with seven heads 13:1
- Seven mountains 17:9
- Seven kings 17:10
- Revelation covers a span of seven years, Daniel’s 70th week!
Then there are the less obvious sevens and multiples of sevens. Revelation chapter six says that when the sixth seal is opened, a great earthquake will occur, causing men to flee and hide in the caves. It lists a series of seven classes of men that will hide in the caves: “And the 1) kings of the earth, and the 2) great men, and the 3) rich men, and the 4) chief captains, and the 5) mighty men, and every 6) bondman, and every 7) free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains” (Rev. 6:15).
Revelation chapter 19 tells us after the battle of Armageddon, an angel will call the birds to come and eat the flesh of dead men. It lists a series of seven classes of flesh that birds will feast upon: “That ye may eat the flesh of 1) kings, and the flesh of 2) captains, and the flesh of 3) mighty men, and the flesh of 4) horses, and of 5) them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both 6) free and bond, both 7) small and great” (Rev. 19:18).
In two places, we see the beings in heaven speak a seven-fold blessing: “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive 1) power, and 2) riches, and 3) wisdom, and 4) strength, and 5) honour, and 6) glory, and 7) blessing” (Rev. 5:11–12).
The second place is Revelation 7:12: “And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, Saying, Amen: 1) Blessing, and 2) glory, and 3) wisdom, and 4) thanksgiving, and 5) honour, and 6) power, and 7) might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”
There are seven “blessings” in Revelation:
- “Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy…” Rev. 1:3.
- “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth…” Rev. 14:13.
- “Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments…” Rev. 16:15.
- “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb…” Rev. 19:9.
- “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection…” Rev. 20:6.
- “Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book…” Rev. 22:7.
- “Blessed are they that do his commandments…” Rev. 22:14.
The phrase “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” is repeated seven times: Rev. 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22.
There are four expressions of eternity in Revelation and these four expressions are repeated 21 times, a multiple of 7: 1) Who was, who is and who is to come; 2) Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, first and last; 3) reign for ever and ever; and 4) live for ever and ever.
There are seven overcomer’s rewards:
- “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7).
- “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death” (Rev. 2:11).
- “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it” (Rev. 2:17).
- “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations” (Rev. 2:26).
- “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life” (Rev. 3:5).
- “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name” (Rev. 3:12).
- “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Rev. 3:21).
There are 17 verses that have the word “blood” in them. Seven of those times have to do with God’s judgments on Antichrist’s kingdom.
- Moon became as blood, 6:12
- Fire mingled with blood, 8:7
- Sea became blood, 8:8
- Waters turned into blood, 11:6
- Blood came out of the winepress, 14:20
- Sea became blood of a dead man, 16:3
- Rivers and fountains of waters became blood, 16:4
There is much more one could say with regard to numbers in the book of Revelation, but this is sufficient to demonstrate that the study of Revelation is enhanced when you understand the significance and meaning of numbers.
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