Seven is used frequently in the Scriptures to signify completeness. At times it has reference to bringing a work toward completion. Or it can refer to the complete cycle of things as established or allowed by God. By completing his work toward the earth in six creative days and resting on the seventh day, Jehovah set the pattern for the whole Sabbath arrangement, from the seven-day week to the Jubilee year that followed the seven-times-seven"“year cycle. (Ex 20:10; Le 25:2, 6,8) The Festival of Unleavened Bread and the Festival of Booths were each seven days long. (Ex 34:18; Le 23:34) Seven appears often in connection with the Levitical rules for offerings (Le 4:6; 16:14,19; Nu 28:11) and for cleansings."”Le 14:7, 8, 16, 27,51; 2Ki 5:10.
The "seven congregations" of Revelation, with their characteristics, give a complete picture of all the congregations of God on earth."”Re 1:20"“3:22.
The "seven heads" of the "wild beast" (Re 13:1) show the limit to which the beast would be allowed to develop. Although the "scarlet-colored wild beast" is called "an eighth" king, it springs from the seven and does not exist apart from the seven-headed wild beast (Re 17:3, 9-11), as is true also of the "image" of "the wild beast." (Re 13:14) Similarly, the two-horned "wild beast" is actually coexistent with the original "wild beast" whose "mark" it tries to put on all persons."”Re 13:11, 16,17.
Jehovah was long-suffering with Israel but warned them that if, despite his discipline, they ignored him, he would then chastise them "seven times," thoroughly, for their sins."”Le 26:18, 21,28.
In historical sections of the Scriptures, seven frequently occurs to denote completeness, or doing a work completely. The Israelites exercised full faith and obedience by marching for seven days around Jericho, encompassing it seven times on the seventh day, after which the city wall collapsed. (Jos 6:2-4,15) Elijah showed full faith in the efficacy of his prayer to God by commanding his servant up on Mount Carmel to go looking at the sky seven times before a rain cloud appeared. (1Ki 18:42-44) Naaman the leper had to bathe seven times in the Jordan River. He, as a mighty Syrian general, had to display considerable humility to carry out this procedure recommended by the prophet Elisha, but for his obediently doing it, Jehovah cleansed him. (2Ki 5:10,12) The purity, completeness, perfection, and fineness of Jehovah"™s sayings are likened with poetic force and intensity to silver refined in a smelting furnace, clarified seven times. (Ps 12:6) Jehovah"™s mercy is magnified by the statement: "The righteous one may fall even seven times, and he will certainly get up." (Pr 24:16) His deserving all praise is declared by the psalmist: "Seven times in the day I have praised you.""”Ps 119:164.
The book of Revelation abounds with symbolic use of the number seven in connection with the things of God and his congregation, and also the things of God"™s Adversary, Satan the Devil, in his all-out fight to oppose God and his people."”Re 1:4, 12,16; 5:1,6; 8:2; 10:3; 12:3; 13:1; 15:1,7; 17:3,10; and other texts.
Multiples of seven are used in a similar sense of completeness. Seventy (ten times seven) is employed prophetically in the "seventy weeks" of Daniel"™s prophecy dealing with Messiah"™s coming. (Da 9:24-27; see SEVENTY WEEKS.) Jerusalem and Judah lay desolate 70 years, because of disobedience to God, "until the land had paid off [completely] its sabbaths.""”2Ch 36:21; Jer 25:11; 29:10; Da 9:2; Zec 1:12; 7:5.
Seventy-seven, a repetition of seven in a number, was equivalent to saying "indefinitely" or "without limit." Jesus counsels Christians to forgive their brothers to that extent. (Mt 18:21,22) Since God had ruled that anyone killing Cain, the murderer, must "suffer vengeance seven times," Lamech, who apparently killed a man in self-defense, said: "If seven times Cain is to be avenged, then Lamech seventy times and seven.""”Ge 4:15, 23,24.
Who are those that receive a crown in Heaven?
