GOD'S HISTORIC PRECEDENTS AND PARALLELS

            "And God Blessed the Seventh Day"
            (GENESIS 2:3)


             

            Seven  -  The Complete Cycle

            Throughout the Bible, the cycle of seven is God's expression of completed action.  In nature, this unit of seven is manifested in the musical scale and the colors of the rainbow.  God insists that every seventh day, year, or multiples thereof, should be one of rest and restoration.  Gen. 2:2; Ex. 31:12; 34:21.
             

            This basis pattern of seven is seen in:

            Week of Days
             

            Seven days

            Week of Weeks

            Followed by the 50th day, Pentecost   (Lev. 23:15)

             

            Week of Months

            The Atonement, (Yom Kippur) in the seventh month
            (Lev. 16; Numbers 29:7)


            Seven-Day Feast

            Unleavened Bread and Tabernacles  (Sukkot)
            (Lev. 23:6, 34)


            Week of Years

            The Sabbatic year (Ex. 21:2; Lev.25:2; Deut. 15:1)

             


            Seven Weeks of Years

            49 years before liberty in the 50th year
            (Lev. 25:8)

             


            Week of 70 Years

            Restoration will come (Dan. 9:24-27)


            Week of Eras

            Innocence, Conscience, Government, Promise, Law, Grace and Messiah's Reign of Peace on Earth


            The sacred seven is God's manifest pattern for the religious Feasts, the daily life and the agriculture of God's chosen people.

            Additional scripture relating to sevens:  Ex. 21:2; Deut. 15:1,2,9,12; Josh. 6:15,16; Rom. 8:21.

            Another interesting bit of information dealing with seven is the story of Enoch.  He walked so closely with God that the Lord took him off the earth alive (Gen. 5:24).  What is interesting is Enoch's genealogical placement.  He was the seventh from Adam through Seth (Gen. 5:18,24; I Chr. 1:1-3; Jude 14).  This points to completion and perfection in man's seventh cycle.  In a sense, God Himself will not rest until His fallen creation is restored; and His Kingdom of righteousness has been established on earth in His appointed time.

            Upon this principle, one may conclude that after six millennia of man's efforts, the seventh may be the millennium of restoration of righteousness and justice under Messiah's reign (Rev. 20:2-7).  Truth will triumph over deception, and love over selfishness.  (Isa. 30:18; Heb. 4:9; Psa. 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8)