I started looking at the number seven in the Bible and will perhaps bring different aspects of this amazing pattern throughout the Bible however for today here is a brief look at the number 7 and how it means: Completion and Rest
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Genesis 2:2-3 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. 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.
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Here we see the number seven closely associated with the end of work. Phrases like:
It is finished
It is complete
It is over
Also the number seven ties in with the word rest. And of course just by association when you have finished a job, or when you have completed something and it is over you can now rest.
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Genesis 5:27-32 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed: And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters. And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.
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Lamech was the father of Noah and it is very interesting that he prophesied that Noah shall comfort us concerning our work and toil. Comfort in this verse has also been translated as comfort, comforter, repent and ease. Of course when someone is distressed and then comforted they are put at ease (rest).
Also we can see a type of Christ and a type of the Holy Ghost in this passage. He shall give us comfort — Jesus gave us comfort. In fact he said come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I’ll give you rest.
Jesus has comforted us concerning our work and toil. And of course the Holy Ghost is called the comforter.
So when we see how these things relate to Jesus who gives us complete rest and the Holy Ghost who is THE comforter it is amazing how Lamech lived until he was 777 years old. Remembering how seven symbolizes completion and rest!!!
Jesus Has Finished The Work God Sent Him To Do
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Daniel 9:24-27
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
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Weeks = seven, period of seven (days or years)
Seventy periods of seven, therefore seventy times seven! Notice how once again the number seven is associated with finishing and making an end. It is pointing to the completion of the matter.
It is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that transgressions are finished and sin is put to an end. He was the one cut off and he was the one reconciled us back to God and therefore making reconciliation for iniquity.
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John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
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I won’t write down the entire chapter here but do yourself a huge favour and read the rest of this chapter. This entire chapter is an amazing prayer from Jesus to God and in the context of the work being finished you can’t help but be moved when you read it in its entirety.
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John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
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Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his (Jesus) rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
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Matthew 18:21-22
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
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The same number as in Daniels 70 weeks. By the number sevens it is implying that we continue to forgive until it is finished. We continue to forgive until it is over. Continue to forgive until sin has been cut off. And we continue to forgive until we have rest!
It can be easier said then done to forgive someone who has deeply hurt you. We are encouraged to keep on forgiving over and over and over again. It can be tough at times and seem like hard work but if we stick with it then eventually the pain and hurt will be over and we will have rest.
There is no rest in holding onto bitterness.
