Sevens In Revelation

Some Sevens In Revelation from my personal study and notes:

Jesus Christ is portrayed seven different ways in the book of Revelation:

1. The Son of Man in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, in Revelation 1:12-16.

2. The Lamb in the midst of the throne, in Revelation 5:5-7.

3. The mighty Angel setting His feet on the earth and the sea, in Revelation 10:1-6.

4. The Son of Man on the cloud, in Revelation 14:14-16.

5. The Rider (the Word of God) on the white horse, in Revelation 19:11-16.

6. The Judge on the Great White Throne, in Revelation 20:11-12.

7. The Temple and the Light of it in the New Jerusalem, in Revelation 21:22-23

7 blesseds:

Revelation 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14

7 names/titles of Jesus in chapter one:

1. Alpha and Omega

2. The Beginning and the Ending

3. The Lord

4. Which is, which was, and which is to come

5. The Almighty

6. The First and the Last

7. He that liveth and was dead... and is alive for evermore

Sevenfold description of Jesus Christ:

Revelation 1:13-16 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, 1) clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 2) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; 3) and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 4) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; 5) and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: 6) and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: 7) and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Each of the seven letters in Revelation 2-3 follows the same general format:

1. Name (of the church that particular letter is addressed to).

2. Its Description of Christ.

3. Commendation: What that church is praised for.

4. Warning: What that church is rebuked for.

5. Promise.

6. To The Overcomers.

7. Prophetic Application (As revealed in church history, found throughout the letter.)

Seven times the Lamb’s Book of Life is mentioned in Revelation:

Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19

Sevenfold praise in Revelation 5:12 and 7:12.

Seven kinds of men mentioned here:

Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

7 passages with this Greek word for woe/alas in Revelation:

Revelation 8:13; 9:12; 11:14; 12:12; 18:10, 16, 19

The bottomless pit is referred to seven times in Revelation:

Revelation 9:1, 2, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1, 3

There are seven sins listed in Revelations 9:20-21 that mankind will not repent of during the tribulation:

1. The works of their hands

2. Their worship of devils

3. Their worship of idols

4. Their murders

5. Their sorceries

6. Their fornication

7. Their thefts

The Bible contains seven direct references to the length of the Great Tribulation (the second half - though both halves are the same length: seven years divided equally into two parts of 3 1/2 years each:

42 months - Revelation 11:2; 13:5

1260 days - Revelation 11:3; 12:6

A time, times, and half a time - Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 12:14

The mark is first mentioned in Revelation 13:16, but seven other times it is referred to as the mark of the beast or his mark:

Revelation 13:17; 14:9 , 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4

Jesus is called the Word seven times (altogether in the whole Bible, specifically in John’s writings):

John 1:1 (x3); John 1:14

1 John 1:1; 5:7

Revelation 19:13

More Sevens In Scripture

More Sevens In Scripture

I find it interesting to note that there is a seven-fold division within the Word of God itself. The Old Testament was divided by the Jews into the Law of Moses (the OT historical books - Genesis to Esther), the Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi), and the Psalms (or Writings - Job to Song of Solomon). (See Luke 24:44.) In the New Testament, we have the four Gospels (the life of Christ), Acts (early church history), the Epistles (Romans to Jude), and End-times Prophecy (Revelation).

There are also seven dispensations (by this I mean eras, nothing hyper-dispensational here - not referring to different ways of salvation or doctrines, as some mean when they use this term) of man's history, as presented in the Bible itself.

1. Innocence (in the Garden - from Creation to the Fall)
2. Pre-Deluvian Age (from the Fall to the Flood)
3. The Patriarchs (Fathers of Israel - from the Flood to the Law)
4. The Law (the time of Moses to the time of the Church)
5. The Church Age
6. The Millenium (1000 year reign of Christ on Earth - Revelation 20)
7. Eternity (Revelation 21-22)

Sevens in Revelation:

Seven times the Book of Life is mentioned: Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19.

Seven letters to the seven churches (In Revelation 2-3), as well as a seven-fold division within the letters themselves. See my study, Revelation Chapter One: An Overview (Introduction to the Letters To The Churches). It is also enlightening to notice this internal division in the book of Revelation, as stated by Christ Himself:

Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen (John's vision in chapter one), and the things which are (the seven churches and the eras they cover - as mentioned in my series - the seven churches collectively cover the whole church age), and the things which shall be hereafter  (immediately after the last church era is the rapture as pictured in 4:1, then the Tribulation starts and goes until chapter 19, the Millenium and the Great White Throne Judgement in chapter 20, then eternity is covered in chapters 21-22);

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter (after the church era).

Sevens in the Psalms:

The voice of the Lord is mentioned seven times in Psalm 29: verses 3, 4 (2x), 5, 7, 8, 9.

Seven Alphabetical (Acrostic - each verse begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet) Psalms: 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, 145.

Seven Penitential Psalms: 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143.

In Psalm 100, there are seven ways we are commanded to praise God, and seven reasons for doing so - by the way, these reasons will never change if you are a child of God, so you always have a reason to praise God (actually 7 of them!):

Psalms 100:1-5 A Psalm of praise. 1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2) Serve the LORD with gladness: 3) come before his presence with singing. 1) Know ye that the LORD he is God: 2) it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; 3) we are his people, 4) and the sheep of his pasture. 4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, 5) and into his courts with praise: 6) be thankful unto him, 7) and bless his name. 5) For the LORD is good; 6) his mercy is everlasting; 7) and his truth endureth to all generations.

Seven-fold deliverance/salvation in Psalm 34. Salvation means deliverance, and the context will show what type of deliverance is in view - whether deliverance from enemies or afflictions, or spiritual deliverance from sin, death, and Hell. Notice how the last one sums it all up and emphasizes the spiritual deliverance - salvation - the Lord has given His people:

Psalms 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Psalms 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Psalms 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Psalms 34:22 The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

And finally, one last seven-fold promise - notice the emphasis:

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Written September 29th, 2004
Jerry Bouey

Some Sevens In Scripture

Some Sevens In Scripture:

One theme that has always interested me in Bible study is the number seven. To me it is God's stamp of approval, His personal sign of handiwork on His Word. The number seven or a multiple thereof signifies perfection, fulness, completion. (This can be seen in Daniel's 70 weeks of years, Jesus' command to forgive a brother seventy times seven times, and Jesus' genealogy in Matthew 1, where each section lists fourteen names.) This idea is also carried across when something happens seven times, a phrase or idea is repeated seven times, or a description of something has seven aspects to it - like Hebrews 1:1-3 mentions seven things about our risen and ascended Lord that assert His divinity, Matthew 15:19 describes how completely evil man's heart is, and Ruth's seven-fold declaration to Naomi in Ruth 1:16-17. Revelation 5:6 refers to Jesus Christ and states symbolically that He has perfect (complete) strength (7 horns - omnipotent), perfect (complete) wisdom (7 eyes - omniscient), perfect (complete) presence (7 Spirits sent forth into all the earth - omnipresent).

As a cautionary note: Do not force a meaning into a passage that is not there because a certain number is used that symbolically carries a specific meaning - just notice what is there, and compare the numerical usage with what is clearly stated in the passage already. While many prophetic passages have symbolical meaning (for example: the books of Daniel and Revelation, the temple and sacrificial system, the types of Christ and the Holy Spirit in the OT, etc.), we want to be careful we do not ever twist the text of the Bible to bring some "spiritual meaning" out that is not justified by the text.

Seven Blesseds in the book of Revelation:

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Revelation 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Jesus' Seven I Am statements in the book of John:

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. (See also verses 48 and 51)

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (Also verse 9)

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. (Also verse 14)

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. (Also verse 5)

Seven times Jesus is declared as the Word of God:

John 1:1 (3x), 14; 1 John 1:1; 5:7; Revelation 19:13;

From Genesis:

Seven times God declared His creation was good:

Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 17, 21, 25, 31. Notice this last time, He emphasizes His declaration by stating, "It was very good."

Seven times God is said to have spoken to Noah:

Genesis 6:13; 7:1; 8:15; 9:1, 8, 12, 17.

Seven dimensions to the ark described in Genesis 6:14-16.

Sevenfold covenant/promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3.

Written September 18, 2004
Jerry Bouey

Devotionals Preached At The Gospel Mission In 2011

Devotionals Preached At The Gospel Mission In 2011

This post is my memorial of all the devotionals I preached at meals times at the Kelowna Gospel Mission during my last seven months working there. Lord willing, I will add links to any of these that I have previously posted on any of my sites, and I will add any links in the future to any outlines or full studies that came from these notes.

If you are a preacher, I hope this list of studies is a challenge and encouragement to you in your service to the Lord Jesus Christ.

January:

• 3rd - 2 Samuel 6:12-23 David, The Ark Of God, And Michal
• 6th - 2 Samuel 9 David's Example & How We Should Respond To Our Enemies
• 10th - 2 Samuel 12 Hope For The Sinner/Backslider
• 13th - What's New With You?
• 14th - 1 Chronicles 11-12 Mighty Men Serving Their King
• 15th - 2 Samuel 13:19-29 The Destruction Of Sexual Abuse And God's Healing
• 17th - 2 Samuel 15:1-12 Absalom Wins The Heart Of The People
• 21st - 2 Samuel 18:1-18 The War With Absalom
• 22nd - 2 Samuel 19:1-14 David's Inconsolable Grief For The Death Of Rebellious Absalom (Contrasted With His Hope In The Death Of His Baby)
• 23rd - John 14 Hope In The Midst Of Our Grief
• 24th - 2 Samuel 15:23; John 18:1 Jesus Became A Man (To Identify With Us, Share Our Sorrows, Die For Our Sins)
• 28th - 2 Samuel 23:1-7 David's Last Words
• 30th - 2 Samuel 24 David's Sin And His Altar
• 31st - Intro To Hosea

February:

• 4th - Hosea 2 The Valley Of Trouble
• 6th - Hosea 3 God's Redeeming Love (Sermon by Clarence Sexton)
• 7th - Hosea 4:1, 6 No Truth, Mercy, Or Knowledge Of God
• 14th - Hosea 7 Return And Remember
• 17th - Hosea 7:7-8 Sow The Wind, Reap The Whirlwind
• 23rd - Hosea 11:8-11 I Loved Him (Sermon by Clarence Sexton)
• 26th - Hosea 14 Hope For Backsliders (Sermon by A. C. Dixon)
• 28th - Introduction To John

March:

• 4th - John 1:23-29 Behold The Lamb Of God
• 6th - John 2:1-11 Filling Our Empty Vessels
• 7th - John 2:12-25 Cleansing His Father's House
• 9th - John 3:16 The Gospel In A Nutshell
• 11th - John 4:27-42 Sowing The Gospel In Samaria
• 12th - Compound Names Of The Lord
• 14th - John 5:18, 21-30 Jesus, The Judge Of Man
• 17th - John 6:25-40 Sealed And Satisfied In Christ
• 19th - John 6:51-63 Partaking Of Jesus' Sacrifice By Faith
• 20th - John 7:25-44 Living Water Flowing Forth
• 21st - John 8:1-11 The Sinless Saviour And The Blind Stone Throwers
• 25th - John 8:59; 9:5, 11-38 Sight And Spiritual Light Given To A Blind Man
• 26th - John 10:1-10, 14, 27 I Am The Door
• 27th - John 10:22-42 My Father And My Sheep
• 28th - John 11:1-37 I Am The Resurrection And The Life
• 29th - John 11:45-12:3 The Line Being Drawn For Or Against Christ

April:

• 2nd - John 13:1 Jesus Loved Them To The End
• 3rd - John 14:2-14, 18-19 The Way To The Father's House
• 4th - John 14:22-31 The Peace That Jesus Gives
• 9th - John 17 Given By The Father To The Son (Part One)
• - John 17 Given By The Father To The Son (Part Two)
• 10th - John 17 Given By The Father To The Son (Part Three)
• 11th - John 18 Bold And Rash Peter
• 14th - John 19; 20:27-28 Behold - Your Saviour! (Fivefold Picture)
• 18th - Matthew 27 The Responses Of Those Around Christ's Cross
• 25th - John 20:1-10 The Disciple  Whom Jesus Loved (7 times referred to in John)
• 28th - Introduction To Genesis
• 29th - Genesis 1:6-8 Day Two (Creation Vs Evolution)
• - Genesis 1:9-13 Day Three (Built On A Solid Foundation)

May:

• 2nd - Genesis 1:26-31 Day Six (The Trinity Creates Man)
• 5th - Genesis 2:15-25 A Help Suitable For Adam
• 6th - Genesis 3:1 Background On Satan
• 7th - Genesis 3:1-13 Three Avenues Of Temptation
• 9th - Genesis 4:1-11 Contrast Between Cain And Abel
• 11th - Genesis 5 A Picture In Genesis Five
• 12th - Genesis 6:8-22 Preparing The Ark
• 13th - Genesis 7:17-8:1 God Remembered
• 14th - Genesis 8:1-12 God's Sovereignty/Preservation
• 15th - Genesis 8:20-9:17 The Rainbow The Sign Of God's Covenant
• 16th - Genesis 9:18-28 Slavery And Servanthood
• 21st - Genesis 15:1-21 Righteousness Credited To Abram's Account (And Ours) By Faith
• 23rd - Genesis 17:1-16 A Mature (Perfect) Walk With The Lord
• 29th - Genesis 21:9-21 (And Chapter 16) Hagar's Growing Faith
• 30th - Genesis 22 Abraham Offering Isaac

June:

• 5th - Genesis 25 Jacob, The Plain Man
• 6th - Genesis 26 Isaac, The Man Of Wells And Peace
• 8th - Genesis 27 A Family In Disarray (Learning From Their Mistakes)
• 13th - Genesis 30:25-43 God Blessing Jacob With Cattle
• 15th - Genesis 32 When The Lord Became A Wrestler (Chapter 5 of Wrestling With God by Greg Laurie)
• 16th - Genesis 32 Wrestling Until The Daybreak
• 20th - Genesis 37 The Romans 8:28 Of The Old Testament
• 23rd - Genesis 39 When Life Doesn't Go As You Planned Part One
• 24th - Genesis 41 When Life Doesn't Go As You Planned Part Two
• 25th - Genesis 42 When Life Doesn't Go As You Planned Part Three
• 27th - Genesis 43-44 Jesus, The Sinner's Surety
• 30th - Genesis 45 Israel's Faith Is Strengthened

July:

• 2nd - Genesis 47:13-31 Joseph Faithful In Much
• 4th - Genesis 49:1-28 Jacob's Last Words
• 8th - Romans Road: Romans 10:9-10, 13 Believing In Your Heart
• 9th - Romans Road: Romans 8:1, 35-39 Present Tense Salvation
• 10th - 1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter And The Strangers (Chapter 2 of Strengthen Thy Brethren by Clarence Sexton)
• 15th - 1 Peter 2:11-12 Living In Light Of Jesus' Soon Coming
• 16th Supper - 1 Peter 2:21-25 The Shepherd And Bishop Of Your Souls (Chapter 1 of Strengthen Thy Brethren Volume Two by Clarence Sexton)
• 17th - 1 Peter 3:1-6 Submitting To God's Authority In The Home
• 18th - 1 Peter 3:8-12
• 23rd Lunch - 1 Peter 5:10-11 The God Of...
• Supper - 1 Peter 5:12-14 The Value Of Friends
• 25th Lunch - Steps To Christian Growth
• Supper - 2 Peter 1:1-8 Precious And Growing Faith Part One

She Was A Virgin

 She Was A Virgin

(The Law Of First Mention)

Genesis 24:16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

This is interesting. Rebekah is stated to be both a virgin and not to have known a man. The Hebrew word here (Strong’s # h1330) for virgin is used often to denote a healthy young woman or young maiden (comparable to another word meaning healthy young man, not necessarily denoting purity) - though the next phrase shows she was pure (neither had any man known her).

However, a little later in the chapter it says this about her:

Genesis 24:43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;

The word for virgin here is different - almah, Strong’s # h5959, which ALWAYS means virgin, pure, and is used in Isaiah 7:14 about the Messiah’s mother and in the title of Psalm 46 (ie. alamoth - virgins were to sing those songs in the temple worship).

The interesting thing is the differentiation between the two words. The first one means "young woman," not necessarily pure - so God clarifies on this case that Rebekah was pure. The second word continued the idea - showing she is what we typically refer to as a virgin. This is also the first use in the Bible of each word - therefore the first use of almah definitely shows a true virgin was in view, not just a young woman. And the law of first mention gives the usage of a word usually as it is used throughout the rest of the Bible.

The critics don’t have a leg to stand on with the word almah, as it only ever refers to a virgin in the Scriptures - never to just a young woman or maiden, AND the first time this word is used in the Bible, there is no doubt what kind of woman is being talked about; therefore setting the meaning and usage intended for the rest of God’s Word.

I thought that was worth passing on to all those who love to hold onto and defend their King James Bibles!

December 2, 2022
Jerry Bouey

Saved To The Uttermost!

Saved To The Uttermost!

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

The Greek word for uttermost is panteles. The root word pan means “all, every.” Teles and the word Jesus used in John 19:30 for “It is finished” come from the same root word meaning “(to set out for a definite point or goal); properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state).”

Just as everything needed to save us was done at Calvary (ie. by our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, shedding His blood, bearing our sins and suffering God’s wrath in our place) - It is finished! - even so, will all be done in and through us (the process of calling us, justifying us, sanctifying us, glorifying us - in fact, every single thing that our Lord promises to do for us in regards to our salvation) will be done by Jesus. Just as He finished the work of dying for our sins on Calvary, even so will He do all things needed to make us fit to dwell eternally with Him - from the guttermost to the uttermost, as they say.

July 31/2021
Jerry Bouey

Cities Of Refuge
Saved To The Uttermost! - Part Two

Reading The Scriptures

Reading The Scriptures

There are two main words for know (and its forms) in the New Testament.

1) Strong’s #1492, eido. This word basically has the idea of head knowledge, knowing about something.

2) Strong’s #1097, ginosko (from the root word, gnosis, knowledge). This word has the idea of knowing about something personally, personally experiencing what you know about.

Looking up every time the word know (or a form thereof) occurs in the NT (with these basic definitions) is a worthwhile study - to see what true believers then and now know personally, and what other things the NT talks about that were known (via head knowledge as compared to personal knowledge).

All that said, I am now pointing out a related word: anaginosko (#314) - the main word used for reading in the New Testament.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Ana basically means again - like the first part of the Greek word for resurrection (anastasis, to stand up again).

So anaginosko means to (personally) know again. It is used in 30 verses in the NT, most of the references are about reading the Scriptures.

1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Reading here is #320, a slightly different form of the same word.

You know how we are to read, study and meditate on God’s Word daily, right? It is like Jesus and the Apostles are saying , Read, reread, become personally familiar with the Scriptures again - and like Revelation 1:3 states when we read and heed the Bible, the Lord blesses us.

February 2, 2023
Jerry Bouey