Seven: Part II

Skarbutt ^ | 08/13/2021 | Editor

[inpajamas]

All of God's physical creation consists of similitudes patterned after spiritual things. God, in his wisdom and knowledge created all things; whereby, we, by these things, could come to the knowledge and understanding of spiritual things that otherwise would be hidden. In the book of Hebrews, we find an example of this, wherein, the temple was pattered after spiritual things and foreshadowed things that were to come, even things in Heaven.

But it is not only the temple in Jerusalem, or the tabernacle in the wilderness, where we find this use of similitudes pertaining to spiritual things. For all of creation declares the glory of God and makes manifest the invisible knowledge of God. Weather they be things living or inanimate objects, all things in the heavens and in the earth are instruments of teaching and contain lessons instructing us in the knowledge of things unseen.

Jesus used created things to teach spiritual truths. As he explained to Nicodemus, “If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” Wherefore, it is by earthly things we have access to the knowledge of God. This knowledge was made manifest in the beginning by the spoken Word of God which is the Light. For it is written in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth and then said, “Let there be Light”. This Light is the knowledge of God made manifest in all things that he created.

Sevens: Part I, began the correlation of a few of the many appearances in the Bible of the number seven. In part I, described in greater detail was the establishment of days into weeks, each week ending on the seventh day which was a Sabbath wherein no work was done. Enoch, who was the seventh from Adam, was given as an example of the man who sees no death, the seventh man. The candlestick with seven lamps; all of which are not allowed to ever go out also points to Christ, who is the Sabbath, the perfect man, and the light of the temple. If Christ be in you, you are the temple of God. There are many other Biblical confirmations throughout scripture, wherefore, we have receive a great cloud of witnesses confirming this picture of perfection in Christ.

The land promised to the Children of Israel when they came out of Egypt, wherein they were to find rest, is in a picture, a place prepared for God's children who follow him through the wilderness. Most, however, rebelled against God died in the wilderness. Wherefore? Those who died were children of the flesh who lusted after evil things and longed to go back to Egypt. They believed not the promises of God. But not all died in the wilderness; for those who believed God did enter; but not without a fight. Here again, the number seven appears as the number to be achieved to obtain the kingdom and find rest.. For there were seven nations that possessed the land of Canaan that had to be driven out first.

So then, there was a condition for attaining rest; the Israelites were commanded to destroy the seven nations and possess the land. Now, the parallel to this is reveled in the words Jesus spake when he said, “...behold, the kingdom of God is within you”.  To possess this kingdom, the evil inhabitants (seven nations) must be driven out, and The Seven Spirits of God, which, comprise The Spirit of the Lord, must reign in their stead and fill the temple (the body)—wherein, the candlestick with seven lamps, is a picture of the light in the temple: the Spirit of God. 

Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus cast out seven devils, found rest from the evil that possessed her. But Jesus also warned his generation of becoming possessed with seven seven spirits more wicked than those they had, if they rejected God.

Herein lies the picture of a heavenly kingdom: seven days, each day consisting of evening and morning (first darkness, then light overcoming darkness) making one week which concludes with light. Likewise, the light of the temple being seven lamps with seven points of light make one candlestick. Enoch, being the seventh from Adam who was taken as a sign that God takes the seventh. David also, the seventh son of Jesse was the one chosen to be king. Seven nations that were to be destroyed and the land cleansed, in whose stead, God would create a kingdom for his people.

Nonetheless, we read in the book of Hebrews that many of the Children of Israel died in the wilderness and did not come into the promised rest; for they believed not in the salvation of God and refused to enter the land and destroy the evil inhabitants. Although, rest was promised by God after the seven evil kingdoms were destroyed, as written:

“For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh  day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief…” – Hebrews: 4-6

We find then then that in the seventh there is completion, rest, and finality; however, seven is a process to that end; for seven is attained only after six are fulfilled. Just as each day of the week must be fulfilled first before a week is fulfilled. There are six days wherein work was to be done; completion comes with rest on the seventh. We are to labor to enter into rest until we enter. Let not the Sun go down on your labor.

Solomon the son of David also was used in a figure as a representation of coming to Christ. There were six steps to the seat of the king, as it is written; Solomon made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.  Herein is a representation: There were six steps to ascend to the throne. The seventh is Christ on the throne. 

Now consider; there were six steps to reach the throne.   On either side of the throne there were twelve lions. There are twelve tribes of Israel before the appearance of Christ, and there were twelve disciples after.  Both were chosen representatives to bring light to the nations.  As the throne divided the lions, the coming of Christ divided the times. Indeed. For the law was given to the twelve tribes of Israel until Christ; afterward, Christ chose twelve disciples to go into the world to preach the Gospel and build his kingdom.

As there were six steps upward in attainment to the throne, we find seven parts to the process; just as a week is one, but seven separate units. The process itself is one of work concluded with rest; “six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work”; and the seventh day is finality, the day of rest, the throne.​

In the law given to Moses by God, we find many uses of “seven” pertaining to purification and cleansing of the priest and of the people. Likewise, Elisha instructed Naaman the Syrian to go dip seven times in Jordan for restoration and cleansing. And, in reminding again, seven nations in the land of Canaan which had to be removed in order to cleanse the land of its abominations and pollutions.

Seven times is also used in connection to forgiveness and redemption, both in the law of Moses and in the New Testament.  Coming to the fullness of the knowledge of God is also a process of going from ignorance to knowledge, as represented by the seven biblical days that begin with the onset of darkness and turn to light in the latter part of the day.  

When the Lord set a King over Israel to replace Saul—a man of the flesh whom the people had desired being taller in stature than all the people—he chose David, the seventh son of Jesse, of whom he spake saying, "I have found a man after my own heart".   Six of Jesse's sons, beginning with the first born, were made to pass before the Lord; all of whom were not accepted.  David was esteemed so small he not even present for consideration, until Samuel inquired if Jesse had any other sons. But it was David who was chosen to be anointed king, and in so being, became a figure of Christ.

The seventh man is the Lord. Six represents the process man must labor through to attain to the seventh; stressing again, “six days shalt thou labor...”.

Three, or “three times” is often used as a witness of confirmation for the end of a matter. Six three times in a row, or three sixes: 666, is the fullness of man and conformation of failure to attain the seventh. 666 is man without God and the state of finality of the lost soul.

John 6:66, “From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him”.

What few things are written here are certainly incomplete and only a scratch on the surface of things contained in the mystery of God's work. It would be impossible in this life to write, or know even the greater part of all the hidden things God which he has promised for those who seek him.