This article is a continuation and expansion of a previous article I wrote titled, “Multiples of Seven.” [1] If you are not familiar with the Feasts of the Lord and some of the prophecies of Daniel, you might want to read this article for a better understanding of this article’s theme. Some of the information regarding the perfect numbers is taken from E.W. Bullinger’s book titled, Number in Scripture.
The number 7 is one of the four so-called perfect numbers of the Bible. The numbers 3, 10, and 12 are the three other perfect numbers. The number 3 is the number for divine perfection, 7 is the number for spiritual perfection, 10 is the number for ordinal perfection, and 12 is the number for governmental perfection.
Although the number 5 is not considered one of the perfect numbers, it is significant; as it signifies grace. Briefly, without going into too much detail, here are a few illustrations of these “perfect” numbers.
The number 3 is associated with the Godhead, for there are “three persons in God.” The first occurrence of the number 3 is in Genesis 1 and describes the third day of creation.
“And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so” (Genesis 1:9).
On the third day the earth was caused to rise up out of the water, symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Three is the number of resurrection, for it was on the third day that Jesus rose again from the dead. It was at the third hour that He was crucified; and it was for 3 hours (from the 6th to the 9th) that darkness enveloped the land.
The number 10 represents the completeness of entire cycle is complete. Noah completed the antediluvian age in the tenth generation. The Ten Commandments contain all that is necessary for the law to be complete. The Lord’s Prayer is completed in 10 clauses. The 10 plagues were representative of the complete circle of God’s judgments on Egypt.
The Antichrist’s world power is comprised of 10 kings/kingdoms, symbolized by the 10 toes on the feet of the image of Neuchadnezzar’s dream; and by the 10 horns of the fourth beast of Daniel’s vision.
TThe number 12 is the perfect number signifying perfection of government. It is found as a multiple in all that has to do with rule. The sun which “rules” the day, and the moon and stars which “govern” the night, do so by their passage through the 12 signs of the Zodiac which completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 x 30) degrees or divisions, and thus govern the year.
There were 12 patriarchs from Seth to Noah and his family, and 12 from Shem to Jacob. The Temple of Solomon has the number 12 as the predominating factor. In Revelation, concerning the New Jerusalem, here is part of the description: o:p>
“And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written theron, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:12,14).
In the Hebrew, the word seven is translated as “sheva.” It is from the root,savah which means to be full or satisfied, have enough of. For on the seventh day God rested from the work of Creation. It was full and complete, and good and perfect. Nothing could be added to it or taken from it without marring it. Hence the word “shavath” meaning to cease, desist, rest; and “shabbath” or “sabbath’—day of rest.
The Sabbath is universal and immemorial in its observance among all nations and in all times. There are 7 colors of the spectrum and in the rainbow; and in music, there are 7 notes of the scale. In Revelation, John talks of the 7 Spirits of God. There are 7 Feasts of the Lord. The last threeFeasts are in the seventh month of Tishri in the Hebrew calendar.
Some Bible scholars believe there will be 6000 years of mankind before the Millennium Kingdom of Jesus comes, whereas He will rule and reign for 1000 years. Thus mankind will have been on the earth for a total of 7000 years, before God creates a new heaven and earth.
There are some multiples of 7 that ought to be mentioned; namely 42 (6 x 7), 70 (7 x 10), 77 (7 x 11), 50 (5 x 10), 490 (7 x 7 x 10), 7000 (7 x 10 x 10 x 10). The product number exhibits the significance of each in an intensified form. For example, 42 is the sum of 6 x 7. Six is Man’s number, and signifies rebellion; while 7 is God’s number. So 42 is the number associated with mankind’s rebellion against God.
70 (7 x 10) signifies perfect spiritual order carried out with all spiritual power and meaning. Both spirit and order are greatly emphasized; 70 descendants of Jacob built up the nation of Israel; 70 elders was the total for Israel’s great Tribunal, afterwards called the Sanhedrim; 70 disciples were sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel; 70 is especially the number associated with Jerusalem as the city kept its Sabbaths 70 years, while Judah was in Babylon.
Seventy “weeks” or ‘sevens’ (490 years) were determined upon the Jews and upon Jerusalem to complete its transgression, and bring in everlasting righteousness; according to Daniel 9:24-27. Daniel’s 70th week will finish the 70 “weeks” prophecy. It will be the last 7 years of the 490 (7 x 7 x10) years mentioned before Jesus returns at His Second Coming to the earth.
Let’ examine this prophecy a little closer, especially verse 27:
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years): 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.”
This verse is referring to the last 7 years of mankind before the millennium kingdom begins. These 7 years will commence when the Antichrist confirms a covenant (peace treaty) with Israel This starts the time known as the Tribulation or otherwise known as Jacob’s trouble, or Daniel’s 70thweek. In the middle of the 7 years (1260 days later), the Antichrist will stop the sacrifices in the newly built temple (the third one) of Israel ; and will have a statue or image of himself erected for all the people of earth to worship him as God.
This event is known as the Abomination of Desolation. From the middle of the Tribulation to the end of the Great Tribulation is also 1260 days in duration. The horrors of Daniel’s 70th week are described in Revelation 6-19.
The Tribulation will last for seven years. If the Rapture and the start of the Tribulation begin in 2016, then the end of the Great Tribulation will occur in 2023. This seems highly unlikely to me, as there doesn’t appear to be enough time for all of these events to occur.
On June 7, 2017, Israel will celebrate her 50 year (5 x 10) anniversary celebrating the re-taking of the Old City of Jerusalem during the famous 6 day war. On June 7, 1967, IDF paratroopers advanced through the Old City toward the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, bringing Jerusalem’s holiest site under Jewish control for the first time in some 2000 years.
Here is a more realistic (although speculative) dateline for Daniel’s 70thweek. The years 2018 – 2025 are very interesting in regard to Israel , Jerusalem , and multiples of seven. On May 14, 2018, Israel will celebrate her 70th (7 X 10) anniversary as a re-formed nation. Israel was resurrected from the ash heaps of history and was recognized as a nation on May 14, 1948. It’s ironic (or not) that the 70th week of Daniel could begin on Israel ’s 70th anniversary year. If the Tribulation starts in the fall of 2018, then the Great Tribulation would end 7 years later in the fall of 2025
Jesus was once asked by his disciples when would be the end of the age. He replied:
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near: so likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:32-35).
When Jesus told his disciples “this generation shall not pass away,” he was saying that all the end times signs would be fulfilled within the lifetime of the people being born when the end time signs began. The beginning sign was when Israel became a nation again on May 14, 1948.
According to Psalm 90:10, a generation is 70 to 80 years in duration. Modern Israel will be 77 (7 x 11) years old in 2025. Eleven is the number for disorder and disintegration, which aptly describes the chaos of the end times; yet multiplying it by 7 means God will have the final word and His will shall be accomplished.
Whatever the timing of Daniel’s 70th week and the Second Coming of Jesus, we know the end is drawing near. You can compare God’s Word to the daily headlines and realize the “birth pangs” are getting more frequent and severe. As believers in Jesus Christ, we await the Rapture of the Church; not the pre-tribulation wars or the Tribulation. However, as we see these signs getting close, it means the Rapture is even closer. For Paul said:
“Andtowait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from thewrathtocome” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
Randy Nettles