Anyone who has read the Book of Revelation with know that the number seven keeps cropping up time and time again. The fact that the letters to the churches of Asia, the seals, the trumpets and the bowls described in detail in the Book of Revelation come in sevens is no coincidence. In The Bible, the number seven signifies God's measure of completeness, and represents Spiritual perfection in God's dealings with mankind, a melding of God (1) with man (6).
It is also no coincidence that seven is the number which regulates every period of incubation and gestation, because the whole Book of Revelation is about the incubation and gestation of the kingdom of Heaven, both on an individual, personal level, and collectively as a body of people who follow the teachings of Jesus (The Church). As the first couple of verses of the Book of Revelation tell us, that's what the Book is all about. The cycle of seven began with Christ's ministry on earth and comes into completeness as we overcome our iniquities, begin living a life of love and liberty and experience own personal "millenium" reign.
As the number seven is God's measure of completeness, the seven churches to whom The Revelation was given represent God's measure of completeness for the collective followers of Jesus and not just the seven churches named. They are written for the benefit and admonition of all; their contents reflect the spiritual condition of the whole church throughout the whole Church age.
The Seven SealsThey summarise the major events occurring during the church age in respect to the spiritual state of both the Church, and the individuals within the Church. These events are a consequence of man's reaction to God's plan for the Church age.
The Seven TrumpetsA series of proclamations, or signs and warnings, given by God to mankind throughout the Church age. Modelled on the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 3), they are given in response to the prayers of the church and the sacrifices of those who were martyred for their faith (including Jesus himself).
The Seven BowlsA series of consequences poured out on those who refuse to repent or heed the proclamations of The Seven Trumpets.
The Seven Parables of the Kingdom of God (Matt 13)These parables mirror the seven letters to the churches of Asia and summarise the seven distinct chronological periods of the Church age. They serve to tie in the Book of Revelation with the teachings of Jesus and in many ways they given his authentification to the Book of Revelation, and in particular this interpetation of the Book's message and purpose.
Reading the "Sevens"Upon first reading, we assume the letters, and the events depicted in the seals, trumpets and bowls are in chronological order, because that is how we, in modern day society, have learnt to read and digest a document, but that is not how the author intended it to be read. This becomes very obvious when you determine their individual purpose and message and compare them with each other, which is done elsewhere here.
The society in which the Book of Revelation was written would have read it differently; if reading the book as a whole, they would have read it in this order: The first letter, the first seal, the first trumpet, the first bowl, followed by the second letter, the second seal, the second trumpet, the second bowl, followed by third letter ... etc.
If they wanted to read a summary of what was going to happen, they'd read the seven seals. If they wanted to read a summary of God's specific messages to the seven Churches, they'd read the seven trumpets. If they wanted to read a summary of the outcome, they'd read the seven bowls.
Chapter 4: The Seven Churches of the Book Of RevelationDesign by W3layouts
