Sets of Seven in the Book of Revelation

compiled by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

Introduction:

On of the most obvious symbolic features of the Book of Revelation is its frequent use of the number SEVEN, signifying completeness:


Seven Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor:

Parts of each Letter Ephesus
(2:1-7)
Smyrna
(2:8-11)
Pergamum
(2:12-17)
Thyatira
(2:18-29)
Sardis
(3:1-6)
Philadelphia
(3:7-13)
Laodicea
(3:14-21)
Command to write: To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: (2:1a) (2:8a) (2:12a) (2:18a) (3:1a) (3:7a) (3:14a)
Titles or description of the speaker (Christ): "These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:" (2:1b) "These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life:" (2:8b) "…of him who has the sharp two-edged sword…" (2:12b) "…of the Son of God who has eyes like flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze…" (2:18b) "…of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars…"(3:1b) "…of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens…" (3:7b) "…of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation…" (3:14b)
Status of the church:
Good
things commended:
"I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance.  I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false.  I know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary" (2:2-3).  (2:9) (2:13) (2:19) [missing] (3:8) [missing]
Status of the church:
Bad things condemned:
"But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first." (2:4) [missing] (2:14-15) (2:20-21) (3:1c) [missing] (3:15-17)
Admonitions &
encouragements:
"Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." (2:5-6) (2:10) (2:16) (2:22-25) (3:2-4) (3:9-11) (3:18-20)
Admonition to listen: "Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches." (2:7a) (2:11a) (2:17a) (2:29) (3:6) (3:13) (3:22)
Promises to those who are victorious: "To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God." (2:7b) (2:11b) (2:17b) (2:26-28) (3:5) (3:12) (3:21)


Six More Cycles, each with Seven Visions:

#
7 Seals 7 Trumpets 7 Unnumbered Signs
(Proposal A)
7 Unnumbered Signs
(Proposal B)
7 Bowls/Plagues 7 Stages
(not numbered)
7 Final Visions
(not numbered)
Intro 5:1-14 8:2‑6 11:16‑19 11:16‑19 15:1 – 16:1 17:1-2 19:9‑10
1 6:1‑2
white horse: conqueror
8:7
hail, fire, blood;
1/3 of plants burnt
12:1‑2
woman with child

12:1-17
woman, child, and dragon


16:2
on the earth:
people get sores
17:3-6
description of
Babylon
19:11‑16
rider on a white horse
2 6:3‑4
red horse: war
8:8‑9
mountain of fire;
1/3 of sea creatures die
12:3‑6
great red dragon
13:1-10
first beast, from the sea
16:3
on the sea:
blood; sea life dies
17:7‑18
explanation of
Babylon
19:17‑18
supper of God
3 6:5‑6
black horse: famine
8:10‑11
star "wormwood" falls;
1/3 of water poisoned
12:7-12
war in heaven;
rejoicing at God's victory
13:11-18
second beast, from the earth
16:4‑7
on the waters:
turned to blood
18:1‑3
fall of Babylon
19:19‑21
capture of two beasts
4 6:7‑8
pale‑green horse: death
8:12‑13
partial darkness;
1/3 of sun, moon, stars
12:13-17
dragon & woman
14:1-5
lamb and the 144,000
16:8‑9
on the sun:
scorches people
18:4-8
rescue of God’s
people
20:1‑3
angel of the abyss
5 6:9‑11
martyrs reassured
9:1‑12 - 1st woe:
locusts from the abyss
13:1‑10
beast from the sea
14:6-13
three angels with messages
16:10‑11
on the beast’s throne:
darkness
18:9‑20
mourning for
Babylon
20:4‑10
first resurrection
& millennial reign
6 6:12‑17
day of wrath:
earthquake & sky signs
9:13–21 - 2nd woe:
four angels at Euphrates,
slay 1/3 of earth's population
13:11‑18
beast from the earth
14:14-20
final harvest & vintage
16:12
on the Euphrates:
kings gather for war
18:21‑24
Babylon’s final
ruin foretold
20:11‑15
final judgment scene
Pause 7:1-17 – people
sealed & saved
10:1 – 11:14
scrolls & witnesses
14:1‑20
Lamb & virgins;
angels & son of man
x 16:13-16
3 frogs / fouls spirits
x x
7 8:1 – silence for
about half an hour;
intro to trumpets
11:15 – loud voices:
victory of God's kingdom
15:1-4 – intro to plagues;
sea of glass & fire
15:1-4
victory song of Moses
& of the Lamb
16:17
into the air:
earthquake & hail
19:1‑8
songs of praise
at Babylon’s fall
21:1 – 22:5
New Heavens/Earth;
New Jerusalem


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