Seven

"This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such" connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical "meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen." "2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each" accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. "This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also" "the symbol of rest. "Jacob's seven years' service to Laban;" Pharaoh's seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days' siege of Jericho; the "seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven" "vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of" "this sacred number" (see Lev. 25:4; 1 Sam. 2:5; Ps. 12:6; 79:12;" "Prov. 26:16; Isa. 4:1; Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke 17:4). The feast of" "Passover (Ex. 12:15, 16), the feast of Weeks (Deut. 16:9), of" "Tabernacles (13:15), and the Jubilee (Lev. 25:8), were all" ordered by seven. Seven is the number of sacrifice (2 Chr. "29:21; Job 42:8), of purification and consecration (Lev. 42:6," "17; 8:11, 33; 14:9, 51), of forgiveness (Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke" "17:4), of reward (Deut. 28:7; 1 Sam. 2:5), and of punishment" "(Lev. 26:21, 24, 28; Deut. 28:25). It is used for any round" "number in such passages as Job 5:19; Prov. 26:16, 25; Isa. 4:1;" "Matt. 12:45. It is used also to mean "abundantly" (Gen. 4:15," 24; Lev. 26:24; Ps. 79:12).

"A prophetic period mentioned in Dan. 9:24, and usually" "interpreted on the "year-day" theory, i.e., reckoning each day" for a year. This period will thus represent 490 years. This is regarded as the period which would elapse till the time of the "coming of the Messiah, dating "from the going forth of the" "commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem" i.e., from the" close of the Captivity.