The Pattern of Judgments (A Cycle Beginning with New Creation and Ending with Judgment) - Part IV

Understanding the Importance of the Number Seven

Introduction

As stated in Part I, Genesis 1-3 contains a group of sixteen themes/events¹ which combine to form a particular pattern that is repeated numerous times throughout the Bible. I call this the Pattern of Judgments. The Genesis 1-3 thematic pattern starts with Adonai (God) initiating some form of New Creation, and ends with Adonai meting out judgment upon those who have transgressed His commandments in some egregious manner. The first example of this cycle can be seen in Genesis 1-7, where Adonai initiates the cycle with the creation of the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1-2), and then the cycle is brought to an end with the judgment of Noah’s flood (Genesis 7). Thus, Genesis 1-7 is what I term a major cycle of this Pattern of Judgments. Chapter 8 then starts a new major cycle with a “New Creation” of the earth out of the chaotic waters of Noah’s flood.

In addition to the major cycles there are also minor cycles. They are minor cycles because they only contain a few of the sixteen themes presented in Genesis 1-3, as opposed to a major cycle which will contain most of them. Despite this, minor cycles have clearly defined beginnings and endings. Genesis 1-7 is Major Cycle #1, and can be divided thematically as follows:

• Genesis 1-3—The sixteen foundational themes for the Pattern of Judgments

• Minor Cycle #1—Genesis 4:1-24

• Minor Cycle #2—Genesis 4:25-5:32

• Minor Cycle #3—Genesis 6:1-7:24

As you can see, Genesis 1-3 establishes the full array of themes found in the Pattern of Judgments, and then Genesis 4-7 contains three minor cycles. In Part III we completed Minor Cycle #1 and then went on to study and complete Minor Cycle #2 (Genesis 4:25-5:32). The next cycle we need to study is Minor Cycle #3. But before tackling it we need to make one minor excursion and talk about the number 7 and its significance in Scripture.

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The Significance of the Number Seven

So how do we approach this task? This one is easy. We simply look at the themes associated with the number seven. It’s always instructive to look at the first usage of any word in Scripture. The first mention of the number seven occurs in Genesis 2.

Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made (Genesis 2:1-3).

The themes associated with the number seven are easy to see:

• “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done”—Here we see the theme of completion.

• “and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done”—Next, the theme of rest is associated with the number seven.

• “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it”—The seventh day is a day set apart and blessed.

These are the foundational themes associated with the number seven. Let’s continue to look at it usage, especially in these first few chapters, since we know these first seven chapters are prophetic and will determine the thematic usage of this number in the rest of the Bible.

And the LORD said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him (Genesis 4:15).

In this instance, the number seven has taken on a different thematic shade. Notice how the number seven is associated with vengeance. By God’s decree, anyone who kills Cain will have to suffer a sevenfold judgment! Now the number seven has been associated with judgment/vengeance for doing something wrong. We can see a similar concept upon examination of the next instance of its usage:

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold (Genesis 4:24).

Again, we see the number seven associated with vengeance. This is the second time the number seven has been associated with some type of vengeful punishment. The number seven is used extensively in Genesis 5 as part of the designation of certain periods of time in the lives of Seth’s descendants. Once we get to Genesis 7, we see an explosion of the usage of the number seven. Besides seven being used to count the number of kosher animals to allow on the ark, we find the number seven used in a familiar manner in Genesis 7:4 and 10:

“For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” 10 And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth.

There is a connection between the usage of the number seven in Genesis 7:4 and 10 and Genesis 4:15 and 24! Do you see it? The usage of the number seven in Genesis 7:4 and 10 is once again associated with judgment, for we are told that in seven days the flood waters will be on the earth (for judgment of mankind). This theme matches perfectly with the theme of vengeance found in Genesis 4:15 and 24! Taking inventory, we can see that there seems to be two sets of themes associated with the number seven. Genesis 2:1-3 seems to suggest that the number seven pertains to the ending of something or the end of a cycle or set period of time; whereas, Genesis 4:15 and 24 and Genesis 7:4 and 10 seem to be associating the number seven with the themes of vengeance and judgment.

At this point, I think it is instructive to take what we’ve learned in these first few chapters of Genesis and see if we can find a similar pattern elsewhere. In other words, can we find the number seven associated with vengeance and judgment in other places in the Bible? We can find this type of connection in Leviticus 26:18, where Adonai informed Israel that if her sins reached a certain point He would punish her seven times more for her sins.

And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins (Leviticus 26:18).

Also, Jeremiah prophesied that Judah would spend seventy years in exile in Babylon while the land would lay in desolation:

And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11).

As you can see, these verses are perfect thematic matches compared to Genesis 4:15 and 24, and 7:4 and 10. When taken together they seem to teach us that in some manner, the number seven is associated with judgment against sin. There’s an amazing thematic connection between the number seven and judgment in Jude 1:14:

Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints.”

This verse tells us that Enoch prophesied about the day the Lord would come in judgment against mankind. In other words, he prophesied about Yeshua’s second advent in Revelation 19! Notice how Jude 1:14 states that Enoch was the seventh from Adam. Thus, once again we see the connection between the number seven and judgment. Notice how Enoch, the seventh from Adam, is mentioned within the context of the judgments of the Day of the Lord, when He comes in wrath and vengeance to punish mankind at the end of the age.

I have asserted that the thematic connections above in Genesis 4:15 and 24, 7:4 and 10, Leviticus 26:18 and Jude 1:14 teach us that the number seven hints at divine judgment. But how does this square with the first mention of the number seven and its thematic connection to the theme of completion, rest or sanctification found in Genesis 2:1-3? I believe the key theme from Genesis 2:1-3 that connects with the idea of judgment is the theme of completion, as in the fulfillment, conclusion or culmination of a period of time. We see this idea of conclusion or fulfillment in Psalm 90:10, where the human lifespan is said to be typically seventy years:

The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

In other words, the average lifespan will conclude or culminate after seventy years.

Notice in Exodus 1:5 that there were seventy souls (descendants of Jacob) that came to Egypt:

All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already).

So, likewise, in Matthew 18:22, Yeshua states that we are to forgive our brother up to seventy times seven:

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

So, we’ve seen how the Scriptures associate the number seven with completion and a time for judgment, but how do those two themes relate to each other? The Scriptures makes it clear that Adonai is patient and that He allows sin to ripen and mature until it reaches a fullness. This fullness then, represents the end/completion or culmination of a cycle of sin.

But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Genesis 15:16).

Genesis 15:16 teaches us that Adonai will not allow judgment to fall upon the peoples of Canaan until their iniquity is complete! Therefore, our connection between the number seven, completion and judgment is now clear. The number seven marks the completion/culmination of a time period where sin is allowed to ripen and become full. At the moment of fullness, Adonai then brings judgment upon the sinners. This is why we see the usage of the number seven so often in Noah’s flood, particularly in the book of Revelation! The book of Revelation is pregnant with the number seven. The reason why is two-fold:

Reason #1: Completion/Culmination—The period of time before Yeshua’s second advent represents a time when sin has ripened to its fullest. Furthermore, it is the completion of Adonai allowing wicked, sinful humanity to have its sway over the earth. Like the Amorites, whose sin would not be ripened and fully developed until another 400 years, so, likewise, it will take about 7,000 years for the sin of the totality of humankind to reach is fullness. This idea is captured for us in Revelation 14:17-20, when Yeshua returns to destroy the wicked:

Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

Reason #2: Judgment—After allowing for the sins of humanity to ripen to their fullest, Yeshua will return to render Adonai’s full vengeance and recompense upon the ungodly of the world. This is the reason the book of Revelation mentions seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials (bowls) full of the wrath of God! His judgment upon mankind will be perfected in SEVENS.

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Remembering that the Pattern of Judgments starts with a new creation and ends with judgment, let’s make use of our understanding of the number seven and demonstrate how this number is used (in a very subtle way) to signal to us that the first Major Cycle (Genesis 1-7) is about to approach its culmination in judgment phase.

In previous articles we learned that one of the purposes for the narratives of Genesis 1-5 was to develop the two seeds. We saw how the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman were developed through the lineages of Cain and Seth. This process of differentiation of the two seeds through Cain and Seth brought us to the culmination of the seed of the woman, Noah, the only person on the entire earth declared righteous by Adonai. We would do well to imagine that the seed of the serpent continued to develop throughout mankind and that every person other than Noah represented the seed of the serpent. Thus, the scene is set. Both seeds have had centuries to ripen. The seed of the woman has brought forth ripened fruit in the person of Noah. The seed of the serpent has brought forth ripened fruit in the form of the entire generation of the flood. With that as our thematic backdrop, what should we expect next? Judgment! Let’s take notice how the Torah subtly lets us know that the time for judgment is at hand even before we read Genesis 6.

28 Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed.” 30 After he begot Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years, and had sons and daughters. 31 So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven years; and he died (Genesis 5:28-31).

Once Noah is introduced as the one who will bring comfort, we are told that Noah’s father Lamech lived a total of 777 years! In other words, we know the number seven is strongly associated with the culmination of a period of time where evil fruit has been allowed to ripen for judgment. It is immediately after mentioning the number 777 that the Torah begins the narrative of Genesis 6, chronicling the decline of mankind into sins so grievous that there was but one remedy—total destruction and annihilation of all living beings on the earth within which was the breath of life!

This is the reason why Minor Cycle #2 ends at Genesis 5:32 and we begin Minor Cycle #3 with Genesis 6:1. Furthermore, with the beginning of Genesis 6:1 we have moved into the last of the sixteen themes defining the Pattern of Judgments known as, JUDGMENT! Thus, Genesis 1-7 will represent the first full cycle of the Pattern of Judgments.

In the next article we will study Minor Cycle #3, which will complete Major Cycle #1. Just as Genesis 1-3 takes us through the sixteen themes from new creation to judgment, so likewise, Genesis 4:1-7:24 (Minor Cycles #1-#3) will take us through many of the themes from new creation ending in judgment.

1. Here is a list of the 16 themes:

1. Genesis 1:1-25 – New Creation of the Universe

2. Genesis 1:26-28 – Man, God’s Image-Bearer, Commissioned to Exercise Dominion Over Creation

3. Genesis 1:29-31 – Man’s Diet

4. Genesis 2:1-3 – The Sign of the Sabbath

5. Genesis 2:4-9 – Man’s Work in His Ancestral Plot of Land

6. Genesis 2:10-14 – Natural Riches of the Creation

7. Genesis 2:15-17 – The Choice Between Life and Death

8. Genesis 2:18-25 – A Virginal Bride for the Man

9. Genesis 3:1-7 – Fall into Sin

10. Genesis 3:8-13 – Adonai Investigating Sin

11. Genesis 3:14 – The Curse on the Serpent

12. Genesis 3:15 – Enmity of the Seed

13. Genesis 3:16 – Pain in Childbirth

14. Genesis 3:17-19 – Curse on the Land

15. Genesis 3:20-21 – Acts of Redemption

16. Genesis 3:22-24 – Judgment