Sets of Seven in the Book of Revelation

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

Introduction:

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

There is explicit mention of seven churches (1:4, 11, 20; 2:1--3:22), seven spirits of God (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6), seven golden lampstands (1:12, 20; 2:1), seven stars (1:16, 20; 2:1; 3:1), seven angels (1:20; 8:2, 6; 15:1, 6-8; 16:1; 17:1; 21:9), seven flaming torches (4:5), seven seals (5:1, 5), seven horns & seven eyes on the lamb (5:6), seven trumpets (8:2, 6), seven thunders (10:3-4), seven heads & seven diadems on the dragon (12:3), seven heads on the sea beast (13:1; 17:3, 7), seven plagues (15:1, 6-8; 21:9), seven bowls (15:7-8; 16:1; 17:1; 21:9), seven mountains & seven kings (17:9).
- For these texts, and explanations of other numbers, see the page of Numbers in the Book of Revelation.
The seven churches are explicitly named near the beginning: "Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea" (1:11). These same seven churches are the recipients of seven letters in Rev 2:1--3:21.
The lamb receives seven-fold praise from myriads of angels: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" (5:12).
- A little later, the four living creatures also worship God with seven-fold praise, singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." (7:12)
When the sixth seal is opened, seven groups of people flee: "Then the kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and all slaves and free people, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains..." (6:15)
- In contrast, other texts list evil people in groups of different sizes, ranging from four to eight or more (cf. 13:16; 18:17; 19:18; 21:8; 22:15).
Seven beatitudes are scattered throughout the book:
- 1:3 - "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and [blessed are] those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near."
- 14:13a - "Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord."
- 16:15 - "See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and is clothed, not going about naked and exposed to shame.")
- 19:9a - "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb."
- 20:6 - "Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him a thousand years."
- 22:7 - "See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
- 22:14 - "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates."
The phrase "Lord God Almighty" is used seven times throughout this book (Rev 1:8; 4:8; 11;17; 15:3; 16:7; 19:6; 21:22).
Jesus says "I am coming" or "I am coming quickly" seven times (Rev 2:5, 16; 3:11; 16:15; 22:7, 12, 20).
Moreover, some scholars propose that the Book of Revelation is structurally organized into seven large blocks of material (in addition to the book's introduction and conclusion). After the initial block of seven letters, three more blocks are explicitly numbered (7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls/plagues), while three others are only implicit (so scholars debate the exact divisions).

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)	7 Final Visions (alternate division)
Intro	5:1-14	8:2‑6	11:16‑19	11:16‑19	15:1 – 16:1	17:1-2	19:9‑10	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	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	19:17‑21 victory over the beast & false prophet
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	20:1‑3 binding of Satan
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	20:4-6 millennial reign of the martyrs with Christ
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	20:7-10 release of Satan
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	20:11‑15 last judgment
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	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	21:1-8 New Heavens & New Earth

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