Seventy Times Seven

 

The ancient world was not ignorant about the deep spiritual meaning of numbers, however much superstition has been attached and ascribed to numbers and not without reason as for centuries, occult practitioners of numerology, recognizing the spiritual symbolism that numbers carry, have perverted their use.

Numbers can be found throughout the Scriptures so let us not allow the perversion of what God intended detract from the fact that He placed special meaning upon numbers.

Delving into the importance of their use in Scripture is certainly not an invitation into divination but to see the glory of God through His unique use of numbers. God has invested divine properties in numbers and has intentionally placed them in His Word.

The association of numbers to occultism and numerology has made us ignore the special meaning attached to them by God and has caused us to by-pass the spiritual significance of numbers that the ancient world understood.

Take for instance Apostle Peter’s concern regarding forgiveness, he obviously understood the significance of the number seven when he posed a question to Jesus in Matthew 18:21(AMPC).

Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times?

When Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! (v 22), it was not an arbitrary response. Jesus wasn’t giving Peter a lesson in multiplication or merely using a random large number to signify forgiveness.

Seventy times seven is four hundred and ninety, 490, which represents a time of grace, the end of which results in the termination of sin.

Jesus was alluding to Daniel’s prophecy (see Daniel 9:24-27) in which “weeks” signify a period of seven years, making 70 weeks, seventy times seven.

“God has allowed 70 weeks for your people and your holy city, Daniel. The 70 weeks are ordered for these reasons: to stop doing bad things, to stop sinning, to make people pure, to bring the goodness that continues forever, to put a seal on visions and prophets, and to dedicate a very holy place.  (Daniel 9:24 ERV)

Beloved, there is so much more to this number and other multiples of seven which can be found in several passages in both the Old and New Testaments but that is not what today’s reflection is about. The aim of this brief post is simply to show you that the numbers in Scripture have purpose and should not be by-passed or ignored. So, pay attention to the numbers.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Seventy Times Seven” ©2026 January 27, 2026