The word of God was given by holy men of old who were ordained and moved by the Holy Spirit to write down all things given them to write. The work of the same Spirit is evident throughout the Scriptures. The usage of signs, symbols, typology, and the continuity of their writings convey a coherent message of one mind—even though hundreds of years separated the times between the first and final writers of The Book.

Being that the greater part of prophecies have already been fulfilled, we can have confidence that the remaining prophecies will also come to pass.

The letters of the Hebrew alphabet also have numerical values. Throughout the Bible, we find certain numbers reappear in unique ways, giving each its own significant meaning.

The number seven is one of the numbers used prolifically throughout the Bible to communicate a specific meaning—often to signify perfection, completion, and rest. The first occurrence of the number seven is found in Genesis, chapter 1.

God, upon completion of Creation on the sixth day, looked on all that He had made and declared all His work as being very good. And He rested on the seventh day, sanctifying and setting that day apart from the other six days, making it holy unto the Lord. This was done as a figure to create a pattern of things to come in the same manner.

In chapter 4 of the book of Hebrews, the writer speaks of a promise given to those who labor with Him of entering into the rest of the Lord. This is the eternal Sabbath, a mystery relating to the seven days of creation, for man was created on the sixth day before the Sabbath.

Man was the final work of the Lord; created on the sixth day, mankind was intended to live in the Sabbath of God. at peace. However, that Sabbath was broken by disobedience. As a result, mankind was given six days of labor before entering into rest on the seventh—the Lord’s Day that He sanctified and set apart to be holy.

The six days of labor were given to restore the soul of man; they also represent six millennial days encompassing all the work of humanity. Rest comes on the seventh day.

It is the will of God that those who labor in this world should cease from their own works that they may be counted worthy to enter into the Sabbath with the Lord.

The seven-day Sabbath is a symbol of the rest promised to those who complete their labors on earth in righteousness. Those who remain obedient to the Lord are given entrance into perfect rest. We are commanded to labor to enter into that rest, although it will only be fully attained upon entrance into the eternal Sabbath.

The number six is used to represent man in his incomplete state of labor; hence, 666. The perfect man is represented by the number seven—man in the state of perfection.

Enoch, the seventh man from Adam, is set forward as an example of the perfect man. “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”

The book of Hebrews expounds further upon Enoch’s departure, stating:

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5)

Those who follow after perfection have Enoch for an example, that they may have hope that by continuing their labors they are also taken by the Lord, because they please Him. Part II follows.