Seven, the number signifying perfection and completion, is used extensively throughout the Bible. It is the will of God that all things shall end with perfection and completion. Therefore, the seventh day was designated the end of the creation in Genesis. Even death and hell will be perfect in judgment, not at all to the benefit of the wicked.

The first words spoken by God in the Bible signify the beginning of perfection—although imperfection existed when God created the heaven and the earth—for the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. The Lord began to perfect His work by speaking Light into being and dividing the Light from the Darkness.

Darkness was before Light; Light was created to dispel Darkness—Genesis 1:1-4. Darkness still remains until the Perfect Day—symbolized by the seventh day in Genesis 1.

God divides Light from Darkness by His Word. However, the division is an ongoing process that brings about the fullness of perfection in the end. Then Light is absolute, and utter Darkness resides only outside His dwelling place, reserved for the wicked.

Until the perfect day, mankind is commanded to follow after holiness to be counted perfect in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord appeared to Abram and said unto him, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” The commandment is to be perfect.

God’s intent for all things is perfection; that must be our aim if we are to be accepted. All have sinned and fallen short, but He offers more grace. Strive to enter into His kingdom; many shall seek and not be able.

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, was counted as being perfect, and God took him so that he should not see death. He and others are given as an example of the seventh man.

Likewise, David, the seventh son of Jesse, is a representative of the seventh man. When Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons king, one by one, David’s six elder brothers were passed over, of whom it was said, “The Lord has not chosen these.” Samuel then sent to fetch Jesse’s seventh son, David, and when he came, the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”

David, being a youth, was lightly esteemed and not seen as a consideration, but God sees not as man sees, for God looks upon the heart.

In another illustration, when the Lord gave manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness, he commanded them to gather the manna for six days and rest on the seventh. When Jesus came, the people asked him to provide manna for them also, but he said to them, “I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” Many were offended by his answer. They hoped that he would satisfy their worldly appetites rather than offering spiritual fulfillment.

The manna provided to Israel ceased upon their entering the promised land. Jesus provides nourishment for those who seek heavenly things during their pilgrimage until their entrance into his kingdom. He said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” In him we find rest from the vanities of this world that leave us empty.

Jesus, being both the Son of Man and the Son of God, completes the week. The literal meaning of “week” is seven. On the cross, he fulfilled both the six days of labor as appointed to man, rested in death on the Sabbath, and was resurrected as the immortal Son of God on the first day of the new week upon the completion of the Sabbath day.

In Christ, the six days of labor and the Sabbath day of rest are fulfilled—being made perfect in the sevenfold Spirit of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you (labor), and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart—and ye shall find rest (Sabbath) unto your souls.”

Six days of labor represent striving for the perfection of the seventh man: the fullness of Christ. If we refuse to labor before our lives have expired, it is too late afterwards. On the seventh day, the children of God are gathered and sealed into eternity in peace and rest. It is the Sabbath; all work has been completed. The children of God are perfected, but for all who refused, it is no longer possible to repent and change the sinful nature of their hearts.

The scripture says, “Be angry and sin not; let not the sun go down on your wrath.” The sixth day ends at sunset. Then the Sabbath begins. Therefore, fight temptation with a vengeance while it is still day. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.

Christ is the true rest, not merely a day designated as a figure of the true. Christ is the Sabbath, the Seventh Day. He is the completion and the fullness of the Lord, the Perfect Man, and the Promised Land of Rest.

As the Children of Israel were commanded by the Lord through Joshua to drive out the seven nations and possess the land, through Jesus we can conquer the inhabitants that would seek to reside in us: ”Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21). To this day, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

God finished his work in six days and rested on the seventh. We are also commanded to cease from the works of our ways. We are to pass through and beyond the sixth day of labor into the completion of the week, Christ in us, who is our Sabbath. “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” Refrain from the labor of sinful works to walk in Christ, in him you are in the Sabbath.