More "Sevens:" "Aware that he was soon to die, Moses made an impassioned plea to the Jews to keep the covenant that God had made with them. This is recorded towards the end of Devarim. He commands the priests to read the Torah publicly every seven years." "The formal rules of mourning as described below are observed for seven close relatives: wife (or husband), father, mother, son, daughter, brother and sister." "Joseph was one such interpreter; he explained Pharaoh's dreams of the fat and thin cows as symbolizing seven years of plenty followed by seven years of hunger (Genesis 41)."

Great Deliverance Festivals Last Seven Days: "Two of the festivals, Passover and Sukkot, have what are known as intermediate days (hol ha-mo'ed, literally, the weekdays of the festival). Both of these festivals last for seven days (eight outside Israel) and only the first and the last day (the first two days and the last two days outside Israel) are full festivals."

Seven Blessings for Marriage: "Halakhic requirements of the marriage ceremony include: the huppah (canopy); the giving of the ring by the groom to the bride in the presence of two valid witnesses; the ketubbah (marriage contract); yihud, a brief period of seclusion following the ceremony; and sheva berakhot, the seven blessings which combine the hopes of the young couple with the prayers and aspirations of the Jewish people. Differences in detail of foods, dress, procedures etc. which attend the joyful occasion vary as widely as the communities from which the participants come. The shattered glass, recalling the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, is a custom which is widely, but not universally, practiced. Some oriental Jews have a relative cutting paper during the ceremony, to ward off evil spirits. Some Ashkenazi brides make seven circuits around the groom to create a mystical ring which is presumed to serve the same purpose."

Seven Fruit (Produce) Offerings: "The Bible (Deuteronomy 8:8) mentions seven kinds of produce found in Erez Israel: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, dates, and olives. Out of these products came wine, a variety of types of honey, and olive oil, as well as raisins and varieties of fresh and dried fruit. Nuts and apples were also common in biblical Israel." Rabbinic interpretation limited the first fruit offering to seven species growing in Erez Israel, produce which included not only necessities but delicacies as well: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olive oil and date honey."

Seven and the End of Days: "In the Book of Ezekiel (38--39) there is described a vision of the End of Days in which a war of God against "Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" is predicted. Gog, it is prophesied, will lead a host from the furthest north against Israel, but Gog will die in the land of Israel and for seven years the Israelites will use the weapons of the enemy for fuel." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

Seven Churches Get Blessings with Contrasts: As you look at the blessings promised to the seven churches, you can see the contrasts to those blessings. This may be an indication of the special concerns each "Area" or "Stake" needed to concentrate on. Note, as well, that each area had a physical or cultural "competition" to the Lord’s work.

Ephesus: Choose life or sin and death. (A city of pagan lusts and bright night life – see Rev. 2:1) Smyrna: Live with God or continue suffering. (This city suffered a terrible earthquake in New Testament times leaving many dead and some alive when thought to be dead – see Rev. 2:8) Pergamos: Follow the Lord’s will or yearn for earthly honors. (This city had a white stone altar as an earthly honor to Pagan Gods – see Rev. 2:17) Thyatira: Receive Eternal life or be addicted to self. (A city where self-serving (brass) divinities were worshiped; Bacchus - God of wine, Artemis (Diana) - Goddess of fertility with one hundred breasts – see Rev. 2:18) Sardis: Be clothed in white or be enveloped in darkness. (Tradition of an early bishop dressed in all white – see Rev 3:4) Philadelphia: Take the Lord’s name or remain nameless. (A city with temples of commerce that may have overshadowed individual’s names. The "key of the House of David is a name for the true temple where the work is done for "names" – see Rev. 3:7) Laodicea: Make a decision to sit with the Lord or be lukewarm. (A city with hot springs that mixed with the fresh water - hence, lukewarm – see Rev 3:16)