Faithful on Fridays Blog

Restoration, Deliverance, and Covenant

Helping us understand the value of the number seven in Revelation by backing our way into the future we look at a few Old Testament characters. God instructed Noah to take seven pairs of animals into the ark, was given seven days to finish the task, and when the flood was completed it was the seventeenth day of the seventh month. Coincidence? No, in the upper story all the sevens were in preparation for a restoration of God’s creation. 

The Hebrew word for restoration is ‘shuv‘ meaning to turn from going in the wrong direction and head for the right one or start over. Restoration is also a renewal, refreshment, and returning for God’s people. He restored His original plan for the inhabitants of creation and got things back on track. Another character, Jacob, worked for seven years for Rachel’s hand in marriage, then another seven years after Laban deceived him, and a final seven years with his beloved wife. The restoration process was long, three sets of seven, however, God turned things around and Jacob was back on track.

In Rev. 21:1-5 there’s another time of restoration of God’s original plan: a new heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem or God’s Presence, and He declared, “Behold, I’m making all things new.” It’s back to Eden for all believers.

There’s a word play in Scripture sheva shevi meaning to ‘lead captivity captive’ (sevens) or receive deliverance (Ps. 68:17-18; Eph. 4:8-10). Sheva is seven in Hebrew so there’s a connection. God promises to deliver us from any spiritual captivity or bondage and restore us. We begin again in Rev. 21.

There’s famous well in Israel, Beersheva, well of seven, where Abraham made a covenant with King Abimelech for the land rights. That lower story covenant was a foreshadow of the covenant God made with Abraham,

“Behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” Genesis 17:4, 7 

Jesus restored that covenant with His blood on the cross. 

We see the effects of seven when God’s words are fulfilled after the final battle (Rev. 17:14, 17) and the unholy trinity, the Dragon (anti-God), the Beast (anti-Jesus), and the False Prophet (anti-Spirit) are thrown into the lake of fire for eternity. Who’s brave enough to war against God? Seven demonic kings sitting on seven mountaintops in high position picturing power and authority at the end of days. 

God’s original plan will be restored as He turns things around for His people and Satan’s head or authority will be terminated, 

“And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He (Messiah) will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3:15 

Final restoration, deliverance, and Covenant fulfilled.