“Seven Churches of Asia” From Dictionary of Biblical Words:
These give in Rev. 2 and 3. a panoramic history of the Church of God, from the apostolic times to the Lord’s return. Thus, briefly, Ephesus represents the first departure of the Church from love to Christ, Smyrna the terrible persecutions which followed under the Roman emperors, Pergamos is the early Catholic Church, when the emperors no longer persecuted but patronized it. Thyatira, Roman Catholicism. Sardis, Protestantism, while Philadelphia and Laodicea respectively represent those that are faithful and unfaithful to Christ immediately before His return, differing from the other churches in the fact that, while they get both praise and blame, Philadelphia gets only the former, and Laodicea only the latter. It may be remarked that the four last churches are only characterized by the words, “Till I come,” showing that all four go on together until Christ’s return.
“Seven Seals” From Dictionary of Biblical Words:
These are better understood if we remember that bound books are unknown in Scripture, and that the seven-sealed book in Rev. 5 was really great roll fastened at intervals throughout its length with seals in such a way that only the part from the first to the second seal could be unrolled by the breaking of the first, and so on. The interpretation of the seals hardly belongs to our province. Generally, they represent the successive dealings of God In judgment with this world after the church is seen complete in heaven in ch. 4; that is after the Lord’s return, according to 1 Thess. 4, and before His coming in 1 Thess. 5
Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
A favorite, and often symbolic, number among Hebrews
(Gen. 2:2; 7:2; 41:2-32And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (Genesis 2:2)
2Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. (Genesis 7:2)
2And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favored kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. 3And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favored and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. (Genesis 41:2‑3)). Used as a round number (1 Sam. 2:55They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. (1 Samuel 2:5); Matt. 12:4545Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. (Matthew 12:45)). Type of abundance and completeness (Gen. 4:15,2415And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. (Genesis 4:15)
24If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. (Genesis 4:24); Matt. 18:21-2221Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21‑22)). These references, and other places, show a seventh day and seventh year sabbath and a seven times seventh year of Jubilee; also sacrificial animals limited to seven, and the golden candlesticks. Seven priests with seven trumpets surrounded Jericho for seven days, and seven times on the seventh day. In the Apocalypse we find seven churches, seven candlesticks, seven stars, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven vials, seven plagues, seven angels.
Concise Bible Dictionary:
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:
Meaning:
a primary number; seven