What the Bible says about Seven Times
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Daniel 4:23-26 Man has not yet learned that the heavens really do rule. Babylon has influenced and given its character to the times, yet the Gentiles have not always dominated. The last 200 years have seen the rise and domination of the Israelitish people, with their syncretism of Christian and Babylonian concepts. God is preparing the world for the time of the end and the return of Jesus Christ, and it is possible that the "seven times" ended in 1982. The "seven times" are found by taking the sum of the numerical values of the weights in Daniel 5:25. The sum of those figures equals the number of days in seven prophetic years, that is, 2520 years. The number of years from 539 BC (when Babylon was defeated—the tree cut down and the band put on, but it continued to live because the roots were still in the ground) till AD 1982 is 2520. The iron band may have then been broken. Its centralization in the Israelitish nations has dominated the world to an extent never seen before under the influence of the Babylonian system. John W. Ritenbaugh Prophets and Prophecy (Part Three) Related Topics: Seven Times

Matthew 18:21-22 Peter had a definite rationale for saying "seven times." The Jews had ruled that one could only be forgiven three times, but never a fourth. Realizing Jesus would show more mercy than the Jews, he must have thought seven times was more than fair. Christ's response shows how important forgiveness is. "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven" (verse 22). He means that we are not to limit our forgiveness to a specific number of times. As often as someone offends us and asks forgiveness, we should extend it. Further, even if he does not ask forgiveness, we should forgive him and treat him properly, setting the right example. John O. Reid Forgiveness Related Topics: Forgiveness | Forgiving Others | Mercy | Mercy as Larger Obligation | Seven Times | Seventy Times Seven

Matthew 18:21-22 Forgiveness is a matter of mercy and conduct. The Jews taught that a man was to forgive another three times but not four. Peter more than doubles this, asking if forgiveness should be extended so far. Jesus' answer tells us we should not limit our forgiveness to any fixed number. As often as a brother injures us and asks forgiveness, we should forgive him (Luke 17:4). It is his duty to ask forgiveness. If he does this, we have a duty to declare that we forgive him and to treat him accordingly. Even if he does not ask for forgiveness, we are still not at liberty to take revenge, but we should treat him kindly and do him good. It is a Christian's duty to forgive others (Colossians 3:13). Martin G. Collins Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Related Topics: Conduct | Forgiveness | Forgiving Attitude | Forgiving Others | Mercy | Revenge | Seven Times | Seventy Times Seven

 

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