What is Seventy Times Seven Forgiveness?

Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother who sins against him:

Mat 18:21  Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Seven times is certainly more generous than our often-quoted “three strikes, you’re out” limitation on forgiveness.  But Jesus responded to Peter with, 

“I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Mat 18:22) 

Why 70 x 7? 

Many have suggested seventy times seven is a perfect completion as exemplified in both judgment and restoration:

• In Judgment

Gen 4:24  If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

• In Restoration

* The descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth were seventy after the flood.
* There were seventy descendants of Jacob in Egypt at the time of Joseph.
* Israel was restored to their promised land seventy years after the Babylonian captivity.
* Daniel’s seventy weeks will complete the time when the Most Holy will be anointed.
* 70 x7 is a complete restoration; the perfect forgiveness of God.

Another Consideration?  70 x 7 = 490

Two well respected Bible teachers suggested another meaning to the significance of these numbers: 70 x 7 = 490.  Clarence Larkin (1850-1924) proposed that God fellowshipped with man in 490-year periods.  He gave these seven periods of 490 years each:

1. Adam to Enoch
2. Enoch to Noah
3. Noah to Abraham
4. Abraham to Moses
5. Exodus to the 1st Temple
6. The First Temple to the edict of Artaxerxes
7. From the the edict of Artaxerxes (Neh. 2) to the the triumphal entry of Jesus on Palm Sunday (483 years) + the seven years of tribulation [Read: What is the Seventieth Week of Daniel?] that ends with the second coming of Jesus.

In the last 490 year period is a “parentheses” of time. Between the Triumphal entry of Jesus and His second coming is the Church Age of 2,000 years.

Bible teacher Chuck Missler (1934-2018) defined how God dealt directly with His people, Israel, defining four 490-year periods.  In each period, there were seasons when God was not directly governing them, or they were in a period of disobedience.  Chuck Missler constructed this chart:

1) Abraham to the Exodus

Promise (Gen 12:4)            75 years
(Gal 3:17)                       +430 years
                                         505 years

Ishmael (Gen 16:16;21:5) -15 years
                                         490 years

 

2) Exodus to the Temple

Begun: 1 Kgs 6-8            594 years

Completed: 1 Kgs 6:38;     + 7 years

                                          601 years

Servitudes: Judges

Mesopotamia 3:8        – 8 years

Moabites 3:12-14      – 18 years

Canaanites 4:2,3       – 20 years

Midianites 6:1             –  7 years

Ammonites 10:7,8      – 18 years

Philistines 13:1           – 40 years

                                      -111 years
490 years

3) The Temple to the Edict of Artaxerxes

1 Kgs 8:1-66 1005 B.C.
Neh 2:1 445 B.C.                 560 years
Babylonian Captivity            -70 years
                                             490 years

4) Artaxerxes to the Second Coming

Artaxerxes to the 1st Advent
“The Sixty Nine Weeks”           483 years
[Church interval]                           ?
The Seventieth Week”               +7 years
                                                 490 years

490 Times

It’s interesting that God fellowshipped with man and dealt with Israel in 490-year periods and that Jesus chose 490 times as the number of times to forgive others. Of course, we know that God forgave them many more than 490 times.

This shows God’s abundant compassion, mercy, and generous, unmerited forgiveness. And that is precisely what Jesus continued to teach them in His parable of the unforgiving servant.  Watch for next week’s article on Matthew 18:21-35.

The Lessons?

• The forgiveness we received from Jesus was unmerited and freely given, so we are called to do the same because we have been forgiven much.
• A great way to think about forgiveness is “for[ward]give grace.”
• Most importantly, forgiveness brings restoration to relationships and peace to our souls!!!

Eph 4:32  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.

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Remezes in the Bible

In Jewish hermeneutics (interpretation of Scripture), a remez is a hidden message, or a deeper meaning found below the surface or behind the words.

• Why Did Satan Rebel Against God?
• The Names of Jehovah hidden in Psalm 23! This will surprise you!
• Is There a Remez (Hidden Message) in Genesis 5?
• Did Pilate Proclaim Jesus to be God?
• Is There a Remez (Hidden Message) in Revelation 7? Why is Dan missing?
• The Meaning of Numbers in the Bible?
• The Meaning of Colors in the Bible?
• What’s the Amazing Remez (Hidden Message) in the Book of Numbers?
• Is There a Remez in Psalm 23?  Names of God?
• How is Jesus Like a Worm? What’s the Crimson Worm? A Remez In Psalm 22
• What are the Mysteries in the Bible?
• Why Was a Ram Sacrificed in Genesis 22 Instead of a Lamb?
• What do Zelophehad’s Daughters have to do with Christmas?
• What is Seventy Times Seven Forgiveness?