NUMBER SEVEN: #13 The Seven Wonders
The Seven Wonders and Themes of the book of Revelation are to inspire us to release the Life of Christ from within under all conditions in a meek, gentle, pure, and righteous way.
THE NUMBER SEVEN | THE SEVEN WONDERS
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God has revealed His glory and power through His creation, which is full of wonders that reflect His wisdom and beauty. Among God's many wonders, we can identify seven that are especially significant for our faith and worship.
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. (Psalms 40:5)
God’s wonders surround us, inviting us to explore, marvel, and seek deeper understanding. They whisper of a Creator whose imagination and creativity know no eternal bounds.
Even though there are countless wonders of God, allow me to share with you the top seven wonders:
1. The wonder of His existence: God is the eternal, self-existent, uncaused cause of all things. He is the source of all beings and the ground of all reality. He is the one true God who alone is worthy of our praise. (Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 45:5-6; Revelation 4:11)
2. The wonder of His nature: God is a triune being, existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is one in essence but distinct in personality and role. He is perfect in all His attributes, such as holiness, love, justice, and grace. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; 1 John 4:8; Revelation 15:4)
3. The wonder of His works: God is the creator and sustainer of all things, both visible and invisible. He made the heavens, earth, and everything in them by His word and power. He upholds all things by His providence and sovereignty. He is the Lord of history and the ruler of the nations until the end. (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 103:19)
4. The wonder of His revelation: God has made Himself known to us through His general revelation in nature and conscience and His special revelation in Scripture and Christ. He has given us His written word, the Bible, which is inspired, inerrant, and authoritative. He has given us His living word, Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, the exact representation of His being, and the only way to the Father. (Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:19-20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:1-4; John 14:6)
5. The wonder of His salvation: God has demonstrated His love and mercy to us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and rise again for our justification. He has offered us forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Christ alone. He has also given us His Spirit, who regenerates, indwells, seals, and sanctifies us. He has made us His children, His church, and His kingdom. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 8:9-17; 1 Peter 2:9-10)
6. The wonder of His presence: God is not far from us but near to us. He is with us always, never leaving us nor forsaking us. He is our refuge and strength, our help and hope, our joy and peace. He hears our prayers, cares for our needs, and guides our steps. He comforts us in our sorrows, strengthens us in our weaknesses, and empowers us in our service. (Psalm 139:7-12; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5-6; Philippians 4:4-7; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 32:8; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Acts 1:8)
7. The wonder of His future: God has promised us a glorious future when He will return to judge the living and the dead and to establish His eternal kingdom. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death, sorrow, pain, or sin. He will make all things new, and we will see His face and reign with Him forever. (Acts 17:31; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 21:1-7; Revelation 22:3-5)
We can celebrate and proclaim These seven great wonders of God. They are the reasons why we love Him, trust Him, worship Him, and serve Him. To Him be the glory forever and ever.
According to God’s Holy Word, wonder is an emotion that is aroused by something extraordinary, marvelous, or miraculous. It is also a term that describes the works of God that reveal His power, wisdom, and glory. Wonder can lead to awe, praise, and worship of God or to curiosity, doubt, and fear of Him, depending on the attitude of the person who releases it from the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Several words in the original languages of the Bible are translated as “wonder” or “wonderful.” In the Old Testament, the most common words are mopheth and pala. Mopheth means “a splendid or conspicuous work, a miracle” and is often used with 'othoth, “signs” (Exodus 7:3; Deuteronomy 6:22; 13:1-2; 34:11; Nehemiah 9:10, etc.). Pala means “a marvel, miracle” and is used to describe the acts of God that are beyond human comprehension or ability (Exodus 3:20; 15:11; Joshua 3:5; Isaiah 9:6, etc.)1. In the New Testament, the most common words are thaumazo and teras. Thaumazo means “to marvel, wonder” and is used to express people's reaction to the words and deeds of Jesus (Matthew 15:31; Mark 6:51; Luke 4:22, etc.)2. Teras means “a marvel, portent” and is used to denote the miraculous works of God or His messengers, often in conjunction with semeia, “signs” (Acts 2:22, 43; 6:8; 7:36, etc.)2.
Wonder is an appropriate response to the revelation of God, who is the source of all wonders. The psalmist declares, “You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples” (Psalm 77:14, ESV). The prophet Isaiah exclaims, “O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure” (Isaiah 25:1, ESV). The apostle Paul prays, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV).
Wonder can also inspire us to have an indwelling relationship with God, to learn from Him, and to obey Him. The psalmist says, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18, ESV). The prophet Jeremiah says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3, ESV). The apostle John says, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20, ESV). This is accomplished by hosting the Holy Spirit from within.
Wonder can also motivate us to share God’s wonders with others, to testify of His grace and glory. The psalmist says, “Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples” (Psalm 96:2-3, ESV). The prophet Isaiah says, “You are my witnesses, declares the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me” (Isaiah 43:10, ESV). The apostle Peter says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV). Believers who are caught up in the wonders of God are frequently compelled to share with those around them.
Wonder is a gift from God, a sign of His presence and power, and a call to His purpose.
Amid the many wonders, we discover the Seven Themes of Revelation:
1. Christ Jesus is the Lamb and King: Twenty-six times in the book of Revelation we observe Jesus being referenced as the glorified Lamb. The lamb is a symbol of innocence and purity in the Bible, as it represents the sinless and perfect nature of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The lamb was also used as a sacrificial animal in the Old Testament to atone for the sins of the people. The blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from the plague of death in Egypt and foreshadowed the blood of Christ that saved us from the wrath of God. The innocence of the lamb shows us the contrast between the holiness of God and the wickedness of humanity, and the need for a mediator who can reconcile us to God (Rev. 1:5; 5:5-10; 12:1-11; 17:14; 19:16).
2. Spiritual Warfare: The primary theme of Revelation is spiritual warfare – Satan and his demons and earthly representatives war against the authority of God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Satan attempts to deceive the masses and lead them to stray toward global loyalty to the Antichrist. Revelation’s message is simple; God wins in the end.
3. Global Correction: We first find God’s correction with the Seven Churches, which include warnings about complacency, syncretism, heresy, and, of course, apathy. The greater correction is found in God disciplining past and present rebels of the Kingdom of God. Most of Revelation’s chapters are packed with such discipline (Rev. 2:1- 3:22; 13:1-18; 17:1-18:24).
4. Deliverance and Freedom: The entire mission of God, His creation, the fall of humanity, and the regeneration of believers through salvation is deliverance and freedom for the future damnation of all rebels. As Noah’s Ark was the vessel of deliverance, thus, Jesus Christ is the New Testament Ark that delivers believers from the damnation that comes with their Adamic nature by transferring them into His indwelling Life, as well as delivering them through the storms leading up to the Rapture.
5. Destruction of Satan and Evil: The lion’s share of the messages in the book of Revelation is centered in and around God destroying all the earthly kingdoms Satan has dominated and built through the ages (Rev. 20:7-10).
6. Eternal Salvation and Newness: The book of Revelation ends on a positive not, at least for those who became indwelt by Christ. Chapter twenty-one is filled with the descriptions of the New Heavens, New Earth, and the New Jerusalem – with the fact that all those who refuted the deeds of Satan and joined the ranks of indwelling salvation, shall enjoy the newness with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
7. Worship of the Lion: While Jesus was on the earth in His first coming, the Father named Him the Lamb. Throughout the book of Revelation, He will demonstrate the actions of a righteous Lion, roaring His way through His battles to defeat His greatest foe – Satan. The end means and purpose of Revelation is for directing all worship back to God the Father. And for those who refute this objective, they will be cast into outer darkness forever.
The Seven Wonders and Themes of the book of Revelation are to inspire us to release the Life of Christ from within under all conditions in a meek, gentle, pure, and righteous way. While many perceive this book to be harsh and abusive, those who know God and the book of Revelation know that it is the greatest love letter known throughout eternity.
