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20 for all times. The universal character is much more evident in these seven letters than in the Epistles of St. Paul. They were not sent as separate letters to the individual churches, but form an integral part of the Apocalypse which was sent to each church as one complete document.

In Holy Scripture "seven" is the most sacred of numbers. The seventh day of the week was consecrated to God in a special manner. The Paschal feast lasted seven days. Seven weeks later came the feast of Pentecost when seven lambs were offered in sacrifice. Seven sprinklings of blood were prescribed for sin. In the Holy Place stood the seven-branched candlestick with its seven lights. In fact the number seven is found on almost every page of Holy Scripture. It is the perfect number, the symbol of perfection, fullness, or universality. It seems to have acquired this meaning from the fact that God completed the work of creation in six days and rested on the seventh which He blessed and sanctified.

The Apostle prays for peace and grace; not such peace as the world can give, but peace and grace from God. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, do I give unto you." This peace from heaven is proclaimed upon earth by the seven spirits who stand before the throne of God. Three of them are