the church still militant here on earth, are already seated with Christ. John himself has hinted as much in 1:5, 6. In contrast to twenty-four, the number seven occurs frequently throughout the Bible. Traditionally it has been taken to mean completeness, just as ‘to sail the seven seas’ means to travel all the oceans of the world. A number of biblical examples can be adduced to support this idea. But a careful consideration of the Bible’s sevens in general brings to light a more intriguing