This is significant because with repetition of the same ideas using different descriptions, it allows us to understand what a particular reference is speaking about. In Revelation 2:1 it says, “The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” And in 3:1 it says, “The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.” Then in 4:5 it says, “before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God.” From these passages, it draws a parallel between seven lampstands (torches), and the seven spirits of God. And in Scripture, especially in the book of Revelation, seven takes on this significance of completeness or wholeness.
The seven day week comes from God’s creative week, his complete work of creation. However, a week-a 7 day period-finds no such parallel in nature. Months and years get their length and duration from the heavenly bodies like the sun and moon. The number seven takes on special significance as a number of completion or fullness. In the book of Revelation numbers are significant. It’s best to understand this as a reference to the Holy Spirit. It would seem unlikely that John would refer to angels or other creatures alongside Father and Son. In support of this being a reference to the Father is the later phrase in verse 5, “and from Jesus Christ…” So this greeting is from Father, Son, and the seven spirits before the throne. The phrase “from him who is and who was and who is to come” is a reference to God the Father as seen in verse 8 which says, “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” The same title is later applied to Christ, but here is a clear reference to God the Father. John greets the churches to which he writes from the Father, Son, and Spirit. This interpretation is supported by the following arguments. The question before us is this, who or what are the seven spirits before his throne? The best way to understand the seven spirits here in Revelation is a reference to the Holy Spirit of God.
Messiah will possess this theocratic anointing in its fullness and perfection: the seven-fold Spirit of God.John writes in Revelation 1:4–5, “Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.” This passage probably refers to the theocratic anointing that characterized Old Testament figures who led the nation of Israel. Of course, these aren’t seven distinct Spirits, but one Holy Spirit in His seven-fold activity.
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,Īnd a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The prophecy of the coming Messiah in Isaiah 11 begins with these words: 4:5)? Or the Lamb’s seven eyes that are the seven Spirits of God (Rev. 3:1)? Or the seven Spirits of God symbolized by the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne (Rev. 1:4)? Or the seven Spirits of God possessed by Christ (Rev. Ever wonder about the seven Spirits before the throne of God (Rev.
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