A ? about Revelations

[ross3421]

What are the 7 spirits of God?

7 spirits and the Lamb

6 And I looked, and behold,[c] in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

7 candlesticks and the Son of man

13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.


7 spirits
7 stars
7 candlesticks
7 angels

All above are synomonus. They represent the 7 churches and the angels of those churches. The 7 spirits are the 7 angels sent forth into all the world as they are messengers of the lamb.

[Nihil Obstat]

What are the 7 spirits of God?

The seven spirits are the seven angels who, in 8:2, are given trumpets. The way that these seven angels are introduced (as "the seven who stand before God") strongly implies that John had already seen and referenced these angels. The only seven who John previously said stood before God were the seven spirits (1:4; 4:5), so I conclude that they are the seven trumpeting angels (given that angels are spirits).

To add to what Mark was saying, there's a connection between the seven spirits and the two witnesses (who also "stand before God"; Rev. 11:4), and Zech. 4's olive trees, lampstands, and seven eyes, giving further evidence that these in Rev. 8:2 are the seven spirits mentioned in Rev. 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; and 5:6. Let me explain what I mean: In Zech. 4, any worthwhile commentary will tell you that kings in those days had spies, known as "the king's eyes", and God was comforting Zechariah using this well known cultural fact to say that He has His own spies, and He knows that 1. the lands about Jerusalem are at peace, so the returned Jewish captives are safe to rebuild His temple, and that 2. their leadership (the governor Zerubbabel and the High Priest Joshua, or, His "two witnesses") was anointed and approved by God, and so were trustworthy people to follow.

This means that the seven spirits speak of Jesus' omniscience, but I want to stress that this is not merely symbolism (which I'm sure Mark would agree with): God is omniscient (all knowing), and yet it is not contradictory for Him to send His angelic messengers to spy out lands for Him (Gen. 18:16-22) and to use those very spies to bring destruction upon those lands (Gen. 19:13). The seven spirits speak of Jesus having attributes and authority that only God has, equating the Man Jesus to God (for He is God). The seven spirits are King Jesus' "eyes" (cp. Zech. 1:7-11; 3:9; 4:2, 10 w/ Rev. 1:4; 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15; 4:5; 5:6), who then later are given to release the trumpet judgments.

Hopefully I've communicated this in a way everyone can understand.
- astro

[JesusReignsForever]

No, it's not a trick question. Your question to me was:


Now I'm asking you: Why couldn't John have just said "Jesus was sacrificed for our sins" and leave it at that? What is the reason John chose to symbolize Jesus as "a Lamb as though it had just been slain"? Do you agree that John is being symbolic when he describes Jesus as "a Lamb"?

Why is it easy for you to accept that John uses symbolism to describe Jesus' sacrifice, but it's hard for you to accept that John uses symbolism to describe Jesus' omniscience?

I never said it was hard for me to accept, I just dont understand. How does 7 spirits means omnipresents to me 7 is 7 not 7= omnipresence

but again maybe my thinking is limited,thats all i was saying.

[JesusReignsForever]

I wil just listen again to the verses and in time I will get an understanding because all of this is confusing to me.

So thanks for your attempts.

[Chaston]

I wil just listen again to the verses and in time I will get an understanding because all of this is confusing to me.

So thanks for your attempts.

Listen to Rev. chapters 2 and 3.

It is the 7 churches in those chapters. (IMO)

[John146]

It's symbolic language. I know Mark touched on this already, but I'll just put the verses together so you can see for yourself that the seven Spirits of God are the seven eyes of the Lamb, which is Christ, that are "sent forth into all the earth". That is clearly symbolic language that, as Mark already said, alludes to Christ being God and to His omniscience in particular, since we know that Christ does not have seven literal eyes that each go around looking upon the earth.

Rev 5:6
6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Zechariah 4
2And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: 3And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
7Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Based on Zechariah 4, it seems that the seven Spirits of God could be a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit, who Christ sent to the earth as our Comforter.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

[ross3421]

there's a connection between the seven spirits and the two witnesses (who also "stand before God"; Rev. 11:4), and Zech. 4's olive trees, lampstands, and seven eyes, giving further evidence that these in Rev. 8:2 are the seven spirits mentioned in Rev. 1:4;

I agree that 2 of the 7 spirits are the two witnesses. I go a bit further and name the two witnesses as these are only two spirits mentioned by name. I believe they are seen many times together in scriptures. Also the connection is also needed to be made with angel and human for these spirits to become prophets which are slain. The following is an excerpt from a previous thread.

Gabriel, Michael the two standing before God

We are told that there are 7 angels of the 7 churches which are stars and candlesticks.

Re 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

We see that there are only two candlesticks standing and two prophets

Re 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Re 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Zec 4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

Zec 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Lu 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings.

Da 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:

[Nihil Obstat]

I agree that 2 of the 7 spirits are the two witnesses.

I didn't mean to say that 2 of the 7 spirits are the witnesses. I disagree with that, actually. The two witnesses are men, and the seven spirits are angels.

[ross3421]

I didn't mean to say that 2 of the 7 spirits are the witnesses. I disagree with that, actually. The two witnesses are men, and the seven spirits are angels.

Angels and flesh can mix as in the two angels in Sodom (which are probably Michael and Gabriel) and in the days of Noah. it is merly a spirit indwellment of the flesh. So then the flesh can die but the spirit still remains.

The two witnesses are angelic (spirits) which will reside in a human body for the world to see. Happens all the time.