The seven Spirits of God

The “seven Spirits of God” are mentioned in Revelation 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; and 5:6. The seven Spirits of God are not specifically identified, so it’s impossible to be dogmatic but I believe we can always answer Biblical questions with the Bible itself. In other words the Bible is self-explanatory.

Rev 1:4     3:1    4:5    5:6

Rev.1: [1] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

[2] Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

[3] Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

[4] John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

I think we should take note the word “Spirits” is capitalized in all four usages.

These Spirits are said to be before the throne. They occupy space. They extend grace and peace to the followers of Jesus Christ.

 

Rev.3: [1] And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

[2] Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

They belong to or are possessed by Jesus and are linked here with the seven stars. The seven stars have already been identified in Revelation chapter one as the seven angels of the church.

 

Rev.4: [1] After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

[2] And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

[3] And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

[4] And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

[5] And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Here we are reminded they occupy space in front of the throne and they are represented by burning lamps.

Rev.5: [1] And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

[2] And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

[3] And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

[4] And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

[5] And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

[6] And 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.

Here they are described as the eyes of the Lamb which is Jesus. They are sent throughout the earth presumably to observe, to see, to examine the earth.

So then in summation we have:

• They are before the throne. (1:4)
• They belong to Jesus and are linked to the seven angels of the churches. (3:1)
• They are compared to burning lamps and we are reminded they are before the throne. (4:5)
• They are the eyes of Jesus and go throughout the earth. (5:6)

I believe we have here enough information to identify what the seven Spirits are. Reading further in Revelation we find the following in chapter eight:

Rev. 8: [1] And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

[2] And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

This verse seems to me to indicate these angels have already been mentioned. By examining the previous chapters we find other than the Lamb the only thing mentioned having been before the throne are the seven Spirits of God. So then, we look at the descriptive verses of the seven Spirits and ask ourselves could these seven Spirits be seven angels?

In Matthew chapter eighteen Jesus tells us:

Matt.18:[10] Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus says there are angels before the throne of His Father.

In both Psalms and Hebrews we find:

Pss.104:[4] Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Heb.1:[7] And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Here angels are said to be spirits and associated with burning fire.

In Hebrews one we also find:

He. 1:[14] Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Angels are sent into the earth.

In Daniel four we find:

Dan.4: [10] Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

[11] The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

[12] The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

[13] I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;…

[17] This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

[18] This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee……….

[22] It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

[23] And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

Here we have heavenly beings coming down from Heaven to observe and declare a judgment to the King who has the nation of Israel captive. They are called “watchers” in this passage. (eyes of the Lamb).

In conclusion I believe we have enough foundation here to say the seven Spirits are seven angels which stand before God and His throne.