Seven Spirits?

[JJWhite]

Can someone explain the traditional understanding/s of this verse?


Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

​

 

[John_Galt]

Can someone explain the traditional understanding/s of this verse?


Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

Typically, it's understood to refer to seven ministering angels who attend to God's throne. It is usually said that they act as administrators, presenting the prayers of God's people before God. This phrase is also used in Rev 1:4.

 

[JJWhite]

Thanks, John.

 

[razeontherock]

I think there's something else to this entirely. In the OT, we are given a list of
"the 7 Spirits of G-d." Probably Isaiah (11:2)

This was a foundational understanding for me, before G-d could show me anything about Trinity. (Also Isaiah, 33:22) Interesting stuff! I'll also point out this is just one of the many many reasons why I side with Scripture, not tradition.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

It seems that both interpretations are somewhat common. The identification of the seven spirits with seven angels has an interesting connection with the seven angels mentioned in the seven letters written to the seven churches--and even here, some have argued that the term "angel" may be somewhat more literal as "messenger" and refers to the then current leaders of the churches in Asia. The consequence of that particular reading therefore attaches itself to the idea that the seven spirits may, in fact, be seven men.

The other I seem to come across is that it's using seven symbolically in reference to the Holy Spirit, with perhaps an implied reference to Isaiah 11:2.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[razeontherock]

Thanks Crypto. I just can't square the text's reference to the Throne to either men or angels. I do agree the actual leaders of the 7 Churches are included in the subject of the 7 letters, and think the literal "messengers" of and to those Churches are being referenced where we have "angels;" what the Spirit is saying. So the interesting thing to me here is the largeness of G-d, including all of the above

 

[Mr Dave]

My Bible would agree with you all

It says,

"The seven spirits are either a symbolic reference to the manifold energies of the spirit of God (Isa 11:2), or a reference to the seven principal angels of God (Tob 12:15; 1 Enoch 20:1-8). Seven, the number of completion (of a ritual in Lev 4:6; of divine punishment in Lev 26:27-28) or wholeness, is the most important symbolic number in Revelation."


The Tobit verse (in case your Bible doesn't have Tobit in) is "I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord."

 

[bling]

Using Revelations as a proof text for anything is difficult since for the most part it is very figurative language.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Can someone explain the traditional understanding/s of this verse?


Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

​

Revelation 5:6 reveals that the seven spirits are/is/or petain to Christ............ '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'........Notice that there are two 'sevens'; seven 'horns', and, seven 'eyes'. What follows are two groups of events pictured by the opening of 'seven' seals, followed by seven 'trumpets'. Seven is also the number of 'perfection', or, 'completeness' which would certainly apply to Christ, and with what his seven spirits were about to finish here on the earth..

 

[salida]

http://www.gotquestions.org/seven-spirits-God.html

 

[AllOrNothing]

The Seven Spirits of God.. spoken of in Revelation.. are the very same Spirit that Jesus manifested.. through his words and his actions..

The Spirit of Loving kindness..

The Spirit of Righteousness..

The Spirit of Justice..

The Spirit of Wisdom..

The Spirit of Peace..

The Spirit of Freedom

The Spirit of the Truth..

Throughout the scriptures we find these Seven Spirits consistently placed before the throne of God.. in order that they may be firmly established.. for time indefinite..

----

“To the abundance of the princely rule and to Peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to establish it firmly and to sustain it by means of Justice and by means of Righteousness, from now on and to time indefinite.”

"And in Loving-kindness a throne will certainly be firmly established; and one must sit down upon it in Truth in the tent of David, judging and seeking Justice and being prompt in Righteousness."

“Righteousness and Justice are the established place of your throne; Loving-kindness and Truth themselves come in before your face.”

"Now God is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of God is, there is Freedom. And all of us, while we with unveiled faces reflect like mirrors the glory of God, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, exactly as done by God the Spirit."

“Let us, therefore, approach with Freedom of speech to the throne of undeserved kindness, that we may obtain mercy and find undeserved kindness for help at the right time.”

“…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a Spirit of Wisdom and of revelation in the accurate knowledge of him;”

Isaiah 9:7 + 16:5 + Palms 89:14 + 2Corinthians 3:17 + Hebrews 4:16 + Ephesians 1:17

(Also see 1Kings 3:6 + 1Chronicles 17:12 )

 

[GeorgeTwo]

Can someone explain the traditional understanding/s of this verse?


Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

Revelation presents the Holy Spirit as one person. (3:6), but He also appears as "seven spirits" (Rev 3:1, 4:5, 1.4, etc.), representing perfection, as in the torches of fire, and seven eyes (5:6) to express his omnipresence and omniscience. (ESV Study Bible)

Revelation is full of symbolism. Apocalyptic language.

 

[elman]

Can someone explain the traditional understanding/s of this verse?


Revelation 4:5
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

​

The number seven refers to completeness or totality.