7 Spirits of God

[Cassia]

Consider the seven Spirits of God, what have you been taught about that thru revelation or teachings?

Revelation 1:4
John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
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,
Revelation 1:14
His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire,
Revelation 4:4
Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads.
Revelation 5:6
Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

One lampstand but seven functions. The Spirit of God has intensified sevenfold to accomplish God's work on earth shown by the repeated emphasis on the Spirit speaking in Rev 2:7,11,17,29; Rev 3:6,13,22; Rev 14:13; Rev 22:17
Grace and peace had eminated from the Father and Son in earlier epistles but now the Spirit is included to impart grace and peace to the churches.

Song of Songs 5:2 Christ's eyes are the expression of love but here they are like a flame of fire that observes and searches so that He can exercise enlightened judgements. His seeing with seven eyes is the complete picture because seven is the number of completion.
Daniel 10:6

The elders in the picture are not the elders of the church but the elders of the angels, because here, before the Lord's second coming, they are sitting on thrones already Matt. 19:28; Rev. 20:4. Among God's creation the angels are the most ancient ones. Their elders are the elders of the whole creation of God. That they sit on thrones with golden crowns on their heads indicates that they must be the ones who rule the universe until the millennial kingdom, when the authority to rule the earth will be given to the overcoming saints Heb. 2:5-9; Rev. 2:26-27; Rev 20:4. That they are clothed in white garments and have a harp and golden bowls full of incense Rev 5:8 indicates that now they are also priests before God; in the millennial kingdom, however, the reigning overcomers will be the priests of God and of Christ Rev 20:6. The elders' golden crowns indicate that they are also ruling ones. Therefore, they are priests serving God and kings reigning over His creation.

Seven lamps show the enlightenment of the Spirit of God for God's building, Exo 25:37, Zech 4:2 (building and rebuilding of the temple) but here the seven lamps of judgment will also issue in God's building; for the building of the New Jerusalem.

Zechariah 3:9
For here is the stone that I have set before Joshua - upon one stone are seven eyes. I will engrave its engraving, declares Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Zechariah 4:7
Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain, and he will bring forth the topstone with shouts of Grace, grace to it.
Zechariah 4:10
10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice when they see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel; they are the eyes of Jehovah running to and fro on the whole earth.

 

[MoreCoffee]

The seven spirits before God's throne are the seven archangels.

 

[Cassia]

The seven spirits before God's throne are the seven archangels.

I've never heard of angels being called spirits nor as being the source of blessings.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I've never heard of angels being called spirits nor as being the source of blessings.

God is Spirit, what are the angels if not spirits sent to help the faithful as Hebrews tells us?

Hebrews 1:7 And about the Angels, certainly, he says: "He makes his Angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire."

Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all spirits of ministration, sent to minister for the sake of those who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?

 

[Cassia]

God is Spirit, what are the angels if not spirits sent to help the faithful as Hebrews tells us?

Hebrews 1:7 And about the Angels, certainly, he says: "He makes his Angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire."

Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all spirits of ministration, sent to minister for the sake of those who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?

okay but how about conferring grace and peace? It seems to me that the Holy Spirit is being refered to. I don't see how the seven archangels can be considered the eyes of God; Isa 11:2 seems a more reasonable answer because it specifies 7 attributes as the spirit of God.
Isaiah 11:2

2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

 

[MoreCoffee]

okay but how about conferring grace and peace? It seems to me that the Holy Spirit is being refered to. I don't see how the seven archangels can be considered the eyes of God; Isa 11:2 seems a more reasonable answer because it specifies 7 attributes as the spirit of God.
Isaiah 11:2

2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

There is one Holy Spirit not seven.

 

[Cassia]

....
One lampstand but seven functions. The Spirit of God has intensified sevenfold to accomplish God's work on earth shown by the repeated emphasis on the Spirit speaking in Rev 2:7,11,17,29; Rev 3:6,13,22; Rev 14:13; Rev 22:17
Grace and peace had eminated from the Father and Son in earlier epistles but now the Spirit is included to impart grace and peace to the churches.
....

There is one Holy Spirit not seven.

Here's a quote from Barnes on Rev 5:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
....
Which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. Cmt. on Re 1:4. That is, which represent the seven Spirits of God; or the manifold operations of the one Divine Spirit. As the eye is the symbol of intelligence--outward objects being made visible to us by that--so it may well represent an all-pervading spirit that surveys and sees all things. The eye, in this view, among the Egyptians was an emblem of the Deity. By the "Seven Spirits" here the same thing is doubtless intended as in Re 1:4; and if, as there supposed, the reference is to the Holy Spirit considered with respect to his manifold operations, the meaning here is, that the operations of that Spirit are to be regarded as connected with the work of the Redeemer. Thus, all the operations of the Spirit are connected with, and are a part of, the work of redemption. The expression "sent forth into all the earth," refers to the fact that that Spirit pervades all things. The Spirit of God is often represented as sent or poured out; and the meaning here is, that his operations are as if he was sent out to survey all things and to operate everywhere. Compare 1Co 12:6-11. "seven eyes" Zec 4:10​

But I think there's still so much more to it. Zec 4 is particularily interesting.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Seems to me that since angels are in fact called spirits and since there are seven spirits of God before his throne there really is no reason to read the passage in revelation as meaning "the Holy Spirit" when it says "the seven spirits of God".

[Revelation 1:4] 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;

[Revelation 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.

[Revelation 4:5] 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.

[Revelation 5:6] 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.

Raphael says: (Tobit. 12:15) I am one of the seven who stand before God.

 

[Cassia]

Seems to me that since angels are in fact called spirits and since there are seven spirits of God before his throne there really is no reason to read the passage in revelation as meaning "the Holy Spirit" when it says "the seven spirits of God".

[Revelation 1:4] 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;

[Revelation 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.

[Revelation 4:5] 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.

[Revelation 5:6] 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.

Raphael says: (Tobit. 12:15) I am one of the seven who stand before God.

As great as the angels are they are still created beings and as such cannot be equalized with Father and Son as a source of grace which can only come from the divine. If it were to refer to angels then that infers that angel worship or invocation of angels is proper, which of course it isn't.

 

[MoreCoffee]

As great as the angels are they are still created beings and as such cannot be equalized with Father and Son as a source of grace which can only come from the divine. If it were to refer to angels then that infers that angel worship or invocation of angels is proper, which of course it isn't.

The archangels are not made equals with God in the passages I quoted from. If the way you interpret the passages forces equality then your interpretation is obviously incorrect, right?

 

[Cassia]

The archangels are not made equals with God in the passages I quoted from. If the way you interpret the passages forces equality then your interpretation is obviously incorrect, right?

From the verses that you quoted only Rev 1:4 has an identification as to the 7 spirits. The rest are verbs to say something about them. We can see that Christ and the 7 are there.
Rev 1:12-13 explains that what is described as being there is Christ and 7 lampstands. What's that describing but the Menorah from the Holiest place which is always applied to the light of the Holy Spirit.

Rev 1:4
John to the seven bchurches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is coming, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
Rev 1:12-13a
And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me; and when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands,
And in the midst of the lampstands One like the Son of Man....​

me·nor·ah
məˈnôrə/Submit
noun
a sacred candelabrum with seven branches used in the Temple in Jerusalem, originally that made by the craftsman Bezalel and placed in the sanctuary of the Tabernacle Exod. 37:17–24

The seven spirits are also described as being the eyes of the lamb, so the lamb and the light are included in one.

Rev 21:23
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 22:3
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face [which shines as the sun, Rev 1:16]; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.​

Which brings us to Zech 4 where an angel is speaking yet does not identify that as being a part of it's order but identifies the Spirit

Zechariah 4
The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees

1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from
2 He asked me, “What do you see?”
I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps.
3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I replied.
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me:
9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”
11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”
13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I said.
14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”​

The chosen capstone, the spirit of God and the 2 witnesses empowered by God. (The 2 witnesses are for another study)

 

[Cassia]

......
Zechariah 3:9
For here is the stone that I have set before Joshua - upon one stone are seven eyes. I will engrave its engraving, declares Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day......

An interesting commentary on Zechariah 3:9 about founts of living waters/eyes of God

Benson Commentary
Zechariah 3:9. For behold the stone, &c. — Or, as some render the former part of the verse, For this is the stone which I lay before Joshua; there are in the same stone seven eyes: I will engrave it with its engravings, saith the Lord — There seems to be an allusion in these words to the foundation, or chief corner stone of the temple, which probably was laid with great solemnity in the presence of Joshua. Christ is not only the rod out of the stem of Jesse, and the branch that should grow out of his roots, the fruit of which is excellent and comely for the remnant of Israel that escape the corruption which is in the world, but the foundation of the spiritual temple laid in Zion. And it is here foretold, that when he should be brought forth, seven, that is, many, eyes should be upon him. “The eye of the Father was upon him, to take care of him and protect him, especially in his sufferings. The eyes of all the prophets and Old Testament saints were upon this one stone: Abraham rejoiced to see Christ’s day, and he saw it and was glad. The eyes of all believers are upon him, as the eyes of the stung Israelites were upon the brazen serpent. They look unto him and are saved.” — Henry. Or, the seven eyes upon this stone may be explained, as the eyes upon the wheels in Ezekiel’s vision: they may signify the perfection and plenitude of knowledge and wisdom which were in Jesus Christ for the good of his church, and his ever watchful care of his people: or the various gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, with which he was endued: for he hath the seven spirits of God, as well as the seven stars, Revelation 3:1; and his eyes are as a flame of fire, piercing through all disguises, and searching the reins and the heart of every human creature, and especially of every one that professes to be his disciple. “The Branch and the Stone,” says Dr. Dodd, “are the same; which stone hath seven eyes, because the Messiah is the searcher of hearts, whom God engraved with his engraving; as in John the evangelist, him the Father sealed, endowed him with those gifts, virtues, and powers of the Spirit, which the prophets had foretold should be in the Messiah, by whom, dying on the cross, God removed the iniquity of that land in one day. In a day when every man (Zechariah 3:10) called his neighbour, &c., that is, when the whole world was in profound peace.” But, instead of, Upon one stone shall be seven eyes, Blayney reads, From one stone seven fountains, the word עיןsignifying a fountain as well as an eye. “It seems,” says he, “as if the prophet saw in his vision a stone or rock, set before Joshua, with seven fountains springing out of it, which God says were opened by himself.” There is, he thinks, here “a plain allusion to the rock which Moses smote in the wilderness, and brought waters out of it for the refreshment of the people of God; and that rock, St. Paul says, was Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4. In speaking of which transaction, the psalmist says, He opened the rock and the waters gushed out, Psalm 105:41 :” in which passage the same verb, פתח, is used, which in the next clause is translated, I will engrave, &c., which Blayney renders, Behold, I open the passage thereof; that is, the hole or orifice through which the fountains shall flow. Again, it is said, Isaiah 41:18, I will open rivers in the high places, where not only the same verb is used, but is followed by the same preposition as is here placed before the word rendered stone. And it is said chap. Zechariah 13:1, In that day shall there be opened a fountain (the same verb being again used) to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. For what purpose? for sin and for uncleanness. “This was spoken of the gospel times; and, in like manner, it is here said of the same, And I will remove, or take away, the iniquity of the land in one day, namely, that one day on which Christ died to put away sin by the offering of himself. There cannot, surely, remain a doubt of what is intended, nor that עיניםmust signify fountains of living waters, issuing from Christ. The living waters are the doctrines of the gospel, and the fountains, the dispensers of them, the apostles and evangelists, who are said to be fellow-workers with Christ, and therefore aptly represented by the companions of Joshua. The number seven is frequently used in Scripture to denote multitudes, 1 Samuel 2:5; Jeremiah 15:9, &c., &c.” It must be observed, however, that both the LXX. and the Vulgate read seven eyes, and not seven fountains.​

 

[Cassia]

... sorry when I read that it looked liked MC was waiting for a reply that was left unanswered