The Seven Spirits Of God
When we turn to the pages of Revelation, we see that there are seven spirits before the throne. The logical question may be asked “What are the Seven Spirits” and “Whom do they come from”? To answer this question, it is necessary to go straight to the Word of God, and answer with an “it is written”.
In the first chapter of the book of Revelation, we see that the disciple John is in vision and sees his Master, Christ the Lord. Jesus is described in his glory and Majesty. Christ is seen as one walking amongst the seven golden candle sticks. In his right hand he is holding seven stars and out of his mouth comes forth a “…sharp two edge sword…” (Rev 1:16)
Christ then informs John to write what he has seen and the things that shall come to pass. Jesus then explains to John that 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.” (Rev 1:20)
In Revelation, chapter 2-3 we begin to see what the seven spirits are. At the beginning of each Letter, Jesus introduces himself in third person, leaving out the first person statement “I”. He then shares the message that is needed for each church. At the end of the letter or message to the seven churches, Christ concludes in the same way he introduced himself, yet this time identifying himself as the omnipresence, which is “the Spirit”.
Let us view the following chapters of revelation 2 & 3 and consider the methodology of Christ speaking with his beloved disciple and to the angel of the seven churches.
THE SEVEN CHURCHES
EPHESUS
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;… He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2: 1 & 7
SMYRNA
“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;… He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;... He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death..” Revelation 2: 8 & 11
PERGAMOS
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;… He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Revelation 2:12 & 17
THYATIRA
“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;… And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 2: 18 & 27-29.
SARDIS
“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…He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:1 & 5-6
PHILIDELPHIA
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;…Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3: 7 & 12-13
LAODICEAN
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;… counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see…As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:14 & 19-22
Here we see that Christ is giving command unto the angel to write, and gives a message to the churches. Before giving the message to the church he introduces himself in third person and concludes as the Spirit in third person. Christ said to his disciples "My sheep know my voice, and I know them". To know his voice, includes what our master says and how he speaketh.
This structure laid out to the seven churches follows a simple format called “Alpha-Omega” or “ABBA”. Basically what it shows is that the former is reflected by the Latter, and the Latter reflects the Former. This is evident throughout the Bible. For instance the Book of Genesis talks of the creation and the fall of Man, the Book of Revelation shows us restoration, and the creation of a new heaven and a new earth. We have the Former rain, which was poured out at the day of Pentecost commencing the work of the everlasting Gospel, and we also have the Latter rain which will complete the Work set forth in every man's heart.
The ultimate description of the Alpha and Omega is the Father and the Son. God the Father is reflected through His only begotten Son, and the Son is glorified by God the Father. Both personages are in totality the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the End.
And so it is when the Lord spoke to his disciple John, he spoke to him in the same way that he reflects the only true God, through the Alpha and Omega.
Another way of understanding this way of addressing is to take the word “ABBA” (interpreted as “Daddy”) and draw a line between the Word itself. What you see is that the Word ABBA is a symmetrical word, reflecting itself, and mirroring itself. This is how one may remember the format in the way our master speaks to his followers. Through the structure of “Alpha Omega” or “ABBA” Christ converses with his disciple and shares with him the most important messages for the churches.
Now we may ask the vital question to this article “What are the seven Spirits”. The answer is easily found in the Word of God.
It is written “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63
The Spirit in these letters to the churches is the message that is given to the churches. Each message is of vital importance, and through that vitality it should demonstrate a drawing to whom the message(s) come from. Through these messages to the Seven Churches Christ reveals himself, and his divinity and loveliness of character is set forth.
The “whom” from whence these messages come from is simple and easily understood. The who is Christ himself, the Man who walks amongst the seven golden candle sticks (seven churches). Let us bear in mind that Christ does not speak of himself, but as the living Father lives in him and Christ liveth by the Father, God gives him command, then so he speaks. It is written…
“…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” John 14: 23-24
“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” John 14:10
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14: 21
Therefore, the Word of God made flesh is the same divine being that was before he became flesh. As the manifestation of the Fathers Glory, Christ is both the revealer and the Glory and Expressed image of the Father's person.
We can, with scripture, safely conclude that the Same Spirit that spoke to John the beloved is the same Spirit that speaks to us today. It is written…
“Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:17-18 (emphasis added)
