It is a well-known fact that much of the imagery of the book of Revelation is borrowed from the Old Testament. For a consideration of various other views of the identity of the seven spirits and a scholarly refutation of the same, see Barnes (40-43). The tedious multiplication of additional references is quite unnecessary. On the whole it seems most probable that we should think of the number seven as signifying perfection or the like, and of the whole expression as pointing to the Holy Spirit (Morris, 48). “The Spirit” is found in 2:7, 17, etc., so he clearly knows of the Holy Spirit. John never uses the expression “the Holy Spirit,” but he uses the word Spirit in a variety of ways. Testimony of Respected Scholarsīloomfield observed that the conviction that the expression seven spirits is the equivalent of the Holy Spirit was the general view of ancient scholars up until about the middle of the 18th century when certain foreign critics began to identify the phrase with the attributes of “the Supreme Being” (564-565). 3:1 4:5 5:6), the spirits are said to be “of God.” Thirteen times elsewhere in the New Testament the Holy Spirit is characterized as being “of God.” In two other texts the Spirit is described as being “of Jesus” or “of Christ” (cf. It is interesting to notice that in three of the passages cited above (Rev. There were more churches in Asia than the seven mentioned (cf. The plural form “spirits” may suggest the diversity of his powers or in the context of chapters 1-3, his ministry within the seven congregations that were selected for illustrative purposes. The number seven represents perfection or completeness (cf. Fifty-six of those are found in the book of Revelation. The numeral “seven” ( hepta) corresponds to the Hebrew term sheba', related to saba, meaning to be “full, abundant.” The word Hepta is found eighty-eight times in the New Testament. It will be the thrust of this article to argue the case that the phrase “seven spirits,” as employed in the final book of the New Testament, is a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit. 4:5).Īnd I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth (Rev. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God (Rev. 3:1).Īnd out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders. 1:4-5).Īnd to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things he says who has the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, and you are dead (Rev. 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 that are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ (Rev. The expression “seven spirits” is found only in the book of Revelation, and then just four times. “What are the ‘seven spirits’ mentioned in the book of Revelation?”
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