Bible Questions and Answers

A visitor writes,

"Could you explain to me what the seven spirits are that are sent upon the Earth that are from God? In Revelation"

Revelation is book of symbols.

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,

Seven in scripture signifies completion – the earth was created in seven days. The number seven occurs some 31 times in the book.

Revelation 1:4  John, to the seven churches which 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 3:1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

Revelation 4:5  And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Revelation 5:6  And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

There is of course only one Spirit of God.

Genesis 1:2  The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

By his Spirit God is everywhere present in his creation.

Psalms 139:7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell (sheol – the grave), behold, You are there.

This omnipresence is signified by seven spirits in Revelation, in the same way that seven eyes signify omniscience, and the seven horns signify omnipotence.

We are not to suppose that the seven spirits are seven supernatural entities any more than that Jesus now looks like a lamb with seven horns and seven eyes.

The vision represents Jesus Christ, and the seven horns, and seven eyes show that all power has been given to him by God.

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Jesus is aware by the Spirit of God of everything that is happening on the earth.

I hope you find this helpful,

God bless,

Glenn