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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 2 - THE ENTHRONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST (REVELATION 4:1 - 6:17)
PART 2.1 GOD, HOLY AND ALMIGHTY IN HEAVEN (REVELATION 4:1-11)

2. The Immediate Vicinity of the Almighty (Revelation 4:4-8)


Seven Lighted Torches Burning in Front of the Throne

REVELATION 4:5b
5 ... There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

In a high-laying restaurant opposite to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem there is an abstract reproduction of the lampstand with seven lamps whose licking electric flames are flickering nearby the former Holy of Holiest day and night. If, however, the electricity is off, the flames of this modern lampstand will go out.

John saw in front of the throne of God seven individual torches burn. They did not go out, even when lightnings and thunderclaps proceeded out of the throne. They were burning continually and noiselessly like the lampstand with seven lamps standing on the left of the holy place before the veil of the Holy of Holiest (Exodus 40:24).

These seven torches in heaven indicate also to the seven golden lampstands representing the seven churches in Minor Asia (Revelation 1:20).

Seven as a number is in the Old and New Testament a symbol for heavenly objects and also for such objects concerning the church of Jesus Christ on earth. Seven is the sum of the figures three and four and represents the gracious contact between the Holy trinity and the four corners of the earth.

Contrary to the other details of his vision of the throne John explains the meaning of these seven flickering fire-flames: they are the seven Spirits of God.

Who is the Spirit of God? In the beginning the Spirit of God moved upon the utter chaos until God said: "Let there be light!" And there was light (Genesis 1:1-3). The Spirit of God is a might of salvation. He was at work during the Old Covenant, and he is particularly at work during the New Covenant so as to create out of the chaos of the fall a new spiritual creation. Jesus said: You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses (Acts 1:8). By means of the witness of his witnesses – which will be worked out by the Holy Spirit - Jesus creates eternal live in mortal men. The power of the Holy Spirit is the eternal live in faithful followers of Christ (John 3:16; 17:3 and other verses).

The book of Revelation of John speaks several times of the seven Spirits of God: John assures from the beginning the seven churches in Minor Asia of grace and peace from the eternal God, from his seven spirits and from Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:4). To the spiritually dead church leader of Sardis the Lord introduces himself as the one who has the seven spirits of God and is hasting so as to quicken him in the last moment (Revelation 3:1). Additionally, when the Lamb of God is described, it is testified that he has the seven spirits of God (Revelation 5:6).

Through these explanations about the seven spirits of God in the book of Revelation it will become clear that they are a source of grace and peace, create spiritual live and are in close contact to the crucified and risen Lord. The Spirit could not make his dwelling in the followers of Christ with all power, before the Savior had blotted out the sins of the world on the cross. Without the cross men could not receive the Spirit, and without the sacrificial lamb there would not be fullness of blessings! Since then the church of Jesus Christ is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Not only the believers today but also those who lived in former times and also those saints who are to come constitute together the spiritual body of Jesus Christ.

The seven torches which John saw burn before the throne of God bear witness of the power of the Spirit of God, who is at work in God, in Christ, and in the church. The Spirit searches even the depths of God (1 Corinthians 2:10). In the same way as the Lord is the Spirit, likewise is God the Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

In Islam none of the Muslims is able to tell that Allah is spirit, for no one knows Allah. Allah is greater than all terms and remains unknown. None of the Muslims does know the spirit of God and know how he is. The spirit inspiring Muhammad is named Djibril (Gabriel) and is thought of as a created spirit submitted always as a slave to Allah (Suras al-Nisa' 4:97; al-Nahl 16:2; al-Isra' 17:85; al-Shurah 42:85).

The whole church of Jesus Christ has the privilege of shining silently and continually likewise as the lampstand with its seven lamps in the temple, the seven golden lampstands in Minor Asia and the seven torches shine continually before the throne of God. The Spirit of God creates enlightening and changes us into children of the light (Ephesians 5:8). His light enlightens the darkness. We are called to be a kingdom of priests and citizens of the holy nation of God in which the fruits of the spirit ripen (Exodus 19:6; Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6). Christ said: You are the light of the world! … Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16).

In the parable of Jesus of the wise and foolish virgins the oil in the lamps means the Holy Spirit (Matthew 25:1-13), the wick the word of God, and the lamps us or our live. Do you have enough oil in your lamp? And is the wick of the word of God in you clean and not encrusted? The Spirit wants to burn in you brightly so that you resemble a shining torch before the throne of God.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may bring Your power to those who thirst and hunger for righteousness, and to warn the opponents that they may repent and return. Thank You because the fullness of Your Spirit wanders around all countries to kindle the light of Your love in believers.

QUESTION:

  1. Why did the Holy Spirit appear as seven spirits?

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