“From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches [lamps] of fire, which are the seven spirits of God.” (Revelation 4:5)
The book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature. The word apocalypse comes from the Greek word meaning “to reveal” hence the title “Revelation.” Ironically, much is hidden in apocalyptic literature to the untrained eye, because apocalyptic literature is filled with symbolism. Unlike the rest of Scripture, where in most cases it is wise to interpret things literally, Revelation is meant to be interpreted symbolically, except for the places where we are explicitly told what something is. In those places we have less interpreting to do because it has been done for us. Still those revelations are easy to miss. For example, we don’t have to wonder what the “seven stars” symbolize, because we’re told they are “the angels of the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:20) We don’t have to wonder what the “golden bowls full of incense” symbolize, because we’re told they symbolize the “prayers of the saints.” (Revelation 5:8) There are many of these revelations throughout the letter but they are easily overlooked or forgotten about several chapters later. The beasts “seven heads” represent mountains and kings. (Revelation 12:9-10) “Fine linen,” whether it refers to actual clothes that will be worn or not, is foremost a symbol, which stands for “the righteous deeds of the saints.” (Revelation 19:8)
However, many things are not spelled out for us, and for those things we can show humility in what we believe about them. As Michael Willock correctly states,
“we are duly warned that for some of the locked doors of Revelation, keys may be hard to find.” [1]
This verse in Revelation is difficult because the revealing or the revelation seems to also be a symbol. So the symbol points to another symbol: What do the torches symbolize? The seven spirits.
There are a couple views on what is meant by this. Most convincing is that it symbolizes the completeness and perfection of God, the Holy Spirit.
“This unique phrase—the seven spirits before his throne—occurs only in Revelation and probably refers to the Holy Spirit.” – Kendell H. Easley [6]
Here are some reasons for this.
1. The Number Seven Symbolizes Perfection
The number seven has always been used to symbolize perfection in the sense of completeness or wholeness, beginning with Genesis and the creation of the world in seven days. Marvin Richardson Vincent notes how many times seven is used in Revelation alone:
“There are seven spirits before the throne; seven churches; seven golden candlesticks; seven stars in the right hand of Him who is like unto a son of man; seven lamps of fire burning before the throne; seven horns and seven eyes of the Lamb; seven seals of the book; and the thunders, the heads of the great dragon and of the beast from the sea, the angels with the trumpets, the plagues, and the mountains which are the seat of the mystic Babylon,—are all seven in number.” [2]
2. John’s Extensive References to the Old Testament
Revelation has more allusions to the Old Testament than all of the other New Testament books put together! More than 50% of Revelation are references and allusions to the Old Testament. That’s a lot of references. Those familiar with the Old Testament, especially Ezekiel and Daniel and Zechariah would not see Revelation as so strange. Therefore Leon Morris and other scholars are right to see a reference here to Isaiah:
“On the whole it seems most probable that we should see seven as signifying perfection or the like, and the whole expression as pointing to the Holy Spirit. The number may derive from Isaiah 11:2–3, and be meant to remind us of the seven modes of operation of the Spirit.” [3]
I don’t think the primary Old Testament reference being made is from Isaiah 11:2, but it’s worth taking a look. For visual purposes, here is that verse in Isaiah 11:2 broken into seven parts:
- “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
- the Spirit of wisdom
- and understanding,
- the Spirit of counsel
- and might,
- the Spirit of knowledge
- and the fear of the Lord.”
John probably has this verse somewhere in mind. However, even more convincing is that John is referencing Zechariah 2:4-6, which seems to make it clear that John is not talking about “modes of operation” within the Holy Spirit as he is simply referencing the perfection of the Holy Spirit Himself, in all his fullness. The Holy Spirit is more dynamic than the seven descriptions from Isaiah 11. Look at Zechariah and how similar it is to Revelation:
“And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” Then 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 of hosts.” (Zechariah 2:4-6)
Notice what we’re told when asked: What are the “seven lamps”? The question is answered, maybe not what we would expect, but the answer to “what the lamps are “what are these?” is “…by my Spirit, says the Lord…” Lamps = Spirit. Revelation 4:5 is an allusion to the same thing. The torches (which also can be translated “lamps”) = the seven Spirits of God. G.K. Beale concludes,
The reference here is to the Holy Spirit, the number “seven” again representing fullness. The Holy Spirit is needed to bring to believers the grace and peace John greets them with here, and His work will be needed if believers are to respond obediently to the prophetic words shortly to come. The Christian readers need grace to persevere in their faith in the midst of tribulation, especially the pressure to compromise (cf. chs. 2–3). And in the midst of such external turmoil they need the inner peace which only the eternal God, who is sovereign over and above the trials and struggles of the day-to-day realities believers face, can give. John is alluding here to Zech. 4:2–9, where seven lamps represent one Spirit which brings grace for the building of the temple. Note again how Rev. 4:5–6 identifies the seven lamps before the throne with the seven spirits. The Holy Spirit empowers us to become the temple in which God dwells. [4]
J. Ramsey Michaels agrees, but admits it’s still a peculiar way to refer to the Spirit, and adds,
“John is quite capable of referring to “the Spirit” in the singular when he wishes to do so (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 14:13; 22:17). Referring to the seven spirits is probably a way of underscoring the majesty of God…” [7]
3. The Trinity
In a letter that is centered on Christ, the Lamb, who shares the very throne of God (Revelation 7:17), this verse honors the Spirit.
Marvin Vincent points out that in Revelation 3:1:
“Jesus is said to have “the seven Spirits of God.” Thus the seven Spirits belong to the Son as well as to the Father.” [5]
This further supports the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, that we have one God in three persons, as Jesus said, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” (John 15:26)
Why does all this matter?
Studying these verses is more than simply accumulating more facts and head knowledge. Still, knowledge is important. God’s Word in Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” So we don’t reject knowledge. But the Hebrew word yada, translated “to know” means to truly know someone as opposed to just knowing a lot about someone. So we can admire these details about Scripture in a way that helps us to know God, just like we know our family or friends. It’s an act of love to remember the date I was married, or that my wife doesn’t like milk chocolate, or that calla lily’s were the special kind of lily used at our wedding. And this verse is clearly for our encouragement. As an act of love God wrote these words to us to encourage all (with knowledge!) who have turned to trust in Him alone, that even if the days grow dark and difficult, His Spirit is with us, bright and perfect.
[1] Michael Wilcock, The Message of Revelation: I Saw Heaven Opened, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1986), 34–35.
[2] – Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 2 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 411.
[3] – Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 54.
[4] G. K. Beale and David H. Campbell, Revelation: A Shorter Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2015), 40.
[5] Marvin Richardson Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, vol. 2 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887), 413–414.
[6] Kendell H. Easley, Revelation, vol. 12, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 14.
[7] J. Ramsey Michaels, Revelation, vol. 20, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997), Re 1:4–8.
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