2 Conjunctions, 3 Subjects, 7 Spirits

REVELATION
Number 16

Two Conjunctions Three Subjects Seven Spirits

Revelation 1:4–5a (NASB 2020)

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 who are before His throne,

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”

John begins his direct message to the churches by telling them who it’s really from. He says it is:

“from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come”
“from the seven spirits who are before His throne”
“from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”

Be sure to notice the conjunctive “and” between each of the three of These from whom the message comes.

I have recently read and heard a number of people, who I can only believe are well-meaning and sincere, questioning the idea of God as a Trinity of co-equal Persons.

It is true that the word “trinity” is nowhere found in scripture. It is also true that the doctrine of the Trinity was first set out by Tertullian (c.155 — c.220AD) who also wrote some things, such as the idea that the Spirit and the Son were subordinate to the Father, that were later rejected by the Church. I understand that Tertullian also said some errant things. Honestly, the same can be said of everyone if we look hard enough.

Nevertheless, God has clearly portrayed Himself in a triune way. This passage in The Revelation is just one example. Scripture makes this idea clear in many places and in many ways.

The way we describe and understand God is imperfect. Our minds cannot comprehend or explain the Infinite One. The doctrine of the Trinity is the best way we have found to help one another grasp the ungraspable. Let’s not cause doubts among our brothers and sister in Christ over this. We need not question this doctrine, which has stood the test of time and can be clearly shown in the Bible.

Seven Spirits

This passage mentions seven Spirits that are before the throne of God. I agree with Chad Bird, author of the wonderful book, “The Christ Key; Unlocking the Centrality of Christ in the Old Testament.” Chad writes, “These, however, are not seven separate spirits, but the one sevenfold—that is, perfect and whole—Spirit of God.”

We see this again in The Revelation in Revelation 4:5 we find, “And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God”. (NASB 2020) Again in Revelation 5:6 we read, “And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” (NASB 2020)

As we look at these depictions, we get a chance to flex our reflective vision by looking back to the Hebrew scriptures for similar imagery. In Isaiah 11:2 we find this beautiful statement, “The Spirit of the LORD (1) will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom (2) and understanding (3), The spirit of counsel (4) and strength (5), The spirit of knowledge (6) and the fear of the LORD (7). (NASB 2020)

Then in Colossians 2:9 we are told that in the Lord Jesus, “all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form”. (NASB 2020) Seven is the number of wholeness, perfection, and completeness. The sevenfold Spirit of God is complete, lacking nothing.

Here at the outset we get a glimpse of the outcome. The Lord Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. But this is only a glimmer, a small foretaste of the magnificence and glory we will see that He possesses.