“And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God” (Revelation 4:5).
These seven Spirits of God at His throne are also mentioned in Revelation 1:4; 3:1; and 5:6, where they are further called the “seven eyes” of the Lamb. Although angels are called “ministering spirits” (Hebrews 1:14), they apparently are always called angels in Revelation, so it seems likely that these seven “Spirits of God” actually refer to a seven-fold descriptive manifestation of the character of God’s Holy Spirit, “sent forth into all the earth” (Revelation 5:6).
There are, in fact, seven such designations recorded in the earlier books of the New Testament. These are as follows:
- Spirit of Truth. “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
- Spirit of Holiness. “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord . . . declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness” (Romans 1:3,4).
- Spirit of Faith. “We having the same Spirit of faith . . . believe, and therefore speak” (II Corinthians 4:13).
- Spirit of Wisdom. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:17).
- Spirit of Power. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7).
- Spirit of Grace. “Of how much sorer punishment . . . shall he be thought worthy, who . . . hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29).
- Spirit of Glory. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, . . . the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you” (I Peter 4:14). HMM
