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Seven Spirits of God

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by CoachC, Dec 24, 2003.

  1. CoachC

    CoachC New Member

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    Hi,
    I'm new to the board so please forgive the elementary nature of this particular question.

    I have been readin the early chapter of revelations and have repeatedly run across the term "seven Spirits of God.". I have checked cross references in my bible and it appears to be talking about the holy Spirit I was wondering if anyone could share any insight they might have on what exactly are the seven spirits of God?

    Thanks
    Mike.
     
  2. Charles Meadows

    Charles Meadows New Member

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    Sounds like you're on the right track. The 7 spirits are representative of the Holy Spirit. The imagery here is from Zechariah chapter 4. Revelation is (intentionally) [​IMG] FULL of Old testament symbolism and imagery.
     
  3. qwerty

    qwerty New Member

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    A possibility:

    ISA 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

    ISA 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him--
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of power,
    the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD--

    ISA 11:3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

    The Apostle Paul references this passage in Ephesians:

    EPH 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation , so that you may know him better.
     
  4. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    One Spirit, seven messages, one to each Church given to an "angel" (spirit-being) of that Church.

    Revelation

    2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...
    2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...
    2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...
    2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...
    3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...
    3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...
    3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...
     
  5. CoachC

    CoachC New Member

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    Thank you for the insight. It could be the messages to the churches, I think that Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation is something that we all as believers really need, especially in this age.
     
  6. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    You have to remember that the number seven is the number of completion. But I do agree with the statement about the seven churches. Revelations chapters 2&3 have been a fascination of mine for several years now.

    Read through these two chapters, and pick out the multiple promises made to "them that overcome". Then look to 1 John 5:4-5:
    For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
    Here we are told just who an "overcomer" is. You can also look to Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. .

    Check out Revelations 20:7, also:
    He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

    In Christ,
    Trotter
     
  7. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    If we've got more than ONE "holy spirit", make sure one of the additional six is "Casper the Friendly Ghost", okay? :D
     
  8. CoachC

    CoachC New Member

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    Trotter, that is great stuff. I will definitely do that reading. I have just been reading through the early chapters of Revelation and writing questions as I go, with the intention of coming back and seeking answers. This "seven spirits of God" keeps popping up as I go through this part.

    Dr. Bob, there is definitely not more than one Holy Spirit. I think my curiosity is picked by the idea of these seven spirits in that is there some aspect of ourselves as individuals that we could develop to see the world in a more Christ Like way? Do these seven spirits have a name that we could seek to develop through prayer and study of the scripture?
     
  9. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    In the 1611 First Edition, Revelation 1:4 has "the seven spirits of God" (small "s" for "spirit") while the other 3 times this phrase is "the seven Spirits of God" using an upper-case "S".

    The 1769 Edition capitalizes all.

    So which did they mean, Capital "S" for the deity or small "s" for angels and why wern't they consistent?

    Personally I believe that the "seven spirits of God" are the seven angels (anggelos) of the seven churches and not a "figure of speech" for the Holy Spirit (but it might be so if the object of the metaphor is the 7 messages to the seven churches from the one Holy Spirit).

    In either case the message passes through the hands of the "angel" of each of "the seven churches which are in Asia" (the apostolic churches of Asia Minor).

    HankD
     
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