And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars. (Revelation 3:1a)
In each of the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus identifies Himself in a way that is specific to the church of whom He is speaking. Here Jesus identifies Himself has having "the" seven Spirits of God and as having "the" seven stars, making reference to something specific concerning the Spirits of God and the stars, not as random as might be signified if the article "the" had not been used. What God places importance upon should also be of importance to us, thus causing us to search His Word further for understanding of this passage. And obviously "seven" is key to our understanding. The Word tells us that these "metaphors" are "mysteries" and I believe the Lord wants us to seek Him enough to want to take time to search out His mysteries.
At one time in my life I relied heavily upon biblical commentaries, but I soon realized that this was taking the "easy" way out, allowing someone else to search scripture and to think for me, instead of doing the hard work of searching for that "pearl" myself. I seldom do that now. I search scriptures and I allow the Holy Spirit to speak to me and bring understanding. That doesn't mean that I don't read other books, or refer to dictionaries, both biblical and secular for help at times, because I do, quite frequently if I find myself drawing a blank all the way round, but never until I have first searched out the understanding for myself. Then, when I find that others have found what I have found, it becomes confirmation for me that I heard the Lord correctly.
So, where else in scripture are there references to "the seven Spirits of God" and where else are there references to "the seven stars"?
The seven stars are quite easy, in fact, as they are explained only two chapters earlier in Revelation as Jesus speaks to His servant John explaining a vision of the Lord that John had just received:
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20)
Now, if you read your commentaries, you will be told that the "angels" being referred to are the bishops or heads of the seven churches; that "angel" is another word for "messenger" and that these letters are going to given by John to those "messengers" that are the head of the churches so that the messengers can deliver the letters to be read aloud to one and all. And the commentaries could be right.
But there is also the possibility that "angel" simply means "angel." Classical dispensationist that I am, I like to take the Bible literally, and then apply a secondary prophetic meaning where it is clearly meant to be prophetic. There is no doubt that Revelation is meant to be taken prophetically, although these seven letters were most definitely written to the local churches of John's time as well.
We have already seen for example that the letter Jesus wrote to the church at Ephesus was discussing issues or problems that Paul himself had already personally discussed with them as well, confirmation that these letters were for John's day, even as they are also for us. Why else would Jesus say to those of us reading all these centuries later: Whoever has ears, let him what the Spirit says to the churches? He is telling us that these words are for our individual ("whoever" and "him")benefit and growth as well, thus they are prophetic of our times as well. Thus, the Word "lives" even into our present 21st century.
Many biblical scholars will also tell you that the seven churches represent historical church "ages." For example, the "persecuted church" age could be identified by the Church in Ephesus. This would be the original early church of the Disciples who walked with Jesus and might continue for the first 100 years or so...it was definitely identified with persecutions. And the church at Laodicea might represent that "apostate" or "falling away" church age of our modern times, where the young generation is simply not interested in the churches of their elders, and churches are mostly filled with the older generation instead. But all of that is for another time of discussion. Just trying to help you see the prophetic significance to these letters, as well as to the entire book of Revelation.
So, if "angel" does in fact mean "angel" then this might imply that there are angels given guard over each of Christ's churches, mightn't it? Then again, it could mean the physical heads of the churches. Then again, it could signify both.
One thing is for sure, these seven stars are held in the right hand of Jesus, signifying His authority over the angels of the churches, or His authority over the churches themselves. Authority, however, does not mean "control" for Jesus does not take control as One who holds a remote in front of a television set takes control. Jesus gives control to those who submit to Him. If Jesus controlled as with a remote, then there would be no issues in these churches, the churches would all go exactly as He dictates with a push of a button, but we will find at the end of our study that there are only two churches out of seven in which Jesus finds no issues. Yet Jesus does have complete authority over the churches. He is the indisputable authoritative Head of the churches. And after this time of "proving" His saints, He will indeed take control over this out-of-control world that by legal deed belongs to Him.
What about the seven Spirits of God? It is thought, by the commentators, that this refers to God's Holy Spirit. And indeed, I believe it does as well. But I think there is more to it than just calling it the Holy Spirit, and I am sure they (the commentators) thought that too.
Isaiah 11:2 speaks about the seven identifications, we might call them, of the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is:
1) of the LORD, 2) of wisdom, 3) of understanding, 4) of counsel, 5) of might, 6) of knowledge, 7) of the fear of the LORD.
I believe that it is all of these rolled into One Holy Spirit, and He, the Holy Spirit, is the one who moves the angels of the Lord to do His bidding, just as the Holy Spirit moves us to do the Lord's bidding. Right?
Searching scripture specifically looking for passages referring to the "seven Spirits of God" quickly brings up these two passages:
Rev. 4:5 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.
Rev. 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
So what do these additional scriptures tell us about the seven Spirits of God? That they are a metaphor for the church; believers who, through the work of Christ on the cross, can stand before the very throne of God in the inherited righteousness of Christ. Believers who make up the church - the one that is following the instructions of Jesus given to the disciples as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20.
In each of the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus identifies Himself in a way that is specific to the church of whom He is speaking. Here Jesus identifies Himself has having "the" seven Spirits of God and as having "the" seven stars, making reference to something specific concerning the Spirits of God and the stars, not as random as might be signified if the article "the" had not been used. What God places importance upon should also be of importance to us, thus causing us to search His Word further for understanding of this passage. And obviously "seven" is key to our understanding. The Word tells us that these "metaphors" are "mysteries" and I believe the Lord wants us to seek Him enough to want to take time to search out His mysteries.
At one time in my life I relied heavily upon biblical commentaries, but I soon realized that this was taking the "easy" way out, allowing someone else to search scripture and to think for me, instead of doing the hard work of searching for that "pearl" myself. I seldom do that now. I search scriptures and I allow the Holy Spirit to speak to me and bring understanding. That doesn't mean that I don't read other books, or refer to dictionaries, both biblical and secular for help at times, because I do, quite frequently if I find myself drawing a blank all the way round, but never until I have first searched out the understanding for myself. Then, when I find that others have found what I have found, it becomes confirmation for me that I heard the Lord correctly.
So, where else in scripture are there references to "the seven Spirits of God" and where else are there references to "the seven stars"?
The seven stars are quite easy, in fact, as they are explained only two chapters earlier in Revelation as Jesus speaks to His servant John explaining a vision of the Lord that John had just received:
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20)
Now, if you read your commentaries, you will be told that the "angels" being referred to are the bishops or heads of the seven churches; that "angel" is another word for "messenger" and that these letters are going to given by John to those "messengers" that are the head of the churches so that the messengers can deliver the letters to be read aloud to one and all. And the commentaries could be right.
But there is also the possibility that "angel" simply means "angel." Classical dispensationist that I am, I like to take the Bible literally, and then apply a secondary prophetic meaning where it is clearly meant to be prophetic. There is no doubt that Revelation is meant to be taken prophetically, although these seven letters were most definitely written to the local churches of John's time as well.
We have already seen for example that the letter Jesus wrote to the church at Ephesus was discussing issues or problems that Paul himself had already personally discussed with them as well, confirmation that these letters were for John's day, even as they are also for us. Why else would Jesus say to those of us reading all these centuries later: Whoever has ears, let him what the Spirit says to the churches? He is telling us that these words are for our individual ("whoever" and "him")benefit and growth as well, thus they are prophetic of our times as well. Thus, the Word "lives" even into our present 21st century.
Many biblical scholars will also tell you that the seven churches represent historical church "ages." For example, the "persecuted church" age could be identified by the Church in Ephesus. This would be the original early church of the Disciples who walked with Jesus and might continue for the first 100 years or so...it was definitely identified with persecutions. And the church at Laodicea might represent that "apostate" or "falling away" church age of our modern times, where the young generation is simply not interested in the churches of their elders, and churches are mostly filled with the older generation instead. But all of that is for another time of discussion. Just trying to help you see the prophetic significance to these letters, as well as to the entire book of Revelation.
So, if "angel" does in fact mean "angel" then this might imply that there are angels given guard over each of Christ's churches, mightn't it? Then again, it could mean the physical heads of the churches. Then again, it could signify both.
One thing is for sure, these seven stars are held in the right hand of Jesus, signifying His authority over the angels of the churches, or His authority over the churches themselves. Authority, however, does not mean "control" for Jesus does not take control as One who holds a remote in front of a television set takes control. Jesus gives control to those who submit to Him. If Jesus controlled as with a remote, then there would be no issues in these churches, the churches would all go exactly as He dictates with a push of a button, but we will find at the end of our study that there are only two churches out of seven in which Jesus finds no issues. Yet Jesus does have complete authority over the churches. He is the indisputable authoritative Head of the churches. And after this time of "proving" His saints, He will indeed take control over this out-of-control world that by legal deed belongs to Him.
What about the seven Spirits of God? It is thought, by the commentators, that this refers to God's Holy Spirit. And indeed, I believe it does as well. But I think there is more to it than just calling it the Holy Spirit, and I am sure they (the commentators) thought that too.
Isaiah 11:2 speaks about the seven identifications, we might call them, of the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is:
1) of the LORD, 2) of wisdom, 3) of understanding, 4) of counsel, 5) of might, 6) of knowledge, 7) of the fear of the LORD.
I believe that it is all of these rolled into One Holy Spirit, and He, the Holy Spirit, is the one who moves the angels of the Lord to do His bidding, just as the Holy Spirit moves us to do the Lord's bidding. Right?
Searching scripture specifically looking for passages referring to the "seven Spirits of God" quickly brings up these two passages:
Rev. 4:5 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.
Rev. 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
So what do these additional scriptures tell us about the seven Spirits of God? That they are a metaphor for the church; believers who, through the work of Christ on the cross, can stand before the very throne of God in the inherited righteousness of Christ. Believers who make up the church - the one that is following the instructions of Jesus given to the disciples as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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