THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #200 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #181

Pastor Christopher Choo

Lesson 3886

THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #200

THE LIFE OF MOSES #181

MOSES AT MT.SINAI#80

THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 39)

THE MENORAH #9

THE 7 SPIRITS OF GOD IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION ( Lesson #1)

In the beginning of the Book of Revelation - which is full of Jewish imagery - Jesus walks in the midst of 7 lampstands which represent the 7 Churches of Asia Minor.

There is a growing belief that these 7 lampstands were actually 7 Menorahs rather than just ordinary lampstands translated by English bibles.

But what are the seven spirits of God?

The "seven spirits of God" are mentioned in Revelation 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; and 5:6. 

The seven spirits of God are not specifically identified, so it’s impossible to be dogmatic. 

Revelation 1:4 mentions that the seven spirits are before God’s throne. 

Revelation 3:1 indicates that Jesus Christ "holds" the seven spirits of God. 

Revelation 4:5 links the seven spirits of God with seven burning lamps that are before God’s throne. 

Revelation 5:6 identifies the seven spirits with the "seven eyes" of the Lamb and states that they are "sent out into all the earth."

There are a few possible interpretations of the seven spirits of God. 

The one that concerns us in this study is that the seven spirits of God are symbolic of the Holy Spirit. 

The Bible, and especially the book of Revelation, uses the number 7 to refer to perfection and completion. If that is the meaning of the “seven” in the "seven spirits," then it is not referring to seven different spirits of God, but rather the perfect and complete Holy Spirit.

Not surprisingly a Messianic Jewish commentator went on to write: "The references to the “seven spirits” of God in the book of Revelation have an Old Testament background, namely, Isaiah 11:1-2. The emphasis in verse 1 is on Messiah’s lowly origin. In verse 2, we are told that this Messiah will have the sevenfold fullness of the Holy Spirit.

The description used here is representative of a Jewish Menorah or seven-branched lampstand." 

The “Spirit of the Lord” is mentioned once, followed by three more references to “the Spirit of,” each one followed by two attributes.

 

When looking for the fulfillment of this prophecy in the life of Yeshua, we find that in John 3:34, John the Baptist describes Yeshua as having the fullness of the Spirit: For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. 

The New Testament teaches that all who believe in Yeshua as Messiah are given a measure of the Holy Spirit. 

Because each believer only has a measure of the Spirit, each one has different gifts and ministries (I Cor. 12:13-14). No one ever has all of the gifts because God has ordained that the members of the Church be mutually dependent. 

Yeshua, however, was given the Spirit “without measure.” In Scripture, the number seven signifies perfection, completeness, or fullness. 

The sevenfold nature of the Spirit in Isaiah 11:2 is therefore synonymous with the measureless fullness in John 3:34. It also corresponds to the “seven spirits” of Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, and 5:6

The composite ministry of the Holy Spirit ( as the 7 Spirits of God symbolised by the Menorah) point us to Jesus who was fully anointed by the Holy Spirit to have all 7 Spirits of God.

Thus in Jesus' first sermon at Nazareth, after His reading from the scroll of Isaiah, He said: "Today scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Although this statement meant He was the Messiah, which statement was met with amazement then rejection by His hearers, His quote showed that He was the Anointed One, the Anointed of God by the full power of the Holy Spirit:

Luke 4:16-30

16 When He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, He went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was His custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

   because He has anointed Me

       to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives

   and recovery of sight to the blind,

       to let the oppressed go free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 And He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 Then He began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 

In effect, He was annointed by the Holy Spirit to complete the earthly mission and ministry of His First 

Coming.

But with what?

The seven spirits of God which

are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.