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It is not possible to say with complete certainty what or who the Bible is referring to when it describes the "seven spirits of God" which are before God's throne (Revelation 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6). We know from the references that mention the seven spirits that they are "held" by Jesus Christ, and that they are likened to seven lamps burning near, or in front of, God's throne. They are also said to be "sent out into all the earth" and they are equated with the "seven eyes" of the Lamb of God.
These descriptions are mysterious and heavy with symbolic meaning, as is much of the Book of Revelation. However, there is no indication that these seven spirits of God do not exist. That is, they are more than simple metaphor. John refers to them as a literal entity, similar to the angels or the cherubim. One view is that the seven spirits are indeed angels of some kind. Another view takes a verse from Isaiah 11:2 and uses it to enumerate and name the seven spirits of God. Isaiah said: "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." Some scholars take this to possibly mean that the seven spirits of God are the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Wisdom, the Spirit of Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel, the Spirit of Might, the Spirit of Knowledge, and the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord.
The most widely held and plausible view of the seven spirits of God is that they are representative of the Holy Spirit in some way. Throughout the Bible, the number seven is symbolic of perfection, and saying that the Holy Spirit consists of seven spirits could be a way of representing that perfection. However, since the Bible does not give any details about the seven spirits of God, we cannot be dogmatic about them.
These descriptions are mysterious and heavy with symbolic meaning, as is much of the Book of Revelation. However, there is no indication that these seven spirits of God do not exist. That is, they are more than simple metaphor. John refers to them as a literal entity, similar to the angels or the cherubim. One view is that the seven spirits are indeed angels of some kind. Another view takes a verse from Isaiah 11:2 and uses it to enumerate and name the seven spirits of God. Isaiah said: "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." Some scholars take this to possibly mean that the seven spirits of God are the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Wisdom, the Spirit of Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel, the Spirit of Might, the Spirit of Knowledge, and the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord.
The most widely held and plausible view of the seven spirits of God is that they are representative of the Holy Spirit in some way. Throughout the Bible, the number seven is symbolic of perfection, and saying that the Holy Spirit consists of seven spirits could be a way of representing that perfection. However, since the Bible does not give any details about the seven spirits of God, we cannot be dogmatic about them.
