SPECIAL TOPIC: Seven Spirits in Revelation

SPECIAL TOPIC: SEVEN SPIRITS IN REVELATION

There have been several theories as to the identity of these seven spirits.

Because the first appearance of this phrase comes between a reference to God as Father (i.e., Rev. 1:4) and Jesus the Messiah (i.e., Rev. 1:5), many commentators have asserted that it definitely referred to the Holy Spirit (note NASB capitalizes "Spirit"). This is possible, but not certain. This same phrase is also used in Rev. 3:1; 4:5 and 5:6. In these other instances it is not at all certain that it is a reference to the Holy Spirit unless an allusion from Zechariah 4 is assumed.
Others believe that it is an allusion from Isa. 11:2 from the Septuagint, where the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit are mentioned. However, in the Masoretic Hebrew Text there are only six gifts mentioned.
Those of a Jewish inter-biblical background (i.e., 1 Enoch) would identify these with "the angels of the Presence" as the seven archangels before the throne of God (cf. Rev. 8:2). Notice that some descriptive phrases also occur in Rev. 1:4.
Others relate them to the angels or messengers of the seven churches which are mentioned in Rev. 1:20.

Notice that Rev. 1:20 identifies

the seven stars (cf. Rev. 1:16,20; 2:1) as the angels of the seven churches (i.e., Revelation 2-3)
the seven lampstands (cf. Rev. 1:12,13,20; 2:1) are the seven churches

But there is no identification of "the seven spirits." Number 4 above is an assumption but with no specific textual support. Seven is such an important symbolic number in the Bible.

SPECIAL TOPIC: Spirit in the Bible

SPECIAL TOPIC: Spirit in the NT

SPECIAL TOPIC: Angels

SPECIAL TOPIC: Symbolic Numbers in Scripture, #4