John writes in Revelation 1:4–5, “Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”
The question before us is this, who or what are the seven spirits before his throne? The best way to understand the seven spirits here in Revelation is a reference to the Holy Spirit of God. This interpretation is supported by the following arguments.
1. Triune Greeting
John greets the churches to which he writes from the Father, Son, and Spirit. The phrase “from him who is and who was and who is to come” is a reference to God the Father as seen in verse 8 which says, “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” The same title is later applied to Christ, but here is a clear reference to God the Father. In support of this being a reference to the Father is the later phrase in verse 5, “and from Jesus Christ…” So this greeting is from Father, Son, and the seven spirits before the throne.
It would seem unlikely that John would refer to angels or other creatures alongside Father and Son. It’s best to understand this as a reference to the Holy Spirit.
2. Significance of Seven
In the book of Revelation numbers are significant. The number seven takes on special significance as a number of completion or fullness. Months and years get their length and duration from the heavenly bodies like the sun and moon. However, a week—a 7 day period—finds no such parallel in nature. The seven day week comes from God’s creative week, his complete work of creation. And in Scripture, especially in the book of Revelation, seven takes on this significance of completeness or wholeness.
3. Parallel Passages
In Revelation 2:1 it says, “The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” And in 3:1 it says, “The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.” Then in 4:5 it says, “before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God.” From these passages, it draws a parallel between seven lampstands (torches), and the seven spirits of God.
This is significant because with repetition of the same ideas using different descriptions, it allows us to understand what a particular reference is speaking about. Before each address to the seven churches in chapters two and three, it begins by saying, “The words of him who…” From these phrases, the words are clearly the words of Jesus Christ. Yet, in all the addresses to the churches it ends with these words, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
Again, we see the triune nature of God as Jesus speaks, him who has the seven spirits, and it is the Spirit speaking to the churches. Jesus, as the Lamb, having the Spirit of God is also pictured in Revelation 5:6 which says, “I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” It’s best to understand that he who has the seven spirits is he who has the Spirit who speaks to the churches—the Lord Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
No other explanation, whether angels or other creatures, would seem to fit in these passages that refer to the seven spirits of God. It is best to understand the seven spirits of God to speak of the Spirit of God in his fullness. Understood this way, Jesus speaks with the fullness of God’s Spirit to his churches.