Weekend Talk: Welcome to Revelation
The Book of Revelation in the Bible is a strange book. In fact, it is a fearful book; to the extent that many believers are afraid to read this book.
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They are scared about what John, incarcerated on the Island of Patmos on account of the persecution, saw in the spirit.
Strange happenings
In Revelation, we come across strange happenings in heaven and on earth, the symbolism of beasts and figures, the battles between angels and Satan, as well as the fear of Armageddon and world destruction.
True, the message of Revelation is shrouded in deep imagery that requires an exposé to grasp it. The message is not to be taken lightly, and certainly not to be treated ordinarily.
Yet those who have not yet read and studied Revelation do not know what they are missing! They are missing a reading expedition into greatness; they are missing an invitation to walk with the Author of life who has promised a new heaven and a new earth and is capable of delivering them.
Revelation is a great book, and, even in its strangeness, it offers deep insights from the throne of God to humanity, including the letters from the Lord Jesus Christ to the seven churches of Christendom.
In Revelation, we come across the phrase “the seven Spirits of God” at three places. First, we read, “These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars” (Revelation 3:1). The phrase is also found in Rev. 1:4; Rev. 4:5 and Rev. 5:6.
What does the phrase mean? We know that “God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
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And Paul wrote, “As there is only one God, there is but one Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:4).
If so, then how should we understand “seven spirits of God” that the Almighty holds? Simply put, the “seven spirits of God” is the seven-fold ministry of the Spirit.
When the Spirit moves
By the way, anywhere that the Holy Spirit is at work, there is abundant blessing worth seeking after. When the Spirit moves, there is spiritual awakening, and when he descends on people or fully inhabit them, they are energised to do exploits for God.
When the Holy Spirit came upon the weakling disciples, they received power to be Christ’s witnesses from Jerusalem to the rest of the world, including the Gold Coast.
When the Lord Jesus said, “The Spirit of God is upon me . . .” there followed some spiritual goodies, such as anointing to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, setting the oppressed free, and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favour (Luke 4:18).
A revelation
So, what was the Lord revealing about himself when he wrote that he holds the “seven spirits of God”? We find the answer in Isaiah 11:2-3 where we encounter the seven spirits of God or the seven-fold ministry of God:
(1) the Spirit of the Lord; (2) The Spirit of wisdom; (3) The Spirit of understanding; (4) the Spirit of counsel; (5) the Spirit of might (or power); (6) the Spirit of knowledge; and (7) the Spirit of the fear of the Lord.
The initial “S” is capitalised because, in reality, the seven spirits is not different from the Holy Spirit who carries out the seven-fold ministry of God.
Various interpretations
Various interpretations point to God’s perfection, for the number “seven” symbolises completeness and excellence. Others see the “seven” as imagery of the seven churches which represent Christendom.
Whichever way you look at it, we need to desire the seven-fold ministry of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, the fear of God, and the Spirit of the Lord who empowers us to serve him faithfully. As believers, we need every aspect of God’s Spirit to help us live for him.
You are invited
May I, therefore, invite you into the Book of Revelation. You will notice, as you study this book, that there is nothing to fear about it. In fact, it is in this Book that we come across additional truth that Jesus wants to live and share fellowship with us.
“Behold, I (Jesus) stand at the door (of your heart), and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus desires to fellowship with us individually, in our homes, and congregations.
With our much-celebrated Ghanaian hospitality, we must welcome whoever knocks at our door, especially when that Someone is Christ Jesus himself!
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And since we desire a better world away from this troubled world, Revelation carries the good news that, in heaven, “He will wipe away every tear from (our) eyes, and death shall be no more . . .” (Rev. 21:4).
Welcome into the wonderful Book of Revelation!
The writer is a publisher, author, writer-trainer and CEO of Step Publishers. E-mail: lawrence.darmani@gmail.com