Reading Scriptures in the Spirit
When biblical literalists question Quakers about how they read the Bible, a common response is to cite Robert Barclay's Apology's third proposition, where Barclay declares that:
Nevertheless, because [the Scriptures] are only a declaration of the fountain, and not the fountain itself, therefore they are not to be esteemed the principal ground of all Truth and knowledge, nor yet the adequate primary rule of faith and manners. Yet because they give a true and faithful testimony of the first foundation, they are and may be esteemed a secondary rule, subordinate to the Spirit, from which they have all their excellency and certainty: for as by the inward testimony of the Spirit we do alone truly know them, so they testify, that the Spirit is that Guide by which the saints are led into all Truth; therefore, according to the Scriptures, the Spirit is the first and principal leader.
While I find "only a declaration of the fountain, and not the fountain itself" to be a useful description, Barclay's presentation is very theological, and sometimes feels, well, remote. Fox's Journal offers a much more detailed explanation of the hazards of reading scripture without the Spirit:
I saw the state of those, both priests and people, who, in reading the scriptures, cry out much against Cain, Esau, Judas, and other wicked men of former times, mentioned in the holy scriptures; but do not see the nature of Cain, of Esau, of Judas, and those others, in themselves. These said, it was they, they, they, that were the bad people; putting it off from themselves; but when some of these came, with the light and spirit of Truth, to see into themselves, then they came to say I, I, I, it is I myself, that have been the Ishmael, the Esau, &c. For then they saw the nature of wild Ishmael in themselves; the nature of Cain, Easu, Corah, Balaam, and of the son of perdition in themselves, sitting about all that is called God in them.
So I saw, it was the fallen man that was got up into the scriptures, and was finding fault with those before mentioned; and with the backsliding Jews, calling them the sturdy oaks, tall cedars, fat bulls of Bashan, wild heifers, vipers, serpents, &c. and charging them, that it was they that closed their eyes, stopped their ears, hardened their hearts, and were dull of hearing; that it was they that hated the light, rebelled against it, quenched the spirit, vexed and grieved it, walked despitefully against the spirit of grace, and turned the grace of God into wantonness; that it was they that resisted the holy ghost, got the form of godliness, and turned against the power; and that they were the inwardly ravening wolves who had got the sheep's clothing; and that they were the wells without water, clouds without rain, trees without fruit, &c. But when these, who were so much taken up with finding fault in others, and thought themselves clear from these things, came to look into themselves, and with the light of Christ thoroughly to look into themselves, and with the light of Christ thoroughly to search themselves, they might see enough of this in themselves; then the cry could not be, it is he or they, but I and we are found in these conditions.
I saw also how people read the scriptures without a right sense of them, and without duly applying them to their own states. For when they read, that death reigned from Adam to Moses; that the law and the prophets were until John; and that the least in the kingdom is greater than John; they read these things without them, and applied them to others, (and the things were true of others,) but they did not turn in to find the truth of these things in themselves. As these things were opened in me, I saw death reigned over them from Adam to Moses; from the entrance into transgression, till they came to the ministration of condemnation, which restrains people from sin that brings death. When the ministration of Moses is passed through, the ministry of the prophets comes to be read and understood, which reaches through the figures, types, and shadows into John, the greatest prophet born of a woman; whose ministration prepares the way of the Lord, by bringing down the exalted mountains, and making straight paths. As this ministration is passed through, an entrace comes to be known into the everlasting kingdom.
I saw plainly, that none could read Moses aright without Moses's spirit, by which he saw how man was in the image of God in paradise, how he fell, how death came over him, and how all men have been under this death. I saw how Moses received the pure law, that went over all transgressors; and how the clean beasts, which were the figures and types, were offered up, when the people were come into the righteous law that went over the first transgression.
I saw that none could read John's words aright, and with a true understanding of them, but in and with the same divine spirit by which John spake them; and by his burning, shining light which is sent from God. For by that spirit their crooked natures might be made straight, their rough natures, smooth, and the exacter and violent doer in them might be cast out; and those that had been hypocrites might come to bring forth fruits meet for repentance, and their mountain of sin and earthliness might be laid low, and their valley exalted in them, that there might be a way prepared for the Lord in them: and then the least in the kingdom is greater than John. But all must first know the wilderness in their hearts, which through transgression were to become a wilderness. Thus I saw it was an easy matter to say, death reigned from Adam to Moses; and that the law and the prophets were until John; and that the least in the kingdom is greater than John; but none could know how death reigned from Adam to Moses &c. but by the same holy spirit which Moses, the prophets, and John were in.
They could not know the spiritual meaning of Moses, the prophets, and John's words, nor see their path and travels, much less to see through them, and to the end of them into the kingdom, unless they had the spirit and light of Jesus; nor could they know the words of Christ and his apostles without his spirit. But as man comes through by the spirit and power of God to Christ, (who fulfils the types, figures, shadows, promises, and prophecies that were of him,) and is led by the holy ghost into the truth and substance of the scriptures, sitting down in him who is the author and end of them, then they are read and understood with profit and delight.
(Nickalls, 30-32; Works, Volume I, 87-89.)
The words on the page are not, by themselves, enough to enlighten us, however much we may hope for that. We must instead allow ourselves to be led by the spirit - a spirit separate from our fallen nature, the same spirit which animated the writing of scripture - as we read the scriptures. Reading and study will take people into the words, but not into "the light of Christ thoroughly to look into themselves". With the spirit, however, the scriptures "are read and understood with profit and delight."
Comments
Without God's Holy Spirit, the Scriptures remain the letter that kills. See a favorite early true Christian Quaker Scripture quote in 2Co 2:14-7:1. We must be baptized with God's one and only Holy Spirit baptism before the Scriptures are opened up to us through God's Holy Spirit, the one and only baptism of Eph 4:4-7 and 1Co 12:12-13 that we must spiritually drink. We cannot receive that one and only baptism if we ignore and reject the Righteousness of God's Son. Seek ye first God's Kingdom and God's Righteousness, especially in Mt 3-7. Contact me anytime to discuss this very critical Gospel Truth, anne robare / canawedding at aol dot com
Posted by: anne robare | June 7, 2007 1:25 AM
In 2002, three and a half years before i learned what the first true Christian Quakers believed in and wrote about, i learned the very same Gospel Truth they taught. I did not begin to read what the first Quakers wrote until the spring of 2006. The following was written in 9/2005 or earlier, well before i ever read anything those first Quakers wrote. I will suggest that you compare it to what Robert Barclay wrote about works in his Apology, the 7th Proposition, IX - XIII! You should see that we have understood God's exact original Gospel Truth in the very same Way. Most of Robert's teachings describe God's one and only Holy Spirit baptism, through whom the Scriptures are opened and without whom the Scriptures remain the letter that kills. Are you going to continue to ban God's Word?!
WORKS UNTO ETERNAL DESTRUCTION AND WORKS UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
Do I believe in keeping the works of the flesh, the works of the Law of Sin and Death? No, those who do are fallen from Grace and are cursed, Mt 3:13-15; Mt 5:17-20; Mt 6:1,33; Ro 1:16-20; Ro 7:4-6; Ro 8:1-17; Ro 10:1-4; 2Co 11:1-15; Gal 1-6. Do I believe in obeying the works of the Law of the Spirit of Life? Yes, a person cannot be saved without them, Jn 7:37-39; Jn 20-21; Ac 1:1-8; Ro 1-16; Jas 1-5; Rev 1-3.
In the New Testament there are two kinds of works: works of the flesh and works through the power of the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ. If anyone continues in the works of the flesh, that is, if they continue under the Law of Sin and Death, they are doomed for following a false gospel, Gal 3-4. If anyone does not do God's spiritual works through the Spirit of Christ from the Spirit of God under the Law of the Spirit of Life, they are also doomed, Jn 12-17; Ro 8-12. Jesus Christ, the Word of God, came in sinless human flesh to perfectly fulfill all of the requirements of the Law of Sin and Death, including physical water baptisms, for those who repent and believe in Him, Mt 3; Mk 1:14-15; Ac 11:1-18; Ro 1-5; Gal 2. Anyone who does not believe this critical Gospel Truth is antichrist, 1Jn 1-5; 2Jn. Those who believe, repent and obey God's pure Word will be baptized by God with the Holy Spirit baptism of the risen and glorified Lord Jesus Christ, Mt 3; Jn 1; Jn 13-17; Jn 20; Ac 1:4-5; Ac 10-11; 2Co 2:14-7:1; Eph 1-6; 1Pe 1; 2Pe 1. They will serve God according to the Law of the Spirit of Life, the Law of Christ, Jn 3:21; Ro 1-8; Ro 12-16; Gal 1-6.
All who trust in man, in man-made teachings and traditions of any kind, are cursed, Ps 32; Jer 2:11-13,22; Jer 17:5-13; Mt 23-25; Jn 3:14-20; Jn 6:44-47,62-69; Jn 8. All who continue in the Law of Sin and Death, including physical water baptisms, are cursed, Mt 12; Gal 1-6. All who do not believe who Jesus Christ said He is will die in their sins, they are cursed, Jn 8:12-24; Ro 9-11. John also said it is the antichrists who do not believe that God is BOTH Father and Son, Jn 1:18; Jn 6:46; 1Jn 1-5; 2Jn. All who teach false gospels will be condemned, they are cursed even more severely for misleading others, Gal 1:6-12; 2Pe 2; 2Pe 3:15-16. Jesus Christ said only a FEW would be saved and He always tells the Truth, Mt 7:13-14; Mt 22:1-14.
Mt 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your Name, and in your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Who are the “evildoers”? What was Jesus Christ really saying when He said, “I never knew you”? The evildoers never had His Word written on their hearts and in their minds, they followed someone’s lies instead of trusting in God and His Son, Jn 5:16-47; Jn 13-17; Jn 20:19-23; 1Co 1-3; Heb 8. The evildoers have refused to believe in God’s Living Water, Jn 2-4:26. Instead of being “clothed with power from on high”, they have trusted in physical water and denied God’s exact original Gospel Truth, Lk 24:36-49; Ro 1-2; Gal 1:6-12; Gal 3. The evildoers have never acknowledged Jesus Christ’s righteousness by faith alone and therefore they have never received His Spirit of Grace, Ro 1-8; Heb 10:26-31. The evildoers have denied that Jesus Christ is Lord! Gal 3:26-6:18; Jude.
Mt 25:31-46 is about much more than physical drink, physical food, physical clothes, etc. Read Scriptures such as Mt 5:1-16; Mt 6:1,25-34; Mt 7:7-12; Lk 11:1-13; Jn 6:27; Jn 7:37-39; Ro 13:8-14; 1Co 10:1-13. But these Scriptures cannot be understood without first acknowledging what Jesus Christ came to do and did in His sinless flesh for sinful flesh, that He did indeed “fulfill all righteousness” for us at His water baptism under the Old Testament Law by John, Mt 3; 1Co 1-3. Not one adult false Christian, who has died believing in physical water baptisms, was saved. Their eternity is in Isa 66:24. Do you want to go there? I would hope not! Jesus Christ made it very clear that anyone who continues to sin and follows lies belongs to Satan, Jn 8; Heb 6; 1Jn 3; 1Jn 5. Ask for more free proof because not one person who dies in their lies will be saved, 2Th 2.
Read Ps 22. Ps 22:30-31, “Posterity will serve Him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim His Righteousness to a people yet unborn--for He has done it.” Yes, "He has done it" and all who deny what the real Lord Jesus Christ has done will not be saved, Mt 3; Mt 5:20; Mt 13; Ro 1:16-20; Heb 10:26-39; Rev 1-5; Rev 19-22. In Mk 13:5 Jesus Christ warned: “Watch out that no one deceives you!”
In the Service of my Lord Jesus Christ for the Glory of God the Father,
anne robare, canawedding at aol dot com, with Scripture quotes from the niv but use the niv or nasb.
Posted by: anne robare | June 21, 2007 2:16 AM
Hi,
Interested in your feedback on the enclosed Bible study concerning who might be the 7 spirits of God in the book of Revelation.
Your eternal friend in Jesus,
Richard
WILL GABRIEL SOUND THE 7TH AND LAST TRUMPET AT THE 2ND COMING OF THE SON OF DAVID AND COULD GABRIEL POSSIBLY BE DAVID? AND WHO ARE THE 7 SPIRITS OF GOD IN REVELATION??
Revelation 8:2: “I saw the 7 angels who STAND BEFORE GOD. And to them were given 7 Trumpets.” Rev 10:7: “In the days when the 7th angel is about to sound his Trumpet the "MYSTERY" of God will be accomplished, just as He announced to His servants the prophets.” As in I Cor 15:51,52: “Listen I tell you a "MYSTERY": We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the Last {And 7th} Trumpet. For the {7th & LAST} Trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” Rev 11:15-18: “The 7th angel sounded his {7th & LAST} Trumpet, and there were loud voices in Heaven which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of the Lord and His Christ… The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints… and for destroying those who destroy the earth.’” The 7th and last Trumpet which is to be sounded just before the 2nd Coming of Jesus is also mentioned in Matt 24:31 and I Thess 4:16 for a total of 7 times in God's Word.
Why do some believe that Gabriel may be the 7th Angel who will sound the 7th and last trumpet?? Gabriel was God’s messenger for the prophecy of the 70 7’s in Daniel 9:21-27 and Gabriel announced the birth of the Messiah Jesus to Mary in Luke 1:26-37. God also sent Gabriel to foretell the coming of John the Baptist to his father Zechariah. And in Luke 1:19 we read “The angel or messenger answered {Zechariah}, “I am Gabriel, I stand in the PRESENCE OF GOD {Just like the 7 angels with 7 trumpets STAND BEFORE GOD in Rev 8:2!} and I have been sent to you to tell you this good news.”
Did you know that Daniel was inspired by God to call Gabriel a “MAN”! Daniel 9:21 “While I was still in prayer, Gabriel , the “MAN” I had seen in my earlier vision {See Dan 8:15,16} came to me in swift flight!” And so God's inspired Word absolutely confirms that Gabriel is a "MAN" and therefore not an angel!! Gabriel is called both an angel in Luke 1:19 & 26 and a “MAN” {2 TIMES!} in Dan 8:15 & 9:21! Note: Gabriel in Hebrew means "BRAVE AND VALIANT MAN OF GOD"!
All angels were created by God as angels and they do not later become men. The Greek word for angel is "angelos" and can be translated "angel" or "messenger". In Mathew 11:10; Mark 1:2 and Luke 7:27 John the Baptist is called "angelos" and he was certainly not an angel and so these verses correctly use the word "messenger" rather than "angel". And so when Gabriel is called an "angelos" in Luke 1:29 & 35 it could be translated "angel" or "messenger." The Hebrew word for angel is "MALAK" and is translated 'messenger' about 83 times in the OT including Malachi 2:7: "For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction--because he is the MESSENGER {MALAK} of the Lord Almighty." "MALAK" is translated "ANGEL" 99 times and "MESSENGER" 83 times in the OT. "Angelos" is translated "angel" 169 times and "messenger" only 6 times in the NT. However, if Gabriel in Luke 1 and the 7 angels in Revelation are rightly called "messengers" and not "angels" then "angelos" should be translated "messenger" about 70 times and "angel" about 105 times in the NT.
Why do some believe that the angel Gabriel may also be David?? Gabriel is mentioned just twice in the OT in Daniel 8:15 & 9:21 almost 500 years after the death of David. God has given another name to many of His favorite servants such as Saul {Paul} and Peter {Simon}. Gabriel in Hebrew means “brave and valiant "MAN" of God” and David was the bravest "MAN" of God in the OT {ie Goliath, etc etc etc}. David, who wrote most of the Psalms, was also a “MAN after God’s own heart" as per ACTS 13:22: “God made David their King. God testified concerning him, ‘I have found David son of Jesse a MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART; HE WILL DO EVERYTHING I WANT HIM TO DO.’”
How can we be a man or a woman after God’s own heart?? First, we can read God’s wonderful Words every day {Ps 119:97} and every night {Ps 119:148} just like David who wrote Psalm 119. And we can hide God’s Word in our hearts so that we might not sin against Him {Ps 119:11} and we can obey God’s {NT now} commands with all of our hearts with love {Ps 119:34,37; Jer 29:13; Matt 22:37-40} just like David. And then if we obey all of God’s {NT} commands {James 1:22} and teach others to do the same {Matt 28:20a} we may then become a man or a woman after God’s own heart just like David in Acts 13:22!!
Jesus was born in the “Town of DAVID” {See Luke 2:4,11} and Jesus is called the “Son of DAVID” 17 times in the NT. Luke 1:26,27,31-33: God sent the angel {or messenger} Gabriel to Nazareth to a virgin pledged to a man Joseph, a descendant of DAVID… The messenger or witness said to her …. “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his FATHER DAVID, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, His Kingdom will never end.”
God raised Moses, who like David was dead and buried, and made Moses one of His 2 witnesses that stand in His presence {See Jude 9; Rev 11:4 & Matt 17:3,4}. And so God could have also raised David who was the bravest MAN of God in the Bible {Goliath, etc. etc.} and rename him Gabriel which by a very interesting coincidence means "BRAVE MAN OF GOD" in Hebrew. I was a missionary to the Jews in Israel and studied Hebrew. About 300 years after the death of David God said in Isaiah 55:3,4: "I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to DAVID. See, I have made him a WITNESS TO THE PEOPLES!" It is interesting to note that when Gabriel {A MAN as per Daniel 9:21} gave his 2 WITNESSES in Luke 1 that the name of David is mentioned 2 times in Luke 1:27 and Luke 1:32: Gabriel said, "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David!" Rev 22:16: "I, Jesus, have sent My angel {or messenger} to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and Offspring of David!" {And hold the Key of David as per Rev 3:7} Jesus was born in the City of David {See Luke 2:4,11} and is called the son of David 17 times in God's Word.
To say that Gabriel is an angel and not a "MAN" is wrong because in contradicts God's infallible and inspired Word in Dan 9:21. And therefore "angelos" in Luke 1 should be translated "messenger" and not "angel" just as "angelos" is rightly translated "messenger" and not angel when referring to John the Baptist in Matt 11:10, Mark:1:2 & Luke 7:27. Daniel 9:21: Daniel said, "While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the **MAN** I had seen in my earlier vision, came to me in swift flight." And if Gabriel is a MAN as God's Word absolutely states then it is most likely that he is a BRAVE MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART.
Isaiah 55:3,4: God said, "I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to DAVID. See, I have made him a WITNESS TO THE PEOPLES!" This promise by God to make David a WITNESS occurred about 300 years after the death of David and almost 200 years before the 2 WITNESSES by Gabriel/David in Daniel 8 & 9.
David lived to age 70 and was the 7th son of Jesse {See 2 Chronicles 2:13-15}. God appointed Gabriel/David to announce the Prophecy of the 70 7’s which states in Daniel 9:24 “70 7’s have been decreed… to bring in everlasting righteousness!” and Gabriel/ David may very well be the 7th angel OR MESSENGER to sound the 7th Trumpet that will bring in Everlasting Righteousness when the Son of DAVID born in the Town of DAVID and Who sits on the throne of DAVID comes again!! This witness by Gabriel/David in Daniel 9:24-27 tells exactly when the Messiah would be Anointed {383 years after the decree of Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem} and that the Messiah would bring an everlasting covenant and that the Messiah would atone for wickedness and put an end to all sacrifice and offering for sin. Gabriel/David also made the first 2 important announcements of the New Testament: The coming of John the Baptist to prepare people for the Messiah and the birth and naming and purpose of the Coming Messiah. And the Messiah said "I am the Root and Offspring of David."{Rev 22:16}
WHO ARE THE 7 SPIRITS OF GOD IN REVELATION??
Rev 4:5b: “BEFORE God’s Throne, 7 lamps are blazing. These are the 7 spirits of God!” Rev 8:2: “I saw the 7 angels {Or 7 messengers} who STAND BEFORE God, and to them were given 7 Trumpets.” Question?? Are the 7 angels OR MESSENGERS who STAND BEFORE God also the 7 lamps BEFORE God’s Throne who are the 7 spirits of God?? Hebrews 1:14 states that "ALL ANGELS OR MESSENGERS ARE ministering SPIRITS."
The 7 spirits of God are mentioned 4 times in God’s Word as follows” Rev 1:4: “'Grace and peace' to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come and from the 7 spirits BEFORE His Throne and from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness.” Rev 4:5b: "BEFORE God's Throne, 7 lamps are blazing. These are the 7 spirits of God.” The 7 spirits are 7 distinct beings who can communicate and are before God’s Throne and do not have a throne of their own. Rev 3:1: Jesus said, “These are the Words of Him who HOLDS the 7 spirits of God.” Rev 5:6 “The Lamb has 7 horns and 7 eyes, which are the 7 spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” Jesus HOLDS or controls the 7 spirits and sends them out [AS MESSENGERS] into all the earth.
Are the 7 spirits of God mentioned in the Old Testament?? Let us compare Zechariah 4:2, 6 & 10b with Revelation 4:5 and Revelation 5:6b. Zechariah 4:2,6,10b: The angel said, "I see a golden lampstand {See Rev 1:12} with 7 LIGHTS {Or LAMPS See Rev 4:5 below} on it, with 7 channels to the LIGHTS.".... O asked the angel, "What are these?" and the angel said to me "Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit," says the Lord Almighty..... "These 7 are the EYES {See Rev 5:6b below} of the Lord, WHICH RANGE THROUGHOUT THE EARTH." {See Rev 5:6b below} Revelation 4:5: Before God's throne 7 LAMPS {OR LIGHTS SEE Zech 4:2} were burning. These are the 7 spirits of God. Rev 5:6b: The Lamb {Jesus} had 7 horns and 7 EYES {See Zech 4:10b above} which are the 7 spirits of God SENT OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH. {See Zech 4:10b above}
There are some who say that the 7 spirits {Plural} of God should be translated the 7-fold spirit {Singular} of God. And they site Isaiah 11:2 as proof of this since they say that the Spirit of the Lord has 6 attributes in this verse. However Isaiah 11:1 shows that these 6 attributes of the spirit are actually 6 attributes of Jesus who is the Shoot or Branch of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1,2: "A Shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch {Jesus} will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him {Jesus not the holy spirit or 7 spirits of God}--the Spirit of {1} wisdom and of {2} understanding, the Spirit of {3} counsel and of {4} power, the Spirit of {5} knowledge and the {6} fear of the Lord."
Rev 1:20;16a; 3:1: Jesus said to John: "The 7 stars are the angels [OR MESSENGERS] of the 7 churches...who I HOLD in My right hand. These are the words of Him who HOLDS the 7 spirits of God and the 7 stars {Or angels or messengers of the 7 churches}." Rev 2:1a,7a: Jesus says,"To the angel {or messenger} of the church in Ephesus write..........He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit {Or messenger} says to the churches." Jesus proclaims this exact same message to the 7 angels or messengers or 7 spirits of all 7 churches in Rev 21a; 7a; 2:8a; 11a; 12a; 17a; 18a; 29; 3:1a, 6; 7a, 13; 14a; 22. And so the 7 angels or messengers who "STAND BEFORE GOD" {Rev 8:2} and the 7 spirits "BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD"{Rev 1:4} are IDENTICAL.
Compare Luke 21:13-15; Mark 13:11 and Matt 10:19,20; where the words given us by Jesus, the holy spirit and the spirit of the Father are all one and the same!!! Luke 21:14,15: Jesus says, "When you are arrested and brought to trial do not worry beforehand what to say for I [Jesus] will give you words of wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." Mark 13:10,11: Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial... just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the holy spirit. Matt 10:19-20: When they arrest you do not worry about what to say....At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the spirit of your Father speaking through you.
I Thess 4:16: “For the Lord {Jesus} Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command {By God the Father} with the voice of the Archangel {Read Rev 14:14-16} and with the {7th & Last} Trumpet Call of God.” At just the right time when the Times have reached their fulfillment {See Eph 1:10} God the Father will give a loud command to Michael the Archangel to tell God the Son it is time for His 2nd Coming {Read Rev 14:14-16}. God the Father will also give a loud command to Gabriel {who "STANDS IN THE PRESENCE" of God as per Luke 1:19} to sound the 7th and Last Trumpet Call of God. This is called “The Trumpet Call of God” even though Gabriel/David will sound the 7th and Last Trumpet. For God will give him this Trumpet and will tell him exactly when to sound it.
The 7 angels {or messengers} who stand in the PRESENCE of God {Who are also the 7 spirits BEFORE God’s Throne} always obey all the commands of God the Father and God the Son which always agree with all the Words and Prophecies in God’s Word. Isaiah 46:10a,11b: God says, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what is still to come!… What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned that will I do!”
I Peter 1:21: “Prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men {Like John in the Book of Revelation} spoke from God as they were CARRIED ALONG by the holy spirit.” Is there Scripture that implies that John was also CARRIED ALONG by an ANGEL OR MESSENGER?? Rev 22:16: “I, Jesus, have sent MY ANGEL {OR MESSENGER} to give this testimony for the churches.” Rev 18:1,2a; 19:9: After this I saw another ANGEL {OR MESSENGER} coming down from Heaven.. He had great authority {Surely one of the 7 angels or 7 messengers or 7 spirits who STAND BEFORE God’s Throne--possibly Gabriel} and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen ! Fallen is Babylon the great….. Then the angel {or messenger} said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the lamb!’” And he {One of the 7 angels [OR 7 MESSENGERS] or 7 spirits who stand before God} added, “These are the true WORDS OF GOD!”
Should we worship the 7 angels [OR MESSENGERS] who are also the 7 spirits who STAND BEFORE God?? The above angel [OR MESSENGER] with great authority who illuminated the earth with his splendor {Rev 18:1} and who inspired John to write the "True Words of God" as per Rev 19:9; reveals the inspired answer in Rev 19:10: I {John} fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "DO NOT DO IT!…. WORSHIP {Jesus & His Father only} GOD! For the testimony of Jesus is the SPIRIT of Prophecy.” We are commanded to Worship God the Father and God the Son hundreds of times but we are not told to worship the holy spirit or 7 spirits of God even once!!
The 7 spirits or 7 angels [OR MESSENGERS} who stand before God’s Throne are also called the spirit or the holy spirit; and probably command over 100 million {Rev 5:11} heavenly angels as per God’s direction; and are themselves controlled and inspired by God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:16: “I, Jesus, have SENT MY ANGEL {OR MESSENGER} to give YOU {The Greek for “YOU” is plural} this testimony FOR THE CHURCHES. I am the Root and Offspring of DAVID.” {Who is also named GABRIEL??} Hebrews 12:23b: "You have come.... to the SPIRITS of righteous men made perfect." Hebrews 1:14 states that ALL ANGELS {OR MESSENGERS} are ministering SPIRITS.
And so if David is one of the 7 messengers or 7 spirits of God who might be the other 6 messengers or 6 spirits? Enoch, Abraham, Daniel, John, Peter and Paul are interesting possibilities and together they make the greatest team ever since they were tempted in every way like Jesus and the brothers they are helping. . Hebrews 2:17,18: "For this reason He {Jesus} had to be made like His brothers in EVERY WAY.... Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted." The knowledge and experience of these 7 super saints is certainly superior to any angelic or heavenly spiritual being except for our Lord Jesus. Hebrews 12:23b: "You have come ..... to the spirits of righteous men made perfect!" And so before the 3 NT spirits were added to the 7 spirits there would have been 4 spirits of God during the OT era or Enoch, Abraham, David and Daniel. Are there any OT scripture which mentions 4 spirits who stand in the presence of the Lord as per Rev 1:4 and Rev 4:5b?? Zechariah 6:5: "These are the **4** spirits of Heaven, going out from STANDING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD!!" Jesus promised that the holy spirit {Or 7 spirits} would be our helpers and counselors. These 7 certainly have the human spiritual experience like our Lord Jesus to be our greatest helpers and counselors.
The 7 messengers who stand before God's throne {Rev 8:2} are also the 7 messengers who will come out of God's Temple or Tabernacle of Testimony who will be given the 7 bowls of God's wrath; and are also the 7 messengersof the 7 churches who Jesus holds in His right hand. The 7 angels with 7 trumpets which should be translated the 7 MESSENGERS with 7 trumpets are mentioned in Rev 8:2,6,7,8,10,12; 9:1,3 10:7 and 11:15. The 7 angels with 7 bowls which should be translated the 7 MESSENGERS with 7 bowls are mentioned in Rev 15:1,6,7,8b; 16:1,2,3,4,8,10,12 17:1,3; 21:9,15; 22:1,6,8. The 7 angels of the 7 churches which should be translated the 7 MESSENGERS of the 7 churches are mentioned in Rev 1:20; 2:1,8,12,18; 3:1{2X} 7,14. Gabriel, who is called a MAN in Daniel 9:21, is wrongly called an angel and should be called a MESSENGER in Luke 1:11,18,19,26,28,30,34,25 and 38. Gabriel who is called the 7th angel who sounds the 7th trumpet should be called the MESSENGER who sounds the 7th and Last, Loud Trumpet call of God; and is also mentioned in Rev 8:2 10:7; 11:15; I Cor 15:51; I Cor 15:52; I Thess 4:16 and Matt 24:31.
Michael the top messenger or angel is mentioned 5 times in God's Word: In Rev 11:7 Michael is not given any title, and in Daniel 10:13, Dan 10:21 and Dan 12:1 Michael is called a PRINCE and not an angel!! And in Jude 9 Michael is called in the Greek "ARCHANGELOS' which can be translated archangel or arch messenger. Daniel 10:13: Then Michael, one of the CHIEF PRINCES came to help me. Daniel 10:21: No one supports me against them except Michael, YOUR PRINCE! Dan 12:1 "At that time Michael, the GREAT PRINCE who protects your people, will arise. This occurs right before the Great Tribulation mentioned in Dan 12:1,2,7 and is obviously a reference to Michael kicking Satan out of Heaven which also occurs JUST BEFORE the coming of 666 in Rev 13 and the 1260 day Great Tribulation. Since John the Bapist is called an ANGELOS 3 times in the NT and was not an angel we can not safely assume that the Greek word archangelos can be translated arch messenger or archangel. The right translation, THEREFORE, has to be confirmed elsewhere in God's Word. And the only other 3 titles given to Michael in God's Word are {1} ONE OF THE CHIEF PRINCES, {2} YOUR PRINCE AND {3} GREAT PRINCE in Dan 10:13,21; 12:1; and since a PRINCE can not be an angel it would be more prudent and right to translate Jude 9 arch messenger and not archangel.
David is also called one of the GREAT PRINCES in Ezekiel 34:23,24: God says, "I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the Lord will be their God and my servant David will be *PRINCE* among them." And since an angel can not be a human prince we can assume that Michael is also a human and is possibly Enoch who was translated into Heaven because he WALKED WITH GOD for 300 years as per Genesis 5:22. Jude 14,15: ENOCH, the 7th from Adam, prophesied about these {evil} men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly."
I Thess 4:16,17: For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel or ARCHMESSENGER and with the trumpet call of God {sounded by Gabriel/David}. This scenario is repeated in Rev 14:15: "Then another angel or MESSENGER [Michael} came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to Him {Jesus} who was sitting on a cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come!!" Michael/Enoch, one of the chief princes and archmessenger is mentioned in Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1; I Thess 4:16; Rev 8:3,5; 10:1,5,8b,9,10; 12:7; 14:15; 18:1,21; 19:9,17.
And so if Prince David renamed Gabriel, and Enoch renamed Prince Michael are 2 of the 7 messengers or 7 spirits of God who "Stand before God's Throne" who might be the other 5?? Abraham, Daniel, Peter, John and Paul are interesting possibilities as are Moses and Elijah but they are God's 2 witnesses who also "Stand before the Lord" as per Rev 11:4. God renamed Abram, Abraham, which means "father of many nations", and Abraham is called a mighty PRINCE in Genesis 23:6! ALL believers are considered to be descendants of Prince Abraham, the man of faith {See Hebrews 11:12-16}, according to Gal 3:7-9. And all believers who fall asleep {die} are brought to Abraham's side or bosom according to Luke 16:22. Jesus is called the Prince of princes in Daniel 8:25 and the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6. Simon who God renamed Peter {See Mk 3:16 & Luke 6:14} was chosen by God to be the first to bring the Gospel to the Jews {See Acts 2:9-41} and the first to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles {See Acts 10:26-48}. God also inspired Peter to write I Peter and 2 Peter which are great books and part of God's wondrous Words. Saul who was named Paul after his conversion was inspired to write 14 out of the 27 books of the New Testament and was God's greatest instrument in bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles. Before his death God allowed Paul to witness things in the 3rd Heaven and Paradise according to 2 Cor 12:1-4. John was known as the "disciple Jesus loved" as per John 13:23. God inspired John to write 5 books in the New Testament including the Gospel of John and the last book of God's Word or Revelation. Before his death God allowed John to see the many wonders and miracles surrounding God's Throne in Heaven {See Rev 4:1 to 5:14} and to see what our amazing home in Heaven will be like in the future. Daniel miraculously survived the Lion's Den because he would not disown God and was the only OT prophet who God inspired to write and interpret visions of the future and the End-Times in Daniel 4:1 to Daniel 12:13.
And so our counselors and helpers who personally remind us of God's wonderful Words so that we may gain countless eternal rewards for faithful and loving service to Jesus and His Father might well be the 7 holy spirits of Enoch, Abraham, David, Daniel, Peter, John and Paul!! And of course they would be much better helpers and counselors if they were tempted just like Jesus and those they are helping. Hebrews 2:17,18: "For this reason He {Jesus} had to be made like His brothers in EVERY WAY, in order that He might become a merciful High priest... because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He {And the 7 spirits} is able to help those being tempted." God's two witnesses, Moses and Elijah, who also "stand before God" as per Rev 11:4 will be discussed in the next chapter. Why are the names of God's 2 witnesses in Revelation, chapter 11, not mentioned in Revelation or the names of God's 7 messengers who are also God's 7 spirits??? Because God the Father wants all the praise and honor to go to His Son Jesus and God is also afraid that if their names were mentioned that they would be worshipped like Peter and Mary in the Roman Catholic Church. Revelation 5:12: In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
John 15:26: Jesus says, "When the counselor {helper in some versions} comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me." John John 14:26: "The counselor, the holy spirit {Or 7 spirits of God}, whom the Father will send in My name , will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 16:13: Jesus says, "When he, the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. HE WILL NOT SPEAK ON HIS OWN; HE WILL SPEAK ONLY WHAT HE HEARS, and he will tell you what is yet to come." God the Father and God the Son have complete control over the spirit or 7 spirits and tell them what to say concerning "what is yet to come." Since they are not God the spirit or 7 spirits do not "speak on their own." {Jesus sent His 7 angels or messengers or spirits to give us the book of Revelation which tells us what is yet to come.} Revelation 1:1: "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God {The Father} gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel {or messenger or spirit} to His servant John."
Concerning the eternal New Jerusalem we read in Rev 22:1,3: "Then the MESSENGER showed me the river of the water of life... flowing from the throne of God {The Father} and of the Lamb {Jesus}.... The Throne of God {The Father} and of the Lamb {His Son} will be in the City, and His servants will serve Him.” Rev 3:21 Jesus says, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne {In the eternal New Jerusalem}, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." God the Father and God the Son {The Lamb} are mentioned many times in the description of the eternal new Jerusalem in Revelation 21:1 to 22:5; whereas, the holy spirit is not even mentioned once!! Rev 21:22,23: "I did not see a temple in the City, because the Lord God Almighty {The Father} and the Lamb {Jesus} are its temple. The City does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it for the glory of God {The Father} gives it light, and the Lamb {Jesus} is its lamp!" It is interesting to note that there will be only 2 Thrones in the eternal New Jerusalem for God the Father and God the Son. We are commanded hundreds of times to worship God the Father and His Son Jesus, however, we are NEVER told in Scripture to worship God’s spirit or the 7 spirits of God {EVEN ONCE!} The 7 spirits of God or holy spirit STAND BEFORE God’s Throne {Rev 1:4} until the coming of the eternal New Jerusalem on the Last Day ; and then the 7 holy spirits of righteous men made perfect will sit with Jesus on His throne just the same as all saints who overcome.
Jesus says in John 16:13 that the holy spirit will tell us "what is yet to come." And I Peter 1:20,21 states that all prophecies of Scripture came about when men spoke from God "as they were carried along by the holy spirit." Now we see that some of the 7 MESSENGERS who stand before God {Rev 8:2} told John what to write in the inspired Scriptures in Revelation 17:1 to 19:10 and Revelation 21:9 to 22:10. And Hebrews 1:14 states that ALL ANGELS {OR MESSENGERS} are ministering SPIRITS! Revelation 1:1: "The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel {or messenger} to His servant John." Revelation 22:6: The MESSENGER said to me, "THESE WORDS are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the SPIRITS of the {7??} PROPHETS, sent His MESSENGER} to show His servants the things that must soon take place." Hebrews 12:23b "You have come.... to the SPIRITS of righteous men made perfect."
REV 17:1: ONE OF THE 7 MESSENGERS WHO HAD THE 7 BOWLS CAME AND SAID TO ME."........" REV 19:9: THEN THE MESSENGER SAID TO ME, "WRITE: 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB!'" AND HE {MESSENGER ADDED, "THESE ARE THE TRUE WORDS OF GOD." REV 21:9: ONE OF THE 7 MESSENGERS WHO HAD THE 7 BOWLS FULL OF THE 7 LAST PLAGUES CAME AND SAID TO ME "......." REV 22:6: THE MESSENGER SAID TO ME, "THESE WORDS ARE TRUSTWORTHY AND TRUE. THE LORD, THE GOD OF THE *SPIRITS* OF THE {7??}PROPHETS, SENT HIS MESSENGER] TO SHOW HIS SERVANTS THE THINGS THAT MUST SOON TAKE PLACE." REV 22:16: "I, JESUS, HAVE SENT MY OR MESSENGER TO GIVE YOU THIS TESTIMONY FOR THE CHURCHES." I PETER 1:20,21: "NO PROPHECY OF SCRIPTURE CAME ABOUT BY THE PROPHET'S OWN INTERPRETATION..... BUT MEN [LIKE JOHN IN REVELATION] SPOKE FROM GOD AS THEY WERE CARRIED ALONG BY THE *HOLY SPIRIT*." JOHN 16:13: JESUS SAYS, WHEN HE, THE *SPIRIT* OF TRUTH COMES HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH. HE WILL NOT SPEAK ON HIS OWN; HE WILL SPEAK ONLY WHAT HE HEARS, AND HE WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS YET TO COME." SO BECAUSE OF THE ABOVE SCRIPTURE WE CAN SAFELY CONCLUDE THAT THE *7 ANGELS*[WHO ARE REALLY 7 MESSENGERS] AND THE *HOLY SPIRIT* OR *7 SPIRITS* OF GOD IN REVELATION ARE IDENTICAL AND ONE AND THE SAME.!! HEBREWS 1:14: "ARE NOT *ALL ANGELS*[OR ALL MESSENGERS] MINISTERING *SPIRITS* SENT TO SERVE THOSE WHO WILL INHERIT SALVATION."
The Father, Jesus and the 7 spirits of God all have a body which is visible to those in heaven and a spirit which is invisible to all. Every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of the Father and the 7 spirits of God or the holy spirit. The heavenly body of Jesus was seen by John as stated in Rev 1:13-17, and the body of the Father in Rev 4:2,3; and the bodies of the 7 spirits or holy spirit were seen by John before God's throne in Rev 1:4. There are no capitalizations in the original manuscripts of the Bible. However, in English we should capitalize all of the names of God the Father and God the Son. Therefore the Spirit of Jesus and the Spirit of His Father should be capitalized but the 7 spirits of God or holy spirit should not be capitalized.
Acts 5:30,31: "The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead... and God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior. Romans 8:9-11: "You are controlled by the Spirit if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him {The Father} who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His {The Father's} Spirit who lives in you. Gal 4:6: "Because you are sons, God {The Father} sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts." Isaiah 11:1,2: "A Shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch {Jesus} will bear fruit. The Spirit of the lord will rest on Him {Jesus not the holy spirit or 7 spirits of God}-- the Spirit of {1} wisdom and of {2} understanding, the Spirit of {3} counsel and of {4} power, the Spirit of {5} knowledge and of the {6} fear of the Lord." The Spirit of Jesus is also mentioned in Acts 16:7; I Cor 3:16; 2 Cor 3:18; Phil 1:19; I Peter 1:11 and most likely Genesis 1:2 {compare with John 1:1-3}. It is interesting to note that those who use Isaiah 11:2 to wrongly support the 7-fold spirit theory never quote Isaiah 11:1; which absolutely shows that the 6 attributes of the Spirit of the Lord in Isaiah 11:2 are actually 6 of the countless attributes of the Spirit of the Shoot and Branch of Jesse which is our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 14:23,26: Jesus says, "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My Words. My Father will love him, and We {The Spirits of Jesus and His Father} will come to him and make our home with him...But the counselor, the holy spirit {Or 7 spirits}, whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 16:13: Jesus says, "But when he, the spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak ON HIS OWN; he will speak ONLY WHAT HE HEARS, and he will tell you what is yet to come."
ARE {1} MY MESSENGER {2} THE SPIRIT AND {3} THE BRIDE IN REVELATION 22:16,17 SINGULAR OR PLURAL?? REV 22:16: "I, Jesus, have sent MY MESSENGER {Singular?} to give you this testimony {All of Revelation} for the churches. Now we know that Jesus gave all of the testimony in Revelation through many MESSENGERS {PLURAL} including the 7 MESSENGERS of the 7 churches. One of the MESSENGERS with 7 bowls said Revelation 17:1-18 then another MESSENGER said Rev 18:1-24 and yet another MESSENGER WITH 7 BOWLS said Rev 21:9 to 22:11. And so MY MESSENGER is really plural since Jesus and His messengers are as one. Rev 3:1: Jesus said, "To the messenger of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of Him who holds the 7 spirits of God and the 7 stars." {Which are the 7 messengers of the 7 churches as per Rev 1:20b}
Revelation 22:17: The Spirit {singular??} and the bride {singular??} say "COME!"... Whoever is thirsty let him come and take the free gift of the water of life. Now we know that the bride of Christ includes all believers and therefore the bride of Christ is really PLURAL. And we also know that the Spirit who says "COME" must include the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of His Father and the 7 spirits of God. And, therefore, the Spirit in this text is also PLURAL.
Revelation 1:4: "Grace and peace" to you from Him who is, and Who was, and Who is to come, and from the 7 spirits BEFORE His throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness.
Posted by: RICHARD SCHURZ | January 18, 2009 9:49 PM