Seven Lamps Before the Throne

The vision of the throne

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

— Revelation 4:5

John is caught up in the Spirit and sees a throne set in heaven, a rainbow around it, twenty-four elders, and four living creatures crying “Holy, holy, holy.” And before the throne, seven lamps of fire. Revelation calls them “the seven Spirits of God” — the same seven Spirits who send grace to the churches together with the Father and Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:4–5), and the “seven eyes” of the Lamb sent forth into all the earth (Revelation 5:6).

Isaiah 11 — seven in one

Isaiah prophesied that the Spirit would rest upon the Messiah with a sevenfold fullness: the Spirit of the LORD, of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and might, of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2). The first is like the trunk of a tree; the other six are its branches. Select a lamp above to read each attribute alongside the words of Lady Wisdom.

The menorah

God commanded Moses to make a lampstand of pure gold — one shaft, six branches, cups shaped like almond blossoms, and seven lamps (Exodus 25:31–40). Israel was to bring “pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always” (Exodus 27:20), and the priests were to keep it burning “before the LORD continually” (Leviticus 24:2–4).

The menorah stood in the Holy Place, before the veil of the Holy of Holies. Its seven flames burned before God’s presence on earth, as the seven lamps burn before His throne in heaven.

Temple symbolism

Zechariah saw a golden lampstand with seven lamps, fed by two olive trees, and heard its meaning: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). The light of the sanctuary is the light of the Spirit, and the oil that feeds it flows from living trees.

The seven churches

John also sees “seven golden candlesticks,” and in their midst “one like unto the Son of man.” “The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:12–13, 20). Jesus had told His disciples, “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

The Bride

The seven lamps of the Spirit burn before the throne of the Father; the seven lampstands of the Church surround the Son. Yona Tree sees a family resemblance: the Church — born of the Spirit, indwelt by the Spirit, and betrothed to the Son — comes to shine with the light of the One who gave her birth. Like Mother, like daughter. Read about the Bride of Christ.