It Starts Small

Jesus begins His address to the church in Sardis by characterizing Himself as He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars.

The image of seven Spirits and seven stars (the seven messengers) were introduced in Revelation chapter 1. The seven spirits appear in the greeting that addresses all seven churches:

John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,

Revelation 1:4

An important part of the seven Spirits of God is that they are in the throne room with God. This indicates they have spiritual authority and importance. Seven is a number that represents completion in scripture.

The seven churches may indicate that we are being shown a complete picture of the span of circumstances in which any church can find itself because all of these churches existed at the same time. The seven churches also seem to represent eras of western-era church that could add up to the complete span of the church age. There is evidence that supports this and I encourage everyone to to do additional research in this.

The seven candlesticks in the throne room represent the seven churches.

²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands^[b] are the seven churches.

Revelation 1:20

This tells us that there is a spiritual connection between the seven churches and the very presence of God. The seven stars represent each of the messengers to the seven churches.

It is generally accepted that each one represents a leader given the word of prophecy to each church. It could also mean that each of them is being watched over by God. While Revelation 1:20 tells us the mystery of the seven stars and seven candlesticks, we are not directly told the meaning of the mystery of the seven Spirits of God. It would seem likely that they represent the Holy Spirit.

From Revelation 1:4 (above) we know they have high standing since they are included in the greeting from Jesus.

Jesus is later pictures as a lamb having seven eyes, which are said to be the seven Spirits of God that is sent out to all the earth.

 Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.

Revelation 5:6

We also get another refrence.

⁵ Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

Revelation 4:5

When we look at this picture, which happens in God’s throne room, there are seven torches which represent the seven Spirits of God.

From Revelation chapters 4 and 5. we could fit the idea of the seven Spirits representing the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus is represented by a lamb with seven eyes, seven horns, the Holy Spirit could be represented by seven Spirits. The number seven here therefore would not have to mean that there are seven individual spirits, but it can indicate the completeness of Jesus and the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit.

When we look at both, they complete the attributes of God. It would also then include all three members of the trinity of God: Jesus the Son as the Lamb, the Holy Spirit as the seven spirits of God, and the Father as the one sitting on the throne.

By introducing himself as He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, Jesus emphasizes His position as the spiritual authority over all. It is Jesus who has these things. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, so He owns all that is.

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
¹⁶ For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him.
¹⁷ He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together.
¹⁸ He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.

Colossians 1:15-18

All authority has been given unto Him, both in heaven as well as on the earth.

¹⁸ Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Matthew 28:18

All things have been placed under Jesus’ authority. The stars or angels/messengers are assigned to carry the message, but Jesus is the one who writes the message and has the authority to decide what is righteous and what is not righteous.

This greeting to the church in Sardis might read something like “From: the One who has all authority.” This will be important since the church in Sardis will get only chastisement and no commendation. The believers at Sardis need to recognize Jesus’s authority and listen to His word.