Three Days...

 

"Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits of God"

(Revelation 4:5b)

Here's where we get some "Where's Wally?" Theology going on.

Many times we automatically accept teachings as being true because many teachers impart wrong information.

For example, did you know that the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28 was an actual King, and not Satan, as is commonly taught. Just read the chapter before and after and you'll see! There's no Scripture to support that false teaching.

Also, in all of Scripture there is not one single verse that teaches us to "Plead the Blood" when we pray! Yet, this is a common teaching in the Church.

AND, there is a whole segment of the Church called Cessationsts, who believe the gifts of the Spirit have "ceased" and miracles etc ended when John died. However, they haven't a single verse to support this false teaching!

AND, the "Prosperity Gospel" camp, preach a false message. Jesus did not die on the Cross to make us millionaires, He died to make us right with God! They beg for money to buy more jets, they say they wear diamonds because there are diamonds in heaven and on and on. It is such a perversion of Scripture, and biblical interpretation. Dr Randy Clark called the "Health and Wealth" teaching, a "doctrine of demons". I agree!

I've even heard a preacher try to explain how Satan's real name is Edward, because we are "Anointed", "We are called to Annoy-Ted, and 'Ted' is a diminutive form of 'Edward'"

There are some whack-jobs out there whacking the truth out of the Bible.

So, in today's verse, a lot of us immediately connect Revelation 4:5 to Isaiah 11:2 because that's what many preachers say. I've always struggled with this!

In Isaiah, if you read it as written, Isaiah couples the attributes together, that would rest on Jesus, as Isaiah 11:2 is a Messianic prophecy:

1. The Spirit of wisdom and understanding.

2. The Spirit of counsel and might.

3. The Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord!

That's three expressions. It does not put a "Spirit" before each attribute. I find it more fascinating to study and preach on WHY the Holy Spirit couples these attributes. Now, that's a good study goal!

But let's say, for argument's sake, that these are individual attributes, you still only come up with six!

So, Isaiah's verse cannot be referencing the seven torches before the throne.

Then we have our overly Zionistic brothers and sisters who say "It's a Menorah before Yeshua!". But the text doesn't say that either!

The Greek says, "seven lamp stands". So, not a candelabrum with seven branches, like a Menorah.

I can concede, for argument's sake, that maybe it is all of those things, since we don't really know. I prefer to choose the simplest interpretation of the emblematic nature of what John is seeing. "7" is the number of fullness, completeness, and promise. So, this could speak to the fullness of God's Spirit.

However, it does say "spirits". Hmmm, ARGH!! "Where's Wally?" Some translators use the capital "S" instead of a lower case "s", adding to my confusion at least!

OK, let's land here with something to take away.

Ellicott's Commentary says, concerning this verse:

"The Spirit of God in His manifold powers is thus described under the emblems of fire...The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11-12). The flaming presence purges the spirit from sin. The Holy Spirit consumes evil. It is an unquenchable fire against all evils, whether in men's hearts or in men's lives, or in the world"

The Throne room is a holy place. That is why I said the other day that sinners cannot stand before the throne, Saints can.

Equally, our need for the baptisms of fire that are available to us, will refine us here on earth and make our lives look more like the heavenly scene before the throne.

The Church in this hour needs this baptism of fire! We can ask for it, but it seems that only the radical ones do.

Who wants to live a life that is not radical for Jesus? I believe the Spirit of God said to me many years ago,

"I am usually part of people's lives, but not their actual life!"

Do we really want God to be just a part of our lives, reduced to a "category", and filed next to our hobbies, likes, and dislikes. Forget that! Or are we willing to pray for all consuming obsession with the "Darling of heaven"? We have a choice, either to be blazing torches for Jesus, or smouldering wicks.

More Lord!