“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.”
From the throne come flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God — the theophanic signs (lightning, thunder) recall Sinai (Exodus 19:16) and God's awesome presence; the seven spirits (pneumata) represent the Holy Spirit's sevenfold manifestation (Isaianic imagery) as the agent of God's will throughout the cosmos.
Church Fathers on Revelation 4:5
“And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and seven torches of fire burning.” And the lightnings, and voices, and thunders proceeding from the throne of God, and the seven torches of fire burning, signify announcements, and promises of adoption, and threatenings. For lightnings signify the Lord's advent, and the voices the announcements of the New Testament, and the thunders, that the words are from heaven. The burning torches of fire signify the…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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