DESCRIPTION OF THE SARDIS AUTHOR

The Description of the Author

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."

 

The Lord Jesus is described as possessing in perpetuity the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. In the fullest sense Jesus not only holds but also controls spirits and stars.

The Seven Spirits of God

These seven spirits undoubtedly mark the fullness and plentitude of the third person of the Godhead (1:4; cf. Isa. 11:1ff). They are possessed by and are in the control of the Son of God (3:1). This certainly marks the fullness of the Spirit in Christ himself.
"John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;"
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:" "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;" "And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:" "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." "And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins."
"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."

This fullness of the Spirit gives him complete power and wisdom for action (5:6). And this action of the Lord is universal. These spirits are sent forth into all the earth (5:6).

"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."

The Seven Stars

These seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. This means that the supernatural custodians of the churches are in the hand of Christ to regulate, and ultimately Christ holds the power of control over the church.

The church from the human standpoint has utterly failed, but that One who is the head of the church, who works in His church through the Spirit and exercises control over His church through a supernatural spirit, can do might things if the church will submit to Him.

Even though it is dead, it can be revised and move on to accomplish its purpose if it will surrender itself to the, great Head.