George H. Warnock — Trinitarian Theology
b8 — Seven Lamps of Fire
The Trinitarian Opening Greeting
Warnock begins his work by reading the opening greeting of Rev. 1:4-5 in trinitarian fashion: God the Father (“the One who is, and who was, and who is to come”), the Holy Spirit in full fullness (“the Seven Spirits who are before his throne”), and Jesus Christ (“the faithful witness”).
“Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and from the seven spirits who are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness.” [b8, Rev. 1:4-5]
This structure forms the foundation of Warnock’s theological framework for the entire work.
The Seven Spirits of God
Warnock presents the “Seven Spirits” not as seven separate entities but as the sevenfold fullness of the Holy Spirit. This concept is grounded in Isa. 11:2.
“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.” [b8, Isa. 11:2]
The Seven Spirits appear repeatedly in Rev. (1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6), always in relation to God’s throne and cosmic worship:
“From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.” [b8, Rev. 4:5]
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” [b8, Rev. 5:6]
According to Warnock, the number seven symbolizes God’s completeness and the full working of the Holy Spirit in the end time.