5 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.



Ver. 5. Lightnings and thunderings] Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to persecutors? Job_31:3. Who ever hardened himself against God’s Church and prospered? Job_9:4. Have these workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up God’s people as they eat bread? Psa_14:4. Surely, if they had but so much wit for themselves as Pilate’s wife had in a dream, they would take heed of having anything to do with just men. If any man will hurt God’s witnesses, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies, Rev_11:5. It was therefore no ill counsel that a martyr gave his persecutors, If thou wilt not spare us, yet spare thyself. It is a fearful thing to fall into the punishing hands of the living God.



The seven spirits] See Rev_1:4.