Revelation 4:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This indicates how fearful and terrible God is to those unworthy of His long-suffering and condescension. For those worthy of salvation, however, lightning and thunder cause no fear, but proclaim sweetness and illumination. The lightning enlightens their spiritual eyes, and the thunder delights their hearing. By the seven spirits of God one should understand either the seven angels who rule over the others, according to the explanation of Irenaeus, or the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, of whom Isaiah speaks (Isa. 11:2). Both interpretations are plausible.

He wants us to know that all the preaching of the ancient apostles, and even heavenly and holy teaching, comes from God's judgment and God's inspiration. Therefore we understand the lightnings as the words of all the saints, and the thunders as the voices of the preachers. We confess that all things proceed from one cause, God. Of these lightnings and thunders it is said: "The voice of Your thunder was in the heavenly circle; the lightnings illumined the world" (Ps. 76:19).

By thunders and voices the preaching of truth is depicted, and by the flashing of lightning the signs of miracles. As it is said in the Gospel: "They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs" (Mk 16:20). It is also said: "The voice of Your thunder was in the heavenly circle; the lightnings illumined the world" (Ps. 76:19). Thus, frightened by this thunder of preaching and these lightnings of miracles, the world believed.

Question 73. How many gifts of the Holy Spirit are there, and what are they? Answer. There are seven gifts. Scripture speaks of them in the Apocalypse: "And seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God" (Rev. 4:5). See the interpretation of Isa. 11:2.

The seven lamps of fire are the Third Hypostasis of the Most Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, with His seven grace-bearing gifts abiding in the Church of Christ.