1. Revelation 3:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does Jesus say that the speaker "has" the seven spirits of God?

Revelation 3:1 (ESV)

1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

The word “has” implies that the speaker possesses and controls these seven spirits. Since this speaker is the same Jesus Christ who was identified in Revelation 1:5 as “the ruler of kings on earth” and who revealed himself with the exalted majesty of Revelation 1:12–20, we are not surprised that he “has” (= controls) these seven spirits, even if these seven spirits belong to God.