Doves, lamps and eyes are used in the Bible as symbols of the Holy Spirit. It is the intent of this article to bring attention to their usage in a few cases.

Each of these symbols is independently tied in with the Holy Spirit. The dove appears in connection with our Lord’s baptism.

“And John bare record, saying, l saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him [Jesus].” (John 1:32— also Mt 3:16, Mk 1:10, Lk 3:22)

It suggests the peaceable nature of the Holy Spirit’s influence.

Lamps are identified with the Holy Spirit in Revelation 4:5. Revelation 4 is a symbolic picture of God’s throne, “and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” Why 7? Perhaps to show that God’s Spirit was active in each of the 7 stages of the Church. The lamps of fire suggest the illuminating and searching power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is symbolized by eyes in Revelation 5:6. “… stood a Lamb as it had been slain [our Lord], having seven horns [7 stages of the Church] and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” The eyes here represent the use of the Holy Spirit to perceive, see, and know of all things pertaining to the Church, both of their adversities and their reactions.

Additionally there are Scriptures which use these symbols together, and because of the above references we can understand that what is symbolized is the Holy Spirit, or its influence and effect. For example, Songs of Solomon contains a description of our Lord, and two of his Bride, the Church, in which their eyes are described as doves.

“His eyes are like doves beside the water-brooks, washed with milk, and fitly set.”

“Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are as doves.”

“. . . Thine eyes are as doves behind thy veil.” (SS 5:12, 1:15, 4:1, ASV)

And Zechariah 3:9, 4:2, 10 mingle the symbols, speaking of eyes, lamps and spirits.

3 DOVES IN NOAH’S DAY

Peter says that baptism is an “antitupon” (antitype) of the experience of the 8 souls, saved in the ark, “carried safely through the Water.” (Diaglott, 1 Peter 3:20, 21) Noting the link between Christian baptism and the flood experience leads to the natural question, is there any meaning to the 3 doves Noah sent out towards the end of the flood which relates to the Dove lighting on Jesus at the institution of Christian baptism?

There seems to be. But the 3 doves present a wider picture than the one dove of Jesus’ time. Genesis 8:6-12 contains the account of the three doves.

• After a 40 day period Noah released a raven and a dove.
• The dove returned to him, and after 7 days he sent the dove out again. She returned in the evening with an olive leaf in her mouth.
• 7 days later he sent the dove out again, and it did not re turn to him again.

This suggests to us 3 times in which God sends forth his Holy Spirit. As 40 represents a trial or testing generally in Scriptures, we think the initial 40 days relates to the testing of Adam in the Garden. He failed, and the reign of sin and death was released. The raven represented this. But God also sent out the Holy Spirit, to develop a class we refer to as Ancient Worthies. That work was completed, pictured by the dove coming to Noah again, and the 2nd sending forth pictures the Holy Spirit sent forth to develop the spiritual seed, The Christ.

This relates specially to the form of a dove seen lighting on Jesus at his baptism. When this dove’s work is complete, in the evening of the Gospel Age, it gives evidence that peace is to be brought to earth – the olive leaf carried in her mouth. So with the close of the Gospel Age work comes the time for the kingdom pictured by the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4) to be established in its two phases, to bring peace and light to mankind. The dove is sent out again, and does not return, as the Holy Spirit begins to be poured out upon all flesh, and mankind rejoices in its blessed influence forever.

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