SEVEN LAMPSTANDS and SEVEN STARS
(Revelation 1:12-20)
So John is commanded by a voice like a trumpet to write what he sees in
a book, and send it to the seven churches in Asia. There is an
important question that should be considered here. Or at the very least,
kept in the back of the mind as we continue on. That question is
this... Why these seven? Its been sixty three years since Pentecost and
the pouring out of the Holy Ghost. There are over a hundred active
churches now. Several of which we would think were more prominent than
these seven. Why not Antioch, Jerusalem, Rome, Athens, Philippi,
Caesarea, Thessalonica, or Corinth? Why these particular seven? Well, I
would submit that upon further study of these seven letters, we will
begin to see the veil slowly removed from some very interesting and
complex end-time models.
- And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; (Revelation 1:12) -
The word "candlesticks" is interpreted from the Greek word "luchnia,"
which literally means "lampstands." Keep in mind that the lampstand is
not the source of light, but the light bearer. And before the chapter is
through, Jesus Himself explains what the lampstands represent.
-
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of
man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps
with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as
white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like
unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the
sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out
of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the
sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:13-16) -
Here we have
a description of the glorified, resurrected Christ as He appears in
Heaven. This vision of Jesus that John saw had seven key features.