Revelation Part 13
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for Monday 27th October 1997
Revelation Part 13
(Revelation 1:12-13 NKJV) Then I turned to see the voice that spoke
with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, {13} and
in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man,
clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest
with a golden band.
Seven golden lampstands. These turn out to be the seven churches.
Have you ever though of your church as made of gold, as precious, as
a giver of light to the area that God has given it. That is the way
God sees it. In the midst of the churches is Jesus. He does not
belong to one, He moves amidst them all.
When John turned around the first thing he saw was the church, then
Jesus in the midst of it. That is parallel to the experience of so
many people who turn around when God grabs their attention and the
first thing they see is the church, only later do they realise that
Jesus is in the midst. Many people sling off at the church. Don't do
that. As my friend Richard Thackray says "Don't knock the church the
Devil does enough of that.." The church reflects the glory of Jesus
in her midst. The church is wonderful, it is holy and it is good.
How can the church be compared to a lampstand. There are 12 NT verses
relating to this but several of them are repetitive. The OT verse
of greatest relevance is in Zechariah. The key verses are:
(Matthew 5:15 NKJV) "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under
a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in
the house.
(Revelation 1:20 NKJV) "The mystery of the seven stars which you
saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven
stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands
which you saw are the seven churches.
(Revelation 2:5 NKJV) "Remember therefore from where you have
fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you
quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent.
(Revelation 11:3-4 NKJV) "And I will give power to my two
witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty
days, clothed in sackcloth." {4} These are the two olive trees and
the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
(Zechariah 4:11-14 NKJV) Then I answered and said to him, "What are
these two olive trees; at the right of the lampstand and at its left?"
{12} And I further answered and said to him, "What are these two olive
branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from
which the golden oil drains?" {13} Then he answered me and said, "Do
you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." {14} So he
said, "These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of
the whole earth."
Nearly all the verses above have the concept of the churches (or
prophets) witness in view. The concepts of "prominence" (put up on
a lampstand) and anointing are included. The "lampstand" seems to
relate to the capacity of a church or a prophet to be anointed by God
and deliver a prominent and powerful witness for God. The puzzling
reference to the Ephesian church having its lampstand removed if its
love grew cold would relate to its lack of anointing and power to
witness for God. This is in the form of a judgement not just a natural
consequence. While losing one's first love will probably lead to lack
of spiritual power what is in view there is a taking of power and
honour from a once great church. This is in line with the biblical
principle first enunciated at Saul's demotion from the kingship (1
Samuel 2:30 NKJV) "Therefore the LORD God of Israel says: 'I said
indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before
Me forever.' But now the LORD says: 'Far be it from Me; for those who
honour Me I will honour, and those who despise Me shall be lightly
esteemed.
In summary churches can be anointed by God to have a powerful
and prominent witness in their community. If they lose their first
love for God and treat Him lightly this will be lost. Churches who
retain this anointing on them have Jesus in their midst and are
precious and "golden".
Prayer:
Lord Jesus help us to perceive the immense glory and value of Your
bride the Church including our local congregations. May we help them
to love You fully and may You make them "lampstand churches" full of
anointing and glory that they may be prominent and powerful witnesses
for You. Amen.
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