Among the Lampstands

 

Revelation 1:20

Last week we considered different visions of God, given throughout the Bible, and we saw that John’s vision is consistent with all of these. However, one difference is that the One who John saw is Jesus.

Jesus presents Himself with the exact words that God uses of Himself.

Revelation 1:11 (NKJV) saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,”

 

Let’s revisit the setting where Revelation chapter one is taking place. John was on the island of Patmos and was in the spirit on the Lord’s day. He heard a loud voice behind him. Let’s read what he saw.

Revelation 1:12-13 (NKJV) ¹²Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³and 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.

Revelation 1:16 (NKJV) He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance [was] like the sun shining in its strength.

John saw One like the Son of Man.

Jesus called Himself “Son of Man.” This name comes from the Old Testament prophet Daniel. Daniel says:

Daniel 7:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, [One] like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. ¹⁴Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom [the] [one] which shall not be destroyed.

From this passage, we understand that the “Son of Man” is the Messiah, the One anointed by God to be king. When Jesus was in Judea with John and the other disciples, He referred to Himself as the Son of Man, saying things like:

Matthew 25:13 (NKJV) “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

When John saw Jesus among the lampstands, he noted that he saw One like the Son of Man. According to Daniel, the Son of Man is to be given a dominion and glory and a kingdom. This is the Son of Man who is among the lampstands. Revelation 1 verse 20 tells us:

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.

I noted previously that lampstands hold the light but do not produce the light. At one time, Jesus said:

Matthew 5:14 (NKJV) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

We, the Church, are the light of the world. As the body of Christ, we carry the light. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit and said:

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

God speaks to the world in a number of ways. He speaks through creation, and He speaks through His written word. He also gives people dreams and visions. The Church’s role in carrying the light to all people is crucial. God chooses to work through us.

Because of this crucial role, keeping His Church pure is paramount to Jesus. He walks among the lampstands and holds the seven stars in His hands. When He ascended to heaven, Jesus said, “Behold, I am with you always.” We are never out of His sight and care.

Revelation 1:20 says, “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.” 

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.

The word translated as “angel” means “messenger.” In the New Testament, this word is used almost exclusively of God’s spirit messengers that we call angels. However, there are places where it is used of men who carry messages from God. For example, in Mark 1:20 and Luke 7:27, this same word is used of John the Baptist who was God’s messenger.

Jesus has John write a letter to the seven churches, and at the beginning of each portion directed to a particular church, He says, “To the angel of the church of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, etc. Why would Jesus write a letter to heavenly angels? No place in Scripture has such a strange thing. Now, we know that the Revelation given to John is unusual, but, like the rest of Scripture, it is intended for humans. A heavenly (spirit) angel, would not be sent a letter from the Lord. We do not get to read their mail. However, God has a human messenger in each church. Sometimes the word for this human messenger is translated “bishop” and in other places referred to as “pastor” or “shepherd.” Bishop and pastor are synonymous (two different words that point to the same office or position). The word translated as “bishop” is more literally rendered as “overseer.”

Jesus’ commendation and warnings for each church are directed to the pastor (the “messenger”) of that church. The overseer, or shepherd, of a church is responsible for the condition of that church.

As we look at chapter 2 and 3, each church is addressed by the Lord Jesus according to the characteristics of Jesus that are most fit for that church.

The church in Ephesus is addressed from Jesus as “He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.” (Verse 2:1)

The church in Smyrna is addressed from Jesus as “the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.” (Verse 2:8)

The church in Pergamos is addressed from Jesus as “He who has the sharp two-edged sword.” (Verse 2:12)

The church in Thyatira is addressed from Jesus as “the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass.” (Verse 18)

The church in Sardis is addressed from Jesus as “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars.” (Verse 3:1)

The church in Philadelphia is addressed by Jesus as “He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.” (Verse 3:7)

The church in Laodicea is addressed by Jesus as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” (Verse 3:14)

Each church is addressed according to the condition of the fellowship. The focus is on the church’s corporate “heart” toward the Lord Jesus. The circumstances or setting of each church was not as important as their attitude toward the Lord Jesus.

However, part of the key to understanding the condition of each church is understanding the city of that church.

As believers, we are called to be holy as God is holy. We say we are to be “in” but not “of” the world. However, we see in the seven churches that we are influenced by our environment. 

Each culture or people group is distinguished by some trait or “personality.” 

For example, if you will forgive me for making sweeping generalizations, the Germans are generally known for Engineering, the Italians for clothing or food, the French for food or romance. Accordingly, there are differences in German, French or Italian churches that reflect their culture. I must put in a disclaimer here that these are outlandishly broad generalizations to make a point and we need to be careful not to judge people as being one way because of ethnicity, language or national background. The point remains though that a person from California will, in general, be different from a person from Chicago, who will also be different from a person from New York, who is different from a person from London. While all speak English, they speak with different accents and use some words differently. 

Now, let’s take this difference in the use of the English language a little farther. When I was a boy, television was black and white and broadcasts were produced locally. A family moved to Idaho (where I was) from Alabama, and they had a son a year or two older than me. When he talked, I could not understand him; his accent was too thick. Now, jump forward to the present. Television is international. I can watch police dramas from Wales, Miami, Hawaii, and Los Angeles, and, as a result, accents have become a non-issue in speaking with people from other areas because we are all watching the same shows.

Television has conformed our language to a more uniform or common usage.

As the Church living in the world, our thinking, our language, and our morals are affected by the culture and neighborhood we live in. In just the last fifteen years, our world has been completely transformed by the smart-phone and internet. And, the Church is moving along with the world. Being Christians does not keep us from watching the same videos and looking at the same media.

This new and changing world situation demands that we take particular care not to be conformed to this world. As the Scriptures say in Romans 12:1-2:

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) ¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. ²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

In Revelation 2 and 3, we see Jesus among the lampstands. These lampstands are the seven churches or seven different cities. Each church was shaped by its environment.

Ephesus - was the most important city of Asia Minor, but it had a port that kept silting in and so had to struggle to keep its position. The church also started out as the first and most important church of the region, but in the business of maintaining that position lost its passion. Thus the warning from Jesus to return to their first love.

Smyrna - was a city fiercely devoted to Rome and Emperor worship. They did not tolerate other gods, so the church in Smyrna was persecuted and forced (persecuted) to be separate. They received no rebuke, only encouragement.

Pergama - was the capital city of Asia Minor and its greatest city. It was well aware of its status so it accepted various outside influences. The church also did not maintain moral purity but compromised.

Thyatira - was a prosperous city that was not easily defended. Business was run by guilds and so to be in business in Thyatira meant one had to be in the guilds, and to be in the guilds Christians compromised doctrinal purity.

Sardis - as a city appeared prosperous but because of shifting politics and trade it was as good as dead. The church also had once been alive and active, but at the time of the letter was active but dead. 

Philadelphia - was a young city, that had a lot going for it. The church in Philadelphia was small yet faithful. Like the city it showed great promise.

Laodicea - was rich. The city was so very prosperous that when it was destroyed by an earthquake, instead of accepting aid from Rome, they funded their own reconstruction. They were very self-sufficient. So, was the church; they hardly needed Jesus.

We will look some more at how Jesus was the answer for each of these churches, but for now we need to recognize that the characteristic of Himself that Jesus uses to open His words to each church is of utmost importance. In that particular characteristic is the answer for the problems of that church.

Every church can be classified as being similar in character to one of these seven churches, and just like these churches, the answer to the problems is found in the character of Jesus.

He walks among the churches to help, strengthen, encourage, and correct us. But do we have ears to hear?

How have we been conformed to the world?

Bow your head right now and ask the Lord to show you where you are at spiritually. Have you abandoned your first love for Him? Have you compromised morally to fit in? Have you adopted false doctrine for conveniences sake? Have you remained busy in the Lord’s work, but without any real relationship with the Lord? Are you in a place spiritually that you find that you have no needs or anything that causes you to cry out to the Lord for help? 

Start here with these questions.

Do I love the Lord with all my heart?

Do I love my neighbor as myself?

Am I growing as a disciple of Jesus?