Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
4. The Meaning of the Seven Stars and Seven Lamps (Revelation 1:19-20)
REVELATION 1:19-20
19 Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter; 20 the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lamp stands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lamp stands are seven assemblies.
Write the Things Which You Have Seen: For a second time John heard the command to write. He was no longer lying on the ground like a dead man, for his Lord awoke him to witness anew. John was not to speculate, as a mystic would do, about the present and future, neither was he to have any fear of the coming judgment; rather, he was to testify fully and completely about what he had seen and heard. Everything he had seen was impressed upon his memory, so he was able to document everything later with detailed precision.
As a young man John had already acknowledged and testified concerning the glory of Jesus. Now he was being flooded anew with the glory of his faithful Lord and Savior. In a new way he acknowledged and testified that the Crucified and Risen One is the coming Judge of the world and King of kings. Before Him all earthly princes and representatives on the earth appear as nothing, for these must all die. The Lord alone lives eternally, because he is Life personified.
Write the Things Which You Will See: At first, John had no idea what he was to write. But it was revealed to him, step by step, how both world history and redemptive history would inevitably reach their goal. Evil must reveal its wretchedness completely, as well as attempt to gain a foothold among the masses of mankind. But the righteous among mankind will be purified like gold in a refiner’s fire, so that all dross and impurities will be removed from them.
The description of escalating evil, the outpouring of the wrath of God upon all the unrepentant and mockers, the sufferings of the churches and their protection until the advent of a new world in which the presence of God dwells, were still hidden from the seer at the start of his visions. He documented, image by image and word by word, what was revealed to him.
God sees and knows the future of the universe in advance. The history of the world stretches out before Him like a transparent sea. Yet He continually offers His salvation to the rebellious and hardhearted in the world. Indeed, only few repent; and it is for the sake of these few that the Lord does not destroy the world. The Church is the very mystery and purpose of world history: it is that element in the universe that restrains the wrath of God. Jesus will still save His chosen few, down to the very last one, even if all hell rages and continually gains more and more power in political and religious spheres, as well as in the worldly elements of the Church. God’s redemptive history will be fulfilled. No one can hinder or thwart His ultimate triumph. The more Christians the Lord Jesus calls and gathers from among the Jews and other peoples of the earth, the more the majority of the world hardens its heart against the Gospel. Indeed, the very beliefs and actions of this fallen world are called into question, weighed, and measured by the presence of the Church on earth. Truly, salvation and judgment are hastening towards their goal.
The Seven Stars are the Angles of the Seven Churches: The Greek and Hebrew word for angel means “messenger.” It is likely that the angelic messengers mentioned in the book of Revelation refer to those in positions of responsibility in the churches of Asia Minor.
Angels, apostles, church leaders, and church members are all emissaries of Jesus Christ, who said to His followers: “…As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 21:20). All those who have been sent by Jesus rest in His hand. Through them Jesus achieves His will, for they are His representative witnesses. He acts through them today. Jesus does not build His Church primarily through angels, but through His born-again, obedient disciples.
Both elected and non-elected church leaders have a special responsibility in the carrying out of this task. Their knowledge and faithfulness, witness, example, and prayers contribute much to the spiritual condition of the churches. Their shallowness, lack of knowledge, laziness, pride, or sinful lifestyles can destroy a church or place obstacles in the path of its spiritual growth. No one who has not received a clear calling from Jesus should ever seek a church office. No students should study theology if they are not born again and spiritually protected. Church leaders carry a great responsibility before the eternal Judge.
Not only are bishops, prelates, priests, parsons, preachers, and chairpersons responsible; each individual member of the Church is responsible according to his or her level of spiritual maturity. Many lifeless churches receive spiritually vacuous leaders, because they deserve them. However, wherever church members faithfully pray for and cooperate with their overburdened church leaders, and wherever they pray continually for a genuine believer as a replacement, the Lord in faithfulness will send the right person in His timing.
Genuinely born-again church leaders and elders should not shrink before the increasing darkness and growing injustice, both in the secular world as well as in some churches and denominations, for no one can snatch them from the Lord’s hand. These will shine like the stars that John saw – which glow more brilliantly the darker it becomes around them – so long as they remain steadfastly in the hand of their Lord - their only place of refuge, their source of strength, and their spring of blessing.
The Seven Lamps Are the Seven Churches: After John turned around, startled as he was by the first trumpet blast, he saw seven tall, golden lamps. These represented the full strength and number of the churches. It is the job of a lamp to shine and illuminate its surroundings. This happens mostly within a single room. Sometimes candle holders and lamps are also placed in windows, so that their light can radiate into the darkness outside.
Jesus told His apostles and followers: “You are the light of the world. … Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 4:14-16).
With this calling, Jesus applied one of His own characteristics to His apostles and followers: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).
The glory that radiates from Jesus is to be reflected through the Church, so that all people may learn to live in the light of Jesus and can become children of the light. Thus in the Gospel it is the life of Christ that produces light in His Church members (John 1:4); this reality runs opposite to the law of nature, in which it is light that produces life. His strength is made perfect in the weak (2 Corinthians 12:9).
In the face of growing persecution, the churches were not to let their light grow dim, neither were they to hide their light, as if placing it under a bushel; rather, they were to continue shining as they had before, just as Jesus and His apostles had exemplified love and truth, despite their martyrdoms. Christians are not to gaze frightfully into the future, for the glorious King walks personally among the burning lamps. He assures them: “… Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Faith in the resurrected, ever-present, and coming Christ gives the churches strength to endure, to bless, and to love.
John’s first vision of the appearing of the Judge of the world was an answer to the prayers of the wise, old apostle, who was very concerned for the state of his congregations. The Lord assured him of His care, faithfulness, and presence for all the church members, especially for the church leaders. Not a single one of them would be forgotten – John included, despite his being banned upon the desolate and lonely isle of Patmos.
PRAYER: We give thanks to You, Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who died to justify His flock and was raised to shepherd it faithfully. We praise You because You are present. Your walk among Your churches, edify them and care for them day and night and their ministers become safe in Your hand. You educate them, scold them, and comfort them. Sanctify our today church ministers and ourselves too that we may glorify You by word and deed and in prayer as shining lampstands in our dark days.
QUESTION
- What do the lampstands and the stars mean in the book of Revelation?