John teaches us to see meaning in and look through the pictures and symbols. He himself stated that the pictures point to concrete reality. A picture is much more than just a description of reality. There are stars, light-bearing lampstands, and Jesus in the midst of them. He is the source of the oil, the Holy Spirit, and it is through Him that the stars sparkle and the lampstands spread their light. He is the Heavenly High Priest in His official residence in His church(es). He holds them in His hands, but He also stands opposite them, as the holy, Heavenly Judge, to sanctify His Church, to purify them, so that they will obtain resilience, and power for their spiritual resistance to endure persecution.
This first appearance of Jesus Christ apparently took place on earth—to John, at Patmos. Later, in chapter 4:1, John will be allowed to be look into—and out of— Heaven. The perspective will change constantly from earth and from Heaven. In chapter 10:1, he again saw an angel coming from Heaven, so he was apparently looking from the earth. This was where he probably remained until chapter 11:13. However, the vision of chapter 11:15–19 was again seen in Heaven. In chapter 12 he seemed to be back on earth again, but chapter 14:17–20 suggests he was in Heaven—although sometimes it is also not clear where the seer found himself as he described what he saw.
What happens in Heaven has an effect on earth, and what happens on earth—such as the sending of prayers—has its effect in Heaven. John was permitted to view everything from both sides. The messages to the seven churches come first, before the seals, trumpets and bowls bring the trials, tribulations, and judgments upon the world. Peter says that judgment begins with God’s household.1 However, the judgment of the Church, of the true Christian congregation, leads to her purification; whereas the judgment of the world is a verdict, a settling of accounts. “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord”, Romans 12:19.
The Church will receive rewards, according to what Jesus has been able to do through them by His Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 3:6-16. ‘And I heard a voice from Heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them.” Revelation 14:13. John says, “…the mystery…” and immediately explains the images. The other things he had said so far must be taken and explained as words in their literal sense—like the description of the glorified Christ. The stars are the angels, as we saw, not guardian angels, but ministers, messengers. Just as Malachi 2:7 says: “For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”
As we already saw, the lampstands are the churches. The Jewish menorah was the symbol of Jewish worship, of Judaism. However, the Church met with strong pressure2 from Judaism in the early centuries. For Christians, strife with Judaism meant loss of their legal base for their existence in the Roman Empire. As long as they were considered as a sub-division or a sect of Judaism, they were protected and they did not fall under the Roman prohibition against the establishment of new religious communities, sects. However, conflict with Judaism immediately brought clashes with the state of Rome. So the temptation to return under the Jewish flag was strong. However, the message of the Heavenly High Priest is to be not afraid: ‘You are the golden lampstands; you are called to be God’s People, His nation, His Kingdom, His priests in the world.’3 What an encouragement for the Church!
• In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, the word used for messenger is ‘angelos’, angel.4 And messenger in the Greek New Testament is also called ‘angelos’, angel.5
• The Septuagint – from the Latin: Septuaginta literally “seventy”, often abbreviated as LXX and sometimes called the Greek Old Testament – is the earliest extant Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures from the original Hebrew. It is estimated that the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or Pentateuch, were translated in the mid-3rd century BC and the remaining texts were translated in the 2nd century BC.
• Considered the primary Greek translation of the Old Testament, it is quoted a number of times in the New Testament, particularly in the Pauline epistles, by the Apostolic Fathers, and later by the Greek Church Fathers.
Bible References:
1. 1 Peter 4:17 2.Cf. Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 3. Revelation 10:3 4.See Haggai 1:13; Isaiah 44:26 5. Mark 1:2 KJV,; Matthew 11:10; Luke 9:52, 7:24; James 2:25
