Revelation 1 (cont)
· 12. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden
candlesticks;
In verse 20, we will learn that the lampstands represent the seven churches. (A lampstand was a
stand that held a pot of burning oil. Remember that oil represents the Holy Spirit.)
The seven churches represent seven different periods of the Church Age. (We will discuss this in
detail later.)
Ephesus Smyrna Pergamum Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea
Backsliding Persecuted Compromising Adulterous Dead Evangelistic Lukewarm
· 13 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. (AV)
The voice came from one who looked like Jesus standing in the midst of the seven churches. He was
dressed in the official attire of the high priest.
*
Le 8:7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe,
and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it
unto him therewith.
Le 8:8 And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the
Thummim.
Le 8:9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put
the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.
The long trailing robe is a symbol of honor and dignity. The gold belt indicates that this is judicial
attire.
Jesus, of course, is our High Priest.
Hebrews 7
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by rea-son of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he
ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and
made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then
for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
*SERVICES OF PRIESTS
· Keeping the charge of the tabernacle # Nu 18:1,5,7
· Covering the sacred things of the sanctuary before removal # Nu 4:5-15
· Offering sacrifices # Le 1:1-6:30 2Ch 29:34 35:11
· Lighting and trimming the lamps of the sanctuary # Ex 27:20,21 Le 24:3,4
· Keeping the sacred fire always burning on the altar # Le 6:12,13
· Burning incense # Ex 20:7,8 Lu 1:9
· Placing and removing show-bread # Le 24:5-9
· Offering first fruits # Le 23:10,11 De 26:3,4
· Blessing the people # Nu 6:23-27
· Purifying the unclean # Le 15:30,31
· Deciding in cases of jealousy # Nu 5:14,15
· Deciding in cases of leprosy # Le 13:2-59 14:34-45
· Judging in cases of controversy # De 17:8-13 21:5
· Teaching the law # De 33:8,10 Mal 2:7
· Blowing the trumpets on various occasions # Nu 10:1-10 Jos 6:3,4
· Carrying the ark # Jos 3:6,17 6:12
· Encouraging the people when they went to war # De 20:1-4
· Valuing things devoted # Le 27:8
*The vision reveals that Jesus will stand in the midst of the Church throughout the Church Age. He is
the Great High Priest who is always with His Church. The context indicates the role of judgment.
Aaron, the priest, inspected the candlesticks in the Holy Place, and noted the oil supply and the state
of the wicks to keep everything operating prop-erly. Jesus is seen here inspecting his church.
The Church Age is the time of the church of Jesus Christ on the earth. This time began on the day of
Pentecost, the birth of the church, and will end with the rapture, the day Jesus takes his church away.
· 14. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame
of fire;
His vision of Jesus was reminiscent of Daniel's vision of the Ancient of Days.
Da 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was
white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his
wheels as burning fire.
Da 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was
white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his
wheels as burning fire.
The eyes of Jesus were burning like a blazing fire. He had a penetrat-ing glare that could see every
deed done, good or bad. He could see right through you.
· 15. And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound
of many waters.
His feet were like burning bronze. This is a symbol of judgment. This is a reminder that Jesus will be
our Judge.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
His voice was like ocean waves - loud and powerful. It was this voice that spoke everything into
existence. It is this voice that will raise the dead. It is the voice of one who has authority over all
creation.
(Let us remember that John was brought forward in time in the spirit.
He is seeing future events and explaining them in the language of his day as best he can. That's why
some of the language seems strange.)
· 16. 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.
In verse 20, we will see that the stars are the angels of the churches. It is their responsibility to look
after the churches. Whether this is refer-ring to actual angels or to great spiritual leaders is a matter
of debate. Either way, they have authority and oversight of the churches.
The double-edged sword represents God's Word - the Bible.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing
even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and mar-row, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
*Jesus will deal with His church through His Word.
· 17. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying
unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
John trembled in the presence of such greatness. It is wise to do so. But Jesus said, "Do not be
afraid." He is the first and the last. There were none before Him and will be none after Him. There
never was a time when He did not exist, and there never will be. He was not born on Christmas Day.
He simply took on flesh on that day. He already existed before that. (This is the distinction - we came
into being when we were born. We did not exist before our conception. Jesus already was. He simply
came to earth through birth.) He is from everlasting to everlasting.
*
· 18.v I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have
the keys of hell and of death.
He has risen and will never die again. He is the living one.
He holds the keys, and so is in total control of death and hell. The Christian need not fear death,
because Jesus is in complete control of it. Death has held and still holds the bodies of the human
race it its clutches. Hades, the underworld, the dwelling place of the spirits of the dead, held the
spirits, both of the wicked and the just. Since Christ's triumphal resurrection this region has been
changed. Death still holds the bodies of God's saints temporarily, but their spirits are no longer in
Hades, but in heaven. The implication of scripture is that Je-sus descended into hades and set the
captives there free.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the
earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might
fill all things.)
These captives would be those who lived in faith and anticipation of the coming of Messiah, the
Promised Deliverer of God. Jesus went into the place of the dead and took with him those who
belonged to him - those who believed. He led them into their heavenly home, where they could not go
until he came and made a way.
· *19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall
be hereafter;
Now here is the order of Revelation - things past (things thou hast seen), things present (things which
are), and things to come (things which shall be hereafter). The book is divided into three sections:
· The church age
· The Rapture to the Second Coming
· The Millennium and beyond
(Chapter 1 is past events; chapters 2-3 are present events; chapters 4-22 are future events.)
· 20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden
candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks
which thou sawest are the seven churches.
*We've already discussed these angels and churches.
candlesticks;
In verse 20, we will learn that the lampstands represent the seven churches. (A lampstand was a
stand that held a pot of burning oil. Remember that oil represents the Holy Spirit.)
The seven churches represent seven different periods of the Church Age. (We will discuss this in
detail later.)
Ephesus Smyrna Pergamum Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea
Backsliding Persecuted Compromising Adulterous Dead Evangelistic Lukewarm
· 13 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. (AV)
The voice came from one who looked like Jesus standing in the midst of the seven churches. He was
dressed in the official attire of the high priest.
*
Le 8:7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe,
and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it
unto him therewith.
Le 8:8 And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the
Thummim.
Le 8:9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put
the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.
The long trailing robe is a symbol of honor and dignity. The gold belt indicates that this is judicial
attire.
Jesus, of course, is our High Priest.
Hebrews 7
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by rea-son of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he
ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and
made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then
for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
*SERVICES OF PRIESTS
· Keeping the charge of the tabernacle # Nu 18:1,5,7
· Covering the sacred things of the sanctuary before removal # Nu 4:5-15
· Offering sacrifices # Le 1:1-6:30 2Ch 29:34 35:11
· Lighting and trimming the lamps of the sanctuary # Ex 27:20,21 Le 24:3,4
· Keeping the sacred fire always burning on the altar # Le 6:12,13
· Burning incense # Ex 20:7,8 Lu 1:9
· Placing and removing show-bread # Le 24:5-9
· Offering first fruits # Le 23:10,11 De 26:3,4
· Blessing the people # Nu 6:23-27
· Purifying the unclean # Le 15:30,31
· Deciding in cases of jealousy # Nu 5:14,15
· Deciding in cases of leprosy # Le 13:2-59 14:34-45
· Judging in cases of controversy # De 17:8-13 21:5
· Teaching the law # De 33:8,10 Mal 2:7
· Blowing the trumpets on various occasions # Nu 10:1-10 Jos 6:3,4
· Carrying the ark # Jos 3:6,17 6:12
· Encouraging the people when they went to war # De 20:1-4
· Valuing things devoted # Le 27:8
*The vision reveals that Jesus will stand in the midst of the Church throughout the Church Age. He is
the Great High Priest who is always with His Church. The context indicates the role of judgment.
Aaron, the priest, inspected the candlesticks in the Holy Place, and noted the oil supply and the state
of the wicks to keep everything operating prop-erly. Jesus is seen here inspecting his church.
The Church Age is the time of the church of Jesus Christ on the earth. This time began on the day of
Pentecost, the birth of the church, and will end with the rapture, the day Jesus takes his church away.
· 14. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame
of fire;
His vision of Jesus was reminiscent of Daniel's vision of the Ancient of Days.
Da 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was
white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his
wheels as burning fire.
Da 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was
white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his
wheels as burning fire.
The eyes of Jesus were burning like a blazing fire. He had a penetrat-ing glare that could see every
deed done, good or bad. He could see right through you.
· 15. And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound
of many waters.
His feet were like burning bronze. This is a symbol of judgment. This is a reminder that Jesus will be
our Judge.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
His voice was like ocean waves - loud and powerful. It was this voice that spoke everything into
existence. It is this voice that will raise the dead. It is the voice of one who has authority over all
creation.
(Let us remember that John was brought forward in time in the spirit.
He is seeing future events and explaining them in the language of his day as best he can. That's why
some of the language seems strange.)
· 16. 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.
In verse 20, we will see that the stars are the angels of the churches. It is their responsibility to look
after the churches. Whether this is refer-ring to actual angels or to great spiritual leaders is a matter
of debate. Either way, they have authority and oversight of the churches.
The double-edged sword represents God's Word - the Bible.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing
even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and mar-row, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
*Jesus will deal with His church through His Word.
· 17. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying
unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
John trembled in the presence of such greatness. It is wise to do so. But Jesus said, "Do not be
afraid." He is the first and the last. There were none before Him and will be none after Him. There
never was a time when He did not exist, and there never will be. He was not born on Christmas Day.
He simply took on flesh on that day. He already existed before that. (This is the distinction - we came
into being when we were born. We did not exist before our conception. Jesus already was. He simply
came to earth through birth.) He is from everlasting to everlasting.
*
· 18.v I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have
the keys of hell and of death.
He has risen and will never die again. He is the living one.
He holds the keys, and so is in total control of death and hell. The Christian need not fear death,
because Jesus is in complete control of it. Death has held and still holds the bodies of the human
race it its clutches. Hades, the underworld, the dwelling place of the spirits of the dead, held the
spirits, both of the wicked and the just. Since Christ's triumphal resurrection this region has been
changed. Death still holds the bodies of God's saints temporarily, but their spirits are no longer in
Hades, but in heaven. The implication of scripture is that Je-sus descended into hades and set the
captives there free.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the
earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might
fill all things.)
These captives would be those who lived in faith and anticipation of the coming of Messiah, the
Promised Deliverer of God. Jesus went into the place of the dead and took with him those who
belonged to him - those who believed. He led them into their heavenly home, where they could not go
until he came and made a way.
· *19. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall
be hereafter;
Now here is the order of Revelation - things past (things thou hast seen), things present (things which
are), and things to come (things which shall be hereafter). The book is divided into three sections:
· The church age
· The Rapture to the Second Coming
· The Millennium and beyond
(Chapter 1 is past events; chapters 2-3 are present events; chapters 4-22 are future events.)
· 20. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden
candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks
which thou sawest are the seven churches.
*We've already discussed these angels and churches.