God had a reason for giving John a vision. This devotional reading looks at what that purpose was.
Nuggets
- God wanted John to make sure he shared what he saw with others.
- Each church has a lampstand.
John was given a vision while he was on the island of Patmos. Why was that? What was its purpose?
Let's Put It into Context
To read devotions in the On the Day of the Lord theme, click the button below.
Write This Down
“Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this” (Rev. 1: 19 ESV)
God wanted John to make sure he shared what he saw with others.
How many epistles did Paul write from prison? I know. The Energizer Bunny for God had to be slowed down in order to have the time to write.
It may have been the same way for John for this letter. I don’t remember any of his epistles being written from prison, but this one was long and involved.
God needed time to reveal it to John. John needed time to write.
It was John’s job to write what he had “… have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this” (Rev. 1: 19 ESV). This needed to be written down so that we could read it.
It shows how much Vision Man cared.
It is our job to believe. No, we are not necessarily to understand. While we have to watch current events, it isn’t that we necessarily tie everything to what is happening now.
Our job is to watch and wait for Jesus’ return. We have to prepare for His coming.
John’s job was to truthfully write down what he saw. We are expected to believe he saw what he saw.
Does that mean we take everything literally? Probably not.
Does that mean we take everything symbolically? Probably not.
It means we try to figure out what John meant. We can only do that by taking in to account what the good Jewish man knew to be true in his culture. We try to figure out his language.
For example, when John says he saw someone who was “… like a son of man …” (Rev. 1: 13 ESV), we don’t stress on Who he actually saw. We take it to mean that he saw Someone Who came from God.
Our goal is to not just read John’s words. We have to try to understand what God is telling us.
That is the reason God had things written down. He wants to explain the meaning to us.
No, not everyone is going to understand. “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord’” (I Cor. 1: 27-31 ESV).
Understanding what God reveals to us is the only way we will get the blessing of verse 3. “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near” (Rev. 1: 3 ESV).
Stars and Lampstands
“As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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 are the seven churches” (Rev. 1: 20 ESV)
Each church has a lampstand.
We have to remember the author and the time period this was written. It was written by a good Jewish man. He would have known what Zechariah and Isaiah had written.
- “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isa. 60: 1 ESV).
- “And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, ‘What do you see?’ I said, ‘I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.’ And I said to the angel who talked with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.’ Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” (Zech. 4: 1-7 ESV)
John’s vision showed Vision Man standing in the middle of golden lampstands. This is where we get the idea that each church has its own lampstand.
If Vision Man is Jesus, in the midst of the lampstands is exactly where we would expect Him to be. The Head of the Church should be smack dab in the middle of His Church.
Look back at Revelation 1: 13. “and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man …” (Rev. 1: 13 ESV). First off, it shows God’s presence with us. “And he said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here’” (Ex. 33: 14-15 ESV).
It also shows that Vision Man is doing all that He can be doing to keep the lamps running. It shows the concept off being a family because He is present, but He is also continually providing care for us.
The continual efforts give us stability.
Miller was a little bit confusing. He wrote that the lampstands or “… candlesticks are the Churches of the Redeemer in this world”, and the stars “… are the Churches of the redeemed.”
Resource
Okay, Young helped us with that. The lampstands are the churches themselves. The stars are their rulers.
Resource
Being in Jesus’ right hand is a place of power and esteem. It is also the place of wisdom.
- “Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy” (Ex. 15: 6 ESV).
- “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3: 1 ESV).
But that makes it seem like there is a difference among churches. It almost appears as levels.
Alexander took it a different way. He said the lampstands symbolized Israel. But then, it is common belief that the Church has replaced Israel.
Resource
Personally, I don’t think the candlesticks represent Israel, but not for the normal reason given. The Church has not replaced Israel.
God’s covenant with Abraham — therefore Israel — was an everlasting covenant. His covenant with Jesus is also an everlasting covenant.
I have to process what Young said. He wrote, “There was but one candlestick in the ancient sanctuary, which represented the one Church of Israel — complete within itself.”
Resource
That is true. However, it did have six branches with seven lamps.
“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch — so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. And on the lampstand itself there shall be four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand. Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold. It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talent of pure gold” (Ex. 25: 31-39 ESV).
We know the number seven symbolizes completeness. My thoughts right now are kind of jumbled, but here goes.
God called Israel to be His people. Yes, there were provisions for non-Israelites to become His people. But this was for slaves who may or may not have had the choice to become part of the family.
But this nation was to be set apart from other people. I think that is why there is only one lamp stand.
With the coming of Christ and the completion of the Plan of Salvation, we could truly decide to follow God.
Not only could the gentiles decide to follow God, but also the Jews could. Not only the Plan of Salvation was complete, but also the restoration of our relationship with God was complete.
The candlestick is removed from the Holy Place in the tabernacle and put on display for all to see.
I think that is why there were seven lamp stands.
Macmillan agreed. He said that the one people had become a body of people unified in faith and love.
Macmillan also had some neat connections between Genesis and Revelation.
- In the midst of the lampstands: “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day …” (Gen. 3: 8 ESV). We are finally back to this.
- Exile to Patmos: “It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea [the place from which the 12 spies were sent out causing the 40-year wandering]” (Deut. 1: 2 ESV).
- The same vision: “Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed” (Ex. 3: 1-2 ESV).
Resource
Yes, how they worshiped God had changed. The how changed, but the Who didn’t.
God didn’t give up on Genesis and the Old Testament to replace it with the New. He used the New Testament to fulfill the Old.
To me, this means we need to expect growth and change. We can’t say, “This is the way we’ve always worshiped God, so this is the way we will always worship God.”
We have to follow His lead.
The Homilist thought the lamp stand could be God’s Word. I can see that. Jesus is God’s Word (Jn. 1: 1).
Resource
God’s Word is all about the gospel message. No telling of Plan of Salvation, no salvation for eternity.
The message is all about Jesus and His sacrifice for us in order for Him to save us.
Only through that message can we find ourselves in the palm of Jesus’ hand — as the stars are.
But then, let’s look at it this way. In ancient times, stars were used as a map. The rising and setting of stars can be used to navigate.
Non-believers use the church to navigate in seeking God.
Making the Connections #1
If we take Jesus to be Vision Man, He is in the midst of His Church. But He isn’t just standing there.
Jesus is doing what He does. He intercedes for us, comforts us, and rules over us.
Making the Connections #2
I love what Meyer had to say about the candlesticks. The light comes when the wicks are lit.
Resource
The wicks don’t light themselves. Someone has to transfer their light to the wick.
Jesus is our light.
- “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (Jn. 8: 12 ESV).
- “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Mt. 5: 14 ESV).
- “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn. 1: 5 ESV).
- “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119: 105 ESV).
- “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (Jn. 9: 5 ESV).
- “Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27: 1 ESV).
Marking the Connections #3
Maclaren’s statement is a hard statement to read, but it is correct. He wrote, “A large number of the so-called Christian [organizations] of this day are lampstands without a light.”
Resource
That is what God has been telling Pastor Steve for two years. The Church has missed Jesus.
Why? It is because of our ignorance and apathy. We don’t know, and we don’t care to know.
In other words, we the Church wants their own interpretations, not God’s.
We have to be changed to God’s nature. We are not His Church unless we are reflecting His light.
How Do We Apply This?
- Reflect God’s light to the world.
- Embrace the message of oneness (Eph. 4: 4-6).
- Accept that we are not going to stand out in the Church.
- Understand that the oil that feeds our lamps which are attached to the lamp stand is God’s Word.
- Understand that pastors are called by God.
- Realize that the churches are to grow until they have a pure and deep spiritual life.
Resources
Father God. We know that You had a purpose for giving us the message of Revelation. You want Your church to be strong in Your Will. Help us to grow closer to You so we may spend eternity with You. Amen.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.
If you have not signed up for the email providing the link to the devotions and the newsletter, do so below.
If God has used this devotion to speak with you, consider sharing it on social media.