“When Jesus Walked In The Midst Of The Lampstands, Part 1” (Ready to Worship S13E4)

This season on Ready to Worship we are examining what John saw and said about worship in the book of Revelation. In this installment , we are examining the occasion when John saw Jesus walking in the midst of the seven golden lampstands or churches (Rev. 1:12-20; 2:1). In the first part of this study, we will examine the figure that was used and consider what it meant. In the second part of the study, we will consider what Jesus saw in each church.

 

The number seven pictures the PERFECTION of the church. Seven is used repeatedly in the Scriptures to show perfection or completeness. For example, in describing the unity of the Spirit to the church at Ephesus, Paul spoke of seven ones – one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God (Eph. 4:3-6). Perfect unity is found in keeping these seven things. In the book of Revelation, a highly figurative book, John uses the number seven a number of times (3:1; 5:1; 8:1-6). The use of the number seven in Revelation begins with the seven churches or lampstands (Rev. 1:11, 20). As you likely know, one side of the church is perfect. The divine side needs nothing to complete it. However, the human side is imperfect. It needs much to complete it. Interestingly, Jesus told each of the seven churches what was needed on the human side to make them perfect (Rev. 2-3; 3:2). By following His word, they could be perfect (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

 

Golden pictures the PRECIOUSNESS of the church. Gold is precious. When Peter was looking to describe the preciousness of faith, he used gold. He wrote, “That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:7). Not only is faith more precious than gold, but so is the blood of Christ. Again, Peter wrote, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Since this blood was used to purchase the church (Acts 20:28), it makes the church precious (Eph. 5:25).

 

Lampstands picture the PURPOSE of the church . The purpose of a lampstand is to give light. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:14-16). The lampstand gives light to those in the house (the church – 1 Tim. 3:15) and to those in the city (the world). The church is in the world to give light. To the church at Philippi, Paul wrote, “That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Phil. 2:15-16). We exist in our communities to show men how to live, how to worship, how to be saved, and how to serve God.

 

As we get ready to worship this week, let’s think about Christ walking among the lampstands. Let’s remember the perfection, the preciousness, and the purpose of the church.