The Seven Golden Candlesticks

"And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks." Revelation 1:12.
The above verse is introduces us to a symbol the Lord used in a vision given to the aged apostle John. The previous verse had mentioned seven congregations located in Asia Minor. The Lord uses seven golden candlesticks to represent these churches.

"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." Revelation 1:20.
Unfortunately today the word "church" is often used to describe other things than that which the candlesticks symbolized. So often, people use the word to refer to a building which was built for the purpose of worship. But the word never meant that in the Bible. God has something completely different in mind when He uses the term "church" in the Scripture.

So, the seven golden candlesticks do not represent seven buildings, at least not the kind made with brick, wood and stone. Concerning the church in Jerusalem, the Bible says, "And fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard these things." (Acts 5:11). We are fairly certain that we are not talking about a building here! "And the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem..."; "And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church..." (Acts 11:22; Matthew 18:17). These verses would be rather funny if the word "church" meant a building.

The word "church" refers to people. In the universal sense, specifically those people who have obeyed the gospel by faith (Ephesians 1:22,23). In the local sense, as the word is used in our text, the word "church" refers to a local body of believers who are in fellowship together in work and worship (Romans 16:16; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 16:10).

One more thing: a local church can cease to be recognized by the Lord as His due to ongoing sin without repentance. Jesus told the church at Ephesus "...or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place - unless you repent." (Revelation 2:5; see also 2:16 and 3:3).

There are two sides to the church. There is the Divine side and the human side. The Divine side, the Head of the church, is perfect. But the human side, the members of the body, are less than perfect. But the better they listen to the Head, the closer to perfection they get.

There were seven golden candlesticks. Why seven? In ancient thought, the number seven stood for perfection. There are no improvements to be made to the church on the Divine side. The Law of the Lord is perfect. His design for the local church is just as He wants it to be. There is no innovation we can or should make. The Lord has already claimed all authority (Matthew 28:18-20).

However, on the human side, there are improvements we can make. We can grow in the character traits of discipleship; in love, joy and peace (see Philippians 3:12-14). A problem exists when someone is intent on trying to make improvements on the Divine side and fails to see that it is on the individual side where improvements are necessary. The Divine side is fine, thank you. Keep your hands off (Galatians 1:11,12; Acts 2:42)!

The candlesticks are gold. This would symbolize something of great value. Perhaps a case can be made for purity as well. We recall how the church at Corinth was rebuked for allowing impurity within it to go on without action (1 Corinthians 5:2-8).

As Jesus walked amid the seven candlesticks in our text (Revelation 1:13-20), one of the ways in which He identifies Himself is "Do not be afraid, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, Iam he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." (Revelation 1:17b-18). It was in His death that He purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28).