Revelation 1 presents us with a unique view of the Lord Jesus Christ. In transcendent glory He stands in the midst of seven golden lampstands, tending them with priestly care. His position and His splendour alike ensure that He is the cynosure of the scene, the focal point to which our gaze is drawn. That is John's purpose. His book is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ", not just in the sense that it communicates a revelation belonging to, and given by, the Lord, but because it reveals Christ.
In an earlier article, we have considered something of this revelation. Now we want to think a little about the other remarkable feature of John's vision. Having contemplated the Lord, we want now to learn something about the lampstands.
Notice first the situation of these lampstands. Geographically, the assemblies that they represent were arranged in a horseshoe shape in present-day Turkey. Some have speculated that the lampstands followed the same arrangement. However, the crucial point is not how the lampstands are placed in relation to each other, but how they are positioned in relation to the Lord. And that position is conveyed most clearly in the passage – and repeated for emphasis. Christ is in the midst of the lampstands (1.13; 2.1). His position is one of centrality, emphasising the uniqueness of His relationship to these companies where He dwells, and which He has "purchased with his own blood' (Acts 20.28). No one else could rightfully take that central place – it is His, and His alone. His position also demonstrates His care for these assemblies. He is not remote or distant. He moves amongst them in priestly ministry, with an intimate closeness and care. And that care was equally available to each of these assemblies. Their condition varied, yet no assembly could claim a monopoly, on or even a majority of, Christ's interest, or of His ability to address their varied and individual needs.
Another striking feature of these lampstands is their separateness. In the Holy Place of the Tabernacle there was the seven-branched lampstand. Its seven branches were all joined to one base, a fitting representation of a nation that found in Jerusalem a common gathering centre. John's vision differed crucially from this. Each of the seven lampstands that he saw stood upon its own base, without any physical link to any of the other six. Something radically different from the federal nature of Judaism is depicted in these lampstands. It is not altogether easy to find a term that expresses the truth that is presented by the separateness of the lampstands. Quite often it is termed the autonomy of the local assembly. That may be the best term available in English, but it is less than ideal. "Autonom" is made up of the Greek words for "self" and "law" and literally means "making a law for oneself". That, of course, should not be an accurate description of any assembly. But if the truth is difficult to summarise in a word, it is vividly presented in this vision. The relationship that matters here is not that between individual assemblies. Rather, the focus is on the relationship between each assembly and the One who stands in the midst of the lampstands. Fellowship between assemblies is important. The New Testament provides numerous examples of the way in which assemblies can help and encourage each other. But it never countenances any idea of grouping assemblies together, of creating structures of federation or hierarchy. Instead, each assembly is directly answerable to Christ. His is the only presiding function – He stands alone amidst the lampstands.
As we consider the appearance of the lampstands, we must also notice their supply. Contrary to what the translators of the KJV suggest, they are not candlesticks. Nor are they lamps. Rather, they are lampstands. That is, they do not themselves produce light. Their function is to hold the oil lamp aloft, in order that its light might be seen. Again, the picture eloquently represents the function of the local assembly. The assembly cannot produce light by itself. It is the "pillar…of the truth" (1 Tim 3.15) radiating the light of divine truth in a dark and dismal world. It was just such language that the apostle used to describe the assembly in Philippi: "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life" (Phil 2.15-16). No assembly – and no group of assemblies – is the source of truth. We are rightly grateful for all those who help us to understand the truth of God's Word. Nonetheless, we are on dangerous ground if we fail to recognise that what the brethren – with an upper or lower case "b" – have taught or do teach has no authority if it is not firmly based upon the truth of Scripture. We should notice too that these lampstands bore oil lamps. That surely reminds us of the role of the Holy Spirit. In our collective as well as our individual testimony, we are utterly dependent upon the unending supply of divine energy if the light is to shine as it should.
Finally, we should not miss the significance of the substance from which these lampstands are fashioned. They are golden lampstands. That immediately speaks of their value. In the Biblical economy, gold is the most precious substance found on earth. Related to the value of gold is its beauty. Even the unworked metal is attractive. When worked by the skilled hands of the goldsmith it acquires a beauty that can take the breath away. Throughout history, gold has been the material of choice for the most important, significant, and beautiful objects.
How fitting, then, that it is used to picture that which is of unique and excelling value to Christ. No matter how small the assembly or how humble its members, it has a value to Christ that is not matched by the most glittering and distinguished institutions of earth. It is easy to lose sight of this, to look around on a Lord's Day morning at a handful of saints quavering their uncertain way through a hymn, and to wonder whether it is really worth making the effort to keep going. But if we could see it as Christ does, if we had the spiritual intelligence to catch amidst earthly weakness the gleam of the heavenly gold, we would realise that even the frailest assembly has an immeasurable and incomparable value to Christ, and therefore deserves all of our commitment, energy, and involvement.
But gold, in Scripture, speaks of more than material value and beauty. In its uncorroding incorruptibility it speaks of deity, of divine glory, worth, and righteousness. We have already seen it linked with Christ, in the girdle that He wears. The Tabernacle and the Temple alike gleamed with the glory of beaten gold. It was not used in these structures to attract the eye of man, or impress the passing observer – most of the gold was invisible to all but the priests. But the gold was there to manifest the character of God, to reveal His intrinsic glory and His impeccable holiness. And the lampstands are golden for the very same reason – the church of God should take its character from God, and should manifest that character in the world. His greatness, His righteousness, His power should be seen in us. What Paul wished for the assembly in Corinth should be true of any assembly: "But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth" (1 Cor 14.24-25).
In the two chapters that follow, Christ will address seven local assemblies. As He acknowledges their successes and admonishes them for their failures, He provides instruction that is relevant for all assemblies, everywhere, until He returns. That instruction is always challenging, and frequently humbling. But before that essential and enduring teaching is given, we are caused to see the Lord and the lampstands, reminded that there is One "Who tends with still unwearied care the flock for which He bled", and that companies of His people, though little esteemed by the surrounding world, are of incalculable value and immense importance to His eye, to His mind, and to His heart.
Concluded.
