The Mystery of the Seven Stars and the Seven Golden Lampstands
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Intro
Intro
Text - Rev 1:10-13, 20
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands;
13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash.
19 Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which 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.
Title - The Mystery of the Seven Stars and the Seven Golden Lampstands
Key Question
Key Question
What are the seven stars and seven golden lampstands called mystery?
The first vision
The first vision
Chapter 1 of the book of Revelation contains the first vision that John saw in the isle of Patmos
John heard a voice, which instructed him to write the things that he will see and send them to the 7 churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea
John turned around and saw his first vision -
seven golden lampstands
the Son of Man - Jesus Christ in His glorious, heavenly person
seven stars in the right hand of Christ
Jesus introduced himself to John -
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Jesus gives John an instruction to write and deliver His messages to the churches
19 Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
The nature of the mystery
The nature of the mystery
it is “apocalyptic” in nature
it is “apocalyptic” in nature
Apokalupsis is the Greek word for the word “revelation”
Apocalypse DOES NOT mean terrible destruction. It simply means “unveiling”
the whole book of Revelation was Christ’s unveiling of Himself and His work in the last days (grk. eschatos)
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
It follows that - Christ was unveiling “something significant” when He drew John’s attention to the 7 stars AND the 7 churches
it is “eschatological” in nature
it is “eschatological” in nature
Eschaton is the Greek word for “last thing” or “end”
Eschatology - the study (or doctrine) of the last things
The book of Revelation contains events and happenings that will happen in the last days
Jesus instructed John to write that things that will take place “after” these - Rev 1.19 “19 Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.”
we interpret the book of Revelation with a dispensational view -
we believe and understand that these visions and symbolisms refer to real events that will transpire in the future
Other views include -
Preterist view - holds that the events referred to by John’s visions were events in his day, and thus, have already taken place
allegorical view - the visions are all metaphors and allegories
It follows that - the mystery has end-time significance
The “last days” began with the appearing of the Son of Man
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world.
it means that since the day of Pentecost the church was already in the last days
it is “christological” in nature
it is “christological” in nature
Christological means pertaining to or relating to Christ
Christ is at the center of the mystery -
He stands in the midst of the 7 golden lampstands
He holds the 7 stars in His right hand
Christ owns the mystery -
He is the owner of the church - the 7 lampstands
He owns the messengers - the 7 stars
It follows that - the mystery owes its significance to the person and presence of Christ
The meaning of the mystery
The meaning of the mystery
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which 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.
First - the 7 stars are the angels of the 7 churches
First - the 7 stars are the angels of the 7 churches
Angels are God’s messengers
Angel - grk word meaning “messenger”
heavenly angels - messengers to individuals
to Mary
to Zacharias
to John - Rev 1.1 “1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,”
earthly angels - servants of God who deliver Christ’s words to the church
Titus - 2 Cor 8.23
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.
Paul - Galatians 4.14
14 and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition, nor express contempt, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
It follows that -
there is an angel/messenger for every church
these angels are human messenger sent to deliver a specific message from Christ
Second - the 7 lampstands are the 7 churches
Second - the 7 lampstands are the 7 churches
The golden lampstands
they were furnishings in the OT tabernacle and temple in the Holy Place
1 lampstand, 7 lamps - Exo 25.31-32, 37
31 “Then you shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand, its base and its shaft, are to be made of hammered work; its cups, its bulbs, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.
32 Six branches shall go out from its sides; three branches of the lampstand from its one side and three branches of the lampstand from its other side.
37 Then you shall make its lamps seven in number; and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the space in front of it.
2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you mount the lamps, the seven lamps will provide light in the front of the lampstand.’ ”
Therefore, 7 lampstands = 49 lamps
they are kept burning - Lev 24.1-4
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Command the sons of Israel that they bring to you clear oil from beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.
3 Outside the veil of the testimony in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord continually; it shall be a permanent statute throughout your generations.
4 He shall keep the lamps in order on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord continually.
The 7 churches
they were actual cities where churches were established through gospel preaching
these 7 churches represent 7 succeeding times or ages in church history, beginning in the days of the apostles and culminating in the time of the coming of Christ for His church
they were picked by Christ because their spiritual condition in the days of John reflect the spiritual condition of the times or ages they represent
Other views on the Seven Churches (SEE clippings)
JFB commentary
Bullinger's view
John Walvoord’sview
The Seven Church Ages as revealed to WMB
ILLUSTRATION - the Seven Church Ages
The purpose of the mystery
The purpose of the mystery
To reveal the Presence of Christ in the midst of His Church - in the midst of the Church
Showing His ownership
Showing His priestly work - mediatorial
Showing His sovereignty to the church
He knows - “I know your works”
He judges -
He rewards - to him who overcomes…
To reveal the presence of Christ throughout the history of the Church
He walks among the 7 golden lampstands - Rev 2.1
1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
To reveal the spiritual condition of the church from the days of the apostles to the coming of Christ
the church will backslide
the church will entertain strange doctrines
the church will be dominated by a Jezebel spirit
the church will become lukewarm
To reveal the overcomers in every age, despite the apostasy of many
there are those who will overcome the spirit of their time and become part of the raptured saints at Christ’s return!
BECAUSE the Victorious Christ is still in midst of the church guiding the church and helping her in the midst of corrupt christianity!
The relevance of the mystery
The relevance of the mystery
Church history by itself does nothing except provide information and data.
Church history from the biblical point of view can enlighten the heart and mind!
Biblical church history helps us understand how the church departed from apostolic doctrine
Paul’s warnings
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
3 who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.
Biblical church history helps us understand the present problems and perversions in christianity
1 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 No one is to deceive you in any way! For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
Biblical church history helps us understand the need for the church to be restored to apostolic doctrine, experience and power
19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,
21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things, about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.
We believe that the Endtime Message is God’s means of restoring true apostolic doctrine to the church before Christ’s return
Conclusion
Conclusion
The mystery unveils the most important character/person who is in the midst of the Church! Christ is -
it is not always wrong to look behind - IF we are looking for lessons to learn so that we can move forward to a better future
he who holds the 7 stars and walks among the lampstands - Rev 2:1 ““To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:”
IF THE CHURCH DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HER PAST, SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND WHAT GOD IS DOING IN THE PRESENT SO THAT SHE CAN ENJOY THE FUTURE!
he who is the first and the last - Rev. 2:8 ““And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:”
Song - I will sing I will worship you
he who has the two edged sword # Rev 2:12 ““And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:”
he who has eyes of flame - Rev 2:18 ““And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like burnished bronze, says this:”
he who has the 7 spirits and the 7 spirits Rev 3:1 ““To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead.”
he who has the key of David - Rev 3:7 ““And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:”
he who is the faithful and true witness - Rev 3:14 ““To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this:”
Jesus is the reason why the church will overcome in the end!
But not everyone will overcome - only those who remain in unbroken union with Christ
Song - Goodness of God,
All my life you have been faithful…
Your goodness is running after me