And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Turning to find the trumpet-like voice speaking behind him, John was shown seven golden lampstands which are the seven churches in Asia and in their perfect number all the churches in the world. Standing in their midst was the risen Lord Himself in personal, glorified form, robed as priest with white hair, flaming eyes, burnished feet, voice as many waters, seven stars in His right hand and countenance as the sun. His standing and walking among the lampstands shows His constant communion, wakeful vigilance and sustaining care, supplying oil and light to churches that have no light of their own. The sight was given to John in old age in exile on desolate Patmos, in the Spirit on the holy Sabbath, when cut off from companions and labor yet not cut off from God, to open before him the future of the church and the world. It begins the revelation of Christ as He will appear in power and great glory in the last days, carrying an earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord and a call to receive His light and pass it on to those in darkness.
Vision Setting on Patmos
John in old age was banished to the desolate Isle of Patmos for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus and for fidelity to his Saviour. The banishment came by men moved by Satan to persecute faithful witnesses, at a time of fierce persecution and great darkness when Satan seemed to triumph over God's faithful witnesses and outwardly triumphed in exiling him. He was separated from his companions in the faith and cut off from his gospel labors and from the society of brethren, deprived by his exilers yet with God's unseen hand placing him where a more wonderful revelation could be given. Yet he was not separated from the presence of God and not left without the light and revelation of Christ, so that the desolate place of his exile became to him the gate of heaven and barren Patmos was made a heaven by light shining richly from Christ to His servant. This was more than half a century after leaning on the bosom of his Lord whom he loved and delighted to honor above all others, and there he beheld the glorified person of his Lord in His glorified humanity, Christ as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and the Lion of the tribe of Judah soon to ride forth conquering and to conquer.
He was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, the holy Sabbath blessed and set apart by God as His own. That day is the Sabbath instituted in Eden as a perpetual sign and covenant that the Lord sanctifies His people, which John treasured while claiming God's promises. While in that state on the Sabbath he was visited by the heavenly messenger and heard behind him a great voice as of a trumpet.
The voice was that of the One he honored and loved, declaring I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. It commanded what he saw to be written in a book and sent to the seven churches in Asia — unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Turning in holy vision to see the voice that spoke with him behind him, he saw seven golden candlesticks, with one like unto the Son of man standing in their midst.
This turning toward the speaker began his impression of his Lord, by which Christ opened to him the future of the church and of the world. That vision and command were not for John alone nor for those churches alone, but through those churches the inspired message was to come to God's people with powerful impression in every age to the close of this earth's history.
Christ Appearing in Glory
Turning, John saw one like the Son of man standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, and this was his encounter on Patmos with the risen, glorified Lord appearing among them in personal form, not as an essence. His coming personally to John is clearly set forth in the first chapter, and His appearance is evidence that He is risen and alive and gives living power to the church. He appeared in glory clothed with a long priestly garment down to the foot and girt about with a golden girdle. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, His eyes as a flame of fire, His feet like fine brass burned in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters. Seven stars were in His right hand, a sharp two-edged sword went out of His mouth, and His countenance was as the sun shining in strength.
He touched John and declared Himself the first and the last, He that lives and was dead and is alive forevermore, having the keys of hell and of death. He laid His right hand upon John, saying Fear not, and commanded him to write the things which he had seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. The glory was too great for human strength to endure, so that John fell at His feet as dead, but Christ revived and strengthened him to endure the sight. The sight is part of the revelation of Christ to John, a wonderful, dignified, exalted, solemn message received while John was worked by the Holy Spirit, with Christ Himself coming from heaven to tell him what to write. Presenting that message with decided emphasis demands all the talents and capabilities God has given, and every word in the chapter carries weight and deserves careful attention.
The majesty, glory, preciousness, and love of Jesus thus revealed is now dimly seen, little realized, and imperfectly experienced. It must be sought by faith on earth with prayer to be shown His glory, for if the Redeemer's glory is not seen by faith on earth it will never be seen in its fullness in heaven above.
Seven Golden Candlesticks
When he turned to see the voice speaking with him, what John saw was seven golden candlesticks, also called seven gold lampstands, and those candlesticks are the seven churches. They are the seven churches in Asia to which he was commanded to write what he saw in a book, unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. The number seven represents a perfect whole, and these seven represent all the churches in the world.
The sight belongs to a mystery unfolded rather than a sealed book, given to be understood concerning the scenes to take place in the last days of this earth's history. It is presented with words of explanation that give what is of greatest importance for the present and reaches from time into eternity.
Christ Walking Among Churches
Christ stands in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks and walks among them, and His walking signifies constant communication, relation and communion with His people as well as untiring wakefulness and unremitting vigilance. The candlesticks are His churches, and He goes from church to church, from congregation to congregation, from soul to soul. Though He is High Priest and Mediator in the sanctuary above and amid the glory of the holy sanctuary, He is also present with the churches on earth, so that His divine presence is in churches everywhere and heaven is closely connected with events on earth.
He knows the true state and condition of each church and observes its order, vigilance, piety and devotion, watching whether the light of any sentinel is burning dim or going out even when under-shepherds sleep or become occupied with lesser matters. As the True Witness He sees their spiritual condition and bears a solemn message, so that the church that leaves its first love must repent and return to its first works or its candlestick will be removed. He is the true Watchman in the Lord's house and the true Warden of the temple courts, whose continued watchcare and sustaining grace are the source of the churches' life and light, for left to mere human care the flickering flame would languish and die.
The churches do not shine by their own power, for Christ supplies the oil and kindles their lamps, and all their light comes from Him. He is their source of light and spiritual power, takes pleasure in them, and remains among them to help, comfort, support and strengthen them. He holds the seven stars in His right hand and intends His light to shine through them to the world. The stars are His ministers under His special care and protection, known by number and by name and greater in blessing to the church than stars are to the world, who serve as instruments through His grace and the Holy Spirit to make known His will, direct their work as laborers together with Him, and carry the last message of mercy with His abiding presence to the end of the world.
With the following verse the scene presents Christ standing among them as Saviour actively ministering for His people, as the angel stood for Joshua on the day of atonement. Clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the breast with a golden girdle, He stands as Redeemer against Satan the adversary who accuses His people as transgressors of the law, and His work there is the same as Joshua the high priest's work on the day of atonement in behalf of the children of Israel, ministering as Sin-bearer and Substitute who takes away the sin of the repentant, believing transgressor and cannot Himself be accused. In Him is seen the mercy, tenderness and love of God blending with holiness, justice and power, so that mercy and truth meet together and righteousness and peace kiss each other, sinners find in Him a Father of whom their sins had made them afraid, and instead of fleeing from God because of sin they flee to His arms for protection and pardon, and the throne terrible in unbelief becomes a place of refuge in repentance. As God's gift endowing human beings with imperishable riches, the mighty Redeemer who belongs to His people by creation and redemption and who is full of love and assurance, He is to be clung to and come to without fear of being cast out, and not dishonored by turning from His promises to seek help from human beings or to trace words of doubt against Him.
Though the church is enfeebled and defective, it is the object of His supreme regard, and He constantly watches over it with tender solicitude, caring for and working to sanctify and ennoble His followers and strengthening it by His Holy Spirit. The vision shows how great is God's care for those who are loyal to Him: the world is not without a ruler, the program of coming events is in the hands of the Lord, and the Majesty of heaven has the destiny of nations as well as the concerns of His church in His own charge, so that God's servants in great emergency are not to trust to themselves.
Prophecy of Last Days
The turning to see the voice opens the revelation of God as He will appear when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. It belongs to the mystery unfolded, not a sealed book, given to be understood concerning the scenes to take place in the last days of this earth's history, when the enemy will bring in every deceptive design. What was seen was a personal being, not an essence, one like the Son of man standing in the midst of seven golden candlesticks, which are the seven churches. Christ visited the aged John on the Isle of Patmos to give this revelation of what should be in the last days; John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind him a great voice as of a trumpet, declaring Himself Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, and commanding what he saw to be written in a book and sent to the seven churches. The same revelation concerns the last days of earth's history.
It was given just before God opened to John the history of the church for future ages, to assure him of the Saviour's interest and care for His people, with Christ seen as One like unto the Son of man walking among the candlesticks which symbolize the seven churches. More than half a century after leaning on the bosom of his Lord, while banished to Patmos for fidelity to his Saviour, John turned toward the voice and beheld the glorified person of his Lord, Christ as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and the Lion of the tribe of Judah soon to ride forth conquering and to conquer, and this turning began his impression of his Lord by which the future of the church and of the world was opened to him. The revelation is light and solemn truth revealed by Jesus Christ for the world, including truths about events before Christ's second coming. In that meeting during exile the vision showed John the future extending to Christ's coming and revealed the glories of the heavenly home.
The first three chapters in which the turning stands give an earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven, for He comes with power and great glory, rebuking indifference to the signs foretold by Christ and giving evidence that the end of the world is right upon us. Heeding the message Christ came from heaven to give John is a present duty. Those first, second, and third chapters contain the messages to the churches, which give the history of Satan's effort to bring dissension into the church and apply to difficulties that must be met today.
What John saw was Christ's second advent beheld in the days of the early Christians, when He came to the Isle of Patmos and revealed Himself in glory to John, distinct from His first advent as an infant at Bethlehem. The glory caused John to fall at Christ's feet as dead, but Christ strengthened him to endure the sight, then gave him a message to write to the churches of Asia, whose names describe the characteristics of every church. The light of this revelation is for the present time and must be read, understood, and proclaimed with no uncertain sound to warn the world. The entire revelation given to John was already rehearsed by Moses in the Exodus and in the plagues brought upon Egypt, with no contradiction in the Word of God, so the verse stands in full harmony with the Exodus account and Scripture can only be tested by Scripture.
In this appearance Christ came to reveal heavenly mysteries, and through prayerful study the book gives a final warning message to the world and helps readers understand Christ's position and His relation to God and humanity.
Assurance and Calling
God's unseen hand placed His servant on lonely Patmos where enemies thought to extinguish the light, that Christ might give him a more wonderful revelation of Himself and His glory to give to the world, preparing him to endure hatred and scorn for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus and turning the effort to silence truth into its bold relief. He leads His children by a way they know not, yet does not forget or cast off those who trust Him, permitting trials to teach submission, patience and faith, so that by constancy and obedience they are spiritually enriched and their example strengthens others, with the severest trials that make it seem He has forsaken leading closer to Christ to lay burdens at His feet and receive His peace in exchange.
That same Jesus who visited John will visit isolated believers in their own island home, so that though cut off from the world by the broad ocean they are not alone but have with them His all-sufficient and all-powerful presence. Light from the Son of God shone upon barren Patmos and made it heaven to the lonely exile, and if believers keep close to Jesus their home will be honored by the divine presence found by all who call upon Him with griefs and troubles large or small. Christ still reveals Himself to His chosen ones in prison and is with them even at the stake and in the fire, His appearance to John being evidence that He is risen and gives living power to the church. When dark clouds of oppression surround God's people the most instructive lessons are given and the most brilliant beams of glory are revealed in the deepest gloom, for as stars shine brightest in the darkest night so the beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine most clear and impressive when the sky is darkest.
The first chapter containing the turning to see the voice and the seven golden lampstands which are the churches with Christ in their midst is to be studied carefully and prayerfully and kept in heart and mind instead of filling the mind with trashy stories and worthless reading. It is to be taught to those unacquainted with the truth in camp-meetings and to be studied, believed and preached today with its light not hidden, since the number seven denotes a perfect whole and the seven churches represent all the churches in the world. Its message helps believers understand how to escape the perils of the last days and where to place dependence, in God and not in human beings, upon wholehearted love for God and love for neighbor on which the law and the prophets depend. Members should allow Him to impress their minds and work through them to His glory, heed and obey the messages He gives to make certain their redemption, and determine to be among those who meet Him with joy at His coming and not among those who shall wail because of Him.
The churches do not shine by their own power, for Christ supplies the oil and kindles their lamps and all their light comes from Him. The church receives this divine light and must pass that light and glory on to people in darkness, for receiving light without sharing it leaves a person in darkness and makes the church a receptacle of darkness. As the True Witness present among the candlesticks He walks among them, sees their spiritual condition and bears a solemn message, and the church that leaves its first love must repent and return to its first works or its candlestick will be removed. He ministers to servants who bear the message of heaven, the truth for this time, so reconverted members are to proclaim that truth with lips touched with a live coal from the divine altar and to help ministers by prayer and faith instead of criticizing and censuring them.
Turning to find the trumpet-like voice speaking behind him, John was shown seven golden lampstands which are the seven churches in Asia and in their perfect number all the churches in the world. Standing in their midst was the risen Lord Himself in personal, glorified form, robed as priest with white hair, flaming eyes, burnished feet, voice as many waters, seven stars in His right hand and countenance as the sun. His standing and walking among the lampstands shows His constant communion, wakeful vigilance and sustaining care, supplying oil and light to churches that have no light of their own. The sight was given to John in old age in exile on desolate Patmos, in the Spirit on the holy Sabbath, when cut off from companions and labor yet not cut off from God, to open before him the future of the church and the world. It begins the revelation of Christ as He will appear in power and great glory in the last days, carrying an earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord and a call to receive His light and pass it on to those in darkness.
Vision Setting on Patmos
John in old age was banished to the desolate Isle of Patmos for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus and for fidelity to his Saviour. The banishment came by men moved by Satan to persecute faithful witnesses, at a time of fierce persecution and great darkness when Satan seemed to triumph over God's faithful witnesses and outwardly triumphed in exiling him. He was separated from his companions in the faith and cut off from his gospel labors and from the society of brethren, deprived by his exilers yet with God's unseen hand placing him where a more wonderful revelation could be given. Yet he was not separated from the presence of God and not left without the light and revelation of Christ, so that the desolate place of his exile became to him the gate of heaven and barren Patmos was made a heaven by light shining richly from Christ to His servant. This was more than half a century after leaning on the bosom of his Lord whom he loved and delighted to honor above all others, and there he beheld the glorified person of his Lord in His glorified humanity, Christ as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and the Lion of the tribe of Judah soon to ride forth conquering and to conquer.
He was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, the holy Sabbath blessed and set apart by God as His own. That day is the Sabbath instituted in Eden as a perpetual sign and covenant that the Lord sanctifies His people, which John treasured while claiming God's promises. While in that state on the Sabbath he was visited by the heavenly messenger and heard behind him a great voice as of a trumpet.
The voice was that of the One he honored and loved, declaring I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. It commanded what he saw to be written in a book and sent to the seven churches in Asia — unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Turning in holy vision to see the voice that spoke with him behind him, he saw seven golden candlesticks, with one like unto the Son of man standing in their midst.
This turning toward the speaker began his impression of his Lord, by which Christ opened to him the future of the church and of the world. That vision and command were not for John alone nor for those churches alone, but through those churches the inspired message was to come to God's people with powerful impression in every age to the close of this earth's history.
Christ Appearing in Glory
Turning, John saw one like the Son of man standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, and this was his encounter on Patmos with the risen, glorified Lord appearing among them in personal form, not as an essence. His coming personally to John is clearly set forth in the first chapter, and His appearance is evidence that He is risen and alive and gives living power to the church. He appeared in glory clothed with a long priestly garment down to the foot and girt about with a golden girdle. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, His eyes as a flame of fire, His feet like fine brass burned in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters. Seven stars were in His right hand, a sharp two-edged sword went out of His mouth, and His countenance was as the sun shining in strength.
He touched John and declared Himself the first and the last, He that lives and was dead and is alive forevermore, having the keys of hell and of death. He laid His right hand upon John, saying Fear not, and commanded him to write the things which he had seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. The glory was too great for human strength to endure, so that John fell at His feet as dead, but Christ revived and strengthened him to endure the sight. The sight is part of the revelation of Christ to John, a wonderful, dignified, exalted, solemn message received while John was worked by the Holy Spirit, with Christ Himself coming from heaven to tell him what to write. Presenting that message with decided emphasis demands all the talents and capabilities God has given, and every word in the chapter carries weight and deserves careful attention.
The majesty, glory, preciousness, and love of Jesus thus revealed is now dimly seen, little realized, and imperfectly experienced. It must be sought by faith on earth with prayer to be shown His glory, for if the Redeemer's glory is not seen by faith on earth it will never be seen in its fullness in heaven above.
Seven Golden Candlesticks
When he turned to see the voice speaking with him, what John saw was seven golden candlesticks, also called seven gold lampstands, and those candlesticks are the seven churches. They are the seven churches in Asia to which he was commanded to write what he saw in a book, unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. The number seven represents a perfect whole, and these seven represent all the churches in the world.
The sight belongs to a mystery unfolded rather than a sealed book, given to be understood concerning the scenes to take place in the last days of this earth's history. It is presented with words of explanation that give what is of greatest importance for the present and reaches from time into eternity.
Christ Walking Among Churches
Christ stands in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks and walks among them, and His walking signifies constant communication, relation and communion with His people as well as untiring wakefulness and unremitting vigilance. The candlesticks are His churches, and He goes from church to church, from congregation to congregation, from soul to soul. Though He is High Priest and Mediator in the sanctuary above and amid the glory of the holy sanctuary, He is also present with the churches on earth, so that His divine presence is in churches everywhere and heaven is closely connected with events on earth.
He knows the true state and condition of each church and observes its order, vigilance, piety and devotion, watching whether the light of any sentinel is burning dim or going out even when under-shepherds sleep or become occupied with lesser matters. As the True Witness He sees their spiritual condition and bears a solemn message, so that the church that leaves its first love must repent and return to its first works or its candlestick will be removed. He is the true Watchman in the Lord's house and the true Warden of the temple courts, whose continued watchcare and sustaining grace are the source of the churches' life and light, for left to mere human care the flickering flame would languish and die.
The churches do not shine by their own power, for Christ supplies the oil and kindles their lamps, and all their light comes from Him. He is their source of light and spiritual power, takes pleasure in them, and remains among them to help, comfort, support and strengthen them. He holds the seven stars in His right hand and intends His light to shine through them to the world. The stars are His ministers under His special care and protection, known by number and by name and greater in blessing to the church than stars are to the world, who serve as instruments through His grace and the Holy Spirit to make known His will, direct their work as laborers together with Him, and carry the last message of mercy with His abiding presence to the end of the world.
With the following verse the scene presents Christ standing among them as Saviour actively ministering for His people, as the angel stood for Joshua on the day of atonement. Clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the breast with a golden girdle, He stands as Redeemer against Satan the adversary who accuses His people as transgressors of the law, and His work there is the same as Joshua the high priest's work on the day of atonement in behalf of the children of Israel, ministering as Sin-bearer and Substitute who takes away the sin of the repentant, believing transgressor and cannot Himself be accused. In Him is seen the mercy, tenderness and love of God blending with holiness, justice and power, so that mercy and truth meet together and righteousness and peace kiss each other, sinners find in Him a Father of whom their sins had made them afraid, and instead of fleeing from God because of sin they flee to His arms for protection and pardon, and the throne terrible in unbelief becomes a place of refuge in repentance. As God's gift endowing human beings with imperishable riches, the mighty Redeemer who belongs to His people by creation and redemption and who is full of love and assurance, He is to be clung to and come to without fear of being cast out, and not dishonored by turning from His promises to seek help from human beings or to trace words of doubt against Him.
Though the church is enfeebled and defective, it is the object of His supreme regard, and He constantly watches over it with tender solicitude, caring for and working to sanctify and ennoble His followers and strengthening it by His Holy Spirit. The vision shows how great is God's care for those who are loyal to Him: the world is not without a ruler, the program of coming events is in the hands of the Lord, and the Majesty of heaven has the destiny of nations as well as the concerns of His church in His own charge, so that God's servants in great emergency are not to trust to themselves.
Prophecy of Last Days
The turning to see the voice opens the revelation of God as He will appear when He comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. It belongs to the mystery unfolded, not a sealed book, given to be understood concerning the scenes to take place in the last days of this earth's history, when the enemy will bring in every deceptive design. What was seen was a personal being, not an essence, one like the Son of man standing in the midst of seven golden candlesticks, which are the seven churches. Christ visited the aged John on the Isle of Patmos to give this revelation of what should be in the last days; John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind him a great voice as of a trumpet, declaring Himself Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, and commanding what he saw to be written in a book and sent to the seven churches. The same revelation concerns the last days of earth's history.
It was given just before God opened to John the history of the church for future ages, to assure him of the Saviour's interest and care for His people, with Christ seen as One like unto the Son of man walking among the candlesticks which symbolize the seven churches. More than half a century after leaning on the bosom of his Lord, while banished to Patmos for fidelity to his Saviour, John turned toward the voice and beheld the glorified person of his Lord, Christ as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and the Lion of the tribe of Judah soon to ride forth conquering and to conquer, and this turning began his impression of his Lord by which the future of the church and of the world was opened to him. The revelation is light and solemn truth revealed by Jesus Christ for the world, including truths about events before Christ's second coming. In that meeting during exile the vision showed John the future extending to Christ's coming and revealed the glories of the heavenly home.
The first three chapters in which the turning stands give an earnest warning to prepare to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven, for He comes with power and great glory, rebuking indifference to the signs foretold by Christ and giving evidence that the end of the world is right upon us. Heeding the message Christ came from heaven to give John is a present duty. Those first, second, and third chapters contain the messages to the churches, which give the history of Satan's effort to bring dissension into the church and apply to difficulties that must be met today.
What John saw was Christ's second advent beheld in the days of the early Christians, when He came to the Isle of Patmos and revealed Himself in glory to John, distinct from His first advent as an infant at Bethlehem. The glory caused John to fall at Christ's feet as dead, but Christ strengthened him to endure the sight, then gave him a message to write to the churches of Asia, whose names describe the characteristics of every church. The light of this revelation is for the present time and must be read, understood, and proclaimed with no uncertain sound to warn the world. The entire revelation given to John was already rehearsed by Moses in the Exodus and in the plagues brought upon Egypt, with no contradiction in the Word of God, so the verse stands in full harmony with the Exodus account and Scripture can only be tested by Scripture.
In this appearance Christ came to reveal heavenly mysteries, and through prayerful study the book gives a final warning message to the world and helps readers understand Christ's position and His relation to God and humanity.
Assurance and Calling
God's unseen hand placed His servant on lonely Patmos where enemies thought to extinguish the light, that Christ might give him a more wonderful revelation of Himself and His glory to give to the world, preparing him to endure hatred and scorn for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus and turning the effort to silence truth into its bold relief. He leads His children by a way they know not, yet does not forget or cast off those who trust Him, permitting trials to teach submission, patience and faith, so that by constancy and obedience they are spiritually enriched and their example strengthens others, with the severest trials that make it seem He has forsaken leading closer to Christ to lay burdens at His feet and receive His peace in exchange.
That same Jesus who visited John will visit isolated believers in their own island home, so that though cut off from the world by the broad ocean they are not alone but have with them His all-sufficient and all-powerful presence. Light from the Son of God shone upon barren Patmos and made it heaven to the lonely exile, and if believers keep close to Jesus their home will be honored by the divine presence found by all who call upon Him with griefs and troubles large or small. Christ still reveals Himself to His chosen ones in prison and is with them even at the stake and in the fire, His appearance to John being evidence that He is risen and gives living power to the church. When dark clouds of oppression surround God's people the most instructive lessons are given and the most brilliant beams of glory are revealed in the deepest gloom, for as stars shine brightest in the darkest night so the beams of the Sun of Righteousness shine most clear and impressive when the sky is darkest.
The first chapter containing the turning to see the voice and the seven golden lampstands which are the churches with Christ in their midst is to be studied carefully and prayerfully and kept in heart and mind instead of filling the mind with trashy stories and worthless reading. It is to be taught to those unacquainted with the truth in camp-meetings and to be studied, believed and preached today with its light not hidden, since the number seven denotes a perfect whole and the seven churches represent all the churches in the world. Its message helps believers understand how to escape the perils of the last days and where to place dependence, in God and not in human beings, upon wholehearted love for God and love for neighbor on which the law and the prophets depend. Members should allow Him to impress their minds and work through them to His glory, heed and obey the messages He gives to make certain their redemption, and determine to be among those who meet Him with joy at His coming and not among those who shall wail because of Him.
The churches do not shine by their own power, for Christ supplies the oil and kindles their lamps and all their light comes from Him. The church receives this divine light and must pass that light and glory on to people in darkness, for receiving light without sharing it leaves a person in darkness and makes the church a receptacle of darkness. As the True Witness present among the candlesticks He walks among them, sees their spiritual condition and bears a solemn message, and the church that leaves its first love must repent and return to its first works or its candlestick will be removed. He ministers to servants who bear the message of heaven, the truth for this time, so reconverted members are to proclaim that truth with lips touched with a live coal from the divine altar and to help ministers by prayer and faith instead of criticizing and censuring them.