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12/10 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 10; Revelation 1; Zephaniah 2; Luke 24
Revelation 1:12
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
CHURCH
When John turned after hearing the voice who said, “I am the Alpha and Omega” (Rev 1:8), the first thing he saw was seven golden lampstands. John heard the voice of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:11, 17), and the golden lampstands he saw are the seven churches (Rev 1:20) the Lord addresses in verse 11. Before Christ came, the voice of God was heard through the prophets, but in the last days He has spoken through His Son (Heb 1:1-2). Since Christ’s ascension, and having sent the Holy Spirit, when Christ speaks the first thing seen by those who hear is His beloved church. When the truth of His church is seen, truly and correctly through spiritual eyes, then the Lord Jesus Christ is seen standing in the midst of His beloved church (Rev 1:13), a church for which He has bled and died (Eph 5:25). John describes the spiritual unity which exists between Jesus Christ and His church. If Christ’s voice is not heard from the church, or if He is not seen standing in the midst of His church, spiritually speaking, it is not truly His beloved church, but an unholy imitation.
In John’s vision, he also describes the purity and holiness of the church as it is defined in character by being made of gold. The seven-branched lampstand from the tabernacle was made of pure, beaten gold (Num 8:4). Likewise, Christ’s church is made of pure, beaten gold. If those assembled call themselves the “church” and they are not holy, it is not Christ’s beloved church. This unity and purity exist because of Christ’s eternal presence in His church; and His presence dwells in the midst of His church because of who He is and what He has done. In other words, our existence as a church is only a reality because of the truth of God’s Word fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:13-16). The verity in Christ, and the unity through Christ, and the purity by Christ is what makes the church glorious unto Christ until He comes again. If these three elements do not exist, the gathering in His name becomes nothing more than a sentimental meeting— it is not the church the Lord Jesus has purchased with His supreme sacrifice.
