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REVELATION Chapter One - The Message, the Church, Seven Golden Candlesticks, the Seven Churches
Revelation 1:11, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven church’s which are in Asia; Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
Christ’s message and command in Revelation 1:11 was sent and signified to John by an angel, Revelation 1:1, while John was in the Spirit on the Lords Day, Revelation 1:10.
I want to break down chapter one of Revelation for a good understanding of who is bringing this message to John, who the seven stars are, who the seven golden candlesticks are and what they represent, and who the seven churches are – then and today.
Revelation 1:1, the book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus, which God gave to Jesus Christ to show unto his servants. And Jesus SENT and SIGNIFIED it by his angle unto John.
Revelation 1:2, explains that John is God’s servant who bares record of the word of God, the testimony of Jesus Christ, and the things he saw.
There is a hierarchy, and an order of things in the Kingdom of God. The revelation message, that is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, trickled downward: from God to Jesus, from Jesus to the angel, then from the angel to the servant of Jesus Christ on earth, John.
In Revelation 1:4-5, John provides several acknowledgements as to those who the revelation message is for, and who the revelation message is from. First he acknowledges those who the Revelation message is for: the seven churches. Then he acknowledges those who the Revelation message is from: Jesus and the seven spirits before Christ throne. These seven spirits are also the seven stars in Jesus right hand, Revelation 1:16. The seven sprits and seven stars are one in the same and are the angels of the seven churches, Revelation 1:20.
Understanding the hierarchy, and who the message is from and who the message is for will help us to understand, 1) who gave the Revelation message to the angel that brought the message to John, and 2) what is the significance of the seven churches who the message is for.
Who’s bringing the message to John?
There is only one angel that brings Christ’s message to John. Revelation 1:1 says, and he (Christ), sent and signified it (The Revelation of Jesus Christ) by his angel unto his servant John. However, there are seven Spirits who are before Christ’s throne, Revelation 1:4. These seven Spirits are the seven stars in Christ right hand, Revelation 1:16, who are the angles of the seven churches, Revelation 1:20. The seven stars are angles that received the Revelation message from Christ in heaven; and gives Christ’s message regarding the seven churches to the angel who is sent to John.
John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and heard a great voice, as of a trumpet. He heard this great voice speaking to him, saying I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. He heard this voice instruct him to write what he sees in a book, and send it to the seven Churches in Asia, Revelation 1:10. So the entire book of Revelation is to be sent to the seven churches.
In Revelation 1:13, when John turned to see the voice he saw seven golden candlesticks, which are the seven church’s, Revelation 1:20. He also saw one like unto the Son of Man, Christ. And Christ also had in his right hand seven stars, Rev 1:16, which the stars are the angels of the seven churches.
The angel that brought the message to John acknowledges the seven angels of each of the seven churches in Revelation Chapter 2 and 3. The angle that is sent to John, acknowledges out of respect, the seven angels, that is, the seven stars, who are in Christ right hand. The first church acknowledged is Ephesus. Revelation 2:1, ”Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write…” The angle sent to John first acknowledges the angel of the Church of Ephesus, and then proceeds to tell John to write what the angel in Christ right hand says. What the angle says to John is the message he received from the angel of the Church of Ephesus, who received it from Christ. As the angle that is communicating with John introduces each of the stars (angels) over a particular church, he continues his respect and acknowledgement of each angle just before he tells John to write the message that was relayed to him from the other angels. The acknowledgements are in Revelation 2:1, Revelation 2:8, Revelation 2:12, Revelation 2:18, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:7, and Revelation 3:14.
So, the message to the seven churches is from God to Christ. Then from Christ to the seven angels. Then from the seven angels to the angel sent from heaven to John.
The Seven Churches
The seven churches were formed in the same geographical location of Apostle Pauls’ birth, Asia Minor, now called Turkey, which is the spiritual foundation of the temple of God on earth. The first church that was established by Paul, was Ephesus. The other six churches came later. All seven churches make up the seven golden candlesticks which is where the gospel and the body of Christ was established. The light of the gospel spread from these seven churches and that light continues to spread throughout all the world today and will continue until Christ returns.
Asia Minor, where the seven churches were formed, is where the gospel spread from mightily, Acts. 19. Christ established literal churches to bring the church (believers) under, and he appointed angels over each church. It does not matter how many years or centuries, or generation go by, all those who come to Christ based on the gospel, that is the saints, fall under these churches, which were established over two thousand years ago, and thus are called the Church of Christ.
Although there were problems that Christ addressed throughout the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, it does not change the fact that the seven churches were established by Christ to be the seven golden candlesticks to bring the light of Christ to the world, which is after the same patter as the seven golden candlesticks in the temple mount under Moses, Exodus 25:37-40, which stayed lit continually.
Seven Golden Candlesticks, the temple of God, and the light of the gospel
Each church represents a golden candlestick, and those seven churches, or those seven golden candlesticks are in the midst of the body of Christ, the saints, who are called the Church. Because the saints make up the Church, being of one Spirit, one Lord, one God, they are all of one body, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14. The totality of the saints, which make up the Church, is the temple of God, 1 Corinthians 3:16, and in the midst of the temple are the seven golden candlesticks, the seven churches, whose light of the gospel never goes out.
2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
God dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the temple under the Old Testament, where the priest would come behind the veil once a year to offer sacrifices for the sins of Israel. At the exact time Christ died on the cross, the temple’s veil was rent, Matthew 27:50-51. The renting of the veil after Christ’s death on the cross indicated that there would be no more temple sacrifices for the sins of the people of Israel, and that God would no longer communicated with the Levite Priests on their behalf because now the testator, Jesus Christ, has died, and upon the death of the testator, there is now brought in a new testament, Hebrews 9:16, says, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator, 17, “For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
In order for God to communicate with man there must be a temple. In the old temple under the Old Testament, there were seven golden candlesticks that were lit continually. And because now the physical temple under the Old Testament ended at the death of Christ on the cross, how would God continue to communicate with man on earth? The seven churches are the seven golden candlesticks in the midst of the temple of God, which is now the Church, which brings light to the world. The Church is comprised of all saints, which all are one body, having one Spirit, one Lord, one God, one Father, one faith, and one baptism, Ephesians. 4:4-6.
Although the churches in Asia Minor no longer physically exist, their light is still lit because the gospel message preached from those seven churches, which are the seven golden candlesticks, over 2000 years ago, light the way of the saints, who are the temple of God, and that light, the light of Christ, spreads throughout the world, in the hearts of men and stays lit continually for the gospel to be preached throughout the world converting souls: Matthew 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is on an hill cannot be hid, Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts…,” 2 Corinthians 4:4, “…Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them,” Ephesians 5:8, “…but now are ye light in the Lord,” Ephesians 5:14, …”Awake thou that sleepiest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light...” Colossians 1:12, “Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,” 2 Peter 2:9, …”But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…”
Revelation 1:11, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven church’s which are in Asia; Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
Christ’s message and command in Revelation 1:11 was sent and signified to John by an angel, Revelation 1:1, while John was in the Spirit on the Lords Day, Revelation 1:10.
I want to break down chapter one of Revelation for a good understanding of who is bringing this message to John, who the seven stars are, who the seven golden candlesticks are and what they represent, and who the seven churches are – then and today.
Revelation 1:1, the book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus, which God gave to Jesus Christ to show unto his servants. And Jesus SENT and SIGNIFIED it by his angle unto John.
Revelation 1:2, explains that John is God’s servant who bares record of the word of God, the testimony of Jesus Christ, and the things he saw.
There is a hierarchy, and an order of things in the Kingdom of God. The revelation message, that is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, trickled downward: from God to Jesus, from Jesus to the angel, then from the angel to the servant of Jesus Christ on earth, John.
In Revelation 1:4-5, John provides several acknowledgements as to those who the revelation message is for, and who the revelation message is from. First he acknowledges those who the Revelation message is for: the seven churches. Then he acknowledges those who the Revelation message is from: Jesus and the seven spirits before Christ throne. These seven spirits are also the seven stars in Jesus right hand, Revelation 1:16. The seven sprits and seven stars are one in the same and are the angels of the seven churches, Revelation 1:20.
Understanding the hierarchy, and who the message is from and who the message is for will help us to understand, 1) who gave the Revelation message to the angel that brought the message to John, and 2) what is the significance of the seven churches who the message is for.
Who’s bringing the message to John?
There is only one angel that brings Christ’s message to John. Revelation 1:1 says, and he (Christ), sent and signified it (The Revelation of Jesus Christ) by his angel unto his servant John. However, there are seven Spirits who are before Christ’s throne, Revelation 1:4. These seven Spirits are the seven stars in Christ right hand, Revelation 1:16, who are the angles of the seven churches, Revelation 1:20. The seven stars are angles that received the Revelation message from Christ in heaven; and gives Christ’s message regarding the seven churches to the angel who is sent to John.
John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and heard a great voice, as of a trumpet. He heard this great voice speaking to him, saying I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. He heard this voice instruct him to write what he sees in a book, and send it to the seven Churches in Asia, Revelation 1:10. So the entire book of Revelation is to be sent to the seven churches.
In Revelation 1:13, when John turned to see the voice he saw seven golden candlesticks, which are the seven church’s, Revelation 1:20. He also saw one like unto the Son of Man, Christ. And Christ also had in his right hand seven stars, Rev 1:16, which the stars are the angels of the seven churches.
The angel that brought the message to John acknowledges the seven angels of each of the seven churches in Revelation Chapter 2 and 3. The angle that is sent to John, acknowledges out of respect, the seven angels, that is, the seven stars, who are in Christ right hand. The first church acknowledged is Ephesus. Revelation 2:1, ”Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write…” The angle sent to John first acknowledges the angel of the Church of Ephesus, and then proceeds to tell John to write what the angel in Christ right hand says. What the angle says to John is the message he received from the angel of the Church of Ephesus, who received it from Christ. As the angle that is communicating with John introduces each of the stars (angels) over a particular church, he continues his respect and acknowledgement of each angle just before he tells John to write the message that was relayed to him from the other angels. The acknowledgements are in Revelation 2:1, Revelation 2:8, Revelation 2:12, Revelation 2:18, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:7, and Revelation 3:14.
So, the message to the seven churches is from God to Christ. Then from Christ to the seven angels. Then from the seven angels to the angel sent from heaven to John.
The Seven Churches
The seven churches were formed in the same geographical location of Apostle Pauls’ birth, Asia Minor, now called Turkey, which is the spiritual foundation of the temple of God on earth. The first church that was established by Paul, was Ephesus. The other six churches came later. All seven churches make up the seven golden candlesticks which is where the gospel and the body of Christ was established. The light of the gospel spread from these seven churches and that light continues to spread throughout all the world today and will continue until Christ returns.
Asia Minor, where the seven churches were formed, is where the gospel spread from mightily, Acts. 19. Christ established literal churches to bring the church (believers) under, and he appointed angels over each church. It does not matter how many years or centuries, or generation go by, all those who come to Christ based on the gospel, that is the saints, fall under these churches, which were established over two thousand years ago, and thus are called the Church of Christ.
Although there were problems that Christ addressed throughout the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, it does not change the fact that the seven churches were established by Christ to be the seven golden candlesticks to bring the light of Christ to the world, which is after the same patter as the seven golden candlesticks in the temple mount under Moses, Exodus 25:37-40, which stayed lit continually.
Seven Golden Candlesticks, the temple of God, and the light of the gospel
Each church represents a golden candlestick, and those seven churches, or those seven golden candlesticks are in the midst of the body of Christ, the saints, who are called the Church. Because the saints make up the Church, being of one Spirit, one Lord, one God, they are all of one body, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14. The totality of the saints, which make up the Church, is the temple of God, 1 Corinthians 3:16, and in the midst of the temple are the seven golden candlesticks, the seven churches, whose light of the gospel never goes out.
2 Corinthians 6:16 says, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
God dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the temple under the Old Testament, where the priest would come behind the veil once a year to offer sacrifices for the sins of Israel. At the exact time Christ died on the cross, the temple’s veil was rent, Matthew 27:50-51. The renting of the veil after Christ’s death on the cross indicated that there would be no more temple sacrifices for the sins of the people of Israel, and that God would no longer communicated with the Levite Priests on their behalf because now the testator, Jesus Christ, has died, and upon the death of the testator, there is now brought in a new testament, Hebrews 9:16, says, “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator, 17, “For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
In order for God to communicate with man there must be a temple. In the old temple under the Old Testament, there were seven golden candlesticks that were lit continually. And because now the physical temple under the Old Testament ended at the death of Christ on the cross, how would God continue to communicate with man on earth? The seven churches are the seven golden candlesticks in the midst of the temple of God, which is now the Church, which brings light to the world. The Church is comprised of all saints, which all are one body, having one Spirit, one Lord, one God, one Father, one faith, and one baptism, Ephesians. 4:4-6.
Although the churches in Asia Minor no longer physically exist, their light is still lit because the gospel message preached from those seven churches, which are the seven golden candlesticks, over 2000 years ago, light the way of the saints, who are the temple of God, and that light, the light of Christ, spreads throughout the world, in the hearts of men and stays lit continually for the gospel to be preached throughout the world converting souls: Matthew 5:14-16, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is on an hill cannot be hid, Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts…,” 2 Corinthians 4:4, “…Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them,” Ephesians 5:8, “…but now are ye light in the Lord,” Ephesians 5:14, …”Awake thou that sleepiest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light...” Colossians 1:12, “Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,” 2 Peter 2:9, …”But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…”
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