The Church Gives Light (Rev. 1:20)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 02/08/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                             Focus:  The Church Gives Light

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Rev 1:20

 

            Message of the verse:  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.  (NAS95)  20 This is the meaning of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.  (NLT)

            Jesus, through the Apostle John, explains what the meaning of the seven stars and the seven golden lampstands are in this verse.  The book of Revelations is full of symbols, and it seems that the best way to study it is to use a good concordance.  There is also significance in numbers and seven is the number for perfection in the Scriptures. 

            Jesus says that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the word means messengers, which is the word that is used for angels many times in the Bible.  Some think it refers to the Pastors or Ministers, but it certainly could mean that God has appointed an angel over each of His Churches.  As for the seven golden lampstands, they refer to the Churches themselves.  Lampstands were used in the Tabernacle of the OT, and lampstands are to produce light, which is what the Church is supposed to do.  In one of the letters to one of the churches Jesus refers to these lampstands, and said that if things did not improve He would remove the lampstand from their midst.  Jesus Christ said the He was the Light of the world, and the Church represents Him on earth, so the Church is suppose to give the light of the Gospel and the light of the truth that is in the Scriptures here on the earth.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The Church is people to whom God has granted salvation too, and as one of them, I too am suppose to give light to those around me.

 

The Word of God has put forth a challenge to me as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  One of the problems that I am facing at work is how to get along with John, who has a very big head.  I would pray that the Lord would give me the wisdom to put up with all of the things that come out of his mouth.