Scripture Revelation 1-4 (Read all of this and have seven lit candles - stand behind a different candle while reading each of the letters to the seven churches.)
The
7 stars are the angels of the 7 churches. We have to consider what that means.
On the other hand, the 7 churches is plain, (the literal 7 churches of Western
Asia minor- Ephesus, Smyrna,
Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.) but they are also
symbolic. The church universal. 7 = wholeness of completeness. The whole church
of God.
Candle
sticks KJV vs. Lamp Stands
Made of gold - the most precious metal meaning
that the church is of incredible worth to God and ought to shine with the
purity and holiness of God - like pure gold. 1 Peter 1:15-16 But just as he who called you
is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I
am holy.
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A town
built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put
it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to
everyone in the house. In the same
way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good
deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
In John’s vision, Jesus
Christ stands in the center of the seven lamp stands, in the midst of His
people. Christ is always present with His church. A lampstand is not the light
itself but the bearer of the light. Jesus is the light
of the world (John 8:12),
and, as lampstands,
the church’s mission is to hold that light up for the world to see: “So that
you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked
and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you
hold out the word of life” Philippians 2:15–16.
On top would not be a
candle but an oil lamp - depending on the size of the wick, would give more
light than a candle - even more important is that the oil would allow it to
burn continuously - even refilled while still burning.
Among the more than 200
times that oil is mentioned in the Bible, the connection as a metaphor of the
Holy Spirit’s presence and action is clear in the ritual of anointing prophets,
priests, and kings. For example, when the prophet-judge Samuel anointed David
with oil to be the new king of Israel, the next statement is that “the
Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward” (1 Sam
16:13 nasb).
Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he went around doing good and
healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with
him.
THE TEN VIRGINS
Matthew
25:1-13
At that time the
kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and
went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were
wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with
them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their
lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became
drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight the cry
rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all the virgins
woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough
for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for
yourselves.’
But while they were on
their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready
went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Later the others also
came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t
know you.’
Therefore keep watch,
because you do not know the day or the hour.
The biblical
associations of oil with light in oil lamps is a good fit with the Spirit’s
work to reveal and illuminate God and his word. This meaning also overlaps with
fire, which is another metaphor of the Spirit. If there is no flame - no fire,
no light, what is the point of the oil. It is to allow the flame to burn bright
and long, even as the Hoy Spirit works in the church to make the light of
Christ shine bright and long.
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