A Message to the Seven Churches
“1:12-17 “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:” (Revelation 1:12-3:22).
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ohn “turned” to see the vision of the churches and the Son of Man in their midst. They were “behind him” and out of necessity he turned to see them. He says, “and being turned, I…” Thus, we know that the seven churches and the Day of the Lord were in existence in the vision, when the Spirit transported John forward into the Day of the Lord.
John saw seven golden candlesticks and the High Priestly Son of Man in their midst. Luke tells us that during the Acts period, “a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). These priests and many others like them formed the Hebrew Church. They found that there was no place for them at Jerusalem in the temple or in the local synagogues. We find their candlesticks are located in Asia. John writes to warn them that, as the Jewish nation had lost its candlestick, theirs too was about to be removed unless they repented. They did not, and the Hebrew Church ceased to exist.
When we speak of the Hebrew Church, our reference is to those Hebrews who believed the preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the twelve concerning the Kingdom of Heaven. Many believed their message and waited for the Kingdom to appear. Most who held to that hope were killed or driven out of the land. These believers were scattered throughout the Roman world and continued the rest of their lives knowing only the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. Apollos illustrates this truth. “This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25). The twelve at Ephesus were also in the dark concerning certain changes God was making from the Kingdom offer to the dispensation of grace and the church (see Acts 19:1-12).
Because of Israel’s rejection of their King and Kingdom, God withdrew His promised Kingdom of Heaven with Israel and started a new church, the body of Christ, with Paul as its Apostle. Most of the Hebrew churches never came to the knowledge of this new church; which was neither Jew nor Gentile. Thus, the Hebrew churches went into apostasy and ceased to exist. The Lord was in those Hebrew churches until their candlesticks faded and went out. God will once again jumpstart His program with these Jewish assemblies, and their candlesticks will again give light; even as He will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and it’s light will shine for the whole world.
Most Christians assume that the Day of the Lord begins immediately following the Rapture of the church. However, there is no proof for that assumption. It is possible that several years will transpire between the Rapture and the beginning of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. Some writers suggest a forty-year gap. If so, this would give more than ample time for these Jews to realize that Jesus was the Messiah and begin worshipping and serving Him in the synagogues in Asia (see Isaiah 53).
When God jumpstarts His program, Daniel’s seventieth week will be in progress. The Hebrew church will once again be in existence. Thus, they receive this warning in prophecy given by John.
The number “seven” is a number of perfection or completion. One need not assume that there will be only seven Hebrew churches in the Day of the Lord. The messages to the seven were intended for the entire believing remnant.
“…the Son of man…” (v.13) a title given to Jesus Christ and speaks of His right to rule and reign as the last Adam. The first Adam disobeyed God, believed Satan and lost his dominion of the earth. The last Adam obeyed unto death and will overcome and conquer where the first Adam failed. He will do so as a son of Adam, the Son of Man. Thus Jesus is seen in the midst of the Jewish assemblies, in the Day of the Lord, as the Son of Man in a priestly capacity.
Dake gives us the follow notes on His appearance.
1. His body was clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded with a golden girdle (Rev. 1:13; cp. Daniel 10:6).
2. His hair was white like wool and snow (Rev. 1:14; Daniel 7:9).
3. His eyes were as a flame of fire (Rev. 1:14; Rev. 19:12; Daniel 10:6; cp. Hebrews 4:12).
4. His feet were like fine brass (Rev. 1:14; Rev. 10:1; Daniel 10:6).
5. His voice was like many waters (Rev. 1:14; Rev. 8:5; Rev. 10:2-4; Rev. 11:15; Rev. 14:2; Rev. 16:17-18; Rev. 19:6; Psalm 29; Hebrews 12:26; Daniel 10:6).
6. His right hand held seven stars, which were the pastors of the seven churches (Rev. 1:20).
7. His mouth had a two-edged sword coming out of it (Rev. 1:16; Rev. 2:12,16; Rev. 19:15,21; cp. Eph. 6:17; Hebrews 4:12).
8. His countenance shone like the sun (Rev. 1:16; Rev. 10:1; Daniel 10:6).
The reader should review the cross references for the interpretation the Holy Spirit gives on Jesus Christ as Israel’s King and High Priest.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.