JESUS AMONG THE LAMPSTANDS

 

In the first chapter of Revelation, the Apostle John narrates a vision he had of Christ in his glory. In this vision, Jesus stood among seven golden lampstands and in his right hand had seven stars (1:12-16). What do these seven lampstands, these seven stars, and the vision as a whole mean? What is the relevance of this vision in the context of the current Church?

Well, as far as the seven stars and the seven lampstands are concerned, the Lord Jesus Himself explains. He says, " the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches" (1:20). All explained, but who were these angels? Obviously, the leaders of the churches, because it would not make sense for Jesus to order a human being to write a letter and send it to angels.

Now, how to understand the meaning of this vision as a whole? First, it must be known that apocalyptic literature is highly symbolic. Notice that the Church is treated as a lampstand and its leaders as angels. Candelabra and angels, here, constitute symbols. Thus, it is necessary to know its symbolism in order to obtain the proper understanding. But there is still one last symbol in this verse that needs to be understood: the number "seven." Why "seven lampstands" and "seven angels"? Why not "ten" or another quantity?

Because in apocalyptic literature, the number "seven" represents the "totality", the "whole". Thus, the vision can be understood as Christ in the midst of his entire Church, not only that of John's time, but the Church of all ages, including the present one. And that Church is portrayed in the seven churches described in chapters two and three that follow. A careful reading of these chapters shows that there have always been, in all the ages of the Church of Christ, healthy churches, others lukewarm, and others quite problematic.

This fact is very relevant because many true Christians are discontented and ashamed of the scandals and irrelevance of the Church today. But Christ always knew this, and so he sent these letters to the "seven churches," as well as warned about the problem of tares, that is, people not transformed by the Spirit causing confusion and scandal in the Church. And this also concerns leaders. Notice what He said to the angel of the Church of Ephesus: "...  I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false" (2:2).

Therefore, true Christians, those who have been "begotten again", as the Apostle Peter said (1 Peter 1:3) or as the Lord Jesus said, "born again" (John 3:1-8), need to learn to live with this situation and not be discouraged. They must continue to be "salt" and "light" in the world. The author of Hebrews encourages us to do so and says: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (10:23-25).

Many see the first-century Church as the ideal, but look at the scandals that the Apostle Paul reports in the Corinthian Church. And what about the Church of the Middle Ages, stained with the blood of the crusades and the holy inquisition, whose highest leaders, who could only come from the noble classes, did not always meet the moral and spiritual conditions for the functions they performed? And what about the Church of the Modern Age, which, imprisoned in its traditions and far from reflection on the Word of Christ, did not know how to face the new demands contrary to the faith coming from scientific development and philosophical impetus?

The current Church would be no different. The scandals of pedophilia, homosexuality and illicit enrichment among religious leaders, for example, tarnish the image of the Church and reduce its authority. Allied to this, there is the forceful discourse of atheism and materialism unleashed by the scientific and technological society of the present day, which reduce to nothing the preaching of many churches that, far from reflecting on the mystery of Christ and the truths of the gospel, convey strange teachings, about which Jesus and the Apostles never spoke.

All this incongruity of the Church's witness with the gospel of Christ is part of the set of difficulties that the follower of Jesus has to face. Hence, a true Christian cannot be discouraged. There are many unconverted people in the Church doing things that Jesus never commanded them to do. Listen to what He once said: "“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" (Matthew 7:21-23). 

So if you're disappointed in the Church, don't abandon it. Keep on fighting for your good testimony in the world. The Church is not just any church; it is the Church of Christ. If there are scandals, there is also the preaching of the gospel, which "is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). If there are bad leaders; there are also those who, as the prophecy says, are in the right hand of Christ (Revelation 1:20), that is, the honored and true servants of the Lord. Finally, it is worth remembering that the Church is the new humanity that God is creating to live with Him in "new heavens and a new earth" (Revelation 21:1).

Antônio Maia – Ph.B., M.Div.

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