Jesus Christ Stands in the Midst of His Church

John had been exiled to the island of Patmos because of his faith in Jesus Christ. He was probably the last living apostle of the original twelve at the time of his exile. The sole eyewitness, one of the inner circle of Christ, had been separated from the church. All alone in exile, John heard a voice, the voice of Jesus, telling him to write in a book the things he was about to see. The Lord told him to send it to seven churches, and then the seven churches were named.

         Many of the images in the book of Revelation are representative of more than just the one named. The seven churches are the first example. Even though each one is named specifically, together they represent all churches; the Church, as in all believers, for all time. Each church named in Revelation 1:11 received a copy of the book of Revelation, but it was also for us in our churches today. In that way, the seven churches in Revelation 1:11 represent every church. The message of the book of Revelation was to each church named, as well as to each church that has ever been, is now, or will ever be.

         When John turned to see the voice, he said, “…I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like the son of man…” Revelation 1:12 – 13a. The description of the church as a lampstand is instructive. The lampstand was one of three items in the Holy Place in the Tabernacle, and then later, in the Temple. It was a seven-branched lampstand with cups that held olive oil and a wick for light. The priests went into the Holy Place twice a day with oil for the lamps, fresh bread for the table of presence, and incense and a coal of fire to burn on altar of incense. The light of the lampstands was to be kept burning 24/7. It represented the wisdom of God from the word of God; the Holy Spirit of God; oil and fire. It also pointed forward to the day when God’s Spirit would dwell in the hearts of the members of the Body of Christ, the Church.

         The church has the word of God and the wisdom of God dwelling in each of the members, in each believer, by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus has always been in the midst of His Bride, the Church, and always will be. In the midst of the Garden of Eden was the tree of life, Christ, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the Church. The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not to be eaten; it was to be given to God as an offering, as first fruits. Christ and His Bride, the Church was a picture, a model, for the husband and his wife to see, follow, and be like, then and today (Ephesians 5:22 – 31). Eve was tempted with her counterpart in the garden to take what she was to receive from Adam, and Adam was tempted to take from Eve what he was to give to God in worship. You may want to pray and meditate on that today.

         Back to Revelation; when John turned to see the voice, he saw Jesus standing in the midst of His Bride, the Church, but in that moment, John saw the glory of Jesus in the light of the lampstands! This is the purpose of the church. With the oil and fire of the Holy Spirit, the Church magnifies and glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ, her glorious Husband and constant Companion. The church does not call attention to and lift up herself; no. The church calls attention to and lifts up the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the fruit of the Church; the Life of Jesus. The Church produces the fruit by abiding in Christ. The Life of Jesus is lived in, with, through, and as the Church, before the Father and the watching world around her.

         When the world looks at the Church, it should see Jesus Christ in all His glory! In Revelation 2 – 3, the Lord will address each church in areas that magnify His glory and/or diminish His glory. The Church must hear the message of the book of Revelation as the world approaches it’s dark and final days. The light of the glory of Jesus Christ is the only answer and hope for our world. Always has and always will be.