52. SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS

52. SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS

Revelation 1:12. Seven Golden Lampstands (RSV):“I saw seven golden candlesticks,” (KJV).

This passage shows how the symbols of the Book of Revelation are to be understood. The symbolism of the stars is no mere literary device but is an integral part of the purpose and message of the Book. The starry heavens are interpreted as representing the Heavenly Pattern of earthly realities, both of which agree as witnesses of a higher spiritual truth. Many Scriptures may serve as referents to show that heaven and earth are witnesses to God.[i] The seven-starred constellation of Ursa Major was sometimes known as the Menorah, and is here used as a visual analogy of the seven golden lampstands of the Temple.
We saw in a previous lesson how that John was on the isle of Patmos facing Jerusalem, which from Patmos would have been in a southerly direction. But as he prayed he heard a voice behind him and "being turned" to see the voice he would have been facing north. It was then that he saw the "Seven Golden Candlesticks" which would have been the starry constellation which at that time was referred to as the "seven golden candlesticks" of the Menorah. So this is used here symbolically. 
This constellation, then, represented to John the heavenly Jerusalem, the original Heavenly Pattern, the universal Church, the Body of Jesus Christ. It was the heavenly New Jerusalem that formed the Pattern for the holy city on earth. This heavenly Jerusalem remains pure, steadfast and perfect in beauty, even though the earthly copy had become vile, disordered and defiled.

The Yoke of Heaven and Earth

The Hosts of Heaven and the Hosts on Earth are united in Hebrew by the word tsabah.[ii]  This unity is expressed by the use of zeugma.  Zeugma is the use of a word to modify or govern two or more words, usually in a manner that it applies to each in a different sense or makes sense with only one. Literally, it means “joining, to join,” as for example, “a yoke.”

The usage of zeugma applies in Biblical Hebrew to the relationship of the heavenly hosts and the inhabitants or whatever fills the earth, even the plants being included. The concept of zeugma may help to clarify the particular type of analogy used in the Book of Revelation, but which is also well attested in Old Testament Scriptures. The following discussion follows Gesinius’ Lexicon p. 699.

Genesis 2:1: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.”  This zeugma of the yoke between the hosts of heaven and the hosts of earth is resolved in Nehemiah 9:6 where the two are separated and each is described separately:

Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

The word translated host is tsabah, meaning: “(1), an army, or host and is used equally of the sacred host of Levites, Numbers 4:2-3, 35, 39, 43.” The order of the Levitical services was instituted specifically according to the Pattern of the Heavens as Moses was commanded to do. They served in rotating order or courses, as did the circling constellations of stars in the heavens, and the “order” was changed every month, as were the constellations of the heavens.

The word tsabah also means: “…specially …the host of heaven: (a) the angels round the throne of God, Psalms 148:2; compare also Psalm 103:21; and Joshua 5:14-15; (b). Used of the sun, moon, and stars.  Isaiah 34:4; 40:26; 45:12; Jeremiah 33:22; Daniel 8:10; also used when the worship of the stars is mentioned, Deuteronomy 4:19; 17:3; 2 Kings 17:16; 21:3, 5; Zephaniah 1:5.”

The word is used also more comprehensively as including all the heavenly bodies, sometimes seeming to indicate the so-called “deities” of the heavenlies, Job 38:7, where angels and stars are mentioned together, and Isaiah 24:21, where the host of heaven is in opposition to the hosts of the kings of the earth: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.”

Jehovah is very often called “Lord God of Hosts,” and “Jehovah God of the heavenly Hosts.” This is most frequent in the prophetic books: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, and Malachi, but is not found in the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, Ezekiel, Job, or Solomon.

Isaiah 34:4-8 shows how the armies of the earth are to be slain, “And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse to judgment,” (verses 4-5). This shows the connection, yoke, of the heavenly hosts with the hosts of the earth.

In Joshua 5:14 we see the “Captain (or Prince) of the host of the Lord” appearing to Joshua. He was shâr, Prince, of all the hosts of the Lord whereas each of the shâr of Daniel 10:13, 20 represented only a particular nation. This passage sets a precedent for referring to the hoped for Messiah as the Prince Who is the Leader or Head of all God’s hosts in heaven and in earth. It is appropriate, therefore, to make His symbol that star around which the apparent marching of all heaven and earth revolve, the pole star. That star is the apparent great bond between heaven and earth and by it all earth is mapped in reference to the heavens.

Faithful Witness in the Heavens

The promises to David were of a cosmic and ideal nature. The ideal model is forever established in heaven regardless of the corruption suffered by the earthly images. The Revelation of Jesus Christ deals with this ideal model. That dominion is described in Psalm 89:27: “And I will make my firstborn, [Light], higher than the kings of the earth,” (also vv. 35-37):

Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie to David. His seed shall endure forever and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

These promises clearly indicate their cosmic nature. To find a suitable heavenly symbol for this promised throne and witness which is as conspicuous in its own way as the sun or moon, we need only consider the pole star. No other heavenly body has served so well as a “faithful witness” for orientation for it is forever established and unmovable from its place.

Psalm 89:2-6: Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen. I have sworn unto David my servant, “Thy seed [singular] will I establish for ever and build up thy throne to all generations.” Selah. And the heavens shall praise Thy wonders, O Lord: Thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints…For who in the heavens can be compared unto the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?

Psalm 89: 11:12 show the value of the heavens for orientation north and south:

The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine; as for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them.The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon, [the north and south mountains] shall rejoice in thy name.

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[i] For example: Deut. 4:26; 30:19; 31:28; 32:1; Psalm 19:1; 50:4-6; 89:5; 97:6; 104:19; 148:3-5; Isaiah 1:2.Hosea 2:21.

[ii] Strong’s # 6635. 
This lesson is an edited excerpt from my book Revelation In Context.

My Book is available at the Living Word Bookstore in Shawnee, Oklahoma and is also available online at www.amazon.com  or www.xulonpress.com.

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