12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
John had just spoken of the voice that he heard as being “as of a trumpet.” It was evidently quite loud. Trumpets are used throughout the Old Testament to call Israel to assemble for one reason or another. They [in singular or plural form] are mentioned six times here in The Revelation. This is the first occurrence. Wherever they are mentioned in scripture they are most often associated with one of two key things:
· A call to Conflict.
· A Remembrance of Redemption.
Combining these two primary usages of the trumpets in Israel we may say that through the use of the trumpets God was making it clear to Israel that their redemption was a call into greater conflict than they had ever known.
And so it will be for any sons of Adam that are redeemed in this present day. A call into the redemptive grace of God in Jesus Christ is a call into great warfare. The following verses, which so spectacularly reveal the Lord Jesus Christ in an entirely new way, portray Him as far more of a warrior king than a suffering lamb. It is just such a Revelation that these small assemblies needed to bear their testimony in a world deeply embroiled in deep spiritual warfare!
Having heard this powerful voice, John turned [verse 12] to see the voice that “spake with” him. When he turned he saw “seven golden candlesticks.” Clearly, the one thing that these candlesticks did was shine forth light. So, although John at first did not know their meaning, their overall message was evident: they shone with radiant light. It is not too much to suggest that John would be likely at this moment to recall the words that he had heard the Lord say that day, years ago upon the hillside:
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.[1]
John may have also recalled these precious verses from the prophet Zechariah:[2]
1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Among the visions granted by the Lord through Zechariah is this one in which the Lord makes it clear that Israel’s testimony to the nations would shine like a beacon light through the darkness, but only as they learned to abide in faith in their redeeming LORD!
What an appropriate way to introduce this new Revelation of the Lord to the churches! The light of Truth, radiating from these little assemblies would literally light the world!
[1] Matthew 5:14-16. [2] Zechariah 4:1-6.