The Book of Revelation | A Message for All Churches

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last ¹⁸ and the Living One. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. ¹⁹ Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this. ²⁰ As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation 1:17-20 (NRSVUE)

When Jesus tells John to "write down what you have seen...and send it to the seven churches," he's not limiting his message to first-century Asia Minor. The number seven in biblical literature often represents completeness or perfection. These seven churches represent the entire church throughout history.

This means that whatever Jesus has to say to the church in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, he also has to say to us. We're not eavesdropping on someone else's mail—we're reading a letter addressed to us.

The imagery of the seven lampstands is particularly significant. In the ancient world, lampstands served a simple but crucial purpose: they held up lights in dark places. That's what churches are supposed to do—hold up the light of Christ in a dark world.

But here's what's remarkable about this image: Jesus isn't standing apart from the lampstands, observing them from a distance. He's walking among them. He's present with his church, involved in their struggles, aware of their needs.

This should change how we think about our own church communities. Whether your church is thriving or struggling, growing or declining, Jesus is present there. He sees what you're going through. He knows the pressures you're facing. He understands the temptations you're wrestling with.

The seven stars in Jesus's right hand represent the "angels" of the churches—likely referring to the spiritual leadership or the spiritual essence of each congregation. The point is that Jesus holds the spiritual wellbeing of his church securely in his hand.

When you're frustrated with the church, remember this image. When you're tempted to give up on organized religion, remember that Jesus hasn't given up on the church. He's still walking among the lampstands, still holding the stars in his hand.

Prayer: Lord, help me to see my church the way you see it—as a lampstand holding up your light in a dark world. Give me patience with its imperfections and hope for its future.