In Revelation 1:4 the Apostle John wrote greetings from three entities, including the seven spirits which are before the throne of ‘him which is, and which was, and which is to come.’ We believe this refers to Jehovah God’s throne, a throne of judgment and authority.

A little later John sees ‘seven golden candlesticks’ (luchnia, lampstand, compare Diaglott), and ‘in the midst of the seven lampstands, one like unto the Son of man,’ who had ‘in his right hand seven stars’ (verses 12, 13, 16). In verse 20 these are identified: ‘The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which thou sawest are the seven churches.’ One standing in the midst thereof is a beautiful pictue of close association, attentiveness, and supervision as a caretaker.

In the holy of the Tabernacle this is shown in the golden lampstand with six branches off the main center stem. Each of the branches had three sets of patterns and the center stem had four sets. It may be observed that each branch with its three sets added to the main stem’s four would equal seven. If the extra pattern on the main stem represented Jesus, we would again see Jesus as being in the center, in the midst, of the seven.

Each pattern was of three: a bowl, a knop and a flower. These could suggest the fruitage of faith, hope and love that results from overcoming the three sources of our trials, the world, the flesh and the Adversary.

As indicated in Exodus 25:31-36 and 39:37, the lampstand was made without lamps. The seven lamps (Exodus 25:37-39) were added to the lampstand, one for each branch and the stem. This facilitated the priest in caring for the lamps: each one being taken down, filled, trimmed, dressed, and put back in its place. (Compare Tabernacle Shadows, page 115.)

In Revelation 4:5 the seven spirits are still before the throne, and are identified as seven lamps of fire burning. Knowing that the seven spirits are seven lamps, where is the most likely place for them to be? During the Gospel Age they are on the seven lampstands, which puts the seven lamps ‘before the throne,’ corresponding to the lampstand in the Holy which was ‘before the Lord’. (Exodus 40:25) The correspondence is so close as to be beautiful and exactly as God planned it.

Since the seven lampstands (without lamps) are the seven churches, what could the seven lamps or spirits be? Revelation 5:6 shows they are closely associated with the lamb. The ‘horns’ indicate power and strength, and the ‘eyes’ indicate wisdom. Therefore the wisdom of God is sent forth into all the earth with power. Are there seven wisdoms sent forth in connection with the lamb and the seven churches? Well, there are seven wisdoms or messages sent forth to the seven churches (Revelation chapters 2 and 3). This is indicated at the end of each message to each church, when the text says: ‘Hear what the spirit says unto the churches.’ The seven spirits are seven messages, not seven messengers. The messengers are the seven stars or angels. Thus the seven spirits are seven lamps to enlighten the seven churches with wisdom and to strengthen them spiritually.

This is true, although the messages also contain warnings and judgments. As these are the seven spirits of God, it shows who originated them. Revelation 3:1 says he who has the seven stars also has the seven spirits. This helps us understand Revelation 1:2, that this record can be both ‘the word of God’ and ‘the testimony of Jesus Christ.’

As God is his own interpreter, we see both the beauty and harmony of the two sets of pictures presented in the Tabernacle and in Revelation. They also show the closeness, intimacy, and importance in which our Heavenly Father holds and regards the churches. He knows the end result will be a bride for his Son, who is the embodiment of the Spirit of God, (Revelation 22:17) the spirit of Wisdom, Justice, Love, and Power.

In that the ‘one like unto the Son of man,’ Jesus, stood in the midst of the seven lamps and lampstands, ‘before the throne’ of him who is, was, and is to come, who else would be represented in the throne? It is none else than Jehovah God, our Heavenly Father, who always is, always was, and always will be to come.

– Thomas Adams

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