This vision has some similarities to Zechariah 4. In this case we are told plainly in v20 that the stars are the angels (or messengers) to the churches, and that the lampstands are the churches.
The "son of man" term is probably meant to be understood in the sense that it is used in Daniel 7:13,14. This character is clearly Jesus Christ. The key point of all this is that it is Jesus who is at the centre of the church.
We make mistakes in churches when we forget this, which we do in two main ways. On the one hand we think we are in charge and that the church belongs to us. We see the results of this sort of error all around us, for example when churches think they can neglect God's teaching on sexual morality. The other way in which we forget this is when we become full of fear. This second danger is the one that is most pertinent here. It is true that the church was facing great opposition, but they needed to know that Jesus is the Head of the Church. They were not alone, and were not at the mercy of the forces that opposed them. In a time when secularisation is rampant in the West we should not fear, but remember who is Head of the church.
John fell as though dead. This was not a position of reverence , but one of having fallen like that because of the shear awesomeness of what he was seeing. Jesus then touched him and told him not to be afraid. John would have heard this several times from Jesus during His time on earth.
Jesus had conquered death and holds the keys to death and Hades. Hades here is the world of the dead, not the place of eternal torment. Death would not defeat them. Remember that Jesus said that the gates of Hades would not overcome the church (Matt 16:18).
So John is again instructed to write down what he sees. The message the churches would be receiving is a message direct from the Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment