Scripture Reading: Rev. 1:11-12, 20; 7:9-17
Ⅰ
The churches as the seven golden lampstands are divine in nature, shining in darkness, and identical with one another—Rev. 1:11-12, 20:
A
The lampstand in Exodus 25 signifies Christ as the embodiment of God (vv. 31-40); the lampstand in Zechariah 4 signifies the sevenfold intensified Spirit as the reality of Christ (vv. 2, 6, 10; Rev. 5:6); and the churches as the lampstands in Revelation 1 are the reprint of the Spirit (vv. 11-12, 20); therefore, we can say, "No Spirit, no church. More Spirit, more church" (cf. 2:7, 17; 3:20).
B
The seven lamps of the lampstand are the seven Spirits of God as the seven eyes of Jehovah (Zech. 4:10), the seven eyes of the redeeming Lamb (Rev. 5:6), and the seven eyes of the building stone (Zech. 3:9) for the full expression of the Triune God.
C
Within us we have two lamps—the sevenfold intensified Spirit of God within our spirit; in order for us to be transformed, we must fully open to the Lord in prayer to allow the lamp of the Lord with the seven lamps of fire to search all the chambers of our soul, shining on and enlightening our inward parts to supply them with life— Prov. 20:27; Rev. 4:5; 1 Cor. 6:17.
D
To experience the golden lampstands as the testimony of Jesus, the corporate expression of Jesus (Acts 9:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12), we must be filled with the Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:7) by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus continually (1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 10:12-13; Lam. 3:55-56) to bear the brands of Jesus (Gal. 6:17) as brothers and fellow partakers in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance in Jesus (Rev. 1:9-10).
E
The beating of the gold to form a stand signifies the believers' participation in Christ's sufferings; everything that goes on in our environment is for the producing of the beaten lampstand—Exo. 25:31; Col. 1:24; 2 Cor. 1:2-3, 8-9; 4:16-18.
F
The shining of the seven lamps of the golden lampstands, the Lord Jesus walking in their midst with His seven eyes like a flame of fire, His feet like shining bronze, and the shining of His face as the sun indicate that we need more and more of the Lord's shining day by day in our daily life and church life for more and more of His shepherding— saving, restoring, reviving, and deifying—Rev. 1:14b-15a, 16b; 4:5; 5:6; Luke 1:78-79; 2 Cor. 4:6-7; Mal. 4:2; Prov. 4:18; Psa. 22, title; 80:1, 3, 7, 15-19.
Ⅱ
The great multitude serving God in the temple, the whole Body of God's redeemed, have been raptured to the heavens to enjoy God's care and the Lamb's shepherding—Rev. 7:9-17:
A
The great multitude consists of those who have been purchased with the blood of the Lamb out of every nation, tribe, people, and tongue to be the constituents of the church—v. 9a; 5:9; Rom. 11:25; Acts 15:14, 19; 1 Cor. 6:19-20.
B
"These are those who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"—Rev. 7:14:
１
The great tribulation here refers to the tribulations, persecutions, and afflictions experienced by God's redeemed people throughout the ages—John 16:33.
２
The blood of the Lamb answers all the accusations of the devil against us and gives us the victory over him—Rev. 12:11; Zech. 13:1; John 19:34.
３
To wash our robes is to keep our conduct clean through the washing of the blood of the Lamb; this gives us the right to enjoy the tree of life and to enter into the city of life as the realm of God's eternal blessings—1 John 1:7; Rev. 22:14.
C
Those of the great multitude are standing before the throne and before the Lamb with palm branches in their hands—7:9b:
１
Palm branches signify our victory over tribulation, which we have undergone for the Lord's sake; they are also a sign of satisfaction gained through being watered—v. 14; cf. John 12:13; Exo. 15:27.
２
In the Triune God as the temple of God, we will serve Him day and night to enjoy Him as the eternal Feast of Tabernacles and to flourish like the palm tree— Rev. 7:15a; 3:12; Lev. 23:40; Neh. 8:15; Psa. 92:12-13; Rom. 1:9; Col. 2:19.
３
Our service in time today is a preparation for our service in eternity; God's only goal in time is to dispense Himself into us day by day; when God comes into us and comes out of us, that is service—Matt. 25:19-23; John 7:37-39.
D
We will not hunger or thirst anymore—Rev. 7:16a:
１
To hunger and thirst is to have a hope that is not yet satisfied; Christ promises that everyone who believes into Him will be satisfied and receive Him as their satisfying life—John 6:35.
２
To contact God the Spirit in our spirit is to drink of the living water, and to drink of the living water is to render real worship to God—4:13-14, 23-24.
E
The beating sun and the scorching heat will not strike us—Rev. 7:16b:
１
The Lamb-God sitting upon the throne will tabernacle over us, overshadowing us with Himself—v. 15b; 2 Cor. 12:9.
２
There is one kind of life that is under God's overshadowing—it is a life that is hidden in God—Psa. 36:7-9; Eph. 6:17a; Psa. 91:1; 17:8; 57:1; Ruth 2:12.
３
Christ as Jehovah and also as man is the King who is supplying, caring for, and covering God's people; He is the King for ruling and a man who is like a refuge from the wind and a covering from the tempest, like streams of water in a dry place, and like the shadow of a massive rock in a wasted land—Isa. 32:1-2.
F
The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd us and guide us to springs of waters of life—Rev. 7:17a:
１
Under the shepherding of Christ, "I will lack nothing"—Psa. 23:1.
２
We can never improve ourselves, and we need a shepherd to feed us all the time; He feeds the lambs with His experience as the Lamb of God, who is on the throne of God in and for the house of God—vv. 2-6; Rev. 22:1.
G
God will wipe away every tear from our eyes—7:17b:
１
Tears are unavoidable in this age, but our tears are put into God's bottle and recorded in His book—Heb. 5:7; Acts 20:19, 31; Psa. 56:8; cf. Mal. 3:16.
２
Because the Lamb supplies us with waters of life for our satisfaction, the water of tears is wiped away—Jer. 9:1; 2:13; cf. 15:16; Lam. 3:21-25, 55-56.
３
Thank God that the days of sorrow and the things of sorrow will not last; the world is passing away, and we are blessed to drink of the flowing Triune God until we become the totality of eternal life, the New Jerusalem—John 4:14b.