Revelation 1:12

12. See the voice An expressive solecism: not, as Hengstenberg, that the word see is used in a “larger sense;” but the voice being all he as yet knows, he turns to see into what embodiment it will shape itself.

Being turned In position to receive the Apocalypse that summons him.

Candlesticks Why does he see the candlesticks before he sees even the sun -bright face (Revelation 1:16) of the divine Person? We think the Person, at first unseen, grew gradually visible, and is traced by St. John’s words as he gleams successively into view; the radiant clearness of the countenance (Revelation 1:16) being the last fully recognised. The Son of man comes first in his trumpet -like voice, next in his visible tokens, last in his glorious Person. Happy those to whom he comes with a fear not! Revelation 1:17.

Golden Says Cocceius, (quoted in Latin by Trench,) “Gold in figures and symbolical expression signifies that which is most precious of all things; which perfects all to which it belongs, but can be perfected by nothing; which is most pure and liable to no change, and experiences no harm from time, or fire, the consumer of all things.” Hence these golden candlesticks, as well as, throughout this book, “the golden girdle,” Revelation 1:13; golden crowns,” Revelation 4:5; “golden vials,” Revelation 5:8; “golden censer,” Revelation 8:3; “golden altar,” Revelation 8:3; “golden reed,” Revelation 21:15; “city of pure gold,” Revelation 21:18; the street… “pure gold,” Revelation 21:21. This symbolism, Trench notes, rested not upon the mere costliness of that material. “Throughout all the ancient East there was a sense of sacredness attached to this metal.” Thus “golden,” in the Zend-Avesta, is throughout synonymous with heavenly and divine. So also in many Eastern lands, while silver might be degraded to profane and every-day uses, it was not permitted to employ gold in any services except only royal and divine.

Candlesticks These so-called candlesticks were lamps, with oil and a wick inserted. The candelabra of the temple had three lamps on each side and one at the centre, making seven. A lamp-vessel represents a Church, the oil the grace of God, and the blaze the light with which the Church illuminates the world. The temple candelabra represented the Jewish Church in its organic unity; but these seven separate candlesticks represent the individuality of the Churches; yet the number seven suggests completeness, uniformity, and oneness. And this accordance of the seven Churches with the sevenfold candelabra demonstrates that the number is selected for symbolical reasons, and not because there were but seven Churches in Asia.