Let us seek to gather something from this vision.
What did the Holy Spirit mean by it?
What does it teach us?
We are told that 'the seven
candlesticks are the seven churches' (ch.1: 20) .
This much is plain. Seven Churches,
which he knew well,
had just been named to him,
and he is told that these golden lamp
stands are meant to represent
or symbolize these churches.
With these 'golden candlesticks'
we must connect the 'seven lamps of fire
burning before the throne,
which are the seven Spirits of God' (ch.4: 5) .
Not that these two sets of lamps
are the same. In the one case
we read of 'lamp stands, '
in the other of 'lamps; '
in the one case it is the Churches
that are described, in the other it is the Holy Spirit.
Still, they are connected.
The former get their light from the latter.
It is by the Holy Spirit that the seven
Churches are made 'burning and shining lights.'
15. January 2008
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem