Mystery of the Seven Golden Candlesticks

Doug Gilworth

• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781098088613
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Theology

John the Apostle was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and he heard Jesus speak as the voice of a trumpet. When John turned to look, the first thing he saw was "seven golden candlesticks" and Jesus in the midst of them.

What are these "seven golden candlesticks" John heralds to us in the first chapter of the book of Revelation? Bible scholars and students have speculated on this topic for almost two thousand years.

Some suggest a deeper meaning of the seven golden candlesticks is they represent seven periods of the church, seven personality types within the church, and seven types of churches, among others. But no widely held view exists.

An angel explained to John deep spiritual truth pertaining to the seven golden candlesticks, giving the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea as the answer, but is that all there is to it, or did the angel tell John more? Did the angel tell John something in which he was instructed not to write, because it was for the end-times?

Most believe there is a deeper meaning; otherwise there would not have been so much conjecture over the years. And it is called a mystery for a reason.

Seven messages to the seven churches occupy two full chapters in the preeminent end-time book of prophecy, undoubtedly for an important purpose, certainly adding fuel to the fire of grandeur.

The ultimate meaning of the mystery of the seven golden candlesticks is what this book possibly divulges, and along with it the understanding of who the seven stars in Jesus's right hand are, the unfolding of the righteous experiencing victory over death, the judgment seat of Christ, the kingdom of heaven, and many other things revealed by the understanding of this mystery.

Chapter 3

Nugget

A kindly old Christian gentleman was visited at his home by an angel. The angel told the man he was soon going to heaven, but he would be different from anyone who had died before.

Because of his being such a selfless person, he would be allowed to bring something with him to heaven, whatever he could carry in his satchel. He began to think and finally decided to take several bars of gold he had in his safe.

When the man got to heaven, there was a large crowd gathered because they all wanted to see what he had brought with him, being the first ever allowed to do so. With great anticipation, the residents of heaven watched as he put his satchel on a table and slowly opened it for their view. A fellow in the front was flabbergasted and said, “What, you brought pavement!”

When I outlined this book, the Nugget chapter was not even a thought in my mind. Two chapters were almost complete before the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to take a look at the word golden. After all, if the candlesticks have a major meaning in God’s plan and the number 7 was so weighty, then there might be more than a greedy fever to “gold.”

In my forty-plus years as a Christian, I do not recall one complete message on gold. I heard points on digging for treasure and a few subpoints on the smelting of gold to make it pure. Never have I taught a lesson on gold, other than pertaining to this book.

This study on gold from the Old Testament has been exceptionally rewarding.

Golden in Revelation 1:12, 20 and 2:1 is translated from the Greek word Chruseos and means made of gold. It describes the seven candlesticks and so is evocative of the seven branches.

More particularly the individuals within those seven godly branches. They are to be pure, solid, and golden.

A study of the Old Testament will help us better understand this word translated into English as gold. It is a perfect profile of the journey from the moment of enlistment in God’s service to the Christian’s death or removal from earth.

Does it surprise you that there are seven Hebrew words translated gold into English from the Old Testament? The meaning of these seven Hebrew words and the different situations in which they are used enlighten us greatly about gold and the subject it defines.

Charuwts (H2742 Strong’s Concordance):

Charuwts is a Hebrew word translated into English as gold. It is used in Proverbs and Zechariah. Its meaning is gold as mined and a sharp threshing instrument.

Two things are noticeable in this definition: the principles of commitment and change.

Discovery of gold ore is the rare first step, like the Christian trusting in the Savior. Can you imagine the prospector’s delight when he first discovers gold, much the same as the rejoicing in heaven when one soul comes to God (Luke 15:7, 10)?

How does gold ore picture the Christian life?

Gold ore veins may start on the surface of the earth but generally run deeper into the ledge. The deeper it runs, the harder it is to access the ore. Then in most cases, you have to transport tons of gold ore many miles to a refinery. You see the commitment involved. This process may take years.

With the Christian life, it takes a lifetime of a deeper and deeper commitment to God and becoming more like Christ to reach the full measure God intends.

Change is pictured by the threshing sledge that crushes the ore into proper sizes for the refinery.

Christians usually go through this breaking-down process early in their journey but may experience it at any time. It gets us ready for purification and helps us have victory over the old sinful nature.

Charuwts portrays the new Christian as gold ore—unrefined, flawed, diluted, and imperfect—and shows a commitment to God by a changed life.

Paz (H6337 Strong’s Concordance):

Paz means pure gold as refined. Pure, prime, and perfect are ideas paz puts forth.

Gold ore does not resemble refined gold in eye appeal, usability, and certainly not in value.

Paz is referring to high-quality gold.

Gold can be refined to .9999 pure by boiling the dross to the top and skimming the impurities away.

Christians will never be perfect in this life, but just like gold, the fire can smelt us to a higher degree of purity.

We do not like to think about it; but we know all Christians go through it, sooner or later, the purification fire. Suffering, trials, testings, and tribulations are all part of the Christian life. Paul said, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” It is not a question of if, but of when.

The Christian life is presented as a building (1 Corinthians 3:11–13) made of wood, hay, stubble, and gold, silver, and precious stones. When the repenter stands before the judgment seat of Christ, their life will receive one final test by fire. The metaphoric building will look much different after it passes through the fire. All the impurities will be burned away. Only what is done for Christ will remain.

Keep in mind the judgment seat of Christ is not to determine whether you go to heaven or hell. Everyone at this judgment will already have that determined. This judgment is more of an awards banquet, to reward faithful lives.

Paz means pure; it also means prime, or the design of being valuable.

In Exodus 25:31, God instructed Moses precisely on the making of the one candlestick, which was placed in the tabernacle and then in the temple.

In Jewish tradition, it was thought to be about five foot tall, solid gold, and worked as one piece.

Many today would propose making a form of a lesser material and then covering it in gold.

God said it was to be made of solid gold.

As Christians, we do not want to have a thin outer coating of virtue. We don’t want to have a thin outer coating with an impure cavity inside. We should be solid gold.

God instructed Moses to make the lampstand of one talent of gold...