REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Six - The Stars and the Lampstands -Conclusion

 The seven lampstands are the seven congregations to whom John  directs the book of Revelation.  Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.  Why are congregations symbolized by lampstands?  Because Christians, whether individually or collectively as congregations, have   to 'let their light shine  before men' in this bedarkened world.  (Matthew 5:14-16) Additionally, lampstands were among the furnishings of Solomon's temple. Calling the congregations lampstands would likely remind Joh that, in an illustrative  sense, each local congregation  of anointed ones is "God's temple," a dwelling place  for God's spirit.  (1 Corinthians 3:16) Moreover,  in the antitype of the Jewish temple   arrangement, members of the congregation of anointed ones serve  as "a royal priesthood" in Jehovah's  great spiritual temple arrangement, of which  Jesus is the  High Priest and where Jehovah  dwells  personally in the heavenly Most Holy. - 1 PETER 2:4, 5, 9; HEBREWS 3:1; 6:20 ; 9:9-14, 24.

Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Six - The Great Apostasy

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