This timing is crucial to a proper understanding of the prophetic nature of all that will occur. The calling of John into heaven is generally acknowledged by those who hold to the pre-Tribulation Rapture doctrine to represent how the church will be called by the Lord into heaven prior to all these subsequent things taking place. The 7 seals attached to the scroll given to the Lamb are the Seal Judgments that will be unleashed upon the unbelieving world as this scene is fulfilled at some not-too-distant time in the future. That means that the angels over the other churches effectively failed to complete their assignments. It’s interesting to note that only two of these churches, those in Smyrna and Philadelphia, retained their witness and the complete approval of the Lord. The 7 lampstands are the 7 churches themselves outlined in Revelation 2-3: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. I tend toward the supernatural explanation that they are the spiritual beings given authority over the churches because pastors would come and go over the years, but those same spiritual entities would remain through the ages. They could actually be the spiritual entities tasked with superintending those churches, or their pastors. The 7 stars are representative of the angels which oversee the churches to whom John’s letter is written. In many places where symbols are used in the Bible, we’re told what they mean.
Seven is the number of completeness – of God – so it is no surprise that He would show John many instances of His fullness and perfection. He was given these pictures in his vision meant to convey the glory and majesty of God. The imagery with the associated meanings of the “sevens” that John saw and wrote about in the first five books of Revelation had to overwhelm the apostle. Posted by Gary Ritter | December 14, 2021
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