I Turned - Revelation 1:12

Rev 1:12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

We might be reminded here that it takes turning toward Him to see Him and the things He is doing.  It is when He has our attention that we might see Him and hear His words.  He speaks to each heart, giving comfort, strength, assurance, and peace, even  in the midst of a journey of struggle.  

The Greek word for see (βλεπω) implies the idea of attention given and the comprehension or the perceiving of something.  It is  similar to the idea of hearing the word, of being received.

The seven golden lampstands point us back to the Tabernacle during the wilderness journey.  In a few verses we are told the lampstands represent the seven churches.  We know the light of the Lord inhabits His Church and through His Church His light will shine and His word will be proclaimed.  There is the parallel idea of the seven spirits before the throne of God.

Exodus 25:37 “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it

Exodus 27:20 “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning

(Remember the parable of the  virgins who ran out of oil and therefore missed the coming of the groom.)

Leviticus 24:4 The lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the Lord must be tended continually

Zechariah 4:10-11 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” 11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand

Seven is the number given to describe the “eyes” of the Lord.  We see a connection and relationship of the Spirit and the Church, both giving witness to the Father and the light of the world.