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MrJim
27th January 2008, 10:26 AM
What are the "Lampstands"?

In the letters to the Churches in Revelation (Rev 2-3) there is reference made about lampstands where Christ says He will take them away unless that Church repents.

At church there is a series of sermons on these letters and the pastor sorta skipped over the reference on the Ephesus letter. I called him on it in the hall saying "You left out the 'or else' " and so next week (which was last week) during the sermon he said he was asked about the lampstand and that it represented that church's Christian witness...which didn't seem like an adequate answer.

Asking around at the Baptist & OBOB, and wondering about the Orthodox understanding of this~thanks!
Asinner
27th January 2008, 11:52 AM
The OSB says it is "the Ephesian church's honor as the metropolitan church of Asia." There is only one reference to lampstand that I can find.

Love,
Christina
MrJim
27th January 2008, 02:55 PM
The OSB says it is "the Ephesian church's honor as the metropolitan church of Asia." There is only one reference to lampstand that I can find.

Love,
Christina

Now that's something I've not heard before:thumbsup:
There are 7 lampstands referenced in Chapter 1 which seem to represent the churches.
Silentchapel
27th January 2008, 04:36 PM
In Serbian version, it is translated as 'candle-holders'. :) So taking them away is symbolizing the coming of darkness, leaving them to their own devices.
ClementofRome
27th January 2008, 08:07 PM
The 7 lampstands are the 7 churches to which the following letters are written....7 being the universal #, the 7 lampstands are the complete Church....

Forgive me...
MrJim
27th January 2008, 10:49 PM
The 7 lampstands are the 7 churches to which the following letters are written....7 being the universal #, the 7 lampstands are the complete Church....

Forgive me...

So if one was taken away it would be incomplete...
buzuxi02
28th January 2008, 06:52 AM
The 7 lampstands are the 7 churches . Christ is always in the midst of his Churches since where two or three are gathered in His name Christ is in their midst.
About the Church in Ephesia it can simply be a reference that if they fall, they will no longer be recognized as a church, Christ will no longer be in their "midst". Some speculate that it may mean that Christ will take away the guardian angel of the church.(Rev 1.20)