13 Dec Reflections on Revelation #19
Day 19
“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands;” Rev 1:12 NASB
Throughout the ancient Roman world, the seven-branched menorah (lampstand) was the most common symbol for Judaism, just as the fish and the cross later became symbols for Christian faith. In a striking way, the Book of Revelation adopts this symbol of Judaism to represent the churches of Asia Minor. By this means John clearly understood that the true Christian faith was heir to Israel’s heritage. It was those who excluded Christians from the synagogue that had lost touch with their Jewish heritage, not the faithful followers of the Messiah.
First-century Christians proclaimed a Jewish Messiah, who fulfilled the ancient promises made to Israel. They converted pagans to Israel’s one true God. While not requiring Gentiles to be circumcised, Jewish Christians like Paul embraced them as new participants in their Jewish faith in Jesus. Gentile believers were the spiritual children of Abraham (Gal 3:28), inwardly circumcised (Rom 2:28-29) and grafted into Israel’s tree while unbelieving branches were broken off (Rom 11:17).
In the Book of Revelation, the lampstand image stresses the Jewishness of the Christian faith and the intimate connection between that faith and the ancient heritage of Israel.
Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day failed to recognise Him because they had built up a scenario that the Messiah was supposed to fit. Jesus didn’t fit their expectations and so despite all the evidence, they crucified Him!
There is a clear warning here for us if we allow our theology to over-ride clear passages of Scripture. This is happening in areas of the Christian church where their theology still has literal Israel as God’s chosen people despite the clear evidence to the contrary that Christianity has replaced literal Israel as SPIRITUAL Israel, as His chosen people, and as Abraham’s seed and heirs to the promise. (see e.g. Gal 3:28-29).
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