Audio Download

Rev 1:13 – Part One, In the Midst of the Seven Candlesticks

[Updated September 23, 2023]

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Introduction

In our last study we learned that Christ is our high priest doing the work of His priesthood in His temple. This week we will see just how it is that “The Son of Man” is in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.

We have already seen that the scriptures clearly teach “Ye are the temple of God.” Christ’s temple is within His elect. We also read Peter’s very revealing statement that in Christ, we, too, are “a holy priesthood.”

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

How are our sacrifices accepted “by Jesus Christ?” According to the scriptures, the answer is that our sacrifices are acceptable to God “by Jesus Christ” because it is only “in Him” that we are both “the temple of God… a spiritual house,” and we are also in Christ “an holy priesthood.”

How are we “a holy priesthood?”

Lord willing, we will see a little more of just how much Christ identifies with His body, which is also referred to as His wife, His temple and His “holy priesthood.” For example, here is just how much Christ identifies with His elect:

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

The word ‘world’ in this verse is not the Greek word ‘aion.’ It is rather ‘cosmos,’ meaning the physical structure and arrangement which God Himself has established, and through such physical arrangement, He is working His purpose. In that cosmos we see that Christ is subject to His Father.

Joh 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

We need to look closely at John 5:19. That verse tells us that Christ does only what He sees His Father do. What is it that Christ sees the Father doing? Christ sees the Father delivering up His own Son to be killed for the sins of the world.

Gen 22:2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

So Christ is just as His Father, but “as He is, so are we in this world” does not make us the head of the body. It does, rather, make us subject to our head, who is Christ, and it does require that the body, through Christ living His life in us, goes through the same suffering as the head. That is the meaning of being neither male not female, but all being one in Christ.

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

None of the sayings of Christ are impossible if Christ is in us. That is what this verse is actually saying:

Luk 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

God Himself has hidden within this verse a great Truth. Just look at this verse as it is displayed in esword with the Strong’s numbers embedded in the text:

Luk 1:37  For^G3754 with^G3844 God^G2316 nothing^{G3956 G4487 G3756} shall be impossible^G101.

Notice the word ‘nothing’ is followed by three numbers which indicate that the Greek had three different words there. What is missing? The truth is that this is a terrible translation of what the Greek actually says. Here are a few translations of how this verse should read:

(CLV) seeing that it will not be impossible with God to fulfill His every declaration.”
(REV) Because no declaration from God, shall be void of power.
(WEB)  For everything spoken by God is possible.”

Or to say all of that in another scriptural way:

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

And again:

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

The first thought that proceeds out of the mind of the natural man is, “How can we possibly keep what is written in this book?” Also, if we are ‘as He is’ how can Christ possibly ‘keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book?’ What is the answer? Here it is:

(CLV) seeing that it will not be impossible with God to fulfill His every declaration.“

Those who have been given eyes to see know that this, as with every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, is primarily a spiritual and inward statement concerning the kingdom of God within. Both Paul and John want us to also be aware that as we are like Christ in spirit, so also “as He is, so are we in this cosmos.”

We are not yet able to be without an older brother and a spiritual high priest. There is neither male nor female in the body of Christ, but there is still a head and a body.

So when we read “as He is, so are we in this world” [Greek: cosmos], what does that tell us about our relationship to Christ while we are in this world? Here is Paul’s answer to that question:

1Co 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1Co 11:2  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

How does Christ show us His relationship to His Father in this cosmos? He submits to and obeys His Head, His Father, in all things. How does a man show His relationship to God and Christ in this cosmos? He submits to and obeys his Head and His Father, Christ, in all things. How does a woman show what is her relationship to God and to Christ and to her husband? She submits to her husband in all things, in which her husband follows Christ. Sandi is not inferior to me. She is my equal in the body of Christ, and by her word all of my family will be ruled. I am still the head of our family, just as Christ is my head and God is His head.

“The head of Christ is God,” as Christ Himself declared:

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Yet we are told that Christ did not consider it robbery to count himself equal with God, just as Joseph was equal with Pharaoh. After all, the head and the body are one. Even though that relationship is so close that the scriptures say that Joseph is equal with Pharaoh in ruling the kingdom, God still wants us to understand that “in the throne” Pharaoh is always superior to Joseph.

Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

Did God send a priest into this cosmos who would not reflect His mind and thoughts? Of course, He did not. Will Christ have a “holy priesthood” who does not reflect His mind and thoughts? Of course, he will not. All of this is “the ordinances as I delivered them unto you… the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.”

1Co 11:2  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Those ordinances tell us that Christ is our ruler under His head, His Father. It tells us that the same relationship is reflected in our relationship to Christ and should, for the sake of this cosmos, be reflected in our families and in our relationships as husbands and wives. Our relationship with Christ is an exact replica of His relationship to His Father, to the extent that Christ Himself declares:

Luk 22:29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

And:

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

So when we read that Christ is in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, we should realize that He is performing those priestly duties through His “holy priesthood,” through His priests, and through you and me, who are signified by those seven golden candlesticks.

We have already covered the fact that as our Priest, Christ walks in our midst and admonishes us to repent of all of our sins. That is the first and the primary application of all scripture. All scripture is first to be realized within you and me. When we do repent and place Christ ahead of the things of this world, then we are what Peter calls us. In Christ we are His priests, “a royal priesthood” walking in the middle of the church, standing with and for Christ’s Words and being “hated of all men” for doing so, and we should acknowledge that we are “living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mat 10:22, Mat 4:4).

That is where we are in Christ in this verse 13. Today, Lord willing, we will consider the meaning of the words “Like unto the son of man.” We will consider what is meant by the phrase “Clothed with a garment down to the foot” and what is meant by “girt about the paps with a golden girdle.” So let’s start with the meaning of the words “like unto.”

“Like unto the Son of Man”

What does “like unto the Son of Man” mean? That is a question of utmost importance if we are “to know God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.” Many, many Christians believe in some sort of an immaculate conception, of either Mary and/or Christ. All who subscribe to such doctrines are denying that Christ’s flesh was the exact same sinful, Adamic flesh we have. Such an argument completely emasculates the following Scriptures of their power and force:

Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

If “like unto” in Hebrews 2:17 means ‘similar to, but not really the same;’ if Christ were not literally “the seed of Abraham,” instead of “the nature of Angels,” how then can He be for us “a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,” and how can He possibly claim to have been “tempted in all points like as we are?” In Scripture Christ is said to be “the seed of David according to the flesh.”  He is also called “the seed of Abraham according to the flesh.”  Both Abraham and David were the seed of Adam according to the flesh.  When we take away from Christ any connection with Adam, we take away from Christ any connection with us, and the claim that “he was an all points tempted like as we are” becomes hollow and meaningless. Worse yet, according to John, it is a lie of the “antichrist.”

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Oprah and all of the Gnostic world believe “Christ is come in the flesh” is a parable stating that Christ is in your flesh by virtue of your physical birth. The concept of an actual virgin birth and of actually being rejected of those who are “of your father the devil” is repugnant to Oprah and to all Gnostics who believe that you are Christ only if you deny that there was a literal man who said “I am the way” and who died for your sins.

On the other hand, if you are one of the millions of Christians who is just waiting for the Antichrist to appear on the world scene, you are “a day late and a dollar short.” The antichrist has been around since before the death of the apostles. The doctrines of Gnosticism, and the various versions of ‘the immaculate conception’ doctrine, both deny that Christ was at all “the seed of Abraham.” Just look at this teaching of how God brought Christ into this world. I have cut and pasted this from the Catholic Encyclopedia:

“Immaculate Conception The doctrine

–>–>In the Constitution Ineffabilis Deus of 8 December, 1854, Pius IX pronounced and defined that the Blessed Virgin Mary “in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin.”

This doctrine maintains that Christ’s mother, Mary, was “exempt from all stain of original sin… in view of the merits of Jesus Christ.” Since Mary was exempt for all stain of original sin, “in view of the merits of Jesus Christ,” it follows that Christ Himself was “exempt from all stain of original sin.”

Here is another version of that same doctrine as taught by Dr. Ernest Martin:

“As we will see, the ovum that was impregnated in Mary through spiritual engenderment was itself of spiritual origin. That heavenly ovum was placed in Mary’s womb, and then it was conceived through non-human means. This fact, as we will see, made Mary a surrogate mother of Jesus and not His actual “flesh and blood” mother that descended from the first Adam.“ (Chaper 6 of The Essentials of New Testament Doctrine by Ernest L. Martin).

I love Dr. Martin very much, but this doctrine is a doctrine of demons which flatly denies that Christ is the son of Abraham or King David “according to the flesh.” If Christ’s mother were not “His actual “flesh and blood” mother that descended from the first Adam”, then how, pray tell, is Christ capable of being “the son of David according to the flesh?”

Rom 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

The doctrine which teaches that Christ was not literally connected to Adam is what the age-old doctrines of Gnosticism teach. Gnosticism teaches that Christ himself is just a parable to show us who God is.  Gnosticism denies that there was ever a man who came in the flesh of Adam, who was at the same time conceived of the Holy Spirit.  Gnosticism denies that Christ and His words are the only way, and that is the doctrine of the fastest growing ‘Christian’ church on earth today. That church is the church of Oprah.

The verse we are looking at says that John saw someone “like unto the son of man”:

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Any Christian who teaches that the phrase “liken unto” does not mean ‘the same’ or ‘the same as’ is actually teaching that Christ was not descended from Adam or Abraham or King David “according to the flesh.”

Here is what Strong’s Concordance has on this word translated “like unto“:

G3664
ομοιος
homoios
hom’- oy- os
From the base of G3674; similar (in appearance or character): – like, + manner.

What is the meaning of G3674, from which 3664 comes?

homou
hom- oo’
Genitive case of ομος homos ( the same; akin to G260) as adverb; at the same place or time: – together.

So the phrase “like unto” in scripture does not mean ‘different from’ or ‘not like unto’ or “surrogate;” rather, it means “the same.” It means “the same appearance, character” or flesh.

With all of this in mind, let’s go back and look at this 13th verse:

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto [G3664: ‘homoios’, like, adjective] the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Will those who contend that Christ did not come in the same “marred… sinful flesh” as Adam, also contend that Christ is not in the middle of the seven golden candlesticks? Will they contend that He is not in His saints?

The “one like unto the Son of Man” is the Son of Man. The one who is in you and me is “Christ.” It is not someone who is almost like Christ. It is Christ Himself in you and in me with the same spiritual appearance, the same spiritual character, in the same spirit, which spirit is in these same “vessels of clay”, in the same sinful flesh and bones, in His “seven angels of the seven churches” in the midst of the seven candlesticks.

We had all better hope that the phrase “like unto” means ‘the exact same’ or we are all in big trouble regarding the resurrection:

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of [G3667: ‘homoioma’ noun] his resurrection:

Not to worry! “God is true and every man is a liar:”

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

This is the verse which, properly translated, tells us that Christ “emptied Himself, and took on Him the form of a servant, and was made like a man.”

Php 2:7 But did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made, (YLT)

Why would Christ need to “empty Himself” if he had no connection to the sinful flesh of Adam, Abraham, and David through his mother Mary? Yet Dr. Martin and all of Catholicism, teach that Mary was nothing more than a surrogate mother to Christ:

“Mary [was] a surrogate mother of Jesus and not His actual “flesh and blood” mother that descended from the first Adam.“ (Chaper 6 of The Essentials Of New Testament Doctrine by Ernest L. Martin).

If Christ had a surrogate mother for the purpose of not being descended from the first Adam, then what is the purpose of telling us He “emptied Himself and took on the likeness of men?”

Of course none of that has any basis in the scriptures which actually teach:

Php 2:7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; (ASV)

Conclusion

We have seen how we, in Christ, are in spirit right there with Him as “a holy priesthood,” walking with Him in the midst of the seven candlesticks. We have also seen what the scriptures mean by the phrase “like unto.”  What we saw is that if that phrase means what the orthodox Christian world thinks it means, then our resurrection will not be “in His likeness” at all. Finally, we saw that if Christ’s flesh were not “the [exact] same” Adamic flesh as yours and mine, then He didn’t really “empty Himself ” at all. Of course, we are plainly told that it was “the same.” There was nothing at all angelic about Christ’s flesh and blood. It was rather “the same… flesh and blood… as the children” according to the word of God:

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted  like as we are, yet without sin.

That is what the scriptures really teach. They teach that Christ “was in all points tempted like as we are.” How are we tempted? It is important to know how we are tempted because if we do not know that, then we do not know how Christ was “in all points tempted like as we are.” Here is how “every man is tempted:”

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

What will those who cannot see Christ in the first Adam say about this verse? That is right – they say He was not like us at all. They will say that Christ “was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin.” They say “This… made Mary a surrogate mother of Jesus and not His actual “flesh and blood” mother that descended from the first Adam.” They say such drivel because they do not believe Christ’s flesh was tempted like ours. They actually believe that Christ’s flesh had no carnal desires. They do not believe that “every man is tempted when he is drawn away of His own lust and enticed” has any application to Christ. They believe all of this because they cannot see the difference between “sinful flesh” and the sins committed in that sinful flesh. They say that because they do not know what the difference is or why there is even a need for both a sin offering and a trespass offering. The sin offering, which is what Christ was, is for what we are as flesh and blood, and a trespass offering is for what we do (which is what we fill up and what is “behind of the afflictions of Christ” (Col 1:24). That is how Christ fulfills the trespass offering. He does it through us.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my [our] flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

We will close this study with this Biblical evaluation of these doctrines which deny that Christ was “made of a woman… the same… sinful flesh and blood as the seed of Abraham.”

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Here is the truth about all such doctrines:

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh [of His spiritual body, which we are (Col 1:24)] is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh [of His spiritual body, which we are, (Col 1:24)] is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Next study, Lord willing, we will learn what it means to be “clothed with a garment”, and we will find out why we are told Christ was “clothed with a garment down to His feet.”