The word “apocalypsis” is the Greek name of the book of Revelation, from which we get our word apocalypse. Because the word is associated with the prophecies about the end of our age, many assume the word means “doom” or “destruction.”

But it does not. The word literally means “revelation” — a spiritual process where the Spirit opens our mind by dreams, direct contact, by meditation, visions, by whatever the Spirit finds best, to help us understand things we otherwise might not grasp. John the Apostle wrote:

The anointing, which you have received from Him, stays in you. And you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as the same anointing does teach you concerning all, and is true, and is not falsehood, and even as it has taught you, you stay in Him. And now, little children, stay in Him, so that when He appears, we might have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
From I John 2

[First] [Previous]

This Bible study series contains some very strong words for a special group of people symbolized by the Seven Lamps belonging to the one lampstand. Some translators of the Book of Revelation used “lampstand” or “candlestick” instead of “lamp” when translating this passage.

But a lamp in Greek is a vessel into which oil is poured, and it has a wick that brings the oil to the spout to burn and give light. It is not a candlestick, nor is the lamp the lampstand on which the lamps are placed.

Although some made a career of studying the Greek New Testament, it does have weaknesses, which most often show up in the translations. The use of the word candlestick or lampstand instead of lamp is one case. Greek is not a theological language, it is philosophical and forms a context for Western thought.

But these two chapters of Revelation can only be understood within the context of the Scriptures and Hebraic thought. Here is what I mean: The Law and the Prophets tell about the gold lampstand with its seven gold lamps:

continue