Lamps and Tree

John hears a voice behind him and turns to see the voice. First he sees lampstands (Revelation 1:10, 12). Austin Farrer (The Revelation of St. John Divine, 65) points out that the turning and the lampstands come from Zechariah 4:1-2. He explains,

“Zechariah’s vision was familiar to Israelites as a prophetic lesson for the Feast of Lamps, Dedication, the Jewish Christmas; and familiar to Christians as occurring in a series of visions which give a messianic significance to the High Priest Jesus, making him typical . . . of Jesus Christ.”

But the differences between the two visions is important: “In the Jewish scheme the ‘candlestick’ of Israel’s worship holds the centre; on either hand are planted oil-trees, symbolizing the two anointed stocks, the princely house of Zerubbabel and the priestly house of Jesus, to feed the wicks with the oil of their anointing. In St. John’s picture the singular figure of Jesus, both priestly and royal, takes the centre; the churches burn as candles round him, but his own radiance is greater – he holds the seven stars in his hand, his face shines like the sun” (66).

Jesus is the oil-tree that supplies the lamps. He is the anointed One whose anointing and illuminating by the Spirit flows out to the churches.