Symbolism of the Seven Candlesticks
Revelation 1:12, 20
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; . . .
20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:
“Candlesticks carry light; they do not create it. Their function is to make it available, not to bring it into being. So by using seven candlesticks to portray the seven churches to whom John is now to give counsel, the Lord is showing that His congregations on earth are to carry His light to the world. Christ is the Light of the world (John 8:12). ‘Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do’ (3 Ne. 18:24; Matt. 5:14–16).”
(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 3:442.)
