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Christ in Revelation:The One Walking in the Midst of the Local Churches
Introduction: In this message we must see something of Christ in Revelation. Christ in this book is quite different from all the other books of the Bible. Let us read Revelation 1:13-16.“ And in the midst of the seven lampstands one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the breasts with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” (Witness Lee, The Seven Spirits for the Local Churches, 57)
Witness Lee was a gifted and consecrated servant of Christ whose primary commission from the Lord was to minister to His believers the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to unveil to them His practical expression in the local churches. In chapter 6 of his book The Seven Spirits for the Local Churches (Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1989), Witness Lee expounds on the significance of various details found in the description of Christ in Revelation and applies these details to the experience of Christ in the local churches today. The content of this Website is derived from this chapter.
I. Walking in the Midst of the Local Churches
Revelation 1:13 describes the Son of man, Christ, as walking in the midst of seven lampstands, seven local churches (Rev. 1:20, 11). Hence, based on Revelation chapter 1, Witness Lee declares that this wonderful Christ is also walking in the midst of the local churches today.
In these verses, Christ is the Man walking in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. We know that these golden lampstands are the local churches. This reveals that today Christ is the Son of man walking in the midst of the local churches. We may have been Christians for years, and not realize that Christ today is the glorious Man walking in the midst of the local churches. He is walking in the midst of the golden lampstands, and the golden lampstands are the local churches [Revelation 1:20].
If we want Him to walk in our midst, we must be in the local church….In the midst of the local churches, Christ is walking. We must not think that it is a small thing to be in the local churches. Christ as the glorified Man is walking in their midst. This is the greatest reward for us in the local church. For more than 36 years I have enjoyed His precious walking in the midst. The first point in this book about Christ is that He is walking….He is walking in the midst of the local churches.
If we would have Christ walking in the United States, we must have a good number of local churches in this country. To have Christ walking in the Northwest, there must be a number of local churches there. To have Christ walking in California, there must be the local churches. Praise the Lord! Where the local churches are, there Christ is walking in the midst.
To have Christ walking in our midst is not a small matter. Suppose tonight we were to have the President of the United States walking in our midst. That would indeed be exciting. But he is just the President and nothing to compare with Christ. To have Christ walking in our midst is inexpressibly glorious!
Now we realize how precious is the book of Revelation. This book tells us that Christ today is walking in the midst of the local churches. (57-58)
The vision of Christ as the One walking in the midst of the seven golden lampstands is rendered practical in this commentary by Witness Lee. The seven golden lampstands introduced in Revelation chapter one are synonymous with the seven local churches later mentioned in the same chapter. The believer’s appreciation and experience of Christ as the One walking in “the midst” are enhanced by realizing the truth unveiled here by Witness Lee: the lampstands in practicality are the local churches.
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