Revelation 2:1; To Hold and To Walk

Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Our Lord Jesus Christ “holdeth” the seven messengers in His right hand. The verb “holdeth” or “grasp”, “to hold in the hand” has the basic meaning “be strong or possess power”. The right hand, I believe, is to emphasize the authority of Christ and the favoured position of these messengers. There is an emphasis of the verb in the present tense to describe Christ continually upholding these messengers that He has sent.

It is described by Daniel the reward of God’s messengers endowed with God’s wisdom. Their fruitful service will render for them a great reward for they shine as the brightness of the sky, like the stars forever and ever. Their impact or finished work will render them the reward of an everlasting nature, for they turned many to righteousness.

Daniel 12:1-3 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Our Lord is depicted as walking in the midst of the seven churches described as the seven golden candlesticks. The Lord is ever-present with His people. He is there with them to know exactly what is happening to His flock – Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Our Lord is the Good Shepherd who fulfills perfectly the shepherd’s care for the sheep of his fold – Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

Indeed, our Lord gave His life so that the church can be established as He said in John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Amen.