Shalom~
In this urgent hour, when the coming of the Lord is near, I have been meditating on the love of Jesus displayed on the Cross.
Once again, I was deeply moved, and through the Holy Spirit, I came to realize the heart of God the Father.
I lay aside all the knowledge I had previously learned, and simply desire to be one who aligns with the Father's heart.
May each of you receive the light that shines personally upon you, as you discern the present revelation He is giving us.
Hallelujah!
The Seven Last Words of Jesus are the well-known sayings He spoke while on the Cross.
Some say there are eight sayings, and they are not wrong.
Their interpretation originates from a background influenced by Catholic traditions—particularly as a subtle strategy to promote Marian worship.
That too, has its truth.
Personally, I group the third word (regarding Mary and John) as one dialogue, which is why I reflect on the SevenWords.
These Seven Last Words are deeply connected to the seven golden lampstands and also to the seven-year tribulation (Daniel’s 70th week).
Through this, I came to understand that they represent the fulfillment of the seven feasts of the LORD.
Furthermore, the Seven Words from the Cross are divided over six hours, a contrast between light and darkness—day and night.
This pattern mirrors the 3.5 years of light (the first half) and the 3.5 years of darkness (the latter half), centered around Pentecost.
Thus, the Seven Last Words are seen as Jesus’ intercessory prayer for the whole world during the tribulation of the final week.
"My little children, I write this to you so that you may not sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
—1 John 2:1–2
"Now, brothers and sisters, about times and seasons we do not need to write to you,
for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."
—1 Thessalonians 5:1–2
Paul writes to the brothers in Christ, saying there's no need to write about times and seasons because they already know the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
But how did they come to know this so clearly?
"But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
You are all children of the light and children of the day.
We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober."
—1 Thessalonians 5:4–6
They are not in darkness—they do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
They are children of the light and children of the day.
So who, then, are these children of light?
Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer.
Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.
Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.
Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”
—John 12:35–36
John’s Gospel tells us that the Word became flesh and came into the world.
In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
But the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1).
This light shines on each person in the world.
Those who do not walk in darkness—those who perceive the light—are the ones who walk in the light and are children of light and of the day.
These are the ones who know the Day of the Lord, the ones who are led by the Holy Spirit, the sons of God.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
—Romans 8:14
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,
if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
—Romans 8:16–17
This message, shared before diving into the Seven Last Words, is meant to help us understand to whom the mysteries of God are revealed.
It is to the people of God who live centered on the Book of Revelation, the Book of Zechariah, and the pattern of the Tabernacle and the Temple.
Through these, the Holy Spirit shines deeper light.
Because of Jesus’ work on the Cross, the veil of the sanctuary was torn,
and what was once accessible only to the priests—the Most Holy Place—has now been opened to God’s people.
And the first secret revealed is that of the children of light = the golden lampstand.
The final words Jesus spoke from the cross were uttered after six long hours of crucifixion.
He was nailed to the cross at the third hour (9 a.m.) (Mark 15:25),
and from the sixth to the ninth hour (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.), darkness came over all the land (Matthew 27:45).
Jesus’ first three utterances were spoken while there was still daylight.
His final four utterances were spoken during the darkness.
This aligns with Isaiah 60:1–3:
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people:
but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”
Let me say it again: That light has shone upon each one of us, and those who believe in Him have become children of God (cf. John 1:12).
And according to Romans 8, the Holy Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.
So then, what does it mean to have faith as children of God?
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things,
by whom also He made the worlds.” (Hebrews 1:1–2)
It means we believe that we are co-heirs of the Kingdom of the Son, Jesus Christ—the heir of all things.
We are destined to be kings and priests in the Millennial Kingdom.
“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father;
to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:6, KJV)
Those who have been made kings and priests—the sons of light, sons of the day—are the ones who are fully awake, so that “that day” will not come upon them as a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:4-5).
The Book of Revelation, recorded by John, is a message sent by Jesus Christ, the heir of all things, to the sons of light, to reveal what must soon take place.
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet...” (Revelation 1:10)
“Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches...” (Rev. 1:11)
“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands.”(Rev. 1:12)
“In His right hand He held seven stars...” (Rev. 1:16)
The apostle John received this vision on the Lord’s Day—which is not necessarily the Day of the Lord we are waiting for.
But John’s description certainly points forward to that great and dreadful Day of the Lord.
Why, then, did Jesus send letters to the churches?
These churches already believed in Him, having received Him.
It is because even believers need further revelation.
Jesus said to John, “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later.” (Rev. 1:19)
John saw the seven golden lampstands and the seven stars in the right hand of Jesus—and these were not merely symbols; they were mysteries.
“The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this:
The seven stars are the angels [messengers] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” (Rev. 1:20)
So who are these seven churches and the messengers (or "angels")?
We know by now that this is not referring to the physical churches we attend.
The golden lampstand was the only source of light in the Holy Place of the tabernacle.
Oil was poured into it to keep it continually burning.
What did this light illuminate?
Inside the Holy Place, there was also the table of showbread and the altar of incense.
The lampstand stood opposite the table of showbread and shone light upon it.
(Side note: Yes, the picture of the lamp on the top left is a model of this—my favorite! )
The lampstand, lit by the oil of the Holy Spirit, illuminates the showbread before it.
It was made from a single talent of pure gold, beaten into shape—signifying one body, unity without division, purified through suffering and obedience.
The sons of light, guided by the Spirit, are united in Christ, submitting to Him and recognizing and joining with one another as members of the same body.
Which church does this resemble? Yes—the church of Philadelphia.
And the star in His right hand—the messenger? That’s a secret for now
Now, the lampstand shines upon both the showbread and the altar of incense, which are also found in the Holy Place.
The showbread consisted of twelve unleavened loaves—made of fine flour and replaced every Sabbath.
The old loaves were eaten only by the priests.
Twelve loaves (6 + 6) can also symbolize the 66 books of the Bible—spiritual bread for the people of God.
The bread had no leaven, representing the pure, unadulterated Word of Christ.
Freshly baked bread is easier to eat—but the bread left for seven days becomes hard and dense.
Yet David, not a priest, once ate this holy bread with his men—an exception recorded in Scripture.
“Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
He entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.” (Matt. 12:3–4)
That bread David ate was hardened by time, symbolic of solid food for the mature, roasted grain—the diet of a trained soldier of Christ.
“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Heb. 5:13–14)
As sons of light, illuminated by the lampstand, the deep things of revelation are opened.
Through testing, they learn to discern good and evil—a wisdom from God.
This was the wisdom given to Solomon and to Daniel:
“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” (1 Kings 3:9)
“Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.
None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” (Dan. 12:10)
Those who feed on solid food receive God-given wisdom to open the Word and guide His people in righteousness.
With the lampstand’s light and the opening of the Word, they become warriors of Christ, prepared for the end times.
“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the heavens,
and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Dan. 12:3)
Look again—stars are mentioned.
Those who lead many to righteousness are like stars—the messengers to the churches.
Lastly, let us not forget the altar of incense in the Holy Place.
Every day, the priest was to burn incense with a specific mixture before the Lord.
Revelation 8 describes an angel with a golden censer:
“Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.
He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne.” (Rev. 8:3)
Many interpret this as the censer containing the prayers of the saints—but it actually shows a distinction between the incense and the prayers.
