In Revelation 1, John describes a vision of Jesus Christ standing amidst seven golden lampstands, which are later identified as the seven churches. This powerful image reveals Christ in His divine glory, far beyond His human form, as the eternal God and Head of the church. The presence of the seven candlesticks underscores His direct connection to and authority over these churches, setting the foundation for the messages and prophecies that follow in the book.

The seven candlesticks in Revelation 1 represent the seven churches. They are not connected like the lamps on the menorah but are arrayed around Jesus Christ, who stands in their midst. This arrangement symbolizes that Christ is central to the churches of God, providing them with spiritual light and support. Each candlestick stands separately, indicating that the churches are distinct yet connected spiritually to Christ, who is their common link and focus.

The seven churches of Revelation, as described in chapters 2 and 3, belong to Christ, who holds them in His right hand. Christ sees their works and the good or righteous qualities in each church, yet acknowledges that none of them are perfect and all have problems. There are huge differences between these seven churches, similar to the differences observed among the various groups of God's church today. Christ encourages the churches to overcome and repent, warning them of the consequences if they do not make changes and strive to be holy. He promises rewards to those who remain faithful and overcome, such as eating from the Tree of Life and not being hurt by the second death. The differences between the churches are significant, with God having issues with five out of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation.