What is the significance of the lampstands John saw?
The first thing John saw in Jesus’ revelation to him were lampstands. We must not confuse lampstands with lamps. The function of a lamp (commonly a clay dish containing oil plus a wick) was to give light in the home. In a home with little furniture, its place was on a lampstand (see Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16); that way the light of the lamps spread farther. We’ll learn in Revelation 1:20 that the lampstands represent the seven churches.
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,