ay the Lord arose from the dead. It was a day which has been
observed by all Christians in especial remembrance of that event. John
does not appear to have anticipated any such announcement, until he was
suddenly startled from his meditation by a voice in trumpet tones,
announcing itself by the titles of Christ, and commanding him to write to
the churches what he _saw_. Hearing the voice, he turned to see who had
spoken to him, and beheld a

Vision of Christ.

"And I turned to see the voice, that spoke with me. And having
turned, I saw seven golden lamp-stands; and in the midst of the
seven lamp-stands one like a Son of man, clothed with a garment
reaching the feet, and girded around the breasts with a golden
girdle. His head, even his hair, was white like white wool, like
snow; and his eyes were like a flame of fire; and his feet like
fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice like the
sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars:
and from his mouth went forth a sharp two-edged sword: and his
countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I
saw him, I fell at his feet as if dead. And he laid his right hand
on me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last, and am he,
who liveth, and I became dead; and behold, I am alive for ever and
ever, and have the keys of death and the pit. Therefore, write the
things, which thou hast seen, and the things, which are, and the
things, which will take place hereafter; the secret of the seven
stars, which thou hast seen in my right hand, and the seven golden
lamp-stands. The seven stars, are the messengers of the seven
congregations: and the seven lamp-stands are the seven
congregations."--Rev. 1:12-20.

The voice, by a metonymy, is used for the person speaking. He turned to
see the glorious personage by whom the trumpet-tones were uttered. Being
turned, he saw the commencement of those great panoramic presentations, by
which the events of the future were revealed to him, and the significance
of which were explained by an angelic interpreter.

The "seven golden candlesticks," symbolize "the seven churches" (1:20), to
which John was commanded to write. By this, and other symbols which are
divinely interpreted, are unfolded the principles on which symbols are
used. A candle or lamp stand, supports the light placed on it, as churches
are the rec