Revelation 1:12

“And I turned to see the voice that spake with me, etc.] The Complutensian edition reads, “and there I turned”: and so the Arabic version; that is, to see who it was that spoke, from whom the voice came, and by whom it was uttered; (see <022018>Exodus 20:18); and being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; which represented the seven churches, (<660120>Revelation 1:20); in allusion to the seven lamps in the candlestick of the sanctuary, (<022537>Exodus 25:37 <380402>Zechariah 4:2); compared to “candlesticks”, for the use of them, which is to hold forth light; these have none of themselves, but what is put into them, and being put into them, they hold it forth; so the churches of Christ…”

“see the voice--that is, ascertain whence the voice came; to see who was it from whom the voice proceeded. that--Greek, "of what kind it was which." The voice is that of God the Father, as at Christ's baptism and transfiguration, so here in presenting Christ as our High Priest. spake--The oldest manuscripts, versions, and Fathers read, "was speaking." being--"having turned." seven . . . candlesticks--"lamp-stands" [KELLY]. The stand holding the lamp. In Exo 25:31-32, the seven are united in ONE candlestick or lamp-stand, that is, six arms and a central shaft; so Zac 4:2, Zac 4:11. Here the seven are separate candlesticks, typifying, as that one, the entire Church, but now no longer as the…”

“And I turned to see the voice that spake with me - He naturally turned round to see who it was that spake to him in this solitary and desolate place, where he thought himself to be alone. To see the “voice” here means to see the “person” who spake. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks - These were the “first” things that met his eye. This must have been in “vision,” of course, and the meaning is, that there “seemed” to be there seven such lamps or candelabras. The word rendered “candlesticks” (λυχνία luchnia) means properly a light-stand, lampstand - something to bear up a light. It would be applied to anything that was used for this purpose; and nothing is intimated, in the…”

“And I turned to see the voice - That is, to see him whose voice it was. And being turned, I saw - It seems, the vision presented itself gradually. First he heard a voice; and, upon looking behind, he saw the golden candlesticks, and then, in the midst of the candlesticks, which were placed in a circle, he saw one like a son of man - That is, in an human form. As a man likewise our Lord doubtless appears in heaven: though not exactly in this symbolical manner, wherein he presents himself as the head of his church. He next observed that our Lord was clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt with a golden girdle - Such the Jewish high priests wore. But both of them are here marks of…”

“1:12-20 John’s first vision is a symbolic picture of Christ as the wise, secure, and powerful agent of God who always cares for his people. 1:12 I turned to see who was speaking: This statement refers to the loud voice of 1:10. • seven gold lampstands: The lighted menorah was a symbol of God’s presence among his people (Exod 27:21; Lev 24:1-4) and of his all-seeing eyes in the world (Zech 4:10).”

“see: Eze 43:5, Eze 43:6; Mic 6:9 I saw: Rev 1:13, Rev 1:20, Rev 2:1; Exo 25:37; Zac 4:2 Revelation 1:13”