Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 1:12

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me . And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks .

That is, to see the [illegible: 1 letter]erson, whose Voice I heard speaking to me; or else by seeing, is meant Vnderstanding; (but that he might have done without turning) he therefore turned, hoping to see the Person that spake.

By these seven Candlesticks which he saw, are meant the seven Churches; so we find it infallibly expounded, v. 20. we shall find in this [illegible: 1 word] Allusio[illegible: 1 letter]s to the Iewish Temple. Here they begin? In the Jewish Tabernacle there was one Golden-Candlestick, and seven Lamps, to give [illegible: 1 word] against it? so Num. 8.2. Zech. 4.2. Iohn here seeth seven. God had but one Church of the Iews, but many amongst the Gentiles. This Notion or Comparison of Churches to Golden-Candlesticks, both sheweth us the Nature, and Office of the Churches of Christ, they do not give Light of themselves, only hold Lights; and it is their Duty to keep in them the pure Word of God, which is a Light to our Feet, and a godly Ministry; and it also lets us know, that they ought to keep themselves pure (as beaten Gold) from all Corruption, as to Doctrine, and their Members from all scandalous Conversation.