In the Midst

Revelation 1:13: “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”

            The phrase “in the midst” does not merely indicate that Jesus was among them in a central position, but rather that he was the source of their cohesion, the nucleus, the center of gravity, the magnetic center.  In the analogy of the heavenlies, the “midst” of the candlesticks would be represented by the pole star, the apparent center of the turning heavens and the universe.

            The prophets foresaw an ensign or banner upon “the high mountain.”  This was the height of the heavens, not an earthly peak.  Isaiah 13:2-3 is about the mustering to battle of the heavenly hosts, not merely an earthly army, (see verse 10), by means of the signal, ensign, upon the high hill.  See also Isaiah 5:26; 11:12.

            This central position of the universe was seen by the contemporary cultures of the East to be the position of the center of power, the power that turned the whole universe.  Amos 5:8 refers to this center of power in the midst of the seven stars:

[Seek him] that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD [is] his name:

            This view of Christ as the Center of Power of the universe may be seen as the “sign of the Son of Man in heaven” as foretold in Matthew 24:30.  The passage in Habakkuk 3:3-15 (q.v.) gives an awesome view of the Lord in his heavenly position of power.