[aron]

John sees seven lampstands, but he doesn't see 49 flames. He doesn't see seven Menorahs. He just sees the top of the Menorah: seven vertical, hollow, golden tubes (lampstands), each of which supports one lamp and one flame. And the flames are spirits, angels, stars, and messengers to the churches. They are all the same thing. It is simple; it is not so crowded in front of the throne as we might presume. That is why Rev. 8:2 is so important, conceptually, to me. To me that suggests that it's all the same.