DESCRIBING a vision which he had on the Isle of Patmos, St. John said (Rev. 1:10-13): "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice. . . . And I turned to see the voice that spake. . . . And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man."
What practical significance this allegory might have for her was not immediately apparent to a certain Christian Scientist. One day, however, while rereading the first chapter of Revelation in the Bible, it suddenly came to her that the "one like unto the Son of man," whom the Revelator beheld from the heights of divine inspiration, was none other than spiritual man, God's own image and likeness, the perfect representation of Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love, typified by the seven golden candlesticks. To demonstrate, as Jesus did, the divine nature of God, the individual must in his own life lift up the Christ; in other words, he must express the nature of God revealed in these seven beacons.
The Scientist was then led to ponder anew, with the help of the Concordances to Science and Health and to Mrs. Eddy's other writings, these seven synonymous names for God. As the significance of each synonym was carefully considered, it became evident to her that every one of them is made manifest by means of spiritual qualities. It might be said, for example, that Mind is expressed in order, intelligence, discernment, strength; Spirit in freedom, purity, joy; Soul in virtue, inspiration, health; Principle in rectitude, justice, fidelity; Life in activity, energy, vitality; Truth in integrity, veracity, firmness; Love in understanding, tenderness, constancy.
