SYMBOLS - CANDLESTICKS - SWORD Albecht Der's somewhat personal woodcut of the vision of 'The Vision of the Seven Candlesticks', from Revelation. St. John, the supposed author of the work, kneels before the image of God, who is surrounded by seven candlesticks (which some commentators associate with the seven churches of the early Christian world, mentioned in Revelation - that is, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatria, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea). The sacred figure has seven stars around his right hand, and within his mouth is a sword.