Gold is often spoken of in terms of being tested by fire. The lampstand consisted of one main stem or shaft, and six branches. It was structured into a form that bespoke its function. Yet his splitsecond vision of the glorified son of man was etched in his memory, so that he was able to recall it when he began to write the book of revelation. In the book of revelation the seven churches of the new testament are pictured in the form of seven lampstands revelation 1. He put the lamps in the right place so that they lighted the area in front of the lampstand. These seven lights formed one lampstand, and gave forth one light. The golden lampstand illuminated the shewbread and so god illuminates his people. The lamp and lampstands of revelation i love you, god. The individual congregations are repositories of the light of gods presence. It opens with an incredible encounter between jesus and the apostle. Size of the lampstand in the sanctuary logos bible. Biblical law recognizes two kinds of marriage, as i explained in my book, old and new covenant marriage.
Would you please explain the vision of the lampstand and two olive trees, as recorded in zechariah 4. Witness lee points out that to realize the matter of the local church is more difficult than to understand the universal church. I love the the menorahlampstand picture david botsko paintsreveals through the scriptures in his book. The preterist seeks to interpret the book of revelation from the point of view that the events described in its chapters have already occurred, not long after their prediction. That this lampstand was made of gold tells us that it represents god s nature. Ner or nir is properly light or a lightgiving thing, hence, lamp, and is so rendered in the revised version british and american, but often candle in the king james version. The lampstand and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. In the book of revelation we see that the seven eyes of god are the seven eyes of the lamb.
The golden lampstand was hammered from one piece of gold. According to zechariah, this stone is for gods building. Five great mysteries in the bible by witness lee ministry books. Its interesting to note just how precise god is in explaining how he wanted the lampstand to look. On sunday june 12, 2016, presiding bishop blake taught the congregation at west angeles church of god in christ about power of light in the life of the believer, using the symbolism of the lampstand.
Gold was the most valuable of all metals psalm 119. Enjoy the experience of pdf book and learn about the kingdom of god. Spiritually speaking, the emblem of the church should be a lampstand not a physical one but a real spiritual one. While all the elements inside the tabernacles tent of meeting were made of gold, the lampstand alone also known as the menorah, golden candlestick and candelabrumwas constructed of solid gold. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. But the seventh lampstand, which is in the center, divides in two that which would be the number of man, making it three and three.
The first issue of gods new testament economy is the golden lampstands, which are signs or symbols of the churches. The prophet zechariah sees a golden lampstand with seven lamps as representative of gods holy people zechariah 4. This unity clearly speaks to us of the unity of jesus christ with his church. The meaning of this term has been interpreted in multiple ways.
What is the significance of the lampstand in the bible. This chapter is a part of a section socalled first zechariah consisting of zechariah 18. In part, john writes, then i turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning i saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe. Among the lampstands the book of revelation amazing facts. And yet, god says the church is like sacred, golden lampstands carrying the.
In the new covenant, gods wife is pictured as sarah, the free woman. The seven oil lamps resting in the flower petals were like small bowls. It gives excellent insight into the seven spirits of god and his workings. Here is the patience of the saints, here are those who keep the commandments of god and have the faith of jesus. Then i turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. In the book of revelation we see that the seven eyes of god are the seven eyes of the. What are the meanings of the various visions in the book of zechariah. The individual congregations are repositories of the light of gods. Therefore, the emphasis here is that the pure gold as the substance of the lampstand signifies the father as the nature of the golden lampstand. We find in the tenth and eleventh chapters of the book of revelation just such a scenario. Before the world, the nations, people, satan, and even before god we as the church are a lampstand, gods testimony. It is made of pure gold, from one piece of metal, has no joints, and is carved with buds and flowers under each branch of it. God has something completely different in mind when he uses the term church in the scripture.
As soon as the divine testimony has been given to gods satisfaction the christian witness is destroyed from the cities of. Outside of this general description, we have no other measurement pertaining to the lampstand. What do the lampstands in the book of revelation mean. The preparation of the lampstand in order for the lampstand to fulfill its purpose it had to go through a preparation process. The incarnated christ is gods form, gods solid expression. The seven menorahs of revelation are an allusion to the seven menorahs of the physical temple which were to be kept shining brightly. At that time, people burned oil in a lamp to give light. Were going to be studying the fifth vision given to zechariah. The expression refers to jesus christ see the study glimpses of god. The golden lampstand the tabernacle bible history online. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet zechariah, and is a part of the book of the twelve minor prophets. Now the lord spoke to moses, saying, speak to aaron and say to him, when you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand. Kingdom of god resource store lampstand communication. Three is my divine order and three given twice shows that the church has the witness of gods divine order within herself.
Nevertheless, gods people must endeavor to follow the progressive revelation of the church throughout the new testament to its consummation in the seven local churches in. Two lampstands, the home of the word of righteousness. The book of revelation refers to lampstands seven times in six verses rev. So, lets turn our attention to the 4th chapter of that book zechariah chapter 4. The golden lampstand, or candlestick, stands to the left as one enters through the door of the tabernacle. What does the portrayal of the church being like a golden lampstand say about how god sees his church. Zechariah 4 good news translation gnt the vision of the lampstand. Sign up on our email subscription list at the bottom of this page and receive 8 free ebooks on the topic of prayer.
When god uses someones writings to draw you closer to him yahweh and to research and hunger and seek out answers its always a thrilling journey of discovery. Zerubbabel was in the process of building the temple, and that stone with the seven eyes was for gods building. Would you please explain the vision of the lampstand and. The mystery of the lampstand when the voice spoke to john, he turned to see who was speaking and immediately collapsed to the ground as if dead. This is a short study on the lampstand in the tabernacle. Bible history online overview of the tabernacle of moses in the old testament period of the exodus and the wilderness wanderings when israel was led by the cloud of gods presence. The lampstand had a center column with six branches extending from it on each side. All images are also avaliable in digital download for projection or other media use. I will remove your lampstand from its place revelation 2. Jesus, the lord of the church, walks in the midst of her. The lampstands were symbolic of spiritual light shining out to a spiritually dark world. The golden lampstand in the wilderness tabernacle provided light for the holy place, but it was also steeped in religious symbolism. The book of revelation describes a vision given to the apostle john. The church is a lampstand because it is the dwelling place of the spirit of god on the earth.
But in revelation, the book of consummation, there are seven lampstands. What are the seven lampstands candlesticks of revelation. Well cover only the first 7 verses of this chapter today, but lets go ahead and read the whole chapter for. Why does the book of zechariah use such strange visions and symbols. Zechariah 4 gnt the vision of the lampstand bible gateway. The lampstand, or menorah, is one of the key furnishings in. For our purpose here we will look at six characteristics of this lampstand that would make it well prepared for what it was meant to be. The book of revelation gives us several beautiful, and often. Churches are the keepers of the light of gods truth and salvation in a lost world. These lamps will light the area in front of the lampstand.
What are the meanings of the various visions in the book. We would go far astray in attempting to interpret the book of revelation if we ignored the fact that the writers uses apocalyptic language to convey the great truths about the lord jesus christs future work in the world. God told moses to make the lampstand from one piece, hammering in its details. Second, the form of the lampstand signifies christ. Very well, my young friend, the lord was pleased with aarons answer. So gods people in the last days will also have this endurance or this patience that we see demonstrated in the first century church. The builder of the tabernacle, bezaleel, received divine instructions as his name symbolized, in gods shade. A lampstand shines forth light, and in its usage is to enlighten gods move in the tabernacle.
One of the principles associated with spiritual maturity is that spiritual maturity comes from learning to see things from gods perspective. The menorah is the centerpiece of one of the most powerful images in bible prophecy, the prophecy of zechariah 4. The weight of this lampstand was to be one talent of pure gold. Exodus 25 mentions that the golden lampstand is beaten out of one piece of pure gold. The tabernacle of moses gods heavenly pattern for our spiritual transformation part v. It is the brilliant, majestical, golden lampstand that illuminated the holy of the tabernacle allowing aaron the israelites first high priest to perform the services of sacrifice to godjehovah on behalf of his chosen people, in an attempt to fulfill the mosaic law and its regulations. I encourage you to both read this excerpt and for further study why not purchase his book right below. It is an extended metaphor that speaks powerfully to both jew and christian of the importance of manifesting the divine light through the holy spirit to accomplish gods. Lampstand international standard bible encyclopedia. No measurements are given as to its exact size who can measure the light of god.
Below is an excerpt from keith millers book surrender to the spirit. Naturally we recognize that not all suffering reflects judgment. No dimensions are given for this object, but its total weight was one talent, or about 75 pounds of solid gold. Comparing the description moses recorded of the lampstand with other stories in the bible about lamps casts a whole new light on the subject. Zechariah 4 is the fourth of the total 14 chapters in the book of zechariah in the hebrew bible or the old testament of the christian bible. John uses sign language to describe events revealed to him by christ that. The apostle john tells us that he saw the lampstands for the first time after he turned to see who was speaking to him. This is a reminder that we must read the context in order to understand what is occurring.
Zechariah sees a new lampstand reformed bible studies. The book was fulfilled in the early ages of the church. The first time we see the word lampstand in the bible is in exodus 25. Jesus made the world and created life and came to bring gods life to fallen man but since man is in darkness apart from jesus they could not comprehend the light that comes with the life of god. In this book there is the reaping, the harvest, of all the divine truths that were sown as seeds in the book of genesis. Christs church on earth is the lampstand upon which jesus light to the. Though the restoration was troubled and it was a day of meager beginnings, israel would one day rejoice in fullness vv. The lampstand and its base and its shaft are to be made of hammered work.
This vision represents gods promise that jerusalem. Eventually we see that the stone with the seven eyes is the lampstand. Seeing a vision of the golden lampstand, a type of the. On the lampstand are seven lamps, each one with places for seven wicks. The whole book of revelation, along with old testament apocalyptic books, are. That this lampstand was made of gold tells us that it represents gods nature.
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