Golden Lampstand

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Christ is realized as the Spirit, and the Spirit is expressed as the churches.  The shining Spirit is the reality of the shining Christ, and the shining churches are the reproduction and expression of the shining Spirit to accomplish God's eternal purpose that the New Jerusalem as the shining city may be consummated.  Christ, the Spirit, and the churches are all of the same divine nature.  [<I><U>The Recovery Version of the New Testament, 1:12 Footnote 3</U></I><I>, Living Stream Ministry</I>]</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Golden Lampstand in Exodus 25:31-39</B></div> <bR> <div> The lampstand was made of pure gold which was beaten into the shape of the stand (Exo. 25:31).  In typology gold signifies the divine nature, the nature of God the Father.  The beaten lampstand signifies the suffering of Christ in order to express God's glory.  Christ was "beaten" on our behalf to redeem us and to express the divine nature of the Father.  As New Testament believers we also need to be "beaten" into the shape of Christ's image as in Philippians 3:10, "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" >To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death</FONT>."  The word "conformed" implies the molding, the beating, into shape.  The shape is Christ's death.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >The lampstand had no measurement.  This is quite precious and signifies that the divinity of Christ and the light He shines forth is immeasureable.  The apostle Paul may have alluded to this picture of the golden lampstand when he wrote Ephesians 3:8-9a, "</FONT><B>To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the Gentiles the </B><B><U>unsearchable </U></B><B>riches of Christ as the gospel  9  And </B><B><U>to enlighten all</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>.</B>"</FONT></div> <bR> <div> There was a base of the lampstand for stability in standing (Exo. 25:31).  This signifies Christ in His constant stability to uphold.  The shaft was of beaten gold, signifying Christ's strength to stand no matter what He encountered.  He was a strong shaft standing for God's testimony.</div> <bR> <div> The lampstand with all of its utensils weighed one talent of gold (Exo. 25:39).  Today, a talent weighs approximately 100 pounds.  Therefore, the lampstand weighed about one hundred pounds of pure gold!  What a valuable item in the serving of God.  This one talent of gold signifies that Christ as the lampstand shines the divine light in resurrection as perfectly and completely weighty in God's sight.  Christ is not easily moved nor tipped.  He is perfectly balanced and weighty to uphold God's testimony of light in resurrection.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Various Aspects of Christ's Shining in Resurrection for God's Testimony</B></div> <bR> <div> As you can see by the diagram of the lampstand, there were many small items comprising the lampstand.  There were knobs, blossoms, branches, cups, lamps, snuffers and snuff dishes.  All of these are meaningful in our experience and all are related to some aspect of Christ's resurrection in order to bear God's testimony.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Knobs</B></div> <bR> <div> The knobs contained the blossoming flowers (Exo. 25:31), signifying the expression of the resurrection life to uphold, support, and sustain our shining of the divine light.  In particular the knobs holding the branches (Exo. 25:35) of the lampstand signify the growth in the divine life for the increase of the lampstand.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Blossoming Flowers</B></div> <bR> <div> The blossoming flowers (the petals) signify the expression of hte resurrection life (Exo. 25:31).  For instance, when we look at a seed we do not see resurrection because it is concealed within the seed.  However, once the seed sprouts and the plant grows to maturity, the blossom, the resurrection life, blooms forth.</div> <bR> <div> The knobs and the flowers together show that resurrection life constitutes both the container (knobs) supporting the blossom and the blossom itself as the expression of the plant, the testimony of the plant.  In terms of the lampstand, there are many knobs and blossoms shining out the resurrection life of Christ, expressing the resurrection life of Christ.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Branches of the Lampstand</B></div> <bR> <div> There are six branches of the lampstand coming out of the two sides, three branches from one side, and three branches from the other side (Exo. 25:32).  (One central branch proceeding vertically makes seven lamps total.)  Firstly, the branches signify the branching out of Christ's resurrection life.  Christ's life cannot be contained, but always branches forth!  Secondly, the branches are in two groups of three branches each.  Two signifies testimony because only on the word of two witnesses can any matter of law be confirmed.  Three signifies the Triune God in His divine trinity.  Therefore, the branches of the lampstand shine forth the testimony of the Triune God as the light of life!</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Central Stalk</B></div> <bR> <div> In the middle of the branches of the lampstand stood a central stalk with four cups shaped like almond blossoms (Exo. 25:34).  This signifies Christ in His uplifted humanity shining with the resurrection life.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Seven Lamps</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >The seven lamps of the lampstand (Exo. 25:37) signify the seven Spirits of God as the full expression of the Triune God.  Revelation 4:5 says, "</FONT><B>And out of the throne come forth lightnings and voices and thunders. And there were </B><B><U>seven lamps</U></B><B> of fire burning before the throne, which are the </B><B><U>seven Spirits of God</U></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >."  The seven lamps in the book of Revelation are based upon the seven lamps of the lampstand in Exodus 25:37 and Zechariah 4:2.  The seven lamps of fire, which are the seven Spirits of God, signify the enlightening and searching of the sevenfold intensified Spirit of God.   In Exodus 25 and Zechariah 4 the seven lamps, signifying the enlightening of the Spirit of God in God's move, are for God's building, either for the building of the tabernacle or for the rebuilding of the temple.  Here the seven lamps are for God's judgment, which will issue also in God's building--the building of the New Jerusalem.  [<I><U>The New Testament Recovery Version, Revelation 4:5 Footnote 2</U></I><I>, Living Stream Ministry]</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Snuffers and Snuff Dishes</B></div> <bR> <div> The snuffers and the snuff dishes were also made of pure gold (Exo. 25:37).  Their function was to trim the charred wicks of the lamps, signifying the dealing with the old and charred natural life so that the shining of the resurrection life may be bright and pure.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>EXODUS 25:31-40</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>31  And you shall make a candlestick [of] pure gold: [of] beaten work shall the candlestick be made:  his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.  32  And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:  33  Three bowls made like unto almonds, [with] a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, [with] a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.  34  And in the candlestick [shall be] four bowls made like unto almonds, [with] their knops and their flowers. 35  And [there shall be] a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.  36  Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it [shall be] one beaten work [of] pure gold.  37  And you shall make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.  38  And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, [shall be of] pure gold.  39  [Of] a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.  40  And look that you make [them] after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount. </B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>