WHAT ARE THE CANDLESTICKS AND THE TWO OLIVE TREES? Candlestick-A Lampstand. EXODUS 25:31 And thou shalt 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. COMMENTARY: The word golden when being used in worship is often referring to deity, whether of our heavenly God or of a false deity. Notice in EXODUS 25:31, when refering to the candlestick, the lampstand that was in the tabernacle and later in the Temple: it is referred to as His, as in a person. Understanding the meaning of the words, Shaft, Branches, Bowls, Knops, and Flowers: (1) Shaft or His Shaft = In EXODUS 25:31 this word shaft was translated from the Hebrew word yarek pronounced as yaw-rake, which means, To be soft, the thigh from its fleshy softness, by euphem, the generative parts. A shank, flank, side of the body, loins, thigh, shaft. The word euphem used in the meaning above of shaft, comes from the word euphemism which is a word or phrase that is less expressive or direct but considered less distasteful, less offensive, etc. than another. Example: A word or phrase so substituted as, She is at rest is a euphemism-(less distasteful) for she is dead. (2) Branches = In EXODUS 25:31 this word branches was translated from the Hebrew word qaneh prounced kaw-neh, which means, by resemblance a rod especialy for measuring. A shaft, tube, or stem. The radius of the arm. A beam of of a steelyard. A balance, a bone, a stalk. In ISAIAH 4:2 the Branch is a reference to the coming of Messiah: In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. ISAIAH 11:1, And there shall come forth a rod-(for correction) out of the stem -(David) of Jesse, and a Branch-(the Lord Jesus) shall grow out of his roots. And of Messiahs secnd advent in JEREMIAH 23:5 and 6, Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. In JOHN 15:5 Jesus says to His followers, I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (3) Bowls = In EXODUS 25:31 this word bowls was translated from the Hebrew word gebiya pronounced gheb-ee-ah, which means, a to be covex-(which means, To bring together). A goblet. The calyx-(the outer covering) of a flower. A house-kingdom. A cup or pot. (4) Knops = In EXODUS 25:31 this word knops was translated from the Hebrew word kaphtor or kaphtowr pronounced kaf-tore, which means, To encircle. A chaplet-(a garland or wreath which signifies death and resurrection, a wreath to be worn on the head, such as a crown of thorns), but used only in an architectonic sense-(showing structural design and constructing, such as the chief corner stone which the reformed Church is built upon). An candelabrum-(a stand for supporting lamps, as in a Light to the world). (5) Flowers = In EXODUS 25:31 this word flowers was translated from the Hebrew word perach pronounced peh-rakh, which means, A calyz-(the outer covering), in general - a bloom, blossom, or bud-(which represents new life, to be born again). Can you see how these five words-(shaft, branches, bowls, knops and flowers), the description of the golden candlestick-(lampstand) points to the Messiah Jesus Christ. Seven Golden Lampstands: REVELATION 1:10 thru.12 I was in the Spirit on the Lords day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a sound of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book-(testify, be a witness to by making a record of) what you see, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asis; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake-(spoke) with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. COMMENTARY: And I was in the spirit on the Lords day: Now there is two possible ways to interpret this. One is that on Sunday, he went into a spiritual trance and had this vision. Another possible translation of this same Greek text would be, I was in the spirit unto the day of the Lord. I believe that John was taken in the spirit through time, if you please, which of course is the transition from the natural into the spiritual world, because you enter into the timelessness of eternity. Something that will take place when you die, you will enter into the timelessness of eternity. Time is only relative to our planet earth, because of its rotation on its axis and its revolution around the sun. So we count time here, but time is relative. Man a has a time-line, a begining and an end, but not God. John was in the spirit on the Lords day, and heard behind me a voice, as of a trumpet. Later on he is going to hear a voice as of a trumpet-(sound of the Voice of God, 1 THESS. 4:16) calling him up into heaven. Come up hither and I will show you things which must be-(REV. 4:1). Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What you see-(again he saw these things. It was a vision), write in a book, and send it unto the seven Churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. So I turned to see who it was that was talking to me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to His feet-(as a high priest), and gird about His chest with a golden girdle-(belt for the High Priest, EXODUS 28:1 thru.8). His head and His hairs were white like wool-(as the slain Lamb of God), as white as snow-(pure, undefiled, righteous), and His eyes were as a flame of fire-(REV. 19:12), and His feet were like unto fine brass, as if they were burned in a furnace-(brillant, shimmering, wavey as refine by fire); and His voice as the sound of many waters-(peoples, nations). So it is interesting to me that in the New Testament, with all of the gospel writers writing concerning the life of Jesus Christ, there was never an endeavor by any of them to describe Jesus in a physical sense. None of them said he had brown eyes or he had blue, He parted His hair in the middle, He had a beard. No descriptions at all of Jesus Christ so that we are totally without any real knowledge of what Jesus looks like from a physical sense. Man has often drawn pictures of what he envisions that Jesus might have looked like. But it is hard to really envision what a person looks like just by hearing the words that he said, or by even hearing his voice. So how about us using the scriptures to envision the appearance of Jesus: We know Jesus was poor, so His clothing would not have been of the best quality and ISAIAH 53:2-B, says, He hath no form-(no goodly or favoured figure or appearance) nor comeliness-(nor beauty, nor magnificence or splendor); and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him-(no desire to know or be-friend Him). So now we know Jesus was no great beauty to look upon, and we know He would have carried a staff, portraying Himself as a shepherd and walking as much as He did. And in the Book of Ezekiel it tells of the rule-law of how a priest was to wear his hair, and Jesus came and taught as a priest and prophet, and He said He came NOT to destroy the law and prophets, but to fulfill them - magnify, enlarge. In order to fulfill them, He had to live the law, build on the law by the Spirit, and obey the law. EZEKIEL 44:20, Neither shall they-(the priest) shave their heads, nor suffer-(let) their locks to grow long; they shall only poll-(shear) their heads. To poll their heads, was for a priest to cut His hair as short as he could cut it, with out shaving his head. This was shearing his head, called poll. And this is how a priest under the law of Moses would have kept his hair, thus our priest Jesus while on this earth would have kept His hair in this manner. Cut His hair as close as possible to the scalp without shaving it. REVELATION 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven Churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven Churches. COMMENTARY: The mystery, that is, the allegorical explanation of the seven stars is the seven angels or ministers of the Churches, and the allegorical meaning of the seven golden lamps-(seven Spirits of God) is the seven Churches themselves. IN the seven stars there may be an allusion to the seals of different offices under potentates, each of which had its own particular seal, which verified all instruments from that office, and as these seals were frequently set in rings which were worn on the fingers, there may be an allusion to those brilliants set in rings, and worn UPON THE RIGHT HAND. In JEREMIAH 22:24, Coniah is represented as a signet on the right hand of the Lord, and that such signets were in rings refer GENESIS 38:18 and 25, EXODUS 18: 11, DANIEL 6:17 and HAGGAI 2:23. At a closer look we will find that all the symbols in this Book have their foundation either in nature, fact, custom, or general opinion. The Churches are represented by these these candlesticks-lampstands which are for candles-lamps to sit on, and in this case where the Verses speak of oil, then we must asume lampstands for lamps and they hold the oil and the fire, and dispense the light. A lamp is not light in itself, it is only the instrument of dispensing light, and it must receive both oil for fuel and fire to ignite the fuel before it can dispense any light, so no Church has in itself either grace or glory, it must receive all from Christ its head, else it can dispense neither light nor life. JOHN 1:9, That was the true Light, which lighteth every man-(one) that cometh into the world. JOHN 8:12, Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. JOHN 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. COMMENTARY: The ministers of the Gospel are signets or seals of Jesus Christ: He uses them to stamp His truth, to make His word creditable and show its truth, and give it currency able to purchase a lost soul. But as a seal can mark nothing of itself unless applied by a proper hand, so the ministers of Christ can do no good, seal no truth, impress no soul, unless the great owner condescend to use them. How careful should the Church be that it have the oil and the light, that it continue to burn and send forth Divine knowledge! In vain does any Church pretend to be a Church if it has no oil-(the Holy Spirit) of Christ to dispense light, if souls are not enlightened, quickened, and converted in it. If Jesus walk in it, its light will shine both clearly and strongly, and sinners will be converted unto Him, and the members of that Church will be children of the light, and walk as children of the light and of the day, and there will be no occasion of stumbling in them nor will they give any occasion to stumble. How careful should the ministers of Christ be that they proclaim nothing as truth, and accredit nothing as truth, but what comes from their master. They should also take heed lest, after having preached to others, themselves should be cast-aways, lest God should say unto them as He said of Coniah, As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah, the son of Jehoiakim, were the SIGNET UPON MY RIGHT HAND, yet would I pluck thee thence. On the other hand, if they be faithful, their labour shall not be in vain, and their safety will be great. He that toucheth them toucheth the apple of Gods eye, and none will be able to pluck them out of His hand. They are the angels and ambassadors of the Lord, their persons are sacred, they are the messengers of the Churches, and the glory of Christ. Should they lose their lives in the work, it will be only a speedier entrance into an eternal glory. The rougher the way, the shorter their stay, The troubles that rise will gloriously hurry their souls to the skies. The Verse of JOHN 1:12 and 20, introduces us to a symbol the Lord used in a vision given to the aged Apostle John. The previous Verse 11, had mentioned seven congregations located in Asia Minor. The Lord uses seven golden candlesticks to represent these churches. John writes: I was in the Spirit on the Lords day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a sound of a trumpet, saying, Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven Churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea. I would like to notice some points from the seven golden lampstands the Lord used to symbolize these local Churches. The second and third Chapter goes into great detail about the successes and failures of these seven Churches. We will notice a thing or two in that regard, but for the most part we will simply notice some characteristics of the local Church from the lampstand symbol. The Churches Were Visible: Unfortunately today the word Church is often used to describe other things than that which the lampstands symbolized. So often, people use the word to refer to a building which was built for the purpose of worship. But the word never meant that in the Bible. God has something completely different in mind when He uses the term Church in the Scripture, it means The Body. So, the seven golden lampstands do not represent seven buildings, at least not the kind made with brick, wood and stone. Concerning the Church in Jerusalem, the Bible says, And fear came upon the whole Church, and upon all who heard these things-(ACTS 5:11). We are fairly certain that we are not talking about a building here! And the news about them reached the ears of the Church at Jerusalem. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the Church-(ACTS 11:22 and MATTHEW 18:17). These Verses would be rather funny if the word Church meant a building. The word Church refers to the Body of Christ, the members of His Body, the beloved people. In the universal sense, specifically those people who have obeyed the gospel by faith-(EPHESIANS 1:22 and 23). In the local sense, as the word is used in our text, the word Church refers to a local body of believers who are in fellowship together in work and worship-(ROMANS 16:16, 2 COR. 1:1 and 1 COR. 16:10). One more thing: a local Church can cease to be recognized by the Lord as part of His Church, due to ongoing sin without repentance. Jesus told the Church at Ephesus or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent-(REV. 2:5, refer also to REV. 2:16 and REV. 3:3). Two Sides to the Church: There are two sides to the Church. There is the Divine side and the human side. The Divine side, the Head of the Church, is perfect. But the human side, the members of the body, are less than perfect. But the better they listen to the Head, the closer to perfection they get. There were seven golden lampstands. Why seven? In ancient thought, the number seven stood for perfection-completion. There are no improvements to be made to the Church on the Divine side. The Law of the Lord is perfect. His design for the local Church is just as He wants it to be. There is no innovation we can or should make. The Lord has already claimed all authority-(MATTHEW 28:18 thru.20), and He also warned us not to add onto or take away from-(DEUT. 4:2, DEUT. 12:32, PROVERBS 30:5 and 6, REV. 22:18 and 19 and EXODUS 32:32) However, on the human side, there are improvements we can make. We can grow in the character traits of discipleship, in love, joy and peace-(PHIL. 3:12 thru.14). A problem exists when someone is intent on trying to make improvements on the Divine side and fails to see that it is on the individual side where improvements are necessary. The Divine side is fine, thank you. Keep your hands off-(GALATIANS 1:11 and 12 and ACTS 2:42). The Church Is Precious: The lampstands are gold. This would symbolize something of great value. Perhaps the case can be made for purity as well. We recall how the Church at Corinth was rebuked for allowing impurity within it to go on without action-(1 COR. 5:2 thru.8). As Jesus walked amid the seven lampstands in-(REV. 1:13 thru.20), one of the ways in which He identifies Himself says, Fear not-(do not be afraid), I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth-(the living One), and (I)-was dead; and, behold-(look, see), I am alive for evermore, A-men; and (I)-have the keys of hell-(hades) death. It was in His death that He purchased the church with His blood-(20:28). The Church Holds The Light: 1 TIMOTHY 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave-(conduct) thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar-(strength) and ground-(foundation) of the truth. COMMENTARY: The Church of the living God, the pillar of strength and support of truth. What a statement of truth. The word of God is the truth which is spoken of here-(JOHN 17:17). The word of God is that which directs us to Christ, the light of the world-(JOHN 3:19 thru.21 and JOHN 8:12). A local Church can only be the lampstand God intends it to be if it will hold forth the light God has given. To substitute the traditions, creeds and doctrines of men for the doctrine of Christ will only bring darkness-(2 JOHN Verse 9). This is why it is so important to preach the word faithfully in season and out of season. It is the right thing to do. The world needs the Light. ZECHARIAH 3:9 and 10 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving-(inscription) thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine-(JOHN 15:5) and under the fig tree. COMMENTARY: For, expressing the ground for encouragement to the Jews in building the temple: I-(Jehovah) have laid the-(foundation) stone as the chief architect, before-(in the presence of) Joshua, by the hand of Zerubbabel-(ZECH. 4:10 and EZRA 3:8 thru.13), so that your labor in building shall not be vain. The (foundation)-stone alluded to is Christ, before called the Branch. Lest any should think from that term that His kingdom is weak, He now calls it the stone, because of its solidity and strength whereby it is to be the foundation of the Church, and shall crush all the world kingdoms-(PSALM 118:22 compare to ISAIAH 28:16, DANIEL 2:45, MATTHEW 21:42, 1COR. 3:11 and 1 PETER 2:6 and 7). The angel pointing to the chief stone lying before Him, intimates that a deeper mystery than the material temple is symbolized. The stone here is the Jewish Church, which Jehovah engages watchfully to guard. The temple, rather, is that symbolically. But the shadow type of the foundation-stone is the Messiah. Upon one stone shall be seven eyes, namely, the watchful eyes of Jehovahs care ever fixed upon it-(ZECH. 4:10). The eye is the symbol of Providence: seven, of perfection-(REV. 5:6, 2 CHRONICLES 16:9 and PSALM 32:8). Antitypically, the seven eyes upon the stone are the eyes of all angels-(1 TIMOTHY 3:16 ), and of all saints-(JOHN 3:14 and 15 and JOHN 12:32), and of the patriarchs and prophets-(JOHN 8:56 and 1 PETER 1:10 and 11), fixed on Christ, above all, the eyes of the Father ever rest with delight on Him. Considers the seven eyes to be carved on the stone, that is, not the eyes of the Father and of angels and saints ever fixed on Him, but His own sevenfold-(perfect) fullness of grace, and of gifts of the Spirit-(ISAIAH 11:2 and 3, JOHN 1:16, JOHN 3:34, COLOSSIANS 1:19 and COLOSSIANS 2:9), and His watchful providence now for the Jews in building the temple, and always for His Church, His spiritual temple. Thus the stone is not as other stones senseless, but living and full of eyes of perfect intelligence-(1 PETER 2:4, a living stone), who not only attracts the eyes-(JOHN 12:32) of His people, but emits illumination so as to direct them to Him. Engrave, graving-(inscription), implying Messiahs exceeding beauty and preciousness, alluding to the polished stones of the temple: Christ excelled them, as much as God who prepared His body-(HEBREWS 10:5, and JOHN 2:21) is superior to all human builders. Remove, iniquity of that land in one day, that is, the iniquity and its consequences, namely the punishment to which the Jews heretofore had been subjected-(HAGGAI 1:6 and HAGGAI 9 thru.11). The remission of sin is the fountain of every other blessing. The one day of its removal is primarily the day of national atonement celebrated after the completion of the temple-(LEV. 23:27) on the tenth day of the seventh month. Antitypically, the atonement by Messiah for all men, once for all-(one day) offered, needing no repetition like the Mosaic sacrifices-(HEBREWS 10:10, 12 and 14). Under the vine, the fig tree, an emblem of tranquil prosperity-(1 KINGS 4:25). Type of spiritual peace with God through Christ-(ROMANS 5:1), and of millennial blessedness-(MICAH 4:4). ZECHARIAH 4:2 and 3 And (the angel)-said to me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold-(see) a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl-(fountain) on the top of it, and His seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes-(tubes) to the seven lamps-(lights), which are on the top thereof: and two olive trees-(witnesses, REV. 11:3 and 4) by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. COMMENTARY: Notice that the Candlestick-Lampstand is referred to as a person-(His seven lamps). The bowl is a fountain, and the Branch-(ZECH. 3:8, ZECH. 6:12, ISAIAH 4:2, ISAIAH 11:1, JEREMIAH 23:5 and JEREMIAH 33:15), Jesus Christ is The Fountain of Life-(JEREMIAH 17:13). As a man who is wakened out of his sleep: Zechariah had that woozy feeling that you get if you are awakened suddenly from a deep sleep. A candlestick-lampstand of solid gold: God gave Zechariah a vision of the golden lampstand that was meant to stand in the temple. Since Zechariah and his people were there to rebuild the temple, it made sense that God spoke to them in images related to the temple. Seven pipes to the seven lamps and two olive trees: In addition to the lampstand, Zechariah saw something that was never in the temple, two olive trees that supplied the seven lamps with oil through seven pipes. One of the more tedious duties of the temple service was the constant care of the lamps on the golden lampstand. They had to be continually refilled with oil, cleaned of soot, and their wicks had to be maintained. In this vision, Zechariah sees self-maintaining and self-filling lamps, fed directly from two olive trees. In the temple, the lamps were fueled by pure, specially prepared olive oil. The lampstand Zechariah saw in his vision was fed straight from the trees. The two olive trees and the two candlesticks are the two-Spirits of the two Church types, the Old testament and the New Testament, Judeaism and Christianity, God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ. These are the witnesses standing before the Lord-(REV. 11:3 and 4) who shall witness, it is the Old and New testaments that many will be converted by, testify of the Lord for three and one-half years and be-headed for being a witness for Jesus-(REV. 20:4) and the word of God. The Olive Trees: Trees represent people, people that reprsent the carpenter, Jesus Christ. Olive represents yielding fruit, producing an illuminating oil, which is the Holy Spirit. The people of Jew-Judeaism converted, and of Gentile-Christianity, the Old and New testaments together will witness by the Holy Spirit for Jesus Christ during the final three and one half years of the great tribulation. THE SEVEN SPIRITS: ISAIAH 11:2 says, The Spirit of the LORD will rest upon Him-(the Branch, Jesus), the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. This could possibly explain the seven spirits of God: (1) Spirit of the LORD (2) Spirit of wisdom (3) Spirit of understanding (4) Spirit of counsel (5) Spirit of power (6) Spirit of knowledge (7) Spirit of the fear of the Lord. The Bible doesn’t tell us specifically who/what the seven spirits are, but the first interpretation, that they are the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Jesus the Son, who is the Spirit of God-The trinity, this seems to be most likely. Lets Take another Look: Who are the seven Spirits of God? They are: ROMANS 8:2 = The Spirit of Life. JOHN 15:26 = The Spirit of Truth. EPHESIANS 1:17 = The Spirit of Wisdom. ROMANS 1:4 = The Spirit of Holiness. 2 COR. 4:13 = The Spirit of Faith. 1 JOHN 4:8 = The Spirit of Love. REV. 19:10 = The Spirit of Prophecy. The other two Spirits mentioned in Scripture are the Spirit of Glory-(1 PETER 4:14), which refers to the Seven Spirits of God collectively, and the Spirit of Grace-(HEBREWS 10:29), which refers to the Holy Spirit. JOHN 8:12, Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. JOHN 1:9 and 10, That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. JOHN 13:33 thru.35, Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men-(mamkind) know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. MATTHEW 5:14 thru.16 Ye-(disciples) are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven . CONCLUSION: Jesus has risen and gone to God the Father, and now you, His disciples are the Light of the world, or the Light for sinners to seek repentance. You are the Light and the Spirit of jesus Christ is the candlestick-lampstand the you the lamp-light rest upon to be shown to all the world as a light upon a hill for all to see by your good works. So go forth be a witness for our Lord Jesus Christ, testify of His goodness. Teach His Gospel, and be the light that lights the pathway of the sinner to the lord. Heavenly Father, thank you for your word of truth, thank you for and in all matters that you set forth for us. I pray for your grace and peace be upon all your children in Christ Jesus, and in His blesseth name I pray for the good health, wealth and general welfare of all. A-MEN
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:30:52 +0000
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