Subject: The Tabernacle - The Lampstand
Date:    Fri, 15 May 1998 02:11:06 +0000
To:      "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>

 

From:          Mark Wilson
To:            heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject:       The Tabernacle - The Lampstand



                    THE PURE GOLD LAMPSTAND

One of the really important studies for our day is the Revelation of
the Lampstand believer.  I am capitalizing Lampstand to emphasize that it
is the work of God and very special in His sight.  While we are studying
the earthly Lampstand, which is just a type and shadow of the heavenly,
we are, in effect, studying the building and functioning of the church. 
Only Christ can build His church of one piece of pure gold.

While the Lampstand is only seen on earth, it speaks of the preparation
of the New Jerusalem of Revelation 21 & 22.  We see the Ark of the
Covenant both on earth and in heaven.  We see the Altar of Incense both
in heaven and on earth as well as the Bronze Altar and the Laver.  We
see the gold censer in heaven and on earth that holds the fire and the
incense that is the prayers of the saints.  However, we don't see the
Lampstand in heaven but we do see the fulfillment in heaven.

The Lampstand, it's Lamps and it's Oil, the Table and the Showbread and
the Incense Altar, the Incense and the fire all speak of the preparation
and function of the believer on earth.  Therefore, these studies merge
together.  None of the items in the Holy Place life and ministry can
stand by themselves as an isolated "ministry".  For example, we can't
say " My ministry is just to burn incense and I don't want to
participate in the Lampstand and I feel no need of the Showbread".  We
can't say " I'm just content to be part of the Lampstand but I'm not
interested in the Showbread or the Incense".  For this reason I am
calling this the "Holy Place life and ministry".  This involves
everything in the Holy Place.  The light for the Holy Place comes from
the Lampstand which has no light of it's own but burns the clear, pure
olive oil.  More precisely, the light comes from the seven Lamps that
are mounted on the six branches and the center column, called the
"Lampstand".  Of course without the wicks there is no continual fire and
no constant light.

The first question that may come to our minds is what has the Lampstand
in the Tabernacle of Moses got to do with us 3500 years later?  

REV 1:20
"As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand,
and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the
seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.  

The book of Revelation was written to the seven churches in Asia.  Each
church represented one Lampstand.  We could say there was one Lampstand
church in each location.  Jesus Christ revealed Himself as the One Who
walks among the seven golden Lampstands and knows and sees everything
that goes on in each church.

He also reveals Himself as the One Who can remove the Lampstand out of
it's place and send the church in that location into darkness and
irrelevancy, unless they repent.  

REV 2:5 'Remember therefore from where
you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I
am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place--
unless you repent.  The seven eyes of the Lord are the seven Spirits of
God and nothing escapes His notice.  

REV 5:6 And I saw between the
throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing,
as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

Since the Lampstand is a picture for us of the universal church, it is
important to hear what God will speak to us concerning the construction
and function of the shadow so we can gain some insight into the reality.

The first thing that we will recognize is that there are many confusing
things about the construction of the Lampstand.  But, thank God, we
don't have to build one because Jesus has taken that responsibility.  If
He told us how it is built we would try to build one.  We can see from
church history that man made lampstands are a great disappointment.  The
Lampstand He builds has no wood, hay or straw, which are man's favorite
building materials because they are cheap and easy to find.

Before the Lampstand can be hammered into shape, He must find "gold". 
Then the gold must be tried by fire in God's crucible until all the
dross is removed and there is only pure gold.  Once the gold is prepared
it must be hammered into the intricate shapes with the base, shaft,
branches, bulbs, blossoms and flowers.  The gold lamps must be prepared
with spouts for the wicks an