 THE
PURE GOLD LAMPSTAND
One of the really important studies for our day is the Revelation
of the Lampstand church. 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 church 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 and pure oil prepared to burn in the lamps. Then it
must be set in the Holy Place where it will function and illuminate everything in front of
It. There must be a supply of oil ready because the oil must not run out. The revelation
of the Lampstand will reveal to us that salvation is not an event but a process that must
conclude in a function and that function now on earth, during the church age. It would be
easy to relegate the Lampstand function to the millennium or the eternal Kingdom but we
don't see the Lampstand there. We see the seven lamps of fire but not the Lampstand. We
see the gold Lampstand, the gold Lampstands and the silver lampstands on earth, but in the
eternal heavens we see the Tabernacle of God. God has a place for everyone but everyone
will not be in the same place. One of the interesting things that we will investigate is
the source of the pure oil that fuels the lamps on the Lampstand. There is a never ending
supply that is beyond man to provide. No natural oil will satisfy. This is a supernatural
oil from a supernatural source. We will begin with the primary purpose for the pure gold
Lampstand that is pictured in the Tabernacle of Moses. EXO 25:37 "Then you shall make
its lamps seven {in number;} and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the
space in front of it. The first purpose of the lamps was to illuminate everything in front
of it. That means the Table of Showbread, the Altar of Incense and the Holy Place itself.
The Lamps had to burn continually. Aaron and His sons were charged with the responsibility
of trimming the wicks and filling the lamps morning and evening. EXO 27:20 "And you
shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the
light, to make a lamp burn continually. LEV 24:2 "Command the sons of Israel that
they bring to you clear oil from beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn
continually. LEV 24:3 "Outside the veil of testimony in the tent of meeting, Aaron
shall keep it in order from evening to morning before the Lord continually; {it shall be}
a perpetual statute throughout your generations. LEV 24:4 "He shall keep the lamps in
order on the pure {gold} lampstand before the Lord continually. EXO 30:7 "And Aaron
shall burn fragrant incense on it; he shall burn it every morning when he trims the lamps.
EXO 30:8 "And when Aaron trims the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense. { There
shall be} perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. The Lamps had to
burn continually but they were serviced in the morning and again in the evening. The oil
was filled and the wicks trimmed morning and evening. At that same time fragrant Incense
was burned on the Altar of Incense. This was a twin ministry. Incense cannot be burned in
darkness, therefore the Lamps must be trimmed and filled with oil first. The Lampstand was
made up of the base, the shaft, the cups (which were four flowers), the bulbs and the
flowers were all one piece and was made of hammered work. EXO 37:17 Then he made the
lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered work, its base and its shaft;
its cups, its bulbs and its flowers were {of one piece} with it. Then out of the shaft
there were six branches, three on one side and three on the other. EXO 37:18 And there
were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand from the one
side of it, and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it; It appears that
the unit described in verse 17 was called the Lampstand and verse 18 describes the
branches attached to the center shaft and base. It is interesting that the Lampstand was
not cast into shape. The casting method would require that a mould be made first and then
the molten gold just poured into the mould and let cool. A one piece Lampstand could be
made as a unit all at the same time. God is not using a mold but is hammering out the
Lampstand a little at a time. NUM 8:4 Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand,
hammered work of gold; from its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to
the pattern which the Lord had showed Moses, so he made the lampstand. This indicates that
the Lampstand church is not made from a mould but must be hammered into shape according to
God's design. A mold would be less confusing and a lot quicker. Once the mold was made, a
lot of Lampstands could be quickly assembled and be exactly alike. If just the lamps were
in view and a mechanical device to support the lamps, it wouldn't be profitable to hammer
each one out. However, the hammering is all part of the process of building the Lampstand.
This reveals that there is a subjective work in building the Lampstand and then a
objective work of lighting the Holy Place. The denominational view of the Lampstand is
that each church must fit a certain mold. God's design is to hammer until it fits His
eternal purpose. Over the years there has been various interpretations of the Lampstand
and it's function. The most common is that the Lampstand is "the light of the
world". This can be little more than imagination and has no basis in scripture. The
Lampstand was totally out of view of anyone except the priests. It was only seen in the
Holy Place and was hidden behind the gold boards, the heavy veil, and four coverings. When
it was brought out into the natural light and moved with the Tabernacle, it was protected
with a blue or purple covering to hide it from sight, as was all the furniture of the
sanctuary. NUM 4:5 "When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and they
shall take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it; NUM 4:6
and they shall lay a covering of porpoise skin on it, and shall spread over {it} a cloth
of pure blue, and shall insert its poles. NUM 4:7 "Over the table of the bread of the
Presence they shall also spread a cloth of blue and put on it the dishes and the pans and
the sacrificial bowls and the jars for the libation, and the continual bread shall be on
it. NUM 4:8 "And they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet {material,} and cover
the same with a covering of porpoise skin, and they shall insert its poles. NUM 4:9
"Then they shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand for the light, along with
its lamps and its snuffers, and its trays and all its oil vessels, by which they serve it;
NUM 4:10 and they shall put it (the lampstand) and all its utensils in a covering of
porpoise skin, and shall put it on the carrying bars. NUM 4:11 "And over the golden
altar they shall spread a blue cloth and cover it with a covering of porpoise skin, and
shall insert its poles; NUM 4:12 and they shall take all the utensils of service, with
which they serve in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth and cover them with a
covering of porpoise skin, and put them on the carrying bars. NUM 4:13 "Then they
shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it. NUM 4:14
"They shall also put on it all its utensils by which they serve in connection with
it: the firepans, the forks and shovels and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and
they shall spread a cover of porpoise skin over it and insert its poles. NUM 4:15
"And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy {objects} and all the
furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath
shall come to carry {them,} so that they may not touch the holy {objects} and die. These
are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry. All the
"holy objects" were hidden from sight. Even the Levites, who carried them, could
not see them. The Lampstand could not be the "light of the world" in it's
function in the Holy Place "life and ministry". The scripture says that the
Lampstand was to light everything "in front of it". That means just in the Holy
Place. The "light" of the Outer Court was natural light from the sun, moon and
stars. The light of the Holy Place was limited to the Lampstand which was burning the pure
oil. The light of the Most Holy Place was limited to the glory of God. This is emphasized
in the revelation of the New Jerusalem. REV 21:23 And the city has no need of the sun or
of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp {is} the
Lamb. This particular light also applies to the bondservants. REV 22:5 And there shall no
longer be {any} night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light
of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and
ever. 1TI 6:15 -- He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of
lords; 1TI 6:16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom
no man has seen or can see. To Him {be} honor and eternal dominion! Amen. Jesus Christ is
the light of the world but He dwells in unapproachable light. The glory of God. JOH 1:4 In
Him was life, and the life was the light of men. JOH 1:5 And the light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. JOH 1:9 There was the true light which,
coming into the world, enlightens every man. PHI 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or
disputing; PHI 2:15 that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children
of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you
appear as lights in the world, PHI 2:16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day
of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. All
light is not the light of the Lampstand. This light is designed for a specific purpose and
that is to light everything in front of it. That means the Showbread and the Altar of
Incense. Using natural light to interpret the Lampstand is fantasy. The Lampstand can only
be seen in it's own light that comes from the pure oil. ZEC 4:2 And he said to me,
"What do you see?" And I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold
with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to
each of the lamps which are on the top of it; ZEC 4:3 also two olive trees by it, one on
the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side. " ZEC 4:4 Then I answered
and said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, "What are these, my
lord?" ZEC 4:5 So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me,
"Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." ZEC 4:6
Then he answered and said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying,
'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts. ZEC 4:7 'What are
you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel {you will become} a plain; and he will bring
forth the top stone with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!"' " ZEC 4:8 Also
the word of the Lord came to me saying, ZEC 4:9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid
the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish {it.} Then you will know that the
Lord of hosts has sent me to you. ZEC 4:10 "For who has despised the day of small
things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of
Zerubbabel-- {these are} the eyes of the \Lord\ which range to and fro throughout the
earth." ZEC 4:11 Then I answered and said to him, "What are these two olive
trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?" ZEC 4:12 And I answered the
second time and said to him, "What are the two olive branches which are beside the
two golden pipes, which empty the golden {oil} from themselves?" ZEC 4:13 So he
answered me saying, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my
lord." ZEC 4:14 Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones, who are standing
by the Lord of the whole earth." This vision contains part of the revelation of the
Lampstand. This revelation has to do with the oil that fuels the lamps that makes the
light. The angel was amazed that Zechariah didn't recognize who it was that poured the
golden oil FROM THEMSELVES into the Lampstand to supply the seven lamps. The angel was
hesitant to explain what he was seeing and Zechariah had to ask the angel three times to
explain the two olive trees. The angel begins to give clues about the two olive trees. V6
He says they are "SPIRIT" and not natural power and might. Then he reveals that
"the top stone" ( the cap stone) is identified by "grace, grace". Then
the Word of the Lord came to Zechariah not to despise the day of small things (that have
not come to full measure). The seven spouts are the seven eyes of the Lord. With all this
information Zechariah still couldn't figure out who the two olive trees were that were
pouring the golden oil from themselves into the lamps. He asked the third time about the
two olive trees. The answer was " Don't you really know yet?. Zechariah said "No
my Lord". Finally he spoke clearly. These are the two anointed ones, who stand by the
Lord of the whole earth. Literally "The Sons of fresh oil". The popular
interpretation is that these two olive trees are the two witnesses in REV 11:3 "And I
will grant {authority} to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and
sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." REV 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two
lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. First there are two lampstands in view
here and only one in Zec 4. Each witness is one lampstand. Second, these are men who will
be killed. Third, these two are bringing judgement on the earth. Fourth, three days after
they were killed they were resurrected and taken up to heaven. Fifth, these two were not
pouring oil out from themselves but fire. The two olive trees are fueling the gold
Lampstand with oil that is coming out from themselves. They are Spirit and one is
identified as the "top stone" and by shouts of "Grace, Grace" to it.
The lamps are identified as the seven eyes of the Lord that see everything over the earth.
Last the two olive trees are revealed to be the "two anointed ones" who stand by
the Lord of the whole earth. We should ask if it is reasonable to say these two, who are
witnesses for a short period during the tribulation, are capable of pouring the golden oil
out from themselves and fueling the gold Lampstand for the church age? There are only
"two Anointed Ones" who are capable of doing that. They are the Spirit of Christ
and the Holy Spirit. They alone will meet all the requirements. The Hebrew says "
These are the two Sons of fresh oil". Some say the seven lamps speak of the seven
ministries of the church. 1CO 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles,
second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
administrations, {various} kinds of tongues. Of course there are eight here but the answer
is that tongues have passed away. ZEC 4:2 And he said to me, "What do you see?"
And I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of
it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are
on the top of it; ZEC 4:10 "For who has despised the day of small things? But these
seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel-- {these are}
the eyes of the \Lord\ which range to and fro throughout the earth." REV 1:4 John to
the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was
and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne; REV 1:5 and from
Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings
of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, REV 3:1
"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God,
and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are
alive, but you are dead. REV 4:5 And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and
sounds and peals of thunder. And {there were} seven lamps of fire burning before the
throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 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. If the
Lampstand is the church in each location and the seven Lamps are the seven Spirits of God,
which are the seven eyes of the Lord, then the church is equipped with more power, might
and insight than we have imagined. If the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ are fueling
the Lampstand with the golden oil flowing out from themselves, the Holy Place life and
ministry should be full of light. We must not overlook the fact that the mechanics of
holding the lamps are made with pure gold and then beaten into shape. There appears to be
plenty of Lamps and plenty of oil but there needs to be a frame to sit them on. The glory
of the frame is that it holds the Lamps. The glory of the Lamps is in the oil that
supplies them. The glory of the wicks is in the Lord, our High Priest, Who trims them,
when they get burned out, so they can burn again, without smoking and polluting the Holy
Place life and ministry. If there are "ministries" connected to the seven lamps
then they should be seen in the wicks because we already know what the Lamps are. We
already know what the oil is. If this is true then the next revival must produce a frame
and some fire. God is supplying everything else. When the wicks try to burn without oil
they just burn themselves, and soon burn out. If the next revival illuminates the Holy
Place, it first has to produce some pure gold tested and purified by fire. We know that in
every generation there has been some fire and light in the Holy Place and the Showbread
has yielded some revelation to burn Incense. However, the main stream of the church has
remained in the Outer Court confronting each other with doctrines. If the Lampstand speaks
of a functioning church we should see more activity with the gold and go on from the Outer
Court. The great stumbling block is the consecration offering and the veil of Truth. Of
course the furniture of the Holy Place is not visible in natural light so we don't know
how much gold God has prepared. There was a good measure of fire in the last 25 years. God
is surely smelting the gold in private. The Ark is already complete and ascended into
heaven. JER 3:16 "And it shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased
in the land," declares the \Lord\, "they shall say no more, 'The ark of the
covenant of the \Lord\.' And it shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor
shall they miss {it,} nor shall it be made again. REV 11:19 And the temple of God which is
in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were
flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great
hailstorm. The former ark, that was earthly, was just a shadow and is no longer sought
after. The reality is a Person who appears in His temple. That person is the Lord Jesus
Christ. He doesn't need someone to carry Him, like the former ark. He just appears in His
temple. Of course the Ark is the temple of the New Jerusalem. REV 21:22 And I saw no
temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple.
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