Scripture Reading: Exo. 25:31-40; Zech. 4:2; Rev. 1:12, 20; 2:1
Ⅰ
The lampstand is of pure gold, signifying the divine nature, the eternal, incorruptible nature of God the Father—Exo. 25:31:
A
We need to experience the golden element of the lampstand, paying the price to gain more gold and receiving God as the golden element into the depths of our being—2 Pet. 1:4; Rev. 3:18.
B
How much of the divine nature has been wrought into us determines to what extent we are the church in actuality—Rev. 1:20.
C
We shine with the divine element which has been infused into us; the degree of our shining is according to the amount of the divine element within us.
Ⅱ
The stand is a solid form signifying God the Son as the embodiment of God the Father—Exo. 25:31:
A
Christ has been regenerated into our being, He is being formed in us, and we are being transformed into His being—John 1:12-13; Gal. 4:19; 2 Cor. 3:18.
B
Through God's organic salvation, we are being saved from self-likeness (the expression of the self) and are being conformed to the image of Christ as the firstborn Son of God—Rom. 5:10; 8:29.
Ⅲ
The seven lamps signify God the Spirit being the seven Spirits of God for His expression—Exo. 25:37; Rev. 4:5:
A
Within us we have two lamps—the sevenfold intensified Spirit of God within our regenerated spirit—Rev. 4:5; Prov. 20:27; 1 Cor. 6:17.
B
Both the spirit of man and the Spirit of God are lamps shining and enlightening our inward parts—1 Cor. 2:11-12.
Ⅳ
Christ as the light of life comes out of the life supply—John 8:12:
A
First we have the table and then the lampstand—Exo. 25:23, 30-31.
B
When we take in the life supply, we automatically receive the light of life—John 1:4; 6:35a; 8:12.
Ⅴ
All the gold must be brought together as one unit, one entity; this refers to the building—Exo. 25:31, 36; Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:21-22; 4:16:
A
God does not desire hundreds of individual units of gold; He wants all the gold put together and beaten to form the lampstand.
B
If we have seen the building, we will never be individualistic; rather, we will realize that whatever we gain of the divine element is for the building.
C
We need to be built up in the practical church life, living a life of fellowship under a genuine and proper eldership—1 Cor. 1:2, 9; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-3.
Ⅵ
As the multiplied embodiment and expression of the processed Triune God, the golden lampstands are identical—Rev. 1:12, 20:
A
The sign of the golden lampstands reveals that the churches should be one in essence, appearance, and expression.
B
Jesus has one testimony, the embodiment and expression of the Triune God; thus, all the local churches in all the cities of all the nations should be exactly the same—Rev. 2:1; Col. 3:10-11; John 17:22; Rev. 21:10-11.
C
"I do expect that the day will come when all the local churches look alike, and I believe that when that day comes, the Lord will return" (The Church—the Reprint of the Spirit, p. 29).
Ⅶ
The cups shaped like almond blossoms signify the resurrection life blossoming—Exo. 25:33-34; John 11:25:
A
The blossoming of resurrection life is the shining light—Eph. 5:9.
B
Resurrection is the basis for the shining of the divine light; thus, if we would shine forth the light of life, we must be in resurrection—Phil. 3:10.
Ⅷ
The description of the lampstand conveys the idea of growth—Exo. 25:32:
A
With the lampstand the matter of responsibility for growth is greater than the matter of shining; this means that growth is basic.
B
The stand is growing through the branches and within them; this indicates that Christ is growing in us—Col. 2:19.
C
It is crucial for all the branches to give the lampstand a free way to grow in them and through them—Eph. 4:15-16.
D
How much light there will be in the church depends on the extent to which Christ has a way to grow in us and through us—John 8:12; Matt. 5:14-15.
Ⅸ
The pure golden snuffers and snuff dishes for the trimming of the charred wicks signify the dealing with the old and charred natural life by the divine nature so that the shining of the resurrection life may be bright and pure—Exo. 25:38; Rev. 2:1.
Ⅹ
If we would be the golden lampstand in reality, we need to love the Lord with the best love, giving Him the first place, the preeminence, in all things—Rev. 2:4-5; Col. 1:18.
Ⅺ
If we would be the golden lampstand in reality, we need to practice being one spirit with the Lord, walking according to the spirit, and exercising our spirit unto godliness, unto the corporate manifestation of God in the flesh—1 Cor. 6:17; Rom. 8:4; 1 Tim. 4:7; 3:15-16a.