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Study Series

Lesson 11 - The Golden Candlestick Part Two

 

TEXT: Exodus 25:37-40  - [37] And thou 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 snuff dishes 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 thou make them after their pattern, which was showed to thee in the mount.

 

Leviticus 24:2  - Command the children of Israel that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.

       With everything we've studied to this point, we need to restate one main theme through this entire study - the Tabernacle was God's blueprint for His approach to man and man's approach to God. For six days Moses sat in silent contemplation waiting for direction from God. The God of Israel - who had redeemed them from the bondage of Egypt, revealed His glory to them on Mt. Sinai, and given them His law to live by - now condescended to DWELL IN THEIR MIDST. The Tabernacle and every part of it is of such great importance to God's redemptive program that 50 chapters in the Bible was given to explaining its pattern, construction and service. Nothing was left to Moses' speculation; God revealed to him in minute detail every aspect of the Tabernacle. More than 20 times in Exodus we read, "as the Lord commanded Moses." The Tabernacle stood as a testimony to Israel and the world of God's TRUTH and GLORY.

 

        For almost 500 years, the Tabernacle served as a place for God to DWELL among His people and a place where His people could commune with Him. (Ex. 25:8 40:34-37). Throughout Israel's history, there was a propensity toward idolatry; thus, the Tabernacle stood as a visual reminder to Israel that they served the true and living God. It helped keep Israel from idol worship that was practiced by those living around them as they made their pilgrimage in the wilderness. Although the Tabernacle made God accessible to the Israelites, He was ONLY APPROACHABLE through HOLINESS.

 

The structure and service of the Tabernacle showed sinful man how it could come before a holy God in worship and service, offer sacrifice for sin, and receive instruction and counsel from the WORD OF GOD. Thus, it was a graphic portrayal of God's redemptive program for not only Israel but also the entire world. Every aspect - the brazen altar, where sacrifices were offered for sin, to the mediating high priest, who offered the sacrificial blood on the mercy seat - pointed to God's redemptive plan. The people could only approach God through BLOOD atonement and a mediating priesthood.

 

        The Tabernacle was a type of CHRIST who came in the FLESH and left His throne in heaven and TABERNACLED AMONG his people. In Christ, we have a high priest, a perfect blood sacrifice and access to God for ALL who put their trust in HIM!

 

John 1:14  - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

        The three pieces of furniture in the Holy Place typified our fellowship with Christ. The table of showbread stood on the right side in the Holy Place. The 12 loaves of bread on the table were a meal offering, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. The showbread typified Christ, who came down from heaven, and all who partake of Him have eternal life (John 6:51). As the bread of life, Christ sustains the believer-priests who feed on Him.

 

        On the left side of the holy place stood the seven-branched GOLDEN LAMPSTAND, which spoke of Christ as the light of the world (John 9:5). All who trust in Him are given the light of LIFE (John 8:12). We are to hold forth the light of God's WORD in this darkened world so that men can see our good works and glorify the Father. The GLORY OF GOD will LIGHT UP the new Jerusalem, which will be our dwelling place throughout eternity (Rev. 21:23)

 

        The lampstand was filled with rich symbolic teaching for Christians. The gold in the lampstand typified the deity of Christ, the divine Son of God, who stepped across the galaxies of the universe and became a man. He was pure in HIS HUMANITY, having neither spot nor blemish, but it was HIS DIETY that sustained HIS HUMANITY.

 

        As we studied in lesson 10, the lampstand was not molded or pieced together but was hammered out of a solid talent of gold symbolizing the LORD JESUS, who endured the harsh, hot sting of a biting whip before His crucifixion. The dimensions of the lampstand were not given, but its size, weight, and beauty portray Christ in His fathomless greatness. He is the creator of all things, and He holds all things together. JESUS is limitless in His value, for in HIM are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge to be found. Paul summed up the greatness of Christ when he wrote, "for in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col 2:9). Joy should fill every child of God's heart that we are COMPLETE IN HIM! That is one of the eternal messages of the Lampstand - ONE PIECE - ONE CHRIST - A COMPLETE REDEMPTION!

        The light in the holy place was symbolic of Christ's holiness. The lampstand itself also typified CHRIST, who lights up the walk and fellowship of believers. The holy place had no windows to allow light to shine into the Tabernacle. The light in the holy place was hidden from the world; only the priests had the privilege of ministering and enjoying the light of the lampstand. So it is with Christians. As believer-priests we are able to ENTER into the light of fellowship and communion with God. John, who knew intimate fellowship with the Lord, wrote, "if we walk in the LIGHT, as HE IS IN THE LIGHT, we have fellowship one with another." The fellowship John refers to is our fellowship with CHRIST. His blood cleanses us to be fit vessels for fellowship. Without the blood, we could NEVER enter into the presence of a HOLY GOD!

 

        We are but reflectors of this light to a lost and dying world. Too often our light is hidden under a bushel. Believers' lamps are to beam brightly, as a lighted city on a hill. The GOLD in this lampstand pictured TRUE FAITH that we as Christians possess.

 

Make And Light Seven Lamps So They May Give Light Over Against It

 

Exodus 25:37 -  And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.

 

        Though there were seven lamps with seven lights (James 1:17-God is the Father of Lights) yet they are spoken of as ONE LAMP or ONE LIGHT (John 1:5- God is light). The seven lamps gave forth ONE LIGHT or ONE WITNESS. In the very light we have the continued thought of the unity of the witness (Lev. 24:1-2; Ex. 25:6; 35:14, 28) As we look at the Candlestick we are reminded of the Rainbow. The Rainbow has the manifestation of seven colors in one bow.

 

        The purpose of the Candlestick was to give LIGHT. It was a light-bearer. There were FOUR main purposes:

·         The Candlestick was to illumine the HOLY PLACE. The Candlestick was the only light in the Holy Place. The Holy Place, as we will cover later, measured 10 x 10 x 20 cubits giving it a cubical content of 2000. So Christ and His Church are the only LIGHT in this 2000 years Dispensation or Age of the Spirit. There was no natural light in the Sanctuary (John 12:35-36)

·         The Candlestick was to give light BEFORE THE LORD. We are to SHINE before the Lord as we shine before the world

·         The Golden Candlestick was to give light on the TABLE OF SHEWBREAD and the ALTAR OF INCENSE

·         The Golden Candlestick was to give light over against ITSELF. In other words it was to illumine itself or its own ornamentation. In the same way the Spirit illumines the WORD OF GOD. It takes the light of the Spirit to illumine the Word.

        All priestly ministries unto the Lord were in the LIGHT of the Candlestick. The Candlestick was DIVINELY lit, but was kept alight by the supply of daily oil. It’s a picture of God's Sovereignty and our human responsibility before Him.

 

Bring Pure Olive Oil For The Light

 

        They were instructed by God to use pure Olive Oil beaten for the light. Jesus fulfills this symbol in His pre-cross sufferings. "Gethsemane" means "oil," or "olive press." Jesus became the FRUIT OF THE OLIVE TREE (Romans 11) who was pressed and beaten in the sufferings of Gethsemane and Calvary, that we might have the PURE OLIVE OIL, that is, the HOLY SPIRIT as an ANOINTING and OIL for light and witness. The Holy Spirit is the PURE OLIVE OIL! The Greek word for "oil" is “Charisma” which is also translated "anointing". Christ is the Anointed One, and the followers of Christ are the Anointed Ones! Even as the Candlestick was anointed prior to its witness, so must the people of God be anointed to be a witness (Exod. 27:20).

 

In order to burn continually there must be a continual supply of oil. In order for there to be light manifest, there must be a continual inflow of oil. This is especially true of the Church of the end times. It must be a Church with an abundant supply of oil. The CHURCH of this last day is challenged to be a light in the midst of a perverse generation. The ministry of the Holy Spirit as the Oil has never been so important!

 

And Aaron...When He Dresses The Lamps...Light The Lamps At Even

 

        The ministry of Aaron the High Priest was to:

·         Trim the wicks by taking away the burnt part

·         Supply Oil in the morning and evening as he ministered at the Altar of Incense

        So Jesus Christ, as our Great High Priest performs His ministry of trimming the wicks of the believers taking away the burnt-out areas and supplying oil for further light-bearing. This is done in connection with His ministry of intercession, which we will study in detail when we study the Altar of Incense. Unless the wicks are properly trimmed there will be an abundance of smoke and improper light. God wants a pure light and faithful witness to go forth. Aaron used the TONGS and the SNUFF DISHES for THIS MINISTRY. These represented the instruments that the Lord uses to trim us and cleanse us to cause us to shine brighter for His glory

Hebrews 12:6  - For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.

John 15:2  - Every branch in me that bears not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
 

Make The Candlestick After The Pattern Shown In The Mount

 

The Candlestick was to be made according to the Divine pattern. The pattern for building shows us the Spirit and wisdom of God made the tabernacle.  This speaks to us of the Church, which is God's true Candlestick. It, too, must be built according to the Heavenly Blueprint and Divine Pattern (Hebrews 8:1-5). God has only one pattern for His Church and He will only FULLY BLESS that which measures up to the Divine Standard.

 

The Candlestick In Transit

 

        In transit the Golden Candlestick was covered with the following cloths:

1.     A Cloth of Blue - Here we see a type of the Holy Spirit. It is also representative of Him who is the LORD FROM HEAVEN (1 Cor. 15:47). Blue is the color of heaven.

2.     Wrapped in Badgers' Skin - This is typical of the Father God and it also speaks of Him in whom the world sees NO NATURAL beauty (Isaiah 52:14 and 53:1-2)

3.     Carried on a BAR - This is significant of a pilgrimage and corresponds to the truth set forth in the staves on the furniture

        All of this speaks of the fact that Christ and His Church are of heavenly origin, and that there is no beauty in Christ of His church to the natural, unregenerate man in the wilderness and pilgrimage wanderings of this world. The beauty is in its WITNESS and FUNCTION in the Sanctuary.

 

The Candlestick Outside the Tabernacle Of Moses
 

In Solomon's Temple there were TEN Golden candlesticks. The Church is God's Temple and the fullness of LIGHT will be manifested in His Temple.

1.     In Solomon's Temple there were Candlesticks of Silver in the Priests' Chambers around the walls of the Temple. Silver always carries the thought of redemption. Thus, the priests stood in the LIGHT OF REDEMPTION before ministering in the Temple at the Golden Candlestick.

2.     In Babylon God used the Golden Candlestick to bring about the fall of Babylon. So in the last days, Babylon will fall by the revelation and ministry of the true CHURCH, God's Candlestick

3.     Golden Candlesticks are seen in relation to the vision of restoration times and are typical of the end times (Zech. 4:1-14 and Rev. 11:1-4)

4.     The Seven Local Churches in the Book of Revelation are symbolized by the seven Golden Candlesticks each bearing light in the local city in which God has placed them. Thus the church is to let the LIGHT of God shine forth in the darkness of this world, giving the light of the knowledge of the GLORY OF GOD as seen in the face of JESUS CHRIST. The believer's life should be the light of men, for LIGHT is the very nature and character of God in CHRIST

The Lampstand And The Holy Spirit

 

        The oil in the lampstand was a beautiful type of the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit. At the top of each branch were cups into which pure olive oil was poured. The oil produced the glowing light that filled the Tabernacle. The seven stems, olive oil, and flame were types of the Spirit's ministry, which was clearly taught by John:

 

Rev. 4:5  - And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
 

        The "seven spirits of God" symbolize the perfection and fullness of the Spirit's ministry. The Holy Spirit is the person of the Godhead who administers the plans, purposes, and programs of God on earth.

 

Isaiah 11:1-5  - And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: [2] And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; [3] And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: [4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
 

        There is a parallel the sevenfold ministry of the Holy Spirit with the seven branches of the lampstand. In this context, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Spirit of the Lord" resting on Christ, who could be compared to the center shaft of the lampstand. Branching out of the stem were three branches on each side, corresponding to the ministry of the Holy Spirit on the Lord: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.

 

        This sevenfold ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT is operative in the lives of Christians in a similar way. First, He gives us wisdom and understanding through the Scriptures. Second, He provides us with counsel to direct our lives and might to stand against the onslaught of satanic opposition. Finally, He makes known to us the knowledge of Christ (John 15:26; 16:15) and produces in us a reverential respect for God.

 

        Second, the Holy Spirit executes a threefold purpose on earth. He convinces the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. He reveals the sin of unbelief as being the issue that separates the unsaved from God.. He makes them known the righteousness of God in Christ to the world. The Holy Spirit convinces the unsaved world of God's judgment on everyone who rejects the saving power of Jesus Christ (John 16:11)

 

John 16:7-11  - Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. [8] And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] Of sin, because they believe not on me; [10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; [11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

John 14:16  - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 15:16  - Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

 

        Third, the Holy Spirit plays a major role in our salvation and service for God. All believers are BORN of the SPIRIT and baptized into the Body of Christ FOR SERVICE. The same believer in Christ is then blessed with gifs for service and empowered to witness for their Lord through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. Today, the light of the Holy Spirit does not dwell in a temple made with hands but in Christians. Paul wrote, "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you." It is the Spirit of God that conforms us to the image of Christ and enlightens the word of God to us.

 

        The Holy Spirit illuminates our worship and intercession before God and the living BREAD of LIFE - JESUS. Without the lighted lampstand the priests would have worshipped in darkness. For our prayers to be effective, they must be offered in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit takes our unintelligible, insufficient and feeble prayers to the throne of God and expresses our needs properly, according to the will of God! (Romans 8:26-27)

 

        We are commanded to be FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT! This is so our light will shine on people in our world. When unconfessed sin remains in our lives, we grieve the HOLY SPIRIT and His ministry is quenched, causing our light to shine dimly or even be extinguished.

 

When we are burning brightly for Jesus, we are not seen, but HIS GLORY shines through US. It's all about being filled with the OIL of the HOLY GHOST!