The form of the Lamp Stands workmanship was beautiful; picture it if you would, a fruit (a pomegranate) and then a flower, following successively one after another up the main shaft, and likewise out and up the various branches, this represented the True Church as being both beautiful and fruitful from first to last, These branches three on one side and three on the other represent the consecrated, they had no base of their own but rather relied upon the support of the main central shaft for support, just as we have no standing, no foundation of our own but are reliant upon the merit of Christ which supports us or gives us a standing before God.

Herein we have a lesson of encouragement for all the Lord’s children especially for those who are struggling with the frailties and weaknesses of the flesh, who truly love the Lord but feel that they are not making much progress.

As these branches represented the consecrated it would be noted that their course upward was not straight from the start, but rather was parallel to the world, but gradually their course would change upward until they ran parallel to the main central shaft. What this pictures is that at the beginning of our consecration our course was not so very different from what it had been before; we still followed many earthly things, but as we grew in the grace and in the knowledge of the truth our course bent more and more upward until at last if we are faithful, at the end of the course, we will be going in the same direction as our blessed Master.

Now it will be noticed that some of the branches were longer than that of the others (remember there were three levels of branches extending out from the central shaft), yet even so they all held the same amount of oil in their lamps and all gave out the same light.

So you see pictured first (the top branches) are those who have fewer character flaws and weaknesses to overcome and thus are making quicker progress than others, that is turning from the course of the world upward, likewise those pictured in the second level of branches, would have greater weaknesses to overcome and so their upward journey would take even longer to reach, and lastly those on the bottom, these are they who are heavy laden with sins and weaknesses, these spend a lot more time running parallel with the course of the world before making the turn upward, but the point is, through perseverance, they eventually make that turn, and just as those who’s journey upward is a little more easier and comes sooner, these too can hold just as much of the Lords spirit as the they and can shine just as brightly.

So then Dear Brethren do not allow your failings and weaknesses to dishearten you, stay the course, your turning point upward is just ahead if you will only continue to trust the Lord for assistance.

As stated, the Golden Lampstand represents the complete Church from its Head, Jesus to and including the last members of the “Little Flock” whom he is taking out from among men to be partakers of the divine (Gold) nature. As our Lord so stated: the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches’ (Rev 1:20) The Church whose seven stages or developments were symbolized by the seven congregations of Asia Minor (Rev 1:11). Yes; that lampstand represented the entire church of the First Born, not the nominal, but the true Church. The form of its workmanship was beautiful—a fruit and a flower, following successively—representing the true Church as both beautiful and fruitful from first to last.

Located at the top of each branch was a lamp in the shape of an almond. A peculiarity about the almond tree is that the fruit-buds appear before the leaves. So with the `Royal Priesthood:’ they sacrifice or begin to bring forth fruit before the leaves of professions are seen. (The leaves of profession cannot come first.)

“The light from this lamp was of olive oil was, `beaten,’ or refined; and the lamps were always kept lit.

THE FOLLOWING POINT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND: This oil was symbolic of the Holy Spirit, and its light represented holy enlightenment—the spirit of the truth.

Its light was for the benefit of the priests alone, for NO others were permitted to see it, or to proffer from its light.

Thus, was represented the spirit or mind of God given to enlighten the Church, in the deep things of God, which are entirely hidden from the natural man (1 Cor 2:14), even though he be a believer—a justified individual (residing in the “courtyard condition”). None but the truly consecrated, the `Royal Priesthood,’ are permitted to see into this deeper light, hidden within the Tabernacle in the `Holy.’

“The priests (the fully consecrated believer, the Lord’s anointed) always have access to the “Holy”; it is their right and privilege; it was intended for them and them alone (Heb 9:6), whereas in contrast the Levites (representative of the un-consecrated believer those residing in the “courtyard condition”) were forbidden to even attempt to look upon the holy things contained within the Tabernacle, upon penalty of death.

So you see through the strict enforcement of the type, (in this case the death sentence appointed for violators), the Lord assured the antitype, (the substance or reality, which he intended to emphasize), that it is forbidden (nay impossible) for one abiding in the “courtyard condition” even though he be a believer to see, to look upon (to comprehend) the things hidden in the “Holy or spirit begotten condition”.

The reason being is that the Vail of human-mindedness (the natural mind, with its various limits both in perception and understanding) comes between them and the sacred things; the only way of access being to fully consecrate and sacrifice wholly the human will (mind) and nature.”

No ordinary Israelite (typical of the non-believer in the worldly or “camp condition”), nor any ordinary Levite (tentatively speaking, the believer in the “courtyard condition”), ever saw the lighted Lampstand. Even when the Camp traveled, it was covered (Num 4:9, 10) so as not to be visible to the people.

Thus the teachings of the Scriptures as exemplified in the Tabernacle picture wholly contradict those of the church nominal (the professing church), who erroneously teach that all believers in Christ, whether they be fully consecrated or not are granted the Holy Spirits enlightenment, this however is not true, only those who have passed beyond the First Vail, who have entered into covenant relationship with the Father, a “covenant by sacrifice” Psa 50:5, and who have subsequently entered the “Holy” are privileged to receive of the light of the Golden Lamp-Stand, THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

What many believers perceive as their being led of the spirit in truth is simply their own vain imaginings.

Continued with next post.