Heb 9:2 Part 2 – “Christ being come an high priest of good things to come”

[Study Aired December 3, 2020]

Heb 9:2  For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 

The tabernacle of God was made for worship and service toward Him, and the book of Hebrews was written to help us understand what that service looks like, as God uses the physical temple to help us understand our spiritual relationship with our great Creator and how we can worship Him “in spirit and in truth” through Christ as our high priest of the better covenant.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, [‘the physical temple of God‘] that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews [Rom 2:28].
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises [Eph 1:6, Rom 15:7, 2Pe 1:4].

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Rom 15:7  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Last week we looked at the “ordinances of divine service^G2999” in the temple of old to understand how they are a type and shadow of the discipleship that is understood by those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. We saw that true divine service as “true worshippers” who worship God “in spirit and in truth” with the “divine nature”, which is expressed in obedience to God’s commandments, is only possible by having God’s love shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5). So it is that we can do the service of having the “heavenly things themselves” cleansed with better sacrifices than these as we present our lives a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1-3), which we have become to the glory of God and for the express purpose of bearing each others’ burdens. We are to follow our Lord’s example of this service as one who washed our feet, meaning He laid down His life for us as we should for each other.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Joh 13:14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

We are nourished at the altar, which is the cross and the place where our Lord strengthens us and provides all we need in order to fulfill His will “in earth, as it is in heaven” (Php 1:29, Mat 6:10). In this week’s study we will look more closely at how “accomplishing the service of God” of Hebrews 9:6 is done within the body of Christ and symbolized by those things which were ordained of God for our sakes so that we can learn the spiritual significance of those patterns which offer great meaning to those who are blessed to have eyes to see and ears to hear at this time.

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Heb 9:6  Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

Heb 9:2  For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary^G39.

The candlestick^G3087, the table^G5132 and the shewbread^{G4286 G740} are within the area called the sanctuary^G39.  This is where the priests always went; into this first tabernacle to accomplish the service of God (Heb 9:6).

Heb 9:6  Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

These three words are very significant for God’s elect and are types and figures of what must be present within our lives, our sanctuary, in order for us to be able to enter into “a greater and more perfect tabernacle” through Christ our high priest (Heb 9:7, Col 1:27).

Heb 9:7  But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

If we look at these three words: the candlestick^G3087, the table^G5132 and the shewbread^{G4286 G740}, along with the other accompanying verses which use these words in the bible, it will give us a greater appreciation for why these items needed to be in the sanctuary and how they represent the means by which the process of spiritual completion can be fulfilled within the lives of those whose candlestick is in Christ’s hand (Rev 1:13, Rev 1:20, Joh 10:28). If we are granted to eat at His altar, which is the cross (Heb 13:10, Gal 2:20), we will receive the true bread that comes from heaven and not just the shadow that cannot spiritually nourish us or cleanse our conscience as Christ the true bread of life can (Heb 9:14, Joh 6:51).

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Heb 9:14  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Joh 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

With all this in mind, let’s begin by looking at the word sanctuary^G39 and notice that it is the same word used for both the first tabernacle and the second which is called the holiest^G39. The difference between these two areas is the subject at hand, and God is showing us through these types and shadows of the old covenant temple what great hope and promise we have in Christ if He is in fact our hope of glory within today, giving us access to the second tabernacle which represents the throne of God where God’s elect are raised in heavenly places today and accepted “in the beloved”.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

G39 hagion
Total KJV Occurrences: 10
sanctuary, 4
Heb_8:2 (2), Heb_9:1-2 (2), Heb_13:11

Christ is the “minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”  He is the one who brings to light what all these symbols mean to us within the “worldly sanctuary”, and most importantly He gives us the strength to lay down our life and go without the camp with Him as typified by this statement: “For the bodies of those beasts [Ecc 3:18], whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp”. (As he is so are we: Heb 13:13, Heb 9:7, 1Jn 4:17).

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Heb 9:7  But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect [by going outside the camp], that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Heb 9:1  Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Heb 9:2  For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

holiest, 3 G39 hagion (sanctuary of vs 2)
Heb_9:3, Heb_9:8, Heb_10:19

Without Christ in us, we could not have the boldness, the faith, or the perfect love that casts out fear (1Jn 4:18) to enter into “the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all.” This is what we do every time we “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). As long as our hope is yet in things that are temporal (2Co 4:18), we could say, “The first tabernacle was yet standing.” However, the way has been made manifest through Christ for us to tear down the old temple which represents our worshiping God in a manner that is temporal or carnal and not in spirit and truth, which is something that we grow into as the old temple is torn down and the new spiritual temple is built. This is accomplished by the only one who can build it to the glory of God, our Lord Jesus Christ (Joh 2:19-21, Psa 127:1).

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his body.

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Heb 9:3  And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

Heb 9:8  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

holy, 3 G39 hagion (sanctuary of vs 2)
Heb_9:12, Heb_9:24-25 (2)

Christ has “obtained eternal redemption for us.” and we must experience and appreciate the fiery trials He is giving us today (1Pe 4:12) as His goodness leads us to repentance and we fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake, which is the church (Col 1:24). If we despise “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance”, it is akin to trodding under foot the Son of God that will result in a “much sorer punishment”. It is akin to beating the manservant who must be judged because judgment is upon us as the body of Christ, and we must be patient with that longsuffering process of which we are all part (Rom 2:4, Heb 10:29, Mat 24:48-51, 1Pe 4:17).

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Mat 24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Our hope lies in the fact that God reconciled us to himself through the death of Christ so that “we shall be saved by his life“, and that is the confidence God wants us to always have (Php 1:6) even as we endure through the hardship that being a good soldier for Christ brings in this life (Rom 5:10, Isa 53:4, 2Ti 2:3-4). “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” means watch and be ready because Christ has promised us that “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” If we watch and pray and don’t despise the process of judgment through which we all have to go, then we will in fact be watching and will be by our Lord’s estimation “a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season”.

(Flesh wants to be that “faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household” but without going through the process. We must take the lower seat today and go through the process of judgment if we are ever going to be called to “go up higher” or “come up hither” Mat 23:12, Luk 14:10, Rev 11:10-12)

Mat 23:12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Luk 14:10  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

The incentive to fight a good fight of faith is given to us right after Christ tells us to watch, in saying “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” (Mat 24:46-47). It is a blessing to be sanctified in this age and to be made ready to rule under Christ. It is the greatest blessing ever bestowed upon any human, and only possible because God has promised to give us the strength through Christ to endure this sanctification process we are experiencing.

God’s elect will one day, in the fullness of our inheritance, repeat these awe-inspiring words of worship that have the message built right into them as to how we are able to worship our Father (Rev 4:8). That blessing will be ours if we are granted to endure until the end, being then able to bring life to all of the world, starting with physical healing at first as Christ did (1Co 15:46), and then in the lake of fire, bringing life through spiritual healing to all mankind (Act 20:35). No wonder we praise God for that sanctification process of which He has blessed Christ’s bride to be a part as those “who first trusted in Christ” (Eph 1:12).

Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Heb 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Now we’ve laid the ground work to explain what the candlestick^G3087, the table^G5132 and the shewbread^{G4286 G740} are going to do within the body of Christ which was represented by the area called the sanctuary^G39.

All three of these items have been used as symbols of God’s power that is made manifest through the church, and is one of the first things we can consider when we look at these words.

Starting with candlestick^G3087, we understand that the two witnesses of Revelation eleven are likened unto a candlestick to remind us that their prophecy was only possible by being given the power (Rev 11:3) to fulfill God’s purpose through them: “These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth” (Rev 11:4). That prophetic time of witness represents the second half of Christ’s ministry where our testimony was made possible through Christ and is revealed through our hope of glory within (Col 1:27, Luk 24:48). We bear witness to the truth that we are a peculiar people zealous of good works, as Christ’s light shines in this earth, not by our might or power but by God’s holy spirit that makes this all possible (Zec 4:6, 11-14). That prophetic period of time in the life of God’s elect represents the filling up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake, which is the church (Col 1:24), and that three and a half years combined with Christ’s three and a half year ministry complete (7) that testimony for the world to learn of how God can make His strength perfect through the weak flesh which we are (2Co 12:9, Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5, 1Co 1:27-28).

Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.

1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

G3087 luchnia
Total KJV Occurrences: 12

God’s elect are represented by these two candlesticks^G3087 of Revelation 11:4 that are empowered by the two olive trees, so we can be the light of the world that God sets “on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light”. Christ is in the midst of the seven candlesticks which represent the seven churches, or the complete church of God, being formed within the body of Christ. This ‘complete’ church of God will not be separated from God because: “The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches” is the very church of which Christ said to Peter “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [one of God’s angels (Rev 22:8-9)], and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” With this in mind let’s look at these entries for candlestick and candlesticks that reveal that Christ represents the candlestick within us. The candle is our life that is in His hands burning away as we die daily so we can glorify God with all we say and do (1Co 10:31, Mat 25:7-13).

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1Co 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

candlestick, 6
Mat_5:15, Mar_4:21, Luk_8:16, Luk_11:33, Heb_9:2, Rev_2:5

Mat 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Mar 4:21  And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

Luk 8:16  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

Luk 11:33  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

Heb 9:2  For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

Rev 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

candlesticks, 6
Rev_1:12-13 (2), Rev_1:20 (2), Rev_2:1, Rev_11:4

Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Rev 2:1  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

The next word is table^G5132. A table (“our hearts and minds“) is where we either lay out the truth or lies, as an overview of these words will show. Christ comes into our lives and overturns those lies upon that table (Mat 21:12) if He is cleansing our temple in this age (“the heavenly things themselves” – Heb 9:23), and begins the process of sanctifying us so we can worship him in spirit and truth at an altar or table at which the world has no right to eat (Heb 13:10).

Mat 21:12  And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables^G5132  of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
Mat 21:13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Notice the entry for the word bank^G5132 in Luke 19:23, which is also translated table in Matthew 21:12 above:

Luk 19:23 “Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank^G5132, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?”

God’s words are what we bank on. They are eternal words (Joh 6:68) that we are storing up and that God is purifying through the trials of this life. All we have been given is carefully measured out by our loving Father (1Co 10:13) who knows how to cause us to bring forth much fruit and provoke us unto love and good works so we have something to bring to the table. When we lay up treasure in heaven, it is God’s word that is being stored in the storehouse of our spiritual heavens where neither moth nor rust corrupt (Joh 15:2, Mat 6:20).

Joh 6:68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

G5132 trapeza
Total KJV Occurrences: 15
table, 9
Mar_7:27-28 (2), Luk_22:21 (2), Luk_22:30, Rom_11:9, 1Co_10:21 (2), Heb_9:2
tables, 4
Mat_21:12, Joh_2:15 (2), Act_6:2
bank, 1
Luk_19:23
meat, 1
Act_16:34

The last word will look at in our study is shewbread^{G4286 G740}. Being about our Father’s business will nourish us, and this is why it is so important that we lay up treasure in heaven against the days of evil that we are in now (Tit 3:8, 1Pe 2:12, 1Ti 6:19).

Tit 3:8  This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

1Pe 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Christ being about his Father’s business was how he laid up in store for himself “a good foundation against the time to come”. He told his disciples as much, that if we would be about our Father’s business that bread would strengthen our hearts and keep us focused on what is important as good soldiers of Christ.

Joh 4:32  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
Joh 4:33  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
Joh 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work [Mat 12:50].
Joh 4:35  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Psa 104:15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.[“My meat is to do the will of him that sent me”]

Mar 8:14  Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
Mar 8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
Mar 8:16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
Mar 8:17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
Mar 8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
Mar 8:19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
Mar 8:20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

Mar 8:21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

[God did not give them to remember to bring bread “Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread” and Christ’s rhetorical question “How is it that ye do not understand?” was answered in this parable that reveals it was not time for the disciples to know because the true bread from heaven had not yet been given to them on Pentecost.]

They did not understand at this point, but once their understanding was open on Pentecost (Luk 24:45) and going forward, then they understood and remembered the things that Christ spoke as the comforter led them into all truth (Joh 12:16, Joh 16:13).

Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Only then would those numbers “five thousand” and “four thousand“, as they are connected to feeding the whole of humanity “four thousand” and saving them by grace through faith “five thousand“, would those numbers become significant to Christ’s disciples. Those numbers are also illustrated for us with the nine pillars in the temple of God, telling us we will be sent and used of God to feed this world and have all men saved through the church, the temple, the body of Christ (Rom 11:26, Rev 3:12, Col 1:24, Exo 26:37, Exo 26:32, Exo 36:35-38).

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Exo 26:37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

Exo 26:32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

Exo 36:35 And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.
Exo 36:36 And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.
Exo 36:37 And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;
Exo 36:38 And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.

Saving the world is the major part of the good things to come (Oba 1:21) that Christ’s ministry is going to produce, and in the end God will be all in all.

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

shewbread^{G4286 G740}

G4286 prothesis
Total KJV Occurrences: 12
purpose, 8 

Act_11:23, Act_27:13, Rom_8:28, Eph_3:11 (3), 2Ti_3:9-10 (2) showbread, 4 

Mat_12:4, Mar_2:26, Luk_6:4, Heb_9:2 

G740 artos 
Total KJV Occurrences: 99 
bread, 72 
Mat_4:3-4 ( 2 ) , Mat_6:11, Mat_7:9, Mat_15:2, Mat_15:26, Mat_15:33, Mat_16:5, Mat_16:7-8 ( 2 ) , Mat_16:11-12 ( 2 ) , Mat_26:26, Mar_3:20, Mar_6:8, Mar_6:36-37 ( 2 ) , Mar_7:2, Mar_7:5, Mar_7:27, Mar_8:4, Mar_8:14, Mar_8:16-17 (2), Mar_14:22, Luk_4:3-4 (2), Luk_7:33, Luk_11:3 ( 2 ) , Luk_11:11, Luk_14:1, Luk_14:15, Luk_15:17, Luk_22:19, Luk_24:30, Luk_24:35, Joh_6:5, Joh_6:7, Joh_6:23, Joh_6:31-35 ( 6 ) , Joh_6:41, Joh_6:48, Joh_6:50-51 (4), Joh_6:58 (2), Joh_13:18, Joh_21:9, Joh_21:13, Act_2:42, Act_2:46, Act_20:7, Act_20:11, Act_27:35, 1Co_10:16-17 (3), 1Co_11:23, 1Co_11:26-28 (3), 2Co_9:10, 2Th_3:8, 2Th_3:12 
loaves, 22 
Mat_14:17, Mat_14:19 ( 2 ) , Mat_15:34, Mat_15:36, Mat_16:9-10 (2), Mar_6:38, Mar_6:41 (2), Mar_6:44, Mar_6:52, Mar_8:5-6 (2), Mar_8:19, Luk_9:13, Luk_9:16, Luk_11:5, Joh_6:9, Joh_6:11, Joh_6:13, Joh_6:26 showbread, 4 
Mat_12:4, Mar_2:26, Luk_6:4, Heb_9:2 
loaf, 1 
Mar_8:14

Audio Links

Awesome Hands – part 92

“Golden candlestick”

November 25, 2015

We’ve been studying the various items and instruments required to be made by Moses and the Israelites for the sanctuary of the Lord.

In today’s study, we are going to cover the golden candlestick and some of the spiritual applications and meanings for God’s people.

While there are many applications to how we are the candlestick in the sanctuary, I will only be covering a few examples of how we are used in God’s temple.

Candlestick of pure gold – almonds

The verses were going to be focusing on for the study today are Exodus 25:31-40:

Exo 25:31  And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Exo 25:32  And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
Exo 25:33  Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:34  And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
Exo 25:35  And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:36  Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
Exo 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.
Exo 25:38  And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Exo 25:39  Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
Exo 25:40  And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

There are various items mentioned which make up the aesthetics of the candlestick. However, these items are not just mentioned so that the person creating the design of the candlestick could make something pleasing to the eye. After all, there weren’t very any people who were going to see these items.

As with all scripture, the details of what is being said gives us a clearer understanding of what the Lord is revealing to us about Him and our relationship to Him.

First off we know this is a candlestick so the number one purpose of this item is to provide light. The other details will all support this idea. The shaft, branches, bowls, knops, and flowers will all be sub-details of this purpose for the candlestick.

The first description of this candlestick is that it is of a beaten work. Just like the cherubim being of a hammered work, so too is the candlestick beaten so that it can be an instrument used properly in the sanctuary of God.

The next descriptive detail about the candlestick, and a description made to stand out, is that there are going to be almond shaped blossoms on each of the branches and on the stem multiple times.

Exo 25:33  Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.

If you are curious like to me why they are almond shaped, then we do not need to look any further than scripture and nature to tell us why the Lord chose almonds.

“Almonds”, as mentioned in its English singular and plural forms, are only used in a few verses in scripture.

H8246
shâqad
Total KJV Occurrences: 6
almonds, 6
Exo_25:33-34 (3), Exo_37:19-20 (3)

H8247
shâqêd
Total KJV Occurrences: 4
almond, 2
Ecc_12:5, Jer_1:11
almonds, 2
Gen_43:11 (2), Num_17:8

What we know physically and naturally about almond trees is that they are among the very first trees to bloom after winter and signifying spring is here and they are also very pretty to see.

What we can learn spiritually will add to this knowledge that the almond tree is among the first to “do something”.

Almonds mentioned here in Exodus 25 are denominative from H8247.

H8246

shâqad
shaw-kad’
A denominative from H8247; to be (intensively make) almond shaped: – make like (unto, after the fashion of) almonds.
Total KJV occurrences: 6

H8247 has a root.

H8247

shâqêd
shaw-kade’
From H8245; the almond (tree or nut; as being the earliest in bloom): – almond (tree).
Total KJV occurrences: 4

 

H8245

shâqad
shaw-kad’
A primitive root; to be alert, that is, sleepless; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill): – hasten, remain, wake, watch (for).
Total KJV occurrences: 12

Where have we seen H8245 being used?

H8245
shâqad
Total KJV Occurrences: 12
watch, 6
Ezr_8:29, Psa_102:7, Isa_29:20, Jer_5:6, Jer_31:28, Jer_44:27
watched, 2
Jer_31:27-28 (2), Dan_9:14
hasten, 1
Jer_1:12
remain, 1
Job_21:32
waketh, 1
Psa_127:1
   watching, 1
Pro_8:34

A few examples of “watching” are:

Ezr 8:29  Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.

Psa 102:7  I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.

Jer 31:28  And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.

In order to solidify the connection of “watching” with the almond and almond tree, here is what the Lord gave to Jeremiah to admonish us with:

Jer 1:11  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
Jer 1:12  Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

The word used in verse 12 here in English is “hasten”, but it is the only time that the translators of the King James used “hasten”. If you look at the Strong’s list I posted above, you see this is the same word H8245 meaning “watch”.

(ASV)  Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it.

(BBE)  Then the Lord said to me, You have seen well: for I keep watch over my word to give effect to it.

Bringing this all back around to why the Lord has chosen to make almonds a prominent item on the candlestick is because of what the candlesticks purpose is for the sanctuary of the Lord.

The almonds represent those who go first and keep the watch over what the Lord is doing in the sanctuary. They are those that are beaten into shape and created so that they can be light in a very dark place.

2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

We have no better example of almonds representing those that are chosen to go first than that which can be seen in Jesus Christ. How are almonds connected in this way to Jesus Christ?

After the rebellion of Korah and the 250 renowned men of the congregation against Moses and Aaron, the Lord used a very powerful example of what almonds represent in their positive application.

Num 16:1  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Num 16:2  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

Num 17:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 17:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod.
Num 17:3  And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
Num 17:4  And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
Num 17:5  And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
Num 17:6  And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
Num 17:7  And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
Num 17:8  And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

See, no one who is used of God actually chooses for themselves the role of being God’s priest, but that does not stop those who are rebellious against God to accuse God’s priests of exercising Lordship over them. That is what they accused Moses of.

Num 16:13  Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

We know that the Lord does the choosing because this is exactly how He chose Aaron and caused Aaron’s rod to blossom and to produce almonds. Likewise, this is how Jesus Christ was chosen and all those who are being raised up as kings and priests in Jesus Christ.

Heb 5:1  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

Heb 5:2  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
Heb 5:3  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
Heb 5:4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
Heb 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

Aaron’s rod blossoming almonds overnight is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ blossoming in newness of life from the cross which was also only a dead piece of wood.

Candlestick of pure gold – light

We now can see that almonds being created as a part of the candlestick had a huge meaning for who it is that the candlestick ultimately represents. However, light is what the candlestick provides for the service of the sanctuary.

We know from Christ that the light of the body is the eye. This candlestick is made of one single piece of gold. Therefore, with this single piece of gold the light can be seen as coming from one place.

Luk 11:33  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
Luk 11:34  The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

The sanctuary itself did not have windows. During the day, there would have been light from daylight but that wouldn’t have necessarily made it bright enough to do the work of the sanctuary and it is obvious that light would have been needed at night.

Therefore, light was provided for by the candlestick but oil was needed to be the fuel of the light.

The Word of Life is that oil and power source!

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Php 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We have the Word of Life dwelling within us, so we have the power of God, the oil which is needed to be the lights of the world.

If you notice the shape of the menorah, there is one main stem in the middle and 3 branches on either side. It’s not hard to see the Christ is the vine and we are the branches in this setup.

Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Vines, branches and fruit all indicate that there is a connection to trees and that’s why the almond tree is a beautiful example given to us by the Lord in the making of the candlestick or lampstand as some translations call it.

There is a well-known story of the candlestick being given to Zechariah in a vision in Zechariah 4.

Zec 4:1  And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
Zec 4:2  And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
Zec 4:3  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
Zec 4:4  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Zec 4:5  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Here in Zechariah we see a direct connection to the oil being represented as the Spirit of God. The new testament has familiar examples as well.

Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Act 10:38  How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Jas 5:14  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

(ASV) 1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us.
1Jn 2:20  And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

Notice, that it is two olive trees which are connected to having oil poured OUT OF them into the golden pipes.

Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zec 4:8  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Zec 4:9  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
Zec 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Zec 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Zec 4:13  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

The two anointed ones stand by the Lord and pour out the oil which they themselves have been anointed with.

As can be seen by those with eyes to see and ears to hear, the Holy Spirit has revealed that gold, almonds (watching) and olive oil (Holy Spirit and power of God the Father) are VERY important to our Christian lives today. We are the priests who are being trained up first on how to handle the items of the sanctuary and to do the duty of a priest which is to keep His commandments faithfully.

In our next study, we are going to continue with Exodus 26 and see how the various linens are used in the sanctuary and how they too have a direct spiritual application to our lives today.

Video Links

Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

Introduction

Here is verse three’s description of these two olive trees and two candlesticks.

Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

So God’s “two witnesses” are also called ” the two olive trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.” The phrase ” The two olive trees and the two candlesticks” with the article, lets us know that this refers to something with which those who are reading, hearing and keeping the things written in this prophecy are already familiar. This is not the first time these things have been discussed. These two witnesses are ‘ the two olive trees and the two candlesticks; the ones who are standing before the God of the earth’. The fact that it is thus worded also tells us that those for whom this prophecy is intended are the few chosen to whom such words mean much more than what they say. This section of scripture reveals to us that those who know they are to keep the things written in this prophecy also understand that this is a book of symbols and that those to whom it is given will know what “the two olive trees and the two candlesticks” and God’s “two witnesses” all symbolize. We are casually informed “These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth” because the spirit speaks only “in demonstration of the spirit and power of God”, and those who know what that spirit and power are will become familiar with the verses of scriptures which reveal the meaning of all the symbols of the things written in this prophecy.

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [ even] the hidden [ wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Before we speak “in the demonstration of the spirit and power of God” by referring to the scriptures which reveal the meaning of the symbols of verse four, we will list the symbols of this verse which we will consider today.
The symbols of this fourth verse are 1) two olive trees, and two candlesticks, 2) standing before the God of the earth.

Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

1) Two olive trees, and two candlesticks

Remembering the principle revealed to us by Joseph, we know that these two symbols are one:

Gen 41:15  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
Gen 41:16  And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Here is what God gives us to “understand” both dreams and visions, including this vision given to John of the symbols of this book of this revelation of Jesus Christ in us. This is a principle that will help us to understand all prophecy.

Gen 41:25  And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
Gen 41:26  The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
Gen 41:27  And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
Gen 41:28  This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
Gen 41:32  And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

The dream is one, and it is “doubled… [ and given] twice” because “God will shortly bring it to pass”. Is this only true of the way the Lord dealt with Pharaoh at that time, or is He the same God when telling you and me to keep the things written in this prophecy? The answer is that God does not change. He is always the same, and just as the cows and the corn were one dream, so also the two olive trees and the two candlesticks are one vision which will shortly come to pass in the lives of all to whom it is given to “read, hear and keep the things written in the words of this prophecy.”

Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

We saw last week that the never changing God always uses the number ‘two’ as the symbol of witness. We gave the scriptures which establish this truth and will not repeat them here. But we will ask why these “two witnesses” are called ” the two olive trees and the two candlesticks,” as if it is assumed that those reading the sayings of this prophecy would already have heard of ” the two olive trees and the two candlesticks.” Are these phrases used earlier in the scriptures? Are ” the two olive trees and the two candlesticks” mentioned already, and is there anything we can learn about who they are from those earlier verses as we have learned from the story of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams? The answer is, Yes, indeed, we need not speculate about who ” the two olive trees and the two candlesticks” are. Here is where they are first mentioned. The fact that they are mentioned again here in Rev 11 and are doubled twice to us is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring these ‘two witnesses’ to pass in the lives of those who are given to read, hear and keep the things written in this prophecy.”

The two olive trees revealed in Zechariah four

Zec 4:1  And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
Zec 4:2  And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which [ are] upon the top thereof:
Zec 4:3  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
Zec 4:4  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Zec 4:5  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zec 4:8  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Zec 4:9  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
Zec 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Zec 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Zec 4:13  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Now let’s compare Zec 4:14 with Rev 11:4.

Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

As Joseph told Pharaoh, “The dream is one, And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.”
What does this have to do with you and me? This is what that has to do with you and me.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [ Greek – tupos, types of us]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

But are these things not also written for the admonition of the people of whom they are written? The answer in no, not at this time. The day will come when all men, including those by whom these things are written will become those “upon whom the ends of the ages are come”, but today is not that day. These words are only for ‘all men’ as they come to know Christ and His Father. Here is how the spirit explains this through the pen of the apostle Peter.

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Now before we go on, let’s glean all we can from what is revealed to us here in Zec 4 about these two olive trees, which are also called two candlesticks in Rev 11:4.
1) The first thing we need to notice is that we have to be awakened from sleep to be shown who these two olive trees are.

Zec 4:1  And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,

Once we realize that it is we who “must live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mat 4:4), that knowledge is, in itself, an awakening, and we can now begin to realize that the reason all ten virgins “slumbered and slept” is that we are all first the foolish virgins who do not take enough of God’s spirit, and then we will all, in our own appointed time, become the wise virgins, who tell the foolish virgins to go and buy their own oil (Mat 25:1-13). “All things [ really] are ours, [ and] there [ really] is [ only] one event to the righteous and to the sinner” (1Co 3:21-22, and Ecc 9:2).
2) The next thing we are told is that it is through these two olive trees, also called two candlesticks, that all seven of the candlesticks receive the golden oil to provide the light for the temple of God.

Zec 4:2  And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
Zec 4:3  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

What are these seven candlesticks? This is what they symbolize.

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

So, are we talking about 2 candlesticks, or are we talking about seven candlesticks. The answer is, We are talking about both because we always seek the sum of God’s word, and in that ‘sum’ we must consider both the complete church within us, and we must also be concerned with witnessing to that complete church. So we are both 2 and we are 7, and in the final analysis, we are told that the entire “kingdom of God is within you”.

Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

3) The direct answer to Zechariah’s question, “What are these [ two olive trees], my lord?” is ” This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit saith the Lord.” Here is that question.

Zec 4:3  And two olive trees by it, one upon the right [ side] of the bowl, and the other upon the left [ side] thereof.
Zec 4:4  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What [ are] these, my lord?
Zec 4:5  Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

So the two olive trees are those who are faithful with “the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel.” Just a little later we will learn that these two olive trees “empty the golden oil through the two golden pipes out of themselves” and into the seven golden candlesticks.

Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?

4) Zerubbabel, who constructed the second temple, the temple to which Christ came, is an Old Testament type of Christ. Here is the Old Testament type and shadow or what Christ is doing in us.

Zec 4:7  Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zec 4:8  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Zec 4:9  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.

It was Christ who was sent to build the church of God, and He said “I will build my church”. So Christ is both the builder and the foundation of His own house.

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

5) It is through the spirit and the Word of the Lord pouring out of these two olive trees and into the seven golden candlesticks, that the mountain, which is this world in us, becomes a plain. This is the very mountain which the “faith of a grain of mustard seed” can destroy and cast into the sea. Christ, in His saints, will finish the building of His temple, “which temple we are”.

Mat 21:21  Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Let’s just believe what we are told and accept the fact that these two olive trees are a type of Christ, including Christ in His body through which He builds His church. That is the very meaning of “This is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel…” coming from these two olive trees.
6) This Temple of Zerubbabel seems small and insignificant when compared to the first temple, just as the things of the spirit are always vastly undervalued when compared to the things of this world. But it is the precious few “chosen and faithful”, who will be used to redeem and save the many called. “Who has despised the day of small things?” It is “Those seven, [ the seven golden candlesticks which are the seven churches, and the two olive trees and the two candlesticks] they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” What is the earth? It is God’s own people. It is you and me.

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

“Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little (Isa 28:9-13), we are learning that Christ also has a Christ whom He has sent to do what His Father sent Him to do.

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Christ is not being negligent or passing the buck, He is rather, revealing that we, His body, are “Jesus of Nazareth”.

Act 22:8  And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

This knowledge requires a rude awakening, and the gift of eyes that see and ears that hear things that cannot be received by carnal babes in Christ. It is not revealed all in one verse or even all in one chapter or in one book of God’s Word. This is “hidden wisdom” given only to those who have been given to understand that they are the man who killed Christ, and took His wife (as David killed Uriah, a type of Christ and took Bathsheba), and it is revealed only to those who know that “the chief of sinners” is the man they see in the mirror every morning.

Isa 28:9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isa 28:13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

It is Christ in His saints who are “the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the whole earth”, and those eyes are “eyes of fire” which are finding and destroying every sin and weight within which so easily besets us, and which see the line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little design of the hidden wisdom of the word of God.

1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect [ Greek, being perfected]: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [ Greek, a secret], even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 2:18  And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

These are inward eyes, and this is their function:

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin whi ch doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

It is here in Zec 4 that we learn that the seven candlesticks, which are the seven churches, are also “the eyes of the Lord”, and “the seven spirits of God” in the heavens, “which run to and fro through our whole earth”.

Zec 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven [ golden candlesticks]; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
Rev 1:4  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
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.

What else are these seven candlesticks? They are those who comprise the seven churches.

Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Where else do we see “two… olive trees” in scripture? Could these two olive trees also be the symbols of this very same body of Christ?

1Ki 6:23  And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.

Who are these cherubims? As we saw in our study of Revelation four, these cherubims are just another symbol of those who have “the word of God to Zerubbabel?” They are the same as the two olive trees that empty the golden oil out of themselves and into the golden pipes that take that golden oil to the seven candlesticks which symbolize the seven churches!
Without completely rehearsing our study of Revelation chapter four, we should remember that these cherubims, like all of the secrets of God’s Word are revealed to us line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. The cherubims are first introduced to us as the cherubims who “guard the way of the tree of life with a flaming sword.

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

The next time we see them is in the book of Exodus as two cherubims which cover the mercy seat above the ark of the covenant. That is followed by this description here in 1Ki 6 of the two cherubims “within the oracle”, meaning within the holy of holies, at the west end of the temple. It is here that we discover that these two cherubims are “made of olive trees.”
But the revelation of what these cherubims symbolize is still not complete. The next time we read of the cherubims is in Ezekiel 1 and ten, where we are informed that they are actually surrounding the throne of God, and they each have four faces; the face of a man, the face of a lion, the face of an ox and the face of an eagle. But the final revelation of who these cherubims symbolize is found here in the book of Revelation, in chapter five, where they themselves tell us who it really is that they symbolize, and who it really is who “keeps the way of the tree of life.”

Rev 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

So the two cherubims are now four cherubims and instead of having four faces each, they now each have individual faces. But the four individuals have the same four faces that we saw on each cherub in chapters one and ten of Ezekiel. Here in Revelation five one cherub has the face of a man, one cherub has the face of an ox, one has the face of a lion and another has the face of an eagle.
Now we learn that these two cherubs which cover the mercy seat are but an earlier symbol of those who have the word of God. These two cherubs are made of olive trees, and as “covering cherubs”, they also “stand before the God of the earth.”

Rev 11:4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

But there is more about to be noted about two olives trees, right here is this same 6th chapter of  1 Kings.  We see that the two doors to the holy of holies are also made of olive trees, and they even have the cherubims carved  upon them, to let us know for certain that “the dream is one.”

1Ki 6:31  And for the entering of the oracle [ the hoy of holies] he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.
1Ki 6:32  The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.

This tells us that the only way into the holy of holies is to go through the two doors of olive tree. Do two olive trees have any place in the doors that lead into the holy place which is before the holy of holies? Let’s see what the scriptures teach.

1Ki 6:33  So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.
1Ki 6:34  And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door [ were] folding.
1Ki 6:35  And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered [ them] with gold fitted upon the carved work.

“What are these two olive trees?”

For the second time Zechariah asks the angel that has awakened him “What are these two olive trees?”

Zec 4:11  Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
Zec 4:12  And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
Zec 4:13  And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zec 4:14  Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

The purpose of this entire chapter is to make clear that these two olive trees “are the two anointed ones, that stand by the [ Word of] the Lord of the whole earth.”

Summary

What now have we learned about these two olive trees which are also called two candlesticks here in Rev 11? What we have learned is that the seven horns and seven eye on the slain Lamb are the seven spirits of God which, we are told in this fourth chapter of Zechariah, are the same as the seven golden candlesticks, which candlesticks we are told in Revelation one, are the seven churches. But it is here in this same fourth chapter of Zechariah that we discover that these seven golden candlesticks are also the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth in “the day of small things.”

Zec 4:10  For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven [ golden candlesticks]; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

We have also learned in Zechariah four that these two olive trees and two candlesticks are “the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel”, and the word of the Lord according to Joh 6:63 is spirit.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

So in the final analysis, the “plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel” and the “reed like unto a rod” which is given to John and the seven candlesticks and the seven horns and seven eyes and the seven spirits of God and the seven churches and the two candlesticks and the two olive trees and the two witnesses and the fire that proceeds out of their mouths and the eyes like fire, are all one and the same. They are “the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel” by which we measure and plumb and judge ourselves to see and to know whether Christ really is living His life in us.

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

If Christ really is living within our hearts and minds, then the eyes with which we examine and judge ourselves will be “eyes… as a flame of fire” doing what fire does.

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

So who are these two olive trees and two candlesticks and two witnesses? They are “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations.” They are all of God’s anointed witnesses who have lived and faithfully witnessed to the Truth which is His word, since the death and resurrection of our Lord. These two olive trees and two candlesticks and two witnesses are Christ living His life in His “few” and His “rejected” and His “small things” Christ. These two olive trees and these two witnesses are all those who are given to “lie dead in the streets of that great city where our Lord was crucified and who are filling up in their own bodies what is behind of the afflictions of the Christ, for His bodies sake which is the church.”

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of [ Greek, ‘the’] Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
Col 1:25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what [ is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Next week, Lord willing, we will cover verses five and six, which tell us of the power given to those who are given to be the witnesses of Christ. Here are verses five and six.

Rev 11:5  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Rev 11:6  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

Rev 1:13 – Part One, In the Midst of the Seven Candlesticks

[Updated September 23, 2023]

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Introduction

In our last study we learned that Christ is our high priest doing the work of His priesthood in His temple. This week we will see just how it is that “The Son of Man” is in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.

We have already seen that the scriptures clearly teach “Ye are the temple of God.” Christ’s temple is within His elect. We also read Peter’s very revealing statement that in Christ, we, too, are “a holy priesthood.”

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

How are our sacrifices accepted “by Jesus Christ?” According to the scriptures, the answer is that our sacrifices are acceptable to God “by Jesus Christ” because it is only “in Him” that we are both “the temple of God… a spiritual house,” and we are also in Christ “an holy priesthood.”

How are we “a holy priesthood?”

Lord willing, we will see a little more of just how much Christ identifies with His body, which is also referred to as His wife, His temple and His “holy priesthood.” For example, here is just how much Christ identifies with His elect:

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

The word ‘world’ in this verse is not the Greek word ‘aion.’ It is rather ‘cosmos,’ meaning the physical structure and arrangement which God Himself has established, and through such physical arrangement, He is working His purpose. In that cosmos we see that Christ is subject to His Father.

Joh 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

We need to look closely at John 5:19. That verse tells us that Christ does only what He sees His Father do. What is it that Christ sees the Father doing? Christ sees the Father delivering up His own Son to be killed for the sins of the world.

Gen 22:2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Act 4:27  For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28  For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

So Christ is just as His Father, but “as He is, so are we in this world” does not make us the head of the body. It does, rather, make us subject to our head, who is Christ, and it does require that the body, through Christ living His life in us, goes through the same suffering as the head. That is the meaning of being neither male not female, but all being one in Christ.

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

None of the sayings of Christ are impossible if Christ is in us. That is what this verse is actually saying:

Luk 1:37  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

God Himself has hidden within this verse a great Truth. Just look at this verse as it is displayed in esword with the Strong’s numbers embedded in the text:

Luk 1:37  For^G3754 with^G3844 God^G2316 nothing^{G3956 G4487 G3756} shall be impossible^G101.

Notice the word ‘nothing’ is followed by three numbers which indicate that the Greek had three different words there. What is missing? The truth is that this is a terrible translation of what the Greek actually says. Here are a few translations of how this verse should read:

(CLV) seeing that it will not be impossible with God to fulfill His every declaration.”
(REV) Because no declaration from God, shall be void of power.
(WEB)  For everything spoken by God is possible.”

Or to say all of that in another scriptural way:

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

And again:

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

The first thought that proceeds out of the mind of the natural man is, “How can we possibly keep what is written in this book?” Also, if we are ‘as He is’ how can Christ possibly ‘keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book?’ What is the answer? Here it is:

(CLV) seeing that it will not be impossible with God to fulfill His every declaration.“

Those who have been given eyes to see know that this, as with every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, is primarily a spiritual and inward statement concerning the kingdom of God within. Both Paul and John want us to also be aware that as we are like Christ in spirit, so also “as He is, so are we in this cosmos.”

We are not yet able to be without an older brother and a spiritual high priest. There is neither male nor female in the body of Christ, but there is still a head and a body.

So when we read “as He is, so are we in this world” [Greek: cosmos], what does that tell us about our relationship to Christ while we are in this world? Here is Paul’s answer to that question:

1Co 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1Co 11:2  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

How does Christ show us His relationship to His Father in this cosmos? He submits to and obeys His Head, His Father, in all things. How does a man show His relationship to God and Christ in this cosmos? He submits to and obeys his Head and His Father, Christ, in all things. How does a woman show what is her relationship to God and to Christ and to her husband? She submits to her husband in all things, in which her husband follows Christ. Sandi is not inferior to me. She is my equal in the body of Christ, and by her word all of my family will be ruled. I am still the head of our family, just as Christ is my head and God is His head.

“The head of Christ is God,” as Christ Himself declared:

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Yet we are told that Christ did not consider it robbery to count himself equal with God, just as Joseph was equal with Pharaoh. After all, the head and the body are one. Even though that relationship is so close that the scriptures say that Joseph is equal with Pharaoh in ruling the kingdom, God still wants us to understand that “in the throne” Pharaoh is always superior to Joseph.

Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

Did God send a priest into this cosmos who would not reflect His mind and thoughts? Of course, He did not. Will Christ have a “holy priesthood” who does not reflect His mind and thoughts? Of course, he will not. All of this is “the ordinances as I delivered them unto you… the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.”

1Co 11:2  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Those ordinances tell us that Christ is our ruler under His head, His Father. It tells us that the same relationship is reflected in our relationship to Christ and should, for the sake of this cosmos, be reflected in our families and in our relationships as husbands and wives. Our relationship with Christ is an exact replica of His relationship to His Father, to the extent that Christ Himself declares:

Luk 22:29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

And:

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

So when we read that Christ is in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, we should realize that He is performing those priestly duties through His “holy priesthood,” through His priests, and through you and me, who are signified by those seven golden candlesticks.

We have already covered the fact that as our Priest, Christ walks in our midst and admonishes us to repent of all of our sins. That is the first and the primary application of all scripture. All scripture is first to be realized within you and me. When we do repent and place Christ ahead of the things of this world, then we are what Peter calls us. In Christ we are His priests, “a royal priesthood” walking in the middle of the church, standing with and for Christ’s Words and being “hated of all men” for doing so, and we should acknowledge that we are “living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mat 10:22, Mat 4:4).

That is where we are in Christ in this verse 13. Today, Lord willing, we will consider the meaning of the words “Like unto the son of man.” We will consider what is meant by the phrase “Clothed with a garment down to the foot” and what is meant by “girt about the paps with a golden girdle.” So let’s start with the meaning of the words “like unto.”

“Like unto the Son of Man”

What does “like unto the Son of Man” mean? That is a question of utmost importance if we are “to know God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.” Many, many Christians believe in some sort of an immaculate conception, of either Mary and/or Christ. All who subscribe to such doctrines are denying that Christ’s flesh was the exact same sinful, Adamic flesh we have. Such an argument completely emasculates the following Scriptures of their power and force:

Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

If “like unto” in Hebrews 2:17 means ‘similar to, but not really the same;’ if Christ were not literally “the seed of Abraham,” instead of “the nature of Angels,” how then can He be for us “a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,” and how can He possibly claim to have been “tempted in all points like as we are?” In Scripture Christ is said to be “the seed of David according to the flesh.”  He is also called “the seed of Abraham according to the flesh.”  Both Abraham and David were the seed of Adam according to the flesh.  When we take away from Christ any connection with Adam, we take away from Christ any connection with us, and the claim that “he was an all points tempted like as we are” becomes hollow and meaningless. Worse yet, according to John, it is a lie of the “antichrist.”

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Oprah and all of the Gnostic world believe “Christ is come in the flesh” is a parable stating that Christ is in your flesh by virtue of your physical birth. The concept of an actual virgin birth and of actually being rejected of those who are “of your father the devil” is repugnant to Oprah and to all Gnostics who believe that you are Christ only if you deny that there was a literal man who said “I am the way” and who died for your sins.

On the other hand, if you are one of the millions of Christians who is just waiting for the Antichrist to appear on the world scene, you are “a day late and a dollar short.” The antichrist has been around since before the death of the apostles. The doctrines of Gnosticism, and the various versions of ‘the immaculate conception’ doctrine, both deny that Christ was at all “the seed of Abraham.” Just look at this teaching of how God brought Christ into this world. I have cut and pasted this from the Catholic Encyclopedia:

“Immaculate Conception The doctrine

–>–>In the Constitution Ineffabilis Deus of 8 December, 1854, Pius IX pronounced and defined that the Blessed Virgin Mary “in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin.”

This doctrine maintains that Christ’s mother, Mary, was “exempt from all stain of original sin… in view of the merits of Jesus Christ.” Since Mary was exempt for all stain of original sin, “in view of the merits of Jesus Christ,” it follows that Christ Himself was “exempt from all stain of original sin.”

Here is another version of that same doctrine as taught by Dr. Ernest Martin:

“As we will see, the ovum that was impregnated in Mary through spiritual engenderment was itself of spiritual origin. That heavenly ovum was placed in Mary’s womb, and then it was conceived through non-human means. This fact, as we will see, made Mary a surrogate mother of Jesus and not His actual “flesh and blood” mother that descended from the first Adam.“ (Chaper 6 of The Essentials of New Testament Doctrine by Ernest L. Martin).

I love Dr. Martin very much, but this doctrine is a doctrine of demons which flatly denies that Christ is the son of Abraham or King David “according to the flesh.” If Christ’s mother were not “His actual “flesh and blood” mother that descended from the first Adam”, then how, pray tell, is Christ capable of being “the son of David according to the flesh?”

Rom 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

The doctrine which teaches that Christ was not literally connected to Adam is what the age-old doctrines of Gnosticism teach. Gnosticism teaches that Christ himself is just a parable to show us who God is.  Gnosticism denies that there was ever a man who came in the flesh of Adam, who was at the same time conceived of the Holy Spirit.  Gnosticism denies that Christ and His words are the only way, and that is the doctrine of the fastest growing ‘Christian’ church on earth today. That church is the church of Oprah.

The verse we are looking at says that John saw someone “like unto the son of man”:

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Any Christian who teaches that the phrase “liken unto” does not mean ‘the same’ or ‘the same as’ is actually teaching that Christ was not descended from Adam or Abraham or King David “according to the flesh.”

Here is what Strong’s Concordance has on this word translated “like unto“:

G3664
ομοιος
homoios
hom’- oy- os
From the base of G3674; similar (in appearance or character): – like, + manner.

What is the meaning of G3674, from which 3664 comes?

homou
hom- oo’
Genitive case of ομος homos ( the same; akin to G260) as adverb; at the same place or time: – together.

So the phrase “like unto” in scripture does not mean ‘different from’ or ‘not like unto’ or “surrogate;” rather, it means “the same.” It means “the same appearance, character” or flesh.

With all of this in mind, let’s go back and look at this 13th verse:

Rev 1:13  And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto [G3664: ‘homoios’, like, adjective] the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Will those who contend that Christ did not come in the same “marred… sinful flesh” as Adam, also contend that Christ is not in the middle of the seven golden candlesticks? Will they contend that He is not in His saints?

The “one like unto the Son of Man” is the Son of Man. The one who is in you and me is “Christ.” It is not someone who is almost like Christ. It is Christ Himself in you and in me with the same spiritual appearance, the same spiritual character, in the same spirit, which spirit is in these same “vessels of clay”, in the same sinful flesh and bones, in His “seven angels of the seven churches” in the midst of the seven candlesticks.

We had all better hope that the phrase “like unto” means ‘the exact same’ or we are all in big trouble regarding the resurrection:

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of [G3667: ‘homoioma’ noun] his resurrection:

Not to worry! “God is true and every man is a liar:”

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

This is the verse which, properly translated, tells us that Christ “emptied Himself, and took on Him the form of a servant, and was made like a man.”

Php 2:7 But did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made, (YLT)

Why would Christ need to “empty Himself” if he had no connection to the sinful flesh of Adam, Abraham, and David through his mother Mary? Yet Dr. Martin and all of Catholicism, teach that Mary was nothing more than a surrogate mother to Christ:

“Mary [was] a surrogate mother of Jesus and not His actual “flesh and blood” mother that descended from the first Adam.“ (Chaper 6 of The Essentials Of New Testament Doctrine by Ernest L. Martin).

If Christ had a surrogate mother for the purpose of not being descended from the first Adam, then what is the purpose of telling us He “emptied Himself and took on the likeness of men?”

Of course none of that has any basis in the scriptures which actually teach:

Php 2:7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; (ASV)

Conclusion

We have seen how we, in Christ, are in spirit right there with Him as “a holy priesthood,” walking with Him in the midst of the seven candlesticks. We have also seen what the scriptures mean by the phrase “like unto.”  What we saw is that if that phrase means what the orthodox Christian world thinks it means, then our resurrection will not be “in His likeness” at all. Finally, we saw that if Christ’s flesh were not “the [exact] same” Adamic flesh as yours and mine, then He didn’t really “empty Himself ” at all. Of course, we are plainly told that it was “the same.” There was nothing at all angelic about Christ’s flesh and blood. It was rather “the same… flesh and blood… as the children” according to the word of God:

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted  like as we are, yet without sin.

That is what the scriptures really teach. They teach that Christ “was in all points tempted like as we are.” How are we tempted? It is important to know how we are tempted because if we do not know that, then we do not know how Christ was “in all points tempted like as we are.” Here is how “every man is tempted:”

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

What will those who cannot see Christ in the first Adam say about this verse? That is right – they say He was not like us at all. They will say that Christ “was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin.” They say “This… made Mary a surrogate mother of Jesus and not His actual “flesh and blood” mother that descended from the first Adam.” They say such drivel because they do not believe Christ’s flesh was tempted like ours. They actually believe that Christ’s flesh had no carnal desires. They do not believe that “every man is tempted when he is drawn away of His own lust and enticed” has any application to Christ. They believe all of this because they cannot see the difference between “sinful flesh” and the sins committed in that sinful flesh. They say that because they do not know what the difference is or why there is even a need for both a sin offering and a trespass offering. The sin offering, which is what Christ was, is for what we are as flesh and blood, and a trespass offering is for what we do (which is what we fill up and what is “behind of the afflictions of Christ” (Col 1:24). That is how Christ fulfills the trespass offering. He does it through us.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my [our] flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

We will close this study with this Biblical evaluation of these doctrines which deny that Christ was “made of a woman… the same… sinful flesh and blood as the seed of Abraham.”

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Here is the truth about all such doctrines:

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh [of His spiritual body, which we are (Col 1:24)] is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh [of His spiritual body, which we are, (Col 1:24)] is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Next study, Lord willing, we will learn what it means to be “clothed with a garment”, and we will find out why we are told Christ was “clothed with a garment down to His feet.”