The Golden Candlestick was all of one piece, hammered out;
there was one central shaft with a lamp on top, and three branches
on each side of it, each bearing a lamp, making seven lamps in all-
a perfect or complete number. Does not this represent the complete
church from the Head, Jesus, to and including the last member of
the “little flock.” He is taking out from among men, to be partakers
of the (gold) divine nature? Jesus says, “The seven candlesticks
which thou sawest are the seven churches.” Rev. 1: 20. Yes, that
candlestick represents the entire church of the first born. Not the
nominal, but the true church is here meant however–the royal
priests–wholly consecrated.
The form of workmanship was beautiful–a fruit and a flower, a
fruit and a flower following successively, shows us that the true
church (“whose names are written in heaven”) is both beautiful and
fruitful from first to last. The lamp part on top of each branch was
shaped like an almond, the significance of which, we will see when
considering Aaron’s rod.
The oil for this lamp was the olive oil–beaten–refined; and the
lamps were kept lighted always. It was for the benefit of the priest
class only, and represents the deeper spiritual truths of God’s
Word, which are entirely hidden from the natural man (1 Cor. 2:
14), even though he be a believer–a justified man (a Levite). None
are permitted to go or even to see, into this deeper royal priesthood.
These always had access to the “Holy”; it was their right and
privilege; it was intended for them. (Heb. 9: 6) The Levites could
not see in because of the vail of human-mindedness which came
between them and the Sacred things; and the only way to set it
aside was to consecrate and sacrifice wholly the human nature. The
lights were to be trimmed and replenished every morning and
evening, by the High Priest–Aaron and his sons who succeeded
him in office. (Exod. 27: 20-21; and 30: 8) So our High Priest is
daily filling us more and more with the mind of Christ, and
trimming off the dross of the old nature.
Are we sometimes puzzled to know why some who are in the
church cannot see any but natural things–cannot discern the deeper
spiritual truths of the Word? They can see Restitution for natural
men, but cannot see our heavenly calling. These Tabernacle lessons
show us why this is: “They are brethren, of the household of faith,”
but Levites–in the Court; they never consecrated as priests,
consequently cannot enter the “Holy,” nor see the things that were
prepared for the priests only. The natural “eye hath not seen, or ear
heard–neither have entered into the heart of man the things which
God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed