Jesus Christ had offered Himself to be the once and for all perfect sacrifice for the sins of fallen humanity on the cross of Calvary. The greatest triumph of the ages was His, as He led captivity captive and broke every bond of prison for the ones He had redeemed. Then He ascended on High and returned in the form of the Holy Spirit to indwell and manifest Himself amongst His own throughout the ages, until He returns for His immaculate Bride, as she stands dressed in the robes of His righteousness.

What a beautiful picture of Christ and His Church in prophecy is being portrayed in the Book of Revelation. John saw Him walking amidst the seven golden candlesticks as the Son of man.

“And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girded about the breasts with a golden girdle.
His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes werelike a flame of fire;
And his feet like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice like the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and his countenance was as the sun shineth in its strength.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last;
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death.
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter:
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. 1: 12-20).

In this prophetic view, the Lord Jesus Christ is shown in His glorified state, walking and talking amidst His Church. The golden girdle about His breast pictures Him as a judge, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God …” (1 Pet. 4: 17).

John didn’t see Him as the Son of God, saving the lost and healing the sick, he didn’t see Him placing the different ministries within His Church. He did not speak about spiritual gifts, the twelve apostles or the seventy disciples, he saw the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of man holding the seven stars in His right hand. His Word “… is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12). “He that is of God heareth God’s words”(Jn. 8: 47). “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (12: 48).

The Lord Jesus Christ is introducing Himself to the seven churches as the all–sufficient One, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1: 8). This is His final revelation to His Church. He had been described in His many attributes and aspects pertaining to the redemptive plan. Here He is unveiled in His complete Deity.

The golden candlestick — the Church — was already spoken of in the Old Testament. The prophet Zechariah saw the seven–branched lampstand and testifies, “I have looked and, behold, a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps on it, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top of it” (Zech. 4: 2). The oil from the container was channelled through the seven pipes and filled the seven lamps. The same God, the same Holy Spirit, came down in each of the seven church ages to give the true revelation to the living Church.

While the prophet Moses was on the mount, Almighty God showed him the pattern and gave him detailed instructions of how to build the tabernacle (Heb. 8: 5). It was to be the dwelling place of the God of Israel, as He re-established His fellowship with the covenant people and received their worship and offerings at the altar.

The Tabernacle was to be divided into two sections — the Holiest of all and the sanctuary, wherein stood the seven–branched golden candlestick and the table with the showbread (Heb. 9: 2–3). Moses was instructed, “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the lampstand be made; its shaft, and its branches, its bowls, its knobs, and its flowers, shall be of the same.” (Ex. 25: 31). This spoke of the blossoming of the Church. The whole candlestick was made of one and the same lump of gold. Nothing was added to it or taken away. What a wonderful picture of the Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ! She is one with Him and is made of the same material, washed in His blood, born again and sealed by His Spirit.

The seven–branched golden candlestick was a lampstand, which did not hold candles as we know them today, but lamps filled with oil, which were lighted and trimmed daily by the priests and kept burning constantly (Ex. 27: 20–21). They illuminated the sanctuary for the ones who entered in to partake of the table of the Lord. The lamps were not the actual light, they manifested and transmitted the light which they received from the oil container. These seven lamps on the golden candlestick represented the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in prophecy in the seven distinct ages.

Situated opposite the golden candlestick was the table with the showbread, upon which lay the loaves of unleavened bread (Lev. 24: 5–6) — a prophetic picture of Christ, the Bread of Life for every believer. These loaves were eaten by the priests and we, as the royal priesthood of the New Testament, must partake of the Lord Jesus Christ, the living Word, for He said, “I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (Jn. 6: 35).

The altar of incense was put before the veil and incense was to be burned upon it every morning and every evening, when the lamps were dressed and lit. Once a year, the High Priest was to make an atonement upon it with the blood of the sin offering upon it (Ex. 30: 6–10).

You may ask: What has all that to do with us? We are to “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.” (Eph. 5: 2). We as the New Testament believers bring our prayers before Almighty God as a sweet smelling savour, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands, as the evening sacrifice.” (Ps. 141: 2). “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ …” (2 Cor. 2: 15).

We read of the altar of incense in Rev. 8: 3–4, “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” — not the prayers of those who claim to believe, but the prayers of the saints, the ones who are sanctified by the Word and the Spirit of Truth. “And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of the harps, and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints.” (Rev. 5: 8). All the prayers of those, who recognise the promised Word of the covenant, ascend to the throne of the Almighty as a sweet–smelling savour of incense. The prayers of those truly believing the message brought by the star–messenger — the earthly angel to the church age — are taken up to the throne of God by the heavenly angel. The revealed Word for each age goes forth from the throne of God, and the prayers of His saints who receive it return back to the throne. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isa. 55: 11).

… the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.” (Heb. 9: 6). But before they could minister unto the Lord, they had to be consecrated and sanctified unto the service of the Lord: “And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.” (Ex. 30: 29).

The priests were brought to the tabernacle of the congregation and had to“wash their hands and their feet, that they die not.” (Ex. 30: 21). After they were washed, they had to be clothed in the holy garments that had been made especially for them according to the exact instructions the Lord gave. Then they were anointed.

What a beautiful picture of the Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ! She is redeemed by His holy blood, He has sanctified and cleansed her with the washing of the water by the Word, “that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5: 26–27). His Church can say, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isa. 61: 10). She is anointed and sealed by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1: 22). The Church of Jesus Christ is “… a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation …” (1 Pet. 2: 9). “Unto him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev. 1: 5b–6).

The Holiest of all was separated from the sanctuary by the veil. “And after the second veil, the tabernacle, which is called the Holiest of all, which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, in which was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat …” (Heb. 9: 3–5).

When Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrificial Lamb, died on Calvary, His blood atoned for our sins. The veil was not rent asunder when the High Priest offered the animal sacrifices, but when the Son of God gave His life for the sins of the people, “… the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom …” (Mt. 27: 51) clearing the way to the mercy seat in the Holiest of all.

The law was fulfilled and grace took over. The very fact that the veil was rent from the top to the bottom, showed that God Himself rent the veil, which kept the congregation from the holy presence of the Almighty.

The Old Testament worshipper could not go beyond the veil and live, but now, if we don’t follow our High Priest and mighty King, who has conquered the forces of the enemy, who has placed his own blood upon the mercy seat, into the Most Holy, we remain dead in sin and trespasses. Christ is our High Priest, not after the order of Aaron, but after the order of Melchizedec, the King of Salem, the King of peace, the Lord of Glory (Heb. 7). He is the High Priest of our confession, who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Heb. 4: 14-15).

The dimensions of the Most Holy were equal in length, width and height, speaking of perfection. This description is identical with the one given of the New Jerusalem — the future home of the Bride of Christ. “Come here, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God … The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.” (Rev. 21: 9b–16). What beautiful mansions the Bridegroom has prepared for His Bride! If she has entered the Holiest of all here on earth, she will live with Him in that New Jerusalem for ever.

The ark of the covenant and the mercy seat were in the Holiest of holies. The two cherubims had their faces directed towards the mercy seat. They were made of the same piece of beaten gold as the mercy seat (Ex. 37: 1–9). The Word was kept in the ark of the covenant. The Lord looked down upon His Word, which is always before Him as He watches over it to perform it (Jer. 1: 12). God had made a covenant in the Old Testament, He made one in the New. “And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.”

The ark of the covenant also contained the golden pot of manna, signifying wherever the Word is, the fresh spiritual food in due season is found. The overcomer of each church age feeds on the hidden manna, the revealed Word. The manna the children of Israel received daily contaminated until the next day, but the manna kept in the presence of God in the ark of the covenant never spoilt. We are not to take the left–overs from one church age into the next. There is a promised Word for each age and fresh food from on High for those, who make up the holy priesthood in Christ.

Aaron’s rod that budded was also kept in the ark of the covenant. God Himself had ordained him and his sons to be priests and therefore testified in a supernatural way, so that the dry stick blossomed and bore fruit overnight. The Church of the living God is made up of a blossoming priesthood, bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has taken the dry bones and made a living body bearing His attributes.

Wherever the ark of the covenant was taken in the Old Testament, the people were blest abundantly. “So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.” (2 Sam. 6: 15).

In the New Testament, John saw the ark of the covenant. “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” (Rev. 11: 19). Great is the rejoicing within the camp of the Redeemed, for the Covenant Word of Almighty God has returned to His own in these last days.

After everything was done according to the Word, the pillar of cloud came down upon the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle and led the children of Israel as they journeyed to the promised land. He is with His Bride in like manner, with those who line up with His Word, until they enter the pearly gates.

The seven–branched golden candlestick represents the Church of the living God in prophecy — the dwelling place of the Most High. The seven lamps speak of the illumination of God’s promised Word within the seven distinct eras of the New Testament Church. The table with the shewbread is a prophetic picture of Christ, the Bread of Life.

The altar of incense points out in prophecy that the overcomers, who have received the revealed Word for their day, bring their prayers before the throne of God, which are poured out as a sweet savour in His holy presence. The saints of every church age overcame “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.” (Rev. 12: 11).

The first church age, symbolised by the first lamp, was lit by the fire from the altar that was kindled by God Himself on the day of Pentecost. Each lamp in the following church ages received its light from the previous one by the same flame of fire, and brought to light the promised Word. In each period were those, who received and those who rejected the light of the hour.

A God–sent message always brings us back to the Word, and the Holy Spirit leads to repentance. If we don’t repent and line up with the Word, the candlestick will be removed from its place, leaving us in spiritual darkness (Rev. 2: 5). The light to the congregation is only guaranteed as long as the lamps are burning. Anyone going against the light will be blinded thereby, but those who walk with the light, “… as He is in the light, have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 Jn. 1:7). But “if we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (v. 6). To follow Christ means to follow Him in the very revelation He has given. He says, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (Jn. 8: 12).

Of those, who saw the fulfilment of prophecy at the first coming of Christ, it is said, “The people who sat in darkness sawgreat light, and to them who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up.” (Mt. 4: 16). The apostle Paul was prompted to write to us living at the time of the second coming, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” (1 Thess. 5: 4).

In the days of Moses, all Egypt was in gross darkness, but the children of Israel had light in their dwellings (Ex. 10: 23). They had received the promised Word for their day and had accepted Moses, the God–sent prophet and therefore had part in what the Lord was doing in those days. The same is repeating now. Darkness is covering the earth and gross darkness the people, but in the dwelling place of the saints is the bright shining light of the revealed and promised Word for the hour.

“I beheld and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Rev. 5: 6).

Here we see the Lamb with the seven Spirits, the seven eyes, speaking of the seven angel–messengers, to whom it is given to see the promised Word for their age by divine revelation. The prophetic ministry in the Church is likened unto the eye in the body, which consists of many members. “For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes; the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all has become unto you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed.” (Isa. 29: 10–11).

This is a very plain language. If the eye in the body of Christ does not see, all are in darkness. But thanks be unto God, who has sent an open vision — His revealed Word.

Many have tried to read the last book of the Bible, but were not able to understand its contents, because it was sealed. Now, in the providence of Almighty God, all these hidden things were made known. It pleased the Lord to disclose the mysteries hidden throughout the ages under the ministry of the God–sent prophet to this last church age. It is hidden to the eyes of the wise and the prudent, but revealed to babes, such as would learn.

To gain an overall picture of Christ and His Church in prophecy, we must see the Scripture in its continuity as one subject dovetails with the other until the entire plan of redemption is laid out before us.

The priests in the Old Testament recognised and obeyed the ordinances. They realised that the way for the propitiation for their sins was made by the atonement. Through their obedience, they showed their loyalty to God.

The royal priesthood of the New Testament also shows its loyalty and obedience to God by observing the ordinances of the New Testament. We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Our sins are forgiven. In the Old Testament, God’s chosen people observed the Passover, in the New we partake of the Lord’s supper, commemorating the death of Christ until He returns.

In the Old Testament, they were baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (1 Cor. 10: 2). In the New, the believers are baptised in water in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, after they have repented of their sins, and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to the promise (Acts 2: 38–39).

In the Old Testament, the priests had to was their hands and their feet before they entered into the sanctuary. In the New, Jesus Christ Himself washed the feet of His disciples and said, “If I, then, your Lord and master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, the ye should do as I have done to you.”(Jn. 13: 5–17).

Like the priests were dressed in a special garment, so is the Bride of Christ robed in the wedding garment. “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.” (Rev. 19: 8). We have no righteousness of our own. He has washed us, He has dressed us, and He has anointed us. The Bride of Christ is sealed with His Spirit. “… in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1: 13).

The Holy Spirit of promise always accompanies the Word of promise and seals those, who believe it, into the body of Christ. There is a vast difference between someone who is anointed and someone who is sealed. Many are anointed by the Spirit, do great things, but the Lord will confess, “I never knew you” (Mt. 7: 23), because they did not receive the Word of Truth — the Word of promise — and therefore could not be sealed by the Spirit of Truth. They accept the blessings, but reject the Word revealed by the same Holy Spirit.

Many speak of a special ministry and point to their own achievements, but the time has come in which all things have to be checked with the Word. A true Christian is not merely satisfied with reports of revival meetings, he desires to hear the Word of God,have it penetrate deeply into his heart and bear spiritual fruit. There is a deep longing in his spirit for the reality of the Lord.

Many preach about the second coming of Christ, but like the Jews at His first coming, they are smitten with blindness. The similarity is startling. As God is about to turn His face in favour upon the Jews once again, and the Gentile dispensation is fading out, the Christians are actually rejecting and crucifying the Lord of glory afresh. Of course, they still speak about Him as their Saviour and Healer, the Son of God or the Son so David, but they reject Him as the Son of man in His prophetic ministry, walking and talking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. But God has kept a small remnant, who recognised the promised Word for our time. the see Christ and His Church in prophecy.

May God grant that everyone see the significance of the illuminated seven–branched golden candlestick, representing the same Church in the seven periods, and recognise the messengers as the stars in His right hand. The glory of the Lord, the same pillar of fire, hovers over His Church as it did with the children of Israel.

Jesus Christ had offered Himself to be the once and for all perfect sacrifice for the sins of fallen humanity on the cross of Calvary. The greatest triumph of the ages was His, as He led captivity captive and broke every bond of prison for the ones He had redeemed. Then He ascended on High and returned in the form of the Holy Spirit to indwell and manifest Himself amongst His own throughout the ages, until He returns for His immaculate Bride, as she stands dressed in the robes of His righteousness.

What a beautiful picture of Christ and His Church in prophecy is being portrayed in the Book of Revelation. John saw Him walking amidst the seven golden candlesticks as the Son of man.

“And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girded about the breasts with a golden girdle.His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were  like a flame of fire;And his feet like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice like the sound of many waters.And he had in his right hand seven stars; and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and his countenance was as the sun shineth in its strength.And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last;I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death.Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter: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. 1: 12-20).

In this prophetic view, the Lord Jesus Christ is shown in His glorified state, walking and talking amidst His Church. The golden girdle about His breast pictures Him as a judge, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God …” (1 Pet. 4: 17).

John didn’t see Him as the Son of God, saving the lost and healing the sick, he didn’t see Him placing the different ministries within His Church. He did not speak about spiritual gifts, the twelve apostles or the seventy disciples, he saw the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of man holding the seven stars in His right hand. His Word “… is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12). “He that is of God heareth God’s words” (Jn. 8: 47). “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (12: 48).

The Lord Jesus Christ is introducing Himself to the seven churches as the all–sufficient One, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1: 8). This is His final revelation to His Church. He had been described in His many attributes and aspects pertaining to the redemptive plan. Here He is unveiled in His complete Deity.

The golden candlestick — the Church — was already spoken of in the Old Testament. The prophet Zechariah saw the seven–branched lampstand and testifies, “I have looked and, behold, a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps on it, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top of it” (Zech. 4: 2). The oil from the container was channelled through the seven pipes and filled the seven lamps. The same God, the same Holy Spirit, came down in each of the seven church ages to give the true revelation to the living Church.

While the prophet Moses was on the mount, Almighty God showed him the pattern and gave him detailed instructions of how to build the tabernacle (Heb. 8: 5). It was to be the dwelling place of the God of Israel, as He re-established His fellowship with the covenant people and received their worship and offerings at the altar.

The Tabernacle was to be divided into two sections — the Holiest of all and the sanctuary, wherein stood the seven–branched golden candlestick and the table with the showbread (Heb. 9: 2–3). Moses was instructed, “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the lampstand be made; its shaft, and its branches, its bowls, its knobs, and its flowers, shall be of the same.” (Ex. 25: 31). This spoke of the blossoming of the Church. The whole candlestick was made of one and the same lump of gold. Nothing was added to it or taken away. What a wonderful picture of the Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ! She is one with Him and is made of the same material, washed in His blood, born again and sealed by His Spirit.

The seven–branched golden candlestick was a lampstand, which did not hold candles as we know them today, but lamps filled with oil, which were lighted and trimmed daily by the priests and kept burning constantly (Ex. 27: 20–21). They illuminated the sanctuary for the ones who entered in to partake of the table of the Lord. The lamps were not the actual light, they manifested and transmitted the light which they received from the oil container. These seven lamps on the golden candlestick represented the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in prophecy in the seven distinct ages.

Situated opposite the golden candlestick was the table with the showbread, upon which lay the loaves of unleavened bread (Lev. 24: 5–6) — a prophetic picture of Christ, the Bread of Life for every believer. These loaves were eaten by the priests and we, as the royal priesthood of the New Testament, must partake of the Lord Jesus Christ, the living Word, for He said, “I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (Jn. 6: 35).

The altar of incense was put before the veil and incense was to be burned upon it every morning and every evening, when the lamps were dressed and lit. Once a year, the High Priest was to make an atonement upon it with the blood of the sin offering upon it (Ex. 30: 6–10).

You may ask: What has all that to do with us? We are to “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.” (Eph. 5: 2). We as the New Testament believers bring our prayers before Almighty God as a sweet smelling savour, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands, as the evening sacrifice.” (Ps. 141: 2). “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ …” (2 Cor. 2: 15).

We read of the altar of incense in Rev. 8: 3–4, “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” — not the prayers of those who claim to believe, but the prayers of the saints, the ones who are sanctified by the Word and the Spirit of Truth. “And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of the harps, and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints.” (Rev. 5: 8). All the prayers of those, who recognise the promised Word of the covenant, ascend to the throne of the Almighty as a sweet–smelling savour of incense. The prayers of those truly believing the message brought by the star–messenger — the earthly angel to the church age — are taken up to the throne of God by the heavenly angel. The revealed Word for each age goes forth from the throne of God, and the prayers of His saints who receive it return back to the throne. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isa. 55: 11).

… the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.” (Heb. 9: 6). But before they could minister unto the Lord, they had to be consecrated and sanctified unto the service of the Lord: “And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.” (Ex. 30: 29).

The priests were brought to the tabernacle of the congregation and had to“wash their hands and their feet, that they die not.” (Ex. 30: 21). After they were washed, they had to be clothed in the holy garments that had been made especially for them according to the exact instructions the Lord gave. Then they were anointed.

What a beautiful picture of the Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ! She is redeemed by His holy blood, He has sanctified and cleansed her with the washing of the water by the Word, “that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5: 26–27). His Church can say, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isa. 61: 10). She is anointed and sealed by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1: 22). The Church of Jesus Christ is “… a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation …” (1 Pet. 2: 9). “Unto him that loveth us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev. 1: 5b–6).

The Holiest of all was separated from the sanctuary by the veil. “And after the second veil, the tabernacle, which is called the Holiest of all, which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, in which was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat …” (Heb. 9: 3–5).

When Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrificial Lamb, died on Calvary, His blood atoned for our sins. The veil was not rent asunder when the High Priest offered the animal sacrifices, but when the Son of God gave His life for the sins of the people, “… the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom …” (Mt. 27: 51) clearing the way to the mercy seat in the Holiest of all.

The law was fulfilled and grace took over. The very fact that the veil was rent from the top to the bottom, showed that God Himself rent the veil, which kept the congregation from the holy presence of the Almighty.

The Old Testament worshipper could not go beyond the veil and live, but now, if we don’t follow our High Priest and mighty King, who has conquered the forces of the enemy, who has placed his own blood upon the mercy seat, into the Most Holy, we remain dead in sin and trespasses. Christ is our High Priest, not after the order of Aaron, but after the order of Melchizedec, the King of Salem, the King of peace, the Lord of Glory (Heb. 7). He is the High Priest of our confession, who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Heb. 4: 14-15).

The dimensions of the Most Holy were equal in length, width and height, speaking of perfection. This description is identical with the one given of the New Jerusalem — the future home of the Bride of Christ. “Come here, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God … The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.” (Rev. 21: 9b–16). What beautiful mansions the Bridegroom has prepared for His Bride! If she has entered the Holiest of all here on earth, she will live with Him in that New Jerusalem for ever.

The ark of the covenant and the mercy seat were in the Holiest of holies. The two cherubims had their faces directed towards the mercy seat. They were made of the same piece of beaten gold as the mercy seat (Ex. 37: 1–9). The Word was kept in the ark of the covenant. The Lord looked down upon His Word, which is always before Him as He watches over it to perform it (Jer. 1: 12). God had made a covenant in the Old Testament, He made one in the New. “And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.”

The ark of the covenant also contained the golden pot of manna, signifying wherever the Word is, the fresh spiritual food in due season is found. The overcomer of each church age feeds on the hidden manna, the revealed Word. The manna the children of Israel received daily contaminated until the next day, but the manna kept in the presence of God in the ark of the covenant never spoilt. We are not to take the left–overs from one church age into the next. There is a promised Word for each age and fresh food from on High for those, who make up the holy priesthood in Christ.

Aaron’s rod that budded was also kept in the ark of the covenant. God Himself had ordained him and his sons to be priests and therefore testified in a supernatural way, so that the dry stick blossomed and bore fruit overnight. The Church of the living God is made up of a blossoming priesthood, bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has taken the dry bones and made a living body bearing His attributes.

Wherever the ark of the covenant was taken in the Old Testament, the people were blest abundantly. “So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.” (2 Sam. 6: 15).

In the New Testament, John saw the ark of the covenant. “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” (Rev. 11: 19). Great is the rejoicing within the camp of the Redeemed, for the Covenant Word of Almighty God has returned to His own in these last days.

After everything was done according to the Word, the pillar of cloud came down upon the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle and led the children of Israel as they journeyed to the promised land. He is with His Bride in like manner, with those who line up with His Word, until they enter the pearly gates.

The seven–branched golden candlestick represents the Church of the living God in prophecy — the dwelling place of the Most High. The seven lamps speak of the illumination of God’s promised Word within the seven distinct eras of the New Testament Church. The table with the shewbread is a prophetic picture of Christ, the Bread of Life.

The altar of incense points out in prophecy that the overcomers, who have received the revealed Word for their day, bring their prayers before the throne of God, which are poured out as a sweet savour in His holy presence. The saints of every church age overcame “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.” (Rev. 12: 11).

The first church age, symbolised by the first lamp, was lit by the fire from the altar that was kindled by God Himself on the day of Pentecost. Each lamp in the following church ages received its light from the previous one by the same flame of fire, and brought to light the promised Word. In each period were those, who received and those who rejected the light of the hour.

A God–sent message always brings us back to the Word, and the Holy Spirit leads to repentance. If we don’t repent and line up with the Word, the candlestick will be removed from its place, leaving us in spiritual darkness (Rev. 2: 5). The light to the congregation is only guaranteed as long as the lamps are burning. Anyone going against the light will be blinded thereby, but those who walk with the light, “… as He is in the light, have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 Jn. 1:7). But “if we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (v. 6). To follow Christ means to follow Him in the very revelation He has given. He says, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (Jn. 8: 12).

Of those, who saw the fulfilment of prophecy at the first coming of Christ, it is said, “The people who sat in darkness saw  great light, and to them who sat in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up.” (Mt. 4: 16). The apostle Paul was prompted to write to us living at the time of the second coming, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” (1 Thess. 5: 4).

In the days of Moses, all Egypt was in gross darkness, but the children of Israel had light in their dwellings (Ex. 10: 23). They had received the promised Word for their day and had accepted Moses, the God–sent prophet and therefore had part in what the Lord was doing in those days. The same is repeating now. Darkness is covering the earth and gross darkness the people, but in the dwelling place of the saints is the bright shining light of the revealed and promised Word for the hour.

“I beheld and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Rev. 5: 6).

Here we see the Lamb with the seven Spirits, the seven eyes, speaking of the seven angel–messengers, to whom it is given to see the promised Word for their age by divine revelation. The prophetic ministry in the Church is likened unto the eye in the body, which consists of many members. “For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes; the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all has become unto you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed.” (Isa. 29: 10–11).

This is a very plain language. If the eye in the body of Christ does not see, all are in darkness. But thanks be unto God, who has sent an open vision — His revealed Word.

Many have tried to read the last book of the Bible, but were not able to understand its contents, because it was sealed. Now, in the providence of Almighty God, all these hidden things were made known. It pleased the Lord to disclose the mysteries hidden throughout the ages under the ministry of the God–sent prophet to this last church age. It is hidden to the eyes of the wise and the prudent, but revealed to babes, such as would learn.

To gain an overall picture of Christ and His Church in prophecy, we must see the Scripture in its continuity as one subject dovetails with the other until the entire plan of redemption is laid out before us.

The priests in the Old Testament recognised and obeyed the ordinances. They realised that the way for the propitiation for their sins was made by the atonement. Through their obedience, they showed their loyalty to God.

The royal priesthood of the New Testament also shows its loyalty and obedience to God by observing the ordinances of the New Testament. We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Our sins are forgiven. In the Old Testament, God’s chosen people observed the Passover, in the New we partake of the Lord’s supper, commemorating the death of Christ until He returns.

In the Old Testament, they were baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (1 Cor. 10: 2). In the New, the believers are baptised in water in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, after they have repented of their sins, and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to the promise (Acts 2: 38–39).

In the Old Testament, the priests had to was their hands and their feet before they entered into the sanctuary. In the New, Jesus Christ Himself washed the feet of His disciples and said, “If I, then, your Lord *and master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, the ye should do as I have done to you.”*(Jn. 13: 5–17).

Like the priests were dressed in a special garment, so is the Bride of Christ robed in the wedding garment. “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.” (Rev. 19: 8). We have no righteousness of our own. He has washed us, He has dressed us, and He has anointed us. The Bride of Christ is sealed with His Spirit. “… in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1: 13).

The Holy Spirit of promise always accompanies the Word of promise and seals those, who believe it, into the body of Christ. There is a vast difference between someone who is anointed and someone who is sealed. Many are anointed by the Spirit, do great things, but the Lord will confess, “I never knew you” (Mt. 7: 23), because they did not receive the Word of Truth — the Word of promise — and therefore could not be sealed by the Spirit of Truth. They accept the blessings, but reject the Word revealed by the same Holy Spirit.

Many speak of a special ministry and point to their own achievements, but the time has come in which all things have to be checked with the Word. A true Christian is not merely satisfied with reports of revival meetings, he desires to hear the Word of God,  have it penetrate deeply into his heart and bear spiritual fruit. There is a deep longing in his spirit for the reality of the Lord.

Many preach about the second coming of Christ, but like the Jews at His first coming, they are smitten with blindness. The similarity is startling. As God is about to turn His face in favour upon the Jews once again, and the Gentile dispensation is fading out, the Christians are actually rejecting and crucifying the Lord of glory afresh. Of course, they still speak about Him as their Saviour and Healer, the Son of God or the Son so David, but they reject Him as the Son of man in His prophetic ministry, walking and talking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. But God has kept a small remnant, who recognised the promised Word for our time. the see Christ and His Church in prophecy.

May God grant that everyone see the significance of the illuminated seven–branched golden candlestick, representing the same Church in the seven periods, and recognise the messengers as the stars in His right hand. The glory of the Lord, the same pillar of fire, hovers over His Church as it did with the children of Israel.