The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Two Lampstands, continued

Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings." (Revelation 10:11—NIV)

The prophecy will concern "many peoples, nations, languages and kings." From my point of view, this is the witness Jesus spoke of when He said "This gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a witness to all nations."

We who are Pentecostal are accustomed to the prophecies in the assembly that build up the Body of Christ. But now we are referring to prophecy like that of Jeremiah and Ezekiel—prophecy that affects the nations.

The purpose of the Christian assembly is to build the lampstand, the testimony. When the lampstand has been prepared it will be a light for all people.

Our God is a God of preparation. He knows well in advance all He is going to do and He prepares for it.

So much power will be given to the saints of the last days that they must be prepared to receive it. When God gives great power to people there always is a chance they will abuse it or that they will be destroyed because they could not resist the temptation to take the glory to themselves. Also when Divine Glory exists in abundance among the Lord's people it is very easy for Satan to come into the midst and lead some astray. This is because so many voices are speaking in the spirit realm and inexperienced believers cannot always determine what the Lord is actually saying.

Because the end-time dispensation of authority and power will be exceedingly mighty, the bearers of the Divine testimony must be carefully prepared in advance.

I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there." (Revelation 11:1—NIV)

The above verse means God is going to examine those who will be part of the end-time testimony.

The temple of God is the Christian Church. The altar is the Altar of Incense.

There were two altars that were part of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. The large altar in the Courtyard was the Altar of Burnt Offering. All animal sacrifices were made on this altar.

The Altar of Incense was a smaller altar and stood just before the Veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Inside the Holy Place were the Bread of the Presence (Table of Showbread), the Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense.

The Bread of the Presence represents Christ being born and formed in us.

The Lampstand represents the Holy Spirit and is associated with Pentecost.

The Altar of Incense is the place where we bow in death to self and cry, "Not my will but yours be done."

Directly over the separating Veil were two sets of fifty rings joining together the curtains from which the Tabernacle was constructed. One set of fifty rings was gold. The other set of fifty rings was bronze.

This means that as the Church passes from the Church Age to the Kingdom Age (as in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Revelation) there will be a double Pentecost (two sets of fifty—"Pentecost" means fifty) of Deity (gold) and judgment (bronze). This is precisely what we see in Revelation Eleven.

To be continued.