Questions from Our Readers

What is meant by “removal of the candlestick”?

This is often heard in public prayer, sometimes with the addition “the candlestick of Thy Word.” That addition is not wrong in itself but is not necessarily scriptural. In Revelation 2:5b, Christ warns Ephesus “or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place.” The golden candlestick mentioned in both the Old as well as the New Testament contains a rich symbolism. The candlestick in the temple served to spread light. Therefore, it is not to be put under a bushel (basket) but must be placed where it serves its purpose (Matthew 5: 14&15). In the Old Testament in the Holy place, there was only one candlestick with seven arms or branches. Israel was called to be that light of the world, that city set on a hill. In the new dispensation Christ mentions seven golden candlesticks (Revelation 1:12&13,20).

These candlesticks are golden. This points to the purity of the Church. She is not merely a worldly, polluted society or company but a holy, peculiar, washed, justified and sanctified generation by the Spirit and the Word of God. Christ walks in the midst of her. He is in the center; He binds them to Himself, and in Him the Church is bound to one another. Out of His fullness they are all served and maintained by Him. We could ask how it is possible that Christ uses the term gold. Within the outward manifestation of the seven golden candlesticks of the Church, it certainly does not appear to be “all gold that glitters.” Is it not true that there is, alas, so much that looks more like old, rusty steel, brass and iron, rather than fine gold?

The prophet Jeremiah already complained in his days: “how is the fine gold become dim.” Yes, that is true. However, in Christ, the Church of God is not what she is in her appearance but what she is in her essence. Therefore the poet of Psalm 45 sang: “The King’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.” It is clear that the purpose of the candlestick was and also is today not ornamental but instrumental, namely, that it diffuses the light that streams from the countenance of Christ. There are seven of them with seven arms or branches—forty-nine lights—a fullness of light that shines into a dark world.

Notice, moreover, that the King of the Church not only is in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, but (Revelation 2:1) that He walks in the midst of them! He does not merely observe from the sideline or from a distance, but His walking points to a continual care and attention to what happens within the Church of God. Zion is His delight in which to dwell, but what is now the danger? When that bond to Christ weakens—not from Christ’s side—but from the Church’s side, when love waxes cold, when that walk with Christ becomes less, when the first love is left, then the threat is made that the candlestick will be removed. It means that the Church ceases to exist as a punishment for backsliding. Then the Spirit of Christ is grieved or quenched.

To say it with the words of Song of Solomon 7:13, the mandrakes no longer give a smell and the gates of Zion no longer show all manner of pleasant fruits. Then it is possible that the structures of church building and doctrines may still stand, but the life is out of it. Though we may have the form, the essence of godliness is lacking or all together missing. What a fearful thing it is when the candlestick is removed! Are there signs among us that the branches are still being filled with oil of the Spirit, or is it the opposite? Remember, to five of the seven Churches of Asia Minor Christ had to write: repent! And to three it was added: “I have somewhat against thee.”

What is removed often does not return anymore, and no church or congregation is exempt from danger and warning of being removed. Let it, therefore, be our collective prayer that Christ and His blessed Spirit be not grieved or quenched so that the candlestick remains to give its light and there be a message for lost souls, so long as it is called the precious day of grace and the acceptable time—before the night comes and no man can work.

Send your questions to Rev. H. Hofman, 2339 Deer Trail Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505, or hofman@premieronline.net.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen