PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

(Editor's note: In his book titled The Ultimate Significance of the Golden Lampstand, Witness Lee points out that the revelations of the Bible are progressive. There are "seeds" of truth and life "planted" in Genesis and Exodus which are "harvested" in Revelation. One example of this principle is the matter of the golden lampstand introduced in Exodus 25 as a part of the pattern of the tabernacle which was given to Moses by Jehovah. In Exodus the lampstand is a type of Christ as the light of the world. Then in Zechariah 4 the "seed" which was sown in Exodus has grown; here the lampstand signifies the Spirit of Jehovah. Zechariah also tells us that the seven lamps of the lampstand are the seven eyes of Jehovah. Finally, in Revelation the lampstand has been intensified to be seven lampstands representing the seven churches in Asia. In the following excerpts, Witness Lee continues with the fellowship concerning the significance of the golden lampstand as it applies to our living and testimony.)

THE SEVEN LAMPS OF THE LAMPSTAND BEING THE SEVEN LAMPS BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD

Now we want to see the seven lamps, which are a crucial item of the golden lampstand. The main emphasis of the golden lampstand is its shining, and the shining depends on the seven lamps. This matter is not simple. If we only look at Exodus 25, we cannot see much. We can only see the record of a golden lampstand upon which are seven shining lamps. Its stem is in the center with six branches coming out of its two sides, three on each side, and the branches on the two sides shine toward each other.

Revelation 1:4 says, "From Him who is and who was and who is coming, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne." God's throne is present at the very beginning of Revelation. In the universe, God has a center of administration, which is His throne. Revelation 4:5 says that lightnings and voices and thunders come forth out of the throne. Lightnings, voices, and thunders are a sign, a symbol, signifying that God is administering and moving from His throne to execute His eternal policy. The throne of God is the center of His administration, and upon His throne He executes His eternal policy and eternal purpose. Here, God has His move, administration, management, economy, and eternal operation. Verse 5 also says that "the seven Spirits of God" are "the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne." The speaking in the Bible is very economical, and there are no wasted words. The seven lamps on the golden lampstand are the seven lamps of fire before the throne of God. This signifies that the seven lamps are absolutely related to God's administration, economy, and move. God's move depends on these seven lamps. (Witness Lee, The Ultimate Significance of the Golden Lampstands, p. 44)

THE SEVEN LAMPS OF FIRE BEING FOR GOD's MOVE

Now we would like to consider the shining of the seven lamps. This is a driving burden within me, and I hope that I can stir you up! The seven lamps are the lamps of fire burning before the throne; they are not feeble lights but burning lamps of fire. Most of us would understand this as meaning that the lamps firstly shine on us, and then they burn us. We may say that the seven lamps of fire illuminate us so that whatever our inward condition is, it cannot be concealed. Whether it is genuine or false, it is completely laid bare.

We can pretend in front of our husband, wife, or others but there is no way for us to pretend before the lamps of fire because we are fully illuminated. To be sure, there is this meaning of the lamps of fire. Perhaps others would say that the burning lamps of fire indicate that we are burning in spirit. Every one of us is burning when we are burning in our spirit. This is correct, also. However, according to Revelation 4, the emphasis of the seven burning lamps of fire is neither on shining nor on burning.

….Yes, with the seven lamps of fire there are the illumining and the burning aspects. However, there is another aspect we should know: The seven burning lamps of fire are for the move of God's administration. God's move is not merely an illumining or a burning.

….What then should the burning of the seven lamps of fire produce? After this conference, the young ones should take action to go to the different towns and villages in Taiwan for the establishing of churches, and they should go to the schools in the big cities to gain people.

When I returned to Taiwan ten years ago, I was very clear, saying, "Your eyes have to be open. Do not be too busy outwardly. You should work on the young people, the junior highers, and the high schoolers. You should also work on the children until each week there are at least ten thousand children being taught by us. Those who are six or seven years old now will be high schoolers in ten years. If you are willing to do this, you can definitely succeed." The brothers told me at that time that there were twenty-three thousand names on the list of the church in Taipei, comprising at least eight thousand homes. If each family has one or two children, there should be twelve thousand children.

(continued on page 3)