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Christ in the Seven Golden Candlesticks
BY PATRICIA B. CLARK
(A Preface to this Article) Persons who minister to satanically ritually abused persons need
to understand that when alternate personalities speak, memories surface and
demons manifest, we are actually seeing glimpses of a person’s soul and also
the spirit realm. We also need to know that satanic ritual abuse is connected
to Satan’s plan to rule the world through the antichrist. It is a phenomenon of
the end times.
The satanic ritual abuse ministry combined
with concentrated, deep Bible study has opened my eyes to see many things in
Scripture… things I would not have understood had I not been in the SRA
ministry. Therefore, I cannot separate satanic ritual abuse ministry from the
end times and the second coming of Christ… (many SRA persons see Jesus and
experience him in amazing ways). This is why articles appear here about satanic
ritual abuse and also the second coming of Christ.
This article about the seven golden
candlesticks will show how Christ works in our soul and spirit. It also reveals
why the Enemy tries to ruin people’s minds through satanic ritual abuse. He is trying
to block the second coming of Christ in order to set up his own kingdom on
earth and in the souls of humankind. Keeping this in mind, let’s begin our
revelation of the seven golden candlesticks and the appearance of Christ.
When John saw the Lord in Revelation
One, he saw him in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.
Revelation 1:13 – “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being
turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven
candlesticks one like unto the Son of man…”
I want to go on record as saying that
is exactly where we too shall see him.
This article may get a little technical
at times, but I believe I can show beyond the shadow of a doubt what the golden
candlesticks represent.
We will even go to Exodus 25 for a
detailed spiritual revelation concerning God’s instructions for the making of
the golden candlestick.
First of all, to know where Christ will
appear is of supreme importance.
The first time he came, the religious
leaders thought they knew exactly how he would come — as a king who would rule
and deliver them from Roman oppression.
When Christ did not deliver them from
the Romans but rather came in lowly humility, living as one who possessed no
lands, servants, armies or outward riches, they did not recognize him.
If we are deeply engrained in false
doctrine laid down by those who have tried to discern how he would come before
it was time for God to reveal it, we too could miss him.
Just reading the surface of the Word
will lead us into some basic truths; but if we want a revelation of the second
coming…if we want to know things that have been kept secret from the beginning
of time… we are going to have to dig deeply into the Word.
Let me give one example using one
popular New Testament scripture about the second coming as an illustration of
why we need to study rather than just read the Word.
“Then we which are
alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet
the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians
4:17).
This sounds like we will go up into the
sky high above us where clouds are seen and birds fly.
However, if we look more deeply into
the passage by looking up the meaning in Greek (the original language of the
New Testament) of the word “air,” we will see that something more is
being said here.
There are two Greek words in Scripture
that are translated “air.” The first one we will look at is the
following: ouranos, oo-ran-os\’; elevation,
the sky; by extension heaven (as the abode of God); by implication happiness,
power, eternity; specifically the Gospel (Christianity): – air, heaven, sky.
The second is as follows: aer, ah-ayr\’; from aemi (to breathe
unconsciously, i.e. respire; by analagy to blow ); “air” (as naturally
circumambient): – air.
If we were literally going to fly up
into the sky where clouds of water vapor are floating, we would expect the
scripture to use the first Greek word for air, ouranos,
which means elevation, sky, heaven.
This is the word used when birds of the
air are spoken of in Scripture, but not in 1 Thessalonians which speaks of
meeting the Lord in the air.
The word used for “air” in that
passage means “to breathe, respire, circumambient air.”
We take air inside our body when we
breathe. This is much closer than the air up where birds fly.
When we meet the Lord at his second
coming, he will be as close to us as the air we take into our body… the air
that is around us and within us.
It is interesting how examining just
one word in the original Greek language can give a different understanding of a
passage.
Now we can see this
passage “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” does not mean that “we
shall be caught up together with them high in the sky where clouds are and
birds fly.”
It means rather “we
shall be caught up together with them that are as close to us as the air we
breathe and take into our body.” This gives a different picture.
The Bible warns that
there will be great deception on earth when the time of Christ’s return
arrives. In Matthew 24 the disciples asked Jesus, “… what shall be the sign
of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (verse 3).
Jesus answered, “Take
heed that no man deceive you” (verse 4).
Then again in verse
11 he said, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
Once more in verse
24, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show
great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive
the very elect.”
Due to great technological advances,
the power to deceive today is incredible. Photographs, images on TV and
computers can all be morphed.
With the use of satellites, lasers, and
other electronic devices, images can even be projected onto the atmosphere
above the earth to simulate the appearance of Christ returning in the sky.
The greatest way to ensure we will not
be deceived is to walk closely and obediently with the Lord, to be humble,
submitted under godly authority, and STUDY THE WORD.
I predict we will be hearing more about
archeological finds that will seemingly “prove” that our Bible is not accurate
or true.
When we study the Bible in depth, we
learn that it is absolutely perfect and accurate in every way.
For example, it is numerically perfect.
Read E. W. Bullinger’s book, Number in Scripture,
and you will be astounded with the mathematical perfection of our Bible.
If you can stick with me through the
technical, deep things in this article, you will see how it proves the
perfection of the Bible.
We will go into a detailed spiritual
interpretation of the golden candlestick as described for us in Exodus 25. It
is amazing to see the details of the human spiritual mind described there.
Only God could write with such
perfection and in a way that hides it from prying eyes of persons who desire a
revelation before its time or for mere curiosity.
Only God could have written such a
perfect book. It matters not that it came through the hands of fallible, mortal
men.
It is an astounding book that contains
all we need to know to rise above all the muck and mire of this world and be
delivered from our own self and the sin that entangles us.
God has a place for us that the Devil
cannot touch, but we have to cooperate with God to get there. We will only
arrive there according to God’s ways not our own.
Too often we get stuck where we are
because we are trying to dictate to God how to work in us. He cannot be
manipulated or controlled no matter how hard we try!
John was on the isle of Patmos when he
saw this great vision that we know as the Book of Revelation. Patmos means
“mortal.”
He was in the same condition you and I
are in… we are mere mortals, but we are going to experience seeing and knowing
Jesus Christ in a dimension reserved only for the Church of the end times — the
Church that will live victoriously through the Great Tribulation.
John has much to tell us about this.
Let’s look at that passage in Revelation now:
”I John, who also am your
brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus
Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
“I was in the Spirit on the
Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet saying, I am Alpha and Omega,
the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto
the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto
Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea.
“And I turned to see the voice
that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in
the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man…” (Revelation 1:9-13a).
This places John as being in
tribulation. He is writing to those of us entering the Great Tribulation.
He is in heaven, but he is our
companion in that he is witnessing all that is happening here, and he wrote
this great book that will be with us as we experience tribulation.
He was also in the kingdom. We too will
be in the kingdom even while on earth if we are willing to persevere with
Jesus.
It is at this time that God is opening
the true meaning of his book of Revelation. It is for the church of the end
times
In order to understand the deep truths
of the second coming and the end of the age, we need to employ a basic truth
that most of us have forgotten.
This truth was known and employed by
the early church Fathers — men like Origen, Augustine, Jerome, etc.
This truth is based
on the words of Jesus when he said, “The kingdom of God is within you.”
Let’s look at this in
context, “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God
should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with
observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the
kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20, 21).
This is not to say that the kingdom,
including heaven, is contained in our physical body. It means that we will find
entrance into that realm from within.
The early church Fathers taught that
all of Scripture can be viewed from either an inward or an outward perspective.
I’ve never read an interpretation of
Revelation from an inward perspective.
As I have studied Revelation from an
inward perspective, God has revealed many things including an understanding of
the seven golden candlesticks.
If we are using an inward perspective,
all things will be related to our soul and spirit. We will also employ the
principle of allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture.
The key verse for the
meaning of the golden candlesticks is from Proverbs 20:27: “The spirit of
man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
This shows us that the golden
candlestick has something to do with our spirit.
If we are going to understand this
further, we will need to “unpack” this verse by going to the original Hebrew
words for a more precise meaning.
The Hebrew word for “spirit”
used here is Neshamah (#5397 in
Strong’s). Neshamah also means “divine
inspiration” and “intellect.”
Both of these have to
do with our mind. Therefore, we can say, “the spirit of man is the candle of
the Lord” means “the spiritual mind of man, the seat of his intellect
and divine inspiration, is the candle of the Lord.”
Outwardly a candle brings light into a
dark room. Inwardly, light is revelation and inspiration.
Therefore, we can
say, “the spiritual mind of man, the seat of his intellect and divine
inspiration, is where revelation and inspiration from the Lord reside.”
This verse continues
with the words, “searching the inward parts of the belly.”
Again, we must turn to the original
Hebrew to unpack this. There we find that “belly” means “the womb.”
If we took this to mean a literal,
physical womb, this verse would only apply to women. However, I understand this
womb to be referring to our soul.
It is in our soul that everything
having to do with our mind and personality is conceived. All kinds of data
enter our soul where we form our natural understanding of the world, others and
our self. Here we develop beliefs, knowledge, attitudes, emotions, habits,
skills and everything constituting our personality.
There is something else very important
in our soul — our sin nature. Impure motives and basic selfishness are attached
to things in our soul.
If these aspects of our soul are going
to endure into eternity, they must pass through the cross and enter into our
spirit.
The work of the cross removes all
impure motives and selfishness so various aspects of our soul can pass into the
spirit having been judged and perfected.
What I am saying here about the soul
and spirit is based on years of deep study where I have seen these concepts
over and over again.
Jesus said, “If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever
will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:23, 24).
The Greek word for life, psuche, is also interpreted “soul.”
Asking Jesus Christ to come into our
heart and forgive us of all sin is only the beginning of our Christian walk and
the saving of our soul.
The process of sanctification then
becomes ongoing throughout our lifetime. Sanctification requires the work of
the cross in our lives.
We are justified before God at
salvation, but there is a certain walking out of this justification that is
done experientially.
It is vital that we understand fully
our Proverbs verse about the spirit of man being the candle of the Lord.
This is the golden key that unlocks the
first three chapters of Revelation. Let’s look at this verse and our
interpretation of it once more.
“The spirit of man is
the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly” can now be interpreted as meaning the following: “The
spiritual mind of man, the seat of his intellect and divine inspiration (the
spirit of man), is where revelation and inspiration from the Lord reside (is
the candle of the Lord).
“The Lord uses our
spirit to reveal to us all that he has found regarding our soul that needs to
pass through the cross and be judged so that it can pass into the spirit where
it will endure for eternity (searching all the inward parts of the belly).”
(For those working in satanic ritual
abuse ministry, the safe place where Jesus takes alters is in the spirit.
During ministry, the alter forgives the perpetrators, renounces lies and
embraces truth. After demons are cast out, Jesus comes and takes the alter
across from the soul into the safe place in the spirit. In ministry we are
seeing sanctification taking place. Amazing!)
In Revelation we read
there are “seven golden candlesticks.”
When we interpret scripture according
to spiritual revelation, numbers are not for numerical understanding but for
their spiritual meaning.
The number seven means “spiritual
perfection” according to E. W. Bullinger’s book, Number in Scripture. Therefore, this candlestick, or
rather spiritual mind, is spiritually perfect.
It is also “golden.” Gold is a
type of the nature of Jesus.
So, this spiritual mind is spiritually
perfect (seven) and like Jesus in nature (golden). In other words, this
person’s spirit and the Spirit of God have become one.
It is in this
spiritually perfect spiritual mind that we will see Christ. “Beloved, now
are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as
he is; And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he
(Christ) is pure.” (I John 3:2).
We see with our heart. We can only see
Jesus as we are purified.
Once our spiritual mind has been
purified, we can see Jesus and we can see into heaven.
Chapters two and three of Revelation
show pictorially Jesus judging our soul leading to chapter four where John
(representative of a Christian in the end times about to enter into the
fullness of Christ) sees into heaven.
Chapters two and three of Revelation
where the seven churches are addressed by Christ via John’s letters must also
be seen as an inward reality.
In the last verse of
Revelation One, we are told that “the seven candlesticks which thou sawest
are the seven churches.”
There is an outward sense of
understanding the churches and there is also an inward and spiritual
understanding to be seen in the churches.
In Revelation chapters two and three we
are seeing a picture in story form (the way God communicates with us most of
the time… like Bible stories, parables and dreams) of the Lord searching the
inward parts of the belly (the soul).
The Greek word for “church” is ekklesia which means, “a calling out.”
In the outward world, churches consist
of people who have been called out from their worldly existence into the
spiritual family of God.
In the inward world, the called-out
ones are the aspects of our soul that have been found desirable by the Lord
that are taken through death (the cross) in order to become part of the spirit
and live for eternity.
This process can be seen in the names
of the seven churches that represent inwardly the called out portions of our
soul.
First let’s look at the meaning of each
church name in the order in which it appears. These definitions were taken
from An Interpreting Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names.
(This is available as a book and also as a free resource online.)
Ephesians – desirable
Smyrna – myrrh (used
to prepare a body for burial)
Pergamos – height;
elevation; fortified; tower; castle
Thyatira – a perfume, sacrifice of
labor
Sardis – prince of joy
Philadelphia – love of a brother
Laodicea – just [justified] people
If we put these definitions together in
the order in which they appear, we can find a hidden message that goes along
with what I have been saying about them representing inwardly the judging of
the soul.
God chooses all the desirable qualities
in our soul (Ephesians – desirable). He takes them through death (Smyrna –
myrrh) so he can elevate them to a high place in our spirit.
This place in the spirit is impregnable
like a fortified castle because there is no sin there to make them vulnerable
to demonic attack or deception (Pergamos – height; elevation; fortified; tower;
castle).
There they are a sweet smelling savor
like perfume to Jesus because they were willing to make the sacrifices
necessary to labor (Hebrews 4:11) to enter into his rest (Thyatira – a perfume, sacrifice of
labor).
This gives Jesus our Prince great joy
(Sardis – prince of joy) because now he can lavish his love, the love of a
brother, upon us (Philadelphia – love of a brother). This is a picture of how
our soul is justified experientially (Laodicea – just [justified] people).
These churches, ekklesia, or more precisely “called-out ones,” were
in Asia (Revelation 1:11).
Asia means “muddy.” Webster defines
muddy as “not clear, containing sediment; cloudy; not light or bright.”
This is the condition of qualities in
our soul before they pass through death and enter our spirit. They are not
pure. They are clouded with sin nature and selfishness.
These churches were in cities in Asia.
We have established that churches are called out qualities and that Asia is our
soul where these qualities are mixed with sin nature.
Next, we need to examine what cities mean
spiritually. I first learned about cities in my studies in the Old Testament.
A good place to begin our understanding
of cities is to see the word and its derivatives in Hebrew as recorded in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:
“City – 5892. (a place guarded by
waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post).”
In our inward view, a city is a place
in our soul where we are always guarded and in need of protecting our self.
Rather than being able to trust Jesus
and rest, we have to take care of things on our own. We don’t know how to just
be our true self, but we are watching other people to see how they react to
what we do or say.
We find our approval in their opinions
of us as we try to become what we think they want us to be. This creates a
false self.
The word “city” is from
derivatives meaning “to awake (through the opening of the eyes)” and “be made
naked.”
This is a reference to shame. When Adam
and Eve sinned, the Bible says that their eyes were opened and they knew they
were naked.
The first and immediate consequence of
the fall was the feeling of shame. Here in the definition for “city” and
its derivatives is a picture of the condition of the human soul.
In the natural cities are places of
great cultural, educational and scientific advantages. Cities also contain
undesirable elements such as slums, crime, prostitution, etc.
People with certain interests
congregate in cities that are prone to house others with similar interests. F
or example, Rochester, NY where I used
to live is noted for the Eastman School of Music; therefore, many fine
musicians live here and we have an outstanding symphony orchestra.
Jazz and Mardi Gras were
characteristics of New Orleans, and before Hurricane Katrina, attracted people
with those interests.
These are outward pictures of inward
realities. Related characteristics of our soul are grouped together in certain
areas within.
The seven churches of Revelation
demonstrate how the Lord takes one area at a time and brings it through
judgment. The good characteristics are praised and the sinful ones are judged.
At the end of this judgment, a door is
opened to heaven. John, a type of a mature Christian in the end times, is then
able to see into heaven but only after being cleansed.
Now that we understand this, we can
understand Jesus’ words in the last verse of Chapter One that introduces what
will be happening in the next two chapters to the called-out ones (churches).
His last words in
Chapter One are, “the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven
churches.”
What he is saying when interpreted
inwardly is:
The spiritually perfect (seven)
spiritual mind (candlesticks) is comprised of the spiritually perfected (seven)
called out parts of the soul (churches) that now comprise the spiritual mind.
For a detailed description of the
spiritual mind, we can turn to Exodus 25 where God gives specific instructions
for the making of the candlestick which was to be placed in the tabernacle.
Earlier in Exodus 25
as he begins the instructions for the tabernacle he says, “Let them make me
a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8).
This is what our Christian walk is all
about. We are to make ourselves to be a place for God to dwell in his fullness.
We are to be perfected in the end times
and all that has happened with the people of God up until now has been leading
up to this.
Beloved, we get to enter in where no
one has been before, and we enter in humility knowing this is possible only
because of the work of God in all those who came before us.
Now let’s turn to Exodus 25:31 for an
in-depth look at what our spiritual mind is supposed to be like.
“And thou shalt make
a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his
shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the
same” (Exodus 25:31).
“And thou shalt make
a candlestick of pure gold” means: And you are to make your spiritual mind (candlestick) of the holy
nature of Jesus (of pure gold).
“Of beaten work shall
the candlestick be made” means: You are going to create your spiritual mind by persevering and
struggling through circumstances in life as you share in the sufferings of
Christ. This will require that you take up your cross daily, deny yourself and
follow Christ (beaten work).
Then various parts of the candlestick
are listed: his shaft, his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers. All
of these are to be made of beaten gold.
These things are developed in our life
as we face trials and suffering with godly attitudes that enable Christ to work
in our lives. Let’s take these one at a time:
His Shaft:
The primary meaning for the Hebrew word
translated shaft is “soft.”
Here is how it appears in Strong’s
Concordance: Shaft -3409. yarek, yaw-rake\’; from an unused root mean. to
be soft; the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphem. the generative parts; fig. a
shank, flank, side: – X body, loins, shaft, side, thigh.
Webster defines “soft” as
“implies an absence or reduction of all that is harsh or rough; easily shaped
as with pine wood or pure gold.”
Now we can see what “shaft”
means regarding our spiritual mind. It is not to be harsh or rough…
no angry outbursts or coarse talking. We are to treat other people in a gentle,
non-abrasive way. Our spiritual mind is not to be rigid and inflexible but
rather soft and pliable in the Lord’s hands.
His Branches:
Here is Strong’s definition of the
Hebrew word translated ‘branches:” 7070. qaneh, kaw-neh\’; from H7069; a
reed (as erect); by resemblance a rod (espec. for measuring), shaft, tube,
stem, the radius (of the arm), beam (of a steelyard): –balance, bone, branch,
calamus, cane, reed, X spearman, stalk.
Jesus is said to be the “Branch”
as seen in various Old Testament scriptures.
An example is found
in Isaiah 11: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of
Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the LORD
shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of
counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.”
Our definition of branch also reveals
it to be a rod used for measuring. This would indicate that the branches can be
spiritually interpreted as you are to measure your life to
be spiritually perfect according to the purity of Jesus.
His Bowls:
Bowls are containers. They have a
certain capacity to contain things put into them. These bowls, along with all
parts of the candlestick, are made of pure gold, a type of the pure life of
Jesus.
His bowls may be interpreted as
meaning You are to have a capacity to contain the Holy Spirit like Jesus
does.
His Knops:
According to Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldea Lexicon to the Old Testament, “knops”
means “crowns.” We turn to the rest of Scripture to determine what crowns are
as pertaining to our life.
By looking up “crowns” in the
concordance we find that in the New Testament there are five different
crowns God intends for his people:
- the crown of incorruption (I Corinthians 9:25);
- the crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19);
- the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8);
- the crown of life (James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10); and
- the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4).
His Flowers:
Flowers are fragrant and lovely.
Now we can put all of the above
together to make the following statement about the spiritual mind that God is
building in us if we are submitted to him:
The Scripture: Exodus
25:31 – “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work
shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his
knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.”
A Spiritual Interpretation:
And you are to make your spiritual mind (And thou shalt make a candlestick) to be pure and holy like Jesus’ (of pure
gold).
Your spiritual mind of purity and holiness
will come forth from suffering for righteousness and bearing of the cross in
your life (of beaten work shall the
candlestick be made).
You are to have an absence of all that is
harsh or rough in your spiritual mind… no angry outbursts or coarse talking. We
are to treat other people in a gentle, non-abrasive way.
Our spiritual mind is not to be rigid and
inflexible but rather soft and pliable in the Lord’s hands (his shaft).
You are to measure your life so as to be
spiritually perfect according to the standard of the purity of Jesus (his branches).
You are to have a capacity to contain the Holy
Spirit like Jesus does (his bowls).
Your spiritual mind is to be filled with
incorruption, rejoicing, righteousness, glory and life (his knops).
Your spiritual mind is to be fragrant and
lovely (his flowers). In all things, your spiritual mind is to be as the mind of Christ (shall
be of the same).
The above study of one verse in Exodus
is just one example of how detailed and explicit the Bible can be regarding the
human soul and spirit.
I have studied multiple chapters of
Scripture in this manner and found them all to be consistent in that the same
principles of truth are revealed without variation.
Everything fits perfectly with the
whole scope of the Bible.
Biblical truths that the church has
known for many centuries are seen below the surface in great detail in ways
that prove how perfect our Bible truly is and in ways that will lead us through
the end times.
We will need to know and walk in truths
that Christians of other eras did not need.
Patricia B. Clark
It was prophesied to Patricia
and her husband Stoner in 1972 that God was preparing them for specific
ministries in the end times. After many years of pastoring churches their
ministries have crystallized into specific areas germane to the end times. They
travel and present seminars for churches and church leaders on the following
topics: becoming the church Jesus is coming for, how to minister for SRA,
Revelation seen inwardly and allegorically, living supernaturally in the end
times and other topics.
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