The Kingdom and Its Characteristics.

Divinity Within The Lampstand Church.

Divinity and the Pure Gold.

Divinity “Hammered” (Immersed) Into the Lampstand Species.

An Eternal Viewpoint of the Church He is Building.

 

March 4, 2016

Strange assumptions about the “church” have developed over the last 2000 years that have altered our vision, our ideas, our participation in ministry and our interpretation of what constitutes “the church.” Also, some surprising definitions of “church” have been nearly universally accepted. This definition can generally be reduced to “A group of people who gather together on Sunday morning.” Even A Counterfeit Church (one that does not meet the basics for a New Covenant Church) is accepted if it has been called “a church” or has “church” in its name. Why is this even a concern now?

This is because of Jesus’ statement that one of His primary goals, during this New Covenant age, is to “Build His Church!” It is that “CHURCH” (singular) that inspires this document. Of course another motive may be to defend some of my past documents.

One question we will ask is this; Is the Church (singular) that He is Building, just an assortment of all these thousands of Churches, everywhere in the world or are all these other visible churches irrelevant within God’s Eternal Purpose? Is the ONLY real church (singular) just the One He Is Building? If that is true, what do we call these other groups that meet on Sunday?

In this study we will try to present a comparison between the “church men are building” and the “Church He is Building.” In the past we have been criticized for speaking evil of and degrading or humiliating “the church.” This is because religious people have made no distinction between the visible church, (PLURAL) that men are building, and the Lampstand Church, (SINGULAR) that He is building! Therefore, we want to clarify our past statements about these “two churches, first, the many “churches” that men are building and second, the One He is Building.” Why?

That is because any mention or comparison has been offensive to some people! The argument is that I am criticizing Christ Jesus for doing a bad job by building an inferior church. The popular concept is that all the visible churches, all denominations, combined, IS the Church He is Building!

Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "And I also say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. 19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Some interpret this to mean “HIS CHURCH” will be built upon “Peter, the rock” and the evidence of “this church” is its long term stability and its ability to “bind things on earth and its calling to loosen things in heaven.” Within this general identity, the one who has the Keys to the Kingdom is the chosen one!

Others insist that the confession of "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" is the “rock.” They say it is this “confession” which is the ROCK and the true foundation upon which His Church is built. Therefore, much of this foolish emphasis has been upon the semantics of “foundation” rather than upon “WHAT is being built, HIS CHURCH!”

Our focus in this document is upon “What is Being Built” and its calling to become a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle “or any such defect” and one that is continuously pressing on to perfection. Our theory is this; The Glorious Church and its Christ-like characteristics is ultimately what identifies His Church. However, if some of us expect to see that Glorious Church appear during this church age, this expectation begins another controversy. Some will still insist that it is just the “foundation” that defines the Church He is building. Exactly WHAT is being built seems of little concern.

For example; The Catholic Church insists that only “their church” is built upon the foundation of Peter. Why? That is because, they say, that Peter was the “first Pope.” Therefore, all “pilgrim churches” must return to the mother church, in Rome, for the “oneness” of John 17 to be fulfilled. That means to have “one church.”

Our purpose is not to argue about the semantics but to focus upon WHAT is built that has the Keys to the Kingdom and can kick in the gates of hell. In other words, His Church has eternal qualifications that has already been predestined by the Father. Creating a “Bride” for His Son is a qualification rather than a definition. The “church” which is His Body is an identification, with a qualification, rather than a definition. If we define “the body” by its qualifications or maturity or by its function and power, it starts another controversy. Everybody seems to accept Paul’s statement about EVERY member functioning during the assembly but then treats it as another Christian Cliche that is not really practical. The popular assumption is that every believer is a member of His Body. Is His Glorious Body also the Glorious Church?

Eph 5:25 ---just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.

This not a definition of the “Church He is Building” but identifies her characteristics, maturity and perfections. Nevertheless, if the church is not actually experiencing these transformations, is she the Church He is Building? Some will say these other cleansings are optional and are just related to rewards.

It is for that reason that just a discussion on these two kinds of churches will be extremely offensive to some. Why? Everybody already knows the “church” is those people who gather together on Sunday morning, in one location. It would be too demanding to expect the characteristics, maturity and perfections of the people to be considered in identifying the Church He is Building. Why? That is simply because, some say, “the church” is under grace and is identified by faith and not required to participate in some ridiculous requirements. If the “church” is just those believers that gather on Sunday Morning, with no expectation of maturity or to grow up to meet certain requirements, then my interpretation of “church” is certainly wrong! It seems logical to expect the Church He is Building to become more than just “lukewarm and casual believers,”

The concept of many we meet is this; Which group you gather with is irrelevant as long as you go someplace on Sunday! The question, for example is; “Well, brother, why don’t you gather together, as you see the day drawing near?” We have heard it said, “Well, I certainly will as soon as I can find the “Church He is Building.” This is evaluated as very offensive, irrelevant and arrogant but it seems that most Christians I speak with are also looking for “that specific Church.”

There is no clear definition in the Bible of the “church” or what constitutes a New Covenant Church. The word “church” is used 76 times in the New Testament and none of these offer a clear definition. Still, Paul spoke much about the church. In the book of Acts it says that “fear fell upon the whole church” and many other Scriptures like that. This has given rise to various and divisive assumptions about “church” and the need to establish a prepared and universal definition that is acceptable to each denomination. It is now clear that this is impossible! Why? That is because each group is speculating about what qualifies as “church.” Some of these definitions may satisfy a denomination but the design given generally defines their own group! Some definitions may seem really strange and just established to identify one specific group.

For example; in the real church, everybody must live in commune, share everything equally and call nothing their own.

More common “definitions” revolve around terms and meaningless cliches that make sense to certain people and are accepted by certain visible “churches” universally. Each isolated group exists, seperately, simply because they hold to a certain leader or a system of hierarchy, like elders or apostles.

During the Charismatic Movement we heard that a gathering of believers were called an assembly until someone came and appointed elders and THEN the group was a “church.” The doctrine was that the identifying factor of a “church” was by its Elders.

Act 14:21 And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Act 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him (Paul) to Antioch. And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Does this mean that an Apostle must first come to an area and teach for one year and make disciples and only THEN can you call this group a “church?” If you read this carefully you will see Paul taught the church and THEN it was the disciples who were called CHRISTIANS, but they were Already a CHURCH. It is amazing how inflexible doctrines can be established based upon a mis-reading of scriptures.

In Revelation 2 and 3 we see Jesus “building His Church.” We learn a lot about His verdicts and evaluations concerning His Church. We, also, learn a lot about His process of correction and His warnings, His threats and His expectations for His Church. It seems that in His Church neither repentance, change nor overcoming is optional.

In the New Testament we can find several examples of people gathering together but we find NO clear definition for the “Church He is Building.” We have instructions about when you come together let one do this and another do that and who needs to keep quiet. Still, there is no clear definition of “church.”

We can do a word study on “church” and discover the Greek word translated as “church” is “ekklesia” and means “the called out ones.” Now, the Greek Army also was an “ekklesia” of “called out ones.” However, could we say the church is His Army? Of course some will say that is exactly what it is! A great army! They also can give us a scripture in Revelation 19. Is that an “Army” following Him on white horses? Yes! However, is it a great army that meets on Sunday morning? That stretches the imagination!

The “church” is His Ekklesia or His called out ones! There were many groups who were called “ekklesia” but have nothing to do with the Church He is Building. Example; A Jewish Synagogue was an ekklesia so this term was often used in that day. The difference is that Jesus said THAT HE WOULD BUILD HIS OWN SYNAGOGUE. However, this implies a New Covenant Synagogue. In Jerusalem there were MANY synagogues. Just like today there are MANY churches. The difference is this; Today, JESUS IS BUILDING HIS Synagogue / Ekklesia / Church. THAT is the one He is perfecting and coming back to receive unto Himself.

Eph 5:25-----Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.

Therefore, our thesis will not offer any new definition but will offer certain characteristics that seem to have special relevance for those who anticipate finding some group with a personal Kingdom relationship to the “Church He is Building.” Why? That is because the visible church, that men are building, has become so fragmented, independent, departmentalized, isolated by doctrine and denomination, that who really knows what the real “CHURCH” is supposed to be as it functions in modern society. Man’s opinion of church is, of course, irrelevant. We could ask; Are there many churches or is there just one church. If we ask someone, “which church do you belong to” their answer, scripturally, must be “is there more than one? Our theory of church will revolve around the ONE church He is building. Most of our emphasis will be upon the “one” Church as opposed to the many independent groups that call themselves churches! There may be thousands of synagogues / churches in our state (Ohio) but it appears that at the present time many people are just looking for HIS CHURCH. The popular question is this; How do we find THAT church? How will we know when we find it? The confusion is this; We don’t even know WHAT we are looking for. Some people change churches because the music is too loud or finding the drums offensive or will only accept a church that sings the old hymns from a proper book. Some say if the message is more than 15 minutes I lose interest. Then, what exactly should we look for in choosing a church?

In my mind, we should start our inquiry with the Revelation of Jesus Christ because it is He who is “Building His Church.” It is that “church” that is our theme and the focus of this document. When we can identify “who it is that is doing the building”, we will be better able to understand WHAT is Being Built. A description of the Person will tell us the seriousness of the project.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must shortly take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.

Rev 2:1 TO THE angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches]: Amplified Version.

I am assuming that after the Bondservants receive the primary revelation of Jesus Christ, they “become the messengers to the seven churches! I am guessing that it is the bondservants, rather than a heavenly angel, that goes to each church to deliver this revelation. Why? We don’t have any record of “heavenly angels” showing up at these churches.

This “NEW” Revelation of Jesus Christ was specifically to be given to “HIS

BOND-SERVANTS, whom HE HOLDS IN HIS RIGHT HAND! Therefore, the FIRST Bond-servant to receive this Revelation of Jesus Christ was John. What John, the Bond-servant, whom HE HOLDS IN HIS RIGHT HAND, saw should be of interest to us who are looking for reality. Why? John saw the Seven Churches as Seven GOLD Lampstands! That is the Revelation that is extended to His Bondservants and the very revelation that should help us identify the Church He is Building!

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle. 14 And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; 15 and His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.

This AWESOME BEING is , one like a son of man! We learn He is clothed as our Great High Priest who is “ministering” in the midst of these “seven golden Lampstands” building His Church. This is a “new” (different) revelation of Jesus Christ that the bond-servants did not have until now. The Revelation of the Lampstand must not be isolated from the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Why? It is here that we confirm that it is HE who is actively building HIS Church! This new revelation reveals that HE, Christ Jesus, is the ONE who is building His Lampstand Church.

It is this New Revelation of HIM, WHO IS DOING BUILDING, that reveals how serious and final His instructions and corrections really are. This Revelation of Christ Jesus includes His absolute Sovereignty over the church and that His Decisions for the Church are without recourse and absolute.

But, brother, isn’t it His Bondservants that are helping Him build, HIS CHURCH. That is

how many interpret this scene! Why? That is by taking this revelation of Jesus Christ that is given to His Bondservants, who carry this revelation to the Seven Churches? That may be correct as a concept but the Revelation of Jesus Christ on through to Chapter 4 is that of Him, alone, doing the building! I could not find any scripture where the ministers nor the Bondservants nor the Apostles nor the Prophets were given Sovereignty over the churches! Still, it seems the bondservants were appointed to carry this Revelation of Jesus Christ to the seven churches.

However, we should point out that this “revelation” is not of a Savior, suggesting several things that were options, but John saw an extraordinary, even extreme, even terrifying, individual who is walking among the Lampstands. This “revelation,” even though we are receiving it second handed, should be life-changing for each of us! Why? This is NOT a Savior who is waiting to welcome us into heaven, who will greet us by shaking our hand and instructing an angel to show us around and wash our feet.

He is NOT some friendly Sunday school teacher or a compassionate pastor that is doing the building but a “terrifying” person with blazing eyes and feet, who we learn is The High Priest! He has on the Robe, the Breast Plate and the Golden girdle and out of His mouth came a threatening, sharp two-edged sword and His eyes were like a flame of fire; He is NOT here to offer us a plea bargain or to tell us He loves just like we are. He is not here to tell us that HE is so grateful that we have accepted Him as our personal Savior, so he will give us a reward for choosing heaven. No! He is there to demand and command and to reveal His Absolute Sovereignty over the Church He is building. Why? His Church and His Kingdom are One! How do we know that? There can be NO Church that is independent of His Kingdom. Anything He see in a church, that is less than His expectation, is severely dealt with. Either fix it or be eliminated from His Church!

Then Jesus tells John; Rev 1:19 "Write therefore the things which you have seen! (The scenes that have been revealed to you)

Rev 1:20 "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Seven Churches means “one church” in seven locations NOT seven denominations, each with a hierarchy of leaders. Example; We can clearly say; “We are not one of the seven denominations that Jesus has chosen.”

The Seven Angels or Seven Messengers, I am guessing, are the Seven Bond-servants to whom He is giving the New Revelation of Jesus Christ for each of the Seven Church! The seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches.

This great mystery is in two parts. First (1) the Mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand! These are identified as the angels or messengers to the seven churches AND (2) the mystery of the seven golden Lampstands which are the seven churches in Asia. Still, the whole mystery concerns the seven golden Lampstands in these two dimensions. (1) the seven churches and (2) the Bond-servants or the angels, or messengers who carry this Revelation of Jesus Christ to the seven churches. (Seven Lampstands.)

How did we arrive with that understanding of the seven Stars. We are assuming that since this revelation was given to His Bondservants to share with the seven churches, that these angel/messengers are the bondservants. Why?

God gave this Revelation of Jesus Christ to show to His bond-servants (plural) the things which will happen quickly. This message was given to the Bondservants and I am assuming through the Bondservant to the churches. While this interpretation may not be accepted by many, it seems rather obvious to me so we will go on! To make this work there would have to be a Bondservant in every church, IF the Seven Angels are the Seven Bondservants. Seven may be an allegorical number rather than just a numerical value.

John writing to the “Seven heavenly angels” doesn’t make much sense. John writing to the Bondservants seems reasonable.

First we will examine the Seven Golden Lampstands because THESE may give us some understanding of the MYSTERY, which is the Church “He is Building.” We are adding which “He is Building” simply because of what we see Him doing in Revelation 2 and 3.

It is this Divine and Absolute Sovereignty of the Head– High Priest– that is revealed and expressed by Him, directed to the “church which He is building.” This IS the next (another) revelation of Jesus Christ in Revelation 2 and 3. There is NO suggestion that a compassionate Savior is pouring out more grace and forgiveness on the seven churches. There is NO evidence that He will accept anything less than what was pre-destined to be “the Church, which IS His body . None at all! Either shape up or be rejected.

Of course if you will repent, change and then OVERCOME the defects, which are unacceptable in a Lampstand Church, you can be advanced to the next dimension. Of course, the casual, lukewarm believer will be offended by this direct attack on his belief system and will see no reason to repent and overcome because “I am already saved!”

First we will examine the Lampstand, its location, its materials, its Lamps, its Oil and its function. Where is the logical place we should look to confirm these things?” That is only possible in the Tabernacle of Moses.

Heb 9:1 Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. 3 And behind the second veil, there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies.

The Lampstand in the Tabernacle of Moses has been an enigma for me for many years. It is not that I didn’t know the Lampstand represented the Pure Gold Church but that there was a great mystery about how we could apply this to the visible church. Certain facts are given but not a clear, rational explanation is given that explains the various facts that are given. For example the Lampstand was “pure gold” and hammered out of one piece of Gold and had a variety of “attachments that were not just decorations!” Why? There were one piece with the Lampstand and not additions stuck to it.

Many logical, natural or intellectual explanations have been given concerning the Lampstand that leaves us cold, troubled and unsatisfied. This is one example; The Lampstand is Jesus who is the light of the world! The fact is the Lampstand was never exposed to the world and was covered over completely when it was moved. Therefore, this interpretation should not be considered as relevant concerning the Lampstand Church nor the Seven Spirits of God. Even the Levites could not look upon the Lampstand or approach it until it was covered, after the Lamps were not burning. The illumination or “the light from the Seven Lamps,” was confined to the Holy Place and certainly was not to illuminate the world.

We have determined that since only the “Seven Lamps,” (The Seven Spirits of God) that sit upon the Lampstand, produce the only light for the Holy Place, that nothing in that realm can be understood by natural light, by natural understanding, by intellectual capacity or by human logic. The seven flames of fire are defined clearly as the seven Spirits of God which shows us only spiritual revelation will allow us true understanding of these mysteries. Seven is the full number of the Church Age perfection and the Seven Speaks of FULLNESS!

Even though older translations use the term “candlestick,” the Lampstand does not burn candles nor lamps but it only burns the oil in the Lamps. Therefore, this “mystery” is hidden to those of us who rely upon our own intellectual capacity to understand spiritual things. The oil in these Lampstands is NOT regular oil (as in natural olive oil) but as we shall see this oil flows directly from two olive trees and flows continuously through golden pipes into the individual Lamps. These lamps do NOT go out because of a lack of Oil.

Zechariah 4:2 And he said to me, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it; 3 also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side."

Zec 4:11 Then I answered and said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?" 12 And I answered the second time and said to him, "What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?"

These Two Olive Trees are NOT the two witness in Revelation 11 as some foolishly say. Why? These two Olive Trees EMPTY THE GOLDEN OIL FROM THEMSELVES into the Golden Lampstand, through the Golden Pipes, to fuel the Lampstand, He is Building, throughout the whole church Age!

The question, asked about the Two Olive Trees, still endures until today. Zec 4:13 So he answered me saying, "Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." 14 Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones, who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth."

Of course, it should be clear that these two witnesses in Revelation 11 do not have the capacity nor the source nor the connection to supply the Pure Gold Lampstand with the Golden Oil, through the Golden Pipes, to fuel the Gold Lampstand for the whole Church Age!

Therefore, this strange “interpretation” of the two olive trees being the two witnesses sounds ridiculous and irresponsible, at very best!

There are ONLY TWO that can possibly be the source of this Illuminating OIL throughout the Church age! That is the TWO ANOINTED ONES; Spirit of Christ AND the Holy Spirit.

The Pentecostal and Charismatic practice of making an altar call to “Come to the Altar for the “REFILLING” of the lamps” (with the Holy Spirit) has given us some strange “revival” doctrines. Come and we will lay OUR hands on you for the refilling. You may also bring your vessels, NOT A FEW so the oil will not run out! The idea is that since “WE are the light of the World,” we, the Lamps, need to be re-filled regularly, like the Lampstand in the Tabernacle. Just receiving the TWO ANOINTED ONES solves that problem.

The Seven Spirits, which are the Seven Eyes of the Lord, sent out into the whole earth are difficult to apply to the “ministers” sent out into all the world, but it points out how some of these things are interpreted, hammered and twisted until they fit into a message, a concept or a doctrine to promote a ministry, but that has no basis in reality!

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

It is assumed that the “disciples” sent out into all the world become the eyes of the Lord in each of these locations. However, these elders in Revelation 5 are NOT sent out. It IS the Seven Spirits that are sent out

Therefore, this is Not another New Testament understanding of elders! This is another New Covenant revelation of Jesus Christ! It is the “Seven Spirits of God” (Seven Horns and Seven Eyes) that are sent out into all the earth. Who sends them? The Lamb!

Rev 5:6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

It may seem that we have departed from our theme but all this involves the Church and its growth and function!

Our explanation of “pure gold,” for example, has been limited to an abstract quality which we have called “Divinity.” Since the Lampstand has no wood within it’s structure, we have concluded that the “real church which is His body” is made up only of Christ. The substance of the “church” is only “Divinity” and not Divinity plus humanity, plus ministries, plus the hierarchy.

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to peal back one more layer of the veil that hides this mystery by re-defining this abstract term of “Divinity.” It may be important to discredit some strange interpretations the natural man has promoted that confuse the real issues. POURING THE GOLDEN OIL FROM THEMSELVES will explain a LOT about how the Lamps on this Gold Lampstand actually function to supply the Illumination for the Holy Place Life and ministry! In the New Covenant, the Life is the Light! John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

divinity >noun (pl. divinities) 1 the state or quality of being divine. 2 a divine being. 3 (the Divinity) God.

We are using the term “Divinity” to speak of the substance, the character, the person and the qualities of God, Himself. However, the term “Divinity” still does not define Who God Is or how He fits into this Lampstand. Here we are referring to “Lampstand People” who have become the Gold (Christ Like- Divinity) Even though we may know the word “Divinity,” we may still not know Him, Who Is Divine. The Bible uses several terms to more nearly define “Who God Is.” For example we know that “God Is Love” which is the substance of His Person. He is also Life. God is Light. God is Good. God is Truth. God is Spirit. All these terms speak of Who God Is, His being, His attributes. However, using these terms as a definition of God is foolish. We might fall into the same “trap” as Job in chapter 38.

A multitude of scriptures speak of what God does but they do not tell us Who God Is.

EXO 34:6] Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness and truth; [7] who keeps loving-kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."

Here is a list of terms that explain a few of the attributes of God but knowing these is quite different from “knowing Him.” Since “God is” Love, Life, Truth, Good, Light and Spirit all these attributes are each linked to the other. For example there can be no Life if there is no Love, for God is both of these. There is no Light where there is no Love. Truth depends upon Love and Life, etc. Can we really know “Good” outside of Love? Really, the end of all things is summed up in “Love.” If we excel in Love, we have overcome the opposites, but we can’t ignore Spirit, Truth or Life or we will lack in our knowledge and our understanding of God.

The next problem is attempting to define “love-Agape.”

One of the scandals of the visible church over the centuries has been the fragmentation into different groups by denominational positions, doctrinal positions, forms, traditions, customs, dress, and outward ordinances. The question that has been presented by many has to do with the prayer of Jesus in John 17 and whether it can be answered in this life or if He just prayed that for eternity.

JOHN 17:21] that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. [22] "And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; JOHN 17:23] I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.

This final perfection is a perfection in UNITY.

LUKE 6:35] "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. [36] "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

To be classified with the “sons of God” requires that we Agape our enemies which also includes that we be kind to ungrateful and evil men.

JOHN 13:34] "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. [35] "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Evangelism takes on another dimension when those “in the church” begin to Agape one another. Interpreting “Agape,” by researching the meaning of the word, is another problem. Why? Because, even as God dwells so far above the realm of research, so also are His attributes.

There are so many of these scriptures dealing with Love we can’t use them all. Still we need to define what the Bible means by Love (Agape) “which IS God!” Once again we are confronted by a term that we cannot define! We use the term “love”so freely and loosely that it has lost most of it’s meaning in modern life. Therefore, I will use the Greek term “Agape” to speak of Who God Is. God IS Agape! The basis of “knowing God” is by knowing “Agape.” However, also God is Truth and to know “Truth” is to know God but this is still in another dimension separate from and far beyond any researching or knowing doctrines or definitions about Love.

In that same way, “knowing Him who is Truth” is far beyond creating a doctrine about Truth or by researching a Greek Word. This ultimate “Truth” will set us free while “doctrines” many times brings more bondage and more division.

The point I’m trying to make is that the pure Gold Lampstand is in another dimension separate from the logic and human understanding of the Outer Court. It can never be known or experienced within the realms of human intellect. Most people that have spiritual understanding are frustrated with the “visible church” because what man sees from the dirt realm is not what God sees from the Eternal Realms. What we “see” as the visible church has very little to do with the pure gold Lampstand which is “Christ manifested in His body,” the fulness of Him who fills all in all! Even this, even though it sounds spiritual, is still beyond normal understanding.

I want to use the term “conceptual truth” to speak of the Outer Court dimension of intellectual understanding and the research realm for establishing doctrines. Conceptual truth may or may not be “eternal truth.” Our concepts of what we think “truth” is may be full of half truths and even errors. The question is this; Does 100 half-truths equal full truth. No! 100 half-truths and just half-a-truth. Even 100 half-truths can have a fatal amount of deception connected to them. For this reason conceptual truth can never build or represent the Lampstand church which is made of pure gold. We can never be sure if our “Truth” is really absolute and exact because it has been diluted, modified and influenced by our culture, tradition, religious thought and sources other than God’s Eternal Truth. Since everybody has developed some form of conceptual truth how will the church ever be able to come into this unity that Jesus prayed for in John 17? We can speak here with some certainty. The outer Court, visible church, made up of a group of the earth species of humans can NEVER reach that “unity” of John 17. Why? This unity is too far beyond the capacity of the first species. That is why it is silly to use 1 Corinthians 13 and John 17 for a wedding message.

God, who IS Love, has an overriding attribute (extended over) that bridges the gap between conceptual truth and His Eternal Truth that is to be activated within the church He is building. That quality is “Agape” that passes beyond understanding.

1 COR 13:4] Love (Agape) is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, [5] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, [6] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

When conceptual truth fails and causes division the adhesive factor that keeps everything from falling apart is Agape. If it does fall apart the problem is not the lack of conceptual truth or doctrine but the problem is the lack of Agape that demonstrates a higher experiential truth, Life, Spirit and Reality . Some conceptual truth divides and destroys relationships simply because it is not of the eternal realm but is just temporal. This “temporal truth” will pass away but Agape (Love) remains because it is of the Eternal Realm. It is not that some conceptual truth is not true but that it is not the “TRUTH” which is an Attribute of God.

1 COR 13:12--------now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known. [13] But now abide (remains) faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

It is possible that to know things in the “in part measure” or “partial measure” can be linked with conceptual truth / knowledge (gnosis) that is only very shallow compared to Eternal Truth, and LOVE which IS God. If we think we know it all, we are thinking too highly of ourselves. Pride and arrogance manifest in conceptual knowledge which puffs up but lacks the reality that strengthens, matures and builds up.

Trying to unite the body of believers through “conceptual truth” is fruitless because too much opinion, culture, assumptions and tradition is involved. The same lack of reality / truth is observed within human experiences, in ministries and in programs and projects. Projects may unite for a short time while everyone is busily involved but when the project ends the unity ends.

What then is the “quality” that will unite the body of believers into the body of Christ? That is Agape! Using Agape, as another Christian cliche, to prove a point is very frustrating. Another message on Christian love has accomplished nothing.

For example; “Well, brother, we, who are now living in Agape know exactly what you mean.” The fact is I don’t even know what I mean by Agape.

Extending what Paul was teaching, we could ask; What about prophesy, gifts, power, ministry, tongues, baptism, end time doctrines or giving our possessions to feed the poor? All these are destined to pass away in time but Agape is eternal! If God is measuring everything in eternity by HIS measure of Agape, how do we begin? That, of course, is part of this Mystery.

2 Peter 1 explains that after all the things are added to our life the last quality to be added is Agape. Those who try to begin this transition with Agape will soon be discouraged. We showed how Agape and Truth and Life are each related and have their source in God! Since these are the attributes of God, almighty, He is the only Source. If we really excel in Truth and Spirit and Life, we may also excel in Agape because that combination of all these various attributes, IS God. If we can grow up into all things into His FULLNESS, these attributes will surely define us! Manifesting one without the other is not “fulness” in the Christian realms. Why? Fullness, should contain all these attributes and be manifested AS Life.

The Veil of Truth speaks of who Christ IS and not just about what He does. He IS Truth but He IS also Agape, Spirit and Life. To make the transition through the Veil of Truth into the golden light of the Lampstand requires that nearly every area of our life and person and being, must be radically adjusted to become this new dimension of Fulness and Reality. Still, this “fullness” is freely attacked as another Christian Fantasy!

2Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. (Agape) 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge (epignosis) of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

2Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

It appears that we must “develop by a process of radical change” to become compatible with the Holy Place Life and ministry! That means by adding one divine attribute to another to arrive at “AGAPE” and then as these qualities are INCREASING an entrance into the Eternal Kingdom is opened to us!

Why are all these “additions” necessary? That is because we cannot not just step through the threshold of the Second Veil by the old life and unless we have experienced these eternal qualities are ours. Being “saved” but unchanged is a big deception when “salvation” is seen from the Kingdom viewpoint! It is through this process of radical change that is experienced within the Seven Outer Experiences, the Foundations, that we qualify to pass through this Second Veil! Why? That is because the Second Veil WAS NOT TORN WHEN JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED. Only the Third Veil was torn.

Extending our example; the basis, the essence and substance of Truth is Agape. If we preach “truth” outside of Agape we will surely undermine the very truth we are preaching. Since conceptual truth can hold so much error and deception, the “Greater Truth” is held captive unless there is the balancing factor of Agape. Even though “Agape” is very abstract, its reality will experientially “unveil” our lack of experiential TRUTH.

Conceptual truth can never unite the body of believers into the Body of Christ which is identified as the possessor of Agape. Speaking about the “bride,” whom is without or is still lacking “Agape” is a fantasy.

Our Conceptual truth, when preached, contains bias, tradition, culture, opinions, prejudice, self-interest, even self-centeredness, arrogance and personal ambition. For that reason scholarship alone can never discover the ultimate or absolute Truth, which IS God, because it is found in another and higher realm. Of course that Realm is accessible but will certainly adjust and modify our character and redirect our own will and the way we discern TRUTH. Therefore, to make conceptual truth the basis of any church function or ministry will fall far short of the goal, which is The Glorious Church.

So many conceptual things establish the basis and bias of whom we should accept into fellowship that our normal faculties cannot be trusted! Why? That is because our concepts are too limited and much too shallow to judge eternal Truth or the experience of others! So much gross error exists even before we begin to create an assembly. Error that is birthed in an assembly can only grow into the greater error as we see has happened in so many cults.

God’s viewpoint is eternal and he judges and evaluates according to what is eternal and what is temporal. Too much of the accepted “visible church activities” is just “visible” so it is, at best, temporal. None of these visible realms are complete in the sight of God. Why? God functions in the realms of Agape, Truth, Spirit, and Life, each which is eternal. This “Agape” is obviously the goal of the Christian Life because after all other things fail it is this quality we carry with us. The Word is very bold to say “the greatest of these is Agape.” Too much of what we call “church” is just a counterfeit fellowship masquerading as Love / Reality. This is not a matter of placing blame or attacking with another criticism but of understanding what is eternal reality and what only relates to time.

2Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

The application that we are making is related to the pure gold in the Lampstand that holds the seven flames of fire which are the seven Spirits of God. Since the pure gold speaks of Divinity we are offering a definition of Divinity. The Divinity of God (fullness) (GOLD) is manifested by His many and diverse attributes which have become experiential! It is the GOLD by which we are attempting to identify the Lampstand Church, which He is Building!

For that reason the Bible presents Agape as first and foremost above all the other qualities and attributes we strive to possess. Agape is the motivating factor that God manifested and by which He established the creation in the first place. During this Church Age, God was seeking an “Ekklesia” to become the object or focus of His affection and THE CALLED OUT ONES that can demonstrate His “Agape” to the world. By this manifestation God can draw many children to Himself! It is these, potential Christians, that will respond to Him by seeing, touching and experiencing His Agape in the Lampstand Church. That means, for the church’s Agape to be extended to all the children born of God. Maybe, even extended to other denominations that may be included in John 17. His motivation for Calvary was actually out of Agape. God so Loved that He gave!

Seeing all this, we must re-evaluate our Life and labor for God to see if what we are doing is Eternally Effective or just a temporal exercise in futility. At this point it seems that uniting a body of believers into the members of the Body of Christ will be the greatest of all miracles. This will even eclipse the Red Sea crossing, or by the water rushing out of the rock, when Moses struck it. Uniting believers into the body of our great High Priest is quite another matter. Why? That involves a Kingdom of Priests after the Order of Melchizedek.

1 JOHN 2:] On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. [9] The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. [10] The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. [11] But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

According to this verse there are two options. We either love our brother or we hate our brother. We probably think that even though we don’t love our brother at least we don’t hate him either. That means there must be a third option where we don’t really like a person but we don’t dislike him enough to be classified as hate. However, from God’s viewpoint if we don’t Agape our brother then we must hate him.

1 JOHN 3:14] We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love (Agape) the brethren. He who does not love (agape) abides in death. [15] Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. [16] We know love (agape) by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

These are powerful verses that we read over and assume this is not speaking of us. We reverse the order by saying since I have passed out of death into life that means I automatically love the brethren. According to this verse after we love the brethren we know we have passed out of death into life. Agape is the witness that we have passed over into the eternal realms.

1JOHN 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. [8] The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

According to this verse we have no real assurance that we are born of God until we manifest Agape for one another. This is VERY disturbing simply because who can be absolutely sure we exist in that realm?

1 JOHN 4:19] We love, because He first loved us. [20] If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. [21] And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

IS “Agape” is the evidence that we are really part of the church? Does the lack of Agape disqualify us from being believers? These are really demanding and even mystical scriptures and ones n which we have no confidence! Without Agape we have no assurance we are born of God or know God.

If the Lampstand is a picture of the real functioning Pure Gold Church, that means that Agape is an integral part of the Lampstand. The pure gold Lampstand hammered out of one piece of Gold reveals that “Divinity” is more clearly defined as “Agape.” We might say that “Divinity” IS “Agape.” However, we cannot disregard His other attributes of Truth, Love, Spirit, Good etc.

The fiery trials permitted by God then are designed to produce pure Agape. The dross then might refer to all the human kind of affections that are so fleeting and temporal and superficial. That which is temporal must be consumed by that which is eternal.

Without Agape, the Truth of the Second Veil between the Outer Court and the Holy Place is hidden from us. Not because God is not willing to reveal Truth but because we don’t qualify by demonstrating at least some measure of Agape. Revealing Eternal Truth to the proud, self-serving, independent and arrogant would be immediately misunderstood. Why? He has no capacity to understand more than things in the natural realms.

The consecration offering then begins the process of consuming the dross of human qualities and human affection in order to develop the eternal quality that is God, Himself. If the church is to be “the fulness of Him that fills all in all” it can only mean that something must first be emptied out, entirely, before it can be filled with Him. If the church is filled with Him it can only mean filled with Agape, Truth, Spirit, Good and Life. At that time in our Christian Growth and development, Revelation Truth will be no problem because it is received and understood in the Realms of Agape and will be manifested As the Highest Life.

One of the Seven Spirits of God, seen as the seven flames of fire on the Lampstand, is the Spirit of Judgement and the Spirit of Burning. Some feel this manifestation of the Holy Spirit will not be seen until the Tribulation when Jesus returns. However, I believe there must be a partial manifestation of the Spirit of Judgement and the Spirit of Burning now “in the body of believers” to prepare them to be the “members”within the “functioning body of Christ.” That is Judgement upon these carnal qualities and Burning to remove the dross from the gold (divinity) prepared to be hammered into the Lampstand. The Spirit of Judgement and the Spirit of Burning is a friend to all who are walking in the light. This IS the Fire of His Agape. Why? Our God IS A CONSUMING FIRE and lives in the everlasting burnings. Nothing flammable can dwell there!

Once we have the revelation that the Gold is Divinity and that Divinity is Agape, Truth, Life, Spirit, Goodness, Righteousness and His other attributes, we will welcome the burning away of the superficial and the counterfeit and the removal of people who are masquerading as believers. This is a great blessing because the fire will reveal the quality of our experience in Christ and prove if we have Agape or just a desire to be “saved.”

1 COR 3:12] Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, [13] each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. [14] If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.

It is not IF the fire comes but WHEN the fire comes. The natural life that we inherited from Adam, conceptual truth, false love and a thousand other fallen qualities must be removed as dross from us if we are going to fit into the Lampstand Church! Why? That is because the Lampstand is built with His Life, His Love, His Spirit, His Fire, His big Hammer and His Truth. In other words the Lampstand Church will be the “fulness of Him that fills all in all.”

It may be slightly helpful if we realize that the Lampstand Churches also had defects that must be overcome to move on into the next realms! However, I think there will be enough time, but just enough time, if we don’t waste any time in surrendering to the next areas of our eternal preparations.

There is little question that this document will upset many who are seeking Truth, Life and Love in a measure that is less than God, Himself. I certainly would like something much less radical and demanding that what is indicated by this document. I know that a LOT OF FRUSTRATION will be uncovered by this document. That is, also, my frustration because the total lack of confidence that I can live in that Higher Dimension of “The Most Holy Place!” “AGAPE!”