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III. As Revealed by the Apostles in Acts and the EpistlesD.As Lampstands to Bear the Testimony of Jesus Christ in Separate CitiesThe book of Revelation shows us through one of its many signs what the function of a local church is. In this dark age, each local church is a golden lampstand shining out the testimony of Jesus Christ in its city. The many details of this particular sign are very precious and significant. In the following passage, Witness Lee expounds concerning these details to enhance our appreciation of the immense value that the local churches have in the Lords eyes: Local churches as lampstands bear the testimony of Jesus Christ in separate cities (Rev. 1:20b, 9b). The churches, signified by the golden lampstands, are the testimony of Jesus in the divine nature, shining in the dark night locally yet collectively. Every local church is a golden lampstand, the testimony of Jesus Christ, having the sevenfold intensified Spirit of God as the lamps and shining the testimony of Jesus from its locality. Lampstands are for shining in the night. The present age is a spiritual dark night. The seven lamps of the lampstand are the seven Spirits before the throne (Rev. 4:5); they are for the church to be the lamps of Christ shining out the light in the dark age of today. Furthermore, the lampstands are made of pure gold, which signifies the divine nature. Thus, the golden lampstands indicate that the churches are shining out with Gods nature in this dark age. The golden substance of the lampstand signifies God the Father; the specific shape of the lampstand signifies Christ, since Christ is the embodiment of God; and the seven lamps of the lampstand signify the seven Spirits of God as the expression of God. Hence, the golden lampstands signify the churches as the embodiment and expression of the Triune God shining forth, with the sevenfold intensified Spirit of God as the lamps, the testimony of Jesus in the dark age of today. (2155) Witness Lees exposition of these profound aspects of the golden lampstands underscores the preciousness of each local church in bearing the testimony of Jesus Christ in each city.
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