And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
—Exodus 28:2
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
—Philippians 2 :14-15
“As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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.”
—Revelation 1:20
...on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
—Revelation 22:2b
The Garden and the Most Holy Place pointed to the presence of the Lord, the One who told Abraham and Jacob and Moses and Joshua: “I am with you” and “I will be with you.” The One who told His people through the prophets: “I am with you” and “I will be with you.” The Son who told His disciples: “I am with you” and “I will be with you.”
The shape of the lampstand reminds us of trees with branches, including the Tree of Life at the center of the Garden. Just as its branches were “of one piece with it”, Jesus told His disciples that “you are the branches” that must remain connected with Him to bear fruit.
The function of the lampstand and its lamps reminds us of the One who said, “Let there be light”. Just as the Son came to bring life which was the light for humans. And the glory and beauty of the golden lampstand complemented the glory and beauty of the priestly garments. Garments for humans to wear as they served the Lord, not for their own glory, but to give glory to God.
Jesus told His followers, “You are the light of the world”. Paul taught that the followers of Jesus behold His glory and “are being transformed into the same image”. The followers of Jesus are to reflect His light into the world. His followers are to bear fruit, like the tree planted by a river in Psalm 1.
Revelation begins by describing Jesus as standing among the lampstands that represented the churches to whom John was directed to write. And it ends by describing the Tree of Life by the river of the water of life, always fruitful, always bringing healing to all nations. Illuminated by the Lord, who is light.
Tree of Life and Light (part 3)
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty...
—Psalm 104:1
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and let your saints shout for joy.
—Psalm 132:9
And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
—Exodus 28:2
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
—Philippians 2 :14-15
“As for the mystery of the seven stars that 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.”
—Revelation 1:20
...on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
—Revelation 22:2b
The Garden and the Most Holy Place pointed to the presence of the Lord, the One who told Abraham and Jacob and Moses and Joshua: “I am with you” and “I will be with you.” The One who told His people through the prophets: “I am with you” and “I will be with you.” The Son who told His disciples: “I am with you” and “I will be with you.”
The shape of the lampstand reminds us of trees with branches, including the Tree of Life at the center of the Garden. Just as its branches were “of one piece with it”, Jesus told His disciples that “you are the branches” that must remain connected with Him to bear fruit.
The function of the lampstand and its lamps reminds us of the One who said, “Let there be light”. Just as the Son came to bring life which was the light for humans. And the glory and beauty of the golden lampstand complemented the glory and beauty of the priestly garments. Garments for humans to wear as they served the Lord, not for their own glory, but to give glory to God.
Jesus told His followers, “You are the light of the world”. Paul taught that the followers of Jesus behold His glory and “are being transformed into the same image”. The followers of Jesus are to reflect His light into the world. His followers are to bear fruit, like the tree planted by a river in Psalm 1.
Revelation begins by describing Jesus as standing among the lampstands that represented the churches to whom John was directed to write. And it ends by describing the Tree of Life by the river of the water of life, always fruitful, always bringing healing to all nations. Illuminated by the Lord, who is light.