END TIME: Part 7 – Oil for the Seven Lamps

The word “apocalypsis” is the Greek name of the book of Revelation, from which we get our word apocalypse. Because the word is associated with the prophecies about the end of our age, many assume the word means “doom” or “destruction.”

But it does not. The word literally means “revelation” — a spiritual process where the Spirit opens our mind by dreams, direct contact, by meditation, visions, by whatever the Spirit finds best, to help us understand things we otherwise might not grasp. John the Apostle wrote:

The anointing, which you have received from Him, stays in you. And you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as the same anointing does teach you concerning all, and is true, and is not falsehood, and even as it has taught you, you stay in Him. And now, little children, stay in Him, so that when He appears, we might have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
From I John 2

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This Bible study series contains some very strong words for a special group of people symbolized by the Seven Lamps belonging to the one lampstand. Some translators of the Book of Revelation used “lampstand” or “candlestick” instead of “lamp” when translating this passage.

But a lamp in Greek is a vessel into which oil is poured, and it has a wick that brings the oil to the spout to burn and give light. It is not a candlestick, nor is the lamp the lampstand on which the lamps are placed.

Although some made a career of studying the Greek New Testament, it does have weaknesses, which most often show up in the translations. The use of the word candlestick or lampstand instead of lamp is one case. Greek is not a theological language, it is philosophical and forms a context for Western thought.

But these two chapters of Revelation can only be understood within the context of the Scriptures and Hebraic thought. Here is what I mean: The Law and the Prophets tell about the gold lampstand with its seven gold lamps:

And you shall make a lampstand of clean gold — the lampstand is made of beaten work. Its base and its shaft, its cups, its ornamental knobs and blossoms are from it, and six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches out of one side and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side.

And you shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall mount its lamps [put them on the lampstand] so that they give light in front of it. And its snuffers and their trays are of clean gold. A talent of pure or clean gold [about 75 pounds!] is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories [lamps, snuffers, and trays]. From Exodus 25

As noted, the lamps are not candles. Instead they are oil lamps. Hence, “mount its lamps so that they give light in front” means all the “spouts” must be turned to the front. The confusion comes from a tradition of using candles in place of the oil lamps, and this loses the message of the symbolism. Candlesticks , as we know them, are not in keeping with the instructions of the Torah.

The symbol of the lampstand with its oil lamps holds throughout Scripture, including the two chapters of Revelation. Furthermore, the lampstand by itself does not give off the light. Instead, it supports the oil lamps so that the light can be seen coming out from them!

The prophets also saw visions of the lampstand and its seven lamps:

These appear in this vision and message to Zechariah, one of the post-exilic prophets:

And he said to me, “What do you see?

So I said, “I have looked, and see: a lampstand all of gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the lampstand seven lamps with seven spouts to the seven lamps. And two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at the left. … What are these,my master?”

“Do you not know what these are? This is the word of Eyahuwah to Zerubbabel [offspring or seed that came out of Babylon], ‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ said Eyahuwah of Armies.’ … These are the seven eyes of Eyahuwah, which diligently search throughout all the earth.”

I said to him, “What are these two olive trees, one at the right of the lampstand and the other at the left? … What are these two olive branches which empty golden oil from themselves by means of the two gold pipes?”

And he said, “These are the two sons of oil, who [were appointed to] stand by the lord of the earth.” From Zechariah 4

The lamps are fed from a bowl into which olive oil flows through pipes from the two olive trees (as seen in this vision) on the right and left. Then pipes come from the bowl to feed each lamp.

The vision is highly symbolic. The lampstand and lamps are the same as those to be placed in the Tabernacle. This is an honored spiritual position shared by all the lamps together. Their light was to shine during the night and their wicks were trimmed and oil refreshed each morning. From the two olive trees comes the oil.

John’s vision in the Book of Revelation :

And I turned to see the voice which spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden oil lamps, and in the midst of the seven oil lamps One like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. And his head and hair were white as white wool, as snow, and His eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like burnished brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.

And in his right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was as the sun shining in its strength.

And when I saw, Him I fell at His feet as dead, and He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last, and The Living One [the meaning of Eyahuwah]. And I became dead, and see, I am living for ever and ever, [I exist], amen [this is the Truth]. And I possess the keys of the grave and of death. Write therefore, what you have seen, both what is now and what shall take place after these.

The secret of the seven stars, which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden oil lamps: The seven stars are messengers of the assemblies [lit. called-out people], and the seven oil lamps, which you saw, are seven assemblies [literally, seven groups of people gathered together by special invitation to be separated for a specific purpose, seven ek-klesia].”

“ek” means “out of, away from, separated,” and “klesia” comes from “kaleo” and means to “call, invite, or summon.” The authority of the speaker dictates the meaning, whether call, invite, or summon. It can also mean “to name.” To translate this with the Catholic word, “church” is a lie and loathsome to the truth of Scripture.

These are the people who have received a call or invitation from Eyahuwah and Elah to open up their ears to hear what the Spirit is trying to tell them. These people know that they received this call and in their attempts to respond, they were drawn into the influence of different religions, which kept them drunk, asleep, blind, poor, oppressed, deceived, naked, bound, and even spiritually dead!

The objective of each Lamp was to burn brightly so that they the world could see! These are “the light of the world.” These must not be hidden “under a basket.” These must shine from the hill tops so that others could see the good works and give esteem to their Father in heaven.

But as noted in the prior posts in this Bible study series, many of these lamps have gone dim and some dark. John saw the lamps, but not the oil from the olive trees.

You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city to be hidden on a mountain. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines to all those in the house. Let your light so shine before men, so that they see your good works and praise your Father who is in the heavens.

Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah [Law] of the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. For truly, I say to you, till the heavens and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the domain of the heavens. But whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the domain of the heavens.

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees [including Paul, the Pharisee], you shall by no means enter into the domain of the heavens.[ Kingdom of Elahim.]

Lamps drastically in need of Oil!

The prior posts in this series show that the seven lamps received doctrine, rituals, and practices from different religions, and those things oppressed them and kept them from understanding and truth. What the different religions offer offer is not fuel. It is polluted water and unclean bread that makes those symbolized by the lamps, weak and sick. Where oil is needed, they are given stupefying wine or unclean water. Where food is needed, they are given dung to eat.

We live during a time when the population of the earth is the largest it has been. Perhaps, even larger than the population before “the first end” (a phrase given by Enoch in reference to the great flood). Today, the current population of the earth may even be greater than the number of people who died since the flood in Noah’s time. So the message to the seven oil lamps is more appropriate for our day than for any other time.

The seventh age of Enoch‘s vision, in which we now live, was and is the time of the great apostasy. And the great apostasy produced the three great religions of the world, and many offshoots, sects, and cults, which will all come to an end before the next age begins, the age of righteousness (right-doing).

Looking again at the vision given to Zechariah we find more symbols that must be understood now, at this time near the end of the seventh age:

Who is Yehoshua of Zechariah 3?

A clue: he is not Jesus.

And he showed me Yehoshua the high priest standing before the messenger of Eyahuwah [He who Exists; "The Living One" (Revelation)], and Satan standing on his right hand to be an adversary to him.

And The Living One said to Satan, “The Living One rebukes you Satan! The Living One who has chosen Jerusalem rebukes you! Is not this man a burning stick plucked from the fire?”

And Yehoshua was dressed in filthy garments, and was standing before the messenger. And He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “See, I have removed your guilt from you, and shall put costly robes on you.”

And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” Then they put a clean turban on his head, and they put garments on him. And the messenger stood by.

And the messenger of The Living One witnessed to Yehoshua saying,

“Thus says The Living One of armies, ‘ If you walk in My ways, and if you guard My duty [works], then you shall also rule My house, and also guard My courts. And I shall give you access among those standing here. Now listen, Yehoshua the high priest and your companions who sit before you, for they are men of symbol. For look, I am bringing forth my My Servant — the Branch. See the stone I have put before Yehoshua: on one stone are seven eyes. See I am engraving its inscription,’ declares The Living One of Armies, ‘ And I shall remove the guilt of the land in one day. In that day,’ declares The Living One of Armies, ‘ you shall invite one another, under the vine and under the fig tree.’ “

Yehoshua was saved out of the fire, cleaned up, and made to stand, with Satan standing at his right hand. But he is not alone.

Who is Zerubbabel?

The name means “a seed from Babylon.” This was one who was born in Babylon, but is no longer under Babylon’s control. In our day this would refer to someone who was born into the context of one of the religions (the Babylon of Revelation), but was and is not influenced by Babylon, and is now “a seed or offspring out of Babylon.”

Zerubbabel is written about in the prophecies of Zechariah. These are end time prophecies that parallel many of the prophecies in the Book of Revelation, including the seven lamps prophecies of chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation. Zechariah was given visions and prophecies about the events and details that will happen before the earth is restored and before the resurrection. Zechariah saw the four horsemen, and the surveyor’s line stretched out to measure the “house,” the seven golden lamps, the two olive trees, and other images also seen in John’s visions. Zerubbabel was a “king” figure in the eyes of the people. It was he who would rebuild the “house.” Now picking up again from Zechariah 4:

And two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at the left. … What are these,my master?” And the messenger who was speaking to me answered and said to me,

“Do you not know what these are? This is the word of Eyahuwah to Zerubbabel [offspring or seed that came out of Babylon], ‘ Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ said The Living One of Armies. ‘ Who are you, great mountain [the world], before Zerubbabel? {Only] A plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Favor, favor to it!’

And the word of The Living One came to me saying,”

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this House, and his hands shall complete it. And you shall know that The Living One of Armies has sent me to you. For who has despised the day of small beginnings? They shall rejoice when the see the plumb-line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

“These [the seven lamps] are the seven eyes of Eyahuwah, which diligently search throughout all the earth.”

I said to him, “What are these two olive trees, one at the right of the lampstand and the other at the left? … What are these two olive branches which empty golden oil from themselves by means of the two gold pipes?”

And he said, “These are the two sons of oil, who stand by the lord [lit: ruler] of the earth.”

We see two men in this vision: Yehoshua the high “priest” and Zerubbabel the “king.” All of this is in the vision given to Zechariah. And it is about the end time, which is the end of the seventh age of Enoch‘s vision. Zerubbabel was protected from Babylon, whereas Yehoshua wore filthy rags (spiritual garments) and was “unclean.” Zerubbabel was kept from the deceit and corruption of Babylon. Yehoshua was spiritually filthy because of it, but he will be cleansed from it and given new clothing to wear. These two seen in this vision are symbols of the two “sons of oil” who will be given authority in the end-time to stand before the lord [lit: ruler] of the earth, Satan, and witness against him and the world that follows his ways.

And I shall give to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days [Enoch's calendar], clad in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and two lamps that stand before the lord of the earth. From Revelation 11

From the Bible we learn that Satan is called the lord or ruler of this world. His time of influence and control of the “great mountain,” called the world, will come to an end. These two will witness against his power and withstand him face to face and demonstrate great power and authority over all the world and nothing or no one can stop them from doing anything and everything they desire to do to powerfully flatten and render powerless any and all nations and powers.

And the devil [Satan], taking him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the nations of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I shall give You, and their esteem, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. If, then, You worship before me, all shall be Yours.” And Eyahushuah [The Living One who saves us] answering him said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it has been written, ‘ Worship Eyahuwah [The Living One] your Elahim, and Him only shall you serve.’ ” Luke 4:5-8

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the ruler of this world be cast out. John 12:31

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the ruler of this world comes, and has nothing in me. John 14:30

But I say the truth to you. It is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you at all, but if I go away, I shall send the Helper to you. And having come, he shall prove the world wrong concerning sin, concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment — concerning sin because they do not believe Me, concerning righteousness because I go to the Father and you see me no more, and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:11

At the same time these two will also pour their oil into the seven lamps who will bring light to the world. This will happen during the last years of this age, and is about to happen within the very near future. They will prophesy for 1,260 days or three and one-half years according to Enoch‘s revealed calendar. When they have finished, then power will be given to the ruler of the world to kill these two. Their bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and one-half days and then they will be raised from the dead and ascend to the heavens. This will be a sign to the righteous and chosen that after three and one-half years the great resurrection will come, and they must be patient for that time.

When this happens the prince of this world will be angry with great fury and will wage war against the righteous “Lamps” and against the elect or chosen offspring of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This war will continue for three and one-half years and come to its appointed end at the return of Eyahuwah, The Living One, at the beginning of the eighth age — the age of right-ruling.

The sons of righteousness shall shine to all the ends of the world, continuing to shine forth until the end of the appointed seasons of darkness.
Dead Sea Scrolls

Gather oil now while it is available. Trim your lamps and light them before the time of darkness comes upon the world. The seven lamps are the armies of Sons of Light and Righteousness who are beginning to shine forth to all the ends of the world. They will come out of the spiritual darkness of the religions of Babylon, and continue to shine forth until the seasons of darkness come to their appointed end. Then the world will be filled with light, and darkness will end. The new age of righteousness will dawn upon the world.

However, until that happens here is the cry you will hear!

“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” From Revelation 18

“Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babel.” Zechariah 2:2