THE OLD TESTMENT TYPE SHOWED IT IS CHRIST AND THE ANGELS SUPPLYING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE CHURCH ON EARTH

Many Christians do not see the wonderful lessons and truths to be learned from the Old Testament types and services. They just cast them off as something for the Jewish people alone and miss the beautiful lessons and important truths that Christ would have us learn from them. And sadly, the false trinity doctrine destroys the sanctuary message in the minds of many of God's professed remnant, which prevents them from learning this wonderful truth.

The candlestick in the Old Testament sanctuary and the service of it, teaches us an important lesson regarding the Holy Spirit. Let's take a look at the Old Testament type:

Exodus 27:20-21 ...'And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.'

Leviticus 24:1-4 ...'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the Lord continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the Lord continually.'

What did the candlestick represent? Jesus said Himself in Revelation 1:20 that the candlestick represents God's people, the church.

So the candlestick represented the church on earth and the high priest with his sons were to make sure that the candlestick had a constant supply of oil so that the lamps could keep continually burning. Now an important lesson which we cannot skip past is the fact that those lamps were to be kept burning continuously to shine its light, and if God's people are represented by the candlestick, then what does this teach us? That we are to be constantly shining the light of Christ in our lives to the world.

Matthew 5:16 ...'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.'

John 15:8 ...'Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.'

We are not here to please ourselves. We are here to bring glory to God in our lives, and we should be so thankful for what the Father has done for us that we want to do nothing but please Him and bring glory to Him. But how was the candlestick to continually lighten the Old Testament sanctuary? By Aaron and his sons continually supplying the oil. So what does oil represent? If you compare Acts 10:38 with Hebrews 1:8-9, you will see that the Father anointed His Son Jesus with "the oil of gladness" (Hebrews 1:9) which is "the Holy Spirit" (Acts 10:38). So the candlestick represents God's people, the church, and the oil represents the Holy Spirit which is to be continually supplied to keep the candlestick (the church) burning with light. But who supplies that oil to the 'candlestick' (church)? Well, in the Old Testament model, we saw above that it was Aaron and his sons. But who do they represent? Aaron was the high priest, and who is our high priest now?

Hebrews 4:14 ...'Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.'

The book of Hebrews clearly sets forth the truth that Jesus Christ is now our High Priest in heaven, mediating for us before God the Father. And if we look at the following clear Bible verses, we see that God the Father GAVE the Holy Spirit to His Son Jesus, so that Jesus could supply His people on earth with His Spirit:

Acts 2:32-33 ...'This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.'

Revelation 5:6 ...'And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, HAVING seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.'

Just as the high priest in the Old Testament sanctuary service was charged with providing a constant supply of oil to the lamps, Jesus Christ our true High Priest in heaven is the one who supplies the Holy Spirit to His church. But Aaron had helpers in his sons to supply the oil. Does Christ have any 'helpers'? Yes!

Hebrews 1:7,13-14 ...'And of the angels he saith, who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire ... But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?'

Genesis 28:12 ...'And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.'

"A measure of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. Through the ministry of the angels, the Holy Spirit is enabled to work upon the mind and heart of the human agent, and draw him to Christ." (The Youth's Instructor, July 5, 1894, par.5)

The angels are the ministers of God, just like Aaron's sons were ministers of God in the Old Testament sanctuary service. And as we can see, the angels were made as 'ministering spirits', ascending and descending between earth and heaven, helping in the work of reaching us with the Spirit of God, so that we may, like the candlestick in the Old Testament sanctuary, continually burn and shine the light of heaven in this world. The work of Aaron and his sons pointed to the work of Christ and His angels, supplying that much needed oil to keep our 'lamps' burning brightly. Do you see this wonderful truth? What a blessing to know that it is Christ Himself, our 'brother' in humanity, who supplies us with His Spirit, which He received from the Father. But many people do not know this truth due to the false trinity god teaching and are not looking to Christ for the Spirit.

Friends, we must learn the lesson of the foolish virgins. They were careless and sought the oil from somewhere other than Christ Himself. As a result, they were left in darkness and Christ said to them "I know you not" and shut them out! Many in the churches are not looking to Christ Himself for the Holy Spirit and are walking in darkness and Satan is ready to give a supply of his own spirit to keep them in darkness. So we must heed the warning of Christ to the Laodicean church:

Revelation 3:18-20 ...'I counsel thee to BUY OF ME gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.'

It is Christ who 'dwells in our hearts' (Ephesians 3:17). It is Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2:20). It is Christ in us, that 'Spirit' which gives us life (Romans 8:10-11)

"The divine Son of God is seen walking amid the seven golden candlesticks. Jesus himself supplies the oil to these burning lamps; he it is that kindles the flame." (E.White, Elder Daniels and the Fresno Church., 1890, p.3)

See our page WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT for more on this.