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Scripture Reading: Rev. 1:4-5, 1:20; 4:5; 5:6; 21:10-23; 22:1-2
I. The pneumatic Christ in the Epistles is the redeeming Lamb in Revelation, who also has become the Executor of God’s New Testament economy — 5:7-10.
II. The all-inclusive compound Spirit in the Epistles has become the seven Spirits before God’s throne in Revelation. The seven Spirits are the center of the Divine Trinity in Revelation, proceeding out from the eternal One and of the redeeming One — 1:4-5.
III. The seven Spirits are the seven lamps of fire before God’s throne for the execution of God’s economy in the universe and also the seven eyes of the slain Lamb searching and transfusing the churches — 4:5; 5:6.
IV. The redeeming Lamb, as the High Priest in the Holy Place with the seven eyes, which are the Spirits of the seven lamps of fire of God, walks among the churches, which are the seven golden lampstands, to search and to transfuse all the churches so that they would become His testimony, the testimony of Jesus — 1:12-13, 20.
V. This One, who is the all-inclusive Head who walks in the midst of the churches to search and to transfuse them, is the Spirit who speaks to the churches, purifying the churches and calling forth the overcomers to enjoy Him in order that they would overcome the deformed churches to bring in His kingdom — 2:1, 7, 17-18, 26-28; 3:7, 12-14, 20-22.
VI. As the Lamb who is God’s High Priest, He is also God’s particular Messenger to care for Israel, the chosen people of God, and the redeemed saints throughout the generations to execute the prayer of the saints concerning God’s economy, to take over the earth in the future, and to descend in glory to claim the whole earth for His kingdom — 7:2-17; 8:3-5; 10:1-5; 18:1; 11:15.
VII. As the seven eyes of the Executor of God’s New Testament economy, He is the seven lamps supported by the seven golden lampstands, which are the seven churches, to shine forth as the testimony of Jesus. The seven Spirits, who are the seven lamps in this age, will become the lamp, which is the Lamb in the new heaven and new earth, from which will shine forth the glory of God — 21:23.
VIII. The seven Spirits are the lamps of fire in this age, executing God’s New Testament economy. In the new heaven and new earth They will become the river to water the holy city of God, the New Jerusalem — 22:1-2.
IX. The result of the searching and transfusing of the seven Spirits, which are the seven eyes of the Lamb, is the seven golden lampstands in this age and the holy city, the New Jerusalem, in the new heaven and the new earth. Between these two are the Lamb’s wife and the Lamb’s army, bringing in the Lamb’s kingdom — 19:7-8, 14, 19; 17:14; 20:4, 6.
X. In eternity the redeeming Lamb becomes the Lamb-God, out from whom flows the river of water of life, which is the all-inclusive Spirit as the life irrigation. On either side of the river grows the tree of life, which is the all-inclusive Christ as the life supply. In eternity this Divine Trinity becomes the life and essence of the redeemed ones that they would be mingled with Him to be His full, complete, and perfect (signified by twelve times twelve) corporate expression in eternity — 21:1-2, 10-23.
The wonderful Christ in the Epistles, who is the last Adam, has passed through death and resurrection to become the all-inclusive, life-giving, compound Spirit to enter into our spirit to be our life. By drinking of this Spirit, we are baptized in this Spirit into His Body. Furthermore, through the anointing and sealing of this Spirit, the essence of God is added to us more and more. In this way Christ is able to make home in our hearts, and we are being filled with the unsearchable riches of Christ to become the fullness of God, which is the church. In addition to this, through the bountiful supply of this all-inclusive indwelling Spirit, we are saved in all circumstances to be able to live in Christ every day and to abide in the fellowship of God, enjoying the eternal life and thus overcoming sin, the world, and Satan to live out the inward love and outward righteousness of God.
Furthermore, on the one hand, this Christ who has passed through death, resurrection, and ascension lives in us. On the other hand, He is the High Priest in the heavenly tabernacle making intercession for us that we would be saved to the uttermost. At the same time, as the Mediator of the new covenant, He is in heaven executing for us the bequests of the New Testament, supplying us with the heavenly life, that we may be able to live a heavenly life here on earth and may cooperate with Him to fulfill His heavenly commission here on earth.
This Christ has taken us on to such an extent that we have Him as the life essence within and the power and authority without to be the corporate man, the church. We are now cooperating with Him on earth to execute God’s divine economy. Unfortunately, the present age is dark, and the world is full of corruption. Even the church has degraded from the purpose of God and has fallen into confusion. On almost every street and lane of a big city, one can see many so-called churches, but it is difficult to find the expression of the Body of Christ. According to the pure revelation of the Bible, the Body of Christ is uniquely one in the universe, and when this Body is expressed in a locality, it is a local church. For example, the church in Jerusalem was the Body of Christ expressed as the local church in the city of Jerusalem. Although there were over a million people living in Jerusalem, and although Acts 21 tells us that there were myriads of believing Jews in that city, there was, however, only one church, which was the church in Jerusalem. This is the purpose and ordination of God.
This pneumatic Christ who is in us is also in heaven as the Executor of God’s New Testament economy and the High Priest higher than the heavens, executing in heaven the heavenly ministry for the purpose of producing a church according to His heart’s desire, manifested on earth locality by locality, dealing with God’s enemy, and fulfilling God’s divine economy. However, the church has degraded and has become deformed. In this dark and confused age, in order to purge the deformed church and to recover it back to its original position, the Christ in the Epistles has to become the Christ in Revelation.
The Holy Spirit in Revelation is no longer the one Spirit in the Epistles but the sevenfold intensified Spirit, because the world today is corrupted, and the church is degraded, full of darkness and confusion; even the eyes of man’s heart are blinded and cannot see clearly the will of God. This is similar to a person not being able to see clearly under one lamp, and who needs, instead, the shining of seven lamps. This is why the one Spirit in the Epistles has been intensified to become the seven Spirits in Revelation. This sevenfold intensified Spirit is the shining of the seven lamps of fire, enabling us to see the church clearly according to God’s desire.
Item number one of the outline says that the pneumatic Christ in the Epistles is the redeeming Lamb in Revelation, who has become the Executor of God’s New Testament economy. The pneumatic Christ in the Epistles is the life-giving Spirit. In Revelation He has become the redeeming Lamb of God to execute God’s economy.
Item number two of the outline says that the all-inclusive compound Spirit in the Epistles has become the seven Spirits before God’s throne in Revelation, the center of the Divine Trinity, proceeding out from the eternal One and of the redeeming One. Based on what do we say this? This is based on the fact that the seven Spirits are the seven lamps of fire before the throne of God. They are also the one river that proceeds from the throne of God, the eternal One. Moreover, the seven Spirits are the seven eyes of the Lamb. The seven eyes of the Lamb are surely of the Lamb. Hence, the seven Spirits, which are the seven eyes of the Lamb, are surely of the Lamb, who is the redeeming One. Therefore, on the one hand, the seven Spirits are out from the eternal One, and on the other hand, They are of the redeeming One.
Item number three says that these seven Spirits are the seven lamps of fire before God’s throne for the execution of God’s economy in the universe. In the midst of the universe, there is the throne of God in the heavens. Before the throne of God, there are seven lamps of fire. These seven lamps are for God’s move. This is similar to driving at night; when the car is about to move, the two headlights are turned on. Once the lights of the car are switched on, the driver will be able to move clearly in the light. The seven lamps of fire shining before the throne of God are an indication that God is executing His economy.
Item number three continues to say that these seven lamps of fire are the seven eyes of the slain Lamb. The seven lamps are for God’s move in the execution of God’s economy. The seven eyes are for searching and transfusing the churches. The seven lamps of fire are sent forth into all the earth for the execution of God’s economy in the universe, and the seven eyes are on the face of the Lamb, Christ, who is the High Priest, for the searching of the churches’ condition. On the one hand, the seven eyes are there to search out the condition of the churches. On the other hand, they are there to supply the need of the churches. Similarly, when I speak to you, not only is my mouth speaking, but my eyes also are there transfusing. Through my eyes I transfuse what is in me. The seven eyes of Christ are for searching and transfusing the churches, while the seven lamps before the throne are for the executing of God’s economy. But then, the seven lamps before the throne are the seven eyes on the face of the Lamb. This is indeed a mystery! In Revelation, on the one hand, Christ is the One executing God’s economy, and on the other hand, He is the One who searches and transfuses the churches.
Item number four says that the redeeming Lamb, as the High Priest in the Holy Place, with the seven eyes, which are the Spirits of the seven lamps of fire of God, walks among the churches, which are the seven golden lampstands, to search and to transfuse all the churches so that they would become His testimony, the testimony of Jesus. This is shown in Revelation 1. In this chapter you can see the seven lampstands and one High Priest walking in the their midst. His eyes are like a flame of fire searching the churches and, at the same time, supplying all the churches’ needs.
Item number five says that this One, who is the all-inclusive Head who walks in the midst of the churches to search and to transfuse them, is the Spirit who speaks to the churches, purifying the churches and calling forth the overcomers to enjoy Him in order that they would overcome the deformed churches to bring in His kingdom. This refers to the seven epistles to the seven local churches in Revelation 2—3. Each of these seven epistles opens with the words that these epistles are spoken to the churches by the One who is the Lord Christ, the Head, the One walking in the midst of the churches, and the Christ who holds the seven stars. But the end of every epistle says that these words are spoken by the Spirit to the churches, and “he who has an ear, let him hear.” This proves that the Spirit and Christ are one. The totality of all the words in the seven epistles is for the purifying of the churches and for the calling forth of the overcomers to enjoy Christ. The Spirit says to the church in Ephesus that he who overcomes will be given to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God (2:7); to the church in Pergamos, he who overcomes will be given of the hidden manna (v. 17); to the church in Laodicea, to him who overcomes, He says, “I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me” (3:20). To eat of the tree of life, to partake of the hidden manna, and to dine with the Lord are all matters of enjoying Christ. All three kinds of enjoyment are typified in the Old Testament. The first kind is the tree of life recorded in Genesis 2. The second kind is the manna recorded in Exodus 16. The third kind is the produce of the good land as the feast for all to dine, as recorded in Deuteronomy 8. Therefore, in His promise to the overcomers, He has included the three highest enjoyments of the Old Testament. The tree of life, the hidden manna, and the feast in the good land are all types of the rich enjoyment of Christ. Only by these can we overcome today’s deformed church and bring in the kingdom of God.
Item number six says that as the Lamb who is God’s High Priest, He is also God’s particular Messenger. He is the High Priest, the Executor, and the Mediator of the new covenant. As such, He is also the redeeming Lamb. Revelation 7:2; 8:3; 10:1; and 18:1 all mention another Angel. This Angel is Christ. In Revelation, as in the Old Testament, Christ is the Messenger of God (Gen. 22:11-12; Exo. 3:2-6; Judg. 6:11-24; Zech. 1:11-12; 2:8-11; 3:1-7) to fulfill God’s special commission. This special Messenger cared for the Israelites, the chosen people of God, and has shepherded the redeemed saints throughout the generations, executing the prayer of the saints concerning God’s economy. In Revelation 8:3 the Messenger offers the prayers of the saints to God. As a result, God hears the prayers and executes His economy on earth. Not only so, He will come to take over the earth and will descend in glory to claim the whole earth for His kingdom. These are the special commissions of this particular Messenger.
Item number seven says that as the seven eyes of the Executor of God’s New Testament economy, He is the seven lamps supported by the seven golden lampstands, which are the seven churches. Upon every lampstand are seven lamps, and these seven lamps are the seven eyes of the Lamb. Hence, every golden lampstand supports the seven eyes of the Lamb as the seven lamps, shining forth as the testimony of Jesus. These seven lamps, which are the seven Spirits in this age, will become the lamp which is the Lamb in the new heaven and new earth. The seven lamps supported by the seven lampstands are the seven Spirits today. In the new heaven and new earth, the lamp in the New Jerusalem will be the Lamb. This does not mean that there are two lamps, but rather, that it is one lamp in two different ages. The Spirit today is the Lamb in the future. Today the Spirit is the lamp. In the future the Lamb will be the lamp. When the Lamb becomes the lamp, the world will no longer be dark, and there will be no more night. But today the world is full of darkness; hence, there is the need for the seven Spirits to be the seven lamps. The seven Spirits, who are the seven lamps, are Christ Himself. In eternity future in the New Jerusalem, the Lamb will be the lamp. This is because in the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth, the old heaven and earth will have passed away, and everything will be made new. In eternity future there will be no darkness; neither will there be night anymore. Therefore, the seven lamps, which are the seven Spirits, will become the lamp of the Lamb to shine forth the glory of God.
Item number eight says that the seven Spirits are the lamps of fire in this age, executing God’s New Testament economy. In the new heaven and new earth, They will become the river to water the holy city of God, the New Jerusalem. Today in the church age the seven Spirits are the seven lamps for the shining, activating, and executing of God’s New Testament economy. But in the age of the new heaven and new earth, They will become the river of water for the supplying, irrigating, and refreshing of the holy city, the New Jerusalem.
Item number nine says that the result of the searching and transfusing of the seven Spirits, which are the seven eyes of the Lamb, is the seven golden lampstands in this age and the holy city, the New Jerusalem, in the new heaven and the new earth. In between these two, there is the Lamb’s wife for His satisfaction, and there is the Lamb’s army to fight with Him to bring in the Lamb’s kingdom.
Item number ten says that in eternity the redeeming Lamb becomes the Lamb-God. Revelation 22:1 says that God and the Lamb sit on one throne. For God and the Lamb both to occupy one throne is a problem that puzzles many who study the Bible. Only by reading it in its context can we understand this kind of expression. It is by God being in the Lamb that They can sit on one throne, because chapter 21 says that God is the light and the Lamb is the lamp. The light is in the lamp; therefore, God is in the Lamb. It is by this that God and the Lamb can be sitting on the same throne. In other words, God and the Lamb are one. This is also to say that the redeeming God is the Lamb-God. From this Lamb-God flows the river of water of life, which is the all-inclusive Spirit as the life infusion. On the two sides of the river grows the tree of life, which is the all-inclusive Christ as the life supply. The river of life is the Spirit, and the tree of life is Christ. This is the Divine Trinity becoming the life and essence of the redeemed ones in eternity, enabling them to be mingled with Him as one to be His corporate expression in eternity that is full, perfect, and complete.
Today the church is in a dark and confusing age, and Christ is the all-inclusive, sevenfold intensified Spirit. Hence, to be a Christian in this age, we should not only analyze the biblical doctrines merely with our mind, but we should exercise our spirit to read the Lord’s Word, which is the Bible. If we would turn every word that we read into prayer, the words will be in us as the supplying Spirit and the shining light. By pray-reading the Word and enjoying the supply of the Spirit in this way, we will be filled with the Holy Spirit and full of light. We do not need the dead letters and doctrines, but we need the living Spirit and the light of life. We must touch the living Spirit and enjoy the light of life through pray-reading the Word. In this way the one Spirit who indwells us is intensified to become the seven Spirits, and every local church is a golden lampstand as the embodiment of the Triune God.
The golden lampstand has gold as its essence, signifying that the Father is the source and the nature. The lamp has a form, signifying that the Son is the embodiment and expression of the Father. The seven lamps signify the Spirit as the manifestation and the shining. Therefore, the golden lampstand is the embodiment of the Triune God as the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. In this age the golden lampstands are the local churches. A local church must be full of the Spirit to be the bride as the counterpart of the Lamb to satisfy His heart and also to be the Lamb’s army following Him and fighting with Him, defeating Antichrist to bring in the Lamb’s kingdom. In the end the New Jerusalem will come down from heaven to be the ultimate expression of the Triune God. The New Jerusalem is composed of the mingling of the Triune God with all His redeemed people. God is the life and the essence within His redeemed ones, and His redeemed ones become a city without, to express God’s effulgence, that is, the glory of God.
The New Jerusalem is the ultimate expression of the church and is built of three kinds of material: gold, precious stones, and pearls. Gold signifies the nature of God the Father. Pearls signify the result of the redemption of God the Son. The precious stones signify the result of the transformation of God the Spirit. Hence, the New Jerusalem bears the nature of God the Father, the result of God the Son’s redemption, and the work of transformation by God the Spirit. The New Jerusalem, composed of these three persons, becomes God’s eternal habitation, with God in it as its source. As the One sitting on the throne, He is the Lamb-God, the redeeming God, from whom flows the river of water of life, which is the Spirit. On either side of the river is the tree of life, which is the Son. Here we have the Father as the source, the Spirit as the flow, and the Son as the life supply to meet all the needs of the entire city. Hence, everything related to this city is life and light. By then, the New Jerusalem will have become the full expression of the Triune God, expressing Him forever in eternity future. This is the Christ revealed in the book of Revelation. It is also the ultimate revelation of the whole Bible concerning Christ.
