Ang Pitong mga Iglesia

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SUMMARY: 

A candlestick or seven lamps represent God’s church. Therefore, the purpose of the symbolism is to keep God’s church ablaze with his word. 

What Keeps The Church Burning Brightly: 

Ø The oil -- the Holy Spirit of truth. Although traditionally we have accepted “oil” to be a symbol of the Holy Spirit, it is more specifically the Holy Spirit of truth-- the word of God explained and used in the hearts of his people. 

Compare the following representations:

“This is the danger to which the church is now exposed--that the inventions of finite men shall mark out the precise way for the Holy Spirit to come. Though they would not care to acknowledge it, some have already done this. And because the Spirit is to come, not to praise men or to build up their erroneous theories, but to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, many turn away from it. They are not willing to be deprived of the garments of their own self-righteousness. They are not willing to exchange their own righteousness, which is unrighteousness, for the righteousness of Christ, which is pure, unadulterated truth. The Holy Spirit flatters no man, neither does it work according to the devising of any man. Finite, sinful men are not to work the Holy Spirit. When it shall come as a reprover, through any human agent whom God shall choose, it is man's place to hear and obey its voice.  {TM 64.3}

"Read and study the fourth chapter of Zechariah. The two olive trees empty the golden oil out of themselves through the golden pipes into the golden bowl from which the lamps of the sanctuary are fed. The golden oil represents the Holy Spirit. With this oil God's ministers are to be constantly supplied, that they, in turn, may impart it to church. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." God's servants can obtain victories only by inward purity, by cleanness of heart, by holiness. It is of the utmost importance that ministers set a right example. If they follow lax, loose principles, their example is quoted by those who are doing wrong as a vindication of their course. The whole synagogue of Satan is watching for defects in the lives of God's representatives, and the most is made of every defect.-- Review and Herald, December 22, 1904.  {TM 188.2}

“Now is the time to entreat that souls shall not only hear the word of God, but without delay secure oil in their vessels with their lamps. That oil is the righteousness of Christ. It represents character, and character is not transferable. No man can secure it for another. Each must obtain for himself a character purified from every stain of sin.  {TM 233.2}

“Will our brethren bear in mind that we are living amid the perils of the last days? Read Revelation in connection with Daniel. Teach these things. Let discourses be short, spiritual, elevated. Let the preacher be full of the word of the Lord. Let every man who enters the pulpit know that he has angels from heaven in his audience. And when these angels empty from themselves the golden oil of truth into the heart of him who is teaching the word, then the application of the truth will be a solemn, serious matter. The angel messengers will expel sin from the heart, unless the door of the heart is padlocked and Christ is refused admission. Christ will withdraw Himself from those who persist in refusing the heavenly blessings that are so freely offered them.  {TM 337.2}

Ø John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13 – the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth

“From the two olive trees the golden oil was emptied through the golden pipes into the bowl of the candlestick, and thence into the golden lamps that gave light to the sanctuary. So from the holy ones that stand in God's presence His Spirit is imparted to the human instrumentalities who are consecrated to His service. The mission of the two anointed ones is to communicate to God's people that heavenly grace which alone can make His word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zech. 4:6.{COL 408.1}

Special NOTE: If the trees represent the Bible (Old and New Testaments) then what comes from the Bible?--REVEALED TRUTH. Since oil comes from the trees, then the oil must especially represent present-truth--truths needed for the time in which we live--the product of the Bible (trees). It must represent specials truths needed for the time in which we live to prepare us for the crisis ahead.

How Is The Oil Retrieved From The Scriptures? 

Through the Two Pipes--the messengers with the gift of interpretation--the Spirit of Prophecy. 

Ø Deut. 29:29 – Secret things belongs to God.

Ø Amos 3:7 -- God’s secrets are revealed through his prophets. 

Ø 2 Pet. 1:16 - 21 -- no prophecy of the Scriptures is of private interpretation, but 

must be revealed in the same manner as it was given--by the Holy Spirit through human agents. See also 7T 249. 

At this time God's cause is in need of men and women who possess rare qualifications and good administrative powers; men and women who will make patient, thorough investigation of the needs of the work in various fields; those who have a large capacity for work; those who possess warm, kind hearts, cool heads, sound sense, and unbiased judgment; those who are sanctified by the Spirit of God and can fearlessly say, No, or Yea and Amen, to propositions; those who have strong convictions, clear understanding, and pure, sympathetic hearts; those who practice the words, "All ye are brethren;" those who strive to uplift and restore fallen humanity. {7T 249.2}

Ø TM 510 -- the two pipes are human instrumentalities 

From the two olive trees, the golden oil was emptied through golden pipes into the bowl of the candlestick and thence into the golden lamps that gave light to the sanctuary. So from the holy ones that stand in God's presence, His Spirit is imparted to human instrumentalities that are consecrated to His service. The mission of the two anointed ones is to communicate light and power to God's people. It is to receive blessing for us that they stand in God's presence. As the olive trees empty themselves into the golden pipes, so the heavenly messengers seek to communicate all that they receive from God. The whole heavenly treasure awaits our demand and reception; and as we receive the blessing, we in our turn are to impart it. Thus it is that the holy lamps are fed, and the church becomes a light bearer in the world.  {TM 510.1}

SUMMARY:

 The two pipes must be interpreters who alone can reveal the mysteries, symbols, and prophecies of the Bible. NOTE, that ONLY the TWO PIPES are allowed to go into the trees and withdraw oil--truth. That is, although some things are plain in the Bible, only God’s inspired agents can accurately interpret the “prophecies of the Scripture” ( 2 Pet. 1:19-21) because it was dictated by God’s Spirit and can only be interpreted by God’s Spirit (Amos 3:7). 

Who are the two pipes today?

Ellen G. White and someone that she predicted are to come in the spirit and power of Elijah.

Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say: "You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message."  {TM 475.3}

6T 17 - The light we have received upon the third angel's message is the true light. The mark of the beast is exactly what it has been proclaimed to be. Not all in regard to this matter is yet understood, nor will it be understood until the unrolling of the scroll; but a most solemn work is to be accomplished in our world. The Lord's command to His servants is: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Isaiah 58:1.{6T 17.1}

6T 420 - As never before, we should pray not only that laborers may be sent forth into the great harvest field, but that we may have a clear conception of truth, so that when the messengers of truth shall come, we may accept the message and respect the messenger. {6T 420.3}

Thus, the TWO PIPES are a symbol of the prophets whom we now primarily recognize as: E.G. WHITE and V.T. HOUTEFF. 

What Does the Golden Bowl represents?

Ø the published works of the inspired messengers--the storehouse of their revealed truths. 

Ø It is from the bowl that the oil is stored and then brought to feed the lamps. Thus the Bowl is the reservoir of revealed truth.

Ø From what reservoir do we find revealed truth?  Is it not from the WRITINGS of the messengers whom God used to help us understand the Bible? – inspired interpreters. 

i. e Sis. EGWhite

What are The Seven Pipes?

Ø the ministers/teachers/leaders. 

TM 188 -- with the oil God’s ministers are supplied so they can impart it to the church. 

With this oil God's ministers are to be constantly supplied, that they, in turn, may impart it to church. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." God's servants can obtain victories only by inward purity, by cleanness of heart, by holiness. It is of the utmost importance that ministers set a right example. If they follow lax, loose principles, their example is quoted by those who are doing wrong as a vindication of their course. The whole synagogue of Satan is watching for defects in the lives of God's representatives, and the most is made of every defect.-- Review and Herald, December 22, 1904.{TM 188.2}

SUMMARY: The seven pipes take oil from the bowl NOT FROM THE TREES. This shows that ministers and teachers are required to teach the Bible in light of revealed truths given to us by the messengers of God--they must teach the Bible in 

harmony with the inspired interpreters. They are NOT to engage in private interpretation. They are therefore, to impart oil (truth) to the lamps 

(church) that is substantiated by Inspiration, and that truth is found only in the bowl (the inspired writings). 

Unfortunately, most leaders are not teaching strictly from the bowl. They instead figuratively place their tubes into the trees (Bible) by teaching their own ideas and opinions. They ignore the parts of Inspiration which do not suit them. That is, they do not fully accept and teach the writings of Sis. White while refusing to accept advanced light--the Rod. 

CONCLUSION: In order for the church of God to illuminate the world with the righteousness of Christ, it must accept the truths revealed from the Bible through the inspired messengers--E.G. White (SOP) and V.T. Houteff (the Rod). We must accept all the truth given to us. Without it we cannot truly be the light of the world. 

We also see that the Shepherd’s Rod is the message of the hour. It came not by chance, but through the working of the Spirit to refill the bowl so the ministers can keep the lamps (church) fed and burning brightly. Without it, the church’s flames will go out. Now the lamps are flickering, so to speak. 

But we can thank God that it will not be snuffed out because God has a people who are now striving to supply the oil (truth) to the membership (the lamps) and will culminate into a 144,000 Spirit-filled preachers without “guile in their mouths” (Rev. 14:4-5) and who will gather a great multitude (Rev. 7:9). 

FURTHER STUDY: 

2 SR 283 - 289 1TG 14 (“Timely Greetings”)  

6 TR 17- 27 (“Why Perish”) 

3 ANS. 28 - 40