THE BODY LIFE IN THE DIVINE REVELATION

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Message Four
The Substantiation of the Divine Revelation - the Church Life in the Local Churches (1)

I.  The Growth in Life in the Local Church life: the Seven Golden Lampstands in Revelation are the Seven Local Churches (Rev. 1:11, 12, 20)

  1. The testimony of a golden lampstand is the testimony of a local church.

  2. Only by being in the churches is there the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This growth is: (Exo. 25:31) (c.f. Life-study of Exodus #92, pp. 1072-1074)

    • of pure gold - denoting our growth in life must be the growth of the divine nature in us.

    • of beaten work - denoting our growth in life issues out of our fellowship with the sufferings of Chrsit.

      • this suffering is outward and often comes from the environment which was measured by the Lord to perfect us - beaten by the Lord with His initiation.

      • beating upon the gold denoting this suffering also comes from living in the divine life with the divine nature and having the union with God's desire - actively participate in the Lord's beating.

      • without measurement denoting this growth is without limitation, but is according to our capacity.

II. The Healthy Process of the Growth in Life (c.f. Life-study of Exodus #92, pp. 1074-1079)

  1. The Base: denoting that Christ is the base for our growth (Exo. 25:31).

    • growing in Christ.

    • Christ being the base of our growth.

    • able to cope with all environments.

    • in the excellence of His resurrection.

    • unshakable.

  2. The Shaft: denoting our growth is in the resurrected Christ and His organic Body.

    • strong and unmovable.

    • in the organic Body and only experienced by the saints who are for God's testimony.

  3. Full of rich experiences - the Cups, the Knobs, and Blossoming buds (Exo. 25:31-33).

    • the cups, knobs, and blossoming buds are parts of a flower; denoting every stage of our experience is a complete entity.

    • the cups - a base of the growth in life in one stage.

      • beaten.

      • able to contain more of the abundant life.

      • increasing greater desire.

      • producing further consecration.

    • the knobs - the substance of the growth in life in the same stage.

      • organic - able to grow branches and flowers.

      • full of the operation of the divine life: growing branches - able to bear God's testimony; and growing flowers - able to manifest Christ's glory.

    • The four cups on the central stalk of the lampstand (Exo. 25:34).

      • signifiying Christ's humanity shining with His resurrection life. (c.f. Life-study of Exodus #93, p. 1087)

      • four - signifying creatures, denoting our growth in life being according to what we are. (c.f. Life-study of Exodus #93, pp. 1085-1086)

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