A Vision of a Golden Lampstand
3:9; 4:4; John 16:33 everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— # 1 Cor. 6:16 our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes # ch. 4:15 that Jesus is the Son of God? Matthew 4 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The Ministry of Apostles - This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted.
1And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep.2And he said to me, 'What do you see?' I said, 'I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it.3And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.'4And I said to the angel who talked with me, 'What are these, my lord?'5Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, 'Do you not know what these are?' I said, 'No, my lord.'6Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.7Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!''
8Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,9'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.10For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.
'These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.'11Then I said to him, 'What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?'12And a second time I answered and said to him, 'What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oila is poured out?'13He said to me, 'Do you not know what these are?' I said, 'No, my lord.'14Then he said, 'These are the two anointed onesb who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.'
Footnotes:a12 Hebrew lacks oil
b14 Hebrew two sons of new oil
Instructions for the Church
1Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3Honor widows who are truly widows.4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.5She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,6but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.7Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.8But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,a10and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.11But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry12and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.13Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.14So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.15For some have already strayed after Satan.16If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.
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17Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.18For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and, 'The laborer deserves his wages.'19Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.23(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)24The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.25So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
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Footnotes:a9 Or a woman of one man
