Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

CANDLESTICKS

A symbol of the wisdom- and love-nature as bearing the light of Truth in the soul.

"These (two witnesses) are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth." - Rev. xi. 4.

The two principles which testify to the greatness of God within the soul, are Love and Wisdom, and these stand for the Lord who rules the lower nature (earth).

"By olive-tree is signified love and charity; and by candlesticks is signified illustration in truths, and thence intelligence and faith." - Swedenborg, Apocalypse Revealed, n. 493.

"A derived and transient light is all that any man can be. In ourselves we are darkness, and only as we hold fellow-ship with Him do we become capable of giving forth any rays of light. The condition of all our brightness is that Christ shall give us light. He is the source, we are but reservoirs. He the fountain, we only cisterns. He must walk amidst the candlesticks, or they will never shine. He must hold the stars in His hand, or they will drop from their places and dwindle into darkness. Therefore our power for service lies in reception; and if we are to live for Christ, we must live in Christ. But there is still another requisite for the shining of the light. The prophet Zechariah once saw in vision the great Temple lamp, and by its side two olive-trees from which golden oil flowed through golden pipes to the central light. And when he expressed his ignorance of the meaning of the vision, this was the interpretation by the angel who talked with him: 'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.' The lamp that burns must be kept fed with oil. Throughout the Old Testament the soft, gracious influences of God's Spirit are symbolised by oil." - A. MacLaren, Sermons, 2nd Series, p. 162.

"Oil" is a symbol for love; "lamp" for the causal-body; "stars" for the mental faculties; "gold" for wisdom. Christ is the "sun" of the soul giving out the light of truth to the personality (moon) which shines only by derived light.

See Also

CHURCHES (Asia)
CRUCIFIXION (Rev. xi. 8)
LAMP
OIL
OLIVE
PERSONALITY
PROCESSION
WITNESSES (two)