The Church the lampstand is to Christ

The Church the lampstand is to Christ

Christ is the lamp with God as light;

The light divine from Christ doth shine

The Church upholds its glory bright.

The light which shines within the lamp

Is God as life

unique

divine;

The stand must therefore be of gold

To match the glory which doth shine.

Amid the darkness of this age

The light of life divine doth beam

In many centers of mankind

Where Jesus’ testimony’s seen.

To be this testimony pure

“First love” to Christ the Church must keep;

Then from the “tree of life” she may

The overcomer’s portion reap.

She must the persecution bear

That she the “crown of life” may gain;

Adult’ry spiritual o’ercome

The “hidden manna” to obtain.

The deeds of “Jezebel” desert

That she may rule the earth with might;

Defiling deadness overcome

To be arrayed in “garments white.”

Like “Philadelphia” she must be

To keep Christ’s word

confess His Name;

All “lukewarm” pride she must o’ercome

To feast with Him who overcame.

Thus will the Church be purified

To be the lampstand of pure gold

To match the testimony pure

The life of Jesus fit to hold.

The local churches here on earth

The lampstands in this age should be;

The glorious new Jerusalem

The lampstand in eternity.

That city as pure gold will be

The final lampstand consummate;

Christ as the lamp she e’er will hold

And God’s full light will radiate.