The Seven Golden Lamps***g***** Poem by Mary Wismer

III. The NUMBER of the candlesticks.
SEVEN. In the temple the candlestick was one,
the branches seven. In this symbolic
scene it would rather appear that the
seven were quite separate
form each other—possibly with

the view of intimating that the Churches

Throughout the world, though all of gold,
were to be separate; and if so,
then there is here a most vivid protest
against the pretended unity of Rome.
The number seven is the number of—

(1) PERFECTION. As the one sunbeam is composed of seven parts, and thus perfected into whiteness—so seven is the divine number of perfection, or completeness.
(2) VARIETY. Not absolute uniformity, but variety; the variety which is needful for perfection—the manifold gifts of the one Spirit, sent from the one Christ.

(3) UNITY. Seven is oneness; oneness with diversity—one body, many members; one household, many members; one temple, many stones; one loaf, many crumbs; one sky, many stars.

(4) Covenant-CERTAINTY. Seven is the covenant number. The seven lambs at Beersheba were for covenant; and that place means 'the well of the seven, ' or the 'well of the oath' (Genesis 21: 31) . The Churches are the Churches of the everlasting covenant—the covenant between the Father and the Son—'ordered in all things, and sure.'

15. January 2008