I. The Local Church as the Light of the World

The fifth vision of Zechariah (4:1-14) is partially fulfilled by local churches during the Church Age. Each local church is an independent, self-governing republic of believer priests working in synergism with the Holy Spirit and with each individual member of that local body. Therefore, during the Church Age, we find Christ addressing seven individual epistles to seven individual local churches, which are referred to as seven individual “candlesticks” in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. These local churches cannot be the spiritual “light” they are ordained to be apart from the supernatural workings of the Holy Spirit through the indwelling and filling of individual members of those local churches as they live the Word of God and fulfill their obligations as ministering priests of their theanthropic High Priest, Jesus Christ.