The Lampstand Magazine

Bombardier beetles are remarkable creatures, truly deserving the attention they have received. The term “bombardier” originates from 16th century French and military history, specifically referring to a soldier who managed cannon, mortar, or bomb firing. Since this beetle is able to make tiny…

The Gospel of the Perfect Priest Introduction “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good…

2 Peter 3:8 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day”. Before reading this article, look at your mobile phone. You might have some stickers on the back. A search of the internet shows that a range of phone…

Ecuador, a small country on the west coast of South America, quietly played a significant role in offering refuge to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. When nation after nation closed its doors to them, Ecuador provided an unexpected sanctuary for those attempting to escape Hitler’s persecution. Along…

Marcus Aurelius is quoted as having said, “If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it”. Good advice, but how often is it not followed when it involves personal information about someone? So often gossip is not true, but even if it is true, it should not be said if it is not…

Of All Men Most Miserable One of the most remarkable aspects of the crucifixion story is the complete unravelling of Jesus’ disciples in its aftermath. Despite all the preparation Jesus gave them, his repeated warnings about his suffering, and his promises that he would rise again, they were…

Boaz and the Nearer Kinsman The following morning, Boaz went straightway to the gate of Bethlehem (Ruth 4:1). The gate was the most important place in a city (Deut 16:18; Josh 20:4; Job 29:7) and many people would pass through it each day. Boaz knew he was likely to see the nearer kinsman her...

Throughout our series we have highlighted the unique place of the book of Chronicles in Holy Writ. It is important to note that Ezra was not seeking to rewrite history or ignore the earlier record of the book of Kings; his purpose for writing was different. Under the Spirit’s guidance, he assemble...

Dear Brothers and Sisters Earlier this year, my wife and I were travelling in the remote and rugged far north of Western Australia. We enjoy exploring out-of-the-way areas, where there are fewer people and wide, open spaces. On this particular day, we turned off the main highway onto a less trave...

In the first part of this editorial, we had a glimpse of this remarkable man, Apollos, together with his interesting background. We saw that the record was drawing a parallel between John the Baptist’s work in Judea and the work of his 12 disciples in Ephesus. The fact that we find discipl...

Mark’s style and diction Mark writes to impress upon his readers the rapid, ceaseless energy of the Servant. One can almost feel exhausted after reading Mark, so quickly does the action seem to occur. As one writer said: “It is sometimes said of a story that “it marches”, but Mark’s ...

Job 37:10 “By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the water is straitened.” To set the scene before reading this article, you might like to get a cold drink and add some ice cubes. The NKJV translation of Job 37:10, quoted above, is a bit easier to understand: “By the breat...

Song four—14:1-5 The saints are now portrayed standing on Mount Zion. The throne of David in Zion has been established and the command for nations to submit is about to be issued (v6-7).  In this song there is a focus on the attributes and the qualities of character found in this select...

Have you ever noticed the unusual way the Truth came to Ephesus? Firstly, Luke describes Paul’s initial encounter with the city as a short stopover visit on his way from Corinth to Antioch (Acts 18:18-21). Whilst he reasoned with the Jews briefly in the synagogue there, there is no record of an...

The deep ocean is widely considered the ‘final frontier’ for human exploration on earth. Despite covering over 70% of the planet’s surface, more than 80% of the ocean remains entirely unmapped and unseen by humans. The deep sea, in particular, is a vast, largely unknown expanse, potentially ho...

Introduction “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God…” Thus, Mark commences writing his account of the life of the Lord. “The Son of God” is a title which will shape the narrative which follows. In the first chapter, we see the One over whom the heavens were re...

Iran’s Revolution woes On 28 December 2025, protests erupted in Tehran, Iran’s capital city. They followed a year of economic freefall and spiralling devaluation of the rial, Iran’s currency, which had lost more than 40% of its value since Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran in June 20...

Keen Bible readers and students give close attention to the text of Scripture. They know that as God’s inspired Word it “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”. God...

Psalm 8:3 asks us to consider the heavens: “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained”. If you’ve got a pair of gloves available, you might like to grab hold of these before reading this article. In P...

“Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and the honour of my majesty?” This arrogant remark brought Nebuchadnezzar to his knees and his great Babylon has since become a heap of ruins. Today we live in a bustling world bent on the pur...

In Ezekiel Of all the biblical accounts of the cherubim, Ezekiel’s visions give us the richest picture of their appearance and activity. The prophecy opens with a vision of the cherubim that was so awesome it caused Ezekiel to fall upon his face. What was it that Ezekiel saw and what did it sig...

The law of servitude release  Let’s examine another dimension of release in Deuteronomy 15:12-18, one operating on individual rather than national timing. Unlike the sabbatical debt release, this freedom-giving operated seven years from when service began: “If your brother, a Hebrew man ...

Naomi’s Plan for Redemption Things are now turning positive for Ruth. It required faith and commitment to leave Moab, dedicating herself to Israel’s hope, and labouring to glean barley in strenuous conditions, but ultimately, this wonderful faith was rewarded as Boaz’s grace extended toward...

Sometimes the Scriptures instruct us powerfully by a negative example, just as they do by a positive one. Truly, the “righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked, for God overthroweth them” (Prov 21:12). This is particularly true of the Chronicler’s presentation of the early histo...

We can’t overestimate the relevance of the last book of the Bible, the Apocalypse, or the ‘unfolding’ or the ‘revealing’. In 1:1 we learn that it is a book uniquely written for God’s servants—those who know and understand the One True Gospel. It was not written for the biblically uninf...