The seven golden candlesticks from John’s view of the temple in heaven found in Revelation 1 is the menorah! The bride of Christ was symbolized in the Old Testament by it. I then found another article called The Mystery of the Menorah by William F. Dankenbring that put more detail into it. I think his point on Zechariah 4:2 being 49 pipes is inaccurate as I read there are seven pipes going to the seven lamps, but a good study nonetheless. It’s kind of eerie because I began my personal study before finding this article and it brought up many of the same points that I had recalled to my mind for me when dwelling on the topic. A quick overview…
I find it interesting also because of Matthew 25:1-13 and the oil for the lamps needed to meet the bridegroom. Without the oil there’s just a lamp and a wick but no flame. Without the light from the flame there is darkness, but we are not in darkness. The oil needed for the lamp cannot be given by anyone but He that gives it, which Christ does upon our acceptance of Him and desire to live His ways.
Continuing the light/oil/anointing theme, the Bible is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. This is how we are not in darkness. It was written by the prophets led by the Holy Spirit. Likewise, we need the anointing of the Holy Spirit when reading it to fully understand it because of the way it was written by its Author. Isaiah 28:9-13
This eliminates personal interpretation because the Bible interprets itself and with the desire and guidance of the Holy Spirit given to us, we are reminded of all things Christ said to us and as He is the Word made flesh, the whole of scripture testifies of Him. The testimony of Yahshua is the spirit of prophecy!
Regarding the menorah’s seven candlesticks, I believe there is a correlation to the seven churches and recommend everyone read Chuck Missler’s study on the seven letters to the seven churches.
So bringing this all together regarding who we are as Christians, we are not of this world, but we are the salt and light of it. Our light comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who speaks and guides us in all things through God’s Word so that we, being anointed by His Spirit, can speak the Truth within us and share the knowledge of the source of our anointing and salvation, directing those with ears to hear to a personal relationship with Christ. Zechariah 4:10 describes the seven branches as “the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” We are His hands and feet, His emissaries as His Spirit works through us.
I just think its cool that all these diverse aspects are connected by the symbolizm that fits with it all so well of light and dark and the requirements to come out of darkness and into His marvelous light! We know the Truth and the Truth has set us free and guided us to the peace that passes all understanding in Christ…and we were in His temple and the shadow of it on earth from the very beginning! Our God is an awesome God and His love is eternal! We’re in good hands.
As a side note, it is at the fullness of the Gentiles that Israel’s blindness is lifted. We also know that we provoke the Jews to jealousy. Romans 11 Now history hasn’t presented any good reason why the Jews would be jealous of Christianity, but what if our removal before God’s wrath and the witness of the two witnesses and the 144,000 leads Israel to the realization that the Gentile church is the bride and while the bride was taken and is attending the marriage, they remain to be refined through the fire? And looking at the popularity expressed regarding the menorah I wonder if realizing that symbology was pointing to the church that escaped will play any part??? I don’t know, it’s a thought I had.
