The Menorah or Golden Lampstand

 

The Menorah is one of the most famous symbols of Israel going back into ancient times. The most known image of it, for many people, is of the Romans carrying it out of the temple in AD 70. This carving comes from the Arch of Titus, which was a memorial to the victory of the Romans over the Jews in the war of AD 66 to 73. This Menorah is the 7 golden lampstands that stood in the sanctuary of the temple.

However, the lampstand was not snuffed out though, the lampstand exists still in the Church:

"12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest...20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches" (Rev. 1:12-13, 20).

People wonder why are there 7 churches? Some think it is because the number 7 is the number of perfection. Some that it is because this is God’s number. These are both true, but there is more to it than this. It is because the 7 lampstands are an image of God's presence among Israel in first the Tabernacle and then the temple. Exodus 25 shows us that one of the centrepieces of the tabernacle/temple were the 7 lampstands, note especially verse 37.

"31 You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32 And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; 33 three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand itself there shall be four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, 35 and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand. 36 Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. 37 You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. 38 Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold. 39 It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talent of pure gold. 40 And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain."

Jesus is the true ark, the true temple, by virtue of his presence the Church is also the temple of God. The Menorah is a famous image of the Old Testament religion. It is so famous it became synonymous with that faith. It is fulfilled in the Church, represented by the 7 churches of Revelation, the 7 lampstands.

The Bible calls the Church Israel in a thousand different ways. The Church did not replace Israel, it is Israel enhanced, made a house for all peoples, with Jesus at the centre. It is Israel fulfilled, a light to all peoples. This message to the lampstands, is a reminder that Christ is the true temple, and that the church has been given his light. The church is also a temple by virtue of his presence. But it is also a warning that the lampstand can be removed, which you will read Jesus say directly in Revelation 2.

The meaning of the image of the Church being 7 golden lampstands would not have been lost on ancient Israelites. The glory has departed the temple, it is now in the Church. You must be in the Church to be in Israel.

For more about this passage in Revelation watch my second Revelation study here.