We know that the Menorah in the Temple had to be built according to the pattern God gave Moses. ( Be

Home About Ron Invite Ron to Speak Ron's Story Blog Israel Six Day War Series Munich Massacre '72 Jewish Roots Identity wedding invitations Theft Faith and Life Personal Stories Isaiah wedding invitations 2 Initiative Uncategorized Partner with us Podcast Media Photos Videos Isaiah 2 Initiative (Africa) Jewish Roots/Jewish History Jewish Holidays in Israel Israeli Political Scene Life in Israel Videos
The Bible speaks of the Menorah , or Lampstand, on three levels: one in the Torah, one in the Prophets, and one in the New Covenant. Moses was commanded to build a seven branched golden lampstand and place it in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle ( Exodus 25:31-40 ). The priests were required wedding invitations to take care of the lampstand, but there was no clear teaching as to the spiritual meaning of the Menorah. When there is no clear teaching on something in the Torah such as the Feast of Trumpets it is often because it can only be understood in light of the New Covenant.
In the Hanukkah story, the Jews, led by Judah Maccabee and his small army, defeated the Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanies. It was considered a miracle that this tiny army of Jews could defeat the massive Syrian force. wedding invitations
Antiochus Epiphanies devastated wedding invitations Jerusalem in 168 BCE, defiled the Temple, offered a pig on its altar, wedding invitations erected an altar to Jupiter, prohibited Temple worship [sacrifices], forbade circumcision on pain of death, sold thousands of Jewish wedding invitations families into slavery, destroyed all copies of Scripture that could be found, and slaughtered everyone discovered in possession of such copies, and resorted to every conceivable torture to force Jews to renounce their religion. The Menorah
After the surprising Jewish victory, the Temple, including the Menorah, was rededicated by the Maccabees, as they celebrated the new holiday of Hanukkah. ( Hanukkah means dedication ) The lampstand at Hanukkah is called in Hebrew a Hanukkiah. It has nine lights that represent the eight days that the Menorah in the Temple remained lit, despite having only enough oil for one day (according to tradition) and an extra candle, wedding invitations called the Shamash that is used to light the others. Though most American Jews call this a Menorah, it is NOT a replica of the Tabernacle Menorah wedding invitations . Nevertheless, it was clearly meant to represent the Temple Menorah in Jewish religious tradition, as it commemorates the miracle of the seven-branched Menorah during the Temple s rededication. A Sign of Restoration
On the second level, the prophet Zechariah saw a vision of a mystical Menorah, with two olive trees-one to each side. This symbolized the Lord restoring Zion and the Temple by the power of His grace and spirit ( Zechariah 4:1-10 ). This vision became the basis for the symbol and seal of the modern State of Israel. The Body of Messiah
The third level is found in the book of Revelation, in which John has a supernatural vision of Yeshua in a glorified form, standing in the midst of seven lampstands. It is more likely, if we are going to be consistent with Scripture, that it was either a Menorah that John saw, with seven branches or seven Menorahs with 49 lights in total. The word for lampstand in the Hebrew Scriptures is almost always Menorah, a seven-branched candelabra. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the same word is used for Menorah, as John used for lampstand in Revelation. In the Hebrew New Testament, lampstand is translated as Menorah. Furthermore, the Menorah(s) in Revelation are made of gold, just as God told Moses ( Ex. 25 ).
Each branch of the Menorah (or each Menorah) represented the seven churches or congregations of Asia Minor ( Revelation 1:12, 20 ), which are symbolic of all types and streams making up the international ecclesia or body of believers. And let s not forget EVERYTHING in the Temple was an earthly shadow of a heavenly reality ( Heb. 8:5 ). The Menorah represents the worldwide body of believers.
As the Mosaic lampstand found expression in Jewish religious tradition, Zechariah wedding invitations s prophetic vision found expression in modern Zionism, and John s vision pictures people of every tribe, tongue and nation being glorified by the power of God. Unity Brings God s Fire
We know that the Menorah in the Temple had to be built according to the pattern God gave Moses. ( Be sure to make them according to the plans you were shown on the mountain. [ Ex. 25:40 ].) So if John s vision of a seven-branched menorah was representative of the united body of believers, then fire must also have meaning.
Without the menorah you cannot have fire certainly not a contained, managed, focused fire. Once the Menorah was built, it could be lit. In the same way, when the believers wedding invitations gathered on Shavuot (Pentecost) in unity with one purpose and focus, waiting on the Holy Spirit they became that spiritual Menorah which could be lit, and the Spirit came as tongues of fire. In fact, the image of the 120 with flames of fire upon them, is an image of one Menorah, with many branches. wedding invitations Each bra