Menorah

The Bible tells us that God gave the chosen people exact instructions to make a 7-pronged lampstand. That lampstand is called a menorah. The menorah is also said to be a symbol of God's people.

And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold. And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it. Exodus 25:31-37

The menorah adorned the tabernacle when the people of Israel walked through Sinai. The Menorah was a great sign in both the First and Second Temples. The Jews lived in exile for centuries. The menorah was a sign for them of eternal faith in God's word, the redemption of people and finally the return to the promised land.

The prophet Zechariah writes:

And the angel of the Lord, who spoke to me, returned and woke me up, as one is awakened from sleep. And he said to me, "What do you see?" I answered: "I see, look: the lampstand, all of gold, and above it the oil container, and in the lampstand its seven lamps, and seven oil tubes for the lamps that are on top of it. And two oil trees by it, one on the right side of the oil container, the other on the left side. " I uttered and said thus to the angel who spoke to me: "What are these, Lord?" So the angel who spoke to me answered and said to me, "Do you not know what they are?" I said, "No, Lord." And he uttered and said to me thus: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, thus: Not by army or power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

The 7 flames of the menorah showed Zechariah its meaning "Light to the world". We also find this reference in John 8:12 when Jesus described himself as light;

So Jesus spoke to them again, saying: "I am the light of the world.. And John 14:6 Jesus said to him: "I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.

He is the light of the world, He is Holy and pure. He has saved His people and through Him we are partakers at His table. His kingdom is present through His Spirit.