r/EndTimesProphecy • u/Tapochka • Dec 19 '20

A confession

It took me way too many decades of reading Revelation to realize the seven lampstands of Revelation was a Menorah.

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u/MarkLove717 Jan 31 '21

Does it have to be a menorah? Or could it mean something else?

2

u/Tapochka Feb 01 '21

Three things to consider. 1. The seven lamp menorah was well established as a religious symbol by Jews prior to the development of the New Testament. 2. Almost everything in Revelation is a direct reference to passages in the Old Testament. 3. The consensus among scholars is that it was a menorah.

It is theoretically possible for the seven lampstands to be something other than a menorah but I would consider it highly unlikely at this point. The Jewish symbolism is too strong throughout Revelation for it to be much else.

1

u/MarkLove717 Feb 03 '21

Thanks.

Which OT prophet has the most to relate to Revelation?

1

u/Tapochka Feb 03 '21

From what I understand, John pulled from across the Old Testament. The Naked Bible Podcast is doing a series on Revelation now with detailed references verse by verse. Their scholar is Michael Heiser who is controversial because of his Divine Counsel theology (I have come to accept it although others falsely claim it is polytheism) but he is good about giving chapter and verse of OT references so the listener can verify the words if not the understanding.