The framework for this series was from an article that was posted by Yehuda Frank at https://allisrael.com/forgiveness-yom-kippur-and-the-messiah-s-atoning-sacrifice .
There are 4 proofs that support God rejecting Israel’s Yom Kippur sacrifice.
- The lot of the Lord was in the left hand.
- The crimson strap remained crimson.
- The western light was not lit.
- The doors of the Temple were open in the morning.
Today’s focus is the western light of the Menorah in the Temple. Directions for the making of the “lampstand” or the “menorah” in the Hebrew are noted in Exodus 25.
Exodus 25:31-38 “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. 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; 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. And on the lampstand itself there shall be four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand. 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.
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. Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold.
Note, the lamps and the menorah are distinct and separate. This is confirmed in multiple places in the Bible.
Zechariah 4:2 “What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps…”
According to the Temple Institute, it is the western most lamp that is responsible for the lighting of the six remaining lamps. Tradition also holds the western most lamp was to remain lit during the course of the day.
On the seventh night of Chanukah, 5774, (2013)(and Rosh Chodesh Tevet), the Temple Institute conducted a practice run of the kindling of the seven branched Menorah that stands in the Holy Temple.
Keep in mind, it will likely be the Temple Institute who will be carrying out worship services in a future rebuilt Temple. They have all the implements and instruments including the menorah.
The continual burning of the westernmost lamp on the menorah was seen as a blessing or God’s favor. The event was an expected miracle. Israel had become complacent with God and miracles.
But, the light went out…
“Forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the western light went out…” -Jerusalem Talmud.
Israel had rejected the true light.
John 8:12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
