What does the Menorah symbolize?
827351
It reads to me as though someone at the top of your company is trying to make a point and engender anger against anyone non-Christian.  If you work for the government, then it makes sense to me that there should be no outward displays that would lead someone to believe the government prefers one religion over another, or religious people over non-religious ones.  If you work in the private sector, then it's a matter of company policy.  Allowing, or insisting that, a menorah be displayed and not a Christmas tree isn't fair and sounds very fishy.\n\nMarty K is wrong about liberals being in favor of this kind of disparity.  I know of no political liberals, or any fair-minded person, secular or religious, who would consider such a situation fair.
1115152
it symbolizes wearing a ring on your thumb.... why make it something more than what it is.... I have never heard of it meaning anything.
135724
The historic land of Israel as a symbol of the Jewish people. A place or religious community regarded as sacredly devoted to God. An idealized, harmonious community, utopia.
908064
The holiday is called Hanukkah meaning "dedication" because it marks the re-dedication of the Temple after its desecration under Antiochus IV. Spiritually, Hanukkah commemorates the Miracle of the Oil. According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days - which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil.
82428
It represents Isreal.
681692
It might look odd but I think the meaning is pretty sophisticated and refined.\n\nThe nose is usually the symbol of pride. Like if someone has their nose up in the air it usually gives the feeling that s/he is stuck up. Muslims, in this part of the prayer, put their noses on the ground, as a sign of submission to God's will. That God is higher and that they're just his slaves.\n\nThis position is very similar to the bow. Mobs used to bow to the king back when we had kings, lol..ya'know..that kinda thing...
712258
Because of the Hope it represents.  Jesus was born on this day and without him we would have nothing to look forward to.  People that are on drugs, homeless, sick, have lost their children, would have no hope.  Jesus is the reason for the season and the hope for all.
1168506
No it is a holy day for them. \n\n...In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a sabbath for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation. -Leviticus 16:24 \n\nRosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year.
254662
The zeal which consumed the Lord (v17) was that the Temple of God was where men were to come to meet with GOD, not to face legalism and marketing schemes.  \n\nThe disciples recognized the sign that was given (v17), but the Jews in the Temple did not (v18), because they were too involved in using legalism to merchandise God, and not involved enough with studiing the scriptures.  So Jesus told them of another sign of the Messiah (v19), and they were even more confounded.\n\nConsider the 94th Psalm, esp v8.
214980
It symbolizes Evil. It is a representation of the Lord of the Flies himself, who is Beelzebub, or, broadly speaking, the Devil.
1183554
It was more symbolic to the fact that while Moses was up on the Mt. the Israelites were breaking every commandment  that God had set for them to obey. Moses chose to destroy the Ten Commandments because the Israelites had once again defiled the covenant they had established with God and this upset Moses and also hurt God to see his people sin. However, God did later make a second identical set of the Ten Commandments for the Children of Israel to carry with them in the Ark of the Covenant.\n\n-In response to Julie B's comment about God punishing Moses... he kept Moses out of the Promise Land because he struck the rock twice when the Israelites needed water and God provided it from a rock to show them his power and their need for dependecny on him, but Moses tried to take credit for the work which God did. God looked upon his heart and examined his intentions for striking the rock twice when God only wanted him to strike it once. It was another occassion entirely.
755550
In the Scriptures, certain numbers have symbolic significance. The number seven, for example, is often used to symbolize that which is complete, or perfect, in God’s eyes.\n\nSix is one short of seven. Would it not be a fitting symbol of something imperfect, or defective, in God’s eyes? Yes, indeed! (1 Chronicles 20:6, 7) Moreover, six repeated three times, as 666, powerfully stresses that imperfection. That this is the correct view is supported by the fact that 666 is “a human number,”. Thus, the beast’s record, its “human number,” and the number 666 itself all point to one unmistakable conclusion—gross shortcoming and failure in the eyes of Jehovah.\n**************\n\nWho is this angel? He must have tremendous power to be able to dispose of Jehovah’s archenemy. He has “the key of the abyss and a great chain.” Does this not remind us of an earlier vision? Why, yes, the king over the locusts is called “the angel of the abyss”! (Revelation 9:11) So here we again observe Jehovah’s Chief Vindicator, the glorified Jesus Christ, in action. This archangel that cast Satan out of heaven, that judged Babylon the Great, and that disposed of “the kings of the earth and their armies” at Armageddon would surely not step aside to let a lesser angel deliver the masterstroke in abyssing Satan!—Revelation 12:7-9; 18:1, 2; 19:11-21.\nWhen the great fiery-colored dragon was hurled down from heaven, he was spoken of as “the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth.” (Revelation 12:3, 9) Now, at the point of being seized and abyssed, he is described again in full as “the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan.” This infamous devourer, deceiver, slanderer, and opposer is chained and hurled “into the abyss,” which is closed and sealed off tightly, “that he might not mislead the nations anymore.” This abyssing of Satan is for a thousand years, during which time his influence on mankind will be no more than that of a prisoner in a deep dungeon. The angel of the abyss removes Satan completely from any contact with the Kingdom of righteousness. What a relief for mankind!
1017825
Jesus and His disciples were Jewish, and the Last Supper was the last Passover Sedar, or dinner, to commemorate the Exodus.\nThe bread and the wine symbolize different things in the Old Testament and are part of the old covenant or heart promise.\nWhen Jesus ate this meal with His friends, He gave these symbols new meaning for a new covenant promise, symbolizing His body and blood that were to be given as a sacrifice for their sins and the sins of generations to come.
492091
The word Chanukah comes from the Hebrew word Chanuk which means to dedicate. The Festival commemorates the miraculous victory of the Maccabean army over the pagan military forces that occupied Jerusalem.\n\nThis all dates back to the original "Abomination of Desolation" which the prophet Daniel wrote about (Daniel 11:31 and 12:11).  A pagan military leader and man of lawlessness named Antiochus Epiphanes entered into the holy Temple in Jerusalem on December 25th and erected an idol and burned a pig on the altar which defiled the Temple.\n\nThis Abomination of Desolation is still practiced by many today. They understand that that their body is a Temple of God (1 Corinthans 3:16) and therefore on December 25th they will make a point of eating ham. Why they want to commemorate the Abomination of Desolation in this way on that day is a mystery (2nd Thes 2:7)\n\nBut the story doesn't stop there. A small group of priests and Jewish warriors led by Judah Maccabee ("Judah the Hammer") conquered the pagans and drove them out. They cleansed the Temple and had to remove the pork grease from the walls, so they ran fire over the entire surface of the walls to burn off the contamination. And on Kislev 25th they rededicated the Temple. So for this reason, Kislev 25th is celebrated each year as the Feast of Dedication or Festival of Chanukah. It is a "Festival of Lights" in the time of the dark winter months. It is a time for personal reflection and dedication for our own lives. Just as the Maccabees burned out the contamination from the Temple with fire, so too the Fire of the Holy Spirit is important for burning out the impurities within our "Temple" (our body).\n\nAnd the Abomination of Desolation will occur again - as you will read in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 - during the 4th year of the 7 years of Tribulation. It will again be a man of lawlessness who performs it. He will probably tell you that eating pig is okay, but don't be decieved.\n\nAnd just as that future Abomination of Desolation occurs in the "midst of the week", on the 4th "day", so too the original Abomination of Desolation occured on the "4th day".  To the Lord 1000 years is as a day. Day 1 was from Adam to Noah, Day 2 was from Noah to Abraham (Abraham is said to have been born in the year 1948 from creation). Day 3 is from Abraham to King David. Day 4 was from King David to Messiah and it was during that day that Antiochus committed the Abomination of Desolation. Another 2 days have now passed from the time of Messiah. We are ready to enter into the 7th 1000 year day -- the Sabbath Day -- the time when Messiah will reign over all the earth for 1000 years.  But first we have that 7 years of Tribulation, when even the Elect might be deceived. Study to show yourself approved and don't be deceived in that time.\n\nAs to where Chanukah is mentioned in the Bible, we find that Messiah travels to Jerusalem for this holiday in John 10:22 \n   "Then came the Feast of Dedication {That is, Hanukkah} at Jerusalem. It was winter," \n\n(The footnote in the middle of the verse is found in the NIV.)\n\n    So, yes, Chanukah is Biblical and is mentioned in the Bible, and in fact, has very important meaning for our understand of prophecy.
1155522
Many of the numbers in the Bible have deeper significance:\n\n1 – Represents absolute singleness and unity (Ephesians 4:4–6; John 17:21, 22.) \n\n2 – Represents the truth of God’s Word, for example, the law and prophets (John 1:45), two or three witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1), and a sword with two edges (Hebrews 4:12). See Mark 6:7 and Revelation 11:3. It is also used 21 times in the books of Daniel and Revelation. \n\n3 – Represents the Godhead / Trinity. The angels cry “Holy” three times to the triune God (Isaiah 6:3). See also Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7, 8. \n\n4 – Represents universal truth, as in the four directions (north, south, east, west) and the four winds (Matthew 24:31; Revelation 7:1; Revelation 20:8). In acts 10:11, a sheet with four corners symbolizes the gospel going to all the gentiles. \n\n5 – Represents teaching. First, there are the five books of Moses. Second, Jesus taught about the five wise virgins and used five barley loaves used to feed the 5,000.\n\n6 – Represents the worship of man, and is the number of man, signifying his rebellion, imperfection, works, and disobedience. It is used 273 times in the Bible, including its derivatives (e.g., sixth) and another 91 times as “threescore” or “60.” Man was created on the sixth day (Genesis 1:26, 31). See also Exodus 31:15 and Daniel 3:1. \n\nThe number is especially significant in the book Revelation, as “666” identifies the beast. “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:18). \n\n7 – Represents perfection, and is the sign of God, divine worship, completions, obedience, and rest. The “prince” of Bible numbers, it is used 562 times, including its derivatives (e.g., seventh, sevens). (See Genesis 2:1–4, Psalm 119:164, and Exodus 20:8–11 for just a few of the examples.) \n\nThe number seven is also the most common in biblical prophecy, occurring 42 times in Daniel and Revelation alone. In Revelation there are seven churches, seven spirits, seven golden candlesticks, seven stars, seven lamps, seven seals, seven horns, seven eyes, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven thousand slain in a great earthquake, seven heads, seven crowns, seven last plagues, seven golden vials, seven mountains, and seven kings. \n\n10 – represents law and restoration. Of course, this includes the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20. See also Matthew 25:1 (ten virgins); Luke 17:17 (ten lepers); Luke 15:8 (healing, ten silver coins). \n\n12 – Represents the church and God’s authority. Jesus had 12 disciples, and there were 12 tribes of Israel. In Revelation 12:1, the 24 elders and 144,000 are multiples of 12. The New Jerusalem city has12 foundations, 12 gates 12 thousand furlongs, a tree with 12 kinds of fruit 12 times a year eaten by 12 times 12,000 or the 144,000. (See Revelation 21.) \n\n40 – Represents a generation and times of testing. It rained for 40 days during the flood. Moses spent 40 years in the desert, as did the children of Israel. Jesus fasted for 40 days. \n\n50 – represents power and celebration. The Jubilee came after the 49th year (Leviticus 25:10), and Pentecost occurred 50 days after Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2).\n\n70 – Represents human leadership and judgment. Moses appointed 70 elders (Exodus 24:1); The Sanhedrin was made up of 70 men. Jesus chose 70 disciples (Luke 10:1). Jesus told Peter to forgive 70 times 7.\n\nWith love in Christ.
14811
It represents virginity. Before the official vows take place, the couple is not married, and the "veil" of virginity still must remain intact. Afterwards, once the couple is married, the veil can be lifted. That is true to christianity.\n    In Judaism, it is a tradition that the veil be lifted because someone fooled someone else into thinking that he would marry Rachel, but he was married to Leah. So the groom checks to make sure it really is his bride before they're officially married.
1116261
I just learned that yesterday. In Bible Study Im learning about other religions and we were going over Hinduism. The symbol welcomes auspiciousness and drives out evil.\nI didn't know that only because of what the nazis did, although in hitlers mind he prob thought that it would help him drive out the jews.