Exodus 25:33
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. 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.
Each of the six branches coming out of the central shaft was adorned with three almond-shaped bowls, each with a knop and a flower, to form a seven-branched lampstand with seven lamps made from one solid piece of pure gold. It stood on the south side of the holy place of the tabernacle built at God's command as His dwelling among Israel in the wilderness, to specifications given by Christ to Moses. Its lamps burned continually day and night and lighted both apartments, and their light was reflected by the gold-plated walls, the sacred furnishings and the colored curtains to add to the beauty and glory and splendor of the sanctuary. That branched candlestick with seven lamps stands in the first apartment of the temple in the Holy City in heaven, entered through the door and the first veil, together with the altar of incense and the table of shewbread before the second veil that leads into the Holy of Holies.
Lampstand Construction and Light
Each of the six side branches was ornamented with three almond-shaped bowls or cups, each accompanied by a knop and a flower. The six branches extend from a central shaft to form a seven-branched lampstand with seven lamps. The lampstand was made from one solid piece of pure gold.
It stood in the holy place of the tabernacle, on the south side. Its lamps burned continually day and night and illuminated both apartments of the sanctuary. Its seven lamps gave light in the holy place by day and by night.
Its light was reflected by the gold-plated boards and walls, the sacred furnishings, and the colored curtains, adding to the sanctuary's beauty, glory, and splendor. The furniture looked rich and glorious like pure gold. It reflected the image of anyone who entered.
Heavenly Pattern and Gospel
The tabernacle was built at God's command as His dwelling among Israel in the wilderness, and its specifications, including the ornamenting of the branches with almond-shaped bowls, were given by Christ to Moses. The branched candlestick with seven lamps commanded for that sanctuary stands in the holy place or first apartment of the temple in the Holy City in heaven. That heavenly Holy Place is entered through a door and the first veil and contains the candlestick together with the altar of incense and the table of shewbread, before the second veil that leads into the Holy of Holies.
Paul repeated this specification with the rest of Exodus 24-27 to his fellow workers while working quickly and skillfully with his hands at tentmaking, for his own benefit and theirs. In this way he preached the gospel with his hands as well as with his voice, kept in touch with the great Teacher, educated others in unity, and gave an example of diligence and thoroughness.
From it he taught that supreme honor is to be given to God and that the skill, genius, and wisdom brought into the work of building the tabernacle were given by God to be used for His glory.