Question: In your October 1999 newsletter, you made a comment in the Q&A section that “the ...

Question: In your October 1999 newsletter, you made a comment in the Q&A section that “the lighting of candles in conjunction with religious observance is a pagan and occult practice.” I beg to differ with you. God commanded the use of candles in worship of him in the Torah (Ex 25:37) and more than 50 other places in the Old Testament. The Menorah (candles) were commanded by God to be used in worship. This custom was practiced by the Jews to obey God. This is alluded to in the New Testament. Jesus is a/the [sic] light (candle). Revelation chapters 1-3 talk about candles and worship. Candles in worship are not prohibited or condemned in Scripture; in fact they are encouraged and commended. I think you need to reconsider your statement.

Response: On the contrary, neither the word “candle” nor “candles” is ever used in the Bible in relation to worship. The words “candlestick” and “candlesticks” (prior to Revelation) refer to objects used exclusively in the tabernacle and/or temple. There was, in fact, no “custom practiced by the Jews” involving candles or candlesticks. These items were unique. Their use was solely in conjunction with the priestly duties inside the tabernacle or temple, and there were no copies of them in use outside the tabernacle or temple for the Jews to involve in any of their customs.

Any religious use today of candles or candlesticks would signify a return “to the weak and beggarly elements” of the old covenant” (Gal:4:9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
See All...) with its animal sacrifices. That would be a blatant denial of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Candles and candlesticks were “a figure for the time then present...in meats and drinks...and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until...Christ being come an high priest of good things to come...by his own blood...entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb:9:1-12 [1] Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. [2] For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. [3] And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; [4] Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; [5] And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. [6] Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. [7] But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: [8] The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: [9] Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; [10] Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. [11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
See All...).

In Revelation, seven candlesticks are seen in heaven in Christ’s presence. These are not used in worship but represent “the seven churches” to which Christ writes (1:20). There is one further mention of a candlestick: Christ warns the church at Ephesus to repent or He will “remove thy candlestick,” i.e., no longer acknowledge it as a true church.

Candles are, however, used in witchcraft, and in Roman Catholicism as a symbol of prayer to the alleged saints. It would be unbiblical and would open the door to further error for true Christians to start to use candles as part of prayer or worship.