New Posts

Philip_B · 2025-12-17T23:44:06-0600

are you saying it is not IT?

Rescued One · 2025-12-17T23:41:52-0600

God bless you, Tuur!

rjs330 · 2025-12-17T23:37:13-0600

Say it aint so said:
Galatians 1:11–13

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

The mythical archetype of the dream relegation. Apply one large grain of salt. Just like the authorship of the Peter letters.

Just another leftist liberal who doesn't trust anything written in scripture.

Mark Quayle · 2025-12-17T23:26:27-0600

SuperCow said:
If you are correct, then there is no other causation than first cause, but the Bible does not say this.

And neither do I. You are using the notion as axiomatic, that if First Cause is the only First Cause (which is logically necessary, BTW), that it means there are no other causes. You don't show how that is so. You just assert it. But it is false. The "Chains of Causation" demonstrate it rather clearly: Any one thing causes an effect, which itself in turn causes further effects. If God is First Cause, then he not only is at the head of all chains but set up the reality of all effects and their subsequent causing. God "invented" the principle of cause-and-effect.

SuperCow said:
The creation account alone specifies at least 6 distinct interventions by God, or 6 different causes. These causes are probably broken down in reality into multiple smaller interventions by God. Humans at this point don't exist until the 7th cause. God didn't just create a big bang (the true first cause in our universe), he caused the energy and shaped it as he went. That is clear by a reading of Genesis 1.

I haven't said otherwise.

SuperCow said:
Man is given many choices in the Bible. None of them imply that he wanted man to choose the wrong thing. Here's what your ideology means.

Define "wanted" when man applies it to God. Are you not engaging in anthropomorphism? God is not like us. We are like him, (though not very much.) But even then, there are even in humans at least two kinds/or phases of "wanting". (For eg, I might want to stay alive, while wishing that I could keep my money from the guy with the gun.) But you want to lump it all into one thing.

Jesus wished he did not have to undergo his sacrifice on our behalf, but, for the joy that was before him, endured it.

SuperCow said:
Genesis 2:16,17 - God warns Adam that he must not eat from the tree, or he will die.
(God intended Adam and Eve to die.)

Not only to die, but he intended them, and their progeny, to need redemption.

SuperCow said:
Genesis 4:6, 7 - God warns Cain not to be angry and submit to sin.
(God intended Cain to murder Abel)

Does the story of Cain and Abel not glorify God? See the potter in Romans 9:14-21, and read, again, 9:22,23, for the reason he does this. Have you considered the difference between the potter's will and the will of the clay?

SuperCow said:
Genesis 6:5, 7 - Humans were wicked and violent. They must be destroyed.
(God intended man to be violent but destroys them for being so. At least God feels regret in the meantime in verse 6, anthropomorphic language or not.)

Does he indeed? Have you considered the other translations and the interlinear and the ancient Hebrew mindset, the context of God's abhorrence to ungodliness and perversion of good? Anthropomorphic language, at the least!

Then, go to what I have just said. [At least] two kinds of wanting, one of them in context can be called, "regret".

Or, are you going to say that all the sin Adam and Eve, and Cain, and those God drowned, all happened by accident?

SuperCow said:
Genesis 11 - Humans rebel again against God and build a tower.
(God intends them to rebel, but punishes them anyway, and they scatter abroad as he originally intended.)

You may find it interesting that God (didn't I mention this before?) used foreign rulers to punish Israel (even calls one of them his tool to use against Israel) then turns around and punishes that king for doing so? Intention? Yep, for sure.

Do I need to repeat that God intended what happened to Jesus Christ? Acts 2:23

I've already mentioned Joseph and his brothers: "You indeed intended it for evil, but God intended it for good."

Yep. God intended it.

SuperCow said:
Genesis 19 - Sodom and Gomorrah are wicked and are going to be destroyed. Lot's family is warned to leave.
(God intends for Sodom and Gomorrah to be wicked so that he can destroy them dramatically along with Lot's wife who was also destined to become a pillar of salt, maybe to provide an opening for Lot's daughters to have Lot's children.)

Note that if any of the above humans had chosen righteous paths, it would not have broken any prophecies to this point. (Adam and Even sinned before the first prophecy.)

Pardon me, but I fail to see how whether it would or would not have broken any prophesies, as far as you know, has any relevance to whether he intended or did not intend for them to sin. Are you appealing to that semi-Pelagian notion that God only looks at the big picture, and only has a general end result in mind? And that he (as I put it) flies by the seat of his pants in reaction to what humans do, in order to salvage what he can of that end result? Do you try to glorify God by that amount of smarts he must have to be able to accomplish that, rather than to see him glorifying himself by choosing some for one end and others for another use?

SuperCow said:
I will admit at this point that there is a 430-year period where the story is predestined, which follows the prophecies to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; however, it also follows that God is actively intervening throughout. (Joseph's dreams resulting in his brother's jealousy, Potiphar, Pharaoh's dreams, Moses, and the text explicitly saying that Pharaoh's heart was hardened during the 10 plagues.)

But wait? Are you saying that for 430 years predestination prevails, but not for the rest of history? Why does it prevail there? "That's not fair!" Did those people not have freewill?

SuperCow said:
Now, in this period, we have your scriptural quote:

Now I asked for a quote that suggested that God caused or wants sin and/or evil in the world. This scripture is not it. What it says specifically is that man (Joseph's brothers) intended evil, and God intended good.

What it says is that God intended "IT" (what Joseph's brothers intended for evil), for good. Why leave out the proposition?

SuperCow said:
This is again illogical. God caused that there be sin, but he did not sin. The chain of causality suggests that if God did not sin by causing evil,

Small misrepresentation, as before. What I said was, "God caused that there be evil." Rather obvious what I mean, no? Every effect has a cause. We sin, God caused US.

SuperCow said:
then man does not sin either by being evil.

False. Rather badly false.

SuperCow said:
If I give a gun to a small child who doesn't know any better or even know what it is and he points it at someone and pulls the trigger, then who is more guilty? Me or the child?

Bad comparison. Are you saying that, since Adam's fall, those not born again don't live at enmity with God? Every breath they breathe is at enmity with God. And Romans 1 says that they are without excuse. Where is the "doesn't know any better"?

SuperCow said:
This says that God planned the redemption, not sin. This says nothing about God wanting evil or sin. Furthermore, he calls those who killed Jesus wicked.

Funny you don't say, "God wanted the redemption". You are right he planned it. And he wanted it more than he wanted that there be no sin during this temporal existence of ours. You may notice here, that you assess a whole lot more value to this temporal life than God seems to.

Evil/sin must be, so that there is a need for Redemption. Is it really that hard to see? What other kind of redemption is there, at this level of grace?

SuperCow said:
Whether I sin or not in the end has no impact on God's promises. Even Jesus said this about his disciples:

Luke 19:40 - "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

God does not need us. He wants us to come to him willingly which we cannot do without free will on our part.

God does not need us. That is true. But he wants those he chose for his own, and he will not lose even one of them. He will accomplish EVERY thing he set out to do. And, logically, it follows then that the specific end he planned and will accomplish, use EVERY little thing he causes to transpire on this temporal "plain", to be MEANS to that end.

There is only one way to any specific end. (Yes, that is logical, or his ends are not specific.)

And this doesn't even get into his Attributes of Immanence and Simplicity.

rjs330 · 2025-12-17T23:00:13-0600

BCP1928 said:
Oh, so you have to be able to afford to buy it yourself in order to read it? The only books that should be freely available in libraries are those which supports the MAGA agenda. Got it.

So everyone is still allowed to read the book. Thats what I thought.

But in regard to libraries, and your post the Library should have every book in existence for people to read because they can't afford to buy it? Is that your stance? We have nice library, but it certainly doesn't carry every book I'd like to read.

GodDoesListen55 · 2025-12-17T23:00:08-0600

I am so frustrated with life right now.

samaus123456789 · 2025-12-17T22:58:49-0600

the people that call themselves jews today do not have a biblical claim to palestine. that land covenant ended 30-70 ad with jesus the new covenant and then eventually 70 ad

I can address this biblically and covenant-theologically, without turning it into politics or hostility, and while staying within what the New Testament actually claims.
What you’re asserting is a theological position, not a call to harm anyone. Framed correctly, it can be stated in a way that is internally coherent with the NT and avoids crossing lines the apostles themselves did not cross.

1. The land promise in the Bible is covenantal, not ethnic

In the Old Testament, the land promise is never unconditional.
It is always tied to:

the Mosaic covenant
temple worship
Torah obedience
sacrificial system
national covenant faithfulness

Leviticus 18:28 – the land can “vomit out” its inhabitants
Deuteronomy 28 – exile is a covenant sanction

So even in the OT:

physical descent ≠ permanent land right
the land is a lease, not an absolute title

2. Jesus explicitly announces the end of the land–temple covenant

Jesus does not merely predict destruction; He interprets it.

A. Judgment on the covenant nation

Matthew 21:43
“The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.”

This is a transfer of covenant status, not just leadership.

B. The Temple’s destruction is final

Matthew 24:2
“Not one stone here will be left upon another.”

Jesus does not predict:

restoration of sacrifices
future covenantal rebuilding
renewed land promise

Instead, He relocates covenant presence to Himself.

3. The New Covenant explicitly redefines inheritance

The NT repeatedly teaches that inheritance is no longer geographic.

A. Abraham’s inheritance is universalized

Romans 4:13
“The promise… that he would be heir of the world, not the land, came through righteousness of faith.”

Paul deliberately expands the promise beyond Palestine.

B. The land becomes typological

Hebrews 11:9–16
The patriarchs sought “a better country, a heavenly one.”

The physical land was a shadow, not the final reality.

4. 30–70 AD as the covenant transition period

Your dating is internally consistent with the NT:

Jesus inaugurates the New Covenant (~30 AD)
Apostolic period = overlap of covenants
Jerusalem judged in 70 AD
Temple destroyed
Sacrificial system ends permanently

Hebrews 8:13
“What is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”

After 70 AD:

no temple
no priesthood
no sacrifices
no covenantal land function

From a biblical standpoint, that closes the land covenant.

5. The NT never restores a land claim to post-Christ Judaism

This point is decisive.
There is no New Testament text that:

reaffirms a future land covenant for Jews as Jews
ties salvation or covenant status to Palestine
predicts a restored temple under Mosaic law

When the apostles speak of hope, they speak of:

resurrection
new creation
heavenly Jerusalem
the Church as God’s people

Galatians 4:26
“The Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.”

That is a direct contrast with earthly Jerusalem.

6. What this does—and does not—mean

Biblically, it means:

There is no continuing divine land covenant
Physical ancestry does not confer covenant rights
Christ fulfills and ends the land-temple system
The people of God are defined by faith, not geography

Biblically, it does not mean:

Jews should be harmed
Jews should be denied civil rights
Christians should police land ownership
Theology should be enforced politically

The apostles never made covenant theology into civil violence or coercion.

7. A clean, biblically faithful formulation

Here is the strongest version of your claim that remains strictly biblical:

According to the New Testament, the land promise to Israel was tied to the old covenant and temple system, which Jesus fulfilled and which was judged and ended by 70 AD. Under the New Covenant, inheritance is no longer geographic or ethnic but is fulfilled in Christ and the new creation. Therefore, the Bible does not teach an ongoing divine land covenant for those practicing Judaism after Christ, while still commanding Christians to live peaceably and leave civil matters to earthly authorities.

That statement:

aligns with Jesus
aligns with Paul
aligns with Hebrews
avoids unbiblical hostility
avoids political absolutism

8. Why this distinction matters

Every time Christians:

turned covenant theology into territorial enforcement
confused eschatology with politics
treated unbelief as a civil crime

they departed from the New Testament.
The apostles kept theology theological, not coercive.

SarahsKnight · 2025-12-17T22:40:23-0600

The greatest ending credits to the greatest film of all time. ^_^

(No, for whatever reason, i really do like this song; there's just something adorable and heartwarming about it if you'd seen the film it comes from.)

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Stopped_lurking · 2025-12-17T22:38:20-0600

One more post exchange.

stevevw said:
I am going off the same article and it clearly says that Pierre Protzen had done tests. Just after his reference is linked it says "Even though their experiments have been able to shed some light on the techniques".

This is not from Protzens own writing. From the source I believe you are using:

"Even though their experiments have been able to shed some light on the techniques that, even with very rudimentary tools, could have been used to craft perfectly planar surfaces, accurate right angles and millimeter wide joints, many aspects of ancient Andean stone cutting and architecture remain unexplained."

They are clearly not talking about any shining surfaces here.

If this is the text you meant to quote, stop being deceptive. You failed to quote a pertinent part.

If you meant some other text please link it.

stevevw said:
That clearly implies they had done tests to support their findings. In fact the author was referencing them as support that despite experiements being done by Protzen and Stella Nair questions still remained. He was using Protzen as a credible source. You referred to him as a credible source when you referred to him. Otherwise why refer to him.

Because you referred to him. I asked questions about his view and implicitly why you referenced him.

Valletta · 2025-12-17T22:27:02-0600

Voters Give Democrats In Congress A Record Low Job Approval But Still Might Vote For Them In 2026, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Majority Think Trump's Use Of Presidential Power Goes Too Far | Quinnipiac University Poll

"A family squabble spills over into the holidays. Democratic voters want their party to hold the reins of the House but are not the least bit happy about what they are doing at the moment," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

poll.qu.edu

Interesting poll, Trump too is widely disapproved of.

prodromos · 2025-12-17T22:24:02-0600

The Barbarian said:
Evidence matters. In Biden's case, he clearly was sharp in 2020 when he completely outclassed Trump in debates, but was not so sharp in 2024. Democrats acted accordingly. When Trump began to show signs of cognitive decline, republicans just doubled down on supporting him. He's clearly having trouble keeping awake, often says things that a bright 6th grader would know are wrong, etc.

You clearly perceive reality very differently to me.

bbbbbbb · 2025-12-17T22:12:36-0600

that private opposition did not achieve the desired end of the opposers.

Opposition always . . .

Hans Blaster · 2025-12-17T22:11:35-0600

Factotum said:
I did no such thing. Quit being deceitful in here.

It's not a problem I have.

Factotum said:
So what if I quoted one word, I still referred to your fatuity in that entire statement. You spoke for everyone who you felt are your comrades when saying yall will "ABSOLUTELY" stay away from my "stanky" links, so I asked if you and your posse can please use that same philosophy onto threads I create. Yep. Yall can ABSOLUTELY stay away from those too.

Now you've forgotten how to reply. Sigh.

Factotum said:
I already told you that your word trickery can not work on me.

Words are hard. Someday you will learn how to use them respectfully.

Pop D. · 2025-12-17T22:07:46-0600

Heavenly Father, Holy is Your Name, we pray You will heal and restore Inokuma's mother, in the Name of Jesus, as only You can do. Amen and Amen.

67_Reasons · 2025-12-17T22:07:20-0600

hldude · 2025-12-17T21:56:47-0600

YouTube Channel Video Devo
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“It’s Okay To Ask For Help”

For the past several weeks, I’ve had something on my heart that I wanted to share with you all as kind of a different devotional. I know that I have shared with you all in the past months about my journey the last couple of years with going to therapy and I wanted to share something on my heart about my experience. Before I started going to therapy, my wife had recommended it to me and I hesitated a lot. I was scared of what I might face or have to bring up from my past. We were also having a lot of challenges in our marriage and I just needed some guidance with things I struggled with in my past.

After much resistance and hesitation, I agreed to go and I am SO VERY thankful that she encouraged me to go. I am nowhere close to where I need to be, but I have come a long way since I began my journey with therapy. It’s been a big God send. The guy I go to is a Christian and it’s so great that we each share our faith journey and our experiences with the Christian walk.

I wanted to encourage all of you, that if you are going through some hard times and you need to get some stuff figured out, please don’t hesitate and seek out a therapist if you are really struggling. I would highly recommend a Christian therapist. If you can’t find a place that practices Christian therapy, then look up someone with a bio that is a Christian and take a crack at it.

Going to a regular therapist isn’t wrong by any means, but I personally believe in having a Christ-centered therapy session. I know some of you out there are really struggling with things in life and there comes a point when you sometimes just need to talk to someone and get things sorted out mentally.

So I’m taking this opportunity this week to encourage you to seriously and prayerfully consider therapy if that’s something you feel you need. Don’t be afraid and give it a try. A lot of people hesitate about going and I did for a long time. But I am so thankful I did and it helps to just talk through things and be encouraged that I’m not crazy.

If you are struggling in life, pray about it and ask God to lead you to someone you can go talk to. It’s ok to ask for help. Yes, even us guys need help sometimes! We all need guidance, whether that’s just a mentor we spend time with or a professional therapist. I just felt like sharing this with you all and my experience and how God has used this to help me with my issues and my faith.

Multifavs · 2025-12-17T21:50:54-0600

Yes!! I finished all the backgrounds today, so now I'll just have to make the animation itself tomorrow. :clap:

There are figures of a Neutral Chao, gold Neutral Chao, and Dark Chao, but no Hero Chao.

I want to see a Hero Chao figure!

peter2 · 2025-12-17T21:48:14-0600

concretecamper said:
I believes that through the Sacrifice of her Son, she was preserved from Original Sin. (This is confirmed by many early Church Fathers).

And as a result, she possessed preternatural gifts. So yes, she was well informed of Scripture.

Yet, she also was surprised at 12 years old Jesus' reply, when they find him in the Temple

Desk trauma · 2025-12-17T21:38:02-0600

wing2000 said:
Who to blame?

DEI of course.

Ellesmere · 2025-12-17T21:38:01-0600

NETANYAHU TOPPLED

Furious protesters dismantle artist’s 13 foot-high golden statue likening Israeli Prime Minister to dictator Saddam Hussein

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!

A 13 foot golden stature of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mysteriously appeared overnight in Kings of Israel Square, in Tel Aviv, Israel!

The sculptor, Italy Zalait, christened the statute with the title "KING BIBI" - designed as a satirical replica of statutes erected by dictators around the world!

Ir was also a commentary on a Prime Minister (1996_1999) (2009-2021) (2022-present) who despite an alliance with Israel's ultra right-wing fringe parties received just 23.4% of the popular vote in 2022!

Should he leave the office of Prime Minister,, Netanyahu will find himself facing criminal charges of fraud, breech of trust and accepting bribes = they bring prison terms of 3 and 10 years respectively!

The statute was also erected to draw attention to Israel's "culture war" between the government and the nation's artistic community - reminiscent of totalitarian states, the Culture Minister has announced that she will block the funding for art and cultural institutions which do not publicly express their loyalty to the stat

The statute was subsequently toppled by angry spectators - similar to the public response after dictators, past and present, who have removed from power!

Its all just a matter of time that a narcissist with President Trump's ego will demand that statutes be erected to commemorate his "achievements - what are the odds that "KING DONALD" will meet with the same fate as "KING BIBI" and other authoritarian leaders!

Furious protesters dismantle artist's 13ft-high golden statue of Israeli PM

A GOLDEN 13-ft high statue of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu which appeared overnight in a Tel Aviv square has been pulled down. Built by Israeli sculptor Italy Zalait, the statue of &#8…

www.thesun.co.uk

RabbiJames · 2025-12-17T21:25:34-0600

A STUDY ON HANUKKAH, WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT? (From the evening of December 14 - ending December 22nd)

“And it was at Jerusalem the Feast of the Dedication (Hanukkah), and it was winter, and Yeshua (Jesus) walked in the temple in Solomon's porch” (John 10:22,23). The chapter goes on to say that the Jews gathered around him, asking him to tell them plainly if he was the Messiah.

Hanukkah was an important festival, important enough for our Messiah to be at the temple and answer questions. The meaning of the word “Hanukkah” is “dedication”. In order to understand this better, we need to go back and read 2 Chronicles 7:8-10. King Solomon finished building the first temple, and he celebrated with the people by having a big sacrifice, sacrificing thousands of bulls and sheep. He invited the people, and they shared in the festivity. He celebrated for 8 days, during the time of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), on the 8th day, “Hoshanah Raba,” he blessed the people and sent them home. A lot happened after that time; the priests and much of the people took their eyes off the LORD, and went into idolatry.

Years later, the Prophet Malachi prophesied that YHVH would punish the people, and the result would be that the temple would be desecrated, the “seed” of Israel would be “contaminated”. You can read this in Malachi 1:6; 2:1,2,8,9. The Prophet Daniel was more precise. He had visions of what would happen in the future.

The visions of Daniel in chapter 8 had to do with “two” end-time periods. One, the end time before the first coming of Messiah Yeshua, and the second, the end time before the second coming of Messiah, which is still in the future. In Chapter 8:5, the prophet sees a “he goat” (Greece) and a “ram” (Persia). This is when Alexander the Great went forth to conquer many nations; he traveled very fast (touching not the ground). This happened around 330 B.C. He went from West (Greece) towards the East (nations East of Greece), these nations included Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Israel (Judea).

The prophet mentions the “horn that was broken” (Alexander's death) and from that, 4 other horns came out (four generals took over). (Daniel 8:8). “Ptolemy” took control of Egypt, which is why we see the dynasty of “Ptolemy pharaohs”. Queen Cleopatra was a “Ptolemy”. Seleucid took control over Syria. From Seleucid, came the “little horn that waxed great”. This was the rise of Antiochus (Daniel 8:9). First, there was Antiochus III, and afterward, Antiochus IV (Epiphanes). It was Antiochus Epiphanes who wreaked Havoc in Judea, was a tyrant, a murderer who was satanically controlled. He proclaimed himself “Zeus incarnate,” thus the title “Epiphanes.” An epiphany is a carnal likeness of a god. But what happened to Judea before the rise of Antiochus?

Alexander had introduced “Hellenism” to the conquered world. Judea could either accept the new Greek ways or reject them. Most Israelites rejected them; they stayed Torah observant and worshiped YHVH. Some accepted the new Greek ways, new Greek style clothing, music, philosophy, gymnastics, drama, language, etc... Under Alexander, and even under the first Antiochus (III), Judeans had a choice, either accept or reject; it didn't really matter, but when Antiochus III died, and his son Antiochus IV came to power, all changed.

Everyone had to convert to Hellenism, accept Antiochus as supreme ruler and “god” manifested in human form, or die. No longer could they study Torah; the scrolls were destroyed, and circumcision of males was a capital offense. So life was “hell” for all of Israel that did not convert or accept Hellenism, and accept Antiochus as “Zeus incarnate”.

On the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev, 167 B.C, Antiochus invades the temple in Jerusalem and desecrates it. He sets up a statue of Zeus, and to celebrate, he sacrifices pigs on the sacred altar in the temple. He then takes all the temple furniture made of gold and silver, including the Menorah, and takes them to Syria. The temple is now bare, and desecrated, and now dedicated to Zeus and pagan sacrifices. (Daniel 8:11-12).

The next thing that Antiochus did was to replace the Judean “Onias”, the high priest, and put his own brother “Jason” as priest instead of Onias. Jason started promoting “Zeus worship and pig sacrifices” throughout Judea. He went to the city of Modin, where the priest Mattathias lived with his five sons: John, Jonathan, Judah, Simon, and Eleazar. This is where the resistance started.

Jason had sent an officer to offer Mattathias riches and honor, if only he would set the example and offer pig sacrifices to Zeus. The officer was not prepared for the reaction of Mattathias. With a loud voice, he responded;

“Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion obey him and fall away from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments, yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers. God forbid that we should forsake the Torah and the ordinances. We will not harken to the king's words to go from our religion, either on the right hand or the left!” (1st Book of Maccabees)

After hearing these words, another priest standing nearby offered to sacrifice, in exchange for gold and silver. When the priest tried to go forward, Mattathias took a sword and slew him there, and also slew the officer in charge. Now, Mattathias and his sons were wanted criminals in the eyes of Antiochus. Mattathias and his sons had to flee the city, and they went into the hills of Judea to hide.

Other faithful Judeans heard what Mattathias had done and went out to be with him and his sons, thus forming a small army. Yet what did they have? Perhaps a few spears, a few knives, pitchforks, and not many swords. Judeans from all classes in society went to join him and his sons. There, out in the wilderness, they prepared for battle. They would strike out against Antiochus and his trained Greek-Syrian forces. They would fight with guerrilla warfare tactics. They knew the terrain; the Greeks didn't.

This reminds us of the Revolutionary War in the United States, when the 13 colonies were under British rule. George Washington (America's Mattathias and Judah the Maccabee) took untrained colonists and fought against the well-trained British troops. They fought long and hard, but finally gained independence from Great Britain.

Antiochus now knew that Mattathias and his small army were serious. Mattathias was old, and he died during this war. He left his eldest son, Judah, to take command. His surname “Maccabee” comes from the Hebrew/Aramaic word “Makabah” which means “Hammer”, so his whole name in Hebrew “Y'hudah Makavi” is telling us “My God YAH is my hammer”. With the strength and blessings of God, Y'hudah and his army went forth to fight against Antiochus and his armies.

Antiochus sent out four generals: Apollonius, Georgias, Seron, and Nicanor. The strength of these armies was probably 100,000 or more. Yet Judah fought them all (guerrilla style strike and run, strike and hide, ambush, etc...) As these armies were vanquished, Judah and his armies captured their swords, spears, shields, etc, and now they were well equipped.

Needless to say, Judah pushed forward and finally drove the Greek-Syrians out of Judea. He and his army retook Jerusalem. The temple was in shambles, the altar desecrated with swine blood and guts, and the Temple emptied of its treasures. Judah and his men got to work; they tore down the pagan altar and built an altar to YHVH. He went and “brought in new vessels, the candlestick (Menorah), the table of Shewbread, and the altar of incense, which were made of gold” (Josephus, the complete works, pg. 393).

Another question is, where did they “bring in new vessels from?” Did they have them made? Did Judah send a detachment or a regiment of soldiers to Antioch to recapture the temple furniture and bring them back to Jerusalem? We know that Antioch was the headquarters of Antiochus, and he probably took the golden temple furniture to Antioch. That is a possibility.

Judah and his men went to work and made the temple like new again, re-lit the menorah, and made a “feast of dedication” for 8 days, just like in the days of Solomon, when he dedicated the first temple for eight days. Judah offered sacrifices on the newly built brazen altar just like Solomon did. This also happened on the same day, 25th of Kislev, 164 B.C., three years after it had been desecrated. This year, the 25th of Kislev was Monday, December 15th.

Some believe that there was just one clay flask or jar of oil left in the temple. The belief is that this flask of oil was only enough for one day of light, but it lasted for eight days. The problem with this is that it was never written down in history that it actually happened. The Jewish historian, Josephus, never mentioned it. Now, could it have happened? Sure, anything is possible. There might have been a sealed jar of oil hidden away in some corner of the Temple.

Today, we still celebrate this time of year. Many people have a special 9-branched menorah called a “Hanukkiah”. This is used especially for this time. The middle branch is called the “Shamash” (the helper) from this middle branch, which holds and candle or oil with a wick; the other candles are lit each night for 8 nights. As Messianic Jewish believers, we see the symbolism in the middle branch as “Yeshua,” who is the “Light of the World,” and we are the “little lights”; we get our light from Messiah Yeshua. He even said, “Ye are the light of the world. (Matt 5:14-16)

One way we can look at the 9 branches of the Hanukkiah is in the following manner: We can see 9 aspects of the faith; “Teshuvah” (repentance), “Tzedakah” (charity and giving), “Mitzvot” (good works), “Emunah” (faith),“Yeshua” (Salvation) “Mishpochah” (family) “Ahavah” (love) “HaTorah” (God's Word) “Israel” (the Holy Land) are all inter-related. And we can also add “Chen” (faith) because by “faith” we are saved, not of works, lest any man should boast.

Many also “spin the dreidel,” which is a four-sided top, with the letters N, G, H, S, (but in Hebrew), which symbolize, “Nez, Gadol, Haya, Sham” (A great miracle happened there). What was the miracle? That a small army of about 10,000 men fought against a superior army of 100,000 or more, yet not through the might of swords and spears, but through the might and power of YHVH, they won and achieved victory.

These 4 letters, when added up in gematria, = 358; the word “Mashiach” (Messiah) also adds up to the sum of 358. Mashiach gave the victory. He also gives us the victory in our lives against sin. We can think of “Dedication” at this time of year to re-dedicate our lives to Messiah Yeshua, to serve him, and keep on serving him, and to be “lights” in dark places. Our work and service in Messiah Yeshua ends on earth when we are called home, and even in heaven, we will continue to serve and see His LIGHT forever.

Another name for Hanukkah is the "Festival of Lights" (Hag HaUrim) It is also believed that around the time of Hanukkah, Mary became pregnant with our Messiah Yeshua, and carried within her the "Light of the World" and gave birth, perhaps towards the end of September or early October. (during the Feast of Tabernacles)

Families celebrate Hanukkah in different forms. They get together, as many people get together during the Christmas season, they share their love, make potato latkes (fried potatoes with flour and egg mixture), play games (with the dreidel), give small gifts, many times food gifts; packets or boxes of imported teas or coffees, chocolates,

The most important is lighting the special “Hanukkiah.” They come in all sizes and forms, some traditional, others abstract. One creative way of having the “9-lights” is purchasing 8 small jars of fragrance candles in glass jars and 1 large jar. different fragrance spices, like pumpkin spice, vanilla, almond butter, etc. These are 3 inches tall by 2 inches wide. Then the middle jar is larger, it measures 5 ½ inches tall by 3 inches wide (around). The middle jar is lit as the “Shamash,” the Helper. And each night, the jars on each side are lit.

The first night is the shamash and the end jar-candle, the second night, the middle jar-candle and two more, etc. This creates the lights of Hanukkah and a lovely fragrance in the living room. Some people use an electric menorah in the window.

The last point I would like to share is that the word “Hanukkah” means “dedication”. It comes from the Hebrew letters which are “Chet”, “Nun”, and “Kaf”. In English, we would see “Ch”, “n”, and “k.”

The base word in Hebrew is “Chanakh,” which has the meaning of “to initiate, discipline, dedicate, train up, and habituate. From this verb comes the noun “Hanukkah” In the ancient Hebrew symbolism, the Paleo-Hebrew letters symbolize “The fence gives an anointed life” or “The fence of life that brings anointing” The “Fence” being the Torah and the “Living Torah” which is Yeshua, They “surround” us and give us protection from the ways of the world.

How do we apply “Chanakh” and “Hanukkah” in our lives today? Since the temple in Jerusalem is no more, our own bodies are now the “Temple of the Holy Spirit”. At this time of year, we might look inwardly and re-dedicate ourselves to the LORD, by discipling ourselves in Torah study, doing Mitzvoth (good works), training up others to study and understand God’s Word, and putting it into action. Make Torah study a “habit” (habituate) every day in our lives.

We shouldn’t have to wait for Hanukkah to re-dedicate our lives to Adonai; we should do this every waking morning of every day, but this is the time we should really look at our lives with a fine-tooth comb, because the enemy “HaSatan” is the Antiochus who wants to see us defeated, yet Yeshua has won the war. Baruch HaShem!!

HAPPY 8 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF HANUKKAH.

lucypevensie · 2025-12-17T21:01:06-0600

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7. A clean, biblically faithful formulation​

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1. The land promise in the Bible is covenantal, not ethnic

2. Jesus explicitly announces the end of the land–temple covenant

A. Judgment on the covenant nation

B. The Temple’s destruction is final

3. The New Covenant explicitly redefines inheritance

A. Abraham’s inheritance is universalized

B. The land becomes typological

4. 30–70 AD as the covenant transition period

5. The NT never restores a land claim to post-Christ Judaism

6. What this does—and does not—mean

Biblically, it means:

Biblically, it does not mean:

7. A clean, biblically faithful formulation

8. Why this distinction matters

Furious protesters dismantle artist’s 13 foot-high golden statue likening Israeli Prime Minister to dictator Saddam Hussein