Hanukkah

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Hanukkah - the Feast of Dedication. Each winter, Israelites scattered around the globe celebrate the Feast of Dedication – in Hebrew: Hanukkah, the festive which we recall our deliverance from pagan sun-god worship.

It is also about the ruler of the Syrian kingdom, Antiochus Epiphanes IV, stepping up his campaign to quash Judaism. He marched into Jerusalem, vandalized the Temple, erected an idol on the altar, and desecrated its holiness with the blood of swine. Decreeing that studying Torah, observing the Sabbath, and circumcising Jewish boys were punishable by death, he sent Syrian overseers and soldiers to villages throughout Judea to enforce the edicts and force Jews to engage in idol worship.

It was the Maccabbee story in which people who seriously believed that it is not good to just sit and moan, sigh and cry about the atrocities of what is happening to the faith but willing to get up and do something about it. This rebellion lasted seven years from 167 - 160 BC.

It is about the re-dedication to the service of God. Hanukkah is one of the festivals that Yeshua attended, declaring He is the light of the feast. It is a festival that his followers cherish to this very day but its deeper meaning is sometimes lost in the traditions. While the man-made religious systems of the world attempt to force the believer to join in their self-sanctified rituals, Hanukkah reminds us that the Almighty fights for those who would keep themselves pure from the pollution of idolatry.

Yeshua tells us that the first abomination of desolation placed in the Jerusalem Temple was a prophetic shadow picture of an even greater abomination that would confront the believer in the last days. Yeshua’s prophetic warning is no longer in the distant future, but is reiterated in the context of the accomplished deception in which the world finds itself today.

Hanukkah. unfolds the prophetic realities of the abomination of desolation in relation to the final prophetic fulfillment. I would like this thread to be on the findings in the writings of the Book of Maccabbees.
 

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1 Maccabees

41 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, 42 and that all should give up their particular customs. 43 All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the Sabbath. 44 And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the towns of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land, 45 to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane Sabbaths and festivals, 46 to defile the sanctuary and the priests, 47 to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and other unclean animals, 48 and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves abominable by everything unclean and profane, 49 so that they would forget the law and change all the ordinances. 50 He added, “And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die. 60 According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised, 61 and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants from their mothers’ necks.

Yep, this is the time when real godly believers stood out and stood up.
 
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visionary

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In three years of the seven year war, the Maccabees cleared the way back to the Temple Mount, which they reclaimed. They cleaned the Temple and dismantled the defiled altar and constructed a new one in its place. The Maccabees held a dedication (Hanukkah) of the Temple with proper sacrifice, rekindling of the golden Menorah, and eight days of celebration and praise to God. Jewish worship had been reestablished.

Revelation 11 talks about the over run of the outer courts while the believers are in the temple praying.
 
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visionary

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It all starts with a burning zeal for what is right.


1 Maccabees

19 But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: “Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to obey his commandments, every one of them abandoning the faith of their ancestors, 20 I and my sons and my brothers will continue to live by the covenant of our ancestors. 21 Far be it from us to desert the Torah and the ordinances. 22 We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our faith to the right hand or to the left.”

23 When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein, according to the king’s command. 24 When Mattathias saw it, he burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him on the altar. 25 At the same time he killed the king’s officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. 26 Thus he burned with zeal for the Torah, just as Phinehas did against Zimri son of Salu.

27 Then Mattathias cried out in the town with a loud voice, saying: “Let every one who is zealous for the Torah and supports the covenant come out with me!” 28 Then he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the town.
 
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DennisTate

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In three years of the seven year war, the Maccabees cleared the way back to the Temple Mount, which they reclaimed. They cleaned the Temple and dismantled the defiled altar and constructed a new one in its place. The Maccabees held a dedication (Hanukkah) of the Temple with proper sacrifice, rekindling of the golden Menorah, and eight days of celebration and praise to God. Jewish worship had been reestablished.

Revelation 11 talks about the over run of the outer courts while the believers are in the temple praying.

I began a thread a while ago that I believe
relates to a situation faced by the Machabees.


Sabbath observance under extreme situations?

Poll: Sabbath observance under extreme situations?
 
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visionary

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Interesting when you think about the fact that both Hanukkah and Christmas "day" start Dec 25th this year. Christmas is the pagan holiday celebrating the birth of a variety of "gods". Hanukkah is about kicking them out of the Temple of God.
 
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Really fascinating post. This relates to my own on-going argument with many American Christians on whether the 2nd amendment (the right to bear arms) is acceptable in the body of the Mashiach, the Christ.

I say that while bearing and using arms is subject to the judgement of God, and perhaps even granted under the Law of God, it is not correct in response to personal insult. While the nation has a right to punish according to the laws set down by the rulers, vengeance against those who trouble the servants of God is reserved for the Lord.

Would it not be true then that the servants of God at the time of Antiochus were acting according to the judgement of God against the world. Remember what Yeshua said when the Greeks showed up Judea looking for him just before the crucifixion:

"Now is the judgement of these world affairs" (Strongs 2889 "kosmou") John 12:31.

They did so in the time of Joshua, and David, and will do so again when the Mashiach returns. It's simply a matter of faith in God.
 
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Lulav

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'I am Zealous over Zion' comes to mind

I am reminded too of Phinias and his zeal and holiness for the L-RD.

We need to be like that today, not PC, but 10CC! (10 commandments correct!) :)

It is interesting to look at that historical time and see what the enemy considers the best way to make us fall or disobey certain commandments.

The ones that have been attacked mostly way back then and even today

  • Keeping the Sabbath Holy
  • Eating things that G-d said were good to eat
  • To not make sacrifices to idols or any other idolic practices
  • Keeping torah
  • Circumcizing our male children
 
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Hoshiyya

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The Maccabees are actually prophesied in Daniel:

DANIEL 11:33 "And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering." (NKJV)

Whenever Antiochus IV's men found copies of the Torah, they tore them to pieces and burned them. Whoever was found in possession of a Torah was put to death. According to Antiochus IV's decree, women who had their children circumcised were put to death, along with their entire families and those who had circumcised them. Still, many in Israel chose to die rather than to break the holy covenant.

DANIEL 11:34 "Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue." (NKJV)

As the historical book of I Maccabees shows, the decrees of Antiochus IV eventually led to a rebellion started by the priest Mattathias and his five sons (including Judas Maccabee). He and his family had fled from Jerusalem to Modein when the Seleucid forces took the city. There, Mattathias killed a Jew who was sacrificing according to Antiochus IV's command, as well as the king's officer who was forcing them to sacrifice. From this first act of rebellion, a guerilla war against the forces of Antiochus IV began. After the death of his father Mattathias in 167 BCE, Judas Maccabee defeated the large army of Antiochus IV's general Apollonius. This victory helped Judas to gather a sizable force...

Daniel 11 - Prophecy Fulfilled! - Here a little, there a little - Prophecy
 
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visionary

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The Maccabees are actually prophesied in Daniel:

DANIEL 11:33 "And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering." (NKJV)

Whenever Antiochus IV's men found copies of the Torah, they tore them to pieces and burned them. Whoever was found in possession of a Torah was put to death. According to Antiochus IV's decree, women who had their children circumcised were put to death, along with their entire families and those who had circumcised them. Still, many in Israel chose to die rather than to break the holy covenant.

DANIEL 11:34 "Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue." (NKJV)

As the historical book of I Maccabees shows, the decrees of Antiochus IV eventually led to a rebellion started by the priest Mattathias and his five sons (including Judas Maccabee). He and his family had fled from Jerusalem to Modein when the Seleucid forces took the city. There, Mattathias killed a Jew who was sacrificing according to Antiochus IV's command, as well as the king's officer who was forcing them to sacrifice. From this first act of rebellion, a guerilla war against the forces of Antiochus IV began. After the death of his father Mattathias in 167 BCE, Judas Maccabee defeated the large army of Antiochus IV's general Apollonius. This victory helped Judas to gather a sizable force...

Daniel 11 - Prophecy Fulfilled! - Here a little, there a little - Prophecy
I have seen some make this connection, but I don't see the timing working as well as the events themselves.
 
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Hoshiyya

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I have seen some make this connection, but I don't see the timing working as well as the events themselves.

Well, all of God's prophecies are fulfilled multiple times, because they are based on typology. But I think this prophecy has already had its main fulfillment. It shows the timeline leading up to the birth of Meshiach.

Incidentally, Yeshua may have began to grow in the womb on a Hanukkah. Lights, lights, lights.
 
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visionary

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Well, all of God's prophecies are fulfilled multiple times, because they are based on typology. But I think this prophecy has already had its main fulfillment. It shows the timeline leading up to the birth of Meshiach.

Incidentally, Yeshua may have began to grow in the womb on a Hanukkah. Lights, lights, lights.
That true... time, times, times and 1/2 times... could really be about the repeat factor.
 
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AbbaLove

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Interesting when you think about the fact that both Hanukkah and Christmas "day" start Dec 25th this year.
Hanukkah begins at sunset on Saturday, December 24th which is the beginning of the first day of the Hebrew week.

One website says the first night of Hanukkah (or Chanukah) starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev ... Chanukah/Hanukkah (first day) in the United States
The first night of Hanukkah (or Chanukah) starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev.
Is this a misprint as it implies the first night of Hanukkah actually begins at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev? This year the day before the 25th of Kislev occurs on Shabbat. It would seem appropriate to have special blessings; especially when Shabbat falls on the 24th of Kislev.
 
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visionary

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Hanukkah begins at sunset on Saturday, December 24th which is the beginning of the first day of the Hebrew week.

One website says the first night of Hanukkah (or Chanukah) starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev ... Chanukah/Hanukkah (first day) in the United States
Is this a misprint as it implies the first night of Hanukkah actually begins at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev? This year the day before the 25th of Kislev occurs on Shabbat. It would seem appropriate to have special blessings; especially when Shabbat falls on the 24th of Kislev.
We all know the God's next day starts at sunset, but that is why I made it "day"[when the sun shines] for that is the only portion they share.
 
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visionary

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Really fascinating post. This relates to my own on-going argument with many American Christians on whether the 2nd amendment (the right to bear arms) is acceptable in the body of the Mashiach, the Christ.

I say that while bearing and using arms is subject to the judgement of God, and perhaps even granted under the Law of God, it is not correct in response to personal insult. While the nation has a right to punish according to the laws set down by the rulers, vengeance against those who trouble the servants of God is reserved for the Lord.

Would it not be true then that the servants of God at the time of Antiochus were acting according to the judgement of God against the world. Remember what Yeshua said when the Greeks showed up Judea looking for him just before the crucifixion:

"Now is the judgement of these world affairs" (Strongs 2889 "kosmou") John 12:31.

They did so in the time of Joshua, and David, and will do so again when the Mashiach returns. It's simply a matter of faith in God.
Antiochus IV (175-164 BC), was the 8th ruler of the Seleucid empire. He gave himself the surname "Epiphanes" which means "the visible god". The people called him "Epimanes" meaning "the madman". He was violently bitter against the Jews, and was determined to exterminate them and their religion. I can think of someone else who claims to be "the visible god" and isn't quite to the point of being bitterly violent against the Jews.... Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
 
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