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From "Antiquities of the Jews" by Josephus, Book 12, chapter 7
"6. When therefore the generals of Antiochus's armies had been beaten so often, Judas assembled the people together, and told them, that after these many victories which God had given them, they ought to go up to Jerusalem, and purify the temple, and offer the appointed sacrifices. But as soon as he, with the whole multitude, was come to Jerusalem, and found the temple deserted, and its gates burnt down, and plants growing in the temple of their own accord, on account of its desertion, he and those that were with him began to lament, and were quite confounded at the sight of the temple; so he chose out some of his soldiers, and gave them order to fight against those guards that were in the citadel, until he should have purified the temple. When therefore he had carefully purged it, and had brought in new vessels, the candlestick, the table [of shew-bread], and the altar [of incense], which were made of gold, he hung up the veils at the gates, and added doors to them. He also took down the altar [of burnt-offering], and built a new one of stones that he gathered together, and not of such as were hewn with iron tools. So on the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, which the Macedonians call Apeliens, they lighted the lamps that were on the candlestick, and offered incense upon the altar [of incense], and laid the loaves upon the table [of shew-bread], and offered burnt-offerings upon the new altar [of burnt-offering]. Now it so fell out, that these things were done on the very same day on which their Divine worship had fallen off, and was reduced to a profane and common use, after three years' time; for so it was, that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus, and so continued for three years. This desolation happened to the temple in the hundred forty and fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Apeliens, and on the hundred fifty and third olympiad: but it was dedicated anew, on the same day, the twenty-fifth of the month Apeliens, on the hundred and forty-eighth year, and on the hundred and fifty-fourth olympiad. And this desolation came to pass according to the prophecy of Daniel, which was given four hundred and eight years before; for he declared that the Macedonians would dissolve that worship [for some time].
7. Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and splendid sacrifices; and he honored God, and delighted them by hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so very glad at the revival of their customs, when, after a long time of intermission, they unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship, that they made it a law for their posterity, that they should keep a festival, on account of the restoration of their temple worship, for eight days. And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights. I suppose the reason was, because this liberty beyond our hopes appeared to us; and that thence was the name given to that festival. Judas also rebuilt the walls round about the city, and reared towers of great height against the incursions of enemies, and set guards therein. He also fortified the city Bethsura, that it might serve as a citadel against any distresses that might come from our enemies. "
Josephus confirms above the understanding of the Jews of his time, who knew that Daniel had predicted the events of 167 BC, by Antiochus Epiphanes.
Josephus confirms this above as a historical fact.
John 10:22 is a reference to the celebration of Hanukkah each year by the Jews of Jesus time and proves what Josephus says above would have been understood by most Jews who lived when Christ uttered the phrase "the abomination of desolation, spoken by the prophet Daniel".
Josephus understood it, as clearly seen above.
"Cheers"
"Most people don't know it, and I don't talk about it much, but I've actually been called for this purpose." rollinTHUNDER
It appears that Flavius Josephus was called to reveal the truth of Matthew 24:15.
(let him that readeth understand.)
.
LOL - Josephus, an unbeliever, has no say is God's laws. Of course, men still make all sorts of ridiculous claims, but that doesn't mean that they are fulfillments. Daniel lived about 500 years or so before Christ. Antiochus Epiphanies did his thing in 167 BC, so it's not even possible that he could be the fulfillment of any New Testament prophecies. Prophecies speak to the future, but Antiochus' deed was done in the past, before any New Testament characters were even born.
If the abomination of desolation was already fulfilled, according to Daniel 12, then there would have been a resurrection of the dead after 1290 days, and blessed were those who came unto the 1335th day. This resurrection would precede the rapture (sign of the Son of man), following the great tribulation. Now I've heard some preterists claim that the resurrection did happen, but that is not recorded in history that is genuine. Because if that actually did happen, there would be hundreds of paintings of the greatest, most glorious event in the history of man. We have no such artwork, except for maybe pictures of what some think it may look like, in accordance with the New Testament prophecies. But we have artwork of Christ ascending in the clouds, crucifixion, and the last supper, etc., etc.
This is why Christ was pointing to a future time, not the past.
Also, Hanukkah is not a biblical feast. It was made a law and a custom or tradition, like it says in #7 in your post above. John 10:22 does confirm that they did in fact recognize this celebration. I have no problem with that, and apparently Christ and His disciple's didn't either.
Cheers
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