The Hanukkah Connection!

Dear friends,

Peace and grace to each of you in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus).

As you may remember we have been in Israel and have just returned home after 5 weeks "on the road". I am sure you will all agree that in the final analysis, there really is no place like home. While in Israel I posted several short articles and pictures regarding our trip and sincerely hope that you enjoyed them. I know that they were read because I want to thank new readers in the nations of Bahamas, Senegal, Morocco and Spain. As stated in past articles, my goal is to reach every country on the planet and thanks to you we are now at 39 and growing. Praise the Lord!!!

This week I am going to do something a bit different. We are now in the season of Hanukkah which is the Festival of Lights or also called the Feast of Dedication as seen in John 10:22. Jesus Himself attended this feast in Jerusalem and as always I stress that as Christians today, there is much to learn from these important Biblical appointed times.

There are many ministries that send out reports and newsletters regarding Biblical events as they appear each year on the calendar. However in this case it is my desire to put something into your hands that you can not only read but also download and use as a basis for teaching your own family, friends or congregation. As a result what you are about to experience is a bit longer than usual but is printed in easily flowing "bullet point" format that you can use as a tool in ministry.

The author, Jackie Newman is a new staff writer for this blog. She is the founder of a teaching and dance ministry called B'Shem, graduate of a Bible school, a Pastor's wife plus both mother and grandmother, not to mention a very dear friend of our family. Jackie is a "Berean" and she teaches the Word of God with passion and is especially gifted in teaching about God's Appointed Times. In this article, Jackie will be referring in part to "the book of Maccabees". If you are not a student of the Bible, please allow me to explain that "MACCABEES" is one of books contained within the "APOCRYPHA" which are historical books covering a span of about 400 years the events for which occurred between the last Old Testament book of Malachi and the first New Testament book of Matthew.

Please welcome Jackie Newman! And BE BLESSED BY THIS WONDERFULLY GOD-INSPIRED ARTICLE ON HANUKKAH.

Hanukkah 2010

Introduction:

There are 7 Biblical Feasts that God gives to show His plan of redemption.

Show chart/explain feasts (contact this ministry to obtain information on helpful charts).

Today we are in the middle of an 8 day feast called Hanukkah-Feast of Dedication or Feast of Lights.

It is not a Biblical Feast but a historical one.

Why celebrate Hanukkah when it is not a Biblical feast?

Many reasons:

1. Identify with Jewish people

1. Jesus was Jewish
2. For over 10 years the church was Jewish in nature

1. Jewish nation preserved the history of God’s people

1. Jewish history shows how God deals with His people
2. Preserved the Scriptures- both OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

1. They are God’s covenant nation

1. They will forever be God’s chosen people
2. They have a history that will make you cry out with them “Never again!”

1. Jesus was in the Temple on Hanukkah teaching

1. It is important to learn what He was teaching
2. This wasn’t random, it had a purpose and was for this day

1. There is much to learn from the lessons of Hanukkah

1. Application in our own walk with the Lord
2. End times
3. God has a continuing, unfolding plan for Israel in the end times. We need to be aware of it and not buying into man’s humanistic ideas of:

1. Replacement theology

1. Thinking the church has replaced Israel
2. That God is done with the Jews

Hanukkah is happening again:

Hanukkah is a time when the evil one tries to use men to wipe out the Jewish nation. It has happened many times before: Haman to Hitler and many in-between.

We see it today:

Iran-We will wipe Israel off the map-this time we will do it

Arab neighbors-Many have had peace with Israel for years are now turning against her.

Why? Radical Muslims infused with demonic hatred for God’s people are rising up in these nations.

Even non-Muslim nations are turning against Israel.

Our nation-our president

Entertaining Iran’s president in White House

Snubbing Israel’s president when He came

Giving millions to Hamas

Bowing down to Muslims

Am I upset about this: Yes

Am I surprised by it: No

Because the book of Revelation makes it clear that in the end days all the nations of the world will be against Israel and her Messiah: Jesus Christ Himself!!

As we will learn today: It is the folly of man to reject God and His people.

It is what is called the “anti-christ” spirit.

What does all this have to do with Hanukkah?

Background of Hanukkah:

The history of Hanukkah begins in what is called the Inter- testament time-called “silent years”-But as you will see they weren’t so silent.

It spans a time between 175BC-135BC

Hanukkah is amazingly prophesied to happen in Chapter 8 in the book of Daniel, hundreds of years before it occured.

It is time of the Grecian Empire.

Two strong leaders: Egypt & Syria that fought against each other with Israel caught in the middle.

But even in the midst of all the fighting the Jews were pretty much left alone to live as they wanted.

Even though they were living in Greek land and were encouraged to assimilate into Greek culture (to become “Hellenistic”) they were not forced.

They were free to worship the God of the Bible and to keep their customs…..to stay distinct as Jews.

In 200BC Syria defeated the Egyptians and took over the whole region which included the land of Israel.

175BC a new leader rose up: Antiochus Epiphanies, claiming that he was actually a god, became king of the Syria and the new leader over the Jews.

He did two things:

1. He ordered everyone to erect and worship statues of him (as god) in their temple.
2. He made it mandatory that all people (Jews included) to accept and live a totally Hellenistic (Greek) lifestyle.

He made 4 things mandatory:

1. Greek language
2. Greek culture
3. Greek worship
4. Greek food

What this meant for the Jews:

1. Greek language -no Hebrew language-Holy tongue-language of Torah

a. used in their worship to God.

1. Greek culture -no Torah, circumcision, Sabbath, or feasts.

1. Torah’s burned-take God’s word from the people-to know true God
2. The Driedel game began
3. Circumcision-no sign of being God’s people-identification as God’s own people-Death for one who did it (included the mother & child).
4. Shabbat or feast days-no days to remember what God had done in past

1. Greek religion-no worship of the one true God

1. Idolatry-temple was stripped and converted into Temple to Zeus
2. Daily sacrifices continued with one exception-pig sacrifices instead

1. Greek food-no keeping Biblically kosher

1. Pig was required to eat as part of worship and loyalty to the Greek god.

These demands flew in the face of everything God had told His people to do.

It is easy to see the demonic plan.

They were forced to make a choice: Obey God or obey man.

This was a plan specifically to break and control the faithful Jews of that time.

Many Jews had already assimilated to most of Greek culture so following the rules of this mad man, Antiochus, was just the next step.

They even allowed a man that had changed his name to Jason, a Greek name, to be High Priest. Jason allowed Greek worship in the Temple which amounted to idolatry, strictly forbidden by God.

God’s holy Temple was being defiled!

This was a demonic war to steal the heart of God’s people….a way of annihilation of the Jews as God’s chosen people by assimilation.

Most forsook Torah to save their lives but for many who could not compromise it cost them dearly….even their lives.

Famous heroes of that time:

Eliezer: 2 Maccabees 6:18-31

He was an old man….a uncompromising scribe, who was commanded to eat pork.

When he refused they held him down, opened his mouth and shoved it in.

What did he do? He spit it out. They then killed him….but that story isn’t about defeat….it is about victory.

Hannah: 2Maccabees 7

Seven sons with their mother were commanded by the king to taste swine's flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips.

One of them that spoke: Why are you whipping us to try to get us to change our minds: We are ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers.

He then commanded to cut out the tongue of him that spoke first, and to cut off the utmost parts of his body, the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on.

Then he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the pan.

How did this family react? They exhorted one another with the mother to die manfully.

So when the first was dead, they brought the second to make him a laughing stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they asked him, Will you now eat or be punished throughout every member of your body?

When he said, no he also received the next torment in order, as the former did.

How did he react? He said, “You, like a fury take us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, the ones who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life.”

This happened to the third, not wavering in his commitment to His God.

Now when this man was dead also, they tormented and mangled the fourth in like manner.

When he was about to die he said “ It is good, being put to death by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him: as for you, you shall have no resurrection to life.

Afterward they brought the fifth also, and mangled him.

As this man looked at the king he said, “You have power over men, you are corruptible, and you do what you will; yet think not that our nation is forsaken of God.” Think not that you can strive against God and escape unpunished.

As the mother saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day, she bore it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had in the Lord.

With these examples we see that the Jews that were standing up for God in Jerusalem went under heavy persecution…..even to the death.

These Jews became a symbol of what Hanukkah is all about: Dedication to God.\

The war begins:

Antiochus thought he could force the Jews to abandon their beliefs and their God, but he misunderstood the nature of Jewish people: tough, committed and not afraid to fight.

Antiochus thought that he could impose Hellenism on all Jews or just kill them off.

But, he had not counted on what God was doing in the hearts of His people.

Especially in one family called the Maccabees.

The father of this family was deeply committed to God and had raised 5 sons in the Lord. They would not wavier to their devotion to God and His ways.

They were prepared to fight.

While the persecution was raging in Jerusalem, the Maccabees were raising up an army of men who were also zealous for God and were ready to stand against Antiochus and his army.

The word Maccabees means “Hammer” and God was getting ready to use His hammer for His glory.

As this army prepared for battle, Antiochus was getting more aggressive and becoming more mad with power.

So much so that as a final rejection of the true God and to make a final statement and insult to God’s people, Antiochus entered the Holy of Holies and poured pigs blood over the mercy seat, totally defiling it and mocking God.

This time Antiochus had gone too far. It was war!

After much prayer and fasting this little army of 3,000 zealots made their way to Jerusalem and when they did they were met with the 47,000 Syrian soldiers.

Some began to waiver: And asked “How can we, few as we are, fight such an army as this? Besides, we are weak today from fasting”.”

The Maccabees’ answer was clear: “It is easy for many to be overcome by few; in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between deliverance by many only few; for victory in war does not depend upon the size of the army, but on strength that comes from Heaven. With great presumption and lawlessness they came against us to destroy us and our wives and children and to despoil us; but we are fighting for our lives and our Torah laws. He (God) Himself will crush them before us; so do not be afraid of them.”

So, the war started: 47,000/6,000…it looked like the Maccabees were outnumbered…but then again, they had God on their side!!

And victory it was!!!!

The Lord overthrew the massive Syrian army before the small band of an uncompromising, God honoring army.

After fighting for a little over 3 years, finally they were able to take back Jerusalem.

Upon entering Jerusalem, the other priests immediately entered the Temple.

Sadly they found the Temple was desolate, the altar had been profaned, the gates burned and the holy courtyard overgrown with weeds.

As righteous emotions overtook them, they tore their garments, cried out to heaven and sounded the shofar.

It must have been a mournful sound.

But….

It was time for all the Jews to assemble, wake up and return to the Holy One of Israel.

They immediately began to restore the Temple.

They tore down the defiled alter and built a new one. They made all new furniture for the holy place.

With this completed, they knew they needed to light the “eternal flame” of the Menorah, that which God had said in His Torah that was to burn continually.

But all the purified oil was destroyed except enough oil to burn for one day.

It would take 7 days to purify more oil according to God’s directions.

The faithful Jews now found themselves in a dilemma according to Exodus 27:20

They could light the Menorah, as commanded in this verse, knowing that it would go out and that then would break the second commandment of this verse: to not let it go out!

They chose to follow God and trust Him for the results.

And as the story goes in the Talmud: He did. God kept the Menorah lit for 7 more days while more oil could be purified.

They believed that God honored their obedience and zeal for Him by giving them a miracle!

That is why the some think that Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 days and is called the “Festival of Lights.”

So, we light 8 lights during Hanukkah.

There is a tradition when lighting the Hanukkiah. We say “A great miracle happened here.”

Some say it is because of the miracle of the oil. Some say it is because of the victory the God-fearing Jews had over Hellenism.

But one thing is certain:

That the Torah-honoring Maccabees won a great victory against overwhelming odds….because the light of the truth will always shine in darkness!!

Hanukkah is a shadow of things to come:

Hanukkah is a “shadow” of things to come in the end times.

Remember the anti-christ will attempt assimilate God’s people into his mindset.

The mindset of man=humanism

Just like Antiochus of Syria, the anti-christ will try desperately to deceive believers from trust in God to trust in man.

Again God’s people will be forced to choose between the path of compromise or the path of dedication and faithfulness to God and His people.

We can learn from Hanukkah by comparing Antiochus and the Hanukkah account with the future prophecies about the Anti-christ in Revelation 13.

Comparison:

Antiochus of Hanukkah Anti-c in Rev. 13

Blasphemed God’s name (Epiphanies) vs. 1

Ruler over people vs1

Authority by devil vs.2

Many will give into him vs. 4

And worship Him because he is powerful

The war against God’s people=31/2 yrs. vs.5

Defile the Temple vs. 6

Many will give in to persecution vs. 8

The faithful will stay true vs. 10

It is easy to see why Hanukkah is a shadow of the end days.

We need to be aware and ready and prepared for the beginning of the battle when it comes.

It is looking imminent.

What Jesus taught on Hanukkah:

In light of Hanukkah and all we have looked at today why did Jesus teach what He taught at the Temple during Hanukkah?

John 10:22-27

Jesus calls believers “My sheep”, Jesus sheep have certain qualities:

1. They hear His voice-hear, hear and understand
2. They are known by Him-personal relationship
3. They follow Him-obey His Word
4. They have eternal life-promise of salvation
5. Not under God’s wrath-forgiven and cleansed
6. Can’t be snatched from the Father’s hand by any man, be it Antiochus or Anti-christ. God is in control of our lives.

Jesus’ sheep have “sheep promises”. Jesus’ sheep are loyal to their God.

How to respond in these day leading up to the next Hanukkah:

We are in a time leading up to another Hanukkah.

The Bible calls them birth pangs.

The end is on its way.

History is shifting as lines are being drawn between people who will believe and trust God and those who will believe and trust man.

The world is being set up for one who will have all the answers, a new savior: The Anti-christ.

2 John 1:7 tells us that the anti-christ spirit is already in the world.

The same 4 things that Antiochus demanded at the first Hanukkah, the devil is trying to deceive believers today:

1. Change our language: What Christian words are not “in” these days?

What words do we use that aren’t edifying?

1. Buy into the culture: What does our culture say is ok, that God say isn’t?
2. UnBiblical Worship: What forms of worship are we accepting that are not acceptable to God?

Who is the focus of our worship?

We are to be in the world but not of the world. So, what are we, as believers, to do?

Daniel 12:3- It is time for us to have insight (to be wise), to shine brightly, and to lead many to righteousness.

This is our end time calling.

I am asked a lot if Christians should celebrate Hanukkah.

My answer: There is too much to know and learn, not to. Our future depends on it.

AMEN and thank you Jackie! Pastor Rance here to conclude todays teaching. If you would like more information regarding this teaching outline, please contact me at pastorrance@wgcnet.com

In the meantime, until next week, may the Lord of Glory continue to bless you and give you Peace.