John 10:22-2322 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area, in the portico of Solomon.
John 8:12
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
It’s also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication.
Celebrations
Hanukkah celebrations: Usually, there is a lighting of a menorah in deference to the temple oil, singing of traditional songs, giving gifts, and the eating of foods fried in oil.
The Hanukkah Menorah=Candle-stand= the central candle that lights the eight is called the “shamash” meaning “the Servant”
- The Menorah in the Holy Temple on Mount Moriah in Israel had seven branches. Seven is representative of Gods perfection, completeness, wholeness The light of the Temple Menorah would beam outwards through the windows of the Temple(narrow inside to broad outside), showing the presence of God. The seven stem Temple Menorah was made of pure Gold and was lit indoors in the chamber before the Holy of Holies.
- The Hanukkah Menorah has eight branches plus the a ninth called the “shamash”. Eight is representative of Yeshua, salvation, redemption, gift of God. The Hanukkah menorah can be made of any fire-protected material and was lit outside, though many today place it inside on their window seals. Both represent the presence of God.
HistoryThe Maccabean Revolt — and how it played a huge part in God’s big plan of salvation and redemption.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes or the Maccabees
The Maccabees
We’re a Jewish family of priests who oversaw the holy temple and handled the daily activities of Jewish tradition. During that time, Israel was ruled by a ruthless Seleucid (Syrian) emperor named Antiochus III who was fairly tolerant of the Jewish faith. But after his assassination in 175 B.C., his son, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, slyly seized power while his brother was held hostage in Rome.
Antiochus=The Madman
Antiochus IV was a tyrannical, evil man (Daniel 11:21), far worse than his father. His persecution of the Jews was on par with Hitler, and he is considered a pre-figure of the Antichrist who is to come in the last days. Antiochus warred with Egypt and did not prevail. In his fierce anger he turned on Israel
It was in Jerusalem where he first encountered the priestly Maccabees led by Judas Maccabeus who was disgusted by what Antiochus was doing to Israel. He felt enough was enough and he led a revolt against Antiochus, but the Maccabees weren’t very successful at first.Based on his hatred of the Jews, Antiochus and his army massacred roughly 80,000 Jewish men, took 40,000 men prisoner, and sold approximately another 40,000 men into slavery during this first encounter with the Maccabean Revolt (Daniel 11:28).
Over the following years, Antiochus continued having a field day trying to dismantle the Jewish faith and conquer Egypt until Rome entered the picture and made Antiochus back down (Daniel 11:30). Of course, the defeat enraged Antiochus, and he took his anger out on Israel.
Unfaithful JewsGreek Culture, Alexander The Great allowed cultures to mix, yet under Antiochus hellenization was intended to take a big step further and become the agent of cultural totalitarianism, and no other culture or belief could stand.The Jews were clearly targets of Antiochus’s strategy of Hellenization. He understood that to ultimately succeed in Egypt, he would need to disrupt the influence of the Jews within his own territories.
False Priests
He decided to tackle the priesthood in Jerusalem by replacing Onias the Third, the latest Kohen Gadol (high priest), with Onias’s brother Joshua, who was loyal to the Greeks. Joshua became High Priest and immediately changed his name to Jason.
Gods house & Funds used to Entertain
To a certain extent, Antiochus’s plan worked. Jason submitted to the king’s will and helped implement the new totalitarian doctrine. Jerusalem became a little version of Antioch, replete with a gymnasium where the Jewish Priesthood often played Greek sports in the nude. Meanwhile, King Antiochus had access to the Temple treasury to help fund his military campaign to conquer Egypt.
Highest Bider To Be High PriestAll these activities fueled the restless anger of the pious Jewish peasants, who became even more enraged when Antiochus allowed Menelaus, a Tobiad (Jews from Ammon who loved Greek Culture & not Kohen) to purchase the position of High Priest.They were incensed that this sacred position, for which Menelaus had outbid Jason, was for sale at all. But to make matters worse, Tobiads were not even descendants of Aaron, who was the brother of Moses and the traditional ancestor of all Kohanism.
Den of Thief’s
As a condition of his appointment, Menelaus had promised he would increase the tax revenue. When he failed to do so, he was summoned to appear before the king. While away, Menalausleft his brother Lysimachus as High Priest in his stead. Lysimachus proceeded to rob the Temple of many of its sacred vessels, an action that led to riots in the streets, during which the supporters of Jason (even knowing all his faults) battled the supporters of MenelausWhile Antiochus was away, Jason had managed to retake Jerusalem from Menelaus — a victory based on the rumor that Antiochus was dead. But he was not able to seize control of the government, and he was forced to flee. Antiochus, furious with the rebellion, returned to Jerusalem, slaughtered thousands of people, and reinstalled Menelaus.
False High Priests Onias= Entry= Open MindedJoshua= God is Deliverance/ SaviourJason= The Lord Is Salvation Menelaus= Greek Mythology= King of Sparta= Menous=Mind, spirit, vigour,courageLaus=people assembled Lysimachus= Scattering The Battle, releasing the battle, disputes, make war
Evil Dictator
Antiochus the evil Syrian emperor hired people who opposed Moses’ law (Gods Word and the holy covenant) like him. He hired them to kill Jewish men, women, and children on the Sabbath when he knew the Jews would not fight back. Antiochus also outlawed Judaism, destroyed the Torah, banned daily sacrifices, looted the temple, and desecrated the temple by sacrificing pigs and spreading their blood on a temple altar that he dedicated to Zeus. The Bible records in Daniel 11:31 the incident as “the abomination of desolation,”. Unholy Sacrifice, replacing God. Antiochus did not stop there, he then proceeded to carve out his own facial features upon the statue of Zeus, declaring himself to be God.
According to Josephus, after the Maccabees refused to comply with the Greek demands, they were attacked on Shabbat morning. Devoted to Torah, the Jews refused to fight back, and around 1,000 people, including many women and children, died from fire and smoke. After that, Matityahu made it clear that Judaism is a religion of life, and that the Shabbat laws are temporarily suspended to save a life.
Led by Judas Maccabeus, the Hasideans continued to defy Antiochus for twenty-four years until they had successfully recaptured the temple in 165 B.C. According to 2 Maccabee 10:1–9, Judas ordered the temple to be cleansed, a new altar built, and new holy vessels made. Once that was done, the temple was rededicated to the Lord. This is why Hanukkah is sometimes called the Feast of Dedication
The Miracle
The Hasideans (the pious/might/bold) the Maccabees (The Hammers) in 166 BCE fought against the evil ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes, his Syrian army & the Jews that did not love God, rededicated the Temple of God, but they only had enough oil that would burn foe 1 day, but by Gods Grace, the oil= The Anointing/Holy Spirit, burned for 8 days= 8 is the number of Yeshua= Our True Eternal Miracle from Abba Father
Daniel 11:33
And those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.
Daniel 12:3
And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Insight/Understand/wise= sakal= to be prudent, to be attentive & instructed by The Holy Spirit
Shine= zahar= to be a light, walking in Spirit & Truth
The battle cry of the Maccabees
“Mi kamocha ba’eilim Hashem”= “Who is like You among the mighty, O God”The father Matityahu’s= Gift Of God His five sons—Yochanan= YHWH is gracious, Yehuda= thanksgiving or praise, Shimon= God has Heard/to be heard, Elazar= God has helped Yonatan= God has givenAll Glory To God/Gods WordMatityahu and Judah were not merely fighting for political or national freedom. They saw themselves as fighting for God Himself. Josephus tells of many instances where they prayed to G‑d for success in their battles. In one instance, he records Judah telling his troops that victory depends not on the number of soldiers but on their faithfulness to G‑d. He bolstered his arguments with examples from Gods Word where a few pious Jews managed to vanquish thousands of enemies
Pray
At times, the Maccabees faced overwhelming odds, vastly outnumbered and out-weaponed by the massive armies of Greek soldiers and mercenaries sent their way. Yet, with a prayer on their lips, they managed to surprise the enemy and send them fleeing in fear time and time again.
Restoring What Remains
After decisively routing the Greeks from the Land, Judah led his band of battle-hardened men to Jerusalem to restore the Holy Temple to its sacred use, which the Greeks had discontinued. They were met by a sorry sight: broken walls, overgrown courtyards, and pagan idols in G‑d’s home. On the 25th day of Kislev (the first day of Chanukah), they rededicated the Temple, lit the menorah, offered the showbread, and resumed regular worship.
The Holy Spirit
As recorded in the Talmud, the Maccabees found just enough pure oil in the Temple to kindle the menorah for a single day. As they had done so many times before, they threw reason to the wind and placed their trust in God. They lit the menorah, and a miracle occurred: the oil burned for 8 days until more could be obtained.They declared that these 8 days be celebrated as the Festival of Lights, commonly known as Hanukkah (“dedication”).
During Jesus Time
The Gospel of John Chapters 8-10
The Servant Of God= YeshuaThrough His Light we are lit= We illuminate the Light Of Yeshua
The Maccabees’ descendants founded the Hasmonean dynasty, which established the office of the High Priest and was the early foundation for creating the Sadducees. The dynasty remained in power until the Romans completely overtook Jerusalem in 63 B.C
The Hasmoneans took for themselves the throne of kingship and establish a monarchy. This was a grievous mistake, since they were Levite priests and G‑d had already promised that only the descendants of David (from the tribe of Judah) may be appointed to the throne (II Samuel 7:12–15).
Indeed, they were eventually usurped by Herod, an Edomite (Ethnic Arab, Roman Citizen, Proselyte to Judaism) who killed the Hasmonean King Antigonus and took the throne for himself. Under Roman rule, two Hasmonean priests continued battling for the office of High Priest. The fight stirred up the people and caused frequent civil unrest, so the Romans made Herod the Great king of Judea in 37 B.C.
Antiochus IV an imposter on God’s Throne
Herod The Great an imposter on Gods Throne
Let us be valiant warriors like The Maccabees and give our hearts completely to Abba Father Through Yeshua Our Lord & Saviour In The Holy Spirit
Romans 5:3-53 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Jacob Prasch/Moriel/Hanukkah https://youtu.be/3ywpla0vylU
Mitch Glazer/Chosen People Ministries/Hanukkah https://youtu.be/9BofP5G9lGs
Teerth/VOTV/The Fellowship of “EBED” Servantshttps://youtu.be/3qJ3BVirp_8
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