Forty days after Yeshua rose from the dead He ascended to the place from which He came – to sit at the Right Hand of the Father. There He will remain until the time that Israel seeks Him. At that time He will return and fight for Israel putting His (and her) enemies under His feet.
The Resurrection of Yeshua remains the watershed issue of faith. His Resurrection proved the deity of Yeshua. Salvation depends on God’s grace and our faith in the atoning death, burial and resurrection of Messiah Yeshua. Just believing that Yeshua was a good man will not result in reconciliation to God or the forgiveness of sin.
The Maccabees ruled Israel for 100 years. In the end they became as corrupt as previous rulers. Soon God removed His hand of blessing from His beloved city. Enemies arose and began to threaten Israel. The king turned to Rome, an emerging power. Eventually the guest turned against the host and Rome absorbed Israel.
The Jews preferred the date for their dedication celebration to be on the Feast of Tabernacles, the 15th day of the seventh month, the same date that King Solomon had dedicated the first Temple.
As He had done in the past and continues to do today, God intervened and gave Judah a miraculous victory. After three years of heroic fighting, the Jews regained their country from the oppressors and had self-rule for 100 years.
This message is crucial for us today, because the prophesy of Daniel was NOT completely fulfilled by Antiochus and Judah Maccabee. Although so many details are historical facts, there are details that remain for some time in the future. After a deceptive season of peace this very charismatic man will turn against the God of Israel and His people. This will be a time of great persecution unlike any other. The Bible calls this the time of Jacob’s Trouble. Two thirds of the Jewish people will die as will many non-Jews who support Israel and follow Yeshua the Messiah of Israel.
Sadly, not all the Jews were against Antiochus. Many were willing to forsake their Covenant relationship with God and did whatever it took to get ahead financially and socially. There was a complete moral breakdown in society. There was a great cry against all restraints as people demanded “tolerance” of their sin.
We don’t understand God’s ways. It looked as though the enemy had retreated. But instead, life got much worse for Israel. Antiochus sought to divide the people. He persecuted and tortured those who remained faithful to YHWH and extended favor and benefits to those who would turn away from God.
Daniel received a vision of Israel’s future in 539 B.C. but like most prophesies it foretold the future in several layers. The first fulfillment began after the death of Alexander The Great in 323 B.C.
The story is foreshadowed in Daniel Chapters 10-12. The prophecy is so accurate some people believe that it was written AFTER the event. But the prophecy was not fully completed, evidence that it will be completely fulfilled in the future.
December 18th, the Jewish people (and some Christians) lit the first of the eight candles on the Hanukkah menorah. Actually there are nine candles, but one is always separated in some way. That “special” candle is called “The Servant” candle. The Servant candle is lit and then lights all the other candles. So now let’s consider the history of Hanukkah.
Many people believe that Hanukkah celebrates a miraculous provision of a little bit of oil that lasted for eight days. Hence, the holiday is celebrated for eight days and a candle is lit on each night. While that might have happened, there is no historical record of such a miracle.
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