The Chanukkah Story (part 2 of 4) A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . . In MESSIAH YESHUA dwells the fullness of the GODHEAD BODILY. THE STORY OF CHANUKKAH (Part 2 of 4) 12/17/14 Antiochus enacted a series of harsh decrees against the Jews. Jewish worship was forbidden; the SCROLLS OF THE LAW were confiscated and burned. Sabbath rest, circumcision and the dietary laws were prohibited under penalty of death. Even one of the respected elders of that generation, Rabbi Eliezer, a man of 90, was ordered by the servants of Antiochus to eat pork so that others would do the same. When he refused they suggested to him that he pick up the meat to his lips to appear to be eating. But Rabbi Eliezer refused to do even that and was put to death. There were thousands of others who likewise sacrificed their lives. The following is a famous story told of Hannah and her seven son’s courage which happened at that time. They were arrested and compelled to eat swine’s flesh and thereby assent to the pagan sacrifice. One by one, when they refused to yield, they were tortured. The first son had his extremities cut off, was scalped, had his tongue cut out, and still refused to eat pig. Finally he was boiled alive. The second son had the skin stripped from his head, and still refused to eat pig. He exclaimed to Antiochus — In-human fiend, you may discharge us from this present life, but the KING OF THE WORLD will raise us up, since it is for HIS Laws that we die, to live again forever. Then, third son held out his arms for dismemberment saying — It was the GOD OF HEAVEN that gave me these limbs; for the sake of HIS Laws I disdain them; from HIM I hope to receive them again. When the third son died, the fourth son was tortured. He cried — Ours is the better choice, to meet death at mens hands, yet relying on ELOHIYMS promise that we shall be raised up by HIM; whereas for you there can be no resurrection, no new life. As they tortured the fifth son, he said — Do not think that our race has been deserted by YEHOWAH. Only wait, and you shall see in your turn how HIS mighty power will torment you and your race. The sixth son died with the words — We are suffering like this through our own fault, having sinned against ELOHEY, but do not think you yourself will go unpunished for attempting to make war on YEHOWAH. Finally the seventh son died with the following words: Our brothers already, after enduring their brief pain, now drink of ever-flowing life, by virtue of YEHOWAHS covenant, while you, by the ALMIGHTYS judgment, will have to pay the just penalty for your arrogance. I too, like my brothers, surrender my body and life for the Laws of my ancestors, calling upon ELOHEY to show HIS kindness to our nation, and that soon. Ultimately, Hannah, their Mother was also put to death. All steadfastly refused deliverance in hope of the resurrection. THE MACCABEES: In a little village 15 miles NW of Jerusalem, a priest named Mattathias and his five sons rebelled. Before his death, Mattityahu called his sons together and urged them to continue to fight in defense of GOD’S TORAH. He asked them to follow the counsel of their brother Shimon-the-Wise. In waging warfare, he said, their leader should be Yehuda-the-Strong. Yehuda was called Maccabee (means: hammer) — a word composed of the initial letters of the four Hebrew words Mi Komocho boEilim ha’Shem — Who is like unto YOU, O GOD. Under the leadership of the oldest son, Judah Maccabees, they launched a guerrilla-style war against Antiochus Epiphanies and his army. Its purpose was to force the Syrians out of Israel and restore worship to YEHOWAH. Mattathias killed all the traitors and then killed the Syrian commissioners. After a 3-year struggle, the Jews drove the Syrian army out of the Promised Land. Their rallying cry from Matthias was Let everyone who has a fervor for the Law take his stand on the Covenant and come out and follow me. Let us fight unto death in defense of our souls and our Temple! [1 Maccabeus 2. 27 – 28] In other words, return and obey the VOICE OF THE LORD your GOD, and do all HIS commandments. For the LORD your GOD is a COMPASSIONATE GOD; HE will not fail you nor will HE let you perish; HE will not forget the covenant which HE made on oath with your fathers. [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 4. 29 - 31 Tanakh, Torah] Exactly 3 years to the very date after the Temple was desecrated, the 24th of Kislev, the triumphant Jews made their entrance into the TEMPLE OF GOD and re-dedicated it to the service of YEHOWAH ELOHEY. In the LORD’S TEMPLE, the priests were to leave a light burning in obedience to the command of GOD MOST HIGH, Command the children of Israel to bring you pure beaten olive oil for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. In the Tabernacle of Meeting, outside the veil, which is before the ARK OF THE COVENANT, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before YEHOWAH. It shall be a decree forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel throughout the ages. [Exodus (Shemot) 27. 20 - 21 Tanakh, Torah] When the Maccabees prepared to rekindle the Menorah to re-dedicate the Temple of ELOHEY which had been spoiled by the enemy, they discovered only one single jar of olive oil buried beneath the ruins with the seal of the High Priest still intact on its lid. This was tragic because the Jewish people could not carry out YEHOWAHS command as there was only enough oil to burn one day. For olive oil to be dedicated for use in the Lamp, it was to be made by the High Priest and sealed with his seal after being sanctified (set apart) for 7-days; then on the 8th day it was Holy to the LORD. [Exodus/Shemot 29. 37; Leviticus/Vayikra 12. 3; Ezekiel/Yehezke-El 43. 26 – 27; 2 Chronicles/Dibre Hayamin Bet 29. 17] According to the Jewish tradition, nes gadol haya shem (a Great Miracle happened there) ...the small flask of oil lasted for a full eight days! {In Jerusalem, they say: Nes Gadol Haya Po — a Great Miracle happened here (Jerusalem).} . . . to be continued Shaalu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel! The 2nd Light of Chanukah is the LIGHT of TORAH. Israels BOOK OF LAW: The Commandment is a Lamp and the Law is a Light. Chanukkah reminds me that GOD is always there for us, and can help us overcome anything, just as HE helped the Maccabees so many years ago. If we allow HIM to fight our battles — whatever those battles may be — HIS WORD will indeed break our enemy’s sword. That powerful reminder of GOD’S love for us is one reason this Chanukkah/CHRISTmas Season is such a blessed time to remember just how much GOD so loved the world and gave HIS ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON, May mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. And, may you share wonderful holy-days together with friends and family. Our prayer, also, is that the flame of the LORD YESHUA haMASHIACH burn brightly in your heart as you share HIS light with others. Happy Chanukkah! Praying for the peace of Jerusalem, is praying for the return of our Messiah and Lord and for the Kingdom of God He is bringing when He comes. Then Gods Will shall be done on earth as it is in Heaven and the world will experience true godly universal peace which is the fruit of Righteousness. Email: [email protected] Web Page: delrifkah Thoughts Archived: groups.yahoo/group/delrifkah/ End-time Events: delrifkah/Facepage.html Please visit our web page for teachings on Bible texts and subjects. Also notice the section showing the disparity between the Holy Bible and the Muslim Koran (Quran). The newest section is our thought by thought study through the Bible. Having completed the Torah (books of Moses), and the New Testament, we are now going through the book of; [Zephaniah].
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 23:04:24 +0000
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