Originally a celebration that began in the 2nd century BCE, after Israel threw off the bondage of Antiochus Epiphanes, Hanukkah is now being repeated among Christians today!
We will first see an overview of Hanukkah, and then note how Believers are called to observe the prophetic Hanukkah of today.
The Hebrew word hanukkah means “Dedication”; the original Hanukkah was a ‘re-dedication’ of the altar and Temple in Jerusalem, after Israel overthrew the tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes, one of the Seleucid Kings who reigned in Syria.
Though he was a Syrian, Antiochus’ culture and religion were ancient Greek, and included worship of the many ancient Greek deities. Because of Antiochus’ edicts, the ancient Greek religion and influences had permeated all of Jerusalem, all but destroying the outward, public worship of Yahuweh.
Religious Influence of Ancient Greece
What effect did Antiochus’ ancient Greek religion and influences have on the worship of Yahuweh? In order to promote his ancient Greek-oriented religion, Antiochus outlawed the following Biblical activities:
1. Studying the Torah, the Word of Yahuweh spoken through Messiah;
2. Observing the Sabbath, in obedience to Messiah’s command;
3. Observing the Feasts of Yahuweh, in obedience to Messiah’s command;
4. Sounding the Shofar at the sighting of the New Moon, announcing the beginning of Biblical months, and beginning the count for the Biblical Holy Days, all in obedience to Messiah’s command;
5. Eating only Biblically clean things for food, in obedience to Messiah’s command;
6. Practicing Circumcision, the sign of Yahuweh’s covenant people, in obedience to Messiah’s command.
After many days of Antiochus’ tyranny, resistance finally arose against Antiochus. Under the leadership of the Maccabees, the people of Jerusalem overthrew Antiochus and his pagan practices. The Syrians and their ancient Greek religion were driven out, and the altar was rebuilt. The Temple was cleansed, restored, and rededicated to the service of Yahuweh.
How does the historical Hanukkah relate to Believers today?
The Prophetic Hanukkah of Today
Antiochus played what was to become a prophetic role, when the city bearing his namesake “Antioch” marked the beginning of the “Christian” era (see Acts 11:26b).
And so we see the Antiochus-oriented, ancient Greek-oriented influence that began to creep in among the early Believers, as seen in the Book of Acts and in some of the epistles, continues even today. The prophetic religion of ‘Antioch’ has quietly, gradually, twisted the New Testament Scriptures, in order to ‘nullify’ the Torah.
Through her man-made doctrines, this ‘Antioch’ religion continues today to outlaw the same Biblical practices outlawed by Antiochus Epiphanes, but commanded by Messiah:
1. Studying the Torah, the Word of Yahuweh spoken through Messiah;
2. Observing the Sabbath, in obedience to Messiah’s command;
3. Observing the Feasts of Yahuweh, in obedience to Messiah’s command;
4. Sounding the Shofar at the sighting of the New Moon, announcing the beginning of Biblical months, and beginning the count for the Biblical Holy Days, all in obedience to Messiah’s command;
5. Eating only Biblically clean things for food, in obedience to Messiah’s command;
6. Practicing Circumcision, the sign of Yahuweh’s covenant people, in obedience to Messiah’s command.
The man-made doctrines that would nullify Torah are called ‘leaven’ by Yahushua (Matthew 16:6, 11-12), and continue today, promoted through some of the modern Bible Schools and Seminaries.
It is these man-made ‘Doctrines of Men’ that pose the single, greatest threat to Born-Again Believers who would be ready for the Bridegroom (Mat 25:10).
Those who have this hope within them–to meet their Bridegroom at His appearing–are beginning to purify themselves (1John 3:3), for they long for, and love His appearing (2Tim 4:8).
Many Believers are contending for the original Faith, and are throwing off the tyranny of error that has crept into today’s modern evangelical understanding (Jude 1:3-4). They are ‘coming out from among them,’ and are breaking free of the bondage imposed upon them through centuries of corrupted teachings.
Believers are searching the Scriptures with open eyes, and are re-discovering the Truth of Torah written throughout the New Testament writings. They are desiring to walk in obedience to Torah, by His Grace, as they love ALL of Messiah’s commandments.
They are doing as the early Believers did–they are “removing the abominations” of Antiochus’ ancient religion, brought about by centuries of disobedience to Messiah’s commandments in Torah. They are re-dedicating the true Temple of the Holy spirit, (their bodies), to walk only in obedience to Messiah, and to His commandments in all of Scripture.
They are observing the prophetic Hanukkah of old—the re-dedication of their altar, and the Temple of their bodies—unto a holy (separation from the world) walk with Messiah.
Believers are purifying themselves–they are cleansing the Temple, making themselves Ready for the Bridegroom!
Conclusion
Hanukkah (the Hebrew word for ‘Dedication’) for 2011 begins 20 December 2011, Tuesday night at sunset, and continues to sunset on Wednesday, 28 December 2011. Messiah celebrated this day (John 10:22-23), so we should do the same. Let us also re-dedicate the Temple of the Holy Spirit (our body, in which the Holy spirit lives).
Let’s cleanse our Temple of all our former, pagan practices. Let us return to observing, by His Grace, ALL of Messiah’s commandments found in Torah! Let us re-dedicate this Temple again to Father, and to obedience to His word! …שמע✍
Have a Blessed Hanukkah!
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Related Articles:
If one was born and not physically circumcised and grows up as a man and seeks to please Yahweh would he have to be physically circumcised?
Most men born today aren’t physically circumcised.
“Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? LET HIM NOT BE CIRCUMCISED. CIRCUMCISION IS NOTHING, AND UNCIRCUMCISION IS NOTHING, but the keeping of the commandments of Yahweh.”
1Corinthians 7:18-19
Thank you Lonnie, for your visit. Yours is a very good question that many are asking today. Unfortunately because many modern-day teachings are based on wrested, or twisted understanding of what the apostle Shaul/Paul taught, there is much confusion. I have addressed this issue of circumcision and covenants in the article Circumcision and the Prophets. You might give this a read to clarify what the issues really are.