In 2024, Hanukkah will start on December 25th at sunset and will end January 2nd at sunset

The Feast of Dedication, Hanukkah (also Chanukah) is surprisingly relevant and eye opening for all who truly desire a more intimate and victorious spiritual walk. In these perilous times of rapidly unfolding end time prophecy, this feast also known as the “Festival of Lights”, will bring added “light of revelation”, greatly needed in these dark days. (Luke 2:32) Our Savior commemorated this day, as written, “it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Yahshua (Jesus) walked in the temple …” (John 10:22-23)

Although the true Hanukkah story occurred in 168-165 B. C. it is an ongoing saga - past, present, and future of Satan’s anti-God of Israel, anti-Semitic, anti-messiah, anti-biblical truth wicked agenda. In essence, it is Satan’s perpetual conquest and war to gain global rulership through “deceiving the inhabitants of the earth.” (Revelation 12:9) The past Hanukkah with Antiochus IV Epiphanies and the future Hanukkah with the anti-messiah/antichrist, revolve around the God of Israel’s holy temple in Jerusalem, invaded and desecrated by Satan’s “abomination that causes desolation” referred to by Daniel, Yahshua (Jesus), and the Apostle John in the book of Revelation. (Daniel 12:11, Matthew 24:15, Revelation 13:1-18)

The Hanukkah story gives us examples of courageous overcoming faith with Judah Maccabee and those who fought the enemy forces of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, for the recapturing, cleansing, and rededicating of the holy temple. It is written, “The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. … Those who have insight will shine brightly … and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 11:32, 12:3) The ongoing war between Satan against the Almighty and His redeemed righteous remnant has eternal “victory shouts” for those who follow our all conquering Savior. It is written, “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: The Lord Yahveh’s right hand has done mighty things!” (Psalm 118:15) He strengthens His obedient holy children with supernatural courage and grace to victoriously stand firm in faith against Satan and his demonic forces and their wicked advancing global agenda against truth and righteousness. Those who are “sold out” and are “all in” with Yahshua (Jesus) will “fight the good fight of faith” and refuse to acknowledge and obey any other god except “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” and His Son, the Messiah. (1 Timothy 6:12, Matthew 22:32)

Through this “Feast of Dedication”, you will gain wisdom and insight that will aid you in your spiritual preparedness, as you become increasingly more obedient unto righteousness. Yahshua (Jesus) sacrificially shed His divine blood to “redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession”, redeemed to be “holy temples”, in which His Spirit mightily dwells. (Titus 2:14) As it is written, “do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, … and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” “Beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves [temples] from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 7:1)

You will find this series to be far more than a brief overview of the traditional Hanukkah story. It will delve into the history and biblical prophesies regarding the feast, but additionally, and vitally important to us now, is the application of these messages to our individual lives and our spiritual walk following our Savior on “the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life”. (Matthew 7:13-14) At this critical juncture on earth, the “believer’s” lives redeemed to be holy temples, should be shining as a bright light in this dark world. Grievously, that is not the reality. Instead, increasing deluges of deception, delusion, and darkness have invaded the “lukewarm”, compromising, self pleasing, church system. (Revelation 3:16)

We pray that the Holy Spirit through these teachings on the Feast of Dedication will reveal many things that have been “hidden in the dark that Yahshua (Jesus) is bringing to the light.” (see Mark 4:22) Our Savior is urging His redeemed children, as living temples, to be thoroughly cleansed and purified of anything that has come into their lives that grieves His Spirit and can cause His holy presence to depart. He has “reserved the best for last”, a great outpouring of His Mighty Spirit in these last days. (John 2:10) There will be a parallel outpouring; judgment on the unrighteous and glory, glory, glory on, upon, in, and through His redeemed cleansed temples, dedicated solely to His indwelling Holy Spirit. As it is written, “‘The glory of this latter temple [our holy lives] shall be greater than the former.” (Haggai 2:9)

May you be one of the redeemed elect who is a holy temple, cleansed of all unrighteousness with the blood of the Lamb, and filled with the bright consuming light of Yahshua (Jesus), leading many others out of the darkness into the light of His glorious kingdom. May you have a true everlasting Feast of Dedication, prepared and ready for our soon coming all conquering King of kings. “Arise and shine for thy light has come and the glory of Yahveh has risen upon you!” (Isaiah 60:1)

Special note to our reader: These two Parts, Two and Three on the connection between Hanukkah (also Chanukah) and Christmas were originally at the conclusion of this series. We felt led by the Holy Spirit to put them in the beginning. Parts Four through Seven will bring clarification to the historical sequence of events that led up to this dramatic move of deception. Most of us were unaware of Satan’s strategies to implement and perpetuate this falsehood instituted through man-made doctrines and traditions. Yahshua (Jesus) said, “the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) Indeed, we must be free from all deception in order to fulfill the biblically expressed heart’s desire of the Father, “to have worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

Before we go into the connection between Hanukkah and Christmas, it is important to interject this chapter for greater understanding of this whole mini series on Hanukkah. Apostle Paul, as all the Jews of his day, grievously reflected on the Hellenism of over 150 years prior, regarding Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He was given the prophetic preview of the continuation of Hellenism which would dramatically resurface through the Roman Emperor Constantine 300 years later. It would be another anti Semitic and anti messiah assault on the pure Hebraic root of Scripture that would change and alter the direction of the original Messianic faith into an impure religious mixture of truth and lies that would continue to the end of the age. The Holy One of Israel is the One True Living God. He gave His righteous Commandments, Word, statutes, and “His only begotten Son,” to “the Jews first and then to the Gentiles” who would forsake their pagan gods in order to wholeheartedly worship the One True God and Savior. (John 3:16, Romans 1:16, 2:9) This redeemed righteous remnant, now composed of Jews and Gentiles, would become in the Spirit “one new man” “built upon the holy Hebraic root and foundation of the [Jewish] apostles and prophets, Messiah Yahshua Himself being the corner stone, whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in Yahveh God.” (Ephesians 2:14-16,19-22) This holy eternal temple composed of redeemed “living stones”, is filled with the indwelling Spirit of the Jewish Messiah. (1 Peter 2:5)

Apostle Paul was sent to minister specifically to the Gentiles who were coming to faith in Yahshua (Jesus) “so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:16). Paul had a challenging commission, that these former Gentile pagans called, “wild olive tree branches”, would come to know and love the Holy One of Israel through obedience to the leadership of Messiah’s Spirit of “grace and truth” (Romans 11:17,24, John 1:14). One of the few non Jewish people, (the Samaritan woman), that Yahshua (Jesus) ministered to on earth heard these vital words that pertain to all believers, “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers” (John 4:23).

“Apostle Saul, (who also is called Paul,)” had such a tender, loving, and fatherly heart to help the Gentiles grow up in the purity and holiness of the true faith and its required obedience. In his wisdom and desire to protect them, he continually warned of the lurking deception that would lure them back to captivity to their former way of life. (Acts 13:9) The “apostle to the Gentiles” understood the special vulnerability for the newly “born again” non Jewish believers in God. (Romans 11:13, Ephesians 3:1, John 3:3) He knew how susceptible they were because of their former life as pagans and not having the biblical foundation in the Holy One of Israel and His word. Paul said, “I don’t want you to be unaware of Satan’s schemes, lest he have an advantage over you”. He sorrowfully proclaimed to his Gentile brethren in the true faith, specifying that “doctrines of demons” and “another Yahshua (Jesus), different spirit, different gospel” would ensnare many to “fall away and apostatize” from obedience to uncompromised biblical truth. He amplified this coming massive deception saying, “Satan masquerades as an angel of light and it is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness” to deceive many. (2 Corinthians 2:11, 1 Timothy 4:1, see 2 Corinthians 11:4, 2 Thessalonians 1-3, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

Apostle Paul also warned for “three years with tears”, "I know that after my departure savage wolves [dressed in sheep’s clothing] will come in among you, not sparing the flock; Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” He protectively cautioned them saying, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; … they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own [self pleasing worldly] desires.” “The people will love it this way” because it caters to their flesh nature and nullifies their Savior’s utmost and difficult requirement to “deny themselves, pick up their cross, to follow Him” onto the “straight and narrow path” of righteousness that very few enter. (Acts 20:29-31, 2 Timothy 4:3, Jeremiah 5:31, Matthew 16:24, 7:13-14)

Satan’s strategy is always to stir up “rebellion”, against the Almighty God and Savior “by throwing truth to the ground”, so his “deceit succeeds”. Indeed he has succeeded victoriously from century to century. (Daniel 8:12) Although his crafty deceit continues to be unrecognized by most, there has always been a small righteous remnant who love the truth, seek the truth, know the truth, speak the truth, and walk in the truth at any cost. They are aware of Satan’s schemes and expose them so that others can be set free from his deception, captivity, and darkness. As Yahshua (Jesus) said, “you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Although the Bible records the glorious events surrounding the birth of Yahshua (Jesus), there is no biblical record of the exact day, month, or observance of His blessed divine birthday. Our Savior was surrounded with His Jewish brethren and Jewish disciples who walked daily with Him. They continually obeyed the God of Israel, even more so, as they learned from their Rabbi (Teacher) Yahshua what it really meant to walk as He walked. Messiah said, “it is only fitting to fulfill all righteousness” through wholehearted loving obedience to His Father’s biblically inscribed Word, which leads to true holiness. (Matthew 3:15) The first Jewish disciples came to know Yahshua (Jesus) intimately. The apostle John expresses the loving awe in their personal time with their Messiah during His three year ministry before ascending to the Father, he wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life … what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Yahshua Messiah [Jesus Christ].” (1 John 1:1,3) The first disciples were eternally changed by walking with the Son, “the incarnation” of their God, the Holy One of Israel. (John 1:14) They personally experienced the reality that the Messiah was born, crucified, and was resurrected. They had a front row seat. Not once in the New Testament writings, is commemoration and celebration of His birthday spoken of. In fact, for several centuries, before and after Messiah’s birth, the Jews, and later the new messianic “born again” believers, continued to reject birthdays as strictly a pagan tradition, having no biblical origin whatsoever. (John 3:3) December 25th is an ancient and historically exalted pagan day as we will see in this teaching.

For three hundred years the untainted gospel message spread throughout the world. Around 306 A.D. an anti-Semitic Roman ruler Emperor Constantine rose to power. He was used mightily by Satan to distort and change the pure messianic biblical faith of the early believers in Yahshua (Jesus). Constantine adopted and exalted this newly formed unholy mixture of biblical truth with pagan rooted religion and traditions of Rome. He spared the most venerated pagan day, Zeus’s birthday December 25. He conveniently camouflaged this unholy celebration and mixed it with the biblically pure messianic faith that originated more than three hundred years prior with our Savior and His disciples. The pagan festival in honor of the sun deity was so popular and reverently embraced by the Gentile masses who had converted to Christianity, that it was spared as sacred and erroneously identified as the Savior’s birth date. In other words, the unholy festival that had honored the “sun god” was deceptively substituted with the honoring of the birth of the “Son of God.”

Let us clearly also see how the dates of Hanukkah and Christmas are connected. Zeus was viewed as the “incarnation of the sun” and his mother, the goddess Rhea, was called the “Queen of Heaven.” (Jeremiah 7:18) Together they formed the Greek version of the mother/child pagan worship, which originated in Babylon. To repeat, Antiochus IV Epiphanies chose December 25th, Zeus’s birthday, to desecrate Yahveh’s God’s holy temple in Jerusalem by setting up the idol of Zeus resulting in “the abomination that causes desolation.”(Daniel 11:31) He demanded that everyone be united in one religion (Satan’s plan for a one world religion), worshipping the supreme deity of the pagans, Zeus Soter (the Savior).

The Romans were sun worshippers as were the Greeks. The winter solstice begins December 21, it is the day of the year when daylight is the shortest. In ancient times December 25 was the annual day when the days started to have more noticeable sunlight. Thus it was fitting for the early pagans to designate December 25th as the date of the birth or the “rebirth” of the sun. December 25th by the Romans was called, “Dies Natalis Invicti,” translated, “the Day of the Nativity of the Unconquered Sun”. Additionally, in the fourth century, the Roman church designated December 25 as the esteemed celebration called “Christ’s mass”, in honor of the Savior’s birth. This is the origin of the name Christmas. This was part of Satan’s concerted effort to “Christianize” pagan Roman rites, so that all peoples of the empire could be brought into the Roman Church, unified around the worship of Zeus Soter, the Savior. Yahshua, the Jewish Messiah, was then christened by the Gentiles with the substituted Greek name, Ieous Christos (Jesus Christ).

YAHshua, often pronounced Yeshua, [the Hebrew word for salvation] is the original divinely given Hebrew name announced from heaven to earth by the angel Gabriel to His Jewish virgin mother Miriam (Mary). The spelling YAHshua is most accurate it means, YAHveh, the Holy One of Israel, is salvation or YAHveh saves. The angelic messenger proclaimed, “you shall call Him Yahshua because He shall save His people from their sins.” (Luke 1:26, Matthew 1:21)  Greek men, Greek idols, and Greek names were an offense and strictly forbidden in the homes of the Jews and the temple of the God of the Jews. Archaeological findings verify the fact that no Greeks were allowed in the temple courts upon penalty of death. [see footnote 1] Certainly, the Almighty God of Israel, the Father of the Messiah, would not send His angel to the chosen Jewish virgin to proclaim a Greek name to announce the conception and coming birth of the Son of God. The entire nation of Israel was still traumatized by what had happened through Antiochus IV Epiphanes, when he tyrannically imposed his Greek gods, Greek language, and Greek religion upon the Jewish nation. Daniel was shown the complete vision of this satanically controlled anti-messiah figure “speaking monstrous things against the God of Gods”, His Word, and setting up “the abomination that caused desolation” in the holy temple. (Daniel 11:36, 31) When Messiah was born, the Jewish nation was still incensed and continually on guard against any Gentile leader or person who attempted to demand and impose their biblically forbidden Gentile customs, which would defile their lives and the God of Israel’s temple in Jerusalem.

The Almighty One of Israel declares, “I am the LORD Yahveh, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God” "I, even I, am the LORD Yahveh, And there is no savior besides Me” “I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end”. Yahshua the Messiah magnifies His oneness with the Father by repeating exactly the same declaration. (Isaiah 41:4, 43:11, 44:6, Revelation 1:8, 22:13) To repeat, “The great “invincible sun god”—“Zeus Soter” or “Zeus the savior”, the father of gods and men, also known as Jupiter, “the light bringer,” by the Romans, was viewed as the supreme deity, the beginning and end of all things”. [see footnote 2] Oh, how sly Satan’s strategies have been to insidiously sow pagan roots into the pure biblical harvest field that Messiah had planted in order to bring forth a holy harvest of Jews and Gentiles for the glory of His Father, the Holy One of Israel. Yahshua (Jesus) warned that after He sowed the seeds of truth, the enemy was going to come immediately behind him to sow seeds of deception into the harvest field. He spoke this parable, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and left.” (Matthew 13:24-25)

The “enemy”, Constantine had a political strategy to bring in the masses of pagan believers into Christianity, making it appealing to them by “sowing seeds” of pagan days, customs, and celebrations into the pure messianic faith, deceptively labeling it in honor of Jesus Christ. The Emperor’s deceptive political/religious agenda was not spiritual, it was for the advancement of the control of the Roman Empire through this unholy fusion of the pagan gods with the true Messianic faith. Again, this is Satan’s on-going “progressive agenda”, to make a political and religious advancement for global unity, creating a one world religion by combining portions of the true faith with various pagan gods and the esteemed customs and traditions of the former Gentiles. This was the new Roman imposed form of religion, whether the Gentile pagans liked it or not, they were now called “Christians”, but still free to cling to their many pagan celebrations, which were now exalted and reverenced as the sacred Christian days.

“The cherished pagan celebrations on December 25 had included feasting, decorating homes with greens, and giving gifts. So when this became a Christian festival, the customs continued, but with a Christian meaning imparted to them.” [see footnote 3] It is an indisputable reality that Christmas is celebrated worldwide, by a “spirit of Christmas” selling and purchasing of gifts, equally for non believers and Christians alike. Annually, it is materialism and commercialism at its height. So, too, are the popular pagan use of Christmas trees, the array of glowing lights, greenery and glittering decor traditions commonly shared by Christians and non-Christians. The unbelieving people in the world are truthfully celebrating a pagan day, and for them it has no spiritual meaning or reference to Yahshua (Jesus) the “Son of God.” The Holy One of Israel warned His “chosen people” against such customs. “Do not learn the ways of the nations … For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest … They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.” (Jeremiah 10:1-4) Many interpret these verses to be a warning against man-made idols. Nevertheless, the origin of Christmas trees is undeniably man-made, pagan-tainted, and considered a worthless thing in the sight of the Holy One according to His decrees. The Almighty God proclaims, “you are to learn to extract the precious from the worthless”, and “to distinguish the holy from the unholy” (including man’s doctrines and traditions). (Jeremiah 15:19, Ezekiel 44:23) “‘Thus you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you [by the pagans], so as not to defile yourselves with them; I am Yahveh your God.’” (Leviticus 18:30)

Throughout history there has always been a righteous remnant attempting to expose the pagan roots of Christmas in order to restore the pure biblical faith that Yahshua (Jesus) was born and died to establish. For centuries the celebration of December 25 was condemned as sun worship. Mesopotamian believers accused their western brethren of idolatry and sun worshipping for adopting this pagan festival. But yet, this pagan rooted “Christian” celebration continued to gain great acceptance with the multitudes of “believers” who had become like the world, adopting the pagan rooted customs and refusing to give them up for the Truth. Even the Protestant Reformation, in the 16th century, was not successful in turning the people back from this pagan rooted day and its worldly, self indulging, materialistic deceptions.

There is always the righteous remnant who has a love for the truth and searches out and considers the source of this unbiblical holiday. The English Puritans, were dedicated to the purity of biblical truth, they understood the necessity of untainted holy obedience to their beloved God and Savior. They were repelled by man made doctrines and traditions that originated from pagan practices and religious ceremonies. They forthrightly forbade any religious or secular celebration of Christmas. “… Christmas observances were still outlawed in Puritan New England for many years; and not until the 19th century did Christmas become a legal holiday in America.” [see footnote 4] There was a major influx of immigrants from different parts of the world who held tight to their Christmas traditions. Eventually, the battle was lost. The pagan rooted Christmas celebrations and all of its customs became an integral part of American culture for Christians and non Christians alike, as it had been for centuries in other countries. Any superficial study of Christmas is going to magnify its pagan roots and its worldly customs.

For Added Insight of the True Birthday of Messiah - See Part 9 of this Hanukkah Series

Now, as you continue to read you will have a greater light of revelation as to the workmanship of Satan to bring this deception to the multitudes all these many centuries. Yahveh Almighty made it clear that we are to “learn to distinguish between the holy and the common (man-made)”, that which is divinely given from that which is man-made. (Leviticus 10:10, Ezekiel 44:23) It is written, we must learn to “extract the precious from the worthless” and to “find out what pleases our God and Savior” according to His holy word and perfect will. (see Jeremiah 15:19, Ephesians 5:10)

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References

1 Footnote Acts 21:28: “brought Greeks into the Temple area. Explicitly forbidden according to inscribed stone markers [still in existence]. Any Gentiles found within the bounds of the court of Israel would be killed. But there is no evidence that Paul had brought anyone other than Jews into the area” (emphasis added). The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids: The Zondervan Corporation, 1985), p. 1688. Author’s note: It should be noted that indeed Paul never transgressed the righteousness of Yahveh’s decrees by bringing a Greek name for the Hebrew Messiah into the temple of the Holy One of Israel.

2 Webster’s New Riverside University Dictionary, 2d ed., s.v. “Zeus.”

3 Encyclopedia International, s.v. “Christmas.”

4 Ibid.

Hanukkah (also Chanukah), the Feast of Dedication, is an exposé of Satan’s agenda working behind the scenes for millennia to cause multitudes to progress away from the One True God and His holy Word, which today is called the “progressive movement”. The Enemy’s compelling motivating desire is to overthrow nations, to seize power and unite all under the canopy of a one world government, and a one world religion, with him and his demonic cohorts, known as the “beast system”, ruling and reigning in tyrannic control. (see Revelation 13:1-18) In essence, the historical Hanukkah story was a prophetic preview of the anti-messiah (antichrist), who has been, and will continue to advance his diabolical global coup to overthrow the nations of the world. His agenda will advance until he becomes the sole ruler over a global unified humanity, who will give him the worship and allegiance he wickedly desires and demands.

The so called “progressive movement” is not new, it began in the Garden of Eden, after “the war in heaven” where Satan and the other defiant angels rose up in prideful rebellion to assert their will over the will of the Most High God and were “cast to the earth”. It is written, “Woe [warning], to the inhabitants of the earth … the Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has but a short time.” He “deceives the whole world” and is “the accuser of the brethren”, those who are the redeemed remnant of the Most High God and Savior. (see Revelation 12:7-12) The war in heaven continued on earth against His chosen people the Jews, the Jewish Messiah, and then all Gentiles joined with the redeemed Jews in worship of the God of Israel through His Son the Jewish Messiah. As “the father of lies,” his wicked agenda has successfully gained increasing momentum over the ages, deceiving multitudes through their various religions and pagan gods, to unknowingly follow and worship him. Yahshua (Jesus) amplifies this reality saying, Satan is "the ruler [and god] of this world.” (John 8:44, 12:31, 2 Corinthians 4:4) He not only wants the control over humanity and the earth, he wants to be worshipped as god. The Devil’s murderous hatred is against the Most High God, the Savior, and His redeemed righteous elect, composed of “born again” Jews and Gentiles, who will only follow, obey, and worship the One True God and Messiah. (John 3:3)

Both the prophet Daniel and Apostle John the Revelator, were given visions and explanations regarding Satan and the anti- messiah (antichrist) end time ruler. Daniel was shown an evil leader who would be a foreshadowing of the anti-messiah, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who would come into power 450 years after Daniel’s vision. Daniel also saw beyond Antiochus, to another leader like him, who would be infinitely more horrifying and destructive to the worship of the Almighty and His true obedient followers. In his vision he saw the anti-messiah (antichrist) during the final days on earth. Daniel and Apostle John were shown and wrote about the vivid details regarding the anti-messiah and his end time diabolical earthly reign. Daniel was told by the angel Gabriel Satan’s threefold strategy:

1. “Because of rebellion [transgression against the Most High God and His righteous Commandments] (Daniel 8:12)

2. “Truth will be thrown to the ground” (Daniel 8:12)

3. “Causing deceit to succeed” (Daniel 8:25)

Daniel was shown that regardless of Satan’s horrifying global agenda, Yahveh God Almighty is always the sovereign eternally triumphant victor. “I (Daniel) kept looking until the beast (anti-messiah) was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire … I kept looking in the night visions and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a “Son of Man” [Yahshua/Jesus] was coming. And He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him and to Him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; And His kingdom will not be destroyed”. Apostle John highlights the coming and ultimate eternal overthrow and victory of Satan’s global dictatorship, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah [Christ]; and He will reign forever and ever." (Daniel 7:11-14, Revelation 11:15). Halleluyah the triumphant glorious fulfillment of the last Hanukkah story!

The Hanukkah (also Chanukah) story centers around the infamous Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Greek-Syrian leader, who came into power 175 B.C.. His abominable agenda, historically, and appropriately, was called Hellenism, Satan’s attempt to overthrow the worship of the One True God, by honoring pagan gods that were worshipped by the Gentile nations, having various names but all demonically rooted in him. It is the continual anti-Jewish anti-Semitic quest of Satan. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Alexander the Great, Antiochus IV Epiphanes continued with the conquest of the known world. His all consuming aggressive strategy was for the unification of the world through Greek religion, Greek philosophy, Greek culture, and Greek language. This was a “progressive”, globalization strategy for a new world order, under the control of one ruling supreme political leader, and a one world religion. This Hellenistic global agenda was aimed at the obliteration of the knowledge of the One True Living God, His Holy Word, and all His chosen people who loved, worshipped, and obeyed His commandments.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes, empowered by Satan, invaded Yahveh Almighty’s holy temple, on Mount Zion. In demonic zeal, he erected in the Most Holy Place, an idol of Zeus, worshipped by the world conquering Greek empire, as the “supreme sovereign of the universe.” [see footnote 1] The idol of Zeus was fashioned with the very face of Antiochus, who considered himself to be the visible manifestation of the exalted deity of the pagan world. On the holy altar of Yahveh Almighty’s temple, Antiochus, with defiant pride and rebellion, offered the biblically forbidden pig to the Greek god Zeus. He purposely committed this “abomination of desolation” in the holy temple on Kislev/December 25, 168 B.C.. (Daniel 9:27) The popular pagan celebration known as “the birthday of the unconquered sun” (also called “Winter Solstice”) was celebrated annually on December 25, for the worship of the great “invincible sun god”—“Zeus Soter” or “Zeus the savior”. “Zeus the father of gods and men, also known as Jupiter, “the light bringer,” by the Romans, was viewed as a supreme deity, the beginning and end of all things.”[see footnote 2] Antiochus IV Epiphanes, whose name means “God made manifest,” attempted to manifest and exalt the Greek god Zeus and to obliterate the knowledge, supremacy, and worship of the Holy One of Israel.

Satan through Antiochus was once again flexing his anti-Semitic muscles against the God of Israel the Creator of heaven and earth, his arch enemy, who had cast him and the other rebellious angels (demonic host) out of heaven. (Revelation 12:7-10) He lost the war in heaven but was proclaiming a victory on earth, basically saying through Antiochus, “I’ve won dominion over the earth, Your temple, Your throne, and I will have the worship of all people, including Your chosen people the Jews.” He sprinkled the blood of the swine in the Holy of Holies and poured its abhorrent broth over the sacred scrolls [the word of God] and proceeded to cut and burn them. In his prideful rebellion, Antiochus was essentially proclaiming to the Most High God , “My rulership, my laws, my will, my pagan days in place of Your rulership, will, laws and holy days, which I am “throwing to the ground” under my all powerful feet.” (see Isaiah 14:13, Daniel 7:25, 8:12) The nation of Israel was shocked, traumatized, and left appallingly desolate!

“Satan, who is the ruler and god of this world”, through the religion and god of Hellenism, waged war against the God of Israel and His Jewish people. (John 12:31, 2 Corinthians 4:4) All Jewish people throughout the land were required to worship Zeus [in essence Satan]. There could be no middle ground. Antiochus issued explicit orders against all and everything that pertained to the worship of the Holy One, His written Word, including strict edicts against honoring the Sabbath day and the biblically ordained holy days. (see Daniel 7:25) Anyone found clinging, in loving allegiance to the Most High God of Israel and biblical truth, jeopardized their lives and the lives of their entire family. Some of the people preferred to live as Hellenized Jews and adopted many of the pagan customs through spiritual compromise and assimilation. This rebellious group willingly apostatized by forsaking the Most High God and His holy Word. However, there were many Jews who refused to forsake the One True Living God, they would not bow their knee to any other god or idol, even if it cost them their lives.

A number of Jews fled to the wilderness; many suffered intensely under the anti-Semitic atrocities of Antiochus, because they despised everything that was a by-product of Hellenism. Thousands willingly lost their lives through horrendous tortures, in order to refrain from apostasy. This righteous remnant resolved to remain faithful to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, regardless of the cost. Another inspirational example was a courageous woman, Hannah and her seven sons, who refused to bow down to Antiochus’ idolatrous demands. She watched her seven sons go valiantly to a martyr’s death in the space of a single day, yet she bore it bravely because she put her unshakable trust in Yahveh the Most High God. As the book of Hebrews records, “… others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection … those [martyrs] of whom the world was not worthy.” (Hebrews 11:35,38)

These historical accounts of unwavering faith, and courageous loyalty serve as a mighty example to us who are being prepared for great persecution for our faith, as the anti-messiah (antichrist) agenda progresses towards its fruition at the close of the age. Yahshua (Jesus) says, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you … If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:18, 20) As redeemed children, we too must be found faithful and obedient to our Holy God and Savior. We will need great overcoming power in these perilous anti-truth last days, where all of these historical facts of the Hanukkah story, point to the ultimate replay through the anti- messiah, doing beyond what Antiochus did. This time it will be against all Jewish and Gentile believers in the true Messiah. Satan, through the anti-messiah (antichrist), with the global multitudes who follow him, will harbor his murderous hatred and intolerance toward the obedient redeemed righteous remnant and “make war” against them. As it is written, this calls for “the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Yahshua [Jesus].” (Revelation 12:17, 14:12)

The righteous remnant who wholeheartedly obey and cling to their Savior will be given supernatural grace and faith from the Holy Spirit in the face of the greatest tribulation, persecution, and martyrdom of the saints, as previewed by the Hanukkah story of Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Jewish people. Although these realities are hard to bear, the New Testament and biblical accounts of all those who have been martyred is filled with exhortations and inspiration regarding the true cost of being a sold out, faith filled, loving obedient follower of Yahshua (Jesus), the true Messiah. Our Savior said, “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.” (John 16:33, 1 John 5:4)

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References

1 Nelson Beecher Keys, Story of the Bible World (Pleasantville, NY: The Reader’s Digest Association, 1962), p 109.

2 Webster’s New Riverside University Dictionary, 2d ed., s.v. “Zeus.”

The Hanukkah story continues with Judah Maccabee, renown for his faith filled courage. He was called “the Maccabee”, the hammer because of his valiant tenacity to shatter and scatter his enemies. Judah led a small group of Jews in an extraordinary defeat of Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his fortified Greek-Syrian battalions. This victory on December 25, 165 B.C. was three years to the day after Antiochus’ desecration of the temple. Hanukkah, is the overthrow of Gentile rule and pagan defilement. This righteous remnant of true worshippers, refused to bow down to a pagan god. They resolved to never break the holy covenant, the Ten Commandments and His immutable Word. Their spiritual backbone was fortified by their loving obedience to the first commandment, “Thou shall have no other gods before Me” and “thou shalt love Yahveh thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Exodus 20:2-3, Deuteronomy 6:5) Yahveh Almighty was with them! They defeated Antiochus and his anti-Semitic battalions and marched into the desecrated temple in Jerusalem. They removed the statue of the Greek god Zeus, “the abomination that caused the desolation”, the departure of Yahveh’s holy presence and glory. (Daniel 12:11, Matthew 24:15) This victorious faithful remnant cleansed all the defiling influences in order to rededicate the temple to the Holy One of Israel. The light of the menorah, the holy candelabra, was lit and burned for eight days, symbolizing the restored glorious presence of the Most High God in the purified temple.

This is a preview of the all powerful triumphant “Lion of the tribe of Judah” “coming with all His saints,” “the armies of heaven, who will follow him, riding on white horses, and dressed in fine linen” for battle. “Those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” (Revelation 5:5, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, Revelation 19:14, 17:14) They will return with Yahshua (Jesus) to defeat Satan, because during their pilgrimage on earth, they fought the “good fight of faith” and were more than conquerors over their flesh, the world, and Satan. (1 Timothy 6:12) As Apostle Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8) The victorious remnant overcomes “by of the blood of the Lamb and by of the word of their testimony, and by not loving their life even when faced with death.” (Revelation 12:11) The redeemed faithful remnant are the valiant overcomers, they qualify to be part of the armies of heaven that return with Yahshua (Jesus), the Lion of the tribe of Judah, for that great slaughter of the Enemy; the anti messiah, and all the demonic host. “The called and chosen and faithful” are those who have continually heeded their Master’s words, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.” (Revelation 17:14, Matthew 16:24) This is the holy remnant/the saints, who stood firm in the faith and endured trials, persecution, warfare, and sufferings, in order to follow their beloved Yahshua (Jesus) on "the narrow path that leads into eternal life.” For them “death lost its sting” and “to live is Messiah and to die is gain.” (Matthew 7:13, 1 Corinthians 15:55, Philippians 1:21)

As it is written, ”Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of Yahveh has risen upon you. "For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But Yahveh will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you.” “The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 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 was shown the righteous redeemed, in the midst of these prophesied tribulations, encouraging us to “turn the many to righteousness” and “shine like the stars of the firmament forever.” (Isaiah 60:1-2, Daniel 11:32-33, 12:3)

For all who have a love for the truth don’t miss this powerful audio message -

the cleansing of apostasy - hanukkah the feast of dedication. It is life changing!

Heavenly Father, I thank You for speaking to me through these inspirational accounts of the righteous, who stood firm in faithful courage against Satan’s anti Semitic hatred and persecution of Your people. Yahshua (Jesus) apart from Your strength I am weak, I am asking You for a spiritual backbone of courage that will sustain me in faith and perseverance, regardless of what I may have to suffer. May I endure it victoriously so that You will be praised, honored, and glorified. Help me not to be a fearful coward, the prophesied realities that are coming frighten me at times. Your word says that You have not given me a spirit of timidity but of power and authority to be more than a conqueror over my flesh and its fears that would hinder me.

Yahshua (Jesus), when You come I know that You will looking for a persevering faith on the earth. I beseech You, my master and Lord of my life, that I will not shrink back and disappoint You, regardless of the trials, hardships, and persecutions. I humbly ask You for the help of Your Holy Spirit, I want to be faithful to You as You were faithful to me, as You laid down Your life as a martyr. Thank you for shedding Your blood to cleanse me from my sins, that I would be holy and acceptable in Your sight to live with You in Your kingdom forever. Your grace is sufficient for me for when I am weak I am strong because all that I need is in You. Please help me, I need Your overcoming power so that fear will not cripple me, and faith will strengthen me to be a valiant witness, along with all those who have suffered for You in the past.

Yahshua (Jesus) You said, “the one who endures to the end will be saved.” I pray that I will be part of the righteous remnant who are called, chosen, and faithful in the face of the Enemy and his hatred for Your Holy Spirit living in and through me. My Savior, thank You that You forewarned me saying, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you”, “if the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.”, and "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great.” Your words are becoming vital instruction for me in these wicked end times. It is alarmingly obvious that Satan, through many evil people, is advancing his kingdom of darkness against You and Your followers who stand with You for truth and righteousness.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will give me the peace and Your unfailing love to bless those who persecute me, and to forgive them, knowing they do not realize they are serving Satan who hates me because You live in my heart. I thank You for hearing me and answering my plea. I trust that by Your grace my faith will be so fortified that I will rejoice that I am counted worthy to suffer with You and for You. I ask for the power of Your Holy Spirit to glorify my Father in heaven as You glorified Him through all Your trials, persecutions, and death. Heavenly Father, I praise You, I thank You that I am getting strengthened in my faith as I pray this. I feel Your Spirit fortifying me, even now, giving me the spiritual backbone that I am asking for. By Your grace I will not grieve You by being a coward. Instead, I will be a courageous valiant overcoming follower of my Savior, who willingly laid down His life as a lamb going to the sacrificial altar, for the glory of the Father.

Holy One, I praise and thank You, I surrender all to You, my blessed Savior. My life is not my own, it belongs to You. You purchased me with Your very own blood. If it be Your will to know You in the depths of Your suffering, even in a martyr’s death, I thank You for being counted worthy to suffer with You. I desire to know You more intimately through every persecution, every accusation from the enemy, every painful, hurtful, derogatory thing that could come my way, because of You living in and through me. I pray I will not hang my head but I will lift it high, and I will glorify You even to my last breath. Yahshua (Jesus) I want to know You in Your suffering that I will know You in Your resurrection power. Thank You that You will never forsake or leave me. I trust Your unfailing love to help me endure to the end and stand before You unashamed, as one who overcame by unwavering faith, triumphant over death and the grave. In the name of Yahshua (Jesus) Amen.

In this critical time on earth, this season of dedication, Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, points to the necessity for our lives to truly become cleansed purified holy temples for the fresh infilling of the power, glory, and light of the Holy Spirit. The hour is upon us for separating and cleansing from our lives, all that is profane and unholy. In His mercy, His words to Israel of old speak directly to our hearts today. Man’s mixing of the holy with the common and pagan rooted is nothing less than a grievous abomination in the sight of a holy God and our righteous Redeemer. Let us not be deceived and mock Yahveh, “for whatever a man sows, this will he also reap.” Let us not partake of doctrines sown by the flesh and not by His Spirit of Truth, and in so doing, compromise our intimate relationship with a holy God. “God is not mocked.” (Galatians 6:7) That which has pagan roots cannot be camouflaged and dressed up to appear righteous. “Judgment begins at the household of God.” Our Messiah’s penetrating eyes search the hearts of men and the heart of the Christian religion and its traditions. Yahshua (Jesus) sees the essence of all things. Those pagan roots, including anti-Semitism were sown like tares into His harvest field, and will certainly not escape His righteous judgments. These judgments are destined to go forth like a sickle in His mighty hand to separate the wheat (the holy) from the tares (the unholy and profane).

The Almighty adamantly warned His people not to mix the holy with the profane and not to mix the pure worship of Yahveh God with the unholy, pagan practices of the Gentiles. (Leviticus 10:10) It is written, “‘Thus you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves with them; I am Yahveh your God. Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it” or “I will prove you a liar.” (Leviticus 18:30, Deuteronomy 12:31-32, Proverbs 30:6) Yahveh God implored His people to remain at a great distance from the practices of the pagan nations around them. He admonished them to respond even to rumors regarding the unholy practices of the Gentiles entering the holy camp and worship of the Holy One of Israel. He continues to emphasize that all who seek righteousness “shall investigate and search out and inquire thoroughly” regarding any inkling of the forbidden mixture of the holy with man tainted and pagan rooted doctrines and traditions. He continued by saying, “If it is true and the matter established that this abomination has been done among you [the mixing of pagan practices with Yahveh’s holy requirements]”, then all that was impure was to be “utterly destroyed” and given up as a sacrificial offering to Yahveh, who had placed these things under His sovereign ban, never to be touched again. He further emphasized, “Nothing from that which is put under the ban shall cling to your hand, in order that Yahveh may turn from His burning anger and show mercy to you, and have compassion on you and make you increase, …” (Deuteronomy 13:14, 15, 17)

The Holy Spirit’s presence has departed because of unholy mixtures of the world, the flesh, sin, the doctrines of men, and anti-Semitism that has continually invaded the lives and churches that were to be living temples filled with the Holy Spirit and only uncompromised biblical truth. There is a chronic “lukewarmness” and apathy in many members of Judeo Christianity’s religious system. (Revelation 3:16) Many who truly believe in the Living God and His Messiah are discouraged, spiritually empty, and confused. Could it be that our God and Savior’s presence has been grieved and departed from individual and corporate temples because of “abominations that cause desolation”, the departure of the Holy Spirit? (Daniel 11:3, Matthew 24:15) Yet the Almighty warned … “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes …” However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck … And they rejected … His warnings [let us learn from their mistakes] … (2Kings 17:13-15)

Sadly, this is the condition of the religious multitudes who continue to live in the sinful flesh, loving the world with a half hearted, double minded, hypocritical confession of faith. This is an abomination because it defames our holy God and Savior. Worst of all, this self pleasing and worldly multitude of professing believers, “insult the Spirit of grace" and “trample the precious blood” of our Savior under their feet. (Hebrews 10:29) The apostle James said, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) We were redeemed by the blood of Yahshua (Jesus) to become a holy temple that would house His Holy Spirit, for His light to shine brightly in and through our temples in this dark doomed world in dire need of salvation. The Holy One is speaking to us, “… ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.” (Jeremiah 7:23-24)

Both the prophet Malachi and Yahshua (Jesus) the Messiah prophesied that at the close of the age, the spirit of Elijah would be sent forth to a compromised and apostate religious generation. Our Savior said, “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord Yahveh”, a day of His righteous indignation and terrifying judgment upon the earth and all sin and sinners. (Malachi 5:5) In God’s utmost mercy, He will pour out His Spirit through a remnant with the anointing of Elijah, “to turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17) "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good [holy] fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10) Yahshua (Jesus) specified that for those who call Him Lord and Savior, they too will be under that judgment if they do not repent and turn from all sin and unrighteousness. He said, “if you truly love Me you will obey My commandments.” (John 14:15) Our Savior warned the multitudes of “lukewarm” believers saying, “because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:16) This is the sad reality for so many who do not wholeheartedly love our Savior and obey His word to bear a harvest of righteous fruit for His eternal praise, honor, and glory.

The Holy Spirit is asking us, “What fellowship has light with darkness? And what harmony has Messiah with Satan [and this world]? … or “What agreement has the temple of God Yahveh with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says Yahveh. Do not touch what is unholy, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Yahveh God.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 7:1)

During this season of Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication, the Holy Spirit is urging us to prayerfully examine our lives. As in the days of Antiochus' defeat, our temples, hearts, minds, and bodies - must be cleansed and purified of all fleshly, worldly, pagan influence and defilement. Whatever is not in alignment with pure biblical truth must be repented for in order to be cleansed with the precious blood of Yahshua (Jesus). Then, and only then, will the Holy Spirit return in full measure and fill our dedicated lives/temples with the bright light of our Messiah’s presence, mightily dwelling in and through us.

Prayer of Dedication and consecration

Heavenly Father, surely it’s Your mercy to show me the many areas of my life that hinder my personal relationship with You, my holy God. I repent for the many ways that I have grieved Your Spirit by allowing my flesh’s sin nature and the things of this world to clutter my life and defile the holiness of my redeemed temple. I thank You for Your bright light of truth. It has exposed many of Satan’s schemes, which are working through the doctrines and traditions of men. Please forgive me and countless others, for in ignorance we’ve mixed the holy with the profane by partaking of rituals and traditions that are man-made, rooted in paganism, and imbibed with many anti-Jewish attitudes. I am sorry for any unholy mixture in my life that grieves Your Holy Spirit. Help me to longer embrace anything that would defile and desecrate the living temple of my body, which You purchased with Your sacrificial blood to be a dwelling place, a dedicated temple for Your Holy Spirit to shine as a bright light in this dark world.

My God and Savior, You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship You in spirit and truth. Thank You Yahshua (Jesus) that You gave Your life for me to live eternally with You in Your kingdom and in return I offer You my life on Your holy altar of sacrifice and service. I ask for the refiners fire of Your presence to purify my heart. May Your holy fire burn out every sinful root of carnality, worldliness, compromise, and lukewarmness. Yahshua (Jesus) in mercy, please cleanse me with Your atoning blood, which has purchased me to be a holy temple. From this time on, I pray that I will only open up the gates of my temple - my eyes, ears, my mind and heart to that which is holy, because it originates from You and it is in complete agreement with Your written word. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. I love You Yahshua (Jesus) and I want to be pleasing in Your sight. In the name of Yahshua (Jesus) Amen.

There is an incomparable gift of knowing Messiah’s birth on its true day according to the Holy One’s prophetic plan and biblical calendar. It is possible, by looking at the Holy Scriptures more carefully, that one can ascertain the actual season of the Savior’s birth. As Luke begins his Gospel account he explains the birth of John the Baptist. John’s parents, Zachariah and Elizabeth, were of the tribe of Levi, the ordained priestly tribe (Leviticus 3:12,41,45). Zachariah was a priest, and he served at a particular time of the year. King David divided the levitical priests into twenty four groups (I Chronicles 23:4-6), with each group serving two consecutive Sabbaths so that continuous service in the Holy One’s Temple in Jerusalem would be maintained throughout the year. It is written, Zachariah was of the “division of Abijah,” this division (also called Course as seen in the chart) served as the 8th group (Luke 1:5, I Chronicles 24:10). Before we can determine the time of year Zachariah’s division (Abijah) was in service, we need to understand the Almighty’s Biblical calendar. During Israel’s miraculous Exodus, because of the lamb’s blood sparing them from the angel of death, the wonder working God of Israel said to His people, this month is to be “the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.” (Exodus 12:1,2). He gave this command to Moses and Aaron during the Passover season, springtime, the month of Aviv - (March/April) (Exodus 13:4). Since Zachariah belonged to the eighth division (course), he would have served on both the 15th and 16th Sabbaths of the year, in the fourth Biblical month of Tammuz - (June/July). The biblical calendar is based on the moon/lunar calendar, unlike the world’s Gregorian calendar which is based on the sun.

In the month of Tammuz (June/July) Zachariah was serving in the God of Israel’s holy temple. An angelic messenger, Gabriel appeared to him. He proclaimed in the Hebrew language, “… your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John (Luke 1:11,13). Both Zachariah and Elizabeth were well along in years, and Elizabeth was barren (Luke 1:6) “When the days of Zachariah’s priestly service were ended he went back home, and Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for 5 months” (Luke 1:23,24). This advances us to the month of Chislev - (November/December). Now in the sixth month Tevet - (December/January), of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel appeared to the chosen Jewish virgin Mary (Miryam), announcing in Hebrew, “behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Yahshua (often pronounced Yeshua, Hebrew for salvation). His original Hebrew name Yahshua, means “YAHveh is salvation” - YHVH the Hebrew consonants for the God of Israel’s proclaimed name (see Exodus 3:15) (Luke 1:26,31). Gabriel also brought Mary the news that her relative Elizabeth had conceived a son in her old age, and was now in her sixth month of pregnancy (Luke 1:36). In about three months, in the month of Aviv - (March/April), her baby would be born.

When Gabriel brought the exciting news to Mary about her relative Elizabeth, “without delay she hurried to the town in the hill country of Judah” where they lived (Luke 1:39). When Mary entered Elizabeth’s presence, John leapt for joy in his mother’s womb. At that moment Elizabeth exclaimed to Mary, “Among all women, you are most blessed! And how blessed is the child in your womb” (Luke 1:41). This proclamation and John's leaping for joy, affirmed to Mary that she was already with child. These events took place in the cold wintry month of Tevet - (December/January).

(The Course number and Clan Leaders are taken from I Chronicles 24:7-18, followed by the Biblical and corresponding Roman months. The Biblical months can be found in the following Scriptures; Exodus 13:4; I Kings 6:1,38; I Kings 8:2; Ester 2:16; 8:9; Ezra 6:15; Nehemiah 11; 2:1; 6:15; Zechariah 1:7.)

Mary was born of the tribe of Judah, and of the lineage of King David. As a young obedient Jewess, she was betrothed to Joseph also of the tribe of Judah (Luke 2:4, 1:32; Psalms 132:11; Romans 1:3). When Joseph found Mary to be with child he had difficulty accepting her miraculous story (Matthew 1:18-19). The Holy One of Israel intervened by again sending the angel Gabriel, this time to speak to Joseph in a dream. The angelic messenger said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Yahshua, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21). The long awaited Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world arrived in the month of Tishri - (September/October), the seventh month of the God of Israel’s Biblical calendar (Leviticus 23). The autumn month of Tishri was especially highlighted, it is a time of the concluding three holy feasts on the biblical calendar. The seventh, and final holy day, is the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), also called the Feast of Booths. Long before His birth, Isaiah prophesied, “A child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Leviticus 23:36; John 7:37, Isaiah 9: 6). The God of Israel “sent His only begotten Son” to become the sacrificial “Passover Lamb” (John 3:16). The Son of God, the Almighty Conqueror came in bodily form as the “Son of Man” to rescue His people from sin and eternal death. In infinite loving mercy Yahveh [the Lord] put on robes of salvation, namely a human body, and came to earth to first save His people Israel and included the Gentiles who, along with believing Israel, would be set free from bondage to Satan and their sin nature (Romans 1:16, John 4:22, Matthew 15:24). Although Scripture regarding the exact day of Messiah’s birth is not expressly stated, we do know from deductive study of Scripture, that Yahshua (Jesus) was born in the month of Tishri. We can also infer that Yahshua was most likely born on the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths, Tishri 15 (September/October).

This last great biblical feast is also called the Feast of Great Rejoicing, which expresses this outpouring of joy from heaven to earth. We read that the mighty angels rejoiced, and the shepherds rejoiced, and the angels announced to the shepherds the Good News, “that will bring great joy (rejoicing) to all people” (Luke 2:10). Yahshua (Jesus) is the fulfillment of Yahveh, the Mighty One of Israel, coming to earth to dwell (tabernacle) among men, and the reason for our utmost great rejoicing. Yahshua (Jesus) willingly left the splendor and glory of His heavenly kingdom to indwell the earthly body that was divinely prepared for Him (see Hebrews 10:5). The Feast of Tabernacles speaks of His incarnation: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt (tabernacled) among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of an only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles is also in remembrance of Yahveh’s (the Lord’s) provision of shelter for Israel during her wilderness journeys. Messiah’s promised blessings of a place prepared for us in His messianic kingdom will be fulfilled when the redeemed righteous remnant, of Jews and Gentiles, dwell in His eternal presence forever (John 14:3).

The book of Revelation concludes with the ultimate fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles . We read John's words of inspiration and eternal hope, “I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them. And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” … I am … the beginning [His birth] and the end [He lives eternally with His righteous redeemed remnant forever in the Father’s holy eternal kingdom] … He who overcomes [the flesh, the sin nature, and the worldly temptations] will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be My sons and daughters” (see Revelation 21:3-7).

Understanding the biblical calendar, the Almighty’s appointed times, brings us a more vivid portrait of our Savior’s birth, death, and resurrection and magnifies His walk on earth leaving us an example to follow in His footsteps. The biblical calendar is a gift for both Jews and believing Gentiles, that together, they will know, love, and worship the God of Israel and His Son, the Jewish Messiah, “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is so important, we read in the Scripture it will be eternally celebrated in the millennial kingdom. It is written, “Any who are left of all the Gentile nations”, who survived the war against Jerusalem and the all conquering King of kings will have to appear before Yahveh, the Mighty One of Israel “from year to year to worship the King and celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) (see Zechariah 14:16-18). Let us begin on earth to recognize and celebrate this eternal season, when the Holy One came to “dwell among men” in its proper biblical time on His Father’s calendar, which will be the only everlasting calendar!

Want to learn even more about the Biblical Feasts of Israel? Check out Terrye G. Seedman's book "Redefining the Feasts of Israel Through the Ten Commandments." The Holy Days pivot around the Ten Commandments, these were appointed times to meet with Him that would help them to walk by His spirit’s leading in these Commandments.  Indeed, there would be no feasts if it was not for the Ten Commandments and the penalty of sin for not upholding them and there would be no need of Messiah.  The Ten Commandments point us to Him and YAHshua the schoolmaster points us to the truth so we can walk in a way worthy of everything that He has taught us to be.  “Not of the letter but of the Spirit.  For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6) This book unlocks truths from Yahveh's divine Ten Commandments to redefine the true meaning and fulfillment of the holy Feasts of Israel. Simply, the divinely appointed times, the feast days, pivot around the blood on the altar of sacrifice—on the mercy seat, for the forgiveness of sin and sin points us back to the Commandments. Therefore every feast is exalting the Commandments of YAHveh, exalting our Lamb who came and died because we can’t uphold the Commandments without His help.  They are inextricably linked. You can’t separate the feasts from the Commandments and you cannot separate the Lamb of God who is the ultimate fulfillment of the holy temple, priesthood, and the sacrificial system’s substitutionary sacrifice for our sin nature. Learn all of this and more in this powerful book about Yahveh's divine commandments and holy feasts.

Explore Feast of Israel Teachings