Hanukkah (or Chanukah), otherwise known as the Feast of Dedication or the Feast of the Maccabees, was a Jewish festival observed for eight days from the 25th of Kislev, which we call the month of December. It was instituted by Judas Maccabeus, his brothers, and the elders of the congregation of Israel in the year 165 BC in commemoration of the reconsecration of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, and especially of the altar of burnt offering, after they had been desecrated in the persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 BC. The significant happenings of the festival were the illumination of houses and synagogues, a custom probably taken over from the Feast of Tabernacles, and the recitation of Psalm 30:1-12. The Feast of Dedication was celebrated during the time of Jesus’ ministry, and it is mentioned in John 10:22-24 [RSV]: 22. It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; 23. it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the Temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24. So the Jews gathered round Him and said to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly."
After the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek Empire was divided among his four generals known as the Diadochi. Nicator Seleucus took control of the eastern provinces. Antiochus IV, a later Seleucid king, named himself Epiphanes, which means “god manifest.” He was the prophesied evil monarch from Syria – the ultimate “king of the north” – who came down and defeated “the king of the south” and took possession of Judea in Daniel 11:21-30.
Antiochus had the Jewish High Priest assassinated, and installed a man of his own inclination in his place. He instituted Greek customs throughout the Jewish population and finally ordered the Jewish religion abolished completely and replaced it with his own pagan gods. Anyone who failed to abide by his decrees, he had executed. His forces desecrated the Jerusalem Temple and its altar of worship by slaughtering a swine on the altar and erecting a statue of Zeus with his own likeness in the sanctuary. Antiochus typifies the Antichrist in the Book of Revelation who will set up an abomination (an idol of himself) that causes desolation (those who love the true God to flee Jerusalem), and this occurred when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. Jesus also warned His followers of the coming destruction and abomination when He said in Matthew 24:15-18 [RSV], 15. “So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the Prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16. then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; 17. let him who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house; 18. and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle.”
After the Jews retook Jerusalem under the Maccabees and the Temple was cleansed, the lamps of the sacred lampstand needed to be lit. There was only enough oil found to keep the lamps burning for one day. It would take a messenger a week to bring fresh supplies, but no one wanted to wait that long to rededicate the sanctuary. Miraculously, they lit the lampstand and the oil lasted eight full days!
God made a prophecy about the Second Temple in Haggai 2:9 [RSV], saying, “‘The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts; ‘and in this place I will give prosperity,’ says the Lord of hosts.” How could this be, seeing how Solomon’s Temple (the former house) contained five glorious elements that were missing in the present house (the Second Temple rebuilt under Zerubbabel) of Haggai's day? These five items were the Fire from Heaven on the Altar; the Ark of the Covenant; the Glory of the Divine Presence (Shechinah); and the Urim and Thummim. In addition to these missing spiritual elements, the physical structure of Solomon's Temple was so ornate and elaborate than the 2nd Temple that those who were old enough to remember it (the survivors of the Babylonian exile) wept aloud when the foundation was laid (Ezra 3:12).
The latter glory of the second house was greater than that of Solomon's Temple because the glorious Son of God, the “light of the world” (John 3:12 [RSV]), had come into the Temple. Jesus came into the Temple during the Feast of Dedication. The Light of the World Who filled the Temple with glory was asked, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” He had confirmed again and again that He was the Messiah by His signs, wonders and miracles. Even the eight day miracle of Hanukkah pointed to Jesus the Messiah. In Jesus Christ is fulfilled the promise from God of prosperity, for as the Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:7-8 [RSV], 7. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8. which He lavished upon us.
During the Festival of Lights, the Menorah is lit by a servant candle. Although the “Shamash” is located above the other candles, it must bow low to light them. Jesus humbled Himself, took on the form of a servant, and shared His glorious light with us.
The fulfilled prophecy of Haggai 2:9 is only one of over 300 prophecies fulfilled that confirm that Jesus is truly the promised Messiah of Israel. The probability of one man fulfilling only 48 of the over 300 prophecies is one in 10 to the 157th power. Not only did the miracles that Jesus performed attest to the fact that He is the Son of God, but the statistical evidence is proof beyond any shadow of doubt that Jesus is Adonai, the Lord.
Is He the Lord of your life?
After the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek Empire was divided among his four generals known as the Diadochi. Nicator Seleucus took control of the eastern provinces. Antiochus IV, a later Seleucid king, named himself Epiphanes, which means “god manifest.” He was the prophesied evil monarch from Syria – the ultimate “king of the north” – who came down and defeated “the king of the south” and took possession of Judea in Daniel 11:21-30.
Antiochus had the Jewish High Priest assassinated, and installed a man of his own inclination in his place. He instituted Greek customs throughout the Jewish population and finally ordered the Jewish religion abolished completely and replaced it with his own pagan gods. Anyone who failed to abide by his decrees, he had executed. His forces desecrated the Jerusalem Temple and its altar of worship by slaughtering a swine on the altar and erecting a statue of Zeus with his own likeness in the sanctuary. Antiochus typifies the Antichrist in the Book of Revelation who will set up an abomination (an idol of himself) that causes desolation (those who love the true God to flee Jerusalem), and this occurred when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70. Jesus also warned His followers of the coming destruction and abomination when He said in Matthew 24:15-18 [RSV], 15. “So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the Prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16. then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; 17. let him who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house; 18. and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle.”
After the Jews retook Jerusalem under the Maccabees and the Temple was cleansed, the lamps of the sacred lampstand needed to be lit. There was only enough oil found to keep the lamps burning for one day. It would take a messenger a week to bring fresh supplies, but no one wanted to wait that long to rededicate the sanctuary. Miraculously, they lit the lampstand and the oil lasted eight full days!
God made a prophecy about the Second Temple in Haggai 2:9 [RSV], saying, “‘The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts; ‘and in this place I will give prosperity,’ says the Lord of hosts.” How could this be, seeing how Solomon’s Temple (the former house) contained five glorious elements that were missing in the present house (the Second Temple rebuilt under Zerubbabel) of Haggai's day? These five items were the Fire from Heaven on the Altar; the Ark of the Covenant; the Glory of the Divine Presence (Shechinah); and the Urim and Thummim. In addition to these missing spiritual elements, the physical structure of Solomon's Temple was so ornate and elaborate than the 2nd Temple that those who were old enough to remember it (the survivors of the Babylonian exile) wept aloud when the foundation was laid (Ezra 3:12).
The latter glory of the second house was greater than that of Solomon's Temple because the glorious Son of God, the “light of the world” (John 3:12 [RSV]), had come into the Temple. Jesus came into the Temple during the Feast of Dedication. The Light of the World Who filled the Temple with glory was asked, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” He had confirmed again and again that He was the Messiah by His signs, wonders and miracles. Even the eight day miracle of Hanukkah pointed to Jesus the Messiah. In Jesus Christ is fulfilled the promise from God of prosperity, for as the Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:7-8 [RSV], 7. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8. which He lavished upon us.
During the Festival of Lights, the Menorah is lit by a servant candle. Although the “Shamash” is located above the other candles, it must bow low to light them. Jesus humbled Himself, took on the form of a servant, and shared His glorious light with us.
The fulfilled prophecy of Haggai 2:9 is only one of over 300 prophecies fulfilled that confirm that Jesus is truly the promised Messiah of Israel. The probability of one man fulfilling only 48 of the over 300 prophecies is one in 10 to the 157th power. Not only did the miracles that Jesus performed attest to the fact that He is the Son of God, but the statistical evidence is proof beyond any shadow of doubt that Jesus is Adonai, the Lord.
Is He the Lord of your life?
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