LIGHT OF MENORAH

Chanukah: Return of the King Video 7 Candle 6 - the Beast is Defeated

The Hebrew name of Judas the Maccabee is Yehoodah Hasmonaim but his nickname was Yehooda HaMaKehvee or Judas (or equivalently Judah) the Hammer.  He was the military hero of Chanukah.  He was the one who captured Jerusalem in 164 B.C.  He and all the religious people of Jerusalem restored the House of Adonai, HaBate Mikdash, the Holy Dwelling Place, or the Temple.  They dedicated it (Chanukah means dedication) and it was decided that the Jewish people would do a feast every year remembering what great things God had done. 

It was an amazing crazy victory over odds that were more than overwhelming.  Judah "hammered" the forces of the cruel pagan Seleucid Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes.  But, does God make any connections with this victory with Yeshua His Son?  Are their similarities between Yehoodah and his leadership of the armies of the Jews and Yeshua, King of Kings and Lord of Lords?  Let's explore this in this video.

Links mentioned in this video ...

Dr. Clyde Billington's video on Chanukah in its historical context - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn2u0ufT1Rc

Article on Daniel 11 and its historical accuracy - https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/understanding-the-book-of-daniel/daniel-11/

Article showing the early date of the Book of Daniel - archaeology does it again - http://www.jesuswalk.com/daniel/app3_early-date-of-daniel.htm

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ... somewhere in the Negev of Israel)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Chanukah: Return of the King Video 6 Candle 5 - Never Give In

OK.  It is crystal clear by now that Jesus is teaching about His return using the sequence of events in 1 Maccabees 2.  It is too amazing.  The exact order in 1 Maccabees 2 is the exact order in Matthew 24:9-21.  We don't get it since we are 1) not Jewish and 2) we are not taught the Bible in its historical context.  But, the Lord is doing something new.  He is doing something to bring us who are behind the curtain, behind the veil, to see more clearly.  This so to take His "bride" into a more complete and enhanced understanding of His word and get "her" (that is us) ready for the coming of the Bridegroom. 

In this video we will meet more amazing Jewish people from those dark and terrible days under the cruelty of Antiochus Epiphanes IV.  We will meet my hero, Eleazar, and Bible teacher.  We will also learn about Jewish families and how they would not buckle under the pressure to turn away from the Lord and turn to the practices of the pagan Greeks and their worldview of Hellenism, a worldview straight from hell.  And from this we will again see how they faced persecution and torture and death.  It was a time of a great tribulation on all Israel. 

But, it is interesting that Jesus is teaching that before His return that the terrible days of the Maccabees is nothing compared to the terror of the tribulation.  After all the things He said that relate to those days Jesus ends those five statement with ...

"For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.  Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short."  Matt. 24:21-22

I had an awesome lady Bible teacher who taught on the book of the Revelation.  When it got to the rapture she taught we should hope for the best but prepare for the worst.  She asked us to ask some questions that no one asks?  What if those who are post-trib - in other words that the rapture will happen after the tribulation - are right?  What if we as Christians must go through what the Jews went through but 1000 times worse?  Those who hold to post-trib are simply speculating as to their view of the end times.  Those who are mid-trib and pre-trib are simply stating a man made view of the endtimes.  There are endless arguments and no conclusion except one's own prejudice.  So, all those Christians - pre and mid and post and who are not rapture people - will be saved and we will finally all see who was right and who was wrong.  So, I remember that great lesson I learned from that women Bible teacher who I held in high high esteem when she said, "Hope for the best but plan for the worst."  

One famous Christian pastor says Christians in the USA are not ready.  Here's his article.  We are not ready.  We are too soft and too integrated into the culture of "me first" that is all around us.  We don't hold a candle to the heroes of the faith in this lesson and in the previous lesson.  It is time to wake up and get ready.  

Link to Pastor Brunson's article - https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/milton-quintanilla/were-not-ready-pastor-urges-us-christians-to-prepare-for-persecution.html

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ... hiking the ruins of Gath - the hometown of Goiath)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Chanukah: Return of the King Video 5 Candle 4: Remember the Moms

Candle 4 is lit.  What does it represent as far as Jesus connecting Chanukah with His return - the Return of the King?  So far Jesus has said He is God on Chanukah.  The evil king Antiochus said he was god and he's the villain of this Jewish feast.  He's not god - no way.  Only Yeshua is Lord of lords and King of kings and the only God.  But, Jesus said this on Chanukah and that ain't no coincidence!  See John 10:22 and following.  

Then we remember Jesus teaching in a special sequence.  In those days before He returns He talked about the abomination of desolation.  He talked about fleeing to the mountains and not taking anything with us.  All these are in the books of the Maccabees in the same order!  Those books were written in the mid to early 1st century B.C.  The disciples of Jesus would have had access to those books.  Thus, it seems highly probable that they saw  what Jesus was doing; He was creating an awesome connection between Chanukah and His return.  So, as we put the Bible back into its historical context we too hear as they did THEN, and see the way those disciples did THEN, and understand the way they did THEN, so the Ruach HaKodesh רוח הקודש - our comforter and teacher - can help us enhance and expand our understanding NOW.  

In this vidcast you will meet some amazing women.  We will also meet 7 brothers - men and boys who are also so amazing.  Actually most of the women are teenagers.  Girls married at 12 or 13 or 14 in and around 170 B.C.  These young Jewish teenage moms and those 7 Jewish brothers exhibited courage and bravery that no Christian girl or young man in the USA would ever face or has ever faced.  We will meet true heroines and heroes of the faith in a time of horror and death and fear and chaos.  And Jesus tells us that perhaps the terror they faced is what may face moms with kids again and all of us before He returns.

Here's the links to where you can purchase that amazing historical novel entitled, "Maccabee," by Dave Carson.  It's based upon the event of 1 and 2 Maccabees and it is an adventure story supreme.  Get you'll love it.

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Maccabee-David-C-Carson/dp/1432701657

Thrift Books - https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/maccabee_david-c-carson/2526430/item/26613131/?mkwid=%7Cdc&pcrid=448918240737&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&plc=&pgrid=104755242616&ptaid=pla-927269736418&gclid=CjwKCAiAlNf-BRB_EiwA2osbxcbO4dbLAvmazeh-dhnQvFaeHdq_YYAJ8N8HQ2vrZ9nthcipwxPY-hoCpLYQAvD_BwE#idiq=26613131&edition=7609396

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ...not far from ancient Bethel)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Chanukah: Return of the King Video 4 Candle 3 - Leave It All Behind

And so the connection between Jesus' return and Chanukah continues.  We must again return to ancient Israel in and about 170 B.C.  What was happening to the devout and faithful Jews under the cruel, vicious, and pagan Greek king Antiochus IV?  And how does Jesus relate this to the days before His  return - the days of tribulation where many have the mark of the evil one, the anti-Christ the one who is anti-Bible and anti-God?  Come.  Return to those days with us.  Let us seek His truth as Yeshua teaches them THEN so we can more fully understand NOW.

Here's a link that reviews the revolt of the Maccabees and the 1st celebration of the feast of Dedication or Chanukah חֲנֻכָּה - https://www.ancient.eu/article/827/the-maccabean-revolt/

Here are links to very readable versions of the 1st and 2nd book of the Maccabees.

1 Maccabees - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1maccabees/0

2 Maccabees - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2maccabees/1

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ... hiking the ruins of the ancient city of Gath)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

Chanukah: Return of the King Video 3 Candle 2 - Flee to the Mountains

Christians and Jews believe in ONE God, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob (Israel).  Just like Paul said in 1 Cor. 8:6, Eph. 4:6, and 1 Tim 2:5.  And as we learn about the revolt of the Maccabees we see what God did for His chosen ones, Israel.  One old Levite priest and his five sons, Judas, Simon, John, Eleazer, and Jonathan and a bunch of Jews from the village of Modi'in (pronounced Moe Deen) flee to the hills and begin a revolution against the powerful Greek Seleucid kingdom of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.  It is as if Puerto Rico invaded the USA landing their forces at Miami Beach and conquering us in four years.  Impossible.  But, God has already told us time and time again, 

"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?" (Jer 32:27)

Lord said to Sarah in Abraham's tent, "Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." (Gen 18:14)

The Egyptians had enslaved all the Hebrews and were murdering the baby boys of the Hebrews; God delivered these powerless slaves from the most powerful nation on earth at the time.  And God does it again in the time of the Maccabees. 

We as Christians should not be surprised.  Chanukah is not about a rabbinic story of some so called miracle of the oil jar.  No way!  It is a celebration of God, the only God, who is the all powerful one and is King of kings and God of gods and the Lord of lords.  

But now.  This awesome celebration remembering what God did for Israel, is used by God Himself to teach His disciples 2000 years ago of His return.  Once again we will see another connection Jesus makes between the events of the Maccabean revolt, the remembrance of Chanukah, and His return.  

Here's a link that reviews the revolt of the Maccabees and the 1st celebration of the feast of Dedication or Chanukah חֲנֻכָּה - https://www.ancient.eu/article/827/the-maccabean-revolt/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ... hiking in the Negev of Israel)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

Chanukah: Return of the King Video 2 Candle 1 - The Abomination of Desolation

In this video we return again to the Mt. of Olives.  Jesus is answering His disciples.  They asked Him what would be the sign of His return and the end of the age.  Jesus answers and seems to use events of the revolt of the Maccabees as a "picture" to teach them about the times of His return.  We as Christians have no connection to Chanukah except it is in December like Christmas.  But it has nothing to do with Christmas and we now learn the "miracle of the oil" that supposedly explains the meaning of Chanukah, never happened.  It was only a story a rabbi made up in the 3rd century A.D. to try and come up with why Chanukah lasts for 8 days.  If you haven't listened to the 1st video, I strongly urge you to watch the video, "Chanukah: Return of the King - Introduction."  

So, let us jump in again.  Let us return to the Mt. of Olives.  Let's study the events of the revolt or the Maccabees and see how Jesus continues to use those days and times to teach His disciples and, therefore, teach us as we reconnect to those days 2000 years ago and hear Jesus they way they did THEN so we can enhance our understanding of the return of the King NOW.

Here are some links that may enhance your study ...

1 Maccabees - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1maccabees/0

2 Maccabees - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2maccabees/1

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - at the rins of ancient Gath - Goliath's hometown)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Chanukah: Return of the King Video 1 - CHRISTMAS & CHANUKAH - NO ACCIDENT

It is the "season of light."  For religious Jewish people it is the feast of Chanukah (Hanukkah is the modern way of spelling the feast) and is a celebration of light - the lights of the Chanukah Menorah.  For Christians who celebrate Christmas it is the time to remember the coming of the "light of world" in Jesus.  It is interesting that Chanukah and Christmas are connected in that they represent a celebration of the light.  But, that is about the only connection they have.  Simply put, Chanukah and Christmas have absolutely NOTHING to do with each other.  There as different as ice cream and apple pie.  I am always amazed at those Christians who say we need to celebrate Chanukah just like the Jewish people.  That's like asking Muslims in India to celebrate July 4th Independence Day of the USA. Why would they?  It makes no sense.  

Jesus however, does something to Chanukah that is very surprising.  He uses it and the history of the start of Chanukah as a way to teach His disciples 2000 years ago.  He uses it to teach of His return as King and Lord.  He uses the events of the revolt of the Maccabees, the July 4th of the Jewish people around 164 B.C., to help His disciples learn about what it might be like before He returns.  This is the focus on this vidcast series.  I do hope the video series is a blessing and it adds to your celebration of this season of the LIGHT.  For myself, I actually add the celebration of Chanukah to this time.  Why?  Not for the awesome things God did for His people then but for how Jesus teaches me today about the Return of the King.

In the video I talked about some links I would provide.  See them below.  These are scholarly Jewish resources that teach us that there never was the miracle of the oil at Chanukah.  It isn't me teaching this but non-Christian Jewish scholars.   So, if there is no miracle of the oil then what is Chanukah all about?  You will learn it as part of this vidcast series.

Link 1 to "My Jewish Learning" - https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/transforming-hanukkah/

Link 2 to Torah.com - https://www.thetorah.com/article/uncovering-the-truth-about-chanukah

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ... somewhere in a wadi in Israel)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

CHANUKAH SERIES STARTS DEC. 13TH - THE RETURN OF THE KING

2025 calendar for Chanukah - see below

Genesis - 66 - Gen. 27:1-28:9 and 36:1-5,12 - ANTI ISRAEL, ANTI TORAH, AND ANTI CHRIST

We continue our study about Esau (E SAV in Hebrew) and Edom, means red, which becomes Esav’s nickname.  He is father of the Edomites, the red people, and a clan of the Edomites called the Amalekites.  We will continue our study to see how Esav and his hatred for his brother Jacob carries throughout the history of Israel; it carries even into Jesus’ day in surprising ways.  It even carries to the book of Revelation and you can add to your study by accessing this vidcast - Torah Nugget #15 on the feast of Purim (H6332 Pooreem פּוּרִים  lots (as by means of a broken piece) – casting lots).  This amazing study connects Esau and Edom to the Great RED Dragon in Revelation 11.  Here's the link - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-15-vidcast-purim-not-by-chance-but-by-design/?token=bde2fde2d0c848fcba88d12d1f3354df

I mentioned in this podcast to watch video #9 in the video Bible study series, “Five Small Stones.”  I actually urge you to watch all 11 videos – they are only 5 minutes in length barring the opening and end.  Here’s the link to all 11 episodes and the one you want to watch is #9 – here’s the link -  https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/?s=five+small

Here's a link to an article on the Edomites.  I think this will only add to your understanding and knowledge.  Here’s the link - https://www.gotquestions.org/Edom-in-the-Bible.html

 

Who is this guy, Rev. Ferret? 

(Ferret ... on the Baja of Mexico teaching at the Bible Institute)

What's his background?  Why should we take time to listen to him?  Here's a link to check out his background - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

Exodus - 38 part 2 - Exod, 13:1-21 - The Written Word, the Living Word, the Cross

This is lesson 38 part 2.  In Exod. 13:1-21 we find certain Jewish traditions that come out of these verses.  One is related to the verses below.

"And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.” (Exo 13:9)

"So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt." (Exo 13:16)

"You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.” (Deu 6:8)

"You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.” (Deu 11:18)

From these verses comes the use of תְּפִילִּין TEFILLIN or the boxes with straps that are used in Jewish prayer.  Ancient tefillin were found in the Qumran area on the northeast shores of the Dead Sea.  They are dated to Jesus’ day.  So, the use of tefillin certainly go back to Jesus’ day; we have archaeological proof.  Thus, it is likely that Jesus wore them as a Jewish sage (rabbi).  He is never accused in the Gospels of NOT using them.  It is clear Jesus wore the four tassels (ציציות tzeetzeeot) on the corners of His garment since this is what the woman who had a bleeding disease for 12 years actually touched as was healed.  Jesus was doing what religious Jewish men did then; they wore the tassels and used the tefillin. 

The second tradition comes from the verses below. 

"You shall tell your son on that day, saying, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' “ (Exo 13:8)

"And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' then you shall say to him, 'With a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.” (Exo 13:14)

"And when your children say to you, 'What does this rite mean to you?' you shall say, 'It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.'" (Exo 12:26-27)

"When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What do the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments mean which the LORD our God commanded you?' then you shall say to your son, 'We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us from Egypt with a mighty hand.” (Deu 6:20-21)

The old tradition is the part in a modern Jewish Seder where a child of the family asks the four questions as related to the verses above.  The four questions are shown below.

• Question 1: Why on all other nights do we eat either leavened bread or matza, but on this night only matza?
• Question 2: Why on all other nights do we eat different types of vegetables, but on this night only bitter herbs?
• Question 3: Why on all other nights do we not dip our food once, but on this night we dip it twice?
• Question 4: Why on all nights do we eat either sitting upright or reclining, but on this night we recline?

It is said that each question was asked by a certain type of child. 

• The Wise Son: “What are the testimonies, the statutes, and the laws that G‑d, our G‑d, has commanded to you?”
• The Wicked Son: "What is this service of yours?!"
• The Simple Son: “What is this celebration about?”
• The One Who Doesn't Know How to Ask: "As for The One Who Knows Not How To Ask — you must open up [the conversation] for him."

The main point in all this is the Exodus is the key Biblical event establishing the Jewish people, Israel as a nation, and Judaism.  It only happened once and will never happen again.  It even changed their calendar - the month of Nissan, the month f Passover, is the first month of the year and Nissan 1 is God's New Year.

God had engineered history and orchestrated all these events and He wants His people never to forget.  So the use of tefillin is a tool to help remember.  And the tradition of the use of the four questions in the Seder is to teach the next generation so that they too will never forget.

What does all this have to do with Jesus?  How does this relate to our experience as Christians in the 21^st century?  In this lesson we will see the amazing and awesome connections to Jesus.  He said that salvation is from the Jews.  The Exodus was a God orchestrated event not to rescue slaves, or to give freedom to Israel.  No.  It was an event marking a new era with a new people who are given a new task.  In Isa. 42:6 and 49:6 they, Israel, are the LIGHT OF THE WORLD to bring the salvation (Jesus’ name – Yeshua H3444 יְשׁוּעָה ) of God to the “ends of the earth.”  On top of that He took bread (unleavened?) at His Passover Meal of the Messiah (the Last Supper) and said it was Him, His body.  This takes us right to Exodus 13 and this chapter takes us to the CROSS - a one time event that will never happen again and it too changed our calendar.  You won’t believe how these lessons are proof of Jesus’ words in John 5:39 that all scripture testifies of Him.  He said it between 24-30 A.D. and all they had was the Hebrew Bible.  Again His words are true to them then and to us now.

If you missed lesson 38 part 1 check it out.  Here's the link - https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-fuv7b-11e242c

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - teaching at the ancient city of Gezer in the Shefelah (sha-fay-lah) in Israel)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0