Happy Hanukkah

While most Christians don’t celebrate Hanukkah per say, most of us know that this celebration is mentioned in John 10:22 as the Feast of Dedication and it is prophetic in nature.  The meaning of the word Hanukkah is translated ‘inaugurate, dedicate, consecrate, and the Feast of Dedication. (Strong’s Hebrew: 2598 = Hanukkah).  This celebration commemorates the retaking of the temple in Jerusalem by a group of Jewish freedom fighters known as the Maccabees who overcame impossible odds against the occupying Syrian army in what is known as the Maccabean revolt.

Once Jerusalem was retaken, the Jews removed all the signs of Greek paganism in the temple and after a great deal of cleaning, rebuilding, and refurbishing; the temple was finished.  It was completed on the 25^th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev (December) in 164BC; our Christmas Day. It was now time to rededicate (Hanukkah) the temple so a special celebration was planned to dedicate this most holy place unto the one true God.  Like all Jews (and Christians), food is associated with any celebration, so this first celebration would be known as the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) aka the Festival of Lights. 

The first thing the Jews did was to offer up a sacrifice unto the Lord. Legend tells us that after the altar was built and the wood was arranged for a fire, they prepared an animal for sacrifice.  Since it was forbidden in God’s Law to use “strange fire” on the altar of the Lord, the Maccabees prayed for God’s intervention.  In response, God provided a miracle as fire broke forth from the stones of the altar and ignited the wood.  This same fire continued to burn on the altar until the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. In the Holy Place in the temple there was a seven-branched candelabrum known in Hebrew as the Menorah which burned day and night without interruption.  The lights of the Menorah were fueled by olive oil of the finest quality. 

The preparation of this oil was closely guarded during the entire process of its production.  The oil designated for the Menorah was stored in special vessels bearing the seal of the High Priest.  Years earlier, when the Greeks entered the temple and defiled it, they destroyed the containers of oil.  When the Maccabees finally regained control of the temple and began the restoration process, they searched the temple diligently and found only one single container of oil bearing the seal of the High Priest. It held enough oil for only one day; but a miracle occurred and the oil burned for eight days.  This was enough time for the priests to find and prepare more oil to keep the Menorah burning for years to come.  This is where the origin of the eight nights of Hanukkah comes from. The following year the Jewish people declared the eight days of the miracle of the oil to be a holiday for praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord.  It was God’s supernatural intervention that enabled the Maccabees to retake the temple against impossible odds and it was God’s supernatural increase in the oil that kept the Menorah burning for eight days. 

Soon afterward the Roman occupation in the region of Judea ensued.  Herod would be the elected Roman Governor to secure the region and ensure peace.  In order for Herod to gain the support of the Jewish people, he funded the renovation of the Temple.  Because of this, the temple became known as ‘Herod’s Temple.’  The Jews were able to continue their temple sacrifices and Jewish traditions under Herod; however, the oppression of the Romans continued which angered the Jews. This was the state of the Israel when Jesus showed up as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem on that cold, dark night.  Biblical scholars agree that if Christ had arrived at any other time in history, the Jews would not have been in a place to receive His message of hope and salvation. 

There is something very special about Hanukkah this year; I believe that it’s a sign of the Lord’s soon return.  Some of the other watchman have already brought this powerful revelation to light, but I wanted to check it out for myself and bring this information from YouTube land to the blogosphere.  This year, Hanukkah begins on December 18^th and goes till December 26^th.  When we study biblical gematria we learn the significance of certain numbers in the Bible and their meanings.  For instance, Strong’s 2598 means Hanukkah. 

Do you remember the blood moon tetrads of 2014 and 2015 and 2021 & 2022?

Passover blood moon on 4/15/14 + 2,598 days = Passover blood moon on 5/26/21. Sukkot blood moon on 10/8/14 + 2,598 days = Sukkot blood moon on 11/19/21. The total solar eclipse on 3/20/15 + 2,598 days = the total solar eclipse on 4/30/22. Passover blood moon on 4/4/15 + 2,598 days = Passover blood moon on 5/16/22. Sukkot blood moon on 9/28/15 + 2,598 days = Sukkot blood moon on 11/8/22  (the last blood moon for 2022).

When you add 40 days to 11/8/22 you get Kislev 24 – December 18, 2022, the first day of Hanukkah this year.  The number 40 is always associated with God’s judgment or His warning of a judgment.

A closer look at some of the English Gematria reveals other hidden truths about the end times and Hanukkah; for instance, the phrase, ‘For then there will be great tribulation’ (Matthew 24:21a) in English Gematria adds up to ‘2022.’ The following phrases that pertain to Hanukkah in English Gematria add up to ‘1338.’ ‘The Festival of lights (aka Hanukkah), The dedication of the altar, Sheep walking in a circle, Jesus Christ revealed, Lion of the tribe of Judah, Escape the tribulation, The seal of the living God, Gematria is the key to it all, and God’s judgment on America.’ Strong’s for ‘1338’ Hebrew: means ‘Bithron, a place east of the Jordon, a ravine or gorge (2 Samuel 2:29).  It comes from 1334 – meaning ‘to chop up, to divide.’ Greek: 1338 ‘to reach through, to penetrate, to pierce.’  Clearly God is about to divide this world, reaching through and receiving His own.

The following phrases that pertain to Hanukkah in English Gematria add up to ‘1962.’  ‘The twenty fourth of Kislev’ (December 18, 2022 – the first day of Hanukkah this year), I am going to prepare a place for you, Caught up in the Hanukkah Rapture, December blood moon Rapture signs, December twenty twenty two, Jesus Christ died for our sins, Jesus Praise His glorious name, They shall know that I am the Lord.’

Strong’s: ‘1962’ Hebrew: ‘calamity’ and Greek: ‘nod of approval.’   

While I can’t say if this means that the Rapture will occur this year or not, what I can say is that something very big is about to unfold. I personally believe that the Rapture is what triggers the whole thing and I wrote a blog about that on this site (https://encouragemen.blog).  I also want to remind my fellow watchers that a sign is just a sign, it’s not necessarily an event.  If we pass a sign or a high watch date, then that’s all it was; it was not the event.  Guard your hearts and don’t get discouraged, just keep on loving Jesus and serving Him faithfully.  When the event finally happens, we will all know because we will all be caught up into heaven with Jesus.  Until that day, keep looking up, keep watching, and keep occupying, because Jesus is coming very soon!

Maranatha   

Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Northern Missouri.  He lives with his wife of 33-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren).  Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a former Lead Pastor (25 years), police chaplain, and community advocate.  He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.