“The 5 Neg-ism’s” by Ariel E………….

This Week’s Torah Portion is Shemot: The Names

Exodus 1:1-6:1

Haftarah  is Jeremiah 1:1-2:3

Priesthood  Instructions: Acts 5-9

“The 5 Negism’s”

Today’s Reading: Exodus 3:6-10

6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.  The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey-the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.  And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

The Burning “Thorny” Bush

Moses is tending His Fathers (Father in Law’s) Flocks when He see’s something strange off in the distance!

He comes upon a burning bush (It was a Thorny Bush from the Hebrew word O’nah—meaning to prick—or thorny)

Moses sees a Bush on fire that is NOT consumed by the flame!

YHWH calls Moses from the midst of the burning bush and Moses responds “Hineini”—which means “Hear I am!”

This burning Bush is a preincarnate theophany of Yeshua the Messiah—full of the Ruach’s Fire-Which burns inside—but does not destroy—and will be crowned with the same “thorns” for the sin of Jacob!

Moses is commanded to remove His shoes—the sign of the Hebrew marriage: The Bride removes her shoes and dances around the groom 7 Times—signifying her life is being completely joined to her Groom as ONE!

 

#1 FEAR OF FAILURE BASED ON OUR WORTHINESS

–Exodus 3:9-11 says “9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”  11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

In Deuteronomy 18:5 the Torah says “Those who DO THESE THINGS shall LIVE BY THEM.”  This was the standard under the Levitical Priesthood—you had to do everything without failure. If you did, then your hope could be in the keeping of the Mitzvot (Commandments).  However, this was flawed on our part because we have an ever present “Yetzer Hara” or “Evil Inclination” which is far too often our default programming that we fall back upon.  The presence of the “Yetzer Hara” –this Evil Inclination located in our flesh—passed on from our Fathers prevented us from doing the good things that Torah required—thus there had to be another way.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 says “5 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called:

The LORD Our Righteous Savior.

You’ll please note that it does not say “Ariel” or “Skip” or “Sarah” or “Tom” our righteous savior—but it states that the Righteous Savior—the King FOR David will be called “ADONAI –TZADEK” or the LORD YHWH our RIGHTEOUSNESS.  If you call upon the name of Yeshua our Messiah—then you have exchanged the righteousness that could be attained through strict and perfect adherence to the Torah’s Righteous Commandments and you have put on the Name which is ABOVE EVERY NAME—that at the Name of Yeshua YHWH—Adonai Tzadek—every knee will bow and tongue confess that YESHUA IS ADONAI to the glory—the radiated glory of God the Father—or Source.

Our answering a calling is not a promise to achieve a certain set of results—because that would be works based faith.  Faith comes from the Hebrew word “EMUNAH” meaning “Steadfast Obedience to God’s Teaching and Instructions found in the Torah.  This steadfast obedience to the Torah is PURE PROOF of your love for the Messiah; and if adherence to this plan of obedience is missing from your life—then the critical sign that you have found the road to Zion is missing from your heart and life and must be put in place.

God’s plans for your life are YES and AMEIN in Messiah Yeshua—and the results are based on Him and not on you.  However, like Moses in this week’s portion we are keenly aware of how far we fall short.  This self-condemnation keeps us trapped in endless cycles of non-productivity and non-involvement in the hurting lives of those around us who need more than anything to know that it is not what you can produce (Works) but it is in whom you trust with undying love demonstrated by obedience.

Let Go and Let God: seems simple enough—even to me!

5 Bad Attitudes

#2 FEAR OF MAN

—Exodus 3:13 says, “13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” Psalm 111:10 goes on to say, “10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.”

If you are always afraid of what Man will think—you cannot break through to intimacy with God (Fearing the Lord) as you are being distracted by others and not keeping focused on the lover of your soul!

Our Fear of Man—is really defining what we feel God CANNOT protect us from! It also is our overriding desire to have a reputation that is well thought of in our community.  What does Pastor  “So and So” or Rabbi “whosoever” think about this or that.  This is “STINKING THINKING” and not thinking that is that of royal Sons and Daughters of a King—but is more akin to “PEASANT THOUGHT” that manifests in nothing but excuses.

I went to Law School after I was 40 years old; and yes, I thought and often felt ridiculous when a 22 year old in my study group began to instruct me on how things are done.  Certainly going to Law School would be easier at 22 than at 40 plus—but the Scripture says “That Fear of Man BRINGS A SNARE.”  A Snare is a trap—a device to prevent you from moving forward or retreating.

As if this were not enough—when God called me to play golf as a professional—I was almost ready for the senior’s tour.  Often I told my Caddie that I was not certain why God has me out here with all these young and strong children—a few of which are not even as old as my golf shoes 😉  But just two weeks ago, one year into my playing as a professional—I got to play a round with the City Champion.

He is a prototypical golfer—young, strong, tall and hits the ball so hard that it sounds like a cannon firing when he hits that little white orb.  However, it wasn’t long before I tied him and we split the match—my 40 something to his 23 something years of age.  So why do I bring this up?  Only to show you that you are never too old to obey and walk in the way that YHWH has called upon you to walk.  Do not fear Men—but fear the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who has determined your outcome before He ever called you.

 

5  Bad Attitudes

#3 FEAR OF REJECTION

Exodus 4:1 says “1 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” Colossians 3:3 says, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

Poor Moshe, He was so worried about credibility; and he had every right to be.  Remember there was a Murder Warrant out for his arrest in Egypt—so unless he could convince both the Jewish people and the Court of Pharaoh that it was YHWH who had sent him—he just knew that he would be killed.  We have little to fear in the “being killed” department—and much more to fear in the rejection department.  Rejection is perhaps the greatest of all hurts that carves through our heart like a river cuts through the Grand Canyon in the United States.

Rabbi Shaul—Paul said—that we are dead already and that our former way of life is hidden IN MESSIAH which is hidden in God. Since this is true—then too are the following thoughts about death and its effect upon our lives:

A Dead Person seeks NO REPUTATION—and has NO PUBLIC IMAGE TO UPHOLD! Thus there is NO WAY of being rejected!

Philippians 4:7 says of Messiah, “But made Himself nothing taking on the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness”

A servant seeks to BLESS OTHERS—not themselves!  If this became the centerpiece of our thought life in Messiah—there is little that could hold us back.  Further—we would PROUDLY and LOUDLY confess our conversion to JUDAISM and the FAITH OF ISRAEL instead of being the “undercover brother” or “sister” who wants all to think well of you.  Thought of how people saw Him drove Shimon Kepha—Simon Peter—to deny knowing the Lord Yeshua those three times.  Examine your own heart and see if there is any of that Peter spirit lurking for a future denial and repent of it as soon as you can.

 

5 Bad Attitudes

#4 THE INFLUENCE OF PAST EXPERIENCES

Exodus 4:10 says, “Moses said to the LORD , “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” THIS DID NOT MEAN MOSES HAD A STUDDER AS MOST MINISTERS TEACH—NO—Moshe was saying in a very Hebrew way “I DO NOT SPEAK GOOD HEBREW!”  Remember, Moshe had grown up in the House of Pharaoh and spoke the language of that house with fluidity; Scholars venture to say that Moses/Moshe had a rudimentary grasp of Hebrew…..just enough to sound silly to the average Hebrew.  It is like Spanish today—I know just enough to ask for Ice at the market and to say “God Bless You.”  But think about it—if someone did not speak English and they were talking with you at the Market and they said to you “God Bless You” in perfect English—would you not think that they were a native English speaker?  Yes—you most certainly would.

This happens in Israel every day.  New believers will be in Israel for the first time and some Israeli will ask them if they want “this” or “that” in English and the newbie will say “KEN” for Yes or “LO” for No….and the next thing you know, the Israeli thinks they speak Hebrew and they ask them a question in follow up—but the poor non-hebrew speaker cannot understand or answer their question.  This too was Moshe’s fear.

Moses reasoned according to the Sages—that the Hebrews would hear Moshe’s telling them what God had said in flawless Hebrew—and then they would think Moshe was able to speak Hebrew—only to make Moshe appear to be a false representative.  This was what he feared—and what is meant when the Torah says Moshe was “slow in Tongue”—he simply spoke broken Hebrew.

Philippians 3:13-14 Says, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

THIS IS A COMMAND TO HELP US MOVE BEYOND THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST! FORGET THE PAST and STRAIN TO ATTAIN THE FUTURE.  Don’t be like those who “act” like they can speak—learn TO SPEAK the language of your new people.  Learn their ways and their customs—and imitate Messiah Son of David: King of ALL Judah!!

5 Bad Attitudes

#5 NEED FOR A MANDATE FROM GOD

Exodus 4:13 says, “But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

This is Moses 5th chance–remember 5 represents God’s Grace in Torah—Now God’s anger begins to burn—So He sends Aharon to come and HELP Moses!  Sometimes we cannot overcome our self view until God sends us a helper to help us to see clearly.  Aharon—Moshe’s older brother was searching for Moshe in the desert.  Ask yourself—who is my Aharon—the Priest to my Prophet??

We all love to use excuses to “cop out” of what God has called us to do—it is false religious PRIDE (i.e. “I’ll Pray About  It –“It=Helping?”  Do you  really have to pray about HELPING SOMEONE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE and LIKENESS??  Must we pray about  things as simple as helping your neighbor??

People always say “I just do not want to miss God” but King David was told by Nathan the Prophet exactly how to handle these types of situations.

1 Chronicles 17:2 says, “Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.”

WE ARE MOST LIKE MOSES IN EXODUS 4:13 which says “13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

In Deuteronomy 18:15 Moses prophesies, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him” Moshe was God’s suffering servant in the wilderness with the children of  Israel as we were led out of darkness into His glorious light.  That PROPHET “LIKE ME” the PROPHET who was also PRIEST and KING is none other than YESHUA ben David.

The Greeked out version of “Jesus” that we are told about by the great whore of Rome—looks NOTHING LIKE MOSHE.  He doesn’t worship like Moshe, keep the holidays of Moshe—or act in any way like Moshe—which is why Jewish people for the most part do not believe in “Jesus” as the “JEWISH MESSIAH.”

However, when you reintroduce the Jewishness of the story and look at it in that context—then you clearly can see that Yeshua is –was and forever will be the PROPHET LIKE MOSHE who is to come first.  Come—FIRST: that is an idiom to “coming to our senses” FIRST.  Before Messiah returns then we must first understand what it is that keeps us from receiving Him as King of the Jews.

The sign under which Messiah Yeshua hung upon the Execution Stake—was not one which read “King of the World.”  No, it read Yeshua KING OF THE JEWS;  Yeshua Messiah –the same—yesterday—today and forever.

Stop chasing the counterfeit and follow hard after the ways of the Jewish people and our Messiah and let the transformation be completed in your life.  You have never known a change of attitude like this and what it will bring to you in blessing. Stop worshipping after the ways and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church—the great Harlot of the book of Revelation and Repent—turn around and run the other way to Israel and her Master Savior Yeshua OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Renew your mind to this way of life we call Torah: God’s teaching and instructions on basic living for your time here in the realm of earth and you will find joy unspeakable and power beyond that you have ever known.

A Prophetic Reading of Exodus 4

A-THE STAFF AND THE SNAKE 4:1-5  Num 21:9

B- THE LEPROUS HAND 4:6-7

C- THE TWO MIRACULOUS SIGNS 4:6-7

D- “BROTHER” AHARON IS COMING! 4:14-16;10, 13

E- TAKE THE STAFF!

Beloved, I hope that you have a holiday season that is blessed and peaceful fulfilling and restorative as you seek the God of the Universe.  Renew your mind—and the rest will follow.

One final note—in an interesting twist of fate—I was born on Christmas morning in 1962 in Coeurd’Alene, Idaho to my parents Milo Ehrmantrout and the late Judith “Ehrmantrout” of blessed memory.  God has blessed me more than I could ever imagine in that I have 5 beautiful Children– and 10 beautiful Grandchildren with more on the way; and a Wife that is YHWH’s personal gift to me in my life.  Like many of you—we are not yet perfect, but each day we “Think on whatever is GOOD –PURE—and LOVELY” as Philippians 4:8 tells us to do and we follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: YHWH.  This is my 48^th birthday and I almost cannot believe that I am in Law School finishing my Juris Doctorate, and that I am a Professional Golfer and Teacher of the Torah. God has been very compassionate to me and I give Him all praise, glory and honor for the 48 wonderful years he has given me on this planet.

This week I went with a dear friend to the hospital to get some test results; and this friend who means a great–great deal to me– was told that he has an advanced form of Cancer and needed to start Chemotherapy as soon as possible.  If I think about it hard enough I can still feel the sting of those words as they scrape across my heart to this very moment.  Today, as I turn 48—I realize more than ever how short and fragile life is.  Make the most of each day—tell those who need to know—how much you love them and hold those Kids and Grandchildren as close as you can –while you can– for in an instant—your whole life can go from care free to a fight for your very survival as it has for our dear friend.

Thank you for your prayers, and pray that my “Friend” is healed in Yeshua’s Name.   Good Shabbos to each of you who pray and study here.

Shabbat Shalom and Shavuatov!

Ariel E………….

 

“Joseph and the Silver Cup” by Ariel E……..

Happy Chanukah 

Genesis 44:1-13

“ 1AND HE commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.  2And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, with his grain money. And [the steward] did according to what Joseph had said. 3As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. 4When they had left the city and were not yet far away, Joseph said to his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, Why have you rewarded evil for good? [Why have you stolen the silver cup?] 5Is it not my master’s drinking cup with which he divines [the future]? You have done wrong in doing this. 6And the steward overtook them, and he said to them these same words. 7They said to him, Why does my lord say these things? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!  8Note that the money which we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. Is it likely then that we would steal from your master’s house silver or gold?  9With whomever of your servants [your master’s cup] is found, not only let that one die, but the rest of us will be my lord’s slaves. 10And the steward said, Now let it be as you say: he with whom [the cup] is found shall be my slave, but [the rest of] you shall be blameless. 11Then quickly every man lowered his sack to the ground and every man opened his sack. 12And [the steward] searched, beginning with the eldest and stopping with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13Then they rent their clothes; and after each man had loaded his donkey again, they returned to the city.”

Joseph and the “Silver Cup”

We open this story with Joseph—Testing His brothers 44:2

Joseph sends them away-with one final test-He fills their sacks with as much food as they can eat—THIS REPRESENTS TORAH BEING INTRODUCED TO SOMEONES WALK OF FAITH 44:1

Joseph requests the silver be returned to each man’s Sack

*Their Sacks represent their Hearts

*The Silver is a precious metal that is refined by fire —to burn out all the dross—which represents our own self righteousness.

The silver is returned to the Israelites—because you CANNOT BUY your

REDEMPTION through YOUR OWN EFFORT

Isaiah 64:6

6For we have all become like one who is unclean [ceremonially, like a leper], and all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away [far from God’s favor, hurrying us toward destruction].

Benjamin receives Joseph’s Cup

This Cup is the SIGN of Joseph’s Identity, authority, and office, rights and privilege

The Silver Cup represents the Brides Price—the amount the Bride would cost Yeshua

Mark 14:36

And He was saying, Abba, [which means] Father, everything is possible for You. Take away this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You [will].

Why Benjamin?

Benjamin is Josephs younger brother—the ONLY Son of the SAME MOTHER and FATHER as Joseph

John 14:23 says, “23A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father (ABBA) in Spirit and in Truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers

Romans 8:29 says, “29For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.”

What does Benjamin Represent?

Benjamin is the Body of Messiah and the giving of the cup is Joseph (a Picture of Yeshua and US!) going after and revealing the last standing Idol in the Heart of the Brothers of Benjamin- on their Second Trip to see Joseph

The Older brothers could not LIVE with their collective GUILT—they could never clear their CONSCIENCE of the PAST-so this kept them from the blessing

They thought that by WORKING to save Benjamin—they would some how make ATONEMENT for the blood of JOSEPH—through THEIR OWN WORKS!

*What places of PAST GUILT do we carry—by trying to BE RELIGIOUS TODAY —to make up for OUR FORMER SINS?

Joseph sends His Servant
(see John 14:26)

The Servant that is working for Joseph—represents the Spirit of the Prophets –they have been given the task of TURNING ISRAEL FROM IT’S IDOLATRY  FOR GENERATIONS

2 Kings 4:38-41

38Elisha came back to Gilgal during a famine in the land. The sons of the prophets were sitting before him, and he said to his servant, Set on the big pot and cook pottage for the sons of the prophets. 39Then one went into the field to gather herbs and gathered from a wild vine his lap full of wild gourds, and returned and cut them up into the pot of pottage, for they were unknown to them. 40So they poured it out for the men to eat. But as they ate of the pottage, they cried out, O man of God, there is death in the pot! And they could not eat it. 41But he said, Bring meal [as a symbol of God’s healing power]. And he cast it into the pot and said, Pour it out for the people that they may eat. Then there was no harm in the pot.

The Servant

The Servant asks why they repaid Evil for Good

There religion had only been outward until now—works of the flesh

This is what they offered—which is NOT what G-d required—Just like Cain bringing wrath Prov 17:13

The Brothers swear they have not sinned—and they are so SELF RIGHTEOUS that they say whoever did this will DIE—not knowing Benjamin had it!     Acts 9:1-5

The Servant agrees with the Death Sentence

Why does the Servant respond “YES” to the Death Sentence —only to later say the Guilty would become a “SLAVE?” Because their actions deserved death just like ours do today; however we do not always get what we deserve! Praise YHWH for that!!!

The word SLAVE is taken from the Hebrew Word: “EBED” Meaning “Worshipper of G-d, like the Levites.”  The Levites—G-d’s royal priesthood!

Now the SERVANT searches the SACKS—Search-is the Hebrew word “KRITIKOS” meaning to “Judge the heart by Law”   Hebrews 4:12

The Death of the ME!

The Cup is found in Benjamin’s Sack

This culmination of the second trip is the end of 22 years of walking out a FALSE RELIGIOUS FRONT —and they TEAR– their Clothing—which is the ultimate Hebrew sign of grief

They pack up and return to Joseph’s House

All the way there—they KNEW their LIVES—and ALL they had ever HOPED FOR and DREAMED was gone.

They headed for Slavery—with NO PERSONAL REPUTATION to maintain

Fulfilling the Dream

The Brothers fall before Joseph fulfilling the prophecy  that they would bow to Him

Romans 14:11..at the Name of Yeshua…..

They confess that G-d has uncovered their guilt (The Lifting of Moses Veil Ex 34:34-35)

“34But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he took the veil off until he came out. And he came out and told the Israelites what he was commanded.  35The Israelites saw the face of Moses, how the skin of it shone; and Moses put the veil on his face again until he went in to speak with God.”

They are NOW REUNITED to JOSEPH in SLAVERY   Jer 46:28  and Romans 7:21-8:2

Joseph refuses to keep them all—but says ONLY ONE MAN SHALL PAY FOR THE SINS OF ALL ISRAEL

What’s the Symbolism: Joseph is a type and Shadow of Yeshua!

The grain that is filled in their sacks—is the easy levels of Torah (i.e. Sabbath on Saturday not Sun god Day—No Swine where we dine!)

We try to stay on the “surface” level with our Idols—the Silver illustrates our REAL worship with the L-rd (Refined by Fire)

1 Cor 3: 11-13 says “11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 12But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,  13The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. We must rend of hearts!

Joel 2:13 says, “13Rend your hearts and not your garments and return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness; and He revokes His sentence of evil [when His conditions are met].

SLAVERY=  Death of our own Rights -our  seeking a REPUTATION – Hopes and aspirations—and RESTING FROM ALL OUR WORKS! Like our Brother the Jews in this story—we too carry around a sad sack of former failures that we hold out for others to judge us by.  If we suffer enough—then perhaps one day we will actually feel worthy—but feeling worthy is not about the past—but the future.  Yeshua is King of Israel—He is my only future.  Anything good or bad that I may have done in the past—I need to be able to leave behind like Josephs sack.  Silver mixed with dross—the good and the bad.

It is our memories of our former Gentile life that hold us in bondage and why we most often feel so disconnected from G-d.  Yeshua saved you TO BE A HEBREW!  To be this generation of Abraham’s and Sarah’s to this generation of souls.  Far too many of us are more interested in the ways of Lot—love of cities—love of feeling and being important in small places when YHWH has made a a Kingdom of Priests and a HOLY NATION—ISRAEL—to the lost and dying world.

You are a Priest—even as Joseph was a Priest to the Pharoah—BUT ONLY WHEN WE START LI VING LIKE THE PRIESTHOOD OF ISRAEL AND LEAVE BEHIND OUR GENTILE LIVES AND PASTS WHICH ARE OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL—IT IS ONLY WHEN WE SAY “NO” TO THE WAYS OF THE GENTILE WORLD AND “YES –YES –YES TO THE WAYS OF THE JEWS AND ACCEPT YOUR GRAFTING INTO ISRAEL—THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL YOU SEE JOSEPH FOR WHO HE CLEARLY IS…………………………….

YOU!!!

A bright shining light in these last days

Phil 2:7-8

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!

©2010 Ariel Ehrmantrout – all rights reserved worldwide

This Little Light of Mine by Ariel E………..

HAPPY CHANUKAH

Welcome to our Chanukah Celebration

Lighting of the Menorah

1.  Place a Candle in the Middle of the Chanukiot –in the place for the SHAMASH or Servant

2.  Now place two candles on the far RIGHT HAND SIDE of the Chanukiot

Lighting of the Menorah

3. WHEN LIGHTING YOUR CANDLES EACH NIGHT

First, the Shamash is lit with a match.  Taking the lit Shamash in hand, but without lighting the other wicks yet, we recite these blessings:

Chanukah Blessing

4. “BLESSED are you Lord our God king of the universe who as sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light in Jesus name, amen.”

Chanukah Blessing

5. “BLESSED are you Lord our God king of the universe who has performed miracles for our forefathers in those days at this time- in Yeshua’s Name Amen.”

ON the High Holy Sabbath we also recite the
Shehekianu Prayer which is:

6. “BLESSED are you Lord our God king of the universe who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this holy season in Yeshua’s Name Amen.”

Todays Message:

“The Controversy over Zion: The History of Chanukah”

HANUKKAH AND

THE CONTROVERSY OF ZION

WHO / WHAT IS ZION ?

1)  Zion is the people of the God of Israel

2)  Zion is the land of Israel

3)  The Torah goes forth from Zion

4)  Zion is the fulfillment of the covenant made with Abraham

5)  Zion is the end of the exile of Jacob

6)  Zion is the Messianic Era

7)  Zion is Yeshua redeeming and dwelling with His people

ZION IS THE PEOPLE OF YHVH

Isaiah 51:16  “And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, You art my people.”

ZION IS THE LAND OF ISRAEL

Joel 2:1 “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD comes for it is nigh at hand;”

THE TORAH
GOES FORTH FROM ZION

Isaiah 2:3  “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the Torah and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

ZION IS THE
END OF THE EXILE OF JACOB

Psalm 147:2  The LORD does build up Jerusalem: he gathers together the outcasts of Israel.

Isaiah 11:12  And he shall set up an ensign for the nations and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

YESHUA RETURNS WHEN THE EXILES OF ZION ARE GATHERED

Psalm 102:13  You will arise and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come.

Psalm 102:16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.

YESHUA DWELLS IN ZION

Isaiah 8:17  And I will wait upon the LORD that hides his face from the house of Jacob and I will look for him.

Isaiah 8:18  Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts which dwells in mount Zion.

Joel 3:16  The LORD also shall roar out of Zion …

ZION IS BELIEVING
YESHUA IS THE MESSIAH

1 Peter 2:5  Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Yeshua HaMashiach.

1 Peter 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

WHAT IS ZION ?

THE SONS OF ZION WILL OPPOSE THE SONS OF GREECE

Zechariah 9:13  When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.

THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL ARE CALLED ‘BEASTS OF THE FIELD’

Deuteronomy 7:16  And you shall consume all the people which the LORD your God shall deliver thee; your eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shall you serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.

Deuteronomy 7:22  And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before you by little and little: you may not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.

THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL ARE CALLED ‘BEASTS OF THE FIELD’

Deuteronomy 28:64  And the LORD shall scatter you among all people from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there you shall serve other gods which neither you nor your fathers have known even wood and stone.

Ezekiel 34:5  And they were scattered because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.

DANIEL’S INTERPRETATION OF
KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM

Daniel 2:1  And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams wherewith his spirit was troubled and his sleep brake from him.

Daniel 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians and the astrologers and the sorcerers and the Chaldeans for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

Daniel 2:3  And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

DANIEL’S INTERPRETATION OF
KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM

Daniel 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Daniel 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king and I will show unto the king the interpretation.

DANIEL’S INTERPRETATION OF
KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM

Daniel 2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus unto him I have found a man of the captives of Judah that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

Daniel 2:31 You, O king, saw and behold a great image. This great image whose brightness was excellent stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

Daniel 2:32 This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver his belly and his thighs of brass

DANIEL’S INTERPRETATION OF
KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM

Daniel 2:33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

Daniel 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

THE GENTILE KINGDOMS OF
THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD

DANIEL’S VISION OF THE RAM AND GOAT

Daniel 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel after that which appeared unto me at the first.

Daniel 8:16 And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called and said Gabriel make this man to understand the vision.

Daniel 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

THE RAM IS MEDIA-PERSIA

Daniel 8:3 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

Daniel 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward and northward and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will and became great.

Daniel 8:20 The ram which you saw having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

MAP OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE

THE GOAT IS GREECE

Daniel 8:5 And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

Daniel 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT

The notable horn of the Grecian empire in Daniel 8:5 refers to Alexander the Great. Alexander lives from 365 BC – 323 BC.  As a young boy, Alexander studied the writings of the Greek philosopher, Aristotle.  At age 20, Alexander become the king of the Greek state Macedonia. Later he went to war and conquered the Persian empire.

Alexander believed that the Greek culture could unify the world. He founded a new city in each country of his empire that would serve as a model for the furtherance of the Greek culture. Public buildings, gymnasiums, open-air theaters, the spread of Greek names, Greek dress, and a common language all were by-products of the rule of the Greek empire. The spread of the Greek culture was known as Hellenism.

GREECE DEFEATS
THE MEDIA-PERSIAN EMPIRE

Daniel 8:6 And he came to the ram that had two horns which I had seen standing before the river and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

Daniel 8:7 And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

MAP OF THE GRECIAN EMPIRE

ALEXANDER THE GREAT
DIES AT A YOUNG AGE

Daniel 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken …

Alexander the Great died at the age of 32. His kingdom was divided among four of his generals.

GREECE IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR KINGDOMS

Daniel 8:8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

Daniel 8:22 Now that being broken whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation but not in his power

THE LITTLE HORN IS
ANTIOCHUS IV (EPIPHANES)

Daniel 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn which waxed exceeding great toward the south and toward the east and toward the pleasant land.

Antiochus IV portrayed as Zeus

ISRAEL BECOMES THE CENTER OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE GREEK SELUCID AND GREEK PTOLEMY KINGDOMS

Daniel 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn which waxed exceeding great toward the south and toward the east and toward the pleasant land.

The Syrian area north of the Galilee was ruled by the Greek General Seleucus I. The area south of Israel in Egypt was ruled by the Greek General Ptolemy I.

Israel lay in the middle between the struggle and fight between the Greek rulers of Syria and Egypt. An eventual Seleucid ruler known as Antiochus Epiphanes IV set out to destroy the Greek ruler in Egypt and Israel became the battleground.

THE SELEUCID, PTOLEMY AND MACCABEAN DYNASTIES

ANTIOCHUS IV WAGES
WAR AGAINST THE JEWS

Daniel 8:22 Now that being broken whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation but not in his power

Daniel 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand up.

Daniel 8:24 And his power shall be mighty but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

ANTIOCHUS IV DESTROYS
THE VESSELS OF THE TEMPLE

1 Maccabees 1:10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

1 Maccabees 1:20 And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude

1 Maccabees 1:21 And entered proudly into the sanctuary and took away the golden altar and the candlestick of light and all the vessels thereof

ANTIOCHUS IV DESTROYS
THE VESSELS OF THE TEMPLE

1 Maccabees 1:22 And the table of the shewbread and the pouring vessels and the vials and the censers of gold and the veil and the crown and the golden ornaments that were before the temple all which he pulled off.

1 Maccabees 1:23 He took also the silver and the gold and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found.

1 Maccabees 1:24 And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land having made a great massacre and spoken very proudly.

1 Maccabees 1:25 Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel in every place where they were

ANTIOCHUS IV WAGES
WAR AGAINST THE JEWS

Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

ANTIOCHUS IV DECEIVES THROUGH PEACE

1 Maccabees 1:29 And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Judah who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude

1 Maccabees 1:30 And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore and destroyed much people of Israel.

1 Maccabees 1:31 And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.

ANTIOCHUS IV STOPPED THE DAILY SACRIFICE IN THE TEMPLE

Daniel 8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

Daniel 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced and prospered.

The daily sacrifice was stopped

by Antiochus IV on Kislev 25, 168 BC

ANTIOCHUS IV STOPS THE DAILY SACRIFICE AND SETS UP THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

1 Maccabees 1:54 Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar and built idol altars throughout the cities of Judah on every side;

1 Maccabees 1:56 And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.

1 Maccabees 1:59 Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God.

ANTIOCHUS IV SETS UP THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

Daniel 11:31 And arms shall stand on his par, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength and shall take away the daily sacrifice and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.

Antiochus IV erected an altar of the god Zeus (Greek) in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and sacrificed a pig upon it.

YESHUA SPEAKS OF THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso reads let him understand:)

Matthew 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

Source: Jewish Encyclopedia

The rabbis as a whole consider that the expression   [‘abomination of desolation’] refers to the desecration of the Temple by the erection of a Zeus statue in its sacred precincts by Antiochus Epiphanes.

Some rabbis, however, see in it an allusion to Manasseh, who, as related in II Chron. 33:7, set up “a carved image . . . in the house of God” (Yer. Ta’anit, iv. 68a, and Rashi on the passage in Babli, ibid. 28b).

THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

Source: Jewish Encyclopedia

An expression occurring in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 [‘abomination of desolation’] …

The context of these passages leaves no room for doubt as to what was intended by this somewhat odd expression; namely, the transformation, by Antiochus Epiphanes, of the sacred Temple at Jerusalem into a heathen one. In both Biblical and rabbinical Hebrew abomination is a familiar term for an idol (I Kings 11:5; II Kings 13:13)

WITNESSING THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, THE MACCABEES
FLEE INTO THE MOUNTAINS

1 Maccabees 2:1 In those days arose Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib from Jerusalem, and dwelt in Modin.

1 Maccabees 2:2 And he had five sons, Joannan, called Caddis:

1 Maccabees 2:3 Simon; called Thassi:

1 Maccabees 2:4 Judas, who was called Maccabeus:

1 Maccabees 2:5 Eleazar, called Avaran: and Jonathan, whose surname was Apphus.

WITNESSING THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, THE MACCABEES
FLEE INTO THE MOUNTAINS

1 Maccabees 2:6 And when he saw the blasphemies that were committed in Judah and Jerusalem

1 Maccabees 2:27 And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever is zealous of the law and maintains the covenant, let him follow me.

1 Maccabees 2:28 So he and his sons fled into the mountains and left all that ever they had in the city.

ZEUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

THE MARRIAGE OF ZEUS AND EUROPA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

EUROPA SITTING ON
THE BULL OF ZEUS

THE EUROPEAN UNION IS PERSONIFIED AS EUROPA AND ZEUS

British Stamp 1984 – European Parliament

THE EUROPEAN UNION IS PERSONIFIED AS THE TOWER OF BABEL

Tower of Babel – Peter Brueghel – 1563

Time to Stretch!

INTERMISSION

Offering

Ushers Please Come Forward

PLEASE WELCOME

Rabbinitzen Sarah Ehrmantrout and the Dance Demonstration Team

2^nd Half of the Teaching

THE HISTORY OF HANUKKAH

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

Around 200 BC/BCE, Jews lived as an autonomous people in the land of Israel, which at this time was controlled by the Seleucid King of Syria. The Jewish people paid taxes to Syria and accepted its legal authority and by and large were free to follow their own faith maintain their own jobs and engage in trade.

ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES
OUTLAWS THE FOLLOWING OF TORAH

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

By 180 BC/BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes ascended to the Seleucid throne. At first little changed but under his reign Jews were gradually forced to violate the precepts of their faith. Jews rebelled at having to do this. Under the reign of Antiochus IV, the Temple in Jerusalem was looted, Jews were massacred and Judaism was effectively outlawed.

ANTIOCHUS IV DECREED A NEW WORLD ORDER UNDER GREEK CULTURE

1 Maccabees 1:10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

1 Maccabees 1:41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people

1 Maccabees 1:42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.

ANTIOCHUS IV DECREED THE OUTLAWING OF FOLLOWING TORAH

1 Maccabees 1:44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that they should follow the strange laws of the land

1 Maccabees 1:45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice and drink offerings in the temple; and that they should profane the Sabbaths and festival days:

1 Maccabees 1:47 … and sacrifice swine’s flesh and unclean beasts:

1 Maccabees 1:49 To the end they might forget the law and change all the ordinances.

ANTIOCHUS IV DECREED THAT FOLLOWING TORAH IS SUBJECT TO DEATH

1 Maccabees 1:44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that they should follow the strange laws of the land

1 Maccabees 1:50 And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.

1 Maccabees 1:51 In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom and appointed overseers over all the people commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.

THE MACCABEES REVOLT
AGAINT ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

In 167 BC/BCE, Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. Mattathias, a Jewish priest, and his five sons John, Simon, Eleazar, Jonathan, and Judah led a rebellion against Antiochus. Judah became known as Judah Maccabee (Judah The Hammer). By 166 BC/BCE, Mattathias had died, and Judah took his place as leader.

THE MACCABEES REVOLT
AGAINT ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES

1 Maccabees 2:19 Then Mattathias answered and spake with a loud voice, Though all the nations that are under the king’s dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments:

1 Maccabees 2:20 Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.

1 Maccabees 2:21 God forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances.

1 Maccabees 2:22 We will not hearken to the king’s words, to go from our religion, either on the right hand or the left.

THE MACCABEES REVOLT
AGAINT ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES

1 Maccabees 2:49 Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said unto his sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of destruction and the wrath of indignation:

1 Maccabees 2:50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.

THE MEANING OF MACCABEE

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

The name Maccabee probably means “hammer” and is properly applied only to the first leader of the revolt, Judas, third son of the priest Mattathias. The name Maccabee also might derived from the battle cry of the revolt, Me Kumocha B’elim, YHVH (“Who is like you among the heavenly powers, YHVH ! ” – Exodus 15:11).

In Hebrew, the first letters of this four word slogan form the acronym MKBY (Mem, Kaf, Bet and Yud). This became synonymous with the revolt. Its most famous warrior was Judah the Maccabee. The name came to be used for his brothers as well which accounts for the title of the book.

THE MEANING OF MACCABEE

Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

THE MACCABEES REVOLT
AGAINT ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

By 165 BC/BCE, the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated and rededicated.

JUDAH MACCABEE INSTITUTES
THE FESTIVAL OF HANUKKAH

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

The festival of Hanukkah was instituted by Judah Maccabee and his brothers to celebrate this event. (1 Maccabees 4:59). After having recovered Jerusalem and the Temple, Judah ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one, and new holy vessels to be made (1 Maccabees 4:36). When the fire had been kindled anew upon the altar and the lamps of the candlestick lit, the dedication of the altar was celebrated for eight days amid sacrifices and songs.

THE MACCABEES
REDEDICATE THE TEMPLE

1 Maccabees 4:36 Then said Judas and his brethren, Behold, our enemies are discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary.

1 Maccabees 4:37 Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and went up into mount zion.

1 Maccabees 4:38 And when they saw the sanctuary desolate and the altar profaned and the gates burned up and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests’ chambers pulled down;

THE MACCABEES
REDEDICATE THE TEMPLE

1 Maccabees 4:42 So he chose priests of blameless conversation such as had pleasure in the law:

1 Maccabees 4:43 Who cleansed the sanctuary and bare out the defiled stones into an unclean place.

1 Maccabees 4:48 And made up the sanctuary and the things that were within the temple and hallowed the courts.

THE MACCABEES
REDEDICATE THE TEMPLE

1 Maccabees 4:52 Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month which is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the morning

1 Maccabees 4:53 And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings which they had made.

THE MACCABEES CELEBRATE
THE REDEDICATION OF
THE TEMPLE EIGHT DAYS

1 Maccabees 4:56 And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise.

1 Maccabees 4:59 Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel ordained that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight days from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu with mirth and gladness.

THE MACCABEES LINKED HANUKKAH WITH SUKKOT

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

A number of historians believe that the reason for the eight day celebration was that the first Hanukkah was in effect a belated celebration of the festival of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles (2 Maccabees 1:9 and 2 Maccabees 10:6).

During the war the Jews were not able to celebrate Sukkot properly. Sukkot also lasts for eight days, and was a holiday in which the lighting of lamps played a prominent part during the Second Temple period (Suk.v. 2-4). Lights were also kindled in the household and the popular name of the festival was, therefore, according to Josephus ([1] Jewish Antiquities 12. 7, § 7, #323) the “Festival of Lights” (“And from that time to this we celebrate this festival and call it Lights”).

THE MACCABEES LINKED HANUKKAH WITH SUKKOT

2 Maccabees 1:9 And now see that you keep the feast of tabernacles in the month Casleu.

2 Maccabees 10:5 Now upon the same day that the strangers profaned the temple, on the very same day it was cleansed again, even the five and twentieth day of the same month which is Casleu.

THE MACCABEES LINKED HANUKKAH WITH SUKKOT

2 Maccabees 10:6 And they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long afore they had held the feast of the tabernacles, when as they wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts.

2 Maccabees 10:7 Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, and sang psalms unto him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.

2 Maccabees 10:8 They ordained also by a common statute and decree, That every year those days should be kept of the whole nation of the Jews.

HANUKKAH IS LINKED
WITH THE OLIVE HARVEST

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

It has been noted that Jewish festivals are connected to the harvesting of the Biblical seven fruits which Israel was famed for. Pesach is a celebration of the barley harvest, Shavuoth of the wheat, Sukkoth of the figs, dates, pomegranates and grapes, and Hanukkah of the olives. The olive harvest is in November and olive oil would be ready in time for Hanukkah in December.

HANUKKAH IN THE TALMUD

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

The Talmud (Shabbat 21b) says that after the occupiers had been driven from the Temple, the Maccabees went in to take down the pagan statues and restore the Temple. They discovered that most of the ritual items had been profaned. They sought ritually purified olive oil to light a Menorah to rededicate the Temple.

However, they found only enough oil for a single day. They lit this and went about purifying new oil. Miraculously, that tiny amount of oil burned for the eight days it took to have new oil pressed and made ready. It is for this reason that Jews light a candle each night of the festival.

HANUKKAH IS CELEBRATED WITH THE KINDLING OF LIGHTS

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

The miracle of Hanukkah is referred to in the Talmud, but not in the books of the Maccabees. This holiday marks the defeat of Seleucid forces who had tried to prevent Israel from practising Judaism. Judah Maccabee and his brothers destroyed overwhelming forces, and rededicated the Temple. The eight-day festival is marked by the kindling of lights with a special menorah known in modern Hebrew as a hanukiah.

THE CUSTOM OF LIGHTING THE HANUKKAH LIGHTS

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia

In the Talmud two customs are presented. It was usual either to display eight lamps on the first night of the festival, and to reduce the number on each successive night or to begin with one lamp the first night increasing the number till the eighth night.

The followers of Shammai favored the former custom; the followers of Hillel advocated the latter (Talmud, tractate Shabbat 21b). Josephus believed that the lights were symbolic of the liberty obtained by the Jews on the day that Hanukkah commemorates.

THE CUSTOM OF
THE HANUKKAH DREIDEL

One of the best known symbols of Hanukkah is the Dreidel. A dreidel is a four sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side.  The four letters are:

SHIN,  HEY,  GIMEL,  NUN

These letters mean “A Great Miracle Happened There.” “sham haya gadol nes.” In Israel the dreidel is a bit different in that their letters mean ” A Miracle Happened HERE!”  Does anyone know the missing Israeli letter?  Peh for the word POE=HERE!

THE CUSTOM OF
THE HANUKKAH DREIDEL

The dreidel game was popular during the rule of Antiochus before the Maccabees’ revolt, a time when soldiers executed any Jews who were caught practicing their religion.

When pious Jews gathered to study the Torah, they had the top ready in case they heard soliders approaching. If the soldiers appeared, they would hide the holy scriptures and pretend to play with the dreidel.

THE EVIL DECREES OF ANTIOCHUS IV

1)  People should not follow Torah

2)  People should not circumcise their children

3)  People should not celebrate the Sabbath

4)  People should not keep the Festivals

5)  Sacrifices should not be made in the Temple

6)  People should be free to eat pig

YESHUA RETURNS WHEN THE EXILES OF ZION ARE GATHERED

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Yeshua Messiah and by our gathering together unto him

2 Thessalonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Messiah is at hand.

ANTI-TORAH IS THE SPIRIT OF ANTI-CHRIST

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition;

2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.

1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesses not that Yeshua Messiah is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come and even now already is it in the world.

ANTIOCHUS IV DECREES THE OUTLAWING OF FOLLOWING TORAH

1 Maccabees 1:41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people

1 Maccabees 1:42 And every one should leave his laws …

1 Maccabees 1:49 To the end they might forget the law and change all the ordinances.

ANTIOCHUS IV DECREED
AGAINST CIRCUMCISION

1 Maccabees 1:44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that they should follow the strange laws of the land

1 Maccabees 1:48 That they should also leave their children uncircumcised …

ANTIOCHUS IV DECREED
THAT THE SABBATH AND FEAST DAYS SHOULD NOT BE OBSERVED

1 Maccabees 1:44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land

1 Maccabees 1:45 And forbid … that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:

ANTIOCHUS IV DECREED
THAT SACRIFICES SHOULD
NOT BE MADE IN THE TEMPLE

1 Maccabees 1:44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land

1 Maccabees 1:45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice and drink offerings in the temple

ANTIOCHUS IV DECREED
THAT PEOPLE SHOULD EAT PIG

1 Maccabees 1:44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that they should follow the strange laws of the land

1 Maccabees 1:45 … sacrifice swine’s flesh and unclean beasts:

BIBLICAL HISTORY IS PROPHECY

Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 3:15 That which has been is now; and that which is to be has already been; and God requires that which is past.

BIBLICAL HISTORY IS PROPHECY

THE SONS OF ZION WILL OPPOSE THE SONS OF GREECE

Zechariah 9:13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.

THE INFLUENCE OF GREEK HELLENISM AMONG JEWS

Source: Jewish Encyclopedia

[Hellenism is the word] used to express the assimilation, especially by the Jews, of Greek speech, manners and culture from the fourth century B.C. through the first centuries of the common era.

The victorious campaign of Alexander the Great had linked the East to the West. The victory was not simply a political one. Its spiritual influence was much greater. The Greek language became a common language for nearer Asia and with the language went Greek culture, Greek art, and Greek thought.

THE INFLUENCE OF GREEK HELLENISM AMONG JEWS

Source: Jewish Encyclopedia

The Hellenic influence pervaded everything and even in the very strongholds of Judaism it modified the organization of the state, the laws, and public affairs, art, science, and industry, affecting even the ordinary things of life and the common associations of the people.

By the introduction of Grecian art a door was opened to debauchery and riotous living; and though Judaism was hardly menaced by the introduction of direct idolatry, the connection of this culture with sublimated Greek polytheism became a real danger to the Jewish religion.

THE INFLUENCE OF GREEK HELLENISM AMONG JEWS

Source: Jewish Encyclopedia

For this reason the Hellenists are called (“wicked men”; 1 Macc. 1:11), or (“wicked and ungodly men” 1 Macc 7:5).

ANCIENT JEWS
ACCEPT GREEK HELENISM

1 Maccabees 1:10 And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

1 Maccabees 1:11 In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow.

1 Maccabees 1:12 So this device pleased them well.

ANCIENT JEWS
ACCEPT GREEK HELLENISM

1 Maccabees 1:13 Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them license to do after the ordinances of the heathen:

1 Maccabees 1:14 Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen:

1 Maccabees 1:15 And made themselves uncircumcised and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen and were sold to do mischief

ANTIOCHUS IV DECREED A NEW WORLD ORDER UNDER GREEK CULTURE

1 Maccabees 1:41 Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people

1 Maccabees 1:42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.

1 Maccabees 1:43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion and sacrificed unto idols and profaned the Sabbath.

THE HISTORY OF DEMOCRACY

Source: Jewish Encyclopedia

The term ‘democracy – or more precisely, the original (ancient Greek) version of the word – was coined in ancient Athens in the 5th century BC. That state is generally seen as the earliest example of a system corresponding to some of the modern notions of democratic rule.

THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT / PEOPLE ARE
INFLUENCED BY WESTERN VALUES

ANTIOCHUS IV WAGES
WAR AGAINST THE JEWS

Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

ANTIOCHUS IV DECEIVES THROUGH PEACE

1 Maccabees 1:29 And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Judah who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude

1 Maccabees 1:30 And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore and destroyed much people of Israel.

1 Maccabees 1:31 And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.

END-TIMES DECEPTION THROUGH PEACE

THE SONS OF ZION WILL
OPPOSE THE SONS OF GREECE

1)  Biblical Zionists (Ephraim and Judah) standing for Torah

2)  Biblical Zionists (Ephraim and Judah) standing for the land of Israel

3)  The end of the exile of Jacob

4)  The coming of King Messiah and the Messianic Age

THE BIBLICAL STATE OF ZION

THE WATCHMAN CRY
(LET US GO UP TO ZION)

Jeremiah 31:6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.

Watchman = Natzar [im]
In Hebrew

Natzar is Strong’s Word #5341 which means “to guard, watch, watch over, and keep”

John 14:21 Yahshua said “21Whoever has my commands and obeys [GUARDS] them, he is the one who loves me. [These are Messiah’s NATZIR or WATCHMAN] He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

John 10:1-3

1″I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen [ISRAEL] by the gate, [of the TORAH and the TESTIMONY OF YAHSHUA] but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man [Yahshua] who enters by the gate [of TORAH] is the shepherd of His [YHVH’s] sheep. [ISRAEL] 3The WATCHMAN [Natzarim] opens the gate [the Torah] for him [Yahshua], and the sheep [Israel] listen to his voice. [The TORAH] He calls his own sheep [Israel]  by name [HIS TORAH OBEDIENT LIFESTYLE] and leads them out. [Of the TORAHLESSNESS of the NATIONS]

PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM

Psalm 121:4 Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

So in conclusion…..

GUARDING THE TORAH MEANS CHALLENGING OTHERS TO TURN AWAY FROM THE EVIL DECREES OF ANTIOCHUS IV—ONCE AGAIN ANTIOCHUS TRIES TO TELL US ALL:

1)  People should not follow Torah—YES YOU SHOULD!!

2)  People should not circumcise their children –YES YOU SHOULD!!!

3)  People should not celebrate the Sabbath – YES YOU SHOULD!!

4)  People should not keep the Festivals –YES YOU SHOULD

5)  Sacrifices should not be made in the Temple—YES THEY SHOULD!!

6)  People should be free to eat pig –NO NOT NOW AND NOT EVER

IT IS FOLLOWING THE LIES OF THE SONS OF GREECE WHO OCCUPY MANY PULPITS TODAY—THAT DELIVER DECEPTIVE MESSAGES THAT ARE CONTRARY TO GOD’S WORD.  YESHUA IS YHVH…HE SAID “HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY—BUT MY WORD (THE HOLY TORAH) WILL NOT PASS AWAY!”  HE CAN’T BE DONE AWAY WITH—TORAH CANNOT BE DONE AWAY WITH.  HE NEVER DIES THUS HIS COMMANDS, DECREE’S LAWS AND INSTRUCTIONS NEVER DIE EITHER.

THE SONS OF ANTIOCHUS WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT HE ABONDONED HIS COVENANT PEOPLE ISRAEL—HEAVEN FORBID—AND CHOSE THE WAYS OF THE ROMAN HARLOT—WHO TURNED PASSOVER INTO EASTER AND THE FEAST OF DEDICATION/CHANUKKAH INTO CHRISTMAS AND THAT PAUL THE APOSTLE SAID IT WAS SO…..THEY ARE LYING TO YOU WITH THE TONGUE OF HASATAN.  THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE AND THE FEW THAT FIND IT NEVER DIE….THE WAY IS NARROW—SEARCH FOR IT—THE PATHWAY IS STEEP—ENJOY THE CLIMB—YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO BE A TESTIMONIAL OF YESHUA THE MESSIAH KING OF ISRAEL—NOT ROMAN CHRISTIANITY.  THIS IS THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE: YOUR ADOPTION HAS MADE YOU JEWISH—JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM WAS MADE JEWISH.  HE STARTED AS A WANDERING ARMEANIAN AND BECAME THE FATHER OF US ALL.  REDEDICATE YOUR LIFE TO LEARNING THE TRUTH OF THE JEWISH MESSIAH AND HIS WAYS WHICH ARE PERFECT AND HIS PATHS WHICH ARE PEACE.

CHANUKKAH IS THE FEAST OF DEDICATION—DEDICATE YOURSELF ONCE AGAIN TO DISCOVERING THE TRUTH. ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE YOU AND YOU WILL FIND MORE THAN GOOD PRAISE AND WORSHIP AND WATERED DOWN MESSAGES THAT ARE FINISHED IN LESS TIME THAN IT TAKES TO GRILL A HAMBURGER.  THIS IS THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE—THE LIVING TORAH YESHUA MESSIAH!  ALLOW HIM TO OPEN YOUR HEART AND MIND TODAY….AND PRAY ALWAYS FOR THE PEACE OF ISRAEL AND THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM—OUR CAPITAL AND HOMELAND—AS WE LONG FOR THE DAY WE CAN RETURN FROM THE NATIONS.  CHAG SAMEACH!

Shavuatov!

Have a Blessed Week!

Remember to give to the poor

Remember those in prison

Visit the sick this week

Ariel Ehrmantrout © 2010

Teaching © 2004-2010 R.E.C. and HHM used by permission