CHANUKAH: Prophetic Feast

The feast of Chanukah is a historical feast of Israel, which remembers the conflict that there is between spiritual light and darkness. This war takes place mainly in men’s minds and hearts, but every once in a while it is manifested in a physical war. This was the case when the Greeks were ruling over Israel, in what is now known as the intertestamental period (the 400 years between the last prophetic book of the Old Testament and the Gospel of the New Testament).

After Alexander the Great set out to conquer the world, he left the Israelite area under the dominion of his generals. First, it was under the domain of the Ptolemies (whose center was in Egypt), then under the Seleucids (whose center was in Syria). All of them took the Greek mentality wherever they went, which they considered superior to all the other cultures that were plunged into barbarism. But they found an exception: the Hebrew culture, which was advanced and educated; however, their mindset was the exact opposite in many ways to the Greek mindset, so that is where the conflict began between Greeks and Jews (for more information, we recommend you read: Chanukah I: History Background and the Crash of Hebrew vs. Greek Mindsets).

In the beginning, the Greeks tried to subdue the Jews the easy way, by “educating them” in the Greek customs and traditions. They managed to do it in part, because many Jews were Hellenized. But there was also a remnant that was opposed to this, formed mainly by the priests, who knew very well that the Greek lifestyle crashed against the Hebrew lifestyle, which was based on the Bible and the order of God.

[Note: on this occasion, we will make an analysis of the prophetic transcendence of the Feast of Dedication (Heb. Chanukah), but we recommend you read the studies of the historical panorama, which you can find on the following links:

* Chanukah I: Introduction
* Chanukah II: Historic Background
* Chanukah III: Hellenization
* Chanukah IV: Books of the Maccabees
* Chanukah V: Mattathias and His Sons
* Chanukah VI: Stroy of Hannah and her 7 sons
* Chanukah VII: Temple Desecration

PROPHETIC FEAST

Chanukah is not just about a historical celebration, but it is also prophetic, which is why it is important that we really understand what happened… because it will happen again in a similar way on the last days.

Daniel prophesied about the “abomination of desolation”, which is when the Temple in Jerusalem was profaned by the hands of a pagan leader (Daniel 8:9-14). This prophesy was fulfilled in part on the days of the Maccabees and Antiochus IV, when the Greeks had control over Israel.

We might think that this prophesy was already fulfilled, and therefore it stays in the past. However, Jesus revealed that this prophesy will have a double fulfillment, because it will happen again on the last days.

This double fulfillment should not surprise us because it has happened several times in the Bible. The first fulfillment comes as a shadow for the second one. For example, the Passover Lamb in Egypt is the shadow of the Lamb of God who died on the cross on that very date and hour. Isaiah the prophet explains it like this:

(Isaiah 46:9-10) remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

(Isaiah 41:22) Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.

The Feast of Chanukah will have a double fulfillment, and we know this because Jesus said it clearly (Matthew 24 and Mark 13):

(Mark 13:14) But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

When Jesus said this, the first “abomination of desolation” had already happened with Antiochus IV, but he pointed out that this will happen once again, in the context of the last days…

(Mark 13:19-20) For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. (20) And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 

(Mark 13:23-31) But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. (24) “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, (25) and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. (26) And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. (27) And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. (28) “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. (29) So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. (30) Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (31) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Daniel also understood that the vision was a revelation for the last days. After seeing the “little horn and the abomination of desolation”, he remained intrigued, and his curiosity led him to search for more revelation…

(Daniel 8:15-17) When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. (16) And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” (17) So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”

[Note: The angel of the Lord explained even more things to Daniel about what would happen, but we will not comment about that on this occasion so that we can stay on topic].

Biblical prophecy says that the antichrist will sign for peace, and Israel will have the right to build the Temple. But as soon as it is finished, the antichrist will go into it, not only profaning it like Antiochus IV, but “he will sit” there as a direct challenge to God. This will be the final fulfillment of the “abomination of desolation”. This will happen halfway through the 7 years of the Tribulation, when the antichrist is governing.

(Daniel 9:25-27) Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. (26) And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. (27) And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

Today, the events of the world are aligning for this to happen, and Islam seems to fill all the descriptions that are written about the antichrist. According to Islamic eschatology, their messiah (Mahdi) will sign a peace treaty, by which all the world will submit to his government, which will last for seven years. At the end of that time, an “anti-mahdi” will rise who will try to dethrone him. Isn’t this the same biblical story, only inversed? It is no coincidence that the Palestinians and the Islamic are obsessed with occupying Jerusalem and specifically the Temple Mount (even though the most important places of worship for Islam are the Mecca and Medina). This attention to Jerusalem is interesting, since in the Koran this city is not mentioned a single time; on the other hand, in the Bible it appears 811 times, and it is referred to as “the place where God chose to put His Name” (1 Kings 14:21; Deut. 12:5-7).

Paul also writes about the manifestation of the antichrist:

(2 Thessalonians 2:3-8) Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, (4) who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (5) Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? (6) And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. (7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. (8) And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FEAST

The Feast of Chanukah not only has historical importance, but it also has prophetic importance. It is vital to be connected with the feast, because this will reveal to us much of what is to come. There are patterns in history that are useful to recognize for us to be warned and to not make the same mistakes of the past.

JESUS CELEBRATED IN JERUSALEM

The only Biblical reference to the Feast of Chanukah is found in the New Testament, when Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate it. Many don’t see it because the name is translated: Chanukah means “dedication”.

(John 10:22-23) At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, (23) and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.

Jesus lived in Galilee, but when he appears in Jerusalem it is because he would be celebrating a feast, and Chanukah is not the exception. If the Lord celebrated it, shouldn’t we do the same?