Then said Judas and his brothers, "Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it."
So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion. And they saw the sanctuary desolate, the altar profaned, and the gates burned. In the courts they saw bushes sprung up as in a thicket, or as on one of the mountains. They saw also the chambers of the priests in ruins.
Then they rent their clothes, and mourned with great lamentation, and sprinkled themselves with ashes. They fell face down on the ground, and sounded the signal on the trumpets, and cried out to Heaven. Then Judas detailed men to fight against those in the citadel until he had cleansed the sanctuary. He chose blameless priests devoted to the law, and they cleansed the sanctuary and removed the defiled stones to an unclean place. They deliberated what to do about the altar of burnt offering, which had been profaned. And they thought it best to tear it down, lest it bring reproach upon them, for the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar, and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until there should come a prophet to tell what to do with them. Then they took unhewn stones, as the law directs, and built a new altar like the former one. They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the temple, and consecrated the courts. They made new holy vessels, and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple. Then they burned incense on the altar and lighted the lamps on the lampstand, and these gave light in the temple. They placed the bread on the table and hung up the curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken.
Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year, they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering which they had built. At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them.
So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness; they offered a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and furnished them with doors. There was very great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was removed.
Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with gladness and joy for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev. ( 1 Maccabees 4:36-59)
Jewish tradition has it that there was only enough oil to burn for one day in the lampstand, yet the lamps burned for eight entire days, and thus the holiday is also known as the Festival of Lights.
Why should a believer in Christ be interested in Hanukkah? If you read the online book with the link I provided, you will understand.
The Jewish Hanukkah season is over now and the Gentile Christmas season has just begun; we are back to our normal division; a thing that I know should not be since we Christians were grafted into a Jewish root, but have long ago (since the second or third century) left all things Jewish behind...our loss....
It is our very great loss in terms of spiritual preparation for the Millennium and beyond, when there will once again be a temple, with Jesus as the Light of that temple, and Sabbaths (Saturday Sabbaths) will once again be reinstated, as well as the sacrifices. Yes, the sacrifices will be reinstated as well; sacrifices made to the Prince of the land, who happens to be Jesus. And He says in Ezekiel that He will dwell with His people in this temple FOREVER. You will find descriptions of the New Temple and the New City in which it will stand in Ezekiel 40-48, just past chapter 30 in which the battle of Gog takes place.
I pray, truly, I pray for the day when we will be united with our Jewish brethren again. I know the day is coming. And until then, I will not shy away from the Torah and the Feast Days as though they are not to be touched by anyone not Jewish; instead I will learn all that I can about them and even practice them where I am able in my limited understanding. Because I believe Jews will always be God's chosen people, and we Christians will always be their adopted spiritual brethren, learning much from our elder brothers, especially those obedient to the Torah and recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, which the Word of God says they will ALL do...one day. And I hope it is soon!
So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion. And they saw the sanctuary desolate, the altar profaned, and the gates burned. In the courts they saw bushes sprung up as in a thicket, or as on one of the mountains. They saw also the chambers of the priests in ruins.
Then they rent their clothes, and mourned with great lamentation, and sprinkled themselves with ashes. They fell face down on the ground, and sounded the signal on the trumpets, and cried out to Heaven. Then Judas detailed men to fight against those in the citadel until he had cleansed the sanctuary. He chose blameless priests devoted to the law, and they cleansed the sanctuary and removed the defiled stones to an unclean place. They deliberated what to do about the altar of burnt offering, which had been profaned. And they thought it best to tear it down, lest it bring reproach upon them, for the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar, and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until there should come a prophet to tell what to do with them. Then they took unhewn stones, as the law directs, and built a new altar like the former one. They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the temple, and consecrated the courts. They made new holy vessels, and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple. Then they burned incense on the altar and lighted the lamps on the lampstand, and these gave light in the temple. They placed the bread on the table and hung up the curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken.
Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year, they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering which they had built. At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them.
So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness; they offered a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and furnished them with doors. There was very great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was removed.
Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with gladness and joy for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev. ( 1 Maccabees 4:36-59)
Jewish tradition has it that there was only enough oil to burn for one day in the lampstand, yet the lamps burned for eight entire days, and thus the holiday is also known as the Festival of Lights.
Why should a believer in Christ be interested in Hanukkah? If you read the online book with the link I provided, you will understand.
The Jewish Hanukkah season is over now and the Gentile Christmas season has just begun; we are back to our normal division; a thing that I know should not be since we Christians were grafted into a Jewish root, but have long ago (since the second or third century) left all things Jewish behind...our loss....
It is our very great loss in terms of spiritual preparation for the Millennium and beyond, when there will once again be a temple, with Jesus as the Light of that temple, and Sabbaths (Saturday Sabbaths) will once again be reinstated, as well as the sacrifices. Yes, the sacrifices will be reinstated as well; sacrifices made to the Prince of the land, who happens to be Jesus. And He says in Ezekiel that He will dwell with His people in this temple FOREVER. You will find descriptions of the New Temple and the New City in which it will stand in Ezekiel 40-48, just past chapter 30 in which the battle of Gog takes place.
I pray, truly, I pray for the day when we will be united with our Jewish brethren again. I know the day is coming. And until then, I will not shy away from the Torah and the Feast Days as though they are not to be touched by anyone not Jewish; instead I will learn all that I can about them and even practice them where I am able in my limited understanding. Because I believe Jews will always be God's chosen people, and we Christians will always be their adopted spiritual brethren, learning much from our elder brothers, especially those obedient to the Torah and recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, which the Word of God says they will ALL do...one day. And I hope it is soon!
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