Before Hanukkah (From Beit Lechem to Jerusalem)
Yaakov, Béla Orbán
There are historical facts that are very similar to events of our days. One of this is the spiritual globalization that has the aim to rule and control the world by one hand. This spiritual power wasn’t fighting against the nations but against God’s will and plan. It used the tool of philosophy, science and arts. Furthermore it used its own physical power with weapons and opened the way for the satanic influence and colonization.
After Great Cyrus, Great Alexander, the Med-Persian forces and Macedonian armies took over the "duty". The main aim was always to destroy Israel and Jerusalem.
When the Jews turned away from God’s laws and began to accept the Hellene culture, the enemy could reach and conquer them. The consequence of this „tolerance” was that the priesthood became the followers of the new trend, instead of the biblical revelations. After this spiritual defeat it was evident that there would be a change in the society. Leaders of the Jewish nation submitted themselves to the Empire. The betrayals split the nation. The minority of those who remained faithful to God became enemies in their own country. Antiochus Epiphanies who wanted to Hellenise all the Jews became the governor in Israel while the real power was behind the scenes: Rome.
It’s worth having a look at the destiny of the Tabernacle. The history is repeating itself as always. With the possession of the Tabernacle of Jerusalem and with the entry of idols there are so many similarities with the events of the past centuries. This is not a surprise but a warning of those events that are continuing with both old and new characters. Satan, whose mentality dominates the world, more and more is continuously destroying God’s People spiritually, mentally and soon wants to annihilate them physically as well.
The victory of Jesus Christ is a fact and spiritual happening but the main globalisation comes from Rome and it still keeps on its activity. Force that represents such a power that itself has gone through union and globalisation. With the mixture of the Med, Persian, Greek, Egyptian and other Oriental spirits it has become a directing ally and a spiritual leader. These powers keep on joining each other because of the intentions that are the same. The preparation of a central power is continuous. The aim is the same today: the occupation of the Tabernacle and the worship of idols in the Third Temple.
The occupation of the Second Tabernacle is known and everybody can see accordingly where we are progressing. There can be seen parallels, which give us a sight of tomorrow.
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He establishes Alexandria and makes it a metropolis where he settles Greeks and Jews with equal rights.
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Ptolemaios the successor, in the sharing between the generals occupies Jerusalem and takes many inhabitants to Alexandria.
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Under nearly one century of domination the oppressors mandates the priesthood to deal with the government and collect the rates.
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The first spiritual attack started when the Torah was translated into Greek although it looks like a good deed.
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Nor is it a coincidence that the translating was continuing into Arameus.
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IV. Ptolemaios on his visit to Jerusalem had a look at the Temple but in the main inner Tabernacle he wasn’t allowed to get in. His forcible entry got to an end at the threshold where he collapsed unconsciously. He become the enemy of the Jews and started to persecute them and to expand the oppression systematically.
The consequence was that the Jewish nation chose the Syrian Seleucidans instead of the Egyptians. They welcomed with happiness the new power which entered Jerusalem. The treasurer committed to the Romans, wanted to get the treasures from the Tabernacle. The guards pulled back the aggressive person so that he returned humiliated. IV. Seliucus’s successor, IV. Antiochus achieved the occupation of the Tabernacle and placed idols in it. He was called in different names, while the Greeks called him Epiphanies (embodied god), others called him Epimanes (insane), and Jews called him simply Evil Antiochus. After all it wasn’t him who plundered the Temple but the split which was caused by the Hellenism.
The intellectual Jews and notabilities followed both the mental and spiritual fashion of that time. Social gatherings with wine and musical amusements took place and following the Greek model they attended on theatre plays and competitions. In the Greek lifestyle according to the trend the pageantry became natural and the consequence of it was the lust for power. While the insane and cruel „Embodied God” was spreading the Greek culture with fire and sword he made the world religion of that time obligatory in his empire. He made the worship of Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite and the rest of the gods of Olympus obligatory instead of the Eternal God.
Meanwhile the brother of the high-priest Onanias with the help of the Ruler took over the high priest’s office and continued to spread the Hellene culture in Jerusalem. After the differing between the brothers and sisters a way had been opened for a new spirit, which is just as strong today as it was at that time: the rivalry between each others and the lust for power.
The Hellene Menelaus stole the high priest rank with intrigue and plundered the Tabernacle. He sent the treasures to Antioch, the capital of Syria. Because of this, the previous high priest murdered him and the fight begun. The culmination was, when Antiochus entered Jerusalem and plundered the Temple ones more and forbade in decree all the Jewish laws and the worship. The Jews had to offer unclean sacrifice (pig) in the Tabernacle of Jerusalem, on the altar dedicated to Zeus. For their belief and the devotion they had towards God, they were persecuted, tortured and they died as martyrs.
One year after these laws were released in 167, there was an uprising and a 25 years long fight started. Then for a short time a Jewish state was established that was alive for 80 years and was re-established again only in 1948.
Hanukah is still a commemoration feast of the cleansing and consecration of the ruins of the Temple. The situation is the same today, a heap of ruins, unknown gods and sullied altar.
“Hassidim” (pious) people are needed whom with the battle cry on their lips with the verse from Psalm149:12 “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand”, go to battle against Greek, Egypt, Syria and the merging Rome. Fighters are required and weapons. But the battle has settled, Jesus Christ has gained victory in spirit. The enemy can never reach Jerusalem, the Altar and the Tabernacle where He is the High Priest and King, because now these are spiritual.
The Temple (the Body of Christ) that has been rebuilt in three days is working today and forever. The High Priest himself, Yeshua HaMashiah is the mediator who brings our sacrifice – our lives before God. We are waiting for the King Messiah to come back.
Our duty is exactly the same as it was for the Maccabi fighters, the restoration and consecration of the Tabernacle. Cleansing the Temple (our lives) and the heart of our congregations. Cleansing and building the Body of Christ, so that it may be a place of a real worship. Instead of foreign laws, God’s Word, the Law may rule us.
With the strength of a Maccabi, namely a hammer, we have to start the work with a ”Maccabi testimony” because this word is made up of the initials of a sentence from Moses’ panegyric:
”Who is like unto Thee, o LORD, among the mighty?”(Exodus15, 11)
"Maccabi testimony” according to Zechariah 4, 6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit…”
All psychical that is to say philosophical, theological, scholarly and all physical fights are senseless against the spiritual forces, because the prophecies about Amalek, Edom and Babylon are going to be fulfilled. But until they receive judgement they will carry on damaging in the material world, just as in the mental spheres. On the other hand, in the spiritual fight they have lost forever. We can be participants of the victory and be owners of the eternal life through the Golgotha, and through becoming a believer.
Maccabies are required today as well, in the cleansing and consecration of the Tabernacle and in building and defence of the walls of Jerusalem.
The Temple is our Lord, Yeshua HaMashiah.
Jerusalem is the Body of Christ.
Jerusalem’s inhabitants are God’s People.
It’s not Jesus Christ who we have to defend from the enemy, who wants to destroy the Temple, but the Body of Christ and the members of it. The one who have lost the battle is never going to give it up, but is going to fight with the spirit of Edom against God’s People, which has become the Body of Christ through Yeshua. It doesn’t want God’s Plan and the judgment to be fulfilled.
In the knowledge of the history it’s useful to consider in what way the enemy occupied the Temple. When we have to cleanse and prepare the Tabernacle for the consecration that is to say our hearts, the fellowship and the Body of Christ, we have to recognise not only the destroyed things but the desecrated ones too, which have been converted for respecting idols. The Maccabeus found jugs of oil but they were dedicated and sealed for other god’s altar. This examination is useful because the cleansing of these kinds of things mean the clear of the Altar too, and in this way the real sacrificial order may be restored. We have to know about the conquerors’ tactics, device and temptation, so we may be able to defend our lives and congregations from the same trick.
The origin of the conqueror would give an explanation to several questions about the tendencies of today. In the knowledge of this a lot of pleasant methods exposures which are under the control of today’s spirit and are present in the congregations. If we get rid of all these things, we would face Satan’s deceitful and lying spirit dressed in today’s trend, who is the Light of Angel and is antichristian.
We mention just a few facts from the past that we have to identify with the historical characters, and the methods of their activities. Furthermore we have to shed light on them.
We mustn’t be tolerant but have to name them and defend not only our children but also the Christianity that have been kept in childhood.
First of all we need to gain spiritual sight to know what the reason is of the holy oil on the altar and teach about the Holy Spirit and its work. The oil that is the oil of the lighting lantern that brings light, warmth, recovery and anointing. Above all we have to know the seal of the High Priest that was used to mark, lock up and separate the oil keeping it for holy reasons. We have to know the Holy Spirit and its work but today one of the most important gifts is the gift of the judgement of the spirits. Without it even by chance we may bring unclean sacrifice to the altar and serve idols.
Today just like in the past the Hellenism and different religions infect God’s Temple and Tabernacle.
I believe that our Lord gives us not only wisdom and teachings but time as well.
Indeed the time is short, still until the consecration of the Temple and the return of our Lord, our main duty is to prepare his way.
Watching the spiritual globalisation, revealing is required. The “Hellenes” of today, “Great Alexanders” and all the conquerors have to be made visible. Those who have become traitors by way of having interests, those who have responsible services and leader roles, those who are working for the oppressive conqueror’s command and those who are helping the globalisation, spreading the spirit of ecumenism.
There are Menelaoses today too, who give the holy treasures of the Temple to the conquerors by interest. Antiochus the „embodied god” is at work today as well, Christ’s earthly governor whose madness has been seen throughout the history.
From the background, apparently in silence but still with the same plan and spirit it’s planning the spiritual, mental and some time the physical annihilation of the Chosen People and the Body of Christ.
Naturally our duty is to call the attention to the danger being in the background. The real dictator and ruler of the globalisation is still the lecherous Babylon-Rome, who involves in itself the pagan spirits and gods and soon is going to occupy everything and are entering into alliance with non Christian Churches.
Therefore in all spheres of our tasks we continue the cleansing and defence as the members of a victorious army. Being the part of Hanukah we are on our places when Yeshua HaMashiah comes back. This job is the cleansing and preparing of the Body of Christ for the Great Wedding-Feast. Today when in the synagogues the benedictions are said and Hanukah is commemorated, we have the freedom not just to commemorate but to look forward, too. The candles of Hanukah are put in the windows so that everybody may see them.
„Mishum parsume nisa”, that is we cannot hide the light…
When the hanukiah is lit, a song from the 13th century is sung. It should express our desire and belief as well. We may feel thanksgiving for the coming New Temple, for the Deliverer and for the consecration of the altar, which has come alive through the Golgotha. We may feel thanksgiving for Yeshua HaMashiah, who has been offered as a sacrifice for our lives and whom we are waiting back as a victorious King.
Ma'oz tsur yeshu'ati
lecha na'eh leshabeakh.
Tikon beit tefilati
vesham todah nezaveakh.
Le'et tachin matbeakh
mitsar hamnabeakh,
'az 'egmor beshir mizmor
khanukat hamizbeakh.
Rock of ages, let our song
Praise Your saving power;
You, amid the raging foes,
Were our sheltering tower.
Furious they assailed us,
But Your arm availed us,
And Your word,
Broke their sword,
When our own strength failed us.
All of us, who are members of Jerusalem and the Body of Christ and through this have become God’s People, have the duty to cleanse and stand as watchmen to defend the City from the intruding conquerors. Our first duty is to examine the sacred things because Satan steals first the oil and uses it for his own purpose.
We have to examine the seals that are the Lord’s Supper, the immersion, the praise, the prayer and charismatism, if they really serve the Lord. Furthermore we have to examine ourselves, if we are obeying idols’ and people’s expectations.
I hope that we have the chance to examine our jugs as well so that we may fit for the service and God may fill us with the oil and start the consecration of our lives.
We would like to be more in the Tabernacle whom are prepared, just like the jugs were, having the High Priest’s seal. In this way we are going to become ready to praise and serve Him here on the Earth and one day in the Eternal Life.
Translated from hungarian by Anna
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