DANIEL’S HANUKKAH PROPHECY - A historical and traditional telling of the Hanukkah Story

This is a continuation of the Hanukkah story. This story is a type of the Anti-Christ and the Great Tribulation to come also known as Jacob’s Trouble.

Daniel’s Vision

In the third year of the reign of Belshazzar the king a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one which appeared to me previously. I looked in the vision, and while I was looking I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I looked in the vision and I myself was beside the Ulai Canal. Then I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a ram which had two horns was standing in front of the canal. Now the two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, with the longer one coming up last. I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward, and no other beasts could stand before him nor was there anyone to rescue from his power, but he did as he pleased and magnified himself.

While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power. Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.

The Little Horn

Out of one of them came forth a rather small horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down. It even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His sanctuary was thrown down. And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice; and it will fling truth to the ground and perform its will and prosper. Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, “How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?” He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place will be properly restored.”  Daniel 8.1-14

Interpretation of the Vision

When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man. And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.” So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.” Now while he was talking with me, I sank into a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand upright. He said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.” Daniel 8.15-19

The Ram’s Identity

The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.

The Goat

The shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. The broken horn and the four horns that arose in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power. Daniel 8.20-22

 Antiochus Epiphanes

“In the latter period of their rule, When the transgressors have run their course, A king will arise, Insolent and skilled in intrigue. “His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, and he will destroy to an extraordinary degree and prosper and perform his will; He will destroy mighty men and the holy people. “And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; and he will magnify himself in his heart, and he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, but he will be broken without human agency. “The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true; but keep the vision secret, for it pertains to many days in the future.” Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to explain it. Daniel 8.23-27

This prophecy has been fulfilled and is to be fulfilled. This is how prophecy in the Bible works--it has a duality. Many prophecies have a historical fulfillment and also have a future fulfillment. Some prophecy, as spoken in the Old Testament, have never been fulfilled historically and have a future fulfillment only. This prophecy in Daniel has the dual fulfillment.

It was fulfilled in history by the evil Antiochus Epiphanes, who is a type of the Anti-Christ, and it will be fulfilled in the future. How do we know this? We know this because Jesus told us so: “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)…Matt 24.15 Jesus made this statement when asked by his disciples what was going to happen at the end of the age. He told them when this happens the end is very near. In this spirit we will take a look at the historical fulfillment of Daniel’s vision by searching the book of 1 Maccabees.

THE BOOK OF MACCABEES

The book of Maccabees is not considered as part of the canon of scripture, but it is an historical writing of what happened when Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the temple in Jerusalem. In this case we use the book of 1 Maccabees to understand what happened at this time. It may also furnish clues to what will happen during the time of the Anti-Christ. We will find some important clues as to how the Anti-Christ will act.

1 Maccabees Chapter One - The Death of Alexander the Great

Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of Philip the Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece, coming out of the land of Cethim, had overthrown Darius king of the Persians and Medes:  He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of all, and slew the kings of the earth: And he went through even to the ends of the earth, and took the spoils of many nations: and the earth was quiet before him.

And he gathered a power, and a very strong army: and his heart was exalted and lifted up.  And he subdued countries of nations, and princes: and they became tributaries to him. And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that he should die.

And he called his servants the nobles that were brought up with him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive. And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died. And his servants made themselves kings everyone in his place.

Antiochus Epiphanes Comes to Power

And they all put crowns upon themselves after his death, and their sons after them many years, and evils were multiplied in the earth. And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus the Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome: and he reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

In those days there went out of Israel wicked men, and they persuaded many, saying: Let us go, and make a covenant with the heathens that are round about us: for since we departed from them, many evils have befallen us. And the word seemed good in their eyes. And some of the people determined to do this, and went to the king: and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the heathens.

We see several interesting things here. Antiochus Epiphanes was a hostage in Rome. There he would have learned many things about Rome and the Romans. We see him come to power in Judea and that many wicked men in Israel made a pact with him to serve him. The Lord would not have been pleased with His people making a pact with such a man. They were, in effect, trading in their inheritance in God for a pagan lifestyle. The nation of Israel in the future will make a peace treaty with this man.

The Double Cross

And the kingdom was established before Antiochus, and he had a mind to reign over the land of Egypt, that he might reign over two kingdoms. And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots and elephants, and horsemen, and a great number of ships: And he made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt, but Ptolemee was afraid at his presence, and fled, and many were wounded unto death. And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt: and he took the spoils of the land of Egypt.

And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt in the hundred and forty-third year, he returned and went up against Israel.

Antiochus Epiphanes waged war against the Ptolemy’s of Egypt and then came up against Israel. He had previously made a pact with Israel, but now was double crossing them. His aim was to force Hellenism on the Jewish culture and destroy it completely. He was in effect, attempting to create a new world order based on Greek culture.

Antiochus Epiphanes Sacks the Temple

And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude. And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof, and the table of proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, and the golden ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them all in pieces.

And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels: and he took the hidden treasures which he found: and when he had taken all away he departed into his own country. And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very proudly. And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every place where they were.

The Slaughter Continues

And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the virgins and the young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was changed. Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride that set in the marriage bed, mourned: And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.

And after two full years the king sent the chief collector of his tributes to the cities of Juda, and he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude. And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit: and they believed him.

And he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it with a great slaughter, and destroyed much people in Israel. And he took the spoils of the city, and burnt it with fire, and threw down the houses thereof, and the walls thereof round about: And they took the women captive, and the children, and the cattle they possessed.

And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with strong towers, and made it a fortress for them: And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men, and they fortified themselves therein: and they stored up armour, and victuals, and gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem; And laid them up there: and they became a great snare.

This second slaughter was worse than the first. Antiochus was now going to defile the temple and declare himself to be God. Any who stood in his way would be executed. A “new” religion would be imposed on Judea. The Anti-Christ will impose his brand of religion on the Jews and the rest of the world.

One World Order Declared

And this was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil devil in Israel. And they shed innocent blood round about the sanctuary, and defiled the holy place. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason of them, and the city was made the habitation to strangers, and she became a stranger to her own seed, and her children forsook her.

Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days were turned into mourning, her Sabbaths into reproach, her honors were brought to nothing. Her dishonor was increased according to her glory, and her Excellency was turned into mourning.

And King Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people should be one: and every one should leave his own law. And all nations consented according to the word of King Antiochus.

Antiochus changed the times and festivals. Now only pagan rituals would take place in the temple. We also see the establishment of a New World Order. This is how the spirit of the air, Satan, operates. He wants to bring the entire world under his domination. We see these same forces at work in our day and age. This is a classic example of the spirit of the world in operation. The coming Anti-Christ will also change the times and religious observances and try to impose a new world order on earth.

Jews Forbid to Practice Their Faith - Temple Desecrated

And many of Israel consented to his service, and they sacrificed to idols, and profaned the Sabbath. And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers to Jerusalem, and to all the cities of Juda: that they should follow the law of the nations of the earth, and should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and atonements to be made in the temple of God.

And should prohibit the Sabbath, and the festival days, to be celebrated. And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and the holy people of Israel. And he commanded altars to be built, and temples, and idols, and swine's flesh to be immolated, and unclean beasts.

And that they should leave their children uncircumcised, and let their souls be defiled with all uncleanness, and abominations, to the end that they should forget the law, and should change all the justifications of God. And that whosoever would not do according to the word of king Antiochus should be put to death.

We see the temple defiled as swine are sacrificed on the altar of God. Jews are forbidden to practice their faith. Antiochus was demanding they become Hellenized. An interesting side note: Recently in San Francisco an attempt to pass a law forbidding circumcision was voted down. Is this a harbinger of things to come? The coming Anti-Christ will rule with a strong arm and will heavily persecute the Jews and true believers.

Abomination of Desolation Set Up

According to all these words he wrote to his whole kingdom, and he appointed rulers over the people that should force them to do these things. And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice. Then many of the people were gathered to them that had forsaken the law of the Lord: and they committed evils in the land: And they drove away the people of Israel into lurking holes, and into the secret places of fugitives.

On the fifteenth day of the month, Kislev in the hundred and forty-fifth year, King Antiochus set up the abominable idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all the cities of Juda round about: And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors of the houses, and in the streets.

And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law of God: And every one with whom the books of the testament of the Lord were found, and whosoever observed the law of the Lord, they put to death, according to the edict of the king. Now read Daniel 9.

On the 15^th of Kislev the Abomination of Desolation was set up and on the 25^th of Kislev the first pig was sacrificed. All Jewish customs were banned and the holy books were burned. This is exactly what the Nazi’s did to the Jews! They burned books, synagogues, and forbid Jews to worship God.

First Pig Sacrificed

And on the five and twentieth day of the month they sacrificed upon the altar of the idol that was over against the altar of God. Now the women that circumcised their children, were slain according to the commandment of King Antiochus. And they hanged the children about their necks in all their houses: and those that had circumcised them, they put to death.

And many of the people of Israel determined with themselves, that they would not eat unclean things: and they chose rather to die than to be defiled with unclean meats. And they would not break the holy law of God, and they were put to death: And there was very great wrath upon the people.

On the 25^th of Kislev the first pig was sacrificed on the altar. There was a remnant that refused to deny their faith.

Chapter 2 - The Uprising

In those days arose Mathathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and he abode in the mountain of Modin. And he had five sons: John who was surnamed Gaddis: And Simon, who was surnamed Thasi: and Judas, who was called Machabeus: And Eleazar, who was surnamed Abaron: and Jonathan, who was surnamed Apphus. These saw the evils that were done in the people of Juda, and in Jerusalem.

And Mathathias said: Woe is me, wherefore was I born to see the ruin of my people, and the ruin of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it is given into the hands of the enemies? The holy places are come into the hands of strangers: her temple is become as a man without honor. The vessels of her glory are carried away captive: her old men are murdered in the streets, and her young men are fallen by the sword of the enemies.

What nation hath not inherited her kingdom, and gotten of her spoils? All her ornaments are taken away. She that was free is made a slave. And behold our sanctuary, and our beauty, and our glory is laid waste, and the Gentiles have defiled them. To what end then should we live any longer? And Mathathias and his sons rent their garments, and they covered themselves with haircloth, and made great lamentation. See Daniel 11.31-32

Mathathias and sons refuse to give in

And they that were sent from King Antiochus came thither, to compel them that were fled into the city of Modin, to sacrifice, and to burn incense, and to depart from the law of God. And many of the people of Israel consented, and came to them: but Mathathias and his sons stood firm.

And they that were sent from Antiochus, answering, said to Mathathias: Thou art a ruler, and an honorable, and great man in this city, and adorned with sons, and brethren. Therefore come thou first, and obey the king's commandment, as all nations have done, and the men of Juda, and they that remain in Jerusalem: and thou, and thy sons, shall be in the number of the king's friends, and enriched with gold, and silver, and many presents.

Then Mathathias answered, and said with a loud voice: Although all nations obey King Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the service of the law of his fathers, and consent to his commandments: I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers. God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us to forsake the law, and the justices of God:

We will not hearken to the words of King Antiochus, neither will we sacrifice, and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another way.

This faithful remnant decide to not give in and determine to fight against Antiochus Epiphanes. After this Mathathias died and his son Judas Machabeus became the leader. The story continues:

Chapter 3

Then his son Judas, called Machabeus, rose up in his stead. And all his brethren helped him, and all they that had joined themselves to his father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel.

And he got his people great honor, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike armor about him in battles, and protected the camp with his sword. In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion's whelp roaring for his prey.

And he pursued the wicked and sought them out, and them that troubled his people he burnt with fire: And his enemies were driven away for fear of him, and all the workers of iniquity were troubled: and salvation prospered in his hand.

Judas Machabeus called the people back to Torah and the ways of God. Many responded and joined with him. They defeated and overthrew Antiochus Epiphanes. The overthrow of the Anti-Christ will take place when the Lord returns on the last day and the dead are resurrected. Prior to the Lord’s return God’s people will wage a war of love and testimony towards the people on earth through powerful witness and sacrificial acts that lift up Jesus Christ. Rev 19.11-20.7; 1 Thessalonians 4.15-18

Chapter 4 Cleansing and Restoration of the Temple - Hanukkah Celebration Established

Then Judas, and his brethren said: Behold our enemies are discomfited: let us go up now to cleanse the holy places and to repair them. And all the army assembled together, and they went up into mount Sion. And they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burnt, and shrubs growing up in the courts as in a forest, or on the mountains, and the chambers joining to the temple thrown down. And they rent their garments, and made great lamentation, and put ashes on their heads:

And they fell face down to the ground on their faces, and they sounded with the trumpets of alarm, and they cried towards heaven.

Then Judas appointed men to fight against them that were in the castle, till they had cleansed the holy places. And he chose priests without blemish, whose will was set upon the law of God: And they cleansed the holy places, and took away the stones that had been defiled into an unclean place. And he considered about the altar of holocausts that had been profaned, what he should do with it.

And a good counsel came into their minds, to pull it down: lest it should be a reproach to them, because the Gentiles had defiled it; so they threw it down. And they laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, till there should come a prophet, and give answer concerning them.

Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar according to the former: And they built up the holy places, and the things that were within the temple: and they sanctified the temple, and the courts. And they made new holy vessels, and brought in the candlestick, and the altar of incense, and the table into the temple.

And they put incense upon the altar, and lighted up the lamps that were upon the candlestick, and they gave light in the temple. And they set the loaves upon the table, and hung up the veils, and finished all the works that they had begun to make. And they arose before the morning on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month (which is the month of Kislev) in the hundred and forty-eighth year.

And they offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of holocausts which they had made.

Three years to the date of the first sacrifice of a pig on the altar, the temple was completely cleansed and sacrifices according to the Torah were reestablished. This took place 1150 days after the abomination was set up. In Daniel 8.11-14 it mentions 2,300 evening and morning sacrifices--that is two per day. If we divide 2,300 by 2 = 1150 days or 3 years and two months. (Jewish sacrifices were probably stopped 45 days earlier before the Greek sacrifices began.) The date of Hanukkah was then set to begin on 25 Kislev forever thereafter.

Hanukkah Established

According to the time, and according to the day wherein the heathens had defiled it, in the same was it dedicated anew with canticles, and harps, and lutes, and cymbals and all the people fell upon their faces, and adored, and blessed up to heaven, him that had prospered them. And they kept the dedication of the altar eight days, and they offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of salvation, and of praise.

And they adorned the front of the temple with crowns of gold, and escutcheons, and they renewed the gates, and the chambers, and hanged doors upon them. And there was exceeding great joy among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was turned away. And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness.

They built up also at that time mount Sion, with high walls, and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should at any time come, and tread it down as they did before. And he placed a garrison there to keep it, and he fortified it to secure Bethsura, in order that the people might have a defense against Idumea.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is an eight day celebration of the cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem. It is called the Festival of Lights. Jesus said we are to be the light of the world. He celebrated this feast in John 10.22.

Jesus was most likely conceived during the Feast of Hanukkah as His birth took place nine months later during the Feast of Tabernacles. This celebration is also symbolic of the cleansing of our “temples” by the Holy Spirit.

Jewish tradition says that the menorah that was lit for the restoration of the temple only had enough oil for one day’s light until they could make more. Miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days until the additional oil was made. Thus Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days. The true name of the festival of Hanukkah is “Dedication of the Altar.” Our lights stay lit if we dedicate ourselves to abide in the Lord and continually receive His oil.