The Second Hanukkah

The celebration of Hanukkah commemorates one of Israel's greatest moments of deliverance from demonic oppression. Even though this Jewish holy day is mentioned but once in scripture, the details of what happened mirror a greater event that is yet future in Israel's prophetic calendar. The temple will be rebuilt, dedicated, desecrated and again delivered during the Great Tribulation. The difference between the first and second Hanukkah will be the fact it will not be a Godly priest who leads the charge, but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who will come to cleanse the temple and destroy the Antichrist.

 

By Chris McDonald

 

TEXT: John 10:21-23  - Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?  [22] And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. [23] And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 

        Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication, was kept at the time of Christ. John's Gospel is the only gospel which speaks of it particularly and records what Jesus taught at this time:

 

John 10:22-23  - And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. [23] And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 

 

        The Feast of Dedication of the Temple is called "The Dedication of the Altar" in 1 Maccabees 4:52-59. Josephus called it "The Feast of Lights." (Antiquities XII 7,7). 

 

        Under the period of the Syrian rule over Palestine, the Jews suffered great persecution. Antiochus Epiphanes, ruler of Syria, a wicked and godless man led a victorious campaign against Egypt, but had to withdraw at the command of Rome. He vented his wrath against the Jews as Palestine who were under the rule of the Syrian Kingdom at this time. He entered Jerusalem, destroyed a large part of the city and slaughtered men, women and children. During this time, many in Jerusalem fled into the wilderness and hid in Petra, a wilderness stronghold in the Jordan desert. 

 

        The crowning act of Antiochus was when he entered the enter the Temple of the Lord, took away the golden altar, the golden candlesticks and its vessels as well as other treasures and set up an idol statue of Jupiter, sprinkling its blood around the Temple. This was the HIGHEST insult to the Jewish community. The Laws of Moses were forbidden to be practiced. The rite or circumcision, the keeping of the Sabbath and the laws concerning clean and unclean meats were forbidden on pain and threat of death. Only swine were allowed to be offered on the altar. Syrian officials enforced the laws of Antiochus. THIS WAS A DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THE ANTICHRIST!

 

        In time a  faithful company of godly Jews resisted these laws and revolted against the desecration of the Temple. Notable among these was the priestly family of the Maccabees. A revolt took place under the Maccabees and eventually the Syrians were driven from Jerusalem. This took place about B.C. 164.  Judas Maccabees and his followers came back into Jerusalem and solemnly cleansed the Temple from the profanations to which it had been subjected under Antiochus. He removed the polluted altar, and put the stones in a separate place on the Temple mount, and restored the worship of the Lord (1 Maccabees 4:52, 56, 59). This "cleansing of the Sanctuary" (Daniel 8:13-14) took place on the 25th day of Chisleu (December the 25th), and the joyous celebration lasted for eight days.

 

        On each of these days the 'Hallel' was sung, the people carried palms and branches of other trees. The Temple was illuminated as well as private houses about Jerusalem. Tradition says the Maccabees found a jar of consecrated oil which miraculously lasted for eight days and thus the Temple was lighted again. Jews today light nine candles at the Feast, on a nine-prong candelabra.

 

        The Temple was the central power of unity, binding the Jews together as one. According to the prophetic word of the last prophet, Malachi, the Messiah would "suddenly come to His Temple" (Mal. 3:1)

 

        The very fact that the Lord Jesus attended this Festival at Jerusalem shows that He used it to set forth the significance of its events and existence in relation to Himself. The Feast took place two months after the Feast of Tabernacles. The distinctive teaching of the Lord Jesus concerning the "shepherd and the sheep" was given during Hanukkah. (John 10:1-18).

 

        The Jews were divided over these sayings of Jesus, even saying He had a devil and was mad. Many said  it was a waste of time to even listen to Him. One is coming in the future whom Israel will listen to thinking he has come to save them when in fact, he will seek to utterly destroy them. Because of the winter cold, Jesus walked in Solomon's porch during the Feast of Dedication. The Jews challenged Him to clearly and plainly tell them if He was the Messiah. Jesus reminded them that if they were His sheep they would have heard His voice as the Shepherd. The very fact that they did not hear His voice proved they were not of His fold. The works of Jesus spoke loud enough for all to hear, if they had ears to hear. The result was the Jews took up stones to stone Him because He said He was the one the Father God sent and was ONE WITH THE FATHER. However, he escaped out of their hand (John 10:22-38).

 

        If Judas Maccabees was the one they celebrated and remembered as "the Temple cleanser and illuminator," then much more could Jewry  have seen this in the LORD JESUS. He had come suddenly to His Temple, His Father's House, as the Messenger of the Covenant, but they failed to recognize Him. He had cleansed the Temple twice in His ministry, but they had rejected such cleansing. They were more interested in the Temple than in the One whom the Temple represented in many ways. He was the only true One who would cleanse the Temple from their religious abominations.

 

They had become worshippers of the Temple but had failed to know the LORD OF THE TEMPLE. They kept the Feast of Dedication, yet sought to stone the One to whom the Temple was dedicated. Thus they failed to recognize Him as their Messiah at yet another Feast, even as they had at all previous Feasts.

 

        John calls this feast the "feast of the Jews." Many Bible scholars believed the Holy Spirit used this terminology because they had long ceased to be the Feasts of the Lord. Jewry kept the Feasts; the Feasts of Passover, Tabernacles and Dedication, but they missed the ONE to whom all the Feasts pointed, and in whom all would find fulfillment. They kept the letter and missed the spirit. The fulfilled the ritual and missed the reality. They fulfilled the type and missed the antitype. They followed the natural and missed the spiritual - they missed CHRIST HIMSELF WHO was the Temple-cleanser and the Temple-illuminator.

 

If One Comes In Another Name

 

        Jesus warned the Jews of His day and in reality those in coming generations through His Word that if they rejected Him who had come in the name of the Father, they would one day accept one who would come in his own name. The One who is to come in his own name is known as the Man of Sin, the Antichrist, the Beast and the Extortioner.

 

John 5:40-43 -  [40] And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. [41] I receive not honor from men. [42] But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. [43] I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

     

 

        We are on the precipice of that right now.

 

        When I first penned this journal we were a few years removed from 9-11-2001, the event that shook this world and America to their core. It also ushered in I believe a fast pace momentum to spiritual and prophetic events around the world that are part of the bigger puzzle of Bible prophecy.

 

        What took place last week with President Trump's prophetic announcement that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital was profoundly another trumpet call to the world that Jesus is coming very soon!

 

        The rapture, or removal, of the church could take place at any moment. We believe the Antichrist may be alive at this very minute biding time to be revealed to world plunged into what Jesus referred to as "great Tribulation," a time on earth He said would be so bad, no time in the world's history has ever been worse, nor any time in the future.

 

        This is the "he" Jesus spoke of in this passage in John. He was referring to a world-wide ruler who will arise out of chaos in the Middle East, sign a seven-year pact with Israel, break the covenant in the middle of the week, DESECRATE the TEMPLE once again, and declare all-out war on the Jews. Hitler's holocaust will PALE in comparison to what the Antichrist will seek to do. Be it not for the Lord Jesus who will stop him at the battle of Armageddon, the Antichrist would take over the entire world. In addition, Jesus solemnly said, "no flesh shall be saved. "

 

        We know from history and scripture that the Temple (Herod's Temple) the Jews still seek today was destroyed in A.D. 70. Plans for that temple to be rebuilt are being laid right now. Events are transpiring that will make it easy for the Jews to worship again as they did in the day of Moses. The place where the Temple would be rebuilt is on the Dome of the Rock, an Islamic holy site. Something is boiling to allow this to happen. The recent violence in the Middle East is in direct relationship to this site. The late Israeli Prime Minister Sharon Peres caused the dynamite to explode years ago when he visited the site this fall and declared the temple to be Jerusalem's site only, not the Arabs. 

        Political agendas are being pushed on Israel and have been for decades to give rightful "land" to the Palestinians. Land, mind you, that don't belong to the Palestinians but land that God rightly gave to Israel to possess. 

 

        Three things must happen before the events of prophecy take place:

 

1. Jerusalem must be the capital of Israel.

2. The Temple must be rebuilt

3. A mass immigration of Jews must take place from the north (Russia, i.e. the former Soviet Union) and all over the world

 

        Folks, all three things now beginning to take place with the announcement last week by President Trump.. We have never lived in a time when those three things have conincided and convalesced in one year as they have strongly in 2017.

 

        We are close to the rapture! Whether you believe the rapture will occur before the tribulation or during the tribulation, trouble is on the way. Yet, we are also getting ready to see the greatest move of God this planet has ever seen before.  Judgment will follow this  great outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will usher in millions, possibly billions into the Kingdom. On Pentecost, Peter quoted Joel concerning a mighty move of God prior to the Great Tribulation and during the days of the Great Tribulation:

 

Acts 2:17-26  - And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: [18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: [19] And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: [21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

Daniel's Prophecy: Messiah Shall Be Cut Off, But Not For Himself, Then Destruction

 

Dan 9:26 - And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come ( shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 2 And he ( shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. 

Daniel gives us greater light on events surrounding the rebuilding of this temple that was destroyed in 70 A.D. In Daniel 9:26  it says that “after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off.” This represents 483 years from the rebuilding of the second Temple until the crucifixion of Christ, the words “cut off” referring to His crucifixion. The words “not for himself” refers to Jesus’ dying for mankind and taking upon Himself the penalty for mankind. In other words, He did not die for Himself, He died for mankind.

 

     The Prince of the People

 

      When it speaks of the Prince of the people, this is not referring to the Antichrist in verse 26 but to the prince of Rome who destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, Titus. He came and destroyed Jerusalem and the sanctuary. And when Israel along with the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, it was so completely destroyed that it was like a flood swept it all away. At that time, nearly 1.1 million Jews were slaughtered by the Romans. So many crosses were placed in Jerusalem and the environs thereof that there were no other places to put crosses. Israel placed Christ on a cross and hundreds of thousands of them were crucified by the Romans on crosses as well. What we sow, we always reap. Besides the millions who were killed, hundreds of thousands were sold as slaves until the slave markets over the world of that day were glutted.

 

      At the end of the horror that Titus brought in 70 AD, desolations were the lot of Israel. The scripture says “desolations are determined.” The 26th and 27th verse of Daniel 9 has a twofold meaning. The “people of the prince” refers to the Romans as we have already stated. However, “The HE” of verse two refers to the Antichrist himself that shall come in the last days and basically, with some variations, do as the Romans of old did. Gabriel reminded Daniel that this seventy weeks of years referred to Israel and Jerusalem but these events will have world implications.

 

And He Shall Confirm the Covenant

 

Dan 9:27 - And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

 

      The next verse of this passage switches to events yet future. "HE" in this passage refers to the antichrist, whom we believe to be an apostate Jewish leader who will arise out of the chaos of the Middle East conflict and bring a false peace at first then DESOLATION and DESTRUCTION. This verse also speaks of the covenant he will make with the Jews for seven years. This pact will also be made with other countries. The one week refers to a week of years which means the covenant is to be confirmed for seven years.  

 

        This covenant of peace will be not only be a peace treaty but a reinstitution of Judaism.  Many believe that since the present site of the former temple is the Dome of the Rock (an Islamic holy site) that the Antichrist will find a way to build the temple without causing major bloodshed (at least at first). Another possibility is the Dome of the Rock could be destroyed either through supernatural means or a natural war which will be a real possibility given the tension between Jews and Arabs now and I'm sure in future days ahead. Whatever the situation, the temple will be rebuilt. The Jews are training young men and women RIGHT NOW for the priesthood. It  is common knowledge around Israel there are political and economic forces worldwide wanting and willing to rebuild Israel's most holy place. The descendants of the tribe of Levi named "Cohens" were recently found in parts of Afghanistan and Iran making plans to return home to Jerusalem.

 

      In the middle of the covenant week (7 years), which means 3 ½ years, the Antichrist will show his true colors and stop the sacrifices in the newly built temple. This is what is meant that he will “cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease.” He will actually raise up a statue of himself in the temple just as Antiochus raised up a statue of Zeus, taking the place of the articles of worship – i.e. the table of Showbread, the golden lamp stand, the altar of incense, etc. The temple will become desolate.

 

 The Midst of the Week, The Second Hanukkah

 

      In the first 3 ½ years of this treaty signed with Israel, the Antichrist will no doubt gain power of 10 kingdoms. He will do this by attacking 3 of them, (possibly Greece, Egypt and Turkey). The other seven, knowing they cannot hope to defeat him, will voluntarily give their kingdoms to him and reign under him. He will then break the covenant with Israel in the middle of the week declaring war on them while transferring his capital from rebuilt Babylon to Jerusalem. The King of Babylon that Isaiah refers to regarding this is a prophecy concerning not only Antichrist but the prince behind him- Satan.

 

 

Isa 14:4-12 - That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

5    The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers.

6    He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindered.

7    The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.

8    Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since you are laid down, no feller is come up against us.

9    Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirs up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

10  All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?

11  Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

 

      Isaiah is addressing the “king of Babylon” in verse 4 and calls him an oppressor. A few verses down however, he begins to address the POWER behind this king, Lucifer, or the devil. We see in Revelation chapters 17 and 18 that Babylon will be rebuilt during the Tribulation and become a center of demons and devils. More than likely, this will serve as the headquarters of the Antichrist for the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation before he breaks this covenant with Israel and invades her land. He will then take over Jerusalem and make the Jewish temple his capital. He will then do away with all the Jewish sacrifices and set himself and his image in the temple to be worshipped as god. This will be a direct mirror of what ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANIES did during his reign of terror in 176 B.C. This will continue for 2,300 evenings and mornings or 1,150 days.  After this time beast worship and the abomination will continue from the middle of the seven-year-period through the judgments that will be poured out on the one making the temple desolate. These judgments will consist of the following:

 

        The judgments caused by the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-11)

              The seven vial judgments (Rev. 15-16)

 

The Man Of Sin - Antiochus Epiphanies' Antitype

 

        In the 11th chapter of Daniel, we see further insight on the type of man the man of sin will be and what will be in his heart during this time he seeks to control the entire world and basically destroy the nation of Israel. This entire passage was written about 550 years before Antiochus and had direct references to him. However, Daniel also was using what is known in scripture as "double interpretation," or meaning. In other words a prophecy concerning something yet future may have the same meaning for another event taking place in the present that will MIRROR the event in the future. Antiochus was a dress rehearsal for the Antichrist.

 

        Keep this is mind. Satan has had a hatred for the Jews for one reason – Jesus Christ. They brought the world the One who bruised his head! For this reason, he has inspired numbers of people throughout history to set out to wipe this tiny nation from the face of the earth. In the Antichrist, the Lord will allow Satan one last attempt at this. However, God’s purposes in this are not just punitive, they are redemptive. With their backs to the walls they will one day cry for the Messiah and say, Blessed is he who comes in the NAME of the Lord. God will hear these cries and the Lord Jesus will come and deliver the nation from the hands of the antichrist. Israel is coming home to God.

 

Dan 11:36-39 - And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

37        Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

38        But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

39        Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.

 

          He shall do according to His will

 

        This king (the Antichrist) will basically do according to his will until the Second Coming of the Lord. He will have more power (satanic power) than any other human being has ever had. His desire will be to take over the entire planet. He will fail, but he will come closer than any other man or military leader has ever done in past history. He will be a part of the evil trio in the last days that Satan will use to imitate God.

 

            Satan –                             God

            Antichrist  -                       Jesus

            False Prophet  -                Holy Spirit

 

          He Will Exalt Himself, and Magnify Himself Above Every Other God.

 

        The very epitome of man’s selfishness will be taken to a height man has never experienced previously. This man shall literally “exalt himself.”  He shall magnify himself above all the gods (false gods) man worships. He will demand he be worshipped above Buddha, Mohammed, or any other god. This is illustrated in John’s vision with the destruction of the whore in Revelation 17. The whore basically stands for apostate religion.

 

        ...And Shall Prosper Till The Indignation Be Accomplished: For That Is Determined Shall Be Done

 

        In all of this he shall prosper greatly. It will seem as if he is going to accomplish his task of world dominion, and he will prosper until the “indignation be accomplished” meaning the end of the seven-year Great Tribulation period. The latter portion of the 36th verse tells us that these things will come to pass and that there is nothing that can stop the Word of God from being fulfilled.

 

     ...Neither Shall He Regard the God of His Fathers

 

        This is a verse that tells us that this man will more than likely be an apostate Jew. Israel  brought the God of Israel to the world. The “fathers” speaks of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 

          ...Nor The Desire of Women, Nor Regard Any God: For He Shall Magnify Himself Above All.

 

        This DOES NOT mean that the antichrist will be a homosexual as some have believed. This is referring to the virgin birth of Christ. It is referring to the virgin birth of Christ and the Antichrist’s total disdain for the fact that God did such to redeem the human race. He will elevate himself against every God, including the God of the Bible and more than likely continue Satan's attack against the woman - the source of the SEED which has bruised his head.

 

      ...But In His Estate He Shall Honor The God of Forces, and a god his Fathers Knew Not shall He Honor With Gold, and Silver, and With Precious Stones, and Pleasant Things.

 

        This speaks of the god of power and war. When it speaks of a “god his fathers did not know,” it is speaking of a god other than the God of Israel. Who is this god that his fathers knew not which is called “a strange god?” Whatever or whoever it is we know the Antichrist will acknowledge this god and increase with glory this strange god. This strange god will help him come to power and in his efforts to rule the world. He will go a long way toward achieving his goal before being stopped by the Lord Jesus Christ at the Second Coming. The strange god he refers to is the beast John sees come out of the sea in Revelation 17. More than likely, the image the Antichrist builds in the Temple will be an image given to him by Satan of this demonic prince:

 

Rev 17:8 - The beast that you saw  was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

 

Rev 13:2 - And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

 

        This “strange god” is the satanic prince (fallen angel) that has been locked away in the bottomless pit since the death of Alexander the Great. He will be loosed out of the pit shortly. In fact, there is a possibility he has already been loosed! He is at this moment preparing the man of sin for his entrance on the world’s stage. This is that strange god. John saw the same god in Revelation. Consequently, the Antichrist will not honor the God of Israel or the god of the Moslems, or the Christ of Christianity. But he will honor this god. These events are happening now and the intensity will increase as we go through time. Jesus is coming soon!

 

Egypt and Syria - Then Israel

 

Dan 11:40-43 - And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

41  He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

42  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.

 

        With each vision in Daniel we are given a little more information as to where the Antichrist will come from.

 

        In Daniel 7:7 we know that the Antichrist will come from the Old Roman Empire territory – in other words the territory ruled by Rome during the time of Christ. Then in Daniel 8 we learn that the “King of fierce countenance,” will come from one of their kingdoms. He will as this man of sin. We know that when Alexander the Great died his kingdom was broken into four divisions, Syria, Turkey, Greece and Egypt. It is out of one of these kingdoms the Antichrist will come. We must remember, the countries that are named constituted the territory they occupied when they were formed nearly 2,300 years ago.

 

        In the 11th chapter, we are given further details as Daniel narrows the place the Antichrist comes from to one country or area. He is called the king of the north. That refers to the Syrian division of Alexander the Great’s empire. However, it must be remembered that the Syrian division of that empire includes present day:

  • Syria

  • Lebanon

  • Israel

  • Iraq and Iran

        The very area where the world is embroiled at this present time in conflict will be the very area where the Antichrist will arise from. He will not come from the USA or Russia or be some computer system gone haywire. He will be a man that will bring peace to this region by deception and have in his heart the desire to totally destroy the Jews.

 

Who Is The King Of The South and The King of The North?

 

      We know from the terminology that verses 4-34 pertain to the time period from Daniel’s day through the crucifixion of Christ. In these scriptures the terms “king of the south” and “king of the north” are used repeatedly. When one looks at world history and these events that have already taken place we know these two countries are Egypt and Syria. If this is true, which it is, then the same terminology used in verses 35-43 which are future must be used as well. If they meant something else, the Bible would say they did. The countries of Turkey and Greece have been considered as from the west, but, of course, these two are not mentioned. The directions are always in reference to Israel; in other words, “south of Israel,” or “north of Israel.”

 

      The “time of the end” it speaks of here is the Great Tribulation period. So, EGYPT will attack the Antichrist who is Syria, which will include Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Even though the Syrian division of Alexander’s empire originally included Israel, it does not, in these last days, include Israel.

 

    He Shall Enter Into the Glorious Land

 

      Egypt will attack the Antichrist and the Antichrist will come against him like a whirlwind. The Bible also says, “He shall enter into the countries,” and it probably is referring to the other countries of the balance of the Grecian Empire, which will at that time include Greece and Turkey. Keep in mind that Turkey has always played a major role in Bible events of past and it will play a vital role in Bible prophecy.

 

      He will also enter into the glorious land (ISRAEL) about midway through the Great Tribulation period. Then, he will break the seven-year pact with the Jews and attack Israel. For the first time, Israel will be defeated. It says “many countries shall be overthrown,” and this means Israel. Israel will at this time escape to Petra. When we say Israel, we mean a remnant of a great number of people. The country as a whole will suffer tremendous bloodshed.

 

    Edom and Moab and Amman Shall Escape

 

      The Bible says these countries shall escape out of the hands of the antichrist when this event takes place. These ancient areas make up present-day Jordan. SO, even though the Antichrist will overthrow Israel, as well as many other countries, he will fail in his bid to take over Jordan. WHY?

 

      It will not be due to Jordan’s strength, because it will be relatively insignificant. But it will be because of Petra, where Israel is going to flee to, is located here.

 

Rev 12:6 - And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

 

      John saw this in his vision on the Isle of Patmos. Daniel had seen it some 800 years earlier. The reason the Antichrist will not take Jordan will no doubt be because of the great earthquake that will place at this time.

 

Rev 12:15-17 - And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood, which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

 

      At any rate, the Antichrist will not pursue Israel into Petra and take Jordan. The reason is found in verse 44.

 

Dan 11:44-45 - But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

45  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

 

      Tidings out of the east and north will trouble him. More than likely, Japan, China, India, and maybe Russia. Two things are stated in verse 43. It takes tremendous financial resources to conduct the military expeditions that the Antichrist will carry out, but he will have enough money. He may already have taken over the billions of dollars worth of oil in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. If this is the case, he will have more than enough to finance these campaigns. It also seems that all of northern Africa, including Ethiopia will throw their lot in with him when he goes forth to war.

 

The Great Wars of the Last Days of the Tribulation Period – War No Longer A Rumor

 

Dan 11:44-45 - But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many

 

      The tidings out of the east the Antichrist hears will be evil tidings. It seems a confederation of nations from the north, which will include, no doubt, northern Europe as well as the Soviet Union, will combine with the nations of the east, which could well include Japan, China and India. These will form a confederacy, in an attempt to stop the Antichrist from taking over the whole world. Many people have taught that the Antichrist will take over the world and rule the entire planet. Even though he will come very close and have tremendous sway in the world’s affairs, this will not be so. He will not succeed. Jesus Christ will come literally and stop him in his tracks at the great Battle of Armageddon. He will come to his end.

 

      These tidings of the east will be the main reason the Antichrist will not be able to completely destroy Israel at first. He will simply have bigger fish to fry and fry them he will. The Bible says he will go forth with great fury and destroy many. He will feel that he can come back and mop up this remnant of Israel later. He will have already defeated them, and they will pose no threat to him whatsoever. He will succeed in destroying those nations who oppose him and incorporate their resources and armies into his own armies when comes down to destroy Israel in the battle of Armageddon. At this time many who have fled to the wilderness will have returned to Israel. More than likely the campaigns of the east will take the Antichrist out of Jerusalem for several months possibly even a year or so. 

 

        When this happens, the Jews will return to the temple to once again seek its rededication. The difference this time there will be no Maccabees to save them. All their strength will be gone and all their hope will be gone. Total destruction will be imminent.

 

One Last Time in Jerusalem Then Redemption From Above

 

Dan. 11:45 - And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

 

      After the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel in the midst of the week (after 3 ½ years) and literally take over the Jewish tabernacle (Dan. 9:27). He will make the new Jewish temple his palace. The words “between the seas,” speak of the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. “The glorious holy mountain,” refers to the mountain on which the temple sits. At the time he plants his tabernacle in the Jewish Temple and makes it his own headquarters, he will feel that nothing can stop him from taking over the world. He will have declared war on Israel and won. Pride will have risen in this man's heart to the point that he will be openly blaspheming God and everything that symbolizes God. He will boast to the world of his great power and ability to conquer anyone and everyone who stands in his way.

 

        He will have at his disposal demon powers to do miracles. He will use these to deceive millions possibly billions of people. It will be as Jesus said, the worst time in all humanity - compared to anything in the past or in the future. This will be mankind's most perilous moment in history.

 

 

Michael Will Stand Up and FIGHT for Israel

 

Dan 12:1 - And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

 

 

        The three words “at that time” are used at the beginning of this chapter. It basically has reference to four events that will take place:

 

  • The Antichrist plants the tabernacle of his palace in the Temple Mount in Israel. (2 Thes. 2:4, Rev. 13)

  • At that time, Michael, the great archangel, stands up in the heavenlies and casts Satan and his angels to the earth to be among men (Rev. 12:7-12)

  • The Great Tribulation begins (in the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week) which will be 3 ½ years before the Second Coming (Rev. 10:1; 19:21)

  •  Daniel’s people will be delivered (translated) which refers to the 144,000 that shall be found written in the Book of Life. (Rev. 7:1-8)

 

        Michael seems to be the most powerful angel God has in his righteous kingdom. Who is the angel that now stands for the children of Daniel’s people – ISRAEL. It seems God has delegated Michael to perform this task from the very beginning. It also seems Daniel’s prophecies (Dan. 10:20,21) that these things (the angels that performed work in the heavenlies before events transpire on earth) start to happen a period of time (years) before the actual events transpire on earth. If in fact that is the case, there is a good possibility that Michael has already started to stand up for Israel. There is a possibility that this happened in the heavenlies even before Israel became a nation in 1948. There are supernatural things that have happened with Israel that cannot be explained away as pure coincidence or phenomenon. It can only be explained supernaturally. The only reason Israel will be defeated in the Tribulation is God allows it. While we believe that the great tribulation is going to be worldwide to a certain degree, the greatest intensity will be around the Mediterranean and principally in the “seat of the beast,” which will of course include Israel.

 

     A Time Of Trouble

 

        The words of Daniel coincide with the words of Jesus. Its going to a time of trouble unlike the world and especially Israel has ever seen or will ever see again.

 

Matt 24:21-22 - For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

 

        The Arabs have always threatened the destruction of Israel and, likewise, the world of Islam has threatened the destruction of Israel. No one up to this point in time however, has been able to bring this about and they will not be able to until the middle of the Great Tribulation period. Then the Antichrist will break his treaty with them and defeat Israel for the first time since 1948. The only reason this happens is God will allow it. Israel has seen trouble from the very beginning, the least certainly not being the terrible time of 70 AD when Titus destroyed the city of Jerusalem, and Israel as a society as broken up. However, the coming time in the Great Tribulation period is going to be worse than ever. It says, “such as never was since there was a nation.” Of course the horror that we call the holocaust perpetrated on the Jews by the madman Adolph Hitler was not during the time Israel was a nation. The question is “How bad will it be?” No one knows but for the first time in Israel's history, she will probably be very scared of her future existence. All hell will be arrayed against her.

 

Thy People Shall Be Delivered

 

        I can see the scene now. The armies of the Antichrist are advancing toward Jerusalem. Jews, young and old, are at the wailing wall. They will know their doom is sealed. Many will slowly begin to realize that the one they crucified 2000 years ago was the REAL MESSIAH. They will begin to cry out to Jehovah and literally beg for the return of the real Messiah. They will mourn and weep. They will have bitterness of soul and anguish unlike the nation has ever felt - even in the days of Hitler. They will have no where to turn. (Where the USA is at this point in history is anybody's guess. If we have a man of God in the White House at the time you bet we'll be beside Israel. If not, then we may very well be aiding the Antichrist in his efforts to destroy her.)

 

        God will once again hear the cries of his people. He says through Ezekiel that it will be at that time that His anger will come up through His nostrils for the jealousy and love for His people, Israel

 

Ezekiel 38:14-23 [14] Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwells safely, shalt thou not know it? [15] And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: [16] And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. [17] Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them? [18] And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; [20] So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. [21] And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man's sword shall be against his brother. [22] And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. [23] Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord. 

 The Temple Cleanser Will Appear A Second Time and Destroy the Antichrist

 

Revelation 19:11-20 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. [12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. [13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [14] And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. [15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. [16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.  [17] And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; [18] That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. [19] And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

 

Rev 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

II The. 2:8 - And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:  

 

        The second Hanukkah will end like the first - the TEMPLE WILL BE CLEANSED. This time however it won't be Justin Maccabee who will save Israel, it will be the LORD JESUS CHRIST! It will be at HIS SECOND COMING WITH THE SAINTS when He shall appear in heaven after Israel travails and will consume the Antichrist with the brightness of His coming. Glory to God. Listen child of God, we win! This is the end of Satan. This is the end from all rebellion on planet earth. This is the beginning of the new heaven and new earth. This is the greatest day in eternity other than the day Jesus rose from the dead. God's elect, Israel will be saved in a day! Israel will mourn and repent over what she done to her Messiah 2000 years ago. She will awaken to the fact the Temple-Cleaner and Temple illuminator is now in her midst. She will celebrate the feasts again but this time recognizing the one to whom all the feasts portrayed and pointed to - GLORY TO GOD.

 

        The temple will no longer be a builder, but the temple will be with men and the Lamb will be the light of that temple. GLORY GLORY GLORY. Don't you feel this? Can't you see what is coming? Neighbor it's getting late and it's time for us to get ready.

 

It's Getting Late

 

        The second Hanukkah is on the horizon. The world's stage is being set for these events to come to pass. Are you ready for the rapture? Are you ready for the coming of Jesus for the church? Are you ready. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Neighbor, the hour is here. It's no longer an option to play church and be religious. You need to be sure where you stand with God right now. This is the greatest hour mankind has ever lived in yet it is also the most treacherous if you don't know JESUS. Make things right today.

 

        When you open your presents Christmas morning, remember the story of Hanukkah. Remember the exploits of the Maccabees. Remember the faith of Matthias and the great group of men and women who risked their lives and brought down Syrian tyranny. Remember that Hanukkah is really the celebration on December 25th, not the birthday of Zeus. It is the feast of rededication. It is the feast of lights. Is it time to rededicate your life to the Lord this holiday season? Is is time to let your light shine again for His glory? Is it time you come out of darkness into His wonderful, loving light? Be saved today. Happy Hanukkah. Be blessed in the name of Messiah Jesus! Shalom.