(picture from google images)
As we wrap up another Chanukah season, I feel the need to explain why I celebrate this festive occasion. Years ago I left Christmas in the dust, Messiah Yahoshua was not born on December 25th: every scholar agrees. As we all should know by now, Christmas is just a dressed up Saturnalia: a disgusting pagan practice that no believer in the Scriptures should partake in. Plus, Jer. 10 clearly tells us not to fool with the Christmas tree (among other scriptures).
You see, Chanukah is the opposite of Christmas. Chanukah is a celebration declaring a restoration of the temple sacrifices and the defeat of the pagans. We can see the pattern shape up in Daniel chapter 8. Daniel has a vision of the ram and the he-goat. The ram with two horns is said to be in 8:20-22 the kingdom of Media-Persia defeated by the he-goat who is Greece. This speaks of Alexander the Great. When Alexander died at a young age, four of his generals took over. Collectively they ruled: Egypt, Assyria, Turkey, and Greece. These are the four horns.
[Of course this speaks of the time of the end and the coming anti-messiah, but prophecy has multiple fulfilment.]
One of the four horns grows large and abolishes the perpetual sacrifice at the temple. This horn is the terrible Antiochus Epiphanes. Antiochus comes into Jerusalem decrees that no one can do the Torah (law of Moses) but must offer sacrifices to Zeus (Jupiter, Mithra, Tammuz.... take your pick, it's all the same sun god). Guess what day all the pagan gods are said to be born on??? You got it December 25th! This was years before the birth of the Messiah. People have been doing this Christmas thing for thousands of years, it has nothing to do with YHWH the God of the Scriptures. It has everything to do with pagan sun god worship.
Here are the highlights of the story in 1 Maccabees: (I suggest reading these portions)
1 Maccabees 1:10 -calls Aniochus the wicked offshoot (of Alexander the Great).
1:14-15 -states the motive of this offshoot.
1:44-64 -explains the abomination set up on the 15th of Chislev, which was December 25th and the trouble that was brought by the pagans.
2:15-48 -Mattathias Maccabee stands strong in the Torah and begins the revolution against this pagan practice.
3:46-60 -the revolt is successful and they're ready to take back the altar.
4:8-9 -we are admonished to remember.
4:14-23 -the pagans are defeated!
4:24-25, 4:36-44 -Baruch Hashem YHWH! time to rebuild the altar.
4:45-51 -rebuilding the altar and temple!
4:52-59 -Chanukah is born as a day of (re)dedication of the temple and altar, it takes 8 days to say the prayers and start the sacrifices. The menorah is lit and we have light once again!
Chanukah is the 8 day festival of lights and dedication, a celebration of defeating the pagans and their nasty sun god born on December 25th!
One of my favorite Chanukah story's is the Messiah Himself healing the man born blind in chapter 9 of John, right around the time of Chanukah. The light of the world gives light! Plus, John 10:22 says that the Messiah Yahoshua was walking in the temple during Chanukah. From the writings: He didn't take issue with it. So, WWJD? He would celebrate Chanukah, so that's what I do!
