Hanukkah - 2 Biblical Truths Revealed

Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the second Jewish temple, and is also known as the Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication. It is observed for eight days by lighting a nine-candle candelabrum called a Hanukkah Menorah. Hanukkah was not one of the original appointed Feast times of the Lord as listed by Moses in the Torah, but was added later. In 167 BC, desecration of the Jewish temple by the Hellenistic Greek King Antiochus IV Epiphanes resulted in the Maccabean revolts.  Antiochus IV setup a statue of Zeus in the Jewish temple and decreed they would worship it.  He banned the practice of circumcision and slaughtered pigs on the altar of the temple.  A group of devout Jews known as the Maccabees resisted.

The temple and Jerusalem were retaken by the Maccabees, and the temple cleansed and rededicated. When it came time to relight the menorah in the Temple, only one day’s worth of olive oil approved by the High Priest could be located. However, the oil lasted for eight days, which allowed enough time for pure olive oil to be prepared per Jewish customs.  This became known as the miracle of the Feast of Dedication and was commemorated annually after those events and became known as “Hanukkah”, the Festival of Lights. 

I believe Hanukkah conveys two very important biblical truths about the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.  First, Hanukkah as the Festival of Lights points to Jesus the Messiah coming to this world the first time as the Light of the world.

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them… For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.  Isaiah 9:2, 6-7

Jesus was not born at Christmas time as we celebrate, but most likely around September-October, during the Feast of Booths (Sukkot). This Feast celebrates God dwelling with man in the tabernacle, during the 40 years the Jews were wandering in the wilderness, (Sukkot means “to dwell”).  John in his gospel gives a hint at this I believe. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.  There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.  He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.  There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:1-14

John not only references Jesus as "Light" in these verses, but also states that He “dwelt” (sukkot) among us.  In other words, Jesus “Sukkot” among us, just as the Feast of Booths commemorates God dwelling (Sukkot) among men in the Tabernacle.  I believe these are hidden references by John to the time of Jesus’ conception during the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah) in late December and His birth during the Feast of Booths (Sukkot) in September-October the next year.

Secondly, Hanukkah as the Feast of Dedication points to the second coming of the Lord to this world, and the dedication of a new Millennial Temple in Jerusalem.  The Millennial Kingdom Temple will be the fourth temple. The New Testament gospel book of John mentions Jesus observing the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem near the end of His ministry.  Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. Jesus was walking in the temple complex in Solomon’s Colonnade (John 10:22-30).  During the time of Jesus, a large lit Hanukkah Menorah would be setup in the courtyard of the temple that could be seen across the city of Jerusalem.  The worn out white linen robes of the Priests serving in the temple would be burned as rag wicks at the top of the nine branches of the Hanukkah Menorah throughout the eight days of the Festival.

The second temple, the one desecrated by Antiochus IV, was destroyed by the Romans in 70 a.d.  The third Jewish temple, which will be rebuilt and in operation during the Tribulation, will be desecrated once again, this time by the Antichrist.  At the mid-point of the Tribulation, the Antichrist will enter into the rebuilt Jewish temple and in some manner desecrate the temple.  Most likely, he will erect a statue of himself and demand the Jews worship it.  This is known as the “Abomination of the Desolation”, mentioned by both Daniel (Dan. 11:31) and Jesus (Mt. 24:15).  This of course implies that a third Jewish temple will be built in Jerusalem, and it will be completed by the middle of the Tribulation period.  Just as in the events that occurred with Antiochus IV and the desecration of the temple in 137 BC, they foreshadow similar events during the Tribulation.  After the third temple is desecrated by the Antichrist, it too will be destroyed.  But the Bible also speaks of a fourth temple in Jerusalem that will be built during the Millennial one-thousand year rule of Christ on earth.

John in the book of Revelation describes a time after the Great Tribulation, known as the Millennial Kingdom when Christ reigns from Jerusalem.  

Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  Revelation 20:4

 The first time Jesus came to this world, He came as a child.  The second time Jesus comes, He will return as a conquering King on a white horse. The Lord Himself will oversee the complete rebuilding of the fourth temple, the Millennial Temple, in Jerusalem (the last one), and its re-dedication. The Lord will dedicate the Temple and the Glory of the Lord will fill the Temple once again. 

And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate facing toward the east. And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. Then I heard one speaking to me from the house, while a man was standing beside me. He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever.  Ez. 43:4-7 (see all of Ezekiel chapters 40-44 for a full description of the Millennial Temple).  

Throughout the Old Testament, prophets spoke about the time of the end when the Jewish people would once again call the Lord God and they would be His people.  The Messiah would rule from Jerusalem, and the temple would once again be established on the Holy Mountain of Zion.  The Lord Jesus will then rule from His holy mountain for one thousand years as Priest and King.  

Then say to him, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD. Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.” Zech. 6:12-13

Other Bible passages note that everyone, Jew and Gentile, will come to Jerusalem to commemorate the Feast of Booths and worship the Lord.

Thus says the LORD, “I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.” Zech. 8:3  

And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  Isaiah 2:3

Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths.  Zech. 14:16

Hanukkah is a Festival of Lights celebrating the miracle of one day’s worth of oil for the temple menorah lamp lasting eight days.  It is also a Feast of Dedication commemorating the actions of the Maccabees in fighting to reclaim the temple and Jerusalem, and rededicating the temple to the worship of the One True God.  It also provides prophetic truths about Jesus the Messiah being the Light of the world, and the returning Lord who dedicates the Millennial temple in Jerusalem, from where He will reign for one-thousand years as Priest and King.  

Lord we look for your soon returning.  Marantha.