Hanukkah Day 7: Abomination of Desolation

Hanukkah Day 7
Readings: Numbers 28:1 -15 and Numbers 7:42-47

In the Book of Matthew, Yeshua speaks of the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel, referring to Antiochus defiling the temple by sacrificing a pig and forcing Jews to eat the meat or have their tongue cut from their mouth. It is due to Antiochus' persecution of the Jews and ultimate defeat of Antiochus by the Jewish people, led by the Maccabees, that we celebrate Hanukkah. Daniel is believed to have lived in the 6th century BCE (in the 500s BCE) and received this prophecy around 551 BCE . Antiochus reigned 175-164 BCE and so Daniel wrote about this event over 300 hundred years prior to it happening. In the book of Daniel there are 3 references to the abomination of desolation: Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11.

Matthew 24:15-25 - "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,'^[b] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time." (NIV)

And so what are we to make of Yeshua's reference to the abomination of desolation of 165 BCE since it had already happened? First of all, nearly 40 years after Yeshua's death and resurrection, the temple was destroyed in 70 CE. (We know Yeshua celebrated Hanukkah.) Antiochus Epiphanes means God made manifest. So Antiochus was a type of anti-christ and many believe that in Matthew (above), Yeshua is referring not only to the destruction of 70 CE but also to the future anti-christ who is yet to come, spoken of as the Beast in the Book of Revelation--who will once again defile the temple and attempt to destroy God's perfect plan.

Revelation 13:14 - "Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived" (NIV).

Satan has failed to thwart the plan of God over and over for over 3,000 years. As he fought to prevent the birth of Messiah, He fights to destroy the people of God (both Jews and Gentiles) still today. And he will fight in the final days, only to fail again when our Messiah, Yeshua, returns in all His glory.

Revelation 19: 11-16 - "'I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."^[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS'" (NIV).

So there's a lot in this non-Biblical holiday they call Hanukkah, eh? But then again it is Biblical since there is one reference to Hanukkah in the Bible found in John 10:22. But that's the New Testament! Exactly.

A Messianic Perspective of Hanukkah