Kislev
The Month of Kislev
This month holds several Scriptures pointing to a restored and dedicated Temple. The significance of this is very applicable today in the spiritual context as the LORD continues to guide fallen mankind to bring our brokenness to Him and allow Him to restore our relationship with Him through Himself and His work on the cross as well as open our hearts for Him to come in to dwell as we dedicate our lives to our King Jesus Christ. Believers are temples of the Holy Spirit who dwells within them.
The first Temple; Solomon's Temple was destroyed 586 B.C. when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took Judah captive to Babylon for 70 years as prophesied by the Prophet Jeremiah ( 2 Chronicles 36:21)
24 Kislev ~ The 2nd Temple was founded this month by the word spoken by Haggai/520BC. (Haggai 2:1-23) vs 18 "Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it." This chapter from beginning to end is focused on the time of Hanukkah. There are instructions, blessings and warnings to those outside His will.
20 Kislev ~ Ezra presided over a mass gathering calling for a special meeting in the courtyard of the Temple. As they shivered under the harsh rain, the people agreed to divorce the idolatrous spouses they had married. ( Ezra 10:9-17) (Key theme is to repent)
[The Second Temple was completed in 349 BCE, under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah]
A Hanukkah Card To Bless You
יֵשׁוּעַ מָשִׁיחַ Yeshua Mashiach
Jesus Christ
The Name Above Every Other Name
He Can Be Found In Hanukkah
He Is The Light Of The World
Feast On His Dedication To Mankind
For Believers; Our Bodies Are
The Temple Of The Holy Spirit
25 Kislev
The word 'Hanukkah' meaning 'dedication' is also known as: the Feast of Dedication, the Festival of Lights, the Miracle of the Oil, and the Second Feast of Tabernacles
It originates from the time of the Maccabean revolt in 167 – 160 BC/BCE against the Syrian-Greeks who had banned all Jewish religious rites. The Maccabees (meaning 'Hammer') were an army of Jewish rebels, who conquered the Syrian-Greeks which had defiled the holy Temple in Jerusalem. A group of Jews led by the priest Mattathias and his five sons took up arms against the Syrian-Greeks. Known as the Maccabees (Hammer), they recaptured the Temple and rededicated it to the worship of God.
Feast of Dedication & Festival of Lights ~ The Jewish Talmud states this name comes from the story of the Maccabees, who rededicated the Temple by lighting the seven-branched Menorah candelabra. Hanukkah, an eight day celebration is joyfully celebrated by lighting candles, eating special foods, and exchanging gifts. Each day a new candle is lit. On the eighth day, all eight candles are lit.
The Miracle of the Oil ~ during the final days of the battle it is believed there was only enough oil for the lamp in the Tabernacle for one day, but the LORD caused it to last eight days. "According to the Talmud, when the menorah continued to burn for eight days after the re-dedication of the Second Temple, Judah Maccabee and other Jews participating in the ceremony believed they saw a miracle. As a result of this, religious leaders established an eight-day festival of lights each year." ~RF
The Second Feast of Tabernacles ~ after putting down the Syrian/Greek army, "The faithful Jews proceeded to purify the Temple and set out to rededicate it to the God and to celebrate the Feast of Sukkot which was prohibited under Antiochus' evil reign reign."
In Scripture, oil is at times symbolic of the Holy Spirit. God's choice of kings were anointed with it, Priest were consecrated with it. Anointing of oil symbolizes the filling and empowering of the Holy Spirit, and only 5 of the 10 Virgins in Matthew 25 had enough oil for their lamps. Jesus identified as God's anointed was 'anointed' with the Holy Spirit as were believers. And the Holy Spirit came upon Mary that she would conceive
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
I Am The Light Of The World
The temple which meant so much to the Jewish people was merely a temporary fixture until the coming of the true temple.
"Then Jesus spoke to them again , saying,“Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.”
~ John 10:22-23
"Now about the middle of the feast (of Dedication)
Jesus went up into the temple and taught."
"Now about the middle of the feast (of Dedication)
Jesus went up into the temple and taught."
~ John 7:14
"On the last day, that great day of the feast (Dedication), Jesus stood and cried out, saying,
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink."
"On the last day, that great day of the feast (Dedication), Jesus stood and cried out, saying,
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink."
~ John 7:37
"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
Enoch
An interesting connection: Enoch's name in Hebrew is Hanok (Strong's H2585) meaning 'dedicated'. It is the word used for Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication. We also know Enoch was raptured, Genesis 5:24. The book of Jasher 3 (mentioned three times in Scripture) also notes, vs 3:23 he is informed by a messenger that he will be taken to heaven, however does not state a date. Enoch prepares for his departure. Seven days later he is taken, vs 3:36. Jasher 4:38 notes there was snow on the ground! Also note: Noah was actually give a seven day notice by God before the flood. Genesis 7:4
Several studies indicate Jesus was quite possibly conceived the time of Hanukkah, which would have been the darkest day of the year; the Winter solstice. He is the "Light of the World" ( John 9:5) and "the light of men." ( John 1:4) and "the light shines in the darkness" ( John 1:5)
The only place in the Bible this Jewish festival is mentioned is in the B'rit Chadashah (The New Testament) in John 10:22-23
The only place in the Bible this Jewish festival is mentioned is in the B'rit Chadashah (The New Testament) in John 10:22-23
This is more than 'time stamp', it is symbolic.
THIRD WATCH OF THE YEAR
Dividing the circle of the year into four ‘watches’ at the equinoxes and solstices, the winter solstice around Hanukkah marks the end of the third watch. In Luke, Jesus warns that He may come during the third watch: “And if he shall come in … the third watch, and find them so [watching], blessed are those servants” (Luke 12:38 KJV). ~The Season of Return
27 Kislev The 40-day deluge of rains at the beginning of Great Flood in the time of Noah which began on 17 Cheshvan ended. Thus, the lion’s share of the rain took place in Kislev.
The Jewish Parshat (Jewish reading) for this day is called the Miketz which you may want to review. The symbolism of all this coming together is remarkable.