The bible is silent about the beast Greece (Leopard ) the 3rd beast of Daniel and only the imagery is given that this beast was part of the first three beasts whose dominion was taken away but their lives prolonged. But Daniel did prophesy about this beastly rule of Satan which was fulfilled in the days of Alexander the Great.
Da 8:21 And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
I will have to source this from the history of the Jews. This is also mentioned in the Apocrypha book of Maccabees which is not part of Alahim's word but it cannot be denied that it was a historical book and not a spiritual book. There was a literal fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy with the kingdom taken over by the Greeks from Medes Persia. The Greeks had come to world power under the leadership of Alexander the Great; he seemed to have unified the ancient world into one common government and culture called Hellenism. After Alexander's death, there was a political scramble among four of his generals, resulting in the division of the Hellenistic empire. The Ptolemies took control of the South, which included Egypt. The Seleucids took charge of the northern area around Syria. Eventually, the Seleucid/Syrians, under the leadership of Antiochus IV, gained power and sought control of the new provinces. Seeking to unify his holdings, Antiochus enforced a policy of assimilation into the prevailing Hellenistic culture. Irrespective of the culture and beliefs of the captured peoples, the Seleucids required submission to the Greek way of life. The Greeks thought that to be truly effective this assimilation must apply to all aspects of life, including language, the arts, and even religion. Everything was to conform to the Greek way of life and values.
If we count 75 days from the Day of Atonement, that brings us to the Jewish holy days of Hanukkah (Chanuka). The word Hanukkah means, "dedication" and is mentioned in Scripture as the "feast of the dedication" in John 10:22
Chanukka is also known as the "Feast of Lights"
Those days commerate the time in 165 BC, when the Hasmonean Family, led by Mattathias and Judah Maccabee, freed Israel from the pagan Syrians, who under Antiochus Epiphanes IV, had set up an abomination (a statute) in the temple, and sacrificed a pig upon the altar there. The temple was cleansed, restored and re-dedicated by the Maccabees.
Antiochus Epiphanes IV is seen as a type of the Antichrist, who will also pollute the church by setting up the image of the beast within it just as in the past history of Israel.
How do we arrive at 1335 symbolic days. The testimony of Yahusha is the spirit of prophecy and hence 1260 is the witness/testimony of Messiah which comes from the Measuring line i.e. the Cross or Atonement.
Re 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Yahusha: worship Alahim: for the testimony of Yahusha is the spirit of prophecy.
The re-dedication of the temple on Hanukkah, explains how the 1,335 days are arrived at (1,260 + 75 = 1,335) because this feast falls 75 days after Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). The Feast of Dedication(Hanukkah) commemorates the re-dedication of the Second Temple following the Maccabean Revolt. The nation of Israel was anticipating a Messiah who would overthrow at last the Roman rule and establish Israel again as an independent kingdom and that's why we find Messiah at the feast of dedication(Hanukkah) in Solomon's porch.The Feast is therefore an appropriate setting for the question of the people: "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." The political overtones of the feast, however, also ensure that Yahusha does not answer directly, lest his purpose be misunderstood.
Joh 10:22 ¶ And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. Joh 10:23 And Yahusha walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Messiah, tell us plainly.
Think of the godly wisdom and timing for Yahusha to choose this place and celebration to reveal that He is Alahim! Antiochus of Epiphanies' made a similar claim, the coming anti-Messiah will do the same and now here is Yahusha confronting the cultural, political and religious leaders with the truth that He is the Messiah; "I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him." John 10:30-31
The primary Jewish declaration of faith proclaims that; "Hear, O Israel: The YAHUAH our Alahim is one YAHUAH" Deut 6:4. The multitude that heard Him was taken back. They understood exactly what Yahusha meant. At this very moment Israel was celebrating their deliverance from such a declaration made by Antiochus the oppressive king and the pagan practices he tried to force upon the people of Alahim. He portrayed that he was a god to them two hundred years earlier on the Temple Mount. Daniels prophecies declare that another anti-Messiah will be coming in the future that will do the same. It is no mistake that Yahusha chose Hanukkah to proclaim His deity (John 10:37-38).
The Jews considered the Greeks to be abominable for this very same reason as what happened to them in history and how Alahim delivered them. With this picture in mind we read in Acts 21 when Paul was persistent to come to Jerusalem and when he arrived there he was told by James and the elders to purify himself and then shave his head as per the law of Moses for a Nazarene (Numbers 6) to show them that he too observes the law and is zealous for it as they are. The Jews supposed Paul brought Greeks into the temple and there was a havoc there. Here are the verses.
Ac 21:18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things Alahim had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Yahuah, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. 25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. 27 ¶ And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
They were likening Paul to Antiochus the pagan Greek king who set up an image in the temple accusing that he had brought Greeks into the temple.
We see the spiritual fulfillment of Hanukkah in Messiah because he is the one who re-dedicates the temple and fills it with his light and not the physical light but the light of his life. This festival is also known as 'Festival of lights' and Messiah is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD (John 8:12). The feast of Hanukkah may be an earthly feast not spoken in Moses law but symbolizes the restoration of the light of the lamp stand which was taken away.
Re 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Yahuah Alahim giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
History of Judaism says when restoring and re dedicating the temple the Maccabees and their followers quickly cleansed the altars and restored the holy furnishings. Of particular importance to them was the broken Menorah (candle stick) symbolizing the light of Alahim. They restored it and lit it. The Temple was restored and rededicated to the glory of the Alahim of Israel and an eight-day festival was established. It is called Hanukkah (Hebrew for Dedication). The law of Moses doesn't tell us anything about this feast because it did not exist then but did Messiah observe it? Yes he did. He was in Solomon's porch as read in John 10:22-23 and revealed who he was. This corresponds to the seventh trumpet when the mystery of Alahim will be finished.
Re 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of Alahim should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Daniel prophesied the setting in of the empire of Greece which was literally fulfilled in time resulting in Hanukkah.
Da 12:12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
This blessedness is for all elect whose light will be Messiah forever.
Re 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of Alahim did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
1260 is the testimony of Messiah held by all his elect (testimony of Yahusha is the spirit of prophecy).
1290 is the daily taken away with Israel in Egypt as a sign Ezekiel 4:3-4 (430 *3 =1290)
1335 is the blessedness of the feast of Hanukkah observed with the Lamb as our light 1260 + 75 days from Day of Atonement (1335)
Lastly the Hanukkah Menorah the nine candle stick: The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a unique candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah or Hanukkah, one additional light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. This nine branch Menorah consists of seven branches with additional raised branches. The extra light is called a shamash (Hebrew: שמש, "attendant"/"Helper") and is given a distinct location, usually above or below the rest. The first candle stick needed a priest daily in the temple to ensure that there is oil in the LAMP but the new one has two golden pipes that empty the golden oil out of themselves and these are the two anointed ones before the Yahuah. The oil and the lamp is from the YAHUAH himself.
Zechariah saw the Hanukah Menorah in a vision. Here is the verse
Zec 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees(Hebrew word zayith which means olive) by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
There were 2 olive branches one on the right side and one on the left so 7+2=9 branches in all. This is the new candle stick because the one which was of 7 was taken away due to apostasy. The candle sticks represent the elect.
Even in Greek the word 'trees' was added by the translators. It's absurd to have trees beside a candlestick because the vision is of the same candlestick which had the OLIVE OIL burning in it
Ex 27:20 ¶ And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
Ps 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree(again tree is added by translators) in the house of Alahim: I trust in the mercy of Alahim for ever and ever.
Zec 4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
These 2 Olives get their light and oil from the LAMB himself who is the LIGHT.
The first candle stick needed a priest daily in the temple to ensure that there is oil in the LAMP but the new one has two golden pipes that empty the golden oil out of themselves and these are the two anointed ones before the Yahuah. The oil and the lamp is from the YAHUAH himself.
Zec 4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Yahuah of the whole earth.
Ex 27:20 ¶ And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.
21 In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the YAHUAH: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
These are written in Alahim's word but we need eyes from Alahim to see it. Noearthly priesthood could keep that light burning so Messiah has to raise his anointed ones through whom this light would reach the entire candle stick and this LIGHT CAME FROM THE LAMB HIMSELF. That's the spiritual significance of Hanukkah Menorah.
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