Borrowed from Matthew 24:15-20 (with a few explanations)
. MT 24:15 "So when you see standing in the holy place `the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel (9:27; 11:31; 12:11) --let the reader understand-- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Ge 19:17). 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 (they were killed in caves by the soldiers of Antiochus)! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter (Chanukah is in the winter) or on the Sabbath (Antiquities 12.6.2). 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 (Antiochus was killed shortly after this), 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.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Chanukah - Day 4
Borrowed from Revelation 13 (with a few explanations)
. Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth (Israel). He had two horns like a lamb (by name: Jason and Menelaus, the two high priests who paid Antiochus for their position), but he spoke like a dragon (Jason was originally named Onias, but his name was changed because like the dragon he was Helenistic). He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf (of course, because he bought the position from the first beast, Antiochus), and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast (to keep his position, it was necessary to have people worship the Epiphanes), whose fatal wound had been healed (It was only rumor that he was killed in Egypt - 2 Macc 5:5). And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 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 (Antiochus wanted an image of Zeus set up) who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.
. Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth (Israel). He had two horns like a lamb (by name: Jason and Menelaus, the two high priests who paid Antiochus for their position), but he spoke like a dragon (Jason was originally named Onias, but his name was changed because like the dragon he was Helenistic). He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf (of course, because he bought the position from the first beast, Antiochus), and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast (to keep his position, it was necessary to have people worship the Epiphanes), whose fatal wound had been healed (It was only rumor that he was killed in Egypt - 2 Macc 5:5). And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 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 (Antiochus wanted an image of Zeus set up) who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Chanukah - Day 3
. The lesson for today is that we do not live for the world, but for Christ. The Scripture says, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Mt 6:24
. We live in a time when all too many people want to live like others in the world. We want what they have, we want to live the life they live, and we never consider whether the things we do are of God or not. Consider: what are the themes and language in the movies we watch?
. Thus it was in the days of the Maccabees. Some of the Hebrews departed from their God and sought the lifestyle of the Greeks. They accepted their gods and their lifestyle. When the Greeks brought an idol to the town of Modin and asked people to bow down, at least one man was willing. But the priest Mattathias refused setting an example of how we are to follow God even in the face of adversity.
. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." (1 John 1:5-10)
. We live in a time when all too many people want to live like others in the world. We want what they have, we want to live the life they live, and we never consider whether the things we do are of God or not. Consider: what are the themes and language in the movies we watch?
. Thus it was in the days of the Maccabees. Some of the Hebrews departed from their God and sought the lifestyle of the Greeks. They accepted their gods and their lifestyle. When the Greeks brought an idol to the town of Modin and asked people to bow down, at least one man was willing. But the priest Mattathias refused setting an example of how we are to follow God even in the face of adversity.
. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." (1 John 1:5-10)
Chanukah - Day 2
Borrowed from Revelation 13 (with a few explanations)
. And I saw a beast (Antiochus Epiphanes ) coming out of the sea (the world of the Gentiles). He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard (Greece), but had feet like those of a bear (Persia) and a mouth like that of a lion (Babylon). The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound (2 Macc 5:5) , but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast (at least the Hellenistic Jews). Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast (he called himself Epiphanes) and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
. The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. (Josephus, Wars of the Jews V,9,4) He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them (conquering Jerusalem and desecrating the Temple). And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation (Egypt, Syria, Babylon and more). All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
. .He who has an ear, let him hear.
. .If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed.
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
. And I saw a beast (Antiochus Epiphanes ) coming out of the sea (the world of the Gentiles). He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard (Greece), but had feet like those of a bear (Persia) and a mouth like that of a lion (Babylon). The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound (2 Macc 5:5) , but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast (at least the Hellenistic Jews). Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast (he called himself Epiphanes) and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"
. The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. (Josephus, Wars of the Jews V,9,4) He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them (conquering Jerusalem and desecrating the Temple). And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation (Egypt, Syria, Babylon and more). All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
. .He who has an ear, let him hear.
. .If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed.
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Chanukah - Day 1
. Chanukah is one of the fun times of the year when we celebrate a victory given by God so His people could worship freely. There are many lessons that come through the Chanukah story which are good for each of us to remember.
. One of the lessons of Chanukah is to be committed to God. We should never be ashamed of our faith, and we should never back down and reject our faith no matter the cost.
. Many people ask me if I am Jewish or if I am Christian. I could answer the question something like ths: "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God,smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5
. The follow up question to this is "If you are a Christian, why do you still celebrate Chanukah?" The answer is that I celebrate Chanukah because Jesus did. Take a look at John 10:22-30 (and you can read further)
. "Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.'"
. "Jesus answered, 'I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.'"
. I picture Jesus playing with the dreidle when he was young. His family celebrated Chanukah as he was growing up. And Jesus came to the Temple at the time of Chanukah and recognized the festival. Was Jesus the promised Messiah? Just as the Miracle of Lights was a display of God's power, the miracles brought by Jesus were a proof of His Lordship.
. Those who know Jesus follow Him. They hear His voice. He gives eternal life. This is the plan of God. Jesus is Immanuel.
John wrote in his first letter (1 John 2:7-17) this Chanukah thought:
. "Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
. I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.
. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
. I write to you, young men, because you are strong,
. and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
. One of the lessons of Chanukah is to be committed to God. We should never be ashamed of our faith, and we should never back down and reject our faith no matter the cost.
. Many people ask me if I am Jewish or if I am Christian. I could answer the question something like ths: "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God,smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5
. The follow up question to this is "If you are a Christian, why do you still celebrate Chanukah?" The answer is that I celebrate Chanukah because Jesus did. Take a look at John 10:22-30 (and you can read further)
. "Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.'"
. "Jesus answered, 'I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.'"
. I picture Jesus playing with the dreidle when he was young. His family celebrated Chanukah as he was growing up. And Jesus came to the Temple at the time of Chanukah and recognized the festival. Was Jesus the promised Messiah? Just as the Miracle of Lights was a display of God's power, the miracles brought by Jesus were a proof of His Lordship.
. Those who know Jesus follow Him. They hear His voice. He gives eternal life. This is the plan of God. Jesus is Immanuel.
John wrote in his first letter (1 John 2:7-17) this Chanukah thought:
. "Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
. I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.
. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
. I write to you, young men, because you are strong,
. and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
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