LESSON #10

LESSON OBJECTIVES

• Establish that those events which happened historically with Antiochus IV will happen prophetically during the reign of the False Messiah.

• Learn that Judas Maccabaeus, "the hammer," led a Jewish revolt against Antiochus Ephiphanes IV and the influences of the Greek culture within Jewish society.

• Learn that the Jewish revolt against Antiochus IV resulted in a rebellion which became known as the story of "Hanukkah". This holiday foreshadows God's people struggle against oppression in the world against them.

• Learn that the victory of the Maccabees against Antiochus IV ushered in a period of time when they ruled in Israel until Rome invaded and defeated Jerusalem. This ruling family was known as the Hasmonean Dynasty.

• Learn that during the tribulation period, the believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah who live in Judea/Samaria will flee to Petra, Jordan.

• Learn that Yeshua's second coming is seen as coming from the east.

• Begin to examine some of the prophetic pictures in the scriptures which teach about the 7,000 year plan of God.

GOD'S PROPHETIC TIMETABLE

("The Battle Between Antiochus IV and
the Kingdom of Egypt")

===> Alexander, a pupil of the philosopher Aristotle, believed that Greek culture could unify the world. He founded a new city in each country of his empire that would serve as a model for the furtherance of the Greek culture. Public buildings, gymnasiums, open-air theaters, the spread of Greek names, Greek dress, and a common language all were by-products of the rule of the Greek empire.

===> After conquering the ancient seaport of Tyre in 332 B.C.E., Alexander moved on intending to destroy the city of Jerusalem because the Jews had resisted his demands. Josephus, a Jewish historian, reports that Alexander approached the city of Jerusalem intending to destroy it. The high priest of the Temple came out in a beautiful white robe to meet Alexander. Alexander was shocked as the priest told him that God had revealed to the prophet Daniel some 300 years earlier that a great king would arise from Greece and subdue the entire world. When he showed Alexander the exact prophecies in the scriptures, Alexander was so moved that he worshiped in the temple and gave orders not to destroy Jerusalem or the country.

          When Alexander built Alexandria, Egypt, in 331 B.C.E., he encouraged Jews to settle there and gave them privileges greater than his other Greek subjects. Several years later under the Greek Ptolemy II, the Jews in Alexandria translated the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek. The resulting translation was later called the Septuagint, the word for 70. Previously, only a few educated priests and scribes could read the scriptures. The Septuagint is the translation that Yeshua/Jesus and the apostles quoted from in the New Testament. Greek was also the language the writers of the New Testament used to record God's Word. Therefore, by this, the scripture was possible to be read and understood by the common people.

          The struggle between the Greek Seleucid kingdom, from which came Antiochus IV, and the Greek Ptolemy kingdom of Egypt came to a head in 71 B.C.E. when Antiochus IV attempted to invade Egypt. The rising Roman nation sent a senator to tell him that Rome would not allow Antiochus IV to alter the balance of power in the Mediterranean by conquering the agriculturally rich Egypt. When Antiochus IV refused to answer the senator's question about whether he would withdraw his armies from Egypt, the senator silently drew a circle around him in the sand with a sword. He told Antiochus IV that he must give Rome his reply to their demands before he could leave the circle. Antiochus IV angrily consented to withdraw his armies because he feared Rome's growing might. In vengeance, he told his troops to kill tens of thousands of Jewish men, women, and children as the army retreated from Egypt through Jerusalem.

          Later in the Jewish month of Kislev 24, 168 B.C.E., Antiochus stopped the daily morning and evening sacrifices in the temple. He then angrily sacrificed a pig, the most unclean of animals to God, in the Temple altar in June, 167 B.C.E. to profane it and show his contempt for God. An old Jewish priest named Mattathias and his three sons led an apparent hopeless rebellion against the overwhelming force of Antiochus IV armies. God, however, intervened and allowed the Jews to miraculously defeat the invading armies of Antiochus IV. On Kislev 4, 165 B.C.E., three years to the day that Antiochus stopped the daily sacrifice, the Jewish army threw the Seleucid army out of the Temple mount. The next morning at dawn, Jewish soldiers under the leadership of Judas Maccabaeus, "the hammer," cleansed the ruined temple and erected a new altar to resume the daily sacrifice. History tells us that the Jews searched the Temple and discovered a small vial containing one day's supply of holy oil for the candelabra that had escaped destruction by the enemy. Miraculously, God allowed this oil to last eight days in the Temple until more sanctified oil could be found. This deliverance and rededication of the Temple back to God became celebrated as Hanukkah, which is a Hebrew word which means dedication. Hanukkah became known as the Feast of Dedication or the Feast of Lights. Yeshua/Jesus celebrated this Feast in (John 10:22). The descendants of the Maccabees became known as the Hasmonean Dynasty, which ruled Israel for about 100 years until Rome invaded Jerusalem.

DURING THE TRIBULATION THE BELIEVER'S IN
YESHUA WILL FLEE TO PETRA

          This is a picture of the same thing which will happen when the Anti-Christ invades and captures Jerusalem during the Tribulation (Revelation 13:5). The believers in Yeshua/Jesus will flee into the land of Edom to a place called Petra where they will be protected by God during the last 3 1/2 years when the Anti-Christ will control Israel (Matthew 24:15, Revelation 12:6,14, Isaiah 16:1-5, 42:10-11).

===> The believers in Yeshua/Jesus (Revelation 12:17) who are the outcasts spoken of in (Isaiah 16:3-4), are dwelling in Moab (Jordan) during this time being protected from the extortioner (the Anti-Christ) (Isaiah 16:4). The triumph and reign of Yeshua/Jesus coming back to the earth to reign for 1,000 years and defeat the Anti-Christ is seen in (Isaiah 16:5.

          Sela (Isaiah 16:1) is modern day Petra in Jordan. Sela means rock. Kedar (Isaiah 42:11) are the bedowins who are "the inhabitants of the rock" in (Isaiah 42:11). Petra is in the wilderness (Isaiah 42:11) which Yeshua/Jesus referred to in (Matthew 24:15).

===> The believers at Sela (Isaiah 16:1), which means "Rock" (Strong's Hebrew Concordance #5554), are hidden (Isaiah 16:3) from the spoiler, extortioner (Isaiah 16:4), which is the Anti-Christ, during the tribulation (Revelation 12:6,14).

          a. Another name for the tribulation is -- "The time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:5-7).

          b. During the time of trouble (the tribulation), Psalm 27:5 says "In the time of trouble ... you shall hide me ... upon a rock"

          c. The Anti-Christ coming to destroy the people at Petra and their defeat is seen in (Revelation 12:15-16 = Psalm 27:2.

===> Yeshua/Jesus will pass through Edom at his 2nd coming to show those who have fled there for 3 1/2 years from the Anti-Christ that he has returned (Isaiah 63:1-5).

          Edom (Strong's #123) means red and is a name given to the descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob (Genesis 25:21,24-25, 36:1).

          We know that (Isaiah 63:1-5 is speaking of Yeshua/Jesus for several reasons:

          a. Isaiah 63:1 says "I that speak in righteousness mighty to save."
          b. Isaiah 63:2 = Revelation 19:11,13
          c. Isaiah 63:3 = Revelation 19:15

          Isaiah 63:4 tells us this is "the day of vengeance." This is a term which describes the time of the 2nd coming.

          Isaiah 61:1-2a = Luke 4:17-21 ... This was fulfilled at Yeshua's 1st coming
          Isaiah 61:2b = Isaiah 63:4 ......... This is fulfilled at Yeshua's 2nd coming

          Isaiah 61:1-2, Luke 4:17-21, Isaiah 63:4 describe the year of jubilee which is found in (Leviticus 25:8-13).

          Isaiah 61:2 ... "The acceptable year of the Lord" = the Jubilee
          Isaiah 63:4 ... "The year of my redeemed" = the Jubilee

===> After passing through Edom, Yeshua/Jesus will return to earth at his 2nd coming and set foot on the Mt. of Olives, which is the mountain east of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:1-4, Acts 1:6-12).

          (Acts 1:11-12 and Zechariah 14:4 = Ezekiel 11:23)

===> Yeshua/Jesus is always seen coming from the East (Matthew 24:27)
          a. This was so at his first coming (Matthew 2:2,9)
          b. This is so at his second coming (Zechariah 14:4)

===> Yeshua/Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem is from the east
          a. This was so at his first coming (Matthew 21:1-11)
          b. This is so at his second coming (Ezekiel 43:1-2,4)

          Ezekiel 43:2 ... "Voice of many waters" is Yeshua/Jesus (Revelation 1:10-11,15)
          Ezekiel 43:2 ... "The glory of God came by his way ... the earth shined with His glory"

          (Isaiah 60:1,3) = (Isaiah 60:1 = Ephesians 5:14) --- (Isaiah 60:3 = Luke 2:27-32)

          ----> During Yeshua's/Jesus' first coming, after making a triumphant entry into Jerusalem from the east, He went into the temple (Matthew 21:12).

          ----> During Yeshua's/Jesus' second coming, after making a triumphant entry into Jerusalem from the east, He will go through the eastern gate into the temple (Ezekiel 44:1-3).

                  Ezekiel 44:3 - "Prince" a term for Yeshua (Isaiah 9:6, Acts 3:15, 5:30-31)

PICTURES OF 6,000 AND 7,000 YEARS IN THE BIBLE

           ---> After 6,000 years, there will be a judgment (the tribulation) come upon the earth.

      B.  After six days, Moshe/Moses was called up from Mt. Sinai to be in the presence of God in the midst of the cloud (Exodus 24:13-18).

            ---> After 6,000 years, the believers will be called up into the presence of God. This is a picture of the believers who are called clouds and will be caught up in the clouds after 6,000 years (Hebrews 12:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 1:5,7, Daniel 7:13, Matthew 24:30).

      C.  After six days, Yeshua/Jesus took Peter, James, and John up into a high mountain, and was transfigured before them (Matthew 17:1-2).

            ---> Once again, this is a picture that after 6,000 years, we will be raptured to be with God.

           Matthew 16:28 .. Yeshua/Jesus said, "Some standing here will not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom"

           Matthew 17:1-2 --> Peter, James, and John taken up into a high mountain and Yeshua/Jesus transfigured before them

           Matthew 17:9 .... This was a vision.

LESSON REVIEW/QUESTIONS

      2.  What day on the Biblical calendar is Hanukkah celebrated?

      3.  Give another name for Hanukkah.

      4.  Did Yeshua/Jesus celebrate Hanukkah? Give a scripture reference.

      5.  What was the name of the family who led the revolt against Antiochus IV?

      6.  What was the name of the ruling dynasty which the family who revolted against Antiochus IV founded until their defeat by Rome?

      7.  What was the name of the Syrian Greek kingdom during the time of the Maccabean revolt?

      8.  What was the name of the Egyptian Greek kingdom during the time of the Maccabean revolt?

      9.  Who will flee to Sela/Petra during the tribulation period?

     10.  The Biblical city of Sela is modern day Jordan. What does Sela mean?

     11.  What is the spiritual message being communicated by God's people fleeing to Sela/Petra during the tribulation?

     12.  What caused the Jewish people to rebel against Antiochus IV, which resulted in the holiday of Hanukkah?

     13.  Following the tribulation period when Yeshua/Jesus returns back to the earth and sets His feet on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, who will He appear to on His way back to the earth from Heaven?

     14.  Yeshua's/Jesus return during His 2nd coming will be from what direction?

     15.  Where will Yeshua/Jesus step His foot when He returns back to the earth following the tribulation period?

     16.  After Yeshua/Jesus steps His feet down on the earth following the tribulation period during His 2nd coming, what will He immediately do?

     17.  Give three examples of the events which foreshadow the 6,000/7,000 events of time.