Fascinating link between Hanukkah, the Book of Revelation, and the Rapture!

Let me preface this by saying, I'm not setting a date for the Rapture. I'm not saying it will occur on Hanukkah. (Which, this year is Dec 30-Jan 6) . However I will say that this revelation came to me during a time of prayer and after I heard a sermon by Pastor Sandy Armstrong on the lampstand before the throne. Maybe someone else has already posted this, but I thought it was too cool not to share. 

 

Did you know that the Jewish Menorah has been around since the time of Moses?  In fact, in the book of Exodus, God gave Moses specific instructions of how to make the Menorah. It wasn't called by that name then, but listen to these details: 

And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:  And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof: Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick. Exodus 37:17-19

 

Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the Lord continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. Leviticus 24:2-3 

 

For some reason, I never associated this description with the Menorah. But in our day, the Temple institute made a giant menorah fashioned exactly after the description in Exodus.  

 

So, how does the Menorah come into play in the holiday of Hanukkah?  Most of you may know a little of the story, but I'll summarize it here. 

 

Under the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanies, the Syrian Greeks forcefully imposed their Hellenistic culture over the Jews. By the 167 B.C.E, Antiochus further intensified his campaign by defiling the Temple in Jerusalem, sacrificing a pig on the altar and demanding the Jews worship him. Antiochus IV Epiphanies was a type of the antichrist to come, which is important to remember. Anyway, unable to bear this torment further,  the Maccabees, a small group of Jewish fighters set out to liberate the land of Israel from the clutches of the Syrian Greeks. Headed by Matthias and his five sons, including Judah Maccabee, they waged a three-year campaign that culminated in the cleaning and the rededication of the Temple. Thus after the Maccabees’ stood victorious, the Jews rededicated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and, once again, were able to worship freely. Although Hanukkah is about celebrating the military victory, yet the symbols associated with this festival, the menorah reminds us of the miracle of the oil. As the legend goes, it is said after the rededication of the Temple the Jews were about to light the temple lampstand, but they only had enough oil to light the eternal lamp for one day. But to their surprise, a miracle occurred, and the oil lasted for eight days and nights until more oil could be brought from afar. (Apparently, they had to use special oil) Thus this whole event is an explanation enough as to why this festival is named as Hanukkah and what the reasons behind this festival being referred to as the Festival of Lights

Jesus mentions the Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication

 

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. John 10:22-23 

 

The menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and its mission to be "a light unto the nations." (Isaiah 42:6). The sages emphasize that light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by setting an example, not by using force. This idea is highlighted in the vision of the Prophet Zechariah who sees a menorah, and God explains: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit." (Zechariah 4:1-6) 

 

Now the very cool part. We know that the temple, both in the wilderness erected by Moses, and in Jerusalem was modeled to the exact detail after the temple in heaven. That is why God was very very specific in every detail He gave to Moses. Therefore, we know that there is a menorah in heaven that looks exactly like the one the Jews built and placed before the Holy of Holies. 

 

In Revelation 1. the Apostle John has a vision

 

 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash.

Revelation 1:10-13

Notice here, he saw 7 golden lampstands (A menorah!). Also note, they are not lit. Note also that Jesus is asking John to write letters to the 7 churches. We find out from Jesus what these 7 lampstands represent in verse 20

 

As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

 

Interesting, so the Menorah represents 7 churches. it's very important to note that these 7 churches were both 7 physical churches that existed in that time AND 7 time periods or church eras from that point to the end of the church age. Here's just one of many charts. In fact, I encourage you to do your own homework:

But, wait, you might say. Isn't the Menorah strictly a Jewish symbol, set in a Jewish temple? How could it represent the gentile church, especially from way back in Moses' day?  My answer would be that God knows the beginning from the end, and once anyone gets saved, there is no more Jew or gentile, but we are all part of God's family. Why wouldn't He place a symbol of all the churches throughout the ages, all the people who would come to Him until the end, right before His throne?

 

Now, to Revelation 4:

 

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and someone was sitting on the throne. ........Out from the throne *came flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God; V 1-5

 

Many believe that these first verses in Revelation 4 depict the rapture of the church as no where else in Scripture does Jesus call anyone to "Come up here".  Notice John has to shed his flesh for a time and be "in the Spirit" in order to see God. But what I want to point out here is that the seven lamps are now lit and burning with the seven spirits of God. Remember, the Holy Spirit is a fire and appeared as tongues of fire over the first Christians. 

 

So, here we see the entire Menorah lit, all seven church ages are complete, all seven churches have been lit by the power of the Holy Spirit and now appear before the throne. This is the end of the church age when all 7 have finally come in!  Remember we are the lights of the world, filled with Holy Spirit fire! Also interesting that at Hanukkah, they were dedicating the temple to cleanse it from all the blasphemous things that Antiochus IV Epiphanies (a type of antichrist) had done, and here in heaven, they have lit the Menorah just as the antichrist will be taking power on earth.

 

I find this connection between the Festival of Lights or Hanukkah and the rapture of the church utterly fascinating. Will the rapture occur as that final light is lit on the Menorah in heaven?  I have no idea, but in all honestly, I never saw any of this before the Lord revealed it to me this week. 

 

The Jews have already celebrated Hanukkah this year, but they are off a month, which I don't have time to go into in this post. Several theologians, much smarter than me can explain that to you and how the Jewish calendar is set by the appearance of the moon each month. Regardless, the true Hanukkah occurs this year from Dec 30-January 6th. Wouldn't it be lovely to be called home around the New Year?  I pray so!!

 

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!  And the Bride and the Spirit say Come!