A Message to the Sons of Benjamin
Back in the old days, when men were men, and women were just as hot as they are today, say in 175 BCE, an evil man arose over the kingdom of the Greeks, by the name of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a type of the antichrist. He began to Hellenize the Hebrews, by destroying their faith, defiling the Temple in Jerusalem, and destroying the Torah scrolls, literally. He was trying to stamp out the Hebrew faith of old. Well, as Yahweh would have it, he anointed an old hillbilly Hebrew priest by the name of Mattathias to resist this evil tyranny being thrust upon Israel. You can read the story of the Maccabean revolt in the Apocrypha, the books between the Testaments, available for free if you have e-sword Bible software and install the Brenton English translation of the Septuagint.
Unfortunately, Mattathias was old when he began to resist, so he didn’t do much beyond light the fires of revival for the Torah! Just before he died in 166 BCE, he spoke to his sons the following message. Timely for Christian men today. I share it with you for your meditation and action.
1 Maccabees 2:49-70, “Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said unto his sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation:
1Ma 2:50 Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law [Torah], and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers.
1Ma 2:51 Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name.
1Ma 2:52 Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness?
1Ma 2:53 Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment and was made lord of Egypt.
1Ma 2:54 Phinees our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
1Ma 2:55 Jesus [not speaking of Messiah Yeshua] for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel.
1Ma 2:56 Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received the heritage of the land.
1Ma 2:57 David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting kingdom.
1Ma 2:58 Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken up into heaven.
1Ma 2:59 Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, [Daniel’s 3 buds] by believing were saved out of the flame.
1Ma 2:60 Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions.
1Ma 2:61 And thus consider ye throughout all ages, that none that put their trust in him [Yahweh] shall be overcome.
1Ma 2:62 Fear not then the words of a sinful man [Obama]: for his glory shall be dung and worms.
1Ma 2:63 To day he shall be lifted up and to morrow he shall not be found, because he is returned into his dust, and his thought is come to nothing.
1Ma 2:64 Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant and shew yourselves men in the behalf of the law [Torah]; for by it shall ye obtain glory.
1Ma 2:65 And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel, give ear unto him alway: he shall be a father unto you.
1Ma 2:66 As for Judas Maccabeus [Maccabee means hammer in Hebrew], he hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people.
1Ma 2:67 Take also unto you all those that observe the law [Torah], and avenge ye the wrong of your people.
1Ma 2:68 Recompense fully the heathen, and take heed to the commandments of the law [Torah].
1Ma 2:69 So he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.
1Ma 2:70 And he died in the hundred forty and sixth [Seleucid] year [166 BCE], and his sons buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers at Modin, and all Israel made great lamentation for him.”
Judas, the Hammer, Maccabeus took up his father’s mantle of resistance to tyranny and formed a little band of rebels. They crushed the mighty Greek army, the greatest military fighting force on the planet at that time, over the next couple years, through many great battles. As they killed the Greeks, they snatched up their weapons and used the weapons of their enemies against them!
Antiochus IV Epiphanes set up an idol to Zeus, the Greek god, in the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem back in the ninth Hebrew month of 167 BCE and for 3 years the Temple was desolated by this abomination of desolation. This was the first fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy about the abomination of desolation. We may live to see the second fulfillment by the Antichrist in our day. Through the leadership of Judas Maccabeus, the Hebrews recaptured their Temple and rededicated it on Kislev 25, 164 BCE. This story is the foundation for the Hebrew feast known as Hanukkah.
Hanukkah is only spoken of in one place in the entire Scriptures. Where is it found? In the New Testament! Who celebrated it? Our Master Yeshua HaMashiach! John 10:22-23, “Now it was the Feast of Dedication [Hanukkah] in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23And Yeshua walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.” Hopefully, I can write some more on this feast of the ninth month, for it is THE FEAST OF THE END TIME SCENARIO. The antichrist spirit is alive and well on this planet and it is trying desperately to stamp out the faith of Jews and Christians alike. But the good news about Hanukkah is that in the end, after much tribulation, we the remnant win! Please remember that spiritual warfare is infinitely more important and effective than physical warfare, but sometimes, you have to fight for your families, your wives, your children, and your sacred honor. It’s not about surviving the end times, it’s all about Yahweh’s glory! Are we sold out to Him? If we are, we will do the righteous thing in the end times.
Blessings this Hanukkah season,
Gene Benjamin II
November 14, 2012 CE