{"id":150,"date":"2019-12-21T20:15:36","date_gmt":"2019-12-21T20:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nazarenespace.com\/blog\/?p=150"},"modified":"2024-12-29T16:47:56","modified_gmt":"2024-12-29T22:47:56","slug":"channukah-and-spiritual-warfare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nazarenespace.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/21\/channukah-and-spiritual-warfare\/","title":{"rendered":"Channukah and Spiritual Warfare"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Channukah and Spiritual WarfareBy James Scott TrimmPart 1<\/strong>
The Channukah story teaches us all about spiritual warfare and the Full Armor of Elohim.
There is special importance of wearing all the armor of Elohim imbedded in the events surrounding the first Channukah.

In the Hebrew text of 1st<\/sup> Maccabees there are six additional verses imbedded in the midst of 1Maccabees 7:33 (more correctly additional material which naturally breaks down into six verses) including three verses which parallel 2Maccabees 15:1-3.  Especially interesting is the 6th of these verses which speaks of the full armor in referring to the Jews in Nicanor occupied Jerusalem, says:

And they put on the full armor,
and not chain mail and lances
but rather prayers and supplications.
(1Macc. 7:33a6 HRV)

The Apocryphal book of 4th Maccabees deals with the martyrs who were oppressed under Antiochus Epiphanies. 4th Maccabees is a handbook on using the armor, especially in dealing with oppression. 4th Maccabees opens saying:

            The word of philosophy that I am about to discuss before you:
            If the true mind of shalom (peace) is sovereign to the fear
            of Elohim.  I am an upright advisor to you, that you should
            pay earnest attention in philosophy.
            (4Macc. 1:1 \u2013 HRV)

4th Maccabees then discusses the martyrdom of Eleazer saying:

            No city besieged ever held out against
            mighty vessels coming against its walls
            and its various parts like this. He was
            dressed in all the armor. For while his
            soul was suffering, consumed by torture,
            and by tribulation, and by burning, he
            conquered the tribulation because of his
            mind was fighting with the shield of truth.
            (4Macc. 7:4 – HRV)

4th Maccabees discusses the martyrdom of Hanna and her seven sons saying:

            Therefore put on the full armor of authority over the passions,
            which belongs to the mind that fears Eloah.
            (4Macc. 13:16 – HRV)

And finally concludes:

15:31 For like the ark of Noach, in the flood of all the world, were the throes within him. And he kept to the covenant and was sustained, and his strong word was fixed.
15:32 Thus also you keeper of the Torah, from every way overwhelmed with emotion you are drawn in and the violent winds of the torture of your sons, here and there weeping they blow. Strong is hope [over] the storm against shield of truth.
(4Macc. 15:31-32 HRV)

The 4th Book of the Maccabees is a guidebook to using all the armor of Elohim to overcome the Tribulation. Unfortunately the original Hebrew of this book has been lost, and the Aramaic version has never been translated into English (The HRV version will be the first English version based primarily on the Aramaic text).

In the Hebrew text of 1st<\/sup> Maccabees there are six additional verses imbedded in the midst of 1Maccabees 7:33 (more correctly additional material which naturally breaks down into six verses) including three verses which parallel 2Maccabees 15:1-3.  Especially interesting is the 6th of these verses which speaks of the full armor in referring to the Jews in Nicanor occupied Jerusalem, says:

And they put on the full armor,
and not chain mail and lances
but rather prayers and supplications.
(1Macc. 7:33a6 HRV)

The festival of Channukah is a picture of the last days.  I have written an entire book on that subject titled \u201cChannukah and the Last Days\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n


The last days apostasy (2Thes. 2:3) parallels the Paganization of Israel (1Macc. 1:11-15).

The false prophet who causes people to follow the beast (Rev. 13:11-18; 19:20) parallels the purchase of the priesthood by a certain “Yeshua” who prefers to go by his Greek name “Jason” and who leads the people to adopt pagan customs. (2Macc. 4:1-22).

The beast of Rev. 13 commits the abomination of desolation referred to by Daniel. (Mt. 24:15; 2Thes. 2:1-4). This parallels the desecration of the Temple by Antiochus Epiphanies. (1Macc. 1:41-64 & 2Macc. 6:1-6).

In the last days there are three and one half years in which Y’hudah spends having fled into the wilderness. (Luke 21:20-24 & Rev. 12).  This parallels the fact that Judas (Y’hudah) Maccabee and his family and allies to retreated into the Judean wilderness for three years.

In the last days Messiah who is both a Cohen (Priest) and a King prevails. In the Maccabean period Y’hudah who becomes both a Cohen (Priest) and a King ultimately prevailed.

In the last days a new Temple is dedicated (Ezek. 40-48) and Tabernacles is celebrated by the world in the Kingdom. (Zech. 14:16-19). In the Maccabean era the Temple was rededicated to YHWH with a belated celebration of Tabernacles. (1Macc. 4:36-61; 2Macc. 10:1-9).

In the last days only a small sealed remnant are found at Messiah’s return (Rev. 12:17; Rev. 8)and the Ark reveals its position (2Macc. 2:4-8). By parallel in the days of the Maccabees only one bottle of oil sealed by the High Priest was found hidden in the Temple (b.Shabbat 21b).

Thus the martyrs of the Tribulation (Mt. 24:9-13, 29) parallel the martyrs of the Maccabean period (2Macc. 6:7-31; 7; 4Macc. 5-18). Like the last days martyrs of Revelation 12:11 they did not love their souls, even onto death.

Revelation tells us that in the last days there will be a major war in heaven between Micka’el and his angels, and HaSatan and his angels:

            And there was war in heaven and Mikha’el and his angels
            were fighting with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels
            fought.
            (Rev. 12:7 – HRV)

HaSatan will lose this heavenly war and be cast down to the earth:

            8 And they did not prevail and no place was found for
            them in heaven.
            9 And the great dragon was cast out, that head serpent who
            is called ‘Akel Kartza and HaSatan, who deceived the whole
            earth.  And he was cast out upon the earth and his angels were
            cast out with him.
            10 And I heard a great voice from heaven saying,
            Behold, there is deliverance and power and the kingdom
            of our Eloah, for the accuser of our brothers is cast out,
            who accused them night and day before our Eloah.
            (Rev. 12:8-10 – HRV)

But the next verse reveals to us that Torah Observant believers in
Messiah will actually bring about Michael’s victory:

            11 And they overcame by the blood of the lamb
            and through the word of his testimony;
            and they did not love their own nefeshot,
            even unto death.
            (Rev. 12:11 – HRV)

We know this must refer to the Torah Observant believers, because they bring the victory about because “they did not love their own nefeshot (souls), even onto death”. This cannot refer to angels.

How is it that Torah Observant believers in Messiah will impact this war? A clue is found in the Book of Daniel. In this book we read of a battle between Michael and the “Prince of the Kingdom of Paras (Persia)”:

            Then said he unto me: ` Fear not, Daniel;
            for the first day that you did set your heart to understand,
            and to humble yourself before your Elohim,
            your words were heard; and I am come because
            of your words. But the prince of the Kingdom of Paras
            withstood me one and twenty days; but, behold, Mikha’el,
            one of the chief princes, came to help
            me; and I was left over there beside the kings of Paras.
            (Dan. 10:12-13)

Daniel impacted this battle with intercessory prayer and fasting here on earth:

            In those days I Daniel was mourning three whole weeks.
            I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in
            my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three
            whole weeks were fulfilled.”
            (Dan. 10:2-3)

It should be noted that the message YHWH sent Daniel (Daniel 11) itself deals in parallel both with the rise of Antiochus Epiphanies and with the rise of the Anti-Messiah.

Now Paul tells us more specifically that putting on the full armor of Elohim allows us to participate in the same heavenly “struggle” with HaSatan through intercessory prayer:

            10 Henceforth, my brothers, be strong in our Adon
            and in the might of his power,
            11 and put on all the armor of Eloah, so that you may be able to
            stand against the strategies of ‘Akel Kartza,
            12 because your struggle is not with flesh and blood,
            but with principalities and with authorities and with
            the possessors             of this dark world and with the evil spirits
             that are under heaven.
            13 Because of this, put on all the armor of Eloah that you may
            be able to meet the evil one, and being prepared in everything,
            you may stand firm.
            14 Stand therefore, and gird up your loins with truth
            and put on the breastplate of righteousness
            15 And bind on your feet the preparation of the good news
            of shalom.
            16 And with these, take to you the shield of faith,
            by which you will have power to quench all the fiery darts
            of the wicked.
            17 And put on the helmet of salvation and take hold of the
            sword of the spirit, which is the word of Eloah.
            18 And with all prayers, and with all petitions,
            pray at all times in the spirit, and in prayer,
            be watchful in every season while praying
            continually and making supplication on behalf of all
            the set-apart-ones,
            (Eph. 6:10-18 HRV)

Revelation tells us that HaSatan will, having been defeated, come to earth to make war with those very Torah Observant believers who had brought about his defeat in the heavens:

            12 Because of this, rejoice, [O] heavens
            and those who dwell in them.
            Woe to the earth and to the sea,
            because the ‘Akel Kartza, who has great fury,
            has come down to them while knowing that the time
            is short for him.
            13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast upon the
            earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the
            male child.
            14 And two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman
            that she might fly to the wilderness to her place to be fed there
<\/p>\n\n\n

[for]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a time, times, and half of a time, from before the face
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 of the serpent.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15 And the serpent cast water as a river out of his mouth
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 after the woman that the water might cause her to be
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 carried away.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon cast out
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 of its mouth.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17 And the dragon was angry concerning the woman and
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 he went to wage war with the remnant of her seed, those
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 who keep the commandments of Eloah and have the
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 testimony of Yeshua.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Rev. 12:12-17)

This is the three and one half years of the Great Tribulation. In the period leading up to this time and during this Tribulation, believers will, using all the armor of Elohim, help Michael defeat HaSatan.\u00a0 Remember this time parallels the time in which Judas Maccabee and the Chasidim were fighting gorilla warfare against Antiouchus Epiphanies in the Judean Hills.

This last days battle which parallels the battle between Judas Maccabee and the Greco-Syrians is what the Wisdom of Solomon refers to when it says:

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15: But the righteous live for evermore;
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 their reward also is with YHWH,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and the care of them is with the Most High.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 16: Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and a beautiful crown from the hand of YHWH:
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 for with his right hand shall he cover them,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and with his arm shall he protect them.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17: He shall take to him in his zeal all the armor,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and shall armor with him all his creation.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For the desolation of the detestable ones.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 18: He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and judgment that is not false instead of an helmet.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 19: He shall take holiness for an invincible shield.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20: His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and the world shall fight with him against the foolish.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Wisdom of Solomon 5:15-20 HRV)

Another evidence of the last days importance of the armor of Elohim is in 1Thes. 5:2-10 where we read:

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2 For you truly know that the day of our Adon will so
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 come like a thief in the night,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3 as they are saying, shalom and quiet. And then suddenly,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 destruction will come upon them, as birth pains upon
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4 But you, my brothers, are not in darkness so that that
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 day should overtake you as a thief.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. And you
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 are not sons of the night or sons of darkness.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6 Therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 watchful and wise,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7 For those who are asleep sleep in the night, and those
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 who are drunk are drunk in the night.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8 But we who are sons of the day [should] be watchful in
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 our mind and be clothed with the breastplate of faith and
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 of love and put on the helmet of the hope of life,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9 Because Eloah has not appointed us to wrath, but to
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 the obtaining of life in our Adon Yeshua the Messiah,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 we would live as one with him.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (1Thes. 5:2-10)

Now in reading this passage we should recall the Thief in the Night parable that is clearly being referred to here.

One of the catch phrases used by prior-rapturists is the phrase “thief in the night.” The prior-rapturists use this term to describe their prior rapture as a “secret rapture” in which the Church is secretly snatched away. This is however a complete misuse of the biblical term “thief in the night.” The “thief in the night” parable is one of the many parables Yeshua told (Mt. 24:42-51) it is referred to in the scriptures on three additional places (1Thes. 5:2-10; 2Pt. 3:10; Rev. 3:3 & Rev. 16:15). A true analysis of the term “thief in the night” as it is used in the scriptures will reveal a post-trib rapture which is anything but a secret prior-rapture.

The first place to look is the parable itself. The thief in the night parable is given by Yeshua in Mt. 24:42-44:

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Adom does come.\u00a0 But know this, that if the good-man
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 of he house had known in what watch the thief would come,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 he would have watched, and would not have
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be you
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 of Man comes.

There are a number of important elements to this parable. First it should be noted that the “thief” in this parable is clearly the Messiah. However in the parable of the Thief in the Night the Messiah is a thief who comes at an unexpected time. He is not pictured as
“stealing the church away” If anything the assembly is the victim of his surprise visit, but not the thing being stolen. Secondly we not that the thief\/Messiah comes at a time that the Assembly does not expect him. Finally it is significant that the thief comes at a time
later than the Assembly expected and found the Assembly sleeping. Throughout the scriptures sleeping is a type of apostasy (see Is. 29:10 = Rom. 11:8).

The Thief in the Night parable is part of a section of scripture beginning in Mt. 24:42 and ending in Mt. 25:13 in which Yeshua illustrates that the Messiah comes later than expected to a sleeping assembly which expected him earlier. Yeshua first states this theme in verse 42. Then in Mt. 24:43 Yeshua give the thief in the night parable. Then in verse 44 Yeshua restates this theme. Then in Mt. 24:45-51 Yeshua gives the parable of the “faithful and wise servant.”\u00a0 In this parable also the Messiah comes at a time later than the servant expected (verses 48 & 50) to find an apostate servant (verses 48-49). Finally Yeshua gives the illustration of the “ten virgins” (Mt. 25:1-12) in which the bridegroom comes later than the virgins expected. The virgins (at least some of them) are clearly believers for five of them have oil in their lamps. The bridegroom comes to find
the virgins sleeping. Even though many of them had oil in their lamps,\u00a0 they thought the Messiah would come sooner than he did and as a result the fell into a sleep of apostasy. Rather than teaching a pre-trib rapture this section of scripture warns us that much of the assembly will expect the Messiah sooner than he comes (pre-trib), and when the
Messiah comes later than the Assembly thought he was supposed to (post-trib) these believers fall into apostate sleep. The pretribbers have been falsely taught by many of the teachers of Christendom that the Bible teaches Messiah will rescue them from the tribulation before it comes. When this does not happen many of them will lose faith and think that the scriptures are a lie. They will fall into an apostate sleep.

In 1Thes. 5 we learn that the sleeping apostates will be duped by a “shalom and quiet” (KJV: “peace and safety”) doctrine (verse 3) however “suddenly destruction will come upon them\u2026and they will not escape” (verse 3). Here those that expect the Messiah to come later than he does believe in a “peace and safety” teaching and fall into apostasy when the Messiah does not come as soon as they expect but instead “sudden destruction comes upon them” something they apparently expected to “escape.” At this point they seem to fall into a sleep of apostasy. A great falling away comes when pretribbers are disappointed when they enter the tribulation instead of escaping it in a pre-trib rapture. But wait! Look at 1Thes 5:1! This whole section of scripture refers to the timing of the “rapture” event of 1Thes. 4:16-18. In fact, the chapter change from 1Thes. 4:18 to 5:1 occurs in the middle of a paragraph!

The reference to the thief in the night parable in 1Thes. 4:16-5:10 is also important for another reason. This reference gives us some context for the “rapture” event of 1Thes. 4:16-17. The thief in the night parable of Mt. 24:43 takes place in a large segment of Matthew (Mt. 24:29-25:46) which clearly discusses the post-trib (Mt. 24:29) second coming of Messiah. The thief of Mt. 24:42-44 comes at a time that is like “the days of Noah\u2026 before the flood” (Mt. 24:37-41 with Mt, 24:42-51). Luke also discusses this time that is like the days of Noah (Mt. 24:37-41 = Lk. 26-36). Luke goes on to say that those “taken” in Mt.24:37-41 = Lk. 17:26-36 will be consumed by birds of prey (see Lk. 17:37 = Mt. 24:28). These men consumed by birds of prey are those who come against Israel and are destroyed at the second coming (Rev. 19:11-21 esp. 19:17-18, 21). The timing of the “thief” event is therefore that of the second coming of Messiah in Rev.
19:11-21. Since the timing of “thief” event of 1Thes. 5:2-10 is that of the “rapture” event of 1Thes. 4:16-18 (1Thes. 5:1 states clearly that 1Thes. 5:2-10 refers to the timing of 1Thes. 4:16-18) then the “rapture” of 1Thes. 4:16-18 is simply a part of the post-trib coming of the Messiah.

Now look what Paul says in 1Thes. 5:5-8:

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. And you
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 are not sons of the night or sons of darkness.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6 Therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be watchful
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and wise,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7 For those who are asleep sleep in the night, and those who \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 are drunk are drunk in the night.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8 But we who are sons of the day [should] be watchful in our
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 mind and be clothed with the breastplate of faith and of love
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and put on the \u00a0 helmet of the hope of life,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (1Thes. 5:5-9)

Paul is telling us that during this Great Tribulation (which parallels the time of the Channukah story) it will be important for believers to be wearing all the armor of Elohim.\u00a0 This is because we will be like the Maccabees who wore the Full Armor in their battle with Antiochus Epiphanies.\u00a0 The Channukah story is all about Spiritual Warfare!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Our rent is due in three days (1\/1\/25) and we must raise at least $300 to cover bills already pending in the negative in our account!<\/mark><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible<\/strong><\/em> by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Donations can be sent by Paypal to donations@wnae.org or by Zelle or Go Fund Me!

<\/mark>Click HERE<\/a> to donate<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And don\u2019t forget to join the conversations at the NazareneSpace Social Network<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Check out the Latke recipe for Channukah at the new Messianic Home Space <\/a>at NazareneSpace! <\/strong>
<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Channukah and Spiritual WarfareBy James Scott TrimmPart 1 The Channukah story teaches us all about spiritual warfare and the Full Armor of Elohim. There is special importance of wearing all the armor of Elohim imbedded in the events surrounding the first Channukah. 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