One in Messiah Congregation
קָּהָל אֶחָד
בְּמָּשִׁיחַ
A part of the Congregation of Israel
עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל
Shabbat Shalom
שַׁבָּת
שָׁלוֹם
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Let’s pray
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Today we use the Gregorian calendar from Pope Gregory; from the
1500’s,
November 7, 2015
November -- the nineth month - now it is
the 11th month
Middle
English Novembre
Latin November
Latin Novembris mensis
"nineth month"
Novembris had 30 days, until Numa
when it had 29 days, until Julius when it became 30 days long.
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Yehovah has His own calendar
We are now in the 8th
month - the month Bul, 24th
day
the 8th month called Bul (pronounced Bool, בּוּל
"rain")
1 Kgs.6 [38] And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is
the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof,
and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.
בְּיֶרַח
בּוּל, הוּא
הַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִי
(Part of October & November)
Judaism calls this month Cheshvan or Marheshvan. This is
not in the Hebrew Scriptures.
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New moon
report
כִסְלֵו Chislev, the 9th
month - Thursday night, Nov, 12.
Nov. 13, the 1st day
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My ministry is a teaching ministry to
bring up topics in the Bible that have never been discussed or mentioned in
your life.
They have been deleted from your
knowledge. You haven’t a clue they are missing.
I will undelete them for you.
For your convenience, all my studies may be viewed at these
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Interested? Click here: http://oneinmessiah.net/ScheduleMe
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Today’s topic:
Let’s go over these two “soon to come” made-up holidays so you can understand how to answer people
Thanksgiving and Chanukah
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Let's talk a little about Thanksgiving again, there are many different accounts.
The Pilgrims left Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620 for the New World.
Although filled with uncertainty and peril, it offered both civil and religious liberty. Arriving in Massachusetts in late November, the Pilgrims sought a suitable landing place. 1621
The Pilgrims were a specific group of Calvinist Christians.
After King Henry VIII separated the Church of England from the rest of the Catholic Church, many English subjects were dissatisfied with the king acting as the highest church authority.
Encouraged by the Protestant Reformation in Germany, Holland, and Switzerland, these dissatisfied subjects separated from the Church of England in favor of a type of Christianity without a church hierarchy with the Bible as the only authority (as they interpreted it).
As a whole, these groups can also be called puritans.
One group, originally called the Leiden Congregation (because they left England and lived in Leiden, Holland for several years), believed that they could not successfully live with their beliefs among the English (and the English authorities also pressured the government of Holland to remove them).
This group set out to live as a congregation in the new world.
They became known as the Pilgrims because they saw themselves as settlers in a promised land with a promised future.
The Pilgrim Church no longer exists as a single entity. They were a type of Calvinists and puritans. Their religion is similar to today's Baptists, Congregationalists, and Methodists. None are of the God of Israel
Fast forward a bit in time...
In 1789, following a proclamation issued by President George Washington, America celebrated its first Day of Thanksgiving to God under its new constitution.
That same year, the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which President Washington was a member, announced that the first Thursday in November would become its regular day for giving thanks, "unless another day be appointed by the civil authorities." Yet, despite these early national proclamations, official Thanksgiving observances usually occurred only at the State level.
Much of the credit for the adoption of "of a later ANNUAL national Thanksgiving Day may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey's Lady's Book.
For thirty years, she promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day, contacting President after President until President Abraham Lincoln responded in 1863 by setting aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving.
Over the next seventy-five years, Presidents followed Lincoln's precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day.
Then, in 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.
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The problem with this is today "ANYONE" does Thanksgiving.
Whatever religion you have or do not have, family get-togethers, drinking beer, eating turkey, eating your left over Halloween pumpkin (pumpkin pie) and watching football and the parade has replaced the God of Israel.
Thank god? Which god?
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Sad to say, not many people celebrate or even know about the "Feasts of Yehovah".
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Now let's talk a little about Chanukah
Feast of the Dedication is not the Chanukah of today.
Scripture says:
John.10 [22] And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter [23] And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
What is the Hebrew word for dedication?
What month was it in the scriptural calendar not pope Greg's calendar?
Did Yeshua do a feast that is not scriptural as some do today? NO!!!
We will
answer all these questions and more is this study, please read slowly.
Remember these points:
Chanukah
is a Hebrew word meaning dedication.
H2598 חנכּה Chanukah - khan-ook-kaw'
From H2596; initiation, that is, consecration: - dedicating (-tion).
Total KJV Occurrences: 8
dedication, 6
Num_7:84 , Num_7:88 , 2Ch_7:9 , Neh_12:27 (2), Psa_30:1
dedicating, 2
Num_7:10-11 (2)
G1456 εγκαινια egkainia
Total KJV Occurrences: 2
dedication, 1
Joh_10:22
feast, 1
Joh_10:22 (2)
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H2597 חנכּא (Aramaic) chanukka'
(Chaldee); corresponding to H2598; consecration: - dedication
Total KJV Occurrences: 4
dedication, 4
Ezr_6:16-17 (2), Dan_3:2-3 (2)
H2598 חנכּה chanukkah khan-ook-kaw'
From H2596; initiation, that is, consecration: - dedicating (-tion).
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In the scriptures above, pertaining to Chanukah or dedication, John was talking about Solomon's temple that Ezra help rebuild.
(1 Kings 8:2; 2 Chr. 5:3) Also please read the scriptures below in Ezra, chapter 6.
Ezra.6:[14] And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
[15] And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, (our Feb. / March - cold - neither Nov. nor Dec.),
which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
[16]
And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the
children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,
[17] And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks,
two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel,
twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
Esth.3 [7] In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. (Feb. neither Nov. nor Dec.)
Chanukah is a Hebrew word meaning dedication because this observance marks the rededication and building of the Temple after it had been desecrated.
Also remember: The first dedication was in the 7th month, Ethanim, 1Kings. 8:2 - (Sept. /Oct.) neither Nov. nor Dec.
1Kgs.8:[2] And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
Also, this is not new years as some falsely report.
[63] And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto Yehovah, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel "dedicated" the house of Yehovah. וַיַּחְנְכוּ
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This is what you will hear from tradition, which is wrong.
Also please remember there is "NO" commandment from God to "light candles" on this made up feast or the Holy Shabbat. If you light candles on the Shabbat, it is fine as long as you DON'T say it is a commandment.
Scripture says:
Zech.7[1] And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of Yehovah came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chislev;
The other common made up name for this feast is Hag Ha-orim, which means 'the Feast of Lights'.
It is found in the writings of Josephus, who was a first Century Jewish historian.
This second name, however, is based upon a tradition. Supposedly, when the Jews rededicated the Temple and wanted to rekindle the lampstand, they found only enough oil for one day. It would take 8 days to make a new supply they decided to kindle and burn the remaining oil, a miracle occurred as the oil that was enough for only one day lasted for eight days ... thus, the term representing, "the Feast of Lights. This is why the Chanukah menorah has eight candles, (which is unscriptural) instead of the seven the scripture menorah has.
****They made 8 candles to commemorate this made up miracle.
The made of feast of today, Chanukah is not found anywhere in the Scriptures, as it originated during the time of history after the Book of Malachi.
There were no prophets after the book of Malachi for a long time.
It should be remembered that none of the historical books mention this fake miracle, as it originates with the "Talmud" and not with the books of the Holy Scriptures.
The historical books that speak of the Maccabean revolt as a real event are in the uninspired "Catholic" I and 2 Maccabees and they make no mention of any miracle of 8 days of oil at all!
As you can see, it is fact that this made-up feast is recorded in Rabbinic writings not found in the Holy Scriptures.
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Here is purported Tradition from off the web:
Around 200 BCE Jews lived as an autonomous people in the land of Israel, which at this time was controlled by the Seleucid King of Syria. The Jewish people paid taxes to Syria and accepted its legal authority, and by and large were free to follow their own faith, maintain their own jobs, and engage in trade.
By 180 BCE Antiochus IV Epiphanies ascended to the Seleucid throne. At first little changed, but under his reign Jews were gradually forced to violate the precepts of their faith. Jews rebelled at having to do this. Under the reign of Antiochus IV, the Temple in Jerusalem was looted, Jews were massacred, and Judaism was effectively outlawed.
In 167 BCE Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. Mattathias, a Jewish priest, and his five sons John, Simon, Eleazar, Jonathan, and Judah led a rebellion against Antiochus. Judah became known as Judah Maccabe (Judah The Hammer).
By 166 BCE Mattathias had died, and Judah took his place as leader. By 165 BCE the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated and rededicated.
The festival of Chanukah was instituted by Judah Maccabee and his brothers to celebrate this event. (1 Macc. iv. 59). After having recovered Jerusalem and the Temple, Judah ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one, and new holy vessels to be made. When the fire had been kindled anew upon the altar and the lamps of the candlestick lit, the dedication of the altar was celebrated for eight days amid sacrifices and songs (1 Macc. iv. 36). No miracle of oil here!
A number of historians believe that the reason for the eight day celebration was that the first Chanukah was in effect a belated celebration of the festival of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles (2 Macc. x. 6 and i. 9).
During the war the Jews were not able to celebrate Sukkot properly.
Sukkot also lasts for eight days, and was a holiday in which the lighting of lamps played a prominent part during the Second Temple period (Suk.v. 2-4). (Made up)
Lights were also kindled in the household, and the popular name of the festival was, therefore, according to Josephus (Jewish Antiquities xii. 7, § 7) the "Festival of Lights." (Made up)
The Rabbis, years later commemorated this miracle that occurred, then decided to make this holiday more special so they designed a special menorah in which eight candles plus the 9th the Shamash candle were represented instead of the usual 7 candle lamp stand in the temple. 'From that came the concept of the eight days of Chanukah, which actuality is merely a copying of the Feast of Tabernacles which has 8 days.
Also, they put this made-up feast at the same time the gentile children were getting presents, December 25, pagan Christmas.
Now all the Jewish children can get presents and not feel left out.
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Now, let us look at the Talmud and the story the rabbis came up
with, read on...
Talmud - Mas. Shabbath
21b
It does not require attention, and one may make use of its light. R. Zera said in R. Mattenah's name — others state, R. Zera said in Rab's name — :Regarding the wicks and oils which the Sages said, One must not light therewith on the Sabbath, one may light therewith on Hanukkah, either on weekdays or on the Sabbath. Said R. Jeremiah, What is Rab's reason?
He holds, If it goes out, it does not require attention, and one may not make use of its light.
The Rabbis stated this before Abaye in R. Jeremiah's name, but he did not accept it. [But] when Rabin came,
The Rabbis stated it before Abaye in R. Johanan's name, whereupon he accepted it. Had I, he observed, merited the great fortune, I would have learnt this dictum originally. But he learnt it [now]?-The difference is in respect of the studies of one's youth.
Now, if it goes out, does it not require attention?
But the following contradicts it: Its observance is from sunset until there is no wayfarer in the street. Does that not mean that if it goes out [within that period] it must be relit?-No: if one has not yet lit, he must light it; or, in respect of the statutory period.
‘Until there is no wayfarer in the street.’ Until when [is that]? — Rabbah b. Bar Hanah said in R. Johanan's name: Until the Palmyreans have departed.
Our Rabbis taught:
The precept of Hanukkah [demands] one light for a man and his household; the zealous [kindle] a light for each member [of the household]; and the extremely zealous, —
Beth Shammai maintain:
On the first day eight lights are lit and thereafter they are gradually reduced;
but Beth Hillel say:
On the first day one is lit and thereafter they are progressively increased. ‘Ulla said: In the West [Palestine] two amoraim,R. Jose b. Abin and R. Jose b. Zebida, differ therein: one maintains, The reason of Beth Shammai is that it shall correspond to the days still to come, and that of Beth Hillel is that it shall correspond to the days that are gone; but another maintains: Beth Shammai's reason is that it shall correspond to the bullocks of the Festival; whilst Beth Hillel's reason is that we promote in [matters of] sanctity but do not reduce.
Rabbah b. Bar Hana said: There were two old men in Sidon: one did as Beth Shammai and the other as Beth Hillel: the former gave the reason of his action that it should correspond to the bullocks of the Festival, while the latter stated his reason because we promote in [matters of] sanctity but do not reduce.
Our Rabbis taught: It is incumbent to place the Hanukkah lamp by the door of one's house on the outside;if one dwells in an upper chamber, he places it at the window nearest the street. But in times of danger19 it is sufficient to place it on the table. Raba said: Another lamp is required for its light to be used; yet if there is a blazing fire it is unnecessary. But in the case of an important person,even if there is a blazing fire another lamp is required.
What is [the reason of] Hanukkah?
For our Rabbis taught: On the twenty-fifth of Kislew22 [commence] the days of Hanukkah, which are eight on which a lamentation for the dead and fasting are forbidden.
For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled all the oils therein, and when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated them, they made search and found only one cruse of oil which lay with the seal of the High Priest,but which contained sufficient for one day's lighting only; yet a miracle was wrought therein and they lit [the lamp] therewith for eight days.
The following year these [days] were appointed a Festival with [the recital of] Hallel and thanksgiving.
We learnt elsewhere: If a spark which flies from the anvil goes forth and causes damage, he [the smith] is liable. If a camel laden with flax passes through a street, and the flax overflows into a shop, catches fire at the shopkeeper's lamp, and sets the building alight, the camel owner is liable; but if the shopkeeper placed the light outside, the shopkeeper is liable.
R. Judah said: In the case of a Hanukkah lamp he is exempt. Rabina said in Rab's name: This proves that the Hanukkah lamp should [in the first instance] be placed within ten. For should you think, above ten, let him say to him, ‘You ought to have placed it higher than a camel and his rider.’ ‘Yet perhaps if he is put to too much trouble, he may refrain from the [observance of the] precept’.
R. Kahana
said, R. Nathan b. Minyomi expounded in R. Tanhum's
name:
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‘The Festival’, without a determinate, always refers to Tabernacles (Sukkoth). Thirteen bullocks were sacrificed on the first day, twelve on the second, and so on, one less each succeeding day; v, Num. XXIX, 12 seqq.
They say, the ninth month of the Jewish year, corresponding to about December.
This lighting took place in 165 B.C.E. Exactly three years before, on the same day, Antiochus Epiphanes had a pagan altar erected in the Temple, upon which sacrifices were offered (I Macc. I, 41-64).
Apart from the Talmudic reason stated here, Judas Maccabeus chose 25th of Kislev as the anniversary of the Temple's defilement, and the dedication of the new altar was celebrated with lights for eight days, similarly to the Feast of Tabernacles, which lasted eight days and was celebrated by illuminations (I Macc. IV, 36;II Macc. X, 6; supra a, p. 90, n. 3).
Actually the revolt was against the Syrians, of whom Antiochus Epiphanes was king, but the term ‘Greeks’ is used loosely, because the Seleucid Empire was part of the older Empire founded by Alexander the Great of Macedon, and because it was a reaction against the attempted Hellenization of Judea.
The historic data are contained in the First Book of the Maccabees preserved by the Catholic church.
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Please do not follow any made up
traditions, feasts or events.
1 John 2[21] I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but
because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
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Having said all this, above, I
will ask the question, how do we handle the situation when asked about these
holidays?
I will give some scriptural
answers.
First I want to say, don’t let your
zeal override your wisdom.
Dan.2 [14] Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom….
Pss.37 [30] The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom,
and his tongue talketh of judgment.
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When speaking to someone
pertaining to these holidays, you need to learn how to sidestep their words and
bring them into your arena of dialogue.
An example of this would be:
If I am asked about these
holidays, I would swiftly reply, we don’t do them but do you know about the
feasts of God in the Bible?
Did you know that the feasts of
God pertaining to the first and second coming of Messiah?
The feasts of God are so exciting
and it is such a sad thing they had been deleted from most people’s knowledge.
You see I just bought them into
my arena, and started asking them questions.
I learned how to do this by Yeshua in the Bible. He always answered a question with a
question to get them to respond.
Luke.6 [9] Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one
thing…
Luke.20 [3] And he answered and said unto them,
I will also ask you one thing; and answer me…
Matt.21 [24] And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask
you one thing…
Don’t bombard people with facts,
figures, dates and names which your opponent has no knowledge of.
Also don’t talk over your
opponent while they are speaking, speak one at a time. Otherwise, you know, no
one is listening to what is being said anyway.
Also remember is not to your
advantage to get into an argument. Don’t fall into it into a debate, politely
excuse yourself. By doing this you are leaving the door open for the next time
you may have a chance to discuss the matter.
Always think before you speak.
You need to learn before you speak how a word or phrase is going to affect
someone.
If you know what you are about
to say will immediately put up a wall between you two, don’t say it.
If you learn how to do this, you
could use it in every situation in your life.
You can avoid many arguments,
disagreements and people just shut you out.
Always try to find common ground
where you know the person will agree in what you’re saying.
Most attorneys use this in their
dialogue. They will never ask a question that they don’t already know the
answer for the possible answer you might give.
Just saying that these holidays
are pagan is not sufficient. You do need to learn how to explain in a sensible
way these holidays if needed.
Remember, we are in the business
of winning souls to Yeshua, not losing them.
When dialoguing with someone
pertaining to these holidays, remember, there are no canned pitches, everyone
is different.
Make sure you understand to whom
you are speaking, what type of person they are and what is their level of understanding of what you are trying to
convey to them.
There are many other verses in the Bible pertaining to how to answer people. As you see I only listed a few.
You could use this wisdom in any made-up holiday or event.
Obviously, after these two made-up holidays, then we have the major made-up holiday known as Christmas.
Please learn how to talk about this and always try to leave the door open, say to have to go in the event you see the conversation starts getting heated up.
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“Tis the season to be pagan” is already around us!
I am reminded always to inform you to beware of the false image of love, false emotions, loneliness, depression, financial drain, suicide and the artificial false festival lights they put up.
Satan really sets the stage for you.
Beware if you feel or hear a voice telling you to separate yourself from the congregation, go off on your own and read or whatever.
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Remember these points:
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Beware of
the "false image" of love
Beware
of "false feelings and emotions"
These pagan feasts bring on loneliness, depression, suicide and oh yes, debt.
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Christmas
is coming again – X mass
Once
upon a time, Christmas was banned in 1659 in
America
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Shabbat Shalom