What Believers in Messiah Need to Keep in Mind about Hanukkah

Here are a few things all believers in Messiah should know about Hanukkah, whether or not you choose to celebrate it.

This is not a Biblical holiday. While passages of Scripture such as Leviticus 23 give us instructions for keeping YHWH's set apart times, Hanukkah is not mentioned there. Nowhere in Scripture are we told to celebrate Hanukkah.

The nine-branch 'menorah' that is used during Hanukkah is not the lampstand of Scripture. The Creator himself specified in Exodus 25 that his menorah has seven lights. Should we be altering its design so that it doesn't follow Biblical instructions?

The story of the oil miraculously lasting eight days when the Temple was rededicated is not in the book of Maccabees. Not that it couldn't have happened, but it's important to not make claims that it is in the book when it's not.

Unlike the traditional Hanukkah blessing says, the Creator never commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights. Don't teach falsities about what the Living God says.

The mention of the Messiah being at the Temple during Hanukkah in John 10 does not prove that he was celebrating or ordained what was happening. Yahusha frequently spent time with sinners - that doesn't mean he approved of everything they did.

If you read the rest of John 10 you'll see that the Messiah's presence was so poorly received during the Hanukkah festivities that the leaders tried to stone him there! Does it sound like he was taking part in what they were doing?

If you view it as a minor holiday, you should treat it as such. Don't put more effort, time, or money into Hanukkah than you would Passover, Sukkot, or the other Biblical holidays.

Many cultures have a 'Festival of Lights' around this time of year. Including the Hindu celebration of Diwali, and the Babylonian/Persian festival of Chaharshanbe Suri, which is nearly 4,000 years old.

Please keep these things in mind before celebrating this manmade holiday. If you celebrate, know the facts, and make it clear that this holiday is not something YHWH commanded us to do.

Related posts:
The Case for the Seven Branch Menorah
Why I Don't Celebrate Hanukkah
The Beginner's Guide to the Biblical Holidays
Why Hanukkah is Not a Biblical Holiday

The Seven Branch Menorah (What this Biblical Symbol Means and Why It Matters)

This post is about the seven branch menorah of Scripture. We will talk about it's Biblical meaning and why it matters to believers today, and the difference between it and the traditional nine branch menorah used for Hanukkah.

The first time a menorah appears in Scripture is Exodus 25.

"You are to make a menorah of pure gold. It is to have six branches extending from its sides, three branches of the menorah on side of it and three on the other." -Exodus 25:31

"It is to have six branches extending from its sides, three branches of the menorah on side of it and three on the other." -Exodus 25:32

"Make seven lamps for the menorah, and mount them as to give light to the space in front of it." -Exodus 25:37

As you can see, YHWH instructs that the menorah is to have seven branches. Not just seven lights, but seven branches, with six of the branches stemming off a center piece. As seen below:

Revelation 4:5 tells us that the seven lights of the menorah represent the seven spirits of YHWH. When the Messiah described himself as the light of the world, it's hart to imagine he didn't have the menorah in mind.

The menorah is very significant to the Creator. Is it okay if we alter it for Hanukkah?

During Hanukkah we see menorahs that have two additional branches added making it a nine-branch menorah or Hanukkiah. This is a tradition that stems from the legendary story of the oil miraculously lasting for eight days after the Temple was reclaimed in the Maccabees story. Hanukkiahs are so much more popular that when most people think of a menorah they think of the nine-branch Hanukkiah.

In Revelation 2:5 the Messiah issued a stern warning: "Repent from sin. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove the menorah if you don't turn from sin!" This tells us that, 1) Yahusha wants to be represented by the menorah, and 2) Not being represented by the menorah shows we have not repented. 

YHWH did not make the menorah with nine lights.

I believe we owe the world an accurate symbol of YHWH.

And that is the seven-branch menorah. The symbol of the cross is questionably used as Scripture strongly implies that the Messiah was put to death on a tree and a tool of murder is inappropriate to use to represent YHWH. The Star of David is never ordained by Scripture so I think it's reasonable to not use that a symbol of the faith.

YHWH himself designed the seven-branch menorah. That's the symbol of our faith.

Related posts:
Menorahs in Scripture
Why Hanukkah is Not a Biblical Holiday
Messianic Customs That Are Not From Scripture