Maccabees: Overcoming with Yah!The tribulation is at the door and some of the elect of Yahweh will have to endure things unimaginable. The problem is even with all the effort we put into cleaning our own lives evil permeates everything in this world. Yahshua said that he is the light of the world and it is the light of Yahweh that Yahshua Ha Mashiyach uses to expose evil in our lives so that change can be made. Brother Dennis Martin used a jar of water to represent purity in a sermon that he delivered at the Feast of Tabernacles years ago. The water he presented was from a little pond behind and down the hill from meeting hall. The water was clear as long as the jar was not disturbed but once it was disturbed it seemed impossible for one to separate the water from the earth. There is a physical law which separates the dirty muck from the water called gravity. The longer the law was allowed to act on the water the cleared the water apparently became. The law of gravity is one that has existed since the time that Yahweh created mass. The law of liberty is one that Yahweh created since the time that he created man. The problem is like Yahshua is rejected by many so are the laws of Yahweh rejected. John was inspired to write that Yahshua is the dabar, the word or speech by which all things were created and continue to be created. In rejection of Yahweh and Yahshua ha Mashiyach men have been enlisted to evils of their neighbors and have become one with that evil. Israel fell to these things and we continue to do so when we reject our calling and covenant with Mashiyach Yahshua. As Israel we need to forsake evil and cling to the things that Yahweh has given in purity. Yahshua explained the purity of Yahweh through living a righteous life. Tempted in everything he prevailed. Can we prevail? Yahshua is recorded by Matthew in chapter 5 as saying that you are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shines unto all that are in the house. 16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Yahshua goes on to say that he didn't come to destroy the law but to fulfill it and so he did in amazement of all who live toward the same goal. Yahweh's people have lived to keep the law of Yahweh in liberty and love. In the name of this love Yahshua suffered humiliation and death but through that sacrifice for the brethren Yahshua redeemed those that would follow his example to an eternal life. The spirit that falsely accused and killed Mashiyach is the same spirit that we have to fight against every day but not yet on the same magnitude in this country. The spirit of evil is darkness. The sons of righteousness dwell in the light that only Almighty Yahweh can give. When these trials come we must prevail, there is no doubt that they will be extreme. I pray that each and every brother overcomes these things. Yahweh will give you the strength. One historical story of such courage comes from the apocryphal books of Maccabees. The author of Maccabees doesn't have any problem stating that these trials are because of iniquity among the people of Israel. The majority suffers for the sins of a few. A little leaven leavens the whole lump and when dealing with those that are evil the inaction of the righteous left Antiochus Epiphanies (epiphanies meaning that he called himself divine) to judge the people. Antiochus unlike his father was very wicked and mentally unbalanced. The difference between Antiochus and his father was like night and day. When Alexander conquered his enemies and came on Israel, the Godal Cohan (High Priest) went out to meet Alexander who bowed before the Godal Cohan. This of course worried Alexander's generals but he explained to them that when going into battle he would have visions of the Godal Cohan in his priestly dress leading his armies to victory. Israel was under Alexander's rule for a short period of time but he had a major influence over Israel and even sent sacrifices to be offered for him. When Alexander died his sons fought over Alexander's conquests. Soon after Alexander's death one of his sons Antiochus conquered and took control of Israel. Unlike previous rulers which allowed the Yahudim to worship Yahweh Antiochus declared himself not only emperor but the elohim of Israel. This was a terrible time for Israel because Antiochus had no love for Yahweh's people and especially their following of Yahweh. Antiochus seemed to love swine's flesh because he desecrated alters in the temple with the offering of swine. He even attempted to force the people of Israel to eat swine's flesh. One such example of Antiochus's evil can be found in 2 Maccabees when he attempted to force a mother and her seven sons to eat pork. Let's read what is written in 2 Maccabees 7. 2 Maccabees 7:1 It happened also that seven brothers and their mother were arrested and were being compelled by the king, under torture with whips and cords, to partake of unlawful swine's flesh. 2 One of them, acting as their spokesman, said, "What do you intend to ask and learn from us? For we are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our fathers." 3 The king fell into a rage, and gave orders that pans and caldrons be heated. 4 These were heated immediately, and he commanded that the tongue of their spokesman be cut out and that they scalp him and cut off his hands and feet, while the rest of the brothers and the mother looked on. 5 When he was utterly helpless, the king ordered them to take him to the fire, still breathing, and to fry him in a pan. The smoke from the pan spread widely, but the brothers and their mother encouraged one another to die nobly, saying, 6 "Yahweh Elohim is watching over us and in truth has compassion on us, as Moses declared in his song which bore witness against the people to their faces, when he said, `And he will have compassion on his servants.'" The mother's pain must have been excruciating seeing her son cut into pieces. Then if that is not enough to see him cooked alive in a pan. Yahweh gave her strength to endure these things because she knows in obedience her son is sealed until the time of resurrection. The mother encouraged the brothers that the eldest son gave witness of Yahweh's compassion. Let's continue in Maccabees because this isn't the end of the family's trials. 2 Maccabees 7:7 After the first brother had died in this way, they brought forward the second for their sport. They tore off the skin of his head with the hair, and asked him, "Will you eat rather than have your body punished limb by limb?" 8 He replied in the language of his fathers, and said to them, "No." Therefore he in turn underwent tortures as the first brother had done. 9 And when he was at his last breath, he said, "You accursed wretch, you dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for his laws." 10 After him, the third was the victim of their sport. When it was demanded, he quickly put out his tongue and courageously stretched forth his hands, 11 and said nobly, "I got these from Heaven, and because of his laws I disdain them, and from him I hope to get them back again." 12 As a result the king himself and those with him were astonished at the young man's spirit, for he regarded his sufferings as nothing. 13 When he too had died, they maltreated and tortured the fourth in the same way. 14 And when he was near death, he said, "One cannot but choose to die at the hands of men and to cherish the hope that Elohim gives of being raised again by him. But for you there will be no resurrection to life!" 15 Next they brought forward the fifth and maltreated him. 16 But he looked at the king, and said, "Because you have authority among men, mortal though you are, you do what you please. But do not think that Elohim has forsaken our people. 17 Keep on, and see how his mighty power will torture you and your descendants!" 18 After him they brought forward the sixth. And when he was about to die, he said, "Do not deceive yourself in vain. For we are suffering these things on our own account, because of our sins against our own Elohim. Therefore astounding things have happened. 19 But do not think that you will go unpunished for having tried to fight against Elohim!" The six sons kept their faith even under the most severe torture. Their courage was magnified because they knew that physical death is only temporary when following Yahweh. Yahweh keeps his covenant with his people. The suffering was brought on the people by the evil of a few but Yahweh punishes those he loves immediately. What kind of evil mind comes up with the tools of death to deliver the horror of watching your brothers be killed? Antiochus is not alone, the last century has clearly shown that men with too much power can do exceedingly evil. Satan wants to see the righteous fall. Antiochus perhaps thought that the seventh son in his youth would fail so he continues with the last son. Let's continue reading 2 Maccabees chapter 7. 2 Maccabees 7:20 The mother was especially admirable and worthy of honorable memory. Though she saw her seven sons perish within a single day, she bore it with good courage because of her hope in Yahweh. 21 She encouraged each of them in the language of their fathers. Filled with a noble spirit, she fired her woman's reasoning with a man's courage, and said to them, 22 "I do not know how you came into being in my womb. It was not I who gave you life and breath, nor I who set in order the elements within each of you. 23 Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the beginning of man and devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again, since you now forget yourselves for the sake of his laws." The mother gives the glory to Yahweh that He inspired her sons to unselfishly give their lives for Yahweh. Yet with each passing murder of this mother's sons Antiochus didn't show any remorse rather this he viewed as the ultimate contempt against him. So he offers the youngest more than he probably could know. Perhaps the power to free his people but he would of coarse have to submit to Antiochus's rule. 2 Maccabees 7:24 Antiochus felt that he was being treated with contempt, and he was suspicious of her reproachful tone. The youngest brother being still alive, Antiochus not only appealed to him in words, but promised with oaths that he would make him rich and enviable if he would turn from the ways of his fathers, and that he would take him for his friend and entrust him with public affairs. 25 Since the young man would not listen to him at all, the king called the mother to him and urged her to advise the youth to save himself. 26 After much urging on his part, she undertook to persuade her son. 27 But, leaning close to him, she spoke in their native tongue as follows, deriding the cruel tyrant: "My son, have pity on me. I carried you nine months in my womb, and nursed you for three years, and have reared you and brought you up to this point in your life, and have taken care of you. 28 I beseech you, my child, to look at the heaven and the earth and see everything that is in them, and recognize that Elohim did not make them out of things that existed. Thus also mankind comes into being. 29 Do not fear this butcher, but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death, so that in Elohim's mercy I may get you back again with your brothers." 30 While she was still speaking, the young man said, "What are you waiting for? I will not obey the king's command, but I obey the command of the law that was given to our fathers through Moses. 31 But you, who have contrived all sorts of evil against the Hebrews, will certainly not escape the hands of Elohim. 32 For we are suffering because of our own sins. 33 And if our living Sovereign is angry for a little while, to rebuke and discipline us, he will again be reconciled with his own servants. 34 But you, unholy wretch, you most defiled of all men, do not be elated in vain and puffed up by uncertain hopes, when you raise your hand against the children of heaven. 35 You have not yet escaped the judgment of the almighty, all-seeing Elohim. 36 For our brothers after enduring a brief suffering have drunk of everflowing life under Elohim's covenant; but you, by the judgment of Elohim, will receive just punishment for your arrogance. 37 I, like my brothers, give up body and life for the laws of our fathers, appealing to Elohim to show mercy soon to our nation and by afflictions and plagues to make you confess that he alone is Elohim, 38 and through me and my brothers to bring to an end the wrath of the Almighty which has justly fallen on our whole nation." The youngest being the one that Antiochus thought he could deceive condemned Antiochus's actions more asking that through the brother's sacrifice that Yahweh would show mercy. This didn't please Antiochus at all but made him even more wickedly insane. 2 Maccabees 7:39 The king fell into a rage, and handled him worse than the others, being exasperated at his scorn. 40 So he died in his integrity, putting his whole trust in Yahweh. 41 Last of all, the mother died, after her sons. Antiochus attempted to make his torture even worse than all the brothers. After his death he killed the mother also. Yahweh heard the cry of Israel and called Yahuda Maccabees father with his sons into the wilderness to build a resistance. Similar to Gideon; Yahuda only had a few men to fight against Antiochus. Antiochus depended on numbers to show strength but Yahuda used Yahweh's inspiration to fight in the dark to hit quickly and win unequivocally. Yahuda eventually reaches Yerusalem which was left in shambles. Yahuda who comes from a priestly family cleans the temple and rebuilds the alters that were defiled with new uncut stones as the command of Yahweh specifies. In the 9th month called Chislev or Kislev after Babylonian exile on the 25th day, exactly three years from the time of Antiochus's ordered desecration of the alters and the temple of Yahweh it is restored. Personal determination triumphs in this dedication festival (Chanukah) for all Yahudim as a remembrance of Yahweh's authority to overcome evil darkness with shalom light. The eight days was originally commanded to be kept just as Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) in booths to remember the time when those "who overcome with Yahweh" (Israel) dwelt in caves. Yahuda would come up against what seemed insurmountable for such a small band of men and he would tell the men of our fathers who under much distress overcame with Yahweh's help. Abraham is one example Yahuda explained to his men who in faith offered his son Isaac to Yahweh. Yahweh spared Isaac because of the promises that were to be fulfilled in Isaac. It was the faith of Abraham that these promises would be fulfilled and as we know through Mashiyach they are fulfilled in the resurrection. We have lessons that we too can look to for encouragement when the times of Yacob's trouble are fulfilled. Time is growing short; the evil can be seen in every nation on earth. Not one nation bares record of shalom. Shalom can only come through Yahshua ha Mashiyach when he restores Yahweh's rule on earth. We are born into a nation of righteousness if we take the covenant immersion of Mashiyach. Over coming with Yahweh's help is a fundamental theme of the scriptures and points to the blessings that can only come through Yahweh. Yahshua gave us the example of a brother who lays down his life so that his brethren might have eternal life. Peter wrote of this strong will to overcoming and where it comes from in 1st Peter 1:23. Peter strongly encourages you to overcome with Yahweh because when you make the change you are no longer dependant on this world as the symbol of life. 1 Peter 1:22 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: 23 having been begotten from above, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the word of Yahweh, which lives and abides. 24 For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls: 25 But the word of Yahweh abides for ever. And this is the word of blessed tidings which was taught to you. The nature of this world is that all things wither and die each yearly cycle. It is through this observation that so many are deceived to the worship of nature but Yahweh has made imperishable seed by which you are planted if you follow the blessed word that Yahweh teaches. The seed of Yahweh are nourished by Yahshua through light much the same way that Yahuda saw light in Yahweh's people overcome darkness. Yahuda instilled in his men the light seen in the fathers of our faith. The Scriptures are filled with words meant to perfect one to a more perfect goal. Yahshua gave his life so that you might live. Today Yahshua is before the throne of Yahweh interceding on our behalf our needs as the mediator of the covenant. He is a perfect spokesman. He testifies of a more perfect time when death will reign no more. Death to this world in immersion is a promise of imperishable light which will not fail! Yahuda saw this light in those he commanded against darkness and overcame it with Yahweh's help. So too has Yahweh given you the authority to forsake darkness. When there is no more darkness, Satan and death are also destroy. Yahshua will call you to his coming; through his coming he will destroy all enemies of Yahweh. Evil will melt away in the heat. Mark 10:27 Yahshua looking at them said, With men it is impossible, but not with Yahweh: for all things are possible with Elohim. When keeping the faith seems impossible; remember it is possible with Yahweh. Yahweh blesses you toward righteousness so that Yahshua may truly represent Yahweh our righteousness to each of us one day soon. HalleluYah! | 
