As the Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah there is an interesting connection to Christmas as well as the Syrian crisis in the Middle East

Hanukkah is the Jewish holy days that mark the defeat of the Grecian leader Antiochus Epiphanes who tried to destroy Jewish worship at the Temple in Jerusalem and was defeated by the Maccabees who rose to the occasion and defended the Jews from a terrible tyrant. On December 25, 168 B.C. Antiochus entered the Temple and desecrated this Jewish holy place by slaughtering a pig on the altar which was eventually reclaimed by the Jewish people three years to the day later with the lighting of the Menorah. Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News The celebration of Hanukkah, celebrated by the Jewish people, marks a victory of a Grecian king who controlled what is Syria today, but this Jewish holy day has a connection to Christmas as well. The eight day Jewish holy days of Hanukkah mark the victory over the Grecian King Antiochus Epiphanes who ruled what is today Syria. The eight days result from the lighting of the Menorah with enough virgin olive oil for the Menorah to burn one day, but instead it burned for eight days. That happened in 165 B.C. when the Maccabees reconsecrated the Jewish Temple after the madman Antiochus had committed an abomination of the Temple which happened exactly three years to the day before on December 25, 168 B.C. By the way the date, December 25th, was chosen by the early Church fathers to celebrate Christmas because Jesus Christ celebrated Hanukkah, John 10:22. When Antiochus slaughtered that pig on the Jewish Temple altar, the Bible called it the abomination that maketh desolate, a prototype of the abomination of desolation that the Antichrist performs at the mid-way point of the Tribulation Period, Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15, and II Thessalonians 2:4. Since this Satanic event will take place in a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, that reveals to us that there will be a Temple in Jerusalem for this prophecy to be fulfilled and the next Jewish Temple is ready to be rebuilt right now. In addition, there must be one that fulfills the prophecy for the Antichrist. That world dictator is alive and well on planet earth today and ready to assume his Satanically energized power and seed of authority, Revelation 13:1-3. Jews celebrating Hanukkah today is a reminder that in a near future day Bible prophecy will indeed be fulfilled.

The Middle East nation of Iran has stepped up its crackdown on Christians

The Middle East nation of Iran has stepped up its crackdown on Christians December 16, 2014 The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has stepped up its campaign on Christians in its nation and Iranian Christians are in a dire situation concerned that this militant Muslim army will close down their churches and even imprison or kill the Christians living in this Islamic republic. In Iran, the death penalty is imposed on those who convert from Islam to Christianity and those who embrace Christianity are targeted for persecution and even death. Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News The crackdown on Christians in Iran, and in fact across the entire Middle East, is only the tip of the iceberg as it relates to believers in Christ being persecuted in the last days according to Bible prophecy. There have been a number of reports coming out of the Middle East that there has been an increase in the attacks on churches and Christians in this region of the world. A high ranking Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia recently issued a fatwah calling for Muslims to attack all churches, kill Christians and in fact rid the Middle East of Christianity. Now, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the militia of the supreme council of Iran, has increased their persecution of Iranian Christians and the closing down of churches in Iran. The biblical book of Revelation written by the Apostle John records prophecies of the martyrdom of believers in Christ during the seven years of great judgment on the earth called the Tribulation. When Satan and his evil angels are thrown out of Heaven, Revelation 12, the Devil will try to eliminate all of those who stand for Jesus Christ. At the end of the Tribulation, to enter the Kingdom and rule and reign with Jesus Christ, Revelation 20:4. In addition, Jews who believe in Jesus Christ will be the focus of Satanic persecution as well during that period of time referred to as the Time of Jacob's Trouble, Revelation 12:13-17. Iranian persecution of Christians is indeed setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.