THE AMAZING FIND IN CAVE MURABA'AT

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Shalom, to you my Friend and Co-Minister in the Great Commission...

In between the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament an evil and tyrannical king, Antiochus Epiphanes of the Syrian Greek Empire, invaded Israel and launched a campaign of persecution aiming at wiping the word of God, the faith of Israel, and the worship of God off the face of the earth. He declared the word and ways of God to be illegal. He attempted to force the Jewish people to become pagan and worship the gods of the nations. Those caught worshiping and following God were to be killed.

The Book of Maccabees records that many people hid themselves in desert caves because of the persecution, to avoid defiling themselves, and to keep the ways of God. But outside of Maccabees there has never been any direct proof that these things happened - until now.

Recent archaeological excavations in the Judean Desert came upon an amazing find - a cave that was used by Jewish people fleeing the persecution of Antiochus as recorded in the Book of Maccabees. The coins in the cave pinpointed the discovery to the time of Antiochus' persecution and the events of Maccabees. It was an unprecedented find - the first proof archaeological proof of the account of Hanukah.

Just as amazing was the timing of the announcements. It all happened in the week leading up to the Festival of Hanukah. This appears to be significant. The story of Hanukah is a foreshadow of the end times just as Antiochus is a foreshadow of the Antichrist.

Thus the revelation of Hanukah warns us that in the last days there will be persecution of God's people. It will be cultural as well as political. The state and culture will seek to abolish the word of God, the ways of God, and the worship of God. At the same time, it will seek to force believers to bow down before the new moralities, the new laws, and to gods of the new age - We are already there. It is now beginning and we must be ready. Let us be strong as were the Maccabees and let us take courage from the word given in the Book of Daniel concerning them: But those who know their god shall be strong - and shall do great exploits!

Make it your aim this month to become even stronger in the Lord, all out, uncompromised, focused, and on fire - And may God greatly bless you as you do!

Your brother and co-laborer

in His love and service,

Jonathan

See Message: The Persecution