Chanukah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple, commemorating the Jewish men and women that defeated Hellenistic repression, which began to take root in Israel with conquests of Alexander the Great and reached the height of brutality under the wicked reign of Antiochus IV. Throughout the many years of the Syrian-Greek domination in the land of Israel, dominance that spanned from 333 BC to 165 BC, various atrocities were committed against the Jews, most of which were enforced by anti-Semitic diktats that attempted to wipe the Jewish identity from the land of Israel.

This dominance would have likely continued if not for a rebellion that eventually materialized in 165 BC. Judah Maccabee, son of the Hasmonean High Priest Mattathias, led a revolt that successfully removed the Syrian-Greeks from Israel.

Tradition has it that when the Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated and cleansed there was only enough undefiled oil to keep the Temple menorah burning for one night, certainly not enough to keep the menorah burning continuously until more sanctified oil could be properly prepared. Despite this, the choice was made to light the oil and prepare more sanctified oil. Miraculously the menorah burned for eight days, the amount of time needed to prepare additional sanctified oil. This part of the Chanukah tradition is said to have begun around 500 AD, around the time the Gemara, a commentary on the Mishnah in the Talmud, was completed.

Chanukah is a time of joy, not a time of sadness. It is a time to reflect on the miracles of the past and the hope of the future, especially the hope of the Mashiach, whom Messianic believers know to be Mashiach ben Yosef, known to Gentiles as Jesus Christ.

I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

Though Chanukah is not meant to be a time of sadness, the observance alone causes us to reflect upon the miraculous events born out of tragedy, an image of light piercing the darkness, a reminder that the HAND of YAHWEH is always in control no matter the occasion.

As I reflect on the festival of Chanukah this year, I am reminded of a Chanukah observance that took place last year, though this celebration was different than the others. It took place at the White House, where President Obama himself lit a menorah to observe Chanukah; only he decided to perform the ceremony two weeks early on December 8, 2011, thirteen days before Chanukah was set to begin.

This is what E.W. Bullinger has written about the number 13.

As to the significance of thirteen, all are aware that it has come down to us as a number of ill-omen. Many superstitions cluster around it, and various explanations are current concerning them.

Unfortunately, those who go backwards to find a reason seldom go back far enough. The popular explanations do not, so far as we are aware, go further back than the Apostles. But we must go back to the first occurrence of the number thirteen in order to discover the key to its significance. It occurs first in Gen 14:4, where we read "Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and the thirteenth year they REBELLED."

Hence every occurrence of the number thirteen, and likewise of every multiple of it, stamps that with which it stands in connection with rebellion, apostasy, defection, corruption, disintegration, revolution, or some kindred idea.

Remember, chanukah in Hebrew means dedication, Obama's observation of Chanukah appears to be more a "dedication" of rebellion than an observance of the "rededication" of the Second Temple.

Unfortunately, performing the Chanukah observance thirteen days early wasn't Obama's only fault; he also lit all the candles of the menorah! Even if he had waited and correctly observed the start of Chanukah on the properly appointed night, the menorah would not have had all the candles lit on the first evening.

On the first evening, when the stars become visible, it is the Shamash, or centermost candle of the nine-branched menorah that is lit first, followed by the recital of the Hebrew Blessings.

Blessed art thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctifies us with Thy commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of the Chanukah.

Which is followed by the second blessing, the she'asah nissim,

Blessed art thou, Lord our God, Master of the universe, who performed miracles for our fathers in those days at this time.

Only on the first night of Chanukah is a third blessing added at the time the first candle is lit and placed in the rightmost holder.

Blessed art thou, Lord our God, Master of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and has brought us to this special time.

After the first candle is lit, with the Shamash, or "Servant Lamp," the Shamash is then placed back in the middle position and the Haneirot Hallalu is recited.

Here is a transliteration of the Haneirot Hallalu recital:

We kindle these lights (to commemorate) the miracles and wonders and the saving acts that You have performed for our forefathers, in those days at this time, by Your holy priests. And all throughout the eight days of Chanukah, these lights are holy, and we are not permitted to make use of them, but only to behold them, in order to offer thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for Your salvation.

The second night the procedure is repeated, though instead of lighting only one candle (besides the Shamash) another candle is added and these candles are then lit from left to right with the flame of the Shamash. This continues throughout the eight days of Chanukah until all eight candles are lit, nine including the Shamash. On the final night a fully lit menorah is displayed. For Messianic believers, the Shamash, or "Servant Lamp," is a type for Yeshua HaMashiach.

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication (Chanukah), and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. John 10:22-24 KJV

Chanukah is a deeply spiritual and reverential time for the believer. Some Jewish scholars have even debated whether Chanukah is actually a later celebration of Sukkot. It is said that the Hasmoneans would not have been able to celebrate Sukkot during the rebellion against the Syrian-Greeks and that Chanukah may have been a later observation of Sukkot, which is one of the most sacred of the Jewish holidays.

Tragically, Obama did not even attempt to adhere to the traditional procedure involved in lighting the menorah nor did he openly demonstrate true reverence to the history surrounding Chanukah. His disrespect was further demonstrated when he even joked about the ceremony and remarked, "And we never need an excuse for a good party." The scene instantly drew upon the remembrance of another Babylonian party, the final hours of Belshazzar's feast when he had misused Temple instruments to perk up his party. Only Belshazzar did not live to see the next morning, his once mighty kingdom making no more than a whisper as she fell to the Medes and Persians during the night.

Yet in a strange way it almost seems as if Obama was meant to light the menorah early in 2011. December 8th, the night that Obama held the Chanukah observance at the White House meant that it was already December 9th, in Israel. Oddly, this is the date that Chanukah would begin in 2012. Was the providential hand of YHVH giving us a sign of something a year in advance? Could this rebellious act and party held at the White House in 2011 be a sign of the timeframe a year later that the Babylonian kingdom would be punished? I don't know for sure, but these are the very questions I have asked myself as I have studied and prayed about the matter.

I find it also interesting that Ilan Ramon's first name in Hebrew means tree.

In the Columbia disaster a tree (Ilan) is associated with the disintegration of Columbia, over Palestine. Just 1,240 days later a tree is hewn down in the District of Columbia at the White House, followed by 3-prophetic years to the day later another tree being hewn down in the District of Columbia, and finally 620 days after that, yet another tree, the National Christmas Tree is hewn down as well, a tree that ties every president ever associated with the "Peace Process" together. The entire duration of time spanning from the Columbia Disaster to the felling of the National Christmas tree was exactly 420 weeks.

I would like to also note that the tree that replaced the National Christmas tree that fell on February 19, 2011, was replaced by another tree on March 19, 2011. This tree was removed on May 5, 2012, due to transplant shock. This tree was different in that it was removed by man, rather than being removed due to wind or storm. This tree was later replaced on October 27, 2012. This tree was planted a day after Washington D.C., declared a State of Emergency due to the approach of Hurricane Sandy. This tree will have been planted 40-days prior to the tree lighting ceremony scheduled this year for December 6th.

Last year I wondered if the events would take place between December 7, through the 27, but I wasn't sure, I only felt that I needed to present some of the information that I had been researching. As December 2011, came and went I continued to look at and review the information that I had been researching over the past several years. Now I am concerned that the research seems to indicate something significant might in fact take place December of this year.

I realize that there is more room for error than accuracy when attempting to interpret signs, but I would be remiss if I didn't share such things. I have faith in my KING, not in my interpretation. I do not long for the day the United States of America is judged, or the world for that matter, but I know it is a reality, one that I can only face when my face is looking towards JESUS CHRIST, our eternal Shamash.

When I look back at the seemingly foolish move by President Obama to light the menorah two weeks early in 2011, I can't help but now look at the event in a different light, one that seems to point to Chanukah of 2012.