InterTestamental
Bible Study Week 5
December 5, 2021

From Alexander to Hanukkah

 


Dick LaFountain
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Teaching Video Clips
Scheduled to be Posted
on Sunday, December 5, 2021 by 6 pm.

Please take the time to watch each video and print out the lecture to get a fuller view of the subject matter. Not all the material is presented in the video. Also, be sure to think about and discuss the provided discussion questions.
From Alexander to Hanukkah
LESSON 5: Complete Lecture Notes (pdf)

Lesson 5 is a continuation of our study of Daniel's prophecies and the kings and kingdoms that followed. Last week we saw and surveyed the kings and kingdoms from Assyria king Sennacherib to Artaxerxes. You can download our 30-page summary of each of these kings and kingdoms here

Here are some of the significant players on God's stage. These rulers played important roles in the lives of biblical heroes such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. This week we are looking at the middle kings in BOLD print. These kings and generals all lived during the InterTestamental Period, prior to the coming of Christ.

  • Assyria 722 BC -- Sennacherib
  • Babylon 587 BC -- Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar,
  • Persia -- 397-336 BC -- Cyrus, Darius the Mede, Xerxes, Artaxerxes

  • Greek -- 336-323 BC -- Alexander the Great
  • Egyptian -- 323-198 -- Alexander to Hannibal
  • Syrian -- 198-165 -- Antiochus Epiphanes IV
  • Maccabeus -- 165-63 BC -- Judas Maccabeus

  • Roman -- 64 BC - 4 BC -- Pompey and Herod the Great
  • Roman Caesars -- 33 AD to 70 AD -- Julius, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Domitian, Vespasian


    Part 1 - Introduction To Lesson 5 (4:09 min)
This week's lesson we look at the kings and generals leading up to the re-dedication of the Temple called Hanukkah. We look at Alexander the Great, Hannibal, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and the Maccabbees.


    Part 2 - Alexander the Great (13:05 min)
Most people do not know that Josephus, the Jewish/Roman historian wrote about Alexander the Great's encounter with God.


    Part 3 - Hannibal and Antochus III (4:05 min)General Hannibal had a great influence on the Roman Empire and nearly conquered them during a 17 year reign of terror through guerrilla warfare. He also had a great influence on Antiochus III.


    Part 4 - Antiochus IV Epiphanes (9:00 min)
Antiochus IV Epiphanes was a forerunner of the AntiChrist. He entered the Temple and defiled it sacrificing a pig on the altar and putting up a statue of Zeus. He also persecuted Jews of faith, destroying copies of the Torah, forbidding prayer to Yahweh, and commanding all under the penalty of death to bow and worship Zeus.


    Part 5 - The Maccabees (12:48 min)
The Maccabean Revolt against Antiochus IV Epiphanes was a 24 year battle between faithful Jews and the laws of the king. It began when an elderly priest in a little village stood up to the soldiers and refused to worship and sacrifice to Zeus. When another Jew caved in and worshiped Zeus, he and his sons killed the man and the soldiers, setting of a guerilla war.


    Part 6 - Hanukkah and It's Significance (8:18 min)Hanukkah celebrates Judas Maccabeus' retaking Jerusalem and the cleansing and dedication of the Temple. A miracle took place in which the oil for the Menorah had only enough for one day, but miraculously burned for 8 days. It is called the Feast of Dedication in John 10:22 and Jesus celebrated Hanukkah.



DOCUMENTS TO PRINT OUT

These are unedited documents and studies I use in my preparations. Please forgive any errors.They will enhance your study of the Word. Print them out and study them. This way we can give you much more than we can in our Videos or in our live classes.

MORE DOCUMENTS FOR FURTHER STUDY

History is important and I believe original sources are the best way to do research. I recommend you purchase or download a copy of Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews, and the 5 Books of Maccabees, as well as sources like Heroditus's History of the Persians.


QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION
  1. Can you tell the story of Alexander the Great and his encounter with God? What impressed you the most? Do you think Alexander’s worship was acceptable to God?

  2. The story of the Maccabean revolution is an important story. It is not found in our Bible. Where is it found? Have you read it? It is important to the Intertestamental Period?

  3. What similarities do you see between what Jews faced under Antiochus IV and what the church faces today within our own culture?

  4. Can you apply the story of Hanukkah to our Christmas celebration and the first coming of Christ? Do you believe Hanukkah foreshadows Christ? In what way?

  5. Do you now understand the expression "abomination of desolation?" How is it important for believers today to understand it? Explain what it is?

  6. Is the Intertestamental Period silent? Since God did such wonderful things to defend his people, why would we still call this period the "400 Years of Silence?"

  7. Can you describe and explain three important events of the Intertestamental Period/ Can you describe the event and show why it was an important prelude to the coming of Jesus Christ?