http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/dec2011/gerrya1220.htm

 

Hi Gerry,

 

I appreciate your research about the possibility of Christ returning for the church on Hanukkah.  I had not realized there were so many 8's associated with Hanukkah:

 

"Hanukkah is the 8^th Feast

Hanukkah is 8 days in length of time

Haunkkah is 88 days after Rosh Hashana

All of these are associated numerically with Jesus."

 

Here is some more interesting associations with 888 and Jesus from the Bible Wheel Link:

 

http://www.biblewheel.com/GR/GR_888.asp

 

I had also been thinking about Christmas and Hanukkah coinciding this year and how it is Christmastime when many countries in the world recognize Jesus's birth and sing carols praising Jesus.  I think that in itself would make Christmas an ideal time for Christ to return, when there are many people on earth singing praises to Him!

 

Psalm 145:3
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

 

Even the name Hanukkah is derived from the word dedication, which also is the same word the name Enoch is derived from, Enoch being the first in the Bible to be "caught away" (raptured) by God. 

 

Finally, the parable about the 10 virgins, and only half having oil for their lamps when the Bridegroom arrived does remind me of the Hanukkah story and of oil being miraculously provided and also the rapture:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

 

Matthew 25

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

 ¹ “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

   ⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

   ⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

   ⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

   ¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

   ¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

   ¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

   ¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.