Messianic Viewpoint

Guest (Female): Shalom and welcome to Shalom Ariel and to this last installment in our series, Sermon 8 from the book of Ezra with Messianic leader Jacques Isaac Gabizon. When we think about Ezra, we can be provoked to jealousy, but not in a bad way, in a way that we might be able to emulate his love for the word, recognizing how that will bring us to live out the word and then exercise it and teach it to others.

But how great is our desire to know the word? There's a story of a student who said to his teacher, "I really want to know the word." The teacher then took him to a lake and submerged his head underwater for 20 seconds. And when the student's head lifted up out of the water, the teacher asked, "What is it that you really want?"

"I really want to learn the word." Then the teacher submerged his head for 40 seconds under the water and then he let the disciple lift his head up and asked his student, "How much do you really want to learn the word?" And the student said, "I really, really want to learn the word."

And so then the teacher submerged his head under the water for 60 seconds. And finally, when the disciple came up, gasping for air, the teacher said, "What is it that you really want?" And the student said, "Air, I need air." And so the teacher said, "If you want the word of God in your heart as much as you want air in your lungs, then surely you will get it."

And then we know that it's not enough to fervently want the word for knowledge's sake only. We want to apply it and be wise. If I study Matthew 18 concerning the unforgiving servant, I need to ask myself: Is there someone I need to forgive, not once, but 490 times? Can we see what a power the word possesses when we grasp it and gasp for it, just as we would the air that we breathe?

We pray that you have been blessed and inspired by this series. And we would love to hear from you. You know, even though radio may be a one-way airing, our conversations afterwards don't have to be that way. Feedback is always greatly appreciated. So be blessed as you listen in to the message with Messianic leader Jacques Isaac Gabizon. Shalom, shalom.

Jacques Isaac Gabizon: Once again, idolatry is not limited to worshipping physical idols. It also includes holding a view of God that differs from how He reveals Himself in the scriptures. Idolatry can be very subtle. Ezra saw the problem of idolatry that it was actually widespread in Israel. But even more troubling, it has infected the leadership. Even more shocking of all, the priesthood was also affected.

Ezra was devastated. The news actually completely shook him. This is how chapter 9 opens up: "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the lands according to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites."

Why are we giving these names? Why mention the Hittites and the Perizzites and the others, for these people were not there anymore as distinct nations? However, what was there was their spirit of idolatry and especially the hatred and obstruction for the people of Israel. And the big problem is that many of the Jews joined them and intermarried with them. Again, it's not a question of race; it's a question of faith.

We read that they joined the people of the land according to their abomination. It was not the other way around where Israel came and converted the people. In this news, Ezra tore his clothes, fell on his knees, so grieved he was that we're told that he pulled some of his hair from his head in 9:3. In humiliation, in great embarrassment. Why did he make such a big deal out of this? Because the very survival of Israel was at stake.

This was Solomon's mistake revisited. With Solomon, we learned something of great importance. Here is the wisest man in the Bible who was about to bring a total destruction of Israel. It was after him that the nation was divided into two sections, Israel and Judah. And why? Look at First Kings 11:3: "He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines; and his wives turned his heart away."

But what is striking, what is striking is that these wives and concubines were from the same nations, very much the same nations as we read in Ezra 9:1. That's why I believe they're brought back. We read of them in First Kings 11:2: the daughter of Pharaoh the Egyptian, the Moabite, the Ammonite, the Hittites; they're there, they came back. And in both cases, Solomon's time and the days of Ezra, the foreign women brought their god with them, corrupting the holiness of Israel.

As we read in verses 4 and 5, for when Solomon was old, his wife turned his heart away after other gods. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and so on. I just want to tell you: if the wisest man fell so low, we need somebody better. This is what the Bible says. And this one better is Yeshua because He never falls.

Israel in Ezra's time was an even more vulnerable and fragile state. They had no army, barely any soldiers, and were living under Persian rule, constantly threatened by hostile neighbors, much like it is today, by the way. Israel stood on the brink of destruction, annihilation, and this is why Ezra was utterly overwhelmed.

This is when we read of Ezra's third prayer. By the way, it's like a Yom Kippur prayer that we have here. It's found in Ezra 9:5-15. It is a touching and emotional plea to God where he prays like a responsible priest for Israel, saying, "Oh my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God. For our iniquities have risen above our head and our guilt has grown even to the heavens."

I want to tell you something else: that it takes a true man of God, someone who deeply loves his people, to feel the full weight of their sins. See how Ezra is not detached. He so closely identifies with them that he is actually ashamed and embarrassed for them, even though he personally remained faithful. He is also a man of biblical awareness, grounded in both history and prophecy.

In verse 7, he speaks of the sword, captivity, plunder, open shame—language that strongly echoes the warnings of the prophecies of Moses in Deuteronomy 28 and also in Leviticus 26. Even before Israel entered the land, God had foretold the consequences of disobedience, including the current diaspora. Ezra saw it.

And he also recognizes that Israel was, as it is today, existing by the grace of God, and it is true. He says in verse 8 of chapter 9: "But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us little reviving in our bondage."

He recognized that if the Lord keeps the nation afloat, if He didn't, the nation would fall completely. So he speaks here of course of an escaped remnant. That's important. That is the wheat among the tare. What is true, by the way, of the church is also true of Israel. They are both kept strong because of a faithful remnant.

And notice the mention of a peg. He recalls that there's a Messianic prophecy. This is in reference to a great promise we find in Isaiah 22:22, where the Lord spoke of a time to come when, speaking of the Messiah, He says, "Then I will set the key of the house of David on His shoulder. When He opens and no one shuts, when He shuts no one opens. I will drive Him like a peg in a firm place, and He will become a throne of glory to His father's house."

The exact imagery reappears, by the way, in Revelation chapter 3, verse 7. Speaking of Himself, Jesus says: "And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write, He who is holy, He who is true, and He who has the key of David—that's Him, by the way, that's whom Ezra saw—who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens," applying the prophecy to Himself.

The key of David symbolizes royal authority and the ability to grant or to deny access, ultimately pointing to the Messiah Himself, who's going to be king soon when He comes back. And then there's yet another connection between Yeshua and Ezra. We'll close with this, actually. It's a beautiful prophecy, beautiful prophecy.

Ezra and the remnant were suffering a lot. Actually, they suffered a lot to see the nation in such a state. But this suffering was shared by someone else, that is by God Himself. How do we know that? He spoke through Malachi the prophet, who was contemporary again with Ezra. And it is in this book of Malachi where he offers us the way out of the whole situation because it was going down.

Let us look at this book briefly. Malachi is, I want to tell you, this is another deeply moving book and serves as a powerful sequel of Ezra. In its opening verses, God Himself speaks, expressing both His heartfelt love and painful complaints against His people. It is a divine dialogue marked by emotion as the Lord reveals His wounded heart. He does, actually, here.

In verse 6 of chapter 1, He speaks to the priests. See what He says. He says: "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where's My honor?" He says. "And if I am a master, where's My respect?" He asks the priests. He's so hurt that in verse 10, He was looking actually for someone to close the temple.

He says: "Oh, that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle the fire on My altar. I'm not pleased with you," says the Lord of Hosts. And then something really touching occurs here. Chapter 2, verse 2. He says: "If you do not listen, if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name," says the Lord of Hosts, "then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings."

And then, as if He stops and recalls all the moments in history where He already punished them but to no avail, and then He says: "But indeed, I have cursed them already because you are not taking it to heart." And it seems to be the end of the Old Testament. We are at the end of the Hebrew scriptures, and it looks like the story was to end at the end of chapter 2 of Malachi.

But did it? No. Another most wonderful news is that it is at this point that the Lord gives a prophecy of the coming Messiah. As if He stopped and said in chapter 3: "I'm coming down." This is what He did in Yeshua to resolve the problem; otherwise, it would have been the end.

Malachi 3:1, we have the prophecy of John the Baptist, who was to usher the first coming of the Messiah. There it is written: "Behold," God says, "I'm going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple. And the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold He's coming," says the Lord of Hosts.

Suddenly, it is written. And indeed, Yeshua came suddenly because they didn't expect Him. They were the same type of priests who were there because they left the word of God. That's why it was sudden. The messenger is John the Baptist, who was preparing the way of the Lord. But who showed up? Yeshua.

And then at the end of Malachi, chapter 4, verses 5 to 6, there's a prophecy of the coming of Elijah, this one preparing the way for the second coming. So we have the first and the second coming in Malachi. This is how the Lord resolved the problem. If the Lord did not come down, it would have been the end of humanity. He did it and it is only through Him where we can obtain salvation, for no man can save himself. This is what Ezra tells us. Only God can do it through Yeshua the Messiah. Amen.

Let us bow our head in prayer. I will combine a prayer of Habakkuk and Jude. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe. By Your word, You sanctified us. And through Your infinite love and kindness, You take great delight in us and give us Your spirit. We thank You for these great words You have given us to enlighten us. And we can say with Habakkuk, "Lord, I've heard of the report about You and I fear."

"O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy." And so we pray: blessed are You, O Lord our God, our Father, for there's no one like You. And now, Lord, bless our heart. Cleanse us from any wrong motives. Put away our sadness, our problems, and make us free so that we can reflect Your glory to others.

And now to Him who is able to keep us from stumbling and to make us stand in the presence of His holy, of His glory, blamelessly with great joy. And to the only God and Savior through Yeshua Messiah in whose name we pray. And to the congregation, the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen and amen.

Guest (Male): Join us now for this part of our program, the Q&A section. In our biblical study of eschatology, we have the teaching concerning what comes after the millennium, namely the eternal order. There are some remarkable characteristics of this eternal state, such as no more tears, no pain, no sorrow, no death or mourning. What was done in the Garden of Eden will have been reversed, and the New Jerusalem will descend from God to the new earth.

Something we also need to consider in this eternal order is that there will be nations. And since Israel was the chosen nation, why would she suddenly not be represented in the eternal order? So in our Q&A today, someone addressed this particular question, asking whether Israel will be there or not in the eternal order. Let's tune in and find out the answer. Be blessed.

Guest (Female): Will at any time in the future Israel cease to exist? I ask this question because just recently I attended a teaching where the lecturer presented his point of view that in the eternal state, Israel will cease to exist as a nation. The argument is based on what is written in Jeremiah 31: that so long as the moon and the sun and the stars last, Israel's existence as a nation is secured. But then the argument continues that since in the eternal state there will not be any moon or sun, therefore her nationhood, her existence as an entity, will also disappear. Should we depend on this kind of reasoning? What do the scriptures say? And thank you.

Jacques Isaac Gabizon: That's quite a statement to say that Israel will cease to exist based on this prophecy in Jeremiah that is reversing exactly what Jeremiah means to convey. For those who are not familiar with this prophecy, it says in Jeremiah 31 verses 35 to 36: "Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night... if this fixed order departs from before Me," declares the Lord, "then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever."

From this point, those who say that Israel will cease to exist go to Revelation 21:23, which brings us to heaven in the eternal state, and they quote this verse which says, "And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it," the city being heaven. And it says, "For the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb." So the conclusion is: since this city, which is heaven, has no need of the moon and sun, then Israel will cease to exist.

At the core, at the core of this reasoning is a continuation of the replacement theology thinking, which believes from the very beginning of the church birth in the first history, Israel as a people ceased to exist in any role or function and was replaced by the church. This theory brought great persecution and anti-Semitism to the Jewish people during the last 2,000 years.

Now we have a teaching which extends this false concept on into eternity. Yet it is really not difficult to see the fallacy behind this conclusion. To begin with, here in Jeremiah 31, the Lord uses a hyperbole to show that at no time would Israel as a chosen people be annihilated. There are many such hyperboles in the scriptures, just as in our own language.

A hyperbole, by the way, is a claim that is not to be taken literally. In everyday language, it is like saying that that plane ride took forever, or saying my feet are killing me. And there are many such figures of speech in the Bible itself, like for instance in Genesis 42:28, when it says that their hearts went out or their hearts sank. We understand that they were affected by the situation. Or Deuteronomy 1:28, when it says that the cities are great and walled up to heaven. This hyperbole expresses the wall's great height.

So concerning figures of speech, they are at least 1,500 of them in the Bible, and when one begins to take them literally, the scriptures becomes a nest of false teaching. But again, it is not difficult to see that this particular case in Jeremiah 31, its conclusion does not lead us to Israel's end in the eternal state, even when we take it literally.

For instance, and to begin with, the Bible clearly attests that nations, nations of the world will exist during the eternal state. So why would other nations be there but not Israel as a Jewish nation? Looking at two verses in Revelation, speaking of the light that the Messiah will emanate, we read in Revelation 21:24 that the nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Here we see the distinctions between different nations.

And then in Revelation 22:2, we're told that these nations will come every month to the tree of life. It says in the midst of its street, on either side of the river, was the tree of life, bearing 12 kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. If the nations are going to fellowship together, it already indicates a diversity of nations coming together in the eternal state. Why then would Israel be singled out so as not to exist among these nations?

Furthermore, all around heaven, there will be signs of Israel's existence as a nation. We read that the 12 gates which surround the New Jerusalem—that is heaven—will carry one of the names of the 12 tribes of Israel, Revelation 21:12. Why would these biblical, historical names even be mentioned if it were not to point to faithfulness of God and His covenant-keeping promise to this nation?

Furthermore, the name of heaven for eternity is actually the New Jerusalem. Jerusalem itself was always the capital city and heartbeat of the nation of Israel. Furthermore, interpreting Jeremiah 31 to say that the nation of Israel will cease to exist clearly belittles the nation of God. There the Lord says that if these things happen, that the sun, the moon disappear, and one could measure the depth of the earth, then He says, "I will also cast off the offspring of Israel," verse 37.

The word "cast off," ma’as, means to reject with contempt, to despise. This implies that Israel will not only cease to exist, that it will become a source of contempt, of scorn and disdain to God and for eternity, since the sun and the moon are not there anymore. Also, we should not lose sight of what is mentioned in Revelation 22:2, that the trees will yield its fruits when? Every month.

We know that the moon and sun were given as markers of time, and particularly the moon, which divided time into period of 28 days, which we call months. Why would we assume that the moon will no longer be there to continue as the earth's measurements of time when it clearly says that times, fruit yielding for the purpose of communion, occurred monthly? We will surely not need the moon for light, but there'll still be there for a marker of months.

But so far, these are only surface arguments because if Israel will exist for eternity, it is mainly because of the unconditional covenant that God made with this nation, and particularly the Davidic covenant, which states that there will be an eternal dynasty with a king whose descendancy is from Judah. And this king is the King of Kings, Yeshua Himself, as we see it in Second Samuel 7:11-16 and First Chronicles 17:10.

The Lord told David in Second Samuel 7:16, He says: "Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever." Twice the word "forever," le’olam, is mentioned in this verse. One for the kingdom of David, a kingdom designating the nation of Israel, and one for the throne of David, which will be placed on the New Jerusalem, on the new earth that will be created for the eternal state. Now, what is forever for the Lord is for eternity without end. And so Israel's presence will never be extinguished.

In eternity, Israel will then function as the priestly nation to all other nations of the world, and its capital city will be the New Jerusalem, which will also be God's eternal abode. And all of this will be done in peace, and I can't wait to be there.

Guest (Female): Shalom Ariel is a daily radio program emphasizing the Jewish perspective of scripture. God is not through dealing with Israel, nor will He renege any of the promises He has made to her. Our teacher for this program, Jacques Isaac Gabizon, is a Messianic Jewish believer and Messianic leader at Beth Ariel congregation right here in Montreal.

If you've been encouraged by the messages, we'd love to hear from you. Give us a call at 1-888-685-5902 or you may write us at info@bethariel.ca, that's B-E-T-H-A-R-I-E-L all one word. You are also welcome to join us for our Saturday morning services. We are located at 6297 Monkland Boulevard, corner of Madison in NDG.

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