Messianic Viewpoint

Guest (Male): Welcome to Ariel Shalom with Messianic leader, Jacques Isaac Gabizon, and to the first part of our third sermon in the book of Revelation where we are still in chapter one. When we get older, our eyes seem to fail us more and more. If it's raining and at nighttime and I am driving, I sometimes ask the Lord to open my eyes so that I could see the road ahead clearly. But when God opens the eyes of his prophets so that they can see beyond the concrete, they get to see this majestic portrait of the living God whose robe fills the temple and whose waist is girded with gold.

And while these men like Daniel, Ezekiel, and Isaiah may have seen the same throne room at the same exact time in eternity, there is a difference. Daniel saw the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man as two personalities. Yet John sees the both of them as one. How is it that John sees the Son of Man and the Ancient of Days as one, whereas Daniel sees them as two? Perhaps because John had spent three years with Messiah, even greater revelation in time is now given to him. With greater revelation, John sees more. This is the benefit of progressive revelation for all of us when more and more of the Lord is revealed.

When more of his mercy, of his love, of his plan for us in our lives is revealed, we learn to know him and love him better. Getting older is not so bad after all when God fits us up with his progressive lens so that we can see things even at night, even when it's dark. He dissipates all darkness, all of the unknown. What a blessing that kind of night vision is, seeing the light even when we're in the dark. Welcome to Shalom Ariel with Messianic leader, Jacques Isaac Gabizon, and Shalom Shalom.

Jacques Isaac Gabizon: For two weeks of absence and to share his wonderful word with you. You know, one thing I learned, I want to tell you, our God is trustworthy. He is reliable, he's dependable, and completely true in everyday. And it's amazing. It's amazing. So it was really worth it. I also learned not to complain anymore, but I'm not sure I can keep this promise, right? So I'm convinced that I would not have been able to learn what I learned these past two weeks, and I am ready. I am ready for a new season and I pray for a great revival.

You know, revivals begin in our hearts. Amen. And so today we are the threshold of the fall feasts of Israel, which will begin next Friday, September 18th at sundown with the advent of Yom Teruah or the Feast of Trumpet, which is commonly known as in the Jewish community as Rosh Hashanah. After this feast next Saturday, we will then celebrate for the two next consecutive Saturdays, Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, and finally the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. It's always exciting to over these feasts. You know why? Because they bring out a facet of our Lord and Savior Yeshua Mashiach.

On the screen, you have the dates when these festivals will fall according to the biblical Jewish calendar. So this week is the last of the month of Elul. Elul according to Jewish calendar, leading us to the next month, which is the month of Tishrei. Tishrei is the month which contains all the fall feasts. It's an important month, and there's a beautiful midrash I want to share with you. This one is written by Rabbi Abu Abraham, a medieval Sephardic rabbi from the 14th century, who noticed that the name Elul is written with four letters, right? Each letter corresponding to the words found in Song of Songs 6:3 which says I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.

These are the words of Yeshua. We just sang together as a congregation the worship song called which brings out the important prophetic message of the Feast of Trumpets. Okay, the coming Feast of Trumpet and we will celebrate next week, which is the coming of the Lord for his bride at the rapture. And so we can sing this along with the Song of Songs declaring yes, we are his beloved and he's coming maybe next week, maybe before, it doesn't matter, he's coming. And I want to tell you so many things are happening around the world these days, some extraordinary things we have not seen before in history.

Let me share with you some of the latest news which in my opinion actually is startling. Let us remember that Daniel the prophet spoke of a peace treaty that will be signed between the Antichrist and Israel. This signature will begin the seven-year tribulation period, and today we can see a movement toward this peace. We can already see numerous Muslim countries tilting toward the peace treaty with Israel, and that is unprecedented, right? Whether one believes in the Bible or not believe in the Bible, there's something out there that is new. Yet somehow it is expected by Bible believers.

We have seen how the United Arab Emirates is ready to sign this treaty along with Chad, by the way, another African country, and then another, Malawi, a country south of the continent also plans to open an embassy in Israel. And its president, Lazarus Chakwera, is an evangelical Christian with a PhD, would you believe, in theology. I guess he doesn't want to miss out on the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. And just yesterday, now listen to this, just yesterday, another country, the Kingdom of Bahrain, also desires to sign this peace treaty. You know, yesterday after my study, I went to relax and watch the evening news which announced this new development about Bahrain.

So I had to get up again and go back to my desk and add this news to my texts and to my PowerPoint. It kind of hit me, you know, because is the world changing so rapidly? But let me tell you what is even more extraordinary. Last Friday, September 4th, Kosovo, Kosovo, the European Muslim country not only said that it will recognize Israel, but it would open an embassy in Jerusalem, becoming the first Muslim majority nation to do so. I want to tell you things are moving fast. And there is one more important piece of information that is even more surprising.

Last Wednesday, the 9th of September, the Arab League, which includes 22 members in which you have Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco, and so on. These are countries in green, by the way, in the screen. These have voted down a Palestinian proposal to condemn the normalization deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The majority of members of this Arab League actually support the peace treaty with Israel. What's happening? This is the first time since 1948 with the creation of the state of Israel that these many Arab countries voice their desire of peace with Israel. I said earlier, this is unique and unmatched time of history, and it seems that these things are preparing the way of the Antichrist.

We understand that these peace treaties are not real, really, except maybe for the countries in the Gulf. Now President Trump, who is behind this movement toward peace, said on Thursday that another country, probably Saudi Arabia, will sign this peace treaty which will take place when September the 15th, not on three days before Rosh Hashanah. That's not the peace treaty I believe that Daniel spoke about rather the seven-year tribulation. I hope it's not. Trump also said you'll be hearing other countries coming in over a relatively short period of time so you can have peace in the Middle East.

This is a statement I want to tell you of biblical proportions. So while we have some positive news on the one side, we have Russia, Turkey, and Iran and their allies reacting in a different manner to these rising desires of peace. Turkey, known as Togarma, I believe in the prophecy of Ezekiel 38:29 is getting very active and also very aggressive. One unforeseen move so far is that Turkey is getting closer to Iran. Now what is so unusual about this move is that Turkey is Sunni Muslim and Iran is Shia Muslim, two religious factions that never got along.

Two factions that even gave rise to conflicts in Iraq and Lebanon. Groups like ISIS, okay, are Sunni Muslim who lately called for the extermination of the Shia Muslim. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is also common for Sunni extremist group to target Shiites. So what we see here are two enemy groups joining together with a common hatred against Israel. But we know of this because Ezekiel wrote about it 2,500 years ago. We're not surprised of these things. And they are yet even another two enemy groups that have recently been talking together. Hamas, which is Sunni Muslim, and Hezbollah, which is a Shia Muslim.

They're friends. These alliances reminds us of remember pilot and Herod who hated each other and they got together against Jesus. In Luke 22:12 it says that very day pilot and Herod became friends with each other. For previously they had been at enmity with each other. That's like a prophecy I'm telling you. I'm very excited about this news which again confirms the end times direction we're heading toward and see who is at the center of all this. Israel. Israel. Jesus told us to keep our eyes specifically on the events surrounding Israel for these things will trigger the actual start of the end time.

This is what I believe. He said in Matthew 24:32 now learn from the parable of the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and put forth leaves, you know that summer is near. The fig tree is a symbol of Israel. Jesus is saying that when you see this tree giving leaves, not fruits, leaves, leaves, that is when you see Israel coming back, which it did in May 1948. It's still growing. Then you know that summer is near. He's coming is soon, and today we can see these prophecies, these all prophecies are starting to be fulfilled in front of our eyes.

I'm also very excited to study the book of Revelation which gives us so much information about the times we live in and the coming times leading to the second coming. Now let us now go to our traditional children's prayer which the Bible says, right? It's they're a gift from God. If you have your children with you, put your hand upon them, right? Get them close to you. Heavenly Father, we ask for your strong arms of protection to be around our children that you they may be held safely within your love, especially during these times when so many are calling good what you despise and are even encouraging the youth to partake in these evil ways.

Protect our children, Lord, and fill their hearts with your presence. Fill their days and nights with hope and joy. Fill their minds with your truth and light. Let them know through the presence of the what is right, what is true, and teach them to shy away from evil. And I saw this and did the name of the one sitting at your right hand, Yeshua Mashiach. Amen. Amen. Let us now follow our study of this great book of Revelation. We have covered the first eight verses of this chapter one. There we have seen how our creator is powerfully described as the unique and only God.

But this was only an introduction for the rest of the chapter. Completes the whole picture, and the more one reads this chapter, the more one feels the blessing coming out of these words, the blessing from the promise spoken of in verse three which guarantees blessings on those who what? Read and hear and heed the words of this book. These descriptions are also a great prelude for the many things we're about to see in this great book. Let us begin by reading verses 9 to 10 of chapter one. I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ who was on the island that is called Patmos, for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and I heard behind me a loud voice as a trumpet. The revelation was giving on an island called Patmos, which is today situated in modern Turkey. Tradition says that John was banished there by Emperor Domitian who ruled between 81 to 96 AD and who persecuted the believers in Jesus. This maybe, but there's nothing in the text which tells us that the reason for John being there was because of banishment. Patmos was not a deserted island. It was inhabited. People lived there. There was even a great gymnasium and there were many temples.

The only thing that the text tells us is that John was there for the word of God and for the testimony of Yeshua Mashiach. A very possible reason why John found himself in this island might be so that he may be with God and fully grasp his message. For one to hear what God has to say, one needs to have that special one-on-one and unique time with him away from all distractions to discover his word, his will, or message for us. Here we find John away from the mainland, away from his everyday busy schedule of preaching through Asia so that his whole mind and soul and body may be prepared to best receive this great revelation.

But this is a truth, by the way. This truth which runs through the scriptures when God speaks to man, he requires their full attention. This is a crucial point we have here. The first word of the great encounter between God and Jacob in Genesis 32 are then Jacob was left alone. Jacob was surrounded with so many people and he must have been so busy with so many children, by the way. But his encounter with God required him to give his full attention for he would be at that time God's sole audience. It was when Moses was alone, when he led the flock to the back of the desert that the Lord appeared to him.

And so it was with Elijah who needed to flee from the land of Israel. So you know what? You know where he went? He went to Mount Sinai. He climbed the mountain like Moses. He wanted to meet God. Where are you, God? And when Rabbi Shaul, Paul, met Yeshua on the road, this is interesting. When he met Yeshua on the road to Damascus, he was surrounded also with many people. But we are told that these people did not understand the word spoken to Paul, nor did they see what Paul saw because every encounter with God is a personal encounter, unique and tailored to fit each one of us.

After this encounter, Paul disappeared, by the way, for three years to meditate, I believe, to grasp this new truth about the Messiah he just discovered. What then can we learn from Patmos? It is when we are alone and face-to-face with God, it is then when we can hear him, feel him, and experience his mighty presence. Knowing God and meeting God is primarily a personal letter. At the core of biblical faith lies that living and personal relationship with God. Every believer should have this connection before they can enjoy all the other benefits of congregation life. Many start the other way around, unfortunately, securing their first identity in the relationship they develop with others and often get lost in the process and become so disappointed.

Let us learn from men and women of God from the scriptures how important daily time on an island with God is needed. Obviously, one doesn't need to go to a physical island. Neither is there a demand for isolation from society or friends. Patmos may be this corner of a room where you meet the Lord in your prayer and in your daily Bible reading about his essence. This is where you read about his essence, his nature, and your desire to grow more and more like him. There you know he will speak to you. Do you want to experience great and powerful revelation?

Have your Patmos at home. Meet him every day at a place that you call Patmos, and you will be blessed. And who knows, seeing these times that we live in, maybe you'll get a great revelation like we're going to read here. You know, there's an ancient saying that the Torah was given in the wilderness to make man aware that unless a man makes himself honorless like a wilderness, he will not be able to acquire the words of God. In the same way, when encountering our God, we need to leave all on this side and great things will happen.

Now there's something else in verse nine. See the great triad of three simple words where John reveals the workings of the kingdom of God. He speaks of tribulation, kingdom, and perseverance. And notice that the kingdom is between the two as if to form a sort of triangle with the kingdom right up there. And we see here the prize and the means to be part of the kingdom of God. What is it? Tribulation and perseverance. Tribulation is something all men need to face and overcome. You know, whether you're with God or without God, you're going to have tribulation.

Might as well be with God. The Greek word for tribulation is thlipsis, which simply means pressure. Pressure. We're not living in heaven by the way. I don't know if you realize that, right? We're not living in the millennium either, okay? And the Bible says that the God of this world is the evil one and so he pressures everyone around in an attempt to bring them from the reality of God's presence. The other word perseverance simply means to wait, to remain behind, behind all of that, behind God, right? To endure, to be patient. In secular Greek, the word perseverance was used to describe a sword's power to sustain blows.

I love this. They spoke of an enduring sword like a believer going through the tribulation and having this sword which is what? The word of God, the Bible in there. So these two states of being going through tribulation in life or remaining perseverant describes what should be our habit in the kingdom of God in this earth. Tribulation will counteract with perseverance and will produce fruits for the kingdom of God. This is what we're here, by the way. Yeshua said it, I chose you so that you bear fruits. And so where are my fruits, Lord? Am I bearing fruits?

Someone said that perseverance, the snail reached the ark. Isn't that true? We may have the right impression that it is long road, but the salvation that we unconditionally possess brings great reward at the end. Everlasting life is for all believers that great compensation that lies ahead. But again, why does the text speaks of tribulation and perseverance right at the beginning of the birth of the church, of the Ecclesia? This is what is and would be with the church until Yeshua comes back. The church was not going to change the world. We're going to learn this.

The church will not be able to establish the kingdom of God here on earth as many believe today. This is clear from history and from prophecy as well. This will become even clearer when we will looking to the description of the seven churches in the next chapter. Clearly many of them do not persevere and they should, they should have. And these seven churches, I want to tell you, are prophetic, covering these last 2,000 years until the Messiah comes. These seven churches follow, I want to tell you, the same pattern as that of the seven parables of Matthew 13 where each begins with the words, the kingdom of God is like, the kingdom of heaven is like.

This also show that man cannot change the world. Only God can. John will demonstrate that this new or 2,000-year-old theory of amillenism or postmillenism as they now call it do not fit the scriptures. There's no place for this in the scriptures. This is why they build, by the way, gorgeous and expensive, elaborate churches. Have you noticed this? Because they think this is it. We're going to stay here forever. The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven spoken by Jesus starting in Matthew 13:11 are revealed in these parables and are further brought out in chapter two and three of the book of Revelation.

This is what we'll study next time. Again, history and prophecy clearly show that the world will not accept the kingdom of God. We can see it even today. Now when did John get that revelation? Verse 10. He says I was in the spirit on the Lord's day. Today the Lord's day is understood to be Sunday. Others say it is the Lord's day actually is Shabbat or Saturday. But is this what John meant at this time? What follows in the next pages is not the type of description you want to get when you're resting. Furthermore, the association of the Lord's Day with Sunday came only 100 years after John.

No one called Sunday the Lord's Day. At the time of John wrote this, the day of reunion which really began on Saturday evening had set down and continued on through Sunday. Their light was called the first day of the week. This is how the Bible calls it. So since John was a Jew, if he were to associate the term Lord's Day, he would most likely have meant the Shabbat. Since this is a very significant day of the week. However, however, in the expression the Lord's Day, the emphasis is on the day. Day is the subject and the Lord is the adjective.

So what describes the day there? In those days, they had a very similar saying, something they called the Imperial Day when the Romans spoke of the birthday of Caesar, for instance. So in the context of the revelation that John is about to experience, he's reporting on the Day of the Lord. The title of the Day of the Lord is mentioned some 80 times in the Hebrew scriptures and John is going to bring so many of these prophecies in Revelation. Prophets like Zephaniah spoke so much about these day. He wrote the great day of the Lord is near.

This is what John's going to describe. It is near and and hastens quickly. The noise of the Day of the Lord is bitter. There's there the mighty men shall cry out. Joel's theme is the Day of the Lord. In Joel 1:15 he says I last for that day, for the Day of the Lord is at hand. It shall come as destruction from the Almighty. Jeremiah also spoke of that day as Jacob's trouble. Jacob's trouble. Daniel writes in his last chapter that there will be a time of trouble such as never was. And you know what Jesus quoted this in Matthew 24:21 for then there will be tribulations as not been since the beginning of the world until this time.

No, nor shall ever be. This is what we're about to look into Revelation. The tribulation period will witness the wrath of Satan in his animosity against Israel and against the whole world. It will be the most severe time of judgment that ever fell on the earth. And so it is the Lord's Day, his day also of judgment, the final days before the Messianic age. One more important point. We notice in this verse nine, you know that this is the third time in verse nine that John identifies himself and he says I, John. Why would he do that?

Perhaps because at this time there were so many counterfeit already, false teachers and people who himself called Antichrists in his letters. And there also were books written, so many books by pretenders of those trying to usurp certain authority when it came to the religious writings. These never identified themselves, by the way, those who wrote these books, but they pretended to be Moses, Abraham, and Ezra, and so on, so forth. Take the book of Enoch. You know that after 4,000 years or so of absence, because Enoch was a great grandfather of Noah, he suddenly comes back and says I forgot to tell you something.

I'm back with a new revelation. While the writer of this book pretend that it was written by Enoch, the Jews never bought into it. No one, not Abraham, not Moses, not David knew about this book. And so it is flatly rejected in the Jewish community. Apparently Abraham also came back 2,000 years after and with a new revelation, right, in the book called the Apocalypse of Abraham. The rabbi did not fall for this either. And these books, I want to tell you, this sounds so much like what the Bible says, so much. For example, in the book called for Ezra, for apparently and suddenly he came back too, speaks like John.

The author says that a voice spoke and the sound was as the sound of many waters. But this is what John says. In verse 10, in verse 15, here is one more you can get the feel of. If you read for first Enoch 46:1 and there I saw one who had the head of days and his head was white like wool. But this is what John's going to say. This is what Daniel is going to say. And perhaps to counteract of these forgeries, John identifies himself three times at the beginning and five times in all.

With such widespread imitation around, he needed to authenticate himself and stamp his work as the only original around. John was very well known by all believers, by the way. He spent three years with the Messiah and after this he had a pastoral and teaching ministry for over 60 years. He was an open book for everyone to see and he was a most faithful and reliable man. When he says I, John, he invites us to look at him at his life and to see if there's anything wrong or illegal about him. And after testing the spirits, one may then feel assured that these are the words of God.

We know that Satan tries to imitate what is real. He always does that. Why? Because he wants to diminish the power of the message.

Guest (Male): 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 1888 685 5902 or you may write us at info at Beth Ariel b e t h a r i e l all one word dot c a.

You are also welcome to join us for our Saturday morning services. We are located at 6297 Monkland Boulevard, corner of Madison in NDG. The message is given in English, but we do offer simultaneous translation into French and Russian. Services begin at 11:00 a.m. We have Shabbat school for children of all ages up to and including teens. You may also download audio messages from our website at bethariel.ca and enjoy other in-depth teaching from Jacques Isaac. If you would like to sign up for informative newsletters, log on to our website and add your name to our email list.

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