Messianic Viewpoint

Guest (Male): We will learn from today's message that Satan has his throne here on Earth, for he is the God of this age. We learn of Satan's throne in Pergamos. But did he already establish his throne elsewhere in Bible history? We're brought to the passage in Isaiah 14 where Satan says, I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne. I will sit upon the mount of the congregation. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most high. We can say then that even in Isaiah's day, Satan's throne was well established in idolatrous Babylon.

And what if the throne that Satan will establish right there in Jerusalem, right there in the middle of the tribulation when the Antichrist will complete the abomination of desolation. Nevertheless, our eyes will look upward as we consider the Lord God Almighty and his eternal throne room in the heavens, high above and matchless in might, indestructible and unique. Oh, how Satan tries so desperately to imitate truth and draw many to his throne. But far above all principalities and powers sits the true and only king and it is at his throne where we come, drawing near with confidence in his unrivaled grace.

Mortal kings will call their throne by their country's name or by their lineage. For example, Henry the VIII, King of England. But what human king can call his throne the throne of grace? That throne where we could hear his call, come to me, so that we might receive audience, personal comfort and blessing in time of need. Satan's power is short-lived, but at the end, all creation will bow before the throne of God declaring that only he is worthy to receive all honor, glory and power forever. Welcome to this seventh sermon in the book of Revelation with Messianic leader Jacques Isaac Gabizon.

Shalom shalom.

Jacques Isaac Gabizon: Shalom everyone. So you know it's well, by the way, welcome to Bet Ariel congregation to our our listening through Facebook and YouTube. And may the Lord bless you or bless each and everyone of you. It's always exciting by the way to open up the scriptures to see what the Lord has prepared for us especially in these days. For we know that we can always find him in his word, in the scriptures where he speaks and conveys his will to us. His word is described, remember, as a double-edged sword piercing even as the division of soul and spirit, for he knows our thoughts and our needs and he is a refuge for us.

Now, this coming Tuesday, we will have the much anticipated results of the presidential election in the US. Many are not optimistic about the aftermath of this election, no matter which side wins. We have witnessed the deep division between the left and the right. And already I read that the states of Texas and Washington ordered their National Guard to be deployed in case of riots. They say that about 300 active duty members of the Washington National Guard have received military assistant for civil disturbance training. So they are preparing. And the people there realize the importance of this vote.

By the middle of last week, voters have already turned out in historic numbers, casting a record they say, record breaking 62 million early ballots. And because of the high stakes that these results may bring, we at Bet Ariel have decided to hold a prayer meeting live on Facebook and YouTube just before the results start coming in. That is between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Why are we doing this? First, this country, the United States, has richly blessed God's people and Israel. And we remember God's promise in Genesis 12 where he promises to bless those who bless Israel and her people.

And so we will pray for this blessing to be poured on this country at this crucial moment. This is a very fitting passage by the way to look into for this week's Torah portion on or parasha read in synagogues around the world is called which covers this very passage of Genesis 12 to Genesis 17 where we see the Abrahamic covenant repeated and where we see how God is seen so present in the affairs of this world. Furthermore, it is this country, the United States of America, which throughout many centuries held strong and true biblical values and richly blessing this world.

We will pray that these values will be upheld and that the US will remain strong and maintain a strong influence in this world which is in turmoil. Please join us at this time, Tuesday between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. where we will cover this country with prayers, with psalms and worship. If you are in our our constant contact mailing list, you will receive an email with all the information. If you would want to join us at this time and pray with us, log on to our Facebook page or YouTube page and we will, God willing, be going live again at 5:30 Tuesday, November the 3rd.

Amen. We will also by the way pray for world peace. We already see a division being forged day by day, one which was predicted long time ago. This division between the East and the West, between what would be the forces of the Antichrist and that of the king of the North who would lead the armies of Gog and Magog. On the one hand, we hear of peace in the Middle East between Israel and the Arab countries. We've been covering this for many weeks. Last week we for example, as we mentioned, a ray of light which may indicate that there will be peace between Israel and Lebanon.

You know that a couple of days ago, Israel Defense Minister Gantz said that he now hears many voices of peace coming from Lebanon. Furthermore, we also hear of President Trump mentioning nine or 10 other countries who will come in offering peace with Israel soon after the election. These peace treaties may very well be the precursor to the famous false peace treaty spoken of by Daniel the Prophet. A peace treaty that will spark the beginning of the tribulation time. This is a treaty with Isaiah the Prophet names a covenant with death and with Sheol. It seems that it is coming very soon in this world.

And on the other hand, we see those countries who will fall under the king of the North aligning themselves in preparation for war, surely that of Gog and Magog. The king is identified as Russia as we have studied in Ezekiel 38 and his major allies, Turkey and Iran, are making plans for war at the same time as these peace treaties are being signed. All of this was clearly prophesied in the scriptures. This week we heard of inspectors from United Nations Atomic Watchdog who who confirmed that Iran has started building a new underground nuclear plant. And this country is getting more and more bold.

Just two days ago on the 28th of October 2020, Iran vowed to liberate the Golan Heights from Israel. Their forces by the way are already in the vicinities. As for Turkey, they are now, would you believe, building their first aircraft carrier which is planned to be commissioned next year. After that, you know they're planning to build two more. Where are they going with this? So on the one hand, we see peace. On the other hand, we see preparation for war just like Ezekiel told us he would be. He wrote that while Israel will think, will believe that peace is at hand, the forces of Gog and Magog Turkey, Russia and Iran, the last two being already in the borders of Israel will attack it.

This is what it says. Ezekiel predicted 25 years ago. God said through him, he says, therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, that says the Lord God, on that day when my people Israel dwell safely, you will not know it. Then you will come from your place out of the far North, you and many peoples with you and of them riding on horses and great companies and a mighty army. That's Ezekiel 38. Along with these prophecies and others and with such turmoil in this world, we understand that Yeshua is very close. He's coming.

He's coming for his bride. Are you ready for his coming? He said in Luke chapter 21, he says, now when these things begin to happen, look up. Look up and lift up your heads because your redemption draws near. Amen. For we see and believe and are waiting for our going home in our heavenly abode. And soon we will consider the end time prophecies in details when we reach beginning with Revelation 4. But in the meantime, we are considering those other powerful prophecies of the church in the end times and in the chapter two and three of Revelation.

In the early chapter of this powerful and contemporary book of Revelation which is our subject today. Now, before we delve on this and as it is our tradition, let us bless our children. You know, if you have your children with you, just bring them close to you, put your hand upon them. It's always been a comforting thought by the way to know as parents, as grandparents that children have a special place in Yeshua's heart. He said in Matthew 19 he says, let the children come to me because he loves our children. Blessed be his name whose glorious kingdom is coming and is forever and ever.

And so heavenly Father, as David prayed, creating our children a clean heart and renew a right spirit within them. As Moses prayed, may our sons and daughters walk after you and fear you and keep your word and obey your voice. May they serve you and hold fast to you. May our children be strong and courageous and not fear or be in dread, for it is you, Lord our God, who goes with them. You will never leave them nor forsake them. And as I Solomon pray, may our children walk before you as King David walked with integrity of heart and uprightness doing according to all that you have commanded them and keeping your word.

Amen and amen. So we are continuing our study on the seven churches of Revelation. And what we learn here is so enlightening in that it leads us to really understand the church around us, the congregations of God, the purpose for its existence, its history and why there are not so many denomination around us. Have you ever asked yourself why? Once again, we will be looking deeply in Yeshua's last words to the believers before the rapture. Here in chapter two and three, we see that the description, the prophecy of the history of the body of the Messiah and it sounds so much like Israel's history as she was in the wilderness.

In the overall, let's review these seven churches. You know, in the overall of the seven churches, only two really come clean with no condemnation for them. Smyrna and Philadelphia. These are the fighters. These are the workers, the vigilant ones. Yeshua has only great promises for them. These are the ones who hold a great eternal future. One church, Laodicea, doesn't make it at all. In that weak time, it literally pushed Jesus out of the door. And it is left as a mere gathering of people. People in general by the way love to gather. It's not hard to congregate a crowd giving them what they want to hear, but it is not always easy to keep a congregation loyal to biblical requirements.

The majority don't want to be disturbed hearing about repentance, about holiness, about sin and about hell. They do not want to be concerned. They would rather be entertained. So they end up like Laodicea looking more like a community center. But it is the body of God. It is a congregation where God's people gather and so fittingly it is here in the seven churches where the devil is always trying his best to destroy or to undermine its purposes. Here Yeshua reveals to us his schemes. Satan is mentioned by the way five times in the seven letters to the churches.

With the second church, if you remember, godly Smyrna, we see how the enemy could not take away the word from her. And so in his evil bent strategy, Satan joins the crowd. He forms his own church within the kingdom of God in order to confound the new believers. These were the churches that Yeshua called the synagogue of Satan where those who believe he say, look, we are the chosen ones now. Yeshua had warned us in the second parable of the wheat and the tares, how the enemy, it is written, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.

Now with the presence of this congregation around us, the devil made it hard to recognize the true seed within the multitude that represent the visible church. That's why we have problems sometimes. The three other churches, Pergamos, Thyatira and Sardis are represented to us as congregation which produce some good works, but at the end tolerate what is evil in their midst. Tragedy. That's a tragedy. These churches by the way are on the fence. They are commanded for their faith and works, but they did not pay attention to the back door. Or perhaps they got tired fighting and forgot the reason why a church exists and so they tolerated the presence of false doctrines in their midst.

These are like semi churches if you want. While some people work, other destroy. While some produce fruits, evil slowly makes the congregation it's a boat. But while all of these things are prophesied and even visible today, let us not forget one thing, that Yeshua owns the congregation. He is the creator and owner of the Ecclesia. He is the one who sustains the godly ones, for he is the one who said in Matthew 16, I build my church. And so it is a great comfort by the way, great comfort to know that he Yeshua holds them up by his right hand and walks in the midst of this congregation which work hard and always uplift his name.

Now before we look at the next three very problematic churches which have turned away from God and which covered the dark ages of the history of the church, Pergamos, Thyatira and Sardis, there's one thing that the Lord reminds us of and we have to remember. There's always there's always a remnant of believer in every congregation or denomination. That's what we learn here. Here we learn never to throw the baby out with the bath water. As evil and as far from the scriptures a Christian denomination or group of people can be, there might be perhaps even one believer there and Yeshua doesn't want to take any chances.

He shows us how we too can be open and loving while being very vigilant and protective of the word of God. These seven letters contain a great teaching on evangelism. We are called to to to what? To seek and to save whoever we can, wherever they are. We are to give the benefit of the doubt and remember first Corinthians 13 which says believes all. We should believe everyone unless we have proof not to. And throughout these letters, Jesus has already a few words of encouragement to the remnant, no matter how bad the church or denomination is to Ephesus who was beginning to lose her first love.

He spoke to those hard-working believers and said, you have perseverance and have endured for my namesake and have not grown weary. This is what he was looking for. To Pergamos who tolerated the teaching of Balaam in their midst, he recognized those overcomers. And he says in 2:13 he says, you hold fast my name and did not deny my faith. They were in their midst. To Thyatira who was worse by accepting the ravages of Jezebel, we spoke about her. He turned to the remnant and says, I know your deeds and your love and faith and service and perseverance that your deeds of late are greater than the first.

And to Sardis which he deemed dead, he searched and found those who are alive in there and said, but you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments. And they will walk with me, he said, in white, for they are worthy. It is these types of people we out also to seek and encourage and see what he says to the last lost church, Laodicea, whom he spews out of his mouth. He doesn't leave her, but he hopes, he hopes and says to her, behold, I stand at the door and I'm knocking.

Maybe somebody's going to hear and open that door. And he will come with me. He says, I will come and eat with him, dine with him. Yeshua just did not reject the whole field. He was very patient and this is a great truth to remember in these days when we see congregations around us moving away from the fundamental teaching of the scriptures. Another important element to consider is that in churches prophetic journey that we have seen before throughout the last 2,000 years, they each seem to follow the evolution of the parable of the kingdom that you have in Matthew 13.

There's a strong correlation between the two. Both are the direct words okay, of Yeshua concerning the journey of the church. It was after the rejection of the Messiah by the religious leaders that Yeshua in Matthew 13 gave these seven parables which explain the condition and development of the church throughout the coming age of grace. These seven parables together with the seven churches open up great doors of understanding of this congregation of our time especially. In both the parables and the church history, the wheat that is the believers become small minority until the visible church is devoid of believers altogether like it was with all the prophets in the Hebrew scriptures who were rejected by the civil and religious authorities in the history of Israel.

So it was and it is with the history of the church. The remnant was discarded by the majority tares. You know that Jesus made this correlation already with those believers who are persecuted and he said to them in Matthew 5, he says, rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You see how the connection he makes? And so it was to be with many men and women of God who will find themselves fighting against history and the powerful establishment of nominal Christianity.

With Ephesus, it was clear by the way. If you remember again that it was not the whole world that would believe as in the parable of the sower which says that as soon as the word of God was proclaimed, the evil one does his best to take it away and so only a few remain. With Pergamos and Thyatira, we learn that with time the tares will overtake the visible church as it is in the garden, right? Do you know that in a garden, think of a garden. If left unchecked, weeds will usually outcompete your garden vegetables for sunlight, for nutrients, for water and would eventually take it over.

This is what the parable of the kingdom says will happen to the church and it did by the way when we consider the last 2,000 years and today's events. In the parable of the mustard seed, we see it grow to great heights. And with the leaven in the next parable, we see how it overtakes sound doctrines. So by the time of Sardis, the treasure is hidden hidden and completely so. You know that in the parable of the kingdom, Israel is the hidden treasure. Many are surprised of this interpretation. You know why? Because we've got so used to see Israel out of the picture.

Why? Because it's hidden. But one cannot speak of the history of the church and this we're going to see. One cannot speak of the history of the church without considering Israel as well. For the church stems from Israel as Jesus says, salvation is of the Jews. Philadelphia, the next parable speaks of the costly pearl which itself represent the true church of God within the visible church. And this church produce and still is producing many great fruit for the kingdom of God as we will see very soon. And until the last the parable of the dragnet which is represented by the church of Laodicea where Jesus is seen outside the congregation.

He's knocking at the door, trying to awaken the believer if there was any. And at this last church ends with the history of the church age. So does the parable that of the dragnet found in Matthew 13 47 to 50. The parable also sums up the history of the visible and in visible church until the end. Yeshua gives us a clear picture. See what he says. Verse 49 and 50. So it will be at the end. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just and cast them in the furnace of fire.

There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth, the good ones in the basket. Okay, we'll go of course with him. For centuries, the tares were allowed to be the majority in the visible church and in all other religious religions that is outside the scriptures as it is today. But Jesus says at the end, they will be thrown in the fire. Now let us now consider the history of the church through the trio of Pergamos, Thyatira and Sardis. Let us begin with Pergamos. The city itself was originally a high fortress being situated on the summit of a hill.

And you know what happens when one thinks of himself so high. The meaning of its name fits so well the period of time the church covers when it began to introduce worldly things in its midst and slowly forgot its own identity. We can find two great words in the word Pergamos, Pergos which describes a high tower and the other Gamos which means marriage. The two words correctly described the time when the church married itself to the world and then became such a big tower just like the mustard seed which is her corresponding parable. Many interpret this parable as the growth of the good church, but by now, today, we can look back and see that it simply doesn't work.

It is the opposite. The mustard tree shows a marked digression. And this tree was already known to be very invasive at the time of Yeshua, the midrash or the mishnah forbade the Jews to plant a mustard tree in their gardens. They were permitted to plant it outside in the field. Why? Because it grew fast and it was aggressive and it would cover everything. The Greek word for mustard is sinapi, a word which is thought to be from meaning to hurt, to sting. And even in Hebrew, meaning a poor poor mountain. But the mustard seed was let grow within the church of Pergamos and it is to this church where we see the tolerated, the accepted, the present of the destructive Balaam and furthermore, they accepted the present of the which we have seen last time.

It was the beginning of man-made religion. But notice what Yeshua promises to the remnant of this congregation. To him whoever comes, I will give him the hidden manna to eat. Let me ask you a question. Why is the manna hidden? Why is it? Is not the manna Jesus himself identified himself in John chapter 6 and he said, he who feeds on me will live because of me. He was public. He said that publicly. This is the bread which come down from heaven, not as your fathers ate the manna and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.

The manna was overshadowed by the mustard tree. Yet this hidden manna represents the Messiah, the founder, the sustainer of the churches of God. And here they hide him like Israel is hidden. If the manna is hidden, it is shown in other secret by the way. It is hidden to those who refuse to see, but very clear to those who have a humble and contrite heart and understand the need for of God. In the end, Pergamos changed the riches of God for the riches of the world. You know, Pergamos may remind us of one of Aesop's fables that was written around 600 BC.

So the story is about a dog who saw his image reflected in a pool of water beneath his feet. Through though he already had a bone in his mouth, he was jealous of the bone he saw in the other dog's mouth. But it was his own reflection that he saw, but he wanted so much what he thought was a better bone. He opened his mouth to snatch at the bone's reflection and of course he lost his bone and it fell into the water. How accurately this pictures the church of Pergamos. She was attracted by the things of this world.

You know what? She lost it all. Imagine imagine the dog had the real thing in his mouth and yet lost it to gain something that had no reality to it. The same with those who are changing the everlasting truth of God for those of the world outside.

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 Bet 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 at Bet Ariel b e t h a r i e l all one word .

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 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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