Holy Scriptures and Israel

Guest (Male): Shalom. Holy Scriptures and Israel A is a ministry designed to share with the Jewish people the good news of the Lord Jesus Yeshua the Messiah and to instruct Christians on the Jewish roots of their faith. And now teaching God's word from a Hebrew Messianic perspective here is Gideon Levitan.

Gideon Levytam: Well, please turn with me to Daniel chapter 7 verse 18. But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever even forever and ever. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast which was diverse from all the others exceeding dreadful whose teeth were of iron and his nails of brass which devoured break in pieces and stamped the residue with his feet. And of the ten horns that were in his head and of the other which came up and before whom three fell even of that horn that had eyes and a mouth that speaketh very great things whose look was more stout than his fellows.

I beheld and the same horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them until the ancient of days came in judgment was given to the saints of the Most High. And the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth which shall be diverse from all kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth and shall tread it down and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdoms are ten kings that shall arise and another shall arise after them. And he shall be diverse from the first and he shall a subdue three kings and he shall speak great words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High and think to change times and laws and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and a dividing of time.

But the judgment shall sit and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole earth shall be given unto the people of the saints of the Most High whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. And all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel my thoughts much trouble me and my countenance changed in me but I kept the matter in my heart. Okay, that's good. I'll I'll stop here with this verse and and Lord willing we'll continue the next time I guess with chapter 8 I apologize because my mind was definitely on chapter 8 this evening.

Let just recollect for a minute before we're going to go into this into this passage this the interpretation. You remember what we said especially that important of understanding the Daniel chapter 2 and Daniel chapter 7 are really going along alongside each other. You must read Daniel 2 with Daniel chapter 7 together. We said that in Daniel chapter 7 really Daniel was the one who received the dream and the interpretation was given to him by the angel. And so as Daniel received the dream it was so important for him the dream and if you remember we have gone for verses 2 to 6 he saw that vision and in that vision he saw the great sea.

He saw the first beast. He saw the second beast and he saw the third beast in verses 2 to 6. In verse 7 and 8 it was the second vision and what he saw the fourth beast and let me just read this one one more time please. In verse 7 it says here listen in verse 7 says after this I saw in a night vision and behold the fourth beast dreadful and terrible. Now the fourth beast represent really the Roman Empire. So we had the Babylonian, we had the Medo-Persian, we have the Greeks and obviously in the fourth beast we have the Roman Empire was dreadful and terrible.

And if you notice as we're going to get to interpretation Daniel was really interested in the fourth beast and specifically what came out of that fourth fourth beast which is ultimately the Antichrist himself. And so in the second vision verses 7 and 8 he saw the fourth beast and the little horn. We covered that. Then in verses 9 to 12 he saw the third vision and we have been transferred from earth to heaven. And what we saw now in these verses 9 to 12 we saw none else but as it says here the ancient of days in verse 9.

The ancient of then of of of days did sit. And then if you notice it says that that that his garment was white as snow, the hair of his head was like a pure wool, the throne his throne was like a fiery flame and his wheels of burning fire. And fiery stream issued and came forth out before him. Thousands and thousands ministered unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set and the books were open and then it says I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke.

I beheld even till the beast was slain and his body destroyed and given unto the burning flame of fire. And so verses 9 to 11 and 12 including is the ancient of days and ultimately the destruction of that beast. We get a kind of a a quick ending to the beast here. We're going to go now and we're going to look exactly how the interpretation came. Let me just read the verse 12 concerning the rest of the beast. They had their dominion taken away from them. Yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

So the lion, the bear and the leopard which is the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian and the Grecian ultimately their life was spared by the intermingled eventually and have enter in if you will to be under the fourth beast the Roman Empire authority. Then verses 13 and 14 they had to do with the second coming of the Messiah and I think that is correct where we have ended last time in our meeting where we talked about the the ancient of days and the son of man. And I think that's the question that that have been asked. The son of man in Hebrew Ben Ha Adam has a reference to the Messiah.

Matthew 24, Matthew 25, Matthew 26 we read at last last our last meeting together. The son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. It has to do with the second coming of the Messiah and you remember what the Hebrew leaders of Israel when the Messiah claimed when the Lord Jesus Yeshua claimed to be the Messiah they did not appreciate that at least they understood that he has calling himself the son of man that he was claiming to be the promised Messiah. That's why the high priest rent his clothes and he says what is left for us to this blasphemy.

Bless me and eventually they rejected, they did not accept the Messiah and handed it over handing him over to the Roman leaders. And then in verse 14 the kingdom of God there was given unto him dominion and glory and the kingdom that all people nations and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion and it says that and it says here and which shall not be be passed away and his kingdom is that which shall not be destroyed. What's the difference between the Babylonian kingdom and the Messianic kingdom? The Babylonian kingdom have been destroyed.

The Medo-Persian have been destroyed. The Grecian kingdom have been destroyed but his dominion shall never his dominion shall never end. And now in verse 15 is that where we really began the verse 15 to 27 the interpretation. And so David Daniel asked his first request in verses 15 and 16 and we covered that as well as well. If you remember Daniel was grieved. He said I was grieved in my spirit and in the midst of my body and the visions of my head troubled me. So he came near unto one of them that stood by and he asked him the truth of all these.

So he told me and he made me known the interpretation of the thing. So this particular angel that he was speaking with now was going to make known to him the interpretation of the dream. So let's go one by one. First of all he gave him a summary interpretation in verse 17 and 18 that he says not notice verse 17 and 18 these great beasts which are four are four kings or four kingdoms which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever even forever and ever.

So what he's saying here is really a summary interpretation here in verse 17 and 18 those four beasts represent four kingdoms. But what's going to happen at the end it says here in verse 18 the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom. And you remember last week we talked about the saints last week last session together. Saints always apply to believers. There were saints prior to the coming of the Messiah. There were saints at the time of the Messiah. There are saints in this present day the church believers in the Lord Jesus the Messiah are called saints but also there will be the saints in the tribulation period.

And those saints that we have a reference here in verse 18 are the Jewish believers specifically has to do with the nation of Israel that one day they the the believers of course after the tribulation the saints of the most high shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever even forever and ever. Once Israel is going to be restored and they're going to accept the Messiahship of the Lord Jesus they are those saints in the future day that God is going to give them the kingdom. And so these saints are definitely looking forward in connection with the with the with the book in which we are studying Daniel has to do with the saints of the nation of Israel in the future.

Now in verse 19 here's the second request that Daniel asking from this angel. And so listen verse 19 to 22. First of all verse 19 and 20 he asked he wanted to know about the man of sin this Antichrist this person that that he specifically is being placed before us here. Notice I would know the truth about the fourth beast. He already learned about the the first the second the third but really he was interested to know specifically he's zeroing in about the fourth beasts the Roman Empire and what's the development of the Roman Empire.

And notice then I would know then I would know the truth about the fourth beast which was diverse from all the others exceeding dreadful whose teeth were of iron and his nails of brass which devoured break in pieces and stamped the residue with his feet. And so he really had an interest to know about that particular fourth beast. And we know from earlier verse 7 and 8 and so on that the fourth beast has to do with the Roman Empire. But the Roman Empire had various stages. And as we looked at the chart which I did not bring with me at this evening we saw how the the fourth beast had been diverse from all the others.

He had the ten horns and then an an an additional an eleventh horn came out and then the killed the three if you will remain eight horns eight horn and he was that that particular little horn that he's speaking about that was ultimately Daniel is interested in finding about. And so in verse 20 he says notice not only he wanted to know of the fourth beast in verse 19. Notice verse 20. Verse 20 says and of the ten horns that were in his head and of the other which came up and before whom three fell even of the horn that had eyes and a mouth that speaking very great things whose look was more stout than his fellows.

Do you notice how he zeros in all the way to that little horn? He began in verse 19 I would I would like to know about the fourth beast. But then in verse 20 he's zeroing in not only I want to know about the ten horns that were in his head. Then he goes further he says but not only this I wanted to know about the other horn that came up. And then he said even of the horn that he's that that I mean before whom three fell even of that horn that had these eyes and a mouth that speak very great things whose look was more stout than his fellows.

You know he was perhaps so as it says here earlier he was so overwhelmed with the vision that he really wanted to know specifically what about this little horn. The eleventh horn that came out of this fourth beast the Roman Empire. How do we know that he was so overwhelmed? Again if you go back to verse 14 there was a I'm sorry yeah verse 15 I'm sorry. I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body and the visions of my head troubled me. He was so troubled with it because he wanted to know exactly what does that mean.

And so verse 19 and verse 20 are really is the desire the second request of Daniel I want to know about that particular horn. And notice it says in verse 20 that had eyes and a mouth that speaks very great things. You notice two expression the eyes speak of a of human intelligence. And the mouth that speaks great things speaks also to us of the fact that he's he's he was not speaking great things of of praises to God. We're going to see it from other passages of the Bible but he was really blaspheming and he was really a cursing a God and God's people.

I want you to put the finger here and just turn for a second to two passages that I want you to turn to. First of all to Revelation chapter 13. Revelation 13. So he wanted to know about this particular person. Revelation 13 tells us about him in verses 3 4 5 and 6. And I just mentioned some of the things in Revelation 13 verse verse 3. Everybody got it. Revelation 13 3. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world wondered after the beast.

And they worshipped the dragon and they gave power unto the beast. And they worshipped the beast saying who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth. Listen again. There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things. Now what are those great things? Verse 5. Great things and blasphemies. And power was given unto him to that he will continue for 42 months. If you notice 42 months divided a and you see that is three and a half years. It is the specifically has to do with the a second half of the tribulation period.

And he continue verse 6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven. See that little horn of chapter 7 of the fourth beast it's the same beast that is mentioned in Revelation chapter 13 that speak great things of blasphemy and he's speaking them against God. He's speaking them against his tabernacle and he's speaking them against God's people. And that is exactly what the Antichrist the counterfeit Messiah will do in that particular a tribulation period. Go back now to second Thessalonian chapter 2.

Second Thessalonian chapter 2 here's the apostle now writing to the Thessalonian warning them that there will be coming an apostasy. Apostasy is coming before there will be that a rapture of the church before the church is going to be taken out of here. And when something is going to happen there will be an apostasy, there will be a departure from the truth by professing Christians if you will. There will be coldness and certain things like that will will happen prior to the to the a rapture before the church is going to be taken. Listen second Thessalonian chapter 2.

And I'm reading from verse 1 second Thessalonian 2 in verse 1 to 4. Now we beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus the Messiah and by our gathering together unto him. Notice he's coming and our gathering together unto him. Verse 2. That you be not shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as for from us as that day of Christ that has to do with the tribulation this day of Messiah is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day that's the tribulation period shall not come except there be falling away.

And then listen first and the man of sin shall be revealed the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that he's worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God showing himself that he is God. Now if you just put those scriptures together Daniel 7 Revelation 13 second Thessalonian chapter 2 if you take those passages together you notice he's speaking about one man who is going to rise one day in the future day. It's going to be at the time that he's speaking about the day of Christ the tribulation period the day of Messiah.

He's going to be the world ruler of that time. He is going to be the final king of the Roman Empire at that particular time. And if you remember put together remember what happened in a in a Daniel 2 at the image we saw ten toes at the bottom. God send the son the Messiah came in the bottom of the image not at the top at the head or the shoulders or the or the or the waist or the legs. He came when the Messiah came at the ten toes stage if you will. Same thing with the four beasts that we have here.

When the Messiah going to come at his second coming he's not going to come in when at the period of the lion time or the or the um or the the bear or the leopard but he's going to come at that period of time at the end of the revived Roman Empire which he is eventually is going to deal with that particular Antichrist at the end at the second coming of the Messiah. Now go back please to Daniel chapter 7 and verse 19 and 20 he wanted to know about the man of sin. He wanted to know about the Antichrist and now notice in verse 21 and 22 the eleventh horn eleventh horn that we are reading here about eleven horn a a and he and his war against the saints.

His war against the saints and I'm reading now verse 21 and 22. And I beheld I beheld and the same horn made war with the saints and prevail against them. Again beloved the saints here in verse 21 are the very same saints that we had we read earlier in verse 18 but the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom. In other words there will be believers in the tribulation period. He is going to war against the believers in the tribulation period. Some will die and of course will go to be in the presence of the Lord but some will remain eventually to take over being handed over the kingdom by the Messiah himself.

So he made war that that horn. He made war against against with the same he prevailed against them. And then he said until until what? Until the ancient of days came and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High. And the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. So what's going to happen really in in you know if we put it together with other passages of the Old Testament what the Antichrist is going to do? He's going to war against the saints specifically against the nation of Israel. He's going to persecute the nation of Israel.

He's going to seek to persecute believers in the tribulation period the saints. And ultimately he's going to for a while being allowed to win the battle against the saints. But then it's only for a period of time. It says here in verse 22 until his war with the saints and he will prevail against them will be only until a certain time. And what's going to happen? The ancient of days will come. And judgment was given to the saints. And for the Most High and the time came that the saints will possess this earth. You see he's going to only be allowed to do what he does only for a season.

And the time will come and they will receive the kingdom from the Messiah. Israel will finally receive the kingdom from the Messiah and they will finally rule as it says here and reign will have an everlasting dominion. I want you again to go back to Revelation 13 one more time. Revelation chapter 13. Again we are speaking about the Antichrist in the future day. Revelation chapter 13 we are speaking about him warring against the saints. Revelation 13 say in verse 5 as we have read earlier. There was given unto him a mouth to speak great things of blasphemy and power was given unto him to continue for 42 months.

In other words he will be succeeding for 42 months and the 42 months has specifically connection with the second half of the tribulation period. Then it says in verse 6 and he opened his mouth and blaspheme me against God.

Guest (Male): You have been listening to the Holy Scriptures and Israel with Gideon Levitan. Gideon teaches God's word from a Hebrew Messianic perspective. For more information about this ministry write to Holy Scriptures and Israel box 1411 Niagara on the Lake Ontario L0S 1J0 or visit our website at holyscripturesandisrael.com. You are also invited to Gideon's weekly Bible teaching on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. at Willowdale Christian Assembly Hall 28 Martin Ross Avenue in Toronto. Holy Scriptures and Israel is made possible by your prayers and financial support. If you would like to support the program visit holyscripturesandisrael.com.

God bless you. Shalom Shalom.