Holy Scriptures and Israel

Guest (Male): Holy Scriptures and Israel 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: The study of Daniel chapter 10 With Daniel's when Daniel was in verse 9 in a deep sleep he touched him. The reason for the touching it because he wanted to give Daniel to understand what he was about to tell him. It says in verse 11 And he said unto me oh Daniel a man greatly beloved. Now just pause here for a moment you know the word the expression greatly beloved in Hebrew is an expression that you would say to someone who is a who is a sweet person. You know sometime a a husband will say to his wife sweetheart.

It's a very same expression. You know I'm thinking about the here the the the English says greatly beloved. I think of an expression that our person John often use in the in the gospel that he was the apostle whom Jesus loved. The apostle whom Jesus loved and you can see the kind of a man he was that God honored Daniel. This man saw something special about Daniel because he was a man that has a concern for the things of God. He was a man that has a concern for the people of God and so he's touching him and he said to him oh Daniel a man greatly beloved.

He said to him you understand understand the word that I speak unto you and stand upright for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken these words unto me I stood trembling. You see the reason he's saying these particular man this angel he said you know the reason that I was sent I was sent to that you will understand certain events that are going to happen to your people Daniel. So what does he do what's happened here? He is a he's a when he when he told him that when he had spoken to him he stood trembling.

He's still trembling at that at that sight of that special man that came to give him these instruction. And then verse 12 the angels say that he was sent. Notice when this angel said that he was sent from he was sent to give Daniel an answer to his prayer already when Daniel began to pray three weeks prior 21 days prior. Notice it says in verse 12 Then said he unto me Fear not Daniel for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and to chasten thyself before thy God thy words were heard and I have come for thy words.

Now you know you know I don't know about you but in my prayer life many times there are certain things that I really desire that the Lord will help and answer with and it seems like that the time is passing and there's no answer. And sometime I wonder one is wondering you say well didn't God hear what I have heard on my heart to tell him? Didn't he hear my words? And it's for all of us it's the same thing. Sometime we feel like I'm praying and I'm praying and I'm praying and the answer do not come exactly when I need it.

It doesn't seem like it it comes. I'm how long time I am going to wait? Well apparently we learn here a very important lesson. The whether God gives us the answer immediately or not. From the first time that we are crying to the Lord about anything God heals already in the beginning when we say something or even even if we don't say even if we think about something in our heart and we we in a silent praying to the Lord God already heard it. God already knows that even though it seemed like it didn't rise above the ceiling.

It seemed like it didn't go up enough. Does God is God hearing my prayer? That is how sometime we do feel. Well according to this verse verse 12 Daniel's words came up before the Lord already from the first time that Daniel began to seek to know the mind of God about the the future of his people the people of Israel. For he says to him fear not Daniel for from notice the word from the first day by the way if you go back to verse 2 for a minute. In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

Verse 3 I ate no pleasant bread neither came flesh no wine in my mouth neither did I I I I anoint myself at all until three whole weeks were fulfilled. Then we have in our verse verse 12 where it says for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and to chasten thyself before thy God thy words were heard and I have come for thy words. You know this is actually is very comforting for us. It's very comforting for us because even though at time we feel like God does not answer immediately or he doesn't seems like he hearing my prayer the words of the believer are definitely being heard by God.

And God in his timing he's going to give us an answer. I know it's easily said words like that and you know when you are in trouble and you really need the help of the Lord a a and you say wow oh I need you now God and it doesn't seem the answer doesn't seem to come. It is a real comfort to know that he does hear and he is going to come up with the answer. He either can say yes or he can say no we don't like that or he can say wait. And for us we like yes right?

Who likes no? And who likes wait? Wait you know oh I you know a a you know sometime you see on a on a on a on a desk of a secretary God I want patient and I want it now. Well you know what the verse tell us in Romans tribulation worketh patience. You want patience well God is going to get to take us through a a lesson of tribulation of trials and that's the way God is we we we work in a life of his people but here is a man that had a concern for his people and God is giving him the answer but the answer did not arrive at the time that he wanted.

It arrived later but now we are going to find out why did the answer did not arrive immediately on the first day when Daniel prayed. In fact In fact Daniel could have have the answer on the first day but there's something that we learn here from this verse the next verse is that it is a there's a new testament lesson as well for us from verse 13. Notice what it says in the next verse. In verse 13 we learn the reason for the delay. Look at the reason for the delay verse 13. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me this man this angel saying one and 20 days 21 days that is three full weeks.

But one of the chief princes came to help me. And I remained there with the king of Persia. Now you know this is a very interesting verse actually verse 13 is very interesting in this particular chapter. Why? Is because that man apparently is an angel. An angel that God was sending to give the instruct to in instruction to Daniel about the future days of Daniel's people Daniel people is Israel. But apparently this is something that Daniel does not see just like you and I do not see. In the heavenly realm there are warfares that are going on between the what we would call it the good angels or the angels that serve God and the evil angels the the fallen angels the one that fell with Satan they were we call them today demons.

This is fallen angels. And so what happened that particular angel this particular man as we hear as we have the appearance of him here is an angel coming was sent by by God to give an answer to Daniel but already when he was intending to come it says here that the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for 21 days. The prince of the kingdom of Persia what does that mean? That he is a prince a fallen angel that have been assigned by Satan to if you will to to hinder anything that has to to do with the work of God in Persia.

In other words he was an angel that had been assigned by the devil by Satan in order to do anything to do with the with the nation or with the people of Persia. Well he was hindered for 21 days. Now if you notice by the way they it says here the prince of the kingdom of Persia it was at that time. Why is the prince of the kingdom of Persia? Because at that time Cyrus verse 1 the king of Persia this is the third year of his reign. This is verse 1. In Ezra chapter 1 he was in his first year and the the the assignment that this particular fallen angel the prince of the kingdom of Persia he receive an assignment if you will to stop God's work among his people Israel.

In that particular realm the realm of the kingdom of Persia. Now if you would just want to see the the the interesting thing about the the fallen angels I want to read you couple of verses. Turn to Revelation please. Revelation chapter 12 Revelation chapter 12. In Revelation chapter 12 we are in the middle of the tribulation. In Revelation chapter 12 we read of the of the fact that 1/3 of every of all the angels had fallen with Satan and it followed after him. Notice let me read just couple of verses there. Um I'm going to read verse yeah I'll just read a few a few verses earlier of in chapter 12 what we see in chapter 12 the woman in verses 1 and 2 which is none else but the nation of Israel.

Then verses 3 and 4 we see there appeared another wonder in heaven. And behold a great red dragon having seven heads and 10 horns and seven crown upon his head. And listen and his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven. This is an expression that tells us that this dragon here in verse the red dragon in verse 3 none else by Satan. We're going to find out in a few more verses down there but it says here that he with his tail it says here he drew 1/3 1/3 having seven and then verse 4 with his tail this is verse 4 he drew 1/3 of the stars of heaven.

This is not the literal stars. This is the stars that we often find in a book of Job that has to do with angelic beings. 1/3 in other words can you imagine every third angel is a fallen angel. And if it says in verse 4 and and his tails drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth and the dragon stood before the woman. This is Satan before the woman. This is Israel which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

In other words Satan desiring to stop the woman speaking Israel about Israel and ultimately about the entrance of the Messiah into this world and ultimately really desiring to to completely a frustrate the plan of God. Well if you go now down it says in verse 7 we're going to read now verses 7 and to 9 and there was a war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon fought and his angels. In other words you can see that the dragon namely Satan we're going to get this a little bit in the next verses.

He also have an angels and followers those that follow him. Verse 8 says and he prevailed not neither was the place found anymore in heaven and the great dragon was cast out that old serpent called the devil and Satan which deceived the whole world and he was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him. Now mind you beloved this still takes us into the middle of the tribulation. He's not yet I have been cast down to earth. Oh no he's still in the heavenly realm if you will. He's not near to God like he God's angels and God's servants but he is in the in the in the spiritual realm and he's in a in a sense what he's trying to do and what he does is constantly the is what you call the the spiritual warfare in the heavenly places exist and that what we find out that is exactly what is happening here in Daniel chapter 10 and verse 13.

That man that was seeking to come to give Daniel an answer he was stopped. Perhaps by a more powerful angel fallen angel than him that's why he could not continue and he needed a help from another. Now go back for a minute to Daniel one more time Daniel we're going to go to another passage in in the New Testament but one more time Daniel 10 and verse 13. Daniel 10 and verse 13 says that and I'm repeating that again. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me 1 and 20 days. But listen to what happened next.

Michael one of the chief princes came to help me. And I remained there with the king of Persia. In other words 21 days this particular man this particular angel remained there with the king of Persia in the heavenly realms. Until Michael the angel came to help him. And once Michael the angel helped him and he succeeded to stop the holding of that particular servant that particular angel he could come down to give Daniel the answer. While Michael dealt with that particular angel. Now what's the lesson? I want to I want us to see couple of verses that I marked for myself.

Turn to the book of Ephesians now in the New Testament. One thing for sure we discover as believers that once we came to faith in the Messiah in the Lord Yeshua the Lord Jesus the Messiah we find ourselves that there are still warfare that we have to deal with. Now we are forgiven. We have been cleansed we have been washed. God have forgiven our sins. But for some reason we find out that in a in the spiritual growth and progress we have challenges to face. And we have enemies and we talked about it before the three enemies the world the flesh and the devil.

And what the apostle Paul is doing here in Ephesians chapter 6 he is encouraging the believers to put upon them this is you and I as well the armor of God. Now why why you need an armor? You know I I those I'm sure some of you have been in the military in the army where we need armor because armor is that which protect us and that which enables us to fight the fight. Well we need to put on an armor in order that we might be able to move forward in winning victory after victory practical victory day by day.

And so we find out that we are we are exhorted here and let me read those verses a very interesting verses and I think they are very much connected with Daniel chapter 10. Ephesians 6 verse 10 listen to those verses. Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that he may be able to withstand or to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. And then it give you verse 14 on after verse 18 stand therefore and it gives you and me the the armor of God that we have to put on. But you notice that that this armor of God that he have given us is really given to us in order to be able to withstand or to stand against the wiles of the devil. And there is a warfare that existing. You see the the the believer want to please the Lord the new man want to please the Lord.

One of the enemies that we have is the old nature. The old nature says well I want to do my thing. The new man said I want to do God's things and there's a constant we read it in Galatians. There's a constant the flesh lust against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. But that's one enemy that we have. But we also have the devil is our enemy. And so he's telling us he's telling the Ephesians in Ephesians chapter 6 put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil for we wrestle not.

Now I you know I often think I I when I wrestle when when I'm when I'm fighting about either I'm going to walk with the Lord I'm going to do something for God or either I'm not going to do something for God. I always think about it always when it's come to myself to the flesh the old nature and the new nature. But here we find that the there is a wrestling. We wrestle not against flesh and blood not against flesh and blood but against as it says here in the in in verse 12 against principalities against powers against rulers.

Now when you think about rulers immediately you would think about what we have been just reading in Daniel chapter 10 against rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high or heavenly places. And so you know what happening right now beloved I can I can just imagine even this evening as we are studying here the word of God. And maybe others could have been with us enjoying to be here or maybe you feel like me sometime tired and don't feel like coming to the meeting then you say ah what's the use? And sometime really it is true that there is not only that we have the weakness in the the flesh but there is this this is the the heavenly rulers if you will the heavenly the principalities the spiritual wickedness which are in a in high places in the spiritual realm seeking to stop our spiritual progress.

Telling us you know telling us a to to another word to feed on something else to walk in a in a different way not to follow the Lord not to grow spiritually attacking the people of God and and the devil is very very smart. He's attacking the people of God exactly in the weakest part that we have and therefore he's telling us take upon you or take unto you the whole armor of God that he may be able to withstand in evil days in this evil day. And the devil the wiles of the devil he is so clever.

He's a he's a like we read we read in scripture of him he's a liar from the beginning. He's a he's a murderer. He's he's desiring to stop any spiritual progress among the people of God and in many ways many times he does succeed. And so of course he cannot take us away from the from our relationship from my eternal relationship with from with God but he definitely he definitely can harm our spiritual progress and keep us sad and far away from God. And he's shooting those darts and you he knows your weakness and he knows mine and he shoot those darts and he kept those darts exactly hitting where there is a weakest part in our life.

And that's how he succeed. And that's why the the the apostle Paul said to the Ephesians you know that they are to realize that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but we wrestle against principalities powers rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places. And so when Daniel was for 21 days longing to receive an answer from God the answer was on its way. But it stalled there for 21 days. Why? Because the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood that particular angel as he was on his way. And as he withstood Daniel did not receive his answer.

And if Daniel was not a spiritual man he probably he was sometime like what we are he probably could say ah God really doesn't care and God really doesn't answer prayer and therefore I'll go and do my thing. There's no no use to just pray and talk to God just like sometime we say because we get discouraged because of various things various reasons that creeping into our life. Daniel stood for 25 days was faithful to pray and to confess the need of the people of Israel to mourn on their behalf. And finally the answer came.

And when the answer came now Daniel could receive the instruction from this particular man about the future of Israel. So moving down to verse 14 the purpose of the coming of the angel I'm now back in Daniel 10 verse 14. In verse 14 he's saying now I am come to make you understand. What shall what shall befall thy people? Notice the word thy people. Thy people that's not the church. That's Israel. That's Daniel's people. In fact the church here in the book of Daniel is not seen really. We're dealing with the people of Israel and the future that he has for the people of Israel.

And so he's saying what shall befall thy people in a latter days? For yet the vision is for many days. It will take long time long long time Daniel until the fulfillment of that particular vision that I'm about to give you. It will take long long time.

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 Holy Scriptures and Israel.com. You are also invited to Gideon's weekly Bible teaching on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. and 7 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 Holy Scriptures and Israel.com.

God bless you. Shalom Shalom.