Holy Scriptures and Israel

Guest (Male): Shalom. 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. 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 exalted here and let me read those verses are 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 you 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 up to 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 that there's a constant we read it in Galatians. There's a constant the 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 as 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 of 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 day 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 sometimes tired and don't feel like coming to the meeting then you say ah what's the use. And sometimes 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 a 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's so clever.

He's a a a 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 our 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 we 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 if 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 are 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 are 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 later 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. Now before we continue from verse 15 if you just you've been in in Ephesians I want you to just read Ephesians 3. I marked myself another verse. Ephesians 3 in verse 10. Using that as expression principalities and powers in heavenly places. When we talk about principalities and powers and heavenly realms it has to do with the angelic beings which the the heavenly realm.

Notice Paul is saying this time in Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 10 Paul speaking about that mystery which was hid in God in verse 9. The mystery this is the the church which is a a composition of Jew and Gentile together united the heavenly company. This was a mystery which was hid in God. That's what it says verse 9. God who created all things by Jesus the Messiah. Then it says in verse 10 to the intent that now this is in the present time in which we lived in the church age unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church their manifold wisdom of God.

You know here's another thing. We learn about you know we're talking about the heavenly places. We're talking about the principalities the powers in heavenly places. You know that the in this present day in the church age the wisdom of God in uniting both Jewish people and non-Jewish people in the body of Christ the body of Messiah. And in this this unique company heavenly company that the the Lord in a in a in a in a heavenly relationship with the Lord Jesus the church as it says here in verse 10 God have intended that the wisdom of God might be manifested to the principalities powers in heavenly in heavenly places might be known by the church.

In other words when the angels looking down upon the church and again I'm saying the church is not the bricks and the walls and the cement the church is the people of God. When they want to see the wisdom of God the when they want to see the the the the the plan of God they kind of look down and what do they see it. They see it among the people of God in the church when they look at the believers and they see how God had brought about the body out of every people tongues and nation united together even though many time in practice we fail.

But in position he had he had worked it out. Yet when they look down and they see the people of God in in harmony what a a lesson they learn about the manifold wisdom of God. Now one more less verse here in New Testament if a first Peter first Peter chapter 3 first Peter chapter 3 and verse 22. First Peter chapter 3 and verse 22 talking about the sufferings and rewards in a in a in a prior verses preceding verses. Notice what it says in verse 22. Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God.

Angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. When the Lord Jesus the Messiah gone to heaven and is on the right hand of the majesty on high on the right hand of God. Now notice what happened as the exalted man in heaven angels authorities powers have been made subject unto him. And so we can see here angels talking about the as men now the angels are subject unto the person of the Lord Jesus and the Messiah. Powers as it says in in Peter as well and the and 30 it says here a a authorities.

Now mind you every authority even in this world is ought to be and will be subject unto him. But what I wanted to say to show you that there is the fallen angels are not not want not subjecting themselves to him. They will but eventually they will. But now angels powers authorities in heavenly places are subject unto him. Now as we continue in Daniel chapter 10 the final verses verses 15 to 19 how does Daniel react when he received this information from this man. The man telling Daniel from the first day that thou has set thy heart to understand and to chasten thyself before thy God thy words were heard.

And I came for thy words to give you an answer. But something happened. The prince of the kingdom I'm reading verse 12 and 13 the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for 21 days. But lo Michael one of the chief princes came helping me. And I remained there with the king of Persia. And now I come to make the understand what shall befall thy people in the later days. For yet the vision is for many days. And so in verse 15 Daniel's reaction. Notice and when he had spoken such words unto me I set my face towards the ground and I became dumb.

You know Daniel again he's falling on his face now. You know you look at him and he says Daniel what's going on with you. You're falling you're getting up you're falling you're getting up. I don't know what you're going to do if you're going to see such a man like this. I can tell you you and I will fall and might stay a lot longer than Daniel on our face to the ground. Well Daniel again look at the reaction that he had. He fall on his face again. And he's kind of it's an awesome sight that he sees something unique.

So he again he set his face towards the ground and he became dumb couldn't speak. Verse 16 the angel's touch again he touching. It says in verse 16 and behold one like the similitude of the sons of men touch my lips. Then I open my mouth and I speak. And he said unto me and I and I said unto him that stood before me oh my Lord by the vision my sorrows are turned unto me and I have retained no strength. Now some people because of the expression here my Lord they take it to mean that that is more than just an angel that must be the son of God the Messiah.

But I want just to mention it is interesting the Hebrew word the Hebrew word here in verse 16 and also 17 is not Adonai but it's Adoni. The Hebrew word Adoni simply means sir. If it would have been Adonai this is another word for God. But here the expression is sir. As and so when he says when he says oh my Lord it's not a capital L. It is my Lord in a sense of Adoni not Adonai. When I would walk on the streets in Jerusalem in Israel and I will say I will ask I will want to ask a certain gentleman excuse me sir what is the time.

I will say slachli Adoni ma hasha what is the time. I will not say to him Adonai because Adonai is a reference to God. Adoni is a reference to man or a certain individual. Adoni A D O N I. Or to make it E like the sound or double E Adon E. So it's double E but it's really Adoni A D O N I. And so we see here that he was saying to the after he touched his lips then he could speak. And now he's speaking to this particular person to this angel. Verse 17 the confession there was no strength in that.

He's confessing in verse 17 he's saying for how can thy servant of my Lord talk with this my Lord. For as for me straight away the remain is no strength in me neither is there breath left in me. So he's Daniel saying you know what sir I simply did not have any strength in myself when I when when you have arrived and you have spoken to me. And remember this is an angelic being. This is a unique servant of God coming to tell Daniel some future event of the people of Israel. If that particular angel would really be the Lord Jesus in his pre-incarnate why would he need the help of Michael in verse 13.

The Lord Jesus is the eternal son of God does not need anybody's help. Every every angel serve him. But this particular angel was withstood for 21 days by a fallen angel which make it necessary for Michael to come to help him so he could go and give the answer to Daniel. Verse 18 again the touch of the angel with this give Daniel strength. Verse 18 then they came again he came again and he touched one like the one like the appearance of the son of men and he strengthened me. You notice this touching and touching and touching.

It remind me again when the when the Lord Jesus the Messiah was transfigured in in in Matthew 17 and in Luke. Remember they fell like like dead. And you know they heard the voice of the father saying this is my beloved son. And then he touched them. He touched them. That touch is is it just show the care and the love of God. And also earlier in verse 16 he touched his lips. And the touching of the lips in other words it was the servant of God this angel were giving touching Daniel's lips giving him an an authority to speak and also giving him an ability to speak.

You remember what what Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 6 when he saw the glory of the Lord. And he saw he saw the glory of the Lord and he says he says woe is me. For I am a man with unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people with unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the king. Then he took the coal from the altar and he touched his lips. And then Isaiah could speak for God. Well here we see Daniel the same thing here. He touched my lips and I opened my mouth verse 16.

In verse 17 he confessed that there was no strength in him. In verse 18 he touched him again and he gave him the strength. And in verse 19 Daniel was strengthened. And now he can hear what the angel have to tell him about the future of the people of Israel. It says here in verse 19 and he said oh men greatly beloved fear not. Peace Shalom be unto thee. Be strong yea be strong. And when he had spoken unto me I was strengthened and said let my Lord speak for thou has strengthened me. You see Daniel now can receive that vision.

He can receive that vision. He can hear this man with the with what he has to tell him about the future events of the nation of Israel. And then notice the final verses. In verse 21 20 and 21 the the first of all here's the the message that the this man is saying to him. In verse 20 a he asked Daniel do you understand what I'm telling you. When then said he knows thou wherefore I come to thee. Do you know why I came to you. And I and now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia.

And when I'm gone forth lo the king of Greece will come. You see now what he's saying. Say Daniel you see and why I came. I came to tell you the vision. But now when I'm going to finish to tell you the vision I'm going to go back. And when I'm going to go back I'm going to fight again with the prince of Persia. There is a warfare in the heavenly realm. And when I'm going to finish with the prince of Persia now the prince of Greece will come. You remember in the order of the kingdom that we have in the image Babylon you know Persia Greece.

Well you can notice that. You know every at that time every kingdom would have an assigned fallen angel. And just the same like there will be an assigned good angel to serve and to be a blessing to the people to the people. There will be also a fallen angel. So when he going to finish with the with this is the the prince of Persia will come. And now notice that quickly verse 21 Michael will be there the helper in that particular fight in verse 21. And I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth.

I'm going to show you what is noted in the scripture of truth. And there is none that holdeth with me in verse 21 holdeth or upholds me against. There's no one that uphold me against. So uphold me in those things but Michael your prince. See Michael is the prince that have been assigned for the nation of Israel. You notice that there's a prince of Persia. You notice in verse 20 there's a prince of Persia Greece. You notice in verse 21 there's Israel's prince which is Michael himself. And now notice what we read in the last verse for today verse 1 of chapter 11.

Also the angel continued this man continued to speak. Also I this is that man this is that angel to speak to Daniel. I in the first year of the Darius the Mede even I stood to confirm and to strengthen him. And the him here is Michael. So what is he saying. You see Daniel I'm going to come to tell you now about the the future events the things that concerning your people Daniel. But when I'm going to finish to tell you I'm going to go back. I'm going to have to have a warfare with the prince of Persia the falling angel.

Then with the prince of Greece. And I want you to know that the only one that is helping me that is upholding me is Michael the prince of Israel. But I want you to know Daniel chapter 11 verse 1 that I also in the time in the first year of the Darius the Mede I stood to assist to confirm and to strengthen Michael in the time when Darius was first king the the the Darius the the Mede. In the first year I have helped Michael. And so what we find out really in this introduction chapter 10 verse 1 to chapter 11 verse 1 is that all the prelude all the events that happen before Daniel received that particular a that particular message vision which is going to be now next in chapter 11 verse 2 into chapter 12.

And about verse 4 and then there would be the final conclusion of the book of Daniel.

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.