Holy Scriptures and Israel

Announcer: 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 7 But this is a Messianic title that this Jesus is none else but the Messiah, the promised Messiah that God said through the prophet Daniel in chapter 7 in verse 13. I saw in the night vision and behold one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the ancient of days to God the Father. And they brought him near unto him and there was given unto him dominion and so on. And you see what the beautiful thing is that we do not need to even look into the New Testament though we have to and we should to, we should to discover whether who is the Messiah and when he will come and what is his is if you really his credentials of being the Messiah, we see it right here in Daniel chapter 7 in the visions that Daniel has seen the four beasts, Babylon, Medo Persia, Grecian, Roman at the final stage of the Roman Empire we see that finally they will be destroyed and God the Father, the ancient of days was going to give a kingdom to the Messiah himself which will never ever beloved be destroyed.

You know there will be one kingdom that will never ever be destroyed. Countries will come and country nations will come and go. Great men will come and go in many generation, even in our generation. Men that have had power and possessions and authority came and gone. But there will be one upon a time when there was someone who will come who will never ever have an end. And that has to do with the son of man, the Lord Jesus the Messiah. And so I I think it's such a precious thought to get a hold on in our own hearts as believers in Yeshua the Messiah that there is coming a day when the world that is so messed up today that we see today will no longer will be in that condition once the Messiah himself going to take his rightful place in this earth.

And so just just to verse 14 I'm back in Daniel chapter 7 and verse 14 it says and there was given unto him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people, nations and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion. Notice this expression which shall not pass away, which shall not pass away. And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. I mean just look at history. Look at great nations that have have led including by the way including the nation of Israel which have had kings who ruled them for a time.

Godly kings were ruling Israel for a bit longer than others. And there was blessings. But even death have an end. It is only this a kingdom reigned by one king which will never have an end. And that kingdom has to do with the Messianic kingdom reigned and led by the Messiah Yeshua himself. Now there's coming a day and he's going to come and take his rightful place here in this world. Now if you if you don't mind I would like also for me to go to couple of verses that has to do with the clouds.

Turn to Psalm 18 please. Psalm 18

Guest (Male): 80 or 88

Gideon Levytam: 18 Psalm 1 8 Psalm 18 verses 11 and 12 Psalm 18 verse 11 He made darkness his secret place. His pavilion round about him with dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. And the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed hailstones and coals of fire. Twice it's mentioned in these two verses that his pavilion round about him with dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. Now New Testament Matthew chapter 16. We were in Matthew earlier but this time it's Matthew chapter 16. And then verse 27 and 28 Matthew chapter 16 verse 27 and 28 and I'm reading this as well.

Verse 27 and 28 for the son of man shall come in the glory of his father with his angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you there be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they shall see the son of man coming in his glory. And you notice by the way that he's going to come and he's going to come with his as it says with in in he shall come in the glory of his father with his angels. And then he going to reward those and men according to their works.

And Revelation now chapter 1 and verse 7 Revelation chapter 1 and verse 7. Revelation chapter 1 and verse 7 says this. Behold he comes. This is John writing the apostle John. Behold he comes with clouds. And every eye shall see him. And they also which pierced him. And all the kindles of the earth shall wail because of him even so amen. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, says the Lord which is, which was and with is, which is to come, the Almighty. And so you can see behold he's coming with clouds and every eye shall see him.

We read Matthew 24. We read Matthew 25. We read Matthew 26. We read in the in the in Matthew 16. We read in the Revelation chapter 1. He's coming with clouds and every eye shall see him. And so in Daniel where we have looked at these verses verses 13 and 14 of Daniel chapter 7 the fourth way vision had to do with the second coming of the Messiah and the kingdom of God which he will take in the future day. And so after this point we have the visions that Daniel has seen, those four visions one after the other.

And now by the time he has seen those visions notice now I am reading now back in Daniel chapter 7 and verse 15 on. From verse 15 to the end of the chapter we are really dealing with the interpretation of the dream and the visions which he has seen. And so first of all in verses 15 and 16 Daniel has a request. In verse 15 what we read we we read the effect on Daniel after he saw that those visions, look at the effect. It says in verse 15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body and the visions notice plural of my head troubled me.

After Daniel seen all these visions he was troubled. He wanted to know information about those those particular visions which he have seen. He was very much concerned. He wanted to know what's going on. And so what we read he was so troubled very similar to King Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 2 who also was troubled when he saw this particular dream that God has shown to him. And so in verse 16 now we find the request from Daniel. Daniel requesting interpretation from the angel. In verse 16 I came near unto one of them that stood by and I asked him the truth of all this.

So he told me and he made me know the interpretation of the things. You see Daniel wanted really to know the interpretation. He really wanted to know the truth of all this. He wanted to know that and you know nothing is wrong for Daniel to desire to find out what he has seen those visions. He wanted to know what do they represent? What is the truth behind it? And so he has asked this angel, you notice it says he saw one of them that stood by. It is an angel. And then he asked him that he would show him the truth and show him the interpretation.

Okay quickly verse verse 17 and 18 the angel giving me a summary interpretation. First of all he give me a summary interpretation then later on he gives him most specific. But first notice in verse 17 and 18 the angel give him a summary interpretation. First of all in verse 17 he tell him about those beasts, you know those four beasts coming out of the sea, agitated sea, troubled sea, which what are those four beasts? Well he gives him an answer in verse 17. These great beasts which are four are four kings or kingdoms which shall arise out of the earth.

You notice that is interesting. The Bible always help us to understand. You know if you and I would read only about the four beasts earlier and not going to verse verse 17 we wouldn't know that those four beasts represent four kingdoms very clearly. He tells us right there. These great beasts which are four are four kings which shall arise out of the earth. So four beasts represent four kings or four kingdoms. But notice it's interesting in this verse. It says here that they will arise out of the earth. While if you remember if you just go back to verse to verse 2 Daniel spoke and he said I saw in my vision by night and behold the four winds of the heavens strove upon the great sea and four beasts came out of the sea.

In verse 3 it tells us that those four beasts came out of the sea. In verse 17 it tells us that those four kings going to arise out of the earth. It's really gives us the two aspects of those kingdoms. On the one hand it tells us that those four kingdoms are going to be kingdoms that going to arise out of the Gentile world kingdom. Babylon, Medo Persia, Grecian and Rome. On the other hand we see with this expression here the word earth the from the earth represented those kingdoms and kings going to be really human people.

They're going to be a human a kings men literally men who going to people who going to lead kingdoms. So we see that those men who going to lead those kingdoms going to be out of the nations of the world from the Gentile nation nations of the world. Then in verse 18 we find out about the kingdom of God. You see he gives him a summary interpretation in verse 17 and 18. In verse 18 now he tells them but but the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever even forever and ever.

What we learn here from verse 18 is that these saints which going to be the you know the expression saints or in Hebrew or sanctified ones are really the people of God. In a context of Daniel chapter 7 it has to do with the saints that will reign with the Messiah at the second coming of the Messiah which has to do with the nation of Israel. And so what we see here that while there will be four kingdoms that will come out of the sea who going to be men who going to rule kingdoms they going to have an end.

But finally the saints of the Most High they are going to take the kingdom. And you notice it says here that they are going they are going to take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever and ever. This expression it take in verse 18 more correctly should be said they will receive the kingdom. They're not going to take it by power themselves. They're going to receive the kingdom from the Messiah himself who is going to give them the kingdom in the future day. So we see a summary of the whole what we what we really see here those verses 17 17 and 18 it's a summary interpretation of the dream that Daniel have dreamed or the visions that he has seen.

There will be four kings who will rise. But they going to have an end. But the saints are going to receive the kingdom and that kingdom going to be forever even forever and ever has to do with the Messianic kingdom which the nation of Israel, the saints will receive. And they will reign with Christ with the Messiah for a thousand years. You know many time people have a problem with the word saints. And every time they read the word saints they always apply it to what you call church saints. But it's not correct that only that believers in the church age are called saints.

We have Old Testament saints in the scriptures. And we have tribulation saints in the Bible. And so and we also have church saints in this present day in which we live in. Saints simply mean in Hebrew or those who are set apart for God. They are the people of God. The saints of the Most High God. Please if you bear with me for a couple more minutes I want to finish verses 17 and 18 and I just want to make a reference to the various groups of saints in the Bible. Turn to Matthew 27 for a minute please.

We're going to close in in 5 minutes. Just give me 5 more minutes. Matthew 27 verse 52 and 53. Matthew 27 verse 52 and 53. Here we have a reference to Old Testament saints. Matthew 27 verse 52. Let me read in verse 50 even. Jesus when he had cried again with a loud voice yielded out this yielded up the spirit and behold the veil of the temple was rained was rained in twain from the top to the bottom and the earth did quake and the rocks rent. And listen the graves were open and many bodies of the saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared unto many.

Now we're not going to deal with the question of what happened to those particular individuals. But I just want to say the body of saints which have as it says here the bodies of the saints which slept arose and that was after his resurrection they appeared unto many. And the saints there has a reference to what we know Old Testament saints. The church by the way did not begin until Acts chapter 2 when the spirit of God came down from heaven and formed the body of Christ, the body of Messiah in which we are part of in this present day.

Now secondly another verse please Romans chapter 1. Romans chapter 1 and verse 7. Romans chapter 1 and verse 7 the apostle Paul we studied already the book of Romans. Romans chapter 1 and verse 7 the apostle Paul is writing to believers in this present day church age saints and notice what he says. To all that be in Rome beloved of God called saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah. Notice he called the believers at Rome saints. They may not have behaved the saints all the time.

Just like you and I we are not always behaving as saints. But once we have accepted the Lord Jesus the Messiah we automatically become saints set apart for God. We don't have to acquire some kind of a special activity that we have done in order to be called saints. And we don't become saints later on. We become saints the moment we have accepted the Lord Jesus the Messiah as our Lord and as our Savior. We are all ready saints set apart for God. Sanctified set apart for the glory of God. And so sometime people have a mistake and they assume that when we are speaking about saints we are only speaking about certain people that have done some great thing you know saying this and saying this.

In some Bibles you open them you say you see Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke and Saint John as if they were saints and the rest of the believers are not saints. Well I can assure you according to the scripture every believer in the Lord Jesus the Messiah is a saint. Turn to 1st Corinthians quickly chapter 1. 1st Corinthians 1st Corinthians chapter 1 and verses 1 and 2. And I'm reading. Paul called an apostle of Jesus Christ or Yeshua Ha Mashiach through the will of God and soothe sinners our brother and listen unto the church or the assembly of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be saints or more properly called saints with all that in every place call on the name of Jesus the Messiah our Lord both theirs and ours.

Notice how he expressed this interesting here in verse 2 unto the church. The church is not a building. The church is a group of believers. The church of God which is here is the locality. Where it was it? It was at Corinth. To them which are sanctified by Jesus or Messiah Jesus Christ Jesus called saints. Can you imagine he called the believers at Corinth saints. Now you read the book of Corinthians chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6 and on. And you see that they surely did not behave like saints. But he called them saints.

Those that were believers are called saints with all that every place call on the name of Jesus the Messiah. Our Lord both theirs and ours. So saints will be Old Testament saints we have in scripture. We also have what you call New Testament saints present day saints which are Christians those who belong to the Lord Jesus. And we also have what we call tribulation saints. And for this final verse it's almost our time. Revelation please chapter 13. That's it. Revelation chapter 13. In Revelation chapter 13 if you remember when we studied the book of Revelation in chapter 13 we saw that particular beast which we know is the Antichrist, the counterfeit Messiah.

He had persecuted the saints in the tribulation period. Revelation chapter 13 and verse 7. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints. And to overcome them and power was given him over all kindles and tongues and nations. Notice again this expression saints in verse 7. It was given unto him that him here is the beast the the counterfeit Messiah the the Antichrist. It was given unto him allowed him to make war with the saints. That has to do with the tribulation period where the Antichrist going to make war against the saints of the tribulation period.

Specifically has a reference to the Jewish believers in the Messiah, in the tribulation period who are also called saints in Revelation 13 and verse 7. And so in chapter 7 of Daniel and I'm closing now in verses 17 and 18 he gives us a summary interpretation of the vision that had been given to Daniel. Verse 17 he gives him about the four beasts and the four kingdoms and verse 18. He shows him the kingdom of God which will be given unto the saints of that particular time, the tribulation saints. And this kingdom will be if you will it will never have any end as it says in verse 18.

The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever and ever even forever and ever. And it has to do as they are being under the reign of the Messiah himself, the Lord Jesus. Now I'm going to stop with this. Lord willing we are going to finish this chapter in our next meeting together verse 19. Remember verse 19 to verse 28 in the will of the Lord is our next meeting. Okay?

Announcer: 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 a.m. and 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 1 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.