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: Okay, let's turn please to Daniel 8. Daniel chapter 8 and let's begin reading from verse 1. Daniel chapter 8 is dealing with the next vision that Daniel is going to receive concerning God's dealing with the people of Israel. So let me read those verses. In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. And I saw in a vision, and it came to pass when I saw that I was in Shushan the palace, which is in the province of Elam, and I saw a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

Then I lifted up mine eyes, and I saw and behold there stood before the river a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. And I saw a man pushing I saw I saw a ram pushing westward and northward and southward so that no beast might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand. But he did according to his will and became great. And as I was considering, behold, a he goat or a male goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth and touched not the ground.

And the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in a fury of his power. And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with rage against him and smote the ram and break his two horns, and there was no power in the ram to stand before him. But he cast him down to the ground and stamped upon him, and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

Therefore he, the he goat, waxed very great, and when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and for it came up four notable ones towards the four winds of heaven. And out of one of them came a little horn which waxed exceeding great towards the south, towards the east, and towards the pleasant land. And it grew or waxed great even to the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host of the stars to the ground and stamped upon them. Yeah, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host. And by him the daily sacrifice were taken away.

And the place of his sanctuary was cast down. And a host was given him a a against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression. And it cast down the little the truth to the ground, and it practiced and prospered. Then I heard one saint speaking to another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, how long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice and the transgression of the desolation to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto him, unto 2,300 days. Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Just read with me verse 28 of chapter 7 for a minute, the prior chapter. In chapter 7 we read, hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my my thoughts much trouble me, and my countenance changed in me, but I kept the matter in my heart. Let me just make a few points as we're going to start to speak about chapter 8 of the book of Daniel. First of all, remember that by the time we have finished chapter 7, at the end of chapter 7 we read about Daniel that his thoughts troubled him and that his countenance have changed, and he kept the matter in his heart after he heard the interpretation of chapter 7.

Daniel was so overwhelmed with what God had told him in chapter 7 about the four kingdoms that going to proceed one after the other. So by the time he's getting to chapter 8 right now, his thoughts as we read here trouble him, his countenance changed, and he kept it in his heart. And later on after chapter 7, a couple of years later, now he's really asking God. He says God, now that you have told me chapter 7, what is going to happen to the people of Israel and the kingdoms that will proceed one after another?

God, I want to know what is going to happen to my people, the people of Israel. And so from chapter 8 now to the end of the book of Daniel to chapter 12, God is now speaking to Daniel and he's going to tell him events which was directly connected with his own people, the Jewish people. First of all, I want you to understand as we read chapter 8 verse 1, notice it says in the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar. In the third year of the reign of the King Belshazzar, King Belshazzar was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar.

King Belshazzar was really the King of Babylon. But if you just go back to chapter 7 and verse 1, it says there in the first year of Belshazzar, the King of Babylon. What we find out that between chapter 7 to chapter 8 there are two years passed. In chapter 7 it was the first year of the of the reign of of King Belshazzar. In chapter 8 is the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar. So two years have passed between chapter 7 and chapter 8. If you remember also that the the chapter 2 verse 4 to the end of chapter 7, the writings in the the writings have been written.

Daniel wrote whatever he wrote in the language of the Chaldeans, in the Assyrian language or the Aramaic or Aramaic. By the time we get to chapter 8 and verse 1, we are back to the Hebrew language. Chapter 8 and verse 1, now Daniel receive information from God directly that which has to do with the people of Israel, with the Jewish people. And so the language have changed from Aramaic to Hebrew. And now he's really receiving information concerning the nation of Israel, the Jewish people. Now the chapter is divided into really three points or three major section or three section I should say.

First of all, chapter 8 verses 1 to 14 is division. Daniel received a vision verses 1 to 14. Then verses 15 to 26 is the interpretation of the vision verses 15 to 26. And finally in verse 27 is the conclusion. Verses 1 to 14 is the division. Verses 15 to 26 is the interpretation of the division, and verse 27 is the conclusion. The result that happened from Daniel receiving the information about that vision. Now first of all, verses 1 to 14, look at the background. Verses 1 and 2 is the background. The background. Where did Daniel receive that vision?

Notice it says in the third year of the reign of a King Belshazzar, this is 551 BC. It had been said that Daniel by that time he was about 69 70 years of age. In the year of 551 BC in the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. In other words, he says at the time when Belshazzar was in the third year of his reign, I received the vision, me I Daniel, just like I received the vision earlier at the first.

Where did he receive the vision at the first? If you remember chapter 7 and verse 1 in the first in the in the first year of Belshazzar, King of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions. So it is in a sense his second vision that he received. Remember Daniel chapter 2, the vision was not given to him. It was given to Nebuchadnezzar. But in chapter 7 a vision was given unto him. Chapter 8 is the second vision that had been given unto Daniel, just the same like the one before, except with a an a different emphasis here in chapter 8.

And so it say it's 551 BC. Belshazzar was still the King. We have already covered by the way chapter 5 and chapter 6, but chapter 5 and chapter 6 in a chronological order coming after chapter 8. But we have already covered them. And so in verse 1 and verse 2 we see the background. It was the second vision of Daniel, and it says here in verse 2 and I saw in a vision, and it came to pass I saw that I was at Shushan in the palace which is in the province of Elam, and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

Now remember it is a vision. He was carried out if you will with by a vision. He was carried out if you will it if you will to a different timing. He was physically still in Babylon. But he was carried in the vision to see something that is going to happen a little bit later on. And guess where it was? It was it says here, I saw in that vision. What does he saw? He saw that I was at Shushan in the palace. Shushan, the palace became the Shushan became the capital city of the Medes and the Persian, the Persian.

And Shushan, the palace is the place where the King of Persia had been. So Daniel been taken up if you will by a vision to a further time, a little bit later on after Israel if you will will be will be a a restored back. The Jewish people will go into the into the land into the land of Israel to restore the temple and to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He was taken up by vision and he was placed in spirit in the place called Shushan the the palace which is really the capital city of the Medes and the Persians.

And it says there that it was in the province of Elam. And it says there that he saw in a vision and I was by the river of Ulai. You know the river of Ulai from my understanding from listening a little bit about the the the the city of Shushan, the city of Shushan was was a situated in a corner area which had a which had on the two sides of it there were kind of two rivers. And in order to protect that city, they have built a connecting river. There was connecting so the city itself will be surrounded this was like a triangle they will be surrounded by water for protection.

And so what he see himself, he see himself by the river which is called Ulai. That's the river that connected the two other rivers, the two the canal that connected the two rivers. And so it was like in a triangle, and so here we see he sees himself further on in the city called Shushan. He sees himself in the palace. And he was by a river that had been by a a canal that connecting the two rivers that surrounded the city of Shushan. This is verses 1 and 2, the background. Now what does he see in the vision?

Notice that what he sees. In verse 3 and 4 he sees a ram. It says in verse 3, then I lifted up mine eyes and I saw and behold there stood before me or before the river. This is again the river which which which you call it Ulai, the river of Ulai. He saw a ram which had two horns. A ram which had two horns. And the two horns were high. The one was higher than the other. And then he says and the higher came up last. And I saw the ram pushing westward and northward and southward so that no beast might stand before him.

Neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand. But he did according to his will and he became very great. So what does he see in a vision? He see first of all a ram. Now you notice how interesting that this ram it says about this ram. First of all, it says about this ram that he had two horns. Then addition in addition to that he says that both of these horns were high. And then thirdly we see in verse 3 that one of these horns was higher than the other. You know how beautiful the Bible is.

It is a verse 3 is corresponding to chapter 2 where we have the image of this. You remember we had the the the Babylonians had the head of gold, and then it was the Medes and the Persian with their breast their breast and the two hands. This ram corresponds with the chest, the breast and the hands of chapter 2. But it is also corresponds with chapter 7. If you remember just chapter 7 where we read about the four beasts is corresponds with the bear of chapter 7. The bear in chapter 7 represented the Medes and the Persian.

You remember the bear, four legs, but he was leaning a little bit on one side. One side was higher than the other. That was the Medes and the Persian. Both of them were great countries. They were united countries, but the Persian had superiority over the Medes. And so what we find here that this particular a a ram represented the Medes and the Persian, the partnership kingdom. Now you might ask me, Gideon, how do you know that it represents the Medes and the Persian? Well, just turn your page to chapter same chapter 8 and verse 20 and look how this very chapter give us the interpretation.

Let me read verse 20. Notice the interpretation. The ram which you saw having two horns are the Kings of the Medes and the Persian. Very clearly. Chapter 8 verse 20 give us the interpretation of chapter 8 verses 3 and 4. The the ram represented the Medes and the Persian. Both of them both of them the two nation were great nation. They were a partnership nation, and then what happened they had two horns. Both had it was two high horns. But one of them was longer and higher than the other. And that is exactly what we find out in chapter 2 with the image of the with the image, the chest and the and the arms represented the Medes and the Persian.

And in chapter 7 the bear which is standing left side, one side higher than the other, represented again the Medes and the Persian. But the Persian had a superior position than the Medes. And so we find out in verse 4, I saw the ram. Look what happened with the ram. He was pushing westward, he was pushing northward, he was pushing southward. Why not eastward? Because that's where he came from, the Medes and the Persian. And so that no beast might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand. But he did according to his will and he became great.

Well, that's what happened with the Medes and the Persian. They became a great nation. And they push you see no one could withhold to withstand against the Medes or Persians. And when they they took if you will, they became Kingdom. They took over the a Babylonians, and they became the next the next nation that had become the the next Kingdom that took over the position in this world. Well, that is the ram. The ram in verses 3 and 4 together with verse 20 of chapter 8 represent very clearly the Media and Persia. Then we continue in this a in this chapter.

And in verses 5 to 14 we have the next beast if you will called the he goat or the male goat. Verses 5 to the rest of the of the of the of the of the dream, the rest of the vision up to verse 14. But let's break it down. First of all, in verse 5 we see the appearance of this particular he goat. Verse 5 says and as I was considering, he was just considering now the ram. Behold, he says in verse 5, a male goat, a he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth.

And he touched not the ground. And the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. Now again, remember the ram represent the Medes and the Persian. But now when we are talking about the goat, whom does the goat will represent? First of all, notice how it is interesting in verse 5, the appearance the appearance it says here that he it was the goat was he came from the west and on the face of the whole earth, but notice it says that he touched not the ground. This animal would had such a speed that as he was appearing in such a speed, such a fast way that he did not even it appears like he was not touching the ground.

Well, it says here that it had a notable horn between his eyes. Now again, beloved brothers and sisters, this particular he goat here represent the next nation that came after the Medes and the Persian, and that is the Grecians, the nation of Greece. It is interesting that as you have here this he goat representing verse 5 verse 5 which with with the speed that he was coming over and it and it says that his face on the face of the whole earth. In other words, he was conquering the whole earth, and that's represent the he goat here with the notable horn which is between his eyes represent to us none else but the Grecians with Alexander the Great, the first King of the Greece, of the Greek of the of the Greek people.

You notice by the way you ask me again and it's a good question to ask, how do we know that the he goat of verse 5 is the Grecian? Well, just turn your page to verse 21 and 22 and you notice what the what chapter 8 the interpretation gives us. In verse 21 and I'm just going to read verse 21 for now, and the rough goat is the King of Greece. If the ram is Medo Persian, the goat is the King of Greece. Now let me again remind you. You remember in the image of chapter 2 in the vision that King Nebuchadnezzar have seen.

What did he see? The great image, gold, Babylon. Silver, Medo Persia. The the the the chest and the hands. And then the thighs and the legs represented the Kingdom of Grecia. And the Greek represented by United Nation which have been divided later on. It is interesting to see how that here we see that this goat had a notable horn between his eyes. Notable horn between his eyes. What about chapter 7? In chapter 7 when we have been speaking about the the four beasts that Daniel have seen where the lion represented Babylon, the bear who was left sided represented the Medes and the Persian, but the leopard it's corresponding the leopard is corresponding with chapter 8 and the and verse verse 5, the he goat correspond with the leopard of chapter 7.

And you remember when we read about the leopard, it says that I beheld and lo another like a leopard which had upon his back four wings of fowl, and the beast had also four heads, and dominion was given unto it. In other words, there was a speed with the four wings, the speed in which Alexander the Great have conquered nation after nation and eventually took over the Medes and the Persian. And so in verse 5 we see the appearance of the Grecian Greek Greek people with their King, the notable horn which representing Alexander the Great.

He swiftly conquered nation after nation. In verse 5 it says that he came from the west on the face of the whole earth and touched not the ground. Now verse 6 and 7 then if verse 5 shows us his appearance, verse 6 and 7 notice what what this goat does. He destroy the ram, the Medo Persian. In verse 6 we read, and he came. This is the goat came to the ram that had the two horns which had seen which had seen standing before the river. And he ran unto him in the fury of his power, and I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with rage against him and he smote the ram and he break his two horns, and there was no power in the ram to stand before him.

But he cast him down to the ground and stamped upon him, and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. And so the he goat represented of course the Greek with the King Alexander the Great. Notice the step by step in verse 7, he came close to the ram. He moved with rage against the ram.

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.