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 Levytam.

Gideon Levytam: The study of Daniel chapter 8 and so in verses 15 to verse 18 we have the appearance of Gabriel. And of course Gabriel it says here in verse 18 by the way as he was speaking Daniel was in deep sleep. He was on his face towards the ground but he touched me and he set me upright. And I I don't know if I mentioned to to you the last time the word for deep sleep here it's a supernatural sleep. It's the Hebrew word for which is not a normal sleep that you and I have at night when we go to bed.

It is almost similar to death and it is in a supernatural way that God have lifted up a Daniel out of this deep sleep. It was Adam that was in this deep deep sleep when Eve came out of his side. It was Abraham that was in that deep sleep in chapter 15 of Genesis when God made a covenant with him. It was king Saul who was in deep sleep when king with with David came and he and he cut a piece of his garment. It was a supernatural sleep because God was going to accomplish something.

And so here we find out that Daniel himself is in deep sleep. And now now let's move on now down so we can read some of the portion also from the from the book of of Maccabees which is very interesting. In verse 19 he give him the interpretation of the time. You remember earlier he was speaking about a certain time. In verse 19 he says and he said behold I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation. The Hebrew word indignation is is the wrath God was going to have discipline to punish and to is it called a time of the indignation.

For at the time appointed the end shall be. So in verse 19 he's telling them he's telling him this a period of time and that will be a time called the indignation here in verse 19. Now in verse 20 he gives him the interpretation concerning of the ram. Who is the ram? What the ram represent of the earlier verses? The ram of verse three and four represent the Medes and the Persian. Verse 20 the ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of the Medes and the Persian. Very clear. You know we sometime have a problem well who is the ram representing?

Well the ram as we have seen it also in this particular in this particular chart the ram here clearly represent the Medes and the Persian. The ram had two long horns but one of them was longer than the other if you remember. And the the that simply the ram of chapter 8 is really the bear of chapter 7 and it is the chest and the hands of chapter 2. You see how clear? The ram of chapter 8 is the Medo Persia. It's the bear which had leaning on the on one side more than the other of chapter 7 and the chest and the two hands of chapter 2.

We're really going over the same ground in chapter 8 but chapter 8 do not arrive to the to the to the end. It's only come as far as the Grecian Grecian kingdom. And so in verse 20 what we have is the interpretation of the ram simply the Medes and the Persian. Now in the next verses of chapter 8 verses 21 and 22 we have the interpretation of the he goat. Who was the he goat? Well verse 22 I'll read actually verse 21 and 22 and the ram goat is the king of Grecia and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

And that first king is Alexander the Great. And so again if we are looking now at the the he goat the he goat represent the Grecian empire. So the he goat here of chapter 8 is really the leopard of chapter 7 and it is also the thighs the belly and the thighs of chapter 2 here. So we basically looking in the same line the same period in those three chapters chapter 2 verse 39 chapter 7 represented with the leopard and of course chapter 8 is that he goat. And it says in verse 21 that the the horn that was between his eyes is representing the first king.

And the first king was Alexander the Great. And you remember we just read in first book of Maccabees chapter 1 it came to pass verse 1 that Alexander the son of Philip of Macedonia who first reigned in Greece. So he was the first king and he was the one that is that horn the first horn. Now notice quickly verse verse 20 2 here. Verse 22 now that being broken that horn was broken and that's the death of Alexander who died in a very young age about 32 years of age. He was drunk and he died very early.

And so it says here that after it it being broken four stood up for it four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nations but not in his power. And so those four kingdoms you remember I have I have explained to you that represent the four kingdoms is the four kingdom that came out of the after the Alexander died the four generals who took became kings of the south and the north particularly and the east and the west. And and now we are going to speak a little bit about that descendants of one of those kings by the name of Antiochus Epiphanes.

So verse verse 23 to 25 we have the king of the north. The king of the north verse 23 and it and in later times of their kingdom when the transgressors are to come to the fool a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty but not by his own power. And he shall destroy fearfully and he shall prosper and he will practice and shall destroy the mighty of the whole the mighty of the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand and he shall magnify himself in his heart and by peace shall he destroy many and he shall also stand up against the prince of princess but he shall be broken without end without end.

Now let me just read a little bit here from the first book of Maccabees. I think it's so interesting. Notice in verses 16 to 19 of Maccabees first Maccabees chapter 1 we read about about Antiochus and how he was the king of the north and he went all the way down to Egypt. Verse 16 of first Maccabees 1. And they made themselves prepuce and departed from the holy covenant and joined themselves to the heathen that were sold to do evil. And the kingdom was established before Antiochus. And he had a mind to reign over the land of Egypt that he might reign over two kingdoms.

And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude with chariots and elephants and horsemen and a great number of ships. And he made war against Ptolemy the king of Egypt. But Ptolemy was afraid at his presence and he fled and many were wounded unto death. And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt. And he took the spoils of the land of Egypt. Now here we read about the persecution of the Jewish people in verse 21. After Antiochus ravaged Egypt in the 143rd year he returned and he went up against Israel. And he went up to Jerusalem with a great multitude.

And he proudly entered into the sanctuary. And he took away the golden altar and the candlesticks of light and all the vessels thereof and the table of proposition. And he or the pouring vessels he took them and the vials and the little mortars of gold and the veil and the crowns and the golden ornaments that was before the temple. And he broke them in pieces. And he took the silver and the gold and the precious vessels. And he took the hidden treasures which he found. And when he had taken all away he departed unto his own country.

And he made great slaughter of men. And he spoke very proudly. Remember what we just read in this chapter that he had been so proud. It says here in in our verses verse 24 his power shall be mighty but not by his own power. He shall destroy fearfully and he shall prosper and he shall practice and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. What we read this is verse 24 and 25 of Daniel chapter 8. Listen what we read again in in in verse 26 of first Maccabees chapter 1. And there was great mourning in Israel.

And in every place where they were and the princess and the ancient moan and the virgins and the young men were made feeble and the beauty of women was changed. Every bridegroom took lamentation. And the bride that set at the merry marriage bed they mourned. And Antiochus occupied Jerusalem. And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof and all the house of Jacob covered with confusion. And after two full years the king sent chief collectors of the tributes to the cities of Judah Judah and he came to Jerusalem with a great multitude. And he spoke to them peaceably with words of deceit.

And they believed him. And he fell upon the city suddenly. And he striked it with great slaughter and he destroyed much people in Israel. And he took the spoil of the city and he burned it with fire. And he threw down the houses thereof and the walls thereof found above. And they took the women captive and the children and the cattle they possessed. They saw much to be read about it what these wicked men have done there. Let me just couple more verses here verse 39 of first Maccabees chapter 1. And they shed innocent blood about the sanctuary.

And they defiled the holy place. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason of them and the city was made the habitation of strangers and she became a strange to her own seed and her children for sukkah. Verse 43 and king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom and to all the people that they should be one. And everyone should leave his own law. You know what he did? He wanted the Jewish people to stop to obey the law. He wanted them to stop circumcision. He wanted them to stop to keep the Shabbat. He wanted them to stop to do the sacrifices in the temple.

It says there all nation consented according to the word of king Antiochus. And many in Israel consented to his service. And they sacrificed to idols and they profaned the Shabbat. And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers to Jerusalem and to all the cities of Judah and they should follow after the law of the nations of the earth and should forbid them holocausts and sacrifices and atonements to be made in the temple of God. And they should prohibit the Shabbat and the festivals days to be celebrated. And he commended the holy place to be profaned and the holy people of Israel.

And again I wanted you to see in verse 24 it says here and he shall destroy the mighty and the holy people and the holy people. And this is exactly what history tells us what Daniel received by the spirit of God prophetically about the nation of Israel did happen in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. Now final verses here and that they should leave their children uncircumcised and let their souls be defiled with all the uncleannesses and abominations. To the end that they should forget the law and should change all justifications of God. And that whosoever would not do according to the word of king Antiochus he should be put to death.

According to all these words he wrote to his whole kingdom and he appointed rulers over the people that should force them to do these things. Now there is so much that yes it can be read about these wicked men what he have done. But it just history first Maccabees chapter 1 it's just history which have been fulfilled what God has said to Daniel through the angel Gabriel in chapter 8. And so notice now at the at the at the last verses so we can finish this verse 26 there is the affirmation. And the vision and the and the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true Gabriel is saying.

Wherefore shut thou up the vision for it shall be for many days. So from the time that Daniel received that vision he told him it's going it's a true what I told you it's going to surely come to pass. And it didn't take too long when that particular vision have been have come to pass in the later on in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. And then verse 27 is the conclusion of chapter 8. And I Daniel fainted and I was sick for certain days. Afterwards I rose up and I did the king's business and I was astonished at the vision but none understood it.

You know when Daniel received that vision he was so astonished because he was he was praying. He wanted to know about certain things concerning the restoration of the nation of Israel. Well God gave him some answer to what's going to happen. But what was going to happen first of all immediately not beyond the Grecian empire. He doesn't arrive to the Roman empire here. He's arriving all the way in chapter 8 to the time of the after Alexander died and after the descendants if you will of those who ruled after Alexander. And that's all. It doesn't go beyond it.

So by the time we get to the end of chapter 8 we really arrive to the history of what this wicked men would do by the name of Antiochus. Now Antiochus is also a picture of the Antichrist who is going to come in the latter days. Of course we know in the tribulation time and Antiochus is but a miniature picture of what that wicked man will be in a future day by the the title that we call him the Antichrist. Now in closing I would like you to turn to chapter 10 of the book of John the Gospel of John chapter 10.

If you remember we said that in Daniel chapter 8 and verse 14 after the 2,300 days that the the desecration of the temple will be by this wicked man. Then it said then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Well the sanctuary have been cleansed by a family by the name by called the Maccabees. It's a Jewish history. You found it again in the book of the Maccabees the first and second Maccabees. The temple have been cleansed and have been dedicated or rededicated again. In John chapter 10 we read this in verse 22.

And by the way that's the only time in the Bible that we find the word the feast of dedication. And it has a reference directly to the dedication of the temple that have been dedicated after Antiochus have defiled it and desecrated it. And it had been dedicated again by the Jewish people who revolted against Antiochus Epiphanes. And guess what? In in in a new covenant we find of the Lord Jesus the Messiah. In verse 22 he was in Jerusalem in the feast of dedication. And it was winter and Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

The temple had been cleansed by Judah the Maccabees in 165 BC. By the time that the Lord Jesus was walking in the temple here in verse 21 22 and 23 he was walking in Solomon porch in the temple. It was about he was about let's say about I'm just about 30 AD we can say. About 200 years later the Lord Jesus the Messiah walking in the same temple that have been dedicated by Judah the Maccabee. And it was at that time and it is so interesting beloved that the Jewish people came around him and they told him in verse 24 how long do you make us doubt if you be the Messiah tell us plainly.

Now they wanted to know he was really the Messiah and he they wanted him that he will tell them plainly. And it happened in the feast of dedication very important because I want to point you to the fact that you can see what happening here. In if you go if you go down a little bit further down when he said the the he he said I told you in verse 25 but you do not believe me. The works which I doing my father name they bear witness of me but you don't believe because you are not of my sheep as I said unto you my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them everlasting life and they shall never perish neither shall any men pluck them out of my hand.

My father which gave them me is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand. I and my father are one. Now in verse 31 you know what they have done? Because he was claiming to be one with God the father he was claiming to be divine. They took up stones again to stone him. And Jesus in verse 32 Yeshua said for many good works that I showed you for my father from which of these works you stone me? And it says in verse 33 the Jews answered and said unto him for good works we stone thee not but because thou being a man make us thyself God.

Now I want you to see the interesting point here that is very important to go alongside with Daniel chapter 8. In Daniel chapter 8 Antiochus claimed to be divine. Antiochus was a wicked man who epiphany mean God manifest. He claimed to be God and he wanted the Jewish people to worship him. And here come another man about 200 years later claiming the same thing that he is also God the father and God the son I and my father are one. Now why this so important for us to get a hold of these truths is because the Jewish people had a 100% reason to stone anybody who coming into the temple who claiming to be God.

They just remember 2,000 years earlier there was another man that claimed to be God who came into the temple and wanted us to worship him. And now you are coming and you claiming that you and the father are one. Well that's the point. They should have never of course allowed what Antiochus have done to them. They should have never allowed it and followed him some did but a lot of people didn't. But here finally come the Messiah himself. In John chapter 10 and he claiming to be he I and my father are one. Now the the the it is so interesting to see that is the same timing the feast of dedication.

The same temple if you will after he had been dedicated just 200 years different. The difference is this that Antiochus was a mere man but Jesus was truly the son of God. Antiochus came against the Jewish people seeking to destroy them. The Lord Jesus the Messiah came out of love to the Jewish people wanted to restore them. Antiochus desecrated the temple. Jesus said to them what you make out of my father's house? Is it like a like an another word it is becoming like a den of thieves or place for for for merchandise? That's the different.

The Lord Jesus was truly the Messiah the son of God while Antiochus was a wicked man was a man that sought to take a place that was not belong to him. And so Daniel chapter 8 and John chapter 10 has a lot in in connection. But one of them one man was a wicked man. The other one was the man of God's council. The man who loved us and was willing to come from heaven to save us to redeem us and to bring us to himself. And he is the one that says my sheep hear my voice.

And I know them and they shall follow me and I'm going to give unto them eternal life. And they shall never perish never perish. That's the promise that the Lord Jesus the Messiah had given unto us. Well I think I'm going to close with this because it's a it's a I think it's rather clear Daniel chapter 8 God's chastening of Israel in a near future. It is the vision of the ram and the he goat which ultimately really demonstrated God's care and protection for his people even as he's chastening them eventually he's going to restore them.

Guest (Male): You have been listening to the Holy Scriptures and Israel with Gideon Levytam. 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 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 Holy Scriptures and Israel.com.

God bless you. Shalom Shalom.