36 This is the dream. 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. Note that even pagan records mention the kings absence and return to power. Nebuchadnezzar had been convicted, but not converted. During times of oppression, it may appear the saints are being defeated and that Gods kingdom is but wishful thinking. There is fairly strong inferential evidence that Nebuchadnezzar was represented by the first beast, the winged lion. The beasts are hardly worthy of prose, but the court of heaven deserves a description of the finest words. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors. 2728 Daniel answered the king, No mere human can solve the kings mystery, I dont care who it isno wise man, enchanter, magician, diviner. In spite of all these beasts do and say, in spite of their power and even their success, neither they nor their kingdoms will last. The words of verse 1 point to the relationship between the prophecy Daniel received and its historical setting and context. (1) The Book of Daniel is a part of the Holy Scriptures, and thus inspired, accurate, and trustworthy. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which he constructed for his wife, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. (1) Why does Daniel indicate the historical setting of the vision he receives in chapter 7? This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold to pieces. 4:3437 is majestic as he admits Gods power and justice, as well as his own sin and divine dependence. 8 While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth uttering great boasts. Take me to the king and I will interpret his dream for him. Daniel does not say, Do not execute us yet or Hold on, dont kill me. 41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potters clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. Ceremonial Laws In New Zealand, you can study for internationally-recognised qualifications at a wide range of educational institutions. The reign of Belshazzar was, in some measure, a foretaste of what was yet to come in full measure during the reign of the fourth beast, especially of the eleventh horn. Unity Subsequent revelations in the Book of Daniel which Daniel received were closely associated with some kind of agony or distress (see 8:17, 27; 9:20-21; 10:2-3, 7-10, 17; 12:8). And Nebuchadnezzar either wants Daniel to fill in the details or maybe he's hoping that Daniel will give him an interpretation which will explain away his fears. The Old Testament prophet did not see the gap because he viewed the coming of Christ as God does. 39 After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Usually it refers to a person as a human being. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Previously, the king had accused his wise men of stalling for more time. All Rights Reserved. We do not walk by sight, but by faith. He summons his magicians and astrologers to interpret it, but demands that they first tell him what the dream was. Daniel 2. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), A General Interpretation verses 16-18. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.. But the interpretation is given through me, not because Im any smarter than anyone else in the country, but so that you will know what it means, so that you will understand what you dreamed. One of those gaps is found in Daniel 7. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. These beasts, each different from the other, are described in verses 4-7. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy., King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered than an offering and incense be presented to him. And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the kings demand., 24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints (Revelation 13:1-10). The horn continues to sound off while the court is being set up for judgment. [5] On the human level Daniel is set against the Babylonian magicians who fail to interpret the king's dream, but the cosmic conflict is between the God of Israel and the false Babylonian gods. 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. 2:34 You were watching as a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. Through the vision of a magnificent, awe-inspiring statue, God reveals the future for Gentile kings and their kingdoms. 10 A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, and the books were opened. 31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. See John F. Walvoord, Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 149. God also allows the wicked to persist and even to prosper, so that those whom He has chosen might be saved (Romans 9:22-24). We do not act on what we see so much as on what God has said. 27 Daniel replied, No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: The fulfillment of the prophecy of Belshazzars demise underscores the certainty of the fulfillment of Daniels vision in the last days. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. All of this is by divine design. We take great care to develop a strong client relationship, coupled with efficient communication. ; The NET Bible. 4:1012; 2022). When the court sits for judgment, his dominion is taken from him and he is destroyed forever. While most prophecies in the Bible reveal events which will take place after the death of the recipient of the prophecy, the prophecy is revealed for impact upon those to whom it was revealed. Interpretations of Daniels prophecies differ widely. How was the fourth beast different from the first three? False Teachers I have the answer to the kings dream. Instead, his first concern is to stop the execution of the Babylonian wise men the men who practiced magic, sorcery, astrology, and other mystical arts despised by God. We should not spend a disproportionate amount of time and energy trying to fill in the blanks God has left. So it was for our Lord (1 Peter 1:10-12), and so it will be for us. But there is a God in heaven who solves mysteries, and he has solved this one. Before the coming of Christ, who would? Our study of this chapter will isolate what troubled Daniel about the future. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. 4849 Then the king promoted Daniel to a high position in the kingdom, lavished him with gifts, and made him governor over the entire province of Babylon and the chief in charge of all the Babylonian wise men. 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind. 4:1018 the king describes his dream to Daniel. Web180 views, 12 likes, 2 loves, 26 comments, 3 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from PCCC- Parker County Cowboy Church: PCCC- Parker County Cowboy Church was live. Jesus tests the Pharisees Whose Son is the Messiah? Daniel 5 is an illustration and a prototype of what will happen in the end times, as described in the prophecy of Daniel 7. This condition is somewhat ironic, for God made mankind to be lord over the animals (cf. The prophecy of Daniel 7 nevertheless had great relevance and application to those in Daniels day. God of all my ancestors, all thanks! (9) The interpretation of Daniels vision comes in two parts, beginning with a general interpretation and then a more specific one based on Daniels questions. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. The vision recorded in chapter 8 took place in the third year of Belshazzar. 31 You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! Rom. The woman endures in the view of the final outcome of the process. In Dan. Dan. The emphasis is positive. This scene in Daniel is also similar to a prophecy recorded in the Book of Revelation: 4 and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?. The events seen by Daniel in chapter seven would signal the establishment of the everlasting kingdom which Daniel described in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. 4:5, 19), and he understood who was in his court (cf. In the euphoria of this grand event, someone might well conclude the kingdom of God was to be established within the lifetime of those returning to Israel. 2:33 Its legs were of iron; its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay. 78 Walvoord thinks this is the year 553 B.C., some 14 years before the fall of Babylon. 3:253:50 lines 279361 Daniel B: lines 1-71 Harbus, Antonina. Daniel blessed the God of heaven, saying. The saints must believe and behave according to what God has promised about the future the righteous will possess the kingdom of God forever. The statue has four parts; there are four beasts. Now that Daniel has told Nebuchadnezzar the dream he had, he now begins to interpret the dream. That night his life and his kingdom came to an end. Sin distorted this authority with this particular disease, even turning man into an animal. We have a range of family categories to help partners, dependent children and parents of New Zealand citizens or residents to come to live in New Zealand. The prophecy of this chapter is divinely interpreted. Daniel does not say he can interpret the dream he says God can interpret the kings dream and humbly explains to King Nebuchadnezzar that there is a God in heaven who reveals such mysteries. A striking component of Daniels interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream is that when he first heard the dream, he was astonished (Dan. 10 If any one is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if any one kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. In his interpretation of the dream, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar he was the head of gold. Holy Spirit You are that head of gold. Neither is prophecy written to make us happy or to feel good. When his appointed time is over, God will destroy this king and his kingdom and establish His eternal kingdom on the earth. The visions explanation was not thorough enough to satisfy Daniel. WebInstead of using the lesson ideas for teaching Daniel 2:128, you could show the portion of the video that depicts the events related to Daniels interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream (time codes 6:1713:49).As students watch the video, invite them to look for what Daniel did when he needed wisdom and guidance. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. Evangelist Andrew Palau Joins Dozens of Churches in Austin, Texas for Historic SXSW Outreach Event. Our text challenges such a conclusion, and later prophecies in Daniel further document that the coming of the King and of the kingdom will be some time further in the future. The vision plays on before Daniel, almost as though in answer to his desire to know more. At one point in Chapter 9, Daniel understood from the scriptures that the desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years.. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Neither peer opposition nor the king's new law (chapter 6) greatly disturbed Daniel. [16] The book is also an eschatology, meaning a divine revelation concerning the end of the present age, a moment in which God will intervene in history to usher in the final kingdom. He has put you in charge of men and women, wild animals and birds, all over the worldyoure the head ruler, you are the head of gold. Unsubscribe at any time. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13). He was at ease when he received the vision, and then he became fearful, and his mind alarmed him (4:4-5). The vision comes to Daniel in Belshazzars first year.78 A subsequent and related vision comes to him in this kings third year (see 8:1). We provide the highest quality of service and utmost personalized level of support to our clients. Prophecy is necessary then so that men are reassured of divine deliverance and blessing, as well as divine judgment (see 2 Peter 2:4-9). John the Baptist 4:19). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. Daniel was blank and his thoughts were blank when he learned the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's second dream. Daniels response is testimony to this reality. As I read through the statements men have made about the God of Israel in the first six chapters of Daniel, I find that what men came to know and to acknowledge through history, God declares through prophecy. The second is bear-like. Dan. New Zealands business migration categories are designed to contribute to economic growth, attracting smart capital and business expertise to New Zealand, and enabling experienced business people to buy or establish businesses in New Zealand. Then in a night vision the mystery was revealed to Daniel. (Numbers 23:19). The New International Version. The Son of Man was also Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). Deut. 39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. (2) Chapters 7 and 8, while written in different languages, are written during the reign of Belshazzar and somehow linked by the author in Daniel 8:1. Many others may have reluctantly professed or actually adopted the Jewish religion. But here Arioch is trying to take credit for Daniel. Prophecy speaks not only of the joys and glories of Gods kingdom to come but of the suffering and tribulation preceding the eternal blessings of the kingdom of God. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for mthe God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. Desiring a more detailed explanation, he apparently asked for one and received it. [6] What counts is not Daniel's human gifts, nor his education in the arts of divination, but "Divine Wisdom" and the power that belongs to God alone, as Daniel indicates when he urges his companions to seek God's mercy for the interpretation of the king's dreams. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. (5) What do the four beasts represent? God's Judgment Worship, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window). The saints should expect to suffer because of their faith, especially as the last days for the kingdoms of men draw near. That was bad enough, from the religious leaders perspective, but the way in which He answered them was the last straw. They will serve and obey Him forever. 13 And he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. What role do they play in relation to the four beasts? What God says, He will do. His vision in chapter 4 should have produced more distress than it did. Nebuchadnezzar captured Daniel and his buddies Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah when they were very young men (probably mid-teens), and we see glimpses of Daniel working in the palace until hes well over eighty years The head of the statue was made of gold, the chest and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of bronze, and the legs and feet of iron and clay. This is what we need to know from Daniels vision, rather than the identity of the beasts.