Our study of this chapter will isolate what troubled Daniel about the future. Considering this text has changed my opinion about the gap in the prophecies of the Old Testament. Yet, the most important event in this passage, is Nebuchadnezzars conversion that occurred when the Lord sovereignly returned the kings understanding to him. Some of his alarm arose from his not yet having been given the interpretation of his vision. Parables of Jesus [15] Apocalypses were common from 300 BCE to 100 CE, not only among Jews and Christians, but Greeks, Romans, Persians and Egyptians. When we expect it least, the Lord will return, the wicked will be punished, and the kingdom of God established forevermore. Daniel explains, as Nebuchadnezzar likely already understood, that the tree represented him (cf. [14], The Book of Daniel is an apocalypse, a literary genre in which a heavenly reality is revealed to a human recipient; such works are characterized by visions, symbolism, an other-worldly mediator, an emphasis on cosmic events, angels and demons, and pseudonymity (false authorship). [27] Jewish scholars interpret the mixed materials forming the feet as the kingdom of Rome alongside kingdoms under Islamic rule. 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: He was at ease when he received the vision, and then he became fearful, and his mind alarmed him (4:4-5). The king said to Daniel, Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as ironfor iron breaks and smashes everythingand as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Since Daniel goes to great lengths to attribute his ability to interpret dreams to God, it is possible he is referring to himself and God to divert credit from himself. The New King James Version. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. The account of the writing on the wall and the death of Belshazzar (obviously the last year of his reign) is found in Daniel 5. Nebuchadnezzars Dream Daniel records that which triggered Nebuchadnezzars fall was his pride of the beauty and extent of Babylon. Images from the Book of Isaiah seem to be especially favoured. Bible lessons blended with science, theology, modern-day life lessons and logic. He lavishes gifts on Daniel and makes him chief of all the wise men and ruler over the province of Babylon. Introduction Two major divisions comprise our text: (1) Daniels dreamverses 1-14 and (2) the interpretationverses 15-28. The scene of the four beasts arising from the sea, which Daniel saw in his night vision, is strikingly similar to the account found in the 13th chapter of Revelation: 1 And he stood on the sand of the seashore, and I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. WebIntroduction; Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's first dream; the Three Youths cast into the Fiery Furnace. God has revealed in this interpretation what He wants us to know and has kept back that which we need not know. 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. Daniel tells the king he saw a large statue, and then a stone hit the feet of that statue. Indeed, after giving his interpretation, Daniel begs the king to repent of his sins and to show mercy to the poor (cf. When the iniquity of the blasphemous horn reaches full bloom and his appointed time to rule is fulfilled, God will destroy him, casting his body into the fire. 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). 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. 2:89). Daniels Interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars Dream (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. 4:1927 Daniel gives a clear interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret. 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. God is able to raise up kings and put them down. God will establish His kingdom, and that kingdom, unlike the kingdoms of men, is eternal. The kings confession in Dan. 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. Daniel was one of the many Jews who were taken into captivity by Babylon. Prophecies are given so that we may look at history, especially events occurring in our own lifetime, from Gods perspective. And he solves all mysteries, I know, because youve solved this mystery.. But later on two came forward, 61 and said, This man stated, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days. 62 And the high priest stood up and said to Him, Do You make no answer? Daniel Four kings will establish four kingdoms, and some of these kingdoms have a number of kings. In his vision, Daniel observed the sea being stirred up into a raging storm by the four winds of heaven. This signifies that the events which follow have been ordained by God. However, the Son of Man must first suffer at the hands of men (17:22; 20:18). While Nebuchadnezzar admits to Daniel that his god must be the God of gods, his appreciation of Daniel comes close to worship of Daniel himself as a deity (as evidenced by the offering and incense presented to Daniel). For you have enabled me to understand the kings dilemma., 2:24 Then Daniel went in to see Arioch (whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon). 4:19). 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 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 point of this prophecy is not to tell us who future kings will be, but rather what they will be like. Prophecy is not a pep rally, which generates a great burst of short-term enthusiasm but does little to inspire faith and endurance in the midst of suffering. A great stone, not cut by human hands, fell on the feet of the statue and destroyed it, and the rock became a mountain that filled the whole world. In spite of these kings, the saints of the Highest One will possess the eternal kingdom forever and ever. he provides both intelligence and discernment. Youre busy. He ran to the king, bringing Daniel with him, and said, Ive found a man from the exiles of Judah who can interpret the kings dream!, 26 The king asked Daniel (renamed in Babylonian, Belteshazzar), Are you sure you can do thistell me the dream I had and interpret it for me?. The coming of the Son of Man is represented as one coming, and not two. The final words of verse 25 are carefully chosen to let the reader know that while this king appears to be successfully opposing God, all he does is a part of the divine plan for the last days. Promised Land 2:44 In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. Holiness We provide the highest quality of service and utmost personalized level of support to our clients. Is it possible to understand history apart from knowledge of God and a Judeo-Christian worldview. Listen and subscribe to The Redeemed Mind Podcast on your favorite podcasting app or website. We dare not ignore that which is revealed nor do we dare go too far afield in speculating about what is concealed (see Deuteronomy 29:29; 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:23). That was bad enough, from the religious leaders perspective, but the way in which He answered them was the last straw. It may seem to them that their defeat is certain and that their hopes of entering into the eternal kingdom are lost. While God tells neither Daniel nor us that this beast represents Nebuchadnezzar, He does reveal that the head of gold in the vision of the great statue was Nebuchadnezzar (2:36-38). 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. The precise meaning of the symbols of the raised side and the three ribs is illusive. This condition is somewhat ironic, for God made mankind to be lord over the animals (cf. Editing is often evident in the Bible (see John 20:30-31; 31:25). The saints should expect to suffer because of their faith, especially as the last days for the kingdoms of men draw near. For the time, it was these Jewish leaders who were beastly, arrogant, and blasphemous, and because of this they would suffer divine judgment. We know that Jesus came the first time to die and that He will come again to subdue His enemies and establish His kingdom. The fourth beast is a fourth king, different than the others. 25 And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. He questioned His disciples so that they could confess that He, the Son of Man, was the Messiah (16:13f.). Print. In more detail, the outline would be as follows: (2) The Divine Interpretation verses 15-28. Thus, the vision is yet unfulfilled in terms of its major emphasis. Ohio man charged with attempting to burn down church that planned to host drag show events. The second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, according to the Babylonian system of reckoning, would begin March/April 603 BC. So Nebuchadnezzar's dream would have occurred before Daniel and his friends had even completed their three-year training program as "wise men," which (presumably) began in 605 BC or a bit later. 9 If any one has an ear, let him hear. Unity Interpretations of Daniels prophecies differ widely. When his appointed time is over, God will destroy this king and his kingdom and establish His eternal kingdom on the earth. He summons his magicians and astrologers to interpret it, but demands that they first tell him what the dream was. Jesus tests the Pharisees Whose Son is the Messiah? As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. 2:33 Its legs were of iron; its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay. Meet News Bitty. Then in a night vision the mystery was revealed to Daniel. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the entire earth. he imparts knowledge to those with understanding; 2:23 O God of my fathers, I acknowledge and glorify you. Editing allows an author to set aside details which are not significant and focus on the essence of the message he is trying to communicate. I believe some in Babylon, like their king, came to a genuine faith in God. The last kingdom has at least eleven kings. The rock that smashes the feet of the iron kingdom represents God. 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 revealer of mysteries has made known to you what will take place. As we shall show later, the content of the prophecy of Daniel 7 is very closely related to the reign of Belshazzar. It may have been a physical manifestation, a dream, or merely a thought. The vision comes to Daniel in Belshazzars first year. Consequently, it is little wonder that in the events recorded in Daniel 5, Belshazzar was ignorant of Daniel and the abilities God had given him. He responded by honoring Daniel by falling down before him. 2:14; 1 John 4:56)? 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. 79 Compare Jeremiah 49:14-22, 28, where Nebuchadnezzar is compared to a lion and an eagle. The first thing Daniel does when the Kings dream is revealed to him is to acknowledge that God revealed the dream and thank God for giving him insight. 4:5), he knew his future (cf. The emphasis of this brief interpretation falls not on the enemies of God, their power, their brutality, nor their boasting, but on the kingdom of God, its certainty and its permanence for all the saints forever. 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. 3136 What you saw, O king, was a huge statue standing before you, striking in appearance. (v.28) Nebuchadnezzar had been wondering what would happen after his kingdom, and God revealed to him what would take place. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. Its appearance caused alarm. One of the more famous kings of ancient Babylon, ruling for over 40 years, from about 605 BC to 562 BC. Both series of four kingdoms begin well and end badly. This description certainly fits the account of Nebuchadnezzars plunge from power and sanity in chapter 4. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.
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