35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. 39 But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. Daniel was one of the many Jews who were taken into captivity by Babylon. WebNebuchadnezzar is a real person. He would rise from the dead (12:40). "Nebuchadnezzar's dreams in the Old English Daniel." So Daniel praised the God of heaven, 2:20 saying. The saints should neither believe nor behave on the basis of how things appear to be (the wicked prospering and prevailing over the righteous). He came and said to him, Dont destroy the wise men of Babylon! After destroying the iron kingdom, Gods rule over earth will endure forever. Our study of this chapter will isolate what troubled Daniel about the future. The God of heaven has given you the works: rule, power, strength, and glory. Note that it was common in Babylonian literature to represent a king with a tree. The vision recorded in chapter 8 took place in the third year of Belshazzar. Just what this means is unclear, but it suggests this arrogant king not only speaks against God, but, like Satan, he aspires to change the order God has established. he imparts knowledge to those with understanding; 2:23 O God of my fathers, I acknowledge and glorify you. In chapter two, Daniel refers to God five times and blesses Him as the God 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. All distinctions of race and colour and nationality are stripped away and one apparently human figure represents the whole human race. Joyce C. Baldwin, Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1978), p. 150. Now there's much for us to learn in the story of Nebuchadnezzar's confession and open letter in this dream which is recorded here in verses 10 through 18. A striking component of Daniels interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream is that when he first heard the dream, he was astonished (Dan. With iron-like teeth, horns (some with eyes), and feet, it is utterly destructive. In an unprecedented turn of events, King Nebuchadnezzar reversed his decision to execute his advisors. In spite of these kings, the saints of the Highest One will possess the eternal kingdom forever and ever. In His response to the demand of the high priest, Jesus directly claimed to be the promised Messiah. The dream makes clear that the kingdom of God is going 4 The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. [19], The overall theme of the Book of Daniel is God's sovereignty over history,[5] and the theme of the tales in chapters 16 is that God is sovereign over all earthly kings. The precise meaning of the symbols of the raised side and the three ribs is illusive. A more broad look at the verses however, indicates Arioch is simply excited and is not making a move to impress the king. First, God enabled him to explain several of the kings dreams. 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. Nevertheless, Daniel tells no one, keeping the matter to himself and suffering a quiet agony over the future events God has revealed to him. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, for iron breaks and smashes everything, and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 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. Both sets of kingdoms are brought to a sudden end and are replaced by an eternal kingdom. 32 This images head was of fine 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 clay. As we will soon see, despite saving their lives, the courts wise men did not appreciate Daniels sudden rise. He has given you authority over them all. 4:3437 reports Nebuchadnezzars return to power. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out fwithout hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Prophecy is necessary because Gods thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth. Note the term seven times (Dan. 3 And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another. 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. 2:37 You, O king, are the king of kings. Q. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. We are not of night nor o darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. You are that head of gold. WebIn the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, is troubled by a dream. Privacy Policy Pope Francis Issues Call for Peace on Anniversary of Russias Invasion of Ukraine. God gives us wisdom in ways we may not always readily recognize. 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? Burleson, TX 76028. Where it has not caused distress, it should have. However, the kings retrospective confession in Dan. It seems safe to assume the interpreter was an angelic being; at least this is the case in chapter 8 (8:15-26). Sabbath Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. (1) Why does Daniel indicate the historical setting of the vision he receives in chapter 7? For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; 38 and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them allyou are this head of gold. Other biblical prophecies bear on the prophecies of Daniel, particularly preceding or contemporary prophecies. Daniel praised God and said: Praise be to God forever; wisdom and power are his. No convincing explanation for this has been put forward. Daniel is born. With the commencement of Belshazzars co-regency may have come not only a rejection of the Jewish faith and worship, but a new wave of persecution directed toward it. How easily we turn from what is revealed to speculate about what has been concealed (see Deuteronomy 29:29). The vision plays on before Daniel, almost as though in answer to his desire to know more. Copyright 2021 Bible Blender. Deut. God's Judgment He distinguishes himself by his ability to overcome the whole earth, crushing it under foot. We do not walk by sight, but by faith. This also underscores that these four kingdoms go from reasonably good to unbelievably bad. 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 Note the term watcher is only applied to angels in this chapter in Scripture. Salvation When the court sits for judgment, his dominion is taken from him and he is destroyed forever. WebIntroduction; Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's first dream; the Three Youths cast into the Fiery Furnace. Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, Upon the son of man whom Thou didst make strong for Thyself (Psalm 80:17). 4:1012; 2022). John the Baptist The beast was lifted up and made to stand like a man. It was a dream of a great statue with a head of gold, arms and chest of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of mingled iron and clay. He responded by honoring Daniel by falling down before him. Public sentiment was turning against this foreign religion, and the Babylonians, including Belshazzar, wanted a return to their old time religion the pagan worship of the gods of Babylon. (Numbers 23:19). Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: 29 As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. Fasting When his appointed time is over, God will destroy this king and his kingdom and establish His eternal kingdom on the earth. It will be like the stone cut from the mountain by the invisible hand that crushed the iron, the bronze, the ceramic, the silver, and the gold. 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. Given Nebuchadnezzars contact with Daniel and his friends, as well as his confessions (cf. We will deal with the meaning and application of Daniels vision later on in our questions and answers. Daniels interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzars dream reveals the giant statue represents a succession of earthly rulers. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them,81 and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. For the time, it was these Jewish leaders who were beastly, arrogant, and blasphemous, and because of this they would suffer divine judgment. Given Nebuchadnezzars repeated interaction with Daniel and his friends, why do you think he did not become a believer earlier (cf. How interesting! Prophecy reveals that which we would not and could not expect apart from divine revelation. 4:1315, 23). It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. At Daniels request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to administrative posts throughout Babylon, while Daniel governed from the royal headquarters. No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. I encourage you to compare the statements of Daniel 2:21-22, 44, 47; 4:3, 34-35, 37; 6:26 with the content and declarations of Daniel 7. (2) The prophecies of Daniel must be understood in relationship to and in light of the other prophecies of Daniel. 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. You, O king, are the most powerful king on earth. God is able to raise up kings and put them down. The saints should expect to suffer because of their faith, especially as the last days for the kingdoms of men draw near. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all, you are this head of gold. As Daniel continues to watch, someone descends with the clouds of heaven, one like a Son of Man. He is presented to the Ancient of Days, and to Him is given dominion, glory, and the eternal kingdom. 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. His followers too must be alert and ready for His return (24:44). The Son of Man was also Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (1 Peter 4:7). The New King James Version. iron legs are worth less than the gold head) but the durability of the metal increases (i.e. sees in the darklight spills out of him! Daniel uses the expression Son of man twice. The death of this king brings about the end of his kingdom. 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the goldthe great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. Listen carefully to your inner thoughts and take note of the revelations revealed to you. He also presented an offering and incense to Daniel, most likely indicating that he viewed him as the representative of God (Dan. How old was Daniel in the Bible when he was taken captive?
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