Judgment Was Set.

 READ Daniel 7:9,10 - 'I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the (1)______ of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool; his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him; thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the judgment was set, and the books were opened.'

A depiction of judgment. We NEED to comprehend the judgment because we are ALL to be judged!

A more majestic description of a majestic scene is not to be found in the English language. But not only on account of the amazing imagery introduced should it capture our attention; the nature of the scene itself demands the most serious contemplation. The Judgment is brought to view, and whenever the Judgment is mentioned it should take an irresistible hold on those listening, reading, for every human being has an interest in its eternal message.

First we have to note verse nine- a different translation is closer to the meaning to be conveyed- 

(ASV)  I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire.

'cast down'  'were placed'  - The thrones were placed…  gives the correct meaning.

Dr. Clarke says that the word 'might be translated erected; so the Vulgate, positi sunt [were placed], and so all the versions.' The Septuagint has eteqhsan (etethesan), which is defined to mean "'to set, put, place; to set up; to erect." The thrones are not the thrones of earthly kingdoms, which are to be thrown down at the last day, but thrones of judgment, which are to be " placed," or set up, in the court of God on high just before the end.

The "Ancient of days," God the Father, takes the throne of judgment.

Note the description of God here. We can't imagine him as impersonal can we, not in this setting.

There are thousands and thousands ministering to Him, ten thousand times ten thousands standing before Him. These aren't sinners, but heavenly beings waiting in attendance on God. It's amazing!

To really understand these verses we need to understand a bit about the sanctuary subject. The end of the ministering of Christ as our Great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary is the scene being discussed here. The investigative judgment. The books are opened, the lives of all people are on display to determine who will receive eternal life when the Lord returns to Earth for His people. John in the book of Revelation writes of this same place, he saw the same number of heavenly beings before God involved in investigative judgment. Reading Revelation 4 and on into Revelation 5 verse 11 we read this--

READ Revelation 5:11 'And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands'

READ Daniel 7:10 '...the judgment was set, and the books were opened.' The books are opened and the judgment set to begin. It will appear from the testimony of Daniel 8:14, that this investigative judgment is even now transpiring in the sanctuary above.

READ Daniel 7:11,12 'I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning (2) _____. 12. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.'

The FOURTH beast continues without change of character, and the LITTLE HORN continues to SPEAK its blasphemies, and hold its millions of worshippers in the bonds of a blind superstition, till the beast is given to the burning, flame; and this is not its conversion, but its destruction.

READ 2 Thess. 2:8 'And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.'

The fourth beast doesn't live long after its dominion is gone, unlike the previous beasts. Their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season. The territory and subjects of the Babylonian kingdom still existed, though made subject to the Persians. So of the Persian kingdom in respect to Grecia, and of Grecia in respect to Rome. But what succeeds the fourth kingdom? NO government or state in which mortals have any part. Its ends in the lake of fire, and it has no existence beyond.

The lion was merged into the bear, the bear into the leopard, the leopard into the fourth beast, and the fourth beast into what? NOT into another beast. It is cast into the lake of fire. No one should talk of probation, or a mixed millennium AFTER the Lord comes, it's just NOT Biblical.

The adverb then, in the sentence, "I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake," seems to refer to some PARTICULAR TIME.

The work of the investigative judgment is introduced in the previous verses; and this verse would seem to imply that while this work is going forward, and just before this power is destroyed and given to the burning flame, the LITTE HORN UTTERS ITS GREAT WORDS AGAINST THE MOST HIGH.

Let's take a moment to reflect before continuing in our next study…  we're reflecting on the fact that ROME changed from a dominating authority that ruled with an iron fist to a land divided into ten principal kingdoms. ALL Historically proven! Out of pagan Rome came a papal Rome. Papal Rome used the power given to it to uproot three of the ten kingdoms that stood in its way of achieving still greater power. We have had so many historical references to the Papacy, and today in 2022 as I add this to my previous study, we've had many television shows on the Papacy as well- a lot of it fictionalize, but even fictionalize they've taken much from true history of the Papacy's rule. Today, the Papacy and the millions who still follow this religion, admit to their sordid past even as they hold fast to many of their beliefs that have been shrouded in the blinding deception. They don't want truth. I've been personally attacked for believing this, by those who hold fast to Papal deceptions. It breaks my heart to know that the refusal to look at history, at prophecy, at God's entire word of truth, to witness how Satan can so completely and utterly blinded people, is a reality in our world. I CANNOT JUDGE A SINGLE PERSON'S ETERNAL LIFE! I am not the JUDGE! I can judge right from wrong, truth from lies, all by the grace of God. I will not condemn ANYONE, because I have no right to. I don't know if a person at their death bed might embrace the truth they've denied through the years, God alone knows this! God alone knows the thoughts of the heart. I have to study the truth, and proclaim it as God leads, that's all I can do. If any of the Papal followers are reading this now and want to lash out at me, please don't. Just stop reading my studies if your sole reason for doing so is object to them, or write in your own study refuting everything I'm saying with your own facts, your own history, your own beliefs. When I'm faced with things that are contrary to my beliefs and the Bible truths I hold dear, I quickly stop reading them as soon as they prove to be against God's word. I don't want to fight with anyone at all, I won't fight. I won't answer objections with verbal sparring. Read or don't read. God help us all!

Answers to question blanks.

(1) Ancient - Daniel 7:9

(2) flame - Daniel 7:11

From Daniel - 

(Quick synopsis #1) The FIRST beast, the FIRST kingdom, the HEAD of GOLD, the LION with EAGLE WINGS, wings to be plucked, the lion made to assume an upright position unable to hunt, run, a lion whose strong heart was replaced by a much weaker human heart- BABYLONIAN KINGDOM, strong and fierce eventually replaced as its rulership weakened, by the next kingdom. This is historically proven, historically realized as truth. This prophecy came to pass.

(Quick synopsis #2) The SECOND beast, the SECOND kingdom- ARMS and CHEST of SILVER- MEDO-PERSIA, a BEAR - raised up one side stronger than the other, three parts of this kingdom caught in the bear's teeth, historically Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt were brutalized as Persia rose up stronger than the Medes. Historically proven.

(Quick Synopsis #3) The THIRD beast, the THIRD kingdom- BELLY and THIGHS of BRASS, LEOPARD with four wings extremely swift conquest by GREECE, four heads eventually divided kingdom to Alexander's four generals Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, Seleucus.

(Quick Synopsis #4) The FOURTH beast, the FOURTH kingdom- LEGS of IRON. Dreadful, terrible, very strong, IRON TEETH, devoured residue, DIFFERENT than the other BEASTS- HAS TEN HORNS. Historically the ROMAN KINGDOM came after Greece and fits this prophecy perfectly. 

LITTLE HORN AMONG TEN HORNS- 3 HORNS PLUCKED UP. 

TEN KINGDOMS- 1) Huns 2) Ostrogoths 3) Visigoths 4) Franks 5) Vandals 6) Suevi 7) Burgundians 8) Heruli 9) Anglo-Saxons 10) Lombards

THREE PLUCKED UP- 1) Heruli, 2) Ostrogoths, 3) Vandals  

Historically proven! 

THREE PLUCKED UP by the LITTLE HORN- the LITTLE HORN Papal Rome. Those 3 were opposed to papal teachings and fell in its wake as it rose to power. HISTORY not conjecture!

(LITTLE HORN) EYES of a MAN, MOUTH SPEAKING GREAT THINGS-  Papal Rome- Papacy.

To Be Continued… 

Who Are We to Dismiss Prophecy?

 Daniel 7 Continued… Remember- this is PROPHECY concerning YOUR ETERNAL LIFE!  Is it hard to read? It can be. Guess who doesn't want you to even try to read this? Who is it that wants to keep us from truth in any way he can? Does it seem too hard to comprehend? Then pray, pray as never before. Pray as if your very life depends upon it, because your eternal life could very well be at stake. You say, lies! All LIES! Maybe it appears that way because Satan doesn't want you knowing truth in any form. Satan wants you to believe that you have no need to comprehend prophecy, that you could go your entire life without knowing any of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation and it would affect nothing at all concerning your eternal life.  But do you realize that hidden in the prophecies of Daniel is the predicted date of Jesus' ministry and Jesus' death and resurrection? Do you know that Jesus has this to say about Revelation's prophecies… Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

So keep on thinking it doesn't matter if you read and know these prophecies, millions will believe that because they are on the broad way that leads to destruction, and they don't even realize it because Satan deceives the majority of those on that broad path by allowing them to believe they are on that narrow way, when they aren't. 

Forty years ago I learned of these prophecies and I'm still learning from them. God help us all just to be HIS to know HIM as HE would have us know HIM. He gave us these words, who are we to dismiss them?  God help us all! In Jesus' name! Amen!!!!!!!

*******

READ Daniel 7:6 'After this I beheld, and lo another, like a (1)_______  which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.'

The Leopard - The third kingdom, Grecia, is represented by this symbol. If wings upon the lion signified rapidity of conquest, they would signify the same here. The leopard itself is a swift-footed beast, but this was not sufficient to represent the career of the nation which it symbolized, it must have wings in addition. Two wings, the number the lion had, were not enough, it must have four; this would denote unparalleled action of movement, which we find to be historically true of the Grecian kingdom. The conquests of Grecia under Alexander the Great have no parallel in history for suddenness and rapidity in conquest.

Rollin, Ancient History, b. 15, sec. 2, gives the following brief synopsis of Alexander's marches:

'From Macedonia to the Ganges, which river Alexander nearly approached, is computed at least eleven hundred leagues. Add to this the various turnings in Alexander's marches; first, from the extremity of Cilicia, where the battle of Issus was fought, to the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Libya; and his returning from thence to Tyre, a journey of three hundred leagues at least, and as much space at least for the windings of his route in different places; we shall find that Alexander, in less than eight years, marched his army upward of seventeen hundred leagues [or more than fifty-one hundred miles], without including his return to Babylon.'

'The beast had also four heads.' The Grecian empire maintained its unity but little longer than the lifetime of Alexander. Within a few years after his brilliant career ended in a fever induced by a drunken debauchy, the empire was divided among his four leading generals.

Cassander had Macedon and Greece in the west

Lysimachus had Thrace and the parts of Asia on the Hellespont, Bosphorus in the north

Ptolemy received Egypt, Lydia, Arabia, Palestine, and Coele-Syria in the South

Seleucus had Syria and all the rest of Alexander's dominions in the east.

These divisions were denoted by the four heads of the leopard; B. C. 308.

Accurately were the words of the prophet fulfilled.

As Alexander left no available successor, why didn't the huge empire break up into countless petty fragments? Why into just four parts, and no more? Because the prophecy had said that there should be four. The leopard had four heads, the rough goat four horns, the kingdom was to have four divisions; and so it was. (We'll see more in studying Chapter 8.)

READ Daniel 7:7 - 'After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a (2) _____ beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it; and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.'

A Dreadful Beast, inspiration finds no beast in nature which it can make even the basis of a symbol to represent the power here depicted. No addition of hoofs, heads, horns, wings, scales, teeth, or nails to any beast found in nature, would answer. This power was diverse from all the others, and the symbol entirely non-descript.

Just a bit can be stated on this kingdom- this beast here, there is so much to discuss.

This beast, corresponds to the fourth division of the great image - the legs of iron.

Under Daniel 2:40 are given some reasons for supposing this power to be Rome.

The same reasons are applicable to the present prophecy. How accurately Rome answered to the iron division of the image! How accurately it answers to the beast before us! In the dread and terror which it inspired, and in its exceeding strength, the world has never seen its equal. It devoured as with iron teeth, and brake in pieces; and it ground the nations into the very dust beneath its feet. It had ten horns, which are explained in Daniel 7:24, to be ten kings, or kingdoms, which should arise out of this empire. As already noticed in Daniel chapter 2, Rome was divided into ten kingdoms, numbered as follows-1) Huns 2) Ostrogoths 3) Visigoths 4) Franks 5) Vandals 6) Suevi 7) Burgundians 8) Heruli 9) Anglo-Saxons 10) Lombards

These divisions have ever since been spoken of as the ten kingdoms of the Roman empire.

READ Daniel 2:41,42 'And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. {2:42} And [as] the toes of the feet [were] part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.'

READ Daniel 7:8 - 'I considered the (3) ____  and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were (4) _____ of the first horns plucked up by the roots; and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the (5) ____  of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

A Little Horn Among the Ten.

Daniel considered the horns. Indications of a strange movement appeared among them. A little horn (at first little) thrust itself up among them. It was not content quietly to find a place of its own, and fill it; it must thrust aside some of the others, and usurp their places. Three kingdoms were plucked up before it. This little horn, as we'll see, was the papacy.

The three horns plucked up before it were the Heruli, the Ostrogoths, and the Vandals. And the reason why they were plucked up was because they were opposed to the teaching and claims of the papal hierarchy, and hence to the supremacy in the church of the bishop of Rome. This is all history, not blind conjecture, historically proven.

And... 'in this horn -were eyes like the eyes of man, and a month speaking great things,' The eyes, a fit emblem of the shrewdness, penetration, cunning, and foresight of the papal hierarchy, and the mouth speaking great things, a fit symbol of the arrogant claims of the bishops of Rome perfectly. Don't worry this will become even more clear as we continue to study.

Answers to fill in the blanks…

(1) leopard (2) fourth (3) horns (4) three (5) eyes

Recap -

(Quick synopsis #1) The FIRST beast is the FIRST kingdom which is the HEAD of GOLD, also the LION with EAGLE WINGS, wings to be plucked, the lion made to assume an upright position unable to hunt, run, a lion whose strong heart was replaced by a much weaker human heart- BABYLONIAN KINGDOM, strong and fierce eventually replaced as its rulership weakened, by the NEXT kingdom. This is historically proven, historically realized as truth. This prophecy came to pass. 

(Quick synopsis #2) The SECOND beast is the SECOND kingdom- which is the ARMS and CHEST of SILVER- MEDO-PERSIA, a BEAR - raised up one side stronger than the other, three parts of this kingdom caught in the bear's teeth, historically Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt were brutalized as Persia rose up stronger than the Medes. Historically proven.

(Quick Synopsis #3) The THIRD beast, the THIRD kingdom- BELLY and THIGHS of BRASS, LEOPARD with four wings extremely swift conquest by GREECE, four heads eventually divided kingdom to Alexander's four generals Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, Seleucus.

(Quick Synopsis #4) The FOURTH beast, the FOURTH kingdom- LEGS of IRON. Dreadful, terrible, very strong, IRON TEETH, devoured residue, DIFFERENT than the other BEASTS- HAS TEN HORNS. Historically the ROMAN KINGDOM came after Greece and fits this prophecy perfectly. 

LITTLE HORN AMONG TEN HORNS- 3 HORNS PLUCKED UP. 

TEN KINGDOMS- 1) Huns 2) Ostrogoths 3) Visigoths 4) Franks 5) Vandals 6) Suevi 7) Burgundians 8) Heruli 9) Anglo-Saxons 10) Lombards

THREE PLUCKED UP- 1) Heruli, 2) Ostrogoths, 3) Vandals  

Historically proven! 

THREE PLUCKED UP by the LITTLE HORN- the LITTLE HORN Papal Rome. Those 3 were opposed to papal teachings and fell in its wake as it rose to power. HISTORY not conjecture!

(LITTLE HORN) EYES of a MAN, MOUTH SPEAKING GREAT THINGS-  Papal Rome- Papacy.

To BE CONTINUED                                                                                                                              

Daniel 7 Pt 1

 

The Book of Daniel is filled with prophecy-  so far we've read through six chapters of Daniel and we've learned the following-

1. Daniel, a young Jewish man was taken captive along with others when Jerusalem was besieged by Babylonian forces. 

2. The king of Babylon had a dream that bothered him and only Daniel could tell him the dream and its meaning because God gave the knowledge to him.

3. The dream and its meaning were prophetic and meant for ALL OF US.

4. The dream depicted history until Christ's return.

5. Babylon, Medes-Perisa, Greece, Rome, Rome divided, and Christ's return.

6. Rome divided into ten kingdoms and there would never be another huge kingdom in that area, it would forever remain divided until Christ's second coming. 

7. We live in the kingdoms divided.

8. All the kingdoms came to pass- PREDICTED before they did so. NOTHING will stop the entire prophecy from coming to pass. NOTHING. 

9. We learned that God would protect His chosen as a testament to HIS Glory and Power over all others that were perceived as gods as long as those who are His keep their faith in Him.

10. We learned that God gave warning prophecies to kings and the prophecies came to pass as they were told they would. 

All the above is PROOF to those who have studied, that GOD is in control! God thus far has given prophecies for US, and He doesn’t stop at that one general prophetic time piece of a statue, but He goes into great depths of prophecies even more detailed about time, until not only Christ appears, but Christ returns. We will be studying these prophecies as we continue on with the book of Daniel. May God bless us with full comprehension of all we need to know to be wholly His in faith!

This is a study of Daniel Chapter Seven READ Daniel 7:1 -'In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed; then be wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.'

This is the same Belshazzar mentioned in chapter five Remember- Daniel 5:1 -'Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.' This is right after Chapter four in which King Nebuchadnezzar died at the end. 

Chronologically this chapter PRECEDES chapter five; but chronological order has been disregarded in order that the historical part of the book might stand by itself, and the prophetic part, which were studying now might not be interrupted by writings of that sort. So bear this in mind as we continue please.

READ Daniel 7:2,3 -'Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great (1)______ came up from the sea, diverse one from another.'

Daniel is talking about his own vision here. Remember all Scripture is to be taken literally, unless there exists some good reason for supposing it to be figurative; and all that is figurative is to be interpreted by that which is literal. The language here used is symbolic, is evident from verse 17, which reads, "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings which shall arise out of the earth." And to show that kingdoms are intended, and not merely individual kings, the angel continues, "But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom." And further, in the explanation of verse 23, the angel said, "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth."

These beasts are therefore symbols of four great kingdoms and the circumstances under which they arose, and the means by which they were established, as depicted in prophecy, are symbolic also. The symbols introduced are, the A) four winds, B) the sea, C) four great beasts, D) ten horns, and E) another horn which had eyes and a mouth, and rose up in war against God and his people. We have now to inquire what they each mean, what each symbol stands for.

A) Winds-- in symbolic language, winds denote strife, political commotion, and war. READ Jer. 25: 31, 32, 33: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth." Here the prophet speaks of a controversy which the Lord is to have with all nations, when the wicked shall be given to the sword, and the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth to the other; and the strife and commotion which produces all this destruction is called a great whirlwind.

That (2)_____ are a symbol for strife and war is further evident from a consideration of the vision itself, for as the result of the striving of the winds, kingdoms arise and fall; and these events are accomplished through political strife. It makes sense.

The Bible definition of sea, or waters-- when used as a symbol-- is peoples, and nations, and tongues. In proof of this, READ Rev. 17:15, where it is without a doubt declared.

READ Rev. 17:15- 'And he saith unto me, The (3) ______ which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.'

The definition of the symbol of the four beasts is given to Daniel at the close of the vision.

READ Dan. 7:17- "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings which shall arise out of the earth." The scope of the vision is definitely opened before us. Let's continue-- Remember Dan. 7:3- 'And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.'

I'm interjecting here for a moment just to say all of this can be overwhelming at first, and very confusing. The tendency to shrug it off as something you're incapable of comprehending is going to be one of Satan's urgings to keep you from truth. It is a lot. It is strange. We aren't Bible scholars but simple people, with simple educations, with ordinary minds and this takes actual studying, not just a casual reading over. Will it stick in your memory right off? Chances are it won't. It's more likely that you may need to study and read this over and over and you many never have it memorized. Because we aren't able to memorize something doesn't make it unimportant. There are many very important things in our lives we don't have memorized, but that doesn't mean we don't have a rudimentary ability to recall some of it, and to know the truth behind what we can't memorize word for word. As mentioned above, Satan doesn't want us comprehending truth found in prophecy, he wants it to remain a closed book for all time. He would have us believe lies not truth, and he would have us not study it for ourselves but let others study it for us and tell us what they think we should know. We need to dig into this ourselves. We need the experience of others knowledge but with that we need our own thoughts, our own prayers, our understanding and the wisdom from God to know truth from error. With prophecy- history reveals truth and we need to study it all.  No, we aren't Bible scholars and we aren't historians, but we are Christians seeking truth that God would have us know. Let us continue, and if it gets overwhelming, take a break, say a prayer, go back and reread things, look up Bible verses and historical truth, let God guide you through the Holy Spirit's leading.

The four beasts- 

READ Daniel 7:4 - 'The first was like a (4) ___ , and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.'

'The first was like a lion' - The Lion. As these beasts denote four kings, or kingdoms, we have to wonder, What four?

These beasts do not rise all at once, but consecutively, as they are spoken of as first, second, etc.; and the last one is in existence when all earthly scenes are brought to an end by the final Judgment.

Now, from the time of Daniel to the end of this world's history, there were to be but ____ major kingdoms, as we learn from Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great image in chapter 2. Daniel was still living under the same kingdom which he had declared, in his interpretation of the king's dream, about sixty-five years before, to be the head of gold.

The first beast of this vision must therefore denote the same as the head of gold of the great image, namely, the kingdom of Babylon, and the other beasts the succeeding kingdoms shown by that image. But if this vision covers essentially the same ground as the image of chapter 2, the question might arise why it is given; why was not the vision of chapter two sufficient? The possible answer, that as the same ground is passed over again and again additional characteristics might be brought out, and additional facts and features might be presented. It is here that we have "line upon line."

READ Isaiah 28:9, 10 'Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts. 28:10 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little'

Here four earthly governments are viewed as heaven sees them. Their true character is shown by the symbol of wild and ravenous beasts. Four beasts.

At first the lion had eagle's wings, denoting the rapidity with which Babylon extended its conquests under Nebuchadnezzar.

At this point in the vision a change had taken place; its wings had been plucked. It no longer flew like an eagle upon its prey. The boldness and spirit of the lion were gone. A man's heart, weak compared to the heart of a lion, had taken its place. Such was emphatically the case in history with the nation of Babylon during the closing years of its history, when it had become enfeebled through wealth and luxury. History proves this to be the case.

(Quick synopsis) The FIRST beast, the FIRST kingdom, the head of gold, the lion with eagle wings, wings to be plucked, the lion made to assume an upright position unable to hunt, run, a lion whose strong heart was replaced by a much weaker human heart- Babylonian kingdom, strong and fierce eventually replaced as its rulership weakened, by the next kingdom. This is historically proven, historically realized as truth. This prophecy came to pass.

READ Daniel 7:5 'And behold another beast, a second, like to a (6)____, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it; and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.'

The Bear - again as in the great image of Daniel chapter two, so in this series of symbols a marked deterioration will be noticed as we descend from one kingdom to another. The silver of the breast and arms was inferior to the gold of the head. The bear was inferior to the lion. Medo-Persia fell short of Babylon in wealth and magnificence, and the brilliancy of its career.

And now we come to additional particulars respecting this power. The bear raised itself up on one side. This kingdom was composed of two nationalities, the Medes and Persians. The same fact is represented by the two horns of the ram of chapter 8. Of these horns it is said that the higher came up last; and of the bear that it raised itself up on one side; and this was fulfilled by the Persian division of the kingdom, which came up last, but attained the higher importance, becoming the controlling influence in the nation.

The three ribs perhaps signify the three provinces of Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, which were especially ground down and oppressed by this power. Their saying unto it, "Arise, devour much flesh," would naturally refer to the stimulus given to the Medes and Persians, by the overthrow of these provinces, to plan and undertake more extensive conquests. The character of the power is well represented by a bear. The Medes and Persians were cruel and ravenous, robbers and spoilers of the people. As already noticed in the study of chapter two, this kingdom dated from the overthrow of Babylon by Cyrus, B. C. 538, and continued to the battle of Arbela, B. C. 331, a period of 207 years.

(Quick synopsis) The SECOND beast, the SECOND kingdom- arms and chest of silver- Medo-Persia, a bear - raised up one side stronger than the other, three parts of this kingdom caught in the bear's teeth, historically Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt were brutalized as Persia rose up stronger than the Medes. Historically proven.

(1) beasts - Daniel 7:3

(2) winds

(3) waters - Revelation 17:15

(4) lion - Daniel 7:4

(5) four

(6) bear - Daniel 7:5

To be continued…  There's so much to study and learn, let's take it slow. May God bless us and keep us in HIM always, letting us know HIS truth!

Daniel 6

 This is a study of Daniel Chapter Six 

READ Daniel 6:1-5 - 'It Pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 2. And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was the (1) _____; that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 3. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was found in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 4. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.'

In 538 B.C. Babylon was overthrown by the Persians. Darius the Median was crowned king. In 536 B.C. Darius was dying and Cyrus took over. Between 538 and 536 B.C. the events recorded here took place.

Daniel was still appointed a high position and once again those men in power about him didn't like that Daniel was held in such high esteem. It irked them that a man not even of their own beliefs could gain such a high appointment. They didn't like his perfection, it glaringly exposed their own imperfections. They sought to find a way to discredit him and nothing presented itself, nothing. So they had to devise a way and the biggest difference between Daniel and the men of that time was the fact Daniel worshipped the One True God, while like most Babylonians before them, the Medes and Persians had many gods they prayed to.

Of note the following events told to us in chapter six are actually mentioned in part by Paul in Hebrews 11:33 'Who through faith...stopped the (2) ______  of lions.'

READ Daniel 6:6-10 - 'Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King, Darius, live forever. 7. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a (3) _______ of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, 0 king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8. Now, 0 king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he (4) ________ upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.'

Like before when the men against the three captives brought to Babylon with Daniel, sought to have Nebuchadnezzar make a decree that they had to bow down to the golden image erect, these men were seeking a way to get Daniel to do something that would make him offend his own God. Make him choose to defy his own God, something he wouldn't do, or suffer the consequences. They went to the King and lied, saying all the presidents, governors, princes, counselors, and captains have consulted together. Daniel one of the three presidents, the chief president in fact had not been consulted at all on the matter. The king however was deceived. He believed the men when they told them this was a unanimous decision. The fact they wanted to make a royal statute, a decree, that people could only ask the king for anything for thirty days and no others, not man, nor gods.

Of course the king liked the idea that he would be the only one to grant any requests, the only one sought out to do so. He was after all, king. No others were greater than him and this little 30 day decree would prove that to everyone. He and he alone had the power. No god, no other man had that power. And what a power trip it must have been for the king. He agreed. Making it so that anyone not obeying this decree would be cast into a den of lions. Everyone knows being cast into a den of lions is a death sentence and not a very pleasant one. The king knowing that by their very laws once a decree was signed it was in effect and could not be altered. Remember, Nebuchadnezzar couldn't change the decree he'd made either about the bowing down to the image. Both kings were deceived and ensnared by those about them and their own vanity.

When Daniel learned of the decree what did he do?

He went into his house and his windows were opened and he knelt down three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just like he'd been doing and those who sought to put the decree in affect knew this. They knew his custom. They knew Daniel prayed three times a day on his knees to his God. He knew of the decree but he also knew he couldn't follow that decree. He would not betray God that way. He knew it meant being cast into a den of lions and his faith in God was so strong that he knew that if it were his fate to be killed by lions then God's will be done. He wasn't going to stop honoring his God, not even in the face of death, not any more than his three friends had bowed down to the golden statue.

Amazing isn't it, just how desperate those men were to be rid of Daniel.

Think about it, they had gods they prayed to, sacrificed to gods they worshipped. All people had gods of some sort and yet here they were ready to give up their own faith and make all the people in the whole kingdom (and what a huge kingdom is was), give up their gods too. The king liked the idea of course, he would be their one and only god for a full 30 days. You can imagine not many were pleased with the decree but how many of them would rather die than comply? Daniel was prepared to die. He'd rather die than worship any but God.

READ Daniel 6:11-17 'Then these men assembled, and found Daniel (5) ________ and making supplication before his God. 12. Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree: Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, 0 king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, 0 king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 14. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15. Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, 0 king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 16. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God, whom thou servest continually, he will (6) ______ thee. 17. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.'

The trap had been laid perfectly and it was sprung.

The men who contrived the scheme were watching Daniel and as they knew would happen, they found Daniel praying to his God. Off to the king they went, eager you can imagine, to tell the king all about the one who dared to defy the king's decree.

First they asked him if he signed the decree, reminding him exactly what it was he'd sign and what the penalty was for disobeying the decree, and of course the king admitted to signing it, even saying it can't be altered. Only when they were sure the king was well reminded of the decree did they tell him that Daniel, one of the captives from Judah isn't following the decree, but they didn't just say that did they? No, they rubbed in the fact Daniel was not regarding the king with the authority he should be regarded with. Basically, Daniel is outright and flagrantly disobeying you king because he doesn't think you have power over him. Surely all should obey the king, why...he was king! But Daniel, one of the king's favored wasn't giving him the honor due him.

The king's reaction to the news? He wasn't very happy. But get this... this is very important.

'Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself.' 

With who? Himself!

Amazing. He wasn't sore displeased with Daniel, but with himself. He knew how valuable a man Daniel was to his kingdom, and sure Daniel might have his own God he prayed to, but everyone had their own gods. He never thought when making the decree that Daniel would be one that held his faith in his God above all else.

He'd been deceived. So he spent the rest of the entire day trying to figure out how to save Daniel.

What happened at the end of that entire day? He'd stalled. The punishment for disobeying the decree hadn't been exacted right away like it might have been. Instead the king took the entire day until he could take no longer and then the men came to remind him that the decree couldn't be changed. Daniel had to be cast into the den of lions. You can bet it was a very unhappy king that had it done. He gave the command. Daniel was brought and cast into the lion's den and the king said this to Daniel-- 'Thy God, whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.' His God would deliver him, why? Because the king could not so Daniel's God was the only one who could deliver Daniel and the king knew that.

The den was sealed up, no one could go in or get out. It was done. Daniel was punished according to the decree.

So what happened next?

READ Daniel 6:18-24 -- 'Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him; and his sleep went from him. 19. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel; and the king spake and said to Daniel, 0 Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21. Then said Daniel unto the king, 0 king, live forever. 22. My God hath sent his (7) _____, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, 0 king, have I done no hurt. 23. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 24. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.'

The king was obviously upset, he didn't eat anything, didn't want to be entertained, and he couldn't sleep. Have you ever been so worried about something that you could eat, sleep, and you definitely didn't want to have fun and games? I know I have. It's a horrible feeling being that distraught. The king spent the entire night like that. Then when it was very early...get that part? When it was *very* early in the morning, the king didn't wait any longer than he absolutely had to. The night was over and morning was there and he was ran to the lion's den, crying out in agony to Daniel, hoping that Daniel's God had been able to save him. The king didn't have the faith it took to believe that God would save Daniel. He only knew that one of the best men in all his kingdom believed in his God so strongly he was willing to die for Him. This God had to be amazing really, and there was the possibility that He could save Daniel. So the king in agony, his heart overwrought from a night spent worrying over Daniel called into the den of lions. '0 Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?'

Was Daniel's God able to save him?

Daniel answered. 'Then said Daniel unto the king, 0 king, live forever. 22. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, 0 king, have I done no hurt.'

The first thing Daniel said to the king was what? 'O king, live forever.' He was giving the king the honor that he could afford to give to him. No, he couldn't worship him above his God, but he nonetheless held the king in high esteem. He gave the king honor first and then he told him what his God had done. An angel had been sent to shut the lion's mouths, he was unhurt, he was innocent of any crime, of any wrong doing. God found him innocent and he'd done nothing against the king either. His not honoring the decree was not done of self-righteous, egoistical ambitions, he didn't think he was better than the king, but his God was the only true God for him and no other would ever be treated as a God for Daniel. He didn't hurt the king. He was innocent and alive.

How did the king react? He was exceedingly glad! He was thrilled! He ordered Daniel brought up out of the den. They checked him all over and found no hurt on him at all, not even a scratch. The lions you can bet those men setting the trap for Daniel kept very hungry, had been thwarted of their meal. Why hadn't Daniel been hurt? Because of his faith in God. Faith is so important.

Then the king, obviously aware of why the decree had been presented to him, wise to the scheming of the men against Daniel, had those men all brought in and what did he do to punish them for their trickery against an innocent, upright man the king favored? He had them, and their children, their wives, all thrown to the same lions that hadn't touched Daniel. The lions in their natural fury and perhaps more so from being denied a meal all night long that was right before them, were so enraged and starving that they attacked those thrown to them before they even touched the floor of the den. Obviously if the lions had been subdued in any other manner it was proven that they were still ferocious, vicious, man-eating lions able to devour any in their den. Nothing but God through His angel subdued those lions and it was proven beyond a doubt. No one could accuse the King of tampering with the lions and therefore Daniel was spared by some means the king devised as he sought all the day before to figure out a way to save Daniel. By punishing those that would have Daniel killed, the king showed all in the kingdom what he thought of those who tried to trick him into doing away with those he chose to run his kingdom. He also showed that it was Daniel's God alone who had spared Daniel's life. A God of great power to do such a thing, no wonder Daniel would rather obey his God than follow any decree made by any other.

READ Daniel 6:25-28 -- Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you. 26. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the (8) ____ of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 27. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.'

Amazing! So amazing! The result of the entire scheme of the evil men who sought to have Daniel killed backfired a hundredfold. The king made a new decree. Not only did people not have to come to him for any petitions, but every man in the whole kingdom men had to tremble and fear before Daniel's God, the living God, forever and ever in a kingdom impossible to destroy whose dominion was to the end. God delivers, he rescues, he works signs and wonder in heaven and in earth, he delivered Daniel from powerful lions.

What a glorious testimony! Amazing and wonderful!

That which was seemingly wrought for man's evil devices was used as an opportunity to exalt God!

Amazing!

Such an important lesson to learn from what were taught here. Yes, we are taught by these miracles too.

The three Hebrews in the fiery furnace would not bow down to a statue- they would not do something they knew to be wrong in God's eyes, upon the punishment of death.

Daniel would not stop doing what he knew God wanted him to do upon the punishment of death.

We are not to do that which we know God doesn't approve, and we are to keep doing what God requires we do, even in the face of death.

If we obey God in all aspects of our lives God will be faithful to us who are faithful to Him.

All by the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ now and forever! Amen!!!!!!!

(1) first - Daniel 6:2

(2) mouths - Hebrew 11:33

(3) petition - Daniel 6:7

(4) kneeled - Daniel 6:10

(5) praying - Daniel 6:11

(6) deliver - Daniel 6:16

(7) angel - Daniel 6:22

(8) God - Daniel 6:26

Daniel Chapter 5

 This is a study of Daniel Chapter Five 

READ Daniel 5:1 -' Belshazzar the king made a great (1) _____ to a thousand of his lords and drank wine before the thousand.'

No longer Nebuchadnezzar, his life is over. Next, we pick up with Belshazzar, learning that feasting and drinking were something he enjoyed. Further on you'll see where Cyrus and his army obviously knew of this feasting and used it to their advantage. Do you remember that statue, the one with the golden head? Well we know the dream interpretation stated that the head of gold would give way to arms and chest of silver, the Babylonian empire would not last and this chapter shows where Babylon ends and the next kingdom begins.

READ Daniel 5:2-4 'Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the (2) ______ which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 3. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 4. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.'

Obviously the special golden and silver vessels that were stolen from the temple in Jerusalem were not on display for everyday use. They were the spoils of war, but kept elsewhere. Perhaps like good china stowed away for a special occasion? Or even more sacred than that. They were kept locked away as a show piece to a victorious war fought and won. Here Belshazzar commanded that these temple vessels be brought into the feast, these vessel the Jewish people had kept in their holy temple dedicated to the one, true God. He passed the vessels around and drank wine from them praising the gods of what? Gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone. Gods. Not God. He used vessels dedicated to the one true God of Heaven and Earth to honor false gods. Not a very good thing to be doing, not at all. Of course they knew what they were doing. They had those vessels brought out, not because they didn't have any fine vessels of their own, but they wanted to make a point and that being their gods were greater than the Jewish God.

READ Daniel 5:5-9 'In the same (3) ____ came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6. Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 7. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the (4) _____ ruler in the kingdom. 8. Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 9. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.'

In the same hour that the king called for the temple vessels to profane them, what happened? The fingers of a man's hand. Not a man. There was no man standing there, just the finger of a man's hand, a man's hand without a body attached to it obviously. These fingers wrote something on the wall of the king's palace. The king saw the hand writing. Can you even imagine?! Talk about being witness to something supernatural. The king was terrified. Instantly he yelled for his astrologers, the Chaldeans, the soothsayers. Sound familiar? Nebuchadnezzar had given all his spiritual advisors first crack at solving mysteries too. Belshazzar called out for them and told them whoever reads that writing on the wall and gives him understanding of what it says shall be clothed in the finest, wear gold necklaces and will even be the third ruler in all the kingdom! Talk about incentives! All the king's wisemen hurried in but they couldn't read that writing, and if they couldn't read it they certainly couldn't understand what it said. So here we have the king celebrating using the looted temple vessels in his revelry, honoring the gods of precious metals, woods, and stones, suddenly all his partying comes to a halt and he's terrified by this hand writing something on the palace wall. No more celebration. He wants to know what's going on. He was no longer having fun. That hand wrote something and it wasn't good, he knew that it wasn't good, his actions speak loud and clear on that one. So, what happened next?

READ Daniel 5:10-16 -- 'Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live forever; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed. 11. There is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 12. Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. 13. Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? 14. I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent (5) ______ is found in thee. 15. And now the wise men, the astrologers I have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not show the interpretation of the thing. 16. And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.'

A little history here. Daniel had obviously fallen into the realm of the unknown, at least to Belshazzar- who was in all actuality Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, but the customs of the time called any paternal ancestor, father, and too any male descendant was called son. The queen called in was Nebuchadnezzar's daughter, so the queen mother, one who would have known of Daniel, who would have remembered when his grandson could have been too young to remember him. Do you recall that Daniel was made ruler over lands and sent to tend to the kings business? He wasn't always right there in the kings palace and who knew how long he was gone away doing his duties.

Well, here we have the queen coming in and telling Belshazzar that there is one that Nebuchadnezzar used when none of his other wise men could help him. So of course Belshazzar wanted this Belteshazzar brought in, who was in fact Daniel. The king inquired of him if he were the one Nebuchadnezzar brought out of Jewry and then went on to say he knew of him and that the spirit of the gods was in him. He then went on and made the same offer to Daniel as he did his wisemen. If Daniel could help him out he'd gain all that the others would have, if they'd been able to read and interpret the writing on the wall. What does Daniel do...

READ Daniel 5:17 -- 'Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to (6) _______ ; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.'

He tells the king he doesn't want his gifts, his rewards, but he will tell him what he wants to know.

READ Daniel 5:18-21 0 thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor; 19. And for the majesty that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 20. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 21. And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.'

Daniel uses this opportunity to speak quite plainly to Belshazzer, telling about Nebuchadnezzar and how God, the most high, dealt with him. How God gave him all and then Nebuchadnezzar became prideful and God took it all away from him by taking his reason. Only when Nebuchadnezzar realized and admitted that the most high God ruled over all men and gives kingdoms to whom he wanted, only then did God give him back his reason. So Daniel gave Belshazzar a little refresher course on the history of the one who ruled before he did. All of which was in fact, history, well known history at that. If your grandfather goes crazy for seven years and then gets his reason back- this is the stuff that is known especially because of its strangeness, its uniqueness. 

Daniel goes on to say...

READ Daniel 5:22-24 -- 'And thou his son, 0 Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the (7) ______ of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: 24. Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.'

Daniel points out that Belshazzar didn't humble his own heart at all, even though he knew what Nebuchadnezzar had gone through. He points out that Belshazzar brought the vessels from the One, True God's temple and let him and all his people drink wine in them, praising false gods, gods that mean nothing because only the true God should be honored so, and Belshazzar has not honored him at all. Daniel tells him outright, it'd God's hand that wrote that writing on the wall. The God he's neglected, forgotten, and rejected.

Daniel uses this opportunity not for personal gain, he doesn't want anything from Belshazzar. He takes time to point out who the message is from and why it was given before even revealing the meaning, impressing upon Belshazzar that even though he knew better from history, he's not learned the most important lesson the God, the most high is ruler and not the false gods that abound.

Finally Daniel tells him what it says...

READ Daniel5:25-29 'And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 27. TEKEL; Thou art (8)_______ in the balances, and art found wanting. 28. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. 29. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

The message is not good, as Belshazzar already suspected and feared. Obviously the language was unknown or the wise men would have interpreted it. Perhaps it was written in the Samaritan, the true Hebrew a language that Daniel used prior to his captivity. We know that no one but Daniel could read this message and as in times past, God through His Spirit gave Daniel the wisdom needed.

Also obvious by the interpretation, each word is really a short sentence. Mene, numbered. Tekel, weighed. Upharsin, from the root of peres, divided.

God, the One Belshazzar defied, holds the fate of the Babylonian kingdom in His hands. He's numbered the days of Babylonian Kingdom even though it's at its height of glory, a kingdom one would thought would stand forever. Because of his pride, Belshazzar has been weighed in the balances and found wanting. The kingdom would be given to the Medes and Persians. What an interpretation!

The king immediately gave all that he said he would to Daniel if he made the writing known, even though Daniel told him that wasn't why he was helping him.

What happened next...

READ Daniel 5:30,31-- 'In (9) _____  night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 31. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.'

Wow! That night Belshazzar was killed and Darius of the Medes took the kingdom.

Historically, we know that the Persian soldiers had emptied a channel of the Euphrates River and made their way into the city, killing and fighting their way to the palace. They found the king and killed him, even though the king had been warned. With the takeover by the Persians, the Babylon rule had ended, just as foretold.

That conclude Daniel Chapter 5. May God bless us as we continue to study.

(1) feast - Daniel 5:1

(2) temple - Daniel 5:2 

(3) hour -  Daniel 5:5

(4) third - Daniel 5:7

(5) wisdom - Daniel 5:14

(6) another - Daniel 5:17

(7) vessels - Daniel 5:23

(8) weighed - Daniel 5:27

(9) that - Daniel 5:30

Daniel 4

 On this page we will study Daniel 4:1-37

READ Daniel 4:1-3 -- 'Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 2. I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. 3. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an (1) ____________ kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.'

King Nebuchadnezzar is now ready to speak to all the people, nations, and languages, of God. The wonders and signs of God. He praises God to all of them claiming how great are God's signs, how mighty are God's wonders. He even goes so far as to proclaim that God's kingdom is everlasting. That isn't a minor point there. The King, the ruler of his own amazing, earthly kingdom is announcing to all that there is one God and amazing God, an everlasting God with his everlasting kingdom. Yes, very astounding. Not only has Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed God as everlasting, he's going to go on to tell all about God chastising him and his humiliations. He'll confess of his pride and vanity and how God dealt with him. Nebuchadnezzar truly has a repentant spirit and he wants God's majesty to be known. Surprising too, or not, the king is no longer claiming that his own kingdom won't change. He's surrendering fully to God. Amazing.

READ Daniel 4:4-18 -- 'I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house and flourishing in my palace: 5. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 7. Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them, but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. 8 But at the last (2)_____ came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, 9. 0 Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. 10. Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. 11. The (3) ___  grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth; 12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. 13. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 14. He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: 15. Nevertheless, leave the (4) _____ of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth; 16. Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given onto him; and let seven times pass over him. 17. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. 18. This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, 0 Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

Oh! Another troubling dream! Let's look at a few points about the verses above.

First, the king was resting in his house. He'd subdued many small nations around him such as Phoneicia, Egypt, Syria, Judea, and Arabia. He had to be a little uhm, shall we say, full of himself for all that he'd managed to do, to conquer. He was resting from all the conquering and all he'd done and just when he was resting, God sends him another troubling dream. No rest for the king now.

Secondly, we have to realize that Nebuchadnezzar wasn't scared by much, right? He was a fighting man, used to the horrors of battling. He'd probably looked death in the face more than once and managed to overcome his adversaries. Sending any outward sign probably wouldn't have had the impact of a dream. We know that from the previous dream he didn't take too kindly to not understanding dreams that troubled him. Maybe the horrors of war didn't trouble him, but his own dreams seemed to be able to get the better of him. We could probably say they terrified him, hmn? So God choosing this means to get to Nechadnezzar was perfect really.

Thirdly, once again the king calls in his magicians and his soothsayers and the like and this time he ~tells~ them the dream. The last time he couldn't even remember the dream and his soothsayers told him- what? They told him it was impossible to give him what he wanted. This time, the king tells him his dream and they ~still~ can't interpret it for him! What a blow to their egos, yes? Only the prophet of God could give the king what he wanted.

Fourth, how appropriate was the dream vision of Nebuchadnezzar's rule. A tree in the midst of the earth. This tree reached to heaven, and the leaves were pretty. There was external beauty for the tree just as Babylon was a gorgeous kingdom. Gorgeous and glorious, the kingdom had outward and inward beauty. The picture depicted in this dream talks of the beasts, and the fowl, and all flesh being fed by the tree, such magnificent in representing how the kingdom of Babylon was run. King Nebuchadnezzar knew how to take care of his people, his kingdom.

Fifth, that grand tree was ordered to be cut down. Not a good thing, right? But even in that order there is care for what's left of the tree. The stump and roots are left and protected so they don't rot. Protected to flourish again? Cut down not to destroy it, but for a purpose. One day not too distant the wicked aren't going to have that kind of protection are they? Root and branch will be destroyed. READ Malachi 4:1 'For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall (5) ____ them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.' Not so here with this tree.

Sixth, 'Let seven times pass over him' As a plain and literal narration, it's a literal time. Seven years. A time in the literal translation is one year, however as a symbol prophetically a 'time' is a prophetic year.

Seventh, only by God allowing it did Nebuchadnezzar attain the status he did. Humans like to take pride in themselves and their own actions and forget that it is only because God allows that they are given such positions.

Eighth, it's wonderful to note that Nebhuchadnezzar admits that God is the true God over all other supposed gods. He wants Daniel to figure out this dream for him, telling Daniel that he knows that the 'spirit of the holy gods is in thee'.  Let's read on.

READ Daniel 4:19-27 --'Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. 20. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: 22. It is (6) ____, 0 king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. 23. And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 24. This is the interpretation, 0 king, and this is the deecree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king; 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the (7)_______  do rule. 27. Wherefore, 0 king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.'

What did Daniel do upon receiving Nebuchadnezzar's request? Did he rush to interpret it? No. He took a full hour with troubled thoughts plaguing him. No wonder he was troubled. Having to give someone the interpretation of a dream that isn't something you know they'll want to hear can be cause for contemplation, and troubling contemplation at that. Finally the king having let Daniel dwell on the dream spoke up. He came right out and told Daniel not to let the dream or the interpretation trouble him. That was nice of him wasn't it? He obviously suspected that Daniel was troubled by something and he was trying to reassure him that no matter what he could tell him.

Daniel answered the king after that and said what? The dream is for them that hate the king, and the interpretation to his enemies. Meaning those who hate the king are going to be happy to hear what Daniel had to say, and obviously Daniel wasn't among those hating the king and it troubled him. The tree Daniel told him represented him, the king himself. The king had dreamed of himself. The judgements given in the dream to that tree, to the king were conditional though, to teach the king that heavens do rule, that God ruled, not the king. In kindness, Daniel tells the king to let his counsel be acceptable, to stop sinning, to show mercy to the poor. Daniel obviously hoped by counseling the king would listen and maybe this whole matter wouldn't happen, things would be tranquil instead.

We're not told how the king felt at that point by Daniel's interpretation of his dream, but let's read on to a year later.

READ Daniel 4:28-33-- All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my (8)_______? 31. While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, 0 king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee. 32. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it unto whomsoever be will. 33. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagle's feathers and his nails like bird's claws.

Well, as we can see, Nebuchadnezzar didn't heed the warning of Daniel. His pride only grew. '~I~ have built.' 'by the might or ~my~ power' 'for the honor of ~my~ majesty' Yes, the king certainly was filled to over brimming with pride and self-love. He claimed all that was done was by his own power, for his own honor. So a full year later the dream the king had come true. God forewarned, God then acted. For seven years the king was mad, and treated as such. For seven years he was left to eat grass, sleep outside and his comely countenance was gone, instead his hair was long and wild, his nail like claws. Picture it if you will. The king reduced to a mad man.

READ Daniel 4:34-37-- 'And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up, eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, I (9) ________ the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting, dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36. At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me 37. Now Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase'

What a change of heart! The whole reason Nebuchadnezzar suffered so was to teach him that God is first and foremost, that to God be the glory and majesty and that he can boast all he wants, but in the end he needs to know who truly reigns. To his credit, as soon as his reason was given back to him, the king was quick to praise God. He blessed the Most High, praised and honored God, announced that God's dominion was everlasting and his kingdom would go from generation to generation. He didn't stop there, he went on the say that all the people of the earth are nothing. That God will do according to His own will, in heaven and earth, that none could stop God. With such praise on his lips he was quickly given back all that was taken from him, and then some. He also continued to praise God, knowing that the prideful are abased, they're brought low and he had seven long years that proved that to be true.

This is the last Scripture record of Nebuchadnezzar. This decree is dated in the authorized version, says Dr. Clarke, 563 B.C., one year before Nebuchadnezzar's death; though some place the date of this decree seventeen years before his death. It's safe to say that he didn't relapse into idolatry, or let his pride overcome him.

Nebuchadnezzar was an amazing man, God chose him, touched his life in many ways and used him in His glory. The golden head of the great prophetic image was the Kingdom Nebuchadnezzar had ruled in and now the king was no more, but the lessons learned from him and how God worked in his life are lessons for us still today.

May God Bless Us All!

(1) everlasting  - Daniel 4:3

(2) Daniel - Daniel 4:8

(3) tree - Daniel 4:11

(4) stump - Daniel 4:15

(5) burn - Malachi 4:1

(6) thou - Daniel 4:22

(7) heavens - Daniel 4:26

(8) majesty - Daniel 4:30

(9) blessed - Daniel 4:34

Daniel 3

 On this page we will study Daniel 3:1-30

READ Daniel 3:1 'Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits; he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.'

Because the statue was erected after the dream, some 23 years, it's easy to assume it was made with some reference to the statue of Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

The fact it was made of gold only goes to show that King Nebuchadnezzar wasn't all that happy about the fact there would be ~other~ kingdoms after his own.

He didn't make just a head of gold and display it, he made a huge golden statue, head and body.

He definitely didn't try to portray the other metals signifying a change from one kingdom to the next, though Daniel was very explicit in his description of the dream and the image. No where in his interpretation did he mention a golden image, he did however mention the head was gold.

Read Daniel 2:32 'This image's head [was] of fine gold…'

A 90 foot tall statue- pedestal and all. Though whether or not it was pure gold is something that is in doubt. Being overlaid with thin gold plates would have given the image it's completely gold appearance.

Imagine it if you will.

90 feet tall!

That's 15 - 6 ft tall men.

An 8 story high building.

5 Giraffes (18ft tall each)

From the heel to the top of the head of the Statue of Liberty is 111 ft, so just shy of that 21 ft.

90 feet, that was one huge statue.

READ Daniel 3:2-7 - 'Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the (1)______  which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4. Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5. That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of (2) ____, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up; 6. And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7. Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and (3)________ the goIden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

The 90 ft tall statue was worthy of a dedication. This statue was an amazing monument and worthy of being dedicated, right? All the princes, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and rulers were gathered there for the occasion. Today we would call that a huge celebration! Think the President, Prime Minister, some other important figure holding a huge gathering and inviting many a dignitary, but not stopping there everyone is invited to this huge dedication.

But… we can't imagine anyone in our day and age commanding all those in attendance to fall down and worship …anything!

Idol worship was common back in Nebuchadnezzer's era. People worshipped many an idol representing various gods.

Nebuchadnezzar wanted people to bow down and worship the image of gold that represented him and his kingdom.

The command went out for such to happen though and what was the penalty for not bowing down?

READ Daniel 3: 6 'And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.'

WHAT?! Cast where? Into a burning fiery furnace. In other words if you didn't fall down and worship this 90 foot tall golden statue you were going to be put to death very painfully! If that wasn't enough incentive to bring a person to their knees, well… it'd be the last incentive they'd be subject to. Also of note vs 6 contains the first mention to be found in the Bible of the division of time into hours. It was probably the invention of the Chaldeans.

READ Daniel 3:8-12 - 'Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 9. They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever. 10. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image; 11. And whoso falleth not down and worshipeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12. There are certain (4)____ whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee; they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Tattletales! Oh yes, it would be noticeable if someone didn't bow down when everyone is commanded to do so, everyone, that doesn't leave much room for anyone who doesn't want to stand out in the crowd for not bowing.

The Chaldeans- remember they were asked to interpret the king's dream and failed miserably- they took note of three Jews, important Jews at that- set over the kings affairs- who didn't bow down as ordered during the decree. They not only took note they hurried to the king himself and made sure he knew that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego hadn't obeyed the king's command. How wonderful it was to be able to disgrace these Jews who were nothing more than slaves brought out of Jerusalem to Babylon and taught their ways, who through Daniel usurped those who had been dedicated to the king and eager to please him in all ways. 

Obviously Daniel himself must have been absence on business, because we can rest assured he would have been right there with his three companions, not bowing to the statue and yet there is no mention made of him.

What happened when the three, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tattled on?

READ Daniel 3:13-18 - 'Then Nebuchadnezzar in his (5) ____ and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 15. Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? 16. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not (6) ______ thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Rage and fury. It's easy to get the picture. Nebuchadnezzer wasn't a little mad, he wasn't a touch upset upon hearing that there were those who didn't do as he commanded. The king was furious! In his fury he ordered the men to be brought to him, and not just taking the Chaldeans at their word, he asked the three outright if it were true, but before they could answer he was already giving them an opportunity to fix what might have been an oversight on their behalf. He didn't want to have these three men put to death. He knew there hadn't been an oversight, how could there have been? Yet he was going to let them fix things, show the Chaldeans and everyone that they too would worship him. 

What did the three say to his gracious offer to spare their lives? They tell him outright that they will not serve the king's gods, nor will they worship the image. They were not going to avail themselves of this second and most gracious opportunity to spare their own lives. They heldfast to their faith, a faith that decreed that they would have no other gods before God. A Faith that decreed they not worship idols. They told the king that if their God wanted he would deliver them from death, from the king's decree and if He didn't, oh well.. because they weren't going to do as the king wanted.

How bold! How incredible. Such faith, such conviction.

READ Daniel 3:19-25 - Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one (7) ______ _____ more than it was wont to be heated. 20. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace, 21. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. 23. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25. He answered and said, Lo, I see (8)____ men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

We know for a fact that the king was enthralled with Daniel and it was Daniel that asked for his friends to be given positions of power and such. The king hadn't hesitated, he instantly granted Daniel's wish for his friends. So here we have a king whose second in command isn't going to be too thrilled with this turn of events, and yet even so the king had a kingdom to rule. He ~was~ the king! He was to be obeyed! He had to uphold authority. He could not make a decree and go back on it. As it was he'd given a decree and then he offered these three favored a second chance to obey it when death was warranted the first time around. So being magnanimous in his offer he probably had never entertained the idea that they would refuse his offer, yet they did. The king's reaction?

He became so furious his visage- his facial features- were distorted as he looked upon the three that dared to disobey him, that dared to throw his graciousness back in his face and in front of all those around them. Fury. Have you ever seen anyone so angry they just changed right before your eyes? What did the fury do? Make them red-faced, contorted and twisted their normal features, yes, fury is frightening to behold and the king was just that furious. What did he do in his fury? 

He ordered that the furnace where these three traitors were to be thrown to their unimaginably painful deaths be heated seven times hotter that normal. Seven times hotter! He was going to make sure they suffered, make sure that they were burned completely and utterly for their disobedience. The king told his mighty men to bind them up and throw them into that furnace, no more chances for them to bow down and obey now, they'd taken Nebuchadnezzer's graciousness and slapped him in the face with it, they sealed their fate. Unfortunately for the mighty men that grabbed up the three- dressed them well, more clothes to burn you see- and took them to the furnace, the fire was so hot it killed them as they were throwing the three inside. HOT fire! Surely the king hadn't meant to sacrifice the mighty men, they were being obedient to him, they weren't the ones who hadn't bowed down and disobeyed him. Nevertheless they died doing their duty to the king, but what happened to the three disobedient men? Shock. Astonishment so much so he stood up, peering into the fire. Quickly he asked his counselors whether or not they threw three men into the fire, why? He asked because he saw four men in the fire! The counselors told them they had thrown three in and yet the king told them there were four and they were walking around in the fire unhurt! The fourth was like the son of God.

Wow! Not only were those three disobedient men alive and unharmed there was someone else in there. Obviously not referring to Jesus, but a son of God, a supernatural figure of some sort was in there with the three. Nebuchadnezzer refers to him as an angel later. So there we have it. Nebuchadnezzar had the audacity to throw three of God's chosen into the fiery furnace to kill them, even after he'd witnessed the power of their God back when Daniel interpreted the vision for him. His audacity was rewarded with a vision of God's power, not only the spared lives of the three but the vision of another supernatural being in the fire walking with them. How amazing is that? To have God's power so revealed. Once again God showed Nebuchadnezzaer who was the one and only true God. No other god they worshipped could have saved others under similar circumstances.

READ Daniel 3:26-30 - Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth of the midst of the fire. 27. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 28. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and (9) ____________ his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any God, except their own God. 29. Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 30. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon.

Witnessing this miracle, Nebuchadnezzar called into the fire for the three to come out. The three hadn't taken it upon themselves to walk out, they remained in there with the fourth like to the son of God, an angel, until they were told to come out by the king. Leaving the fiery furnace that had killed the very men that had brought them to the furnace to throw them inside, it was that hot, the three stepped out and miraculously the fire hadn't touched them at all whatsoever, they didn't even stink of fire. With the tangible proof before them, the fourth in the furnace was forgotten as the three were closely examined by everyone! It was a miracle unlike anything they had ever seen before in their lives. Nebuchadnezzar was so awed that he said, 'Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.'

Here is a God worthy of worship. Here is a God that changed the king's word, that just wasn't done! No one could change a decree once the king issued it, no one. God did when He spared the three from the death decree made by Nebuchadnezzar. Knowing that only the true God, a God worthy of worship could have ever done that Nebuchadnezzar goes on the make a new decree. Everyone was order not to speak anything amiss against the God of the three or they would die and not by fire, they'd be cut in pieces and their houses would be made dunghills. Oh yes, those very men who dared to bring the three in before the King for their failure to bow down and worship, those men who most likely wanted to see these three slaves- turned important men - killed were now ordered not to speak against their God or they would be killed. Talk about a backfiring situation. 

Not only were they all under orders not to speak against the God of the three, the three men were promoted! Promoted into even higher positions. Of course Nebuchadnezzar was far from stupid. He'd witnessed the power of the true God and he wasn't going to do anything to garner His wrath. What wonder, what amazing faith, and reward of that faith. What witness for God to all the nations and peoples of that time. Amazing!

Praise God who works in such wondrous, mysterious, and miraculous ways!

This concludes our study on Daniel Chapter Three

May God Bless Us All

(1) image Daniel 3:2

(2) music Daniel 3:5

(3) worshiped Daniel 3:7

(4) Jews Danie 3:12

(5) rage Daniel 3:13

(6) serve Daniel 3:18

(7) seven times Daniel 3:19

(8) four Daniel 3:25

(9) delivered Daniel 3:28