The Ancient of Days is a designation for God, not found elsewhere in the Bible. This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. (v.28) Nebuchadnezzar had been wondering what would happen after his kingdom, and God revealed to him what would take place. But the stone that hit the statue became a huge mountain, dominating the horizon. Deut. He raises up kings and also brings them down. At one point in Chapter 9, Daniel understood from the scriptures that the desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years.. Daniel, along with his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (later named Shadrach, Meshach, and 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. He is letting King Nebuchadnezzar in on what is going to happen in the days ahead. Some of the strength of iron will be in it, for you saw iron mixed with wet clay. We get it. A striking component of Daniels interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream is that when he first heard the dream, he was astonished (Dan. Our deliverance from the power of sin and the penalty of death has been accomplished by our Lord, who suffered in our place. You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king., Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the Kings wise men, and said to him, Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Jesus quoted the words of Daniel 7:13. WebThe Dream: Nebuchadnezzar saw a giant image that looked very powerful and shone brightly. Nebuchadnezzar captured Daniel and his buddies Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah when they were very young men (probably mid-teens), and we see glimpses of Daniel working in the palace until hes well over eighty years 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. 39 But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. [1], The book of which Daniel is the hero divides into two parts, a set of tales in chapters 16, and the series of visions in chapters 712,[2] the tales no earlier than the Hellenistic period (32330 BCE), and the visions from the Maccabean era (the mid-2nd century BCE). God would strike him down in the moment of His choosing to silence him once and for all and put an end to his kingdom. 11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. 46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and eworshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. In chapter 2 the king was troubled because he did not understand his dream (cf. 9. As the beast continues to boast, a second scene commences in Daniels vision, and for a period of time both scenes run simultaneously. This is what we need to know from Daniels vision, rather than the identity of the beasts. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them,81 and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. Print. Not a trace of them could be found. [24] Daniel 2:2023 emphasizes the Divine as a repository of wisdom and the controller of the destiny of kings; such hymns and prayers are typical of postexilic biblical narratives. Why was he afraid and troubled? Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the entire earth. He had asked to see the king (v. 15-17). (12) No distinction between the first coming of Christ and the second is made in the coming of the eternal kingdom of God. Yet, contact with believers alone does not convert. Nebuchadnezzars dream concerned the latter days (the days of the future or the end). 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. [17], Daniel 2 exhibits both these genres, but it is also made up numerous subgenres: a court tale, a dream report, a legend, an aretalogy, a doxology, and a midrash. [20] In Daniel 2 these two merge, and the claim of God's sovereignty extends beyond the immediate story to take in all of history. His disciples were promised that they would share in His reign as King (19:20). 4:1012; 2022). 2:32 As for that statue, its head was of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs were of bronze. The toasting of the gods of the Babylonians with the sacred temple vessels, recorded in chapter 5, may have been Belshazzars final act of blasphemy. 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind. WebIn the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, is troubled by a dream. The words of Daniel which applied to the beasts now found application to them. In the first use of this expression, being a son of man was contrasted with being God: God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Marriage Generally, it is agreed that this beast represents the Babylonian empire and king Nebuchadnezzar in particular. They believed that the Messiah would come to establish the kingdom, to bless the Jews and to condemn the Gentiles. 32 This images head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. But you still need to be informed about events around you. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. Desiring a more detailed explanation, he apparently asked for one and received it. Interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars Dream: The Final Kingdom In our last two studies in Daniel 2, we have discovered that Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar about his dream. According to verse 1, the written record of the revelation Daniel received in his first night vision is but a summary of the prophecy he received. Indeed, the king did much to construct Babylon, as he was known primarily as a builder, not as a warrior. The best translation in English in this context is a long time.. The beast also was given a mans mind. He summons his magicians and astrologers to interpret it, but demands that they first tell 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as ironfor iron breaks and smashes everythingand as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 3:15; Zc. The events seen by Daniel in chapter seven would signal the establishment of the everlasting kingdom which Daniel described in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. 31 Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statuean enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 4:8). Note the term watcher is only applied to angels in this chapter in Scripture. This is the dream you had when you were lying on your bed, the vision that filled your mind: 2930 While you were stretched out on your bed, O king, thoughts came to you regarding what is coming in the days ahead. Then He said to me, Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you! (Ezekiel 2:1). Daniels interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzars dream reveals the giant statue represents a succession of earthly rulers. It seems that Daniel was not only wise, but an excellent statesman. He questioned His disciples so that they could confess that He, the Son of Man, was the Messiah (16:13f.). Jesus warns against hypocrisy the greatest threat to Christianity today (Matthew 23:1 23:12). Suffering Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was pure gold, the chest and arms were silver, the belly and hips were bronze, the legs were iron, and the feet were an iron-ceramic mixture. Fasting A more broad look at the verses however, indicates Arioch is simply excited and is not making a move to impress the king. Dan. I arrived with nothing on hand but my ASP Immigration Services Ltd2023, All Rights Reserved. he provides both intelligence and discernment. 1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel saw a dream and visions in his mind as he lay on his bed; then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it. Web180 views, 12 likes, 2 loves, 26 comments, 3 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from PCCC- Parker County Cowboy Church: PCCC- Parker County Cowboy Church was live. Note that the doxology in Dan. Per Daniels request, the king allows him more time to seek an interpretation of the dream from God. Developed by. Many scholars have contrasted Nebuchadnezzars dream in Daniel 2 with Daniels vision in chapter 7. Both passages reveal the coming world kingdoms, but the symbolism is strikingly different in each. The pagan king sees the kingdoms of this world as a towering work of art, impressive in size, value, and grandeur (albeit with feet of clay). Neither peer opposition nor the king's new law (chapter 6) greatly disturbed Daniel. Arioch informs the king he has found a man among the exiles from Judah who can interpret the kings dream. Nebuchadnezzar (also called Nebuchadrezzar) was king of Babylon from around 605 BC to 562 BC. Law and Gospel No wonder His words stung and prompted them to act as they did. 2:38 Wherever human beings, wild animals, and birds of the sky livehe has given them into your power. Moreover, at Daniels request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court. The second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, according to the Babylonian system of reckoning, would begin March/April 603 BC. So Nebuchadnezzar's dream would have occurred before Daniel and his friends had even completed their three-year training program as "wise men," which (presumably) began in 605 BC or a bit later. Dan. What so upset Daniel about the future? His vision in chapter 4 should have produced more distress than it did. Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. God gives us wisdom in ways we may not always readily recognize. The Old Testament prophet did not see the gap because he viewed the coming of Christ as God does. 18 But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come. 19 Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts, and which was larger in appearance than its associates. Yet, his emotional response was valid and changed little after the vision was explained more fully. As the wicked prosper in their sin, it seems as though they can continue in sin without any fear of divine judgment (see Psalm 73:1-11; 2 Peter 2:3-4). This vision was an interactive vision, as Daniel was not only present in the vision but was able to approach one standing by to ask the meaning of what he saw. 4:27). Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: 29 As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. God of all my ancestors, all thanks! Through the vision of a magnificent, awe-inspiring statue, God reveals the future for Gentile kings and their kingdoms. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. WebNebuchadnezzar is a real person. Unity At this time the kingdom of God is established. The reign of Belshazzar was, in some measure, a foretaste of what was yet to come in full measure during the reign of the fourth beast, especially of the eleventh horn. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said: Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; 23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king., 24 Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Evangelist Andrew Palau Joins Dozens of Churches in Austin, Texas for Historic SXSW Outreach Event. This is an accurate telling of the dream, and the interpretation is also accurate., 4647 When Daniel finished, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face in awe before Daniel. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.. In a similar way, Belshazzar becomes blasphemous and is suddenly removed by God for his wickedness. In His response to the demand of the high priest, Jesus directly claimed to be the promised Messiah. The righteous will suffer. Dan. 20 Daniel answered and said. 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The last kingdom has at least eleven kings. For instance, Daniel says, you have made known to us the dream of the king and this was the dream and now we will interpret it for the king. Peter heals a lame beggar at the Temple (Acts 3:1 3:10). The king and Daniel, the wise courtier (, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 06:58. We dare not ignore that which is revealed nor do we dare go too far afield in speculating about what is concealed (see Deuteronomy 29:29; 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:23). Old Testament Jews would likely regard the reference to the Son of Man in Daniel 7 as a reference to the Messiah, although they would probably not understand Him to be both divine and human. The process of having a baby involves the pains of childbirth. Faith [16] Daniel, the book's hero, is a representative apocalyptic seer, the recipient of the divine revelation: has learned the wisdom of the Babylonian magicians and surpassed them, because his God is the true source of knowledge; he is one of the maskil, the wise, whose task is to teach righteousness. Note the term seven times (Dan. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. And the high priest said to Him, I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus said to him, You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, AND COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN (Matthew 26:59-64). (2:4b-49) A dream of four kingdoms replaced by a fifth, B. Sanctification Prophecies are given so that we may look at history, especially events occurring in our own lifetime, from Gods perspective. I am a nurse from the Philippines with two years of experience before I came to New Zealand. Just what this means is unclear, but it suggests this arrogant king not only speaks against God, but, like Satan, he aspires to change the order God has established. 4:1617, 2426). Life lessons, Bible study, Christian news, and more. You must also be aged 55 or under, and meet English language, health, and character requirements. From an eternal perspective, the coming of Christ and His kingdom is but one coming. 3136 What you saw, O king, was a huge statue standing before you, striking in appearance. Nebuchadnezzar may have started badly, but by the time we read of him in Daniel 4 he seems to be a true believer in God, urging the citizens of his kingdom to worship and serve Him. The distance in time of the fulfillment of Daniel 7 said something very important to the captive Jews of Daniels day. Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a huge tree. (2) Why do you think Daniel summarized his dream when he wrote it rather than tell it in full (see verse 1)? The Greek view proposes the silver chest and arms are the Median Kingdom, brass belly/thighs are the Persian Empire, and iron/clay legs are the Greek Empire. Finally, Nebuchadnezzars dream may not be a literal, complete history of the world but rather, a synopsis representing a series of earthly civilizations who will ultimately fall before being assimilated under the rule of God. WebDaniel Timeline in Biblical History. Introduction New Zealands business migration categories are designed to contribute to economic growth, attracting smart capital and business expertise to New Zealand, and enabling experienced business people to buy or establish businesses in New Zealand. (Matthew 22:41 22:46), The parable of the bags of gold (Jesus tells the parable of the talents) (Matthew 25:14 25:30). He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in the darkness, and light dwells with him. 4:5, 19), and he understood who was in his court (cf. Worship, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window). It is striking that upon having a second dream, Nebuchadnezzar again called the wise men for an interpretation. Ceremonial Laws Nevertheless, Daniel tells no one, keeping the matter to himself and suffering a quiet agony over the future events God has revealed to him. The prophecies of Daniel 7 speak of a future day of reckoning, foreshadowed by the actions of Belshazzar and the judgment of God on him and his kingdom. Daniel does not say he can interpret the dream he says God can interpret the kings dream and humbly explains to King Nebuchadnezzar that there is a God in heaven who reveals such mysteries. Would this horn Daniels vision revealed oppose the people of God and even blaspheme God Himself? He not only speaks against the Most High, he oppresses the saints. Before the kingdom of God is established on the earth, four earthly kingdoms will rise and fall. 34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Enter your email address to join hundreds of others in following this website and to receive notifications of new posts by email. The woman endures in the view of the final outcome of the process. 27 Daniel replied, No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: What God determined to reveal to Daniel should be enough for us. He went and said thus to him: Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation., 25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation., 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?. 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. Images from the Book of Isaiah seem to be especially favoured. The saints should neither believe nor behave on the basis of how things appear to be (the wicked prospering and prevailing over the righteous). 2:42 In that the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, the latter stages of this kingdom will be partly strong and partly fragile. You have things to do. I encourage you to compare the statements of Daniel 2:21-22, 44, 47; 4:3, 34-35, 37; 6:26 with the content and declarations of Daniel 7. (6) How important is it for us to identity the kings and the kingdoms mentioned in our text? 2:43 And in that you saw iron mixed with wet clay, so people will be mixed with one another without adhering to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. 2:89). [20] On the human level Daniel is set against the Babylonian magicians who fail to interpret the king's dream, but the cosmic conflict is between the God of Israel and the false Babylonian gods. There are conflicting views of which countries are represented by the enormous statues remaining components silver chest and arms, bronze belly and thighs, and iron legs. 2:25 So Arioch quickly ushered Daniel into the kings presence, saying to him, I have found a man from the captives of Judah who can make known the interpretation to the king. 2:26 The king then asked Daniel (whose name was also Belteshazzar), Are you able to make known to me the dream that I saw, as well as its interpretation? 2:27 Daniel replied to the king, The mystery that the king is asking about is such that no wise men, astrologers, magicians, or diviners can possibly disclose it to the king. The Son of man, Jesus Christ, would come to the Ancient of Days [God] with the clouds of heaven. Consider these lessons as we conclude. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:1-8). 26 But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. When we write a letter, we sign it at the bottom. Thirdly (and most importantly), the prophecies of Daniel mean exactly what God says they mean, nothing more and nothing less. Quite clear, however, is the identity of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man.. Salvation is likewise a process involving sufferingand then glory. 4:3437 reports Nebuchadnezzars return to power. However, this peaceful state was broken when in his sleep he had a troubling dream. Having related the dream, Daniel then interprets it: it concerns four successive kingdoms, beginning with Nebuchadnezzar, which will be replaced by the everlasting kingdom of the God of heaven. New transgender policy for public schools empathizes with those with gender dysphoria while being steadfast in opposing gender ideology. Prophecy becomes necessary from time to time to remind men of those things God has planned for the future which He will surely fulfill. Daniel 7 indicates in the clearest way that prior to the coming of the kingdom of God the saints will suffer at the hand of the final horn and even be overpowered by him. Salvation Since Daniel goes to great lengths to attribute his ability to interpret dreams to God, it is possible he is referring to himself and God to divert credit from himself. 605 BC. Both the statue parts (made of different metals) and the beasts represent kings and kingdoms. 15 And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed (Revelation 13:4, 11-15). [26], Most modern scholars agree that the four world empires symbolised by the statue are Babylon (the head), the Medes (arms and shoulders), Persia (thighs and legs) and Seleucid Syria and Ptolemaic Egypt (the feet). Daniel finds nothing to compare to it. The eleventh horn may hope to change the time, but in Gods plan this king is granted a time, times, and half a time three and a half years to oppose and oppress the saints. What the vision refers to is not specified. There is fairly strong inferential evidence that Nebuchadnezzar was represented by the first beast, the winged lion. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. It may have been a physical manifestation, a dream, or merely a thought. 31 You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! English. 10 A river of fire was flowing And coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, and the books were opened. He said to Daniel, Your God is beyond question the God of all gods, the Master of all kings. (7) Who is the Ancient of Days? for you have bestowed wisdom and power on me. 4 The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. 37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for mthe God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. (4) Suffering is to be expected by the saints, before they enter into the glorious kingdom of God. Having gained an appreciation for Daniel and his three Hebrew friends, over a period he came to faith in their God. Daniel 2. (8) The four beasts are all different, with the last standing apart from the first three. Election he imparts knowledge to those with understanding; 2:23 O God of my fathers, I acknowledge and glorify you. 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. He was at ease when he received the vision, and then he became fearful, and his mind alarmed him (4:4-5). His final offspring, so to speak, is the little horn which becomes the great blasphemer, whose life and kingdom is suddenly cut off by the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man. 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. Nebuchadnezzars Conversion (4:2837). The expression is used in the Psalms in a more pregnant way, in reference to the coming Messiah. (9) What is the relationship between Daniels vision in chapter 7 and the events described in Daniel 5? The second is bear-like. Some of his alarm arose from his not yet having been given the interpretation of his vision. Persecution As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind. (9) The interpretation of Daniels vision comes in two parts, beginning with a general interpretation and then a more specific one based on Daniels questions. In his vision, Daniel observed the sea being stirred up into a raging storm by the four winds of heaven. This signifies that the events which follow have been ordained by God. Are we supposed to discover their identity? He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises others.
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