Web6 Daniel ch 4. It may seem to them that their defeat is certain and that their hopes of entering into the eternal kingdom are lost. [4], The overall theme of the Book of Daniel is God's sovereignty over history. 2:47; 3:29), one might think the king was on the verge of salvation. The second time, the expression is used in reference to Daniel himself, as it will be used very frequently in Ezekiel to refer to this great prophet: So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end (Daniel 8:17). 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. (4) Prophecies not completely fulfilled cannot be fully understood until after their fulfillment. [27] Jewish scholars interpret the mixed materials forming the feet as the kingdom of Rome alongside kingdoms under Islamic rule. iron legs are worth less than the gold head) but the durability of the metal increases (i.e. Third, is the removal of the kings mental faculties, for a time, until his conversion (cf. Whether the author was conscious of it or not, the image of the shattered statue blown away in the wind like chaff from the threshing floor brings to mind Isaiah 41:1415 where Israel is a threshing sled that turns mountains into chaff, and the rock itself reflects the address to the Judean exiles in Isaiah 51:1, "look to the rock from which you were hewn. Chapter 2. Priesthood He responded by honoring Daniel by falling down before him. 27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; 28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar's Dream - Adventist.org Daniel, along with his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (later named Shadrach, Meshach, and (2) Why do you think Daniel summarized his dream when he wrote it rather than tell it in full (see verse 1)? But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. Dan. See John F. Walvoord, Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 149. Verses 1-14 contain the vision which God gave to Daniel. Daniels response to the king initially sounds discouraging: No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about. But Daniel insists his God can interpret the dream. It seems safe to assume the interpreter was an angelic being; at least this is the case in chapter 8 (8:15-26). Does the fact that God has the power to take away a persons reason frighten you (cf. What God declares in prophecy, He reveals as well in history. We could never predict the goals God has determined, nor the means He has ordained for history to reach them. The horn continues to sound off while the court is being set up for judgment. ASP Immigration Services Limited, our firm provides comprehensive immigration representation to clients located throughout New Zealand and the world. From the context, it would seem that Daniels distress is the result of the wickedness and oppression of the world kingdoms which are represented by the beasts, and by the knowledge that the saints will be oppressed and even overcome for a period of time. Our Lords first coming happened over a period of more than 30 years, and yet we view this as one coming. The fourth beast appears to differ from the other three in that he is more beastly, more powerful, more destructive, and more arrogant. The Ancient of Days is a designation for God, not found elsewhere in the Bible. (2) Chapters 7 and 8, while written in different languages, are written during the reign of Belshazzar and somehow linked by the author in Daniel 8:1. 2:28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the times to come. Before the kingdom of God is established on the earth, four earthly kingdoms will rise and fall. 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. It is mental condition where a person thinks themselves to be an animal and begins to live as such. When the child is born, the pains of suffering are quickly lost in the joys of seeing a new life. By far, this first beast is the best of a bad bunch. Daniel 5 is an illustration and a prototype of what will happen in the end times, as described in the prophecy of Daniel 7. All of this is by divine design. (2:4b-49) A dream of four kingdoms replaced by a fifth, B. Specifically, the account of The Bad News at Belshazzars Banquet (not a bad title for that lesson) in chapter 5 was given to us so that we could better understand the prophecies of chapters 7 and 8. No wonder this vision causes Daniel such distress. The words of Daniel which applied to the beasts now found application to them. He was the most important ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and a renowned builder. The boastful beast becomes even more aggressive, waging war with the saints and even overpowering them. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 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. It was a dream of a great statue with a head of gold, arms and chest of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of mingled iron and clay. 47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. False Teachers 3136 What you saw, O king, was a huge statue standing before you, striking in appearance. 4:3437 is majestic as he admits Gods power and justice, as well as his own sin and divine dependence. 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. 27 Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him. 28 At this point the revelation ended. Dan. You are that head of gold. God may choose to delay judgment on the wicked until their sin reaches full bloom; the possession of the land of Canaan would not happen in Abrahams lifetime, but more than 400 years later after the suffering of the people of God (see Genesis 15:12-17). Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Ohio man charged with attempting to burn down church that planned to host drag show events. Take me to the king and I will interpret his dream for him., Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means., The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?. Sanctification 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. The revelation of the writing on the banquet hall wall, already described in chapter 5, actually happened later, on the last day of Belshazzars life. Angels The phrase used to describe Daniel and his friends is young men. Its a word that usually refers to boys Marriage For this reason, I wish to clearly state the foundational presuppositions and principles on which this exposition of Daniel is based. The final words of verse 25 are carefully chosen to let the reader know that while this king appears to be successfully opposing God, all he does is a part of the divine plan for the last days. Peter heals a lame beggar at the Temple (Acts 3:1 3:10). Through the vision of a magnificent, awe-inspiring statue, God reveals the future for Gentile kings and their kingdoms. Yet, the most important event in this passage, is Nebuchadnezzars conversion that occurred when the Lord sovereignly returned the kings understanding to him. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints (Revelation 13:1-10). He will also send forth His angels to gather those who do not belong in His kingdom (12:41). The remainder of chapter 2 and chapters 37 are in Aramaic and are in the form of a chiasmus, a poetic structure in which the main point or message of a passage is placed in the centre and framed by further repetitions on either side:[11], Daniel 2 forms a chiasmus within the larger structure of Daniel 27:[12], Chapter 1 and the first few lines of chapter 2 are in Hebrew, but in verse 4 the text says, in Hebrew, "Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic," and the book then continues in Aramaic until the end of chapter 7, where it switches back to Hebrew. It may have been a physical manifestation, a dream, or merely a thought. It seems that Daniel was not only wise, but an excellent statesman. Download the Redeemed Mind Android App by clicking HERE. The fourth beast is a fourth king, different than the others. Usually it refers to a person as a human being. At Daniels request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to administrative posts throughout Babylon, while Daniel governed from the royal headquarters. 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. Who is the Son of Man? (8) The four beasts are all different, with the last standing apart from the first three. The first time in Daniel 7:13, he is referring to Messiah, who will sit on the eternal throne of His father, David. Since the head of gold seems to describe the same king and kingdom as the first beast, it may not be too far afield to conclude that Nebuchadnezzar is the king represented by the first beast. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), A General Interpretation verses 16-18. [25] Finally Nebuchadnezzar prostrates himself before Daniel and commands that offerings and incense be offered to him, suggesting that he views Daniel as divine; nevertheless, although he acknowledges and respects the god of Daniel, he is not a convert. The fourth beast receives greater attention and is of the most interest to Daniel. Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, Upon the son of man whom Thou didst make strong for Thyself (Psalm 80:17). Teacher: Show your modern-day letter, and where it is signed. 13 And he performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 2:45 You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. 2:38 Wherever human beings, wild animals, and birds of the sky livehe has given them into your power. Daniel interprets the kings dream but again, takes no personal credit for the act, The interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzars dream, The countries depicted in Nebuchadnezzars dream, King Nebuchadnezzar pays homage to Daniel, Sources: NIV, The Message, The NET Bible, King James Version, NET Bible Notes, Faithlife Study Bible, The Apologetics Study Bible, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary, The Bible Readers Companion, Matthew Henrys Commentary, Holman Concise Bible Commentary, The Bible Exposition Commentary, The Teachers Bible Commentary, The Teachers Commentary, The Bible Guide, Word Studies in the New Testament, Holman Bible Handbook, Calvin Commentaries, Wiersbes Expository Outlines, The New Manner and Customs of the Bible, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, The Lexham Bible Dictionary, Eastons Bible Dictionary, Harpers Bible Dictionary, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, The Archaeological Encyclopedia, Biblical Archeology Review, The New Bible Dictionary, The Lexham Analytical Lexicon, Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database, As the king was about to execute the wise men of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar demands the wise men tell him his dream then Daniel and the wise men are sentenced to execution (Daniel 2:1 2:18), Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to worship Nebuchadnezzars golden god and are thrown into a fiery furnace because of their rebellion (Daniel 3:1 3:30), Nebuchadnezzar raids Jerusalem and takes Daniel and his companions to be his personal servants (Daniel 1:1 1:21). He How was the fourth beast different from the first three? Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a huge tree. The second and third beasts are briefly described in verses 5 and 6. The head of gold represents Nebuchadnezzar. [5] On the human level Daniel is set against the Babylonian magicians who fail to interpret the king's dream, but the cosmic conflict is between the God of Israel and the false Babylonian gods. While Nebuchadnezzar admits to Daniel that his god must be the God of gods, his appreciation of Daniel comes close to worship of Daniel himself as a deity (as evidenced by the offering and incense presented to Daniel). Nebuchadnezzars Second Dream Daniel 4 Redeemed Mind (1) Why does Daniel indicate the historical setting of the vision he receives in chapter 7? 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. Daniel is granted time to consult God. 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. 80 During my school teaching days, I tried to make my students think I had eyes in the back of my head so that no matter what they did--even if my back was turned--they could not escape my all-seeing eyes or my discipline. Daniels response is testimony to this reality. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. And terrifying. When he came to the Ancient of Days he would be given dominion, and glory, and a Let the name of God be praised forever and ever. Gen. 1:2631). 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. Dan. And yet God said they would. In the latter days, before the kingdom of God is established on the earth, kings and kingdoms will become worse and worse. 41 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. 32 This images head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human handsa rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. Miracles While conservative, evangelical scholars believe the prophecies in Daniel are true, their interpretations differ greatly. True. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. The Revealer of Mysteries showed you what will happen. Daniel 2 - Wikipedia 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). Note the term seven times (Dan. WebThis dream was originally given to Nebuchadnezzar and was interpretedfor him by Daniel duringhis reign. Salvation is likewise a process involving sufferingand then glory. The identity of the kingdoms represented by the other body parts and metals was not revealed. (6) How important is it for us to identity the kings and the kingdoms mentioned in our text? In spite of these kings, the saints of the Highest One will possess the eternal kingdom forever and ever. Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. Dan. Prayer Dan. But later on two came forward, 61 and said, This man stated, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days. 62 And the high priest stood up and said to Him, Do You make no answer? Neither is prophecy written to make us happy or to feel good. Suffering is an inseparable part of the process which leads to glory. The interpretation of the events Daniel witnessed in his vision is given in its most concise form in verses 17 and 18: The four beasts were four kings, who will arise from the earth. 11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. 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. 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. In the end it will crush the other kingdoms and finish them off and come through it all standing strong and eternal. Belshazzar came to power several years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar and seems to have turned completely away from the God of Israel. Arrogant, boastful, and even blasphemous kings will reign over the nations, opposing God and oppressing His saints. World History The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy., King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered than an offering and incense be presented to him. Four kings will establish four kingdoms, and some of these kingdoms have a number of kings. When the court sits for judgment, his dominion is taken from him and he is destroyed forever. 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. 2:1), he was wondering about his future (cf. I have the answer to the kings dream. Instead, his first concern is to stop the execution of the Babylonian wise men the men who practiced magic, sorcery, astrology, and other mystical arts despised by God. [8] Modern scholars agree that Daniel is a legendary figure;[3] it is possible that this name was chosen for the hero of the book because of his reputation as a wise seer in Hebrew tradition. Those who will reign with Christ are those who have suffered (see Romans 8:17; Philippians 3:10-11; 2 Timothy 2:12). Repentance Desiring a more detailed explanation, he apparently asked for one and received it. 45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the goldthe great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (1 Peter 4:7). The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. After this chapter, the book returns to the Hebrew language. God will establish His kingdom, and that kingdom, unlike the kingdoms of men, is eternal. News without bias or noise. [21] An inscription of the historic Babylonian king Nabonidus, for example, tells of a dream he had of his great predecessor Nebuchadnezzar, mentioning a young man who appeared in the dream to reassure him that it was not an evil portent. [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). 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. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. Daniels description of King Nebuchadnezzars dream is eerily accurate. Daniel 2 NIV - Nebuchadnezzars Dream - In the - Bible Our study of this chapter will isolate what troubled Daniel about the future. Evangelist Andrew Palau Joins Dozens of Churches in Austin, Texas for Historic SXSW Outreach Event. In his night dream, the king saw a gigantic statue made of four metals, from its head of gold to its feet of mingled iron and clay; as he watched, a stone "not cut by human hands" destroyed the statue and became a mountain filling the whole world. If not, he could never have become airborne again. Daniel's Timeline 12 and he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. The New King James Version. 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. The vision recorded in chapter 8 took place in the third year of Belshazzar. In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. [7], In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, is troubled by a dream. Some of the strength of iron will be in it, for you saw iron mixed with wet clay. In the euphoria of this grand event, someone might well conclude the kingdom of God was to be established within the lifetime of those returning to Israel. Within this view, the arrival of the kingdom of God (the rock) is symbolic for the arrival of Jesus. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy., 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The destruction of the Great Temple and the signs of the end times (Matthew 24:1 24:35), The Song of Moses and Miriam attributes of God that are equally applicable to every Christian follower today. Concurrence The latter prophecy of Daniel 7 adds many more details than were revealed in chapter 2. Daniel immediately Both sets of kingdoms are brought to a sudden end and are replaced by an eternal kingdom. A more broad look at the verses however, indicates Arioch is simply excited and is not making a move to impress the king.