31 Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statuean enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 4:5), he knew his future (cf. (5:131) Daniel interprets the handwriting on the wall for Belshazzar, A'. The fourth beast receives greater attention and is of the most interest to Daniel. 7 After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. The account of the writing on the wall and the death of Belshazzar (obviously the last year of his reign) is found in Daniel 5. Kingdom of God Nebuchadnezzar (also called Nebuchadrezzar) was king of Babylon from around 605 BC to 562 BC. 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. Centuries must therefore pass before the prophecies of Daniel are fulfilled. 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. Daniel 2 (the second chapter of the Book of Daniel) tells how Daniel related and interpreted a dream of Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon. We are not told precisely what it is that troubles Daniel. (5) Prophecy is not written as hype but revealed to produce the hope of glory and endurance in present tribulation. 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. The prophecy of Daniel 7 nevertheless had great relevance and application to those in Daniels day. As the king was about to execute the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his friends (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah), God revealed Nebuchadnezzars dream and its meaning to Daniel in a vision during the night. The righteous will suffer. Concurrence (3) These prophecies must be understood in light of their historical background as provided in Daniel, in the inspired revelation provided by other portions of Scripture, and the cautious use of supplementary information by reliable historical documents or study. As National Day of Prayer approaches, Pope suggests we spend time with Jesus every evening to reflect on the day. Old Testament Survey says that 36 yrs or longer may have elapsed since Dan 3. Both series of four kingdoms begin well and end badly. Different from the first three, this beast seems uglier, more powerful, and much more hostile toward God and His saints. That was bad enough, from the religious leaders perspective, but the way in which He answered them was the last straw. 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. 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. [4], The overall theme of the Book of Daniel is God's sovereignty over history. 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. It is virtually the opposite of the term beast. The expression, Son of man, is not new to Daniel. These kings will rise to power and dominate the earth. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. What God declares in prophecy, He reveals as well in history. It is a testimony to his faithfulness to God that over a decade into Daniels court service to the king, Nebuchadnezzar still knew his real name (cf. 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? But there is a God in heaven who solves mysteries, and he has solved this one. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beast of the field and the birds in the sky. Daniel boiled down his vision to its essence, so we would not fail to understand the message he meant to convey to us. 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. He not only speaks against the Most High, he oppresses the saints. Usually it refers to a person as a human being. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. Note the term watcher is only applied to angels in this chapter in Scripture. 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. The death of this king brings about the end of his kingdom. Daniels first inner turmoil occurs in chapter 7. by Bible Blender, Complete but concise summary of each book of the Bible (Old Testament and New Testament), Chronological summary of the New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John timeline), Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzars dream and earns his good graces (Daniel 2:19 2:49), Daniels concern for the wise men of Babylon. When the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth, having added perfect humanity to His undiminished deity, He spoke of Himself very often as the Son of Man. In the Gospels, Jesus began not only to identify Himself as the Messiah, the promised Son of Man, but also to explain all that this involved. 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. 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Now we will set forth before the king its interpretation. Daniel 2:26-45: 589 BC: Nebuchadnezzar begins siege of Child-bearing is a process which involves suffering and glory. Law and Gospel Daniels response to the vision was far from assuring or calming. Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. Daniel 2 tells how Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzars dream, in which God provided an overview of world events in the millennia yet to come. May the Spirit of God reveal the meaning of this prophecy to us and produce in us that which God desires to His glory and our good. Salvation The second is bear-like. Daniel, along with his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (later named Shadrach, Meshach, and Not a trace of them could be found. God gives us wisdom in ways we may not always readily recognize. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. (13) In some sense, the last kingdom is still on-going. WebHe made known and also interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream; and many years afterwards, when he was now an old man, amid the alarm and consternation of the terrible night of Belshazzar's impious feast, he was called in at the instance of the queen-mother (perhaps Nitocris, the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar) to interpret the mysterious 39 After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Yet, his emotional response was valid and changed little after the vision was explained more fully. 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. The first recorded vision comes to Daniel in the form of a night vision, like those of Nebuchadnezzar (2:1; 4:5) during the first year of the reign of Belshazzar. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the entire earth. 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. The vision comes to Daniel in Belshazzars first year. Given the events surrounding Nebuchadnezzars first dream, why do you think he again asked the wise men to interpret it? FAQ :: What was Daniel's interpretation of Priesthood 44 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. As we shall show later, the content of the prophecy of Daniel 7 is very closely related to the reign of Belshazzar. Now you have enabled me to understand what I requested from you. This surprise seems to be over the raw fact of what God would do to Nebuchadnezzar. Prophecy becomes necessary from time to time to remind men of those things God has planned for the future which He will surely fulfill. (how can this be, 36 + 7 = 43, no room to be restored after 7 Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Teacher: Show your modern-day letter, and where it is signed. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. Sin distorted this authority with this particular disease, even turning man into an animal. The beast was lifted up and made to stand like a man. (2) While the timing of the fulfillment of divine prophecy may seem remote to the recipient, it still has relevance for him. Daniel Astonished and troubled. Many others may have reluctantly professed or actually adopted the Jewish religion. 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 beasts are a horrifying and frightening sight; the heavenly court scene is one of regal splendor and beauty. 48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 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 Suffering and glory are a part of one work. 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. 13 I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.77 14 And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. Prophecy greatly benefits the Christian because it enables him to see things from the bigger and broader perspectivefrom Gods perspectiveso that when he suffers, he knows it is but a part of the process of getting to glory. You are that head of gold. [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. [31], The symbolic significance of the stone which destroys the statue and becomes a mountain evokes biblical imagery of God as the "rock" of Israel, Zion as a mountain rising above all others, and God's glory filling the whole world. Dan. We take great care to develop a strong client relationship, coupled with efficient communication. The fulfillment of the prophecy of Belshazzars demise underscores the certainty of the fulfillment of Daniels vision in the last days. Print. Deut. 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. What so upset Daniel about the future? This takes place until the Ancient of Days comes and judgment is given to the saints, at the time the eternal kingdom becomes their possession. Will of God Passing over the first three beasts, his questions focus on the last beast. Developed by. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. (4) Suffering is to be expected by the saints, before they enter into the glorious kingdom of God. 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. Chapter 2 contains a very significant prophecy, revealed by God to king Nebuchadnezzar. God will establish His kingdom, and that kingdom, unlike the kingdoms of men, is eternal. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. The inter-relationship between the prophecies of chapters 2 and 7 is demonstrated on the following page: Deterioration: Gold to iron mixed with clay, Deterioration: Nearly human to blaspheming beast. The Holy Bible: King James Version. the dates below seem not to fit. The chapter falls into two major parts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 26 But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. Would this horn Daniels vision revealed oppose the people of God and even blaspheme God Himself? For this reason, I wish to clearly state the foundational presuppositions and principles on which this exposition of Daniel is based. The vision plays on before Daniel, almost as though in answer to his desire to know more. 2:47; 3:29), one might think the king was on the verge of salvation. [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). Nebuchadnezzar had been convicted, but not converted. 8:58; 1 Cor. Web6 Daniel ch 4. Even the fate of this fourth beast is different than his three predecessors, as his life and his kingdom seem to end at the same moment. Then a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule in all the earth. Listen and subscribe to The Redeemed Mind Podcast on your favorite podcasting app or website. Nebuchadnezzars dream concerned the latter days (the days of the future or the end). There is fairly strong inferential evidence that Nebuchadnezzar was represented by the first beast, the winged lion. 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. Dan. When He came with His kingdom, they would be sure to recognize Him (24:27). He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in the darkness, and light dwells with him. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. He features in the Bible, specifically the I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors. Bible Class on Daniel 2:31-45 | Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar's Chapter 2. [21] The secret of Nebuchadnezzar's dream is called a "mystery," a term found in the scrolls from Qumran indicating a secret that can be learned through divine wisdom; appropriately, Daniel receives the divine wisdom as a "vision of the night", a dream. When his appointed time is over, God will destroy this king and his kingdom and establish His eternal kingdom on the earth. (2:4b-49) A dream of four kingdoms replaced by a fifth, B. In Dan. It seems that Daniel was not only wise, but an excellent statesman. In more detail, the outline would be as follows: (2) The Divine Interpretation verses 15-28. Twice in chapter 7 Daniel speaks of his distress: As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me (verse 15). He also makes great assumptions that Daniel is going to be able to do this.