“And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.” Daniel 2:1 Daniel was carried into captivity in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar. For three years he was placed under instructors, during which time he would not, of course, be reckoned among the wise men of the kingdom, nor take part in public affairs. Yet in the second year of Nebu chadnezzar, the transactions recorded in this chapter took place. How, then, could Daniel be brought in to interpret the king’s dream in his second year? The explanation lies in the fact that Nebuchadnezzar reigned for two years conjointly with his father, Nabopolassar. From this point the Jews reck oned, while the Chaldeans reckoned from the time he began to reign alone on the death of his father. It appears that the next year after Daniel had completed his preparation to participate in the affairs of the Chaldean empire, the providence of God brought him into sudden and remarkable prominence throughout the kingdom. Babylon, the first world empire, was the greatest, richest, and most influential of all the empires in the then known civilized world. It also had the most powerful king. This leader of men had managed by sheer force to put down his enemies one by one, until his kingdom stood as the Queen of nations. In the second year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar went to bed wondering just how long his kingdom would endure. He wanted to know about the future. That night, God looked down from heaven and chose to entrust this benevolent dictator with a look into the future. The King had a strange dream and when he awoke he was really upset. He couldn’t remember the dream. But he knew it was important.
(18) [Daniel and the Revelation] -- "graphics"
(19A) Mysterious Dream “Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.” Daniel 2:2, 3 He sent for his wise men and magicians and told them he had dreamed a dream and was anxious to know the meaning of it.
Wise men = psychics. Magicians = casters of spells, witches. Astrologers = Foretelling future by star charts, fortune tellers. Sorcerers = Claim to communicate with the dead, Spiritualists. Chaldeans = Philosophers of psychic divination, numerology etc.
“Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.” Daniel 2:4 It is clear that these ancient magicians and astrologers seem to have been clever in getting enough information to be able to give answers in such a vague manner that they would seem right whichever way the events turned out. Now, true to their cunning instincts, they called upon the king to make known to them his dream. If they could get full infor mation respecting this, they could easily agree on some inter pretation which would not endanger their reputation. They spoke to the king in Syriac, a dialect of the Chaldean language which was used by the educated and cul tured classes. From this point to the end of Daniel 7, the record continues in Chaldaic, the language spoken by the king. “The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me
20 Daniel and the Revelation gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.” Daniel 2:5-7 These men claimed to have access to all the secrets of the living and the dead, past and future, including the knowledge of the gods. This was not an unreasonable request the king was asking of them, if all their boastful claims were true. It is important to realize that in all the ages of earth’s history Satan has tried to duplicate the powers of God but his counterfeits do not come close to the 100% accuracy of God’s prophetic Word. “The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.” Daniel 2:8, 9 The wise men and magicians were confident that they could easily make up an interpretation to please the king if they knew the dream, but no-one could dare to make up the dream as well! “The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Daniel 2:10-11 “Tell us the dream, and we’ll tell you what it means,” pleaded the magicians. “Nobody can tell you what your dream was. No king ever asked such an unreasonable thing!” “For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.” Daniel 2:12. It was obvious to the king their claims were only idle
(21A) Mysterious Dream tales; they couldn’t do it. They even complained that the King was being unreasonable and this threw Nebuchadnezzar into a fury. He was so angry, he shouted: “Kill all these wise men and magicians!” Some have denounced Nebuchadnezzar in this matter, as a heartless, unreasonable tyrant. But what did these magicians profess to be able to do? Reveal hidden things; foretell events; make known mys teries entirely beyond human understanding, by supernatural means. There was therefore nothing unjust in Nebuchadnezzar’s demand that they should make known his dream. When they declared that none but the gods, whose dwelling was not with flesh, could make known the king’s matter, they admitted they had no communication with these gods, and knew nothing beyond what human wisdom could reveal. “And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.” Daniel 2:13 The soldiers started collecting all the magicians to execute them. “Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.” Daniel 2:14, 15 Daniel and his friends were to die too because they were among the wise men and magicians. “Why does the King want to kill all his wise men,” he asked. It was strange that Daniel and his companions, declared by the king ten times better than all his magicians and astrologers, were not called first in this matter. But God had a reason for this. Had the king called on Daniel at the first to make known the matter, the magicians would not have been brought to the test. But God would give the heathen systems of the Chaldeans the first chance. He would let them try and fail, that they might be the better prepared
(22)[Daniel and the Revelation] to acknowledge His intervention when He should finally manifest His power in behalf of His captive servants, and for the honor of His name. Daniel, first learning of the situation when the executioners come for his arrest, asked for time that he might consult the God whose dwelling was not with men, and pray for wisdom to make the dream known to the king. “Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.” Daniel 2:16 The king agreed to give Daniel time to consider the matter; a privilege which probably none of the magicians could have obtained, as the king had already ac cused them of preparing false words, and seek ing to gain time for this very purpose. “Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Daniel 2:17-19 Daniel at once went to his three companions, and asked them to unite with him in asking light from the God of heaven concerning this secret. He could have prayed alone and doubtless would have been heard, but in the union of God’s people there is prevailing power. The promise tells us that when two or three shall agree as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of the Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:19, 20.)
Daniel’s Hymn of Praise: “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness,
(23) and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.” Daniel 2:20-23 Daniel offered up praise to God for His gracious dealing with them. God is honored by our praise to Him for the things He has done for us, as well as by our petitions to Him for help. Let Daniel be our example in this. Let us not forget to return thanksgiving and praise for blessings given us. In the days of Christ’s ministry on earth, did He not cleanse ten lepers, and only one returned to give Him thanks? “But where,” asks Christ sorrowfully, “are the nine?” Luke 17:17. Daniel had the utmost confidence in what had been shown him. He did not first go to the king to see if what had been revealed to him was indeed the king’s dream, but he immediately praised God for having answered his prayer. Although the matter was revealed to Daniel, he did not take the honor to himself, as though it were by his prayers alone that the answer had come. He included his friends in his thanksgiving. It was, said he, “what we desired of Thee,” and Thou hast made it “known unto us.” “Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. 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.” Daniel 2:24, 25 Daniel’s first plea was for the wise men of Babylon. De stroy them not, for the king’s secret is revealed, he implored. True, it was through no merit of theirs or their heathen sys tems of divination that this revelation was made. They were worthy of as much condemnation as before. But their own confession of utter impotence in the matter was humiliation enough for them, and Daniel was anxious that A Mysterious Dream
(24) Daniel and the Revelation they should so far partake of the benefits shown him as to have their lives spared. They were saved because there was a man of God among them. “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? 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; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;” Daniel 2:26-28 “Art thou able to make known unto me the dream?” was the king’s greeting to Daniel as he came into the royal presence. In spite of his previous acquaintance with this Hebrew, the king seemed to question his ability, so young and inexperienced, to make known a matter in which the aged and venerable magicians and soothsayers had utterly failed. Daniel declared plainly that the wise men, the astrologers, the soothsayers, and the magicians could not make known this secret. It was beyond their power. Therefore the king should not be angry with them, nor put confidence in their vain superstitions. The prophet proceeded to make known the true God, who rules in heaven, and is the only revealer of secrets. He it is, said Daniel, who “maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” “As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. 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.” Daniel 2:29, 30 Unlike some rulers, who fill up the present with folly and debauchery without regard to the future, the king
(25A) Mysterious Dream thought upon the days to come, with desire to know what would be in the years to follow. It was partly for this reason that God gave him this dream. Yet God would not work for the king independently of His own people. Though He gave the dream to the king, He sent the interpretation through one of His acknowledged servants. Daniel first disclaimed all credit for the interpretation, and then he sought to modify the king’s natural feelings of pride in being thus noticed by the God of heaven. He informed him that although the dream had been given to him, it was not for his sake alone that the interpretation was sent, but also for their sakes through whom it should be given. God had some servants there, and it was for them that He was working. They were of more value in His sight than the mightiest kings and potentates of earth. By this one act of revealing the king’s dream to Daniel, God made known to the king the things he desired; He saved His servants who trusted in Him; He brought before the Chaldean nation the knowledge of Him who knows the end from the beginning; He poured contempt on the false systems of the soothsayers and magicians; He honored His own name and exalted His servants in their eyes. He also laid into history an important prophetic waymark for us who live in the time of the end of this world. “Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.” Daniel 2:31-33 Nebuchadnezzar, a worshiper of the gods of the Chaldean religion, was an idolater. An image was an object which would at once command his attention and respect. Moreover, earthly kingdoms, which, as we shall hereafter see, were represented by this image, were objects of esteem and value in his eyes. But how well suited was this image to convey a great
(26)[Daniel and the Revelation] and needful truth to the mind of Nebuchad nezzar. Besides delineating the progress of events through the whole course of time for the benefit of His people, God would show Nebuchadnezzar the utter emptiness and worthlessness of earthly pomp and glory. How could this be more impressively done than by an image whose head was of gold? Below this head was a body composed of inferior metals descending in value until they reached their basest form in the feet and toes of iron mingled with miry clay. “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 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.” Daniel 2:34, 35 The whole was then dashed to pieces, and made like empty chaff. It was finally blown away where no place could be found for it. Then something durable and of heavenly worth occupied its place. So God would show to the children of men that earthly kingdoms are to pass away, and earthly greatness and glory, like a gaudy bubble, will break and vanish. In the place so long usurped by these, the kingdom of God shall be set up and have no end, while all who have an interest in that kingdom shall rest under the shadow of its peaceful wings forever and ever. “This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 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. Thou art this head of gold.” Daniel 2:36-38 Now opens one of the most comprehensive histories of world empires. Eight short verses of the inspired record tell the whole story, yet that story embraces the history of this world’s pomp and power. A few moments will suffice to
(27) commit it to memory; yet the period which it covers, beginning more than twenty-five cen turies ago, reaches from that far-distant point, past the rise and fall of kingdoms, past the setting up and overthrow of empires, past cycles and ages, and past our own day to eternity. It is complete, yet it is so minute that it gives us the great outlines of earthly kingdoms from that time to this. Human wisdom never devised so brief a record that embraced so much. Human language never set forth in so few words such a great volume of historical truth. The finger of God is here. Let us heed the lesson well. With what interest and astonishment must the king have listened as he was informed by the prophet that his kingdom was the golden head of the magnificent image? Daniel informed the king that the God of heaven had given him his kingdom, and made him ruler over all. This would restrain him from the pride of thinking that he had attained his posi tion by his own power and wisdom, and would enlist the gratitude of his heart toward the true God. “And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.” Daniel 2:39 Nebuchadnezzar reigned forty-three years, and was suc ceeded by the following rulers: His son, Evil-Merodach, two years; Neriglissar, his son-in-law, four years; Laborosoarchod, Neriglissar’s son, nine months, which, being less than one year, is not counted in the canon of Ptolemy; and lastly, Nabonidus, whose son, Belshazzar, grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, was as sociated with him on the throne. “The proof of this association is contained in the cylinders of Nabonadius [Nabonidus] found at Mugheir, where the pro tection of the gods is asked for Nabu-nadid and his son Bel-shar-uzur, who are coupled together in a way that implies the co-sovereignty of the latter. (British Museum Series, Vol. I. pl. 68, no. 1.) [Understanding Daniel and the Revelation - pgs. 17-27].
Saturday, March 12, 2016
PREPARING FOR HEAVEN - Part 02
“And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.” Daniel 2:1 Daniel was carried into captivity in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar. For three years he was placed under instructors, during which time he would not, of course, be reckoned among the wise men of the kingdom, nor take part in public affairs. Yet in the second year of Nebu chadnezzar, the transactions recorded in this chapter took place. How, then, could Daniel be brought in to interpret the king’s dream in his second year? The explanation lies in the fact that Nebuchadnezzar reigned for two years conjointly with his father, Nabopolassar. From this point the Jews reck oned, while the Chaldeans reckoned from the time he began to reign alone on the death of his father. It appears that the next year after Daniel had completed his preparation to participate in the affairs of the Chaldean empire, the providence of God brought him into sudden and remarkable prominence throughout the kingdom. Babylon, the first world empire, was the greatest, richest, and most influential of all the empires in the then known civilized world. It also had the most powerful king. This leader of men had managed by sheer force to put down his enemies one by one, until his kingdom stood as the Queen of nations. In the second year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar went to bed wondering just how long his kingdom would endure. He wanted to know about the future. That night, God looked down from heaven and chose to entrust this benevolent dictator with a look into the future. The King had a strange dream and when he awoke he was really upset. He couldn’t remember the dream. But he knew it was important.
(18) [Daniel and the Revelation] -- "graphics"
(19A) Mysterious Dream “Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.” Daniel 2:2, 3 He sent for his wise men and magicians and told them he had dreamed a dream and was anxious to know the meaning of it.
Wise men = psychics. Magicians = casters of spells, witches. Astrologers = Foretelling future by star charts, fortune tellers. Sorcerers = Claim to communicate with the dead, Spiritualists. Chaldeans = Philosophers of psychic divination, numerology etc.
“Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.” Daniel 2:4 It is clear that these ancient magicians and astrologers seem to have been clever in getting enough information to be able to give answers in such a vague manner that they would seem right whichever way the events turned out. Now, true to their cunning instincts, they called upon the king to make known to them his dream. If they could get full infor mation respecting this, they could easily agree on some inter pretation which would not endanger their reputation. They spoke to the king in Syriac, a dialect of the Chaldean language which was used by the educated and cul tured classes. From this point to the end of Daniel 7, the record continues in Chaldaic, the language spoken by the king. “The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me
20 Daniel and the Revelation gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.” Daniel 2:5-7 These men claimed to have access to all the secrets of the living and the dead, past and future, including the knowledge of the gods. This was not an unreasonable request the king was asking of them, if all their boastful claims were true. It is important to realize that in all the ages of earth’s history Satan has tried to duplicate the powers of God but his counterfeits do not come close to the 100% accuracy of God’s prophetic Word. “The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.” Daniel 2:8, 9 The wise men and magicians were confident that they could easily make up an interpretation to please the king if they knew the dream, but no-one could dare to make up the dream as well! “The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Daniel 2:10-11 “Tell us the dream, and we’ll tell you what it means,” pleaded the magicians. “Nobody can tell you what your dream was. No king ever asked such an unreasonable thing!” “For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.” Daniel 2:12. It was obvious to the king their claims were only idle
(21A) Mysterious Dream tales; they couldn’t do it. They even complained that the King was being unreasonable and this threw Nebuchadnezzar into a fury. He was so angry, he shouted: “Kill all these wise men and magicians!” Some have denounced Nebuchadnezzar in this matter, as a heartless, unreasonable tyrant. But what did these magicians profess to be able to do? Reveal hidden things; foretell events; make known mys teries entirely beyond human understanding, by supernatural means. There was therefore nothing unjust in Nebuchadnezzar’s demand that they should make known his dream. When they declared that none but the gods, whose dwelling was not with flesh, could make known the king’s matter, they admitted they had no communication with these gods, and knew nothing beyond what human wisdom could reveal. “And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.” Daniel 2:13 The soldiers started collecting all the magicians to execute them. “Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.” Daniel 2:14, 15 Daniel and his friends were to die too because they were among the wise men and magicians. “Why does the King want to kill all his wise men,” he asked. It was strange that Daniel and his companions, declared by the king ten times better than all his magicians and astrologers, were not called first in this matter. But God had a reason for this. Had the king called on Daniel at the first to make known the matter, the magicians would not have been brought to the test. But God would give the heathen systems of the Chaldeans the first chance. He would let them try and fail, that they might be the better prepared
(22)[Daniel and the Revelation] to acknowledge His intervention when He should finally manifest His power in behalf of His captive servants, and for the honor of His name. Daniel, first learning of the situation when the executioners come for his arrest, asked for time that he might consult the God whose dwelling was not with men, and pray for wisdom to make the dream known to the king. “Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.” Daniel 2:16 The king agreed to give Daniel time to consider the matter; a privilege which probably none of the magicians could have obtained, as the king had already ac cused them of preparing false words, and seek ing to gain time for this very purpose. “Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Daniel 2:17-19 Daniel at once went to his three companions, and asked them to unite with him in asking light from the God of heaven concerning this secret. He could have prayed alone and doubtless would have been heard, but in the union of God’s people there is prevailing power. The promise tells us that when two or three shall agree as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of the Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:19, 20.)
Daniel’s Hymn of Praise: “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness,
(23) and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.” Daniel 2:20-23 Daniel offered up praise to God for His gracious dealing with them. God is honored by our praise to Him for the things He has done for us, as well as by our petitions to Him for help. Let Daniel be our example in this. Let us not forget to return thanksgiving and praise for blessings given us. In the days of Christ’s ministry on earth, did He not cleanse ten lepers, and only one returned to give Him thanks? “But where,” asks Christ sorrowfully, “are the nine?” Luke 17:17. Daniel had the utmost confidence in what had been shown him. He did not first go to the king to see if what had been revealed to him was indeed the king’s dream, but he immediately praised God for having answered his prayer. Although the matter was revealed to Daniel, he did not take the honor to himself, as though it were by his prayers alone that the answer had come. He included his friends in his thanksgiving. It was, said he, “what we desired of Thee,” and Thou hast made it “known unto us.” “Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. 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.” Daniel 2:24, 25 Daniel’s first plea was for the wise men of Babylon. De stroy them not, for the king’s secret is revealed, he implored. True, it was through no merit of theirs or their heathen sys tems of divination that this revelation was made. They were worthy of as much condemnation as before. But their own confession of utter impotence in the matter was humiliation enough for them, and Daniel was anxious that A Mysterious Dream
(24) Daniel and the Revelation they should so far partake of the benefits shown him as to have their lives spared. They were saved because there was a man of God among them. “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? 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; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;” Daniel 2:26-28 “Art thou able to make known unto me the dream?” was the king’s greeting to Daniel as he came into the royal presence. In spite of his previous acquaintance with this Hebrew, the king seemed to question his ability, so young and inexperienced, to make known a matter in which the aged and venerable magicians and soothsayers had utterly failed. Daniel declared plainly that the wise men, the astrologers, the soothsayers, and the magicians could not make known this secret. It was beyond their power. Therefore the king should not be angry with them, nor put confidence in their vain superstitions. The prophet proceeded to make known the true God, who rules in heaven, and is the only revealer of secrets. He it is, said Daniel, who “maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” “As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. 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.” Daniel 2:29, 30 Unlike some rulers, who fill up the present with folly and debauchery without regard to the future, the king
(25A) Mysterious Dream thought upon the days to come, with desire to know what would be in the years to follow. It was partly for this reason that God gave him this dream. Yet God would not work for the king independently of His own people. Though He gave the dream to the king, He sent the interpretation through one of His acknowledged servants. Daniel first disclaimed all credit for the interpretation, and then he sought to modify the king’s natural feelings of pride in being thus noticed by the God of heaven. He informed him that although the dream had been given to him, it was not for his sake alone that the interpretation was sent, but also for their sakes through whom it should be given. God had some servants there, and it was for them that He was working. They were of more value in His sight than the mightiest kings and potentates of earth. By this one act of revealing the king’s dream to Daniel, God made known to the king the things he desired; He saved His servants who trusted in Him; He brought before the Chaldean nation the knowledge of Him who knows the end from the beginning; He poured contempt on the false systems of the soothsayers and magicians; He honored His own name and exalted His servants in their eyes. He also laid into history an important prophetic waymark for us who live in the time of the end of this world. “Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.” Daniel 2:31-33 Nebuchadnezzar, a worshiper of the gods of the Chaldean religion, was an idolater. An image was an object which would at once command his attention and respect. Moreover, earthly kingdoms, which, as we shall hereafter see, were represented by this image, were objects of esteem and value in his eyes. But how well suited was this image to convey a great
(26)[Daniel and the Revelation] and needful truth to the mind of Nebuchad nezzar. Besides delineating the progress of events through the whole course of time for the benefit of His people, God would show Nebuchadnezzar the utter emptiness and worthlessness of earthly pomp and glory. How could this be more impressively done than by an image whose head was of gold? Below this head was a body composed of inferior metals descending in value until they reached their basest form in the feet and toes of iron mingled with miry clay. “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 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.” Daniel 2:34, 35 The whole was then dashed to pieces, and made like empty chaff. It was finally blown away where no place could be found for it. Then something durable and of heavenly worth occupied its place. So God would show to the children of men that earthly kingdoms are to pass away, and earthly greatness and glory, like a gaudy bubble, will break and vanish. In the place so long usurped by these, the kingdom of God shall be set up and have no end, while all who have an interest in that kingdom shall rest under the shadow of its peaceful wings forever and ever. “This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 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. Thou art this head of gold.” Daniel 2:36-38 Now opens one of the most comprehensive histories of world empires. Eight short verses of the inspired record tell the whole story, yet that story embraces the history of this world’s pomp and power. A few moments will suffice to
(27) commit it to memory; yet the period which it covers, beginning more than twenty-five cen turies ago, reaches from that far-distant point, past the rise and fall of kingdoms, past the setting up and overthrow of empires, past cycles and ages, and past our own day to eternity. It is complete, yet it is so minute that it gives us the great outlines of earthly kingdoms from that time to this. Human wisdom never devised so brief a record that embraced so much. Human language never set forth in so few words such a great volume of historical truth. The finger of God is here. Let us heed the lesson well. With what interest and astonishment must the king have listened as he was informed by the prophet that his kingdom was the golden head of the magnificent image? Daniel informed the king that the God of heaven had given him his kingdom, and made him ruler over all. This would restrain him from the pride of thinking that he had attained his posi tion by his own power and wisdom, and would enlist the gratitude of his heart toward the true God. “And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.” Daniel 2:39 Nebuchadnezzar reigned forty-three years, and was suc ceeded by the following rulers: His son, Evil-Merodach, two years; Neriglissar, his son-in-law, four years; Laborosoarchod, Neriglissar’s son, nine months, which, being less than one year, is not counted in the canon of Ptolemy; and lastly, Nabonidus, whose son, Belshazzar, grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, was as sociated with him on the throne. “The proof of this association is contained in the cylinders of Nabonadius [Nabonidus] found at Mugheir, where the pro tection of the gods is asked for Nabu-nadid and his son Bel-shar-uzur, who are coupled together in a way that implies the co-sovereignty of the latter. (British Museum Series, Vol. I. pl. 68, no. 1.) [Understanding Daniel and the Revelation - pgs. 17-27].
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