The best translation in English in this context is a long time.. This designation refers to God the Father in a way that stresses His eternality, dignity, and power. 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. Their perception is wrong, for suddenly and without warning their day of destruction will come upon them. 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. 75 Everything in chapter 7 is on a world-wide scale, the empires of the beasts, the judgment, and the nations that worship and serve the one like mortal man. NET Bible. Providence (5) What do the four beasts represent? A revelation from God in his sleep discloses future events which Daniel finds most troubling. ; The NET Bible. Daniel finds nothing to compare to it. Just as the toes of the feet were part ceramic and part iron, it will end up a mixed bag of the breakable and unbreakable. According to our text, the prophecies of Daniel 7 will not be fulfilled for a considerable period of time. By 650 AD they were block-printing prayers. Prayer Nebuchadnezzars dream concerned the latter days (the days of the future or the end). 3:253:50 lines 279361 Daniel B: lines 1-71 Harbus, Antonina. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: 29 As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. In chapter 2 the king was troubled because he did not understand his dream (cf. Suffering Dan. Character Fasting Given the events surrounding Nebuchadnezzars first dream, why do you think he again asked the wise men to interpret it? It therefore seems that the two prophecies speak of the same four kingdoms by means of different imagery. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. Who is the Son of Man? In the latter days, before the kingdom of God is established on the earth, kings and kingdoms will become worse and worse. The second and third beasts are briefly described in verses 5 and 6. Good works A look through the Scriptures shows that Daniels response to the prophecies he received was not unique. What so upset Daniel about the future? Persecution In chapter 5, King Belshazzars dream should have greatly alarmed him, but apparantly it did not. At this point the revelation ended. The beasts are a horrifying and frightening sight; the heavenly court scene is one of regal splendor and beauty. Deut. Salvation The vision recorded in chapter 8 took place in the third year of Belshazzar. God is eternal, and so is His plan for all creation. 605 BC. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. They are far from pleasant but an unavoidable part of the process. 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? Per Daniels request, the king allows him more time to seek an interpretation of the dream from God. Then the rock initiates destruction that fills the entire earth. The silver chest and arms are a future ruler that will be inferior to Nebuchadnezzar. The beast was lifted up and made to stand like a man. 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. 9 I kept looking until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, And the hair of His head like pure wool. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 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. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? 2:30 As for me, this mystery was revealed to me not because I possess more wisdom than any other living person, but so that the king may understand the interpretation and comprehend the thoughts of your mind. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. The last kingdom has at least eleven kings. In an unprecedented turn of events, King Nebuchadnezzar reversed his decision to execute his advisors. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret. 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. He lavishes gifts on Daniel and makes him chief of all the wise men and ruler over the province of Babylon. However, the kings retrospective confession in Dan. Daniel was blank and his thoughts were blank when he learned the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's second dream. The emphasis of this brief interpretation falls not on the enemies of God, their power, their brutality, nor their boasting, but on the kingdom of God, its certainty and its permanence for all the saints forever. Editing allows an author to set aside details which are not significant and focus on the essence of the message he is trying to communicate. 4:3 is almost identical to Ps. The second scene portrays the establishment of the thrones on which the Ancient of Days and those holding court are to be seated to pronounce judgment. The point of this prophecy is not to tell us who future kings will be, but rather what they will be like. The process of having a baby involves the pains of childbirth. He would rise from the dead (12:40). First is a great tree that filled the earth. 2:14; 1 John 4:56)? Interpretations of Daniels prophecies differ widely. Chapter 2 contains a very significant prophecy, revealed by God to king Nebuchadnezzar. Salvation is likewise a process involving sufferingand then glory. There is fairly strong inferential evidence that Nebuchadnezzar was represented by the first beast, the winged lion. Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: He lremoveth kings, and setteth up kings: And knowledge to them that know understanding: 22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: 23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers. Perhaps this is because the king suspected he knew the meaning of the dream and was hoping against hope for an alternative interpretation. We should note Daniels distress in chapter 7 before turning to the other prophecies in Daniel, where we will find that prophecy very often produces distress. 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. As the beast continues to boast, a second scene commences in Daniels vision, and for a period of time both scenes run simultaneously. 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. Sin distorted this authority with this particular disease, even turning man into an animal. In a similar way, Belshazzar becomes blasphemous and is suddenly removed by God for his wickedness. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises others. The identity of the kingdoms represented by the other body parts and metals was not revealed. 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. The king and Daniel, the wise courtier (, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 06:58. in 1971. The Son of man, Jesus Christ, would come to the Ancient of Days [God] with the clouds of heaven. Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009. You are the head of gold. Passover 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. Why was he afraid and troubled? Holy Spirit I have heard a number of attempts to explain the gaps in Old Testament prophecy. (7) Prophecy is revealed, not to give us the particulars of things to come, but to change our perspective. In the first scene, heavenly winds are employed to whip up the sea from which the four beasts emerges. (1) Why does Daniel indicate the historical setting of the vision he receives in chapter 7? [18] The marriage might be a reference to either of two between the Seleucids and the Ptolemies, the first in c.250 BCE and the second in 193. 4:1018 the king describes his dream to Daniel. Blessed be the name of God forever and ever. 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. In spite of all these beasts do and say, in spite of their power and even their success, neither they nor their kingdoms will last. 19-23 That night the answer to the mystery was given to Daniel in a vision. Nebuchadnezzars Dream (Daniel 4:1-18) Say: Everyone turn to Daniel 4. The wicked will prosper and appear to get away with their opposition toward God and His saints. End Time It is mental condition where a person thinks themselves to be an animal and begins to live as such. Wisdom Is it possible to understand history apart from knowledge of God and a Judeo-Christian worldview. We are not to base our thinking and actions on circumstances, but upon the Scriptures. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold to pieces. (10) Daniels preoccupation is with the last beast, rather than the first three. The events seen by Daniel in chapter seven would signal the establishment of the everlasting kingdom which Daniel described in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. They surely knew this text to be messianic, but they had always applied it to the Gentiles. He only called on him in a moment of sheer panic when no one else could help, and only then because of the recommendation of the queen mother. The day of judgment is still future and has not yet been fulfilled. Repentance Our study of this chapter will isolate what troubled Daniel about the future. For you have enabled me to understand the kings dilemma., 2:24 Then Daniel went in to see Arioch (whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon). Different from the first three, this beast seems uglier, more powerful, and much more hostile toward God and His saints. 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. While most prophecies in the Bible reveal events which will take place after the death of the recipient of the prophecy, the prophecy is revealed for impact upon those to whom it was revealed. At least the final portion of chapter 7 has not been fulfilled. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. This condition is somewhat ironic, for God made mankind to be lord over the animals (cf. 30 But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. 1:2425)? Belshazzar came to power several years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar and seems to have turned completely away from the God of Israel. Print. 2345 Charles Ave. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future. The great God has let the king know what will happen in the years to come. Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. 36 This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. Privacy Policy While most of those in this kingdom may not have had a true conversion, at least they tolerated the Jewish faith as the religion of the state. The ten horns are of interest to him, but most of all that final horn which arose, surpassing and replacing three others and speaking boastfully. One of those gaps is found in Daniel 7. The expression is used in the Psalms in a more pregnant way, in reference to the coming Messiah. WebThis dream was originally given to Nebuchadnezzar and was interpretedfor him by Daniel duringhis reign. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. All distinctions of race and colour and nationality are stripped away and one apparently human figure represents the whole human race. Joyce C. Baldwin, Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1978), p. 150. 2:41 In that you were seeing feet and toes partly of wet clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom. This was your dream. He features in the Bible, specifically the As Daniel continues to watch, someone descends with the clouds of heaven, one like a Son of Man. He is presented to the Ancient of Days, and to Him is given dominion, glory, and the eternal kingdom. Hearing this, Nebuchadnezzar affirms that Daniel's god is "the God of gods and Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries". Then a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule in all the earth. 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up ya kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. However, the iron and clay feet represent an iron kingdom that will be partly strong and partly brittle. Suffering and glory are a part of one work. [6] What counts is not Daniel's human gifts, nor his education in the arts of divination, but "Divine Wisdom" and the power that belongs to God alone, as Daniel indicates when he urges his companions to seek God's mercy for the interpretation of the king's dreams. (7:128) A vision of four world kingdoms replaced by a fifth, B'. 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). Each of the four beasts represent a king and thus a resulting kingdom. (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. 24 So Daniel went back to Arioch, who had been put in charge of the execution. It would be but a very few years until Cyrus would come to power and assist the Jews to return to Jerusalem and the land of Israel. Since the last kingdom and the prophecies associated with it have not yet been fulfilled, we must in some way be a part of that kingdom. 2:29 As for you, O king, while you were in your bed your thoughts turned to future things. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. World History When the iniquity of the blasphemous horn reaches full bloom and his appointed time to rule is fulfilled, God will destroy him, casting his body into the fire. 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? 47 The king said to Daniel, Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.. He responded by honoring Daniel by falling down before him. In chapter 4 the king was troubled because he understood his dream (cf. 9. We know that Jesus came the first time to die and that He will come again to subdue His enemies and establish His kingdom. 145:13. 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. Our attention should be given to what is clearly and emphatically said. He questioned His disciples so that they could confess that He, the Son of Man, was the Messiah (16:13f.). Per Daniels request, the king allows him more time to seek an interpretation of the dream from God. [29] The consensus among scholars is that the four beasts of chapter 7 symbolise the same four world empires. 4:19; Ezk. 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. As National Day of Prayer approaches, Pope suggests we spend time with Jesus every evening to reflect on the day. Love of Neighbor In Gods economy, things are not what they appear to be. In more detail, the outline would be as follows: (2) The Divine Interpretation verses 15-28. The kingdom of God would not be established in Daniels lifetime, nor in the life of those who returned to the land of Israel from their captivity. What it does not destroy or consume with its teeth, it crushes under foot, much like a bull in a china shop. 3 While they are saying, Peace and safety! then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. Looking about with its numerous eyes, no one can escape his look or hide from him.80 With its mouth, the beast continues to speak boastfully. At the outset of the account of his vision, Daniel wants his reader to know the historical context in which this prophecy was given and to consider its interpretation and application in the light of that context. Chapter 7 reveals in broad terms what the future holds. 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. Considering this text has changed my opinion about the gap in the prophecies of the Old Testament. What role do they play in relation to the four beasts? From an eternal perspective, the coming of Christ and His kingdom is but one coming. Some of his alarm arose from his not yet having been given the interpretation of his vision. Would this horn Daniels vision revealed oppose the people of God and even blaspheme God Himself? Just as iron smashes things to bits, breaking and pulverizing, it will bust up the previous kingdoms. It seems there is more of a sense of urgency in seeking the meaning of the second dream. 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 first thing Daniel does when God reveals the dream is to pray and then bless God. Ceremonial Laws If, in Gods eyes, a day is as 1,000 years and 1,000 years as a day (2 Peter 3:8), then the coming of our Lord has only been a few days from beginning to end. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him., 25 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., 26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?. Many Old Testament prophets shared Daniels distress as a result of the prophecies they received and often conveyed to others.74 Why does the prophecy of Daniel 7 cause this godly man so much consternation? After the wise 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. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. "Nebuchadnezzar's dreams in the Old English Daniel." I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors. Introduction They will serve and obey Him forever. The New King James Version. 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 The first thing Daniel does when the Kings dream is revealed to him is to acknowledge that God revealed the dream and thank God for giving him insight. 4 The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. Wherever I see the Scriptures speak of the coming kingdom of God, I find suffering closely associated with it. Prophecy is not revealed in a historical vacuum. 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. [9] The tales are in the voice of an anonymous narrator, except for chapter 4 which is in the form of a letter from king Nebuchadnezzar. (8) Is there any relationship between Nebuchadnezzars dream in chapter 2 and Daniels dream in chapter 7? Astonished and troubled. Up to this time, it was simply a synonym for being human, a son of man. 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. Its appearance caused alarm. Both sets of kingdoms are brought to a sudden end and are replaced by an eternal kingdom. We are in harmony with God when our declarations conform to his. iron is stronger than gold) except for the feet which are made of an uncommon, unstable combination of materials. At one point in Chapter 9, Daniel understood from the scriptures that the desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years.. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. A great stone, not cut by human hands, fell on the feet of the statue and destroyed it, and the rock became a mountain that filled the whole world. The phrase used to describe Daniel and his friends is young men. Its a word that usually refers to boys Humanly speaking, it was impossible for them to have a child. (1) The Book of Daniel is a part of the Holy Scriptures, and thus inspired, accurate, and trustworthy. 4:1927 Daniel gives a clear interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream. Earlier in Daniel, we are told how Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had besieged Jerusalem, took their king Jehoiakim captive and scuttled precious religious artifacts from the Great Temple. This chapter is actually a letter. 2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed down with his face to the ground and paid homage to Daniel. Are you tempted to give up on the salvation of evil world rulers and other wicked people who are in power? Election Leadership However, after Daniel sought God in prayer, the mystery of the kings dream was revealed to Daniel, and he was taken to the king to interpret it. WebDaniel and his friends complete their three years of learning. 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. 3640 And now well interpret it for the king. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. As we shall show later, the content of the prophecy of Daniel 7 is very closely related to the reign of Belshazzar. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. Subscribe to the Bible Blender Newsletter. The head of gold represents Nebuchadnezzar. (Numbers 23:19). Thou art this head of gold. 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. For this reason, I wish to clearly state the foundational presuppositions and principles on which this exposition of Daniel is based. 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? Spiritual Gifts What God determined to reveal to Daniel should be enough for us. Until Gods eternal kingdom is established, kingdoms will progress from bad to worse. WebNebuchadnezzars dream to him. 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. (4) This is the first prophecy in the book revealed directly to Daniel. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. The message of this prophecy is really quite simple and may be summed up this way. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. 31 You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! 4:2833 records the first part of the fulfillment of the kings dreamnamely, his fall and exile.

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