#1202 Daniel 3 Part 1 Factory of the Heart

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” 7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

The Fiery Furnace

8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. 9 They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.  Daniel 3 ESV

Daniel 3

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold - So, last chapter he dreams about an image, this great statue of which God tells him, through Daniel, that he is the gold head of this frightful image. Now, like all men and women, he has an ego, but he is also a king over kings, who has a vast empire, which we will find translates, in his mind, as so many reasons to hold himself up so high. Most of our idols, the gods we worship, reflect ourselves, the thoughts of our minds, what we want and what sins we wish to hold on to. If you look at history, the Babylonian and Greco Roman gods, they all fed into men's passions, their gods were sleeping with mortals, impregnating women which made demi-gods, and these gods were worshiped by having sex with temple prostitutes, both men and women. They had gods of gold because they liked gold, it represented wealth because it was rare. The gods of the prosperity gospel claim to be the God of the Bible, but turn out to be a deception. Joseph Smith's god was in favor of being polyamorous, because like all of us, he wanted a god in his own image, and he was a perverter, as all sinners are, of God's created intent and design. 

Daniel 2 First Image

Image (06754)(Hebrew = Tselem) is a masculine noun which means image, likeness, statue, model, a drawing, a shadow. The first four uses of tselem all refer to mankind as made in the image of God (Ge 1:26, 27; 9:6). Tselem is used in the description of Adam's offspring Seth "in his own likeness, according to his image (tselem)" (Ge 5:3). The next 2 uses describe idols ("likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of your mice") (1Sa 6:5, 11), then the images of Baal (2Ki 11:18, 2Chr 23:17, cp Ezek 7:20 "the images of their abominations", description of how apostate, unfaithful Judah had made for themselves "male images" with which they might play the harlot = Ezek 16:17 - Talk about perversion!). Men are described as walking "about as a phantom," (Ps 39:6), in other words as shadows, descriptivie of unknowing, senseless, fleeting beings carrying out the motions of life unless they have hope in God (see Ps. 39:7). - Precept Austin

Height 60 cubits and breadth 6 cubits - This is a rather slender statue, a 10 to 1 ratio, based on the average measurement of a cubit, it would be 9 feet wide by 90 feet tall. Now, I think the image was of a man, and Nebuchadnezzar was under the influence of the image in his dream and also his intoxication with himself. He was the head of gold so this whole statue is of gold. Now, from what archeologists and historians have discovered of practices in these times, it was most likely not solid gold, but a heavy overlay of wood, that was covered in some other substance that hardened on the wood and then gold. I am guessing the other substance was probably a bonding agent of sorts, and also helped maintain the integrity of the wood. Solid gold would be difficult to handle for the weight, but also an immense expense, the effect of which could be had for a fraction of the price by overlaying. The proportions are off to actual human scale, but this, some commentators and scholars think may be because much of it is a pedestal, possible in the form of a robe.

He set it up on the Plain of Dura - He put it in a place where it could be seen from a great distance, imagine the rising sun and the reflection such a piece would create. 

Plain of Dura (plain of dura - pictures) - Dura means "walked place". In such a flat location the statue would be unimpeded by hills or knolls and thus would be readily visible from quite a distance, an awesome site sparkling in the radiant sunlight. In 1863 the French archeologist Jules Oppert discovered a pedestal 6 miles SE of Babylon with dimensions of 45’ square and 20’ in height. Oppert felt that this was a possible site of Nebuchadnezzar's image, but there is no further evidence to substantiate this premise. - Precept Austin

Sent to gather...gathered - If you notice, verse 3 just renames everyone that he sent for in verse 2. He calls them to the dedication of this idol, and they come a running. In other words, they are all Yes men. Satraps, prefects etc., every politician, ruler, military commander in his kingdom, come to worship the image that the king has made, well almost everyone. It is always easier to be on the side of the majority, the powerful, popular and influential. Might makes right in the eyes of many, and Nebuchadnezzar holds the might, controls the armies, is a military genius and impatient man. He also has the power of death in his hands, and if your idol is moving up in the kingdom, if that is of utmost importance to you, well, then you have to bow. Your career, your life and the lives of your loved ones are in the balance. This is yet another test of resolve, remember the boys in chapter 1 who wouldn't eat the king's meat or drink his wine? They were being Babylonianized, word I made up, it's like Hellenized, but you become a Babylonian rather than a Greek. Neb wants everyone on the same page, to show solidarity, he is a micro-manager, bringing the world together under one leader, to have one voice and worship the way he tells them to, directed toward the image he puts before them, he is an antichrist.  The end of the time of the gentiles will look much the beginning, mankind has not changed much, though technology has. 

C I Scofield feels that…
The attempt of this great king of Babylon to unify the religions of his empire by self-deification will be repeated by the beast, the last head of the Gentile world-dominion Rev 13:11-15 See note on "Beast, the" Da 7:8" See Re 19:20" It has repeatedly characterized Gentile authority in the earth, e.g. Dan 6:7; Acts 12:22 and the later Roman emperors.

…19Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. 20But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.… Revelation 19: 19-21

11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. 12And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. 13And the second beast performed great signs to cause even fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people.…

…14Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. 15 The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed. 16And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,… Revelation 13: 11-16

When you hear the sound - This is followed by a long list of instruments, and old Neb knows how to create ambiance, employ music to tap in to emotion. Most of my friends, when we were young, and some even now that we are old, wanted to be rock stars. They draw a crowd, worship, have a soap box, girls offer themselves as tribute, and they make a lot of money. People even believe that what musicians say is somehow of utmost importance. Now, I picked poorly, a lot of my heroes died from drug overdose or suicide, like Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, or Layne Staley, but it wasn't just how they died, how they lived, what they did with the gifts God gave them, was not used to glorify the gift giver.

Now, apparently this guy had a royal orchestra with all of this stuff playing together, some no doubt sensual music, to try to draw everybody’s attention to the image and cause them to bow down. It is kind of interesting to note - I’ll say this for Clayton’s benefit - that you have both wind and string instruments here. There is the horn and there is the pipe, and that means a flute. And then, by the way, the horn had a lower sound and the flute had a higher sound.

And then you have a lyre, L-Y-R-E, which is a harp, and this was a smaller harp with high sounds. And then there is the sackbut, which is very difficult to ascertain. In fact, frankly we haven’t got the faintest idea of what that is. Sorry about that. Then there is a psaltery. I mean, there’s a lot of speculation, but it’s useless. There’s a psaltery, and that is a harp with a sounding board. A lyre was a high sounding harp and a psaltery was a low sounding harp. And then there was a dulcimer, and believe it or not, that’s basically a bagpipe. And then all kinds of music with all these instruments was the cue. When the music started, everybody was instantly to fall down and worship the image. - J Mac

Whoever does not fall down and worship - You get to go into the fire. It uses the adjectives burning and fiery together, probably to note power and finality. It's not just any fire, it is the hot kind, really hot, really intimidating, so do what I say. I don't think Neb even needs to sell the intensity of the fire, but he is covering all the bases, emotions, fear of violence, of death, of pain, of standing out from the crowd, of not going with the flow. Most of the people here won't care, they could be given a different state sanctioned god every week, and as long as you don't tell them not to bow to their gods as well, then they probably won't say anything. The more the merrier right, I mean if one god is helpful then a 100 are a 100 times better.  He jumps all the way to the threat of life, but with the shiny gold image, the music and festivities, they already bought in much lower, at the level of their wants, their comforts, wine, delicacies, life style, entertainment and pleasure. Nebuchadnezzar, by this decree, has put himself in the place of God and leads men astray, to be at odds with the true God. Israel did not do well with these tests in their own land, who will stand here in Babylon?

…35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. 36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?… Mark 8: 35-37

…15And I will provide grass in the fields for your livestock, and you will eat and be satisfied. 16But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside to worship and bow down to other gods, 17or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you. He will shut the heavens so that there will be no rain, nor will the land yield its produce, and you will soon perish from the good land that the LORD is giving you.… Deuteronomy 11: 15-17

…15But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation. 16They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods; they enraged Him with abominations. 17They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear.…

…18You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth. 19When the LORD saw this, He rejected them, provoked to anger by His sons and daughters. 20He said: “I will hide My face from them; I will see what will be their end. For they are a perverse generation—children of unfaithfulness.… Deuteronomy 32: 15-20

All the peoples, nations and languages, fell down and worshiped - Boy, this takes you back to Babel, they are all one and unified in this, but they are languages, you can almost hear the Father conversing with the Spirit and the Son. Same old sun, nothing new here.

1Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech. 2And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” So they used brick instead of stone, and tar instead of mortar.…

…4“Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.” 5Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building. 6And the LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people speaking the same language, then nothing they devise will be beyond them.…

…7Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” 8So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.… Genesis 11: 1-9

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#1201 Daniel 2 Part 3 The Interpretation From Gold To Terracotta

 

31 “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

36 “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

Daniel Is Promoted

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court. Daniel 2: 31-49 ESV

Daniel 2: 31-49 The Dream and It's Interpretation

…23How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.… Luke 21: 23-25

You saw, O king, and behold, a great image - Now we remember that Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten his dream, and it was put out to the wise men, the magicians and the Chaldeans that he wanted an interpretation of his dream, but they also had to tell him what the dream entailed. If they could not then he considered them phonies, liars, and the punishment for not meeting the expectation was death. Daniel has, with his friends, gone and sought the favor of the God of heaven through prayer. God has answered him by revealing Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and now Daniel is simply telling the king what he saw in that dream. I think the king was pondering his legacy and what things would come after him, and I think this becomes more obvious when he builds a statue later and demands that it be worshiped. Behold, he says, like "look" or "wonder of wonders, wow, see here, pay attention." He saw a great image, a statue, and it was in the form of a man, fittingly, as this will mark the beginning of the humanist "time of the gentiles". 

Exceeding brightness - We will see that this image, statue, is made up mostly of different metals.

And its appearance was frightening - Notice, Daniel didn't say, "it's appearance frightened you", but I'm sure it did, and again he was losing sleep over these dreams and willing to kill not only the captive wise men, but also his own countrymen, the Chaldeans. 

Side note: Abraham was from Ur of the Chaldeans, this is the land of Babel (Babylon), so when it mentions the Chaldeans separately, it is because they hold a place of preeminence by their birth or lineage. There were other similar situations in the middle, near and even far east. Joseph rose to a position of power in Egypt, yet it was considered taboo to the Egyptians to eat with a Hebrew. I have watched documentaries on China and the different ethnic groups there, and it was interesting that there was a group of people in western China that even exhibited blond hair. What was fascinating about it was the reaction of those around them, even relatives, they openly showed preference to those who looked more like the 90% of the country that identify with the ethnic group called the Hans. One woman, when asked, told her preference for dark hair and brown eyes, and stated that she would not want her children to look like the blond Chinese that were standing there listening to her. Even Nebuchadnezzar's own people were not safe from him in this; it has had a deep effect on him.

Gold, silver, bronze, iron, iron mixed with clay - J Mac, out of curiosity, looked up the specific gravity of these metals, and as you work your way down, you realize this is a really top heavy structure with a serious weak point at it's base, since the iron has been mixed with clay. Gold is your most rare and valuable, also the most pliable, silver the next and also next in value, bronze and then iron. Bronze was valuable in war, but then as we make our way down each metal becomes less pliable, less valuable, but stronger. Iron being the strongest.

Fruchtenbaum observes that the metals "increase in strength; but second, they decrease in value. The fulfillment will be in the decrease of the character of authority and rule: Babylon was an absolute monarchy with the monarch above the law; with Medo-Persia the monarch was not above the law and he did not have the authority to change his own decrees (cp Da 6:8, 11, 12, 15); the Hellenic kings had no dynastic or royal right to rule, and ruled by force of conquest and personal gifts; and Roman imperialism was a republic which degenerated into mob rule merging with the imperial form of government. Yet there will be an increase in strength of one empire over the other." (Fruchtenbaum, A. G. The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events. 2003. Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries)

A stone was cut out by no human hand - This is Christ, the chief cornerstone, the stone the builders rejected. He was the Son of God, born of a virgin, a priest in the order of Melchizedek, born without sin, Holy. He was placed in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit. Those that believe in Him are also born not of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but like Peter, born again by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, and Christ is revealed to them and in them by the call of God in election. In Matthew 16 Jesus was not making Peter into a pope, for there is no such thing, this was not the start of the papacy, but the revelation of that which is born from above. You must be born again. 

…21I will give You thanks, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation. 22The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.… Psalm 118: 21-23

…15For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.” 16So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken. 17I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.… Isaiah 28: 15-17

…10then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”… Acts 4: 10-12

…17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”… Matthew 16: 17-19

…6For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” 7To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.… 1 Peter 2: 6-8

And it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay - This stone destroys the world's systems, the rule of men. He brings the time of the gentiles to an end.

14The second woe has passed. Behold, the third woe is coming shortly. 15Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” 16And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,… Revelation 11: 14-16

…8Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession. 9You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.” 10Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.…

…11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Psalm 2: 8-12

But the stone...became a great mountain - This stone replaces the rule of men, the kingdoms that reign during the time of the gentiles. Mountains are symbolic of rule, of kingdoms in the Bible. Jesus Christ will destroy the final kingdom of Antichrist and set up His Millennial Kingdom which will have it's headquarters in Jerusalem but encompass the whole earth.

Became a great mountain - This must be figurative language because it would be difficult to conceive of a great mountain filling the whole earth! And by comparing Scripture with Scripture we know that mountain is sometimes used figuratively to depict a kingdom. In fact, if we compare Da 2:35 with Daniel's description in Da 2:44 clearly parallels great mountain with a kingdom which will never be destroyed. So while great mountain is clearly figurative (a metaphor), remember that figurative language always has a literal meaning. In this context mountain clearly refers to a literal kingdom that will fill the entire earth, a truth which argues against those systems of belief (eg, Replacement Theology) that teach this refers to an invisible spiritual kingdom. (See discussion regarding The Arrival of God’s Kingdom)

…9This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction.…  Revelation 17: 9-11

1 In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. 2And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.… Micah 4: 1-2

This was the dream - So Daniel has completed the first part and I have already added some notes to it's explanation. He recalled the dream for the king, now he has to give an interpretation. 

The king of kings - This is how God is referring to Nebuchadnezzar, and not just as a tidal king, which means over nations with vassal rulers, that is part of it, but he is also the first part of the rule of the gentiles, when Israel no longer has it's own sovereignty or autonomy. 

…6and the villages on her mainland will be slain by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’ 7For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with cavalry and a great company of troops. 8He will slaughter the villages of your mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp to your walls, and raise his shields against you.… Ezekiel 26: 6-8

And into whose hands he has given, wherever they dwell - Nebuchadnezzar was given rule of the earth, whatever he could manage.

You are the head of gold - That answers the gold part, and this probably went straight to a certain king's head. I hope you can see the timelessness of this; the first major humanist religion, uprising against God, came from the land of Babylon, the tower of Babel, and every kingdom of the earth has also come from there. When I say the applications from Daniel are timeless, well we are in the time of the gentiles, and I think we are near the end of it. Babylon is the head of gold, but when the prophet John speaks of the end of times, the end of the time of the gentiles, we have an economic system referred to as Babylon the Great, mother of harlots and another religious system called mystery Babylon. All the world's apostasy, false religions, humanism, atheism, has all flowed out of Babel. Daniel isn't just for OT readers, he is covering history from Babylon all the way to Christ's coming kingdom. 

Garland has an interesting comment on king of kings ("the king from (among other) kings") - This phrase designates the highest ruling authority on earth: not just any king, but the king among all kings. If we know the Scriptures, we immediately sense an historical tension because God previously promised this honor for a ruler seated upon the throne of David. "I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him… I will make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth." (Ps 89:20, 27) If the Davidic rulers had been obedient to exercise righteous rule (1Ki 10:9; 2Chr. 9:8), this right would never have been transferred into Gentile hands. But, due to the ongoing sin of the rulers in the line of David, God had taken away their position as the highest king, invested with divine authority, and transferred it to Nebuchadnezzar. This is the condition prevailing during the Times of the Gentiles. At the end of the Times of the Gentiles, when the stone strikes the image, dominion will once again return to a man seated on the throne of David. The man’s Name is Jesus the Christ, Who is the only true Potentate, “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1Ti. 6:15; Rev. 17:14-note; 19:16-note). - Garland quoted in Precept Austin

Another kingdom inferior to you shall rise after you - This is the silver and Daniel doesn't give a lot of details, some think to keep Nebuchadnezzar from going after Medo-Persia. Daniel is a student of scripture though, as we will continue to see, and the prophet Isaiah has already prophesied the coming of the Persian king, Cyrus. Gold is more precious than silver, yet the Persian kingdom will be bigger and stronger, yet it's rule will be more broken up, a Persian king cannot change a law that he or another Persian king has mandated. Nebuchadnezzar is well represented as the head, because he made all the decisions and could go back easily on his previous word. In other words, he did not answer to any laws.

…27who says to the depths of the sea, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your currents,’ 28who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’” Isaiah 44: 27-28

1This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut: 2“I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. 3I will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.… Isaiah 45: 1-3

A third kingdom of bronze - This takes us up to  Greece, and the next line is, "which shall rule over all the earth". This is the title by which Alexander the Great called himself, first king of Greece, then when he conquered Persia, king of Persia, then Asia, and eventually king of all the earth. Greece is described as the leopard with wings, and the speed at which Alexander conquered the known world was extraordinary, and he died in his thirties. He ruled an area covering Europe then east to India and south to North Africa where there is a city named after him in Egypt, called Alexandria. His kingdom was split in four parts under the rule of his four generals, but they could not stand against Rome.

It’s characterized by bronze, I think, for other reasons. One writer says this. “It is easy to imagine what an astonishing impression the Greeks must’ve made on the civilized world. Consider the contrast between their soldiers and the soldiers of the Persian army.” They knocked off the Medo-Persian Empire. Had you seen a soldier of Media or Persia in the days when they controlled the civilized world, he would have looked like this. Here’s what a Medo-Persian soldier looked like. On his head would have been a soft turban. He would have been clothed with a tunic with sleeves and trousers full and long. That would have been a Medo-Persian soldier.

But when you saw a Greek soldier, he would have had on his head a helmet of brass, on his body a breastplate of brass. Before him he would be carrying a shield of brass and, believe it or not, a sword made out of brass. That is why the classic writers of ancient days refer to the brazen-coated Greeks. Brass became a sign and symbol of Greek conquests and the Greek empire. Gold, why? Because Nebuchadnezzar was preoccupied with gold. Silver, why? Because the Meads and the Persians were preoccupied with silver. Brass, why? Because it symbolized the power of the forces of Alexander the Great. - J Mac

The head… fine gold - Gold = Da 2:32, 38 = Lion Da 7:4 = Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon) (It began approximately 605BC when Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Assyrians and the Egyptians at the Battle of Carchemish and it fell in 539 BC - See Da 5:28, cp Da 8:20, 21, 22) (See Wikipedia article Neo-Babylonian Empire)

Breast and its arms - Silver = Da 2:32,39; Bear = Da 7:5; Ram = Da 8:6, 20 = Media & Persia (539-331 BC)

Its belly and its thighs - Bronze = Da 2:32, 39; Leopard Da 7:6; Male, Shaggy Goat = Da 8:8,21 = Greece under Alexander the Great (331-63 BC) - Precept Austin

Strong as iron - This is Rome, and no other kingdom has lasted so long, she is the two legs of iron, but also we shall see a revived Roman empire, the ten toes of iron mixed with clay, very short lived. Iron is the strongest of the medals, but might does not make right, and she is part of the continuing downward spiral of humanity. The original Roman empire was the longest lasting world empire. Iron represented her military might and also the force by which she ruled. These are the people who used crucifixion, yet had the slowness of a Republic. This was who was in charge during the time of Christ's first coming. 

A fourth kingdom - While this kingdom is not named in Daniel from history we know this to be the Roman Empire, larger, stronger and longer lasting than the 3 preceding kingdoms. Unlike the 3 preceding kingdoms, the Roman Empire fell both internally (moral collapse) and externally (Barbarian invasion). Also unique is that there is no absolutely definite date of its fall as there is with the other 3 kingdoms. - Precept Austin

Fred Barshaw gave me a very interesting article this week and I want to share it with you. It says the following was written by Professor Alexander Tyler nearly 200 years ago while our 13 original colonies were still a part of Great Britain. In fact, Tyler was at the time writing about the fall of the Athenian Republic over 2,000 years earlier. This is what he said and I'm quoting. “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy always followed by dictatorship.

“The average age,” – says Tyler – “of the world’s greatest civilizations has been 200 years.” For us, that was 1976. “These nations have progressed through the following sequence” - now listen to this - “from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependency, and from dependency back into bondage.”

Every nation follows the same cycle. And democracy seems to follow it just as fast or in some cases faster than any other form of government. By the way, it might shock you to know that democracy is not God’s form of government. God’s form is theocracy where one person rules, and that person is God. The world today then is simply going through the same cycles of dissolution that it has always endured. We can see the seeds of dissolution very, very manifested. - J Mac

And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay - Partly strong and partly brittle, and it's power is divided to ten kings, hence the 10 toes. 

…2She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth. 3Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads. 4His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, tossing them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.… Revelation 12: 2-4

1Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.… Revelation 13: 1-2

…11The beast that was, and now is not, is an eighth king, who belongs to the other seven and is going into destruction. 12 The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings, along with the beast. 13These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast.… Revelation 17: 11-13

You say, “What’s the importance of that?” Because the weakness appears only in the final form. They were strong once. But in the final form, there’s going to be weakness, great weakness. And what is the weakness? Verse 43 says, “The clay is the seed of men.” What does that mean? What does that mean? Well, all kinds of scholars have played around with it and I don’t want to say that I know the absolute answer. But I’m going to give you what I think is best. You know what I think it means? I think it refers simply to human beings. I think the problem in the final form of the Roman Empire is going to be that there are too many people involved in the issues.

Solidarity will be lost in the final Roman Empire. It will be mixed. There will be a decay, a lack of solidarity. In fact, Robert Culver, who has done some marvelous work in this area of Scripture, says, “The clay represents the ultimate in debasement of the character of sovereignty.” At the top of the image is the gold head. That’s not an empire, that’s the only one of the four that he says is a man. That’s you, Nebuchadnezzar. In other words, the Babylonian Empire was solidarity personified because one man called all the shots. As you go down, it gets more diverse and more diverse and more diverse. And the more diverse government gets - watch this - the more you have problems with it. - J Mac

The dream is certain and it's interpretation sure - All these worldly kingdoms are going to come to an end, and Christ is going to come and set up His kingdom. 

…8The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. 9They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water. 10On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.… Isaiah 11: 8-10

Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings - Many will say this, all will acknowledge it one day, but many will say, "Lord, Lord", every knee will bow and tongue confess, yet as we will see with Nebuchadnezzar, it is one thing to intellectually assent to the fact that God is God. Old Neb is a fickle one, but God isn't done with him. 

Chief prefect over the wise men - A ruler over Babylon, and this is smart on the kings part, he takes the wisest and puts him over the wise. Maybe they will learn something, and Daniel is smart, for he appoints his 3 loyal companions, and what amazing choices they were.

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#1200 Daniel 2 Part 2 Chuckle Heads and Real Interpreters

 

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

to whom belong wisdom and might.

21 He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding;

22 he reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what is in the darkness,

and the light dwells with him.

23 To you, O God of my fathers,

I give thanks and praise,

for you have given me wisdom and might,

and have now made known to me what we asked of you,

for you have made known to us the king's matter.”

24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”

25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. Daniel 2: 17-30

Daniel 2: 17-30 God Reveals

Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known - He didn't go to the wise men, did not consult a crystal ball, but rather to his faithful companions to bring them up to speed on what is going on, what the king has mandated. They have shared life's struggles together, been made eunuch's in a foreign land, stood for truth together, this is Daniel's church, made up of those who honor the true God, who have counted the cost. It is marvelous and quite a blessing to have brothers and sisters like these.

17As iron sharpens iron,

So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

18Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;

So he who waits on his master will be honored. Proverbs 27: 17-18

Told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven - They did not break out the books on how to interpret dreams, for they had no dream before them, and man's wisdom would have only given them the wrong answer. He is asking his friends to do a thing that is quite underrated in our age, for men put much on their wisdom, even when it goes against the written wisdom of God. He is asking his friends to pray, to seek mercy from heaven, to appeal to the supernatural wisdom of God. 

18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” 20And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”… 1 Corinthians 3: 18-20

…15But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray. Luke 5: 15-16

…20May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your Name, so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. 21Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive. 2 Chronicles 6: 20-21

…16Rejoice at all times. 17Pray without ceasing. 18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.… 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night - We saw back in the first chapter that Daniel had been given gifts by God in wisdom, visions and dreams. He did not know the dream, as the king had told no one, yet he knew to go to God, and after he and his friends prayed, then God, Who had given Daniel this gift, also brought him the dream with its interpretation. Many today say, "keep your prayers, I don't need prayer," and I have seen hyper Calvinist that talk themselves out of prayer, saying that God knows what He is going to do anyway, yet God has ordained prayer, and He is certainly sovereign, but He is in the means as well as the end, and He has determined prayer as a means, and preaching, and reading His word, and sharing the gospel. I have also seen a nod to prayer in the evangelical, liberal churches, the larger, modern churches, that would go to the "wise men" of the culture, the psychologist, motivational speakers and celebrities. In some churches I have seen more books written by the likes of Chopra and Dr. Phil. Those are not real churches that put so much weight on earthly, worldly wisdom.

…5and the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the Tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them had stepped forward, 6He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream. 7But this is not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house.…

8I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?” 9So the anger of the LORD burned against them, and He departed.… Numbers 12: 5-9

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven - He praises God. Who is so worthy? Who has created all things, raised up kings and kingdoms, now revealing the thoughts of man?

…18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen. 20Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.… Psalm 72: 18-20

Blessed be the name of God forever - He labels Him as the "God of my fathers", which would be the old Hebrew designation, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Wisdom and might, for there is no one who understands at the level of God, no one His equal in power. Times and seasons and kings reveals God's sovereignty throughout history, to which this book of Daniel opens to the reader a very vast and long view, all the way to the second coming of Christ.

J C Ryle says "By the "name of God" we mean all those attributes through which He is revealed to us—His power, wisdom, holiness, justice, mercy and truth. By asking that they may be “hallowed,” we mean that they may be made known and glorified. The glory of God is the first thing that God’s children should desire. It is the object of one of our Lord’s own prayers: “Father, glorify (aorist imperative) Your Name!” (John 12:28). It is the purpose for which the world was created; it is the end for which the saints are called and convened: it is the chief thing we should seek—“that in all things God may be praised (glorified through Jesus Christ)” (1Pe 4:11-note). - Precept Austin

…5Do not lift up your horn against heaven or speak with an outstretched neck.’ ” 6For exaltation comes neither from east nor west, nor out of the desert, 7but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.… Psalm 75: 5-7

…10Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” 11God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies— and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king— 12therefore wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will also give you riches and wealth and honor unlike anything given to the kings before you or after you.”… 2 Chronicles 2: 10-12

For You have made known to us the kings matter - Daniel knows there is no way to get through this or to have such knowledge of these most dark and hidden things without God. I think the king was so stressed out and anxious about this dream, to the point that it tells us that he had been losing sleep, I think he would have gladly told someone just to get an ounce of relief. God has withheld it in order to give it, and this also reveals something about the spiritual, the fallen spiritual beings, that they did not have access to the thoughts of the king, except for those that they may give to someone, so that a medium may extract only what is known to the demons. In other words, the devil could not read the kings mind so those that practice the occult had no where to turn for an answer. The devil is fast but not omnipresent or omniscient. His minions may know much about you, your history, and they may even understand the Scriptures better than you, but God knows the heart and God has determined the end, for He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, Holy and just. Praise be to God Who has heard Daniel's prayer and given him the answer.

C H Spurgeon - There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that Throne. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldings, no truth of which they have made such a football, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make stars. They will allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense His alms and bestow His bounties. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth. And we proclaim an enthroned God, and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter; then it is that we are hissed and execrated, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on His throne is not the God they love. But it is God upon the throne that we love to preach. It is God upon His throne whom we trust. (Divine Sovereignty )

Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon - I think here we see a boy not in his own country, a boy who has had the touch of compassion from God, and it has softened his heart towards his peers. He has a sense of being a missionary, bringing the truth to a godless place, caring for those who will probably not reciprocate. He is not the ungrateful servant.

…13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.… Matthew 6: 13-15

…6Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. Here I am!” 7How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion.… Isaiah 52: 6-8

…14How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”… Romans 10: 14-16

I have found - Well, technically you were going to kill him, but he told you to give him time and a meeting with the king, but you are obviously trying to play the "I" game, scoring brownie points.

Daniel answered the king - Now just a refresher, this is not Elvis Presley, this is a man in his prime, a warrior, a genius, impatient, violent, crusher of men's spirits. He gouged out the eyes of Daniel's Jewish king, has beaten Assyria, Judah and chased back Egypt. One word and his henchman, Arioch, would lob off Daniel's head, it would all be over. 

No wise men, enchanters, magicians or astrologers can show the king the mystery that the king has asked - For the record, dear king, none of your best and brightest, your wise politicians, scientists or star gazers could figure this out. It reminds me of our recent show of the minds with Covid 19, and statements made that no deaths would be acceptable.

Governor Cuomo - In New York and on tv this man was praised for handling the Covid crisis like no other. If by handling you mean knowing that the elderly would be the most effected and at risk, which we all knew, and yet the governor of New York forced nursing homes to take in those that they knew were infected rather than to the temporary hospitals he had begged the Fed for, killing a lot of elderly people. He was a hero to libs, who at that time would not look into any charges against him, fast forward to today and now liberals once again, "believe survivors". Don't get me started on his meat head brother.

Fauci - Mask don't work.

Fauci - Everyone needs to wear a mask.

Fauci - Heck, wear two masks.

Also Fauci - What if I meet someone online and want to hook up with them for a one night stand? Well, and I am paraphrasing Dr. Ruth/Fauci, use your discretion. Apparently going to work is dangerous but random hook ups with strangers are not so much, so he had a different answer for pop culture. 

I worked in an operating room and the doctors called it a petri dish if you didn't change out your gloves and your masks all the time. You never wore the same one to multiple cases or throughout a shift.

Current Vice President - She said she wouldn't take the vaccine, but apparently that was just the politics of the time, now everyone needs to have the vaccine even if they have already had Covid. I'm not even anti vaccine myself, but I get why Nebuchadnezzar and others would start having doubts about their wise men or chuckle heads. 

Here is a clip from J Mac on Carl Jung, basically how it would have gone if the wise men of that day could have heard the dream. Ask Fauci, Cuomo brothers, Freud would add some lines about his mom, but here is Jung.

Well, if you were Carl Jung - God forbid - who was a famous psychoanalyst who was forever fiddling around with people’s dreams. Carl Jung has given a shot at this, believe it or not. Carl says “People who have unrealistic ideas or too high an opinion of themselves or who make grandiose plans out of proportion to their real capabilities have dreams of flying or falling.” Have you ever had those dreams? Don’t admit it. You got an ego problem if you have. We’ve all, I think, had those from time to time.

Carl Jung says that anybody who has a grandiose idea of himself fears falling. And so he says, this king no doubt, if this is true, was afraid of the toppling of his empire and so his fear was realized in his dream. Jung goes on, “The dream compensates for the deficiencies of their personalities and at the same time it warns them of the danger of their present course.” End quote. In other words, it’s good that you psyche gives you that dream ‘cause it makes you alert so that that won’t happen so readily.

Now if we take the psychological angle, the dream is simply Nebuchadnezzar seeing himself. He sees himself trying to stand and he’s got a massive huge empire. And at the head he’s all together, man. He’s gold. But the further down the deal you go, the more fragile it becomes and he is very, very delicately standing in balance about to be toppled by some succeeding monarch or rival.

Now that’s the psychological angle. And I’ll promise you, folks, that I’ll give you a guess. I think if the wise men in that day had ever head the dream, that’s probably what they’d have given them. That’s probably their interpretation. That’s – that’s the psychological approach. You’re just seeing the potential of your own collapse. But frankly, folks, the wise men were useless, and Carl Jung is too, when it comes to the Bible, so let’s listen to Daniel. And from the dream received and the dream recalled, we come, thirdly, to the dream revealed, verse 36. And just so you don’t miss it, verse 36 is explicit. - J Mac

But there is a God in heaven - While all the aforementioned can be wrong, can be guessing, will need you to tell them the dream first, yet there is a God Who knows the beginning from the end.  

What will be in the latter days - Wow, and Nebuchadnezzar can't quite appreciate the sweep of history that he is about to hear. It will cover from his time all the way to the end of the 70th week, when Christ comes back and establishes His reign. 

Latter days (also in the ESV, KJV) - Whenever you encounter a specific expression of time pause and ponder using the 5W/H'S questions. This time phrase clearly has eschatological (eschatos = last things) overtones and is synonymous with (and actually sometimes translated) last days (in the Lxx the phrase is "eschaton ton hemeron" = literally "last the days"). Last days is found in the NT and identifies a time period that from Hebrews 1:2 and Acts 2:17 begins with the first coming of Messiah. Isaiah 2:2 (and parallel passage in Micah 4:1-note) identifies events that will be consummated at the second coming of Messiah (Second Coming) coinciding with establishment of Messiah's Millennial Kingdom. - Precept Austin

Not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living - Daniel is humble, does not use this time to elevate himself, but rather God, where truth and life come from. 

That you may know the thoughts of your mind - Again, I believe that Nebuchadnezzar wasn't just trying his chuckleheads because he had lost faith in them and wanted to test them. He was losing sleep over this, but the test came because he had the power to take their lives, yet this would not give them the answer. You can't beat something out of someone that they don't have. God is going to reveal not only what Nebuchadnezzar is forgetting, but also what it means. He is wondering, pondering like other geniuses in the past, like Solomon in Ecclesiastes, what will come of all of this? After I am gone who will tend my Hanging Gardens, the vast empire that I have made?

Vanity[a] of vanities, says the Preacher,

vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

3 What does man gain by all the toil

at which he toils under the sun?

4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,

but the earth remains forever.

5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,

and hastens[b] to the place where it rises.

6 The wind blows to the south

and goes around to the north;

around and around goes the wind,

and on its circuits the wind returns.

7 All streams run to the sea,

but the sea is not full;

to the place where the streams flow,

there they flow again.

8 All things are full of weariness;

a man cannot utter it;

the eye is not satisfied with seeing,

nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done,

and there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Is there a thing of which it is said,

“See, this is new”?

It has been already

in the ages before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things,[c]

nor will there be any remembrance

of later things[d] yet to be

among those who come after. Ecclesiastes 1: 2-11

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