The
American
Wisdom Series
Presents
Daniel chapte 4
"How
in the world could a
tree seduce mother Eve", one will ask?
In our last study we saw king
Nebuchadnezzar turn up the
burning fiery furnace to spiritual maximum, "7" times hotter than it
was
wont to be, as the "mightiest men in his army" were commanded to take
hold
of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and "bind them" and "cast them" into
the burning fiery furnace.
Hey, talk about being put on the
hot seat!
It doesn't get any "spiritually
hotter" than that and
unless a person has on the whole gospel armour of God, he or she would
never be able to survive such an intense ordeal.
But these three servants of the
Most High God Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had the
gospel armour on and in place and they took a stand and they gave
witness to all the princes and governors and counsellors
who were
gathered there for the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar had
set up, of the awesome power of Almighty God.
You "see", the Lord was with them
when they took a stand
against the king of Babylon and He protected them to the point that
when
they were cast into the fiery furnace, not one hair on their heads was
even singed and they were loosed of their bonds, for Satan cannot bind
those who are set free by Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word.
And you know what else we
discovered is so fascinating?
We read in the fourth verse of
the Song of the Three Children
that they all sang the victory song, the Song of Moses, just as the
overcomers
are seen doing in Rev. 15 who overcame the beast and his image did sing.
This is so fitting because these
three servants of God
did have the victory over the beast and his image, and over Satan's
fire,
and the pit of hell which is the grave.
What a marvelous type our Father
has given for His servants
in these last days.
We now we move forward to the
year 454 BC in this fourth
chapter.
Daniel is 59 years old and fast
approaching the age of
Medicare eligibility.
So it has been some time now
since Nebuchadnezzar's last
lesson in determining who is the Supreme Ruler and Judge.
Would that be the world's most
powerful ruler (himself)
or the God of Heaven, the one who created the universe and even ol'
king
Nebuchadnezzar's very soul?
You would think after witnessing
the power of God when
he cast Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace, surely
that
experience alone would always remind him of The Most High God.
But, how quickly man forgets.
You would also think after
witnessing such miracles as
the parting of the Red Sea that the Israelites would not forget the
power
of God, but in less than 40 days while Moses ascended the mountain to
receive
the Ten Commandments, they began building a golden calf.
The other thing we need to keep
in mind as we study this
fourth chapter is that Nebuchadnezzar was a flesh and blood man, and
although
he was used as a type of the king of Babylon, Satan, of these last days to
fulfill
Father's purpose in giving us a type and forerunner to teach His
servants
concerning the abomination of desolation, he will be converted and even
write one of the most beautiful prayers in God's Word.
This
ties in with what it is we
are supposed to learn from this chapter which is that God has all power
and authority and He will use whomsoever He will, even the basest of
men,
in fulfilling His great plan.
Furthermore,
we are to understand
in this chapter that what appears to be a negative part of His plan is
actually what brings about the positive result of conversion.
To that end, He even calls this
one Nebuchadnezzar His
servant in Jer. 43:10 and gave him authorship of
this fourth chapter.
Therefore
He expects us to use the
wisdom He has given to us and be able to discern between that which is
happening to the man Nebuchadnezzar and his role as an ensample and a
type
of the king of Babylon of these last days.
If you are familiar with your
Father's Word, then you
will find that this is not difficult at all but rather quite simple and
elementary as most of the teachings in Father's Word are.
It
is man who complicates things
when he tries to insert his own ideas into the Word instead of allowing
the simplicity of that which is written to be understood.
So what we have learned in
Ezekiel 28:13 is that
Satan was a priest among the people of God who had the responsibility
of
walking "straight up and down" and keeping everyone focused on the
mercy
seat from whence truth and justice flowed!
Next we are going to
learn that Satan was
not only a priest but a prince (a star) among the people!
My how he has fallen!
Don't miss it for in
it we shall learn how
this fallen one fits into the wondrous and marvelous plan of God.
Most people do not picture Satan
as a wise and beautiful cherub, one who is very bright.
Nebuchadnezzar has had another dream, one which also greatly
troubled him as did his first dream, and so he called in all the multi-faith
religious leaders such as in the magicians and astrologers and Chaldeans
and soothsayers, seeking to find an answer to that which "made him afraid
(Dan. 4:5)".
And this time the king even told the religionists what
the dream was, yet still none of them could interpret the dream for him,
because
no matter how religious or even scientific man may claim to be, apart from
the Word of God he is and always will be clueless when it comes to knowing
and understanding the will of God and His great purpose and wondrous works
being carried out here below.
The ironic part is that all His works are being carried
out exactly they are written in His Word.
Finally (at the last), Daniel whose name means "God is
Judge", the One who always has the final say, came in and the king told
him the dream.
Nebuchadnezzar described to Daniel "a tree" which had
grown up strong in the midst of the earth, "whose height thereof
reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of
all the earth (Dan. 4:11)".
We know this tree symbolized the king of Babylon (Dan.
4:22), both he who was a mere human type, and the real king of Babylon
of these last days who is none other than Satan, the great red dragon,
that old serpent called the devil.
He goes by many names (Rev. 12:9).
We noted that one of the most incredible and amazing things
about all this, which ties right in to the lesson we are to learn from
this fourth chapter which is even authored by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,
is that simultaneously while God uses him to show us what the king of Babylon
of the last days who is Satan shall be like, He is able to convert him and bring him
to the point whereby he comes to love and revere our Father and give Him
praise and honor.
You see, God uses whomsoever He will both positively and
negatively to fulfill His great purpose and plan... for He is the one who
is in complete control of the affairs of men and He sets up kingdoms and
nations and tears them down according to His purpose.
"The nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted
as the small dust of the balance.. (Isa. 40:15).
Also we just learned about trees.
We went to Ezekiel chapter 31 and read about the trees
in the garden of God, and how that "te-ashshur", that plain old
box-tree, exalted himself in the first earth age and became a great tree
under whose branches all great nations dwelt.
He was eventually hewn down by our Father and judged
and sentenced to perish by fire, which is to be destroyed by God
who is a consuming fire.
"God is a consuming fire" (Deut. 4:24, Heb. 12:29).
We
also learned that this "tree" was the same entity who appeared in the midst
of the garden of Eden, the one called the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good
and Evil" who seduced mother Eve in the fig grove.
Then we went to the
28th chapter of Ezekiel, whose name means "God is my strength", to document
the brightness and beauty of that glistening one, Satan, who is called
in that 28th chapter the king of Tyrus, which means "rock" in Hebrew...
with a little "r", for he is not our Rock with a capital "R", who is Jesus
Christ our Lord.
So let's return to Ezek. 28 where we are given a
real good look at this self-exalted king in the first earth age, because
he is the same one who shall soon come when he and his angels are cast
out of heaven and shall have his kingdom restored unto him at the end of
this flesh age.
Let's repeat verse 12 where we left off in order to refresh
our minds of the context.
Ezekiel
28:12
Son of man,
take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith
the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom,
and perfect in beauty.
Most people do not picture Satan as a wise and beautiful
cherub, one who is very bright.
In fact, we learned from the verse that follows this (vs.
13) that Satan, whose name was Lucifer meaning "morning
star" (Isa. 14), once wore the breastplate of a priest containing the twelve
stones of Israel, which means he was one who was responsible for teaching
and maintaining the truth and justice that flowed from the mercy seat of
God.
Ezekiel
28:14
Thou art the
anointed
cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou
wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and
down in the midst of the stones of fire.
As a cherub he covered the "mercy seat" which means
he was to guard and protect truth and justice, and initially he did just
that.
At one time he walked "straight up and down" in the midst
of the stones of fire, i.e. God's children.
Now he no longer walks straight up and down but goes "to
and fro" having strayed from the perfect path he once followed.
[15]
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast
created, till iniquity was found in thee.
His straying from truth and justice because iniquity
was found in him was only the beginning, because it is what he then proceeded
to do and would not repent of that caused our Father to judge Him and sentence
him to perish.
[16]
By
the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with
violence (corruption), and thou
hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane
out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering
cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Satan became the profane one, but it obvious that at
vast segment of our people cannot not tell the difference between that
which is holy, the true Christ and His ways, and that which is profane,
the false Christ and his ways.
The point is, Satan, as the false Christ is coming again, during this earth age, to stand
in the midst of the temple and claim he is the true Rock, Jesus Christ,
and he will once, again lead our people astray as he did 1/3 of them in
the first earth age (Rev. 12:4).
sinned, chat*a', khaw-taw', Hebrew
2398; a primitive root; properly to miss; hence (figurative
and general) to sin; by inferance to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causative)
lead
astray, condemn :- bear the blame, cleanse, commit [sin], by
fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend (-er), offer for sin,
purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin (-ful, -ness),
trespass.
You know, it is the duty of
those who claim to be teachers of God's Word (our ministers, priests, pastors, i.e. the one verse revs. who man our pulpits), to hold fast to that Word
and teach our people the difference between the "two trees", the two Jesus
Christs, the holy one and the profane one, so that they can discern
between that which is unclean and that which is clean.
Again, it is obvious by the way
so many of our people who claim to be Christians (followers of Jesus Christ,
the Word of God) and yet support so many liberal and socialist ideologies
that they know not the difference between the clean and the unclean, because
they do not really know Jesus Christ, the Word of God.
Here is the duty of the ministers
of God both past and present and even in the Millennium to come:
Leviticus
10:10
And that ye
may put difference between holy and unholy, and between
unclean and clean;
[11] And
that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the
LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
It will be the same duty of the Zadok,
the priests of God, to teach His people in the Millennium the difference
between the holy and the profane.
Ezekiel
44:23
And they shall
teach
my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause
them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
[24] And
in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall
judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my
laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
During the Millennium truth and justice shall
flow like a mighty river unto all nations from His throne in His "holy temple".
Yet it is His desire even now that His truth and justice
flow throughout the land, but the preachers have forsaken their duties
of teaching the meat of His Word and have substituted in its stead a form
of religion, call it churchianity, where all they do is conduct worship
services and sing songs and utter repetitious prayers and take up collections
for this worthy cause and that.
This they do in the name of Christianity while forsaking
the teaching and instruction of His Word so that people could come to know
how to discern truth from the deceitful spin of the profane whereby they
can execute His justice instead of the corrupted compromises of liberalism.
Here is what your Father has to say about religion vs. His truth and justice:
Amos
5:21-24 I hate, I despise
your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies
In other words He will not "smell" the incense offered
up which is symbolic of prayers, meaning He will not hear their prayers!
[22]
Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will
not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your
fat beasts.
Their offerings are unacceptable to Him for they ignore His
Word and follow after the traditions of men.
[23]
Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the
melody of thy viols.
You can dump all the religious ceremony and false
pretense of righteousness, because this next verse tells us what our Father
wants instead of all that ritualistic stuff.
[24]
But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty
stream.
When Jesus Christ returns at the sound of the 7th
Trump... His righteousness (His truth, i.e. His Word) and His justice (righteous
judgment) SHALL flow as mighty rivers throughout the land!
Now let's return to Ezekiel 28 and finish the sad story
(lamentation) of the king of Tyrus..
Ezk.
28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because
of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by
reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground,
I
will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
You will find in Isaiah 14 that Satan will be cast
down to the ground, hewn down, and bound in the pit during the Millennium
and people will pass by and shake their heads in amazement that this plain
old box-tree could have possibly "caused the earth to tremble, and the
kingdoms to shake".
Isaiah 14:15-16 "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell,
to the sides of the pit. [16] They that see thee shall narrowly look upon
thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to
tremble, that did shake kingdoms."
And by the way, who do you think those kings
will be in the Millennium that the king of Tyrus will lay before in vs.
17?
That's right, the Zadok, the "just ones", God's elect
whom He has made kings and priests to reign with Him for the thousand years
(Rev. 20:4)!
Live Link to- kings and priests
These next two verses contain Satan's final judgment and
sentence to perish forever.
[18]
Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities,
by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire
from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and
I
will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold
thee.
When something is turned to ashes, it is consumed
away and gone up in smoke forever and ever.
[19]
All
they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou
shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
So there will be a FINAL hewing down of that tree
at the end of the Millennium and he shall be no more.
Meanwhile, he shall serve our Father's purpose in chastising
and afflicting His people, to bring them to their shame, during the final
hour of this flesh age.
Nebuchadnezzar now continues with the description of his
dream to Daniel.
Daniel
4:15
Nevertheless
leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and
brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew
of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
The stump will be kept alive by the "dew of heaven"
until the appointed time when he shall sprout new growth (as a stump will
do) and shoot up and become a mighty tree once again, i.e. his kingdom
is restored unto him.
Remember that this is an analogy of both the flesh king,
Nebuchadnezzar, and the real king of Babylon, Satan, who was hewn down
to a stump in the first earth age but who shall have his kingdom restored
in these last days.
As we have discussed numerous times, we must separate
the man Nebuchadnezzar, God's servant whom He used as a type to teach us
and then show us his conversion, from the king of Babylon he represents
in type, i.e. Satan who shall never repent and shall ultimately be destroyed.
Daniel
4:16
Let his heart
be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let
seven
times pass over him.
This documents that Nebuchadnezzar was inflicted
with a mental disease that affected his heart, which is his mind.
In other words, his mind as a man was taken from him and
he was given the mind of a beast, which is exactly what Lycanthropy is.
Also, the seven times for Nebuchadnezzar, the man king
of Babylon, are the seven years he is decreed to be stump.
However, the seven times for Satan are the seven dispensations
he is decreed to be a stump... right up to the end of the Millennium when
he will be destroyed by fire and turned to ashes, leaving no more stump!
Next, the two main lessons to be learned in this fourth
chapter are summed up in the following verse.
[17]
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word
of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may
know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth
it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it
the
basest of men.
Here we have the Statement of Purpose decreed by
the watchers and the demand by the word of the holy ones, stating that
the judgment given by the Most High is to the intent that the living may
know that Almighty God is in total charge over all mankind and he
gives the kingdom to whomsoever He will.
In fact, it is His purpose to give it to the "basest of
all men" who is Satan, the beast.
You see, it is by God's will and decree that he is the
god of this world, the prince and power of the air, and that his kingdom
is restored unto him, for awhile, at the end of this flesh age.
But know this one thing... he rules only by permission
granted by our Father according to His divine plan which can be "seen"
by understanding the method of the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar.
Then once the seven times, the seven dispensations, are
complete Satan shall be cut off for evermore, even forever and ever, and
cast into the lake of fire. Meanwhile, God uses him throughout those seven
dispensations as He will, for the testing and correction and chastisement
in turning the hearts of his children back to Him.
Again, Nebuchadnezzar is a flesh man whom God uses to
give us a type.
God is going to inflict him with a disease called Lycanthropy,
which comes from "lukos" meaning "wolf" and "anthropos" which means a man.
So what we are going to see is a "wolf-man".
Now, just as God will use this wild beast disease to convert
Nebuchadnezzar, he will use the beast, Satan, to convert many of his children.
In other words, the negative is used to ultimately bring about a positive.
Our Father uses the king of Babylon, who is the basest
of all men, to bring, us, His people to our knees in shame and humbleness
to where when He lifts us back up we will turn to Him and be filled
with such heartfelt praise and glory we won't be able to contain the
love we have for Him.
You see, that is why our Father chose this disease of
Lycanthropy, which is a mental disease whereby one has the mind of a wild
beast in comparison to reason and common sense and wisdom.
This man Nebuchadnezzar who becomes unsightly and grotesque
in both mind and body gives us a graphic picture in our mind's eye of the
spiritual state, the mind of Satan for the entire seven dispensations
right up to the great white throne judgment when he is destroyed.
Nebuchadnezzar on the other hand, after suffering the
affliction from the mind of the beast will be converted with a renewed
heart and a love for our Father that is overwhelming.
The whole purpose in the negative part of Father's plan
is to bring His children back to Him whereby they love
Him from within, from the bottom of their hearts, for what He has done
for them when he delivers them from the beast.
God is Judge and how mighty and wondrous are His works.
How true and just are His ways.
Daniel
4:18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have
seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch
as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the
interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in
thee.
Nebuchadnezzar remembered that it was Daniel who
was able to tell him his first troubling dream and the interpretation thereof!
[19]
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and
his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar,
let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar
answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the
interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
Daniel was astonished for a moment at Nebuchadnezzar's
dream and told the king that he is not going to like the interpretation...
but that his enemies are going to love it.
You may also be astonished at what happens to Nebuchadnezzar,
but then you should be for the purpose is to paint a clear picture in your
mind's eye so that you "get the picture".
Daniel now begins the interpretation.
Daniel
4:20
The tree that
thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the
heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
[21] Whose
leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all;
under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the
fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
Daniel repeats each part of the dream, for emphasis,
as he gives the interpretation.
He now tells Nebuchadnezzar who the tree is.
[22]It
is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness
is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of
the earth.
God gives the kingdom to the king of Babylon, Satan, even
to the end of this flesh age.
[23]
And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven,
and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump
of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron
and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet
with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field,
till
seven times pass over him;
Daniel recaps verses 13 through 16. Remember the seven times
are:
7 years for the man Nebuchadnezzar.
7 Dispensations for Satan.
[24]
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the
decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
Daniel is making sure that Nebuchadnezzar knows without
a doubt that what is about to happen to him, astonishing as it may be,
is decreed from the Most High God.
[25]
That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the
beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and
they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass
over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom
of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
This is the INTENT!
Till thou know!
Again, Nebuchadnezzar is about to be afflicted with a
rare disease called Lycanthropy in which the man imagines
himself to be a wolf or some other beastly animal.
It is commonly called the "wolf disease".
[26]
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom
shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the
heavens do rule.
The stump shall be left in the ground until the appointed
time when God restores his kingdom unto him.
Remember, the intent of this decree is so that the living
shall know that the Most High rules.
Quite frankly, if you don't know that you are already
dead, spiritually speaking.
[27]
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off
thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the
poor (the captives); if it may be a
lengthening of thy tranquility.
It is important to see here that Nebuchadnezzar is
given an opportunity to repent.
In so far as he is a type (in the negative sense) of the
true king of Babylon, Satan, you can be sure that Satan (Lucifer) was also
afforded every possible opportunity to repent in "the world that then was",
before the seven dispensations (seven times) of this earth age commenced.
However, he did not repent and was consequently
judged and sentenced by our Father to perish in the lake of fire, which
is why he is called the "son of perdition".
Know that His judgment was final and he no longer has
an opportunity to repent.
He is as good as dead, which is why his name is also called
"death" (Heb. 2:14).
The prophecy and the type are thus complete and we are
given to see the plan and the intent of rise and fall of the king of Babylon
in fulfilling the purpose of God's plan in bringing on the beast... which
is to ultimately win the hearts of His children through deliverance.
God then goes on to convert this flesh man, Nebuchadnezzar,
His servant.
Again, our Father uses whomsoever He will in both the
positive and negative sense and as with all of His decrees, this one came
to pass exactly as He said it would.
Daniel
4:28
All this came
upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
It happened!
[29]
At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the
kingdom of Babylon.
One year has now passed since Nebuchadnezzar's dream
and at this point all is well with him and he is sitting on top of the
world, literally!
And as it is with man, when times are good and there is
peace and prosperity and blessings flow, he begins to think that he is
the one who has made it all happen.
I mean, when one has a great job and a good income and
a house and two cars and a retirement plan, etc., we think, who needs God?
Who needs to take the time to study His Word and give
Him the praise and glory for what He has done and recognize that He made
it all possible.
That is how it is in these last days with our people as
it is written in the great Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 concerning Jeshurun
waxing fat, i.e. the house of Israel becoming a bunch of fat cats.
You see, the greater test of one's loyalty and love of
God is not when he or she is entrenched in a fox hole or hanging upside
down in a well because His people will surely cry out to Him for help then.
No, the greater testing (tribulation) is when things are
going really well and there is need of nothing, for then they take things
for granted and begin to think their blessings have come from their own
hand.
That is the time when they are easily distracted and led
astray from the Word of God. Again, it is the story of our people and especially
that of the spoiled rotten Baby Boomer generation, the generation of the
fig tree who shall not pass away till all the things Christ foretold us
of concerning the king of Babylon come to pass.
Deut.
32:15
But Jeshurun
waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art
covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him,
and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
And so it is that even though many of our people
go to church, they still lightly esteem Jesus Christ because they ignore
His Word, which is what it means to forsake God.
The next verse gives us an ensample of just how "puffed
up" one can become when he or she is sitting on top of the world.
Daniel
4:30
The king spake,
and said, 'Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for
the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for
the honour of my majesty?'
This "I-ME-MY" mental illness is what has brought
on the decree from the Most High.
We will study and be privileged to "see" the wondrous
conversion of king Nebuchadnezzar brought about by the judgment decreed
upon him by the Most High.
It is a wondrous thing indeed!
Those who are wise in their Father's
Word
understand that one cannot have
a victory in war unless there is a battle.
The name "Daniel" means "God is (my) Judge" which is the
subject of this incredible book containing rich knowledge and understanding
concerning the abomination of desolation, the king of Babylon of the last
days.
Remember, Jesus Christ told us in
Matthew 24 and Mark 13 that if we wanted understanding concerning that
one who comes and stands in the holy place where he ought not then go read
what the prophet Daniel has to say.
And so it is we find in this book not only what happens
to God's elect during that one hour when the beast and his angelic host
are here but we are given understanding as to the purpose of our Father's
judgment and why He sets up "the basest of all men" over the kingdom.
Then as a bonus in the latter chapters we will also be
given the events that lead up to the arrival of the little horn,
that vile person, Satan as antichrist.
How timely this book is at this point in history!
One of the great lessons we learn in this book of Daniel
is that our Father is in complete control and that He has a wondrous
plan that entails both the positive and negative... which is to
say both day and night!
We also learn that He uses whomsoever He will in both
a positive and a negative sense in fulfilling and carrying out His marvelous
works,
just as He used His servant Nebuchadnezzar as
type of the king of Babylon before turning his heart from one of self exaltation
consumed with Me-Myself-&-I to one which gives all the praise and glory
and honor to the Most High God.
You see, it was the righteous judgment, the decree of
the "wolfman disease" placed upon king Nebuchadnezzar by the Most High
whereby he took on the mind of a beast, that brought him to the point of
complete humility to know with certitude "that the most High ruleth in
the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will (Daniel 4:24-25)".
We also see in this that salvation is open to all.
It was even offered to the king of Tyrus, Lucifer, Satan,
in the first earth age, but he refused beyond the point of no return and
was therefore sentenced to perish in the lake of fire where he will be
turned to ashes and be gone forever.
So let's return to the book of Daniel where the decree
of the Most High placed upon Nebuchadnezzar one year ago, stating that
he is to be hewn down and given the heart (mind) of a beast, is about to
be carried out.
Remember that this is an ensample for us to "see" so we
can get a clear picture in our minds of how the beast is used to ultimately
bring about humility and turn many hearts back to their father when He
comes and takes away the beast who has afflicted them and lifts them back
up.
We pick up our study where Nebuchadnezzar has just walked
in his palace and said boastfully as he exalted himself in his own mind,
"Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house
of the kingdom by the might of
my power, and for the honour
of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30)
Daniel
4:31
While the word
was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven,
saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The
kingdom is departed from thee.
This was the most powerful ruler on earth and just
like that there "fell a voice from heaven" and... whoosh... he was hewn
down by the sharp two-edged sword of Almighty God.
It just goes to show that there
is no tree that is so high nor whose branches are so far-reaching that
it cannot be swiftly hewn down by our Father.
And you know what else?
He can decide to leave a stump or
not leave a stump.
Hebrews
4:12
For the word
of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents
of the heart.
The voice from heaven continues...
Daniel
4:32
And they shall
drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field:
they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over
thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of
men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Again the reason is given...
"until you know that the Most High rules...".
This has to give one pause to consider
"What does it take for some to recognize the
authority and power and might of Almighty God?"
The nations today better get their acts together and "Lift
their heads on high (Isaiah 40:26)" and behold who is the Creator of all
things and who has all power and might for His judgment (God is Judge)
is coming upon them and many of them shall be hewn down until they too
know that the Most High rules in the affairs of men.
[33]
The
same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven
from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew
of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers,
and his nails like birds' claws.
Definitely an astonishing sight to see, wouldn't
you say?
He was brought down and abased according to the decree
of the Most High.
And so it is decreed upon all who exalt themselves that
they too shall be abased.
Luke
14:11
For whosoever
exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself
shall be exalted.
Seven years has now passed by and we return to 454
BC which corresponds to the proclamation at the beginning of this chapter
in verses 1-3.
As you read the following words of Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon, try to imagine what this man has gone through which has caused
his heart to turn to the Most High.
Daniel
4:34
And at the
end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven,
and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed
the most High, and I praised and honoured Him
that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and His kingdom is from generation to generation:
Do you "see" what happened
as a result of his affliction.
It not only greatly humbled him, but it turned his heart
to where he became so grateful to the Most High God for ridding him of
the beast disease that he could hardly contain himself.
He now knew that he was not so great
and powerful after all and that the Most High rules in the affairs of men.
We also learn in this that the affliction
of the beast, that one who is the basest of all men who shall be hewn down
for good at the end of the 7 times, i.e. at
the end of the 7th dispensation which is the Millennium,
ultimately turns into a positive.
Those who are wise in their Father's Word understand the
purpose in that which appears so negative to the flesh mind.
They understand that one cannot have a victory in war
unless there is a battle.
They know that one cannot be an overcomer unless there
are obstacles in the path to overcome.
One cannot build nor exercise righteous
character unless their is temptation against which to test it.
That is why the very first thing
James says to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad (and have become the Christian nations of the world) is to count it all
joy when ye fall into divers temptations.
It is an opportunity to exercise your faith and give
glory to God!
James
1:2-5
My brethren,
count
it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
[3] Knowing
this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
[4] But
let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be
perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Thank God for trials and tribulations that give us
the opportunity to exercise our faith and trust in Him in order that others
may see the peace and joy and victory we have in Jesus Christ whereby
our Father can be glorified.
[5]
If
any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Those who lack wisdom cannot understand the positive
outcome of trials and tribulations so they whine and moan and turn into
poor me babies and go searching for pity parties where they can sob on
someone's shoulder and say "I just don't understand why this is happening
to me?"
Have you considered that Jesus Christ while He was dying
and hanging on the cross took that "opportunity" to convert the thief on
the cross.
Imagine that!
Had He been thinking of His problem and predicament and
feeling sorry for Himself because of the pain and suffering He was going
through, the thief would had NEVER recognized the Messiah!
Think about that next time a trial
or tribulation comes your way!
You see, we do a great disservice to our brothers and
sisters when we whine and feel sorry for ourselves, for it shows just how
little faith and understanding we have, just how little Christ is in us!
Where is the glory in defeat... in a defeatist attitude?
Stand up and be an overcomer and show forth the glory
of Christ which is in you.
Who knows, someone may see the strength and hope that
is in you and what want you have... which is Jesus Christ!
Daniel
4:35
And all the
inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth
according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the
inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or
say unto Him, What doest thou?
That's right?
Who is going to question what God does?
It reminds me of what Paul wrote in Romans 9:20 &
21 when he wrote, "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?
Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why
hast thou made me thus?"
[21] Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same
lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"
Yes, our Father knows exactly what He is doing and He
shall carry out His plan according to His purpose and puny man can do NOTHING
to stay His hand!
And you know why He shall carry out His plan?
Because He loves His children dearly
and He wants them to return unto Him... of
their own free will with love in their hearts
for what He has done for them.
[36]
At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the
glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my
counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom,
and excellent majesty was added unto me.
[37]
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all
whose works are truth, and his ways judgment:
and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Again, there is no "tree" too big that our Father
cannot hew down with one whoosh of His two-edged sword.
And as it is written and as we have seen by ensample,
those trees who exalt themselves SHALL be hewn down and abased.
Also, did you recognize the words from the Song of Moses
in the last verse of Nebuchadnezzar's praise and honor of the King of heaven?
Compare them to Rev. 15:3 and you will see.
Rev.
15:3
And they sing
the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are
thy ways, thou King of saints.
What a marvelous chapter this fourth chapter of Daniel
is and what incredible knowledge and wisdom and understanding we have gained
from the two dreams of king Nebuchadnezzar, the dream of the great and
dreadful image and the dream of the great tree that was hewn down.
In fact, the wisdom and knowledge gained from understanding
these two dreams is going to enable Daniel in the next chapter to read
and interpret "the handwriting on the wall".
So let's log unto the 5th chapter of Daniel next..
Live
Link to- The Book of
Daniel Table of Contents
It is important
that YOU
Read it all!
Jesus
said, "the book of Daniel
was where one could go read and gain understanding"
Jesus
Christ told us in Matthew
24 and Mark
13 when He sat upon the Mount of Olives and gave His
disciples
the seven seals concerning the knowledge and the events that would
transpire
during the final generation of the fig tree, that the book of Daniel
was
where one could go read and gain understanding
concerning
the abomination of desolation, that abominable desolator (antichrist)
who would come stand in the holy place claiming to be God.
The book of
Daniel is the Apocalypse of the Old Testament
and
a sister book to the Apocalypse of the New Testament,
the
book of Revelation.
To study the Bible
is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the
guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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