By Mary Fairchild
1581 Bunting Clover Leaf Map; Israel in the center.
Nebuchadnezzar, the monarch who ruled the world, was awakened by a disturbing dream, and he wished to know the significance of it. Babylon abounded with magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers whose occupation was to interpret dreams and to give counsel, so Nebuchadnezzar called these men before him and asked for an interpretation of his disturbing dream. When Nebuchadnezzar could not recall the dream, the wise men insisted that no one but the gods could reveal a man’s forgotten dream. Upon that intense dialogue, Nebuchadnezzar ended by decreeing that all the wise men of the kingdom should be put to death, because they were frauds.
Daniel acted swiftly upon hearing the news of the decree. He requested time and promised an answer to the king. Daniel had no idea what the dream was; but the Lord could reveal it to him. The Lord gave the dream and the interpretation of it to Daniel and Daniel gave thanks and worship to God. Daniel’s worship reveals his heart. His prayer reveals important things about God. God is in complete control of time; the history of the earth is His story. He is in charge of the physical universe; He directs governments; He gives authority to men, and He takes authority from them. He is the source of all true wisdom and understanding. He reveals spiritual mysteries to spiritual men; He is all-knowing.
When asked by Nebuchadnezzar if he could tell him the dream and the interpretation, Daniel’s answer was, “No man can tell you a forgotten dream. But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days…”(2:28). Daniel gave God all the credit for the revelation. He did not choose to exalt himself; he chose to glorify God. Daniel would describe the dream and its interpretation to Nebuchadnezzar in order to spare the lives of all the wise men (including his own) and because God chose to reveal His plan for the future empires to Nebuchadnezzar.
The image in the dream was bright and magnificent. The head was of gold, the arms of silver, the thighs of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet of iron and clay. There was a decreasing of the materials of the image. A “stone” cut without tools struck the image on its feet and broke it to pieces. Then the entire image dissolved and disappeared, and the “stone” that struck the feet grew into an enormous mountain that filled the whole earth. Daniel reminded Nebuchadnezzar that God had given him his power, his strength, and his glory. The image was a picture of the future world empires.
1) THE HEAD OF GOLD WAS THE KING OF BABYLON. This was a compliment to King Nebuchadnezzar. Babylon ruled the world with an all-controlling, efficient, and powerful government for more than 80 years (625-539 B.C.).
2) THE ARMS OF SILVER WERE THE MEDO-PERSIAN EMPIRE WHICH RULED THE WORLD FOR THE NEXT 200 YEARS (539-330).
3) THE THIGHS OF BRASS REPRESENT THE EMPIRE OF GREECE UNDER ALEXANDER THE GREAT (336-323 B.C.) AND HIS SUCCESSORS.
4) THE LEGS OF IRON REPRESENT THE ROMAN EMPIRE, WHICH RULED FROM 30 B.C. TO A. D. 476 (MORE THAN 500 YEARS). The two legs were eastern and western divisions of the Roman Empire. After Rome fell as a world empire, no nation has since conquered the whole civilized world. Hitler tried to do it in this century, but he failed.
5) THE FEET OF IRON AND CLAY ARE A YET FUTURE GENTILE WORLD GOVERNMENT. The iron and clay represent strength and weakness. Some today think that the political system of Communism fits the description very well, which rules by forced regimentation (iron curtain) and is economically so weak that it crumbles like clay.
6) THE STONE CUT WITHOUT HANDS OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN REPRESENTS JESUS CHRIST, THE ROCK OF AGES, WHO WILL RETURN TO EARTH TO DESTROY THE ONE-WORLD GENTILE GOVERNMENT (HEADED BY THE ANTICHRIST). Christ will have Satan bound for 1,000 years in the bottomless pit, and Christ (the perfect Monarch) will then reign over all the earth for one thousand glorious, prosperous, peaceful years. This millennial reign of Christ is the utopia the world has long awaited.
Daniel’s conclusion was straight to the point: “The great God has told you the future world empires; the dream is certain; the interpretation is sure!” (2:45). Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged Daniel’s God and promoted Daniel to a position of great authority in Babylon. Daniel’s friends were also promoted.
DANIEL 3:1-7: Nebuchadnezzar was impressed with the dream’s interpretation of his impressive power; therefore he made a spectacular golden image, representing himself, and commanded that all men bow before it. All of the dignitaries who assisted him in ruling his vast empire traveled hundreds of miles to attend the dedication ceremony. Music from the wind and stringed instruments gave the signal for the great crowd to fall down and worship the image Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Anyone who failed to bow and worship would be thrown into a fiery furnace. As the music sounded, everyone fell prostrate on the ground except three lonely figures who towered above the thousands of prostrate worshipers.
Though God instated government to provide the organized rule of nations and though He expects men to submit to the authority of civil laws, He does not command men to worship their civil leaders, for God reserves worship for Himself alone. Nebuchadnezzar’s command to bow down to his image violated God’s law; therefore, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who worshiped the God of Heaven, would not bow before Nebuchadnezzar’s image.
“….O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful (worried) to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up” (3:16-18).
They counted the cost; their trust was in God; whether they lived or died, they would be loyal to the God of Heaven. As a result, the three young men were bound and thrown into the furnace which was heated seven times hotter than usual. It was so hot that the men who through them into the furnace were killed; certainly there was no hope for anyone inside the furnace. The Lord came in person (a preincarnate appearance of Christ) to be with them and to protect them. The four walked about in the giant furnace that was crimson with flames.
Nebuchadnezzar saw four walking about in the midst of the furnace and said, “the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Then he called for the young men to come out of the furnace. The great crowd watched as the three men came out of the furnace unharmed, with not even the smell of smoke on their clothes. Nebuchadnezzar publicly decreed that henceforth no one was to speak against the God of the Hebrews. Though Nebuchadnezzar recognized the God of Heaven at this time, he did not believe on Him personally.
Nebuchadnezzar came to recognize an authority greater than himself—the God of Heaven—he was so overwhelmed with the power and the wonder of this true God that he wanted the whole world to know about Him. He penned the words of Daniel chapter 4 in the Chaldean language and distributed it throughout the civilized world. It is the personal testimony of a great world emperor, telling how the God of Heaven humbled him.
Nebuchadnezzar’s personal testimony: Daniel 4:4-37–…In the dream I saw a tall, large tree that could be seen by everyone. But a watcher came down and reduced this great tree to a stump that became wet with dew. He said of me, “Let his portion be with the beasts…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” (4:15, 16).
I was told that the events of this dream were to come to pass by a matter of decree by the watchers: “That the living may know the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over tit the basest of men” (4:17). Daniel told me that I was the great tree and that I would be smitten down and become like an animal. I would be driven from my palace, and for seven years I would live like a wild beast. After this my kingdom, knowing that God ruleth in my affairs as well as in the affairs of all men. Daniel pleaded with me to repent and to show mercy on the poor so that this dreadful event might be averted. But it seemed so unreal and distant that I soon forgot the dream. One year later, as I walked in my palace, I spoke of the greatness of the structures and the beauty of the gardens which I had built with my ingenuity and administrative ability. ALL OF THIS HONORED MY SELF-ESTEEM. As I spoke of the splendor of my kingdom, I heard a voice saying, “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee” (4:31). No one wishes to associate with a man who has lost his ability to reason. Because I became like an animal, I was driven to the fields to keep company with beasts. No on cared for me, neither did I care about myself. My hair grew long; my nails became as claws. I began to look like the animal that I thought I was. During those seven years, God remarkably preserved my kingdom. No usurper took my throne. No doubt Daniel explained to my assistants that God was working in my life and that I would return to the throne. Daniel’s capable administration kept my royal machinery working smoothly. When seven years of living as an animal were fulfilled, I lifted up my eyes unto Heaven and acknowledged God. He returned my understanding to me, and I blessed Him and praised Him and honored Him as the Most High God that liveth forever. His dominion is everlasting, and His kingdom will continue from generation to generation. When compared with Him, all the inhabitants of the earth are as nothing. He and His hosts do according to His perfect will, and they act in the affairs of men. All men are powerless against Him, and no man hath the authority to ask what He is doing. Then I returned to my kingdom, which God had preserved. He not only restored my reason, but He gave me more glory and honor than before. My counselors and my lords sought me for direction and advice. I was respected as never before in the kingdom of Babylon.
“Now I Nebuchanezzar 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” (Dan. 4:37).
Nebuchadnezzar’s problem was PRIDE. God hates pride. Pride pops up in our lives repeatedly and unexpectedly like a perennial plant. PRIDE IS BELIEVING A LIE ABOUT OURSELVES. It is a viewpoint that places me as the king of my life; the one who knows more than my parents, my teachers, or anyone else; and the one who can and will control my life. If we can detect even a speck of resistance and resentment toward being counseled or reproved, then pride is already a big problem in our lives.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10)
Nebuchadnezzar maintained a position of world supremacy for 43 years (605-562 B. C.). He was a great military strategist, an architect, and a builder. He constructed fortifications, temples, palaces, canals, arenas, and decorative walls and statues; but his most famous work was the hanging gardens of Babylon, built in terraces. The Greeks considered these hanging gardens one of the seven wonders of the world. After Nebuchadnezzar’s death, Babylon began to decline. At this time Persia was a rising power under the leadership of Cyrus the Great. Politically, Babylon was in a precarious position that night in 539 B.C. when Belshazzar held hid idolatrous feast.
At the feast Belshazzar made a spectacle of himself by drinking and showing off his princes, wives, and concubines. Turning desecration into blasphemy, he called for the gold and silver cups with Nebuchadnezzar had brought him from the Temple in Jerusalem—the drank wine from them and praised the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone. While enjoying the drunken feast, his eyes saw a movement on the wall by the candlestick. It was the fingers of a man’s hand writing words on the wall. Belshazzar called for his wise men and offered rewards for the interpretation of the mysterious writing, but none of his wise men could interpret the meaning of the words.
The queen recommended Daniel as the interpreter. She revealed some interesting things about Daniel’s life.
1) For 23 years since Nebuchadnezzar’s death, Daniel remained faithful to God in the midst of an atmosphere of luxury, sensuality, immorality, idolatry, Satan worship, self-seeking, and jealousy.
2) Only Daniel’s interpretation of dreams and visions had in the past proven to be accurate. None of the Chaldean wise men could come near to his accuracy.
3) The queen referred to Daniel by his name rather than the name of Belteshazzar. Could it be that she also knew the God of Heaven? Evidently Daniel represented his God so truly that it was
difficult to call him Belteshazzar after the name of an impotent Chaldean god.
Belshazzar had chosen to follow in the footsteps of Nebuchadnezzar’s pride rather than his humility in later life. Although he had heard of Daniel, he did not allow himself to influenced by him. That night he was humbled to death.
Daniel reviewed Nehuchadnezzar’s exaltation, humiliation, and his knowledge of God to the one thousand guests. Then, he condemned Belshazzar personally. (5:22-23)
5:25-31 “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.” Literally translated these words are “number, number, weight, and division.” Although by themselves these words mean nothing, Daniel’s interpretation clearly meant:
Mene (number): “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it” (5:26).
Tekel (weight): “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting” (5:27).
Peres (division), the plural of Upharsin: Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (5:28).
These words all speak of exactness. The expression “mene, mene (number) and its interpretation by Daniel indicate that every minute of every hour of our lives is known ahead of time by God. That is why the words of Ps. 90:12 are so important, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
God evaluates our actions, words, thoughts, and motives as to their exact value. The word tekel (weight) reminds us of 1 Sam. 2:3, “For the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”
The Lord Jesus will divide our deeds as to good and evil (Rev. 22:12). It is so important to live by faith in the strength of His indwelling Spirit, trusting Him for victory over the flesh.
Supposedly invasion-proof, Babylon was besieged by the Persians. Historian Xenophon described Babylon’s fall by the persistent Persians. The river Euphrates flowed under the city wall; and since the river itself was barred at its entrance and exit from the city by impassable gates, the Persian dug a channel to divert the river’s course and permit their entrance into the city through the riverbed.
As Belshazzar held his great feast and blasphemed God, the Persians completed their diversion of the Euphrates River and entered the city of Babylon. In Isaiah 45:1, God had told Isaiah that He would open to Cyrus the Persian “the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.” Belshazzar was slain that night and the city of Babylon was taken without destruction. This was God’s final judgment. The phrase “handwriting on the wall” is used today to refer to something ominous with irreversible or final results.
Daniel knew, believed, trusted, and obeyed God, but Belshazzar ignored God and blasphemed Him by drinking toasts to heathen idols out of consecrated vessels from the Temple of Jerusalem.
WORKS CITED
- Revelation and Church History
- Church Age
- Old Testament Study
- KING JAMES BIBLE
- MATTHEW HENRY COMMENTARY
- A Beka Book High School Bible Series “United Kingdom: Kings of Israel A;” 1995 Pensacola Christian College; www.abeka.com