Hello
Friends!
Welcome
back
to our Encouraging Concepts Bible
study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book
of Daniel painted as a panoramic
landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in
ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago…
“The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT
& FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST,
PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 4: Verses 4-18)
4 I
Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 5 I
saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions
of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in
all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the
interpretation of the dream. 7 Then came in the magicians, the
astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before
them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. 8 But
at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to
the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him
I told the dream, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the
magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no
secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and
the interpretation thereof. 10 Thus were the visions of mine
head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the
height thereof was great. 11 The tree grew, and was strong, and
the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all
the earth: 12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit
thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow
under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all
flesh was fed of it. 13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my
bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 14 He
cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake
off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it,
and the fowls from his branches: 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: 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. 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. 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 – Daniel 4:4-18
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: As we CAREFULLY continue to rightly “read” and
seriously “study” the vicarious “vision” concerning this torrential “TREE“ of
which was “given” unto the “king Nebuchadnezzar“ we also MUST cordially compare
these poignant “passages” alongside the “words” of woeful WARNING
spoken by the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel in confident conjunction with
the principled “parable” of the “mustard seed” powerfully PROPHESIED by our “Lord Jesus
Christ” Himself in the New Testament book
of Matthew in kind…
And it came to pass in the
eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word
of the Lord came unto
me, saying, Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude;
Whom art thou like in thy greatness? Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in
Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high
stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. The waters made him great, the
deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent
her little rivers unto all the trees of the field. Therefore his height was
exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and
his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot
forth. All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his
branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his
shadow dwelt all great nations. Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the
length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. The cedars in the
garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and
the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of
God was like unto him in his beauty. I have made him fair by the multitude of
his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God,
envied him. Therefore thus saith the Lord God;
Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top
among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height; I
have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he
shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness… – Ezekiel
31:1-11
Another
parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a
grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is
the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air
come and lodge in the branches thereof… – Matthew 13:31-32
In each
of these PROMISED proclamations provided
through our great “God’s” Holy Writ is found the FORETELLING of a treacherous “tree” to which rightly represents
the sadistic SATANIC sordid symbol of fostered “fallen” human PRIDE and “sinful” seething – Self-EXALTATION!
A Righteous RECAP!
As
we “diligently” had discovered
back in chapter 2 of this amazing HISTORICAL narrative,
a nebulous “Nebuchadnezzar”
had dauntingly “dreamed” a
sequential SERIES of demanding “dreams”
of which were validated by various “visions” causing him terrible “thoughts” of grandeur making him avidly “afraid” as such. Now here in this portion
of chapter 4 we find the “king” completely REMINISCING this
Divinely divulged recollection in fantastic FULL disclosure…
I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in
mine house, and flourishing in my palace: I saw a dream which made me afraid,
and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me – Daniel
4:4-5
The
word “rest” here means to be FREE from
apprehension and fear as such. And at
this particular “time” in
human HISTORY the reigning “kingdom”
residing in “Babylon” of which
was rankly ruled by this cantankerous “king” was actually NOT experiencing
any significant problems. Therefore, the monarch’s evasive
EMPIRE was quite settled and as a
resistant RESULT was powerfully prospering in a
fantastic way. Similarly, the word “flourishing”
referred to means to greatly GROW
green as a maturing “tree”
thriving within a luscious landscape abroad. Thus, EVERYTHING appointed by the glorious “God of heaven” unto the conquering “King Nebuchadnezzar” was fully “flourishing” and as a result GROWING grandly – Greatly GREEN in Babylon!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Incidentally, it is quite likely
that this “discourse” was
actually “written” sometime
between the thirtieth and thirty-fifth
year of “King Nebuchadnezzar’s” reign. WHY? Because during this particular period
of the ensuing terrible “times of the
gentiles” the concerned “king”
is approaching END of his natural life. This is
also most likely 25 to 30 years AFTER the bemoaned “burning
fiery furnace” indictment ensued upon “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego”
themselves as recorded in chapter 3
itself. And at this point in his sincere SERVICE as the Prime Minister elect, “Daniel”
himself would be approximately 45 to 50 years of age. Therefore, there is a tremendous “time” gap between chapter 3 and chapter
4 of some 25 to 30 years! And now the grand “God of heaven” brings this SECOND surreal
“dream” unto the aging “king” of which pitiably panicked
him – Comfort CONFRONTED!
Next
“King Nebuchadnezzar”
menacingly “made” a dire “decree” as he yet AGAIN attempts
to assemble the boisterously belligerent brain
trust of the “Babylonian”
brigade in an APPEAL to
the insolent intellectuals and ostentatious occultists
of his day:
Therefore made I a decree to
bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto
me the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the
astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them;
but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof – Daniel
4:6-7
And
he “commanded” that the
manipulating “magicians”
and the star-gazing “astrologers”
along with the spiritualist “sorcerers”
and sooth-saying “Chaldeans”
of the fortune telling ilk attempt to EXPAIN the
details of his newly “troubled”
sleep deprivation. WHY? Because
he could NOT figure out
the meaning of his “dream”
and as a result was sore AFRAID as such. Perhaps the specifics
of this daunting “dream”
somehow evaded his memory, and were thus “gone” from
his “mind” and now only the FEAR of
it remained. And no doubt the sleepless hours had avidly added
to his increasing ANXIETY making him an emotional WRECK due
to this “dream” he could – NOT Rightly Remember!
These so-called waning “wise men” were kept on
strategic stand-by “before” their commanding “king” for the intended “interpretation” of such demanding “dreams” as this. And IF they would FIRST verify the daunting “dream, and the interpretation thereof” they would be likely lavished with grandiose “gifts and rewards and great honour” bestowed upon them personally by their “king” accordingly. However, IF they were UNABLE to provide the “dream” itself along with
the exact “interpretation” as demanded, they would perhaps AGAIN be quickly “cut in
pieces” and their “houses
made a dunghill” as a result. WOW! These chided “Chaldeans” were utterly UNABLE to rightly “reveal” this fierce FORGOTTEN dictate of the “dream” directed unto “Nebuchadnezzar” and they – Keenly KNEW it!
“But” at “last”
the mindful young lad “Daniel”
was greatly “given” by our
grand “God” Himself the
incredibly UNIQUE capacity to REVEAL vivid “visions”
& detailed “dreams” alike.
Thus, “Daniel” would once AGAIN become
the active AGENCY of his great “Lord’s”
real “righteous” revealed REVELATION and
His INSIGHTFUL instrument to whom He would Sovereignly speak through
as such:
But at the last Daniel came in
before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in
whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, O
Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the
holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my
dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof – Daniel
4:8-9
Incidentally,
this HORRIBLE heathen “name” foisted upon “Daniel” was that of the “Babylonian” name “Belteshazzar” in rank reference
to the feared FALSE dark deity of the “Babylon” brigade of which means – “Bel's Prince!”
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: And although “God” did indeed “speak” unto the ENTIRE nation of “Israel” through many
appointed “prophets” from among
His people, there was NONE as far reaching as “Daniel”
in its far-reaching scope! This humble
herald went far BEYOND any other Old
Testament submitted “saint” and was greatly “given” the most complete
and comprehensive powerfully PROPHETIC picture
of human history powerfully PROCLAIMED during the “Dispensation” of the “Law” in kind. And this amazing PROPHESY uniquely
unfolds in this righteous RECAP retold by the “king Nebuchadnezzar”
as the incredible “interpretation”
inspired by the glorious “God of heaven”
through His HUMBLE set apart “servant”
named “Daniel” as such.
Conversely, the sordid “spirit of the holy
gods” of whom “Babylon”
belligerently bewailed as “Baal”
and were woefully “worshipped”
by this PAGAN proconsul had supposedly
indwelt “Daniel” himself.
However, this SECOND duly developed “dream”
demand was diligently directed by our great “God” Himself through yet ANOTHER deeply
declared – DIVINE Discovery!
The King's Tree TALE!
“Thus” the corrupted “king” begins to pontificate
the vile “visions” of a
tantalizing “tree” harvested FROM his horrid “head” as he sharply shares
them with the spiritually MATURING
magistrate “Daniel” as
directed:
Thus were the visions of mine
head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the
height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof
reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: The
leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for
all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven
dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it – Daniel
4:10-12
Here
is a TALL towering “tree”
of which RISES out of the encompassing “earth” in a solitary
manner and EXTENDS directly into the glorious “heaven” above, allowing
the ENTIRE planet to surely “see”
it’s solemn SPECTACULAR splendor. And as a ruling
result, ALL the natural “beasts”
of the formed “field” could
delightfully “dwell” together UNDER its
shady “shadow” along with the
flying “fowls” as they flee
unto “it” to be fully “fed” for life – PROPHETIC Provision PROVIDED!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Throughout the Old Testament Sovereign
“scriptures” themselves, “trees” are quite frequently
featured to solely SYMBOLIZE great reigning rulers such as
called “kings” and numbered “nations” of which are APPOINTED by our glorious “God” throughout ancient “times” established:
Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest
branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his
young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:
In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring
forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell
all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree,
have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry
tree to flourish: I the Lord have
spoken and have done it – Ezekiel 17:22-24
Behold, the
Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing
shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs – Ezekiel
31:3
Yet destroyed I
the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he
was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots
from beneath – Amos 2:9
Therefore,
this tremendous “tree” no
doubt rightly represents the mighty “king Nebuchadnezzar” himself. WHY? Because this narrative
notes the avid adverb “his” as
such! And his subsequent “dream”
entailed an eventual HUMBLING
edict sent from a vigilant “watcher”
unto this miserable monarch as well:
I saw in the visions of my head
upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; He
cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake
off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and
the fowls from his branches – Daniel 4:13-14
A
wonderful “watcher” had “came down from heaven” as a herald
harkened by this angelic “holy one”
sent by the grandiose “God of heaven”
Himself. WHY? To wholly “Hew down the tree” through a powerful pruning
process to poignantly “cut off his branches”
and to “shake off his leaves”
and to thus “scatter his fruit”
amidst the “beasts” and the “fowls” in a full – PROPHESIED Pruning!
“Nevertheless” this top-heavy
trite “tree” was chiefly CHOPPED down with a CHASTENED crash…
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 – Daniel
4:15
However,
“his” scourged “stump” and reigning “roots” would remain ALIVE encompassed
within a bold “band of
iron and brass” in which no doubt represents
a foisted FENCE of sorts. WHY? To practically PROTECT this
bewildered “Babylonian” ruler
from “his” full coming DESTURCTION to be decidedly “delivered” by the great “God of heaven” at a later
aptly – APPOINTED Time!
The
“tree” terminates through
this maniacal MAN and his heinous “heart”
is to be “changed” unto a “beast’s heart” until some “seven times” proceeded to purposely
have “passed over him” as
poignantly PROMISED in kind:
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 – Daniel 4:16
This
righteous reference to the “heart”
here is specifically encompassing ALL of
the thinking faculties and cognitive reasoning
processes of which CONTROL
everything in this mad “man's”
life. And “his” maniacal MIND had
quite literally became that of an ANIMAL amalgamated in the wild. And these specific “seven times” represent the literal SEVEN YEARS of which “king Nebuchadnezzar” was to be TRAPPED within
a manic state of INSANITY as the whole of “his” political “kingdom” is coarsely “cut off” with the “stump of his roots” remaining intact. WHY? Because the glorious “God in heaven” was to KEEP the
“king” along with “his” appointed “kingdom” itself in tact – ALIVE and PROTECTED!
And
in this meaningful “matter” of
which was made KNOWN through the Divinely determined
daring “demand” itself, the
heavenly “holy ones” are
intricately involved in the detailed DELIVERY of
such a magnificent message:
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 – Daniel
4:17
PROPHETIC PROMISE: These willful “watchers” are themselves the ANGELIC beings
of whom had informed “king Nebuchadnezzar”
of this “decree” so that he
may “know” the powerfully PROPHETIC purpose
of this vital “vision” was to PROVE that
the “Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men”
and He indeed “gives it to whomsoever” He “will” as such. And does our generous “God in heaven” solemnly “setteth up over” these FALLEN human
“kingdoms” so-called godly
men instituted during these trying “times of the gentiles” established TODAY in
which “we” as caring “Christians” live? NO! Quite to
the CONTRARY in fact! WHY? Because this poignant “passage” provides very CLEAR consolation in
that according to His Sovereign design, He has instead CHOSEN to
construct the absolute “basest of men” to rankly RULE overwhelmingly
“over” the satanic – Kingdom of MAN!
And
REMEMBER: Our great “God” had grandly “gave” unto “Daniel”
the keen "knowledge and
skill in all literature and wisdom" of which was necessary for this
very specific heavenly ORDAINED task:
…Daniel had understanding in all
visions and dreams – Daniel 1:17b
Thus,
now for the THIRD time in this nigh narrative, “king Nebuchadnezzar” acutely acknowledges
by a direct “declare” that
this man “Daniel” himself ALONE indeed
is “able” to deeply discern
this decided “dream” right
along WITH the intentional “interpretation”
of which he has “seen” in
kind. WHY? Because from the “king’s”
personal pagan perspective the so-called “spirit of the holy gods” was innately “in” this mighty man of “God in heaven” of whom he had re-named
as “Belteshazzar” bemoaned:
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 – Daniel 4:18
As
“Daniel’ has ALSO
rigorously reiterated earlier, the ENTIRE so-called
supernatural arena UNITED together under the auspice of
the cunning “king’s” annoying
“astrologers”
and maniacal “magicians”
and subsequent sappy “soothsayers”
have no doubt fully FAILED him a multitude of times
before…
Daniel
answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath
demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers,
shew unto the king – Daniel
2:27
AGAIN it is rightly RECORDED
here in this challenging chapter according to “king Nebuchadnezzar’s” own terrific TESTAMONY the firm fact
that his wicked “wise men”
mindlessly meandering throughout “Babylon” were definitely “not able” to directly decipher
the daunting “dream” nor its
intense “interpretation” and
as a real result were rendered – Woefully WORTHLESS!
Beloved,
these poignant “passages”
presented by “Daniel” indeed continue
to set the Sovereign stage for
this perfect PROPHECY to be powerfully professed so
that “we” too TODAY may boldly BELIEVE in
God’s – Wonderful WORD!
More to follow… STAY tuned!
In
closing:
REAL REFLECTIONS: The twelve chapters of “Daniel” are powerfully PROMISED prophecies depicting the unfolding
of the HISTORIC events of which will take place leading up to
the literal “time” of the SECOND awaited
physical “coming” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” back to the earth:
And in the days
of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever – Daniel 2:44
And
our SERIOUS study of these PROPHECIES will
rightly REVEAL to each student of God's wonderful “Word” that the events FORETOLD
some 2,600 years ago could
possibly be FULFILLED in the seemingly near future…
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
