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 28-37)
28 All this
came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve
months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 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? 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. 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. 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. 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 forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom
is from generation to generation: 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? 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 – Daniel 4:28-37
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: The great “sinful” caustic characteristics represented
in these poignant “passages” are predominately pointed out as FALLEN human
pragmatic PRIDE and subversive SELF-EXALTATION in kind. And just as our great “God’s”
just JUDGMENT had “come” upon the mighty monarch “king Nebuchadnezzar'” in the beginning of the tumultuous “times of the Gentiles” within Biblical bounds, so also MUST the
very same fate yet FALL upon this personally PROUD and
arrogantly ABASED age of which “we” as concerned “Christians” find ourselves living in these modern “times” as
such. The colossal political and religious
tremendous “tree” of which “Daniel” determines in this SECOND daring “dream” was
wholly “hewn down” and be utterly DESTROYED in full just as – PROPHEICALLY promised!
The “king Nebuchadnezzar's” horrendous HUMILIATION in belligerently becoming
a bewildered “beast” for those “seven times” of yearning YEARS also
perfectly points to the eventual END of
this gargantuan “Gentile” age once AGAIN in tow. The PROPHESIED adamant APOSTASY of which is sent BY our
great “God in heaven” will be the caustic CHARACTERISTIC of that charter. WHY? Because there will be NO looking
upon this glorious “God” Himself. Rather, the assimilated ATTITUDE of this befallen “beast” will be the very SAME as
that practically practiced throughout ALL the
nigh “nations” to fervently follow in kind. To that
end, there is MUCH of this abhorrent mindset ALREADY taking place throughout most of “our”
waning “world” abroad – TODAY!
Thus, “we” will
legitimately “learn” in these poignant “passages” of a perfectly PROPHETIC picture painted of how the jaundice “Gentiles” will eventually be hopelessly HUMILIATED and justly JUDGED by our great “God”
accordingly. HOW? First, there is the SELF-EXALTATION of the “king
Nebuchadnezzar'” that is followed
then by “God’s” justified JUDGMENT as a result. Second,
there is righteous RESTORATION from “God”
that is followed by an apt ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by the “king” of the “Most High” Himself – Praise His HOLY
Name!
The King's TREE is TOPPLED!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The city of “Babylon” was the LARGEST and most POWERFUL fortress found throughout
all of antiquity. It was practically purposed as a perfect
square consisting of some 15 miles
in its total circumference. There were numerous public buildings
and sufficient land for formidable farming
& picturesque pasture. The total population of the “city” was approximately 1,200,000 and was surrounded
by a deep, wide moat filled with water. Its protective wall was 350 feet high and 87 feet wide allowing
horsemen to drive their chariots fully FOUR abreast. The streets were intersecting throughout
the populous and running unto 12
different gates. The Euphrates River
ran directly through its heart (later becoming “Babylon’s”
dooming demise), requiring several tremendous levies to be
constructed – Wonderous WATER Ways!
Another
incredible engineering feat found within this magnificent desert-based
captivating “city” of
beautiful “Babylon” were the
wonderous Hanging Gardens of which were to became the very first
of its kind air conditioned
facility. It was an AMAZING piece of architecture consisting of a 400 foot high man-made mountain
reachable via a vast 10 foot wide staircase, complete with lush great greenery
growing at its powerful peak with wading water tripping throughout as a form
of Central Air cooling off the ENTIRE area
amassed. WHY? Because this
conquering “king Nebuchadnezzar”
had beautifully built it ALL to purposefully PLEASE his beholden home-sick wife,
thus keeping her COOL in the horrific hot &
avidly arid desert dregs of “Babylonian” life – Luscious
LUXURY!
A Righteous REALIZATION!
Up
to this pursuant point in our surreal “study” saga, we have witnessed the RECEPTION of the “dream” through verse
8, its RECITATION through verse 18
and its REVELATION through verse 27
succinctly. Now its REALIZATION will be fully revealed
rigorously BY the concerned “king”
himself…
All this came upon the king
Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the
kingdom of Babylon – Daniel 4:28-29
The
cantankerous ”king Nebuchadnezzar”
was a vile and murderous man to be
sure. However, our great “God”
is indeed purposely PATIENT and greatly GRACIOUS to this maniacal man indeed. HOW? Not only was the “king” gladly given a
full 30 years of godly influence through the
prophet “Daniel” himself and
his “three Hebrew companions”
in kind, here AGAIN the glorious “God
of heaven” had purposely provided yet ANOTHER thought
provoking “twelve months” of
trying “time” to more fully consider
this matter of APPEAL aptly availed unto this
menacing “man’s” corrupt conscience
in kind – Another FULL Year!
A Practical PRIDE!
And
with ALL of this intentional godly INFLUENCE considered, DID the
conflated “king” finally TURN unto
the ONLY grand “God”
of the universe as such? ~ NO!
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? – Daniel
4:30
Does
this pitiful PRIDEFUL piety sound eerily FAMILIAR as also aptly “spoken”
by the “Prophet Isaiah” concerning
the SPIRITUAL reality demonically lurking BEHIND this
cantankerous “king of
Babylon” as such?
That thou shalt
take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the
oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!... How art
thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down
to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine
heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of
God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the
north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will
be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of
the pit – Isaiah 14:4 & 12-15
All
this cantankerous “king” has
selfishly “said” concerning
the formulating founding and fostered fortification
of this “great Babylon” abroad
is a pronounced SELF-SERVING onslaught of insatiable personal
pronouns: “I have” and “my power” and “my majesty” in jest – WICKED Words!
A Justified JUDGMENT!
As a righteous RESULT of
this ridiculous rousing RANT formulated from the “king's
mouth” in full, the great Sovereign valiant
“voice from heaven” will now SEND much mindless madness
and besetting bestiality for a full “seven
times” to solemnly SEIZE upon
the “king Nebuchadnezzar” in a fully FIERCE fury:
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. 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 – Daniel 4:31-32
Does
this FOOLISHNESS sound faintly FAMILIAR concerning another horrible “Herod” henchman of the New Testament era?
~ YES!
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed
in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the
people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And
immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory:
and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost – Acts
12:21-23
Here
in KIND the Almighty “angel
of the Lord” personally dealt with the
hallucinating “Herod’s”
heinous harangue – Justified JUDGMENT!
A Holy HUMILIATION!
Some
folks are indeed DIFFICULT nuts to crack! Then “the”
very “same hour” this torrid “thing” would be “fulfilled” unto this negligent
non-sensical “Nebuchadnezzar”
just as the glorified “God of heaven”
Himself had PROMISED in kind:
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 – Daniel
4:33
There
he is, dramatically “driven from men”
and corralled OUTSIDE in the external elements as his
“body was wet” with the
dripping “dew of heaven” as
absolutely EVERYONE can look “upon”
him as a caged exhibit. And the nebulous “Nebuchadnezzar” was fenced
in by a “band of bronze”
cruelly crawling around on the ground
like an anxious ANIMAL
grazing on “grass as oxen”
with his “hairs” resembling “eagles' feathers” and his “nails” growing as “birds' claws” curved and crusted over as
such. This cantankerous “king”
was set in this caustic condition as a raving MANIAC for
the space of “seven times”
representing a full – SEVEN Years!
A Righteous RESTORATION!
Now
we find a righteous RESTORATION
is rightly received by the RECOVERING maddened “king” himself…
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 forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is
from generation to generation: 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? – Daniel 4:34-35
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: In the previous chapter the THREE coordinating
“companions” including the man “Daniel” himself each speak of "our God" in kind. However, here in this challenging chapter 4 we
now find “Nebuchadnezzar” heralding of "the Most High" as such. WHY? Because this is the
magnificent MILLENNIAL mighty “Name above all names” for our great “God” in the powerful PERSON and
wonderful WORK of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” as the Eternal – Reigning RULER!
In
the annuls of human HISTORY we also find that after “King Nebuchadnezzar’s” eventual death, an
incredible milieu of political intrigue ensued as his
horrid henchmen proceeded to take OVER that
thwarted throne. However, for these specific “seven
times” while the “king”
is made into a roaming raving recluse, NO one
laid a hand on his throne. WHY?
Because “God” used the Prime Minister elect
“Daniel” as His submitted SERVANT to
personally PROTECT its interests until the “king’s” unified “understanding returned” and the “Kingdom of Babylon” was rightly – RETURNED to the King!
Beloved,
our great “God the Father”
can indeed SAVE the self-professed high and the
mighty through “Jesus Christ” our loving “Lord” when
they get HUMBLED in full.
And He WILL indeed someday HUMBLE
absolutely “every”
person:
Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name: That at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things
under the earth; And that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father – Philippians 2:9-11
A King’s Reason RETURNED!
Therefore,
as “King Nebuchadnezzar” had personally
learned the HARD way, it is BEST that one be HUMBLED
while there remains an opportunity of to RECEIVE His
glorious GRACE of soul. In fact, this is the “king’s” very own
testimony as told:
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 – Daniel
4:36
His
“reason” had rightly “returned” along with the “glory” of his “established kingdom” proper, his whole “honor and brightness” had really “returned” as the brilliant “Babylonian” ruler. Even his chosen “counselors” & lauded “lords” had soon “sought” after him. WHY? Because they sought to rightly REINSTATE their
eager “king” elect. In fact, “God” had even “added” an initiated increased
measure of “excellent majesty” unto him – Great GIVING God!
A Proclaimed PRAISE!
Incidentally,
according to his own TESTIMONY to eagerly “praise
and extol” the loving “Lord”
of ALL seems “we”
may even one “day” meet “Nebuchadnezzar” upon “our” arrival in “heaven” as well…
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 – Daniel
4:37
And
if “we” do indeed MEET him
there, enjoying eternity with the “King of heaven” alongside of “Daniel” and “Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” in kind, perhaps there
lies an OPPORTUNITY for future “fellowship“
in diligently discussing the Divine DETAILS of
exactly what took place in that “burning fiery furnace” fiasco… Not to
mention that amazing “lion’s den”
experience – PRAISE our Potentate!
PROPHETIC PROMISE: The fact that nothing more is REPORTED upon within the “scriptures” of the mighty “king Nebuchadnezzar” since his personal acknowledgment of
the “Most High” seated in “heaven” is definitely NOT to be
availed without meaning. WHY? Because this whole HISTORICAL narrative fully foreshadows the (soon?)
“coming” universal “Kingdom” of which the “King of
heaven” will be eagerly ESTABLISH when the Sovereign solid “Stone”
fully FILLS the entire “earth” as a mighty – Magnificent MOUNTAIN!
Thou sawest till that a stone was
cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron
and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the
silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of
the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was
found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and
filled the whole earth – Daniel 2:34-35
The burden of the word of
the Lord for Israel,
saith the Lord, which
stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and
formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of
trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both
against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a
burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be
cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against
it… – Zechariah 12:1-3
Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be
divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem
to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women
ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue
of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against
those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand
in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east,
and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and
toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the
mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south… – Zechariah
14:1-4
The surviving “stump” of
that tremendous “tree” representing “Nebuchadnezzar” of which remained in the “field”
seems to suggest that the just JUDGMENTS of which will fully FALL upon the nigh “nations” during the “time of the end” will NOT completely destroy ALL nations.
However, Many of them WILL indeed be swept
away. And for those individuals who willfully REJECT the
great “gospel” message and turn AWAY from the “Truth” of
our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” there is – NO Hope!
All the men of thy confederacy
have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have
deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a
wound under thee: there is none understanding in him. Shall I not in that day,
saith the Lord, even destroy
the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? And thy
mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount
of Esau may be cut off by slaughter. For thy violence against thy brother Jacob
shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever… For the day of the Lord is near upon all the
heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return
upon thine own head… And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of
Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in
them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of
Esau; for the Lord hath
spoken it… And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau;
and the kingdom shall be the Lord's – Obadiah 7-10, 15, 18 & 21
As was true of “King Nebuchadnezzar” himself, madness and bestiality
will similarly SEIZE upon the “Gentiles” soon AFTER the “One” Who
now “letteth will let” (the “Holy Spirit” Himself) is “taken out of the way” along WITH the called-out
chosen “church” in kind…
Now we beseech you, brethren, by
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by
word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no
man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a
falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who
opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself
that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you
these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his
time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall
destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all
deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all
might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Then proud
and apostate chided Christendom will boldly “believe a lie” of the satanic “son of perdition” and thus FOLLOW the belligerent “beast”
with his proposed “power and signs and lying wonders” galore. However, there are also OTHERS at
that “time” of whom will LEARN of the “righteousness” found in “Jesus Christ” alone and thus be SAVED from
their “sins” eternally. In BOTH cases, this terrible “time”
will indeed LAST for a sordid “seven
times” in full – SEVEN Years!
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"
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