Spiritual Significance of  Numbers – The Number 19 and The Number 20

[Study Aired March 22, 2026]

The number nineteen consists of the number nine and the number ten. Nine signifies judgment, and ten signifies the flesh. Therefore this number is connected to the judgment of the flesh which is demonstrated by the destruction of the nation of Judah in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule:

2Ki 25:5  And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.
2Ki 25:6  So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.
2Ki 25:7  And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.
2Ki 25:8  And in the fifth month, on the seventh day  of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:
2Ki 25:9  And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s house burnt he with fire.
2Ki 25:10  And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.

Here are the links to the studies on the number nine and the number ten:

https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/spiritual-significance-of-numbers-nine-the-number-of-gods-judgment/

https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/spiritual-significance-of-numbers-ten-is-the-zenith-of-the-flesh/

The tribe of Naphtali received 19 cities, with their villages, as part of their inheritance in the Promised Land. Their inheritance from God was in the northern most part of what would become Israel. It encompassed the entire western section of the Sea of Galilee.

Jos 19:38  And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.

Isaiah prophesied that the land of Naphtali and Zebulon would someday see a shining beacon in their lands.

Isa 9:1  Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
Isa 9:2  The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

This prophecy, which only the book of Matthew records as being fulfilled, came true during the life of Jesus within the tribe of Naphtali which inherited 19 cities.

Another significant fact concerning this number is that each year it takes 19 days to observe all of God’s annual Feast days. These commanded yearly celebrations are the Passover (1 day), Days of Unleavened Bread (7 days), Pentecost (1 day), Day of Trumpets (1 day), Day of Atonement (1 day), Feast of Tabernacles (7 days) and Last Great Day (1 day). Nineteen days are required to signify the completed judgment (9) of God, upon all flesh, (10).

That judgment has a negative application for the flesh and a positive application for the spirit because life comes only “through death”:

Col 1:22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

The Spiritual Significance of The Number 20

Positive-Being Prepared For Service

Negative-Being Prepared For Judgment

The number twenty first appears in scripture in the story of Abraham bargaining with Christ to spare the destruction of Sodom. Abraham started out asking the Lord to spare Sodom if 50 righteous were found in the city and ended up asking for the Lord’s mercy if only ten righteous were in the city. Twenty was his next to the last request:

Gen 18:31  And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.
Gen 18:32  And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.
Gen 18:33  And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

This can be seen as a negative application of the number twenty inasmuch as not even twenty were being prepared for the Lord’s service in all of Sodom and Sodom suffered the Lord’s judgment for her sins.

The first positive application of the number twenty, demonstrating that it signifies preparation for service is in the story of Jacob who served his uncle Laban for twenty years:

Gen 31:38  This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
Gen 31:39  That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
Gen 31:40  Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
Gen 31:41  Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
Gen 31:42  Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

The Lord had told Jacob to return to the land of his father and Jacob did so.

Gen 31:3  And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

If the Lord had not been with him those 20 years in his uncle Laban’s service Jacob would not have been prepared for the trials which he endured on his return. Laban pursued him with the means to do Jacob great harm.

Gen 31:29  It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
Gen 31:30  And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
Gen 31:31  And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
Gen 31:32  With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

He was also told that his brother, Esau was coming with four hundred men, and he wrestled with Christ all night the night before confronting his brother, Esau. His twenty years in Laban’s house, suffering “affliction and labor”, serving his uncle, and ‘having his wages changed ten times’ prepared Jacob for the Lord’s service.

Several years after Jacob’s return to the land of his father his son, Joseph was sold by the hand of his jealous brothers to Midianite merchantmen for twenty pieces of silver:

Gen 37:28  Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver signifying that the Lord was preparing him for a life in the Lord’s service, whereas Christ being sold for thirty pieces of silver signifies His service has been offered and the judgment of Christ’s flesh was immediately at hand.

Mat 26:14  Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
Mat 26:15  And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

Jabin, king of Canaan, oppressed Israel for twenty years before the Lord used Deborah and Barak to deliver them from that bondage:

Jdg 4:1  And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
Jdg 4:2  And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
Jdg 4:3  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

The Lord always hears a repentant cry, and He sent Israel deliverance via Deborah and Barak:

Jdg 4:4  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
Jdg 4:5  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
Jdg 4:6  And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
Jdg 4:7  And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

The Philistines, in the days of Samuel, the last judge of Israel, won a battle with Israel and took the Ark of the Covenant back to their land where it was a plague to each of the five cities to which they sent it for seven months. The ark was such a curse upon the Philistines that they sent it back to Israel. It spent a little time in the city of Bethshemesh where it again became a curse to the people because they had presumptuously looked into the ark:

1Sa 6:19  And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
1Sa 6:20  And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
1Sa 6:21  And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.

The men of Kirjathjearim came and took the ark to the house of Abinadab where Abinadab’s son Eleazar was “sanctified… to keep the ark of the Lord”:

1Sa 7:1  And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
1Sa 7:2  And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

The twenty years the ark was in Kirjathjearim was in preparation for Israel to demand a king of Samuel. The next time we hear any mention of the ark is when King Saul orders Ahiah the high priest, to bring the ark of God:

1Sa 14:18  And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

In verse 2 of this same chapter we are informed that Ahiah was the high priest in the days of King Saul:

1Sa 14:1  Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.
1Sa 14:2  And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;
1Sa 14:3  And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

We are not given the exact date when the ark was taken from Kirjathjearim to be with the high priest, Ahiah in King Saul’s camp but the twenty years in Kirjathjearim was in preparation for this service to the new king.

In another negative application of this number twenty it is very interesting to notice that the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah starting with the splitting of the kingdom during the rule of Rehoboam the son of King Solomon, both had 20 rulers before they were carried off into captivity. The northern kingdom started with Jereboam, the son of Nebat, and ended with Hoshea. The southern kingdom started with Rehoboam and ended with Zedekiah.

King Ahaz, who is considered to be one of the wicked kings of Judah reigned 20 years before his son Hezekiah, the most righteous king since King David, began his reign:

2Ch 29:1  Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
2Ch 29:2  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.

Twenty years of witnessing his father Ahaz’s wicked rulership prepared Hezekiah to be of great service to the Lord and to the Lord’s people.

2Ki 18:2  Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.
2Ki 18:3  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.
2Ki 18:4  He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
2Ki 18:5  He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
2Ki 18:6  For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.

That is the fruit of being prepared twenty years for the Lord’s service under his wicked father, King Ahaz.

King Solomon spent seven years building the house of God and then spent another 13 years building his own house for a total of twenty years of construction on those two projects. Hiram, king of Tyre, had supplied Solomon with raw materials and skilled craftsmen. To show his appreciation Solomon gave King Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. Upon inspection Hiram was very disappointed with Solomon’s gift and returned them to Solomon:

1Ki 9:10  And it came to pass, at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses,—the house of Yahweh, and the house of the king;
1Ki 9:11  Hiram king of Tyre having supplied Solomon with timber of cedar, and with timber of fir, and with gold, according to all his desire, that, then, King Solomon gave unto Hiram twenty cities, in the land of Galilee.
1Ki 9:12  And Hiram came out from Tyre to view the cities which, Solomon, had given him,—and they were not pleasing in his eyes.
1Ki 9:13  So he said—What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them, Unfruitful Land, as they are called unto this day.
1Ki 9:14  Now Hiram had sent to the king,—a hundred and twenty talents of gold. (REV)

King Hiram was so disappointed with the twenty cities Solomon had given him that he “restored [them] to Solomon”:

2Ch 8:1  And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,
2Ch 8:2  That the [twenty] cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

Samson judged Israel for twenty years:

Jdg 16:29  And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
Jdg 16:30  And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
Jdg 16:31  Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

The scriptures record twenty different messages which are conveyed through dreams. The first such dream warns Abimelech not to go near Abraham’s wife:

Gen 20:2  And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
Gen 20:3  But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.
Gen 20:4  But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
Gen 20:5  Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
Gen 20:6  And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
Gen 20:7  Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

On his way to Haran while fleeing from his brother, Esau, Jacob dreams of a ladder to heaven, which Christ later reveals as signifying Himself:

Gen 28:12  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Joh 1:51  And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Jacob is given a second dream where the Lord tells him to leave Laban’s employment and return to his father:

Gen 31:10  And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
Gen 31:11  And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
Gen 31:12  And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
Gen 31:13  I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

Jacob’s employer, his wicked uncle Laban, is warned in a dream to do no harm to Jacob:

Gen 31:22  And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
Gen 31:23  And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
Gen 31:24  And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

Joseph dreamed that his brothers would bow down to him:

Gen 37:5  And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
Gen 37:6  And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
Gen 37:7  For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
Gen 37:8  And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Joseph dreams a second dream. In this dream his brothers and his parents all bow down to him:

Gen 37:9  And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
Gen 37:10  And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
Gen 37:11  And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

The next two dreams are those of the butler and the baker:

Gen 40:2  And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.
Gen 40:3  And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
Gen 40:4  And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
Gen 40:5  And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.
Gen 40:6  And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.
Gen 40:7  And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?
Gen 40:8  And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
Gen 40:9  And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
Gen 40:10  And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
Gen 40:11  And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.
Gen 40:12  And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
Gen 40:13  Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
Gen 40:14  But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
Gen 40:15  For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
Gen 40:16  When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
Gen 40:17  And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.
Gen 40:18  And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
Gen 40:19  Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
Gen 40:20  And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
Gen 40:21  And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:
Gen 40:22  But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
Gen 40:23  Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

The next dream mentioned in scripture is Pharaoh’s two different dreams. In the first dream Pharaoh sees seven fat cows eaten up by seven starved cows. His next dream was of seven fat ears of corn being eaten up by seven very thin ears of corn. (Gen 41)

A soldier in the Midianite army dreams that a cake of barley tumbled into the camp of Midian and smote a tent and overturned it. His companion interprets the man’s dream and tells him the Lord has delivered Midian into the hand of the Lord and Gideon.

Jdg 7:13  And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.
Jdg 7:14  And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.
Jdg 7:15  And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

King Solomon is told by the Lord in a dream to ask anything and it would be given to him:

1Ki 3:5  In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

King Nebuchadnezzar is shown, in a dream, all the empires that will rule the world right up to the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom at His appearing:

Dan 2:44  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.
Dan 2:45  Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

Nebuchadnezzar’s next dream reveals his own punishment for his self-righteous pride:

Dan 4:13  I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
Dan 4:14  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:
Dan 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:
Dan 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.
Dan 4:17  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.
Dan 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.

Daniel himself has a dream about the four great empires which will rule the earth before the Lord sets up His kingdom on this earth:

Dan 7:1  In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
Dan 7:2  Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
Dan 7:3  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

In Revelation 13 it is revealed to us these same four beasts are really one composite beast within every man, and it is this beast which has been reigning in the kingdoms of this world all along, and he will continue his rule until the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands destroys this beast and become a kingdom which will not pass away.

The last five dreams are recorded in the New Testament. The first three are given to Joseph, whom they supposed was Christ’s father. These dreams had to do with Christ’s supernatural birth and protecting Him from the wrath of Herod. (Mat 2:13-23)

The next dream recorded is that of the Magi being informed in a dream to avoid Herod on their trip returning to their home. (Mat 2:12)

The twentieth dream recorded in scripture is that of Pilate’s wife warning her husband that he should do nothing to harm Christ (Mat 27:19)

There are other events which may appear to be dreams but they are not called dreams. The disciples Peter, James and John saw the vision of Christ’s transformation on the mount. In this case we are told it was a vision.

Mat 17:9  And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Paul has a vision of a man from Macedonia telling him to ‘Come over here and help us’. We are told this was a vision (Act 16:9). An angel stood by Paul the night before his ship wrecked and assured him that not one person would be lost at sea. But that event was not called a dream. (Act 27:23)

In conclusion, all of the twenty dreams recorded in scripture, and any mention of the number 20, like Jacob’s 20 years of service to Laban, has either a positive or a negative application of preparation for service whether that service is for good or evil.

The number twenty consists of two tens which signifies that our body of flesh (10) is being used of the Lord as a means of being preparing us to be given a spiritual body:

1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Dan 12:1-13  O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end

[Study Aired June 13, 2024]

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 
Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 
Dan 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 
Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 
Dan 12:5  Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. 
Dan 12:6  And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 
Dan 12:7  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 
Dan 12:8  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 
Dan 12:10  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. 
Dan 12:11  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 
Dan 12:12  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. 
Dan 12:13  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. 

Daniel, like all the prophets of old, were used by God to “shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end”, and it was for the elect’s sake that God ordained it to be so (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11, 2Co 4:15-16). 

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come [the process of judgment upon all the sins of the world that are within us and must be ruled over through Christ (Joh 1:29) in order to fulfill God’s will  (1Jn 2:16-17)] .

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish [1Co 15:31], yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

In order for us to faint not, our outward man must perish and “the inward man is [be] renewed day by day” as we die daily (1Co 15:31). God is accomplishing this in the lives of “every one that shall be found written in the book” (Dan 12:1) by the faith of Christ (Php 2:12-13) which is given to the church that must be tried in fiery trials (Col 1:24, Act 14:22) in order to perfect that faith of Christ within us (Luk 22:32,  1Pe 1:7). We are immeasurably blessed to learn and know that the trials God gives us build up the church and not tear it down as He brings us to our safe haven (Psa 107:30). When we feel sore pressed on every side through judgment, God will intervene and deliver us after we are brought to our wits’ end, and then with the comfort He provides through the trial we will be able to comfort others, building up the body of Christ (Mat 16:18, 2Co 1:4, Joh 8:36, Rom 8:35-39).

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

It is through Christ and Christ alone that those seals of judgment can be opened and endured by those who are called to this narrow and strait way (Mat 7:13-14) that brings with it the strength of Christ (Php 4:13) and the promises of God that tell us we won’t faint in the day of adversity (Pro 24:10, Php 4:13), because God is faithful to hear and deliver His people (Luk 18:1, Luk 18:8, 1Pe 4:19, Rev 5:5, Php 1:6).

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it [Mat 22:14].

Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof [Php 2:12-13].

God wants us to focus on all these exceedingly great and precious promises that He’s given us which speak of our hope of glory within (Col 1:27, Rom 8:24). Christ is making a way for us to obtain the extra oil of God’s word, supplied through the church, through the trials of our faith, through the adversities of life God has promised will not prevail against the church, but rather will be the means (Rom 8:28) by which we will be able to go onto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32, Luk 7:22, Heb 6:1, Mat 17:23).

Being confident of these promises and the work of grace through faith we’re experiencing through Christ unto salvation (Eph 2:8) is very much what this last chapter of Daniel is all about, starting with the first verse that sets the stage for these final prophecies of Daniel that are filled with  promise and hope for the body of Christ.

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 

Michael standing up (Psa 24:3, Mal 3:2, Rev 6:17) represents the angels or messengers of God who experience God being mindful of them (Psa 8:3-4, Psa 111:5, Heb 2:6) by way of the holy spirit, the comforter that will strengthen them and see them through “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time” (Mat 24:20-22). Michael therefore represents our hope of glory within Jesus Christ (Col 1:27, Rom 8:9).

Mal 3:2  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Psa 8:3  When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 
Psa 8:4  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?  

We are being told “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered“, and this thought parallels Christ’s own words in Matthew 24:20-22. It is simply because God is mindful of His children that they will be able to endure through whatever God has ordained for them to endure through in this life (Mat 20:23, 1Co 10:13).

Mat 24:20  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mat 24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

It is because God is mindful of His workmanship (Eph 2:10), the church, the little flock, that “at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Rev 20:12, Rev 20:4-6).

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened the books. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by the things having been written in the books, according to their works.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

All men will hear His voice in the order which God has ordained (1Co 15:22-25), and it can only be in one of two resurrections; “unto the resurrection of life” or “unto the resurrection of damnation.” This is precisely what, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt”  is a prophecy of.

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 
Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Figuratively speaking, we are Christ’s feet that are first washed (Eph 5:30, Joh 13:8-10, 1Co 15:22-25) before the rest of the world, and so we read, “he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet” (1Co 15:25). This is the order of how all men will be saved, Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming, Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power [during the thousand year reign of the saints and right into the lake of fire, great white throne judgment] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet [His feet being “the general assembly and church of the firstborn” who will be God’s threshing tool (Heb 12:23-24, Isa 41:14-16)].

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 

Joh 13:8  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. [the elect are washed first so we can have a part in God’s plan of salvation (Oba 1:21)]
Joh 13:9  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 
Joh 13:10  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 
1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 
1Co 15:25  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Isa 41:14  Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 41:15  Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
Isa 41:16  Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

Dan 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

It is those who were granted to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour (2Pe 3:18) who will shine “as the brightness of the firmament.” The firmament represents the mind of Christ we have now within our hearts and minds, because of our heavens being cleansed (1Co 2:16, Joh 17:17, Heb 9:23). With that mind of Christ we will be able to save ourselves and those who hear us (1Ti 4:16).

2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

In time, all mankind will hear the manifest knowledge of God made known through the church who are likened to “the stars for ever and ever” (Rev 1:20) who will be used to “turn many to righteousness“, meaning all of humanity to righteousness (Oba 1:21).

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. 

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 

Daniel is not given to know the truth of these prophecies, and so his book is closed as opposed to, “and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” of Danil 12:1. The seals of the book are open now for God’s elect which describe the detailed process of judgment God’s people must go through in order to make the bride ready (Act 14:22, Rev 21:2, Rev 19:7).

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

“Thy people are delivered” because God will send His word and heal the elect in this age, so that we in turn will be sent as Christ was sent to us to heal the nations (Psa 107:20-22, Joh 20:21-22, Joh 3:16-17, Oba 1:21).

Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 

Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 
Psa 107:22  And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. 

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 

Joh 20:22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

The “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” represents the many called (Mat 22:14), ever searching but not able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2Ti 3:7). Part of the increase of physical knowledge is the increase in understanding historical events of history via the anti-types of Christ. However, by not connecting that reality of the spiritual anti-types to the spiritual type in Christ, leaves the searcher of truth ever searching and not able to come to the knowledge of truth (2Ti 2:24-26). This is a key to the kingdom that keeps the masses that are searching for Christ, blinded (Act 26:15-18), and as Christ said, it’s not that the many called don’t want to know these truths, it’s simply that it has not been given to them to know the truth, but it is given to God’s children whose eyes and ears have been blessed to be opened first (Mat 13:17-19).

Mat 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth [Mat 13:13].

2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 
2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; [Joh 6:44]
2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, [Daniel in particular as we’re learning] and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Mat 13:18  Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Mat 13:19  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Dan 12:5  Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. 
Dan 12:6  And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 
Dan 12:7  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Dan 12:8  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 

Daniel then sees two men standing on either side of the river and a man clothed in linen upon the waters. The “man clothed in linen” represents Christ who is in our midst as we live and move and have our being within Him (Act 17:28). The word one is not in the original text of Daniel 12:6 so it is Daniel who asks the question, “And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” The two men on either side of the bank of the river represent the two witnesses who represent the elect, and the man on the water typifies Christ being clothed in linen, and His answer to Daniel about the wonders he is seeing describes for God’s elect who have ears to hear, that it is by Christ’s relationship with our Father, and our relationship with them both, that these wonders can be understood (Joh 14:20). The man on the water “held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever” because it is Christ who must intercede for us to be able to then fulfill what is said next “that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” This “time, times, and an half” is the time of our ministry on this earth which is Christ’s ministry being performed through the elect (Rev 11:1-3, Php 2:12-13). Daniel heard the words, but he did not understand, “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” Again we are reminded of how blessed we are to have eyes that see and ears that hear what Christ is saying in the midst of the church (Eph 3:10). Daniel’s time will come when he will know and understand, but at this point he was prophesying for us and was told “Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.“

Dan 12:10  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. 

Dan 12:10  Till a number are tested and make themselves clean; and the evil-doers will do evil; for not one of the evil-doers will have knowledge; but all will be made clear to those who are wise. (BBE)

‘Many’ can both be seen as a larger or smaller number of people. We know there is an innumerable multitude spoken of in the book of Revelation, and that would be “many”, but the symbolic number of 144,000 which can be numbered, and represents the elect, is still ‘many’ throughout the ages who have been called and chosen and remained faithful to the end. In other words, “Till a number are tested” (Dan 12:10 BBE) or “many shall be purified” (Rev 17:14).

Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Going through a process of judgment in order to “be purified, and made white, and tried” is what those who are “called, and chosen, and faithful” of Revelation 17:14 will experience in this life. It is those trials that will help us learn obedience in this life and help us understand the will of God that transforms our thinking and brings our thoughts into subjection to Christ (2Ti 2:12, Tit 2:12). Those who despise God’s chastening are spoken of with these words, “but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand.“

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [Heb 12:6]

Dan 12:11  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 
Dan 12:12  Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. 

The abomination of desolation being set up in the temple of God for 1290 days represents the man of perdition or beast on the throne of every man’s heart, and the number 12 represents our fleshly foundation in this case, which must be judged (9). The way this judgment is accomplished is by God’s hand (1), and our flesh is made manifest and witnessed against for what it is (2), through His judgment (9), the knowledge of sin being made known by the law that judges us (Rom 3:20).

Those who endure to the end will be saved in this life (Mat 24:13) and what we must be blessed to endure is the complete judgment of God’s wrath poured out upon us (Rev 15:8). Enduring through His wrath against our old man is symbolized by those who “waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” These are those who not only fall on the stone and are broken but also, “on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” of Matthew 21:44.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

The 45 days beyond 1290 days that take us to 1335 reveals symbolic numbers that herald back to the point that God’s elect must go through a process of judgment, in order to “be purified, and made white, and tried.” Starting with number 45, we see it is the whole (4) of the elect who will be saved by grace through faith (5) and the numbers 4+5 add up to 9 which is the number that represents the judgment which we must endure to the end. 

These judgments are what are needed to form the patience and faith of the saints, by which we can possess our souls (Luk 21:19). The number 1335 represents the means by which God’s workmanship will be completed within those who have been predestined to that work in this life. The (1) represents God who is doing the work in us through Christ, the two (3)’s are a witness that it is Christ who is carrying out the process of judgment within us (Php 2:12-13) that will enable us to be saved by grace through faith, the number (5).

Dan 12:13  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Daniel had to be a patient man (Jas 5:10) being given all this knowledge and wisdom and prophecy and yet was told  “go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.“

Jas 5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

To “stand in thy lot at the end of the days” is coming up in the second resurrection, great white throne judgment. The prophets patiently enduring through so many trials in this life is the reason why they will have fewer stripes in the lake of fire, but every man’s works, including Daniel’s and John the baptist’s, and all of humanity, must be tried with fire (1Co 3:13-15, Mar 9:49-50)

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Mar 9:49  For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Mar 9:50  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Dan 6:1-28  Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee

[Study Aired March 28, 2024]

Dan 6:1  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 
Dan 6:2  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 
Dan 6:3  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 
Dan 6:4  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 
Dan 6:5  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 
Dan 6:6  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 
Dan 6:7  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 
Dan 6:8  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 
Dan 6:9  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 
Dan 6:11  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 
Dan 6:12  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 
Dan 6:13  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 
Dan 6:14  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 
Dan 6:15  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 
Dan 6:16  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 
Dan 6:17  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
Dan 6:18  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Dan 6:19  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
Dan 6:20  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Dan 6:21  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
Dan 6:22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 
Dan 6:23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Dan 6:24  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
Dan 6:25  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Dan 6:26  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 
Dan 6:27  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 
Dan 6:28  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 

Darius’ kingdom that proceeds after Nebuchadnezzar is represented by the breast and arms of silver on the statue found in Daniel 2:32. This section of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of is then further developed in its description in Daniel 7:5.

Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 

Dan 7:5  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

The first composite beast of Nebuchadnezzar’s empire has its power over land and the air with symbolic beasts that rule in both of these areas – a lion and an eagle (Dan 7:4). The bear which describes Darius’ empire is another beast that devours flesh, and both of these empires are used by God to do just that. The pattern continues with the last two empires on the statue, revealing more beastly creatures that have dominion over flesh to destroy it (Dan 7:6-7). It is through the destruction of flesh that life comes (1Co 15:21-22, Gal 2:20). 

There is an inward application to these empires within God’s elect that we are given dominion over as a result of Christ ruling in our hearts and minds, His wrath abiding on the beasts that are being destroyed little by little (Joh 3:36, Joh 8:36). The lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5) is greater than the lion who is the god of this world (1Pe 5:8), and the positive example of the eagle expressed in John’s gospel reminds us that Christ soars higher than all the powers and principalities against which we war that are in the heavens (Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21).

The statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represents the man of perdition who must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming within us (2Th 2:3-6), and it is by God’s goodness that we can acknowledge today those powers and principalities of our former conversation and be given dominion over them through Him (Eph 2:3, Rom 2:4). All of humanity has to come to see these beasts as describing who they are themselves and not someone else. The dream is one, and all these beasts described in multifaceted ways all represent the same beast, which is mankind (Ecc 3:18-19, Rev 13:18, Rev 15:2).

Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

In the final analysis, both Nebuchadnezzar and Darius declare Daniel’s God as being the One to Whom their respective empires should pay homage (Dan 3:28, Dan 6:26). God’s elect are judged today (1Pe 4:17) acknowledging who we are as mere beasts of the field, even as we come to see the new creation being formed within us making all things new (2Co 5:17-18). So we not only acknowledge God or believe on Him, but through Christ continue to believe and suffer for His name’s sake in order to get “victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name” (Php 1:28-29, Rev 15:2).

Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

When the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ (Rev 11:15), mankind will be ruled over with a rod of iron (Rev 12:5) which will forcibly bring the empires of mankind into subjection to what will be required by the Lord. Being brought into subjection to God’s truth, which is spirit, is something that is contrary to the flesh of man, and is a life-long dying daily process for those who have God’s spirit within them today, of which no one will have throughout the thousand-year reign (Rom 8:5, Gal 5:17, Rev 20:4).

This chapter of Daniel has many prophetic undertones regarding the conditions that the church will find the world during the rule of the saints, and initially until Satan is loosed for a “little season”, the rulers of those kingdoms will exact judgment upon their citizens if they do not pay homage to Christ and His body.  Nebuchadnezzar and Darius both concluded that should be the case once they were privy to bear witness to God’s power in the lives of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and Daniel, which are all types of the elect. 

Both Nebuchadnezzar and Darius came to terms with the power of God working within God’s servants and acknowledged that no one in their kingdoms should speak anything amiss toward their God (Dan 3:28-29, Dan 6:26). These eras with kings Darius and Nebuchadnezzar are shadows of the compliance that the kingdoms of this world will demonstrate during the reign of Christ and His Christ. God will use the elect as His threshing instrument during the thousand-year reign (Isa 41:15), resulting in the rulers complying just as Nebuchadnezzar and Darius did after seeing God’s power in action. It only takes a “little season”, however many days that is after Satan is loosed, to see all this work undone and a worldwide rebellion against the camp of the saints to ensue. That loosing of Satan for a “little season” will show mankind how fickle we are without God’s spirit that alone can give us power to resist the devil. This rebellion is the predestined occasion that God has in store for all those who will be in fleshly bodies at this time (Rev 20:3, Rev 20:8, Eph 1:11)

Rev 20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Dan 6:1  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 
Dan 6:2  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 
Dan 6:3  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 

These first three verses set the stage for a spirit of envy that is going to manifest, and which was the reason Christ was killed and Daniel became a target of those who were supposed to be his colleagues (Mat 27:17-18, Act 7:9, Pro 23:17). Darius set his carnal fleshly princes up, represented by the number 120 (fleshly 10×12 foundation). Over these 120 there were three presidents of which Daniel was first, and the 120 gave account to the presidents. This is a shadow of how God’s elect, represented by Daniel, will work in conjunction with the ruling class of this world. They will be subservient to Christ and His Christ. It won’t take long for the world to realize the excellent spirit of God within the elect, and like Daniel, the elect will be “preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” Here’s where the envy comes in and bubbles and brews for as many years as God has determined, until Satan is used to push things over the top, creating a worldwide rebellion against the camp of the saints when he is loosed for a little season (Rev 20:8).

Mat 27:17  Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 
Mat 27:18  For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

Act 7:9  And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

Dan 6:4  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

We have dominion over sin now if Christ is ruling and reigning in our hearts (Rom 6:14), yet we still have sin in our members that is being burned out of us and will be until our last days in these corrupt vessels of clay (Rom 2:4, 1Jn 1:7, 1Co 15:31). However, those in the first resurrection, as Daniel is typical of being in this section of the story, won’t be able to sin, typified by this statement: “they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” (1Jn 3:9).

1Jn 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Presently we can say our new man cannot sin. It is Christ working in us, our hope of glory [obedience] within (Php 2:12-13, Col 1:27). However, God will cause our old man to err and sin (Pro 24:16) as He seeks an occasion against our flesh (Isa 63:17) to then drag us to Christ (Joh 6:44) to confess our faults, our iniquities, to a faithful Advocate who will forgive us every time (Lev 26:40, 1Jn 1:9-10, 1Jn 2:1). 

Dan 6:5  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 

The “these men” is speaking of “the presidents and princes [who] sought to find occasion against Daniel.” In order to do this, they are going to create a sting operation using “the law of his God” to seek an occasion against Daniel. This is a key way Satan continues to attack the body of Christ and Christ when He was on this earth, as the accuser of the brethren (accusers of the brethren Rev 12:10, false witnesses Mat 26:59-64). They can’t find anything on him, so they will manufacture a situation that will tie the hands of Darius. It’s amazing, God uses “the law of his God” to put Daniel in this precarious position, in conjunction with “the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not“, not to destroy Daniel but to glorify God with the circumstances that will in time have the tables turned on his adversaries. Christ’s lot in life was to be the goat that was sacrificed, and Daniel is a type of the scapegoat which God’s elect are.

Dan 6:6  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 
Dan 6:7  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 
Dan 6:8  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 
Dan 6:9  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

In these verses we see how the dirty deed was carried out. What subtlety of spirit we are witnessing, beginning with the flattering words toward Darius, “live for ever” (Gen 3:1, Mat 26:4, Act 13:10, 2Co 11:3). The presidents and princes assembled and wormed their way into getting king Darius to sign this binding decree of the “Medes and Persians, which altereth not” in hopes of having Daniel killed for his noncompliance to the decree (1Jn 3:15).

Gen 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Daniel, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, typify the elect who are not afraid of what men can do to their flesh (Mat 10:28), and know to fear God (Luk 12:5), and let God be true and every man a liar (Rom 3:4), and they, and we, ought to obey God rather than men (Act 5:29). These are all scriptures which come to mind, and can be fulfilled in our lives through God’s spirit that can make us more than conquerors through Christ Who can give us the power to endure all things as He strengthens us (Rom 8:37, Php 4:13). 

There is overwhelming evidence in scripture that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Heb 11:1-40, Rom 8:32-36), and Daniel knew what the consequences would be for obeying God, but still went to his house and prayed with an open window after knowing the decree was written. An open window is symbolic of his typical liberty in Christ, a window that pointed to Jerusalem which is a symbol of Jerusalem above, the mother of us all, of whose wings we are under and none can take us from (Gal 4:26, Joh 10:27-30). He kneeled upon his knees “three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime” which typifies the process of judgment that is required as we work out of our own salvation with fear and trembling and fervent continual prayer (Php 2:1-13) as Christ did and was heard in that he feared God and not man (Heb 5:7, Mat 26:44).

Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Mat 26:44  And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Dan 6:11  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 
Dan 6:12  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Dan 6:13  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

Just as there is a positive example of being subject to God through a process of judgment [3] in our earth that makes it possible for us to learn of His righteousness (Isa 26:9), in the negative example of judgment if we draw close to the idolatrous ways of men and embrace them for “thirty days“, we will avoid losing our physical life for that bad judgment but won’t find the life of Christ for trying to preserve our flesh (Mat 10:39). It is in this darkened world, in the night, that we are blessed to be judged in this life. The darkness is within us, all the sins of the world, but our hope of glory within is giving us power to overcome that darkness, so that light can come out of darkness (Rev 11:3).

Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Dan 6:14  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 
Dan 6:15  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 
Dan 6:16  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

King Darius was like the wife of Pilate and knew that Daniel was a just man (Mat 27:19) and “was sore displeased with himself” for this turn of events, and from that moment forward “set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.” In the midst of this anguish the king was feeling, the self-righteous murderers needed to remind the king of the rules of the road, and this likely added to his anger and retribution against them when Daniel was ultimately delivered. All Darius could say at this point was, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee“, because he was bound by his own words and knew that only God could save Daniel now. If we seek the Lord will all our heart continually, we are also promised that we will be delivered from all our trials, and will leave a witness to this world of His might and power that can and will deliver (1Co 10:13).

Any rebellion and scheming behind the scenes during the thousand-year reign will be discovered (Luk 8:17), and the tables will be turned on all our adversaries every time, no weapon prospering against us (Isa 54:17).

Luk 8:17  For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Dan 6:17  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
Dan 6:18  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

This stone that was laid upon the mouth of the den is reminiscent of the stone put before Christs’ tomb which was rolled away after a great earthquake (Mat 28:2-4). Death had no hold on Christ, and Daniel was not going to be killed but rather spared from the lions that represent Satan and his minions, who if it were possible, would deceive the very elect and sift us (Mat 24:24, Luk 22:31).

“The king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel” represents the gates of hell that won’t prevail against the church (Mat 16:18).

Look at the effect Daniel had on the king:  “Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him“, telling us that there will be those during the reign of the saints that will be devoted toward the body of Christ, even though, in the final analysis, all the disciples will forsake Christ not being able to overcome the fear within them, love not being able to be perfected (1Jn 4:18). That is the critical point God is teaching all of humanity who will rebel when Satan is loosed for a season. It is only when His love is shed abroad in our hearts that we will be able to obey the Lord and not just say, “Lord, Lord” and not do the things He commands (Luk 6:46).

Dan 6:19  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
Dan 6:20  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 

Like Mary running early in the morning to see the tomb where Christ was buried, Darius “the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions“ (Mar 16:1-2).

Mar 16:1  And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mar 16:2  And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

It is when Mary came to the tomb that she, with a lamentable voice, answered the angels first and then Christ Himself regarding why she was weeping. These actions parallel nicely with the emotional status of Darius at this point: “And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?“

Joh 20:12  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Joh 20:13  And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
Joh 20:14  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Joh 20:15  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Dan 6:21  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
Dan 6:22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Daniel in sincerity of heart now says “O king, live for ever” unlike the presidents and princes from earlier. Daniel’s report of an angel staying the mouth of the lions is akin to our knowing that death would have no hold on Christ and those who believe that He is resurrected understand that they are not living their lives in vain (1Co 15:14, Eph 2:6).

1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

The innocence that was found in Daniel typifies the innocence that will be found in those who are the chaste bride of Christ (2Co 11:2, 1Pe 3:2, Mat 18:3) who will be in that blessed and holy first resurrection. Daniel declares his innocency to the king with these words “O king, have I done no hurt” and reminds us that in the day of others’ visitation if we’ve been given to overcome and endure until the end there will be no condemnation or accusations brought against Christ’s body which has already  been judged in this life (1Pe 2:12, Rom 8:1).

1Pe 2:12  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Dan 6:23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

If we “believe on him whom he hath sent“, we can do the work of God (Joh 6:28-29) and no manner of hurt will come upon us spiritually. Whatever we must go through physically, God will make a way where there appears to be none (Isa 43:18-19, Php 3:13-14). This is the lesson being shown regarding Daniel’s deliverance that represents our deliverance from death and sin.

The king was “exceeding glad for him” and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. This moment symbolizes for us the exceeding joy that was felt when Christ was discovered to be resurrected from the dead, alive and unharmed, and is a shadow of the first resurrection as well (Mat 28:5-11, Jud 1:24).

Mat 28:8  And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

Dan 6:24  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

This verse reminds us that vengeance is God’s against our sinful flesh (Nah 1:2, Deu 32:43, Psa 94:1, Rom 12:9, Rev 22:12). This all seems very “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” (Mat 5:38), and it does represent the severity and goodness of God upon all flesh (Rom 11:16-22).

In short, this verse reminds us that no flesh will inherit the kingdom of God, and in order to have a new foundation in Christ we must be judged, and our old Adamic foundation represented by “all their bones” must be broken in order to make a new vessel to His glory. The lions having “mastery” reminds us that Satan can be used masterfully of the Lord to do his bidding as his sword against our old man in our life today, but these lions in the time period that they represent tell us that it is the elect who are represented by these lions who are going to break in shivers nations from afar (Psa 17:13, Rev 2:27).

H7981 “Mastery”
– Transliteration: Shelet (Aramaic)
– Phonetic: shel-ate’
– Definition: 

1. to have power, rule, domineer, rule over 
2. (P’al) have power upon or over, rule, fall upon, assault, be ruler 
3. (Aphel) make ruler 

– Origin: corresponding to H7980
– TWOT entry: 3034
– Part(s) of speech: Verb
– Strong’s: (Chaldee); corresponding to H7980: – have the mastery have power bear rule be (make) ruler.

Total KJV Occurrences: 7 

• mastery, 1Dan_6:24
• power, 1   Dan_3:27
• rule, 1      Dan_2:39
• ruler, 4     Dan_2:38; Dan_2:48; Dan_5:7; Dan_5:16

It is a quick work that God does against our carnal nature in our heavens, symbolized by this statement, “all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.” There is no heritage for the wickedness of our first man Adam, which is why it is not just those men who accused Daniel who were cast into the den of lions, but also “their children, and their wives“, who represent doctrine and churches; all of Babylon that must be destroyed within us.

Dan 6:25  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Dan 6:26  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Darius, who is a type of the rulers of “the kingdoms of this world”, declares and makes a decree that is typical of this decree made in Revelation 11:15 stated this way: “That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.“

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

There will be no end to the peace of God’s government, and Darius makes this declaration that also foreshadows the ongoing peace which will be with God’s government (Isa 9:7):  “Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.“

Isa 9:7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Dan 6:27  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
Dan 6:28  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

These last two verses represent the heritage of the saints in Christ, who by God’s grace, will be sent as Christ was, to “worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth“, delivering the world from “the power of the lions” (Joh 20:21, Joh 3:15-17). 

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Joh 3:15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Daniel’s prosperity “in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian” is a witness that foreshadows the prosperity of the saints during their rule and reign on this earth, prior to the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:6, Rev 20:11).

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Finally “He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth“ is another witness of what God can do within the body of Christ whom He has promised to deliver and rescue (1Co 10:13).

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Dan 5:1-31  Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting

[Study Aired March 21, 2024]

Dan 5:1  Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 
Dan 5:2  Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
Dan 5:3  Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
Dan 5:4  They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 
Dan 5:5  In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 
Dan 5:6  Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 
Dan 5:7  The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
Dan 5:8  Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 5:9  Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. 
Dan 5:10  Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: 
Dan 5:11  There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 
Dan 5:12  Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
Dan 5:13  Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
Dan 5:14  I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. 
Dan 5:15  And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing: 
Dan 5:16  And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
Dan 5:17  Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 
Dan 5:18  O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 
Dan 5:19  And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 
Dan 5:20  But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 
Dan 5:21  And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. 
Dan 5:22  And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 
Dan 5:23  But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: 
Dan 5:24  Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 
Dan 5:25  And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 
Dan 5:26  This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 
Dan 5:27  TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 
Dan 5:28  PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. 
Dan 5:29  Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
Dan 5:30  In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 
Dan 5:31  And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

Belshazzar represents our old man who is “weighed in the balances, and… found wanting.” Belshazzar, like our first man Adam, never learns and is why we must die daily and endure until the end in order to be saved in this life, which is only possible through Christ (1Co 15:31, Mat 24:13, Php 4:13). 

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Christ must increase, and we must decrease (Joh 3:30). The statue of Daniel 2 is corrupt from the head to the foot (Isa 1:6), and the empires of mankind are waxing worse and worse, typified by the decreasing value of the metals that are used for the different parts of the statue that represent the empires of man. There’s never been a just empire, there is none righteous, no not one (Rom 3:10), only a series of empires that rise and fall revealing to us how our old man must completely fall seven times [completely] if we are going to go on to perfection on the third day (Pro 24:16, Luk 13:32). God set the prophetic stage since the garden of Eden to this present day, and right up until Gog and Magog come up against the camp of the saints, all to show mankind that we are beasts (Rev 20:8, Ecc 3:18).

Isa 1:6  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. 

Pro 24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

If we are granted to be judged in this life (1Pe 4:17), we will be able to see that there is a tearing down of the old empires in our life, starting from the head of gold represented by Nebuchadnezzar and his son Belshazzar who is a chip off the old block [another representation of the carnal first man Adam], right down to the last empire represented by the legs and feet of the statue in Daniel 2:33. 

Dan 2:33  His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 

The transition of empires being looked at in this section of scripture (Dan 5:1-31) is from Babylon to Persia, and Daniel 7:4-5 describes these two sections of the statue in Daniel 2:32: the first empire being Babylon, “This image’s head was of fine gold”, then the torso and arms of the statue, “his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass”, representing Persia that will be ruled over by “Darius the Median” who “took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old” (Dan 5:31). The age of Darius is significant and is a witness [#2] to the truth that the beast [#6] is still on the throne of this new leader’s heart who is controlling this new empire [62 years old].

Dan 7:4  The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. 
Dan 7:5  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 

Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,

Dan 5:1   Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 

Belshazzar being the son of king Nebuchadnezzar is a parable in itself, as the son represents the doctrine, and as we will see, this section of the book of Daniel is all about the heart of mankind that corrupts the word of God as we reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-8). Making a feast with the king’s food and feeding it “to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand” shows us a couple of significant details. First, the number thousand demonstrates the fleshly state of affairs [multiples of 10 represents the unjudged flesh at this stage], with 1000 of his lords, and secondly, where Belshazzar is drinking wine before the thousand, which wine also represents false doctrines and the corrupted words of Babylon (Rev 17:4, Rev 18:6-8). God declares the end from the beginning with Belshazzar’s father Nebuchadnezzar by the “seven times pass over you” statement of Daniel 4:25 which represents the lake of fire, great white throne judgment, and Belshazzar his son, his own flesh and blood, is “weighed in the balances, and…found wanting” as a type of our own flesh and blood that cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Co 15:50).

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 
Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her [Gal 6:7-8].

Dan 5:2  Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 
Dan 5:3  Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 
Dan 5:4  They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

It is in Babylon that we eat our own food, drink our own wine, and wear our own apparel and yet want the name of Christ, represented by “the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem” (Isa 4:1).

Isa 4:1  And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Belshazzar wants his lords of thousands to partake of his wine as a type of Babylon controlling God’s word via the idol of mankind’s heart that worships God in vain, “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mar 7:7), represented by the wine of Belshazzar that further intoxicates the harlot so that other gods are worshiped rather than the true God who created all things: “They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.” It is “the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines“ who “drank in them“ as a type of the churches and the leaders of Christendom who perpetuate the lies of Babylon from generation to generation. They drink the wine and praised the gods that rule their hearts, “gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone“, telling us mankind has worshiped every type of false god, from gods of gold to gods of stone, “which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell” (Deu 4:28).

Mar 7:7  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Deu 4:28  And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

Dan 5:5  In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

Judgment is now coming upon Belshazzar as he sees a man’s hand writing “against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace.” The candlestick symbolizes the light of God’s word that is going to illuminate the minds of those who see this message written “upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace.” The king only sees “part of the hand that wrote” signifying that he does not know who the author of this event is, and it is written on “the wall of the king’s palace“, walls that signify the heart of Belshazzar that now have a message written on them which he can’t interpret. God’s word is spiritually discerned, and those who are drunk on the wine of Babylon are not going to be able to interpret the meaning of the words on the wall.

Dan 5:6  Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 
Dan 5:7  The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 

Belshazzar was terrified, his face changed, his thoughts troubled him, so much so that he lost bodily control and his loins were loosed. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord as Nebuchadnezzar learned, and now his son is experiencing this same fear and crying out as his father did for help from his own household, his own entourage: “The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers“, which Nebuchadnezzar also did at first. Again, this group represents how, while in Babylon, we search answers to our spiritual dilemmas in life by turning to the carnal wisdom of men in Babylon [astrologers Chaldeans and soothsayers – another Jesus] instead of going to Christ and the church to which we must be dragged in order to come to know Him (Joh 6:44, Joh 17:3).

These circumstances were created to the glory of God who would give the answers to Belshazzar via Daniel, a type of the elect who can interpret the writing on the wall, which typifies for God’s elect how we can in like manner interpret or discern the word of God that is hidden from the world today, even though it is in plain sight (1Co 2:14-16).

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 
1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The reward for being able to read the writing and interpret it is to “be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck” symbolizing the reward of rulership God will give to those who are blessed to have the mind of Christ in this age (1Co 2:15-16). Being “the third ruler in the kingdom” has a physical interpretation according to history (history – Why did Belshazzar, King of Babylon name Daniel as the third ruler of his kingdom? – Biblical Hermeneutics Stack Exchange). However, the spiritual lesson is that our Father in heaven is first, the Great All in All, and Christ second, and those who rule under Christ are third in this God-ordained order. We are growing to become more and more like Christ, having His mind, and think it not robbery to be equal with Him, not in greatness (Joh 13:16, Joh 14:28) but in having the same spirit (1Co 12:8-9) that the Father gave Christ and has given to us who now believe (Php 2:6, 1Jn 4:17).

Joh 13:16  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world [“the same spirit“].

Dan 5:8  Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 5:9  Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. 

No one could read or interpret the writing on the wall, just as no one could interpret ‘the dream that is one’ in the earlier chapters with the statue and tree. This part of the story is no different, and again we’re shown the blindness of Babylon with this first verse: “Then came in all the king’s wisemen: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.” This situation greatly troubled Belshazzar and left his lords astonished, seeing all his regular sources of wisdom come to nought in a second, representing how all the wisdom of mankind will not be able to interpret the word of God that can only be understood by the power of God. We all start off ever searching and never being able to come to the knowledge of the truth (1Co 2:5-6, 1Co 2:13, 2Ti 3:7).

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 
1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2Ti 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Dan 5:10  Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: 
Dan 5:11  There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
Dan 5:12  Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
Dan 5:13  Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

This queen comes on the scene and brings to Belshazzar’s attention that he should not be troubled because of the dream, seeing there is one who can interpret it, that being Daniel. She, not being able to interpret the dream herself, represents the churches of this world who don’t see the need for God’s judgment upon us in this age, and are not troubled in that regard, and so her advice to the king is ‘don’t worry about anything’, expressed this way: “O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed.“

Her description of Daniel goes back to how Nebuchadnezzar had initially described Daniel referring to “the spirits of the holy gods“, showing us that she, like Nebuchadnezzar, had no idea who the real God was who was giving Daniel the power to do all these works. She goes on to describe the history of Daniel and the excellent spirit within him, but always with a darkened sense of only knowing the outward works and not personally knowing the source of the power that was given to Daniel. The same mindset was found in the king when Daniel was brought before him as evidenced by this verse, “The king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?” His focus is on what his father Nebuchadnezzar did for him, taking him out of captivity and bringing him out of Jewry, and not on God’s power that was working all things according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11).

Dan 5:14  I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. 
Dan 5:15  And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing: 
Dan 5:16  And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Once again, from the same darkened heart that can only see the outward manifestation of Daniel’s gift (1Co 14:22), we hear Belshazzar go on as the queen did in regard to the gifts Daniel has, and how that if he can interpret the writing on the wall, he will be rewarded with rulership, as mentioned in the earlier verses. This is now twice mentioned, witnessing to God’s elect that this story is a type of what He is doing with the body of Christ who will be given rulership over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15) as a result of God’s spirit sealing them “until the redemption of the purchased possession”, giving us the ability to discern the truth and believe: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.“

[being sealed (Eph 1:13-14, Eph 4:30) the resultant fruit of being sealed (Joh 6:26-27, Joh 5:19-20, 1Jn 4:17, Joh 14:12)].

Joh 6:26  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
Joh 6:27  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed [1Jn 4:17].

Joh 5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Joh 5:20  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel [1Jn 4:17, Php 2:12-13].

Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father [1Jn 4:17].

Dan 5:17  Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 

This opening statement of Daniel is akin to this verse in Revelation 19:10 where the servant of God is making clear that he is not a respecter of persons and does not want a gift (Pro 17:23) or adulation for that which is completely a gift given from God (Mat 6:2). Regardless of the message he is going to interpret, good or bad, Daniel goes on to say, “Yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.“

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Pro 17:23  A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

Mat 6:2  Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Dan 5:18  O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 
Dan 5:19  And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 
Dan 5:20  But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 
Dan 5:21  And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

These verses simply recap what we already know about Nebuchadnezzar and are the words to witness against his son who also should know these things, and should have acted accordingly. Of course it was not given to him to do the right thing as he is a type of our old man that, regardless of the history and facts laid out plainly before us, we still rebel and do what we want because of the law of sin in our flesh (Rom 7:14-17). If the Lord is working with us, we will contend less and less if we are His workmanship in this age, being received through His chastening grace (Tit 2:11-12, Heb 12:6).

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 
Rom 7:15  For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 
Rom 7:16  If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 
Rom 7:17  Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 
Rom 7:19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 
Rom 7:21  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

Dan 5:22  And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 
Dan 5:23  But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: 

Now we have the recap of Belshazzar’s actions, and it’s not sounding good at all. There is no evidence of repentance, and Daniel reminds him that the very breath he breathes is a gift of God, typifying the words he speaks are all given by God, like the breath we breathe (Joh 3:27). Belshazzar is left this witness from Daniel of his blindness that does not acknowledge God for past works with his father that God accomplished through him or present works that have been accomplished in his life by God as well, “and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.“ Belshazzar in that regard is twofold more the child of hell (Mat 23:15) than his father was in being self-willed and not acknowledging God’s hand in his life, even with all the evidence to the contrary, past and present, “and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.“

Joh 3:27  John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

Dan 5:24  Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 
Dan 5:25  And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 
Dan 5:26  This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 
Dan 5:27  TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Dan 5:28  PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

These words “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN” are interpreted for us to mean that “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it“, and this was written for our sakes upon whom the end of the ages are come (1Co 10:11). The end of our earthly kingdom that was ruled over by the powers and principalities of this life must come to an end. The king is found wanting just as our old man is found wanting, “TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting“, a kingdom divided against itself that cannot stand (Mar 3:24-26) “PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.“

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Mar 3:24  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Mar 3:25  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Mar 3:26  And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

Dan 5:29  Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
Dan 5:30  In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 
Dan 5:31  And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and the powers that be will willingly give over the kingdom to God’s elect, as symbolized with these words, “Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.“

It is in the night that our old man is killed, being cut off from the light of God’s truth that, as we continue (Joh 8:31-32), we will see the death of our old man in this life, symbolized by this verse, “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.“

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The new king Darius has now come on the scene and he, like Belshazzar, will also be weighed in the balance and in due course be found wanting as well, all telling us that there is a process of judgment that takes our whole lifetime as all these kings are destroyed and found wanting in different and various ways within us. The ‘thou’ in this verse “TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting” is speaking about our old man, and the flesh of mankind who we don’t want to know anymore (Joh 17:15-17, 2Co 5:16). That is what is “weighed in the balances” and “found wanting” (Mar 10:18-21). 

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

Joh 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Mar 10:19  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mar 10:20  And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 
Mar 10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

The Book of Daniel – Dan 2:1-30  My spirit was troubled to know the dream

[Study Aired February 15, 2024]

Dan 2:1  And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
Dan 2:2  Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 
Dan 2:3  And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 
Dan 2:4  Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. 
Dan 2:5  The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 
Dan 2:6  But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 2:7  They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. 
Dan 2:8  The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 
Dan 2:9  But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 2:10  The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
Dan 2:11  And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. 
Dan 2:12  For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 
Dan 2:13  And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 
Dan 2:14  Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: 
Dan 2:15  He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 
Dan 2:16  Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. 
Dan 2:17  Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 
Dan 2:18  That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 
Dan 2:19  Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 
Dan 2:20  Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 
Dan 2:21  And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 
Dan 2:22  He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Dan 2:23  I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter. 
Dan 2:24  Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. 
Dan 2:25  Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. 
Dan 2:26  The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 
Dan 2:27  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;
Dan 2:28  But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; 
Dan 2:29  As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. 
Dan 2:30  But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. 

We are told in God’s word to “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1Co 14:40), and the order of events in Daniel’s life is therefore significant regarding how the Lord prepared him in advance to be made ready to interpret the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 2 of Daniel. What the body of Christ has to do in order to be “ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” is “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts” (1Pe 3:15). The sanctification process is typified by eating the right foods and rejecting the kings food, “the portion of the king’s meat“, which was looked at in chapter 1 of Daniel, and God is the one who is able to sanctify us through Christ who has made that very request of our Father (Joh 17:17) on our behalf so that we can come out of Babylon and be saved by grace through faith, which is a gift of God given to the body of Christ (Eph 2:8).     

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

When God’s word sanctifies us, it prepares our hearts to stand up against the powers and principalities we wrestle against in our heavens (Eph 6:12), typified in this second chapter by king Nebuchadnezzar. Having done all, we stand (Eph 6:13) with a clear conscience and are now able to understand how these next verses in Peter (1Pe 3:16-22) apply to the body of Christ concerning the ‘sanctification of the Lord God in our hearts’ of verse 15 (1Pe 3:15). Daniel’s many fiery experiences in his life, including this one with Nebuchadnezzar, typify for us (1Pe 1:12) what the body of Christ will go through and be blessed to endure through Christ (2Ti 2:10, Php 4:13).

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. [your way of life]
1Pe 3:17  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 
1Pe 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 
1Pe 3:19  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1Pe 3:20  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 
1Pe 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 
1Pe 3:22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Daniel is a type of the elect who has been made ready to suffer for well doing, and his God-given ability to interpret the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar will deliver him and his friends from the king who was intent on killing those who could not interpret these dreams he had. Satan’s goal is to sift us like wheat, but the gates of hell won’t prevail against the body of Christ. However, that does not stop the adversary from doing all that God’s counsel (Eph 1:11) permits, even to the point that he would deceive the very elect if it were possible (Mat 24:24).

The “very elect” of Matthew 24:24 are also represented by Noah who was one of those eight souls preparing the ark at that time. That preparation of the ark represents the sanctification process going on in the body of Christ, who are continuing in the truth (Joh 8:31-32), making us ready for the storms that will come up against us in this life (Act 14:22, Luk 17:26-28). As always we are not looking solely for some dispensational interpretation of what this second chapter talks about, but rather first and foremost, we are asking our Father for the understanding of how these prophecies and events in the life of Daniel apply to us today, right now (1Co 10:11).

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples,[“eight souls were saved by water“] and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

Luk 17:26  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Luk 17:27  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Dan 2:1  And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 
Dan 2:2  Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 

The first signified statement (Rev 1:1) we want to take note of in verse one is that these dreams that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed were in the “second year” of his reign, meaning they are going to witness against something (“wherewith his spirit was troubled“). Sending the word of God results in healing, but as always there is a process that must take place in order for this healing to take full effect in the ones that the words are being sent to and witnessing against (Psa 107:20-22, Isa 55:11).

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 
Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

The prophecies that are connected to the dreams Nebuchadnezzar experienced had ultimately brought him to acknowledge the power of God working in the life of Daniel, seeing he was able to interpret what no one else was able to interpret. Daniel represents the angel of God that is used to help us understand the truth of what remains a hidden sealed parable in our heavens until the Lord brings His messenger or angel to us to show us that the dream is one, simplifying the message (the ‘dream is one’ principle)  for us so that it becomes clear in our heavens. Christ in us, our hope of glory, is that angel who gives us the ability to speak the truth plainly, and speak no proverb  (Rev 22:6, Act 8:31, Gen 41:25, 2Co 11:3, Joh 16:29).

Rev 22:6  And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

Act 8:31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? [the man Christ Jesus (1Ti 2:5, Eph 3:10)] And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

Gen 41:25  And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity^G572 [singleness – the dream is one] that is in Christ. 

G572 haplotēs  hap-lot’-ace

From G573; singleness, that is, (subjectively) sincerity (without dissimulation or self seeking), or (objectively) generosity (copious bestowal): – bountifulness, liberal (-ity), simplicity, singleness.

Total KJV occurrences: 8

God’s sovereign hand was upon Nebuchadnezzar causing these very detailed dreams so that “wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him“, which symbolizes the second part of this verse of John 3:36, “he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Nebuchadnezzar typifies our old man of sin who must be troubled in order for God to get our attention. The dreams that Nebuchadnezzar had got him looking for answers, and like all those that God works with, we must first go into Babylon and seek the counsel of those who have no true spiritual insight, typified by “the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans” that Nebuchadnezzar reached out to, to “shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.“

Dan 2:3  And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 
Dan 2:4  Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. 
Dan 2:5  The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 
Dan 2:6  But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

The Chaldeans coming to the king speaking in Syriack typifies for us how the world hears the world in their own Babylonian language (1Jn 4:5-6). This was a work of God that was not going to be understood or interpreted by the unbelieving who are represented by the Chaldeans and Nebuchadnezzar. Then the severity of God against our old man is expressed through what Nebuchadnezzar says to the Chaldeans, “The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.” These Chaldeans were stopped dead in their tracks with this part of the king’s statement, “The thing is gone from me“, especially seeing the consequence of them not being able to answer it would mean their death. This dream was forgotten and yet the king was insisting that it be remembered and interpreted or they will die. The spiritual lesson for God’s elect is that if the dream that is one is forgotten and not interpreted, we will die in our sins (Joh 8:24).

Then the second part of the sentence, “if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof“, reminds us that the dream can be interpreted by Christ and His Christ who have that great honor, “gifts and rewards and great honour“, of being able to interpret the dream today in order that we might be in that blessed and holy first resurrection as a result of continuing in the truth, enduring to the end of this life (Rev 20:6). The dream will be interpreted by God, and it takes the destruction of our flesh, the “ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill” to happen in order for us to live unto righteousness. Christ has done that for us, and we are now doing that for each other as we follow His exemplary life (1Pe 2:24, Col 1:24). The dream is truly one.

Joh 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Dan 2:7  They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. 
Dan 2:8  The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 
Dan 2:9  But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

These “magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans“, these four representing the whole world, were feigning not hearing him the first time when he said, ‘the dream has left me’, and so they asked again, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.” The king saw through their delaying tactics and basically said, ‘I knew you would take this approach of asking me again and stall for time ,”because ye see the thing is gone from me“.’ In type and shadow, the king is not going to have any part of this carnal reasoning that is trying to preserve its flesh through the wisdom of men and not the power of God (1Co 2:5), so they are between a rock and a hard spot here for our sakes, to show us that it is only God who can make a way where there appears to none (1Co 10:13).

The king then insists that there is only one fate for these lying messengers who “have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me…till the time be changed“, in other words, until the situation just blows over and is no longer a pressing matter. No, he won’t settle for that and so goes on to say, “Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.“

Nebuchadnezzar was being driven to know what these dreams mean, it seems a matter of life and death to him, as it is a matter of spiritual life and death for the body of Christ, “therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof” (Isa 33:6, Joh 10:4-5, Joh 8:31-32). It is this God-given desire to hear the voice of the only true shepherd that can “shew me the interpretation thereof.”

Isa 33:6  And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Joh 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free

This persistence of king Nebuchadnezzar also typifies the zealousness of Christ who was consumed for the temple that we are, wanting to show us what the dream is and the interpretation of it through the zealous work that He is accomplishing through a peculiar and zealous people, who are called, like Christ, to drive out the sheep, the oxen, and pour out the changers’ money and overthrow the tables within us (Joh 2:17, 1Co 3:16, Tit 2:14, Joh 2:14-16). 

Joh 2:14  And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 
Joh 2:15  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 
Joh 2:16  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
Joh 2:17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Dan 2:10  The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
Dan 2:11  And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

These next couple of verses demonstrate for us, in type and shadow, the spirit of antiChrist that is in this world, with such phrases as “there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh” and “there is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter.” This is true; no carnal man can show these things, and we don’t need a carnal man teaching us (1Jn 4:2-4), but we do need to acknowledge that Christ has come in the flesh, and that there is a remnant which God has preserved through His spirit who have the hope of glory within them (Col 1:27) and are, as such, able to interpret the dream and be used of God to overcome the spirit of antiChrist that is in this world (1Jn 2:27-28). Daniel typifies for us just such a man.

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: [Col 1:27, Rom 8:9]
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 
1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 
1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; [Joh 8:31-32] that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Dan 2:12  For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
Dan 2:13  And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 

Nebuchadnezzar, at this stage of the story, represents the beast with the ten horns that hates the whore, represented by “the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans” typifying Babylon or the church systems of this world, false prophets who cannot be of any help to the king (Rev 17:16).

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 

Dan 2:14  Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: 
Dan 2:15  He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. 
Dan 2:16  Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation. 
Dan 2:17  Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 
Dan 2:18  That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 
Dan 2:19  Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Daniel is now sent forth “with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard“, wanting to stay the hand of Nebuchadnezzar who planned to “slay the wise men of Babylon.” This reminds us that God must send forth His word to bring about healing (Psa 107:20), and He does this through His little fold, typified by Daniel in this instance, who asked this question of “Arioch the captain of the king’s guard…Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.”

Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Daniel typifies for us what we must do to stay the wrath of God against us, as we cry out day and night for each other to be avenged (Luk 18:7) and are heard in that we feared God as Christ did on this earth (Heb 5:7). These events with Daniel going to Arioch typify for us ‘kissing the son now lest he be angry’ of Psalm 2:12. Daniel was asking and seeking and knocking, as we should in our pursuit of truth, and his diligence was rewarded, and he was given the audience with the king he needed in order to ask, “that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.“

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 

Psa 2:12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. 

After Daniel made this request to Arioch (whose name means ‘lion like’), he made the situation known to his three companions, “Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions.” This typifies for us how we need the body of Christ, each member to be a joint supplying in love, praying fervently for each other prayers that will avail much (Jas 5:16). The three men demonstrate that we are in this process together as one body, with the same spirit that is offering up these prayers like incense day and night (Rev 8:4, Rev 4:8). 

Rev 8:4  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. 

Rev 4:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 

It is after Daniel goes to his companions and asks of them, “That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon” that “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Then and not before! (our old man has to be dead, symbolized by sleep, in order to perceive the spiritual instructions God gives us in this life [Job 33:14-18])

Job 33:14  For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 
Job 33:15  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 
Job 33:16  Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 
Job 33:17  That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 
Job 33:18  He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

Dan 2:20  Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 
Dan 2:21  And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 
Dan 2:22  He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Dan 2:23  I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

Now Daniel offers up the sacrifice of thanksgiving to God, acknowledging Him as being the One who has given the wisdom and might that are His to give (Rev 7:12). He also acknowledges the sovereignty of God and that He is the Father of lights who gives every good and perfect gift from heaven (Jas 1:17) by saying, “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.” He goes on to show how God answers us so abundantly above what we can ask or think (Eph 3:20) with this sentence, “He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” Daniel then thanks and praises God who has given him “wisdom and might“, and made known to him what he desired of Him; this all pointing to a type of the elect whose praise is continually upon our lips for His mercy and love toward us in this age, revealing great mysteries to us that prophets and kings have desired to know and have not known (Heb 13:15, Luk 10:24).

Heb 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Luk 10:24  For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Dan 2:24  Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation. 
Dan 2:25  Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. 
Dan 2:26  The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 
Dan 2:27  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; 
Dan 2:28  But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; 

These last verses we will look at tonight see Daniel going to Arioch whom Nebuchadnezzar ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon beseeching him to “Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.” Daniel is then brought before the king in haste as one of the captives of Judah, symbolizing for us that when we are slaves to Christ, living sacrifices whose whole lives are dedicated to His service, we are then given the spiritual riches we need through Him to accomplish the works God has called us to in this age (Php 4:19).

Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

The king asks Daniel if he can make known the dream and the interpretation thereof, and then Daniel gives a very clear witness for our sakes, to make known where this understanding and interpretation are coming from. Firstly, he tells them there is no revelation in the earth that is going to benefit him, “The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king” and then contrasts that declaration with, “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these.“

Dan 2:29  As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
Dan 2:30  But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

The thoughts of the king were given to Nebuchadnezzar upon his bed, a place that symbolizes where we are spiritually asleep and not able to rightly divide and discern the vision and dream that are one, unless the Lord sends the prophet of God to us who also received his vision in a dream and by the grace of God was able to understand the dream. The king in the earth is receiving knowledge and dreams that he is not permitted to remember so that Daniel, the servant of God, can come along to say, “But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.“

This is the heritage of the saints being discussed here in type and shadow, as Saviors will come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau (Oba 1:21) with the knowledge that they have been blessed to read, hear and keep in this life for the sake of others, to a world that has been spiritually asleep and deceived by the devil (Rev 1:3, Isa 26:9, 2Co 4:4). God ultimately gives us that knowledge for the sake of others “that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart“.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

Isa 54:16  Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 
Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment [the great white throne judgment (Rev 20:6)] thou shalt condemn [Rev 20:10-12]. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

In the next study we will get into the actual dreams and their meaning for the body of Christ today (Dan 2:31-49).

The Book of Daniel – Dan 1:8-21, Daniel Would not Defile Himself with the King’s Meat

[Study Aired February 8, 2024]

Dan 1:8  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 
Dan 1:9  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 
Dan 1:10  And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 
Dan 1:11  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 
Dan 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 
Dan 1:13  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 
Dan 1:14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 
Dan 1:15  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 
Dan 1:16  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 
Dan 1:17  As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 
Dan 1:18  Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 
Dan 1:19  And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 
Dan 1:20  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 
Dan 1:21  And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

When we are desirous of the Lord’s meat as discussed last week, for His words, His truth, His portion, His will in our lives (Eph 5:17) as typified by Daniel not wanting to be defiled with “the portion of the king’s meat (Babylon Isa 3:1)” but rather wanting only to eat what he knew would be healthier for him and Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, we are in fact being blessed to be given that hunger and thirst for God, a “hunger and thirst” which is “after righteousness“ that “shall be filled” (Mat 5:6) as we are dragged to Christ whose “flesh is meat indeed” and whose “blood is drink indeed” (Joh 6:44, Joh 6:55). 

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

God makes a way where there seems to be none in each of our lives (Isa 43:19) as our sufficiency in God is found in Him through Christ (2Co 3:5, 2Co 9:8, Eph 2:10). God’s purpose for His people is being fulfilled by way of consuming our old Adamic nature, represented by the first temple, and building a new creation that will stand forever (Joh 2:19-21). We are standing healthy before the King when we are granted to fulfill His will which is accomplished by eating His words (1Jn 2:16-17, Rev 19:8, Rev 10:10).

2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

2Co 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

The Hebrew word in the opening verse of our study for “purposed” is H7760 which means “to put.” If we look at the ABP+ we read this: “And Daniel put^G5087 unto”^{G1909 G3588} and then if we go to these new covenant verses that use the number G1909 (Mar 1:10, Mat 4:4, Mat 12:18), we see how God’s will is purposed in every man’s life (Eph 1:11), as every man, not just those who have God’s spirit within them (Rom 8:9, Col 1:27), but every man who lives and moves and has their being in Christ (Act 17:28) is having God’s will purposed in their lives to be exactly what that book was written to be, what He has put upon our hearts (Joh 3:27, Jer 20:9, Jer 29:11) whether that person is one who has become a vessel of honor in God’s house or whether that person remains in a state of dishonor, not having the wood, hay and stubble burned out of them in this life (2Ti 2:20-21, Heb 6:1-3).  It is God who purposes and determines these things from the foundation of the world to His glory and for His purpose (Rom 9:22, Mat 20:8).

The difference between God’s will being fulfilled in the lives of those who are called and chosen, and Lord willing, faithful to the end, is that God’s will in the lives of the elect is being “done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mat 6:10), as opposed to God’s purpose or will for mankind being fulfilled on the earth and in the earth, in carnal minds that are not being transformed or conformed to the image of Christ in this life, and so Paul begs us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable (Eph 1:6), and perfect^G5046, will of God“, which is another way speaking of the fidelity to God’s word that we are always striving for with one mind and one spirit found in Christ (Rom 12:1-2, 1Co 2:16). In type and shadow this verse (Dan 1:8) is telling us the same thing as Romans 12:1-2. 

H7760 “Purposed“ śûm    śı̂ym soom, seem  [untoG1909 G3588 ABP+]

A primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literally, figuratively, inferentially and elliptically): –    X any wise, appoint, bring, call [a name], care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, + disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, + name, X on, ordain, order, + paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), + regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, + stedfastly, take, X tell, + tread down, ([over-]) turn, X wholly, work.

Total KJV occurrences: 580

Dan 1:8  And^G2532 Daniel put^G5087 unto^{G1909 G3588} his heart so as in no way he should be polluted in the table of the king, and in the wine of his banquet. And he petitioned the chief eunuch so that in no way he should be polluted. [ABP+]

Mar 1:10  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon^G1909 him:

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by^G1909 bread alone, but by^G1909 every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (1Co 15:46). [The natural is represented by the “bread alone” that precedes the spiritual “bread of life” (Joh 6:48) which is “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” That natural experience that precedes the spiritual cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, but is a means to an end [worm to butterfly (1Co 15:50)].

Mat 12:18  Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon^G1909 him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

In this section of Daniel we will see how the Lord can preserve His saints in Babylon, and create circumstances for our favor in this life as He did with Joseph in prison (Gen 39:21) and with Daniel who found favor as well with the “prince of the eunuchs” by God’s mercy (Dan 1:9). The lesson to be learned in all of this, both with Joseph and Daniel, is that the word of God was going to be preserved in type and shadow in the lives of those with whom God was working, as it is literally being preserved in the lives of those today who have those words of eternal life (Joh 6:68) given to them by God which are sanctifying us (Joh 17:17-19).

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
Joh 17:19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Christ is directing us (Php 2:12-13) as our head, the author and finisher of our faith who we are told to confidently believe will finish this work of faith within us (Php 1:6). That work involves purifying those words of life in this age (1Pe 1:7). A type and shadow of that purifying process is being shown throughout the chapters of Daniel and admonishes us today to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (Act 14:22, Luk 22:32, 1Pe 5:7-11). 

Dan 1:8  But Daniel purposed^H7760 in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

What Daniel purposed in his heart to do was of the Lord, as we read in Proverbs 16:1 which says, “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.” ‘Coming out of her my people’ is accomplished by savoring the things of God and not the “king’s meat…nor with the wine which he drank” (Mat 16:23, 2Co 2:14). God prepared Daniel to make this request “of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself“, and it symbolizes our resisting the devil (Jas 4:7) and tearing down the spiritual strongholds, through Christ, in our lives (Eph 6:11-12, 2Co 10:4-5) so that we can, like Daniel, “not defile [our]self with the portion of the king’s meat.” As mentioned, the positive example of meat and drink is symbolized by the body and blood of Christ which represent the undefiled word of God, the altar that we are blessed to eat at in advance of the world who serve us in their unbelief  (2Co 4:15, Heb 13:10).

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 
2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 

Dan 1:9  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 

God’s work moves forward because of God’s favor, as demonstrated with this verse where we read, “God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.” There was a softening of hearts happening here so that this dialogue and relationship could even begin to bear the fruit of which we are going to read in the following few verses. This reminds us again that all things are for our sakes and that God will not withhold anything from us that is not for our good, and the goodness of God is working a work in Christ’s body that is leading to salvation (Eph 1:7, Eph 3:16, Php 4:19).

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Eph 3:16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Dan 1:10  And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

Daniel having a friendship with this prince of the eunuchs who knew that the king’s meat and drink would not be good for him was God’s way of preserving Daniel. This preservation by way of taking on the food that Daniel would eat, as opposed to eating the king’s meat and drink typifies for us what we read in Hebrews 13:10, which states, “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.” God miraculously changes the circumstances in our lives so that we don’t defile ourselves “with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.”

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 

Those who are moved to labor and serve the tabernacle represent the churches of Babylon, as does this “prince of the eunuchs“, and it is God who gives Babylon the wisdom they have that ends up benefiting the body of Christ at an appointed time. The prince of the eunuchs in this story is like the unjust steward in Luke 16:8 who is commended by Christ “because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” In this case, the “prince of the eunuchs” was saving both his own life and helping his friend Daniel by making that wise observation about the king’s food.

Luk 16:7  Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. 
Luk 16:8  And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light [1Co 1:26-27].
Luk 16:9  And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

As the story goes, the prince of the eunuchs believed that the king would kill him if the health of Daniel or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was to fail, and not compare to that of their own people. This story reminds God’s elect how “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28). This story reveals how Daniel, like ourselves, had to be shown favor with God in order to “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.“

Dan 1:11  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 
Dan 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 

The ten days period of proving the servants represents our carnal fleshly minds that need to be put off, and that is done by staying in the word of God, or walking in the spirit and not making provision for the flesh (Rom 8:1, Rom 8:4, Gal 5:16, Gal 5:25-26, Joh 6:63). The pulse and water represent the true nourishment that can only come from God’s word. The pulse and water in this instance are the starting source of nourishment, the sincere milk of the word that we are to desire and grow thereby (1Pe 2:2). 

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Gal 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 

Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Melzar, like Babylon, is set over us as he was over “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” and is going to witness a transformation that will take ten days, which also parallels the thought that we bring in the whole tithe, the tenth that represents our whole life, in order to lay up store in God’s house through this proving process (Mal 3:10).

Mal 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Babylon does not know that God is preparing to take us from being a servant to an heir of God, who is a mature son (G5206: uihothesia hwee-oth-es-ee’-ah Gal 4:1-5, Rom 8:21), but it is happening, and the nourishment is making its way to us by God opening our heavens to begin to start growing in faith which comes from hearing the word in ears and eyes that are being blessed to do just that (Rom 10:17, Mat 13:16). He sets a table in the presence of our enemies that they cannot see and partake of at this time as was the case with “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” (Heb 13:10, Psa 23:5).

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Dan 1:13   Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 
Dan 1:14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 
Dan 1:15  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 
Dan 1:16  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 

God accomplishes what He does through His children so we can be the light of the world, which is what this verse is a shadow of. It is after we have done all that we can that we can stand (Eph 6:13) and be a witness for Christ in this life as He prepares the bride for that very reason to “let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.“

A tree is known by its fruit and after “the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.” This came by way of the miraculous relationship God created so that Melzar would take “away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

Dan 1:17  As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 

These four children have been given everything they have from God who is the giver of “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” The gift of learning and wisdom and the understanding of visions and dreams are purposed for God’s people who will need this manifested in their lives in order to go on to maturity. The gift must grow and has a starting point that, God willing, will reach a mature point which will aid in bringing forth spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22) that must accompany the gift, or that gift or talent will just remain buried in the earth, part of the many wonderful works that are not accompanied with the selfless spirit of God that gives us the ability to lay up treasure in heaven by His righteousness working in our heavens (2Pe 3:18,  Mat 12:33, 1Co 12:31).

Jas 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 

Mat 12:33  Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

1Co 12:31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way [The more excellent way (1Co 13:1-13)].

Dan 1:18  Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

These last few verses demonstrate again how God requires a witness from His people against the evil days in which we are living, “Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in” (Luk 24:48, Mat 13:11).

Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

We are brought to Nebuchadnezzar by the hand of the “prince of the eunuchs” again showing us how God will provide comfort and strength and amiable circumstances through His holy spirit to accomplish this needed witness (Mar 13:11)

Mar 13:11  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Dan 1:19  And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 
Dan 1:20  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 
Dan 1:21  And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

This section of scripture is foreshadowing what the elect will do to the world when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ (Rev 11:15). There will be none found like those who are resurrected in that blessed and holy first resurrection, typified here by Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The bride, in other words, will be made ready to manifest the knowledge of God in a manner that the world will not be able to deny has come from Him (Luk 2:42-47, Mat 16:17-19).

Luk 2:42  And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 
Luk 2:43  And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
Luk 2:44  But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 
Luk 2:45  And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
Luk 2:46  And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 
Luk 2:47  And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 
Mat 16:19  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

There being “in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them,” found to be “ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm” also reminds us that the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God (1Co 3:18-23) and that we are not to “glory in men”, for all things are yours.

1Co 3:18  Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 
1Co 3:19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 
1Co 3:20  And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 
1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

In the last verse of our study, the signified words of scripture remind us that establishing righteousness in the earth takes time, and that we must continue in the truth (Isa 26:9, Joh 8:31-32). “And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.” The first year in this instance represents the judgment of the Lord that is going to be established through the wisdom and knowledge of God that will be manifest through the church (Eph 3:10) and will put an end to the lies and strong delusion of Babylon in the heavens of mankind symbolized by “all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.“

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Daniel 1:1-7 Carried into the Land of Shinar to the House of his God

[Study Aired February 1, 2024]

God’s elect can understand the prophetic messages in the book of Daniel by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1Co 2:7-13). It is by looking at the natural events that lay the groundwork for us, and comparing spiritual with spiritual, that we can understand the hidden meaning of all the symbolic places, peoples, times, dreams and events that have been hiding from the world today and given to God’s children to rightly divide “by His spirit” that gives us the honor of searching out those things to the glory of God (Pro 25:2). 

Those truths were no less hidden from Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:26) and even Daniel himself who was told “Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Dan 12:9-10). Daniel’s revelation of the dream to Nebuchadnezzar is a type and shadow of how the elect by the spirit of God can rightly divide the word and see those seals opened in our life through Christ at “the time of the end”, which is another way of saying the day of the Lord when Christ comes into the temple we are (1Co 3:16) to open the seals which have been hidden from all the generations until God’s holy spirit was given on Pentecost to take away that blindness (Rev 5:5-10). 

God’s word is spoken in a mystery

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

[Those who love God are those who are blessed to read, hear and keep the sayings of the prophecy (Rev 1:3), including the commandments of God which demonstrate our love toward God and each other (1Jn 5:2-3)] 

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Those books are being opened now if Christ is dwelling within us as our hope of glory (Col 1:27) as He prevails “to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” He is our wisdom (1Co 1:30) and the author and finisher of our faith (Php 1:6).

1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The vision of all

What we do know and believe is that “the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed“, so of course all the book [the whole bible] is prophetic and sealed (Isa 29:10-11) just as Isaiah was told, and as Daniel was told with these words, “shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Dan 12:4). 

Isa 29:10  For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
Isa 29:11  And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Physical knowledge and spiritual knowledge is increasing, but to whom God has given that spiritual knowledge is only typified by the prophets who prophesied not to themselves but to us (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11). Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that this knowledge would come from God who would make known the interpretation of the dream for Daniel to give to Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:22, Rev 1:3, Mat 13:16-17). This witness of Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar is a type of how the manifest knowledge would be made known through the church (Eph 3:10) and preached in all nations until the end of the age (Mat 24:14). In both Daniel 12 and Revelation 12 we are told what God will do in the church through Christ (Dan 12:1, Rev 12:7, Php 2:12-13) both to will and to do, and all according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11).

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Dan 1:1  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
Dan 1:2  And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

The siege that took place by Nebuchadnezzar was in “the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim” which demonstrates that there is a process of judgment [3] that is about to unfold upon the nation of Judah. It is the Lord who gives us over to our enemies at an appointed time, “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand” (Pro 16:4). This captivity of Judah represents our time of being held captive by our Babylonian captors, and yet if we are God’s elect determined from the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-4), we will go into that captivity God has purposed with “part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.” This is all telling God’s people that we must go into Babylon to ‘come out of her my people’ and yet He is always with us providing and protecting the manchild that will, at an appointed time, come out from under the tutors and governors, the schoolmaster that is being symbolized by this captivity of Judah into “the land of Shinar to the house of his god” where we bring “the vessels into the treasure house of his god” (Gal 4:1-3).

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Gal 4:1  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 

Dan 1:3  And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 
Dan 1:4  Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 
Dan 1:5  And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 

Here we have king Nebuchadnezzar speaking to Ashpenaz,^H828 who is a Babylonian eunuch that represents Babylon today with no stay of bread or water, no ability to be born again or mature in Christ (Isa 3:1, Joh 3:3), and Nebuchadnezzar asks him “that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes.“

We are brought into a relationship with another Jesus (2Co 11:4) is what this symbolizes, and it is all ordained by God to take “of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes.” So we are compelled by God’s hand to go into Babylon as one of “the king’s seed, and of the princes” (Gal 3:16). Christ is our sufficiency in this life (2Co 3:5), even in our immature status in Babylon where we come behind in no gift as demonstrated by this verse where we read the seed was “skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans” (1Co 1:7, 1Co 3:3).

While we are in Babylon we are promised liberty by the food of the king, with the end goal of being healthy and able to stand before him. “The king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.” This is the lie of Babylon that cannot bring us to perfection (2Pe 2:19) and is an experience of evil we must go through to bring us to our wits’ end, and then, Lord willing, be given a hunger for the true manna from heaven like the prodigal sons that we are, if called and chosen in this age to be brought to that place of ‘coming to yourself’ in Babylon (Luk 15:17). We come to ourselves by the grace of God and realize that three years of being nourished by the meat and wine of this king is nothing less than empty calories, no stay of bread or water (Isa 3:1). As such we would never be able to stand before the true King with such a diet (Rev 6:17, Eph 6:11-13).

2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 

Luk 15:17  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

These children represent the elect who have “no blemish“, meaning no condemnation in Christ (Rom 8:1), and are “well favoured” to have the life of Christ within us as Mary was told about herself by the angel (Luk 1:28).

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Luk 1:28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

God has called His people to be witnesses of these things from the foundation of the world symbolized by the way that the children of Judah were infiltrated into a Babylonian system that God purposed for a season until His people were called out from among them (Luk 24:48-49, 2Co 6:17-18).

Luk 24:48  And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luk 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Dan 1:6  Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 
Dan 1:7  Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

Verse 6 is interpreted by verse 7, as seen in the meaning of the names of “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah” to become “Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.”  These men represent the seed of the woman that goes into Babylon and comes out of her by the grace of God (Rev 18:4). 

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

God knows those who are His, and they are given a new name, even from the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-4), and even as they are going into Babylon to soon be called out of it by the hand of God (Hos 11:1). Four men going into Babylon also represent the whole world that has gone into Babylonian captivity represented by Adam and Eve being driven out into the wilderness (Gen 2:23-24). “Belteshazzar”, “Shadrach”, “Meshach” and “Abednego” typify therefore the whole world who will be reinstated to partake of the tree of life (representing the life of Christ) that is in the midst of the paradise of God (Rev 2:7).

Gen 2:23  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

All mankind start off with a carnal name, the mark and name of the beast (Rev 13:17) that is represented by the whole four names “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah“ and represent the seed that has to fall into the ground and die and become a new creation represented by the names “Belteshazzar“, “Shadrach“, “Meshach” and “Abednego.” It is through the destruction of the old that the new man is born, and so in type and shadow we see in Daniel 3:26 where “Shadrach“, “Meshach“ and “Abednego“, along with “Christ” our new name (Act 9:4-6), are being purified in the fiery furnace, through a process of judgment [3] that Christ [1] is working within his elect both to will and to do of His good pleasure, as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:11-12). Daniel is a type of Christ in that regard as well, making up the fourth man in this group of three Hebrew men. He is kind of the head of the group, at least the first mentioned of the group of men typifying Christ, who is our head who has preeminence in all things (1Co 11:3, Col 1:18).

1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

First names and seond names

Daniel = “God is my judge” to “Belteshazzar” = “lord of the straitened’s treasure”

Hananiah = “God has favoured” to “Shadrach“= “royal” or “the great scribe”

Mishael = “who is what God is” to “Meshach” = “guest of a king”

Azariah = “Jehovah has helped” to “Abednego” = “servant of Nebo”   let him be servant of all

Daniel = “God is my judge” to “Belteshazzar” = “lord of the straitened’s treasure”:

The body of Christ must be judged by God in this age in order to make strait the ways of the Lord in the wilderness of this life which is the progression being shown with the names Daniel and Belteshazzar.

Hananiah = “God has favoured” to “Shadrach”  “royal” or “the great scribe”

God’s children are shown God’s grace or favor in this life. That favor is demonstrated by His judgment upon us that teaches us to forsake ungodliness and worldly riches in this life (Tit 2:11-12, Heb 12:6). Through Christ we become a royal priesthood (1Pe 2:9) and his scribes who have the honor of knowing His words are eternal, that we read, hear and keep (Rev 1:3) and will be sought after by all of humanity in time (Joh 6:68, Joh 15:20-22).

Mishael = “who is what God is” to “Meshach” = “guest of a king”

The Jews wanted to stone Christ for making Himself out to be the Son of God, which is another way of saying “who is what God is”, and we read Christ’s answer to their explaining why they felt he should be stoned in these verses (Joh 10:33-38). 

Joh 10:33  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 
Joh 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?  (Luk 3:38)
Joh 10:35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Joh 10:37  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
Joh 10:38  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Adam was the son of God (Luk 3:38), so in that way all mankind are sons of God. God is concerned with our spirit however, and when we are subject to the devil we are still sons of God, but of our father the devil (Joh 8:37, Joh 8:39) who was a murderer from the beginning (Rom 6:16). 

Joh 8:37  I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 
Joh 8:38  I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

If we become a new creation in this life through Christ our spirits are changed, a new heart is given, and we become a “guest of a king” invited to the wedding supper to partake of His life (Rev 19:9). We see God’s love toward us in that when we were yet sinners He died for us and came to us and was our guest (Rom 5:8-10, Luk 19:5-7). 

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 
Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 
Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Luk 19:5  And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Luk 19:6  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
Luk 19:7  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

Azariah = “Jehovah has helped” to “Abednego” = “servant of Nebo”  let him be servant of all

The mostly unknown ultimate goal for all of humanity is to be as Christ who thought it not robbery to be equal with God (1Jn 4:17, Php 2:6), the servant as his master (Mat 10:24, Joh 14:28), and it is only through our Father and Christ that this goal can be obtained (Joh 14:20) as He is our helper, and we are His workmanship that is being fashioned into a new creation that fits perfectly into God’s plan, because He is the one who put us there to be blessed to learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Psa 54:4, Psa 127:1, Eph 2:10, Act 20:35). 

Next week we will look at Daniel 1:8-21, a section of scripture that is very much a type and shadow event of how we are to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise (Eph 5:15-16), “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Eph 5:15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

When we are desirous of the Lord’s meat, His words, His truth, His portion, His will in our lives (Eph 5:17) as typified by Daniel not wanting to be defiled with “the portion of the king’s meat [Babylon (Isa 3:1)]” but rather he wanted to eat what he knew would be healthier for him and Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. This dietary carefulness on Daniel’s part typifies for us a blessed people being given a “hunger and thirst after righteousness” for the true bread of life Jesus Christ (Mat 5:6) who satiates God’s people today in fulfilling the will of God in our lives, consuming the old man, the first temple, and building a new creation that will stand forever (Joh 2:19-21). We are standing healthy before the King when we fulfill His will (1Jn 2:16-17).

Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Joh 2:19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21  But he spake of the temple of his body.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: [the first temple Forty and six years [6+4= 10 flesh]] but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever [Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. A process of judgment [3] is needed to create a new temple (1Pe 4:17), his body that will last forever (1Co 3:16]. 

In our next study we will examine this next section of Daniel:

Dan 1:8  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
Dan 1:9  Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 
Dan 1:10  And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
Dan 1:11  Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
Dan 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
Dan 1:13  Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
Dan 1:14  So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
Dan 1:15  And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 
Dan 1:16  Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 
Dan 1:17  As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Dan 1:18  Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan 1:19  And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 
Dan 1:20  And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
Dan 1:21  And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Dan 6:1-28 And They Brought Daniel, and Cast Him into the Den of Lions

[Study Aired December 20, 2021]

Dan 6:1  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 
Dan 6:2  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. 
Dan 6:3  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. 
Dan 6:4  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 
Dan 6:5  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 
Dan 6:6  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 
Dan 6:7  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 
Dan 6:8  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 
Dan 6:9  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 
Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 
Dan 6:11  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 
Dan 6:12  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 
Dan 6:13  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 
Dan 6:14  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 
Dan 6:15  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 
Dan 6:16  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 
Dan 6:17  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 
Dan 6:18  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. 
Dan 6:19  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 
Dan 6:20  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 
Dan 6:21  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 
Dan 6:22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 
Dan 6:23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 
Dan 6:24  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 
Dan 6:25  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 
Dan 6:26  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 
Dan 6:27  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 
Dan 6:28  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 

This chapter focuses on the need for the Lord’s chosen or elect to be cast into the den of lions and the mighty hand of the Lord to deliver us in our affliction so that nothing shall by any means hurt us.

Luk 10:19  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 
Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Dan 6:1  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; 

Darius here represents our Lord Jesus Christ, and both the princes and the number one hundred and twenty, signify the elect.

Act 1:15  And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

The number one hundred and twenty also signifies the time in our lives when our strength has failed, and we are able to rest in the Lord. This means that the elect are those who have no confidence in the flesh and are relying on the Lord.

Deu 31:2  And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

This verse is telling us that presently it is the Lord’s pleasure to set us up (the new man) to rule over the kingdom of the nations within. In the fullness of time, however, our Lord Jesus will set us over the kingdoms of this world.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Dan 6:2  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
Dan 6:3  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

The three presidents signify the Lord Jesus Christ and His two witnesses, who represent His bride. So, as His elect, we are both the princes and presidents with Jesus as the preferred above the presidents and princes to whom we are to give account. The fact that there are three presidents is to let us know that it is through judgment, or the furnace of affliction, that we are chosen to reign with Christ.

Isa 48:10  Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

In verse 3, Daniel represents the Lord whom God has set over the whole of His realm and is preferred above us (presidents and princes) because He has an excellent spirit.

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:4  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Within us the new man has an excellent spirit and is preferred above the old man to reign within us.

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Outwardly, verse 3 is saying that at the end of this age, we shall be preferred, just like Daniel, above the presidents and princes of this world as our king Jesus will set us over the kingdoms of this world.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Dan 6:4  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Dan 6:5  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

In a negative context, the presidents and princes represent the heathen and the kings of the earth. The kings of the earth are the leaders of Babylon, the churches of this world. Remember that earth symbolizes the people of God who do not hear the words of the Lord and therefore represents Babylon.

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

As the Lord said, in this world we shall be hated by men (heathens and our brothers and sisters in Babylon). The evil scheming of the presidents and princes against Daniel, as depicted by verses 4 and 5, is therefore the same as the following:

Psa 2:1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Psa 2:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Psa 2:3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Psa 2:4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Psa 2:5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Psa 2:6  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Dan 6:6  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 
Dan 6:7  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Dan 6:8  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
Dan 6:9  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

As our Lord prophesied, we shall be hated by men. This conspiracy against Daniel, who represents the Lord’s anointed, by the presidents, princes, governors, counsellors and the captains is an example of being hated by men, and it is written here for our admonition.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

The decree signed by the king says that anyone who petitions any God or man for thirty days apart from the king should be put in the lions’ den. To understand the significance of this decree, we need to know what thirty days and the den of lions stand for. Thirty days or years symbolize the time that we become mature to be enrolled in the service of our Lord. It is also the time that our new man within rules us or dominates us.

Num 4:3  From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Num 4:23  From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Gen 41:46  And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

The den of lions represents the noisome beast which is one of God’s four sore judgments.

Eze 14:21  For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

Noisome means evil, and so we have evil beasts as one of God’s judgments. As we are aware, we are this evil beast. This evil beast kills by the sword and must be killed by the sword. The sword is the word of God, so these evil beasts represent the propagators of the word of God in Babylon whose words make us worse off or kill us spiritually.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9  If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

The following verses show what happens to us when we are given to evil beasts or cast unto the den of lions:

2Pe 2:12  But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2Pe 2:13  And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
2Pe 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
2Pe 2:15  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pe 2:16  But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
2Pe 2:17  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

In summary, this is what we are being told in Daniel chapter 6 verses 6 to 9:  It is written in the books of every elect that before we become mature to perform service in the house of our Lord, represented by thirty days, we are required to petition only the king (Christ) and not any other god. If we flout this rule, then it provides the occasion the Lord is seeking to judge us by giving us over to the dictates of evil beasts (being cast into a den of lions) where we become worse off than when we started.

Dan 6:10  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 
Dan 6:11  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Dan 6:12  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 
Dan 6:13  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

These verses show us that Daniel flouted the law that requires that no man petition any God except the king who represents Christ. Even though Daniel willfully flouted this rule, we know from the scriptures that we do not choose to do anything in this world of our own volition, and all our actions are of the Lord.

Jer 10:23  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

This means that it is the Lord who caused Daniel to go against the law so that Daniel can be put into the den of lions to serve as an example for all elect that we can mature (represented by thirty days), only when we go through judgment.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

There is no exception to the rule. All must be judged once we go against the law of the Lord.

Jer 49:12  For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.

As the law states, we are only to petition the Lord Jesus (symbolized by the king) during the days of our immaturity. However, we end up petitioning other gods instead of Christ. In the case of Daniel, just for the fact that he did not petition God through Christ, he is also guilty. In this sense, all the Old Testament prophets and men of God did not petition God through Christ and therefore are all guilty and therefore need to be judged before they can be perfected.

Heb 11:39  And these all [Old Testament men of God], having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Dan 6:14  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
Dan 6:15  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 
Dan 6:16  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

These verses are to show us that our Lord feels our pain and all that we go through. He does not leave us alone to suffer.

Psa 103:13  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
Psa 103:14  For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Daniel being thrown in the den of lions means that he experienced God’s judgment just like the Lord Jesus, who never sinned, was judged for our sakes.

Dan 6:17  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 

On a positive note, a stone represents Christ and His Christ or elect.

Psa 118:22  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pe 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1Pe 2:7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

A stone, in a negative context, signifies all that resists Christ in our lives. This is demonstrated by Pharoah and his chariots being cast into the sea like a stone. Within us, this stone represents the beast that resists Christ in our lives.

Exo 15:4  Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
Exo 15:5  The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
Exo 15:16  Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

So what verse 17 is inferring is that as long as the beast is alive in our lives which are represented by the stone laid at the mouth of the lions’ den, we shall undergo judgment (the lions’ den). It is when the stone is moved away, that is, when the old man is incapacitated, that our judgment ceases.

Dan 6:18  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. 

This verse is re-emphasizing the point we have already made that our Lord feels our pain in all that we go through.

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Dan 6:19  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 
Dan 6:20  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 
Dan 6:21  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 
Dan 6:22  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Daniel’s response to the king that God had sent His angels to shut the lions’ mouth and that they have not hurt him is another way of saying that with every temptation, our Lord provides a way of escape so that we can bear it.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

In verse 22, Daniel told the king that he was innocent and that before the king, he had not hurt him. Does it mean that Daniel is trusting in his self-righteousness as Job did? No, we need to know the condition under which Daniel made this statement. Daniel had gone through many trials from his tender age when he was whisked away from his parents and Jerusalem to a foreign land. We must also understand that Daniel spoke these words of innocence after judgment (lions’ den) and not before. This means that our judgment makes us innocent before God and that we do not keep on hurting our Lord by our way of life. It is another way of saying that our judgment yields righteousness.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Dan 6:23  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

Our judgment is not to hurt us. Rather, it benefits us by making us the beloved of the Lord as we live by His words. It is when we learn righteousness that our Lord will command our judgement to cease.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Dan 6:24  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. 

On one hand, our judgment is achieving salvation for us. On the other hand, the suffering of those who are not given to know the mind of Christ in this life hardens their heart and makes them worse off or sends them into more darkness. It is just like the word of God. To us, we are getting more understanding, and to others, it is sending them into more darkness.

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 

Dan 6:25  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 
Dan 6:26  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. 

The decree has already gone out throughout the world that we were created to be to the praise of His glory and that men should tremble and fear the Lord. However, the sum of the Lord’s words makes us know that in this life, it is only a few He is causing to tremble and fear Him. In the fullness of time, all humanity will tremble and fear the Lord.

Rev 7:9  After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Rev 7:11  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 
Rev 7:12  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 
Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev 7:15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Dan 6:27  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 

The Lord working signs and wonders relates to taking us through His judgment to purify us and bring us into our safe haven.

Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Dan 6:28  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

The name Darius means ‘lord’, and it refers to several kings of Media and Persia. Cyrus, on the other hand, means ‘possess thou the furnace’. Therefore, this verse is another way of telling us that all things work together for the good of our Lord’s elect, who are represented here by Daniel.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

What we are being told in verse 28 is that irrespective of those ruling over us or changes in our environment, it is the hand of the Lord at work and will finally work things out for our good. Possessing the furnace is being prepared to suffer for the sake of Christ. Paul gave us an example of what it means to be prepared to suffer for Christ by making the following statement in his speech to the elders at Ephesus:

Act 20:22  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Act 20:23  Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
Act 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

May the Lord give us the strength to say, like Paul, that none of these things (our afflictions) move us. Amen!!

Dan 5:1-31  Thou art Weighed in the Balances and Found Wanting

[Study Aired December 13, 2021]

Dan 5:1  Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 
Dan 5:2  Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. 
Dan 5:3  Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 
Dan 5:4  They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 
Dan 5:5  In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 
Dan 5:6  Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. 
Dan 5:7  The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
Dan 5:8  Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. 
Dan 5:9  Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. 
Dan 5:10  Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: 
Dan 5:11  There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 
Dan 5:12  Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. 
Dan 5:13  Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? 
Dan 5:14  I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. 
Dan 5:15  And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing: 
Dan 5:16  And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
Dan 5:17  Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
Dan 5:18  O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: 
Dan 5:19  And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. 
Dan 5:20  But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 
Dan 5:21  And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
Dan 5:22  And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
Dan 5:23  But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
Dan 5:24  Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
Dan 5:25  And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan 5:26  This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
Dan 5:27  TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Dan 5:28  PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Dan 5:29  Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Dan 5:30  In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Dan 5:31  And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

This chapter deals with God’s judgment. The first part of the chapter shows us our sins while in Babylon and the need for us to be judged.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

The second part of the chapter depicts God’s judgment which is meted out when our iniquity is full.

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Dan 5:1  Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

In this chapter, Belshazzar is portrayed as the king but actually, he was the son and crown prince of king Naboridus who was the last king of the neo-Babylonian empire. Usually, in certain parts of the scriptures, the first few verses of the chapter talk about the subject matter of that chapter before the details are given. This chapter is rendered in that pattern. King Belshazzar drinking wine before a thousand of his lords signifies that the time has come for Babylon within us to experience the wrath of God through judgment. Outwardly, the religious system of this world will be judged at the appointed time set by God.

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 
Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

It is while we are in Babylon that the wrath of God is unleashed through judgment to destroy the old man or the beast within us. The king drinking wine in the presence of a thousand of his lords means that our sins have reached the heavens, and God has remembered us. This remembrance is to judge us. This is because the number thousand is made up of ten multiplied three times (1000 = 10x10x10). The number ten represents the fullness of the flesh, and the number three tells us that we are in the process of being judged to complete our spiritual process.

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

The next few verses show us our sins which have reached the heavens.

Dan 5:2  Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
Dan 5:3  Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
Dan 5:4  They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

From these verses, it becomes obvious that while in Babylon, we took God’s gold and silver and made images of men with them.

Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

These images of men are the false doctrines we imbibe while in Babylon which becomes our idols of the heart.

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 
Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 
Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 
Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 
Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

In verse 3, the king’s princes, his wives and concubines all drank from the gold and silver vessels indicating that we, the elect, are all guilty of perverting the word of God (Gold and Silver vessels) into false doctrines. In the final analysis, we become adulterous by worshiping another Jesus whose characteristics are not consistent with our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 4 tells us that we end up praising and worshiping another Jesus, signified by gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood and stone.

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Dan 5:5  In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 
Dan 5:6  Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

This finger of a man’s handwriting on the wall is the finger of God. In a negative connotation, this finger of God signifies judgment. It shows that our sins have caught up with us. In other words, our sins have reached heaven, and therefore our Lord is ready to judge us.

Joe 3:5  For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.

Joe 3:14  Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Joe 3:15  The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
Joe 3:16  The LORD roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.

The changing of the king’s countenance from being in a festive mood to that of being troubled is to let us know that we all, in our time in Babylon, did not like to hear about an impending judgment. We become troubled when we hear about judgment. In the final analysis, our judgment is better for us.

Ecc 7:3  Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

The king’s joints of his loins being loosed and his knees smiting one against another is to let us know that we become incapacitated through our judgment so that we will learn how to rest in the Lord. It is through judgment that our feeble knees become strengthened, and our Lord makes straight paths for our feet.

Heb 12:11  For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Heb 12:12  Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,
Heb 12:13  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. (ESV)

Dan 5:7  The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 
Dan 5:8  Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.

As indicated in an earlier study, the astrologers, Chaldeans and the soothsayers represent the leaders in Babylon or the churches of this world who are not given to know the mind of Christ and therefore cannot interpret the word of God in the spirit.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Verse 7 also says that if one can read the writing and interpret, he shall be clothed with scarlet and have a gold chain about his neck and shall rule with the king. This is to let us know that if we are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, then we shall surely inherit the promise of reigning with Christ.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.  

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Dan 5:9  Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

We are troubled by the wrath of God just like king Belshazzar. However, in the end, we reap the harvest of entering our Lord’s glory.

Psa 30:7  LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

Psa 90:7  For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

Dan 5:10  Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: 

The queen here represents the elect or the wife of the bridegroom who is Christ. Part of what every joint supplies is that we should not worry about the troubles we go through. Our Lord will make a way of escape for us so that we can bear every trial that we go through.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Dan 5:11  There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; 
Dan 5:12  Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

We are the men in the kingdom of our Lord who are endowed with the spirit of the Lord so that we can walk in the fear of the Lord which is understanding and wisdom.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

We, like Daniel, are given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Dan 5:13  Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? 
Dan 5:14  I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. 
Dan 5:15  And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing: 
Dan 5:16  And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. 

As we have said earlier, it is us who are given to have light, understanding and wisdom. The wise men of Babylon, representing the leaders of the churches of this world, are not given the understanding to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. God showing mercy to us by granting us the grace to understand His words means that if we continue in what we are doing, we shall surely receive the prize of rulership.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Dan 5:17  Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

This verse is not suggesting that Daniel did not want the reward or the joy that was set before him. However, it is showing us that Daniel was not using the wisdom and insight that the Lord had given him for his personal advantage or reward. He was not like Balaam who ran greedily after the reward.

Jud 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Dan 5:18  O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
Dan 5:19  And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
Dan 5:20  But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: 
Dan 5:21  And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

The Lord used the life of Nebuchadnezzar as an example for us to know that in the fullness of time, we shall reign with Christ. As we know, Nebuchadnezzar became proud and taught that it was through his own effort that his kingdom was built. This pride relates to our self-righteousness or iniquity which characterized our walk in Babylon. We are then humbled through our experience of evil which brings us to acknowledge that we are not different from beasts just like Nebuchadnezzar’s life as a beast. It is then that the Lord comes in with the brightness of His coming through His word to destroy the old man or beast within bringing us to offer our bodies as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This ensures that we shall reign with Christ.

Verse 19 indicates that Nebuchadnezzar slew or kept alive whomsoever he will letting us know that our reign with Christ shall be characterized by the rod of iron which signifies discipline.

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

As we indicated in the previous review, the whole essence of Nebuchadnezzar’s story is to show us Christ and His ways. That is what it means when the scripture says that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men. The kingdom being given to whomsoever He will signifies that the kingdom of heaven is given as a gift, and therefore it is not obtained by our own efforts.

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Dan 5:22  And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; 
Dan 5:23  But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

These verses are spelling out our sins while in Babylon. We become proud because we think that it is through our own supposed freewill that we have come to Christ. We therefore glory in our self-righteousness which is iniquity, and we end up perverting the word of God to suit our carnal desires. All these lead us to worship another Jesus whom we have created in our image.

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

Being shown our sins gives the Lord the occasion He is seeking to come and judge us.

Joe 3:5  Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:

Joe 3:7  Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:

Eze 7:19  They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

The next five verses, therefore, show us our process of judgment.

Dan 5:24  Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
Dan 5:25  And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan 5:26  This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

The Lord numbering our kingdom and finishing it is to let us know that the boundaries of the kingdom of our old man in our lives has been marked. The old man, or the beast within, cannot go beyond what he has caused us to do against the Lord. In other words, the old man’s reign over our lives is being brought to an end through judgment.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Dan 5:27  TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 

This verse shows us that we have missed the mark of the high calling of God. In other words, our deeds are not according to the standards set by the Lord for His children. We gloried in our own integrity and taught like Job that our Lord will find us up to His standard. However, this integrity that we taught we have just like Job, is this self-righteousness, which is iniquity.

Job 31:6  Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

Dan 5:28  PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

According to Strong, the primitive root of the word divided is to break up into pieces. So, what we are being told here in verse 28 is that the kingdom of our old man is going to be destroyed through judgment and replaced by the new kingdom of our new man. This new man is represented by the Medes and the Persians. Persians means ‘pure’ or ‘splendid’ and Medes means ‘the middle lane’. This means that the new man is pure and splendid and is after the image of Christ and will take us through the narrow or middle lane of life.

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 
Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Dan 5:29  Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 

As we indicated earlier, our eyes seeing and our ears hearing what the spirit of the Lord is telling us is what makes us able to understand and accept our Lord’s ways of judgment. This is what guarantees our inheritance of reigning with Christ in the age to come.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Dan 5:30  In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 
Dan 5:31  And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.

Our old man, represented here by Belshazzar, must be slain through judgment by the Lord before the new man, signified by Darius, dominates our lives within. This judgment of Belshazzar is the same as the judgment of the harlot or Babylon within us.

Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Rev 18:15  The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
Rev 18:16  And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
Rev 18:17  For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

Dan 3:1-30 They Serve not thy Gods nor Worship the Golden Image

[Study Aired November 22, 2021]

Dan 3:1  Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 
Dan 3:2  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 
Dan 3:3  Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 
Dan 3:4  Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 
Dan 3:5  That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 
Dan 3:6  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:7  Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 
Dan 3:8  Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 
Dan 3:9  They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 
Dan 3:10  Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 
Dan 3:11  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:12  There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 
Dan 3:13  Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. 
Dan 3:14  Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 
Dan 3:15  Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 
Dan 3:17  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. 
Dan 3:18  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. 
Dan 3:19  Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 
Dan 3:20  And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:21  Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:22  Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 
Dan 3:23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:24  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 
Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 
Dan 3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 
Dan 3:27  And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 
Dan 3:28  Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 
Dan 3:29  Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. 
Dan 3:30  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon. 

Daniel Chapter 2 ended with Daniel being given great gifts and made a ruler by Nebuchadnezzar.  This is to let us know of the great gifts our Lord is giving to us.

Dan 2:48  Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 

As we indicated in the previous review, becoming partakers of His divine nature through escaping from the corruption that is in the world through lust, is what these great gifts from the Lord are achieving in us. That is what will guarantee us the prize which is also the joy that is set before us. This joy entails reigning with Christ when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.  Daniel, together with the three Hebrew men, were made rulers to assure us that we shall also possess the crown of rulership in the fullness of time.

1Co 10:11  Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Today’s study of Daniel chapter 3 focuses on who we are and how through our fiery trials, represented here by the furnace, those called and chosen are not given to worship the image created by Nebuchadnezzar.

Dan 3:1  Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 

This image of gold created by Nebuchadnezzar represents the beast or the old man in every human being.  This is confirmed by the measurements of the image. It has a height of 60 cubits and a breadth of 6 cubits. As we are aware, the number 6 signifies the number of man. The number 60 = 6×10. The number 10 means completeness of the flesh. It shows our complete rebellion against our Lord. So, the image represents the beast or the old man within who is the source of all our rebellion against God.

Num 14:22  Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 
Num 14:23  Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

The image set up by Nebuchadnezzar was made of gold, which signifies how the old man corrupts the truth of the word of God. In other words, we turn the precious word of the Lord into images of men or idols of the heart which is the same as false doctrines, which is the stumbling block of iniquity during our time in Babylon powered by the old man (the image of gold). This old man is also empowered by the devil.

Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

It is significant to know that the image of gold was set up in Dura of Babylon. Dura means ‘dwelling’. So, what we are being told is that during our time or dwelling in Babylon, we were under the influence of this image or our old man.

Dan 3:2  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 
Dan 3:3  Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 

The list of those invited to come for the dedication of the image of gold included all the prominent people of Babylon. In verse 4, those invited also included people, nations and languages. This means all the people of the world were present at the dedication.

Dan 3:4  Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

The dedication of the image represents the observance of days, times and seasons which is part of the weak and beggarly elements of the world as spoken of by Paul as follows:

Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 

Gal 4:9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 

According to Strong, the element here means the rudiment or principle of this world. A “rudiment” is a basic, elementary principle or act of worship which became one of the subjects of Paul’s teaching. This rudiment or element does not involve God’s laws at all but rather worldly and pagan teachings.

Col 2:20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 
Col 2:21  (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 
Col 2:22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 
Col 2:23  Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.  

Examples Paul gave regarding this rudiment or principle or element of the world involved the observance of days, months, times and years.

Gal 4:10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 
Gal 4:11  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 

So, what verses 2 and 3 are showing us is that all people of the world, who are all dominated by the beast or the old man, are sold out to the observance of days, times and seasons. We used to also follow the rudiments of the world until our Lord started opening our eyes to see and our ears to hear.

During the early part of this year, I was talking to a pastor who was trying to invite me to the mother’s birthday celebration. I responded that I cannot be part of the birthday celebration because of Galatians 4:10 which talks about us not taking part in weak and beggarly elements of the world. The response that came out of the pastor’s mouth was this: “But we are doing it for the Lord. We are thanking God and giving Him the glory for adding another year to our mother.”  I was going to say that Saul also spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to offer sacrifice to the Lord but was rejected for not obeying the word of the Lord to destroy everything that breathed. However, I felt that I should not continue the discourse as the pastor is entrenched in the ways of this world. I, therefore, left the pastor to continue in ignorance.

1Sa 15:14  And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 
1Sa 15:15  And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 

Dan 3:5  That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 
Dan 3:6  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:7  Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 

As indicated earlier, the image signifies our old man or the beast within every human being. The verses here imply that all humanity bow down and worship the image or the beast. We all bow down and worship the beast during our time in Babylon.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 

Dan 3:8  Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. 

As shown in the first review of the Book of Daniel, the term “chaldea” came to include practically all of Babylonia and was virtually synonymous with the neo-Babylonian empire. Chaldea means ‘clod breakers’. A clod refers to a lump of earth or clay. The Chaldeans therefore are those that the Lord used as an instrument of judgment to discipline God’s elect, signified by the Jews. Thus, the accusation raised by the Chaldeans against the Jews is all part of the process of perfecting the elect to conform to the image of Christ.

The woman who was caught in adultery and being brought before Jesus by her accusers was for the purpose of stoning her or putting her to death. However, this experience which was meant for evil turned out to benefit her in the sense that she came to know Jesus’ voice and also realized that she was sinful. This fiery trial that this woman went through was as if she had been resurrected from death to life. So, what our accusers meant for evil, actually ends up for our good.

Joh 8:10  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 
Joh 8:11  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. 

We are this woman caught in adultery in the sense that we committed whoredom while in Babylon. We were destined to be put to death by stoning. In this case it is the old man that is being put to death. The stones here represent the word of God, which put to death the old man within us through stoning, and simultaneously bring to birth the new man after the image of Christ.

As we shall see later, this accusation resulted in the three Hebrew men undergoing judgment from the king, resulting finally in being exalted to higher positions. Yes, it is very troubling when we are being accused or undergoing judgment, but our Lord will not tempt us beyond what we can bear. May His name be praised!!

Dan 3:9  They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 
Dan 3:10  Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: 
Dan 3:11  And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:12  There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. 

It is God’s elect, represented here by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who do not bow down to the beast nor serve other gods (another Jesus).

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 

Dan 3:13  Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Dan 3:14  Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? 

When the devil realizes that we have overthrown him from his hold on us through the daily dying of our old man, resulting in us refusing to worship the beast, the devil comes with great wrath knowing his time regarding his influence on our lives is very limited or short.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 
Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 
Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Dan 3:15  Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

It is those who are dying daily to the flesh or the old man who are the ones who are cast into a burning fiery furnace to speed up the destruction of the old man.

Isa 48:10  Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. 

When we are under the illusion that we control our will or destiny, then we behave like Nebuchadnezzar thinking that not even God will prevent us from getting what we want since He has given us our will. It is when we enter the house of God that we realize that without Him, we can do nothing and that there is no such thing as having our own will to do whatever we like!! Everything is of God!!

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 
Dan 3:17  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. 
Dan 3:18  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. 

These verses are to let us know that the three Hebrew men did not love their lives even unto death. They were prepared to lose this life to gain it. That is also what happened to Esther. She was prepared to come before the king uninvited and suffer the consequence of losing her life in the process. The word of God says that these things were written for our admonition.

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 
Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Est 4:15  Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 
Est 4:16  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. 

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 

Dan 3:19  Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 

The furnace being heated seven times is to let us know that we are speaking here of the complete trials we face in this life which destroy the old man in us. This furnace represents our trials and the heat of the fire from the furnace signifies the word of God which is the fire that purifies us seven times.

Psa 12:6  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them. 

Dan 3:20  And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 

Being bound before being thrown in the furnace is to let us know that we are all servants of corruption (slaves of sin) and therefore in bondage to our old man. That is why we have to go through the furnace to completely (seven times) set us free from our bondage to sin.

2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 

2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. 

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 

Dan 3:21  Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 

Being bound in their coats and other garments means that we were entrenched in our self-righteousness which is iniquity. Casting their garments into the furnace symbolizes the destruction of our self-righteousness – a negative application of garment.

Gen 35:2  Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

2Ki 25:29  And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. 

The positive application of garments represents the righteousness of Christ.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Dan 3:22  Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

The flame of fire that slew the men that took the three Hebrew men into the furnace is the word of God. To us, this fire, or the word of God, is light to our path and liberates us from our shackles of sin. On the other hand, this word of God, or flame of fire, becomes darkness to those not given to know Christ in this life.  The flame of fire slaying them means that those who are not elected in this life become spiritually dead.

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 
Exo 14:20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 

Dan 3:23  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 
Dan 3:24  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 
Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 

We go into our trials (furnace) bound, but we end up being free from our bondage to sin (signified by the four men loose and walking) by the death of our old man. In other words, we learn righteousness from our fiery trials.

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. 
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

The fact that Nebuchadnezzar saw four men loose is to let us know that all of God’s called and chosen of every generation must experience fiery trials. That is what will set them free from all bondage.

Jer 25:27  Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. 
Jer 25:28  And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink. 

Nebuchadnezzar said that the fourth man he saw was like the son of God. We know that this son of God is our Lord Jesus Christ who is with us in our tribulation.

Isa 43:1  But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 
Isa 43:2  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 

His coming to us in our fiery trials is for the purpose of providing a way of escape so that we can bear these trials.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Dan 3:26  Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 

In the fullness of time, we shall be called out of the furnace of affliction of this life into glory. The world we live in is like a furnace. To the elect, it is the furnace that destroys our old man and brings us into righteousness. To those who are not given to know Christ in this life, it is a cloud that darkens their understanding of the love of Christ and therefore does not produce righteousness.

Job 14:14  If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 
Job 14:15  Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.  

Dan 3:27  And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 

The statement “the fire had no power, nor an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them” is just another way of saying that nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The negative application of the fire having no power over them is that the suffering experienced by those who do not know Christ in this life does not result in righteousness. Rather, it darkens their understanding.

Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 
Gal 3:4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

We, the elect, are those who are coming out of the great tribulation first. Later, the whole of humanity will also come out of this tribulation.

Rev 7:13  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 
Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 
Rev 7:15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Dan 3:28  Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 

We are those who put our trust in the Lord to deliver us from all our afflictions in this life.

Psa 125:1  A Song of Ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 
Psa 125:2  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. 

We are also those who change the king’s word. To change the king’s word means we are those who put emphasis on the spiritual implication of the word of God and not the letter or the physical words of the Lord. In other words, we recognize that the word of Christ is spirit.

Joh 6:63  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 

To yield our bodies means we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. We can offer our bodies as sacrifice because the tribulation we are going through is achieving for us the righteousness of Christ.

Rom 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 

Another characteristic of those who have gone through or are going through tribulation unscathed is that they do not serve other gods except our God. This means that we are not in any adulterous relationship with another Jesus. We have come out of Babylon, the place where we serve other gods, to worship our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.