Babylon:
- Babylon is called "the city of man",
or "the city of the devil"
- Jerusalem is city of God
- Babylon is alluded to in Christ's
genealogy three times
- Spoken of more than 300 times in the
Bible
- Nimrod's capital, first dictator, perhaps
the last dictator
- Mystery Babylon will be around in
Revelation
- Conquered here without a battle
- Never to be inhabited again, building,
materials never used
- All false worship and the occultic mystery
religions started at Babel, in Babylon
Darius: THE SKEPTICS
- "Darius the Mede only exists in the Bible! He has never been found to be real! The Bible is in error!"
- Darius the Mede, the word "Darius" is possibly an honorable title name, meaning "holder of the scepter" and was used after this for five more Persian leaders. (less likely)
- In the secular world, Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:31) is considered a fictional character
- It could just be a name, Darius (less likely)
- It could be used for Cyrus or his son (unclear)
- He died shortly after taking over
- Most likely, he was appointed:
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
Daniel: THE MAN
- In the Hebrews 11 Hall of Fame
- Never spoken bad of, like Joseph
- One of very few prophets not actually rejected by the Jews and martyred for his prophecies
- Kidnapped as a teen, brought into Babylon, then rises to become great leader, maybe took care of Nebuchadnezzar for his seven year animal exile (Talmud)
- 83 years old here, 66 years in public service
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
- Could be 120 officers, not necessarily 120 areas to rule
- It is pleasing to have people in charge for order
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.
- Daniel was over all three presidents
- One job, it seems, was protection..........from the presidents? OR others? Or both?
- Another was protection from stealing, embezzlement, which is common in dictatorships where the populace is kept poor and downtrodden
- You only get this job if you are trustworthy. Period.
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.
- Leadership, integrity, character, etc.
- The covetousness was over his future promotion
- Favor with both God and man is rare
- An old Jewish man in charge of a pagan kingdom
And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.
(Luke 2:52 [KJV])
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Daniel 6:4 [KJV])
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.
- Leadership, integrity, character, faultless, etc......leads to ENVY
- 120 people could find fault or error in him
- No fault was found, but David was called a man after God's own heart!
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
(1 Peter 5:8 [KJV])
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (Daniel 6:5 [KJV])
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.
- These are not just your average 120 people
-
- They are leaders
- They have envy and hatred towards Daniel
- They therefore have motives and desires to remove Daniel
- They knew he WOULD keep that Law of God, and BREAK any law against God, 100%
Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
- There is the "Live forever" again,
and means what it says to them, "eternal
life", divinity of kings, the divine right of
kings, starts in Genesis 6
- Many with this same attitude here towards Daniel will come together to attack Jesus Christ hundreds of years later
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Daniel 6:7 [KJV])
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.
- This starts with, "All the.....".
- Compulsion into any religion which is not of God is a snare and a trap, with attached strings
- Why thirty days?
- Does this sort of religion sound familiar today?
- This is a tremendous play on the pride and ego of Darius,
-
- Nebuchadnezzar/Babylonians, he was above the law as a despotic dictatorial ruler
- Darius/Persians, culturally and politically bound by the law, not above it. He could not even change a law
- This is proof that, if God is not your supplier, then you will turn to man and a system of man for provision-God or government
- We see this here today happening, where God was rejected, so man relies on redistribution of wealth and the government for his well being
- Do an image search for "babylonian lion wall"
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. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
- This confirms the above and will trap Daniel and the Jews who worship God
- No mention of Daniel being a future victim here, out of both "spite and sleight"
- Basically, ENTRAPMENT
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.
- His usual day, like any other day
- Jerusalem 200 miles west, in rubble
- Kneeled upon his knees
- Three times a day
(1 Kings 8:44 [KJV])
If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name:
(2 Chronicles 6:20-21 [KJV])
That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place. Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.
KNEELED ON HIS KNEES
(Luke 22:41 [KJV]) (Jesus)
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
(Acts 7:60 [KJV]) (Stephen)
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
(Acts 9:40 [KJV]) (Peter)
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. (Daniel 6:11 [KJV])
Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
- Caught in the very act of talking to God!
- This was his routine, and this law was not about to interrupt his commitment to God
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.
- The entire purpose of the decree was not to get people to pray to Darius or to the gods of Persia, but to catch Daniel in something they knew he would do anyways-pray to God.
- This is a set of modern day lawyers who want the fine print taken care of, and are here to make sure it is signed, sealed so they can execute Daniel
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.
- When people want someone else harmed out of covetousness, they will say anything to anyone, true or not.
- These men could care less about the king and the fact that Daniel is going against the king.
- It is about Daniel being punished, not the king or the gods
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.
- The King is not displeased with the attorneys, not displeased with Daniel, just HIMSELF
- Again, Persian law was binding law
-
- The king signed that law
- The king could not "unsign" that law
- The king never thought about the consequences to Daniel or whether Daniel would obey the decree one bit
- He saw he was trapped by his own people/advisers
- He went to other lawyers to find a way out, in order to get Daniel freed from the lions
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.
- There is no indication of a trial but, if Daniel were asked about this, he would have refused to pray to anyone else as it is, given the chance, so either way he would have gone into the lion's den
- This again confirms that the laws were binding. Period. Even the king could not go back on this
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.
- "Here is hoping your God will come through"?
- "I know your God will deliver you"?
- "I know your God and I know that your God will deliver you"?
- One thing he knows is that Daniel serves his God continually-can people say that of us?
- The ONE bad thing that they could say is a virtue before God-prayer to God, thrice daily
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.
- If the decree was binding, so was the sentence for disobeying it, officially
- It was also officially sealed by many.
- The others sealing it meant that even the KING HIMSELF could not open it
- What more certainty that Daniel would be eaten than no one, not even the king, can save him?
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (Daniel 6:18 [KJV])
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.
- Darius obviously had the idea that Daniel might not make it through the night
- Darius also had the idea that he inadvertently was duped and was responsible if anything happened to Daniel
- Daniel probably fell asleep or spoke with the LORD all night long
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
- If the lions did not get Daniel overnight, apparently he was to be let out immediately
- Apparently also, if he was alive, he was innocent and his accusers were guilty
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?
- Our God is alive, not a dead god of stone, hay, gold, silver, iron
- "Servant of the living God" is a good title
- Because we serve a living God, we are alive
- Because God is the God of the living, when HE speaks of those departed, He is also ensuring and reminding us that that they are still very much alive (Exodus 3:6)
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
(1 Peter 1:3-5 [KJV])
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
(Matthew 22:32 [KJV])
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
(Mark 12:27 [KJV])
He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
(Luke 20:38 [KJV])
For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
(Exodus 3:6 [KJV])
Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. (Daniel 6:21 [KJV])
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
- There is that phrase again
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 was perfect before God, and this was an illustration of salvation
- Daniel also went along, not wanting any harm to the king, and took the consequences, grace or death, willingly
- Many were martyred then and are martyred today; it is up to God to allow or disallow
- Either way, we are to praise God
(Hebrews 11:33 [KJV])
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
PAUL, SAVED FROM LIONS
(2 Timothy 4:17 [KJV])
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me;
that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the
Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of
the lion.
GOD USING BEASTS TO DESTROY HIS ENEMIES
(Revelation 6:8 [KJV])
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on
him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given
unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with
sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of
the earth.
A ROARING LION
(Revelation 13:2 [KJV])
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet
were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a
lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and
great authority.
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.
- This says something both for Darius and Daniel
-
- Daniel was respected as a man, if not for his religion
- Darius respected and honored Daniel
- It is likely that, had Darius thought that Daniel would have been the one to be thrown into the lion's den, he would not have ever signed the decree
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.
- The skeptic likes to claim that these are old, not-hungry lions.
- This is about 120 people (v.1) and their families, so these lions were hungry and voracious!
- Archaeology confirms the Persians had these lions's dens
- There is an old saying for false witnesses, in Assyrian that stands for slander, "To eat the pieces of a man"
- As was said earlier, apparently also, if he was alive, he was innocent and his accusers were guilty
- The lion and the false accuser both are behind this plot, and always is in the spiritual realm
- This is not to say that the flesh is incapable and needs no assistance-it is just the enemy is always ready, waiting and able to assist
- God is bigger than any false accuser or roaring lion
- The device by Haman to destroy the Jews was also used on himself in the end
Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
(Revelation 12:10 [KJV])
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
(1 Peter 5:8 [KJV])
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
(1 John 4:4 [KJV])
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. (Daniel 6:25 [KJV])
Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
- This also would be binding
- Because Daniel was not interested in vengeance, but rather peace, he would never falsely or otherwise accuse
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.
- Did Darius get saved? Like Nebuchadnezzar?
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.
- Darius recognizes the protection and provision of God Himself
So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
- Cyrus the Great-legendary leader, quality 1971 Iran, 2500th anniversary of Cyrus
- Cyrus established the Medo-Persian empire, he is part Median, part Persian.
- Herodatus says he was responsible for lowering the Euphrates to a man's thigh to conquer Babylon.
- Daniel gives him a scroll of Isaiah (which was written 150 years earlier) with his name.
- Herodatus said also that they city was intact.
- Alexander visited here and was greeted after conquering the Medes and was welcomed. He made Babylon his capital city and lived there.
That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. (Isaiah 45:1 [KJV]) Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
THE MAGI:
(Jeremiah 39:3 [KJV])
And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat
in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim,
Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the
princes of the king of Babylon.
(Jeremiah 39:13 [KJV])
So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban,
Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of
Babylon's princes;
Rab-Mag=Chief of the Magi, an appointment for
Daniel
This was a hereditary for Persians, not for a Jew to hold.
