My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
-John 10:27
Christians are sheep. Sheep are dumb. Dumb sheep sit in church and do not question what is taught them by searching the Scriptures like a Berean. This is an unbiblical practice and is the reason that lies like vegetarianism enter into the Church unchallenged. Using the words of men and not God, many pastors today are saying that we should change our diet back to Adam and Eve's original diet of fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, etc. They even hold "health seminars" in Churches during the week or on a non-service day and invite Christian "experts" to tell us how to eat like the Hindus, pagans all of the way.
They show slide after slide of A.M.A., F.D.A, U.S.D.A. studies, studies from Universities, scientists-well respected around the world, who "show conclusively" that eating meat, drinking milk, eating eggs, etc. is the root of all of man's unhealth.
But, is this Biblical? Of course not. This is taking the words of fallible men, called scientists, over God's word. The scientists are wrong, God is right-every time. Science often catches up to God, but we as Christians are supposed to walk with God, not be constantly catching up to Him. Do not take this like I am in any way implying that we should not ever eat fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, seeds, etc. These are good to eat and we should eat them. It is just to expose the false religion of vegetarianism.
Now, while this may sound convincing on its face, we:
No longer live in Adam's Garden, but in a Post Flood world.
Were given a subsequent, different mandate from God to supercede this, given below.
Are therefore no any longer vegetarians.
Need I say more?
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
-1 Timothy 4:3
The primary verse used to justify this practice is Genesis 1:29:
¶ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Nebuchadnezzar
That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
-Daniel 4:25
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
-Daniel 4:32
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. ¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
-Daniel 4:33-34
But, back in verse 16, we see that he was not given a human heart in order to perform this, but that of a beast. In other words, if this action by God was to humble the king and let him see that eating meat was an abomination, why change the heart into that of a beast, rather than humbling the man heart which was "made" (according to the vegetarian diet lovers) to eat grass as a vegetarian.
Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
-Daniel 4:16
That is the reason he will eat grass, because God wanted to humble him, through changing him into an animal that does eat grass! In other words, God in the Bible has had people at certain times eat only one thing and nothing else, in order to humble them. For instance, John the Baptist ate locusts, "animal" food to the vegetarian. Another instance where God humbled an entire nation with a single food is when Israel ate manna. But-they also ate quail!
ISRAEL
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
-Exodus 16:3
And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
-Exodus 16:8
¶ And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
-Exodus 16:13
And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.
-Numbers 11:31
And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
-Numbers 11:32
The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
-Psalms 105:40
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
-Acts 17:11
¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
-Matthew 7:15
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
-2 Corinthians 11:14
Meat Eating and the Bible
Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
-Genesis 9:3
And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
-Exodus 12:7-10
Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. ¶ All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you. These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.
Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you. Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.
And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean. But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even. And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
¶ Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
-Leviticus 11:12-47
And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten. But of all clean fowls ye may eat. Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
-Deuteronomy 14:17-21
Isaac and Jacob
And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
-Genesis 25:28
Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;
-Genesis 27:3
Genesis 27:5
And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
-Genesis 27:5
Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.
-Genesis 27:7
And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
-Genesis 27:19
And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.
-Genesis 27:25
And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.
-Genesis 27:31
No mention is ever made as to the unhealthy meal they eat here.
Jaboc and Esau
¶ And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
-Genesis 25:29
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
-Genesis 25:30
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
-Genesis 25:34
Pottage often contained animal meat. No mention is made of this meal being unhealthy. Was Esau about to lose his birthright for eating meat? Or for "despising it"?
His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD. And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'. And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel. ¶ This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office;
-Leviticus 7:30
And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
-1 Samuel 9:23-24
And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
-Matthew 14:12
And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
-Mark 7:18
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
-Matthew 3:4
And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
-Mark 1:6
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
-Acts 15:29
And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
-Mark 14:14
And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
-Luke 22:8
And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
-Luke 22:11
And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
-Luke 22:13
And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
-Luke 22:15
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
-Acts 10:11-15
Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
-1 Corinthians 6:13
¶ Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
-Colossians 2:16
Milk and Honey
And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
-Exodus 3:8
And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
-Exodus 3:17
And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.
-Exodus 13:5
Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.
-Exodus 33:3
But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.
-Leviticus 20:24
And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
-Numbers 13:27
If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
-Numbers 14:8
Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?
-Numbers 16:13
Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
-Numbers 16:14
Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
-Deuteronomy 6:3
And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
-Deuteronomy 11:9
And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.
-Deuteronomy 26:9
Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
-Deuteronomy 26:15
And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.
-Deuteronomy 27:3
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
-Deuteronomy 31:20
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
-Joshua 5:6
O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
Song of Solomon 4:11
Uh, this is Jesus, isn't it? And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.
-Isaiah 7:22
That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
-Jeremiah 11:5
And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;
-Jermeiah 32:22
In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
Ezekiel 20:6
Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
-Ezekiel 20:15
And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
-2 Samuel 17:29
Salt
And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
-Leviticus 2:13
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
-Job 6:6
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.
-Mark 9:50
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
-Luke 14:34
Eggs
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
-Luke 11:12
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
One "error" in the Bible is that Belshazzar did not follow Nebuchadnezzar as king of Babylon. The problem is that he was not supposed to, but the short order of kings in between quickly led to Belshazzar, with one assassination after another, then a king Nabonidus, who did not want to be king, Nabonidus is said to be the successor of Nebuchadnezzar, from secular records, not Behslazzar, but 19th century archaeology discoveries showed that Nebuchadnezzar was succeeded by his son, Evilmerodach, who ruled Babylon for two years from 562-560 B.C.
Nabonidus left Babylon (still technically king) and left Belshazzar in charge-AS KING. Just assume the Bible is right, always, as always, and go from there and you can never go wrong. Neo-Babylonian Rulers Nabopolassar- 625-604 BC Nebuchadrezzar II (s)- 604-568 BC Evil-Merodach (s)- 561-560 BC Neriglissar (brother-in-law)- 559-556 BC Labosoarchad (s)- 556 BC Nabonidus- 555-539 BC Belshazzar- 539 BC Cyrus conquered Babylonia in 539 BC
Ruler
Reigned
Comments
Nabu-apla-usur (Nabopolassar)
626 – 605 BC
Chaldean king. Took control of Babylonia from Sinsharishkun of Assyria, ejected Assyrian armies from Babylonia in 616 BC. Entered into alliance with Cyaxares and destroyed Assyrian empire.
Nabu-kudurri-usur Nebuchadnezzar II)
605 – 562 BC
Chaldean king. Defeated the Egyptians and Assyrians at Carchemish. Is associated with Daniel in the Bible.
Amel-Marduk
562 – 560 BC
Nergal-shar-usur (Nergal-sharezer/Neriglissar)
560 – 556 BC
Labashi-Marduk
556 BC
Nabu-na'id (Nabonidus)
556 – 539 BC
Last Mesopotamian king of Babylon, originated in Harran in Assyria. Was not a Chaldean, often left rule to his son Belshazzar.
Cyrus II of Persia
539 – 529 BC
_____________________________________
Pride is the downfall of any and many. Much of the prophecies in Daniel are about Gentiles, not Jews-unusual.
(2 Kings 25:27 [KJV]) And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;
(Jeremiah 52:31-34 [KJV]) And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison, And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.
Evilmerodach was assassinated in August, 560 B.C. by
Nebuchadnezzar's son-in-law Neriglissar, who was also Evilmerodach's
brother-in-law.
Neriglissar then ruled after him four years (560-556
B.C.).
His name is Nergal-Sharezer, as in Jeremiah 39:3, Jeremiah
39:13.
(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;
Nergalsharezer dies
He is then succeeded by his young son Labashi-Marduk (the
name of a
god, the same as Bel)
He ruled just two months, from May-June 556, and then was
also
assassinated
He was then succeeded by Nabonidus, who reigned 17 years
(556-539
B.C.).
Nabonidus did not like being king,
The people did not like him being king
The priests did not like him, alientated him
He left for northern Arabia to live, and Belshazzar his
"son" (technically a grandson) was king in his stead, thereby showing
Daniel to be true
Daniel had to be then an eyewitness; the scholars and
skeptics were not there
This allowed Cyrus the Great to invade, because of
Belshazzar, the Persian army was surrounding them shortly, and on the
move
Babylon was a double-walled city, with a moat, and the
river Euphrates going through it which was stopped, rerouted to
invade
The room where this took place has been rebuilt today
It, as a scene, would be a classic Hollywood movie scene
today
(James 4:13-16 [KJV]) Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Belshazzar was safe, secure, wealthy, at home,
partying
Sudden destruction came on him in an instant
Again, this entire book was challenged as not being
both historically accurate and written early, due to its detailed claims
and fulfillments
This has been refuted by archaeology
Your number is up!
The idol has clay feet
The handwriting is on the wall
You were weighed in the balances and found wanting
The lion's den
The fiery furnace
This is the fall of Babylon.........God has a future for
her doom (Isaiah 13, 14, Jeremiah 50, 51, Revelation 14:8, 17, 18)
(Daniel 5:1 [KJV]) Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 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.
Beltesahazzar is Daniel; Belshazzar is the King, grandson
of Nebuchadnezzar
"Forbearer" is the word, and means father or grandfather
(no word in that language)
He was supposed to be defending the temple
A thousand people is a lot of feasting and a lot of
wine
These were pagan feasts of debauchery and
gluttony
This is not an event for the things of God, nor would an
event of God be a place for debauchery and gluttony!
(Daniel 5:3 [KJV]) 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.
He had many wives and concubines (mistresses) as well
Any ancient pagan feasts would have included sexual
intercourse
They all probably toasted the gods of his kingdom
These vessels were basically, as would be today, in a sort
of museum. He tells them to get the museum relics and use them in our
party........BAD MISTAKE
(Daniel 1:1-2 [KJV]) In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 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.
(2 Kings 24:8-13 [KJV]) Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.
At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it. And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.
(Isaiah 39:6 [KJV]) Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
(2 Chronicles 36:10 [KJV]) And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
(Daniel 5:4 [KJV]) They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.<
Paganism involves revelry and the worship of dead things or the spiritual realm, which is dead also
If he does not worship the true and living God , mankind is inherently religious and will worship anything he can get his hands on
What can gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone do when it is worshipped?
If a person was "blessed" and "lucky", where would this "fortune" have come from?
ISAIAH` AND THE IDOLS OF MAN
(Isaiah 40:18-23 [KJV]) To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
(Isaiah 44:13-19 [KJV]) The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
(Daniel 5:5 [KJV]) 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.
This is God's Hand, a Pre-Incarnate Christ, and not an
angel. Whatever it was, it scared them to death
As with his father, when the word came down, it was swift
and severe
This is the origin of the phrase, "to see the handwriting
on the wall"
The saying itself today, seeing the handwriting on the
wall" literally means an "omen of imminent doom/destruction", plain to
see- Disaster or danger is imminent.
For Nebuchadnezzar, it was a dream that no one else
hadnor could know but him
Then it was a dream he would tell them and they still
could not interpret it!
Now, for Belshazzar, this is a visible writing which all
could see, and still they could not read it, nor interpret
it!
(Daniel 5:6 [KJV]) 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.
If this man was partying, drunken with his wives, mistresses
and a thousand of his guests, this would have been an instant change from
elation to "WHOA! YIKES!"
Just hearing from God Himself is enough to make any man
tremble. To hear bad news about your kingdom, when you think it is safe
and secure, is even more troubling
Turn out the lights, the party's over
(Daniel 5:7 [KJV])
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.
Like father, like son. All pagan kings had their pagan
advisors, with all bases covered
This would be a reference/appeal to the stars, fortune
telling, who knows what else
Being the THIRD ruler of the kingdom means he was
the SECOND, after his dad Nabonidus!
There are lots of codes in the Bible
(Proverbs 25:2 [KJV]) It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
(Daniel 5:8 [KJV]) 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 they also could not tell Nebuchadnezzar his dream, they
also cannot read the writing on the wall
Nothing says what language this is in
Daniel, the cryptologist
(Daniel 5:9 [KJV]) Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
The writing is one thing; seeing the hand is another
thing. But now no one can say what the thing says or means
This cannot have been a vision from his drunkenness, since
all saw it, not just him
"his countenance was changed in him"......back to
relief? He partied again after this, according to history
(Daniel 5:10 [KJV]) 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 mother, wife of Nebuchadnezzar, grandmother of
Belshazzar
Was she not part of this party? She was not present.
"O King, live forever" is repeated
(Daniel 5:11 [KJV]) 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;
Belshazzar would have been too small to know the history
of his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar
Belshazzar would only have heard of this' perhaps Daniel
was not even that active by then
(Daniel 5:12 [KJV]) 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.
Is this from Daniel's reputation?
This is a confident prediction
Was she saved also?
(Daniel 5:13 [KJV]) 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?
Are you the right guy and are you the right guy who
did this and can you do it again?
(Daniel 5:14 [KJV]) 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.
The Holy Spirit gives us light, godly wisdom,
understanding
The world gets darkness, worldly wisdom and a lack of
understanding of the things of God
(Daniel 5:15 [KJV]) 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:
Again, even after visibly seeing it, 1,000 people,
plus the "wisest men" of Babylon, could not read nor understand it.
(Daniel 5:16 [KJV]) 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.
This is quite an offering, a position of power and
honor
(Daniel 5:17 [KJV]) 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.
Daniel has his reward of God, so this again is a freebie
Forget the money. Keep it.
(Hebrews 11:33 [KJV]) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ....
...(Hebrews 12:2 [KJV]) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Daniel 5:18 [KJV]) O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
This is again is his grandfather, since there is no word for
it, it is "thy father"
(Daniel 5:19 [KJV]) 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.
You think you are great? Look at Nebuchadnezzar your
grandfather and HIS power!
(Daniel 5:20 [KJV]) 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:
Look what all of that pomp and circumstance did for
and to him!
(Daniel 5:21 [KJV]) 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 event retold, purpose given, means "This SHOULD have
been a lesson for YOU as well!"
(Daniel 5:22 [KJV]) And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
The one purpose Belshazzar should have taken out of his
father's demise was the pride followed by his humility
Normal people get the lesson of discipline/punishment of
others
(Daniel 5:23 [KJV])
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:
This humility of his grandfather is something he ignored,
missed, but knew about
His pride here is so great that Daniel rebukes him for
disgracing God with his sacrilege of using God's property for pagan
rituals
(Daniel 5:24-25 [KJV]) Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
It is revealed that it is indeed God's hand
The Talmud says it was written in Old Hebrew, "Vertically
and backwards"
Or it could have been in encrypted Hebrew, transposition
of exchanging letters called Albam or Atbash (Isaiah 7)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M<<<Substitute for below
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z<<<Substitute for above
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M<<<Substitute for below
Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N<<<Substitute for above
(Daniel 5:26 [KJV]) This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
MENE="NUMBERS"
(Daniel 5:27 [KJV]) TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
Tekel="WEIGHING"
(Daniel 5:28 [KJV]) PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
PERES=Thy kingdom is divided
(Daniel 5:29 [KJV]) 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.
So, despite not wanting the praise of men, he gets it
anyways, which to Daniel was most likely not a big deal as it was
(Daniel 5:30 [KJV]) In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
Instantaneous fulfillment of the prophecy
VERSE 5 "In that very hour"
(Daniel 5:31 [KJV]) And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.
At 62 years old, he became ruler of Babylon
While this entire scene is being played out, they diverted the river, which made an opening to the city on dry land through a hole in the city wall, walked through and took the kingdom with virtually no battle whatsoever, that very night.
Belshazzar let his guard down, literally. His guard also let him down.
(Luke 12:40 [KJV]) Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Daniel Chapter 4
(Daniel 4:1 [KJV]) Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
This chapter was written by King Nebuchadnezzar
himself
His kingdom was throughout his known world but, because it
is now Scripture, it is to the whole world
It further is in all major and most minor languages as
well
Peter said "Peace be multiplied unto you" also.
Jesus said nearly the identical thing
(2 Peter 1:2 [KJV]) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
(John 20:19 [KJV]) Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
(John 20:21 [KJV]) Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
(John 20:26 [KJV]) And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
(Daniel 4:2 [KJV]) I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
He is a testimony and a witness for God now, at least for
the time being
(Daniel 4:3 [KJV])
How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is
an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to
generation.
This is literally the same as the Psalms of David
Nebuchadnezzar here is speaking Christianese
This is in Chaldean, not in Hebrew, so it was
translated-How Accurate is it then?
(Daniel 4:4 [KJV]) I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
I was minding my own business, as king, being a king, not
looking for God (this is previous to the writing and the dream)
(Daniel 4:5 [KJV]) I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
This is not just a dream; it is is a nightmare
(Daniel 4:6 [KJV]) Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
This time he is not even requiring the dream be told him
because either he remembers it or he knows full well that they cannot
tell him the dream
(Daniel 4:7 [KJV])
Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
Now they even know the dream without Daniel even being
there, and they still cannot tell the interpretation of the dream
What does this say about ungodly pagan divination?
This time he did not threatened to kill them, why is
that?
(Daniel 4:8 [KJV]) But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
Five seconds later, Nebuchadnezzar refers to God as "the
holy gods" and refers to Daniel by his pagan god's name, Bel
What does this tell us about the heart of all of man,
even believers?
Because he still holds on to "the name of my god" and
still mentions "the spirit of holy gods", it is clear he is
confused
Have you met someone who one second you think they are
saved, the next, they appear unsaved? Same mouth?
(Daniel 4:9 [KJV]) O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
He told the soothsayers, astrologers, magicians,
Chaldeans, and not Daniel
He knows that this can be revealed to him by God Himself,
but proceeds to tell him now, afterwards, anyways
(Daniel 4:10-12 [KJV]) Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: The
leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was
meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls
of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
This is an indication of how big the kingdom was to
Nebuchadnezzar: Worldwide, reaching the world with his Babyolnian
religion (to the heavens), richness, powerful over all
This is all temporal though, as all kingdoms are.
All it takes is God moving His Hand to the left or right one
millimeter
(Daniel 4:14 [KJV]) 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:
It takes hundreds of years sometimes for an old growth
tree to mature, but seconds for a chainsaw or even a handsaw to cut it
down, forever
This is true no matter the greatness of the tree, or the
type.
(Daniel 4:15 [KJV]) 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:
This stump is Belshazzar his son, who will shortly reign,
shortly after this time
(Daniel 4:16 [KJV]) 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.
A time in Daniel is a year, as in Revelation:
(Revelation 12:14 [KJV]) And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might
fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a
time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
(Daniel 4:17 [KJV]) 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.
This is a verse on the clear Sovereignty of God, who
controls all kingdoms
Again, this goes against the cyclical nature of mankind,
making history His Story, and on His timeline, not mans.
(Daniel 4:18 [KJV]) 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.
Nebuchadnezzar does not even ask if Daniel can do this; he
simply commands him to
He again acknowledges the uselessness of the "seers" who
cannot see in his kingdom
(Daniel 4:19 [KJV])
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
This is a very serious, disturbing dream, the fulfillment
of which is not good for the king, and Daniel now sees it
He only wishes it on Nebuchadnezzar's enemies
(Daniel 4:20 [KJV]) The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
Repetition of the dream shows Daniel got it all down,
remembered it and it was so vivid in his mind that he can regurgitate it
back to Nebuchadnezzar exactly and with all of the details
This is pretty much the perfect tree
Strong
Seen of God
Seen of men
Pretty
Fruitful
Food
Shade for animals
A roost for birds
(Daniel 4:22-23 [KJV]) It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof 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 of the field, till seven times pass over him;
He repeats this part again in total detail, so that
Nebuchadnezzar will know that he is not making up an interpretation
without knowing the dream fully, in detail
All kingdoms but one are temporal, some die, some are cut
down in their prime, unawares
(Daniel 4:24 [KJV]) This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
The interpretation is also a decree from God-it has to and
will most certainly come to pass!
(Daniel 4:25 [KJV]) That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Seven years of abject humility below all men,
Not even as a meat eating hunter/predator, but as
prey.
(Daniel 4:26 [KJV]) And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
His kingdom would remain for a time, and that would be
sure. Then, after that, Belshazzar his son would rule for a short time
(seven years?)
(Daniel 4:27 [KJV]) Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
Nebuchadnezzar was given a chance to repent, be generous,
righteous
Mercilessness to the poor is not something God likes at
all
Jesus said we would always have the poor, but abusing them
is not an excuse
(Proverbs 14:31 [KJV]) He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
(Daniel 4:28 [KJV]) All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
100% fulfillment, at once
Fulfillment is always 100%, but not always at the same
time, but it is, however, always, eventually 100%
(Daniel 4:29 [KJV]) At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
He was given a total of one year to repent, and did
not.
Ancient Babylon was known for its hanging gardens
(Daniel 4:30 [KJV]) The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
Pride, the first sin
Daniel told him that God build kingdoms, not kings, and
not Nebuchadnezzar
(Proverbs 11:2 [KJV]) When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
(Proverbs 16:18 [KJV]) Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Ezekiel 28:15 [KJV]) Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
(Daniel 4:31 [KJV])
While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
He was still speaking as this occurred
God allows things to happen quickly sometimes , after so
many repeated warnings and so much time
God spoke this to him directly, saying, in essence, "It is
fulfilled in your ears"
The Flood came in an instant, after 120 years
Job's calamities came one after another, while the
previous ones were still being related the next was related
They happened all in one day as well
SUDDEN DESTRUCTION UPON ISRAEL
(Psalms 78:27-31 [KJV]) He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
SUDDEN DESTRUCTION AT THE RAPTURE
(Matthew 24:38-39 [KJV]) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
SUDDEN DESTRUCTION FOR JOB
(Job 1:16-18 [KJV]) While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
(Daniel 4:32 [KJV])
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
As if the kingdom being removed is not bad enough, he also
is humbled, humiliated visibly, publicly, loudly and probably in the
same manner as how he ran his kingdom
(Daniel 4:33 [KJV])
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
This is utter humiliation and exactly what the king who
said, "ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a
dunghill.", twice to his own religious advisers for failing to complete
an impossible task, gets from God who has already revealed so much to
him
(Daniel 4:34 [KJV]) And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
It should be noted that Nebuchadnezzar is still writing
the fourth chapter of Daniel
Only God can abase and only God can lift up and exalt
Nebuchadnezzar would not humble himself on his own, so God
had to do it.
Having been humbled, Nebuchadnezzar is exalting God,
putting God in His rightful place-the place of praise
(1 Peter 5:6 [KJV]) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
(Daniel 4:35 [KJV]) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
No one can add to, subtract from, alter or thwart God's
ultimate plan for makind
All one can say here is AMEN!
(Daniel 4:36 [KJV]) At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto
me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
People like to say that Christianity is
"unreasonable" and "blind faith" and "something that you have to remove
your brain" in order to practice, but reason was restored to
Nebuchadnezzar, and he praised God
(Daniel 4:37 [KJV])
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
This could almost be a Psalm. Do we have to go
through such a thing in order to praise God like this?
(Daniel 3:1 [KJV])
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.
How long has passed and he re-enters idolatry?
If a cubit is 1.5 feet, this is 90 feet high, 9 feet wide,
of gold!
Man's human nature in the flesh is to praise God and one
second later walk away to idolatry
(Daniel 3:2 [KJV])
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
All of the team is in the audience........this means this
was a huge event to Nebuchadnezzar
This is all for a dead piece of shiny metal that cannot
save
This has a value (08/16/2012) of 212, 585, 477, 913.6
dollars or 212.5 billion dollars!
There are wastes of time and money and then there are
COLOSSAL wastes of time and money!
(Daniel 3:3 [KJV])
Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, 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 phrase "the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up" is
repeated twice, immediately in succession. Why is this?
(Daniel 3:4-6 [KJV])
Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 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: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
What sort of idol of gold wants to be worshipped?
What sort of person worships gold, a dead metal?
This many instruments for a hunk of dead metal?
What golden statue was worshipped in the Bible? (Exodus
32)
What golden statue will be worshipped in the Bible?
(Revelation 13)
Does God ever force His people by threat of death to
worship Him?
Religion, especially organized religion, demands
worship-or else!
We have today "American Idol", for instance
What do we have as idols in our lives? In our country?
(Daniel 3:7 [KJV])
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.
All people, nations, languages in the empire
People of any language can bow and worship as a form of
communication
How hard for the anti-Christ to be worshipped by the world
in the near future?
Today we call these "rock concerts", like the Super Bowl
2012 halftime show with Madonna, etc.
(Revelation 13:3-4 [KJV])
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 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?
(Daniel 3:8 [KJV])
Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
"Hey! You are not worshipping the golden image!"
(Daniel 3:9-10 [KJV])
They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. 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:
There's that "O King! Live Forever!" again
You set up the image, you made the decree,
(Daniel 3:11 [KJV])
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
This is done today with Muslims
Often a convert to Christianity will have a tire around
their neck, then get dowsed in gasoline, then lit on fire alive, North
Africa
(Daniel 3:12 [KJV])
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.
There is always a remnant of belivers, even in a
pagan empire
Not only that, but they are leaders over the people,
meaning people will follow their lead
(Daniel 3:13 [KJV])
Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Nebuchadnezzar almost always seems to show himself a man
with a short fuse and a lot of anger
RAGE: In Scripture, mostly
wicked people raged against God or God Himself raged towards man
Even when they raged against man, the Bible says the
rage still reached up to God or was ultimately aimed towards Him-so rage
is ungodly, anti-god
In your anger do not sin...so in your rage, REALLY do not
sin!
FURY: Esau had fury; God
has fury
The Book of Jeremiah has a lot of instances of God's fury
in it
Jeremiah was in and about the Babylonian captivity, where
Daniel is and which Daniel reads later
Nebuchadnezzar and the objects in his dreams had fury
(Ephesians 4:26 [KJV])
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
rage
reyj :
Noun,verb,raged,rag·ing.noun
angry fury; violent anger.
a fit of violent anger.
fury violence wind, waves, fire, disease, etc.
violence of feeling, desire, or appetite: the rage of
thirst.
a violent desire or passion.
RAGE
(2 Kings 19:27 [KJV])
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
(2 Kings 19:28 [KJV])
Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
(2 Chronicles 16:10 [KJV])
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
(2 Chronicles 28:9 [KJV])
But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
(Job 40:11 [KJV])
Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
(Psalms 7:6 [KJV])
Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
(Proverbs 6:34 [KJV])
For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
(Proverbs 29:9 [KJV])
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
(Isaiah 37:28 [KJV])
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
(Isaiah 37:29 [KJV])
Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
(Daniel 3:13 [KJV])
Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
(Hosea 7:16 [KJV])
They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
(Nahum 2:4 [KJV])
The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.
fury
[fyoo r-ee]
noun, plural furies.
unrestrained or violent anger, rage, passion, or the like:
The gods unleashed their fury on the offending mortal.
violence; vehemence; fierceness: the fury of a hurricane;
a fury of creative energy.
Furies, Classical Mythology. minor female
divinities: the daughters of Gaea who punished crimes at the instigation
of the victims: known to the Greeks as the Erinyes or Eumenides and to
the Romans as the Furiae or Dirae. Originally there were an indefinite
number, but were later restricted to Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone.
a fierce and violent person, especially a woman:
She became a fury when she felt she was unjustly accused.
Idioms
Like fury, Informal. violently; intensely: It rained like fury.
FURY
(ESAU)
(Genesis 27:44 [KJV])
And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
(GOD)
(Job 20:23 [KJV])
When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
(Isaiah 34:2 [KJV])
For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
(Isaiah 42:25 [KJV])
Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
(Isaiah 51:13 [KJV])
And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
(Isaiah 51:20 [KJV])
Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.
(Isaiah 59:18 [KJV])
According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
(Jeremiah 4:4 [KJV])
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
(Jeremiah 6:11 [KJV])
Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.
(Jeremiah 7:20 [KJV])
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.
(Jeremiah 10:25 [KJV])
Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.
(Jeremiah 21:12 [KJV])
O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
(Jeremiah 25:15 [KJV])
For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
(Jeremiah 32:31 [KJV])
For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,
(Jeremiah 36:7 [KJV])
It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.
(Jeremiah 42:18 [KJV])
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.
(Jeremiah 44:6 [KJV])
Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.
(Lamentations 2:4 [KJV])
He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.
(Ezekiel 5:13 [KJV])
Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.
(Ezekiel 5:15 [KJV])
So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.
(Ezekiel 6:12 [KJV])
He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.
(Ezekiel 7:8 [KJV])
Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.
(Ezekiel 9:8 [KJV])
And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
(Ezekiel 13:13 [KJV])
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.
(Ezekiel 14:19 [KJV])
Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
(Ezekiel 16:38 [KJV])
And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.
(Ezekiel 16:42 [KJV])
So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.
(Ezekiel 20:8 [KJV])
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
(Ezekiel 20:13 [KJV])
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
(Ezekiel 20:21 [KJV])
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
(Ezekiel 20:33 [KJV])
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
(Ezekiel 20:34 [KJV])
And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
(Ezekiel 21:17 [KJV])
I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.
(Ezekiel 22:22 [KJV])
As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.
(Ezekiel 24:8 [KJV])
That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.
(Ezekiel 24:13 [KJV])
In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
(Ezekiel 30:15 [KJV])
And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No.
(Ezekiel 36:18 [KJV])
Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:
(Ezekiel 38:18 [KJV])
And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.
(Daniel 3:13 [KJV])
Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
(Daniel 8:6 [KJV])
And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
(Daniel 9:16 [KJV])
O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
(Daniel 11:44 [KJV])
But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
(Micah 5:15 [KJV])
And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
(Nahum 1:6 [KJV])
Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
(Daniel 3:14 [KJV])
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?
We can be sure that he is not asking to find out, but to
get a confession or get them to change their minds on this
It is presumed that, with them being leaders and having
rapport, he wanted their answer to be that it was untrue, but
Nebuchadnezzar knows better than that
These are men who he has exalted recently to positions of
authority in his kingdom
(Daniel 3:15 [KJV])
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?
Cast that same hour-no trrial, no imprisonment, just
tossed into the flames immediately-true rage and fury
Translation: "Do you have any idea what I can do to
you?"
This is the arrogance of power
(John 19:10 [KJV])
Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
(Daniel 3:16 [KJV])
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Same question, same answer
God has the Final say on what happenes to us in
persecution and no one can touch us without His say so-not even the enemy
himself
(John 19:11 [KJV])
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
(Daniel 3:17 [KJV])
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.
When we face persecution and martyrdom, we need not fear
it, for God is in control, and will even give us the words to speak, ass
he did with Stephen at his stoning
(Matthew 10:28 [KJV])
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
(Luke 12:11 [KJV]) And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
(Luke 12:12 [KJV]) For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
(Daniel 3:18 [KJV])
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.
No matter what.....God is to be worshipped............no matter what
"be it known to thee"...."Just lettin' ya know"
(Daniel 3:19 [KJV])
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.
As if he was not filled enough already, he is now even more furious
Perhaps he thought that, upon seeing how hot the furnace was, they would repent
(Daniel 3:20 [KJV])
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.
He literally meant "the same hour" in verse 15
Do you have to bind people who are thrown into something so hot that they would burn in seconds to death anyways?
How would they run, to where would they run, being surrounded by guards?
Jesus was put in a tomb with a stone rolled over-HE got out
They will be thrown to a certain death-God will get THEM out
(Daniel 3:21 [KJV])
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.
Fully clothed, no need to strip them down, take their clothes
Hitler at least stole the clothes and jewels before killing the Jews in the furnaces
Nebuchadnezzar was rich and not in need ot clothing for a "war effort"; Hitler wasn't
What was the purpose of this furnace, anyways? Was it for manufacturing? Or killing?
Fact is, the ancients used fire to sacrifice people, infants in their pagan rituals, and still do today
Sacrificing infants to Molech is one of the precise reasons for the Jews' captivity
(Daniel 3:22 [KJV])
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.
A "back" "draft" of the highest porportions
Executioners are apparently also dispensible in Nebuchadnezzar's world-they did not get burned, they DIED!
Notice who did not get burned in this throwing into the furnace?
(Daniel 3:23 [KJV])
And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
Remember that they fell down because they were
bound
The furnace is sufficient enough in size to have a huge
flame to destroy people getting too close
The furnace is sufficient enough in sizeto hold FOUR men
in it
Since they were in the midst, perhaps the executioners
died because they were trying to throw them far into the middle?
(Daniel 3:24 [KJV])
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.
Apparently this was a spectator sport for Nebuchadnezzar
and his aides. He has to have experienced this sight many times before
and become numb to watching it, almost like violent TV.
He rose up, because he was sittting down and watching
The use of the word "we" shows that this whole crime is a
conspiracy, making everyone guilty, evne those who did not physically
carry it out, like the king. Hitler was guilty of killing 6,000,000
Jews, though it is doubtful he personally carried out any of it.
(Daniel 3:25 [KJV])
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.
The LORD is with them, has untied them (loosed the chains
of sin) and they are unsinged, healthy!
Who is the fourth, like the Son of God?
Modern versions deny the pre-incarnate Christ here by
using "a son of the gods"
No matter if in our lives we go through the fiery furnace
with something, Jesus goes into it with us
(Isaiah 43:2 [KJV])
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.
(John 8:36 [KJV])
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
(Daniel 3:26 [KJV])
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.
At this point, it is impossible for Nebuchadnezzar to deny
a miracle, since he lost three executioners whose bodies would have
blocked the entrance to the furnace, being on fire anyways, so these men
being alive? No human chance of it
They simply walked right out, being in God's perfect will
(Daniel 3:27 [KJV])
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.
This is complete and perfect salvation.....a picture
of us in Heaven, perhaps? Not even the SMELL of smoke? Even on
their clothing?
Why did not the Son of God come out with them to show all
who saved them?
(Daniel 3:28 [KJV])
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.
Light bulb on here? At least he knows how they got
out unharmed
"His angel" never came out with the the boys to
Nebuchadnezzar
God overturned the verdict, according to
Nebuchadnezzar
(Daniel 3:29 [KJV])
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.
God overturned the verdict and changed the edict,
according to Nebuchadnezzar
However, his edicts about cutting people up and making
their houses dunghills is still there in him, even now he knows who God
is!
(Daniel 3:30 [KJV])
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
After the persecution, a blessing from God
This does not have to be, it just was because God let it be
so.
Today, often even more persecution comes, but people get
saved
