Daniel Chapter 7

Daniel Chapter 7

• One of the most, if not the most detailed and exhaustive set of prophecies in the entire Old Testament
• Chapters 2-7 written in Aramaic (focus is on Gentile world)
• Chapters 1-6 are mostly historical
• Chapters 7-12 are prophetic visions
•  Chapter 1: Daniel deported as a teenager, tribe of Judah, in royal line
• Chapter 2:  Nebuchadnezzar's dream
• Chapter 3: Fiery Furnace (Daniel not even mentioned)
• Chapter 4: Nebuchadnezzar's second dream, Nebuchadnezzar's pride revealed, humility given as a lesson on it, and it was written by Nebuchadnezzar himself
• Chapter 5: Fall of Babylon, key part of world history and prophetic biblical history
• Chapter 6: Daniel in lion's den
• 7-8 occur between chapters 4-5, not in chronological order
• Chapter 7-The Times of the Gentiles
• Chapter 8-The Ram and the He-Goat
• Chapter 9-The Messianic prophecy, the Seventy Weeks
• Chapter 10-A Glimpse of the Dark Side
• Chapter 11- Intertestimal, period, the "400 silent years"
• Chapter 12-The End of all things 
• ALL BOOKS ARE NOT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

THIS IS THE ORDER HISTORICALLY

• Chapter 1- 606 B.C.
• Chapter 2-602 B.C.
• Chapter 3-The Image of Nebuchadnezzar
• Chapter 4-The Pride of Nebuchadnezzar
• Chapter 7- The Times of the Gentiles, between chapters 5-6, in 556 B.C.
  
• Chapter 8-The Ram and the He-Goat, between chapters 5-6, in 554 B.C.
• Chapter 5-Babylon Fall to the Persians-539 B.C.  
• Chapter 6- Daniel in The Lion's Den
• Chapter 9-The Seventy Weeks-538 B.C.   
• Chapter 10-12 Visions and Prophecies to The End of The World
• So the Order is 1,2,3,4,7,8,5,6,9,10,11,12, chronologically

Egyptian Empire-(unknown, varies according to researcher) 2188-5702 B.C. to 1525 B.C.

The Egyptians did not keep certain records, like having nothing on the Israelites, no mentions of defeats, etc.

Assyrian Empire- 1369 B.C.-609 B.C.

Babylonian Empire-608 to 539 B.C. conquered by

Medo-Persian Empire-539 to 332 B.C. conquered by

Greek Empire-332 B.C. to 68 B.C.

First Roman Empire- 68 B.C-200-300-400-500 A.D.?  Crumbles slowly
Second Roman Empire, being revived now.
 

 

 Daniel Chapter 7

(Luke 21:24 [KJV])
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Jesus came in the fullness of time

NEBUCHADNEZZAR IS DEAD 9 years now

This entire chapter, with chapter 8, is parallel to Revelation chapter 13, et al

(Daniel 7:1 [KJV])
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

• Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, Belshazzar saw the handwriting on the wall, now Daniel gets the dreams and visions
• Nabonidus was NOT king; he was absent, silencing the skeptics
  

(Daniel 7:2 [KJV])
Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

• The sea in this case may be symbolic of the world and the people in it, a mass of humanity
• It can mean the Mediterranean Sea ("The Great Sea" as it was called), where all of this happens, these kingdoms
• It can be both.  The mass of people lived next to and around the Mediterranean
• This is the first time that Daniel saw it personally himself

(Daniel 7:3 [KJV])
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

• Four kingdoms, all different, like Nebuchadnezzar's dream
• All four kingdoms are around the Mediterranean

(Daniel 7:4 [KJV])
The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

• Winged lions with man's head on ancient gates of Babylon?
• Jeremiah 4, 48 Ezekiel
•  This could be Nebuchadnezzar getting a heart of flesh from stone

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

• Bears are strong, just not as royal as a lion, not as regal
• This is not Russia, now considered "a bear"
• 2.5 million man army for the Persians with Artexerxes, Cyrus, etc.
• They were slow and powerful and deliberate
• Conquered Babylon, Egypt, Lydia (Isaiah 13), mostly without a battle, through showing up-the three ribs
• Medo-Persian empire becomes Persian fast, Cyrus's mother was a Mede; his father Persian

(Daniel 7:6 [KJV])
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

• Fast moving, like Alexander the Great conquering everything to India before age 29!
• The lion had two wings, but the leopard has four, meaning much, much faster conquest
• Leopards-crafty, cunning; very,  very powerful (able to lift more than their own weight up a tree), heightened senses, hard to hunt
• Dominion is given.........by God in His Sovereignty
• Four top generals divide up his kingdom
• Alexander was asked before he died, "To whom do you will your kingdom?” His answer was, “Give it to the strong.” His four top, great generals... Ptolemy, Seleucus, Cassandar and Lysimachus – took it over, just as it was foretold in Scripture here.
• His army invented the use of caltrops to defeat charaiots, ruining the horse's feet.

Caltrops

 CALTROP, n.
 1. A kind of thistle, the Latin tribulus, with a roundish prickly pericarp; on one side, gibbous, often armed with three or four daggers; on the other side, angular, converging with transverse cells. It grows in France, Italy and Spain, among corn, and is very troublesome, as the prickles run into the feet of cattle.
 2. In military affairs, an instrument with four iron points, disposed in a triangular form, so that three of them being on the ground, the other points upward. These are scattered on the ground where an enemys cavalry are to pass, to impede their progress by endangering the horses feet.

(Daniel 7:7 [KJV])
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

• First three beasts Daniel does not question; he understands them
• This one is a puzzle to him
• No real animal/beast by name that he can use to describe it-it is JUST A BEAST.................
• When people conquered other nations, they used the best people (Jews) there, honored them
• (it devoured and brake in pieces, ) The Romans simply destroyed and controlled-this was their pride
• This is in contrast to the former practice of captivity and usage of the elite, as stated above
• To enlist in the Roman army was a 25 year stint and in the end Rome gave the soldiers back a piece of conquered land and citizenship as a retirement package
• When they came, you dead-tomorrow,  or over time (seige, starvation, etc.)

ROMAN CITIZENSHIP
(Acts 21:37-39 [KJV])
And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?  But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

(Acts 23:27 [KJV])
This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

(Acts 22:25-29 [KJV])
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?  When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.  Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.  Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
(Daniel 7:8 [KJV])
I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

• This is eleven horns total
• Horns in ancient and Biblical culture symbolized authority and power
• Eyes, mouth, a person
• This last horn is the last worldly leader of the last earthly empire/kingdom, the anti-Christ
• This is the anti-Christ of Revelation 13:

THE FOURTH BEAST
(Revelation 13:5-7 [KJV])
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
(Daniel 7:9 [KJV])
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

• The Reign of Christ, as thrones (plural)
• Same basic description as in Revelation
• Fire=judgment, and it is associated with the Throne throughout Scripture
• Hair white like wool
• These are not mentioned in detail in the Old Testament

(Matthew 19:28 [KJV])
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(Revelation 4:4 [KJV])
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

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

(Matthew 13:34-35 [KJV])
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

(Ephesians 3:5 [KJV])
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

(Ephesians 3:9 [KJV])
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

FIRE OF GOD AND HIS THRONE

(Exodus 3:2 [KJV])
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

(Exodus 13:21 [KJV])
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

(Exodus 19:18 [KJV])
And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

(Psalms 50:3 [KJV])
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

(Psalms 104:4 [KJV])
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:


(Daniel 7:10 [KJV])
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

• He is seeing Judgment Day

(Revelation 20:12 [KJV])
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

(Daniel 7:11-12 [KJV])
I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

• Kingdoms one to three conquered, but were around for a time
• Kingdom 4 not conquered at all, breaks up, then judged by God
• Fourth beast, by Divine Judgment- Joel, Matthew 25, Revelation 1

(Revelation 13:5-6 [KJV])
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

(Revelation 20:10 [KJV])
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

(Daniel 7:13 [KJV])
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

• Jesus Christ, Son of Man
• It is how He left earth
• It is written in the Gospels, throughout the prophets and New Testament writers and spoken personally by Jesus Himself

(Acts 1:11 [KJV])
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

(Matthew 24:30 [KJV])
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

(Matthew 26:64 [KJV])
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

(Mark 13:26 [KJV])
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

(Mark 14:62 [KJV])
And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

(Revelation 1:7 [KJV])
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

(Daniel 7:14 [KJV])
And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

•  This is comforting news for us, as this kingdom is eternal, and righteous

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

(Daniel 7:15 [KJV])
I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

• Over all, this is a very big dream, filled with death, destruction, tribulation, conquests, defeats, persecutions, martyrdoms of saints, "devouring of flesh" (v.5)

(Daniel 7:16 [KJV])
I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

• Even without the interpretation, the vision itself has to have been frightening

(Daniel 7:17 [KJV])
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

• Knowing the interpretation makes it perhaps even more frightening, as it is people involved

(Daniel 7:18 [KJV])
But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

• We get the victory, no matter what happens in this life. 

(Daniel 7:19 [KJV])
Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

• The Roman Empire was brutal in every way and seemingly unstoppable, making this description quite accurate

(Daniel 7:20 [KJV])
And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

• This person with a mouth and eyes is the anti-Christ
  

(Daniel 7:21 [KJV])
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

• This cannot be the Church, since it will not be defeated
• This must be Tribulation saints who believe after the Rapture

(Matthew 16:18 [KJV])
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(Daniel 7:22 [KJV])
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

• This is Jesus Christ, no doubt.

(Daniel 7:23 [KJV])
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

• None of the other kingdoms were worldwide; none could be- the empires all centered around Jerusalem, north, south, east, west.
• This will be the first and last of the worldwide ones, not "worldwide" from man's perspective

(Daniel 7:24 [KJV])
And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

• Currently the number goes up and down, and will eventually settle on ten

"This section provides general information and basic facts and figures on all European countries. They are divided into 27 EU member countries, 6 countries which have applied for EU membership (candidate countries and potential candidate countries) and other countries."  -http://europa.eu/

(Daniel 7:25 [KJV])
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

• Change the week from seven days?
• Will speak blasphemies against the God of Heaven 
• The saints are tribulation saints. They must be
• This cannot be the Church, since we cannot be worn out:

(Matthew 16:18 [KJV])
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(Daniel 7:26 [KJV])
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

• This is a temporary kingdom
  

(Daniel 7:27 [KJV])
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

• The Last King, the Last Kingdom, the Last Reign, the Last Rule, The Last Dominion, when we are there, it is given to us.
• This has to be the encouragement of our lives.
  

(Daniel 7:28 [KJV])
Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

• This bothered Daniel because of the visions of the tribulation
• We will watch from Heaven in glorified bodies with feelings and emotions which are renewed and perfect, holy.
• He was in the flesh on earth, with the same feelings and emotions tainted by sin and the curse
  

Biblical Position on Vegetarianism

Biblical Position on Vegetarianism

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: -Deuteronomy 22:6

Daniel Chapter 5

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2012/10/11/super-earth-planet-likely-made-diamond/?intcmp=features

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 had nor 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

http://www.khouse.org/articles/1998/145/

(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?