Dei Time

Pictures of Time

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Daniel 7:1 - 8:27  

Daniel's visions, like those of John in Revelation, are not only highly symbolic, but also concern the times to come. Men have been trying to decipher their complete meaning for centuries. While there are different interpretations as to what kingdoms the beasts coming from the sea may represent and whom the little horn might symbolize, some things about "apocalyptic" writing are clear.

The major focus in apocalyptic literature is God's supremacy. If you sidestep the obvious interest and vivid descriptions, and look at who is in control, a clear message appears. God is in control. What stirred the waters of the sea? Though the beasts instantly capture our imaginations, it was the winds of heaven under God's control that stirred the water.

In verse 9, God takes the stage as the Judge of the scene. Daniel's vision is reminiscent of Ezekiel's first vision of God, full of wheels and flames. Verses 11 and 12 point out the authority of God over the scene.

To those of us on this side of the death and resurrection of Christ, verses 13 and 14 are clearly a prophecy of the Ruler who would overshadow all others.

Those who try to envision the end of our present world often explore this chapter of Daniel. Whatever history the symbolic writings picture, we know absolutely from the visions recorded in God's word that we have nothing to fear, for He will be in control of it all. We should not set these visions aside as merely symbolic with no historical foundation, however. Daniel and John were not alone in their descriptions of the end of history. Jesus also taught about the events that will lead to His return.

Most scholars believe that chapter 8 refers to Alexander the Great, the families of the four generals who inherited his empire, and one of their descendants. That descendant was apparently Antiochus Epiphanes IV, whose cruel rule over the Jews finally ended in revolt. His supporters called him Epiphanes ("the Illustrious One"), but the Jews nicknamed him Epimanes ("the Madman"). At the end of his rule, the Jews restored the temple that Antiochus had defiled with sarcastic and false worship, and celebrated the first Hanukah (164 or 163 B.C.)

Because Daniel is told that this vision refers to the end of time (vs.19), some believe that Antiochus was only one fulfillment of Daniel's vision, and that there will be at least one more that fits the story. Others believe that verse 19 refers to the end of that period of history which was followed by the rise of Rome and the birth of Christ. Time will tell.

Choices

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Daniel 6:1 – 28

In the early verses of today's reading, we find out some things about Daniel. At over 80 years old, he has been at the king's right hand for many years, even after the death of his benefactor, Nebuchadnezzar. The Persians, now in control of Babylon, also find him to be an excellent administrator. Daniel is also visibly loyal to God.

His enemies recognize that the only way to trip him up is to arrange a trap that will force him to act according to his religion instead of his loyalty to the king. We can also assume, especially considering the plot against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego many years before, that his life has been one of constant caution, keeping an eye on those jealous of his power.

Daniel continued to pray to God, even after becoming aware of the king's new edict. The old man's enemies wasted no time in rushing to the king, barely able to suppress their joy. The king, recognizing that he had unwittingly helped in their plot, despaired but could not allow an exception to his own law. His despair is a sign that he knew Daniel personally and had high regard for him.

In all of the king's words, there is no indication that he came to worship Daniel's God, or that he expected the people of his empire to worship Him. In the time of Daniel most people either acknowledged many gods (perhaps one god being a favorite, or served exclusively), or they publicly acknowledged the gods, but rejected them all in their hearts. Daniel's faithfulness to the true God witnessed at least part of the truth to the rulers he served. They came to believe that Daniel's God had greater power and sovereignty than any other god. In the New Testament, Peter and the other apostles reflected the faith of Daniel when they said to the Jewish court, "We must obey God rather than men…." (Acts 5:29)

How about us? Which choice have we made?

Sovereignty

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Daniel 5:1 – 31

Three descendants held the title of King in Babylon between Nebuchadnezzar's death and the reign of his son, Nabonidus. Nabonidus had murdered his young nephew in order to claim the throne, becoming the last king of Babylon. These four ruled successively over only six years, due to the internal deterioration consuming their nation.

Belshazzar, who suddenly appears and disappears in chapter 5, was Nabonidus' son and grandson of Nebuchadnezzar; however, grandsons or even great-grandsons often referred to their predecessors as "father".

Nabonidus appointed his son as co-regent to rule in the capital during the king's ten-year residence in an area of the Arabian Peninsula. That explains why Belshazzar could offer only the "third" place of rule in the kingdom instead of the second as reward to the successful interpreter of the writing etched on the wall by a supernatural hand. Some archaeologists have found evidence that the king's absence from the city was part of his effort to switch to a different god, the Moon god, and away from Marduk.

As improbable as it may seem for an ancient ruler to be entertaining a thousand guests in one room, archaeologists have unearthed a plastered hall in Babylon measuring 55' by 165', more than large enough to handle the party.

Belshazzar's actions were an arrogant defiance of Israel's God. Guests were using golden vessels looted from the Jerusalem temple to offer honor to their own gods. The kinglet may have intended the gathering to show honor to his gods, defiance to the true God, and defiance to the Persians who were already laying siege to the capital, but instead his actions brought terror to the party.

After Daniel's interpretation of the words on the wall, the Persians took the city and killed Belshazzar. The Persians entered the supposedly unconquerable city by diverting the flow of a river passing under the walls and through the city. That lowered the water level and the soldiers waded through the shallow water left in the entrance tunnel. They took control of the besieged city without a fight on October 12, 539 b.c.

Belshazzar learned a lesson that our world still denies—that God is sovereign over all kings and kingdoms. Whether they recognize Him or not, they are under His control and judged by His law.

Can Faith Make A Difference?

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Daniel 3:1 – 30

Nebuchadnezzar was a great leader of a great empire. A wall 56 miles long and wide enough to accommodate a chariot pulled by four horses protected the area around his capital city. Babylonian mathematicians and astronomers made revolutionary discoveries. But, Nebuchadnezzar did not worship the true God. In fact, his many prayers to his own gods seem to have been merely perfunctory. Historian Will Durant, wrote that "Nearly all the bricks so far recovered from the site of Babylon bear the proud inscription: 'I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon'." As today's story ends, the king may acknowledge God's existence and power, but he did not bow to Him.

As we begin reading chapter 3, where is the subtitle, "How to Louse up a Great Job"? The three men had the plush position of advisors to the king, ate the best food, sat in the best chairs, enjoyed the confidence of powerful men, and the people admired them. Why mess it up by refusing to bow to an idol that was not a god? What harm could it do? Evil men had managed to trap them into making that decision.

God wanted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to make statement about Him, and what a statement. Acting on their faith in God instead of fear or practicality, the three stood firm even under the threat of death. They announced to the king that if God did not save them, God would still be their Lord. They realized that God is not just a miracle worker in a box—He is our Lord, no matter what.

The fourth "man" in the furnace was the pre-incarnate Christ. He walked with them in the fire, protecting them from even a singe on their clothing. After their rescue, God's purpose became clear—Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the power and presence of their God.

How many times does God place us in situations in which we must choose whether to stand for Him or remain invisible, or even assent to our culture's demand that we accept its norms? When we stand for Christ, He may or may not protect us from embarrassment or rejection, but the people watching us will always see a message. When they wonder if Christ is worth investigating for their lives, will they see in us a reason to say "YES"?

What Does This Mean?

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Daniel 2:1 – 49

A year after Daniel's arrival Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream. Back then kings took dreams very seriously, believing them to portend the future. Rome, growing and trading during Daniel's time, also believed in dreams. Rulers also relied on advisors who looked for visions and revelations from animal entrails and other objects. God did use dreams at times in His communication with His people, but not all dreams came from God. Millions still do much the same today—mediums, astrologers, occultists, all thrive on the cash of their many followers.

It is clear that Nebuchadnezzar did not trust his interpreters and astrologers. He was not stupid—he commanded them to tell him the dream before interpreting it, making it impossible for them to create a story matching what he told them.

Upon whom do you depend to interpret the future; the outcome of decisions that you make in your life? Most of us thought that the handlers of our retirement funds were able to protect our money. Now we wish we had had a little peek into the future. Those who suffer divorce think, "If I had known then what I know now…." Who can we turn to and find answers that will be true and dependable forever?

When Daniel's life and his friends' lives were threatened, he did not hesitate to call on the one that he knew to be totally trustworthy—his God; our God.

Upon seeing Nebuchadnezzar Daniel boldly declared that though other gods could not do so, his God did dwell among men and that He [God] would declare the dream and its meaning.

Today, God's word still teaches us the meaning of life and all of its twists and turns. In Daniel's time, he could confidently say that God did dwell among men. Today we know that Jesus, God's Son, has dwelled in bodily form among us. Though we still cannot predict the specifics of our lives or our daily trek, watching Jesus through reading the gospels; listening to him through the gospel writers; imitating him in our words and actions grants us the ability to see beyond the confusion of every day and into the truth. It isn't always easy to see beyond our own presumptions, but God will even help us do that. Just ask Him.

Obeying God in the World

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Daniel 1:5 – 21

Anger does not enhance the world's opinion of Christians. The fact that the good things that Christians say are either not reported, or falsely condemned as judgmental or hateful, doesn't help. So, how do we be truthful about the moral disaster developing in our country and world without angering the very people we want to help? Silence isn't the answer—though it is the answer the world demands. Perhaps the answer is found in God's word and in the stories about God's people.

Daniel was not afraid to trust God. He did not approve of Babylon's gods or their war against Judah. But, neither did he launch into direct rebellion against the situation in which God placed him. Daniel did not begin a hunger strike in protest against the foods that the Babylonians gave him, though the menu certainly included foods prohibited by his Jewish heritage and God's instruction. He didn't threaten the lives of the cooks, or file a lawsuit to stop the king's orders. Daniel realized that in the Babylonian's minds it was a great honor to partake of the king's list of choice delicacies. Instead of angrily protesting, Daniel "went through the appropriate channels", trusting God to provide a way for him and his friends to maintain their dietary obedience to God's law.

Daniel was willing to let God be involved in his actions and words. We must do the same. We even have an advantage over Daniel. We really can stop and think, "What would Jesus do?" or perhaps even better—"What would Jesus say?"

Don't get me wrong. We are not called to go along with the world. We are called to be the salt that draws the world out of the mire and into the light. God does have a right to rule the world, and does.

Like Daniel, however, we are to act and speak the truth in such a way that the world is persuaded to listen—which is much harder than hating the world and what it does and permits.

Do we always succeed in seeing the world change? Did Jesus see His teaching change society in His time of ministry? Persuasion is much harder than demanding to be heard, but it is the way to change the world, one person at a time. The Holy Spirit influenced those around Daniel—He will do the same for us.

Some History

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Daniel 1:1 – 4

Daniel began his exile in Babylon the same year that Nebuchadnezzar assumed power after his father died in 605 B.C. In fact, Nebuchadnezzar rushed home from his campaign in Judah in order to assume the throne. This was not at the final destruction of Jerusalem. That would not occur for almost two decades, in 586 B.C. Though the Babylonians were the outright dominant power in the region, Jerusalem would continue to fight God's judgment long after Daniel left the area.

Daniel 10:1 says that God granted Daniel a vision in the third year of Cyrus. That was 536 B.C. Though the Bible doesn't give Daniel's age at his deportation, one commentator says that if we assume that the lad was 16 years old when exiled, then we can guess that he lived at least until age 85. He outlived Nebuchadnezzar—who died in 562 B .C.—by many years.

Daniel and some of his friends of royal blood did not travel in chains. At the king's order, a chief official searched out a number of young men who showed superior intelligence and wisdom to train as servants and advisors to the king. Among them were Daniel and three others who were to have a special place in God's plan.

Daniel's writing is sometimes symbolic and therefore debated by many who try to figure out just what his primary messages sometimes were.

Next time: Obeying the Law and God at the Same Time

Many Questions

Ezekiel 43:1 – 27

In this chapter Ezekiel presents modern humanity with the dilemma of many "if", "do" and "does" questions.

Do visions exist? Or, were they simply "zones" brought on by the use of imagination enhancing drugs? If God exists, why not believe that He can take a man into a visualization of truth? If God exists, does He have the right to insert Himself into our lives? If God exists does He have the right to expect certain things from our country?

Let's face it; arguments about those questions are raging in our culture today. There is an anger against Christianity in many people that defies explanation. Why, for instance, is Islam readily accepted as a peaceful religion (and I'm not saying that it isn't) but Christianity is consistently accused of being judgmental, hateful, exclusive, and ignorant? Why are the Christian characters in movies generally presented as the ignorant, the gullible, or the insane?

Could one of the most telling proofs of God's existence be the hatred often expressed toward Him? It is as though many know that He is real, but reject His claims on their persons.

Ezekiel's God is not one who obeys the commands of His world; He demands respect from His world and, according to the prophets of the Old Testament and Jesus Christ in the New Testament, He will one day have His way. Today, nothing happens that is not within His permissive will.

Ezekiel's vision of the altar reminds us that Ezekiel's God demands justice and punishment when it comes to sin. But, is sin real, or do people just make bad choices? Is it fair for God to declare what is sin and what is not? What is evil and what is not? Perhaps the answer to that question concerns why God makes His declarations. What works best in the lives of people?

Look at your world, including the wars, but also the love. Look at nature itself. Ultimately it is our decision as to whether we choose to believe that our lives are the product of accident or plan. When you envision your future, is it all you? Or, does God show your mind the possibilities for life? Ezekiel saw a future of hope; Jesus saw a climactic and glorious return to perfection for our world.

Perhaps the most important question for the people of God to decide is whether God should rule by His will or by the democratic consensus of His world. That seems to be the most contentious question in our country today.